OBSESSED: Crazy for Cobalt Blue

I've got it baaaaad for blue lately. Cobalt specifically. Love affairs with color are nothing new to me (I'm looking at you, mint green) but I just can't quit this one. It's been a year strong so far with NO signs of cooling off. I just bought a pair of cobalt wedge heels (see below!) and I could already go for another hit. Luckily, it seems this season there is plenty of cobalt to go around so my options are varied and plentiful. Cobalt is great for any season, but blends particularly well with autumn to add a vibrant pop of color. Simultaneously bold and traditional, cobalt is the color that works for everything - and everyone. Join in my cobalt craziness!

See sources and purchase links here

I have SEVERAL pieces listed above already (open front cardigan, studded purse, wedge heels, wrap dress, nail polish...) and I'm eyeing a few more. Can we just talk about that coat with the huge amazing collar? I probably shouldn't have discovered that. I kind of can't even talk about that glitzy fish scale pattern skirt. Cobalt is just SO GOOD. 

What color can you not live without this fall?

xoxo,
Michelle

DIY: Painted Wood Bead Necklace

Sometimes I can't decide between my love for bright unnatural colors and my love for natural shades of wood, so I decided to make a necklace that appeals to both my artificial and natural sensibilities. Bonus points because it was super simple! See for yourself:

What You Need

> Wood beads in various sizes
> Acrylic paints in various colors
> Paintbrush
> Painter's Tape
> Metal chain (about 18")
> Jump rings (2)
> Clasp
> Jewelry tools

How To Make It

1. Tape off half of each wood bead with the painter's tape.

2. Paint the untaped half of each bead in whatever colors you choose. Mine took 2-3 coats.

3. Peel the tape off when the beads are dry.

4. String the beads on the metal chain.

5. Attach jump rings and clasp to finish the necklace.

 

The beads will shift around when you wear the necklace, but the random design and pops of color on traditional wood shades makes for such a fun surprise. 

This necklace can pretty much be worn with ANYTHING! How would you style it?

xoxo,
Michelle

STYLE: OOTD (With Curls!)

Okay, so this is technically an outfit of the day post, but more than that it's an excuse to RAVE about the best hair tool EVER! Like, for real. 

A friend of mine had told me about it and then finally demonstrated it on my hair, at which point I became a devotee and immediately counted the minutes until I could run to Target and buy one for myself.

The Goody Wave Creator curled my hair so well I was able to rock this hair for literally 3 days. Don't judge - I used dry shampoo! It's super easy to use, but I honestly don't get how it actually works or how it is so different from regular curling irons. What I do get is that my hair was lookin' GOOD. I even had someone who has known me for years ask if my hair was naturally curly. I'm fooling 'em, guys! I'm debating if I ever need to have straight hair again.

Dress: Target

Cardigan: TJ Maxx

Flats: Payless

Tank Top: Dots

Wooden Necklace: Vintage

xoxo,
Michelle

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

ETC: Summer Road Trip Playlist

My boyfriend and I make new road trip soundtracks every summer for our drive to the lake and instead of our usual setup where I make a mix CD (yes, CD) and he makes one, we had the genius idea last year to make 2 CDs by alternating our picks track by track - his song, my song and so on. Very simple idea, but it was revolutionary for us! Now neither of us needs to wait more than a song length to hear our pick. It also gives my voice a rest, as I can't help but sing along to songs in the car. :)

Here's a sampling of our vacation soundtrack for 2012, including both of our picks. Listen while imagining me lakeside, hopefully sunburn-free. I hope you're on (or going on) vacation too!

Summer Road Trip from NeonRattail on 8tracks.

