The Better DIY: Ombre Sneakers

Time to get down and crafty, my friends. Earlier this week I was in Payless searching for a simple and cheap pair of black ballet flats. While I didn't find anything I was looking for, I did stumble upon a pair of white Ked look-a-likes that were about $11 (can I get a whoop whoop). In this cold New York weather, I was instantly reminded of the California heat that calls for sundresses and Keds 365 days of the year. 

White "Keds" is a particular no-no in the city of dirty subway stations and questionable street puddles; this was the perfect time to try some dip-dye/ombre techniques. It was so much fun and super simple. Here's how I did it: 

1: The first step was to remove the shoelaces and coat the edging with petroleum jelly so the dye doesn't stain the rubber. The sneakers look best when they have crisp white detailing.

2. Fill an adequate size bucket with water and pour some dye* in. For the first dip, you want to keep the color light. You'll have to guesstimate how much dye to put in because different dye brands and colors vary. 

3. Hold the shoes close together so that the ombre effect will start at the same place for each shoe, then begin your first dip going up near the heel of the shoe (each dip will get progressively closer to the toe).

Styled With Lauren: A Better Fashion Post

Hey y'all! Guess what! My friend Lauren is back to show you one of her snazzy looks! I thought she would say no after our last photo session where I bossed her around for an hour. But her love for me knows no bounds, and she was super excited to shoot with me around our home town. 

I love that Lauren embraces femininity and manages to make it look super edgy. Oh, Lauren, you can do no wrong in my book.

The Better Cauliflower Crust Pizza

 

Okay, so here is the thing about this pizza: you can't bite into it expecting cauliflower to suddenly taste like delicious carb-y bread. I'm The Better Martha, not Dumbledore. That being said, if you are looking for a new way to sneak some vegetables into your diet (by masking them with a layer of cheese) then this is a recipe for you.

I've wanted to make this crust for a long time but was deceived into thinking I had to have a food processor to do it. That is not the case, my friends; grating the cauliflower works just as well. 

Combining the ingredients


"Dough" ball

The Better Simple Valentine: Part II

If my first simple valentine idea didn't tickle you pink, then maybe this one will! You do have to lug out your sewing machine (or a needle and thread if you want to do it by hand), but overall it only takes a couple of minutes. Go on and give it a try!

First you will want to take your blank card and run it through the sewing machine so that you get a nice stitch around the edges. 

Cut out a heart and a small strip of paper which you will then accordion fold. The folded paper should be a tad smaller than your heart cut out.

Now glue the accordion folded paper strip between your heart and card. Write a cute little message and you're done just in time to catch an episode of The Big Bang Theory. 

The Better Simple Valentine: Part I

For some reason, the countdown to Valentine's Day is no longer filling me with excitement. Perhaps now that I've hit my 20s, my heart is turning bitter and grey. Here is one valentine card idea that you can make in just a few minutes. I find it so darn cute! I think it has to do with my everything-is-cuter-in-mini-form theory. It's super simple to make; just fold a tiny envelope and glue it to a card. Voila! You've got yourself a tiny envelope valentine that will make someone weep tiny tears of joy.

The Better Martha Does Craft Time: Make Cupid's Arrow

This is one of my favorite Valentine's crafts because it's super cute and candy-less. My only warning is to be careful about how you distribute them. My friends didn't appreciate it when I ran up to them wielding an unidentifiable pointy object. They most certainly did not appreciate when I gave them (what I thought) was a cute love poke. Apparently, my love is very aggressive, and a poke of affection can resemble a spearing of the flesh if I'm not mindful. Anyway, scroll below to view the picture tutorial.

 
1. Mod Podge// 2. Feathers// 3. White paint// 4. Glitter// 5. Construction paper// 6. Thread// 7. Scissors// 8. Paint brush// 9. Sharpie// 10. Dowels
   

The Better Sister Photoshoot: Bre is a Straight Up G

The coolest thing about moving to New York City is that upon arriving my sister's closet became available to me. Years of being on separate coasts or in different states meant that I could no longer steal borrow her accessories. Aside from my expanded wardrobe selection, being five miles apart also means shopping dates and photo shoots. 

My sister is the only one who could make a pink tricycle look so badass. We lucked out finding the bike, plastic car, and scooter in the park. Why anyone would abandon such sweet rides, I have no idea.