A Miranda Lambert Fancy Summer in Northwest Arkansas!

This summer is probably one of the best ones yet! A few weekends ago, I traveled to Northwest Arkansas  for a weekend roadtip. Bentonville/Rogers is one of my favorite shopping destinations in the Midwest. It’s the perfect place to find fancy hotels, dine in upscale restaurants, explore art and go shopping at independently ran boutiques. 

After a short roadtrip from St. Louis, we did a little shopping around Bentonville to find new outfits to wear out on town! First, we stopped by Pink Tomato Boutique. Not only is this one of my favorite boutiques in town, it is also a place to buy Earth Star Designs jewelry. Brittany Hall, owner, has a great sense of style as well as amazing prices. 

Next we checked into the Aloft hotel in Rogers to enjoy the pool and some fancy cocktails. This hotel was really trendy, close to the amphitheater and had a great pool.

After a few hours of sunshine we went through my latest jewelry collection and got dressed up to go to the Miranda Lambert concert. Here is Cara and Natalie showing off two pieces that I recently designed with Blue Moon Beads. These ladies were ready to see Miranda Lambert in this photo!

The concert was packed however we were lucky enough to find tickets at the last minute. By the end of the night, we found ourselves in the front row checking out Miranda's pink glitter guitar. How cool is the hot pink glitter guitar? Here is a closeup of the burlap necklace worn by Cara at the concert.

This was my first country concert and it was a huge success. I can't wait to go back to Bentonville! It was a fun weekend.

Inspired by Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands!

One of my favorite things about visiting the Caribbean are the turquouise, blue and green hues that pop out of the water. Earlier this year, I traveled to Virgin Gorda to see the Baths. This was an amazing place to find inspiration from the beautiful colors of the sea.

Using several different chains and pre-strung beads from Blue Moon Beads, I created this jewelry set.

 The turquise and green beads remind me of the beautiful colors I saw on the 8 hour boat ride to Virgin Gorda.

Rustic Jewelry Inspired By Beautiful Utah

Last week I had a chance to visit the beautiful state of Utah! The official state slogan is "Life Elevated" which is a perfect name for a place surrounded by mountains. Everyone I met during my great adventure was so warm and welcoming. I traveled to Provo, Utah, which is located south of Salt Lake City, for a short day trip. The Brigham Young campus is so beautiful and the surrounding town is so quaint! Another highlight of the trip was visitng Park City, Utah. The town has a rustic, artsy vibe perfect for skiers and outdoor lovers.

My next two projects are inspired by the rustic, outdoorsy Utah vibe. For the necklace, I used Blue Moon Beads new line called the Stone Age Collection. What I love about the Stone Age Collection is the quality of the beads. I used several stones to create this fun necklace, along with a few additional pieces from their line.

During my trip, I had a chance to work with some new crafters who showed me a few tricks for a decoupage project. This bracelet is a mixed media project using beads & paper! In order to create this bracelet, you will need a basic wood bracelet, Modge Podge, craft glue, decorative paper and some beads. I used two types of paper from from DCWV, Inc and beads from Blue Moon Beads.

I definitly plan on going back to Utah in the winter time to hit the slopes! In the meantime, I will be wearing these two fabulous accessories as a reminder of such a beautiful place!

Pre-Cambrian Rock Inspirations at Elephant Rocks State Park

My next project was inspired by a recent visit to Farmington, Missouri. Elephant Rocks, located in Ironton County, is loaded with rich mineral deposits and rock formations. Large deposits of pink granite, dating back to the Pre-Cambrian era, were discovered in the St. Francois Mountains.

During the 1800's, miners took over this area of the midwest. Today, visitors can hike several trails at Elephant State Park. On your way to the top of the trail, you will notice many different rock impressions. Many of the miners carved their initials into the rocks, leaving a historical imprint forever.

Blue Moon Beads has a great new line called the Stone Age Collection. I used four carved leaf pendants and a stone centerpiece, along with a handful of other rustic beads to create this jewelry set. The triple strand bracelet is made with a mix of seed and round beads.