TRACK LIST
1. Beach Boys: Breakaway
2. Bikini Kill: Rah! Rah! Replica
3. Little Teeth: Japanese Candy
4. Best Coast: Let's Go Home
5. Cap'n Jazz: Oh Messy Life
6. Freda Payne: Band of Gold
7. Carole King: It Might As Well Rain Until September
8. Jenny Lewis: You Are What You Love
9. Sleigh Bells: Born to Lose
10. The Stokes: Under Cover of Darkness
11. Mariah Carey feat. ODB: Fantasy 
12. Love: My Little Red Book
13. The Ettes: Crown of Age
14. Santogold: You'll Find a Way
15. Go Sailor: Fine Day for Sailing
16. Buddy Holly: Everyday
17. Outkast: Hey Ya!
18. The Oohlas: Small Parts
19. Violent Femmes: Kiss Off

20. Japandroids: The House That Heaven Built

xoxo,
Michelle

STYLE: OOTD Stripes & Brights

I just never get tired of a black and white stripe. It's timeless - classic and modern at the same time. As simple as it is, this kind of pattern always catches my eye, either in stores or on people. Love it, especially with bright pops of color!

Dress: Dots

Belt: Dots

Cardigan: Target

Leggings: Forever 21

Purse: Target

Wedge Flip Flops: Old Navy

Oversize Bow Ring: Craft Fair

Hair Daisy: Claire's

xoxo,
Michelle

DIY: Nail Polish Jewelry

I'm always looking for fun new kinds of jewelry to experiment with and when I found this cool new technique I just had to share! I bought a bunch of jewelry making supplies online - mostly materials I'd never worked with that I couldn't find at my local craft stores. Among them were these clear glass flat-back beads with a magnifying effect. 

They remind me of those glass beads that everybody thought looked
SO classy in a vase with fake flowers in the 90s.

You can see the magnifying effect here.

Because of the magnified appearance, putting images or decoration behind/under the bead creates a cool look. I tried mine with some nail polish for a fun gemstone-esque look. Here's how you can do the same:

What You Need

Magnifying Bead & Bezel Pendant Kit 

(I bought mine online here, but I'm sure you can get them tons of other places)

Glitter Nail Polish

Color Nail Polish

Strong Glue (I used E-6000)

How To Do It

1. Paint your bead with your glitter polish until you reach your desired glittery-ness. Mine took 3 coats. Make sure to let it dry completely between each coat. I used Queen of Beauty from Sinful Colors.

2. Paint your second color over the glitter coat until it's opaque. Mine took 2 coats. I used Hazard from Sinful Colors.

3. When completely dry, apply a thin layer of glue over the entire back of the bead and press it into the necklace base (bezel) and press for 30 seconds. Let it dry upside down to avoid air bubbles.

I've also made some earrings with smaller beads and rings with larger ones. I'm thinking of making a million of these to wear and to add to my Etsy shop because they are so fun! Here are a few that I made without glitter, just capturing some especially shimmery and holographic polishes. 

Canadian Star from Nicole

Teal of Fortune from Wet n Wild

Fuchsia Rage from Nina Ultra Pro & Pacific Blue from Sally Hansen with Make U Smile from Nicole on top

They look even more sparkly in person and when they catch the light they're incredible - it's distracting having it on my hand! You could try this with paint too or other thin materials like confetti, printed images or pieces of maps or book pages. The magnifying effect makes whatever you add really shine!


xoxo,
Michelle

STYLE: OOTD Americaaahh Edition

Happy (belated) Independence Day fellow Americans! I took it upon myself to celebrate in style, opting to dress as literally as possible in red, white and blue for no good reason except to be the weirdo at the party. It totally worked! I'm really into maxi dresses for the first time ever and now I want approximately one million of them in my closet. I've never found one that wasn't massively long on my short legs, but this one shrunk right up to the best length. I would have been willing to hem it, but the dryer did all of the heavy lifting, which was much appreciated. How have I been missing out on these wonder dresses?!

Hands on my hips in every shot because I'm a one-trick pony.

Striiiiiipes as far as the eye can see & a gratuitous hair shot because it is finally getting longer!

 I also kept it 'Merican on my nails, using these products and tools:

Dress: Old Navy

Cardigan: Target

Belt: Dots

Wedge Flip Flops: Old Navy

Pretzel Ring: DIY by me (another available here)

Any fellow theme dressers out there?

xoxo,
Michelle