How to Re-string your Mumbai Bracelet

Yes accidents can happen and unfortunately bad things can happen to beloved jewelry. For me, my mumbai broke one day when I was just simply wearing it (I must have awesome wrists!). I spent about 10 minutes panicking and was really close to tears but then thought to myself that I could probably fix this myself. So just in case if you ever have an accident or would just like to make your Mumbai smaller here are the instructions.

Note: Please know that it will not look exactly like the original, it will not be perfect and do not expect your bracelet to come out perfect. If you guys have other ideas on how to re-string the Mumbai, please let me know. I'm looking for ways to make it perfect :)

What you will need:
- Your Mumbai of course
- Rope from your Jewelmint velvet bags
- Pliers
- Wire cutters

How to remove the rope from your Jewelmint velvet bags:

- untie the knots on both ends of the bag

- there should be two separate strands of rope, pull both of them out. You will  only need one of them. 

How to re-string your Mumbai bracelet

-Before you start, you need to know the pattern. The pattern is... plate and then 2 beads.

Step 1

Fold the string in half.

Step 2

String the first plate with one string on the bottom and one on the top.

Step 3

Continue to do this until you are finished. If the Mumbai is too big, remove one or two plates. (I have around 5 inch wrists and had to remove one one plate)

Step 4
Tie a double knot at the end of the bracelet.

Step 5

Remove the original clasps from the original Jewelmint bracelet with your pliers.

Step 6

Place on end of the clasps on one end of the bracelet and the other clasp on the other end. (ATTACH THEM TO THE CHORDS)

Step 7 

Voila! You have successfully revived your Mumbai bracelet.

Stylemint Melrose Top- Navy Blue Size 1

It's been probably about a month and a half since I received my first Stylemint shirt and I just wanted to do a quick update on the shirt.

My conclusion about Stylemint is that I don't think I would personally pay $30 for a basic tee. Although the shirts are very soft and comfy, I still can't justify paying a high price on it. After washing the shirt just once, it already had that "it's been worn for a year look". Despite my efforts to keep the color as vibrant as it was when I first received it, it now just looks like any shirt in my closet. It just doesn't stand out. I am very money conscious so for me to spend $30 for a basic top just doesn't make sense to me. Thankfully I got the shirt for a great deal.
If I had to chose between Jewelmint or Stylemint, I would most definitely chose Jewelmint.

So, if you guys are interested in trying Stylemint, I would definitely recommend waiting for coupons codes and deals such as the POPSUGAR deal or wait for when the have the buy one get a Jewelmint piece for free. But for me, Stylemint is a no go :(

Hallelujah! Better quality pics.

Can I just say I did not know that my camera could take awesome pics. So ditching the Iphone camera.

DIY: Humanity Necklace

For those of you who are like me and found the Humanity bracelet to be...not for the wrist, well today is your lucky day. I literally spent a whole week after receiving my Humanity bracelet as part of the BOGO (buy one get one). In this case, the Humanity was FREE! Great price huh? I was initially really excited when I first got it, but then it dawned on me that it looked like I was wearing a coin on my wrist and it seemed a little bit odd. Something just doesn't seem right. Then, as I was doing some organic chemistry homework, the idea just popped into my head. Why not wear a coin as a necklace? So, below are instructions on how you can turn your Humanity bracelet into a necklace.

NOTE: I am a college student and my grammar isn't perfect because we don't use proper grammar in college. But I will do my best to explain it as clearly as I can :)


Things you will need: 
- Scissors
- Pliars
- Gold chain that are made of loops (the nice chain decorations with the little interlocking circles- that kind of chain)
- Humanity I or II braclet

Directions:

Step 1: 

If you are interested in keeping the original JM clasp of the bracelet, please remove it. To do this, find the loop that connects the extender and the clasp to the actual chain. The closing gap on the jumper. Take your scissors and place it on the crease and open it up by simply "snipping" it until the gap is wide enough. Be careful not to break the jumper for you are going to reuse it. Set that aside.

