The Budget Friendly Guide to Statement Jewelry

It's no secret that I am a total sucker for jewelry. It is probably my number one guilty pleasure when I go shopping. Why? A great piece of jewelry can completely transform an outfit AND you can find amazing pieces for cheap! I've put together this helpful guide to shopping for statement jewelry on a budget. Enjoy!

JewelIQ has tons of amazing pieces. I love almost every single thing on their site. The best part is that everything is under $25 with free shipping. Candy colored jewelry is big on this site as well as big stones, chains and chunky necklaces. I couldn't stop staring at the Pink Tribal Spikes Necklace, Mint Marquise Drops and the Lavender Stripe Cuff

It's been a long time since I've bought any clothing from Charlotte Russe, but I still come back for the jewelry. Charlotte Russe always seems to carry jewelry that's on trend - whether that be neon, chunky chains, or dainty necklaces. I found a bunch of great geometric and spiky jewelry here. I love the Metallic Spike Short Necklace, Dangling Fringe Triangle Earrings and the Metallic Spike Stretch Bracelet - each only $5!

Baublebar is the one jewelry site I check regularly. They get new stuff each week and their stock is incredible. The best part is that they organize the site according to collection, so you are able to quickly find the style and trend you're interested in. I had so much fun browsing though the "Art Deco" section of the site. I love the Ice Floral Cagey Necklace, Onxy Zelda Drops and the Gold Aragon Cuff. The prices on here are a bit higher than the other sites I've listed. But you can still find some great jewels in the $20-$40 range. They also have weekly "Buried Baubles" - pieces that have been deeply discounted, and great sales and promotions.

Ruche is an all-around great site - I love most of the stuff they carry. Their jewelry is a bit more rustic looking, so you won't find edgy or loud pieces here. What you will find is gorgeous crafted looking pieces that appear to cost more than they actually do. Check out the Midnight Dream Jeweled Necklace, Tranquil Seas Drop Earrings and Clarion Golden Bracelet.

Lulu's is just a fun site, and their jewelry is no exception. They carry everything from bright bauble necklaces to great trendy watches - all for amazing prices. Product sells out quickly at Lulu's - so be sure to jump on something you like right away. You can also be notified when a product comes back in stock, which is a great feature I've made use of many times. What I love: Bubble Vision Ivory Statement Necklace, Beauty Queen Peach Rhinestone Earrings and Beige and Gold Watch


We all know Forever 21 has a TON of jewelry. The key here is looking for the right pieces. They have a no-return policy on all jewelry - so you have to be careful what you purchase. Not everything is high quality, so you may get stuck with something that breaks after the first wear. For me, the key is staying away from heavily beaded or stoned items - I've noticed these seem to break easier, as the stones fall out fairly soon after wear. I stick to items that are all metal, or do not have too intricate of a design, like the Geo Fringe Necklace, Spike Chandelier Earrings and Floral-Etched Southwestern Cuff. If you look hard enough you can find some great stuff here.

Last but not least is Etsy. You can find just about any style of jewelry on Etsy, including a ton of amazing statement pieces. They key is knowing how to search and narrow your results. If I have something specific I'm looking for, like a Gold Pave Link Bracelet - I search for it on Etsy, and normally a bunch will come up! I don't come to Etsy to "just browse" for jewelry, for me it's too overwhelming. You can find just about anything, like this J Crew inspired Crystal Necklace or these Glass and Gold Art Deco Earrings. Try it out for yourself! Get a specific piece in mind and see if you can find it on Etsy.


Other sites I love for jewelry:
Modcloth
Asos
Stella & Dot
TopShop

I've included my favorites - what would you add?

Easy Brunch: Popover Pancake

I woke up on Saturday morning craving both pancakes and eggs. I knew I wasn't hungry enough to eat both, so I thought - why not have popover!

Popover pancake, also known as Dutch babies, are super quick to make, and taste delicious! They are made with eggs, but have the consistency of a pancake - best of both worlds.

I usually only eat popover pancake once a year. As a family tradition, my sister makes it every Christmas morning, it's something we all look forward to. Other than that, I never eat it. But, I whipped one up on Saturday and was very pleased with the results!




You'll need:

2 T salted butter
4 eggs
1 cup milk (I use skim or 1%)
1 cup flour
Toppings: syrup, powdered sugar, fruit, jam, yogurt (anything you like!)

How to:

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F

Once the oven is heated, melt 2T salted butter in pan. Most popovers are cooked in a cast iron skillet, the pancake "pops" better in a rounded dish, but I only had a 9x13 pan -still works!

Once the butter has melted, remove the pan from the oven. Be careful not to overheat the butter or brown it.

While the butter is in the oven melting, mix eggs and milk. Blend. Then add in flour, and stir until batter is smooth.

Pour batter into the pan. Sprinkle with cinnamon. Place back in oven.

 

Cook about 10-15 minutes or until the pancake "pops" and the edges are golden brown. Mine turned out a bit lopsided, but still tasted delicious!

