Colours and Colours and Colours and Colours

As much as I love painting my nails and doing nail art, I find I have a hard time coming up with color combinations.
Sometimes what I think will look good and compliment each other doesn’t actually work out. And when you have 100+ polishes and counting, it’s easy to get frustrated and settle instead of digging through the archives.

But lately I’ve been pulling inspiration from around me.

This Martha Stewart notebook served as inspiration both in color and in design.
I used OPI’s My Vampire is Buff as the base.
Then I did a polka dot ombre with:
OPI’s Call Me Gwen-ever
Wet N Wild Wild Shine’s Sunny Side Up
Urban Outfitters brand’s Hangover (no longer available)
Parfois Banana Cream

This was the result. I was so pleased with how it worked out!

While pondering what to do with my nails one night, I spotted these page flags on the kitchen table. My sister bought them for my mom.
I loved the colors…it’s yet again another ombre feel, but the addition of the greens makes it stand out a bit. I used…

Essie’s Naughty Nautical
OPI’s No Room for the Blues
Julep’s Bess
OPI’s Did It On ‘Em
OPI’s Don’t Talk Bach to Me

I decided to try my hand at gingham nails. I much prefer them in just Naughty Nautical or Bess, but it was still a decent first try.

Finally (but not forever), I was inspired by these awesome cropped pants I bought at Target on sale. The purple isn’t on point in this picture, but it translated well once the nail art was done.

Once again, I used OPI’s My Vampire is Buff as a base. It is an excellent off-white crème. Then I used three jellies from the Sunsational collection from China Glaze. They are excellent, and you can buy the set of them here.
Purple: Are You Jelly?
Blue: Isle See You Later
Green: Keepin’ it Teal

Then I used Sally Hansen’s Black Out to waterspot the nails (what a process). CutePolish and Chelsea King have great tutorials on this.

I wasn’t especially proud of these…until I got them next to the pants!

Dead ringer if I say so myself!

It’s so much fun to take inspiration from the items around you.

A Few Goals

As a fan and follower of A Beautiful Mess, I have been inspired to try many different things.
One that’s really resonating right now is a list of  4 Simple Goals to accomplish in a short amount of time.
Nothing crazy or completely unreasonable. Just a few things I’d like to do before the new year begins.

Which will be here before we know it.

So here goes…

1. Learn to crochet. And be patient with it. It’s not going to happen the first time I go at it (or the 15th, as has been proven thus far). But practice makes perfect, so don’t give up! I also don’t want to expect to go from a simple dish cloth to an infinity scarf in an instance. Baby steps. I’ll be happy just to have a simple square of crocheted fabric as proof that I accomplished this goal.

2. Break out the Rebel at least once a week. I love my camera, I love the crisp photos it produces, it wasn’t cheap by my standards…and yet I let the poor baby sit in a camera bag 99% of the time. I’ll admit I’ve allowed myself to get discouraged by my photographs. And I become uninspired because I don’t leave the area much. But the best way to challenge yourself with photography is to search for the little wonderful things in life. I am thankful I have an iPhone that takes some excellent photos (I wouldn’t have half the photos I do without it), but this piece of equipment, and the few lenses I have, need to be utilized.

3. Clean out my car. I’m too embarrassed to show you what the inside looks like. Basically, it looks like a bookworm who eats things wrapped in aluminum foil lives back there. It is a total mess and I’ve let it get too far. The funny thing is, I don’t think it will take that long to clean out. But I just can’t get myself to do it. So I really must.

4. Stay active. Whether I utilize my dance DVDs, continue taking long walks with my sister (which is a little tricky now that it is pitch black by the time I get home from work), or going to the gym (though I don’t see that happening), I would like to workout at least 3 times a week.
Sure, it would be great to lose weight or get toned. But I also want to do this for my mind. Winter is such a rough time, with long nights and short days, cold weather and storms that keep you indoors, and the post-holiday blues (or pre-holiday shopping stress). Exercise helps boost those endorphins and release any tension. It’s a great relief for my mind and body, so I want to keep that up.

And there are my 4 goals for the next couple of months! Let’s see how I do…

Patience, Confidence, and Other Things I Lack

Recently, I purchased the book above and, though I’m only a small portion in, I must admit I’m overwhelmed.
It’s been a while since I really picked up my DSLR (or any of my cameras, for that matter) and had some fun. What used to be on me at all times has fallen by the wayside. This book, though, is helping me.

