Wednesday Item Feature: Summer in September

Normally, September and October are thought to be autumn months — not in San Francisco. While the rest of the Bay Area decides to start cooling down, San Francisco starts getting hot and the sun starts laughing in our faces. For those of you resting in the shade and enjoying the relaxing fall breeze, there are still summer items that can give your autumn wardrobe a bit more spice.

Sure enough, while I was thinking about pumpkin pie in all its creamy orange deliciousness, I stumbled across Gwen Harlow's shop on Etsy and came across some pretty earrings that accompanied my craving for something pumpkin flavored. Shipping out from Alameda, these earrings would match summer and autumn wardrobes alike. Spice up a strapless summer dress or wear a matching turtle neck leading the viewer's eyes to the leaves dangling from your ears! Vintage lucite golden leaves hang between crystal-centered white flowers: you can call these cute, hot, romantic, or just simply beautiful.

Whether you consider these more summer or more autumn, they're an absolutely affordable and amazing find if you're looking for a gift in the jewelry department or are an earring fiend like myself and just want another pair of dangling goodies. Is your girlfriend a Virgo? If you haven't gotten her a gift for her upcoming birthday, you've got about three more days left in the zodiac season to think of something quick. Even if you missed it or are going to miss it and end up presenting her with a belated birthday gift, these earrings are nice enough that she might forgive you. Or if she's a Libra, you've maybe got a little more time — decide now and have these arrive in your mailbox just in time!

Get them before I decide to!

Check out gwen's listing on Etsy now: Summer leaves earrings, golden brown vintage lucite!

Tune in next week for the Wednesday Item Feature!

Love & donuts,
Mayene

DIY Summertime Fun

I spent the weekend with my family and one of the nights was filled with smiles and laughter as we played a new board game. Summertime is the perfect time to get outside, run around, take a picnic and play games. People tend to travel during the summer as well, and that shouldn't mean you can't take your games with you. Below are a few links to summertime DIY gaming fun. Enjoy!

Bean Bag Toss

Tutorial here.

Summertime Bucket List
Perhaps a little too late for this one this year, but I love the idea of creating a unique "To do list" for the summer.
Tutorial here.



Beach Board Game
Tutorial here.



Your favorite board games on the road.
I LOVE this idea. Take your favorite board games in the car with you. A wonderful idea and an easy to follow tutorial.
Tutorial here.



Happy Creating!
Lauren
upcycled unlimited

Send June and July babies a splash of color!

There's nothing that shouts summer more than bright, warm colors. Lemonade stands, orange juice (with or without champagne) in the morning, half a grapefruit sprinkled with sugar for a healthy snack — these citrusy thoughts make me want to run barefoot on fresh green grass or hot white sand.

Rachel Bloom from Berkeley (also known as BerkeleyBloom on Etsy) shares her love for island themed prints and super bright colors in her handmade Citrus Print Collage Birthday card, perfect for a friend or kid whose birthday is coming up in these summer months!

Made from textured shiny white cardstock, warmly colored citrus prints, striped prints, and a yellow and white flower print, you can wish someone a "Happy Birthday" with hand-stamped pink letters tucked inside of a rich dark pink envelope (you can contact Rachel directly if you want a different envelope color). The inside is blank so you can write whatever you feel like and add your own personal touch. This card just radiates sunshine and is certainly a card to cherish (if you're the recipient).

Rachel's cards get shipped to you wrapped in plastic so you can buy now, keep it safe, and use it in the future. The quality of handcrafted greeting cards is a million times better than what you'd find on 99-cent shelves in your local stores, so spend some time writing a nice birthday note in Rachel's delicious card. You'll be sending a splash of specialness to the birthday boy or girl of your choice.

All you have to do is put the lime in the coconut and shake 'em both up!

Check out BerkeleyBloom's listing on Etsy now: Citrus Print Collage Birthday Card!

You can find BerkeleyBloom on Facebook as well. "Like" her stuff and you'll be updated on new listings and sales!

Tune in next week for the Wednesday Item Feature!

Love & donuts,
Mayene