housing diy: 20 cheap backyard diys that will have you never wanting to go inside

heres 20 cheap and extremely easy ways to revamp your backyard for hosting parties or even a calm and serene place for yourself, a garden, a child’s backyard, or a romantic getaway. Theres some amazing ideas here that will have you dubbed the “best backyard” at the next block party.

1. replace lightbulbs in chandeliers with solar lightbulbs and hang from outside tree. youll have awesome lighting and a super plus is, no electricity! 

2. 2. you can hang mirrors on the fence to make the backyard look bigger. you can also upcycle old wooden frames!

3. Upcycle an old wood chair into a tire swing chair. Paint any color you wish, bright colors make your backyard look more vibrant, use an outdoor weatherproof spray paint. Also for us artistic ones, we could paint a design in a dark color for an awesome contrast!

4. A painted pallet with a cushion padding and memory foam topper with a fitted sheet around the bottom corners of the pallet to make a romantic love seat tire swing or a perfect outdoor swing for babies and small children.

5. Coat outdoor planters with neon glow in the dark paint for an instant night lighting ambiance.

6. Make a huge outdoor waterbed for the kids, or even us! The link to a website with a how-to is here.

7. Use glow stick necklaces and bracelets for a game of nighttime ring toss. Turned into a drinking game; Every 5 missed throws is a shot!

8. Glow stick bowling: 2 liters filled with water and a couple glow sticks. make it real fun and paint a bowling ball in glow in the dark paint. pick up an old bowling ball from a thrift shop.

9. Paint stones in your garden different designs. make sure to use weatherproof paint or outdoor paint. the m and m’s are such a cute idea, like completely awesome!

10. Tie vases to the fence and fill with fake flowers and wrap with some ribbon for an instantaneous upgrade to your outside. perfect for baby showers, weddings, etc.. And plus you can get all the items needed at a dollar store!

11. Spray paint old metal chairs for a revamped hosting necessity; seating. thats everyone’s fear, do we have enough room. and these chairs fold nice and flat next to each other for maximum storage. a small shed in the backyard, or even in the garage will suffice.

12. ADD THE new fabricated PADDING; here’s how.

13. Don’t own a grill, use a camping stove as an inexpensive bbq pit!

14. Use latex floor paint to color cement tiles on an outdoor patio.

15. have a backyard drive in for the kids with revamped cardboard boxes and a white sheet and a projector. this is perfect!

16. Use rope lighting to line the garden. its waterproof and cheap. you can also have a border of rocks separating the walkway and grass, always an option are solar lights lighting the walkway.

17. Pool noodle floating cooler; $2. need i say more? Use waterproof bonding glue to glue noodles on.

18. Use a hula hoop and a fancy curtain for an upgraded outdoor canopy, use as a tent for children playing outside or hang above the pallet tire swing for a romantic feel.

19. Make a cinder block bench along the length of your outside wall. paint cinder blocks with latex paint for a colorful base, or even putty back splash tiles to complete the look completely. add decorative pillows sprayed with weather guard and you’ve got yourself a masterpiece. could also use outdoor pillows; they sell at Target or Wal-Mart.

20. Make a garden umbrella stand out of a barrel used as a planter. Tip: Put a diaper at the bottom of the barrel with every soil change to soak up extra moisture to minimize the muddy mess.

inked up: first famous female tattoo artist x maud stevens wagner

As a tattoo artist myself I love seeing female tattoo artists dubbed the awesome that they are. It proves that the tattoo industry itself is totally diverse and anyone can make it as long as they have the right patience, perseverance, education, skills, and talent.The female artist I’m spotlighting today is none other than the pioneer in female tattoo artistry;

Maud Stevens Wagner

February 1877 – January 30, 1961

Maud was born in 1877 in Lyon County, Kansas. Wagner was an aerialist and contortionist, working in numerous traveling circuses. In 1904 at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition (world’s fair), she met the self proclaimed “most artistically marked up man in America”, Gus Wagner, her soon to be tattoo artist as well as husband.They exchanged a romantic date and she expressed her eager desire to learn more about tattoos, of course, any extra time to spend with her was worth it to him. A few years after their first date, they were wed and later birthed a daughter, Lovetta, who as well shared her parents passion for ink. Lovetta started tattooing at the age of nine, and later became a professional tattoo artist herself.

After learning the trade from her husband, Maud learned how to give traditional “hand-poked” tattoos—despite the invention of the tattoo machine. She was pretty bad-ass! Together, the Wagners were two of the last tattoo artists to work by hand, without the aid of modern tattoo machines. Maud Wagner was the United States’ first known female tattoo artist. After leaving the circus, Maud and Gus Wagner traveled around the United States, working both as tattoo artists and “tattooed attractions” in vaudeville houses, county fairs and amusement arcades. They are credited with bringing tattoo artistry inland, away from the coastal cities and towns where the practice had started.