The Venice Beach Vibe Necklace & Earrings

One of my favorite places to roam on the West Coast is Venice Beach, California. I love walking the boardwalk, while enjoying the sunshine! This hotspot is an eclectic cultural blend of residents, tourists, performers, artisans and business owners. During my last visit, I noticed many different Buddha decorations along the boardwalk. My next project was inspired by Venice Beach!

I wanted to create a piece of fun summer jewelry that combined beach colors & a little flair. I found a  pendant called the Hamsa Hand, from the Amulet Collection by Blue Moon Beads. I used a variety of beads from the Stone Age collection to finish up the look, and to create a pair of matching earrings.

Now that I have the perfect jewelry set to wear to Venice Beach, I need to find the time to go again. I love this place!!

Soaking Up the Sun in St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands - Part One

My Caribbean dream became a reality when I scored a good deal on a hotel on the east end of St. Thomas along with decent airfare through American Airlines. My dream of traveling through the US & BVI's was on the radar and I immediately began planning out how I could island hop for 5 days.

When I arrived on the island, I immediately had to adjust to island time. I scored a great deal on Priceline for a five night stay with the name your own price option at Sugar Bay Resort. Sugar Bay was a very clean hotel, with an amazing view of the beach, a nice pool and a really cool iguana sanctuary.  I would not recommend the all inclusive package at this resort, the food is not that great!

The iguanas were the source of beachside entertainment, hopping up on beach chairs and sipping cocktails. You will see many iguanas on St. Thomas. Ladies, if you are wearing red toe nail polish watch out! Iguanas can confuse your toes for red bell peppers and will snap at you!

If you want to go down to Havensight to check out the marina, go in the evening after the cruise ships leave. The Fat Turtle was a cool little place to listen to live music, watch the boats and enjoy the Caribbean breeze. 

The best live music I heard in St. Thomas was downtown Charlotte Amalie. A local middle school  had a lunchtime steel drum band performance in a small park. It was so awesome, and the kids really enjoyed having an audience!

Another cool little spot to check out while downtown is Blackbeard's Castle. Again, try to go on a day when the cruise ships are not in town. Locals refer to this place as the Williamsburg of the Caribbean. You can pay to go into the exhibits or go on the free tour. Start on top, the climb down the 99 Spanish steps is alot better than the climb up!

My best memory of St. Thomas was the last night I spent on the island watching the sunset over the sea for happy hour at the Mafolie Hotel. The view was amazing, off the beaten path and away from the hustle and bustle of Charlotte Amalie airport.

The St. Thomas Bucket List

• Local Island Cuisine: Glady's Cafe
• Date Night: Blue Havana at Marriott Frenchman's Reef
• Tourist Trap Beach: Magan's Bay
• Marina Side Hang Out: Fat Turtle in Havensight
• Happy Hour With AView: Mafolie Hotel
• Island Foodcart Experience: Off The Grid BBQ (Sapphire Beach Resort Parking Lot)

Pack appropriately for your trip to the islands, that means loading up your suitcase with snacks and dried goods. Food is very expensive on the island. A bottle of rum is cheaper than a gallon of milk! Also, don't forget your bug spray, sun screen and after sun lotion. Local gift shops sell these items for $15-$20!

Treasure Chest Key Necklace of the Caribbean!

After spending five days cruising around the US and British Virgin Islands, I traveled the Sir Francis Drake Passageway on a cool boat called the Bad Kitty. Our guided tour of five islands including Virgin Gorda, Cooper Island, Norman Island, Jost Van Dyke and St. John was amazing.

After learning about pirates at Blackbeard's Castle in St. Thomas, I designed this Treasure Chest Key Necklace! The best part about creating this necklace is the minimal amount of materials that were required to complete the design. I used 5 components to create this necklace, all made by Blue Moon beads.

Materials:

• Blue Moon chain with lobster clasp
• Key Pendant
• Feather charm
• Sparkly Bead of Choice
• Jump Rings

Tools:
Use wire cutters and pliers adjust the length of the chain necklace.  Create a chain link of jump rings and attach to the chain necklace. Attach the key pendant, bead and charm with jump rings.

