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The Better DIY: Glitter iPhone Charger

March 29, 2013

It seems somehow, no matter how hard I try my iPhone charger is always getting taken or misplaced due to cases of mistaken identity. I am done running around my house looking for a charger like a lunatic the second my phone hits 5% battery. Here is a little DIY I came up with to make sure mine doesn't go missing again because someone stole mistook it for theirs.  
glitter charger diy 1 glitter charger diy 2 
1. phone charger/ 2. glitter nail polish/ 3. tape/ 4. background color polish
glitter charger diy 3 glitter charger diy 4 glitter charger diy 5
xomonique

The Better Dorm Room Lighting

March 22, 2013

   drab to fab
I think lighting is the most underrated decor tool. There isn't anything different from the two pictures above aside from the light and as I'm sure you can see it makes all the difference. The florescent overhead light only serves as a reminder that I'm living in a cinderblock room. 
lamp trio
{For an added punch I put this lamp on a dimmer and set it next to a mirrored side table that reflects the light}
Screen Shot 2013-03-18 at 2.42.51 AM
{The curtains on my wall not only help hide the cinderblock wall, but also diffuses the light nicely}

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{Putting them at various heights adds an interesting visual element}

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{I got the lampshade at my schools thrift store for $2, score!}

Perfect lighting requires the perfect unwinding music. As of late I am obsessed with Vitamin String Quartet, a group that does popular music with string instruments. Not on the Spotify playlist is a song my friend Tonis worked on. It is amazing! She is seriously going to be the next Norah Jones.

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I have also realized that I am in love with the look of my bed when it is unmade. And it's not just because I'm lazy and don't want to make it (but that's part of the reason). I think it looks far more inviting when its a bit crumpled and you can see the layers of blankets and sheets under the duvet. 
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{From this}
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{To this}
xomonique

The Better Martha's Current Obsessions

March 15, 2013

Screen Shot 2013-03-11 at 5.11.12 PM 
{My new computer desktop I designed}

aviators 
{Curly faux hawk, red lips, aviators, and freshly manicured eyebrows}

pearled pug 
{Pug in pearls picture I found online}

sparkly things 
{Sparkly necklace from ebay, only 15 bucks!}

california sky 
{California sky & palm trees}

nude nails
{Nude nails}
xomonique

The Better Podcast

March 11, 2013

Over the last couple of years I have been jumping on the podcast bandwagon. Combined with audio books, podcasts are one of the reasons that my tv viewing hours have been steadily declining (combined with the fact that I made a no Kardashians new years resolution). Audio media allows me to be far more productive because my eyes aren't glued to the screen. Usually I'm baking, graphic designing, or tidying up and by the end of an episode or two I can cross a task off my to-do list. 
stuff you should know
PODCAST: 
Stuff You Should Know
HOSTS:
Chuck Bryant (left) & Josh Clark (right)
AVERAGE TIME:
40 minutes 
HOW OFTEN:
Every Tuesday, Thursday, & Saturday
WHAT IT'S ABOUT:
Clearly explains all the things you have wondered about, but have been to lazy to research yourself.
WHY I LOVE IT:
They make me sound so smart! You will be amazed at how many random (but great) things you can contribute to a conversation once you listen to their show. Plus they are funny!
MY FAVORITE EPISODES:
Is the Dead Sea Dead?/ How McDonald's Works/ How Barbie Doll Works/ What Is a Body Farm?


get it here on iTunes
xomonique

The Better Pasta Dinner

March 05, 2013

Until college I never knew that you could mess up pasta. In my household it has always been the dinner reserved for days when no one wants to spend time preparing a meal. But oh, college has opened my eyes to a variety of things I hoped never to experience; like noodles that are undercooked and generic sauce straight from a can. The culinary atrocities I have witnessed in pursuit of a higher education!
Spring break is coming up and I can't wait to return home and enjoy a quality meal. 
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On a total nerd note, can you believe the picture above was taken at night? I just got the Canon Speedlite flash for my DSLR. That combined with a few white presentation boards from Office Depot and it's like the sun never has to go down!
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And not to brag or anything, but could I really call myself The Better Martha if I didn't bake a couple loaves of bread from scratch? But in all honesty I didn't plan to, but my parents are very spoiled. When I said I'd make pasta, they demanded made a request for some bread. I'm not sure when they started to think they were BeyoncĂ© and Jay-Z and could start making demands like this. 
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The Better Music of the Moment

March 01, 2013

My Music of the Moment March 1, 2013

Listen: 1.2.3.4.5.6.7.8.9.10

I just updated my iPod recently and thought I'd share of my purchases with all of you guys. This is not a playlist for any particular mood, its just a compilation of everything that I have been playing on repeat the last few days. 

Enjoy!
xomonique