My Fascinating Life

Hey Loves!

If you are like me, you just attended at least one Derby party this season or you attended some function in which you needed something atop your head and did not have an array of fancy church hats neatly stacked in boxes.

Well, I have a tutorial for two quick, easy and inexpensive fascinators…(head piece, or style of millinery, commonly made with feathers, flowers, jewels or beads that attaches to the hair by a comb, headband or clip- The Feathered Head)…this is where the fascinating part comes in…

For the first one, I followed this tutorial as far as I could. No retailer where I live sold Russian tulle so I had to purchase a cheaper netted tulle but it was still just as effective. For notions, I did a small string of pearls instead of ribbon at the base of the fascinator. I added the feathers, flowers, tulle for ‘show’ and attached clips instead of a head band for more flexibility in placement.

Fascinator

The second one I made was on the fly and (since I am now a fascinator-making pro…NOT!) I literally pieced it together as I went along. The base is the bottom a large top-hat fascinator I got to wear with my Halloween costume this coming fall. It resembled something a dark Mad-Hatter would wear-thus the costume reference. I carefully separated the bottom from the top (making sure I could put it back together for my costume) using scissors and my fingers. The hat came with two black feathers that I reattached to the now separated base.

I added some more tulle, two black faux flowers, black ribbon to hide the cardboard lines and the pearls from the fascinator above.  I prayed this wouldn’t look like death on my head…and it worked!

photo 1 photo 2

Hope this helps you look fab at your next hated-event! Let me know if you have any questions!

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Black, White & Timeless

Hey Loves,

I just wanted to share my outfit choice with you today.

Black and white clothing options are as timeless and classic as Audrey Hepburn herself. Whether a little black dress, a white sundress, or black tank and white skinnis, you can mix them or match them and (as long as they still fit) wear them forever.

Today, I was inspired by the black spray paint still on my fingers from a DIY project earlier this week (confessions of a crafter…) to jazz up black and white a bit, but still be comfy and casual. So, I adorned a white ribbed tank from Old Navy; a black flowy skirt with pockets and a tie sash (it sounds fancy, but it I dressed it down) from Banana Republic; Steve Madden black and silver flats; A chunky black, white and silver necklace from New York and Company and black and white hoop earrings. It definitely works for today’s weather (temperatures are reaching the high 80s) for work, errands and play. Let me know what you think!

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Black, white and silver accessories
Black, white and silver accessories

 

Black, White and Timeless

My Morning Routine

Hey Loves!

My morning routine was recently published. Find out how I start my day below. Like, comment and share!

Tenikca Gainey’s Morning Routine

Tenikca Gainey is a vegetarian naturalista who’s in her element when writing, crafting, cooking, and working out. As a proud wife of over three years, she works every day to become better, sharing her hits and misses along the way.

What is your morning routine?

I normally wake up around 6:35am and mentally get a grasp on my day.

I see my husband out the door and head to the gym any time between 7:15 and 7:30 a few days a week, normally three, as I like to run some afternoons. I will also work out at home once a week and do chores on Friday mornings.

How long have you stuck with this routine so far?

I gave up sleeping in for Lent so I have been up with the chickens since Ash Wednesday.

How has your morning routine changed over recent years?

My morning routine has changed due to obligations (work, class, other commitments) and the fact that for a very long time, I despised waking up. Giving up sleeping in for Lent has made me much more productive throughout the day and I now look forward to ‘taking on the day’.

What time do you go to sleep?

On a great night, I am asleep no later than 10:00pm. 11:00pm is late for me, and if I continue going to bed that late it soon catches up with me.

Thursday nights keep up me up past my bedtime (thanks to Scandal and Greys) so I really try to hit the sack early every other night.

Do you use an alarm to wake you up in the mornings, and if so do you ever hit the snooze button?

Yes, from my phone. I hit the snooze button probably too many times.

How soon after waking up do you have breakfast, and what do you typically have?

I normally have breakfast around 9:00am when I get to work. I switch up between oatmeal, yogurt, fruit or a baked good such as a whole wheat muffin. I occasionally have tea or coffee and will sometimes treat myself to Starbucks if I complete my chores or workout early enough.

Do you have a morning workout routine?

Yes. I try to hit the gym no less than three mornings a week.

When I took a break from running, I was at the gym four days a week. Now that I have sustained a running injury I alternate weight training and stretching (like yoga) 4-5 days a week to stay fit.

How about morning meditation?

I pray every morning and use the time between me waking up and getting out of bed to center myself and mentally prepare for the day ahead of me.

Do you see to email first thing in the morning, or leave it until later in the day?

I used to. I stopped that at the end of last year. My head would be a mess and full of every sale item and request and whatever else.

Now, I check my email around 9:00am.

How soon do you check your phone in the morning, either for calls/messages or social media and news?

I don’t check for missed calls, texts, or news alerts, but I do check social media either right before the gym or when I am warming up.

What are your most important tasks in the morning?

Praying, seeing my husband out the door, working out, and not getting to work too late.

What and when is your first drink in the morning?

I will have water and/or an energy drink before, during, and after the gym. I don’t have coffee or tea until later.

On days you’re not settled in your own home, are you able to adapt any of your routine to fit in with a different environment?

It is VERY difficult.

Most times when I am in these situations it is either for civic duty or a weekend trip. In those events I have a schedule to adhere to which makes a bit easier to adjust.

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