Wear this necklace with your favorite island girl dress, tank top, dressy blouse and high heels!

Ringing in the New Year in New Orleans!

NOLA - Ideal for Foodies, Music Lovers and History Buff's 
New Orleans, Louisiana is an amazing place to visit, especially to ring in the new year. This was my first trip to the Big Easy, and I wanted to experience the city as a tourist and a local.

One of the first items on my checklist was learning more about the history of voodoo in NOLA. I signed up for a night tour through Marie Laveau's House of Voodoo. This was a great way to get acquainted with the city as a first time visitor. Our tour guide explained the history of the religion, showed us a few famous landmarks and took us to a voodoo shrine. If you plan on attending this tour during the winter season, bring a hat, scarf and jacket.

During the tour, we passed by St. Louis Cathedral, which is the oldest church in the United States. We went back the next morning, walked through Jackson Square and snapped a few photos. The church is absolutely beautiful! Jackson Square was lively, filled with fortune tellers, artists and musicians.

For lunch, we opted for a coffee, sandwich and beignet from Cafe Beignet. There are a few locations around New Orleans, and the line is always out the door. We sat in the courtyard of Music Legend's Park, ate our lunch and listened to a live band playing in the French Quarter.

Walking through Bourbon Street was interesting! The bars, clubs and restaurants in this area each have their own unique way of drawing tourists through the door. There were wine smoothies, hurricane's, fruity drinks, big ass beer's, karaoke clubs and many other interesting offerings down this street. We choose to hang out at the Cat's Meow, and enjoyed the solid karaoke routines that patron's signed up for. Some of the singers seemed like they were auditioning for America's Got Talent, others had their five minutes of shame on Bourbon Street.

 We took a 15 minute cab ride down to the garden district to check out the scene on Magazine Street. The streets were loaded with small boutiques, pubs and beautiful Victorian style homes. Many locals live in this district, avoiding the constant craziness on Bourbon Street.

One of the best and cheapest meals that we had on our trip was at Juan's Flying Burrito on Magazine Street. The Creole & Mexican blended dishes were out of this world, and the margaritas were cheap! If you are a foodie, I highly recommend checking this place out!

The Howlin Wolf, located in the warehouse district, was an awesome place to experience the local music scene. We had tickets to see the Hot 8 Brass Band. If I lived in New Orleans, I would see them play every weekend. The band members live and breathe their music! I even saw them playing on the street in front of Cafe du Monde a few days after the concert.

Many of my friends and coworkers recommended places to try famous Creole dishes like gumbo, beans and rice and pralines. Since we were strapped for time, we decided to take a cooking class to learn how to make these fabulous dishes at home. We signed up for a class through the New Orleans Cooking School. This was a fabulous class!  Throughout the demonstrations we had a chance to sample the food, drink some Abita amber beer and learn tips from a New Orleans native on how to make the best gumbo.

During our adventures around the French Quarter, we had a chance to experience some of the alternative transportation methods that NOLA has to offer. We hopped on a mule cart with a bloody mary and toured the French Quarter one afternoon and ended up in front of St. Louis cemetery. Much like early European burial grounds, the ornate stones were above ground, dating back to the 1700's. Once we left the cemetery, we hopped on a rigshaw for a ride back to our hotel.

On New Year's Eve, we ended our trip with tickets to the House of Blues to see Gregg Allman. This concert was awesome, not too crowded and a great way to ring in 2013 in New Orleans.

Feather of Hawaii Necklace

A Creative Project Inspired by Maui, Hawaii

I created the Feather of Hawaii necklace after being inspired by the beautiful tropical birds living in Maui, Hawaii. Feathers are fun, fashionable and easy to work with. 

Its mid-December, and the hustle and bustle of the holidays are in full force. This project will take you away to a tropical island and send you back with a great accessory!

