Mean Muggin Monday Muse.

Meet my friend Hannah Bottino.

She is totally talented and absolutely adorable.

She has a heart for Jesus and an eye for art.

Her drawing skills are incredible and something that should be shared.

So here I am, sharing her with you all.

You’re welcome.

Hannah draws on mugs.

To put it simply.

But they are so creative and super unique.

As an avid coffee drinker *slash* border line coffee addict myself, I appreciate a good mug.

And Hannah’s mugs are sure to not disappoint.

Here’s her process:

She draws on the mugs with a  magic ceramic pen

Then she lets then sit for 8 hours.

After that she bakes them in her household oven at 375 degrees for 40 minutes.

and viola!!

The magic is all in the mug.

She is open to ideas and enjoys making custom mugs for friends, family and those out of state wanting to have a delightful cup of coffee in a delightful mug.

She was telling me “Grumpy Cat” seems to have been on popular demand, but she also had mugs that ranged from song lyrics, to verses, to literally anything anyone could think up.

Too perfect.

The mugs can be found at nearly all the local coffee shops around my home town area.

Take a look.

This girl has a good thing going.

God sure has blessed this girl with a fabulous talent and gift that she can share.
Her dreams are to go to art school in London…yeah I said London.

This girl is too major.

She wants to study illustration and pursue her dreams as an artist.

I wish her all the luck in the world.

Hannah not only has a gift with a pen, but she has a lovely style all her own.

I had to take a few pictures of the artist herself.

She looked fresh in a white sweater and brought the glam with gold accessories and studded bracelet,
and completed the look with classic brown Vans.

She is so bohemian and Free People inspired.

This girl wore a flower crown to her prom.

I applaud her.

Not yet out of high school, and I already know this girl is going places.

I am blessed to know her and had the best time talking with her over coffee (of course) chatting about life, love, God, and what the future holds for us.

Be sure to check out her Facebook page for her mugs!!

https://www.facebook.com/Bottino.Mugs?fref=ts 

Do it!!

Place an order today.

I’ll leave you with her words to live by:

“The purpose of art is washing the dust of daily life off our souls.”

So you’ve all been officially mugged.

I mean in the best way of course.

Have a happy Monday people.

Go search for inspiration and things of that nature..

XOXO

Anna

Second star to the right…

and straight on till morning.

Name that movie!!!

yeah you’re right…

it’s Peter Pan!

The old Disney classic Peter Pan has been on TV lately and got me inspired to write about Peter Pan collars.

Peter Pan collars add that sophistication to any top, tank, dress or blouse.

It takes an ordinary top and adds a little bit of sass.

Sass is always encouraged. But only in moderation.

Too much sass is not cute.

Ya gotta have equal parts “class” to your “sass”.

Peter Pan collars not only have the cutest name but they are better in groups.

Get your friends to wear them and you guys can match.

Just kidding. Kind of.

The more the merrier.

There can always be more than one Peter Pan collar per group.

Unlike fedora’s.

There can only be one per group.

For real though.

You guys aren’t the “rat pack”.

Fresh, retro, and ever evolving, Peter Pan collars have been a blast from the past and have a place in the current fashion trends.

I don’t think a Peter Pan collar will ever be unacceptable.

School, work, girls night out, dinner dates, your ten year high school reunion…you can wear a collar to all events in  your life.

I mean  maybe you don’t need to saturate yourself in collars, but learn to love them at the same time.

Super feminine and flattering on all body types.

I encourage all you fashionista and lovers of fairytales to rock the Peter Pan collar.

Play it up or keep it cool.

They bring a sense of childlike fun and playfulness to your outfit and will guarantee a good mood.

I hope you think happy thoughts and go on your own Peter Pan adventure.

Too cheesy?

Oh welllllll!

Happy Monday all. Embrace today and things of that nature…

XOXO

Anna

Summer to do: Tie-Dye.

Channel your inner artist, hippie, flower child, or free spirit  for a minute here.

This perfect summer activity/necessity is so much more than your 5th grade art project.

… or that one t-shirt you tie-dyed way back when at summer camp; yeah we all have them.

Tie dying is getting a make-over and it’s making a come back.

Not only is it super easy to do; but it’s super easy to wear in a fashionable way and not so much a “rock on” 90’s kid way.

