Month: October 2012

It’s NOT Halloween….yet, But it sure is fall!

You’re thinking…it IS Halloween!  Well, that’s true but what if you’re really not that into Halloween, now you’re wondering what you’re going to do.  You could be like me and just sick of looking at everyone’s pictures of how drunk they were at this costume party over the weekend *cough cough* Instagram.

If you’re in Michigan…we tend to be lucky this time of year because there are sooo many things for us to do in the fall.  Especially if you have kids in your house!  That’s kind of where I’m limited for certain fall activities…I’m rugrat free which I love dearly!  It’s just me and my furry babies.
Anywho,  when I was younger and even occasionally now, we (as in my family or school field trips as a kid) would take trips to the apple orchard and cider mills.  Talking about a 9 out of 10 on the fun-o-meter!  Ok, that was an exaggeration but it is something cool to do that isn’t the normal weekend shopping, pizza party or
A few things to do that aren’t costume related…unless you have one of those kids that like to wear a fireman’s hat or a princess tutu everyday.  I see those kids quite often…I’m positive I’ll have one that likes to wear rain boots in the middle of July.  Haha, I’m rambling!
Here’s the list:
Wiards Orchard
Ypsilanti, MI
Hayrides, Cider, Donuts, Night Terror Hayrides, Apple & Pumpkin Picking
Fall Color Tours
Check for your area
Tour the wonderful colors around the Great Lakes
Haunted Theatre
10/30 & 10/31 8-9pm
Detroit, MI
Dexter Cider Mill
Apple picking, Donuts, Cider
http://www.dextercidermill.com/
Those are just a few things to do this week!  I’ll keep everyone posted of anything that screams excitement in 40 degree weather lol! Enjoy!

There Will Be Blood! Spooky Bloody Halloween DIY Nail Art

Yes! Blood!

Well…pretend blood…on my nails.
Happy Almost Halloween!
It’s Mani Monday!
I spent the weekend trying to figure out what type of Halloween nail art I could come up with that wasn’t too hard.  See, I love DIY’ing my nails but sometimes I get a tad too ambitious and things get a little crazy…I think it’s the polish fumes.
So this idea popped up!  It started with…
“How about I just do black and silver and make a spider and web?”
“Naaah that’s entirely too complicated for a Saturday afternoon.”
 “Hmm, you could do something red, ooh like blood!”
“Oooh! Dripping blood like you just killed something!”
“Yes, that’s it!”
Unhuh…that was my entire thought bubble….hey, when creativity happens, we just go with the flow! 🙂
Now, moving on to the actual mani…step by step with pictures for all to see!
What I used:
1.
Brush (this came in a set of 10 for around $6 at Sally Beauty)
Julep-Trina Turk Edition in Delauney (red)
Julep- Leslie (black sparkle)
Confetti-White Wedding
2.
Confetti- Silver Slippers
Julep Silver Glitter
Julep Quick Dry Nail Drops
1.
a. Start by painting nails with base color (here I used 3 coats white and 2 coats black sparkle for accent nail)
Don’t worry about clean up til you’re all done…things always get messy!
2.
a. On the white nails: place a drop of red polish in a scattered pattern only to mid-nail.
I put a big drop so the end result would give me a 3D effect.
b. Let nails dry just a tad then take nail brush (dipped in red polish) and pull polish from the dot to the tip of the nail.
c. Paint rest of the nail tip with red.
d. Do the exact steps with the accent nail. In my case, black with silver drops.
Seal with a clear top coat…and quick dry drops.
And VOILA!
I call these “Blood Splattered”
Think I’m all set to walk into the building with blood on my hands haha!
If you’d like to become a Julep Maven like ME and receive polish and gifts every month for less than $20 just like the products above (except the Confetti brand) remember to click on the blue box pics to the right of this post labeled “Become A Julep Maven” or
OR manually enter this code –> 4743970
That’s my personal referral link…totally not an advertisement…refer to these posts for more info and my usual excitement about being a Julep Maven:
Okie dokie trick-or-treaters…what are you dressing up as?

Colors of the Season: Plus Size Fall Fashion with a little Fall Photography

 
Apparently, it’s fall but I’m not completely sure “fall” got that memo!  Yesterday it was over 77 degrees and humid (believe me, my hair officially hates me now) and today the high is supposed to be 50!  I think the weather Gods are on vacation. Have I told you guys I live in Michigan?  I should be wrapping a scarf around my neck by now.  Once I get out sweaters, I’m ready to put them on…not so fast says mother nature.
 
Speaking of weather…hoping all my southern and east coast sweets in the states are safe with the “Frankenstorm” coming and all.
 
