How to Protect Your Costume Jewelry

Costume jewelry is a fun and inexpensive way to add some jazz to any outfit. However custome jeewlry is ususally made of plated metals and will fade. I got tired of watching my favorite pieces fade to an undesirable shade of blah, so I started protecting my tiny investments with a clear coat of Modge Podge. Check out the instructions below.

Here's What You Gotta Have:

• A wire hanger

• Tape ( Pictured here is painters tape, but I'd Imagine any tape will do)

• Pliers

• Clear acrylic sealer or clear spray paint 

Here's What You Gotta Do: 

Use the pliers to undo the area where the hanger wire connects. 

Then create a small hook on the end opposite the larger, already existing, hook.  

Tear the tape into various sized pieces to accommodate various sized jewelry.

Place the jewelry on the hanger in between the tape to prevent the jewelry from drying stuck together. 

Connect the two hooks of the hanger. 

Hang the jewelry hanger in a well ventilated area and spray a thin even coat of the sealer on the jewelry using a sweeping motion.

Note: I used matte clear acrylic sealer  because the jewelry I was protecting had a brushed metal finish. 

I use the regular clear sealer on shiney items. 

Let the first coat dry according to the sealant instructions

 and apply a second coat for extra protection. 

Let the jewelry dry completely according to the sealant instructions before wearing. 

Enjoy your beautiful baubles!

Life Is Delicious... Go Taste It!

Whirlwinds and Other Blessings

Okay so  its been a long while since I wrote a post. I can assure you it has not been because life has not been absolutely chock full of deliciousness. In fact I think its been so chock full I've been busy eating it up. A lot has happened so let me fill you in.

On May 9th I found out that I passed the Arizona bar. Wohoooo! All that hard work and forfeiture of fun was not in vain. Then, as is the next logical step, I decided to start my own law firm. Yep, Keo'vonne Wilson Legal, PLLC is officially a thing now. I hosted a launch party which just so happened to coincide with my birthday. Yep, I had a birthday and threw myself a party. It was wonderful!  I also built a website, created business cards and marketing merchandise ( magnets, t-shirts, social media accounts). I am so proud of my little start up.

I also got a very awesome video from my sister and bro-in-law back home. KJ, my nephew, is crawling! I am so excited. It has been an amazing journey watching him grow up. I am so thankful for social media and technology because I don't have to miss a moment.

With a new business, interesting clients, networking, blogging for the firm, cooking, attempting to push the limits of professional wear, it has been the most delightful whirlwind!

Below is a photographic peek at all of the delicious-ness
The order of events is a little hazy but it's all great.

                                                This is how I celebrated passing the bar.

Well I passed the Bar here, so I figured it was time I finally became a licensed Arizona Driver. 

Here is the hummus I made for road trip to Cali Number 1.

Rice Noodles with kale, bell peppers and mock beef. 

Gosh I hope I wrote down this recipe somewhere.

Granola I made for Road Trip To Cali Number 2. 

This was a photo used on my birthday/website launch invite.
Pretty snazzy huh!

Days before my birthday my sister's birthday gift to me came in the mail. 

A rice cooker! This woman knows me too well. 

My old one crapped out months ago. 

Rice cooker's maiden voyage, Spicy rice and beans. 

Birthday bling for birthday/launch party. 

The business cards arrived just in time for the birthday bash. 

The party favors were gourmet cupcakes in these cute takeout boxes. I pulled out the shoe-string looking ties and replaced it with ribbon that coordinated with the business card style magnets. 

I enjoyed this blue cheese stuffed olives in my dirty gin martini. Of course I hosted my birthday/launch at Hanny's. I love this place, this martini...

...and these people. 

This was one of the only time I enjoyed yogurt. I really dont like it unless it's mixed in something. Summer ripened peaches, a light dusting of ground ginger, agave and toasted oats and almonds. 

This was a perfect breakfast.

I FINALLY made my sister's super simple eggplant parmesan. 

I will share this recipe soon. 

Homemade almond pesto. 

I have since killed the basil plant, but the legend of the pesto live on.

Heading to the gym wearing one of the t-shirts I designed featuring my firm's moto

"Turn Your Dream Into Your Legacy"

Shield your eyes from the dirty mirror.

This is what Bono looks like with his summer do. I didn't realize how smal this dog really was. 

