Tumblr Thoughts

A website I frequently use is Tumblr. It's a blog based website, mostly for quotes, pictures and gifs. Whenever I have time to spare I go on my Tumblr app and reblog interesting things onto my personal tumblr page. Yesterday as I was reblogging some new stuff, I got the idea to do a blog post on some of the stuff that can be seen on Tumblr as well as things I like to post onto my personal tumblr (tumblr.com/brimazzuca). Check it out below!

FRI"DIY - Illuminating Candle Holder

Good afternoon and happy Friday! I know everyone is in a great mood today because, who doesn't love Friday? The reason I do is because I get to blog about DIY projects which happen to be one of my favorite down time hobbies. Today's DIY is very quick and easy but awesome! Anyone who knows me, knows I love candles; especially fall scented ones :-). Which is why you'll probably be seeing a lot of candle-based DIYs on my blog. Anywho, this blog is really simple and fun, only took about 15-20 minutes and I can show you in three short steps!

What you'll need:

A candle holder (of your choice) I purchased this one from The Christmas Tree Shops - $4.00

A glue gun, I purchased this one from A.C Moore and it was around $3.99. I would also grab extra glue sticks, too!

Mosaic Stones, I purchased the mini bags above from The Christmas Tree Shoppes, they were $1.99 each. I didn't need as many stones as I bought, I just figured it's better to buy more and have some left over than to be short stones. You can choose whichever colors you want *HOWEVER* they must be transparent (see through) or the light will not shine through them. I chose red, orange, yellow and clear because they're fall colors and I love fall!

Time to start!

Discount Designer Dresses at Rissy Roo's!

One thing that comes with a new school year are new school dances. Although prom and homecoming are fun (once you get there) it tends to stress a lot of people out; wondering who's going to ask you, what friends you're going to go with, how you're going to do your hair and (most importantly) what dress you're going to wear! Picking a dress can be very troublesome and most people actually dislike school dances because they'd rather not spend $500+ for a dress that can only be worn a limited amount of times. Well, I'm here to lift some of that weight off your shoulders because I found a GREAT website that offers (100% authentic) DESIGNER dresses at a very affordable price.

Rissy Roo's is a well known formal boutique in Linwood, NJ. I've gotten my junior and senior prom dresses from there and I felt like a princess in each of them. They have over 8,000 dresses on their website, but that's not the best part. They're currently having their "Sizzlin' Summer Sale" which offers designer dresses at CRAZY LOW PRICES! Save 50-90% off authentic designer dress styles from Sherri Hill, La Femme, Faviana, Tony Bowls, Alyce Paris, plus more! Sizzlin' Summer Sale items start at a mere $19.99 and they're flying off the pink ribboned racks at Rissy Roo's, so let's start shopping!

Below are my favorite "Sizzlin' Summer Sale" dresses, however there are many many more on the website!

Sherri Hill (style 2541) - $398.00 ON SALE $199.99

Superb Student Discounts (Part 2)

Good morning! Yesterday, I wrote a post on some great student discounts from your favorite retail stores. As I was researching and writing the list, I wondered if retail stores were the only places to offer student discounts. After an hour or so of searching and typing, I got a great list together of hang out and food spots that offer amazing student discounts. Let's start saving money!

Cultural Experiences and Entertainment

• AMC Theatres: student discounted movie tickets every Thursday

• The Art Institute of Chicago: $50 annual student membership, plus other various discounts within the Art Institute

• Broadway in Chicago: Ticket prices as low as $14.50 for select performances

Superb Student Discounts!

Most people are not too excited about the start of another school year but I am overly excited because the start of school means the start of student discounts! Back to school is a huge deal for most retailers and it tends to bring a lot of money into their stores. Parents take their children out (or the children just go alone) and start to stock up on some fresh clothes for the school year. If you're in the mall and you're torn between two stores and one is offering a student discount, which would you shop at? The one with the discount of course! Student discounts are a great feeling because you work very hard in school all year long and deserve the discount awarded to you by your favorite retailer.

Retailers that offer student discounts:

1. Urban Outfitters - 10% off (on select dates only)

2. Topshop - 10% off

3. Shoebuy.com - 10% off

4. Ralph Lauren Rugby - 15% off

5. The Limited - 15% off

Alex and Ani

I've been hearing lots and lots of talk about Alex and Ani bracelets, so, I've decided to check them out for myself and post about them! If you're sitting there scratching your head, wondering, "What is an Alex and Ani bracelet" .. No worries; that's what I'm here for! There are three main and very important facts about Alex and Ani jewelry. 

1) They are made in America.