Supplies &Tools:

• Needle nose pliers
• Flush cut wire cutters
• 22 inch silver plate chain 
• Assorted bead mix - turquoise & black
• Earring components - both metal and feather
• Jump rings - oval and round sizes
• Toggle clasp
• Metal head pins & eye pins
• Round Metal Connector
• Small piece of chain for pendant

Instructions for Creating the Feather of Hawaii Pendant

Start to build the pendant of this necklace by using jump rings to attach the round metal connector to the strands. Use headpins and eye pins to create the components that dangle. Both feathers and the chain are attached with jump rings. Use assorted beads and chain to finish off the design. 

Completing the Design

Add a toggle clasp component on each end of the silver plate chain. Attach the pendant to the chain. 

I captured this photo on a beach near Paia, Maui!

Heart of the Caribbean Bangle Bracelet

During the fall and winter months, I find myself day dreaming of a white sandy beach somewhere in the Caribbean. The U.S. Virgin Islands offers some of the most amazing snorkeling and scuba diving adventures. I created this Heart of the Caribbean bracelet, inspired by the endless snorkeling trails surrounding Buck Island in St. Croix.

Make your own Heart of the Caribbean Bracelet in about 45 minutes, by using the following Blue Moon Beads:

Supplies &Tools:

• Needle nose pliers
• Flush cut/wire cutters
• 18 inch glass bead necklace
• Assorted bead mix - turquoise & black
• Glass heart bead
• Jump rings - oval and round sizes
• Metal head pins & eye pins
• Bangle Bracelet
• Crimp Bead
• 30 gauge wire

Instructions:
Start by attaching the 18 inch glass bead necklace to a length that fits the bangle bracelet. You will use the crimp bead to secure the beads on the strand, then fasten it to the bangle bracelet with 30 gauge wire. Start to wrap the second layer of beads around the bangle bracelet until you cover the entire bracelet. Use jump rings and head pins to attach the remaining beads to the bracelet.

Graphitti is Art

St. Louis - An Emerging Arts City

Two years ago when I arrived in the midwest, I was surprised to find amazing graphitti on the flood wall along the Mississippi River. A two mile stretch of artwork starts on the corner of Chouteau and Wharf, located near Busch stadium, and continues along the Industrial district in historic Soulard.

Graphitti is art. 

Artists have brought their talents to this unique public space in the form of spray paint and concrete. Many of the designs found on this wall are reflective of American pop culture. Whenever I need to find new inspirations, I stop by the graphitti wall for a dose of creativity. St. Louis is home to this gem, and earns its title as an emerging arts city.

 Photography by Lena May.

Saint Louis At Its BEST!

If you are traveling through, around, in the air, next to or away from Saint Louis you will see the famous Gateway Arch and be amazed at its size and beauty. The majestic midwestern icon is a symbol of midwest and attracts tourists, locals and pass thru travelers every day. Go beneath the Arch and learn about midwestern expansion at the underground museum. The Mississippi River is adjacent to the arch and offers helicopter and steamboat rides along the shore. Grab lunch at a restaurant along Laclede's Landing and enjoy cobblestone streets and horse drawn carriages.

Gateway Arch with a view of downtown Saint Louis in the background.

Another great place to visit is the historic Budweiser brewery. Take a free tour, sample free beers and learn about a landmark in American history. The famous Clydesdale horses are viewable during the tour as well. Upgrade your tour to "Beermaster" status for a small fee and a more intimate tour. One of the most amazing sites at the brewery are the historical building on and surrounding the campus.

Historic Anheuser-Busch brewery

Saint Louis is baseball heaven! I learned this during the 2011 World Series Championship. Grab a few tickets to the game, wear red and head out to the ballgame! Experiencing a game in the summer time can be quite taxing, so try to find seats in the shade! Try the Food Network's Hot Dog Experience while you are visiting Busch Stadium along with a fresh, cold Budweiser!

