DIY: Peter Pan Collar Necklace

Hey guys! I've been loving the peter pan collar trend lately. And if you type "peter pan collar" into Etsy, there are literally pages and pages of collars that you can buy. But if you're looking for something more "you," don't want to buy one, or simply have fabric lying around, then this diy is for you!

What you need:

• Large piece of fabric (I used a dress I never wore)
• Scissors
• Pen or pencil
• Ribbon
• Measuring tape or ruler
• Needle and thread
• Embellishments, like buttons or sequins (optional)

Start by using your pen to create the shape you want.

Don't worry, it doesn't have to be perfect and you can always tweak it later.

Using your measuring tape, make sure its even on both sides.

Cut your necklace out, but leave an inch of room in case you want to make it bigger.

I laid mine against my chest and looked into the mirror to make sure I liked the size.

Since the fabric was so wrinkled, I had to quickly iron it.

Cut your ribbon in half, thread your needle,

and start sewing your ribbon to the fabric on both sides and voila! You're done!

Since the fabric is so thin, it's a bit flimsy, so I'll probably back it with a thicker fabric somehow.

I also left it as is, but you could add buttons or sequins or a lightweight brooch.

The options are endless!

New Shoes!

For some reason, I was never a shoes kind of girl, but lately I've been shoe obsessed! While at school, I seem to look at other girls' feet just to see what kind of shoes they're wearing. In hindsight this might be a weird thing to do.

Anyway, I've been wanting a cute pair of sandal wedges to wear to school that aren't too high and won't make a lot of noise when I walk. Don't you hate when your shoes click-clack as you walk down the hallway? No, just me? (And it's also one of my goals for this year -- to wear more heels/wedges!)

Polka Dot Nails

I painted my nails red with Milani's Bet on Red (a dark, slightly shimmery scarlet) a few days ago, but when I got my new dotting tools in the mail (I got these) I knew I had to test them out. I'm not very adept at nail art, so I did something very simple -- polka dots!

As you can see, on my middle fingers I did something a little different. I used the largest dotting tool to create bigger dots next to each other. When the lighter pink had dried, I did the same with the darker pink to create a scalloped edge.  

Next time I'll probably do either all dots or all scalloped edges, and I prefer the dark pink dots on the red.

What do you think?

Red // Milani's Bet on Red

Light pink // Wet n' Wild's Tickled Pink

Dark Pink // Opi's Techno Girl

Views from School

I feel incredibly lucky that I attend grad school in the best city in the world (though I might be biased since I grew up only thirty minutes from New York City). I go to City College of New York, or CCNY, in Hamilton Heights. The only downside is that I have to drive in and its getting rather expensive!

Anyway, the view from my school (since it's higher on a hill) and the buildings themselves are magnificent. Just take a look for yourself, and have a nice Monday!

P.S. -- Did you see The Hunger Games?! I thought it was so moving, and the lack of music at times was very emotionally effective and let the actors shine. Sometimes when I read a book and it's turned into a movie, I find many things that they changed that I don't like, but not this adaptation! If you haven't seen it yet, do! You won't regret it!

The above pictures are of Harlem facing East

Sherpherd's Hall

An entryway into the school

 North Academic Building

 View from the 7th floor balcony facing West

Hunger Games Wishlist

The Hunger Games comes out today (or rather yesterday at midnight)! Are you going to see it? I'm seeing it tomorrow with my brothers, and I can't wait!

If you've gotten caught up in the frenzy, like I have, here are some more Hunger Games-inspired odds and ends to add to your life...

Mockingjay iPhone case by Beauty and Luck (Etsy) ($7.99)

Infinity Scarf by CalicoOwls (Etsy) ($28)

Stay Alive Bow & Arrow Necklace by Je t'aime Boutique (Etsy) ($24)

May the Odds Cuff Bracelet by Berkey Designs (Etsy) ($19)

Hunger Games Refrigerator Magnets by Regrigerator Prose (Etsy) ($12)

Catching Fire Lip Tint by Theme Fragrance (Etsy) ($6.50)

Down with the Capital Shirt from Amazon (Price varies)

74th Annual Hunger Games Pin from Cafe Press ($4)

Keep Calm and Catch Fire Print by One Red (Etsy) ($15)

China Glaze Capital Colors from Amazon ($4)

Have a great weekend and

may the odds be ever in your favor!

Inspired By: Haymitch Abernathy & Cinna

In the last Inspired By: The Hunger Games posts, Haymitch and Cinna are our inspiration. Haymitch, a man who won the 50th Hunger Games and who is also an alcoholic, is mentor to Katniss and Peeta, a job he hates because he's had to watch all the District 12 tributes die. Despite being intoxicated most of the time, he is also intelligent, cunning, secretly kind, and hides a hatred for the Capitol.

Cinna, who is Katniss' stylist from the Capitol, gets her the attention of everyone in the Capitol and the Districts by creating her famous "girl on fire" costume for the opening ceremony. He is easy going, calm, friendly, and gives Katniss advice before entering the arena.

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 (Images via TheYoungFolks, EW, WeGotThisCovered)

Inspired By: Primrose Everdeen & Effie Trinket

Primrose, or Prim, is Katniss' younger sister. A young girl of twelve whose name is called for the 74th Hunger Games, but Katniss takes her place. She is sweet, skilled at healing like her mother, believes in her sister's ability to win the games, and cares for her cat, Buttercup, and her goat, Lady.

Effie Trinket, who is from the Capitol, is there to escort the District 12 tributes to the Capitol and make sure everything goes smoothly. Despite her fun pink hair, she is usually calm and composed, likes good manners and for things to be orderly.

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(Images via Wiki & DeliciousToC)

Inspired By: Gale Hawthorne

Gale is Katniss' hunting partner and best friend. He's two years older and has taken care of his younger siblings for a long time (since his father died in the same explosion that killed Katniss' father). He is strong, fiercly loyal, keeps his promises, hates the Capitol, is good at trapping animals with snares, and loves Katniss.

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(Images via Lionsgate & HungerGamesDWTC)

Second Quarter Quell

If you haven't seen Mainstay Pro's Second Quarter Quell video by now, you are definitely missing out.

And if you haven't read the books or simply forgot, the Second Quarter Quell was twenty-four years earlier than the Hunger Games that Katniss is competing in, and it was the one that Haymitch Abernathy won. In the second book, Catching Fire, the next games is the Third Quarter Quell.

Wasn't it fantastic?!

Inspired By: Peeta Mellark

The Boy with the Bread. That is Peeta Mellark, who is the boy tribute from District 12. He is a baker's son, kind, loyal to a fault, saved Katniss' life years ago by giving her bread, and has been in love with Katniss since they were children.

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(Images via TeenLitRocks & Cinderella in Rubber Shoes)

Inspired By: Katniss Everdeen

To start off the Inspired By: The Hunger Games series, I knew I had to start with the most well-known character from the books, The Girl on Fire herself.

For those who haven't read the series or just want a reminder, Katniss Everdeen lives in District 12 of Panem and volunteers to take her sister's place in the Hunger Games, which is a very rare occurence in her district. She's strong-willed, stubborn, loyal, over-protective of her family and friends, very good with a bow and arrow, and inadvertantly starts a rebellion.

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(Image via StatueClothing)