DIY: Kimon-Oh-Yeah

In my last post I told you I'd be sharing a tutorial for a quick kimono, and I'm keeping my word. Actually, I'm going above & beyond and bringing you THREE different kimonos that each take 30 minutes (or less) to complete.

Kimonos are great in the summer, and you can make them with just about any fabric or print. A few weeks ago, I made my way down to the LA Fashion District and found some great deals, but if you have any extra scarves lying around, those will work too!

Click the thumbnails below for full instructions AND don't be afraid to get creative & combine elements from each to create your own version!

You'll need the same supplies for all three kimonos:

• 1-1.5 yards Fabric

• Scissors

• Needle & Thread OR Sewing Machine

• Pins

• Measuring Tape OR Ruler

Now get sewing!

XO – Courtney


                         the simple kimono                               the sleeved kimono                           the open back kimono

    

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DIY: The Simple Kimono

[continued from DIY: Kimon-oh-yeah]

Let's get started...

SUPPLIES

• 1-1.5 yards Fabric

• Scissors

• Needle & Thread OR Sewing Machine

• Pins

• Measuring Tape OR Ruler

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Fold fabric in half, right sides together, and cut up the center of the top layer only.
2. Measure down 8-10" from the side, pin, & sew down the side seam. Do this on both sides.
3. Hem/finish any raw edges as needed! This depends on the type of fabric you have! If you use a knit, you won't necessarily need to finish any of the raw edges. 

That was easy and fast, right? Ready to try some more? Click here.

XO – Courtney

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DIY: The Sleeved Kimono

[continued from DIY: Kimon-oh-yeah]

Let's get started...

SUPPLIES

• 1-1.5 yards Fabric

• Scissors

• Needle & Thread OR Sewing Machine

• Pins

• Measuring Tape OR Ruler

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Fold fabric in half, right sides together, and cut up the center of the top layer only.

2. Measure down 10" from the side and in 6". Pin and cut out to create the shape of the sleeve. Do this on both sides.

3. Sew side seams together (where you just cut out the sleeve shape) to create the armholes.

4. Hem the bottom and finish any other raw edges if needed. This depends on the type of fabric you have! I used a knit that won't unravel, so I just left the edges raw.

Now that you're a pro, check out the rest of my kimono tutorials and pick your next project! AND you can see more of this kimono in my last post too! 

XO – Courtney

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DIY: The Open-Back Kimono

[continued from DIY: Kimon-oh-yeah]

Let's get started...

SUPPLIES

• 1-1.5 yards Fabric

• Scissors

• Needle & Thread OR Sewing Machine

• Pins

• Measuring Tape OR Ruler

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Fold fabric in half, right sides together.

2. Cut fabric in half so you have two separate, identical rectangles. Hem the side seams on the long sides. You could even go ahead and hem the bottom now too. 

3. This is the trickiest step. With right sides together, find the center and pin the two pieces of fabric together. Now, whatever side is going to be the back, measure down about 10" and sew the two pieces together here. If you fold the fabric in half you should have a front opening and the back should be open at the bottom (hence the name "open back" kimono). 

4. With the fabric folded in half, measure down 8-10" from the side, pinch together and sew. Don't sew the entire way down, only tack together the front and back. This  creates the armholes but also creates a slit on the sides as well. Do this to both sides.

Now you've got yourself a very open kimono with the slits on the back and sides. I think this is the most challenging of the three kimonos, so if you managed this one then you should try the others too. You're already a pro. Click here to see the rest!

XO – Courtney

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Romp n' Roll

It's been decided. The romper is officially my go-to outfit of the summer. You literally only need to wear one thing...no matching or thinking involved. And you can find them in solids or prints; you can dress them up or down; they come in shorts or pants or strapless or sleeveless or sleeved, etc. Endless options.

And if you feel like matching and/or thinking, throw on a kimono for an extra layer. I actually made this one, AND I'll be telling you all about how you can make one too in my next DIY post. I promise it's easy, and it will take you less than 30 minutes to whip up. 

My second summer go-to: this hat. I mean, any hat will work but I'm in love with this one from madewell because it fits perfectly and goes with practically every outfit. Not only does it keep the sun out of my eyes, but I don't need to worry about doing anything to my hair (skip the shampoo an extra day? Yes please). So I don't have to think about what I'm wearing OR what my hair looks like?! Praise. 

And finally, I'm obsessing over these shoes. Bought them before our San Francisco trip, and I literally wear them all. the. time. 

So if you're looking for easy pieces to add to your summer wardrobe, you know what I'll recommend. I'll even go one step further and do your shopping for you. Here's a few rompers I have my eye on (because if I'm gonna live in them this summer, I'm gonna need a few more). 

1 // UO 

2 // h&m

3 // UO

4 // madewell

5 // Target

XO –  Courtney

romper [target] // kimono [diy] // shoes [urban outfitters] // 

hat [madewell] // sunnies [vybe]

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Summer Catch: Foil Baked Salmon

Remember the days when summer was all about rest & relaxation? Then we grew up and summer break was no more. We've got to make the most of our nights and weekends which means dinners that require easy prep and less dishes are our best friend. 

Prep for this one is about as simple as it gets. On a piece of foil, you're going to make a bed with asparagus that the salmon will sit on, then top it with lemon and butter slices, wrap it up, and bake. 

As far as dishes go, this recipe requires a baking sheet (that won't get dirty), a cutting board, a knife, and the plate and fork you eat with. Easy clean up. 

