Keys, Please: Last Call for St. Paddy

Sweater: Paper Heart, TJ Maxx; Dress: Esley, Modcloth

Fancy Fawn Necklace

Hair clips: Marshalls

Bag: Circus by Sam Edelman, Kohl's

Top: Jessica Simpson, Zulily; Skirt: Banned, Modcloth

Key to Kilkenny Necklace

Bag: Betsey Johnson, Macy's

Heart barrettes: SHEIN; Other barrettes: So, Kohl's

Sweatshirt: Macy's; Jeans: LC Lauren Conrad, Kohl's

Bag: Cat & Jack, Target

Coat: Anthropologie, Zulily; Skirt: Amazon; Bag: LC Lauren Conrad, Kohl's; Shoes: Chase & Chloe, Zulily

Sassy Circles Necklace

Top: LC Lauren Conrad, Kohl's

"Keys, please!" is what every teen yells before peeling out for the mall.  But this isn't about that (also, most teens don't say "please," and only grifters still frequent the mall).  It's about how I made three new necklaces that all have to do with that jagged thing that fits into locks.  It's also a little bit about St. Patrick's Day (yes, still!), but we'll get to that.  First things first: I didn't plan the key theme.  It just happened based on the supplies that I had and the outfits I wanted to wear.  The craft goddesses work in mysterious ways, not unlike Ronald McDonald.  

 

I made the Fancy Fawn Necklace from a vintage-style motel keychain.  Not that it's from an actual motel, of course, but rather, Oriental Trading.  I saw all that blank yellow, green, and pink plastic and thought, those would make great canvases.  So I stocked up.  A doe and a couple of cherry cabochons later, and this yellow one became a pendant!

The Key to Kilkenny Necklace was a no-brainer.  I will say that the keys were an afterthought, though.  The four-leaf clovers came from a pair of earrings I got on clearance, and I needed some charms to fill in the middle.  So these keys were it.  I guess necessity really is the mother of invention.

Finally, I made the Sassy Circles Necklace using keyrings leftover from keychains I used to make a necklace years ago.  At first I was worried it might be kind of blah, but I ended up loving it.

And now for the St. Patrick's portion of our program.  Here are some pics from yesterday's dinner at my parents'.  My mom is the most festive person I know, and I like to think that I get my sense of whimsy from her.  I was with her in Marshalls when I bought these St. Paddy's hair claws.  At first I said, These are ridiculous.  Then I was like, I've gotta get them. 

 

Here's the husband hanging out with his Peeps:

And also the sour cream and shamrock potato chips he found for us to try (spoiler alert: they're delicious!):

And finally, the whole clan -- minus Mom the photographer:

We may not be Irish . . . but we do like to party! 🍀🎉🥔🍰

Now, That's Novel!

From the first moment I saw this novelty Wheel of Fortune clock (excuse me, "Time is Money Game Show" clock) on Fred Flare, it was only a matter of time before I made it my own.  And really, how could I resist?  Anything described as "novelty" has that unmistakably magnetic pop culture pull.  You need only to spy a cartoon character-plastered ice cream truck or flip through an Oriental Trading catalog to be tempted by an onslaught of colorful novelty offerings.  The same can be said for Fred Flare itself.  I'd originally envisioned their campy clock in my kitchen, but when the bf hung it on the living room wall above the very desk at which I sit, I knew it had found its home.

Despite my infatuation with this trendy timepiece, I don't much care for Wheel of Fortune.  I caught a bit of it the other night because it follows Jeopardy! (of which the bf is a fan), and I couldn't help but feel that it was a lackluster chaser to Jeopardy's! stimulating if sometimes-snarky fare.  (Which is saying something considering how much I love color and the quantity of it unleashed on the Wheel.)  I'm referring, of course, to those quirky, sound bite-style contestant interviews and to Alex Trebek's know-it-all post-question ad libs.  Still, I don't see Jeopardy! churning out any novelty paraphernalia.  Which means they lose the cool stuff round. :)