You can virtually tie-dye anything and everything you want.

Check it:

shoes

jeans

shorts

all tops

dresses

headbands

bags

swimsuits

Need I say more…

Tie Dye is super summer friendly and summer savvy.

To Dye For. by anna-bramson

It’s about to get psychedelic.  

Tie dye prints are fun and colorful of course.

It leaves room for you to be totally creative and as color crazed as you want to be.

There’s no right or wrong way to make a killer tie dye print.

Tie dye prints can be subtle and soothing or loud and wild.

If you’re a fan of color which I’m sure most of you are; tie dying is the way to go this Summer.

Spice up your jean selection with some tie dye.

Turn up the volume and make a statement.

Get crafty.

Pull out an old pair of sneaks or shirts and give them a face lift and a little color.

Or go buy a oversized tee… dye it, cut it, braid it, and then use it as a swimsuit cover up.

Totally do-able, original, and versatile.

That’s a wrap.

Happy Thursday.

Happy tie dying.

Happy looking rad in your new tie dyed digs and things of that nature…

XOXO

Anna

It’s a Black&White affair.

Today is all about Black and White.

When you think Black and White (at least I do) I imagine referees for about any sporting event or the always classic, “prison stripe” look you would see in all the old movies.

But Black and White represent so much more than that.

They are Fashion Forward in every way.

These two colors could not be more opposite and you know what they say…opposites attract!

Black and White are trending this Spring/Summer and I want to bring you ways you can rock this style.

A little Strip and a little Solid

Pairing a striped blouse and a solid jacket is sure fire way to be on trend this spring. You are drawing attention to your stripes without overpowering those around you.

Out Pushing Daisies

Blacks and whites can be played up in a “graphic” nature with fun prints. Large scale floral prints bring an element of fun and funky vibes to your outfit.

Linear Lines

Now I know the stripes may be a little Beetlejuice-esque but bare with me here. Stripes create long linear lines for your legs giving off the illusion of long legs. All you need to complete the look is a solid color top and some jewelry to finish your statement.

Play with Patterns

Black and White is not only allowed with stripes. Adding a black and white skirt with a festive print can brighten up your day. Color block on top and add a fun skirt of pant on the bottom. You can also have fun with overall patterns.

Black&White Affair. by anna-bramson

Black and White separate are one thing.

Together… they are another thing. Ha. Jokes.

But for real; together they are a perfect combination.

Sophistication at its finest.

Truly timeless looks and colors. Good for all seasons. Not only Spring/Summer.

Create a look that is you using only black and white. I bet it won’t be as hard as you think.

Go out and have yourself a Black&White Affair.

Happy Thursday friends.

Do something crazy and things of that nature…

XOXO

Anna

Eco-Friendly; it’s all in the details.

In today’s society we hear a lot of talk about “sustainability”, “organic”, and “eco-friendly” fashions…especially living in Oregon.

Sometimes it’s hard to tell what’s real or not; how much good the company is actually doing and how sincere they are when they say they are eco-friendly.

It’s awesome to see companies do more for their customers than just create a garment or accessory.

I admire designers who want to give back to communities and those in need and be apart of something bigger then themselves.

I was searching through some Eco-Friendly companies and came across some pretty neat ones that I wanted to share with all of you.

Enjoy.

chinti and parker (conscious cloth):

Two cousins started up this business with a clear mission in mind- “to create beautiful ethically made garments that value style on par with substance.” They chose all of their cloth with ethical consideration, but also with luxury and beauty in mind.

“Production decisions always consider the beauty and quality of a garment in line
with ethical and environmental concerns. All jersey (cotton, bamboo and
cotton-cashmere) is produced in Portugal, and cotton jersey is 100% organic
except for grey marl. Cashmere is made in Italy from fine Italian yarns and
woven cotton pieces are produced in both Portugal and India.”

Each garment comes with a tag stating its individual ethical credentials, so you
can see clearly whether it’s organic, fair trade. In order to limit unwanted environmental damage, Chinti and Parker
actively offsets carbon emissions and in so doing has been certified carbon neutral.

