Coachella Recap

So this entry isn’t the usual “Savvy or Savory” type post, but I did mention in my very first entry that this blog would also touch on the other major interests in my life like music and traveling. I haven't been to Coachella since 2007, so I was super stoked to make a return. First let's start off with some pictures of my rad friends that I shared the experience with and the fashion choices of course:

 

My Top 3 Performances

1.       Disclosure – "Latch" feat. Sam Smith. This song closed all of Coachella for me. It was the last song I heard on Sunday and was my absolute favorite performance! This song is currently on repeat. They also performed "Running" with special guest Jessie Ware. Here is a link to the official video as the performance below sounds a little choppy and does not do the live performance justice.

2.       Allen Stone – "Is This Love?" This is one of my all time favorite songs, originally sang by Bob Marley. Allen Stone's voice is so powerful and full of soul. He is one of those rare artists that sounds even better live than on their album. I couldn't find a video of the Coachella performance, so below is the music video version of it but here's a link to his life performance of another great song "Satisfaction" which was the last song he performed at Coachella. And if you have Spotify, check out his live session of "What's Going On."

3.       Yeah Yeah Yeahs – "Heads Will Roll". When my friends and I heard this song we went crazy!! Too good!!! Here's their performance of Maps leading into Heads Will Roll:

 

Other amazing artists/bands/djs I got to see:

·         Jessie Ware – Such a class act. My favorite songs were Wildest Moments, If You’re Never Gonna Move & Valentine which she brought out her drummer to sing with her, who was also an amazing singer!

·         The XX – Definitely more mellow, but they sounded just like they do on their album. Crystalised, Islands & Shelter were my faves.

·         Bingo Players – These DJ’s really took me by surprise. I only knew their one song “Cry” on the radio but all of their jams had me dancing non-stop!

·         Dog Blood – Skrillex and Boyz Noise, how could you not like them?

·         Simian Mobile Disco – I’ve always liked this DJ duo, but none of my friends really knew who they were. It caught them by surprise at how good they were. They’ve got a totally different sound and I can’t explain it, you’ll just have to listen to their stuff.

·         Dillon Francis – This was the first performance I saw and it definitely set the mood for the weekend. When I.D.G.A.F.O.S. came on, the whole crowd was definitely going HAM.

·         Baauer – The infamous guy who brought us the Trap song sensation “Harlem Shake”… I thought he’d be a one hit wonder, but I have to admit all his songs had me dancing hard.

·         2 Chainz – We all know who this is and unfortunately in my book, rappers have never really impressed me live. They always seem to sound gargled and all over the place, but 2 Chainz definitely impressed me. He sounded so clear and had every person in the crowd singing his every lyric.

·         Major Lazer – Diplo is just such a creative mind and all that he does is so refreshing. I’ve seen Major Lazer live before, and they just get better and better. They definitely make you  bust out all kinds of dance moves.

·         Phoenix – Although I like Phoenix, and they sounded great live, their performance was super disappointing. First off, Daft Punk didn’t come on with them as rumored and instead R. Kelly did. R. Kelly’s guest performance, again sounded good, and might have been better received if everyone wasn’t expecting Daft Punk, but it was just odd. He is the polar opposite of Phoenix and caught everyone off guard. Another reason why I was so disappointed is that they didn’t play my favorite song, which is most of the older fans’ favorite song as well, “If I Ever Feel Better.”

·         Alex Clare – Alex Clare is just starting to come up because of his hit “Too Close.” His voice is so powerful and soulful, definitely not what you would expect from looking at him.

·         Pretty Lights – Of course the lights were amazing on this set. When “Finally Moving” came on, the crowd went wild. Some people don’t appreciate instrumentals, but it’s hard not to fall in love with Pretty Lights.

·         Red Hot Chilli Peppers – Of course we had to check out RHCP. I grew up with them and there’s nothing like knowing all the lyrics to all their songs and singing along. They guys are getting old, but they still sound just like they did 10 years ago. Still rocking out, hard!

·         La Roux – This chick is just so cool. The way she sings, walks along the stage, everything about her emulates fierce. She started with “In For The Kill” and I was hooked.

Check out more Coachella performances here: http://www.youtube.com/user/coachella/videos?view=0

If you’ve ever been to Coachella, you know that it’s impossible to see every single act because there are 6 different stages with performances going on simultaneously. Below are the artists I was super bummed to miss! Wish I could’ve gone again Weekend 2 to check out the ones I didn't get to!

