My New Favorite Thing: Cambridge Satchel Company Bag

I got this Cambridge Satchel Company neon pink bag about a week ago...and since then I have had mixed reviews from strangers. One person asked if I was a crossing guard. Others just politely commented on how bright my bag is. The girl at iHop loved it. 

I quickly realized that neon isn't for everyone and everyone can't "do" neon. I am one of the lucky ones that isn't embarrassed by the comments, and boy do people love to comment on the color! So yes I am bright and possibly a crossing guard-either way...I LOVE my neon. Some of my favorite neon Cambridge Satchel Company bag pics (below) inspired the purchase. Besides the neon fun, this is my second Cambridge Satchel bag so I obviously think the brand is great. I also have it in classic yellow. It is a sturdy bag that fits my iPad and all of my essentials. I love having the ability to wear it cross-body or use it as a large clutch, seen below.

See the full range of Cambridge Satchel Company flourescent bags here. And, if you love neon as much as I do, check out my neon vintage fishing lure necklaces and tote bags-in my Etsy store. 

Pink Satchel / Citron Satchel / Mena Suvari / Citron Satchel 

Color of the Week: Lime Green

This weekend I worked on screen printing tote bags, which inspired the color of the week. One of the winners of the Viola Pearl tote bag contest picked lime green for her tote...at first I wasn't so sure...but now I am sold (see photo below). And, now I am loving the color! See my line of tote bags here.

Outdoor Table / Rocker / Michael Kors Tote  / Dress 

Three Key Vintage Pieces for Your Closet

How many times have you been out in your new outfit, only to find five people wearing the same Old Navy get-up that you had to have? It has happened to all of us. Everyone wants to be unique when out on the town. And while there is nothing wrong with shopping at chains (they are a staple of my wardrobe), remember to step up your personal style when doing so. One way to do that is by incorporating three key vintage pieces into your wardrobe.

My favorite first, vintage boots. They can be a timeless statement piece and are worn year round by both men and women alike. Brands like Old Gringo make beautiful, vintage-looking boots. New is easy and isn't a bad route, but also be on the lookout for 1970s Frye boots or an old pair of dusty cowboy boots at a local shop or online. Don’t be afraid to take risks - boots come in a variety of colors, heights or shapes that are easy to find. For women, you’re lucky to be able to pair your boots with anything! Some of my favorite ways to wear boots are with skirts, dresses or even shorts. No matter what you pair your boots with, the best part about buying vintage boots over the new…you won’t have to break them in. Major bonus.

Another great vintage basic that can do no wrong is vintage denim.

Sunday Inspiration

Just a little inspiration from Coco Chanel with glitter...

Recipe: I'm a Salad Chef

It is already in the 90's in Texas, which has sent me into fresh vegetable overdrive. I wouldn't say I am the best cook, but I am pretty creative and good at making salads! One of my favorite salads is the Nutty Mixed Up Salad at Jason's Deli, and this is my home-made alternative. I am obsessed with it right now, so I thought I would share!

Shopping List:

• Mixed greens
• Red grapes, seedless (sliced down the middle)
• Apples, you will want the crispest with flavor, I used Honey Crisp or Fuji (sliced into small pieces)
• Garlic and Herb Feta crumbles (this is a MUST)
• Sunflower seeds 
• Sliced almonds
• Chicken breast (either fresh cooked or pre-cooked sliced...I didn't include it on the salad photographed)
• Low calorie balsalmic dressing, I used Newman's Own

With this dressing, a little goes a long way. Let me know if you try it out!

My Current Obsession: Embroidered Mexican Shirt

When I was in elementary school, we frequented Texas border towns on our vacations-it was a different time back then. I remember the colors, the music, the amazing food and always buying Canel's gum from kids on the street. 

I also clearly remember buying and wearing the beautiful lightweight cotton embroidered Mexican dresses. With summer approaching, I am thinking I need to take a trip to San Antonio to the market to pick up a shirt in the same style as the dresses I wore when I was young. I found some amazing tops like the dresses online here and here. They are so colorful!

New in the Viola Pearl Etsy Store

I am SO excited to introduce the Presley Earring set, new in the Viola Pearl Etsy store today. This style of earrings is named after my family and in true Presley style, these earrings are a little bit country, a little bit rock-n-roll and a whole lot a' glam! They are made with metal and either rhinestones or vintage rhinestone earring pieces.

Check out the Presley earring here.

