Shirt With Lace

Hello everybody!

I know it's been a while, but with me being sick twice, I really couldn't post anything new, since I first had to do all of my school work.

Today I'm going to show you how I made a shirt with a back of lace.

This is what you'll need:

- a shirt of your choice

- a pair of scissors

- a piece of lace (doesn't matter what size)

- a ruler

- some pins

- a sewing machine

Here we go:

1. Cut the piece of lace into a nice shape

2. Put the lace on your shirt, make sure that it's in the middle and pin it down

3. Sew the lace onto your shirt

4. Cut a hole in your shirt, make sure that you follow all of the edges of the lace, but don't go too close to the lace, you need about a centimeter for the last step

5. Hem the edges of the shirt to make sure that it doesn't unravel

6. Wear it and make everyone jealous of your own design

Thanks for reading!

x Evelien x

Let's Talk...

Hello everybody!

Today, I wanted to just talk to you. I have always been the kind of girl who looks up to people, whether it's people on tv  or people I just see in public. I always wonder how they get to look so perfect. Since I started trying to be healthy, I've realized how hard it can be, especially since I quite like a nice snack now and then. There are enough healthy snacks in the world, but it seems to me that you always need about a million ingredients to make something. This is the biggest problem, since it's easier to just take something out of the fridge and since it's also cheaper.  That's why I really want to make this blog about affordable things, but most importantly about things you can get done quickly. Because no matter what I do, I always seem to be short on time. So what I'm going to do, is try new things out and always be honest about them. If I don't like it, I'll tell you.

Naturally, I still want this blog to be about fashion, but I'm just going to add life in general to it, because everyone struggles at times, and it is my intention to show you that you're not alone in your struggle. But I also want to try and show you how you can easily become the person you want to be. A person with flaws and with problems, but also someone who is the best he can be and lives to accomplish his dreams. Cause life is really about you being happy. Nothing more, nothing less. So I hope you'll like the topics I'm going to talk about in my next blog posts and maybe even try some things out yourself. But most importantly, I want everyone to know that nobody's perfect, that everything we see isn't necessarily real and that people make mistakes. The only thing that matters is that you get to be happy, that you live the life you want to live and that you are the best person you can be.

Onto a problem I should start dealing with. I almost have no exercise at all in my life, so I want to change that, without it being too much. I sat down this morning and looked up some exercising routines for beginners. I think I found the perfect one to start with,  it takes only ten minutes. I found it on this site: Daily Burn Workouts

They give great explanations on how to do the exercises, and I feel like it's the perfect workout to start with.

10 Minute Beginner HIIT Workout

20 Minute Beginner HIIT Workout

30 Minute Beginner HIIT Workout

They give you three different workouts,  depending on how much time you have. And, if I understand it completely, these kind of interval trainings are one of the best ones out there. So, I'm going to give this a go and do it maybe three times a week. Now a little while ago, I picked up swimming again, since I've always really enjoyed that (except for the getting dressed again part ;). That way I have three small workouts a week, and one that takes a little longer. I think I might just be able to commit to this ^^ but to be fair, that might just be because there is sun in belgium today. And let's be honest, you always have more energy when you get to wake up with the sun shining down on you.

So that's it for today, hope you enjoyed it and thanks for reading!

x Evelien x

First Steps To Being Healthy

Hello everybody!

As I've been trying to live a healthy life, I've come up with a few tips. They are very easy to incorporate in your life.

Firstly, don't eat bread both as breakfast and as dinner. It isn't that good to eat a lot of bread, and its also better to eat a full breakfast in the morning. This means that it should exist out of a dairy product, some grains, fruit and a glass of water. That way you have a healthy start to your day, and enough energy to start with.

The most difficult part for most people is figuring out what to eat as a snack. I struggled with that for a while, but then you just learn some new snack habits. Now instead of eating crisps or cookies or whatever, I eat cashew nuts, raisins, banana chips, fruit and so on. Even some toast with some vegetables on, is a good alternative. And of course my favourite, drink a smoothie. It's an easy way to eat enough fruit and vegetables, and it's easy to take with you to school or work.

