Happy International Women's Day!

Happy (day after) International Women’s Day! Today I wanted to spend some time highlighting some of my fave female business owners! There are so so soooo many amazing women out there doing a variety of things, but I wanted to highlight my fave small business/shop owners! These ladies make and curate some amazing content and I felt it was only fair to give them a shout out on this holiday. So, get that credit card ready- you’re gonna want to support these ladies!!

1. Ottoman 2. Pillow 3. Sunglasses 4. Clutch 5. Unicorn Pin 6. Necklace

Joy/ OhJoy!- I’ve loved Joy’s items from the very first time I saw them at Target. I’ve probably wanted every single piece! She’s now also got an awesome shop chock full of goodies, a furniture line, luggage (!!) as well as a Cheeky collection at Target! 

Veronica/Sharptooth Snail -Veronica is a personal friend of mine that I met online through a class I took! Aside from being the most amazingly helpful person, she’s got an awesome geeky-cool shop filled with pins, resin figurines, and T-shirts. Oh, and did you know her work was used by NASA?!? Pretty freakin amazing! 

Kelly/Studio DIY- Kelly’s shop is filled with all kids of colorful, happy items! There’s so much to choose from, but my favorite has to be her Can’t Clutch This subscription! As a kid, I never had enough money for monthly subscription boxes, so this totally makes my day every time it arrives! 

Kara/Kailo Chic -Kara had got to be one of the busiest little bees I’ve ever seen! She’s always releasing new blog content, along with both handmade and designed items. I love everything she does, and I’m personally in awe of how she gets it all done so quickly! If you’re into confetti housewares and colorful throw pillows (who isn’t...?) you’ve got to visit her shop!

Ashley/Sugar & Cloth- Aside from her cutest creation, little baby Gwen, Ashley launched a gorgeous collection with Amazon!! If that’s not goals, I’m not sure what is! Some of her items sold out immediately and I’m not surprised- they’re gorgeous! 

Caren/Caren Kinne Artwork- Caren’s abstract, colorful paintings are the perfect addition to any space that needs a little excitement! Her fun figures are often based on real people, and to me they’re reminiscent of the Little Miss Sunshine- type books from when I was a kid. If artwork isn’t your think (who are you?!) Caren also offers her paintings on tote bags, etc. 

Jenni & Leah/Love & Lion- Taking temporary tattoos to. Whole new (adult) level! I love all their amazing designs and they even do custom tattoos too!  

Natalie/Cultivate Love LA- Natalie’s Smart and Pretty Club obliterated the idea that a woman has to be either/or. Her shop is filled with books and it’s only growing! Stop by to grab your next read or my personal fave, this pin! 

Marisa/The Neon Tea Party- I met this sweet little lady at a NYC meetup with Jeff and Kelly of StudioDIY. I actually thought she was someone else but my opening line to her was “do you make jewelry?!” Interestingly enough, she did! I really love her fun Pom Pom arts but if you’re itching to learn, she teaches classes in NYC too! 

Emma & Elsie/ABM & Oui Fresh- ok, what don’t these girls do? They’ve got their Oui Fresh Shop, happy mail, natural makeup and essential oils line, cookbooks, an app!! 

Mary/Uncustomary Love- despite the fact that she’s a child of the rainbow, Mary spouts positivity in all the best ways! From a stuffed animal slumber party to sending snail mail, her  shop is full of quirky and amazing things you can’t find anywhere else. One of her best offerings has to be her body positivity course! In a world where we are taught to hate our bodies, it’s so important to give it some love. 

Amber/Dixie and Twine- from banners with all the trendiest sayings to adorable confetti, Amber’s ship has everything you need to make your party hip! Plus, you gotta love her amazing product photography!

Abbey/Daily Disco- If ever there was something that seemed like a fun hobby-turned-career, this is it! Abbey’s chainstitch embroidery is colorful, cool, and coveted! She does amazing custom jackets for brides, moms, kids... it’s adorable! She also sells patches that you can add to any item you want. 