A huge reason (if not the main reason) I stopped taking pictures is that I had absolutely no confidence in the images I took. I bought a DSLR (an entry-level one, because I know I would be nowhere near ready for anything fancy, and besides this is a hobby for me) in the hopes that I would improve my photography even more. Instead, I became extremely intimidated by the object. I still used it, still do, and prefer to keep it on the Program setting and hope for the best, focusing on post-production. But when I saw this book staring at me from the shelf, something hit me. I wanted to buy it, wanted to read it, and wanted to learn from it.

The fact of the matter is, I have a lot to learn. I never thought buying a fancy, more expensive camera would make me a photographer all the sudden. And I never really wanted to become a photographer. What I wanted was to capture the sweet moments in life, the pretty things I found, the memories I wanted to keep and to share them with friends, family, the blog, and my walls. I fell in love with “photography” (if you want to use the term loosely) because of blogs like Rockstar Diaries and A Beautiful Mess. I bought a Holga because of the photos Taza took.
I admired the beauty they created out of everyday life and I wanted to do that for myself.
I guess I just assumed it would be easy.
It isn’t easy. It’s something you have to learn, to hone, just like anything else in this world.

I am impatient. I am lazy. I am stubborn. I am easily discouraged.
I wasn’t grasping the concept. I didn’t want to read the manual. It bored me to tears.
I let the amazing work of my boyfriend and the continued gorgeous photos from my favorite blogs discourage me instead of encourage me.
I felt like everyone had something I didn’t.

Some people are born with it, sure. But everyone has to learn somehow.
Whether it’s through reading or classes or trial and error. I didn’t have the patience or drive for anything.

I have so much more of this book to read and so much more to actually try. I have to take out the camera and test different shots and really play with the manual settings and learn what I like and don’t like, what works and what doesn’t work. It’s not going to do it by itself.
I won’t get the photos I want if I don’t take charge.

I know it’s silly, but reading this book feels like reading a really fun textbook. I’m enjoying myself but I am learning so much and it’s like my brain is exploding with knowledge that needs to be put to use. And I must do that soon. You know how I said I’m lazy? Well, that needs to stop. It’s funny…when I actually try at something, I feel better and I do better. This may seem like a silly example, but I used to hate bowling and mini-golf. Bowling is one of my favorite things to do nowadays. I always hated it because I believed I sucked at it. But I never really tried when I played, and that’s pretty much why I sucked at it. I’m not amazing by any stretch of the imagination, but now that I actually take the time to angle myself and think about the ball and the pins and the action, I’ve done so much better. I used to throw the ball with the pure knowledge that I suck. During mini-golf, I used to just hit the ball and hope for the best knowing I wouldn’t win anyway. But I realized that thinking about the shot and taking the time to consider my options, I had better odds. I don’t always win at bowling or mini-golf, but now I’m a more confident competitor who has fun and doesn’t feel let down by my poor show. I give it my best.
Now it’s time to do it with this.

Some people make some things look easy, but we all have to start somewhere.
Here we go…

Pinterest has given me high hopes…

I have no clue when I will have an apartment (let alone a house) to call my own. But Pinterest (Follow me!) has been steadily preparing me by giving me the highest hopes for a beautiful home. I did a post like this once before, and it’s basically the same idea. I adore cozy hideaway spaces where I can sip on coffee or wine and read and write and listen to beautiful music.
The true idea of Home Sweet Home to me.

I sure hope I get lucky enough to have a beautiful place soon.

“The Search for Inspirado”

This blog has always been a creative outlet for me. As a confused nearly-25 year old that still feels like an awkward 16 year old on a regular basis, Crazy Crazy Crazy has been one of the few consistencies of my life. In the last year or so, I’ve made it a point to blog every weekday, so that I could spend an hour or two a week just writing and focusing on the things I love. Photography, music, movies, clothes, my family, my friends, my boyfriend. This blog is the one place I happen to feel most like myself. I work a modest job, live at home, and reside in an area that doesn’t exactly swarm with culture (you really have to hunt it down, but it’s worth it all the same).

Still, if I allow myself to get in a funk, the blog gets in a funk. While I was disappointed in myself for slipping away from my baby for a while, I guess it was necessary. I’m still shaky and nervous about it…I don’t want to give up on this little project I’ve been working on for three years. I’m not ready to. But what do you do when you can’t get back on the horse?