"Alex and Ani is a company dedicated to creating products of unparalleled quality and beauty that promote consciousness and unity. Manufacturing in the United States and reusing and recycling materials is an integral part of Alex and Ani’s mission as a conscious and eco-friendly company. Alex and Ani’s collections are not only eco-friendly, they are made up of powerful, meaningful, and spiritual pieces, which uplift and inspire all who wear them."

2. They are Eco-Friendly

"The Alex and Ani aesthetic underscores the idea that what is pure and natural is most beautiful and creating jewelry from recycled materials enriches the beauty of each piece. Founder and creative designer Carolyn Rafaelian embraces a philosophy that is based upon using eco-friendly, recycled materials made entirely in the United States. Because of this, Alex and Ani is able to purchase metals from local mills who have received recycled scraps from refineries, which in turn, use those pieces and sell their scraps back to the Mills."

3. They are infused with "positive energy"

The Benefits of Failure

Good afternoon! So, yet another week that I will not get to post a video blog because the internet connection in my house has been down for TWO weeks now; which is extremely disappointing. I am currently sitting at a coffee shop near my house just so I can upload this blog post. If you can't tell, I'm pretty upset that I haven't posted a video yet, I put an immense amount of my time and effort into this blog. Whenever I get a free moment, I'm either writing up a draft on my phone or jotting down potential blog post ideas for the future. I'm not complaining at all because I choose to write and it's something I love to do, its just frustrating that something as small as an internet connection is standing in the way of me upgrading the stature of my blog with videos; but enough sad talk! I have a great, absolutely remarkable, video that I would like to share with you today. It tops ANY video that I could ever post.

Anyone who knows me, knows I admire J.K. Rowling more than just about anyone else on this earth. (And I am also undeniably obsessed with the Harry Potter novels) This video is J.K. Rowling giving a speech at Harvard college's 2008 graduation ceremony.

"Extremely Upsetting Facts About the Class of 2017"

Good afternoon! While I was at work this past week I stumbled across an article called "32 Extremely Upsetting Facts About the Class of 2017" and I thought it was absolutely genius and I knew I had to share! The class of 2017 are this years freshman and it documents all of the things 90's kids got to experience that they didn't. This article is curtosey of BuzzFeed.com .. Check it out!

1. They have never lived in a world with monthly texting limits.

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Via commons.wikimedia.org

2. Or in a world where they've had to look up directions and print them out.

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Via theoldschoolrecords.com

3. Or where they weren't able to skip through commercials.

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Via es.123rf.com

FRI"DIY" - Mason Jar Candle Holders!

Good morning and happy Friday! Friday is definitely the best day of the week, right? I think everyone will agree when I say that the weekend is awesome! The weekend is my chance to have some down time and relax. My forms of relaxation are taking baths and reading. Another thing that helps me relax are candles, especially when candles are lot while I'm taking a bath or reading. I'm always so paranoid when I lite candles while taking a bath because I'm worried that they'll spill over (etc). Which is why I got the idea to combine two of my favorite things: mason jars and candles! Since mason jars are a great size, they allow the candle to be surrounded by the high walls of the jar to prevent spilling. After I got that idea, I said to myself, "Well, you can't just throw a candle in a mason jar and call it a day.. It has to be decorated!" Annnnnd here we are! Let's get started!

What you'll need:

I got the mason jars from Michaels, the tape, spray paint, sanding bar and tape from Lowe's. Michaels had spray paint; however, it was $11.99 a bottle which is why I went to lowes.

Two mason jars - 2.99 ea.

Sanding sponge - 2.99 

Scotch painters tape - 1.99

Valspar spray paint - $5.99 ea.

Three Awesome Videos That'll Help You Get Through Thursday

Good morning!  For today's "mini post" I was doing my daily scroll through Cosmopolitan's website, which I do every morning, and I came across a post called "Three Awesome Videos That'll Help You Get You Get Through the Rest of the Week" Those videos definitely improved my morning, which prompted me to search the web for my own awesome videos to blog about!

Check them out below!

One video I found is "16 of the Worst Feelings" and this video will definitely improve your mood since (hopefully) none of these things have happened to you so far today. Remember, things could always be worse!

This video is "9 Celebrity Facts that Might Explode Your Brain"

Back to School Backpacks! (On A Budget)

Now that September is rolling around, I'm totally in the school spirit. I recently wrote a post called Back to School Bags (On A Budget) and typically after every post I write, I ask my friends for opinions. After the Back to School Bags blog all of my friends were surprised at how inexpensive each bag was that I listed; but the post couldn't help but make us all feel nostalgic for our grade school back pack days. Each bag I posted in the Back to School Bags blog was either a tote bag or a handbag big enough to carry your school necessities. While my friends and I fell in love with each bag I posted, we all miss the days where you looked forward to picking up your funky colored JanSport backpack; which all of your books and pencil cases fit into perfectly.

