Head over to WHT!

Hey guys! I did another DIY over at We Heart This! I made this no-sew fleece poncho >> perfect for the chilly weather that's been happening lately. Go check it out! 

Have a great day!

♥ Kenzie

WHT DIY :: Lacy Plaid Shirt

I did a DIY over at We Heart This! Lacy plaid shirt = definitely a fall/winter essential! 

Go check it out and let me know what you think!

♥ Kenzie

Friendship Bracelets meet Feather Hair Clip, your new best friend.

There's been these trends lately of masses of friendship bracelets on arms and feathers in the hair - I love it.  So, I decided to combine them to get something a little different but still in style. Plus, it's super quick and easy to do.

You'll need: 

- a friendship bracelet

- feathers

- a bobby pin

- a hot glue gun

1. On one end of the bracelet, I had two longer strings. Tie one feather to each string at different lengths. 

2. Secure each knot and feather with a few drops of hot glue (not too much) and cut off the tails of the strings.

3. If you don't have a loop on the opposite end of your friendship bracelet, tie one. Put your bobby pin through the loop. Add another drop of hot glue to secure that. 

4. Wait for everything to dry completely. Pin at your roots any place in your hair.

Think about using natural feathers, making your own bracelets or adding beads.

Send me photos of your hair clips!

♥ Kenzie

Home Textiles

Living in on-campus apartments in college is a little difficult. There are all these rules that you have to follow when it comes to decorating your space - no nails, no painting/wallpapering, etc, etc. This may be true of some of you who rent apartments in the real world also. The landlord does not allow you to really change the space to make it your own. Even if you live somewhere where you are able to change the room with paint, it can get expensive and time-consuming very quickly.

Well, since I have been in college and don't have a whole lot of time myself, I have found ways to get around those rules in quick and easy ways using textiles. I have a lot of quilts and other fabrics anyway - it's what happens when you are a textiles major - so why not put them to good use? 

In this post, I'm going to show you five ways that you can make your home feel more home-y in five minutes!

In my bedroom, I had this very large wall that was empty. I wanted to keep the space open but it needed something. 

My solution: Tack up a large wall hanging. 

It fills the wall space without using any room space. I bought this one at a local Indian gift store.

And that's right, I said tack. I use clear tacks to hang a lot of things in my apartments -- they leave very small holes and can be put in and taken out without using a hammer. And they stay in just as well as nails!

{I kept the fire alarm in the picture to remind you not to cover anything that might save your life!}

I wanted the light that came through the blinds on this window as I wasn't going to open them much in my bedroom. 

My solution: Lace curtains. 

I bought them at Saver's for $2 each. {Or cut some lace to make your own!} This one doesn't exactly match the other but they are close enough that you can't tell when they are on two different windows. Don't have a curtain rod? I tacked this one up too :) 

I had this b-e-a-utiful breaker box right in my kitchen. I can't paint it to make it blend into the wall. 

My solution: This super cute tea towel I found at Urban Outfitters. 

It fits over it perfectly. I just tacked the top two corners so the box is still accessible but hidden. 

I bought this couch last year at Salvation Army. Love at first sight. It definitely makes a statement on it's own but there's got to be a way to make it a little more home-y other than just adding pillows. 

My solution: Hang a quilt on the back. 

I love mixing patterns and because these had similar colors anyway, it was a perfect combination. And I can't thank this quilt enough for being there when I was cozying up on the couch and wanted a blanket to snuggle with. You'll appreciate it when you're feeling too lazy to get up off the couch and grab one.

{Print above the couch by Deborah Teska - my fabulous art teacher from high school}

This chair is the comfiest thing I've ever sat in. I bought it at Bed, Bath and Beyond during their annual college sale. But honestly, it's not the prettiest thing I've ever seen. {I'm not a big mesh person} 

My solution: Throw a sheet over it. 

When I saw the pattern of this sheet, I knew I had to get it. I bought it at Urban Outfitters a few years ago and was first planning to use it to cover my open closet, but that didn't really suit my fancy when I tried it. When I tossed it on my chair, I knew it was perfect. It's quite a bit of fabric, so I just tucked the rest underneath as I didn't want to cut it.

Side note: Don't be afraid to mix patterns and colors! Mixing bold patterns with more intricate patterns can work very well, but go with your gut. If you don't like how it looks, change it. Or try something for a week. If you're not convinced, try a different arrangement the next week. It's your space so make it inspiring for you! Nobody else has to like it but you!

Some places to score sweet textiles:

- fabric/craft stores

- thrift/vintage stores

- small local gift shops

- flea markets

- grandma's attic

- home good stores

If you have any questions/ideas/comments, please let me know below! 

♥ Kenzie

Fall Wreath :: DIY

I've been wanting to make a wreath to hang on my apartment door and I wanted something cute and fall-y. This is what I came up with after I found these leaves at home depot. 

I hope you love it as much as I do! 

