Hemp Wrap

So, I absolutely despise those feather extensions everyone is wearing lately. Not only because I feel they look ridiculous, but most people don't understand how many roosters are killed to provide just those feathers. These roosters aren't used for anything else other than to be raised until it's feathers are in their prime, and then slaughtered so the feathers can plucked.

"So essentially, feather extensions are tantamount to fur: these animals are raised solely so we can kill them and wear their butt feathers in our hair."

http://thegloss.com/beauty/your-dumb-feather-extensions-are-causing-a-rooster-shortage/ 

"I don't think that any animal should have to suffer in order for a person to feel cool or follow a trend. The birds that are farmed to make these accessories are usually kept in small cages and treated horribly. Even worse: most of these birds are simply raised for their feathers, and once they are ready to be plucked, they're killed, their feathers are removed, and then they are simply thrown away. It's horrible to think about."

http://www.readymade.com/blog/fashion/2011/05/19/one_stylist_explains_why_ill_never_do_feather_hair_extensions 

Plus, does anyone really know who started the trend? How about Steven Tyler, Dog the Bounty Hunter and Ke$sha. Not really my role models...

Well, I looked around for something that would be different then what every trendy girl in Nebraska is wearing, and I came across hemp wraps. Not only are they of course animal friendly, more my style, but they also last way longer than feather extensions and it stays in your hair until you want to cut it out.

I got my done at a local exotic gifts store, Euphoria. It turned out amazing. At first it felt really weird, pulling the hairs on my head, plus the hemp was very stiff. But after about two days, my scalp got used to it and the hemp loosened up a lot. For mine, I got to not only have hemp, but I got to choose between different colored recycled silk, a glass bead, and some smaller beads at the end. One of my friends got a hemp wrap as well, and she got a fake peacock feather on the end of hers, which ended up falling out, but still looked really cool.

If anyone is interested in getting a hemp wrap, call up your local exotic gifts store, or hippie store, and make an appointment. Mine only cost me $30 with the hemp, silk, glass bead, and smaller beads. I think it was money well spent. 

 

Who needs to buy clothes...

...when you can make them!

I had a tie dying extravaganza with my friends and this is what came out of it! Tie dyed two white tee shirts, and cut them into an off the shoulder shirt and a semi-crop top, and then took one of my white halter tops and tie dyed it, too! Definitely had a fun time doing this! 

I can't wait to wear them out!

Outfit Remake #2

Once again, I'm redoing an outfit from Natalie Off Duty, which is a blog I follow pretty frequently just for inspiration with my clothes.

In one of her recent posts, she was photographed wearing this outfit.

I liked this outfit, but there were a few things I changed to make it more my style. I added color, as I'm not a fan of grayscale outfits, and instead of the awkward-length menswear pants, I just opted for my dark skinny jeans rolled up. I also paired my favorite slip-ons with the outfit.

Outfit
Shirt | Gordman's
Jeans | Hot Topic
Shoes | Tommy Hilfiger

DIY Peace Sign Shorts

So, I decided to get a little creative and try my hand at personalizing a pair of shorts I rarely wear.

I consider myself a "hippie-at-heart", I absolutely love anything flowy, 1970's, suede, and of course anything with peace signs on it (done tastefully, of course!).

All I did to make these shorts, was to draw a peace sign on cardboard, using an exacto knife, I cut it out, taped the little insides spaces to my shorts, and placed the cardboard with a circle cut-out on top and a piece of paper on the inside of my shorts (in case of the spray paint went through the denim). I then took it outside, found a earthy colored spray paint, and... spray painted, I guess. It's not the greatest, but I didn't want the edges to be really defined, I actually enjoy the roughness and uneveness of it.

I would wear the shorts with something a little more simple. I paired it with my favorite, strapless green top, and my cowgirl boots I bought in Japan. The only problem with my shirt was that it covered up the peace sign, so I would also opt for something a little shorter in length. 

I also experimented with nail polish again. I found this beautiful, "beachy" pink and immediately fell in love. Once I painted my nails, I ran across these floral nail stickers, that were supposed to have sparkles on jewels on them, but they ended up falling off. So I just took a sparkly nail polish and painted over the stickers, then used a top coat to finish it off! On my fingernails, I did a french manicure for the first time, and ended up using to more of the floral nail stickers on my thumbs. Classy on my fingernails and party on my toenails.

Outfit

Shirt | Goodwill

Shorts | Charlotte Russe

Buzzard Billies

Went out to eat with my ex step-dad and his girlfriend and her family and Buzzard Billies in Lincoln, which was pretty delicious! It was happy hour, so half off appetizers! Yum!


Anywho... I haven't been getting too crazy with my outfits, but it's been up in the 90's and 100's lately, so my last few posts and probably a bunch of posts-to-come will be simple, light-weight outfits.


I also experimented with my toe nails, which I rarely ever paint. It's nothing special, I just had fun and made some sort of random design. Reminds me of a green Japanese flag haha.


My baby, Daisy, also decided to join my amateur photo session. :)

My Outfit
Shirt | Gordman's
Tank Top | Gordman's
Vest | Walmart
Shorts | Gordman's

New Dress!

Okay, so I'm not recreating an outfit, I just wanted to show off this new shirt dress I bought at a secondhand store that I am so excited about! At first, I was kind of turned off by the bubblegum pink, but I decided to try it on, just to give it a chance and I ended up loving it. It's really beachy feeling, and adding a belt breaks up the super bright pink of the dress and wore my gladiator sandals that I bought in Japan at a random department store/mall, but funny thing is, they are actually made by MUDD... so you can go to any JCPenny and buy these. Haha.


Once again, sorry about the crappy quality. I'm trying to mess around with natural light and inside light to figure out good lighting. I'm thinking about just taking the photos outside now, but that will require someone else to take my photos... and posing is just awkward!

My Outfit
Dress | Plato's Closet
Belt | Charlotte Russe
Purse | Aldo

Gypsy Diaries

So, I've been following a bunch of blogs lately, and one of my favorites blogs, Gypsy Diaries, is having an amazing giveaway! And if you are short on cash but a lover of shopping, like me, you should definitely take hold of this opportunity and enter! It's for a $100 ShopBop gift card!

 To join the giveaway:

- please  follow Gypsy*Diaries on Bloglovin' (and/or GFC) if you haven't already

- let me know in the comments what would you spend your gift card on! ;)

For Additional entries you could:  (please leave (a) separate comment(s) for each!)

- add Gypsy*Diaries to your blogroll
- like En Route Photography on Facebook
- follow me on Twitter 
- blog/tweet/post on facebook about the giveaway (+1 entry EACH)

You have until Sunday, July 30th 9pm CET to enter. The giveaway is open to Gypsy*Diaries readers worldwide and as always, the winner will be announced on my facebook page. 

Don't miss out on this awesome opportunity! :)