How to Make a Statement Necklace

You can make a glam statement necklace with just a few jewelry making tools, beads and findings. This blue and gold statement necklace looks elegant and complex enough to be sold in a designer store but can easily be made at home with a little bit of patience and a few basic jewelry making steps! 


Friends, I'M BACK! I'm back in the jewelry making business! I recently moved and had limited access to my jewelry making supplies for a few months during the transition.  It feels so good to be settled again with my beads right at my fingertips!


What a better way to celebrate than to share this FABULOUS new tutorial with you all?!? A little bit of bling, a lot of bit of glam, and an overall stunning looking necklace than can be made very easily with a few basic jewelry making techniques!


Seriously, I couldn't think of a better project to share as my come-back jewelry making project. Woot woot! I've already worn it out a few times and have gotten multiple compliments on it and NO ONE believes that I actually made it!

Are you ready to learn how to make your own version? Let's get started!

Your Whims Wednesday #274 {And Features}

Time for another Your Whims Wednesday Party!

Your Whims Wednesday

Here are some of my favorites from last weeks party!

Apple Picking Printable from Clean & Scentsible
Apple picking fall printables plus instructions on how to mount and frame a canvas.


Maple Apple Cinnamon Coffee Cake by Busy Being Jennifer
The most DELISIOUS Maple Apple Cinnamon Coffee Cake!! This is the perfect fall entertaining dessert to share with friends and family! - BusyBeingJennifer.com
 
Fall Dining Room by Worthing Court Blog
Fall decor in a farmhouse style dining room
 
Veggie Loaded Mac and Cheese by Slap Dash Mom
gluten free macaroni and cheese
 
Fall Oak Leaves Crochet Pattern by The Painted Hinge
Fall Oak Leaves Free Crochet Pattern
 
Thanks to all who linked up! Grab a button if you were featured :)
Featured on My Girlish Whims
 
Now... onto this weeks party!
 

Your Whims Wednesday #273 {And Features}

Time for another Your Whims Wednesday Party!

Your Whims Wednesday

Here are some of my favorites from last weeks party!

Roasted Salmon with Strawberry Balsamic Reduction by Embellishments
Roasted Salmon with Strawberry Balsamic Reduction in 30 minutes or less. Anything with balsamic reduction is a winner in my book.
 
Colorful Fall Fabric Pumpkins by Flamingo Toes
Easy Fall Fabric Pumpkins
 
Apple Ginger Moscow Mule by Delightul E Made
The perfect apple cocktail to enjoy on a crisp autumn day! My Apple Ginger Moscow Mule is made with spiced apple cider, Ginger liqueur, Ginger beer, and topped with a fresh, crisp Granny Smith Apple slice! How 'bout them apples?!
 
Easy Meringue Ghosts by Creatively Homemade 
Too cute to spook, this easy meringue ghosts recipe will be a hit with kids and adults alike. Learn how to make them here!
 
Thanks to all who linked up! Grab a button if you were featured :)
Featured on My Girlish Whims
 
Now... onto this weeks party!
 

Great Online Invitation Options with Basic Invite

 Well, it's happened. BABIES ARE HAPPENING FOLKS.

Hey now. Not for me yet ;) But lately it seems that all of my friends from high school and college have started having BABIES!!!!!! We are all in that 25, 26, 27 age range now and it seems like every other week I see one of my old friends on facebook posting a pregnancy announcement!

You know what they say...first comes love...then comes marriage...then comes a baby in a baby carriage...and then comes a whole lot of invitations for baby events. Oh what's that? That's not how you remember the rhyme going? Hah.  Seriously though! I'm just at the beginning of my friends having babies but already have received a multitude of baby party invitations and know that the time is coming soon where some of my close friends will have babies and I will be the one needing to send out these invitations too!

That's why I'm so glad I recently found out about the site Basic Invite: I can already tell that this site is going to be a LIFESAVER for anyone caught up in the baby boom like I am ;) Now, I know there are tons of sites to find invite online, so what makes Basic Invite different?

 First off: they have almost unlimited colors. Once you select a design you can change the color of each element on the card to over 180 different color options so you can make sure the card is exactly how you want it down to the littlest detail. I don't know of any other site that does that to this same extent.  Details are so important especially when it comes to discount baby shower invitations: you can pick whatever colors you want on the card to match exactly with the colors for the shower!

Your Whims Wednesday #272 {And Features}

Time for another Your Whims Wednesday Party!