Serve anyway you like. I like mine topped with yogurt, granola and fruit. My boyfriend enjoyed his with peanut butter, syrup, granola and berries! Other ideas: jam, powdered sugar, nutella, whipped cream, nuts.

You Are Beautiful

I received an email yesterday from one of my good friends with the subject "You Are Beautiful :)". When I opened the email, I wasn't sure what to expect, but as I clicked though to the link, I was blown away.

If you haven't seen the Real Beauty Sketches campaign by Dove, it is an absolute must watch. I've since watched the video about 10 times.



The campaign tells a wonderful story of seven women who sit down with a forensic artist. He asks each woman a series of questions to get a visual as he sketches. As you watch the video, you hear the women say things like "My mom told me I had a big jaw", "When I smile [my chin] protrudes" or "I have a fat, rounder face."

In the next scene, the women are asked to describe one of the other women in the group. The forensic artist then makes a second sketch of each woman as described by another person. The dialogue has a sharp contrast. You hear the other women saying things like: "her chin was a nice thin chin" or "she had nice eyes, they lit up when she spoke."

The difference in the sketches was astounding, I couldn't help but tear up as they reacted to the contrast of the drawings. The ones derived from stranger's descriptions were much more beautiful, welcoming, and true to life.

I read a lot of comments that this campaign was just a marketing ploy or a facade, because, in the end, Dove sells skin care products that women use to make themselves look better. Or that this campaign is still focusing on women's looks, and is still tying women's self-worth to looks. I disagree entirely. This campaign was created to open our eyes to an epidemic surrounding women: we need to learn to love ourselves. We are so incredibly hard on ourselves, it is disheartening. This campaign is not trying to tell us that looks are important, but how you perceive yourself is important.

As women, we spend so much time worrying about what people will think and being critical of ourselves. Time is spent wondering if others will judge what we're wearing, if we look good enough, if our hair needs a trim, if anyone will notice we gained 3 pounds -- the list goes on and on. It is exhausting! This campaign really shows us that no one is as critical of ourselves as we are. Our friends and family love us because of our positive qualities, our true character and the wonderful things about us. If we can begin to see ourselves just a fraction as positively as others do, we'll be on the right track.

The more we tell ourselves we aren't good enough, or focus on things we don't like, the more we will believe it. Continuous reinforcement of negative thoughts results in these thoughts becoming a belief core to our being. In order to change how you think about yourself as a whole, you have to change how you think about yourself each day!

I've been working on being more positive and accepting of myself. If I catch myself saying something bad about myself or my looks I immediately think "how is this benefiting me?" Usually my answer is that it's not benefiting me in any way! Tuning into my thoughts, and being more aware of how I talk to myself has made me realize how hard I am on myself sometimes. 

As the woman in the video said, "I have some work to do on myself." I think we all do.

Spring Cleaning: How to Tackle Your Closet

My boyfriend and I just recently moved (eek!) into a slightly smaller one bedroom apartment, with a lot less storage space. While I was stressing out about where everything was going to fit (mainly all of my clothing!), I tried to think of it as a good opportunity to go through things and get rid of what we don't need.

Cleaning out my closet has always been a point of contention for me. I am aware that I hold onto items for far too long - even if I haven't worn them in years. Always with the thought "If I go to Mexico - I might want to wear this!". It's time to face the music, I'm not going to Mexico, and that beaded halter top needs to go. I realized I need to incorporate some strategies, if I want to get serious about getting rid of items in my closet.

I've listed some useful tactics for closet pack rats, like me, who want a fresh start!

1. Rips and stains must go.
This is an easy one. We all have those damaged items that, for some reason we keep telling ourselves we'll take the to tailor/cleaners and get fixed. How many months has it been sitting in your closet in that condition? If it's been a while, and it still hasn't been fixed, chances are you won't be getting it fixed anytime soon. Donate these items.

2. Enlist a friend.
For me, I am able to talk myself into keeping just about ANY item of clothing. Even if I haven't worn the thing in 2 years, I still am able to convince myself I might need it on some future vacation. This is where your opinionated sister/best friend/mother comes in. I find it best to first sort into a "definitely keep" "definitely donate" and "maybe" piles. Then try on the "maybe" pile for your friend.

3. Tag your clothing.
This is a great tip for the super organized person. Put a marker (strip of paper, tie a ribbon, piece of tape) around each hanger in your closet. Mark a date on your calendar 6 months from today to check back. Each time you wear an item of clothing, remove the marker from the hanger. In six months, check back to see which hangers still have the marker on them. Chances are, if you haven't worn the item in the past six months, you probably won't wear it in the near future. Donate!

4. Do you love it?
When I'm shopping with my mom, she always asks "Do you absolutely love it?" If the answer is yes, I'll buy the item. If the answer is "Well, sorta..." The item gets put back. The same logic can apply to the clothing in your closet. You want to love every piece in your closet. If there is a shirt that "only looks good when I'm 10 pounds skinnier" - donate it.

