This week has flown by, and I couldn’t be happier because this weekend is full of excitement!  The main event: Travis and I are putting on our wedding ensembles (or slightly tweaked versions of them) and doing a photo shoot with one of my favorite photographers, Susannah Gill.  Check out her lovely blog for photos of her latest work… I love how she captures sweet little moments between her clients that might otherwise be missed.

But before we jump into all that photo shoot fun, let’s check out some browse-worthy links from around the web…

I made this keychain last night at the California Academy of Sciences’ Nightlife!  (It was hosted by a craft fair :)

Do you schedule sex?

This before and after kitchen makeover is awesome… what an upgrade!

Love this Babushka carafe.

I can’t wait for Fall to begin so I can start wearing tights again :)

The best shade of blush for your skin tone.

Simple, beautiful bangles.

Cute birthday card tutorial!

I adore everything about this gal’s hair…

Antique engagement rings are swoon-worthy, don’t you think?

This makes me smile :)

And follow me on Pinterest for more fun finds!

What are you up to this weekend?  Got any fun plans?  Would you ever do a second photo shoot in your wedding attire?  (Even 11 months after the wedding, like us?!)  Share your thoughts in the comments!

Have you all been loving the Olympics as much as I have?  I rarely feel this patriotic or as excited by sports, but I absolutely adore watching talented athletes come together and compete.

If you’re excited by the games, too, here are some fun ways to show off your USA pride without being too over-the-top.

Rock patriotic nails, like this cute stars and stripes version.

Go for the gold when you wear bangles and other accessories in warm metallic hues.

Or keep it simple with a striped dress in red or navy.

Are you a big fan of the Olympics? How do you show off your team USA pride?  Like any of my ideas, above?  Share in the comments!

Happy Friday, lovelies!  Are you doing anything fun this weekend?  Travis and I are attempting the daunting task of organizing our storage unit.  Not the most fabulous of plans, but don’t you just love that feeling of being super organized?  Fortunately, we’re planning on rewarding ourselves with homemade Junior Mints.

Before I start digging through everything from camping stuff to my old cosmetology mannequins (remember those?), let’s kick off the weekend with some fun links from around the web…

Isn’t henna so beautiful?!

These vintage ads will remind you to celebrate your curves.

Mimic the look of fancy calligraphy!

A lacy bra that’s meant for peeking out from under your shirt…

Awesome outfit inspiration.

A clever makeup trick if you have hooded lids (like me!)

I can’t wait until my hair grows out so I can replicate these adorable looks…

A portrait of Marilyn Monroe… using people!

Refrigerator magnets out of Scrabble tiles.

So many beautiful stripes!!

A clever way to balance your drink on the sofa…

A beautiful turquoise ring.

And don’t forget to enter this week’s jewelry giveaway by Sunday night!

What are you up to this weekend?  Got any fun plans?  Any tips for organizing an overwhelming storage space?  (I’ll gladly take ‘em!)

I had so much fun with last week’s giveaway, I figured… why stop there? This week, I’m thrilled to bring you an extra-special giveaway from one of my new favorite jewelry shops, Modern Tribes.

Each piece of Modern Tribes jewelry is made by hand from recyclable scrap aluminum, so no two are 100% alike. Today’s winner will receive $25 to spend on anything in the shop! (I especially like the Peter Pan collar necklace and the Walk the Line bar bracelet…)

Their simple, modern pieces are easy to layer and go with every outfit. I’d wear the Triangulate Charm necklace with a top knot and coral lipstick.  (They also do custom orders… wouldn’t it be fun to create your own piece?!)

Here’s how to enter:

1) Visit Modern Tribes and leave a comment on this post with your favorite piece for ONE entry.

2) Become a fan of Modern Tribes on Facebook (and tell me about it here) for TWO entries.

3) Become a fan of {blending beautiful} on Facebook (and tell me about it here) for TWO entries.

4) Follow {blending beautiful} on Pinterest (and tell me about it here) for ONE entry.

5) Share this giveaway on your blog/website/facebook page/twitter (and tell me about it here) for FOUR entries.

That’s TEN ways to win! All entries must be in by midnight on Sunday. I’ll announce the randomly-picked winner on the blog on Monday morning. Good luck!

(A few more business-y details:  contest open worldwide, gift voucher expires August 31st, voucher not applicable to shipping costs.)

Update: Congrats to Deb, this week’s winner!

I’ve always got a basketful of yarn in the house to tide me over during knitting sprees.  But my knitting is generally reserved for fall and wintertime, so my pretty yarn doesn’t get much attention in June.  I thought it would be fun to rock a yarn-tastic accessory in the summer months, so I came up with this fun project…

All you need is yarn (you could use one color or many, like I did), thread, a needle, a sewing pin, and scissors.

Step 1: Build your yarn balls by tying your yarn in a knot.  Use the knot as a base to wrap the yarn around itself in varying directions.  A ball will start to form.

Step 2: When you’ve reached your desired size, stick a pin into the ball to hold it into place.  Then, thread your needle with a color that matches your yarn ball and run the thread through the entire ball a few times.  Make sure to alternate directions, so you keep the ball together once the pin comes out.

Step 3: Repeat steps 1 & 2 until you have a good handful of yarn balls.  I did mine in varying sizes and colors to keep my necklace extra-playful.

Step 4: Use thread (in any color) to string your balls of yarn together, then tie it off at both ends.

Step 5: Instead of using a chain to complete this necklace, I used more yarn!  Slide a piece through the end of your last ball, then tie a slip knot.  Do the same on the other side.

Step 6: Make sure the yarn is long enough to slip over your head, then tie it off.  And, voila!

Easy enough, right?  This could be a fun summer break project to do with kids.  You can make ‘em in all different colors and sizes!

What do you think of my DIY yarn necklace?  Do you ever use yarn for projects other than knitting?  Share your thoughts in the comments!

P.S.- Don’t forget to enter this week’s giveaway!