Busch Stadium

Shhhh!!! One of the best kept recreational secrets in the midwest is Forest Park. Its is  larger than Central Park in NYC. The park offers free admission to the Saint Louis Zoo, Art Museum and History Museum. You can catch a fabulous lineup of plays at the infamous Muny outdoor open air theatre. Stroll through the park and grab lunch at the Boathouse. Rent a paddle boat and float to the middle of the lake and catch a few rays of sunshine. Walk around Art Hill and enjoy the fountains. You can golf, play tennis, rent a segway and train for a marathon in Forest Park! Enjoy a cup of Joe in the coffee shop, which is located in the visitors center.

Spring tulips near the Jewel Box in Forest Park.

Lena's Tips for Traveling to Saint Louis!
1. Parking is free on many of the streets around Saint Louis. If there isn't a sign or meter, do worry about paying!

2. Many restaurants in Soulard offer a free shuttle to Cardinals, Blues and RAMS games.

3. If you hear a siren and see golf ball sized hail, seek shelter!

4. When dining out,  keep in mind the standard cheese for pizza is Provel in Saint Louis. If you want mozzarella, you have to ask.

5.  If you haven't sampled a Budweiser or any other local brew consider your trip a bust!!!!!

St. Maarten - The Friendly Island!

Sunset Grille and Bar

Experience the Caribbean with a European Twist in St. Maarten! 

Go to Beach to Lounge: Karaktar
Go to Place to See Amazing Yachts: Soggy Dollar
Go to Place to Sit Poolside: Loterie Farm
Go to Place to Dance: Bliss Nightclub
Go to Place to Shop: Color Freak in Phillipsburg
Go to Cold Beverage: Heineken

The best island vacation I have been on so far has been to St. Maarten, the "Friendly Island"! Beyond the beautiful beaches, amazing food, excellent shopping and nightlife you will also find a relaxing oasis everywhere you turn!

One of the most popular tourist spots is at the end of the airport. Stop by Sunset for a cocktail at Caravanserai Beach and get up close and personal with the airplanes landing on the strip. Once you get blown over by a jumbo jet and take a few pictures, stroll on over to Marty's Dream Bar.

Marty is one of the most knowledgeable and fun bartenders on the island. He was nice enough to help us out with some much needed relief from bug bites, stirred up frozen mango drinks and told our group about an amazing hiking trail at the Loterie Farm.

The Loterie Farm Treehouse is on the French side of the island, and is an expensive taxi ride. However, the trip is completely worth it! If you are into ziplines, bring closed toed shoes and sign up to glide through the forest. If you want to experience the best views on the island, hike up the trails and you will see the surrounding islands from an angle only nature lovers can appreciate. Along the way, you will see iguanas in the hanging from the trees and gravestones dating back to 1700. There is also an amazing European pool with an African boutique and a restaurant at the Loterie Farm Treehouse. Plan to spend the day here if you can, its the experience of a lifetime - pricey but worth every penny.

A day trip to Phillipsburg is a must! I had a blast at this beach shopping, negotiating a jetski rental with the locals, drinking out of a coconut and enjoying the music of the Caribbean. The Holland Hotel is a posh boutique hotel with a swanky lobby that overlooks the beach. Enjoy Heinekens with the French and Dutch locals, eat ice cream, ride a segway and take lots of pictures! All of the action is on this beach!

A fresh coconut a day keeps the doctor away!

Some of the best restaurants are in St. Maarten! I liked this little place called Le C Lounge! Its a great place to pre-game the evening before hitting Bliss nightclub. Le C Lounge has a great menu, excellent French wine and a hip atomosphere. Once dinner is over, hit up Bliss for some excellent house music.

Bamboo Bernie's was another great place to sample the island sushi. The atmosphere was also very upbeat and loaded with character. A night of sushi should end at the marina! Check out the Soggy Dollar. You will be amazed by the gorgeous yachts anchored in bay, and you can mingle with some of the most eclectic islanders that call St. Maarten their home!

St. Maarten is my go to island! I cannot wait to go back. It is really a safe, great place with so many adventures waiting for you. And the best thing is, the public bus is safe and will only cost you $1 to hitch a ride one way around the island. If you are on a budget, don't hesitate to hop on the bus. Also, stop at the local grocery store for fresh bagette and island pastries!!! St. Maartne I love you, xoxoxo!!!!

