DIY: Bumble & Bumble Surf Spray!

Beach sprays have become a blessing for girls with fine and texture-less hair. They provide loads of volume and texture without being sticky. They pretty much give you that awesome texture just after swimming in the ocean and laying out on the beach to dry! I've discovered (through a little detective research) that many of these sprays are just salt-water with a few additives to hold your hair. The most popular (and RAVED about) beach spray being, Bumble & Bumble's Surf Spray. This product retails $23.00 at Sephora ! ((what?!)) FOR SALT WATER?! Keep on reading, because I am going to teach you how to make your hair beachy fabulous for just pennys! <3

You will need:

• Spray bottle
• Water-based/soluble hair gel (water should be one of the first ingredients on the package)
• Sea Salt or Epsom salt
• Warm water

Step 1: Pour a few tablespoons of hair gel in an empty spray bottle (the more hair gel you use, the more hold it will give you!).

Step 2: Pour a couple of tablespoons of sea salt. I find that the more "finely" ground sea salt dissolves easier and doesn't get clogged in your spray bottle.

Step 3: Finally, fill the spray bottle up with warm tap water. Shake well and voila! Instant surf spray! Take that Bumble & Bumble!

**My measurements are not exact, because I just tried this out tonight. Just experiment with the ingredients and see what works for you!

SO LADIES, what have we learned today? There's no need to be coughing up our pretty pennys. Some research and a little creativity can save you loads, and make you look and feel FAB-U-LOUS!

Test this out and let me know how it works for you!

xx Jeans

P.S. - If you are using styling products everyday, wash your hair with a clarifying shampoo at least once a week. These products leave build-up, making your hair dull and lifeless.

The Definition of Class-ay...

What is a fancy girl staple you might ask? Pearls of course! Since the beginning of time (I think?) pearls have been the ultimate sign of class and sophistication for a woman. But fancy girls like us need a good set of pearls without putting a dent in our wallets. No worries ladies, I got you covered. One of my favorite and sarcastically funny YouTube "gurus," Justine (username jpmetz), shared with her viewers an AWESOME discount from one of her sponsors at Prized Pearls , a vendor for freshwater cultured pearls. They are offering a 70% discount at checkout when you type in the code "Justine". How fancy is that?! I think I might buy a set (necklace, earrings and bracelet for only $65.00 what?!) for myself or get something for a friend. I don't know how long this deal will last so take advantage of it while you can!

Keep it classy!

xx Jeans

Simply Colorful: Girls' Night-In

About a week ago me, M-pants and our two friends Jenn and Sarah had a simple, but fabulous girl's night-in. Equipped with several bottles of nail polish and and some wine, we ended up having a really great time catching up and decorating each others nails!

Often I've seen girls (and I have been guilty myself) will plan a huge girls pamper night with facials, cooking dinner, and make-overs and never actually get through it all, because 1. we would rather chat away than focus on the task ahead! Or 2. sometimes I've seen one or two girls not want to partake in a certain activity, which ends up ruining the night.

Doing each other's nails and having simple chatty girly time is the perfect and non-threatening way to bond with your girlfriends!

My advise for girl's nights-in is: the simpler, the better! Find one or two activities that all the girls would like to join in and keep it that. Especially if you haven't hung-out in a while, the less planning the better. The best times i've had with my girlfriends have been just sitting on the couch chatting it up!

Have fun girls!

Jeans xx

Fierce & Frugal Finds!

Okay, so during the past couple of months I graduated and have been without a job (sad blame-it-on-poor-economic-times face), but I still need to look fancy! :( Without much in my pocketbook these days I don't always have the means to partake in retail therapy. However, after checking out M-pants' post on Uptown Cheapskate, I decided to go for a visit myself and see what all the buzz is about. Let's just say I got some fab finds and will definitely be going back next time I have shopping itch.

Believe it or not this fancy girl doesn't own a pair of platform heels. This is because I find most heels to be extremely uncomfortable and way to high for me. However, these navy -colored Qupid platforms only set me back $8.99! Now I don't know what the original retail price would be since the website is only open to members, but this is such a bargain considering a pair of comfortable heels would cost at least 3-4 times as much! I feel like I can wear these heels with so many outfits (like the skirt below!)

I found such an adorable satin Lauren Conrad skirt that has a bright native pattern to it. I took a picture of the back of the skirt so you can see the zipper-detail. Pants and I were at Kohls the other day and there was a similar Lauren Conrad skirt on clearance retailing for $30.00. No ma'am! I only paid $11.28 for this skirt and I LOVE it!


This sheer floral blouse is so adorable and I only paid $5.99 for it! I can wear it with jeans and a cardigan for a nice lunch or with a pencil skirt to (my future) work. Perfect!

This faux-snake skin trench may look intimidating on the hanger, but it fits well and it really will amp up any outfit! I call this my Drita trench, because it reminds me of Drita D'Avanzo from Mob Wives (yes, we LOVE that show!) Although, I would only consider this Drita-lite, because there are no dead animals attached to it (note the raccoon episode). I would wear this in winter and pair it with boots or heels, jeans or a skirt--it really is versatile and I only paid $9.99, what a steal!