Angela and Roi:

Angela and Roi was founded by a couple who wanted to change the world through handbags. They call it “Handbags with a Purpose”. Their company was founded on strong moral principles; prioritizing ethical and respectful treatment of their customers. Instead of using animal leather for their handbags, they create all the bags using Vegan leather. Thus reducing cost and causing no harm to animals.

Angela and Roi have many different colored handbags and each color represents a different organization or cause and for each bag sold in that specific color, 5 dollars will be sent directly to the charity and organization. They are currently giving, or donating to 11 different companies. Some include Breast Cancer, AIDS, Diabetes, Anxiety and Depression etc. They promote awareness with ribbons you can put on your handbag displaying the color for whichever organization it represents.

Sseko Sandals:

Every sandal has a story…

Sseko sandals uses fashion to provide employment and education to women who are trying to overcome poverty and pursue their dreams.

“Sseko Designs is a sandal company based in Uganda. We make beautiful leather sandals with interchangeable fabric straps that can be styled in hundreds of ways.

Sseko began as a way to generate income for high potential, talented young women to continue on to university. Sseko has graduated three classes of women. Every woman who has graduated from Sseko is currently pursuing her college degree.

In addition to our university-bound team, Sseko also employs a full-time team of women from all walks of life. By creating an environment of dignity, honor, creativity and dedication, Sseko Designs provides the opportunity for women in East Africa to end the cycle of poverty and create a more equitable society.

We believe that every woman has a dream. When she is given the opportunity to pursue those dreams, we are collectively walking towards a brighter and more just and beautiful world.

We believe that our stuff has a story and that every dollar you spend is a vote for the way you think the world should work.

Every Sseko has a story.”

So how it works is  you buy the leather sole of the sandal and you then can choose from many different colored or patterned straps and totally personalize your own pair of Sseko Sandals!

They are totally fashion forward and super fun and unique because there are so many ways to style them.

They even provide you with a tutorial on how to tie your Sseko Sandals because the possibilities are endless.

Such a great concept.

 

I hope these stories have inspired you all in some ways to be a part of something bigger than ourselves.

I know they’ve  inspired me.

I applaud those who go out and make a difference in the world and make a change in people’s lives that we may not know existed before companies shed light on them.

We live in a beautiful world full of beautiful people.

Be sure to go check out their websites!!

I hope you all go out and have a splendid Tuesday.

The sun is shining and I’m feelin to go soak it in.

Here’s some random good news; only 3 more days till Friday…and the weekend.

Go have fun today and things of that nature…

XOXO

Anna

Monday Muse.

Meet my dear friend Elise.

She is a junior transfer here at school with me. We met last semester and had some classes together. We’ve been good friends since. (Cue the awwww track)

Elise is majoring in Fashion Merchandising with me and it’s a good thing cause the girl’s got style.

She’s a fashion inspiration to me and I wanted to share her style with you all.

Elise is the queen of thrifting and is always showing me her new finds. She always gets the killer deals. I’m jealous.

Macklemore’s Thrift Shop is the theme song for her life.

We went adventuring yesterday and had a little photo shoot. We found an awesome old barn surrounded by a field that seemed like the perfect backdrop.

I’m not a photographer haha, buuuuut I thought these turned out great.

Enjoy.

Necklace: Forever 21

Boots: Goodwill

Jeans: Hudson’s

Splendid Sweater: Plato’s Closet

Top: Thrifted

Sunglasses: Betsey Johnson (Nordstrom Rack)

I didn’t want to just stop there.

Her room has as much character as her outfits.

It’s an eclectic mix of bohemian flare and country vibes.

She has obsessions for all things thrifted, unicorns, boots, and old lady florals.

I’m really glad we’re friends.

Style is an outlet of expression. Elise finds inspiration from the people around her. Seeing their personal styles and seeing how they incorporate who they into what they wear. She loves nature and has a lot of neutral and natural tones in her wardrobe.

” One of the biggest aspects of nature that I love is its ability to be dissected; the closer you look, the more details you see. I call this simple intricacy, and you see this element in most of my favorite pieces. I also love me some beading, fringe, lace, and leather; a mix of hard and soft. I’ve also always had a love for the country, and I’m sure that’s why my boots have become a signature of my look.”

Her favorite designers are Elie Saab, Marchesa, Alexander McQueen. She loves the brand Free People.