·         Four Tet

·         The 2 Bears

·         Two Door Cinema Club

·         Dub FX

·         Richie Hawtin

·         Maya Jane Coles

·         Local Natives

·         Vintage Trouble

·         Julio Bashmore

·         Sigur Ros

·         Knife Party

·         Wu Tang Clan

More Coachella Pictures

 

 

   

   

  

Ikea Hack Part 2 - Matching Dresser

In my earlier post, I showed you how to do an Ikea Hack on the Rast 3 Drawer Chest with a little painting and staining. There is no matching Rast Dresser, but the Ikea Tarva 6 Drawer Chest is pretty darn similar. It is a little pricey at $150, but all other 6 drawer chests I liked started at $250 or more. Here's what it looks like after assembling it.

I'm sure you can get even more savvy on this part and find cheaper unfinished furniture or a thrifted dresser to re-finish, but all-in-all I'm still saving at least $100 for a brand new dresser that looks so much more expensive. I plan to utilize it as a TV stand in my Master Bedroom as well. Here's how it turned out after following the same steps as finishing the night stands in my previous post:

And here's the Tarva Dresser with the 2 night stands I made to match, oh and my Assistant Rambo too.

Keep checking back on my blog for my next DIY project with bookshelves.

Coachella Essentials - Full Outfits for Around $50

With Coachella coming this weekend, my girlfriends and I have been stressing about what to wear. The last time I went to Coachella was in 2007 and people weren't too worried about what to wear, but much more concerned about the music and staying hydrated. Now it's become like one big fashion show. I'm still going for my favorite bands and hoping Daft Punk will show up, but that doesn't mean I can't look fab on a budget. Here are some essential trends and full outfit ideas for around $50:

INDIAN PRINTS AND BRIGHT COLORS

American Indian prints and Crop Tops are all the rage, and this cute one from F21 is the perfect combo for the desert sun.  The bright yellow shorts and printed sandals complete the look but be careful wearing sandals, you will get stepped on in those crowds!

Top: Forever 21 ($25), Shorts: Forever 21 ($15), Sandals: Foreign Exchange ($17), Glasses: vintage ($2)

TRIBAL PRINTS, HIGH WAISTED DISTRESSED SHORTS & FRINGE

Similar to the Indian print, bold tribal patterns are a great way to make a statement. This scoop-neck cap-sleeved crop top pairs perfectly with high-waisted distressed shorts and fringe moccasins. 

Top: G-Stage ($7), Shorts: vintage ($10), Sunglasses: H&M ($8), Shoes: Minnetonka ($45)

ARMY PRINT, OMBRE & SNEAKERS
Army print, ombre and acid wash are another fun trend popping up. I've personally loved army print since I was in high school, so I'm stoked that it's coming back. This look with the geo-print sneakers is not for the girly-girls, so it's definitely not for everyone.

Tank Top: Foreign Exchange ($13), Shorts: Foreign Exchange ($38), Shoes: Forever 21 ($25), Sunglasses: Carrera (vintage hand me downs)

WILD ANIMALS, MUSCLE TEES & NEON

For those not brave enough to wear the itty bitty crop tops, muscle tees are the perfect solution. Crazy animals like cats and bulls lend the perfect graphic. They're loose and comfy, but still a little sexy with the deep arm openings. I like to pair my muscle tee with a neon bra or swimsuit top under for a pop of color and patterned shorts.

Top: G-Stage ($12), Bra: G-Stage ($5), Shorts: G-Stage ($9), Sunglasses: vintage ($2), Booties: Forever 21 ($25)

OTHER TIPS

• Check the Coachella Venue Do's and Dont's here http://www.coachella.com/festival-info
• Bring Sunscreen
• Bring a light jacket/sweater for when it gets cold at night.
• Stay hydrated. It's going to be close to 100 degrees!
• Make a schedule of Bands you want to see. A lot of the bands overlap so it's impossible to see everything. Prioritize and give yourself some time to get to the other stages.
• Designate a meeting spot and time if you have a group, it's hard to stick together and people want to see different things, so it's good to have a meeting spot and time for your group. I'm definitely going to practice the buddy system and be with at least be with 1 or 2 people at all times.
• Bring a little purse/fanny pack or have deep pockets to keep your essentials: money, gum, touch-up make-up, oil-wipes, etc.

Savory Pita Pizzas

Now that I've touched on the Savvy part of my blog, I wanted to introduce the Savory. I've been trying to eat healthier and one of my favorite, quick and relatively healthy recipes are Pita Pizzas. It literally takes about 10 minutes to make and you can put any toppings you want.


