Easy 4th of July Inspiration for Nails

Posted on July 3, 2013 by itsapplesandorangesblog

July 4th is upon us! A time where we get to gorge on food cooked on a grill, drink heavily and light up the night sky with fire works all in the name of America. This holiday is always fun and festive partly due to the explosives involved and partly because of the awesome patriotic gear one can rock. Cut off denim, boots, or pretty much anything with an American flag count towards this day. I’ve chosen to rock some particularly fun options in the past (patriotic lip tattoos) and this year I want to go more subdued and just do something fun on my nails. Here are some of the following options/inspiration.

You can go with the classic All American flag look

The firework aspect might be of interest using nail stripers and glitter

I personally would like to try this just because its out of the ordinary…

Last but not least you can choose to represent any one of the amazing groups that make up the military, after all they fight every day to allow us to keep our freedoms that we enjoy!

** I do not own any of these pics, these are simply articles found online thought to inspire some creativity for this wonderful holiday

Violent Lips- Patriotic Lip Tattoo

Stay safe and enjoy tomorrows festivities!

Love, Ari

“Go to” Blazer & Shorts OOTD

Posted on June 24, 2013 by itsapplesandorangesblog

I cannot stray away from my standard go to look that Ive adopted since moving here to FL. High waist shorts, a cute top, heels and a blazer always make for a solid layered look to get me through any … Continue reading →

American Woman

Posted on June 16, 2013 by itsapplesandorangesblog

Looks like someone might be ready for the 4th. I kept hoping I would see these in my size somewhere. So happy I found them! Get these cute plus size American flag shorts at forever21! Go hurry! I’m sure they’re … Continue reading →

What’s In a Face?

Posted on June 10, 2013 by itsapplesandorangesblog

I have recently become obsessed with facial masks! Not your average slumber party past time anymore, mask are fun and relaxing ways to get pampering and indulgence. My face has been breaking out lately due to stress and other unknown … Continue reading →

Rising Temps- OOTD.

Posted on June 3, 2013 by itsapplesandorangesblog

The weather in Fl is back to it’s sticky humid ways again even before official summer starts at the end of the month. I will miss the cool breeze of “fall” and “spring” as we head on back to the … Continue reading →

Let the Memorial Madness Begin!

Posted on May 27, 2013 by itsapplesandorangesblog

Three day weekends are Gods reminders to the world that we are human and not robots/slaves to the man! It’s only an extra day, but think about all the endless possibilities! Minds race and the frenzy ensues as one plans … Continue reading →

Simple & Cute D.I.Y Sweater

Posted on May 16, 2013 by itsapplesandorangesblog

As most of you may know I am a sucker for all things target and especially their clearance (as most normal girls are). I have found the most amazing things ever on sale! exhibit A: These purple sweaters! I bought these a while ago (one for me and one for my sister) and have been holding on to them for a while in order to find some materials and inspiration to jazz them up. These Hanes pullover fleece lined sweaters were marked down to an incredible $2.00! Although it is warm in Fl, feeling cozy with a cute sweater (even at home with central AC) is always a must. I decided to go for gold studs to add a little bit of interest to the plain staple pieces. Silver or even Black spikes/studs would have worked as well!

Plain Purple Hanes Fleece Lined Pullover

I purchased a set of 100 gold rivet studs from eBay. They are available in many different colors and styles (spikes, flat tops, round or even star-shaped!) Try watching multiple listings at once to be able to get the best deal on a value pack. They can also be purchased at any craft/fabric store (I found silver ones at Hobby Lobby) but not for wholesale.

Gold Studs

I eyeballed the placement of the studs around the collar (feel free to measure if you want a perfect distance between each stud). I like the fact that they are a little bit uneven in the spacing, I feel it gives it a little character. After you have an idea of where each stud should go, individually stick the prongs face down directly into the fabric (avoid seams as those tend to be thick and hard to push through).

It should look like this in the back of your garment.

Then grab some tweezers and push each prong down and inward (as to not poke yourself with them when you put the item on). Make sure it’s completely down and smooth so it wont budge with washing.

Row Completely Finished

I chose to add some on my sleeve as well to make for a more interesting piece.

Final Product!

And their you have it folks! A pain stakenly easy tutorial. I am going to be studding everything and anything I own now (D.I.Y shorts coming soon). Two awesome sweaters for under $10.00…cant beat that!