Jess/The Knit Knack Shop- my husband has known Jess’ husband since elementary school, so I have the pleasure of knowing her in person! She’s a teacher by day, crochet-er by night. My favorite things from her shop have to be her little cactus plants! I kill every plant I get, so having something that can’t die seems perfect! She’s also a huge Harry Potter fan and makes all sorts of adorable amigurumi animals, characters and monsters. 

Cathy/PartyHarDIY- Yep, that's me! I opened my shop in December 2017 and it's filled with colorful statement jewelry and fun keychains! And, I have big plans to expand it this year. You can save 17% off with the code MARCH17 until St. Paddy's Day!

There you have it! Some of my very favorite shops from my fave biz babes out there on the interwebs. Who are your favorite female-owned businesses? Let me know in the comments below!

DIY Polly Pocket Iron-On Tee

Ah, Polly Pocket. The choking hazards of our childhood. Something about the amazing little world they could create in such a small space was seriously enticing as a kid. I was more into Barbies, but I did have one Polly Pocket toy that I loved- Vintage Polly Pocket Waterpark Fun which had an awesome pull-out slide! I don’t know how much I really played with the Polly Pocket, but I know I did often open up the case and stare at its interior. Usually Polly was a “Barbie” for my Barbies, but that case had its own special place in my heart. 

To commemorate my love for Polly Pockets, inside and out, I made these super cute printable iron-ons that you can put on pretty much anything you desire! We’ve got 2 sizes (kid and adult) and 2 orientations (backwards and forwards) so that it works for everyone! I picked some of my favorite shapes including my turquoise flower, a heart (perfect for Valentines Day and Galentine’s Day!), a sea shell, a star, and a regular 'ole square that looks somewhat like an ordinary pocket. Get your printer out and your iron ready- we’re making some tees!

You will need:

Tees (here, here, here)
Sweatshirts (here, here)
Iron-on for dark fabrics (here)
Scissors (here)
Fabric marker with disappearing ink (here)
Iron
Parchment paper
Fun earrings to wear them with! (here)
Free printable (see below)

The printable is available in my resource library, which you can get totally FREE access to, just by signing up. What exactly do you get? Access to all my printables, including party planning guides, checklists, and my projects. By signing up, you'll have access to all projects- past, present and future! 

Directions

1. Print out your Polly Pockets according to the instructions on your iron-on paper. I used the one for dark fabrics, and it worked perfectly on my white shirts too. It required printing the design the normal way. Often, light colored fabric iron-ons require it to be backwards. Just be sure to follow the instructions on your papers!

2. Cut out each design, then trim off all the extra. The paper is white, so anything left over will show! I stayed as close to the edge as possible.

3. Try on your shirt, and mark where you want your Polly Pocket to go. Remember that when you look in the mirror, everything is backwards ;)

4. Put your shirt on a flat surface. Remove any hairs with a lint roller, and iron your shirt to be free of wrinkles.

5. Peel the back off your Polly Pocket decal, and place it in the spot that you want. Cover with parchment paper

6. Iron according to the instructions on your package. Mine said to iron for 40-60 seconds with a lot of pressure. Let cool completely.

The printable is available in my resource library, which you can get totally FREE access to, just by signing up. What exactly do you get? Access to all my printables, including party planning guides, checklists, and my projects. By signing up, you'll have access to all projects- past, present and future! 

PS- For anyone that missed my Instagram stories, I decided that I'll be "the ugly blogger", because trying to take photos where I am actually pretty proves to be a challenge for me. So, get ready to see some awkward pics like the one above. They're just so much more fun to take than fake laughing so that I look happy!

Sources: All Earrings, Seashell Cup, Diamond Ring, Heart Sunglasses Similar, Vintage Polly Pocket- Waterpark Fun

Make a Statement: The Shop is LIVE!

EDIT: The shop is now closed. Read more here.