Also, just make some small changes:

  - Eat brown bread instead of white

  - Try quinoa instead of pasta or rice

  - Instead of buying water with lemon flavour (or any flavour), make it yourself. It is easy, just pour a glass of water, put a slice of orange or lemon in it and some fresh mint. It's the same, but without added sugars.

  - Get some oatmeal cookies, they are so delicious and healthy! They are perfect to eat for breakfast or as a snack

These are the changes I've made so far, and they are easy to follow. So do try some of these out, I will definitely get more tips as I go along on my healthy journey.

Thanks for reading!

x Evelien x

Nail Polish

Hello everybody!
Lets get right to business, because I have a treat for you today! Whenever I do my nails, it usually lasts for about a day, which is why I just gave up on it. I was  just convinced that the result I got wasn't really worth the effort I put into it. I also don't want to go to a salon for my nails, because it is expensive. So, I was extremely happy when I read about a new kind of nail polish. I don't really know what its called, but it's sticky and it lasts for over two weeks! Yes indeed, two weeks, and it is so easy!

Incoco Nail Polish

Basically, you get strips of nail polish, then you choose the strip that best fits your nail. Once you've done that, you take the plastic off, place it on your nail and press on it. And well, you are done...

Now onto the price, one box costs about 8 euros (about 9 dollars and 6 pounds), which is not that expensive but not cheap either. So what I do, is, I cut the strips in half, that way I can use the box three times. I also only use it for special occasions, so for instance for the holidays. Through the year, I just use nail polish (when I feel like doing my nails). So instead of spending about 25 euros (about 27 dollars and 19 pounds) to have someone do your nails, you only have to spend three euros (about 3 dollars and 2 pounds) for a perfect manicure.
Do try it out, it's the easiest way to do your nails.
Thanks for reading!
x Evelien x

Monthly Favourites: January

Hello everybody!
This is the first time ever I'm sharing my favourites with you, so let's see how that goes. I'll talk about beauty products, clothes, accessories, books, films and so on. Each month will be different, so enjoy and I hope I inspire one of you to try one of my favourites out.

First of all, Cassandra Clare is a genius! She is such a talented writer. Some of you might know her, she's the writer of the books of the Mortal Instruments. They made a film out of the first book, known as 'The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones'. I got to know the series because of the film, and well, I read the six books in about one to two weeks. They are so addictive! You just want to keep on reading and you want to know what happens next.

For those of you who don't know the series, it's a fantasy series. It's about this girl, Clary, who lives together with her mom and her best friend Simon. She sees someone get murdered, but she's the only who did. And then the story continues from there on, and she finds out the truth about herself and her family. It's one of the best series I have ever read, and I also have all the books at home. What I didn't know, is that there's a prequel to the series, and also a sequel (yay, more to read!).

It's just so cosy, reading a book in your bed with a blanket over you, a cup of hot tea and a little snack... I could do that all day every day!

The next thing I want to talk to you about, is a beauty product, let me rephrase that, an awesome beauty product. It is BB cream, now I've known that for a pretty long time, but since this is a favourite everyone should know about, I'm telling you know. I don't use a lot of make-up, I'd say that I go out without make-up as much as with. When I do wear make-up I usually use BB cream instead of foundation, because it's less thick.

BB Cream Garnier Light Sking

Now onto the food department... Lately I've been looking at a lot of new healthy recipes, because if I want to keep being healthy, I need different recipes to change around my menu. If I don't do that, I'll get sick of the healthy meals and reach for fast food. So, while shopping for groceries, I noticed oatmeal cookies, which I of course had to try. And I fell in love with them. Let me tell you, they are so delicious! The greatest thing for a fast breakfast, so that even when you don't feel like putting a big effort in your breakfast, you'll still have a great start of the day. Definitely try these out, you won't regret it, I hope!

And last but not least, something in fashion I have been loving lately: hats! I think they are the greatest thing to make an outfit look interesting without too much effort. I have three already, a grey one, a black one and a dark red one.