Here's what you'll need:

• Whole Wheat Pita Bread (or regular pita bread if you prefer)
• Sauce: Tomato Sauce, Pesto, EVOO, anything you want
• Shredded Cheese: Mozzarella works great, but any should do
• Toppings: Go crazy! I usually throw in mushrooms, onions, garlic, sun-dried tomatoes, chicken breast chunks and any other veggies or meats you like

DIRECTIONS

1. Lay out your pita bread and spread sauce on
2. Add shredded cheese (don't add too much or it'll become soggy)
3. Add toppings
4. Pop in the toaster oven or regular oven at 350 degrees for about 5-10 minutes. Make sure you watch it because the cooking time really depends on how fast the toppings cook. The pita bread cooks relatively fast.
5. Let it cool down for a few minutes and enjoy!

OTHER PITA IDEAS

• Savory Pita Calzones: most pita breads open up and have a pocket inside. You can stuff the pita bread just like you would a pizza and toast it the same way for a pita calzone
• Dessert Pita Pizza: If you're a sweet tooth like me you can spread nutella or cookie butter on the pita bread, add your favorite nuts and fruits like strawberries and bananas, then toast for a few minutes. This one isn't healthy, but it sure is good!
• Pita Sandwich: Just like a regular sandwich without all of your fixings falling out when you take a bite of it.

Buen Provencho!

DIY Ikea Hack

In my last post, I found a steal of a bed, but even with saving over $600, spending almost $700 on a bed is still a lot of money. I wanted to finally graduate from Ikea onto better quality furniture, but hey some times you just have to make it work. I'm investing more money (while still finding a deal of course) on the main pieces, and going to Ikea or consignment stores on the smaller pieces. I've been seeing a lot of Ikea Hacks on Pinterest so I decided to try my hand at it. I got 2 of the Ikea Rast 3 Drawer Chest which were only $35 each and in an unfinished wood. Here's what it would look like standard.

For this ikea hack, I bought all my supplies at Lowe's except for the new knobs:

• Valspar Ultra White Semi-Gloss Paint (1 quart)
• Minwax Wood Finish Stain in Provincial (1 quart)
• Minwax Semi-Gloss Polyurethane (1 quart) 
• Knobs from LeeValley.com
• Foam brushes (roller and hand brush)
• Sanding Block or Sand Paper 200-220 Grit (not pictured)
• Old towel or t-shirt to wipe off stain (not pictured)

The Lowe's employees in the paint section are always very helpful, so use the free help if you're not super knowledgeable like me. They tested different stains and paints for me so I could make sure I liked what they looked like when dry. They also recommended supplies and gave me tips. One tip I have to share is to make sure to use the same material brush if you're using more than one, as the different brush strokes will show. I used a roller brush to cover more surface and then a small hand brush for the corners and for staining, so i made sure both brushes were foam. Now for the dirty work...

The first step was to put the ikea night stand together. It's much easier to paint and stain when it's put together. 

1. Wipe down the drawers and make sure there's no dust. I used the roller brush to paint the cover of the drawers white. I painted each drawer 3 layers to get that white color I wanted. Make sure to follow the instructions on drying time between each paint layer. 
2. For the frame, lightly sand the surface and wipe off all the residue with a towel, or in my case an old t-shirt. 
3. I used the foam hand brush to lightly paint the stain on. Follow the steps on the stain. This stain said to wait 10-15 minutes then wipe the excess stain off after with a towel. I was happy with the color after one layer, but you can opt to do another layer of stain if you want it darker.
4. After the stain was dry, it was time to seal the stain with polyurethane. It's important to use very light layers and make sure there is no excess drip because it will dry like that and look like gobs of glue. For this brand, it recommended 3 layers of polyurethane with a 2 hour dry time between each layer. Follow the directions; after the first layer dried, I did a light sand, wiped off the excess, and brushed on another layer of polyurethane. I repeated this and on the 3rd final coat, you don't have to sand it down, just let it try for at least 24 hours.
5. The final step was to screw in my own knobs since I didn't like the ones it came with. They have a variety at Lowe's and Home Depot.

And here is the final product. I absolutely love how rich the stain came out and how the white paint and gold knobs give it a modern feel.

Would you have ever guessed that this started as a $35 Ikea Drawer Chest? With just a few more bucks and some sweat equity, I think these new night stands will look fab with our new bed, and dare I say, look expensive too. We also made a matching dresser which will double as a TV stand, so watch out for that on the next post...