Hair Tutorial: Bohemian Twist Updo (Great For Summer, Weddings and Prom!) from Kirsten Powell on Vimeo.

This romantic, twisty, bohemian updo literally takes only 4 minutes to style...and I have video proof! Trust me when I say I will be wearing this 'do all around town....during hot and stick summer days, at my friend's wedding, at home, at work (aka the same place as home....drats). Oh, and about that tiny little rat tail that didn't make it into the twisties? Don't worry...I pinned that up pronto.

{my new fave dress I scored for $12 //  bloggers with their thrifted loot - pic taken by Jentine}

Over the epic weekend that was Texas Style Council, Sofia, Megan, Natalie, Jenna  and I (along with 90 other fab bloggers!) went on the thrifting adventure under the guidance of the always wonderful Jessie of Style & Pepper, Jentine of My Edit, Elissa from Dress With Courage, and Pamela from Market Publique. I was a textbook case of the “overwhelmed thrifter” before venturing out on this workshop. I would walk into a store, go through two racks, look up at the copious mish mash of clothing ahead of me, and decide to check out before I waded any deeper into the store. There was too much and I didn’t know where to start or have 5 hours to dedicate to maybe finding something that sorta fits and has a weird stain on it. However, the thrifting tips that came from these ladies….oh my gosh, consider my mind blown.  Before we were let loose in Savers like the pack of fashion-crazed hoodlums that we are,  Jentine, Jessie, Elissa and Pamela dropped these pearls of wisdom on us: 

Dress appropriately
Leggings, a tight tank, shoes that are easy to get in and out of…think things that aren’t going to add bulk when you trying them on without taking everything off. It makes trying on clothes a little less “eww” and more “oooh.”  

Size is only a number
Jentine really hit a note with me on this one – there are some precious finds sitting in my closet that I would have passed up based on the size, but fit like a dream.  Since thrift stores have clothes from different eras, countries, and manufacturers, size is relatively irrelevant. Give yourself an allowance of up to 2 sizes above and below the one you normally wear…and when in doubt, just try it on. Tailoring is also always an option.

Go for the “fast 5”
Jessie, I just love you for introducing this concept. The “Fast 5” are jewelry, shoes, scarves, bags, and…ummm… ahhh!!!  I forgot.  {Insert 15 minute pondering sesh} Oh!! I remember now – belts. Basically, they are the on-the-cheap accessories that you know will fit and spice up an outfit. After you hit those spots, go to your fave department – dresses, blazers, pants, etc. It really did make navigating the store a little less panic-inducing having it broken down.
  
Dryel is your friend
When Pamela uttered the magical five-letter word that is Dryel, the heavens opened up and said “Thou shalt not pay ridiculous prices to dry clean your amazing $10 silk dress.” Go buy this DIY dry cleaning kit…it will save you time, energy and dollah bills.

It isn’t a marathon
You don’t have to hit up every department every time. It’s ok to beeline it to the blazer rack, and get out of there. You might get that feeling of “What if I missed the diamond in the rough???” but that’s ok…there will always be a next time.

What’s the best thing you ever scored while thrifting??

PS Since I am going to call a spade a spade and admit that I am wayyy too lazy to post a recap of the epic times had at Texas Style Council, I will live vicariously though these ladies' pretty photos and recaps!

Valentine's Day may give you the perfect excuse to rock Adriana Lima-style locks, but let's face it...who wouldn't want this look everyday?? Surprisingly, it's not the most complicated look to muster up for a weekend date or special occasion. Here's how to get your very own bed-head approved look.

Morning Preparation:
1. After you take your shower, let your hair air dry or give it a rough blow dry. Nothing to smooth or sleek!
2. After hair is dry, fasten your hair into a top knot bun as high on your head as you can using bobby pins. Try not to slick your hair to your head...you want to create some volume!
3. Go about your day as you normally do.