Color of the Week: Royal Blue

It's coming up on Memorial Day weekend and I already have my outfit planned for the Crawfish Festival and trip to the National Museum of the Pacific War! I am not usually into wearing red, white and blue...it is usually too much for me, personally. But, this year I feel like going all out! I will be wearing a Garnet Hill knit tank dress in twilight blue (a shade of royal blue), my chandelier necklace from J Crew and red nails!

Royal blue is quite beautiful and right now there seems to be a plethora of it to choose from. That chair gives me many ideas for a chair for my bedroom.

Nina Dobrev / Chair / Purse / Jeans / Ring / Bracelet / iPhone Case / Tote / Skirt

Viola Pearl Beach Tote Giveaway (CLOSED)

Summer is upon us-time for flip flops, shorts, tank tops and the beach or pool! No better way to kick off the season than with a FREE Viola Pearl tote. The tote is natural-colored cotton and measures 15" wide 16" tall, with 24" drop straps-the perfect size and weight for carrying your summer essentials. I am giving away two totes and letting the winners pick the style and color-so it will be custom hand screen printed just for you!

Here's how you can win:

1. Follow the Viola Pearl blog (via Google Friend Connect on the right hand side of the blog-you can follow using Yahoo, Twitter, Google and others-circled below so you know where to look)

2. Like the Viola Pearl Facebook page

3. Post on the Viola Pearl Facebook page wall which tote you want to win-either Kachina or Viola design (seen below)-and the color you prefer. Colors available are: silver, fluorescent orange, pearlized orange, teal, yellow, magenta, blue, red, fluorescent pink, fluorescent lime green and black. See the colors available in the photo section of my Etsy listing here.

You must do all three for your name to be entered into the contest. If you have already liked the page and/or already following the blog, just make sure you have done all three and you are good!

Want an extra chance to win? "Share" the Viola Pearl Facebook page with your Facebook friends and encourage them to "Like" Viola Pearl (shown with red arrows pointing to the share location below) and your name will be entered an extra time-that is TWO chances to win!

Enter today (Monday) through Friday at 5 p.m. - the two winners will be announced Saturday. Good luck and let me know if you have any questions at all!

*Please note the giveaway is open to residents of the US and Canada only, drawing facilitated by RandomPicker.com

___________________________________________________________________________________

Edit 5/26/2012: This giveaway is now closed-congratulations Linnea and Heather! http://www.randompicker.com/protocol/6275x14453

Sunday Inspiration

This is one of my favorite quotes...of course I had to personalize it with leopard and mint (my two fave colors). I have spent most of the weekend thinking about the future and working on a new jewelry project that I can't wait to share this week.

After hearing some sad news today, I am especially thankful for all of the wonderful things and people I have in my life. Happy Sunday!

My New Favorite Thing: Voz Clothing & Art Bangles

I love stacking on the bracelets and creating a beautiful arm party. I ran across a designer on Etsy that hand paints wooden bangles, Voz Clothing and Art. If you like geometric or chevron print, or even if you don't, you will love her designs!

I bought the trio of thinner bangles (seen above)-the colors are perfect for summer. I love that they are wood because my skin tends to turn green in the summer if I wear anything other than gold.

And, luckily my trio will extend beyond the season-all three colors look similar to a few on the Pantone Fall Fashion Color Report. The store also sells wider width bracelets, around 1 1/2" - in a variety of hand/wrist sizes. My next purchase will be a gold or black triangle bangle. Check out the Etsy store here.

Doggy Chic

Harley was the first dog I started dressing up. She had a rain slicker, fishing coat, pink boots, Harley Davidson t-shirt...you name it, she had it and she was okay with it. Lola is a different story. She *hates* clothes. No matter though, because I love to buy toys, clothes and "things" for her. Some of my favorites are non-clothes related.

I LOVE sushi squeaky toys, her skull and crossbones collar and most of all, her car seat. Compared to the one below, hers is actually a little bigger and leopard print. I don't have a carrier like the safari-esque tote, but I love that this one is cotton and has extra pockets. If you have ever flown with your pup (I made the trip from San Francisco to Houston regularly with Harley), you know it isn't easy, so extra storage pockets are a necessity!

Did I leave any must-have accessories off the list?

Safety first! Lola in her car seat.

Dog Car Seat  / Pet Collar / Pet Carrier / Sushi Dog Toy / Yellow Dog Shoes 

DIY: Fabric Headband Holder

I don't know about you, but sometimes I am good with the DIY and sometimes I am not. And, I consider myself pretty crafty! One of my favorite sites I have mentioned a few times is The Beauty Department. They consistently produce tutorials that anyone can do. 