This is what “fall” looks like here…bright, colorful and full of…leaves.
 
 
I took these pictures while driving in Canton, Michigan and it definitely looks as though the fall season is in full bloom
(I was the passenger this day…safety first!)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The colors of the season are amazing!
 
Absolutely inspiring to be exact.
 
Wonder what colors I can find in stores…definitely need some gold, deep reds and maybe emerald.  Fall essentials in 2012!
 
Shopaholics rejoice!
 
 
1. Splendid Mixed Media Top $98 Nordstrom
 
2. Studded Snakeskin Print Blouse $39.50  Ashley Stewart
 
3. Sejour Corduroy Jacket $88 Nordstrom
 
4. Seven7 Baroque Jeans $99.95  Lane Bryant
 
5. Ingenue Paisley Print Dress $89.99  Saint Bustier
 
6. Michael Kors Zip Campshirt $94.50   Nordstrom
 
1. Skinny Jeans $59.95  Lane Bryant
 
2. Ribbed Sweater  $19.50  Ashley Stewart
 
3. Mynt Faux Leather Moto Jacket $188 Nordstrom
 
4. Ralph Lauren Polo $65 Nordstrom
 
5. Kenneth Cole Faux Wrap Top $89.50 Nordstrom
 
Pants $99.50 Nordstrom
 
6. Michael Kors Zip Campshirt $94.5  Nordstrom
 
 
1. Baby Phat Sweater Dress $59 Macy’s
 
2. American Rag Double Breasted Jacket $69  Macy’s
 
3. ING Colorblocked Shirt $39.99 Macy’s
 
4. DKNY Python Jeggings $89 Lane Bryant
 
5. Mynt Faux Leather Moto Jacket $188 Nordstrom
 
6. Pink Rose Striped Sweater Tunic $50.99 Macy’s
 
 
 
Pretty amazing  colors, right?! If I had shopping money this month, I’d have an armful of bags right about now!  If you can get out and shop…have fun for me!
xo Rena

Morning Linkage: Cup 19

Welcome to Friday, stylish sweets!!

This week felt like it went by fast!  Like super fast!  I’m gauging this on the fact that I have entirely too much to do next week and it all begins in just a couple days.  Not looking forward to that at all!  This may be sort of a heads up (next week posts could be few and far between…sorry in advance) Don’t fret…trust me, I love doing this so nothing will really keep me away.

Think I’m starting to ramble…yea, definitely rambling!  Here’s your morning scoops of linkage!

Joe Simpson, yes Jessica and Ashley Simpson’s dad…he’s gay?! ~ Radar Online

Eva Longoria is, um, single…again! ~ TMZ

Donald Trump must be bored! ~ NY Daily News

Christina Aquilera was offered to be a plus-size what?! ~ Huffington Post

Taylor Swift and the Kennedy boy are splitsville! ~ ABC News

Kim Kardashian is rocking a huge rock! ~ E! Online

Hope everyone enjoys the weekend!  Remember if you’d like to be included in the Morning Linkage posts, just let me know (here at CurvesandCoffee.com or by email or on Twitter or Facebook!) I’d love to feature more blogs, personal sites of any topic.

Have fun!
xo Rena

Daykoor: Tux Chair

Surprise!  It’s a chair!!

You guys, it’s a “tuxedo chair” that’s gotta be better than a regular chair, right?

(Reaching, I know but you understand)

This weeks love of my life comes in a dark shade.  Way different from my usual chair obsession like here and here and here.

Still worthy of a glimpse.

 
 
tuxedo chair
 
 
 
Thank you Crate & Barrel for feeding my need to decorate an apartment I have no room in! This chair would look great in a room with dark wood floors and sleek modern accessories. Imagine a streamlined sofa in solid charcoal next to it with silver accents on the wall.  This could also work in a men’s room (office or place) I can see a dart board somewhere but a luxe one not the kind with the rubber tips!
 
A black coffee table would be primo!  Maybe a round glass table between the chair and the sofa (with black legs) YES!  This chair works in so many different ways!
 
How would you decorate?

Morning Linkage: Cup 18

Old news: Maria Sharapova is no longer engaged to NBA star! ~ E! Online

First photo from Justin & Jessica Timberlake! ~ People

MMM + HM = Happy Marriage! ~ Cosmopolitan

Speaking of Maison… Yeezy taught me! ~ Lucky

Lisa Ling is having a baby girl! ~ Huffington Post

Bobby Brown was arrested…again! ~ TMZ

I am looooving this Tumblr! ~ Suri’s Burn Book

Nina Garcia and JC Penney might just have something! ~ @ninagarcia

Please. Take a look at this beauty! jcpenney: Duro Olowu – coming in spring 2013! #duroforjcp instagr.am/p/RLxRCpmEic/
— Nina Garcia (@ninagarcia) October 24, 2012

 

What’s In My Bag?