Styling:
1. When you are ready to turn up the volume (both on your hair and sexy meter), let your hair down and shake it out.
2. Put a good volumizer in your hair, focusing on the roots only.
3. Rough blow dry the hair with your head flipped over to create maximum root lift.
4. Apply a dry shampoo through out the whole head.
5. Separate hair into 4 sections (2 front and 2 back) and begin curling hair, one section at a time. With a large 1 1/2" curling iron, make sure that the barrel of the iron is at a vertical angle to the head and curl the hair away from your face. Start from the root, positioning the iron a safe distance from your head, and twirl the hair around the iron. Leave the ends out of the iron for a natural, modern look!
6. Once you have curled each section, gently run your fingertips through curls and finish with hairspray.

images 1, 2, 3 // instructions via glamour

I have been lusting over the Colette bed from Crate & Barrel for years now. After a few feeble attempts to justify spending so much cash on a bed frame, I decided to go the DIY route with the goal of keeping the project under $150.

Guess what?! We did it!!! In total, I think we spent about $110 dollars on this project....but you'd never guess because it looks like a million bucks! I still need to do the nailhead trim, but I was too excited to do it when we finished upholstering the bed. I got a beautiful flax-colored textured linen on clearance for $18, my mom had the foam from a twin bed that wasn't being used anymore, and the rest was either in my dad's workroom or picked up from Home Depot. (PS Some credit card rewards programs, like mine for ex, offer various gift cards to shops like Home Depot....double check yours to see if you can cash in your points to keep even more cash in your pocket!).

My super amazing and handy dad was the brains and brawn behind this DIY upholstered headboard project. Without him, I would likely have a headboard that isn't measured right or straight! Anyways, grab a DIY-savvy friend and give this easy, fun, and economical weekend project a go!

Hi guys! So I decided to make my very first "vlog" (AHHHH!) about how to style one of my most favorite accessories for spring and fall....scarves!  The volume is really quiet thanks to a super wonky microphone, so crank up your speakers to the max blast level, grab some popcorn, whip out your fave scarf and play along. I really hope you enjoy checking out this tutorial on how I like to tie my scarves....with some luck, some of you will find an inspiring new way to rock yours.

Hello, dear TMT readers! Today I am thrilled to host a hair how-to and very special giveaway from the queen-of-beachy-waves, Sally Hershberger. Yes, I am talking about THE Sally Hershberger.....as in the lady behind the swoon-worthy tresses of Gwenyth, J.Lo and Kate Hudson.  The technique behind those covetable waves is Sally’s  “Prime- Roll- Clip- Go!” method…and trust me ladies, you can do it and it will look smashing!

{Images: Pinterest, Free People, Pinterest

I am always looking for easy ways to wear my hair since I am super lazy when it comes to taming the thick but very fine mop on my head, and I saw a loose and textured fishtail braid while perusing FreePeople.com for yesterday's style inspiration post. I was instantly smitten with this gorgeous plaited 'do, and plan on this being one of my go to styles this summer (PS fishtail heidi braids!? LOVE!). I might need to grow my locks out a bit longer to get the best effect, so if you see a crazy lady raiding the Jell-o aisle in hopes of stimulating 6 inches of growth in just a few weeks....please don't run away, and consider yourself forewarned if there is a serious shortage in your local grocery shop because of me. So now on to the how-to....I turned to YouTube because I figured if I attempted to explain how to criss-cross the four pieces of hair, you would end up looking like a hot mess. Low and behold, I found a vid by Free People showing you how they got the exact look. Yippeee!

With my upcoming trip to California on the horizon and after the great response to my first post about how to pack light for trips ranging from a few days to a few weeks, I decided to do a follow-up to solve that pesky "no liquids" and "3 oz and under" rule. You know how there is always some guy getting pissed off about TSA tossing his pomade, or some lady freaking out about her expensive perfume getting red lighted? Here are some tips and tricks to meet those requirements to keep your precious products from getting trashed and to keep you from being "that person."