YOU GUYS! Remember back in October when I relaunched the blog as Party HarDIY? Well, I told you there were some big plans in STORE (hah, see what I did there?) and I’m sooo excited to announce the launch of our shop! I’ve always wanted to have my own shop full of cutesy things, and I’ve always had a love of jewelry! Well, now the two have come together in one magical, glimmering place.

So, what’s available?

A collection of unique and colorful jewelry, sure to add a pop of color to any outfit! The holidays are coming, and these pieces are perfect for adding some sparkle to your outfit, a fun touch of Christmas colors, or to change up an outfit that’s already been worn a bunch of times! Because let’s be real, these pieces are WAY cheaper than buying a new dress!

Um… Tell me more about this collection!

Well, ok! This all started back when I was in my favorite jewelry shop in the city. I thought, wouldn’t it be great to have a collection of fun and colorful necklaces that are affordable? There are SO many expensive jewelry shops out there, and my opinion on costume jewelry is the more, the merrier. So, I decided to curate my own collection of fun, bold, and most of all BRIGHT jewelry. There will also be some new items coming to the shop as well, but for now I decided to start small for the holiday season!

Where did your love of jewelry come from?

My grandma! My yiayia had the most insane collection of costume jewelry. I don’t think I ever saw her wearing real jewelry, haha! She had a bunch of bold necklaces and earrings. Fun fact- her ears weren’t pierced! She only owned clip-ons. Here's a picture of us when I was a kid. She's dressed very on brand, and I'm the one in the tutu. I took ballet for a hot minute, but I was AWFUL at it.

Um… am I brave enough to wear this stuff?

YES! I used to be shy about wearing bright things too. I finally realized that it’s fun to be bold and daring. People notice! I get compliments on my jewelry all the time, and in a sea of people, it’s fun to stand out a bit. You can always start small with a pair of colorful studs!

Ok, you’ve convinced me! What do I even wear this stuff with?

My very favorite thing to wear bold jewelry with is a basic tee! It’s really adds a pop of fun and sass to an otherwise casual item. Try pairing the Daisy Dreams Statement Necklace or the Fringe Benefits Earrings with a basic tee. Another great way to wear these is with a Christmas sweater! Try the Rudolph the Red Nosed Rhinestone Tassel Earrings with your ugly Christmas sweater, or the Worth The Tassel Earrings with a warm, cozy sweater! Heading to a holiday party? Try the Chic-a-Boo Rhinestone Earrings for some added glitz and glam, or the Dragonfruit Dilemma Earrings for a fun, unexpected touch.

Can I get free items?

Um, heck yea!! I’m hosting a giveaway! To enter, follow the instructions on this post on Instagram. Tag a friend for an extra entry! One winner will get all 4 jewelry ornaments- perfect for giving out as Secret Santa gifts, hanging on the tree, or keeping them all for yourself!

Eek! I hope you guys are as excited about this as I am! I've been working on this for MONTHS, and I'm so happy to see the store is finally live! So, go sign up for free shipping, and enter the giveaway!

DIY Pineapple Summer Shoes

Happy Summer, everyone! I'm not sure what the weather has been like where you live, but here in NYC we've had muggy, spring-like weather for most of May and June. It's finally starting to get warm and sunny and summer-like! While warm weather and beach days are clearly the best part about summer (especially after a long NYC winter!) my other FAVORITE part is getting to switch up my wardrobe! I love adding in some of my summer staples, and kicking off my winter boots/rain boots and popping on some summer shoes, like flats and sandals. When it comes to summer shoes, I think the quirkier, the better. That's why I am head over heels in love with these pineapple shoes I made! They're the cutest and possibly most fun shoes I own (and I currently own a pair of sneakers covered in Barbie shoes!) I seriously cannot wait to wear them out and about. They're actually really easy to DIY yourself with a few craft supplies!

