Summer Treat Boxes

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #SpringCreations #CollectiveBias

Now that summer is finally here, I'm loving the fun crafts and bright colors that come with the season! I moved into a new neighborhood a few months ago and still don't know a majority of my neighbors, gifting these adorable treat boxes would be the perfect ice breaker :)

I picked up my Scotch® crafting tools at Walmart in the craft aisle, these were my tools of choice: Scotch® Brand Utility Knife, Scotch® Brand Double Sided Tape, and Scotch® Brand Magic Tape. Any craft I want to do, there is a Scotch® product to help me out!

I also snagged some Command™ Strips to re-stock my stash, I alway loving having those on hand to keep pictures secure to the wall when the decorating mood strikes. They hold strong and come off clean! 

I created a few different themed treat boxes, the tutorials are all pretty similar with their own twists. I used patterns from the Silhouette Design Store, but this is an easy project you can do without the patterns! 

Prep

For the actual box part of the project, cut a piece of scrapbook paper 6.5 inches long and 5 inches high. Make sure to leave a bit of length on one side to fold in and tape. Make one notch in the middle of the longer side to later pinch shut as the bottom. Below are the colors I used for the various boxes, but it's all up to your own creative preference! 

Pineapple

Light yellow for box

Darker yellow for lattice

Green patterned for topper

Palm Tree

Brown for box

Green pattered for leafy portion

Hibiscus

Turquoise for box

Light pink for big flower portion

Dark pink for center

Yellow for center

Pineapple Treat Box

1. Cut out the treat box (6.5 in x 5 in with notch and extra piece for folding).

2. With the darker yellow cut out a lattice pattern for the pineapple treat box using the Scotch® Brand Utility Knife.

3. To create the box, fold in the extra piece on the edge and place a piece of Scotch® Brand Double Sided Tape.

4. Roll paper into a cone shape and seal shut with Scotch® Brand Double Sided Tape. Place a piece of double sided tape inside the bottom of the cone and pinch the bottom sides together shut.

5. I used the Scotch® Brand Double Sided Tape to tape the lattice portion to the treat box since I had it on hand, but you could also use glue.

6. Cut out a piece of green patterned paper in the shape of a pineapple topper. Then use double-sided tape to attach it inside of the box. 

7. Fill box with fun fruity candies and gift to your friends! 

Palm Tree Treat Box

1. Using the Scotch® Brand Utility Knife cut out a palm tree leafy top for your treat box.

2. Roll up the brown treat box into a cone shape my friends! 

3. Seal with the Scotch® Brand Double Sided Tape, and pinch the bottom closed also using the tape. 

4. Fill up with treats!

Hibiscus Treat Box 

1. For this box, instead of folding the bottom at a point, I made it flat. 

2. Use the Scotch® Brand Magic Tape to tape the bottom onto itself. Take the other flap and do the same. 

3. Cut out a hibiscus flower, seal layers together using the double-sided tape, and attach to treat box. 

4. Of course, fill it up with treats! :) 

Creating these treat boxes was a blast and made so much easier with Scotch® Brand! Which box is your favorite? Who would you gift yours to? :) 

Packing for a Summer Weekend Getaway & Logan + Lenora Giveaway

We traveled to St. George, Utah this past weekend for our 5 year anniversary. We stayed at this boutique hotel that looked over the entire city and it was magical! The hotel had an amazing pool I wanted to take advantage of so I packed way more swimsuits than I could even wear in one weekend haha :) 

I am a chronic over-packer. I pack outfits for every activity we are doing and for any "what if" situations we might encounter. Since it was over 100 degrees the whole time we were there, I planned on packing lightweight shorts, dress, and tees to beat the heat. I definitely had to bring a hat, sunglasses, and tons of sunscreen so I didn't shrivel up under the sun. 

When I was packing I used Logan + Lenora bags to keep my beauty products dry and my swimsuits all in one place! I used this Logan + Lenora Diaper clutch, and while I don't have children; this is a super versatile product. I liked how the interior was lined with a waterproof material, so I threw my lotions and sunscreens in the bag in the off-chance that they would leak. (Which they didn't, thankfully!)