Dark Red Hat from Six, Exclusive Dark Grey Hat (not available), Light Grey Hat H&M

It's something you just have to try out, for two reasons. Firstly, when you think your outfit is a bit boring, add a hat and its instantly interesting. Secondly, it's great to hide a bad hair day ;)

I hope you enjoyed my favourites of January. Do try them out, I think it's great to try out new things, and you might just be pleasantly surprised about the outcome.
Thanks for reading!
x Evelien x

Hats:
Light Grey Wool Hat: H&M
Dark Red Hat: Similar (Forever 21)
Dark Grey Hat: Similar (H&M)

Easy & Healthy Breakfast Ideas with Yogurt

Hello everybody!
Here's the first ever food blog post, so excited!
So when it comes to me, I sometimes don't have that much time in the morning to eat, because I lose track of time. Luckily, I have a few quick recipes to help me through those mornings. I'll share some of my most favourite breakfasts with yogurt:

** 1. Yogurt with muesli**
*What you need:*
  - Muesli with dried fruit
  - Yoghurt of your choice
  - An apple

I always use yogurt without sugar, because I always a piece of fruit which gives natural sugars to make it sweeter. My most favourite and go to piece for yogurt is an apple. So what I usually do, is pour the yogurt in a bowl, cover the surface with muesli and then cut the apple in pieces. And done, everything I need to start a say with is in there. When I have a bit of time left, I usually make some orange juice and I'm ready to take on the day.

** 2. Yogurt with oatmeal**

*What you need:*

  - Yogurt of your choice

  - Oatmeal

  - Piece of fruit

I must admit I'm new to oatmeal, so I've only ever tried it in yogurt. I definitely want to try and make oatmeal pancakes as wel, cause apparently they're pretty good. Anyway, this recipe is the same as the yogurt with muesli, but without the dried fruit.

** 3. Vitaya yogurt**
*What you need:*
  - Vitaya yogurt with corn and wheat flakes
  - Oatmeal cookie
  - Piece of fruit

This yogurt is the best invention ever! When I only have five minutes left to eat, I take one of these out of the fridge together with an oatmeal cookie and I am ready to go, if really needed I can easily eat this on the train.

Every morning I try to eat some fruit, a milk product and a grain product, so that I have a good start of my day. And what's more, it's delicious! I like it more than bread and chocolate spread or something like that. It boosts your energy and actually makes you want to get up (not always unfortunately).
I hope this was helpful, and have fun experimenting!
X Evelien X

Fruit Smoothie

Hello everybody!
Quick post today, I'm going to tell you about a smoothie I really enjoy. I like smoothie in general , cause they don't take a lot of work and they're easy to take with you. I made this one in about 15 minutes, so let's get started!

I took a banana, a kiwi, an apple  and two oranges.

Then I just roughly cut them into pieces and put it in the blender.

And there you have it, I usually pour it in a cup I can seal very well and can take with me anywhere I want.
Thanks for reading!
x Evelien x

Hair Care

Hello everybody!

As you can see, I made some changes to my blog and Facebook page. First of all, I changed the url from 2beaworkofart.blogspot.be to tobeaworkofart.blogspot.be, all of my social media accounts are now with that username to prevent confusion.

But now onto the post of this week, I'm going to tell you more about my haire care routine. As you might know, my hair is pretty long, which means that I have to take great care of it to keep it healthy.

I'll start with telling you about my hair care and then I'll give you some extra tips and tricks.

*Step one: washing your hair*

Pantene Shampoo and Conditioner Silky Smooth Care

I always start with washing my hair with Pantene shampoo, and then I use their conditioner. I like their products, because you don't need a lot of it to wash your hair since it foams quite a lot. When you put the conditioner in your hair, make sure to leave it in for a few minutes so that it really has the time to do it's magic.

*Step two: drying your hair*

It sounds like the easiest thing to do, but there's also a trick to this, well for my hair anyway. I first put my hair in a towel for about fifteen minutes to make sure most of the water is out of your hair.

*Step three: the last products*

Before I blowdry my hair, I use a volume mousse. I take a bit in the palm of my hand and just apply it from the roots to the ends. Then I use a bit of serum, but only on the ends, else your hair will get very greasy very fast. And last but not least, I have a heat protector to protect my hair from the heat of the blowdryer.