Recap:

Navy Platforms: $8.99

Satin Skirt: $11.28

Floral Blouse: $5.99

Drita Trench: $9.99

Total Steal: $36.25

BOOM.

xx Jeans

Sneakin' Around Forever 21

I was walking around Forever 21 today with Jeans, and along with some other finds I picked up a pair of plain white canvas sneakers. For just $5.50, I saw these as an art project waiting to happen. At first, I didn't know what I wanted on them, so I started searching the internet. I found a some images I liked from a couple random websites, so my images are inspired by the bird from this image and the tree branch from this one. I love nature, in case you are a reader who did not know that. Anyway, I took three pictures during my painting process. The first picture is of after one color is painted, the second one is after two colors are painted and one sketch is applied, then the last one is the finished product. Some of the lines still need cleaning up, but I have called it a night tonight. This made me think about whether or not I should purchase a bunch of these shoes, paint them with designs, then sell them on Etsy. Hmmm. I'll have to think about that one.

Total Cost of Project:

Shoes: Forever 21, $5.50

Paint: Already owned these but if not, acrylic paints run for a couple dollars depending on where they are purchased and what brand

Brushes: Already owned these, prices greatly vary

Total Cost: $5.50 plus tax and gas to get to the mall

Acrylically yours,

Pants

A Fancy Girl's Guide to Short Hair [Wonderful guest post by fellow fancy girl Bailey T.]

Short shorts, short skirts and now short hair is in this summer. Everyone is doing it. Emma Watson (good grief how amazing does she look?), Katie Holmes, Rihanna, Carey Mulligan (OBSESSED) and new to the pixie bandwagon is Evan Rachel Wood. Oh, almost forgot, and littleole me.

I have what you would call the 6 Month Itch. I can’t staywith a hairstyle or color for more than a few months. I have had my hair super long to now extremely short, blond, brunette and everything in between. Of course now the problem is that when I have a hair meltdown (which is often) it turns into a serious debacle in my head. I can’t just rely on the fact that it will grow back because let’s get real here…it takes at least 2 years to come back from a massacre of the shears.

Now, I have had my moments where I am utterly in love with my hair. I’ve been told I look like Twiggy (late 1960s British teenage model) and sometimes Audrey Hepburn. These comparisons are nothing to scoff at. It’s ridiculous to really ever match up to those goddesses, but it makes the drastic change worth it...sometimes.

Let it be known that I did not take this lightly. I used the best (seriously the BEST) website www.dailymakeover.com where you give yourself a virtual makeover with celebrity hairstyles, makeup and accessories. It’s fabulous. I chose Ginnifer Goodwin’s cropped locks as the style winner, printed out the picture of me and put it on my mirror for about a month. I convinced myself that now was the time to do it. “I’m 22 damn it. Why NOT?!” Well me from 2 months ago, I will tell you why not. You will eitherbe referred to as Bieber or Sir for the remainder of your short lived, short hair experience. You will have to deal with these awkward responses and the glaring eye assumptions that you are in fact a lesbian. If I actually liked my hair on a daily basis, I would have no problem embracing these backhanded remarks and respond with an imaginary hair flip. Sadly, I can’t muster the strength to stand up for what I just did to my poor head.

So, since I keep feeling down in the dumps, I look for ways to cheer me up while I begin the tedious process of growing out my hair. I found this blog (WARNING: swear word quickly approaching!!!!) http://fuckyeahshorthairedgirls.tumblr.com/ It completely celebrates women with short hair; famous to your everyday ladies, all are appreciated. Each picture is unique whether they are quirky, cute, sexy, raunchy and sometimes nude (artfully done however). It makes me feel like I am a part of some amazing group and eases the pain of the scientific growth study “half an inch a month.”

Also, I am yielding some awesome hair products to help me not make so many trips to the hairdresser:

1.

Nexxus ProMend Split End Binding Targeted Leave-In Crème

Walmart: $11

It binds 92% of split ends every time you use it. Ahhhmazing.

2.

WEN Hair Care

I tried this one stop hair cleanser almost a year ago. I kept coming back to it because it is a shampoo, conditioner, deep conditioner and leave-in conditioner all in one. It doesn’t have any harsh chemicals and always leaves my hair feeling soft and well…conditioned.

30 Day Supply- $29.95

(It seems expensive but if you don’t like it you get a FULL refund and it comes with other styling products)

Also, the bottles are HUGE. I only did a 90 Day Supply and stopped getting the product last July. I still have 4 bottles of the stuff left!

3.

Bandanas

Color coordinate AND cover up bed head? Yes please.

And finally something I can’t buy….

4. Patience

Ugh….last for a reason.

All in all, what I’ve really learned from this experience is that what counts is how you feel about your hair. You can choose to embrace it or disgrace it. Being young and fabulous means you can do what you want. I choose to be the biggest flip flopper ever and sometimes it bites me in the ass. But hey! Hair does grow back. Just don’t be an eager beaver. Take your time. Think about it. If it makes you happy, then people around you will feel the same. As for me, I’m about to throw on a pantsuit and work the Bieber flip.

Sheared and Sophisticated,

Bailey T.

Images via Google Images

Free Music Mondays!

If your a lover of Urban Outfitters or indie/ rock-ish music in general, check out the Urban Outfitters music site to get 5 FREE music downloads every Monday! On this site you can listen to the UO radio, download archived playlists and get new music every week!

xx Jeans