When I saw the DIY for the headband holder, my mind immediately went to my headband drawer. Oh the jewelry I could fill it with if it were empty! So, this weekend I did it. I thought I would share some photos, and my finished product (above), to hopefully inspire you to try it.

And it is simple. You literally take a paper towel roll, wrap it in fabric, hot glue the fabric on and glue a painted ruler to the bottom so it has a flat surface. This took me less than an hour to complete and looks awesome on a shelf in my bathroom. The one thing I would note is-I would have someone help you with wrapping the fabric around the paper towel. It seemed hard to get the fabric tight on my own, so luckily my mom was there to help out. Find The Beauty Department headband holder DIY here. Let me know if you try it out!

Pretty Water

Have you noticed that almost every desk in your office has a water bottle on it? Usually it is the plastic type with large rubber straw. Sure, it works great (my red circle crossing it out is admittedly dramatic). But, I want a functional AND pretty water bottle. If I am going to stare at it at least eight hours a day at my desk and carry it around, it better be useful as well as visually appealing. I finally decided on my Tap is Terrific, glass water bottle. If you love fonts, you will love the brand Faucet Face.

Always on the hunt for pretty, I have been on the search for another, larger bottle. Some of the best I found are glass or stainless. Let me know if you know of any fun brands out there making pretty water bottles to add to my list!

Tap is Terrific / Purple / Love Glass / Zebra / Peacock Feather / Hose Water

Color of the Week: Leopard

When anyone asks what my favorite color is, I always say leopard. Yes, sometimes it is orange or pink or lavender as well, but, my all-time favorite color is leopard print. Some may not consider it a color, but the various shades go with everything and every color, so I am going with it!

Want more leopard? Check out my Pinterest board dedicated to the "color" with my favorite leopard pics.

Leopard Pants / Mint Leopard Capri / Muted Leopard Capri / Leopard Heels / Leopard Clutch / Leopard Makeup Case / Leopard Keds / Leopard Sofa / Leopard Chair and Wallpaper / Leopard Water Hose

Recipe: Sangria Saturday

I proclaim today Sangria Saturday! The fruity drink can sometimes be a little too sweet, but I found the PERFECT recipe I had to share. It is from the cookbook of one of the best restaurants in Austin, Fonda San Miguel. I made some edits to the recipe, which I noted.

• 2 oranges, thinly sliced
• 1 lemon, thinly sliced
• 1 lime, thinly sliced
• 4 cups fresh firm fruits, prepared and sliced as appropriate (we only used the oranges, lemons and limes for this portion but added more of them. You could also add apples, pears or any other fruit here)
• 1 gallon full-bodied dry red wine, such as a Cabernet Sauvignon (as you can see in the photo below, we picked up Fetzer, which is affordable and tastes good)
• 1 1/2-2 cups orange liquer, such as Cointreau or Triple Sec
• 1 1/2 cups Presidente brandy
• 2 bunches lemon verbena, washed and stemmed, about 2 cups (we skipped this)
• Fresh soft fruits, prepared and sliced as appropriate (we are using pineapple, grapes, kiwi, strawberries)
• Club soda, champagne, or sparkling wine (we are using Ginger Ale-it gives it a nice flavor!)

Combine citrus slices and other firm fruits in a large, nonreactive container (we used a glass pitcher). Add wine, liqueur, brandy and lemon verbena. Cover and refrigerate overnight (or up to three days). This time I didn't plan ahead to let it sit overnight-but if you do have time I highly recommend it! When ready to serve, put some soft fruits into each wine glass and fill two-thirds full with the sangria. Top off with a splash of club soda or other sparkling wine.

You can also find this recipe and others from Fonda San Miguel, including their AMAZING margarita in an interview with their chef here.

Happy weekend-let me know if you try it out!

Ombre!

Ombre has been around for a while, but the hair trend is picking up steam AND falling flat--at least in the media. Since Gweneth Paltrow has done it, it is officially "in" according to The Huffington Post, whereas Cosmopolitan claims it is dead. Personally, I like it, especially Jessica Biel's hair (this is an old photo) and the curtains from Anthropologie below. I hope it stays around a while. Have you tried the style in home or on your hair?

