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Hi & welcome to Smart n Snazzy. I'm Lia! Use the navigation above the find your way around & if you have any questions, feel free to contact me! ♥

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►My May Gossip Girl Birchbox

→ Monday, May 21, 2012 { 7:28 PM

Hey lovelies! I thought I would share with you all my most recent Birchbox! This is the highly anticipated Gossip Girl themed box, and I thought it would be as amazing as the recent Teen Vogue one. But alas, it definitely left me wanting more. That's not to say this one was a dud, because it definitely wasn't! Here's what I got:

beautyblender blendercleanser: "Keep your makeup sponges and brushes in prime condition with this soy-based formula, which removes built-up bacteria and oil."
I'm a devout fan of MAC's brush cleanser, but I'm willing to give this little guy a shot!

Algenist Regenerative Anti-Aging Moisturizer: "Looking your age is so overrated. This sophisticated moisturizer uses an exclusive microalgae compound to delay the cellular aging process."
I love trying new moisturizers, although I'm in a pretty committed relationship with my Korres Yogurt Moisturizer. But anti-aging has my curiosity piqued :)

Arquiste Flor y Canto: "A fresh blend of sweet blossoms, this white floral scent takes inspiration from an Aztec festival circa 1400."
This smells absolutely delicious; it's a fresh clean scent I'd definitely wear, although it's $165 price tag is a bit steep for me.

stila sparkle waterproof liquid eyeliner: "Pearly shimmer meets intense pigment in this lasting liner. Better yet, the pen-like wand makes wiggle-free application a breeze."
This is hands down the best. Besides, it's a full-sized product retailing for $22, so it alone makes the box more than worth it! I got 'Starry', which is a charcoal shimmer color. It seriously DOES NOT BUDGE and stays put all day long. I plan on buying every color of this eyeliner; it's perfect for the pool!

Birchbox Extra ~ Notecards: "Text messages are no match for handwritten notes on fun, modern stationery."
This is adorable, and my mom loves to send notes in the mail. I'll definitely be sending this to her!

All in all, this was a decent box, if for nothing else but the stila eyeliner!
If you're not a Birchbox member yet, sign up now and for only $10 a month, you get a fun present to look forward to!
What was in your box?

xxooxoxo
Lia

Labels: Birchbox, stila

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►X Out DIY Challenge ~ Pretty n Punk Dress Redo

→ Sunday, April 22, 2012 { 9:37 PM

Hi lovelies! I was asked to DIY an American Apparel tank dress, inspired by X Out, a new product from Proactiv. Above is the inspiration from X Out, and what stood out to me is a one step, quick and easy, all in one product. Armed with the dress, and a $200 AmEx card for supplies, I set about my mission. I wanted to make a dress so fabulous that nothing else would be needed. Any woman wearing it would stand out in a crowd, and shine like none other in such a spectacular piece. And so I began....

The first thing I wanted to do was give the skirt portion some volume. So I cut about 20 pieces of tulle measuring about 16" in length and 50-60" wide. I sewed them together, about four pieces together. I then trimmed excess fabric above the stitches.

Then I tackled the dress. I wanted to start the skirt portion higher than usual, so I tried on the dress and marked with tailors chalk where my belly button was. I extended the line, and cut the dress in half there.

In true Smart n Snazzy fashion, I wanted the front top of the dress to be something knockout, so leather was the choice! I used the back of a thrifted leather jacket. I layed the top of the dress on the inside of the jacket, and lightly traced its outline. I cut out several inches beyond the outline, because remember that jersey knit is stretchy whereas leather is not.

When working with leather, it's best to not pin the fabric because the holes remain intact. I used binder clips to hem the exposed seams.

Now back to the tulle underskirt. I cut enough elastic to fashion a waistband, and then cut 2.5 times that in satin ribbon to make a casing for the elastic.

Sew the one half of the satin ribbon into a circle, and begin sewing the tulle to the edge of the ribbon, in a winding, circular fashion.

When one piece of tulle ends, overlap the next and continue working around until all the tulle is sewn on. Then sew the other piece of ribbon over it, and leave a space to thread the elastic through. When done, sew the elastic ends together and sew the opening in the ribbon closed.

I cut the long skirt in half, and used the top portion as the base of the skirt. I cut it into equal rectangular pieces, and then cut the discarded half into several (12) triangular pieces.

Pin each triangular piece to each rectangular piece, and sew them together. Then sew these pieces together to re-form the skirt.

Hem the skirt, and sew the top of the dress to the skirt. Add the tulle underskirt and the elastic safety pin belt, and....

The best part is that the underskirt is removable, so there's two options for wearing the dress!

So here you have it! And now, best of all, the dress is going up for auction on eBay! The proceeds are to benefit an anti-bullying campaign, which is an issue near and dear to my heart. Please check it out and bid if you'd love to have this dress as your own!

xxxooo
Lia

Labels: DIY, Dress, Refashion, XOut