Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Room Decoration Idea


I've been meaning to do this idea for awhile, and I finally printed some pictures, new and old, and thought I'd share this on my blog! You can paste the pictures so it resembles a heart, a peace sign, etc.

What you will need:

Tape (I prefer regular scotch tape so it won't ruin the wall paint if I decide to take the picture off)
Scissors
Desired pictures



I simply looped the tape, sticky side on the outside, and attached it to the picture on the back. This makes it very easy to hang, and it also will not appear when it is on the wall.

Done! Fun idea for the summer, and I will be adding pictures until a large part of my wall is full!

-Alex ;)

Sunday, May 19, 2013

Sunday Dinner ☀

 So my sister came home today from her first year at college, and I decided to make dinner. Inspired by the most recent Bon Appetit magazine and this is the outcome.



Above is salmon, topped with a mixture of fresh oregano, banana peppers, lemon zest, coriander, salt, and paper. I put olive oil on the salmon first, and also put lemon slices in between.


The pesto is made using half parsley, half basil, and instead of the traditional pine nuts I used almonds.



-Alex ;)

Sunday, May 5, 2013

DIY: Acid Wash Sneakers


Acid wash clothing are one of my favorite patterns because of the intricate yet random specks of different color you can get from one simple thing, bleach. Today, I did acid-wash-looking sneakers that I thought would be very fun to wear since I have a uniform at school. 

What you will need:

Sneakers (Converse, Vans, Keds, or lookalikes are best)
Bleach
Water
Spray Bottle
Bucket
Dish washing gloves (or any that are waterproof)
Duct Tape
Newspaper (optional, but suggested if you are doing this outside so you don't contaminate plants and the surface you are working on)

Instructions:

1) First, start by taking pieces of duct tape and wrapping the rubber portions of the sneakers to prevent any contact with the bleach, which you will be applying later.



I decided to cover the backs, and eventually the "tongues" of the sneakers because I did not want to bleach those portions.


2) Then, remove the shoe laces. This step is important because the laces do not need to be bleached, and they will cause a different pattern on the sneaker because they are covering some cloth.


3) With the spray bottle, pour a small amount of water, maybe 1/5 of the amount of bleach you will put in just so the bleach is not as potent. Do not add too much otherwise the bleach will not work the best of its ability. After filling the water, add the bleach. Put the gloves on when doing this, because you do not want any direct contact with it.


4) Then, place the sneakers on newspaper or any surface as you wish, and start spraying! I suggest spraying far away and having it as a mist, so the original color of the sneaker will still show through. At first, the bleach will not look like it is doing its job, but spray SMALL amounts, it takes a couple of seconds to work. You can always add more, but you can't remove the bleach if you sprayed too much. Remember, keep the gloves on when the bleach is out and in use.



5) Take a large bucket filled with clean water, and dip the sneakers. This will remove most of the bleach that still remains on the sneaker.


6) Let the sneakers dry, or at least become damp.


7) After, take a hose, and on a surface that will not contaminate any plants or animals, like gravel or pavement, spray the sneakers with a hose again, and this will remove the access bleach that still remains on the sneaker even after putting it in the bucket. I removed the tape before hosing the sneaker down.


8) Fill the sneaker with paper, or more preferably newspaper (so there isn't any paper going to waste). This will speed up the process of drying. Let dry in the sun. I recommend if you want to wear the shoes the next day, blow dry them after they have been sitting outside for an hour or two.


Replace the newspaper after about an hour, because the first newspaper you applied will already be wet, therefore it will retain the moisture rather than getting it out of the shoe.


9) Once dry, put the shoe laces back in the shoe.



 10) Now, enjoy your shoes!! I'm definitely happy with the result.






Saturday, May 4, 2013

First Post

Hello~

My first blog post! I have decided to make a blog that expresses my style, help others with ideas, projects, and everything in between. Since it is nearing the end of the school year for me and summer is approaching, I really wanted to have something I could do over my free-time, and truly enjoy it as well. This blog also acts as a journal and scrapbook for me, and I want to share it with others. 


Thank you !

Saturday, May 04, 2013