DIY Multi-Color Metal Necklace

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I've been all about the instant gratification jewelry projects lately.

Sometimes I love planning out a super in-depth project that has lots of different components and is very intricate and I know will take a lot of time in front of the TV to make (this DIY anthropologie knock-off necklace,  statement necklace, and DIY cluster web necklace were all super time consuming!) I feel like I appreciate some of those pieces so much because I knew how much time I put into making them.

Lately though I just feel like life has been too busy to get wrapped up in another complicated project so I'm all about quick and easy projects that still turn out a beautiful piece of jewelry.  Between working full time, moving recently and having a longer commute, working out every day and still trying to maintain a social life, jewelry making often gets put on the back burner.  It gives me such joy whenever I finally get to have a little down time to create something though, so I've been trying to find enough time to sneak in some short but efficient crafting sessions.

The secret to a quick and easy jewelry project? Use jewelry components that are already full of design themselves so you don't have to do quite so much design work! I LOVED these multi-color metal link components from  Cousin DIY the first time I saw them and knew they would be perfect for a project.  I played around with a few different design ideas until I realized that the components had so much design in them already, I really just needed to keep the rest of the project simple! Best thing about simple? It's often quick and easy too :)  In just one quick crafting session I was able to whip up this funky necklace.

It only requires very basic jewelry making skills as well - so don't be afraid to give it a try! Here's how you can make your own version.

Supplies

You will need needle nose pliers, round nose pliers, wire cutters, 6mm crystals,  Gold Multi-Color Teardrop Connectors, gold eye pins, 4mm gold jump rings, and a lobster claw clasp.

Steps

Your Whims Wednesday #312 {And Features}

Time for another Your Whims Wednesday Party!

<center> <a href="http://www.mygirlishwhims.com/"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lmtNkTowoFQ/WVuQKhczMmI/AAAAAAAAQOQ/mSO_-ut2OzsEpsg_q7kG3iu6rWXfzLW3QCLcBGAs/s1600/YWW%2BButton.jpg"/></a></center>

Here are some of my favorites from last weeks party!

Arnold Palmer Frosty by Just a Little Creativity

Grilled Steak and Blue Cheese Salad by Living La Vida Holoka


DIY Pom Pom Heels by The Style Safari


Blackberry Zuchinni Muffins by The Ramblings of an Aspiring Small Town Girl


Thanks to all who linked up! Grab a button if you were featured :)

<center> <a href="http://www.mygirlishwhims.com/"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Cpxv2ALXe0g/WVuRDmxnl6I/AAAAAAAAQOU/MNhNi4c1xqY5WIQ6M-NqRQAYSIQQ40LagCLcBGAs/s1600/Featured%2Bon%2BMGW.jpg"/></a></center>   Now... onto this weeks party!  

My Girlish Whims Book Club #2

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I posted a round up of my recent reads back in May and enjoyed hearing what other books you all had been reading and who else had read the same things as me! I've decided to keep it up: I'm literally ALWAYS reading (my kindle goes everywhere with me!) so after I finish a few books I will be sharing them here on the blog with my thoughts!

I think summer time especially is the best time for reading, I love spending time at the pool or at the beach just reading the afternoon away. No better way to relax :) Here are the four most recent books I've read so far this summer!

The Affair

By Gill Paul. Synpsos from Amazon: LOVE. GLAMOUR. SECRETS.

Rome, 1961. As the cameras roll on Cleopatra, the world is transfixed by the love affair emerging between Hollywood’s biggest stars: Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor.
But on the film set, tensions are running high. The money is running out, and a media storm is brewing over the Taylor-Burton relationship. When historical advisor Diana Bailey starts work on the film, she wants nothing more than to escape from her own troubled marriage and start anew. But as the heady world of Hollywood envelops her, secrets begin to emerge in the cast and crew. Is everything as it seems? And what really hides beneath the glamour of the famous film?
An enthralling story of love and passion from the bestselling author of The Secret Wife, set against the stunning backdrop of one of the most iconic Hollywood movies ever made.