I asked Elise what her favorite quote was and she said, “In order to be irreplaceable, one must always be different.”  Chanel

I couldn’t agree more.

I’ll leave you with her words to live by…

“I firmly believe that the past is the past, and you can’t let it rule your life. I think it’s important to take hard times as a growing experience, because God will never give you anything you can’t handle, and you can either learn from it or let it drag you down. What you do with your life is up to you, and I think the most important thing of all is not to judge anyone before you get to know them, because people will surprise you, and relationships are the reason we are on this earth. When you die, nobody is going to care about what you did with your life, but they will remember who you were as a person. What do you want your legacy to be?”

Go out and be inspired today.

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention she is leaving me next year to attend FIDM in LA. (Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising)

She’s gonna be all legit and stuff. Chasing her dreams one day at a time.

Have a happy Monday and things of that nature…

XOXO

Anna

TGIF. Let’s talk Metallics.

This post came at a perfect time. It’s currently raining outside (gotta love Oregon) and I’d rather be talking about something a little more bright and shiny like…

Metallics!

Metallics are all the rage right now and I think it’s awesome. This trend is growing and it takes me back to “Zenon- Girl of the 21st Century” days. One of the best Disney movies no doubt. What girl didn’t want to dress like Zenon?! Turns out that movie was foreshadowing the Spring/Summer trends of 2013.

Fashion is going Futuristic!

Shine On. by anna-bramson

Metallics are super fun to experiment with. No need to feel overwhelmed. You can pull Metallics from anywhere.

You can start from the ground up; with a pair of Metallic flats or heels. Or you can incorporate Metallics by painting your nails a Metallic color and mixing in some fierce Metallic accessories like rings, bracelets and handbags.

Fearless fashion leaders can go all out. Shining from head to toe in the latest Metallic fashions.

Stand out in the crowd with an eye-catching ensemble.

 Skirts, shorts, dresses…the possibilities are endless.

Leather and Metallics go hand in hand. Try and pair a Metallic piece with leather; like a jacket or pants.

Let your light shine and own that Metallic.

 

Now guys…Metallics aren’t only for the girls. You’re probably thinking how in the heck am I supposed to wear Metallic and still feel like a dude. Well it’s simple really. A lot of the Metallic fashions for guys are all in the suits and jackets. Feel better now? Take a look…

You can look super smashing for a party or  a fancy night out with your lady friend.

Nike has come out with Metallic jackets for men, which gives off a more relaxed and casual feel. A jacket that you would feel comfortable hanging out with your friends in.

Guys can be fashion forward too!!

Metallics give you an opportunity to express yourself in a way that allows you to shine!

Start small with the details like Metallic accessories, or go for a more bold statement and dress up in a Metallic skirt or jacket.

The world is your oyster.

I actually really don’t like oysters.

Anyways, shine on and things of that nature…

XOXO

Anna

Don’t Forget the Fringe.

On the fence with fringe? Well don’t be!

Embrace it!

Fringe is coming in hot this spring and summer. I can’t help but wonder if it has anything to do with The Great Gatsby movie coming out. (Which you all better be going to see!)

It’s going to be amazing. I feel the costuming is going to be out of this world.

Flapper girls always had the most fun with fringe; and now we all can. We can show off our fringe on almost everything you can imagine. From bags, boots, shorts, tops, bathing suits etc. This list goes on. We’re about to have a Fringe Frenzy.

Fringe Frenzy by anna-bramson

Fringe on top. Sport your fringe on shirts, vests, and jackets. What I like about the first picture is that the fringe doesn’t need to be around the bottom of the shirt; it can look equally as cool on the back. A lacy see through shirt with some fringe on the bottom is so fresh and fun. Add a pop of color under the shirt or a fun bandeau top. Fringe on jackets isn’t just for the Cowboys okay. You can look fierce in a jacket with some tassels. That perfect piece to add to your Spring/Summer wardrobe.

Fringe on bottom. Dresses with fringe are everywhere. It gives the dress that added sense of thrill. Fringe brings playfulness to your outfit and it a great carefree look for Summer. It’s lightweight for those long hot Summer days and fun Summer nights. I’m a huge fan of the Bohemian look and fringe is right up that alley. Fringe, florals, and free spirits.

