crop tops.

One of my favorite trends that became quite popular last summer is still going strong; the crop top. Crop tops are quite versatile. They can range from short to long sleeves, casual and sporty to sheer and flirty. I personally own quite a few crop tops and can not get enough of them! They look great layered, tucked into shorts or loose and flowy paired with skinny jeans. Below are some of my favorite bloggers with their interpretation of the crop top trend. Trang from behind the seams, Natalie from la vagabond dame and a super talented photographer Amy from lucid dreams each have their own personal style that can clearly be seen in the outfits below. I took the liberty to recreate these outfits, at an afforadble price of course!

skippers first mate.

top, pants, bag, heels

i am woman, hear me roar.

fedora, top, sunglasses, skirt

shut up and lace up.

necklace 1, necklace 2, top, shorts

What do you think about crop tops? Do you own any yourself? How do you like to wear them?

xoxo twinkles && sprinkles



mama mia.

I am soo lucky to have such a wonderful caring, supportive and loving mother! Although today is reserved especially for all the mothers of the world, they should really be celebrated every day! That being said, I decided to get up early this morning, which was a sacrifice on it's own, to make breakfast! When it comes to breakfast, I'm the Queen of french toast! I always love to try new and different recipes, so when I got my hands on a recipe for Warm Pear French Toast Sundae I couldn't wait to test it out!

Ingredients:

Serves 6

1/4 cup packed brown sugar

2 tablespoons margarine or butter

1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

3 pears, peeled, cored, and sliced

3 eggs

1/4 cup milk

1 teaspoon vanilla

3 tablespoons brown sugar

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

6 1-inch-thick slices French bread

2 tablespoons margarine or butter

Light or regular vanilla ice cream

1. Gather Ingredients

2. Combine brown sugar, butter/margarine and cinnamon. Cook and stir over medium-low heat until margarine is melted and sugar is dissolved.

3.  Add pears; cook about 5 minutes or until tender, stirring occasionally.

4. Use a fork to beat eggs slightly.

5. Beat in milk and vanilla. Add the brown sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg. Dip bread into egg mixture, coating both sides.

6. Add the remaining butter/margarine to the skillet. Add bread and cook over medium heat for 4 to 6 minutes or until golden brown, turning once.

7. Add a scoup of vanilla ice cream and pour the pear mixture on top.

bon appetit!

If you enjoyed this recipe and would like to see more let us know!

xoxo sprinkles && twinkles

* you can see this and more recipes on kitchendaily

cinco de drinko.

Cinco de Mayo, one of the many holidays that us American's use as an excuse to get super drunk. In honor of this wonderful holiday I figured I would post five different margarita recipes to spice up la fiesta! Like most drinks these come in a variety of flavor combinations. It was hard to choose but if you want to browse the other varieties be sure to check out the food network page!

1. blueberry-lime margarita

2. mango margarita

3. watermelon margarita

4. peach margarita

5. ruby red grapefruit margarita

How did you celebrate cinco de mayo? Are there any drink recipes that you would like to share?


xoxo sprinkles && twinkles

hell week.

If you're one of the many college students starting finals this week, I can sympathize. Not only is school stress full all year, but lets make things worse by giving you a bazillion papers, presentations and exams all around the same time. In order to overcome all the pressure and stress involved with school it is important to follow these 6 key steps to prepare yourself in order to ace all of your exams!

1. Make a Schedule

One of the best investments you can make is to buy a planner. It is essential to keep yourself organized when you have soo many things going on in your life. I find it extremely helpful to make a list of what days I plan on dedicating to study what. I might then get even more specific on each day and write a list of all the things I plan on accomplishing. As you slowly make your way down your list crossing each item off one by one, you can't help but feel like you've accomplished a lot. Planning ahead of time is key to being stress free, avoiding cramming!

2. Exercise

Exercising is not only a great way to stay in shape but it allows you to work out all of your frustrations! If you're not really into hitting the treadmill or running a few laps then I suggest you find your inner chi with some yoga. Yoga is known to help people relax as well as lower there stress level. Although most school's offer exercise classes, if you'd feel more comfortable at home I suggest you check out some yoga videos for beginners.

3. Eat Healthy Foods

Eating healthy is a no brainer, especially when you need to concentrate and really use your brain to it's full potential. Although it might be easier to grab an energy drink or a big mac, those sugars and fats will just make you crash and feel lethargic. Going for a granola bar or some fresh fruits and veggies will absolutely give you the energy and concentration needed for those long days ahead. If you want to see other foods you should (and shouldn't) eat, check out the list yahoo! compiled.