Unfortunately, Maud Wagner died on January 30, 1961 in Lawton, Oklahoma. Although her spirit has passed, her legacy still lives on today. In anything you do today it’s wise to know the history behind something you’re so passionate about, history is bound t repeat itself.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maud_Wagner

Amen to the female tattooers out there, lets keep slanging this art!

plus size fashionista: tess munster x effyourbeautystandards

Tess Munster is a huuuge name in plus size fashion. She is a Plus-Size Model, Make Up Artist, Body Positive Activist and Blogger based in L.A., who turned her hobbies into a successful career. She says she is now doing what she always dreamed of.

Tess was teased for being curvy, fair skinned, and short. The bullies at school were relentless, but she kept her head up. Knowing that she’d never quite fit in never kept Tess from dreaming. When Tess turned 15 she attended a casting call for Plus Models in Atlanta, GA, where she was not warmly received. Standing at 5’4″, wearing a size 16, she noticed everyone towering over her, and quickly realized her dreams of being a model might just be a dream. Tess then turned to her first love, Make Up Artistry. It was reading Kevyn Aucoin’s book, “Changing Faces,” that opened her eyes and showed her that makeup could truly “transform” someone inside and out.

At 17, forced to drop out of school because of severe bullying, Tess earned her GED, packed her bags, and moved across the country with hopes of making her dreams come true. She perfected her technique as a Makeup Artist, and started landing jobs as head makeup artist, hair stylist, and creative director for numerous fashion shows in Seattle, WA. It was truly amazing to see the confidence that she could give her clients through glamming them up with makeup. Although it brought her tremendous joy and pride, Tess felt like something was missing. So, in 2010, she decided to move to Los Angeles, and it was that very move that forever changed her life.

Within months of moving to L.A., Tess became a professional full time model, was a finalist for ‘Torrid’s House of Dreams Model Search’, and the face of a new A&E TV show called ‘Heavy’. She has appeared in a nationwide print ad for ‘Heavy’ that was featured in People Magazine, NY Magazine, and numerous other publications, as well as billboards across the country. Tess currently models for Domino Dollhouse, Jessica Louise Clothing, Sealed With a Kiss Designs, Black Cat Bikinis, Tattooed Zombie Accessories, Evil Pawn Jewelry, C.TA Glam Couture, 222 Clothing, and Vintage Box 1947, among others. Tess has also been featured in Vogue Italia, Inked Magazine, Inked Girls, Bizarre Magazine, Atomic Bombshells (cover), Plus Model Magazine, Volup2., Skorch Magazine (cover), Cats Meow Magazine (cover) Glam Rock Magazine, Drive In Magazine, Rabid Magazine, any many ‘Fatshion’ Blogs. She also most recently was named One of the Top Plus Size Models by Refinery 29, Vogue Italia, & Huffington Post- Not too bad for a small town Mississippi girl, huh? Tess has even continued her work as a Make up Artist, and has traveled all across the west coast doing weddings, events, photo shoots, you name it!

What Tess loves most about her careers is the ability to inspire and empower women around the world. From transformations with makeup, building confidence through modeling, and advocating body size acceptance, her fans have been the best part of her journey. She recently founded the #effyourbeautystandards movement which has over 65,000 shares on Instagram alone, and it’s truly changed her life. She receives letters and emails from different women every day thanking her for empowering them to love their bodies, and to not be ashamed of being short, pale/dark, or dare I say…Fat. It is now the features that Tess was bullied about in her youth, that she says she now embraces, and encourages other women to embrace within themselves. Tess hopes that girls who are bullied, and women who lack confidence will begin to see their inner and outer beauty at whatever size. Tess is proof that determination, relentlessness, and positivity can look beautiful on anyone, and that there is a wonderful life past a size 20.

Tess is an amazing inspiration, especially to those feeling weighted down by bullying or shame. Look at how far she came all because she wanted to. Dont ever let the fear of your dreams coming true keep you from the hustle. #effyourbeautystandards

http://tessmunster.com/about.html

photography crush spotlight: jeffrey vanhoutte

A photographer based out of Brussels, Belgium  is an experienced photographer who works mainly for important advertising agencies. He works for Belgian as well as for international clients.  He got his degree in professional photography from the Coloma School in Mechelen. At the age of 21 he began his professional life as a photographer. He started immediately as a freelance photographer in his own studio called Studio Photon situated in Brussels. In the beginning of his career Jeffrey specialized in food and other still life photography. He became more and more interested in working with living models and started working in the field of advertising. Besides his professional work, Jeffrey works on personal projects.

