GUEST BEDROOM UPDATE

my sister moved out of the house & into her very first apartment towards the beginning of the summer, & since then i've been dying to turn her old bedroom into a cheerful guest room. 

it wasn't until recently (& by "recently" i mean yesterday) that i finally started getting things together...exactly one day before my grandma's visit from st. louis. leave it to me to procrastinate. 

i remembered a picture i saw on pinterest a while back that listed the makings of a cozy guest bedroom. fresh flowers were on the list so i took a trip to h-e-b & picked up some light pink carnations. i put them in a tall mason jar along with some hot pink roses from the yard.

one of my biggest achievements of the day was repainting a desk that was left by my sister. it was a spur of the moment project so it isn't perfect...but much improved.

i also spray painted a couple of picture frames with a metallic gold paint left over from another project i'm working on. i found some quotes, pictures, & typography i liked on pinterest & simply printed them out & framed them. seriously simple & cheap.

finally, i set out a box of tissues (another item on the cozy guest bedroom list) & a candle to scent the room, dragged in a rocking chair we had stored away, & placed a light blue pillow on it for color.

there's still so much to do, like search for bedding, more pillows, etc. but here's a look at what i've achieved so far: 

SUMMER GIVEAWAY

enter to win this prize by following this blog by clicking "join this site" at the very bottom of the page & leave a comment on this post letting me know your favorite thing about summer.

your comment should be written in this format: "first name last name loves..."

for example: "grace hunter loves flip flops & tan lines!"

for all giveaway details & to learn about more ways to enter, please refer to this youtube video:

MAY FAVORITES | 2014

i am finally back with another post, this one featuring my favorite things from may. 

beginning with hair, i've been loving my shea moisture coconut & hibiscus curl & style milk. this was one of those products that i wasn't a big fan of when i first bought it, but now i can't stop using it! this product is similar to a leave-in conditioner but directed towards those with curly hair. i apply it to my damp hair after i've showered & comb it through; it de-tangles, de-frizzes, smoothes, & adds shine.

for body care, i've been moisturizing using my warm vanilla sugar body butter from bath & body works. the formula blends easily into my skin & absorbs quickly. it smells great + it smoothes & softens my skin.

*i couldn't find the body butter online (it looks like it was discontinued) so i've linked the triple moisture cream instead which is very similar in formula.

for fragrance, i've continued to get a ton of use out of my travel-sized bombshell body mist from victoria's secret. i'm in love with this scent, it's very light & feminine, though not necessarily fruity or sweet. the scent is almost like a powder though i don't feel that description does it justice, go give it a whiff!

moving onto makeup, i recently picked up the nyc smooth skin bronzing face powder in the shade 720a sunny. this bronzer has been raved about all over youtube & i must say i am also a fan. the bronzer is matte & not too muddy or too orange. it works great for contouring & is the perfect crease shade as well.

i also rediscovered my raspberry rose kiss nivea lip butter this past month. though i don't recommend using it underneath another lip product because it has a milky light pink tint to it (not a fan) it does do a great job of moisturizing your lips.

moving to fashion favorites, i have been getting a ton of wear out of my lace detail denim shorts from mossimo supply co. i love the way they look with a simple t-shirt & a cute pair of flip flops. so simple, but still put together.

finally, i had one lifestyle favorite this month: the watermelon lemonade 3-wick candle from bath & body works. i absolutely love the way this smells, so fruity, juicy, & perfect for summertime + the scent is strong enough to fill the room but not too overwhelming.

& that's it for my favorite things from may 2014. leave me a comment letting me know your current favorite things so i can check them out for next month! if you'd prefer to watch the video version of this post, be sure to press play below:

HOME HAUL

i've been doing a lot of cleaning and organizing around the house lately & i picked up a few things to help with the process. some of my absolute favorite stores to go to for home decor are home goods, target, & hobby lobby. home goods always has great deals on bedding & pillows, hobby lobby just about always has a sale going on, & target is great for colorful/patterned accessories. this haul features items from these stores & bath and body works as well, take a look at what i purchased below: 

black & white photo storage boxes: hobby lobby
wooden "h": hobby lobby
"keys" hanger: hobby lobby
glass storage jars: hobby lobby

white ceramic candle stand: bath & body works
black & white storage basket: bath & body works

orange & white geometric pillow: home goods
grey curtains (underneath pillow): home goods

yellow happiness candle: target
grey & white chevron blanket: target

more photos below:

i originally filmed a video of this haul for my youtube channel but could not get the video to import to my macbook, so i decided to blog about this home haul instead. i'm really looking forward to buying a nice camera this summer and being able to upload higher quality videos more often. if you have any further questions about the items i hauled, feel free to ask me in a comment below, i always reply to all comments on my blog & youtube channel. :)