I also used the Daytripper Wet + Dry Tote to pack all my swimsuits, and when they were still a bit damp at the end of the trip I threw them in there and left the zipper open for the suits to breathe. Much more classy than throwing them in the plastic trash bag I was originally planning on ;)

These Logan + Lenora bags are sturdy, adorable, and extremely versatile! Perfect for any summer pool, beach, or theme park trip. I have a 15% off + free shipping code for all my readers BREEZYDAYS15. Also, Logan + Lenora wants to give one of my readers a $25 gift card! Treat yo self to these adorable bags, and go over to my Instagram to enter! :) 

Day Tripper Wet + Dry Tote c/o Logan + Lenora

Wet + Dry Diaper Clutch c/o Logan + Lenora

Dress (that I'm wearing): Loft (old)

White Dress: Lucky Brand via Nordstrom Rack

Monrowe Tassel Sandals: Steve Madden

14th & Union Crochet Floppy Hat: Nordstrom Rack

Dolce Vita Tracey Espadrilles: Nordstrom Rack

Chevron one-piece swimsuit: Target

Pink Flounce Crop swimsuit top: Victorias Secret

Out From Under black high-waisted swimsuit bottom: Urban Outfitters

Floral bikini (top/bottom): Maaji Swimwear via Nordstrom 

Clip-in Extensions + Curls Hair Tutorial

Up until college I always used hot rollers to curl my hair because I could never get used to using a stupid curling iron with a clip! Now that I know how to use it...I absolutely love my curling rod, I would seriously recommend it to anyone and everyone. Mainly because it has no clip and gets super hot really fast which means less time doing your hair. Also, now that I know how to use my clip-in extensions I just love wearing them. There are some good options for hair extensions from Best Hair Buy that you should check out with different colors, textures, and lengths to choose from!

{Blouse c/o Ever+Mi Crush}

I use extensions mostly to create a thicker mane because I can grow my hair pretty long and don't particularly need the extra length. With my thin hair, I like that thick and luscious look that girls with more hair have. You always want what you can't have! I hope you enjoyed my video, but if you want some further instruction take a look at Best Hair Buy's YouTube channel all about hair!

How to: Make Festive Oreo Pops

I've made these to gift as Christmas presents, and they are always a total hit with friends and family! They are pretty easy & cheap to make, are sugar-coma delicious, and they look like you spent all day on them ;) 

Ingredients

-Double Stuf Oreos

-White chocolate melting chips

-Peppermint candy canes

-Sturdy holiday paper straws

-Bakers Twine

-Treat bags, small & clear plastic

Directions

1. Heat up the white chocolate melting chips in your fondue pot.

2. Cut your festive holiday straws in half, and then pinch the end flat, because you'll be putting into the oreo.

3. After separated the cookie, slide the pinched side underneath the oreo cream. Then place the other half of the cookie back on, and make sure it goes seamlessly back together. This is why you bought double stuf, to make sure the straw will fit!

4. Instead of dipping the cookie, I used a spoon to drizzle the fondue chocolate onto the cookie. This is to make sure your cookie doesn't fall apart.

5. Place your oreo pop on a sheet of parchment paper. I bought peppermint candy canes and crushed them myself, but I've heard you can just buy them already crushed. Regardless, this is the step where you sprinkle on the peppermint candy cane deliciousness. You have to do this right after you drizzle on the chocolate & while it's still hot, so the candy will stay on the cookie.

6. Let your oreo pop cool on the parchment paper for about 5-7 minutes. 

7. Wait until fully cooled, then peel the oreo pop off. 

Optional

8. Place the top of the pop into a treat bag.

9. Tie it up with some adorable bakers twine.

10. Voila! Amazingly delicious & cute Christmas gifts!

Pricing

This is the price for all of the materials used for only one package of double stuf oreo cookies {30 cookies}, and this is the final price per pop!

1 package of Double Stuf Oreos from K-Mart: $3

1/2 pack of holiday straws from Jane.com: $2

2/3 package of plastic treat bags from Wal-Mart: $1.50

1 small roll of bakers twine: $3

1/2 package of peppermint candy canes from Wal-Mart: $2.75 

1 pounds of white melting chocolate from Winco: $3.75

 Grand total: Under 53 cents per Oreo Pop!

This is starting to become my Christmas gift tradition because they are so easy to make, but they take some time and are made with love! I've gotten rave reviews from every person I've given them to; because how can you really go wrong with an oreo, chocolate, and candy?! If you have any questions, leave them in the comments so I can edit the post or email you back with a response. Hope you & your friends/family enjoy these!

Modest Dresses: How + Where to Find Them

{Left-->Right. Blue pattern: Loft, $20. Purple floral: Ross, $16. Pink floral: Francesca's, $28 with employee discount. White lace: Ross, $17. Blue&Cream: Anthropologie sale, $40.}

I've had many people comment here or on Instagram with something to this effect:
"How do you find all these cute/modest/affordable dresses?!"
Well my friends, I will now divulge to you my tips & tricks for dress shopping!

{Left-->Right. Teal pencil: Banana Republic, gift from friend+$5 strap tailoring. Taupe pattern: Banana Republic via Plato's Closet, $14+$5 strap tailoring. Cream lace: GDazzle.com, won in a giveaway. Yellow gingham: eShakti, c/o for a review+$5 strap tailoring. Orange eyelet: Old Navy, $7 on sale rack.}

How?

