'Easy Embellish'

Tired of the same old white lampshade or solid-colored mirror over your vanity? A little embellishment thanks to Better Homes and Gardens goes a long way with these 5 easy, do-it-yourself ideas:

1. Personalize your message board

When I was in college, I personalized my plain cork message board using ribbon, colorful tacks and a furry boa to staple around the border. Ribbon is just the beginning. Glue crystals around the edges of the board instead, or apply rub-on transfer words for a personalized message at the top of your board.

2. Transform a chandelier

Take that simple chandelier hanging in your dining room and make it the focal point of all dinner parties to come. Paint a thick half-inch band along the top and bottom edges of the shade on your chandelier. Then, either paint the shade using fun stencils or accessorize with eyelets by punching them through the shade and adding a touch of clear glue.

3. Enhance a chair

There’s paint, of course, but there is nothing as unconventional as using black-and-white graphics for a bold transformation. Make a black-and-white photocopy of a graphic image or pattern. Then place the photocopy on top of adhesive-back paper to trace the design/pattern over it. Cut out the pattern and remove the backing to apply the adhesive to the chair.

4. Accessorize that mirror

You love the mirror hanging over your vanity, but you can’t bear to look at the dull frame any longer. It’s time to accessorize. Protect the mirror with painter’s tape and then glue wooden balls around the frame. Have the wooden balls match the color of the mirror, or paint the balls and mirror frame a different color if you’d like. Create several rims using the wooden balls and allow drying time in between.

5. Embellish desk supplies

Most people never think to personalize their desk supplies even though they’re likely never to throw it away or replace. Take some time to update your home office – beginning first with your supplies. Find your pencil cup holder and either use some peel-and-stick metal squares (found in most scrapbooking stores/aisles), or add a clever phrase on the holder with the help of a rub-on transfer.

-S. Gonzalez

*Photos courtesy of www.bhg.com

'Let's Take It Outside'

Stone Street in the NYC financial district

It must have been the sight of a herd of New Yorkers sitting or milling around wooden benches in the middle of Stone Street, some of Wall Street’s best raising their beer cups in a toast to the unexpected warm weather today.

Whatever it was, it brought to mind the lazy days of summer and outdoor dining. Suddenly, every food tastes better on the grill: salmon, chicken, corn, chorizo, burgers, vegetables…

This summer has got to be better than the last year. I started to research ways in which I can take my outdoor entertaining to the next level. This is what I’ve found:

Outdoor entertaining with paper lanterns

1. Who needs a canopy or a closed in patio on your deck when there’s fabric? Hang sheer curtains, inexpensive burlap or netting to create an intimate outdoor setting. Keep out the bugs and maintain some privacy when entertaining guests. Just make sure the fabric is easy enough to take down and wash.

2. All those home accents that you have in the house: a few lamps, a table clock, or set of furniture could work just as well outside as inside. Taking the party outside doesn’t mean your guests should sacrifice comfort!

Bring outdoor furnishings outdoors

3. Speaking of comfort, cushion those battered and bruised bare feet with some flooring. Play with pattern and texture by laying rugs on the floor of your patio or deck. Make sure to lay some protective matting underneath the rug, to prevent unwanted moisture from damaging the rug.

4. This is perhaps my favorite entertaining trick. Partially, because it seems so effortless and on the other hand, because I’ve never thought of it before. Who needs a cooler when you have an empty planter? Throw the ice in the planter, load your drinks in and you’re set! The planter already fits in with the outdoor décor.

A planter doubles as a cooler

5. Classic. Not satisfied with tea lights. Put up some paper lanterns in your back yard. This decorating tip is tried and true, and is immediately festive and welcoming to guests. Don’t like the traditional round and cylinder-shaped lanterns? Mix it up with some stars or other unconventional lantern shapes.

6. Another genius idea: Use a space heater outside (electrical cord permitting) to warm your guests in case it starts to get chilly in the night. This is a good idea for those who don’t have an outdoor chiminea or fire pit. Remember that your job as a good host is to keep your guests happy.

*Photos courtesy of www.diyideas.com and www.wikipages.com

'Accessories Gone Mental'

Is that Victoria Beckham wearing boots with no heels?!

Like almost any other female 20-something my age, I have a shoe fetish. Not a compulsive, buy-every-shoe-in-sight shoe fetish, but an appreciation for designer, quality shoes.

Working for a multi-brand fashion firm doesn’t help either, with my collection expanding to include Prada booties, Marc Jacobs ballerina flats, Costume National sandals and Stella McCartney caged heels. And this is just the beginning, I promise.