4. Take Breaks

Studying 24/7 can actually be counterproductive. Over working your brain can actually be a bad thing. It's important to take a 10-15 minute break for each hour you're studying. Go on facebook and stalk that cute boy in class or call up one of your friends about that so called hottie and gossip a little. Giving yourself that little distraction allows your brain and eyes to get a little break from the books and actually helps you to be more focused when studying.

5. Remove Distractions

I might have said that it was okay to check your facebook account during your 15 minute breaks, but otherwise fb is banned. Removing electronic devices such as your phone and computer are key to helping yourself stay focused and not get distracted. Although the Internet might be needed for your research or contains your studying materials, it allows a portable for other distractions such as facebook, tumblr, twitter etc. If you want to still use the Internet but you don't want to be distracted I suggest you download self control. This application allows you to actually block certain websites for a period of time. Until that time is up, there’s absolutely no way to access those websites (don't even try to restart your computer, it won't work). Freakin' genius!  

6. SLEEP

The one thing we probably neglect the most during school is sleep. One of the worst habits as a college student is that we tend to postpone assignments to the last minute and love to pull all nighters. When it comes to studying, it is extremely important to get about 8 hours of sleep! Lack of sleep results in memory loss, increase in stress, lack of concentration, headaches and worst of all, one grumpy student!

What do you do to survive finals week? Do you find these tips helpful? Let us know!

xoxo sprinkles && twinkles

wine about it.

If you're anything like me and my friends, you probably love wine. Nothing's more satisfying then sharing a bottle of wine, (or two) with friends after a long stressful week. Before you know it these bottles begin to pile up and start to take up space in your house. So I was beginning to wonder if there are ways to save and reuse all of these bottles. Below are my top five favorite ways to reuse your wine bottle for something that is not only useful but beatiful too!

1.  Wine Bottle Candle Holders

These candle holders are fairly simple to make. All you need to do is collect some clear wine bottles, strip them of their labels and buy taper candles to fit. Voila! You now have a beautiful candle holder.

P.S. Letting the wax drip down the bottle only increases the whole romantic feel!

2. Vase or Olive Oil Holder

This faux dichroic glass finish is great way to give any bottle a new life and [re]purpose. This process is a little more complicated and requires a few more materials and tools to get started. If you want to learn how to make one for yourself check out the full process here.

3. Wine Bottle Shelving

This is by far the coolest way I've seen wine bottles being reused. You're not just using it as a vessel to hold some flowers but as a whole new piece of furniture! This is probably not an easy craft to produce, but if you know any hands on guys, you should put this on their to do list ASAP! Check out instructables for a step by step guide!

4. Wine Bottle Label Art

Walking down the aisle of the liquor store, you can't help but get pulled towards the wine bottles with the pretty labels! Since that bottle of wine is now empty and you're now left with the pretty label, you so very wanted, you might as well make use of it! To remove the label all you need to do is soak the bottle in hot water for 20 minutes, with the addition of 2 or 3 drops of liquid detergent. If the label doesn't float to the top then I suggest you check out further options here. Once you have the label it's up to you to decide how to display it!

5. Wine Cork Board

Although this doesn't actually involve the wine bottle, corks can be just as fun to collect. All you need are corks, a bulletin board and your trusty hot glue gun. Ta da! Now you have a gorgeous cork board to fill with equally beautiful photos!

Now you have five great ways to repurpose and reuse your wine bottles. Enjoy!

xoxo sprinkles && twinkles

jewelry trends spring/summer '11

Like most women, I have a love for shoes, handbags and especially jewelry. The four big Spring/Summer '11 trends seen on the runways this past Fall include Cabochon-Style Stones, Tassels & Fringe, Clean & Architectural and Plastics & Perspex. Below are the trends seen on the runway along with there affordable counterparts, all under $50!

Cabochon-Style Stones

1, 2, 3, 4

Whenever I see coral and turquoise I know Spring and Summer are just around the corner. These cabochon-style stones are the perfect accessory to add a pop of color to take any outfit from average to amazing! Since these piece are pretty loud I suggest you only wear only one statement piece at a time, otherwise your at risk looking like an aztec warrior!

Tassels & Fringe

1, 2, 3, 4

If you've been following my blog you are quite aware of the 70s trend that has been seen everywhere this season. From dresses to bags to sandals, fringe was all over Coachella this past April. Wearing tassels and fringe is hard to pull off without looking like a show/cow girl, so wearing this trend in the form of jewelry is the perfect solution to pulling off that cool 70s vibe.

Clean & Architectural

1, 2, 3, 4

When it comes to jewelry my eye is typically drawn to colorful bold pieces. After getting a glimpse of these clean yet intricate pieces, I've had a change of tune. The fact that these pieces are all in gold, gives them a polished and sophisticated feel that I can't resist.

