new haircut // opal wreath collar

I have many things on my To Do List before school starts up again next week. Getting a haircut was my biggest priority. I will preface the rest of my story by stating that I am very particular about my hair. I have had many styling regrets. The actual haircut always feels good at the time and maybe even the week after. But, when I look back on my previous hairstyles, I want to slap myself across the face. Never should have let my mom tease and spray my hair to death. Never should have walked around with a permanent ponytail in my hair for a year. Never should have gotten bangs like Summer Roberts. Sadly, the list goes on and on. I make bad decisions. Mostly, I am just impulsive and have a tendency to choose hairstyles that look good on other people. But, shocker, they did not work for me at all. The worst part is that no one ever told me my hair looked like shit. Assholes.

It is important to understand your hair and what does/doesn't work. So, with that said, I am definitely a long hair [don't care] gal. I had shoulder length hair once in my life and I vowed to never go back. In fact, I refer to that hair era as "the lost year"-- the year I apparently lost my mind along with my long hair.

Anyway, there is a cutoff point when long hair just gets annoying. And, well, I've been annoyed for a couple months now. Unfortunately, because of my insane school and work schedule, I had to put my much needed haircut on the back burner. With the small window of freedom I have left, I knew it was time to remove some of the dead weight-- literally-- for the new year.

I have been going to the same hairdresser (more or less) for the past few years, and she has always given me consistent haircuts in the ballpark of what I actually want. But, eh, I've been open to the idea of a new hairdresser for a while now. I don't dye, highlight, or do anything crazy with my hair. I just need a good cut and styling. Is that so much to ask?

So, after reading a lot of reviews, I found a hair salon nearby. I scheduled the earliest appointment available-- Tuesday. Good thing I was still stalking for something sooner, because an opening became available today. Right when I walked through the doors, the owner was stunned by the necklace I was wearing. At that moment,  I thought: God, I love this place. They get me. Of course, she asked and I told her where I got it. Baublebar, duh.

My hair is fussy, because there is just so much of it. My hairdresser did such an amazing job taking a lot of the weight off but also keeping my ideal length. I definitely walked out of there a happy camper, because she did exactly what I wanted. I really love it! Plus, the new cut happens to look perfect with my Opal Wreath Collar.. because that's what really counts, obviously.

necklace: Baublebar || shirt: Anthropologie

crystal mason ring

I just got back from New York last night and I could not be sadder about that. Every summer, I travel to New York to visit with my sister and college friends. But, this was an especially unforgettable trip. Like, seriously, it may have been the best one yet.

For me, the hardest part about going on trips is deciding which baubles to bring. If you don't already know, I have an extensive collection of jewelry. [And that may be the biggest understatement of the year.] One might assume that, having such a large collection, it's easy to pick out a few sparkly pieces for a nine-day trip. Wrong. I like having options. Choosing which bauble to wear is like choosing how I want to express myself for the rest of the day. I also try not to wear the same piece more than once in the same week, because all my baubles need a little love. With that said, I'm SO obsessed with the Crystal Mason Ring from the Baublebar x Stripes & Sequins collection. I wore this ring every single day of my trip. I'm also wearing it at this very moment. This ring is on repeat and the world deserves to know.

Grace Atwood of Stripes & Sequins is one of my favorite bloggers to follow, head of social for BaubleBar, and all-around amazing. I love every piece from her collection and I'm pretty positive that I'll eventually end up buying everything. 

When Grace's collection first launched, I immediately purchased the Crystal Mason Ring and Crystal Pheasant Bib. I buy with my eyes and my eyes are naturally drawn to sparkle. When I received them in the mail a couple weeks ago, this happened...

And, during my New York trip, the Crystal Mason Ring just seemed to add the right amount of sparkle to some memorable, Insta-worthy moments. This ring has gotten a lot of action and clearly goes with me everywhere. I wore it...

..while watching the World Cup with friends.