But my shoes, statements that they might all make, bear no resemblance to some of the more flamboyant creations seen on the runway recently. From oversized helmet gear to visionless sunglasses, Stylecaster brings us an interesting look at some of the wackiest accessory trends.

Here is my take on my favorite ‘crazy trends’:

Head over no heels?

I can’t say that a heel-less shoe would catch me by surprise. Several seasons ago, Marc Jacobs toyed with the idea of a surrealist shoe – more like a shoe flipped upside down and then backwards, with the heel jutting out from the bottom and the ankle taking the place of the toes.

Antonio Berardi sandals sans heels

Designer Nina Ricci and others have introduced their own variations of a heel-less shoe. Then Victoria Beckham took the fashion leap, appearing at a red carpet event with Antonio Berardi heel-less boots. Take a closer look at the boots and you will see a small heel that does anchor the foot to the ground. So the boot might not be completely heel-less, but Beckham’s balancing act is impressive nonetheless.

Sunglasses that block out the sun… and everything else.

You might have seen Beyoncé, proving just how much of a diva she must be in her jeans, booties, tank top and sunglasses in her recent “Diva” music video. The only question I had from watching the music video was: “Can she actually see in those sunglasses?” In place of the lenses was a curtain of tiny chain links that swung with as much attitude as Beyoncé does with her walk.

Beyonce in her vision-less shades in "Diva"

Looks like Beyoncé is not the only celeb sporting shades that make seeing nearly impossible. Rihanna, Paris Hilton and especially Lady Gaga have been found wearing sunglasses covered in everything from rhinestones to cigarettes. Seeing is overrated anyways.

Gargantuan Headgear

When riding a motorcycle, moped or bike, you should always wear a helmet. Right? And the bigger the helmet, the more safe you’ll be. Right? For some designers, this holds completely true.

Helmets that rule the runway

Oversized helmets that resemble the Pac Man’s head or Darth Vader’s mask were all the rage at the Karl Lagerfeld and Giles Deacon shows, proving that taking fashion risks sometimes require a little (or a lot) of added protection.

*Photos courtesy of playingthedozens.files.wordpress.com; cottoncadycupcake.files.wordpress.com; stylecaster.com

'Weekend Getaway'

It was a Saturday that was supposed to be my one day off this week, but instead went a little like this:

9:30 a.m. Bank and Salon appointment

11:20 a.m. Laundry

1:00 p.m. Baking for visit to cousins later

2:30 p.m. Cleaning the house and paying bills

5:00 p.m. Gym

8:00 p.m. Taking-in (sewing) skirt for cousin

By the night’s end, I am exhausted. I started to think, “I need another vacation,” but that isn’t at least for another month. Something has to be done about this and fairly quickly, before I suffer from a nervous breakdown cause by lack of relaxation!

Thanks to Redbook Magazine, I now have a few ideas on how to transform my space into an at-home-getaway with some easy solutions:

1. Lighten Up

For the best source of energy, look to natural sunlight to recharge your battery. But if you can’t set aside some time during the day to relax on a chaise near a window, then make sure you have dimmers on all your lamps and light fixtures. A friend of mine swears by dimmers as an instant mood-setter.

Recharge with natural sunlight

2. Awaken the Senses

Get rid of distracting odors and seek out senses that instantly calm the body: jasmine, lavender and vanilla. Incense isn’t quite my thing, so I often turn to scented candles to do the trick.

3. Lost Call

This is probably less of a decorating tip then a common sense one. When you have you Blackberry buzzing with your most recent BBM, or your Outlook announcing that you have a new email, it gets hard to relax. Turn it off and hide the technology if you have to.

4. Lay Down the Treats

What I often like to do is pretend that I’m having a ‘mini dinner party for one’ before I settle down. This might mean making a cup of espresso and placing some gourmet cookies on a nice platter. I feeling like my own special guest, spoiled with all her favorite treats.

Relax with some coffee table treats

5. Downsize

Good thing for me I already managed to discard a lot of unneeded items today during my massive cleaning session (although I’m still not done!). Clutter typically has adverse effects on people, like stifling productivity and imagination. Wherever you plan to get some rest, make sure it’s free of mess.

6. A Touch of Luxe

It doesn’t have to be made of pure gold for a touch of luxury. Grab your most snug blanket throw and head for the coziest chair.

To be the best, snuggle in the best

Consider making ‘TLC’ a part of my to-do list – always.

*Photos courtesy of redbookmag.com; aww.ninemsn.com, decorinnovation.com