I guess everyone has their own ways of getting inspired again, but I wrote out a little list in the cute Hello Kitty notebook I carry with me at all times for occasions such as this. Why not share them? I noticed on a few other regular blog reads of mine that hiatuses and ruts and goodbyes were happening quite frequently. But that makes the whole thing more realistic, relieving. We all go through it.
So this is how I choose to tackle those completely uninspired times.

Isolation

It’s nice to be surrounded by loved ones, whether it be your family or friends or your significant other. But sometimes, you really just need to be alone. If you’re not alone, then how do you get to know yourself? I think I had a pretty good handle on myself in college. I would close the door to my room, blast some music, and just let my mind wander to whatever it wanted to. Since I’ve moved home (3 years ago, and I’m still comparing everything to college), I don’t have much privacy. And then, of course, when I stay with Brad, we spend lots of time together.
Lately, though, I’ve decided to plug in my headphones, close the door, and shut out the world for a while. The best inspiration and motivation comes from those moments when you really get to think your thoughts and feel your feelings, completely uninterrupted.

Blogs/Tumblr/Pinterest

Maybe this seems like cheating in a way, but this is what these sites are here for! I probably never would’ve started a blog if I hadn’t gotten into reading some really great ones (Like Rockstar Diaries or Cupcakes and Cashmere, though the list has grown plenty since the beginning). My love for these blogs led to love for photography, for the beauty in everyday life and the little things. When I was growing up, I kept journal after journal. I’d write until my hands were sore, listening to my music and letting the day flowing out of the pen. I love having the site to look back on, just as I’m sure other bloggers are thankful to click a random day in a random month in a random year and remember how great it was. Tumblr and Pinterest are basically there for inspiration. Sharing photos and music and quotes that we all can find inspiring. Heck, Pinterest allows you to pin something from any site that will allow you so you can always remember that great thing you saw! When I see great photographs, cute interior design, yummy food, pretty clothing…I get a jolt of inspiration.

Remembering Little Things

Quite a few people will argue that the best things in life are the little things. The details. After all, a whole day may stick in your mind, but usually there are a few specific moments that are what made up the day. The cup of coffee that warms your soul. Waking up and realizing your love is still holding your hand. A little flower making it’s way through the cracks in the pavement. The goosebumps you get from a beautiful song. The trees, bare or leafy, as you drive from point A to B. These are where you find the best moments in life. I don’t get to travel as much as other people, I don’t have as much money, I don’t live in a big city. But it’s all in the details.
Every life is special in those unique little moments when your heart feels full.

Fake it ‘til ya Make It

I know this is a common slogan for someone who is kind of unhappy. I think it counts with inspiration as well, though. You might not want to, but pull out the camera. Take a walk and look for something beautiful. Go somewhere. Do something. I am so easily put into funks. Whether the day is super stressful or tiring, I can be found curling up in bed watching TV. But nothing gets done if you do that. So you have to put on your shoes, maybe some pants without an elastic waistband, and get out and enjoy the time you have. Though, of course, some of my favorite times involve sweatpants and ice cream. But if you don’t take that initial step, whether or not you feel like it, you won’t get anywhere.

Be Open to New Things

It’s so easy to get into a routine and stay that way. But I love when I step outside of the box. I like to try new things. I like to try to try new things. From local restaurants that serve interesting foods, to a different beer or blend of coffee, to hairstyles and articles of clothing. It’s hard to get inspired if you continuously do the same things. Some of my favorite days (and consequent favorite posts) came from stepping out of the box or trying something new. I do lots of different things, but I often have to jump the anxiety hurdle before I do it. It’s very rare that I regret it. I’ve found new music, tasted amazing food, and spend endless nights with amazing people because of this.

Take a Breather if you Need It

Despite all the steps you can take to stay on the path, it is super important to step away from it all and shrink a bit until you feel ready. Much like taking a sick day or a vacation. Blogging is important to me (even if I don’t have a ton of readers), so I disappointed myself by not wanting to blog. But I also didn’t want to just settle and write boring posts. I wanted to keep my blog interesting. But I needed to focus on my life for a while, figure some things out, and get back into the groove of things. I am all about taking a break when needed. Coming from a girl who feels guilty calling off sick even when I’m hacking or feverish, it’s hard to step away. But it’s always best if you do. You come out better than ever.

 

These are my current steps in “searching for inspirado,” (a title I stole from the excellent Tenacious D) but we all have different methods.
Any suggestions?

Love Love Love (Love Love)

I love Pinterest for so many reasons, and a large part of that is the adorable, lovey dovey pictures I see daily.
Is there anything sweeter than love?