In this particular showcase, Jeffrey  freezes extraordinary instants in time in these amazing shots of an acrobatic dancer leaping and twirling amid dynamic clouds of powder. Individual particles of powder form incredible shapes around the dancer’s body as she pulls off impressive feats of balance and nimbleness. Suspended in midair, frozen in motion, the model appears as graceful and elegant as a bird spreading its wings and taking flight.…

http://www.jeffreyvanhoutte.be

beauty: spring 2015 makeup, nails, hair

I don’t know about you ladies but i love staying in touch with the latest trends and fashions, makeup is no different. So here i am, giving you the latest in makeup for 2015, ENJOY!

PERFECT PLUM- 

This rich, romantic shade was a favorite on the spring 2015 runways, but it couldn’t be more gorgeous to wear right now, as winter sets in. At the Vera Wang show, makeup artist Lucia Pieroni was inspired by mystical wood nymphs when he brushed models’ lids with this dreamy dark purple (he used a not-yet-launched Cle de Peau shadow quad, Fairy Dust). I also like Mally Beauty City Chick Smoky Eye Kit ($24, ulta.com).

Another way to wear plum: on your lips. It’s a little edgy and most girls think it’s too dark, however, it friggin’ ROCKS! I love love LOOOVE Urban Decay’s liner and lipstick in Envy. You could also try Maybelline Color Elixir in Dashing Orchid ($6,target.com).

NEGATIVE SPACE MANICURES-

Our favorite nail trend of the moment—graphic polish designs that let a little naked nail show through—took over the runways for spring. Another idea: Paint just your half-moons with polish and leave the naked nail showing. Taking that concept to the next level, models’ mint negative-space manis at Charlotte Ronson had a graphic flip-flopped effect.

BRAIDS RETWISTED: THE BRAID 2.0-

The braid is a classic go-to hairstyle that shows sophistication as well as neatness. Now ladies, it’s the 21st century, we don’t want to feel like a little girl who just got out of the bath with our braid, so thank goodness we have some new options for the ever ready BRAID.

Good news if you finally mastered the fishtail: Braids are one trend that’s not going anywhere. Stylists, led by Nick Irwin for TIGI, made three sections in back, plaited the middle one, then wrapped the other two sections around it to create these bohemian, deconstructed braids at Mara Hoffman. The hair was also secured in several spots with elastics, then pulled loose, for a segmented look.

For a lovely update to the basic braid (seen here at Marissa Webb), do a deep side part, sweep your braid over one shoulder, and flatiron the ends sleek. Pull touchable pieces loose around your face for a romantic finishing touch.

The deceptively simple-looking braid at Donna Karan (left) required extensions and several extra sets of hands—but you could do a basic three-strand version with similar sleekness, like the one seen at Peter Som (right).

There were many complex braid hairstyles at Fashion Week that would never work off the runway, but Bibhu Mohapatra’s look (created by L’Oréal Professionnel Artist Amit Abraham) was a completely wearable idea for day-old hair; wind your braid into a bun and tie on a scarf for an easier version, perfect for Sunday brunch.

BLACK LIQUID EYES-

 

Blackest-black eyeliner is an absolute must have in the makeup world so if you dont already have some, get some and start playing with those wings ladies! For night, try tight-lining all the way around your eye with liquid eyeliner for maximum drama. The trick with the thick liner is to keep the rest of your face as close to natural as possible. Keeping the inner corners bright makes eyes look large and open.

GET LOW (WITH YOUR PONYTAIL)-

The best thing about low pony’s are they are made to look messy, or you could also make them sleek and shiny. You could also use a second hair elastic at the nape of the neck, for an elegant looped effect.

BABY SOFT NAIL POLISH-

After the era of darkest of the darks nail polishes, came the big, bold, patterned, studded nails, now everything is toning down. Next in nails is baby soft nail polish colors, the colors that are barely there.

BOLD RED LIPS-

Well here’s one that’s not new to us makeup fanatics. The perfect shade of red will have a woman addicted. Red lips with a natural winged liner will keep any mua happy.