Plastics & Perspex

1, 2, 3, 4

When you think plastic jewelry you're probably assuming cheap and tacky, but in actuality it's quite the opposite. The pieces seen here are from high end designers such as French Connection, Marc Jacobs and Betsy Johnson. These pieces are fun and whimsical and allow me to relive a piece of my childhood.

What do you think about these trends? What are you favorite jewelry pieces?

xoxo sprinkles && twinkles

diy, fix your broken compact

I know at one time or another we've all dropped our favorite blush, bronzer or eyeshadow and watched it break into a bunch of little pieces. At this point i'm probably so upset that i'm thinking irrationaly and throwing the compact in the trash. Well I just found out that you can actually fix your shattered make up! It's a fairly simple and easy process. All you need is:

• rubbing alcohol (70% or higher)
• a spoon or knife
• ziploc bag
• a quarter
• a piece of cloth or kleenex.

Below is a video with a step by step tutorial posted by Kandee Johnson. Not only is she super sweet and cute but she's really great at explaining or as I like to call it, dumbing down, the process.



If you loved Kandee's video be sure to check out her other great tips here as well as her adorable blog.

I plan on trying this out asap! Do you have any great beauty tips that you'd like to share with us?

xoxo sprinkles && twinkles

viva la tiesto.

If you haven't heard of Tiësto..then you must be living under a rock! Tiësto is one of the biggest DJs known on the electronic music scene. To us fellow electronic lovers, Tiësto is to us as Jesus is to Christians. God. Since he hasn't released an album since Kaleidoscope in 2009, I was extremely excited to hear that he was releasing a his first installment in his new mix compilation series called Club Life. This is the first of I hope many installations. After listening to the cd, numerous times, all I got to say is WOW. He is still working his magic, and I can only hope he continues on producing such euphoric music. Below is the tracklist of the cd with a sample of my personal favorites! (Btw all the songs are amazing, so be sure to check out the others too!) If you love the cd as much as I do, you can buy it here.

Tracklist:

01. Henrik B ft. Christian Älvestam – Now and Forever (Original Mix)
02. Tom Hangs ft. Shermanology – Blessed (Original Mix)
03. Cazzi Opeia – I Belong To You (Axel Bauer & Lanford Remix)
04. Steve Forte Rio ft. Lindsey Ray – Slumber (Original Mix)
05. Lune – Girls With Bangs (Tiësto Remix)

06. Rebecca & Fiona – Bullets (Club Edit)
07. Dúné – Heiress Of Valentina (Alesso Exclusive Mix)

08. Tiësto & Marcel Woods – Don’t Ditch (Original Mix)
09. Amy Meredith – Young At Heart (Angger Dimas Remix)
10. Alex Sayz – Faces (Original Mix)

11. Moguai – We Want Your Soul (Thomas Gold Remix)
12. Boys will be Boys – We Rock (Original Mix)
13. Tiësto & Hardwell – Zero 76 (Original Mix)
14. Kaskade – Fire In Your New Shoes ft. Martina of Dragonette (Sultan & Ned Shepard Electric Daisy Remix)

15. Tiësto vs Diplo – C’Mon (Original Mix)

I hope you enjoy this album as much as I have! Be sure to check out Tiësto's other work, I can guarantee you won't be disappointed!

xoxo sprinkles && twinkles

coachella ella ella.

The only thing more amazing than the electrifying music and the massive amount of celebrities flocking to Coachella, was the fashion. This festival has quickly received attention from bloggers and fashion elite alike the last couple of years. This year it was all about 70s cool, evening wear for day time and bright bold pieces. Below are some of my favorite looks along with pieces corresponding to the trend. It was really hard to narrow down but I think these looks are a great inspiration for what to look out for this summer, especially if your planning on attending any festivals!

FRINGE

1, 2, 3, 4, 5

EASY BREEZY

1, 2, 3, 4, 5

SHORT SHORTS

1, 2, 3, 4, 5

BRIGHT COLORS

 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

I heard the Sahara tent was made to light up in accordance with the music/beat. Pretty cool if you ask me.

Although we're not all lucky enough to go to Coachella, I hope you got a taste and a feel for the atmosphere and the vibe.

What do you think about that fashion trends seen at Coachella? Have you ever been or do you plan on attending in the future?

xoxo sprinkles && twinkles

cheetahlicious nails.