JanSport "Overexposed" - $35.00

 

I love JanSport! However, now a days, JanSport isn't as popular for the high school and college crowd.. But I'm here to show you some backpacks that are! Who doesn't love a good backpack?

For men:

Tilly's "MI-PAC Nordic Backpack" - $31.99

(Available in different colors and patterns) 

Attention All College Freshman!

A few days ago, I got asked to write a blog on college essentials and advise for incoming freshman; which is such a great idea! Why didn't I think of that?

I decided that I would start with the advise part of the blog since it would consist of a lot of writing.

I had a ton of questions that I wish I would've asked before leaving for college and I faced a lot of things that I wasn't prepared for. I'm not going to lie, I was TERRIFIED to start college. I was also a little frustrated because I was already a freshman in high school and now I had to start all over as a freshman again; however, college is very different than high school. For example, you're living on your own, completely on your own. You will have to cook, clean and decide when you want to do your homework and study because there will not be anyone breathing down your neck telling you to do those things.

Starting with food, I would definitely learn some quick recipes that you can whip together before or after class. When I was going away to school I didn't even think about cooking, it didn't cross my mind, I just figured I would eat whatever I could find and whatever was quick; which is something you DO NOT want to do. Take a day to sit with your parents, or Google some easy recipes, and learn learn learn. You will ruin your body if you do not eat healthy. You will gain weight and all of the unhealthy food will run your body down and make you extremely tired; which isn't good because you need all the energy you can get in college!

Another important thing

Summer Sales!

The end of summer is the beginning of some great sales! I've been browsing the internet all weekend in search of the cutest items of clothing for the best prices possible! I know you're wondering, "Why would I want to buy summer clothes if fall is coming?" and I have the answer for you! Because most summer clothes can be transitioned into the fall season, since fall isn't as cold as winter. Fall serves as a medium between winter and summer and has a mild temperature; therefore, you can wear the new clothing you've purchased from the summer sales throughout fall. Also, why not stock up on some clothes for next spring/summer? It will be here before you know it! And imagine how exciting it would be to know you have a bunch of new clothes waiting to be worn! Definitely something to look forward to.

Let's start shopping!

Aeropostale "Sheer Cropped Crochet Tank" - $39.50 ON SALE $7.99

Inexpensive Ideas for Your Upcoming Party!

I recently read an article on Seventeen.com called "How to Throw a Kickass Party (and Pay Your Rent)" and I absolutely fell in love with the article. I felt like I HAD to share the ideas they came up with. The editors at Seventeen talked about 5 easy DIYS that will make your party stand out, all while saving money! 

Light-Bright Coasters

Apply vinyl stickers to a glass tile, then spray-paint the whole tile. Remove stickers after 30 minutes. Use a sponge to apply a thin layer of Mod Podge (prevents chipping).

What you'll need:

• Spray paint
• Painter's tape
• Vinyl stickers
• Mod Podge
• Square glass tiles

Glitter-Bomb Champagne Flutes

Using painter's tape, mark off the area you don't want to cover (start a few inches below the rim). Pour nail polish into a bowl, then blot it onto a glass with a sponge. Peel the tape once the polish has fully dried. TIP: A shimmery shade looks sleeker than chunky sequins.

What you'll need:

• Champagne flutes
• Sparkly nail polish (shown above is Essie Nail Color in Beyond Cozy)
• Painter's tape
• Small sponge

Earn-Your-Stripes Serving Tray

Stencil a design using a ruler and chalk (or eyeball it!), then cover lines with long strips of metallic tape. Using a box cutter, slice the tape so it lies flush against any edges. TIP: Rectangular trays work better than round ones.

What you'll need:

FRI"DIY" - Tassel Necklaces (On A Budget)

Hello and happy Friday! I always get really excited for Fridays, not only because it's the weekend, but because it means I get to try out a new DIY! This weeks DIY is one of my favorites. I've been dying for a tassel necklace for fall! They're adorable and match with mostly everything. They're definitely funky, new and something I'm willing to try out!

If you haven't seen tassel necklaces yet, here are some I found online at Anthropologie:

Anthropologie "Neon Plume Necklace" - $38.00

Anthropologie "Tassel Plume Necklace" - $38.00

Anthropologie's website has a bunch of tassel necklaces and they range in price from $38-500+.

I loved their tassel necklaces so much that I decided I wanted to make my own.. On a budget! I got all of my products from AC Moore and it was one of the most simple DIY's I've done! Let's get started on your trendy tassel necklace.

The cost of this DIY is completely up to you and how many necklaces you want to make. I knew I would want to make more than one so I picked up a few extra items.

Tassels - $1.99 ea.

Jars of beads - $2.99 ea.

Beading wire - $3.99 ea.

Mini Diagonal Cutter - $2.99 ea.