You will need:

Yellow Fabric Shoes (here or similar here)
Green Vinyl Fabric (I got mine from Joann Fabric)
Tailor's Chalk (here)
Gold 3D Fabric Paint (here)
Stiff Adhesive Felt (here)
Glue Gun
Scissors
Ruler

How to:

1. Using your tailor's chalk and ruler, create a grid pattern on your shoes. I used the top center of my shoe as the main point. 

2. Using your 3-d fabric paint, go over your chalk lines. I went section by section, since the paint would create gaps if the line was too long. Also, be careful of it spitting out a big glob of paint. If that happens, gently guide the paint away with the clean tip of the nozzle. Wipe the nozzle clean, and keep going.

3. Once your paint has dried for at least 24 hours, it's time to add the top! Draw a few pineapple tops on white paper and pick your favorite one. If you're not a good artist, find one online and print it out. 

4. Cut your pineapple top out and trace it onto your green vinyl (the back side). I wanted mine to mirror each other since they weren't exactly the same, so I flipped the paper stencil and traced it the other way. 

5. Cut out the pineapples from your vinyl, being as careful as you can. 

6. Cut out a small piece of felt.  Peel the adhesive lining off, put your pineapple top on it, and cut out. 

7. Using a glue gun, glue your pineapple topper to the shoe. Wear and enjoy! 

Related: Easy Pineapple Garland DIY

Oh, and if you're wearing a brand-spankin new pair of summer shoes, be sure to bring a backup pair in this handy Barbie Shoes Tote Bag! 

Ahh! Are you LOVING these shoes as much as I am?! What fruit would you want to wear on your feet? I'm thinking strawberry shoes could be another fun one! 

Comfy Spring Outfit Tips

I've been trying to dress better these days,  since I think "yoga chic" could be used to describe my usual fashions. Sneakers are my best friends, and I'm in a committed relationship with leggings, long shirts and oversized sweaters. I've been feeling super comfy, but looking pretty darn frumpy. In the winter it's perfect, because if I have to go outside in 20-degree weather, you best bet I'm gonna be comfy! However, it's warm and it's spring. Time to ditch that workout wear and put on something a little more festive. Easter seemed like the perfect opportunity to switch up my wardrobe. 

*This post contains affiliate links.

Even though I decked out my table with dollar store goodies, I ended up going to my uncle's house for Easter. It was a beautiful, warm day that turned into a rainy and cloudy one. There was an egg hunt, bible bingo (not my idea!) and some egg dyeing. Overall, it was a pretty relaxed but fun day. Since my uncle's house is known for being laid back, I decided to go with cute but comfy for my Easter outfit. 

For starters, I really wanted to wear my new pink jeans from Old Navy. I bought them during their half off promotion, so they were a steal at less than $18. I wanted to add some color to the top of my outfit as well, and I thought the teal peplum added a fun vibe without being too childish. I'm whimsical, what can I say! I decided to keep my shoes neutral and wear my crocs wedges. You guys... if you think crocs are for old people or gardeners, you really need to go check out their website. Forrealz. Do it now, I'll wait. They have so many great shoe options nowadays. Wedges, sneakers, rain boots, flip flops, sandals, even heels! You name it, they've got it. I know you're wondering if I have a pair of those atrocious clogs. The answer is yes, but they're the slim ones and I only wear them in my yard or for grabbing the mail. I swear. Scouts honor! 

Anyway, back to my outfit. At this point I was a little skeptical of my outfit. I kinda felt like an Easter egg, so I went down and asked my fiancé if I was too colorful. And he said something like "Is that even a question? Of course you are, but that's you." I found this answer to be pretty awesome (he's not classically, poetically romantic, so this was a compliment) so I felt brave enough to add on my tassel necklace. It makes every outfit way more fun! I seriously love this necklace. I feel like it's hit or miss- some people love it, some people... don't. Alas, it brings me joy and frankly the haters can keep sipping on that haterade. Yea, I'm talking to you John! (Ps, John is my fiancé. And in case you're wondering, no, he never reads my blog). 

