Sponsor In July!!

It's still a slow start on bringing back the blog but I'm still hopeful that it can be done. I have plenty of space and as always it's free! Just click on the Sponsor tab for more information and email me before Sunday :)

Recipes | Passion-Apple Tea

At the end of the term my friend and I discovered this secret drink after hearing someone order it at Starbucks. It was fantastic and it was all we ordered until the end of school. Basically it was their Passion fruit lemonade with apple juice instead of lemonade, so I was on the look out for the passion fruit tea. I finally found it and it taste exactly like the original :)

What You'll Need:

• Tazo Iced Passion Herbal Infusion
• Quart (32 oz.)Boiling Water
• Quart (or more) Apple Juice
• Simple Syrup* (optional)

1. The instructions are rather easy for the tea, take the boiling water into a heat safe pitcher and drop the packet in, allow to steep for 5 minutes. 
2. Pour a little over a quart of apple juice into the mixture (feel free to adjust to your liking) and there you go!
3. I think the sugar in the apple juice is plenty, but if you want it sweeter just adjust it by using simple syrup.
4. Enjoy!

*Simple Syrup*

- Equal parts sugar and water-

1. Place all ingredients into a pot and heat until the sugar water mixture begins to boil.
2. Allow to cool before using.

Sponsor In June!

I know it's already June, but since I'm trying to be more active with the blog I felt that I could do monthly Sponsorship again. Now it's not going to be as intense as I use to have it with different sizes or a big Sponsor Spotlight (I really want to keep it simple for a while) but you'll still get some of the same features from before!

The Semi-new Sponsorship

• I'll host up to 20 Sponsors each month.
• As before it'll be 100% Free 
• Ad size is 200x100 (see image above for reference)
• Sponsors can do giveaways and/or guest post (please contact me in advance to discuss)
• Ads will cycle with every page refresh, so everyone gets some attention.
• Ad for Ad available: I'll keep your ad up for as long as you keep mine up on your blog, this way you don't have to worry about renewal each month. (please contact me if you're interested)

I'm trying to think of a neat way to do a Sponsor Spotlight but in a shorter version to get attention to your blog! It may not happen this month but will be an option for the near future.

If you're interested please email me at: amberupbeat[at]aol[dot]com

* This is a non-profit blog, but I still have the right to deny Sponsorship or Giveaways if I feel that they do not represent my blog or what my followers are interested in.

D.I.Y | Metallic Dipped Shoes

I've seen the new shoe style with the tips "dipped" in gold/silver or a whole new color all together. I have  only one pair of saddle shoes (got them for a steal a few years back) and they are rather scuffed up in the front and back. At the moment I don't have a ton of money to spend on a new pair of cute shoes so what is a girl to do? Paint them! It was super easy and I put together an easy d.i.y so you can fix up your old pair of shoes too.

Supplies:

• Shoes
• Masking Tape
• Paint Brush (a cheap one with can be thrown away afterwards
• Liquid Gold Leaf or Metallic Acrylic Paint
• High Grit Sandpaper

1. Take high grit sandpaper and soften the edges of the scuff, this also helps to get rid of any peeling pieces of the fake leather. 
2. Take the masking tape and take out your design, make sure to lay it cleanly so there is no bumps on the edges where paint and seep through.
3. Tape the edges of the shoe's sole to keep the paint from getting on the bottom of your shoes.
4. Take Metallic Gold Leaf/Acrylic Paint and brush it on the desired area, it may take a couple coats to get the shine you want.
   *I had leftover liquid gold leaf from years ago and it gives it a really shiny metallic look. However, it has a strong odor and must be used in a well ventilated area and try not to get it on your skin.
5. While the paint is still a little wet, carefully peel off the tape making sure not to bump the paint.
6. Let dry for at least a few hours to a whole day before wearing.
7. Enjoy you're revamped shoes!!

High Hair Headband Gang

I'm letting my hair grow out and even though it's only a little past my shoulders I want to play with it style wise. The last time I grew my hair to donate, Pinterest had just started, so all those cute ideas for long hair were not utilized to their full potential. This time I'm going to play around with different hairstyles and just have fun...like with my first attempt at a high bun that I always see on the fashion blogs.

So am I cool enough for the High Hair Headband Gang? 

Learning

I've survived my first week at the bagel shop, though the last two days I was at a different store and let me tell you it was an experience. It was a lot busier and was a challenge as I was still learning how to make sandwiches, all the while trying to figure out where things were in this store. The boss at the end of the was encouraging and said I did a good job for being so busy;  it's nice to know I wasn't as horrible at it as I thought. On another note I got to spend some time over at the bakery Saturday and made a batch of cupcakes, iced a few of their Chocolate Mocha cupcakes, and decorated one of their famous Stairway to Heaven cake. The owner is really nice and passionate about this business, I'm glad to be working there part time before my internship to get to know the business better. 

This is really a new experience for me, not the working part because I've had jobs before, but all of this learning all at once. Classes has helped me out at the bakery, but I'm still learning my way around there and then learning the menu at the bagel shop. I feel like I don't have a lot of time to do some of the things I have planned with all the random hours, and it doesn't help that when I do take a nap it's ends up being 2-3 hours long. It's a big adjustment on my time (I forgot today was Sunday!) and I'm just going to have to get use  to it.  