(All pictures from Pinterest)

Filling Inspiration

So, you all use Pinterest, right? You don’t? Ok, well, you had better fix that right quick. It’s the best site to find and save things that inspire you. I have quite a few boards going, but most pins end up in either my style board or my food and drink board. I love food. So much.
But it’s easy to get uninspired and stuck in the same old eatin’ routine. Not with Pinterest, though! I am continuously amazed by the delicious, innovative, and oft-easy (and healthy!) recipes I find floating through the site. I thought I’d share some of my favorites here.

Rainbow Rice Noodle Salad

Steph’s White Bean and Sausage Soup

Philly Cheesesteak Sloppy Joes

Slow-Cooker Pork Tacos with Black Bean Pico

Mashed Potatoes with Bacon and Cheddar

Roasted Parmesan Green Beans

Baked Eggs

Hungry yet?
If you click on the pictures, you’ll get a link to the pin on my Pinterest board.
If you click on the title below the photo, you get a link to the recipe!

Lookbook Inspirado

My closet is full of some really great pieces. Unfortunately, I don’t get to dress the way I want to every single day. (I have to wear a uniform to work, and by the time I get home…I just want to wear sweats.) Another issue? Not always knowing how to put the puzzle pieces together to create a really great outfit. I know I have it in me, but sometimes, especially after long stints in Danskin comfy pants and hoodies, I sort of start to lose my touch. I think it’s 50% confidence and 50% comfort that makes a great outfit. 
In my experience, you can’t have one without the other.

But when all else fails, Lookbook.nu is an excellent site to check out for outfit inspiration. Here are a few of my favorite looks at the moment.
Click the photos for a direct link to the page/more info.

Outfit #3 is my favorite of the bunch. The hat, the slouchy sweater/blouse combo…the POLKA DOT SKIRT. I’m dyin’ here.

Everything’s Not Lost

This song popped into my head randomly last night, but I’m thankful for it.It’s been a long time since I heard it, but it’s a classic in my mind. And perfectly appropriate for this time in my life. Parachutes came out when I was in junior high and I fell in love immediately.
I’m not much of a Coldplay fan these days, but this album will always be a favorite of mine.

Cozy Space

While sitting outside is always an option in the summer, I desperately crave a cozy area of the house where I can read a book, listen to tunes, blog, and daydream. I wish I could say my bedroom is that place…but it isn’t. My room reflects my life and that means it has been a messy, unorganized and neglected space. I haven’t rearranged it since 2007. Mostly it’s because I want to move out and have a whole space to call my own. But financially speaking, it’s not possible. So until then, I will continue to add room/home inspiration to my Home Sweet Home board on Pinterest and stockpile ideas for the future.

All photos/links can be found on this Pinterest page!

Memories and Motivation

In an attempt to motivate myself and invigorate my passions, I did some rooting around my photo folders. It’s always fun to look at moments and memories that may have been forgotten…even if it wasn’t all that long ago. I found a bunch of cute photos of my boyfriend, Brad, from last November and I felt compelled to share them. I know, he’s smoking in the last one. And yeah, smoking is gross. But the picture is kind of cool. And I’m happy to tell you that he has been SMOKE FREE for 1 month so far! We’re all so proud of him. This is a big deal, guys.

As for the motivation, I’ve realized I definitely need to start doing more shoots with friends and family. I’ve only done a few with the Rebel so far, and I’m pretty proud of them. Now that the sun is out longer, there is no excuse not to gussy my sister or any number of friends up and pose them all over town. The process of shooting and editing and eventually posting is truly one of my happiest hobbies.

More Tyler Shields Inspirado…

A couple of months ago, I posted about Tyler Shields and his video portraits. I’ve become a huge fan, keeping track of his ever-expanding collection of videos and photography. His work is often not for the faint of heart, but you know a Tyler Shields photo when you’re looking at one. He is incredibly unique and has an amazing vision. His work and creativity really inspire me (and the stuff can be rather titillating…)

Check out his website here! There’s so much more.

Joan Jett

I just watched The Runaways again. I’ll be the first to admit it’s not the greatest, but I still pretty much love it. The music, the clothes, the overall BADASS-ness…oh how I long to be so tough and cool and rebellious. I don’t know why I waited a year since I originally saw it, but I finally got Joan Jett’s greatest hits. Brings out the tough girl in me (haha). Here are a couple of favorites.