{Travel containers from The Container Store}

1. Transfer products into appropriate-sized containers.
You can either go to a shop and buy some travel containers, or you can do as I do...reuse the empties that you swiped from previous hotel stays. Just peel the original labels off, and you have yourself the perfect vessel at no additional cost. When filling up the empties for your trip, put a piece of scotch tape around the container and use a permanent marker to scribble what it is on your removable tape "label."

{Burt's Bees Complexion Soap}

2. Swap out for solids.
Keep in mind that all your liquids have to fit into a quart-size plastic baggie, so some products that you typically use liquid versions of can be swapped for solids. Some facial cleansers come in bar form, and you can use a solid perfume to scent yourself while traveling.

{Malin + Goetz essentials set via 3floz}

3. Shop the travel aisles, and keep a plastic bin under the sink with all the toiletries you will need.
Head on over to your local drugstore or Target, and shop the travel section. One amazing site that specializes in TSA-approved portions is 3floz.com...it is a wonderful collection of portable beauty products from the best brands around the globe. I keep a plastic bin underneath the sink stocked with all my travel items for quick and easy packing....extra contact cases, travel-size saline solution, mini toothpastes, mini shampoos/conditioners/hairsprays, empty bottles to transfer face stuff into, etc.

{Image Via LoveToKnow}

4. Go to beauty stores and stock up on samples.
This is one way that you can try out new products and meet those pesky requirements. Load up on freebies like perfumes (the skinny tubes take up no space at all and last surprisingly long!), concealers, face creams, and more. Most shops either have pre-made samples to give you or a sales associate will make one for you if you ask.

Happy travels!

{All images via Sebastian/Devries PR}

{Image source unknown}

There are a few things in this life that I consider myself an expert in, but packing everything I need in a single carry-on has become a skill I have honed over the past few years. My last straw was lugging 3 suitcases worth of crap back to the States when I studied abroad nearly 4 years ago...no wonder they call it "luggage." With a huge amount of people traveling for the holidays, the last thing anyone wants to deal with are lost or heavy bags, and don't get me started on the long wait at the baggage claim ....ugh, no thank you. Here are my top tips for packing light:

Check amenities.
Items like blow dryers are bulky, and often times don't need to be brought along on your adventure. Call your hotel ahead of time to see what amenities come with the room. Ask your friends or family if you can use theirs when staying at their place.

Plan ahead.
Lay out everything you want to pack on the bed before you put it in the suitcase. Make sure that you can wear each piece of clothing with at least 2 other items. Then fill in the holes with funky, colorful accessories (scarves, jewelery, hats, etc).

Pack neutrals.
No, I am not just talking about black here. I pack lots of black, grey, olive green, and navy blue with a layering tank or tee in a color with some zing (chartreuse, hot pink, coral). I also inject some visual interest into my wardrobe with patterns/prints in the same tones so everything isn't boring and monotone. Think plaid button ups, stripes, and graphic prints in a palette similar to my solid pieces.

Layer up.
Bring lots of layers to fill in the gaps and stay warm. They are thin, and easily roll up and fit into the crevices in your bag. Long tanks, short sleeve tees, long sleeve tees, and cardigans are great for staying cozy. Plus, layering gives you the versatility to change up your outfits by swapping out different pieces for a totally new style each time.

Wear the bulky stuff on the plane.
A thick sweater and cute boots are essentials around this time of year - don't let them take up valuable real estate in your suitcase. Pack your flats and lighter sweaters, tees, etc. It may be a bit more of a hassle to take your boots on and off at security, but it is so worth it.

Wash as you go.
There is a 99.9% chance that wherever you are going, there are people. Where there are people, there are laundromats. Locate them, use them, love them. If that grosses you out, then see if your hotel offers a laundry service. If you are staying with friends or family, just use their laundry machine. When all else fails on lengthy trips, bring along those individual detergent packets and hand wash what you need.

The hubby and I traveled through Bali for 3 weeks on our honeymoon with 1 carry-on each plus room to spare to souvenirs - if we can do it, you can do it (while looking fabulous). Hope you enjoy these tips, and wishing you all safe travels!