 ..while eating a giant ice cream sandwich with my sister at Smorgasburg.

...while solo-snacking on candy.

...while traveling back to California.

P.S. I miss you already, New York.

chunks and chips cookies

I hope you just got really excited from reading the subject to this post. Here's the deal: the chunks are chocolate and the chips are potato. Now let me break down my salty-sweet concoction into a recipe for you so you can make your own batch. This is for all the people who already saw my cookie-making on Insta and think I'm sending these to you. Love you, but no.

Chunks and Chips Cookies
Yields about 20 cookies
Adapted from Quintessential Chocolate Chip Cookies

INGREDIENTS
1 1/2 cups flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
4 oz. (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup white, granulated sugar
1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed
1 egg, room temperature
1 tsp vanilla extract
4 oz bittersweet chocolate (the good stuff), chopped into chunks
1 cup potato chips

DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. In a medium mixing bowl, sift together flour, baking soda, and salt.
3. In a stand mixer fitted with paddle attachment, cream butter and sugars until light and fluffy.
4. To the butter and sugar mixture, add the egg and vanilla and beat on low. Scrape down the bowl with a spatula and remix to make sure that everything is well-combined.
5. Add the flour mixture and mix on stir speed until it just comes together. Do not overmix.
6. Add chocolate chunks and potato chips. Fold together or mix on stir speed for a few seconds.
7. Onto a parchment-lined baking sheet, portion out 1 1/2-inch, rounded scoops of the dough (I use a small  cookie scoop) and space them 2 inches apart.
8. Bake for 12-15 minutes or until cookies are lightly browned, rotating the sheet halfway through the bake time.
9. Allow to cool on the baking sheet for a couple minutes. Then transfer to a cooling rack or eat while they're still warm! 

And because my blog is about baubles and baked goods and I've been slacking on the bauble-sharing these days..

necklace: Baublebar (and this one)

I decided that my cookies and I should be twinning today! :)

nameplate reinvented

When I got my nameplate from BaubleBar (as seen here) sometime last year, I was so impressed. It is personalized perfection. Not only does it remind people that my name has 2 'N's, but it's just so freakin cute. Win.

I'll admit, I'm a social media slut and have been drooling over a twitter-plate necklace ever since it first popped up on the BB site. Because all avenues of social media use handles now (i.e. Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter, Facebook, etc etc), this necklace is really so much more than just a Twitter-plate. Needless to say, I finally gave in. But it also symbolizes my presence (as little as it may be) in the cyberworld. Since I don't plan on changing my handle ever, I consider it a good investment.

I received my Twitter-plate a few weeks ago, but I wore it out for the first time today. So, if you happen to forget where you can find me, just check my neckwear for answers.

shirt: old-- forget where I got this || jacket: Old Navy

the home. t

It's important to be proud of where you come from. And if you're from one of the 50 states, you can snag this uber cute t-shirt to rep your home. I wear a lot of blouses and way too many sweaters. Sometimes, it's nice to just throw on a cute tee that means something. And, of course, piling on tons of baubles is also part of my usual dress code.

Another thing-- this shirt is unisex. Don't you love it when ladies and gents can be twinsies? I do. So, boys, don't be shy--  you can show off your home and support the cause, too. But maybe leave the bauble-wearing to the ladies. Or not. I don't judge.

If I haven't yet convinced you that you should purchase one of these tees, then maybe you should also know that there's a cause involved. Buying this shirt means you're contributing to multiple sclerosis (MS) research.