Step 2:

Remove the pendant from the chain. To do this, find the jumper that connects the pendant to the bracelet chain (this should be on both sides). Find the closing gap on the jumper. Take your scissors and place it on the crease and open it by simply "snipping" it until the gap is wide enough. Be careful not to break the jumper for you are going to reuse it. Remove the chain ONLY leaving the jumper attached to the pendant. Place the bracelet chain aside. You will not be needing this.

Step 3:

Determine which chain you are going to use for the necklace. If you decide to just keep the clasp that is already on it move on to  Step 4. For those of you are are interested in using the JM clasp, remove the clasp on your necklace and then use the JM clasp and extender. Use the jumper from the JM bracelet. Close the jumper with pliers. Be careful, applying too much pressure will break the jumper.

Step 4:

Make sure you have your necklace clasp together meaning, imagine it around your neck (have it closed). Find the middle and cut the chain with your scissors. You should have the clasp of the chain as the middle and two loose ends.

Step 5:

Using the original jumpers from the bracelet, attach the pendant onto the chain and close it with pliers. Again be careful not to apply to much pressure.

Step 6: 

Put on and do the happy dance.

Please also send me some pictures of your Humanity Necklace.

My New Favorite....The Sweetheart Ring

A couple months ago, the Sweetheart Ring was re-released and stupid-ole-me didn't buy it. About a month after that, I began to regret it and on my frantic search. I was so glad to have found someone who not only had the Sweetheart Ring in my size but also two other pieces that I have been searching high and low for. I cannot describe how beautiful this ring is. If my boyfriend proposed to me with that ring, I would have said yes right away (it's just that awesome) :) This would the first ring that I have received from JewelMint. I don't normally purchase rings from them but I finally found one that I was willing to buy.

First Impression:

When I first opened the box and saw the ring inside of it, my mouth dropped. It was gorgeous. I have never seen anything so unique and beautiful. Of course I have seen other heart rings but definitely not something that looked like that. The color of the gold is just perfect. It is a matte gold, so it's not too shiny.

Quality:

The quality of the ring is great! It's very thick and sturdy. I definitely wont break anytime soon. As far as the rhinestones go, I'm not sure how long they will stay on because there are no prongs that hold them in place. Since receiving this ring about a week ago, I have not been able to take it off. I wear it everyday and don't take it off until bed time. I was my hands with the ring on and have showered with it on as well. Thus far, I have not had any problems with it tarnishing.

Weight:

It is a pretty decent weighted ring. It's not heavy to the point that your fingers will fall off but not so light that if you accidentally step on it, it will break.

Sizing: TRUE TO SIZE! :)

Sweetheart Ring Report Card: A+

Overall rating in all categories on as scale of 1-5 (1 being horrible and 5 being awesome):

Looks: 5
Weight: 5
Quality: 5
Color: 5

Cons:

The only thing I am afraid of is having the stones fall off. :(


I would highly recommend others to get this ring if you have the chance. Currently they are sold out but hopefully with October being their birthday month, some of you will have another chance to pick this one up.

Images from Google.com

Image from Google.com

Daphne Pendant

Wow, is all I can say. I just want say thank you to one of the lovely JewelMint ladies on Facebook who was kind enough to part with this beautiful necklace. So thank you if you happen to read this :) There are just no words to describe how beautiful this piece is. I wore it for the first time today and received so many compliments on it and basically had to explain what JewelMint is to about half a dozen people.

This picture is from the JewelMint website.

First impressions: I was speechless when I first saw this piece. It is so beautiful. My boyfriend even thought it was cool. I like how unique and different this necklace is. You definitely don't come across jewelry that are made of wood.

Quality: I think the overall quality is great. It is a sturdy piece and I like the fact that the back of the pendant is plated as well. The chain is also thick and sturdy.