Jessica Biel / Ombre Curtains

I'm Going Glamping

I have never been much of a camper-I think the last time I went I was in high school. But lately, I have been interested in camping, or glamping. I think it's because my friend Shay is in a camping group, has a pop-up and all the fun accessories. Yes, the fun accessories! Camping has come a long way since I went-camping has become cute. And, it can't be wrong to want the watermelon tent for my backyard, like right now! 

I think the inside of my tent would look all pretty with ginghams and stripes. And, who doesn't hang bunting and mirrors. You have to make it like home. 

These are my other must haves. 1.) Nomad Cool Box - holds 12 bottles of champagne. 12! Who needs water. If you prefer food to bubbles, it will keep frozen food for five days and or cool for 10. 2.) Provence Rose Roberts Radio - a digital radio with 120 hours of battery life. Easy to carry and small enough to pack. Plus it is cute. 3.) Leopard Flashlight - because you need light, cute light. 4.) Bodum Fyrkat Grill - portable, small and orange, my favorite color. 5.) Hunter Wellies - just because. 

Like Megan Draper

Each week that Mad Men is on I start to love Megan Draper's style a little more. One of my favorite looks was the orange dress with the chevron coat and big gold chain a couple of weeks ago. When Don left her at the HoJo.

If I were to recreate the outfit I would do it with the following pieces. I like the lines of this orange dress, especially the detail of the sleeves. I think her coat is a little too much for me in white and orange, so I picked out a vintage coat that has the same vibe-I especially love the collar. Last but not least, maybe my favorite part...the necklace. I purchased a similar one from Derng last week on Etsy in the longer length in gold-it is amazing!

Do you like her style or do you miss classic Betty?

Mad Men / Orange Dress / Vintage Coat / Chain Necklace

Color of the Week: Gold

Gold is a classic go-to color. And, although I have a lot of silver accessories in my home, I love gold accents. I remember a time when I thought mixing metals was bad-now I pile on my gold and silver studded friendship bracelets carelessly. And, my silver skull sits pretty next to a pink and gold vase.

In addition to gold for the home, I love it in fashion...but bigger and brighter. My current go-to nail polish is Butter London gold glitter. It is much easier to get off than other glitter polishes and seems to stay on a while. And, if you follow fashion news, you probably have seen Carey Mulligan in Prada from the Met Gala last night (below)...she was even trending on Twitter! Gold was everywhere on the red carpet. My other current gold style favorite is nameplate necklace. I just wish I could find mine I bought at Walgreens years and years ago.

Mirror /Vase / Gold Pillow / Carey Mulligan / Nameplate Necklace / Nail Polish 

New in the Viola Pearl Etsy Store

These two necklaces might be my favorite yet! There are new designs of hand painted necklaces to choose from, painted beautiful pastel and bright spring colors, as well as "Viola" signature pieces including decorative pillowcases and colorful tote bags perfect for the beach, pool or just shopping around town! See these items online now here.

My New Favorite Thing: Orange Chevron Throw

So, I have had an orange thing happening for a few months now. Recently I came to the realization that it was time to put away the heavy Missoni for Target throw, which I adore, because it is just too warm. I ran across this one at Z Gallerie. It is the perfect weight, light but keeps you warm, is so soft and it is chevron. I have it folded across the bottom of my bed. Just perfect.

Office Tricks

I have been on a bender trying to cute'ify my work space. It is still a work in progress but so far got the iMac, the T-Rex planter and the West Elm Parsons desk. As I continually search for more inspiration I stumbled across one of the most fun and unique ideas on the Made By Girl blog that totally suited me: the Native Union phone holder.

Amazing idea, right?! Like a lot of people these days, my landline has been gone for a while and I only use a mobile. I purchased a couple of Native Union phones around the holidays (pink, orange and sky blue)-I just find it easier talking for long periods on a handset versus my iPhone. If you don't have one...get one! But, beware, there are so many colors, you may end up with multiples.

To recreate this look, I purchased a hook at Wal-Mart in the hardware department-it looks exactly the same and was under $3. Doesn't my work-in-progress desk just look so much cuter and "official" with my phone?!

Just Elephants

Besides Cabbage Patch Kids and stickers, I have never really collected anything. At least in my adult life I haven't...since I am not sure buying purses counts! Last year, I started buying owls here and there. But, recently I ran across an elephant that was my nana's. She collected them. So I felt inspired to pick up where she left off and started collecting them. These are some I found on Etsy, everything from vintage art to a handmade stuffed animal. See the full list of elephants I found here.