Speaking of John.. here he is dressed in his Easter best. A few weeks back, I saw this shirt at Target and was instantly drawn to it. I pulled it off the rack and brought it over to him and asked if he liked it. He said it made a good Easter shirt. I swear that this guy must have only owned grey, blue, and black before he met me. I really appreciate that he wears things like coral, aqua, and even pink now that we're together. In case you're wondering, this is his "why are you photographing me, I'm just eating a hot dog" face. And why am I photographing him while he eats a hot dog, you ask? Because I'm kinda clingy, had a camera in my hand, and really like to unintentionally annoy him. Whoops. 

I gave John a break and went to hang out with my sister, Irene. I thought she really nailed the lazy-Sunday-meets-Easter outfit, so I decided to snap some photos of her. I love how quirky she is, and how she can look so good making the most ridiculous faces. When we were younger she always wanted to be just like me, but now I want to be like her. She's the ying to my yang. 

Irene kept it comfy with jeans and a tank top. Her kimono was perfect for adding a pop of color while keeping it light. It was pretty hot earlier in the day, so it was perfect for covering up without feeling warm. Plus, it dresses the outfit up without being uncomfortable. She wore leather slip-on vans, which were comfy but a little fancier than wearing sneakers or cloth shoes. Her necklace is a fake pocket watch I bought her years ago. The lid came off and the clock stopped working, but she still loves it and wears it frequently. 

Looking to upgrade your wardrobe now that spring has arrived? It's not too difficult!

Tips for a Comfy Spring Wardrobe 

• Mix in dressier pieces with more comfortable ones. You don't want to be pulling at your outfit all day, so if your pants are slightly dressier or less comfortable, try pairing them with a comfy t-shirt for an effortless chic look.

• Color is your friend! Don't be scared of it. Start small, like a colorful pair of shoes, jeans, or an accessory. You'll probably get loads of compliments on it, because people are automatically drawn to color! This should give you the confidence to mix it up a little more next time.

• Wear layers. Most of the spring is a fluctuation between a warm morning, a hot afternoon, and a cool evening. Even if your outfit isn't totally pajama-comfy, it should at least be temperature happy. Be sure to check your weather app too!

• Play with patterns. Try romantic florals, classy lace, and fun polka dots. I also love silky shirts with really fun and silly patterns like umbrellas, dogs, or pineapples! A fancier fabric will prevent it from looking too juvenile.

• Go thrifting. This is a great way to try new styles and patterns without breaking the bank. I recently got a pink coat from the thrift store. After sewing on some new buttons and getting it dry cleaned, it's practically brand new! The best part is that it only cost me $15. It definitely would've cost way more at a department store, plus it's better for the environment. Reduce, reuse, recycle!

• Try a new trend. I feel like every spring, something kinda ridiculous but comfy comes out that becomes the newest fad. Like the gypsy skirts, or gauchos, or skorts. Although you might cringe someday when you see photos of yourself in these items, it's worth trying something new and trendy. Plus it makes looking back at photos of yourself so much more fun.

• Wear comfortable shoes. If there's one thing that should always be comfortable in warm weather, it's your shoes. First off, you're walking around A LOT. You want to be as comfortable as possible when you do so. Also, a lot of spring and summer shoes require you not to wear socks. Your shoes may be cute, but those blisters won't be. And neither will that hammer toe you're likely to get from cramming your foot into tight shoes. Skip the pain and go for something cute but doable. And, be sure to bring a cute tote to carry around your flats!

1. Peplum Top 2. Bold Necklace 3. Ring 4. Comfy Wedges 5. Plaid Shirt 6. Pink Jeans 7. Floral Kimono 8. Tank Top 9. Dark Jeans 10. Vans Slip-Ons 11. Watch Necklace 12. Black Bracelet

I'm thinking I'll focus on finding some really cute but comfy shoes. I've already purchased 2 pairs so far! 

What's going to be your go-to item this spring? Do you like to switch to a colorful wardrobe in the spring, or keep it neutral? Let me know in the comments below!