Rock this tee, support the cause, and feel good (literally-- this tee is SO soft!).

 shirt: The Home. T || jeans: Rag & Bone

necklaces: BaubleBar Onyx Chain Strand (top) & BaubleBar Lilac Tab Strand (bottom)

bracelets (left to right): Gorjana Cross Over Cuff Bracelet, BaubleBar Onyx Garbo Bracelet (ivory & sky available), & BaubleBar Pave Links Bracelet

faded neon sweater + layered sparkle

I don't care what the season, I will always wear sweaters. What can I say? I'm addicted to baggy, casual comfort. And, since it's spring, a little neon doesn't hurt either. This sweater from Madewell looks heavy for the season, but it actually has just the right amount of weight for a partly cloudy day. Yellow, violet, pink, skinny jeans, and sparkle.. Yep, I think I covered all the bases.

 sweater: Madewell || jeans: Rag & Bone || necklaces: BaubleBar || ring: BaubleBar

 necklaces: Ice Akasha Strand (top) ||  Violet Triad Collar (bottom)

ring: Pave Link Ring

spring casual

shirt: Madewell || pants: Joe's Jeans || shoes: Stuart Weitzman || necklace: BaubleBar

Bauble of the day: BaubleBar's Tropical Gem Bib. This necklace is my current spring obsession. The combination of tropical and shiny gems are so good. I can't get over it. 

Also, this spring, I'm rocking a new, more relaxed hairstyle. I know it's not obvious at all, but I did get a haircut a few weeks ago. Since my hair got trimmed and my layers are finally all cleaned up, I decided to ditch the tighter curls and went for waves instead. The loose waves take less time, but they are also more fussy (aka: always in the way) throughout the day. My hair really has a mind of its own. I can't control it. Trying to find the right technique and the best products to tame the beast have definitely been an adjustment. Some days my hair looks amazing.. Other days, not so much. Then again, with the 90 degree weather right now, my hair is pretty much doomed. Maybe you'll have better luck than me. 

Great loose wave hair tutorials here and here. P.S. I always use curling irons with adjustable heat levels, which will help you avoid a situation like this.

lover of manifesto tees

I have to say it. Manifesto Tees.. I am SO obsessed. Meg Biram is the founder (and absolute genius) of Manifesto. This apparel line is unique, because every month features a new product printed with a new word. They are also limited edition, which means once they're gone they're gone for good. It's a complete bummer if you miss out, but it's really what makes the brand so special. So, don't be a loser and grab one while you can. You can "shop your manifesto" here. If you don't.. well, then you can admire mine below.

The other day, while I was doing some laundry, I threw on my February Lover sweatshirt. It is super soft, comfy, and incredibly cute. It's even more adorable here, here, and omg here. I seriously want to live in this sweatshirt all the time. Yes. Please. Stop judging me.. And my naked bed (the duvet was in the laundry!).

 

sweatshirt: Manifesto || jeans: JBrand || necklace: Claudia Rowe || cuff: Giles & Brother

The next Manifesto Tee will be the GSD (get shit done) shirt. You can vote for your favorite GSD design now. Or just go ahead and pre-order it, because it's going to be amazing.

chambray + rose gold

I know it looks like I curl my hair all the time and it's because I do. My hair is getting so long and I have no idea what to do with it these days. I haven't gotten it cut yet, because I'm still wavering on whether I should just get it trimmed and styled.. Or donate again to the Pantene Pro-V Beautiful Lengths Program. Regardless, right now, it's just too hard to wear it straight. So, instead, I pulled it up into a bun today. My curling iron needed a break anyway.

 shirt: Madewell || leggings: Stylemint || earrings: BaubleBar

 necklace: BaubleBar Rose Oversized Link Strand

rings: Gorjana Shimmer Disc Chain Ring in Rose Gold and BaubleBar Rose Gold Link Ring (in silver here)

psst.. how to have an amazing hair day

I've accumulated a bajillion different hair product samples. Okay, I know bajillion isn't a real number but, you get the point, I have a lot. Between sample boxes and free samples with purchases, I have kind of an overflow. They do come in handy when I'm trying to switch up my haircare routine. I'm not the type of person who would ever buy a whole bottle without testing it out first.