He still believes he is half great dane, half Beyonce. 

Went to Vegas for the 4th of July watch my "little" cousin, Leena Star, open for Doug E. Fresh. 

She is a little fire cracker on the stage and off. 

Us being silly and posing for a fan picture in front of the poster she is on. 

We had a blast at the afterparty!

Rang in the 4th of July celebrations at a Pho place in Treasure Island. 

Yum!

Taking shelter from the heat of the Las Vegas Stip in on of the many casinos. 

Riding on the highway with the top down seemed like a good idea...

It was not!

Selfie after dinner in the Ling Ling Lounge on the third level (of five) at Hakkasan. 

Hakkasan is allegedly the hottest restaurant in Vegas. 

The food was exceptional, but it was so dark that the guy at the next table lent me his phone with a flashlight app to read the menu. 

At this point in the night, the only thing I was fighting was sleep. It was a great end to my Vegas trip!

I've begun tutoring this cutie twice a week in preparation for kindergarten. 

My cousin's son keeps me laughing the entire time.

After finally cleaning out my car, I made this handy organizer to keep things in reach but out of the way. 

Instructions coming soon.

My World cup outfit. Go 'Murica!

Picked up that tie for a dollar.

This is the local pub at 10am on a tuesday during a USA World Cup match. 

I kept wondering, where do these people work?

Mom's birthday gift arriving the standard month later. 

After my last phone bit the dust, mom made it clear that I had no more excuses. 

Bono finding comfort in sweaty gym bags. 

Life is Delicious...Go Taste It!

It's Always a Good Time to Turban

Turban wearing is not for the faint of heart, but gosh they are a fabulous fashion accessory. Turbans have been around for thousands of years. Traditionally worn by men to signify a religious sect or social status, turbans began to show up on western trendsetters in the 70's. Turbans are a great "Anytime" accessory. They can be paired with a casual tunic and jeans in the spring, big sunglasses and a swimsuit in the summer, fall coats and boots, and faux fur in the winter; you simply cant go wrong with a turban. This timeless piece really adds a big impact to any outfit and hides dye jobs gone awry, impeccably!

I embellished this $2 turban with a vintage earring.

 I lost the other one a long tome ago, but couldn't bear to throw this one away. 

When hoarding goes right!

Turban in warm weather...

Just as stylish in colder weather!

Road Runner Pin sent as a graduation gift form my Aunt Karen. 

Turban and Treats!

Life is Delicious ...Go Taste It!

DIY: Tassel Necklace

I survived the Arizona Bar. I won't get my score  until May so the next few months will be spent looking on the bright side. It was grueling marathon toward this moment and now its over. I have so much free time and I have quite a few ideas on what to do with it. First project: make some use out of my graduation cords. Up until today, they hung in my coat closet full of promise but virtually useless. That was until I stumbled across this gem on Anthropologies's website.

Photo: Anthropologie Sailor's Delight Lariat

$89 Originally $328

Then there was this golden bauble on the Bergdorf Goodman Website. 

Photo: Rachel Zoe Long Tassel-End Necklace$292 Originally $650

I really like the bohemian vibe of the cord and tassel look but I couldn't help but wonder if there was a cheaper better way to get that aesthetic. Cue graduation cords! They could finally be dusted off and repurposed. You could easily do this project with curtain tie backs. They are available at any local home-wares store that sales window treatments. I found some on ebay for less than $5 apiece.
Mine cost me $0 dollars if you don't count the $100K+ spent on law school in order to get my honors cords. But that is neither here nor there. 

You'll need one cord with tassels and about 2 minutes of your time. 

Here's what you gotta do: 

1. First drape the cord on your neck with the tassels hang in the back.

2. Then bring the tassles across your back to the front of you. so you will have one full look around your neck with the tassels hanging in the front. Make sure the tassels are hanging evenly. 

3. Start by tucking the tasseled end of the cord into the front loop and wrap the tasseled end around

4. Rock out with your cord out!

For this one I left the tassels uneven. 

Got this one for Negotiating the heck out of some legal conflicts. 

No big deal!

 These bad boys came from serving on the SBA. 

I draped these haphazardly and loved the statement necklace quality I was left with. 

And yes this represents the chaos of any student board association!

Life is Delicious... Go Taste It!