Well….good question.

Being a shopaholic has its’ pros and definitely has cons.  For example, it’ll be the day pigs have wings if I ever run out of things to wear.  Even though, every single day I stare into my closet and chant “I have nothing to wear today.”  In fact, pretty sure I don’t need another bag…might be positive about that one even.  Shoes, nope, shouldn’t need anymore of those either but we all know I’ll be shopping again one day.

Positive things about being a shopaholic…I have options!  A girl can never have too many options especially when it comes to having clothes, shoes and bags.

I usually switch them out to go with outfits or outings.  When it’s time to switch out a purse…well…when I dump everything from one bag to another, I don’t go through anything.  That’s more than likely a bad idea but hey, it’s usually 5 minutes before I need to leave out of the house!

Now that we have that established…what’s in this current bag?  I’m almost scared to show this…been carrying this bag for a week.  I’ve been running errands, going to class, making it to appointments, and shopping.

Dear sweet baby Jesus, here we go…

How about we start with the bag itself? Good? Good.  Coach Poppy Glam Tote in silver…it was a gift for my birthday last year and it.is.durable!  This bag is my go-to when I’m in a hurry or if I need to carry more than the normal stuff.  I’m not even sure if these things are normal but the contents of said bag weren’t actually as bad as I initially thought.

Here’s what’s in my bag after dumping EVERYTHING out in the middle of my bed:

  • Hand sanitizer clipped to the bag…A MUST!
  • Dove Body Spray…always a great pick me up during the day and not strong.
  • Victoria’s Secret Pear Glace…during the holidays they had travel sized lotions (I bought a ton!)
  • Asthma inhaler…because, well, you never know.
  • Watch and ring…towards the end of any day, that stuff is coming off while I’m driving home.
  • Pen
  • Two headbands…not sure why I have two but one is sporty and the other is shiny and more fashionable sooo we’ll just go with that.
  • Hair comb
  • Target receipt…of course!
  • Wallet…Coach fanatic here.
  • Coins
  • Hair clip…I have long hair and well never mind no more excuses.
  • Four lip glosses…nope can’t explain that.
  • Raffle tickets…I honestly can’t even remember where those came from.
  • Mini notebook…writing with a pen and paper is so not a total lost art people…plus I doodle when I’m bored and I forget things.

That wasn’t too embarrassing or totally wacky.  Ok, I probably won’t ever do this again lol but it was definitely fun!

Morning Linkage: Cup 17

Good Tuesday morning stylish sweets!
Morning Linkage is all about ME!
Well, US.
We can all get together and be friends (or “like” each other)
YES!  That’s right!
I made a Facebook page!

Facebook.com/CurvesAndCoffee

Artwork by cafeauladies
Two wonderful artists who design artwork based on menu items at Starbucks!
I’m still waiting for my “order” to be ready but in the meantime…check out their Tumblr page by clicking the link above!
Hope you have a good day!
Gotta grab my coffee to-go!!
xo Rena

Mani Monday: Drugstore Finds

It’s fall but the weather has been feeling quite “springy” lately here in Michigan.
So instead of going for the dark polish that came my way earlier this month via my Julep Maven…
I decided to lighten things up with a little lilac sparkle!
This was the easiest and quickest mani I’ve possibly ever done…could have something to do with my utter disdain for the upkeep of a dark mani.
The color I chose still has a little “Halloween” to it…
Here’s what you need:
1. Any color polish you want, I chose Wet-n-Wild “Hallucination” & Confetti “Belle of the Ball”
2. Prep nails by buffing (makes the polish go on smooth, a must!)
3. Apply your base color to all nails (Lilac in my case.)
4. Pick any nail you want to be the “accent” nail using the clear glitter (hallucination) or do all 10 for a super sparkle effect!  I applied TWO coats of the sparkle on top of the lilac to catch the light.
5. Let dry, then apply a clear topcoat to seal in all that shine!
Voila!
You’re left with a mani that looks amazing in any light without doing any hard work!  I should probably call this my lazy mani lol!
Let me know how any of your mani’s turn out!!
xo Rena

Music Monday Playlist

Good Monday morning!

Yes, that seems chipper…because I want you to have a happy day!  Hope everyone had an incredible weekend…what did you do?  I simply relaxed at home and enjoyed spending time with the family.

Morning Linkage

Since I think everyone likes a pick-me-up…today’s linkage will be a little bit of tunage (tunes, music) ok that works!

Til later my sweets!

Happy Monday 🙂