ROUNDUP: Week in Photos - Vacation Edition

The combination of summer heat, long days and too many plans has been making me a total lazy bones on the internet. I'm just too busy being busy (and did I mention hot?) to actually write up blog posts, which I guess isn't too bad of a problem to have. Because of this, I've been meaning to maybe get around to thinking about posting a week in photos for the vacation I took one month ago. Oops. Well, better late than never, right? Here is a collection of lovely things that occupied my eyes and mind during a blissful week in the New Hampshire lakes region.

Too much time in a secluded cabin = overly elaborate manicures. 

My green hands on the right and my friend's rainbow manicure on the left.

 Our favorite retro diner and an order of blissful fried pickles.

 A perfume spraying machine! Only 25 cents for a blast of Tommy Girl, can you believe it?! 

Also, an adorable water bowl for furry friends.

 We had an influx of ducks this year and they were super friendly! 

This poor raccoon got stuck in the dumpster for a while.

 Me with our beloved ball, which we use to play the best-ever version of 'keep-it-up' in the water.

Fresh faced and scouting out summer freckles.

 Our cove has tons of tall trees and a wonderful private beach/dock right on the lake!

 Every road is SO GREEN. Me being a passenger is like a whole other kind of vacation for this perpetual driver. 

Also, a delightful waterfall at the old-timey shopping center.

My boyfriend lazes around on our last night with a tiny guitar found in an antique shop. The strangest pencil case in the entire world (what can you actually fit in there?) found at Staples. I laughed at this so hard and for so long that I was politely asked to stay in the aisles rather than the front of the store by management. Worth it!

P.S. I just realized that today is the one year anniversary of Neon Rattail! It seriously flew by! I love posting projects here and I'm so glad to have you read them. Thanks for stopping by!

xoxo,
Michelle

DIY: Easy Beach Coverup From a T-Shirt

Normally I spend my vacation watching everyone jaunting around in amazing leopard print or floral swimsuit coverups while I'm wrapped in my Cinderella beach towel (I'm very cool), but this year I decided to finally plan a fun coverup BEFORE I was already by the water. Foresight is amazing! To keep it easy, cheap and simple (after all, I'm just throwing it over my wet swimsuit) I wanted to work with a t-shirt. I also wanted it to match the shape of my suit to avoid weird tanlines. Here's what I came up with:

What You Need

Oversized T-Shirt (mine was fluorescent yellow)

Another T-Shirt(s) (to cut up for the straps)

Sewing Machine or Needle & Thread

Scissors & Sewing Pins

How To Do It

FOLD: 

Lay your oversized t-shirt flat. Fold in half lengthwise so that armholes match up.

CUT: 

Cut off the sleeves, making sure to follow the curves and remove seams. Remove the neck, cutting straight across just below the lowest point of the collar.

SEW: 

Open the t-shirt back up and lay flat. Fold the top inch of the new neckline down on the inside and pin. Sew along this line. You can finish the hem nicely, but...eh, it's summer. This makes a channel for your strap.

STRAPS: 

Cut strips of your other t-shirt (I used 2 - blue and pink) about an inch wide (it's easier to fold it a bunch and then cut). This will give you loops so cut the loops to make a strip. Tie the ends of your strips together to form longer strips. The goal is 3 strips about 4 feet long. When you have that, tie the ends of your 3 strips together and braid them. It helps to pin them down and work slowly to avoid tangling.

FINISH: 

Thread the braided strap through one of the channels you created at the neckline, looping through both in a "U" shape and ending with 2 loose strap ends on the same side.

WEAR: 

Turn the t-shirt sideways so that the armpit is over your chest and the loose strap ends are in front. Tie the straps behind your neck and TA-DA - coverup! You can also wear it the "right" way and just tie the straps over one shoulder.

I added a pink ruffle to mine afterward because everything is improved by a pink ruffle. I hope this is clear but I would be happy to clarify or answer any questions that you have!

xoxo,

Michelle