EASTER SUNDAY OOTD

by the time easter sunday rolled around, i already had a pretty good idea of what i wanted to wear. i fell in looove with the famous white zara mini skort the moment it came out & purchased it right away. i did not however, have as many opportunities to wear it as i thought i would. easter sunday was the opportunity i'd been looking for; white being a symbol of faith & new beginnings + let's face it, an all around great spring color.

i paired the skort with a simple white long sleeved tee from target. i originally had on a more sweater-like long sleeved top that added a great texture to the outfit, until an accident with a mascara wand caused me to change. i love the idea of white on white & think it will be a major trend for spring/summer 2014.

i also finally got the opportunity to break out these killer heels i originally bought a couple of weeks ago to wear to a wedding, but because of the rain, i traded in my new suede heels for basic nude pumps. i was so excited to wear them this easter sunday. i'm loving anything with an ankle strap lately, another trend i have a feeling will be big this spring.

for accessories i kept it simple with my everyday david yurman rings & a light blue bobble necklace for a little color. & as far as nails go, i treated myself to a mani/pedi a couple of days before using a favorite, essie's bikini so teeny.

all outfit details & links are below, if there's anything i failed to mention, feel free to let me know in a comment below.

white long sleeved tee-target

mini skirt-zara (black only online)

similar @ asos











heels-calvin klein (dsw)

i purchased mine at dsw for around $50, but they were sold out online at dsw. i did manage to find them directly through calvin klein but they are much pricier there.

here is the info if you're interested in hunting them down:

ASA K SUEDE/SHINY S NAPPA
E1329
34E1329-OML
OATMEAL

bobble necklace-charming charlie
other great options:

poppy statement necklace

chromasia collar necklace

decked out bloom necklace

nails-essie's bikini so teeny

WHERE HAVE I BEEN?!

a month or two ago i decided to make my blog more of a priority. i had been trying my best to upload youtube videos in my free time (which wasn't often) but one video alone usually takes a good day or two of filming & editing, & not to mention sometimes days to upload. (i have absolutely no idea why it has been taking this long to upload my videos, but that is a different story!)

point is, it takes much less time to publish a blog post than it does to create a video for youtube & i thought i'd be able to crank out a post every other day. this however, is much harder than i had thought. this month especially, i have been swamped with school & work. i started a second job & as the semester comes to an end projects are beginning to pile up. & of course with summer nearing comes the added stress of figuring out my schedule for next semester & the possibility of taking summer classes.

my blog & youtube channel have been put on the back burner & i haven't been posting or uploading as much as i'd like to. it's been difficult to grow both my youtube channel and blog without being able to post or upload regularly. i'd like to thank the now 539 subscribers who have managed to stick around despite my pathetic attempt at uploading new videos & i hope you haven't been too aware of my absence. i am so excited for summer to role around again & to finally have the time to expand my blog & youtube channel into more. get ready for lots of new videos & blog posts come then, & in case you've missed it, here a few recent photos of what i've been up to lately:

i'm constantly rearranging the accessories in my room, but that's okay, it's a reminder that interior design is definitely what i want to do with my life!

my dog's old dog bowls were a disgrace (haha!) i was so excited to bring her home some new ones from home goods.

i felt like taking a selfie in the car before work…there's not much else i can say about this photo other than that (monkey covering eyes emoji!)

this was taken outside my church on easter sunday with my two sisters, i love the picture on the left, candid is always best. :) 

with a little bit of zooming & creative editing, this photo was born (haha!) a few up close peeks at my easter ootd. 

this was just yesterday, i finally got around to organizing my drawers & now they are bee-u-t-ful!

& finally, my most recent candle purchase…watermelon lemonade, it smells amazing & much better than the previous watermelon lemonade scent bath & body came out with. 

don't forget to follow me on instagram so you won't miss a beat!

thank you so much for taking the time out of your day to read my blog & watch my youtube videos. it amazes me that 539 (& counting) wonderful people have found me & my opinions & ideas interesting & entertaining enough to subscribe to me. i'm can't explain how happy it makes me & how excited i am to continue growing my blog & youtube channel into something i am proud of. :)

MARCH IN PHOTOS

it doesn't seem like much happened in march other than blogging haha, but here's a look at my month of march in photos anyway (even if you've already seen most of them!)

from left to right…
1. i showed you how to get spring-ready legs.
2. i found a wine that surely was made for me.
3. i filmed a what's in my shower video for youtube.
4. i showed you what's on my iphone.
5. i made this super cute diy desk calendar.
6. i showed you a few of my favorite recipes.
7. i printed a pretty piece of art for my mini easel.
8. i blogged about what i've been loving lately.
9. i finally got my vanity clean & tidy again.

& that's it, a quick look at the past month according to my iphone.