Your Whims Wednesday

Here are some of my favorites from last weeks party!

Caramel Apple Pie Overnight Oats by Tornadough Alli
Caramel Apple Pie Overnight Oats
 
Roasted Tomato Zucchini Spinach Fettucini by Honey and Birch
 This roasted tomato zucchini spinach fettucini recipe is the perfect way to use your farmer’s market purchases and end-of-summer garden’s bounty. Pair it with a glass of Grillo for the perfect weeknight dinner! | honeyandbirch.com

Pottery Barn Inspired Metal Pumpkins by The Navage Patch
PotteryBarn-outdoor-galvanized-pumpkin
 
White Chocolate Pumpkin Spice Latte by Delightful E Made
If you like the classic Pumpkin Spice Latte, you're gonna adore this white chocolate version of the must-have fall drink! Made with just a few simple ingredients, this wonderful hot concoction will be your new favorite! No espresso machine necessary!
 
DIY 3D Paper Hot Air Balloon Baby Mobile by Simply Darrling
DIY Paper Hot Air Balloon Baby Mobile
 
Thanks to all who linked up! Grab a button if you were featured :)
Featured on My Girlish Whims
 
Now... onto this weeks party!
 

Triple Creme Brie, Sunflower Honey and Nectarine Crostinis

Making crostinis might be one of my most favorite things to make ever.  I love serving them when entertaining especially: I feel like guests just love how easy it is to pick up these snacky little creations and the flavor combinations are just endless!


I had an impromptu BBQ planned for over labor day weekend and decided it would be fun to plan a tasty little crostini to serve at the party.  I am loving eating up all the juicy peaches and nectarines that are hanging around at the end of summer so I thought a crostini with a sweet slice of nectarine on top would hit the spot perfectly.  


Paired with some creamy brie cheese, a drizzle of sunflower honey, and a sprinkle of fresh rosemary, these little bites make such a refreshing and DELICIOUS appetizer!

Your Whims Wednesday #271 {And Features}

Time for another Your Whims Wednesday Party!

Your Whims Wednesday

Here are some of my favorites from last weeks party!

Pumpkin Spice Cream Cheese by Morgan Manages Mommyhood
Looking to add some fall flavor to your everyday bagel? This creamy Whipped Pumpkin Spice Cream Cheese is the perfect festive addition! Keep reading to learn how to whip it up in just a minute or two!

The Perfect White Wine Sangria by Mama Mommy Mom
white-wine-sangria-4

Thai Spaghetti Squash by To Simply Inspire
Healthy, low carb Thai Spaghetti Squash is flavor packed with a spectacular peanut sauce and topped with scallions. Perfect lunch or dinner to make ahead.

Sea Glass Wind Chime by The Crafty Blog Stalker
Create a handmade sea glass wind chime and enjoy the summer breeze. The craft kit includes all the supplies you need. A simple DIY craft tutorial idea.
 
Thanks to all who linked up! Grab a button if you were featured :)
Featured on My Girlish Whims
 
Now... onto this weeks party!
 

Cajun Rubbed Shrimp Skewers with Fresh Peach Salsa

Going down to the beach over Labor Day weekend always sounds like a good idea, doesn't it? A nice three day weekend when the weather is still warm to say farewell to the summer season while sun baiting on the beach and enjoying all of summer's vacation festivities one last time...ah. I love a nice beach weekend! That's what I had in mind for this weekend down at Ocean City New Jersey with my parents: a little sun, a little relaxing, and cooking up some good eats for dinner at night!


Well, I still went down to the beach this weekend but ended up leaving early because apparently a HURRICANE COMING UP THE EAST COAST does not make for the best beach weather.  Le sigh.  There will be no more working on my tan this summer. No time on the beach...but I did get some shopping in instead :) (can you say hellooooo to the most glorious shoes I got to wear for my birthday later this month????) I still had plenty of time to cook up a yummy and healthy meal for dinner as well! I enlisted the help of my dad and his grill to make...

Cajun Rubbed Shrimp Skewers with Fresh Peach Salsa


Spicy shrimp are paired with a fresh and cooling peach salsa to make a yummy dinner that is the perfect meal to whip up at the end of this summer season while (hurricane permitting) the weather is still nice enough to grill and peaches and tomatoes are over abundant! And of course the best part...this meal is SUPER healthy while still being SUPER flavorful! One serving has only 264 calories and is high protein and low carb. Here's how to make it!