5. Either or technique.
This can be great when deciding between pieces. We all know it's great to have a little black dress - but do you need 6 of them? Try and decide between similar pieces to choose which ones you like best. This will help ensure that you keep some of your favorites, and get rid of the less-cute look-alikes.

6. Create a rule.
This is for someone who doesn't want to take the time to mark their hangers, but essentially uses the same logic. I have a friend who assesses her closet every six months, and if she can't think of when she last wore the item, it gets donated.


Even if you aren't moving, spring cleaning can be a great opportunity to give your home, and closet a needed face lift. Such a good feeling to donate a bunch of items for our

Stay tuned for my next Spring Cleaning post, when I provide a list to tackle your whole house!

My Spring Wishlist

My spring wishlist is technically my birthday list. My sister asked me what I wanted for my birthday and I thought - well, I may as well create a blog post about it! I'm lusting after florals, neutrals with pops of colors, and anything metallic. I could have put about 100 items on this list, but somehow I narrowed it down to 9! Here are all the things I'm lusting after this spring:

1. J Crew Factory Tailored Blazer in Hot Pink - This blazer for me is a no brainer. The material allows it to be multi-functional. It can be thrown over a cocktail dress for a night out, or paired with jeans and a white tee for a chic casual look. The bright color offers something new over the traditional plain blazer.

2. Pearl Princess Bib Necklace from JewelIQ - These bib necklaces have been all over lately. But this one from JewelIQ is the first pearl bib I've seen. It's too cute, and I can't wait to get my hands on it!

3. Gold Scallop Pillow from Caitlin Wilson Textiles - Caitlin's textiles and pillows are absolutely adorable. She has so many lovely prints and colors that can help bring a room a fresh Spring look with just a few new pillows.

4. Viscid Watch in Mint Green from Anthropologie - I've been lusting after this watch since last year. Yes, I know emerald is the Pantone color this year, but I'm still not over mint!

5. Floral Clutch by Dorothy Perkins - I've been looking for a perfect floral clutch, and this is it! The scalloped edges and the pattern are to die for.

6. Classic Crochet Toms  - These crocheted Toms are a go-to for spring, to slip on for any occasion.

7. Viva La Juicy perfume from Juicy Couture - This perfume is by no means a new perfume. It's been around for a long time, yet everytime I walk past the perfume counter, I reach for a spritz of this perfume. It's light, but warm and floraly at the same time. Delicious!

8. Capri Blue Mercury Glass Candle from Anthropologie - My mom has an obsession with mercury glass, I guess it runs in the family! This candle is too cute!

9. Kimono Maxi Dress from Target - I don't know how I've gone this long without a gray maxi dress. This one from Target at just $24 is perfect for spring!

Meet Molly: My Quest to Live Happier.

Hi, I'm Molly. Here I am, circa 1990:

As a child, I loved crafts (not limited to bead animals, sand art, bracelet making, and gluing sequins to everything), organizing my crayons by color, drawing fashion designs with my gel pens, and anything else my creative brain could think of. But, don’t let my indoor-kid image fool you. I spent plenty of hours running around outside, playing soccer, eating sand in the sandbox, rolling down hills, and riding my razor scooter. I also had a knack for reading: Boxcar Children, Choose your own ending books, Goosebumps, Harry Potter, Nancy Drew. I was the kid who joined the summer reading program at the library and read enough to earn the free Pizza hut personal pan pizza. Yum.

I was a happy kid. I had a great childhood filled many hours doing the things I loved.

Flash forward to today. Currently, I live in San Francisco and work at an enterprise software company doing social media. I love my day job. The people I work with are unbelievably smart, the company culture is incredible, and I feel appreciated for the work I do each day I come to work.

But somewhere along the way, I came to the realization that I have stopped making time to do the things I love, things that make me happiest.

Studies have shown, that taking time in your day to appreciate and acknowledge happy moments makes you an overall happier person. It only takes a couple seconds, to take pause and think about happy moments in your day. Thus, this blog was born. Seconds to Happy is about taking the time (even if it's just a few moments) to do things that make me happier!

The purpose of this blog, for me, is two-fold:

1. Accountability: It’s easy to say, “I love drawing, I’d like to start drawing more. I’m going to do that.” It’s not so easy to actually start doing it. This blog will hold me accountable to do more of what makes me happy.
2. Encouraging and inspiring others. Not only is this blog about making time to do what makes me happier. It is also a platform to share how to be happier. How to encourage more positivity, good thoughts, and having support and encouragement to do something new or interesting, is one of the best ways to actually get it done. I hope that my ideas for incorporating happy & fun moments into everyday life will inspire you to do the same! After all, happiness is contagious!

What am I going to talk about? aka: The things that make me happy

• Cooking
• Crafts
• Working out
• Shopping
• Traveling
• Helping others to be happy

I hope you’ll join me in my adventure to live happier!