This was the second book I’ve read from Gill Paul and while I liked The Secret Wife best, this was still another good read.  This story did not include quite as much historical fiction as the first book of hers that I read, but I don’t really read much historical fiction so I didn’t mind.  I have to say though I have never seen the movie Cleopatra, which this book was based around the filming of, but now I really want to watch it! There were two main characters in the book: Diana the protagonist but there was also a side story of a reporter working in Rome at the same time.  For most of the book the stories stay separate and you wonder how they will ever connect, but they eventually do at the end.  There is drama around (obviously as the title of the book indicates) an affair that Diana has while overseas in Rome, but surprisingly enough it was written in a tasteful way where we still like and admire Diana even while she embarks on some not-so-marriage-approved activities.  The book includes a bit of a “coming of age” scenario for Diana and I enjoyed the story line that revolved around that, the mysteries the reporter was working on at the same time, and the general background/setting of Hollywood & Rome that the story incorporated.

Your Whims Wednesday #311 {And Features}

Time for another Your Whims Wednesday Party!

<center> <a href="http://www.mygirlishwhims.com/"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lmtNkTowoFQ/WVuQKhczMmI/AAAAAAAAQOQ/mSO_-ut2OzsEpsg_q7kG3iu6rWXfzLW3QCLcBGAs/s1600/YWW%2BButton.jpg"/></a></center>

Here are some of my favorites from last weeks party!

Red Wine Date Compote Burger by Simply Darrling

Pomegranate Berry Sangria Spritzer by A Dish of Daily Life

It Takes Two Piece Sets by To Be Bright

Grilled Peaches and Cherries with Cinnamon Honey Syrup by Home Cooking Memories

Thanks to all who linked up! Grab a button if you were featured :)

<center> <a href="http://www.mygirlishwhims.com/"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Cpxv2ALXe0g/WVuRDmxnl6I/AAAAAAAAQOU/MNhNi4c1xqY5WIQ6M-NqRQAYSIQQ40LagCLcBGAs/s1600/Featured%2Bon%2BMGW.jpg"/></a></center>   Now... onto this weeks party!  

High Protein Brownies using GButter

These high protein brownies are modified from blogger Chocolate Covered Katie and use gbutter high protein spread to give an extra peanut butter flavor without all the fat!

I had such a fun Saturday this weekend spending the night in Philadelphia that Sunday night was feeling pretty depressing having to get ready to go back to reality today...so it was the perfect time to comfort myself by trying out a new brownie recipe.

I was only gone one night but it felt like such a fun little vacation! My boyfriend and I went down to the city Saturday afternoon and hung out at Spruce Street Harbor Park which is a super cute outdoor pop-up park at the waterfront in Penns Landing in Philly.  There are outdoor hammocks you can lay on, lawn games to play, food and drink vendors, and a floating barge you can go hang out on! We had a fun afternoon relaxing out in the sun and having a few cold ciders (me) and beers (bae) before walking back to our hotel to get cleaned up for an event that night.

We stayed at the Hilton in Penn's Landing which is literally only steps away from the park and was SO NICE! Such good customer service and a great experience overall.  We were going to a charity event at a rooftop bar that night for Gym Bully Clothing Co and we had a nice time hanging out at the hotel bar sipping some prosecco before heading out for the evening. 

 My dress and necklace are from Catch Bliss Boutique (code "Rebecca25" for 25% off) and shoes are DSW

We woke up Sunday morning and enjoyed the continental breakfast at the hotel and even though it was SUCH a beautiful day out my boyfriend had to fly to Nashvhille for work :( so he headed to the airport and I headed home alone to console myself by making these delicious brownies.

I have had the recipe from Chocolate Covered Katie for her Chocolate Workout Brownies pinned ever since she first shared it last month and I have been DYING to try it! I mean, a brownie that is high in protein and actually decently healthy for you? Um yeah, obvi count me in for that one. I wanted to make a few adjustments to make them slightly more macro friendly though, and I'm SO happy with how they turned out! One brownie is just under 100 calories and packs 10 grams of protein!