+ Know your height and figure! This will make shopping easier and much more time efficient. If you know that you have longer legs, then you probably shouldn't go for a dress that looks short on the hanger. As for me, being 5'3 with an hourglass shape, I usually go for pencil or fit & flare dress styles. I also know that dresses that look kind of short on the hanger will hit my knee when I try them on because I'm so short! Now that I can eyeball it, I go directly for the dresses that I know will flatter my shape. After lots of trying on and shopping practice, you will soon learn how to spot a dress that will fit your figure by just looking at it on the hanger.

+ Is it worth the hassle? I'm not a huge fan on lots of layering and the most I'll do is a lightweight sweater {I get so freaking hot, no more layers!}. So if a dress needs a top/tank underneath and a sweater on top or needs extensive tailoring, I usually just pass on it. You want dresses in your closet that are fun and easy to style, not something you have to constantly adjust or use a bazillion different layers for it to be deemed appropriate.

+ Sleeves, tank tops, and sweaters, oh my! If I love a dress but it doesn't meet my sleeve requirement, I think about what in my closet I could layer with it. An orange sweater? A tough leather jacket? Then the next question is whether or not it's worth paying for a dress that I would have to layer something over the top? If it's a good price, length, and it tugs at my heart strings...I'll give in and purchase the dress. All of these dresses are completely adorable and I would layer my sweater or chambray shirt over the top to not only make it modest, but give it some personality :)

Where?

 + Ross. I almost always find a nice pencil or lace dress at Ross {and adorable shoes, but that's beside the point!}. You have to visit Ross when you are in a "thrifting" mood, because you have to search for items in your size and try everything on. Although, it is completely worth it when you score a good deal because the dresses are usually $30 and under!

+ Secondhand Stores {i.e. Plato's Closet}. I have found many Banana Republic dresses at secondhand stores for only $14-$16, and the only tailoring needed was to pull up the straps! {yet again, midget status}. It is completely worth the inexpensive fix because they are classic pencil dresses that can be mixed and matched with anything for any season.

+ Anthropologie. Stop rolling your eyes! It can be inexpensive, it just takes more effort and time to keep track of the dress you want until it hits the sale racks. I've found funky pieces for $30-$50 on sale that add personality to my wardrobe AND meet my appropriate requirements.

+ Ann Taylor Loft. This is one of my favoritest places to shop. Seriously EVERYTHING goes on sale, and they can run from $15-$30 on the sale rack! A lot of times they will even do an additional 40-60% off of sale items which is awesome. Most everything has sleeves, is classy, and a good length. Definitely one of my top places to find comfy, affordable, and casual dresses!

How To: Coach Our Guys

The guys in our lives are awesome...but sometimes they just need a little push in the right direction.
I don't know about you, but my husband grew up with all brothers and no sisters,
so I've taught him what kinds of girly things/experiences make me happy.
{Aka, I like coming home to a clean house after work, love shopping at Anthro, reading Glamour or InStyle when I'm sick, etc}
This is a guide on how to coach our guys so they feel comfortable being spontaneous with gifts or acts of service that will sweep us off our feet and make us feel loved.
No more making our guys mind read!

1. Don't say "I'm training *insert guy name*"
 It's Always Referred to as COACHING
I made this mistake once & Ryan retorted that it sounded like I was teaching a dog how to pee.
Now it's coaching, because it sounds like I'm helping him with the playbook!
{Much more manly}

2. Subtle Isn't Going to Cut It
I don't know if you've noticed...but guys like to mentally check out.
If you like a particular dress or necklace, point it out and say something to this effect:
"This is totally my style and I think it would be suuuuuper cute for Valentines!"
To us girls, that seems completely obvious and over the top.
Our guys will read this as subtlety, and mentally file it away for later.

3. Short & Sweet
After I point out something that catches my eye, I give a short & sweet explanation as to why I like it.
If it's a flower arrangement?
I point out the particular flowers and colors that I like & educate him on the topic.
That way, he feels more comfortable going solo and picking something out for me that I'd like, instead of him being scared to even go in the store for fear of not knowing what to get or even where to start.

4. It's All About Affirmation!
When Ryan goes out of his comfort zone to get me something cute from Anthro or to take me to a girly movie, I make a point to genuinely thank him for surprising me and tell him what I loved about the gift, experience, or act of service.
Yet again, he will file this away in his noggin and keep in mind to do something like that again.

5. Re-Group
If Ryan is a little "off" this time around, I don't lie to him!
I commend him for his thoughtfulness and give him more pointers to work with.
We make a date out of returning something and having him help pick out what I get next :)
When you are out on dates make sure to be short & sweet & to the point!