Always accessorize. Fringe has made its way onto bags and boots for years and are always chic, but something I hadn’t seen before was on bracelets. Its such a neat way to incorporate fringe into your outfit if you don’t want to go all out. But the Fringe still makes it appearance.  Fringe necklaces are certainly not something to be ignored. They are a statement piece. I absolutely love!

I have some Fringe in my wardrobe and I encourage you all to do the same if you haven’t already. It’s sort of has a whimsical vibe that I really enjoy.

Fringe knows no bounds; it’s for everyone.

Todays challenge…go find that fringe!!

I wish you all the best of luck and things of that nature…

XOXO

Anna

All over these Overalls.

My apologies for the late post. I am a college student after all. Gotta study sometime.

But let’s talk about a blast from the past. Overalls.

What’s your first thought when you hear the word “Overalls”?

I immediately am taken back to my child hood. I had a pair of bright orange overalls that I got from Target. Now let me tell you, I was in Elementary School and I just thought I was the bees knees in those orange overalls. Little miss fashionista from a young age. Good news friends, overalls are making a come back this Spring. Dig out your old overalls and prepare to remix them 2013 style.

All over these overalls. by anna-bramson

Overalls are the answer when you want to slip on something fast but still remain stylish. Now the overalls we are seeing today are more chic than our 90’s digs but there is no reason not to re-use old overalls.

Some things you can experiment with this season with your overalls are pops of color , bold prints and stripes.

Overalls look killer with a crop top or layering over long sleeved knit shirts.  But let’s be real, they’re called “overalls”. They pretty much look great over all things.

Mixing prints  and colors may be a bit daring but do-able.

Here’s a couple examples of successfully mixing prints…

Be creative; have fun with it.

Now for all the lovers of the original denim overall…I see you. There are a few ways you can turn up the heat on your old overalls.

You can add a belt that accentuates the waistline and draws attention to the feminine figure which can get lost in boxy overalls.

Adding touches of jewelry helps bring color to the outfit and wearing a pretty blouse under the overalls also helps bring out the feminine accents.

So there you have it. Did you just have some Deja Vu? I know I did, but I couldn’t be happier that overalls are coming back. An awesome DIY project would be to take overalls and cut them into short alls. If you cut them a little skewed just cuff the bottom. Easy fix. No one will know. Ha! Or fray the bottoms. Super cute.

A little Wednesday night project maybe.

Hope you all had a lovely day and things of that nature…

XOXO

Anna

To Cuff or Not To Cuff? That’s the Question.

Cuffing your jeans is like the thing to do.

It’s something I love to do and see it everywhere I go.

Especially being around the Portland area.

Home of the Hipsterrrrrr.

If you’re drinking coffee and cuffing your jeans, you’re doing it right my friends.

“High water” jeans finally get their day in the sun. Cuffing your jeans so they lay just above the ankle is the sweet spot. This look is so easy.

Here’s what you do…

Step One: Cuff  the hem of your favorite pair of  jeans; preferably skinny or straight leg

Step Two: You’re done

It brings new life to that pair of jeans that you absolutely adore from like way back when but you’ve gotten taller so they are just a little on the short side.

Well now all you have to do is cuff the bottom and helllllo they are automatically socially acceptable again.

It’s a win/win situation for all involved.

 

You can rock cuffed jeans with flats, heels, wedges, boots, sandals,  or even no shoes! Do that last one at your own risk. The possibilities are endless.

I love cuffing my jeans. Practically all the jeans I wear when I’m not wearing a dress are cuffed. I’ve become an addict.

Dudes. They know how to rock the cuffed look too. Something that I enjoy on guys is seeing them cuff their jean and then add a pop of color with some fun and festive socks. It’s totally eye catching and fun to see guys who take the time to think about what their wearing. Bravo to them. So effortless yet so put together.

Side note: Guys have the coolest shoes. For real though. Cuffed jeans and a solid boot or dress shoe is gold.

Go dig through your old jeans and give them new life or work with your current jeans.

Here’s an outfit inspiration for you I created…

Cuffed. by anna-bramson

You’ve done been cuffed.

That is all. Take care and things of that nature…

XOXO

Anna