You will need: 

- faux leaves

- foam core or cardboard 

- scissors or an Exacto knife

- a pencil

- hot glue gun

- a pizza pan 

- a bowl that has a smaller diameter than the pan

- a piece of string (to hang) 

- ribbon or lace (not shown)

1. Put the pizza pan face down on the foam core and trace.

2. Repeat with the bowl in the center of the large circle.

3. Using scissors or an Exacto knife, cut out the wreath shape. {I found it was easier with the knife.} This part does not have to be super neat - you will cover up the edges anyway.

4. Fire up your hot glue gun and stick down those leaves! {Be more careful than I was - burned my finger...} Use dots of glue to stick down the middle of the leaves so they still have some body and stick out - you want them to have volume. 

When you've got your first layer down, go back and cover up any holes or to add volume to some areas.

5. Make a loop with your string and knot it. Glue it to the back of your wreath.

6. Make a big bow with your ribbon or lace and glue it to your wreath. 

Then hang it on your door to enjoy this fall!

I smile every time I get to my apartment door. Fall is my favorite! 

♥ Kenzie

T&T :: Black and Green Breakfast Blend

Sooo, I missed T&T on Tuesday but I have a great tea blend for you today! 

When I was home this summer, I found a tea called Breakfast Blend. It was black and green tea and it was delicious.

When I came back to school, this tea could not be found in my local grocery stores and I had no more in my tea box or in the tea overflow that fills my cupboard. 

Until yesterday. 

Back in the depths of my tea-filled cupboard, one little lonely tea bag popped it's head into sight and I was instantly ecstatic. I had totally forgot about this amazingness in my life. 

Since I only had one tea bag left, I decided to make my own blend since I have lots of black tea (obviously) and some green tea around. So, here's what I did:

You'll need: 

- black tea

- green tea

- a tea diffuser or you can make these cute tea bags to mix your blend

1) In a diffuser, mix 1/2 teaspoon of black tea and 1/2 teaspoon of green tea. 

{You can add more if you like it stronger}

2) Add boiling water.

3) Let infuse for 3-5 minutes.

4) Enjoy with a yummy breakfast!

What are you blending today? 

♥ Kenzie

Things I'm Lovin'

The lookbooks over at Spanish Moss. Such beautiful inspiration!

Loveee these shorts. Found here. From here.

This DIY by Lune. So beautiful!

These boots are to DIE for. I can't even deal.

Lace coffee table DIY? Um... YES, PLEASE. 

Isn't this the cutest?

I love this tattoo. OH so much.

What are you lovin' this week?

♥ Kenzie

DIY @ WHT

I'm over at WHT today with a fun DIY that I can't stop carrying around with me! It's my new favorite thing! I hope you love it and make it too. 

If you have done any of my DIYs, I would love to see them. Send them to me here: strokesofserendipity@yahoo.com

♥ Kenzie

Easy Peasy Lemon Squeezy DIY :: Scarf to Vest

Try this with any of your scarves! I do this whenever I want a little extra something added to my outfit. Have any of you done this before?

♥ Kenzie

WHT DIY ♥

I've got another clothing DIY over at We Heart This today! 

Go check it out people! 

I'll be back later tonight with some T&T Tuesday and other fun stuff to share :) 

Have a great day!

♥ Kenzie

A Full Weekend

This weekend has been a little nuts. {Apparently, my whole life has been nuts lately, huh?} I had lots to do and got lots done! Monday is included in my weekend this week which is great because I still have lots to do... 

... but I made this awesome DIY from Lune and I'm in love with it! It makes me super happy and I hung it up immediately after it was finished. 

So things to finish today? 

- send package of goodies for a friend

- photo a tutorial for ya'll :) 

- get a new phone {mine died... again}

- paint wall {will share!}

- laundry

- help Hannah prep for her upcoming show

Lots to do -- Hopefully, I'll be able to get the majority of this done today. *crossing fingers*

What's on your to do list today?

♥ Kenzie

My plan for the night

and

Can you believe I've never seen this movie before?
Crazy.
♥ Kenzie

{p.s. click the pic for DIY!}

Things I'm Lovin'

So many things to love this week!



This photo from Something Monumental. So beautiful.



DIYs at Studs and Pearls are always awesome, of course... I'm pretty sure I'll be making some Jamestown Settler necklaces {p.s. if you have no idea what I'm talking about and think I'm nuts, go read the post and you'll get it ;)}

Etsy congratulated RISD grads on their blog and gives them Artreprebeur Kits at graduation? Can't wait to graduate :)

This fabulous new card design by one of my very best friends, Miss Katie :) 

I know this is tiny, but I loveee how Readymade makes these diagrams for recipes and such. So cool. {*Nerd Alert*: I am a little obsessed with diagrams...} See the full version and the delicious recipe here.

Really, really, REALLY want to make these necklaces from Honestly WTF. So in love.

This bathroom = ♥ 

Found here. From here.

Art made with a typewriter? Um, yes please. Incredible.

This is such an amazing song. Adele is an amazing artist.

OMG this chair!! WANT.

What are you lovin' this week?

♥ Kenzie