Pros: 

• Sturdy
• Unique
• Beautiful
• Great layering as well as stand alone piece

Cons:

• The jewel in the middle isn't great. It's kind of cloudy.
• I'm not too fond of the bright shiny gold on the chain.

Overall: Despite all of the cons that I listed (not many cons) I still think it's beautiful and a must have.

Grade:  A+

Goodwill Haul #1: Saved More Than $200!

I am absolutely obsessed with thrifting. I can't get over how much fun it is. It's not only fun, but you can find just about anything for probably the best prices. Since school has been in session for about a month, I haven't had a lot of time to do some "hardcore" thrifting. But I have been able to just go and scan for couple of minutes. During those few minutes, I have been able to find lots of great items. Actually, I think the items that I have purchased over the past month are my favorite items ever. I am super proud of my collective haul and can't wait to share it with you guys. So here it goes, my collective thrift haul for the month of September/October! All of these items were purchased at my local Goodwill.




1. Forever 21 Top- Size Small- $1.39

I absolutely LOVE this top. I think it is so beautiful. This picture doesn't do the shirt any justice. The detailing on the shirt is so extraordinarily. I'm actually shocked that this shirt is from Forever 21! But I am glad I found this shirt and at such a great price.  Forever 21 shirts can range anywhere from $18.00- $30.00!




2. Loft Cropped Capri Pants-  Grey- Size 00- Brand New!- $3.00

These pants are so cool. They almost feel like suede, but of course it's not suede. I like the cuffed bottom. It looks professional but then, could be great for a nice lazy day. It was originally for $59.50, went on sale for $9.99 and I got them for only $3.00. Total savings of $57.00!




3. Luck Brand Jeans- Dark Wash- Size 2/24-$3.00

 I seriously cannot believe that these jeans were only $3.00!! They are still in good condition and no fraying on the bottoms. I checked online to see how much these would cost and there jeans range from $98-$150. So I saved almost $100 on these jeans.




4. Gap Jeans- Dark Wash- Size 00-$3.00

Again, I still can't believe I paid $3.00 for these. They are in such good condition, I'm still in shock that these are only $3.00. The original prices for these are around $70 so my savings on these are $67!


All of these great clothes for a grand total of $10.39 and total savings of about $260!

Best Day of my Life

I got me these bad boys!

I think these earrings are just gorgeous and I cannot wait to see them in person. If only it could just come here quicker.

How to Prevent your Clothes from Fading

Hello all,
I just wanted to share with you a quick tip that my mother taught me. She shared with me an awesome trick that prevents the color from fading on your favorite clothing items.

What You'll Need:

• Vinegar - any kind will do (white, apple cider, etc)
• A bucket, sink, whatever you'll need to put the clothes in
• Water

Instructions: 

• Fill the bucket half way up with cold water.
• Poor 5 cap fulls of vinegar into the bucket and mix
• Place the article of clothing into the bucket
• Allow it to soak for about 2-3 hours before you wash in the washer.

Note: If you see color leaking into the water, continue this process until the water is clear.

• Place the article of clothing and wash like you normally do

Hope this helps! XOXO. Please don't forget to be a subbie.

BTW, this works great with new jeans where the color just comes out and gets all over your other clothes. Pretty much do this with any colored clothes and it should help keep the color longer and prevent fading.

The Astoria Necklace

For me to get this piece was a huge leap. I went from someone who wore no jewelery to someone who purchases big statement pieces. I was really hesitant to get this because I was scared I wasn't going to like it but once I tried it on for the first time, I was pleasantly surprised. I absolutely LOVE this piece. It's one of those pieces that could easily be dressed up and dressed down.

Quality: Personally, I think this is a very good quality piece. It is not too heavy but then it's not a breakable piece. I think this is something that could last a very long time.

Coloration:  The coloration of the Astoria Necklace is a more rusted gold color. It's not a super bright gold. It kind of has an antique feel to it.