L'Oréal Styling Mousse and Pantene Dry Oil with Vitamine E

*Step four: blowdrying*

I always dry it with my head upside down to create more volume.

This might all seem like a lot of work, but it actually costs only a few minutes more. The products aren't that expensive, except maybe for the serum. Luckily I only have to buy them once to twice a year, and in my opinion it's worth it.

*Step five: doing your hair*
Whenever I have a long day ahead of me, I use some hairspray to make sure everything stays in place. I try not to use it every day, but it comes in handy when I for example have a long day at uni. Cause even though I love my hair, it gets on my nerves when it's in my way during school. That's also why I make sure I always have some hair bands and bobby pins with me.

L'Oréal Elnett Satin Normal Fixation

Now onto some tips and tricks... I used to wash my hair every other day, until I read an article about how much damage that does to your hair. Now I only wash it every four days and I have to admit you can see the difference. It looks a lot more healthier and its easier to manage. Also, think about all the money you'll save on hair products and about how much time you'll spare. I know, I know, it's gross. Except that it isn't. My hair isn't greasy at all, because I gave it time to adjust to the change. If you wash your hair every day, you can't just not wash it for four days and expect it to look great. It has to adjust to the new situation. So start by not washing it for one day more (when you don't have to go out, just to make sure) and go from there. If it does get a bit greasy, use some dry shampoo! It is the best invention ever, spray a bit on your hair, apply it with your hands, then just comb through it and done!

Batiste Dry Shampoo Blush

Furthermore I try not to use styling devices (I have never used them in my life), just because it's not a good thing to do regularly. That's why I put in braids when I go to bed to have nice curly hair in the morning.

If after all these tricks to create more volume, your hair still looks flat, I have one last trick. Try and tease the hair at the roots, it will create just that little volume more.

And to end with, don't touch your hair. The more you touch it, the faster it will get greasy.

I hope I helped you out a bit, have fun experimenting!

x Evelien x

Blue Jumpsuit

Hello everybody!

These photos were taken  last summer with one of my best friends. He is now in Spain for Erasmus, that's why I'm putting this post on my blog, just a little throwback to all of the good times we've already had.

So onto the outfit I'm wearing, I bought this in New Look a while ago, I actually don't remember when exactly. Anyway, it is the first jumpsuit I have ever bought, and since that one I bought three more. For two reasons, they are easy to wear and it's a whole outfit in one, so I don't really have to think about it. Whenever I overslept or don't feel like looking for an outfit, I take a jumpsuit.

I love this hue of blue, and you don't need a belt to emphasise your waist, because it's already emphasised in the piece itself. This jumpsuit also comes with its own necklace, so literally the only thing you have to worry about is which shoes and earrings to wear with it. Easy, right?

 

So there's a little story behind this photo. I was asking my friend to go lower with the camera, and well it turned out to be the photo of me as a rapper of some sort. Well, at least in my eyes.

I'd say try it out before really investing in one, it'll save you a lot of time in numerous occasions. And what's more, you'll always look good!
Thanks for reading!
x Evelien x

New Year's Resolutions

Hello everybody!
First of all, happy new year! I hope you have the greatest year ever, with lots of love and happiness. Cherish the good moments and make time for the ones you love unconditionally.

As many of you, I have some new year's resolutions of my own. First of all, I want to post more on my blog and take it more seriously, which I am already working on. It is my intention to post once a week.
I'll have different subjects on my blog, like healthy recipes, fashion, DIY, outfits and so on.
Second of all, I want to live healthier, maybe do some sports as well, which is basically everyone's new year's resolution. But, I will start with swimming once a week and eating more fruit and vegetables. So that is a start, without too much pressure.
But most of all, I want to enjoy my year. I  want to make some great memories, try new things, visit places, spend time with my family and friends and learn a lot more. So that it can really be a year to remember.
And lastly, I want to take a lot more pictures, so that I can  share my most precious memories and look back at them. Just like the ones I already have.

Do share your resolutions, if you want.
Thanks for reading!
x Evelien x