Around Valentine's Day, BaubleBar had a free gift with purchase promotion. Thanks to my addiction to baubles, I was able to snag the Rahua Jetsetter Kit and the Amika Blow Up Spray. My hair is long, thick, and extremely temperamental at times. It's hard to give my mane volume and shine without drowning it in product. Therefore, it takes a lot to impress me when it comes to this stuff. Well, it looks like the BaubleBar team not only knows how to pick out the best sparkle but also knows a thing or two about hair. All I have to say is OMG, THANK YOU! My hair is forever grateful.

With the Rahua shampoo and conditioner, my hair finally feels CLEAN. Other shampoo and conditioners leave my hair somewhat filmy-- like it's never really completely washed out. Rahua is 100% natural and I'm 100% sold on this brand. While my hair was still damp, I misted it with the Amika Blow Up Spray. What's great about this product is that it doubles as a heat protector-- always a plus. After blow drying, I noticed significantly less fly aways. For the first time in a long time, I felt like my locks looked sleek and shiny. I can't tell which product is responsible for this newfound hair swoon. Perhaps it's the combination of the two. Magic, I tell ya.

My hair looked so good, I considered stopping there and leaving it straight. But ultimately, I ended up curling it like I do 6 out of the 7 days of the week. I finished styling with another new product I'm trying out-- Not Your Mother's She's a Tease Volumizing Hairspray. More on this later.

 tee: NYC Paris ||  jacket: J Brand || jeans: Blank NYC || necklace: BaubleBar Silver Weave Bib || bracelets: Gorjana (Suede Studded Wrap + Parker Leather Wrap in Neon Yellow) and Sequence (Spice Knot Bracelet + One Soul Bracelet)

simple layers + rainbow wristwear

Happy casual Friday! No thick sweaters or printed blouses (aka: no Madewell) today. The glimpse of sunshine I caught today made me hopeful that spring will be arriving sooner rather than later. I've packed on the bulky statement jewelry all season, so today I thought I'd change it up by going lighter.

jeans: Blank NYC || shirt: Forever 21 || sweater: Urban Outfitters

I'm so jealous of people know how to layer-- clothes, jewelry, everything. I pretty much suck at it. But, in order to compensate for no big bauble, I decided to give the layering thing a shot-- basically threw on my 3 favorite dainty necklaces. I thought about taking it further, but then I foresaw a huge knot of chains by the end of the day. No thank you. 3 will do. And, with all the gold around my neck, I found it only appropriate to add color to my wrist-- in the form of a rainbow, of course.

necklaces: Gorjana (top) || Jennifer Zeuner (middle) || BaubleBar (bottom)

bracelets: Gorjana || Sequence

marvelously metallic + the best ballet flats

 

sweater: Madewell || jeans: J Brand || shoes: Tieks || necklace: BaubleBar

Let's talk Tieks-- the best ballet flat ever. These cuties are the only ballet flat I've ever seen that fold up for compact storage, which make them super easy to bring along everywhere you go. When I bought my Tieks, I also received some clips to pin up longer pants and a light drawstring bag for carry-along convenience. These babies are pure magic. Once I slip them on, it doesn't feel like I'm wearing shoes at all. I could walk, leap, skip for hours with Tieks on my feet. Uh, not that I do that.. often. What makes these shoes even more adorable is the padded turquoise sole. Hello, Tieks turquoise, you are the cutest surprise to ever grace the bottom of my shoe.

This is my essential black ballet flat. Beware-- once you go Tieks in black, you'll never go back. Though, Tieks come in so many other freakin' fantastic solid colors and prints. I honestly want them all! More Tieks, pleaseeee.