GET SPRING-READY LEGS

ready or not, spring is here; & that means warmer weather, lots of cleaning, & the rebirth of short-shorts. though your legs may have been in hibernation all winter long, it's time to bare all & welcome the warm weather. 

here are a couple of steps i take to get my legs spring-ready: 

1. take a hot shower. allow the steam to get your skin ready for exfoliation & open up your hair follicles for a closer shave.

2. exfoliate. though i've been avoiding exfoliating regularly (i recently learned from my dermatologist exfoliating actually causes bumps on the skin to worsen) it's necessary after a long winter. i use the bath & shower gloves from eco tools.

3. shave. i looove this shaving cream from eos. it smells amazing + really softens your skin. i use it alongside my go-to razor, the venus embrace. oh & treat yourself to a fresh blade…you deserve it ;)

4. self-tan. this is totally optional (but then again all these steps are haha!) but personally it makes me feel much more confident. my favorite self-tanner is the jergens natural glow, both the regular daily moisturizer & the foaming daily moisturizer. i'm definitely on the paler side of things, but i use the medium to tan shade to speed up the process. oh & you can get away with putting this solely on your legs…that's usually what i do. 

self-tanning tips:

-shave + exfoliate before applying self tanner. doing it after can easily cause your skin to exfoliate & your tan to rub off.

-avoid "moisturizing" body wash. those creamy body washes…we all have them, but these can leave an invisible film on the skin that conflicts with self-tanner. be sure to use a body wash that isn't necessarily clear, but see through. (think bath & body works shower gel.)

-finally, use a moisturizer daily & avoid hot showers to keep your skin from drying/exfoliating & make your tan last longer. 

have a request for my next blog post? leave it below!

interested in seeing a more in-depth blog post on self-tanning or how i finally tamed the bumps (kp) on my skin? let me know below!

LOVING LATELY | MARCH

here's what i've been loving lately:

(for direct links to all products mentioned, be sure to click on the images above.)

1. maybelline baby skin instant pore eraser / feels soft on my skin + great to use as a foundation primer.

2. maybelline baby lips dr. rescue in 60 berry soft / current favorite lip product, perfect nudey-pink + acts as both chapstick & lipstick (i'm sold.)

3. urban decay eyeshadow in stray dog / my current go-to everyday eyeshadow, blends like butter, swipe it on the lid + under the lower lash line & you are g-to-g.

4. bath & body works foaming handsome soap in lemon mint leaf / makes my hands feel so clean + smells a-mazing.

5. lolita lempicka perfume / a perfume of mine i have rediscovered, a crisp floral scent with liqourice, violet, cherry, vanilla, etc.

6. eos pomegranate raspberry shave cream / feels so soft on my skin + smells absolutely delicious.

7. pink sugar hair perfume / another product i have rediscovered, leaves my hair smelling sweet as candy all day long. 

DIY MINI DESK CALENDAR

it's been too long since my last blog post but i feel like i'm coming back with a good one…i hope you feel the same!

i've been seeing these cute mini easels around a lot lately; every things cuter mini…or better bite size (but that's a different story.)

i wasn't quite sure what i could do with a mini easel but when i saw them for $1.99 at herwick's i decided to go ahead and buy one. on my way back home it hit me: a mini desk calendar!

this diy is incredibly simple & inexpensive + it makes the perfect addition to any desktop. lets get started:

you will need:
-1 mini easel (you can find these at herwick's, hobby lobby, etc. for a couple bucks)
-sheets of paper (cardstock is best but i used regular printer paper because it was what i had around)
-a paper cutter (scissors of course work too)
-microsoft word

1. begin by creating your calendars using microsoft word. it's extremely easy to do & totally customizable. however, if you don't think of yourself as tech-savy you could try your luck at finding pre-maid templates online.

here's a quick tutorial:
open microsoft word & select "file" > "new from template…"
select "calendars" under "my templates"
& choose the "banner calendar" style.

next, select the month from the drop-down menu for the calendar you would like to create.

now customize!
to change fonts simply select whatever text you would like to change & choose a new font. i used "the skinny" for the month titles & "basic title font" for the days of the week & numbers of the month.

you may notice a grey bar with text in another language (i have no idea what this is) to delete it, select the text & hit "delete" > "delete entire row."

finally, change the color of the green banner by selecting it & changing the color under "shading" under the "tables" tab.

simply repeat the process until you have completed all the calendars for the remaining months of the year. or just make a few for now & a few later as i did (laziness-haha!)

2. now print your calenders. be sure to scale the page in the print settings to make the calendars mini. to do this select "file" > "print..." > "page setup..." & scale by 50%

3. once your calendars are printed, cut them down using either a paper cutter or pair of scissors.

4. stack them on your mini easel & voila! a super simple mini desk calendar that only costs around $2 & adds a cute touch to your desktop!

lots of extra pics below☟

if you have questions be sure to leave them below!
& if you post a picture of this diy be sure to #diywithgrace so i can see it!