DIY: Wrap Necklace

Most nights I get home from work, go for a run, whip up dinner, and then curl up in front of the tv and binge on Netflix for the rest of the evening. I try to be "productive" at the same time, whether it's wedding planning, working on my blog, etc. Sometimes I even get a little crafty. So if you're looking for something you can do while you sit on the sofa and watch [insert tv show or movie here], read along for instructions on this fun little DIY necklace.

Head to the craft store on your way home from work and pick up the supplies you'll need. You can choose as many or as few colors as you want. I chose a palette that would work well as we transition from summer to fall. I know it's hard to believe that fall is right around the corner, but I've been getting an unbelievable amount of emails from stores announcing their "fall collection is here!" Don't get me wrong, fall is my FAVORITE season, but it's hard to imagine wearing a sweater when the temps are consistently in the 90s. 

XO – Courtney

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Bend the rope in a bow shape and have the two ends meet in the middle. Use a dot of hot glue to keep the rope in this shape.

2. Start wrapping the thread around both pieces of rope, leaving about 2cm of rope exposed at either end.

3. Wrap tightly around the rope, and overlap the thread, so that no rope is showing through. When you are ready to change to a new color, simply tie a knot, trim the thread, and overlap the next color to hide the knot. Continue doing this until you reach the other side of the rope. Be sure to leave 2cm at the end. 

4. Lay out your necklace chain and, if needed, use pliers to cut it to the desired length. 

5. Thread one end of the chain through the rope loop so that it meets back with the chain. Using pliers and a jump ring, attach the chain end to the necklace chain. Do this on both sides, 

6. Finally, cut the chain in half and attach the closure to one end of each chain using your pliers, a jump ring, and a lobster claw. 

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Nonstop

It's been an eventful summer so far. Between our roommate and Zack and I, we've had nonstop visitors since the first weekend of June (which has been FUN but also kept us really busy). We've checked off most of the major to-do's for our wedding (venue ✔️, caterer  ✔️, bartender  ✔️, dress  ✔️, bakery  ✔️, officiant  ✔️, save the dates ordered  ✔️). Last weekend one of my best friends & bridesmaid, Megan, got engaged. We even had a stormy weekend in LA. You get the idea...a lot happening. 

And although last weekend Zack and I got to be super lazy (we only left the apartment to get ice cream and to see Ant Man, which was fantastic and hilarious by the way), our summer doesn't look like it will be slowing down anytime soon. We're planning to start our wedding registry this weekend, and our August calendar is already filling up. 

Between all the visitors and vacations, I needed some "me time," so what's better than a little retail therapy? Plus with the ever rising temps, I needed (wanted?) some casual, cool, & comfortable summer dresses. And I may have treated myself to a new pair of shoes too (couldn't say no to these knee high gladiator sandals from justfab). 

XO — Courtney 

dress [urban outfitters] // hat [urban outfitters] // [shoes [justfab]

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Spicy Coconut Noodles

I'm not a huge fan of coconut (exception: piña coladas), so when a co-worker brought this pasta to work for a lunch party a while back, I only took a small helping to be polite. Needless to say, I loved it, went back for seconds, and got the recipe. I decided to add shrimp when I cooked this, and it was a great addition, but you can leave it out or even substitute it with something else, like chicken. 

This meal is perfect to make during a busy week -- fast to prepare and great as leftovers for lunch or dinner the next day. Plus it's a combination of flavors that I haven't/don't have very often, so I think I'll have to cook this up more often. Aren't we all looking for tasty and easy things to make during our busy weeks (and/or weekends)? 

If you're having doubts about this recipe like I was, I encourage you to give it a try! I think you'll be just as surprised as I was with how delicious it is! 

XO – Courtney

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Spicy Coconut Noodles with Shrimp

INGREDIENTS

· Fettuccine Noodles

· 1/2 lb Shrimp

· 1 13.5 oz can Unsweetened Coconut Milk

· 3 T Tomato Paste

· 1 t Chili Powder

· 1 t Salt

· 3 Green Onions, chopped

· 8 oz Bean Sprouts

· Basil

· Red Pepper Flakes (to taste)

DIRECTIONS

1. Start cooking the pasta, drain, and set aside.

2. Meanwhile, begin cooking the shrimp in a large frying pan and set aside.

3. In a large saucepan, combine coconut milk, tomato paste, chili powder, and salt over medium-high heat.

4. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 2-3 minutes, stirring occasionally.

