i heart | Glitter and Pearls

Right now I’m drooling over and attempting to recreate the bold grown-up version of the “arm party.”  Like most girls, I love bracelets in every color, texture, and price range, and I went through the stage (both in summer camp way back when and seasons past) where I wore friendship bracelets like they were going out of style (which they never do). Alas, this season – I want big girl bracelets.  I’m still not shy to layering on the bracelets until they jingle ever-so-loudly (haha, okay – very loudly), but now I want my arm party to be just a bit more sleek.  I love gorgeous designer bangles with spikes and bones and gorgeous patterns, but my wallet (and my husband) are less fond of the little luxuries.  So I DIY… HERE.  

I’ve always been a lover of gold.  A few years back when shopping engagement ring styles (he knows better than to surprise me … too much), I only wanted a yellow gold ring.  The jewelers all frowned and gave me a list of reasons why platinum was classic and I’d tire of yellow gold.  I never have, and I never will -- I love, love, love my yellow gold setting, thank you very much.

It’s no surprise really that I swoon over yellow gold home accents as well.  There’s something so elegant about heavy piece of gold armor on a tabletop or a surprising gold and cream chevron print on the wall.  But what I really love about gold home accents, is that because of their already formal “feel”, the mediums have a whole lot more legroom to get funky.  Take the AREAWARE gold piggy bank – it’s a pig, used in every trendy designer, fashion blogger, and magazine editor’s home design – but it’s a pig, people!  What makes this little piggy so special?  That perfect gold metallic sheen.  Take that, jewelers!

Design Images: 1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 // 6 // 7  // 8