Lena's Tips for Success in Saint Maarten

1. Bug spray is not optional. Don't ruin your vacation, protect yourself.

2. The public bus is a great way to travel the island on a budget and it is safe!

3.  Don't stand near the fence at the end of Princess Airport Runway. You will get blown over by incoming airplanes.

4. Enjoy the water as much as possible, it is warm, clear and beautiful!

5. If your cab driver passes around a bottle of rum, take a swig and just remember you are on vacation!!!!!

Oregon - The West Coast Kiss

Oregon's West Coast Kiss

My visit to Oregon was amazing, diverse and filled with nature. I started off in Portland, Oregon. The vibe in the Hawthorne District was really cool. The streets are filled with tea houses, live music, art, hipsters, environmentalists, skateboards and a melting pot of people. The food cart business is a jumping scene. Foodies enjoy eating a gourmet meal anchored by a recycled school bus. I was lucky enough to check out the Waffle Window! Waffles in Portland have tomatoes, basil and brie cheese.

I checked out the Freak Mountain String Band at The Kennedy School, a refurbished school morphed into a music venue with cafe's and a really cool cigar bar called "Detention". Let's just say I spent a lot of time in detention and it wasn't like grammar school!

You can't pass up a visit to downtown Portland, especially on a Saturday. The Saturday Market is loaded with indie artisans and west coast culture. Make time to find the Voo Doo Doughnut shop. These are the most famous treats on the West Coast, most likely for the CoCo Puff doughnut. YUM!

Notice the LEED certified building trends incorporated into the infrastructure while you are roaming around. I really liked how Portland planted vegetation near sewers to naturally filter the water collecting in city drainage systems. Some buildings are using solar panels as awnings. I even found a gym that used renewable energies to run their fitness center.

I hopped in a car and ventured off to the coast. After visits to several beach towns, I fell in love with Manzanita, Oregon. The scenery is breathtaking. En route to Manzanita, Van Duzer winery is a great place to make a pit stop. I also checked out a really cool surfer beach. The waves were amazing. The water was cold, however there were a lot of surfers catching a wave.

Escape to the US Virgin Islands

Beaches, Beer Drinking Pigs and Tropical Drinks

A few weeks ago I was ready for a healthy dose of sunshine, so I booked a flight and headed to St. Croix, US Virgin Islands. A passport is not required for this Caribbean getaway so pack your bag, lather up with sunscreen and get ready to enjoy the beach.

If you are looking for an relaxing beach scene, check

into the Carambola Resort Hotel. The hotel is located out of the downtown area, however you will find that white sandy beach, rocky cliffs and palm trees make up for the location.

During my visit I was lucky enough to check

out the 2010 Agricultural Fair. Native islanders had an opportunity to showcase local Cruzian dishes in a pavilion style food buffet. There were several stages for live music and

lots of activities for children. You could even buy raffle tickets for $1.00 and try your luck at winning a goat.

All travelers who make it to this great island need to visitthe Montpellier Domino Club. A thatched roof bamboo hut in the middle of the rainforest is home to Hurricane Roger, the beer drinking pig. I purchased two cans of

O'Doul's, gave them a good shake and went into the pigs lair. The black pigs jumped up as soon as they saw another opportunity for a beer. I was soaked with beer after feeding two pigs and my stomach hurt from laughing so hard. Another great thing about the Montepellier Domino Club is the Mammahuana, a secret rum drink made with honey and a few other special ingredients. You can also enjoy a Carib Lager, a beer native to Trinidad.

Other great activities on the island include spending an evening participating in the crab races. For $2 you can hand pick the a hermit crab, give it a name and cheer on your crab for prizes! The Brew Pub downtown has a great race on Monday evenings. Prizes are usually gift certificates to local restaurants and shops on the island.

My favorite day trip included a day at the beach in Fredericksted. Rainbow beach was a really cool scene, and home to Rythyms. Rythym's was a beach cafe with live music and wonderful food! This beach overlooks the most beautiful water one can imagine.