Would I recommend it ?  YES! This is just one of those must have pieces. It is so beautiful and unique piece. You cannot find a piece like this anywhere else. 

Verdict: 

• Quality- 5
• Color- 5
• Style- 5
• Overall- 5

Worn with a black HM tank- $5.96

No, Not Chicken Nuggets but Gold Nuggets on the Aurum Necklace

I have literally been debating on whether to not get this necklace since July, sad I know. I just couldn't make up my mind and I'm just one of those girls that only buy things that I love, with a few exceptions. But I finally decided to purchase this lovely piece, two months later. So, here is my review on the Aurum Necklace. Again, I purchased this with my own money and my opinions are completely honest.

Photo from Google

I think I fell in love with this piece because when you wear it, it's not the "Hey look at me, look at me and my bling!" kind of jewelry. It's just enough to show people that you are not boring.

What I think: I think it's just one of those pieces that everyone should have. Yes, it's not a unique piece but it's a piece that can easily dress up an outfit as well as something that you can wear on a normal day. Personally, I like it. But I'm one of those "new to jewelry" kind of girls and is not ready to graduate into the more bold pieces.

Quality: It's very light weight and can easily be tangled. I wore it for about two hours after I got it and didn't have any issues with it tangling while wearing but more of being tangled when placed in a jewelry box. I have to say that I am scared to tug on it a bit because it feels like it might break but we will have to see about that.

Color: It's a shiny bright gold. It has a similar coloration to that of 18 karat gold.

Pros: 

• Shiny gold- me likey!
• Simple
• Beatiful

Cons: 

• Too delicate
• Tangles easily if not stored properly

Verdict : I give this piece a B+ because I think it's one of those pieces that everyone should have but not A+ standards because it's not one of those WOW pieces. As far as quality goes I would give is a B, feels really delicate but the nuggets are great.

Would I recommend this? Yes. For those who like delicate pieces, go for it. It's great for work and just for people who are not comfortable with huge statement pieces but would like to stand out. If you love statement pieces then no, save your money for the more unique pieces like the Setting Sun or Astoria.

Worn with: Black Lace Top - thrifted $1.39 and HM tank top- $5.96

Worn with Madison dress- thrifted $1.39

Outfit Ideas:

• Laced tops- I think it has that romantic feel
• StyleMint Mullholland Tee in either green or ivory: Don't personally have this, but I think it would nice
• Plain crew neck tee and a black blazer and jeans: Simple and casual
• Chiffon tops: For a romantic night out

First StyleMint Purchase: Melrose in Navy Blue

I'm am super excited to have received my first StyleMint shirt. I actually used the PopSugar coupon code so I got this shirt for only $15! What a great deal! So here are some of my opinions on the shirt!

Navy Blue

Ballet Slipper Pink

Note: This was purchased with my own money so all of my opinions are honest.













First Impressions (Packaging) : I was extremely excited to receive my first StyleMint shirt. Upon receiving it, I thought the over all packaging is cute. Definitely not as great and elaborate as JewelMint but still cute.

First Impressions (Melrose Shirt - Navy Blue- Size 1): Once I pulled it out of the packaging, I was like "Oh, this looks like any other shirt." The look of the shirt was just like any henley top to me. But once I tried it on, I loved it. The fabric is extremely soft. I mean, I want to fall asleep in it soft. The color of the shirt was a nice vibrant navy blue, not the typical, I'm going to fade in one wash navy blue.

Fit: I normally wear a size x small or small in tops, 0 or 00 in pants. I'm 4 feet 11 inches, so I'm pretty petite. I ordered a size 1 in the Melrose and the arms of the shirt are a little bit snug.T Tighter than I what I would have though but the bodice of the shirt allowed for some movement. For those who are taller, I would recommend getting a size 2 for the Melrose top if you like it to be loose.