-ARi

Target Merona Pullover Sweater

Mossimo Lurex Shine Sweater

Hanes Pullover Sweatshirt

Wholesale Pyramid Studs Ebay Listing

Gold Studs Ebay Listing

Pattern Power!

Posted on May 9, 2013 by itsapplesandorangesblog

Hey everyone! So this week over in the gran manzana the weather has been awful! Raining and dreary, I guess you Floridians know a little something about that right sis? Anyways I thought what better way to cheer myself up than to do some shopping! On my way home from work I stopped by Forever 21 and snagged some great items. Florals, stripes, camo and paisley prints are all spring/summer trends and will really add a pop to your outfit. I found these in the plus size section which is great for us girls who are curvier. They have a wide range of sizes starting from size 12 to 24. So there is no excuse girls we can all be fabulous no matter what size or shape we are!

Links are below! Happy shopping everyone!

-Gwen

Rose Print Skinny Jeans

Paisley Print Skinny Jeans

Spiked Camo Denim Shorts

Studded Floral Denim Shorts

Railroad Stripe Denim Shorts

90’s Revival

Posted on May 9, 2013 by itsapplesandorangesblog

I absolutely love the comeback of the grunge/hiphop/comfort vibe of the 90’s. This trend can be interpreted in so many different ways! You can take it to completely different sides of the spectrum and rock “lilith fair” florals or get straight up gangster on everyone and wear rap inspired baggy pieces and blingy jewlery. The coming and going of seasonal concerts also adds spark to the trend (coachella, ultra etc) and these looks can bring out the edgier side of anyone. Seen on stars like Cassie this trend is not for the meek as it entails bold statement pieces and larger than life accesories. Combat boots, beanies, track pants, graphic tees, muscle tanks, flower head pieces,jean jackets, overalls, plaid and so much more! The 90’s were all about comfort (take reebox classics with high tube socks for instance), care free attitude and disregard for the “fashion rules”. Please refer to my Urban 90’s rooots post for another personal twist on the look.

Floral Dungaree Dress- Asos $225

Steve Madden Troopa- Blue Combat Boots- LuLus.Com $99

Reebok Freestyle White High Top Sneakers – Asos $92

Kid N Play T-Shirt Urban Outfitters $54.00

Wu Tang Creme- Cuffed Sleeve T-Shirt- Urban Outfitters $34.00

90’s nostalgia- those days were so much simpler!

-Ari

Spring 2013 Trend Report

Posted on May 2, 2013 by itsapplesandorangesblog

So I usually am not one to necesarilly “follow” all the upcoming trends to every season. Its more about taking whats popular and “in” and adapting it to your style and aesthetic. You can use pieces that you already have in your closet (sparing your wallet) and just splurge on particular items that really pop out for the season (ex. a really great pair of on trend pants that can be paired multiple times). Here are some of my favorite trends for Spring 2013.

Checkered/Diamond Print

Seen all over the runways, this trend is classic yet still made modern by combining it with structured fits and bright bold colors.

Checkered Leggings
Forever 21 $8.80

You can style this look in bold dress form or in a more subtle version with a checkered top, solid print blazer and jeans.

Leather

Leather is transitioning its way from fall attire well into spring 2013 with newer styles and cuts to choose from. Keep it light weight with different brighter tones (neutral or even red leather works) and take advantage of the warm weather by incorporating the popular cut out look.

Faux Leather Cut out Crop top- Forever 21 $19.80

Leather Effect Shorts- Zara $60

Florals

It wouldnt be spring without the incorporation of some florals. After all april showers do really bring may flowers! Pair them with neutrals for a flirty casual feel, or mix and match different floral prints for a different spin on the classic.

Scalloped Hem Floral Shorts- Charlotte Russe $24.99

Garden Floral Infinity Scarf-Charlotte Russe $9.99

Black and White

Although its an unsual concept, the stark contrast provides a fresh new visual look for the season. Any shape or cut works as long as the color combo remains intact. Try a color blocked top that already incorporates the trend, or pair your own separate pieces for a cohesive look.

Black & White Georgette Top- Forever 21 $17.80

White Open Cutaway Blazer- Forever 21 $32.80

So their you have it! Just some of this seasons top trends to try and incorporate when styling yourself for spring. Remember to assess your items and utilize what you already own in order not to break the bank trying these out.

Spring into this seasons trends!

-Ari