Now if you're willing to dirty up one more dish, this tastes great with a side of wild rice, but that's completely up to you. Scroll down for the full recipe.

XO – Courtney

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Foil Baked Salmon

INGREDIENTS

· 1 Salmon Filet 

· 6-7 Asparagus Spears

· 1 Lemon

· 2 Slices of Butter

· Salt & Pepper 

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees and lay out a square of aluminum foil.

2. Wash and cut asparagus spears, and set aside the tops to use. 

3. Place asparagus tops in the center of the foil and squeeze the juice from half of a lemon over them. Sprinkle with salt & pepper.

4. Set the salmon filet on top of the asparagus bed, sprinkle additional salt & pepper and lemon juice on top. Top with 2 slices of butter and a lemon slice.

5. Fold the foil pouch closed and bake for 30 minutes. 

Serving: 1 Pouch // Makes: 1 Pouch

Prep Time: 5 minutes  // Cook Time: 30 Mintutes

Total Time: 35 Minutes

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Goodbye Smog, Hello Fog: San Francisco

And then it was June. Pretty sure I have the exact same thought every time the first of the month rolls around. "Where did __ go?" But here we are closing in on the halfway mark of 2015. May was a good one. For one, there was an extra pay day. And of course, Zack and I got to explore San Francisco, which was a city to visit on my bucket list. Check. 

Saturday's 5AM wake up call was absolutely worth it for the incredible drive up the Pacific Coast Highway. 10 hours well spent (& highly recommended if you ever have the chance). I would do it again in a heartbeat as a trip of it's own; there are so many places to see and hike along the way, BUT we had a schedule, so we tried to stick to it. We did make one unexpected stop at an Elephant Seal View Point, and it was awesome. Literally hundreds of elephant seals sprawled across the beach. We continued north and made our planned stop at McWay Falls in Big Sur. It's a pretty well known attraction along the PCH, and well worth the stop for a chance to stretch your legs and take in a seriously amazing view. The rest of the morning and early afternoon were spent driving through the curvy roads, up and down the cliffs of Highway 1, looking out into the Pacific. Breathtaking. By late afternoon we were rolling into San Francisco. We made our way across the Golden Gate Bridge and headed towards a shuttle that would take us to Muir Woods. (TIP: Take advantage of the park-and-ride shuttle to Muir Woods because it's free and you skip the hassle of finding parking in the tiny lot at the Muir Woods Welcome Center.) We spent a little over an hour wandering through the trails and feeling like little ants as we walked among the redwoods before making our way back across the bridge and to our hotel. The sun was setting and the wind was picking up so we changed into some warmer clothes before heading out to find some dinner. Along the way we stopped at the Painted Ladies (perfect to see at sunset with the colorful sky complementing the colorful houses). We ate, we drank, and we slept. Day 1 did not disappoint. 

Day 2. This was the day where we packed in every touristy thing possible. If you're planning a day trip to the City by the Bay, here's a breakdown of what to do and how to fit it all in:

· Alcatraz Tour (Early Bird -- perfect start to the day + the island will be less crowded.) The ferry ride is fun, and the audio tour is excellent. We spent about 3 hours there total, including both ferry rides. TIP: bring a sweater because the Bay is windy...more on that later.

· We got back from Alcatraz around noon, so we headed over to Pier 39 for lunch on the bay, then spent some time wandering around the Pier, watching the sea lions, and exploring the Fisherman's Wharf. 

From there we just made a giant loop around the city to hit all the major attractions:

· Ghirardelli Square (free chocolate samples + an ice cream sundae)

· Walked up Lombard Street (TIP: walk rather than drive...traffic is a mess!)

· Hopped on the Cable Car (And rode on the outside. A must.)

· Wandered through Union Square and over to Chinatown.

· Ended up in North Beach and walked up to the Coit Tower.

Lots of walking (and the hills are no joke) but really the only way to go in my opinion.

Day 3. We woke up to grey skies and on & off showers, so we adjusted our itinerary accordingly. The plan was to explore Golden Gate Park, but instead of walking all over, we drove around (which was still a great way to see the park and stay warm & dry). We did park and walk over to the Bison Paddock, as well as the Japanese Tea Garden. Then we headed over to the Golden Gate Bridge to take some pictures. There are several places to park, but if you go early enough (which we did), you might get lucky enough to grab a free spot at Fort Point (which we were). We snapped a few photos, and then we were on our way back to LA (this time taking the faster route home). 

One of the most important parts of any trip is the food. (Am i right?) We knew we wanted to try some fresh seafood on the Bay. Guys. It was incredible. During my research, I kept reading "Try the clam chowder in a sourdough bowl." Zack and I were skeptical, but it was absolutely delicious. And of course we tried some local wines (we were in Wine Country after all). My point of all this: if you ever find yourself in San Fran, eat seafood. 

What did I learn? Overpacking is a good thing. Everyone always gives girls a hard time for overpacking. Well you know what? Don't. This time I forced myself to pack light and managed to fit mine and Zack's clothes (plus toiletries and shoes) into one small carry-on suitcase and one small tote bag. Emphasis on the small. I deserved a medal. Well I was NOT prepared for the cold and wind that would greet us. The weather forcast said upper 60s (and I checked daily before the trip), but when we arrived it was in the low 50s. Thankfully Zack packed 2 jackets so I could steal the extra. But seriously, never feeling bad about overpacking ever again. 

Would I go back? Absolutely. And since I've already hit all the tourist attractions, I would love to visit a nearby winery or spend a day cruising around the bay. Until my next adventure...

XO – Courtney

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