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About Brittany

Brittany grew up in San Diego and recently made the move to the lovely city of Chico. She is currently pursuing a degree in journalism at Chico State and is so happy to be able to bring some DIY ideas to the LuLu*s blog. In her off time, Brittany is a nail polish connoisseur, fashion blog lover, and self-proclaimed chef.

Posted by Brittany:

DIY: Cap-Toe Shoes

DIY | 31 July 2012

Cap-toe shoes are all over the runways and the red carpet lately and I don’t know about you, but I’ve wanted to get my hands on a pair for quite some time. Celebs from Alexa Chung to Gwyneth Paltrow are making a huge statement in cap-toe shoes and I’m going to show you how to take a perfectly plain patent pair of shoes and turn them into something all your own. 

Keep it classic with a black cap-toe or get fierce with a neon cap-toe platform pump! I’ll show you both versions of this simple trend that will be sure to make any outfit pop. 
 
Materials needed: 
  • Any pair of patent flats or heels
  • Black acrylic paint
  • White acrylic paint
  • Paintbrush
  • Masking/painter’s tape 
Instructions: 
  1. Figure out how big you want the cap toe to be and use enough tape to mask off the area. Be sure to make the cap-toe portion even on both shoes. (I used the edge of a piece of paper to make sure they would be even.)
  2. Start by painting the toe portion with white paint and let it dry for about 2-3 hours. This helps to prime the shoe so that the black paint looks dark and smooth.
  3. After the white has dried, paint over it with black paint and be sure to get the brush along the edges of the shoe; the goal is to not leave any white peeking through.
  4. Immediately remove the tape and allow the paint to dry overnight and voila! Classy cap-toed shoes that are perfect for any occasion.
Materials needed: 
  • Same as above but instead of black acrylic paint, use a can of any neon-colored spray paint.
Instructions:
  1. Follow the first two instructions above and make sure to cover the rest of the shoe with newspaper and tape it off. Spray paint tends to sneak up in unwanted areas so it’s super important to cover whatever portion of the shoe you do not want painted.
  2. After the white paint dries, start spraying the can of paint in short spurts from about 8-12 inches away from the shoe; this helps to avoid dripping.
  3. Spray a few layers of your color onto the shoe and make sure it’s totally covered. Immediately take the tape off when you’re finished. Let these shoes dry overnight before you dance the night away in them!

California Getaways

Fashion | 16 July 2012

California is the perfect destination for a getaway this summer. The weather along the coast is gorgeous, the deserts are hot enough for all-day pool parties and the options for a great outfit are really endless. Packing might not be the best part of a vacation but we’ve got you covered! We put together three great styles for three great vacation spots. Which one is your favorite?
(1. Sunday Funday Sunglasses 2. Local Celebrity Local Bear White Crop Top 3. Soda Sneak Natural Raffia Basket Weave Wedge Sandals 4. Claire Fong Crop Circles Black Leather Earrings 5. Billabong Caravan Tribal Striped Backpack 6. Spice-icles Spike Necklace 7. Arm Party Planner Beaded Stretch Bracelet  8. Similar: Mandalynn Bianka Convertible Black Monokini
San Diego – Warm weather and gorgeous beaches make San Diego a great vacation spot whether you’re looking for a good time or an even better tan. The laid back vibe of this California destination means you can keep it classy and comfy all at the same time. Turn heads with a simple black one piece and some chunky wedges, and glam it up with some colorful accessories and a cute crop top for boardwalk babe status.
(1. Motel Tabbi Yellow Floral Print Crop Top 2. Twig Round Sunglasses 3. Piece o’Giza Gold Studded Cuff 4. Steady As She Glows Neon Green and Black Purse 5. Motel Dixie Black Floral Print High-Waisted Shorts 6. The Fronds Print Wide Leg Pants 7. Fuchsia Velvet Neon-Trimmed Platform Pumps 8. Last Minute Finish Gold Collar Necklace)
Palm Springs – Palm Springs is the perfect girl’s weekend destination this summer. Resort style is always in season in the gorgeous deserts of Palm Springs. Whether you’re spending an afternoon at the spa, hanging out poolside, or eating at a gourmet restaurant, you’ll look great in any of these super cute LuLu*s pieces. Keep it kitschy and cute with some bright florals, retro wide leg pants and some neon accented accessories and shoes.
(1. Cool Teal Lace Jacket 2. DIY flower crown, 3. Privileged Jax Black Fold-over Ankle Boots 4. Billabong Wild-Eyed Distressed Print Top 5. Necklace 6. Heart of Glass Heart Sunglasses 7. Chip Mate Mint Bracelet 8. Zad Wooden It Be Nice Brown Cuff 9. BB Dakota Hayley Southwest Print Shorts 10. Pack to the Future Tapestry Floral Backpack)
Big Sur – Floral prints, boho and lace are always in style in the beautiful destination of Big Sur. Pack your camping essentials in this rad floral tapestry backpack or find your inner flower child with a DIY floral crown. Make a major statement in a short floral dress with a lace jacket and fringed booties or take it easy in some printed shorts and a graphic tee. No matter what you’re doing in Big Sur, you’ll do it in style!