 

Bauble of the Day: BaubleBar's Silver Marvel Necklace. What better way to liven up a chunky, over-sized sweater than with a gorgeous metallic necklace? Holy amazing. The geometric design and the edginess of the metal makes this necklace a stunner. This one was a no-brainer. It's a silver on heather grey kind of day. Shiny, stand-out, monochromatic vibe.. why the hell not?

statement floral fashion

Happy February! Good news! Madewell's extra 40% sale items + free shipping is still going on, and don't think I haven't noticed. (Promo: LOVE40 extended to 2/3/13) Right now, they also have free shipping sitewide. But extra 40% off.. I just can't resist. I'm already drooling over a couple items.

I own a lot of button-down blouses, but this Silk Rose Print Boyshirt is just so cute! This is the get-ready-for spring blouse that I desperately need. The floral print would look so gorgeous layered underneath a bright sweater, jacket, or blazer.

Speaking of blazers.. The Charade Blazer was also just added to the sale section. I love the style, the color, everything about this blazer. It's bold but can also look classic with a fitted top and skinny jeans. I'm digging it.

And moving on from the most fantastic floral shirt to an even more perfect floral statement necklace..

I didn't get a chance to post yesterday. But I wore one of my favorite Madewell sweaters-- Spotted Snowfall Sweater in Burnt Sienna. I almost bought it for regular price but I was lucky enough to get the extra 40% off sale price about a month ago. So happy. This sweater is so soft, cozy, and probably my favorite polka dot piece in my closet right now. If it looks familiar, you probably watch Hart of Dixie. I definitely don't wear it as well as Summer Roberts-- er Zoe Hart-- but, let's face it, most people don't.

Bauble of the Day: BaubleBar's Gold Glitz Strand and Ice Flora Bib. The Ice Flora Bib is such a statement piece because of the over-sized floral design. But what makes this necklace special (and so spectacular) is that it's clear! It adds a uniqueness to my outfit but doesn't take away from my sweater. I layered it with the Gold Glitz Strand, which has just the right amount of structured sparkle to glam up my neckline.

And let's talk booties real quick. Shoes-- not junk in the trunk. I have a zillion pairs of booties (hoarder status). In honor of R. Bilson, I wore my Shoemint Esther booties in taupe. I adore these booties. They are so comfortable and have just enough heel for me. I like how these have a relatively basic design, with a zipper running down the instep and slight cinching on the sides. Plus they are neutral, so they go with everything!

chocolate chip cookies with nutella, brown butter, and sea salt

 

Bauble of the Day:  Gold Geo Bib (BaubleBar), Wishbone Charm Necklace (Gorjana), and Vine Ring (Gorjana). BaubleBar + Gorjana just go beautifully together, don't they? Statement pieces always seem to look better paired with simple, dainty jewelry. Clearly this comes from the mind of someone who is indecisive and sickly obsessed with jewelry.

 shirt: Madewell Laid-Back Tee in Stripe || jeans: J Brand Legging in Starless || shoes: Sperry Top-Sider A/O 1 Eye in Brown || nailpolish: Essie lapiz of luxury

Okay, I'm back. Well, in case you were wondering, I started throwing things at the t.v. during the Thunder/Lakers game. I really don't want to talk about it. I even wore my blue and orange striped shirt to support OKC! The only NBA update that matters at the moment is that Rajon Rondo tore his ACL, which means the Celtics are not getting anywhere close to the ship this year. Wasn't counting on that anyway. Le sigh, All-Star weekend cannot come any sooner..

The rest of my day was productive-- if you're like me and consider worthy productiveness to be shopping and baking. I popped into Anthropologie, not because I actually needed anything but it happened to be on the way to the grocery store. My intention was to make a quick return and leave, but then I tried on a few things. An hour later, let's just say I ended up in the negative. Don't care, new clothes makes me happy. But, for the record, I would totally judge me, too.

I got a little off track, but I was still on a baking mission today. So, here's the deal. I spend oodles of hours on Pinterest. I would consider myself to be an avid repinner. I'm not sure what any of it really means (I feel more like a stalker-- constantly admiring the fashionable and DIY savvy) but damn it's fun. Admittedly, I've also never actually made any of the recipes I've stored away on my pinboard.. until today.