The Harder You Work

Art by MUTI

Sometimes you work your butt off and you don't feel like you're getting anywhere. Then there is that moment that you realize that those days have only built up to make you lucky. It's seems so surreal and I'm just feeling really lucky after working hard and going to school to do what I've always wanted. I recently got hired at a local bagel shop, which seems to be going very well, then the local bakery has invited me to work part time before I have to do my internship with them. Now the old me would feel completely overwhelmed thinking about holding two jobs, but things have just fallen into place. The bagel shop closes at 3pm and the bakery owner told me she would need me on weekends around 5pm, hopefully there'll be no issues trying to work around my schedule. I'm don't officially have my Baking and Pastry Arts degree until after the internship, however I can't believe I have found such awesome jobs during the summer time. 

I was wanting to do more for the blog since school was over and it's been lacking some, but I'm going to have to wait and see how my schedule interferes with it. I do want to start some new segments, restart old and kind of redesign a few so I can get them done quickly. There is also a side project I want to start again with making some jewelry, mostly just to get rid of my current inventory, we'll see how that goes. I'm probably putting too much on my plate already, however, like the quote says, "The harder you work, the luckier you get," and I'm starting to really see this in action.

New Tattoo (About Time)

I have been wanting another tattoo since I got my first one, but I was always a bit hesitant. Either I couldn't decide on what to get or I didn't have the money, it was just alway something keeping me from getting one. I finally just seized an opportunity and did it, I can't believe how wonderfully amazing it turned out. I'm still in shock and just overwhelmed with how perfectly it turned out.

Today was the last day of school forever, it was my last set of labs and I was excited (and nervous) to be getting closer to doing what I enjoy doing, baking, and I wanted to celebrate this new start. I had a few ideas but I found a Kitchen Aid Mixer tattoo on pinterest that I liked the most. I walked into Blood Sweat and Tears Tattoo not sure if I could get an appointment today, but as soon as I showed the lady the photo she knew who to give to. Little Jenn Small is a great artist and I have seen some of her work. I basically gave her free range besides showing her the picture and saying I'd like the flowers behind it. I said I wanted the mixer blue and she suggested this color and all else fell into place. Even though I was getting tattooed I had a great time talking about incorporating my geekiness into my future wedding, Arrested Development (which I definitely need to watch!) and just chit chatting. I'm just in awe at how wonderful it turned out and so glad I finally got me another tattoo :)

Vintage Finds 5/4

I haven't been thrifting in forever since I don't have room for any furniture and I'm content with my current collections. Though I want to build up on some of my other ones I just don't have the room to display the things like I like so until then I was taking a break. However, I went to the thrift store with my Mom and scored some wedding stuff :)

Our wedding colors are being pulled from different shades of blue, red and yellow. The dessert tier was in perfect condition and the set of cloth napkins would be perfect for making a banner. I want to collect more for banners and to put on top of the dessert bar. 

My Mom had these beautiful goblets and even though I have room for them now I eventually want to use them in my future house. Until then I thought they'd fit perfectly on the tables for the wedding, maybe with succulents in them or a small bouquet. It's a set of 6 so I can use these and maybe throw in a few milk glass vases to mix up with the vintage soda bottles with single or filler flowers.

This is the gem of the finds but I can't take the credit for finding it. As I mentioned before my Mom and her husband run a little antique store, he was doing some picking and found this type writer. He fixed the ribbon and I started working on it some more cleaning it and making it type better. I told him how awesome it was and he said I could have it! It was sweet of him and I now have it running pretty good it just sticks on a few keys. I still need to clean off the keys some more but it's in great condition for being used.

I'm posting most of my wedding stuff via tumblr on Future Mrs. Cooper so feel free to check that out for some great ideas and current updates!

D.I.Y | Antique Cosmetic Jar Candle

So my Mom has this antique shop with her husband and his family called Union Antiques and there was this set of antique cosmetic jars that I adored. I had always thought they'd be beautiful turned into candles for my vanity area. So here is a quick and clean way to turn any small jar into a candle, without the messy wax.

What You'll Need:

- Glass or Ceramic jar/container (make sure the glass has a good thickness or it's heat resistant)

- Candle (the individual ones or tea lights) the same or less height and width of the container

- Candle, plate or mug warmer

1. Place candle inside the container, if your jar is short and you have to use tea light candles take off tin that is wrapped around the whole base. It's okay if your candle is a little loose inside the jar, but make sure it isn't too tall, otherwise, wax will spill over. 
2. Set it on the warmer and keep an eye on it; it took about 10 minutes from placing the jar on the warmer while it heated up before it started to melt.
3. Once the sides start to melt you can move it around to see if it will fill in the space. If it does then take it off and let it rest. The whole candle doesn't need to be liquid, it can mess up the wix.
4. After it has hardened again remove any wax that might have spilled or built up on top, then light and use like you would any candle.

This is super easy and you can get the candles for a cheap price at any store. 

Change it up by picking up a scented candle or do a few and give them out as a gift set or party favors :)