DIY: Floral Crown

DIY | 11 July 2012

Floral crowns are in in a big way. From Lana Del Rey to style bloggers across the nation, floral head pieces are the new must-have accessory. The best way to rock this look is to do it yourself! It is so easy to make these crowns and you can create a few of them for different outfits or occasions. Play around with different flowers and different colors to create a look that’s truly your own.
Here’s what you’ll need:
  • Fake flowers in various sizes
  • Thick brown floral wire
  • Thin green floral wire
  • Felt
  • Fabric glue
  • Scissors
Let’s get started:
  1. Start by plucking the stems off of the big flowers and cut off the remaining stem so that they can lay flat.
  2. Cut circles out of the felt and glue them onto the back of each flower. Make sure that the circles are small enough that they don’t show through the petals.
  3. After the glue has dried, place the flower onto the brown wire and glue another circle behind it to secure the flower to the crown.
  4. Fill in the sparse spaces with smaller flowers by wrapping some of the green floral wire around the smaller stems then wrapping them around the crown.
 
Note: I wrapped and glued enough flowers to stop at the ears and then wrapped some leaves around the back, but you can choose to place the flowers all over the entire crown, too!

 

LuLu*s How-To: Makeup Remover

DIY | 19 June 2012

 

It is so important to remove your makeup at the end of the day and especially before you go to sleep. The makeup left on your face every night can lead to enlarged pores, inelasticity of your skin, and breakouts. Yuck! 
Here’s a way to create your own makeup remover at home that requires a few inexpensive ingredients and four easy steps. I love that taking care of your skin doesn’t have to be expensive!
Materials: 
  • Extra virgin olive oil
  • Filtered water
  • Cotton pads
  • Travel-sized container 
Instructions: 
  1. Fill the container 3/4 of the way full with filtered water and fill the other 1/4 with extra virgin olive oil 
  2. Shake gently to combine the ingredients
  3. Soak a cotton pad or cotton ball with the mixture and start wiping away that makeup! I’d suggest starting with your eyes and working towards the rest of your face

The smooth olive oil helps to gently break down your makeup and it won’t harm your skin. Just don’t forget to moisturize after cleansing!

LuLu*s How-To: Cleaning Your Makeup Brushes

Beauty | 12 June 2012

Imagine how many times we use our makeup brushes on a weekly basis. It is so easy for dirt and oils to get trapped in those bristles which can lead to breakouts and clogged pores, and we don’t want that! I have found a great way to clean makeup brushes on the cheap with things that you probably already have in your kitchen. This is the easiest most efficient way I’ve found to clean my brushes at home and it works wonders!

Here’s what you’ll need: 
  • Olive oil
  • Gentle dishwashing soap
  • Plate
  • Paper towels 
  • Dirty brushes!
Let’s get started:
1. First you’ll need to combine equal parts of the olive oil and dish soap on a small plate with a little bit of tap water.
2. Swish the tips of your brushes in the mixture, one at a time. Don’t worry if the mixture gets cloudy or dirty, it’ll clean quite a few brushes before you’ll need to start over!

3. After swishing them around and getting all of the makeup off, run them (brush side down) under warm water while rubbing the bristles to get them extra clean.
4. Lay brushes flat on a paper towel and let them dry overnight 
This is such an easy how-to that will come in handy whenever your brushes need a quick cleansing. Your face and your wallet will thank you!
xoxo

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