Dear Annie (whoever you are), I wish I were you and could take credit for creating this Godly creation of a cookie. Alas, I am just a baker who had the honor of successfully fulfilling all my hopes and dreams that were unknowingly wrapped up in single cookie. Brown butter. Nutella. Chocolate chips. And OMG, the sea salt. This cookie is my new favorite (really, how could it not?!). It blew my mind and then slapped me in the face for waiting this long to make it. Sorry S'mores cookie-- I still heart you, though.

Here it is.. You're welcome.

Chocolate Chip Cookies with Nutella, Brown Butter, and Sea Salt
Recipe by Annie's Eats, adapted from Ambitious Kitchen
Yields about 2 dozen


INGREDIENTS
Chocolate hazelnut spread (such as Nutella), about 1/2 cup
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp. coarse sea salt, plus more for sprinkling
1 cup light brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated white sugar
1 large egg + 1 egg yolk
2 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
1 Tbsp greek yogurt or sour cream
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
3/4 cup dark chocolate chips

DIRECTIONS
1. Prepare nutella coins. Line a baking sheet with wax or parchment paper. Place chocolate hazelnut spread in plastic bag toward one corner of the bag. Twist so that it does not squeeze out of the top. Snip one corner off the end of the bag. Pipe small dollops of the spread on the wax paper, about 1 1/2 tsp each. You will need about 2 dozen. Transfer the baking sheet to the freezer and let set until firm, about 2 hours.

2. Prepare brown butter. Place the butter in a medium to large skillet over medium heat. Melt the butter completely. Continue to cook, whisking frequently, until the butter foams, bubbles slightly, and begins to brown. Continue whisking until the butter is evenly browned, being careful not to burn. Remove from heat and let cool.

3. Put the dough together. Line baking sheets with silicone baking mats or parchment paper. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt. In the bowl of an electric mixer, combine sugars and brown butter. Mix on medium speed until well blended and smooth. Blend in egg and egg yolk, scraping down the bowl as needed. Blend in the vanilla and yogurt. With the mixer on low speed, blend in the dry ingredients just until incorporated. Fold int he chocolate chips. Chill the dough briefly, about 30 minutes.

4. Assemble. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Use a medium dough scoop (about 2 Tbsp) to scoop a portion of cookie dough. Press an indentation into the center of the dough ball to create a bowl shape. Place a dollop of the frozen Nutella in the indentation and pinch together the edges of the cookie dough over the top to completely seal it in the center. 

5. Place the shaped cookies on the prepared baking sheets, 2-3 inches apart. Bake until the cookies are golden brown and set, rotating the pans halfway through, about 14 minutes total. When the cookies are finished baking, sprinkle lightly with additional sea salt. Let sit a few minutes, then transfer to wire rack to cool. Repeat with the remaining dough as needed. *Be sure to place the Nutella drops back into the freezer while waiting for cookies to bake. It softens fairly quickly otherwise.

I promise all the work is worth it. The instructions are very thorough, but I absolutely love the method outlined by Annie's Eats. Piping and freezing the Nutella dollops-- genius.

This is one sweet cookie, with the excessive chocolate and all, but the sprinkle of sea salt on top takes this cookie to the next level. It orchestrates all the flavors and balances out the sweetness to perfection. In all seriousness, if you don't make this cookie, you will never forgive yourself and I might slap you for being so ridiculous.

madewell + layered necklaces

So, in case you didn't hear, Madewell is having a promo-- extra 40% off sale items thru January 28th (use code: LOVE40). The problem is, you have to really stalk the site if you want to snag something, because everything sells out quickly. I've seen a few new items added to the sale section throughout the week, but mostly they keep lowering the sale price on the last of what they cannot sell.