glamour.com

BLOG: Enjoy LIfe

One day, 50 years from now, well be sitting doing our own favorite version of nothing and we’ll flash back to this time, the time your so eagerly overlooking while you’re reading this on your phone on Facebook or Instagram looking at pictures of girls you wished you looked like, tattooed bearded men, and makeup. the moment suspended in time if only you were to just grab it and completely, whole-fully enjoy each moment as they pass. and what do i mean by enjoy it? if you thought to yourself you’re a pretty happy person, boom, just like that, you got life’s question wrong. how do you feel?
well i have good news, its pretty simple to fuck up the answer but its even easier to fix it. now to truly wholeheartedly undeniably enjoy life, here’s the secret; vow to let the simple things in life make you happy. imagine, when you’re 4 bubbles were so amusing. the excitement you felt just seeing the bubble container on the shelf as you begged and pleaded with your mom to let you play bubbles. once you had that container firmly grasped in your hand, twisting the cap to expose the glycerin liquid and plastic stick with a hole at the end, something so simple as bubbles. something to make you happy like never before that day. where did the simplicity in our happiness go? why cant we get excited off bubbles? not necessarily bubbles but something such as.
now where am i going with this; just follow me through for a sec.
I am obsessed with anything Christmas. as I’m typing this i actually still have my Christmas tree up, its January 9th, and i have no desire to dismount my gorgeous tree. so about 3 months ago i was driving home from work with 2 friends. it was Friday, we just got paid, just got off work, we had Friday night to ourselves. such a good drive, bumping music, bullshitting then all of a sudden, out of nowhere, i spotted the first Christmas lights of 2014. so what did i do? i pulled over and turned the car off. i was getting baffled looks and confused questions from my passengers, such as what the hell we were doing. well i sat there, ignoring everything and everyone else, only paying focus to this little thing that truly made me happy. i sat, stared, soaked in, totally ENJOYED seeing those lights, and to be honest they weren’t even decorated that nice, but they were the first Christmas lights of that year, so i loved them.
now to you you’re probably thinking I’m crazy. that’s ok. enjoyment isn’t one size fits all, and anyways how well do the osfa clothes really fit all? not at all.
so what makes you happy? and when you find that answer, mean it. truly know what makes you happy, what gives you the thrill of life when you do it, see it, feel it, etc. Us Americans are in such a rush, were in a life race to die. were always moving so fast, ordering too large, and artificially filling our heads and hearts with meaningless things like the new iphone 6. what does it matter you have the nicest, newest phone, when you have no real human connections to those people you so enthusiastically follow on social media. what does it matter you have a 2015 car with heated cup holders, if you don’t give someone who needs it a ride? whats the point of having all the nicest most expensive clothes when its just dressing the outside of something that is rotting and miserable.
so basis of my thesis is;
Enjoy life while you still got it. cause it wont always be here, it wont always be as perfect as it is right now and at the same time it wont always be this miserable to those of you fighting your fights. this too shall pass. nothing lasts forever, things change people change. so enjoy each moment as if it were the only one of its kind. like there’s not another moment in the world that can compare to this right now. that kiss, those eyes, those kids, their laughs, the food, the candles glowing, the busy street, the traffic, good or bad, enjoy your moments. you only have one life so please lets not waste it. we need to learn how to make our lives richer and fuller and not by filling the holes with things that cost thousands of dollars. no plasma, no game system, no shopping bag filled with new clothes, no bottle filled with pills or liquids will ever make your life fulfilled. its up to you. what moments in your life do you want to hold near, cherish, remember with all the fibers of your brain?

FIRST LOOK: GabiFresh X SwimSexy 2015

So the always beautiful GabiFresh is at it again. Ladies, get ready, 2015 swimwear is ALREADY in the making and I don’t know about you guys, but I am so excited and ready for summer! I’m going through beach withdrawals, seriously. I am really excited to share with you the first images and pieces of the ‘GabiFresh for Swim Sexy’ Swimsuits for All 2015 Swim Collection! Here she is modeling her ever so adorable “Fatkini” as well as her Palm Print one piece. Link to her website will be at the bottom as usual.

 

“I designed 9 different pieces (8 bikinis and a one piece), and they’re honestly my favorite to date. True to my style, I went for bold colors, fun designs and cool details. There was no watering down or holding back (this happens often when brands make things for our size demo); I simply designed beautiful statement pieces that I knew stylish girls would love. From jellyfish and oil prints to oversized zippers and cutouts, I really did think about every single element, and I hope you guys can tell how much time and effort I put into these.”

-Ms. GabiFresh herself.

Gabifresh.com

Photography Crush Spotlight: Keren Moscovitch

Keren Moscovitch is a photographer based out of New York City where she teaches at the School of Visual Arts. She holds an MFA from the School of Visual Arts and a BA from Georgetown University. Her education is pretty incredible, however, her paper accomplishments are way surpassed by her actual skill. Her work has been featured in numerous exhibitions and publications alike.

So we all know some people like to take pictures in the bedroom, however, Keren took it a step further and created an entire project gallery, “Me Into You” that truly has caught the reader’s eyes.

“”Me Into You” is a depiction of love, intimacy and sexuality as contextualized within an open relationship. I am interested in the experience of becoming one with someone else, and what happens when boundaries begin dissolving between individuals, within a community of lovers. I am also looking at the natural expression of sensuality in a society overrun with taboos, in which the human body becomes compartmentalized and moralized. In this body of work, I explore the thin line between love and hate, attraction and fear, curiosity and disappointment.” Keren Moscovitch explained her perspective on her gallery.

Her photos display a raw sense of intimacy and vulnerability like I’ve never seen before. Her work is amazing and her website and links will be available at the bottom so you can explore her talents further. She also has a gallery named “Tribe” that gets a little too intimate for display on my blog.

http://kerenmoscovitch.com/