I created sets inspired by the Houses George R.R. Martin describes in the back of the book. Throughout the book he does mention many more houses and the lineage behind them, but I stuck with the main houses. Since I made 8 I’m going to post these four this week, and next week I’ll post the last four. I hope you like them!

I thought I’d make a set with light colors and some bright ones too in anticipation of summer.

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Download this set: Bright Spring Floral iPhone/iPod Backgrounds (12)

Colors included in this set:

I finished reading the Uglies series by Scott Westerfeld. The books were great overall, but I never felt close to the main character, Tally. I’m used to books where I love the main character and am always rooting for them, but Tally was difficult to like. I don’t think I would be friends with her character. They story line is interesting though and I do recommend the books.

I was playing in Polyvore and was inspired to make outfit collections based on the stages/changes of the society in the books. Tally goes from being an Ugly to a Pretty, and then becomes a Special. This isn’t a spoiler, that’s the titles of the books, so you already know what’s going to happen.

UGLIES

This set is best described as clothes for casual comfort and the ability to run around town playing tricks. The preteens are just waiting until their 16th birthday when they can finally become Pretties.

PRETTIES

This set is inspired by party-going dresses for bubbleheads. After their surgery Pretties go to parties every night, bubbly and just looking for fun. The hardest part of their life is deciding what to wear!

SPECIALS

This set is inspired by the Specials sneak suits. They are the cities hidden police system, they’re about stealth, danger, and they have a cruel beauty to their features. For those of you who have read the books, I added some ice

I went into the MAC at Dillard’s in San Tan, talked to an amazing woman who called the Scottsdale Fashion Mall and the woman over there found me a couple of their last colors and held them for me while I drove over there. It was worth it. I was afraid that they would be wrong for my skin tone, but turns out I was able to pull off both colors! Normally this doesn’t happen and I turn out a little clownish looking.

Packaging	Party Parrot	Flamingo

If you haven’t seen the new MAC Collection with Iris Apfel, I think you should go check it out even though almost all the lipsticks are sold out . Party Parrot is a bright fuchsia/red matte color that’s great for going out. Flamingo is a peach/pink lustre that I can easily wear everyday, but I wouldn’t because I’m too scared to use it all! That’s the hardest part about collection pieces I think, you begin to covet or hoard them. Sometimes I go a little Ariel, “Look at this stuff isn’t it neat? Wouldn’t you think my collection’s complete? Wouldn’t you think I’m the girl, the girl who has everything? Look at this trove, treasures untold, how many wonders can one…” vanity hold? Do you ever feel like your stash is more of a collection? You pick out pieces with purpose not just for their proper use. Well that’s a topic for another day.

Back to the point… As MAC said, Iris truly is a “rare bird who has always been ahead of her time.” Into the Gloss wrote a great article on her that you should also go check out to learn more about Iris. I resonated with her not only for the incredibly fun colors from her collection, but also her views on beauty. To me, Iris is a lot like Audrey Hepburn in their traditional fashion sense, but she’s not mainstream.

“I’m not good at putting on makeup, but you have to be a moron not to be able to put on lipstick … I like the orangey-red lipsticks. Those are my favorites. I like them all actually, and I love a nice hot pink.”

Me too Iris, me too.

Also, if I ever go to Vegas on a road trip with some girlfriends and we take a convertible (it could happen), I will be wearing this scarf paired with my big sunglasses. Classy, right?

Source: jewelry.hsn.com via Amy on Pinterest

Number 1: Since I discovered Youtube make-up tutorials my freshman year of college, I have been more and more interested in beauty products and how to use them as the years have gone by. Now that I’m not a struggling college student I have been investing in better quality products that I want to use more often for a simple look. With that comes the need to also wash my face every night. I’m trying hard not to go to bed with make-up on. Also, I need to remember to use a moisturizer in the morning with an SPF or 15, the Arizona sun is brutal!

Number 2: I’m a professional now in the real world, and I’m going to be 24 this summer. It’s about time I dress like both. I want to look put together, and that means dressing more classic. This was partly inspired by the saying “Always leave the house dressed as if you are going to run into your worst enemy,” (i.e. ‘Look your best’). I think this also goes back to the roots of traditional style.

Number 3: I need to stop eating so much processed food and make more of my lunches. Work used to be located right next to Sprouts and I would walk over there at lunch and pick up a sandwich. Now there’s not much around here… There’s a Fry’s about 3min away by car and they have a lot of fresh market items which is good. Water consumption is another battle, I keep water bottles at the ready now in my fridge.

Number 4: This is sort of like “Me Time”. I have a goal of reading 35 books in 2012 (I surpassed my 2011 goal of 20 books and read 22). This does include re-reading books from the past since I have some that I need to refresh my memory for the newest in their series. Since Thanksgiving I have picked up 14 new books that I haven’t read yet and need to get to. I also love Goodreads! Check it out, it’s where I have my to-read, read, currently-reading books organized. Also, wanting to stick with working out as much as I have since I started Boot Camp over a year ago.

So I’m going to work hard at these goals, giving myself time and patience, but tough love too.

Thought I’d share them with you too
Note: The backgrounds included in the download do not include my quote.

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Download this set: Watercolor iPhone/iPod Background (70)

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Download this set: Grunge Floral iPhone/iPod Background (77)

I have been slightly obsessed with a new site called Pinterest. It’s an interactive mood/idea/inspiration board. It’s great for organizing ideas with friends, for example I’m helping my friend with her wedding and we can share ‘pins’ we find on a mutual ‘board’ we share.

I’m also helping decorate my friends Halloween Party. I have been looking up decorating ideas. I have been meaning to make a wreath for some time now and found two that I really liked. I used techniques from both to create my finished project:

Tools:

• Burlap – 1 yard of each Orange, Black & TanYou will have extra black and orange leftover, if you prefer not to you can purchase just ½ yard of Orange & Black Burlap
• Styrofoam Wreath 12″ × 1¼”
• Glue Gun & Sticks
• Applique Pins
• Scissors
• 4″ circle template

The two techniques I used were:

1. Rosettes – In the tan burlap I created 4″ wide circles and placed them around the edges of the inside and outside of the wreath first. Tutorial found at Domestifluff  “How to Make a Ruffly Felt Rosette Wreath.”
2. Rolled Rosettes – In Black and Orange I cut a long strip, 1 yard in length and 1½ inches in width. Tutorial can be found at Just Sew Sassy “Rolled Burlap and Rosette Fall Wreath.”

Tips:

• For the rosettes in tan I used applique pins and hot glue to make sure that they wold hold.
• When placing the rosettes I put one facing each way to create a full look.
• I was lucky enough that the rosettes covered the Styrofoam enough that white wasn’t peeking through too much, but you can cover it with the tan burlap first to create a better background.
• For the rolled rosettes I used a ton of hot glue and a couple applique pins around the edges.
• I added the tan rosettes in the middle last and only placed one at each space between the rolled rosettes.
• For the little Sign I used wire, card stock, and some stickers.
• Have a vacuum handy to clean up everything at the end, it can get pretty messy/dusty.

Total project time I believe was about an hour. It was a lot of fun though and went by quick. I would like to have added some burlap to the sign, but I’m saving the extra burlap for signs to place around jars… A variation on this from The House of Smiths.

If you would like to see me more about Pinterest and my boards, please check it our here. Be careful, if your like me you will end up scrolling down for hours

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Download this set: Hogwarts House Colors iPhone/iPod Background (290)