I did happen to order a few items last week. It was one of those "I'm up at 3am and have nothing to do so I'll shop online" impulse buys. That maybe happens often. Anyway, I just received my order a couple days ago and, let me just say, my clicking finger didn't disappoint.

Today was all gloomy, rainy, and depressing. Yet, it did not stop me from wearing one of my new sweaters. After all, I did receive some new baubles last week I've been dying to wear. 3am purchases unite!

sweater: Madewell || pants: J. Brand [similar: here] || boots: Bandolino

Bauble of the Day: Brushed Tab Strand and Black Mesh Pearl Bib from BaubleBar. These are my most recent BaubleBar purchases and I am obsessed. Usually, I'm a one statement necklace per day kind of girl. But I couldn't help it! There's something about these two necklaces together that makes me swoon a little bit. And because I have no shortage of sparkle, I may have also thrown on the Ice Cluster Studs (no longer available on site), as well. They are kind of my favorite earrings ever.

chambray glam

Every wardrobe should contain at least one chambray shirt. And mine, I love. It's not like all the other chambray shirts I've seen floating around. This one is soft and absolutely comfortable. Right up my alley. There are a few different color options, but I chose the Grey-Glacier. It's a perfectly muted blue-grey color that can be worn with dark denim without looking awkward (always a plus).

Citizens Leggings || Bandolino Riding Boots || chambray button down 

Bauble of the Day: Beaded Bloom Bib from BaubleBar. You know me, I can't help but glam up my basic chambray shirt a bit. I actually spotted this EXACT same necklace at J. Crew last week for $42 or $44 (something like that). The point of my story is that I got this necklace from BaubleBar for $20. Did I already mention today that I love BaubleBar?

I also put on a couple other simple pieces of jewelry to go with my statement necklace: the Gorjana Kensington Ring and Alphabet Stud Earrings. I went a little Gorjana crazy over the holidays. I just think Gorjana gold is fabulous and the pieces are extremely well made. Over the holidays they had insane sales, so now I finally have a pretty decent Gorjana collection.

All in all, I love chambray, but of course the only way I'll wear it is if I can add a little bit of sparkle.

getting organized

I have so much jewelry that I think I could probably put them all in a pile and swim it it. I have been stuffing everything into my Pottery Barn McKenna Leather Jewelry Armoire for months now. And every month (week, day..), more baubles get squished inside. It's a pretty big size jewelry box, so you can imagine how many baubles I must own. Here's a picture of my jewelry armoire at it's finest-- prior to overcrowding:

Being the statement necklace junkie I am, you don't want to see what it looks like now. I just knew I needed another type of organizer to lift a little burden off my armoire. Statement necklaces don't really work that well in a jewelry box anyway, because they lay all weird and end up getting knotted and stacked on top of each other. No bueno.

I found this amazing framed jewelry organizer on Etsy. It took a few weeks to arrive but it was definitely worth the wait! It's perfectly crafted because it has tons of hooks to hang necklaces/bracelets but also a nice framed screen for hook earrings. I don't really have too many hook earrings, so this ended up working well. Now, my jewelry box carries mostly my daintier jewelry which is such a huge improvement.

I've looked all over the web for jewelry organizers. I'm not sure if this one is that practical for someone like me who owns way too much (because not all of the statement necklaces even made it onto the hooks). However, it's a nice way to organize jewelry with the added decor of the framed design. There were a lot of great organizers with better storage, but what they had in storage potential they lacked in style.

I'm totally happy with this purchase because it is really well made. It's not that heavy but surprisingly sturdy. I love the somewhat distressed look (not sure if you can quite tell from the picture) in midnight black, especially since my bauble collection is super colorful. Plus, it matches the rest of my bedroom furniture, so it's kind of perfect.

This was my second bauble organization attempt (the first was the armoire) and I would mark it as a success. I know eventually I'll have to figure out how to store the rest (plus future baubles) but I loving having some on display. Today, I made a lonely wall and an overworked jewelry box a little happier.