When probing the web for random photos and quotes, I tend to find inspiration within each and every one. After coming across these amazing shoes (see above), as well as viewing multiple cheetah themed nails, I decided to do my own version. With a little time and lots of patience, these nails can be easily done.

french tip: revlon - gum drop (scented)

cheetah print: opi - just a little dangerous

separation line: sally hansen - pure chrome

top coat: rimmel london - clear

Things you need:

• nails polish for french tip
• nail polish for cheetah print
• tooth picks, a very thin paint brush or if you want to spend a couple more $$ and save the frustration try nail art pens
• a steady hand
• LOTS of patience

If you ever have free time on your hands (no pun intended), nail art is something worth trying out. You can experiment with an endless amount of patterns and different shades of colors. It's something you can definitely enjoy with friends (and it would probably be easier with an extra pair of hands!) If you ever need any inspiration I suggest you check out fuckyeahprettynails and fuckyeahnailart.

Are you crazy for cheetah? Are you a fan of nail art? Let us know :)

xoxo sprinkles && twinkles



dubstep.

Ever since I heard Jakwob's remix of under the sheets by Ellie Goulding, I got sucked into the world of dubstep. It might not be everyone's cup of tea, but with the variety of sub genres (chillstep, drumstep, thugstep etc), there really is something for everyone. With that being said, I plan on sporadically posting my top picks and updating you with what's hot on the dubstep scene. I hope to get more people introduced to this genre and fall in love with it as quickly as I did!


Every die hard dubstep lover has this song. So before you start looking for songs it's a MUST to take a listen to this. Bass Cannon really gives you a feel for dubstep and what it's all about.




Flux Pavilion - Bass Cannon by Neotixx

If you want to know what's hot on the dubstep scene, I suggest you look for anything done by Skrillex, Rusko, Skream, Nero or Bassnectar, just to name a few. Below are a couple of my favorite songs from some of these artists.




La Roux - In For The Kill (Skrillex Remix) by AlexPoulos



Hold On ft. Amber Coffman (Sub Focus Remix) by Rusko


Just so you know, this video knocked my socks off.


I hope you appreciate and enjoy these songs as much as I do! What do you think? Do you wub wub wub dubstep?

xoxo sprinkles && twinkles

got it in the bag.

Bags. A girls best friend, right next to shoes. There's something mesmerizing about bags. There are so many types: shoulder, hobo, totes, clutches. They come in a variety shapes, colors and sizes. They're perfect for the day to carry all your essentials to school and work, or to carry your basics for a night on the town. Personally I think purses can be over looked and deserve to be the star of the show. That being said, I decided to do a post on celebrity outfits with their clutches being the main focal point.

blouse, clutch, pants, heels

This look was totally unexpected from LC, but I'm in LOVE! Although this look is primarily all black, it's multidimensional. Taking a flowy blouse and pairing it with faux leather leggings is rock n roll chic. Adding a pop of color with a turquoise clutch is genius!

dress, clutch, booties

This hip hugging safari green dress is sexy all on its own, but when paired with some uber hot booties and leopard clutch, this look is down right wild!

dress, clutch, heels

This lace dress is ultra feminine! Adding a pop of red with the heels and purse takes this look from young girl to sophisticated woman.

dress, clutch, heels

If someone told me they put blue, yellow and purple together in an outfit I would probably think they are joking. This fun and colorful combination is totally unexpected, but it works!

What is your relationship with purses? Do you love these colorful clutches or could you do without?

xoxo sprinkles && twinkles

s'meeps.

You know Easter is right around the corner when the shelves at your local grocery store are stocked with the neon colored marshmallow chickens, better known as peeps. Seeing that Easter is about two and a half weeks away, I thought this would be a fun post to share with you! Grace Kang from Serious Eats came up with the ingenious idea of taking an American classic, the s'more, and kicked it up a notch by replacing the generic white marshmallow with this eye catching Easter candy. When put together you get a tasty colorful treat, better known as the s'meep!

Recipe

*makes 4 s'meeps

Ingredients

4 Peeps (1 package)

4 graham crackers, separated into 8 halves

Four 1-ounce squares semisweet or dark chocolate (depending on preference)

Procedure

1. Preheat the oven or toaster oven to 350°F.

2. Place a 1-ounce square of chocolate on 4 of the graham cracker halves. Top each chocolate with a Peep. Say your goodbyes.

3. Put your Peep sacrifice laden graham crackers on an aluminum foil covered tray and pop them in the oven for 2 to 3 minutes. Watch them carefully as toasting Peeps can turn into burn victims beyond repair in the blink of an eye. Vigilance!

4. Once the Peeps are toasted to your liking, take them out of the oven and squish them with a graham cracker half. Feast.


How do you like to enjoy your peeps?  Would you test out this recipe for yourself? Let us know!


xoxo sprinkles && twinkles