Quality: I have not washed this shirt yet so I do not know how well it will do in the wash. The shirt is a little on the thin side but that could be fixed with a cami.

The verdict: On a scale of 1 to 5. 1 being poor, 5 being awesome

• First impressions: 4
• Fit: 4
• Quality: 4
• Color: 5
• Style: 5

 Would I recommend StyleMint tops? I would say that $30.00 for a basic is pretty pricy, but for $15, it is a great deal. For those who have the money to spend on good quality basics, go for it. For those who are budget conscience like me, not so much. I would just wait for coupons :)

Remember, I am 4 feet 11 inches tall. I normally wear an x small or small in tops and 0 or 00 in pants

Sleeve button detail

Hope this helps! Chao :)

Another Person's Trash Truely is Another Person's Treasure

I have recently discovered the world of thrift shopping a couple of months ago and go frequently just to check out all the cool stuff they have. I am lucky enough to live about a minute from the Goodwill and boy do they have tons of treasures. I have seen Coach, Chanel, Banana Republic, Steve Madden, Lacoste and so much more go in and out of that store. Unfortunately, me being so picky, I don't buy a lot of stuff. I have a rule. If I don't love it, I'm not going to buy it. Sometimes it's the devil because I will put back something really nice to go and think about it but then when I go back, it's gone! But just yesterday, I just went into the Goodwill for a quick stroll and saw something in the jewelry counter that caught my eye. This lovely vintage necklace (or at least I think it's vintage)!

Thrifted for $2.50!

It reminded me so much of something JewelMint would have, so unique and lovely (well at least that's what I think). This necklace is so detailed that's it's unbelievable. It's got a significant amount of weight to it as well and the gold color is sort of vintage looking. Not only is it amazing looking but.... I got it for only $2.50!! Such a steal!! I cannot wait to wear it during the fall.

The New and Improved Setting Sun Necklace from JewelMint

Like many, I have fallen in love with the Setting Sun. It is simply one of the most gorgeous necklaces that I have seen. It is so unique and beautiful that it's hard for me to describe it. I absolutely love this piece. But of course, not everything is perfect. My only issue was the blue threading in the necklace. For some reason, I just didn't like that being there. It made it feel almost "tacky". So to try to improve it, I decided to remove the blue thread and needless to say, I was SUCCESSFUL! :)

This is the finish result.

Original Setting Sun

Blue thread removed.

 

SUCCESS! Note: Sorry about being so "in your face" and the poor camera quality. This was taken on my webcam.

Removing the thread was actually quiet easy. There is no need to take apart the necklace, thank goodness. I was so scared of ruining this beautiful piece of jewelry, but decided that trying wouldn't hurt.

HOW TO REMOVE THE BLUE THREAD ON THE SETTING SUN NECKLACE

Things you are going to need:

• A small pair of scissors (fingernail clippers will work or the cuticle trimmers as well)
• Tweezers

1. Near the top of the necklace (closest to the clasp) take your tweezers and pull the blue thread away from the gold chain.
2. Cut the blue thread as close to the.. I don't know what it's called but the gold thing that keeps the thread and chair together so it won't fall apart. Be careful not to cut the gold chain.
3. Once you have made the first cut, you can unwind the thread all the way to the bottom of the chain.
4. Cut the blue thread again once you are at the bottom of the chain.
5. Do the same thing to the other side.
6. Jump in joy because you have successfully removed the blue thread from the Setting Sun Necklace

I hope this helps :) And please subscribe for reviews, chops, and much more!

Hello!

Hello all! Yes, I am a bio nerd but that doesn't mean that I spend my entire life behind books. I love all things fashion. Anything from the latest clothes, shoes, and jewelry! Oh, I love jewelry and shopping. But shhh.... you can't tell the other bio nerds about my secret life this is just between you and me. So, this blog will mostly be dedicated to fashion and maybe a little bit about my life behind books as well. Enjoy!