5. Add shrimp, bean sprouts, green onions, and drained noodles to the sauce and toss. Top with fresh basil and serve.

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Wandering the Woods: Yosemite

Raise your hand if when I say “California,” words like “beach” and “city” come to mind. Probably most of us, but when my family and I took a trip up to Yosemite for 4th of July weekend, I was quickly reminded how big & diverse this state is.

The farther from Los Angeles we drove, the more the landscape began to change. From 6 lane freeways down to 2; from hills to flat farmlands. And as we continued our drive, trees began to pop up and become thicker and taller until we were parked at the entrance of Yosemite National Park. Since we were all first timers, we wanted to hit as many of the major attractions & viewpoints as possible.

DAY 1

We arrived at the park around 10:30am and headed straight to Mariposa Grove (aka where all the HUGE sequoia trees are). I’m still in awe at the size of these trees. Having experienced Muir Woods in San Francisco (where Zack & I also visited recently), I sort of expected the same from Mariposa Grove. Not quite. Fun Fact: The redwoods in Muir Woods are taller, but the sequoias in Mariposa Grove are bigger around (& still very, very tall). Either way, you will feel tiny. Unfortunately, Mariposa Grove closed the day after we were there and won’t reopen until 2017 (talk about good timing on our part!), so while there are still plenty of other sequoia trees throughout Yosemite, you won’t be able to see some the “famous” and “largest” ones for a while. 

After Mariposa Grove, we hopped in our car & began making our way to the valley floor. First stop: Tunnel View. Not only is this an amazing photo op, it gives you a view of almost all the major attractions including El Capitan, Half Dome, Sentinel Dome, Yosemite Falls, & Bridalveil Falls. From there we continued along the valley floors and made frequent stops (TIP: drive slow!) to wander around & even hike up to the base of both Bridalveil & Lower Yosemite Falls. (TIP: Early spring is the best time to plan a visit if you want to see waterfalls at their peak flow – some of the waterfalls in the park stop flowing completely during the summer & fall, BUT when they are at their lightest flow you can climb up the rocks and get extra close to the base of the falls.)

DAY 2

Our schedule for our second day was left open for anything we couldn’t fit in on day 1 along with more exploring (just on less of an organized schedule). We started our day out by heading to Glacier Point. (TIP: During peak season/weekends, hit up Glacier Point & Mariposa Grove in the morning before the crowds and when parking won’t be a problem.)  The view from Glacier point was just as amazing as Tunnel View, in my opinion. It gives you a birds eye view of the valley floor and a closer look at Half Dome. 

After leaving Glacier Point, we pulled of the road at the trailhead for Sentinel Dome and decided to hike it. The altitude made the hike a little tough, but it was so worth it after reaching the peak of Sentinel Dome. Talk about feeling like you’re on top of the world. 

Our final hike of the day was to Vernal Falls and was by far the toughest hike of our visit.  It was a steep and continuous incline, but the view of the waterfall was beautiful and worth the trek. 

At 4.5 hours, it’s actually a fairly easy & fast drive from LA – perfect for a quick weekend getaway if you’re trying to escape the hustle & bustle of city life. (But also a great place for a longer trip if you really wanted to explore more of the enormous park.) The park is pretty easy to navigate as well (even without cell service and google maps to help you out). At the entrance, the park rangers will give you a map, and there are plenty of signs along the roads to give you directions, but I would recommend that any first time visitors have a little bit of a plan mapped out ahead of time (it’s a big park so you don’t want to waste time driving back & forth if you can help it). I researched where all the major viewpoints were, so we hit most of those day 1; then day 2 we had more time to just wing it and go on a couple unplanned hikes. I already can’t wait to make another trip up to Yosemite, and would love to rent a (heated) cabin in the park during early spring when all the waterfalls are in full force. Another adventure for the books.

XO – Courtney

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