Going Crazy With Color!

This past year we have seen some major trends in the hair department. Feather extensions anyone? We are fast moving into the next realm of quiff fashion. We're talking about coloring your hair, but not the normal highlights/lowlights business. We're talking color! 

We realize this trend is not for everyone, and it is a big commitment. But to those of you who can pull it off, we think you are fabulous.

Also, if you haven't checked out this website before, you must! We refer back to it all the time for ways to amp up our beauty regimen.

TIPPED OUT

All Photos: Kristin Ess + thebeautydepartment.com

We could never (or would never for that matter) try and explain to you the best way to bleach your hair, so click the link to thebeautydepartment.com for a step by step tutorial to get this look! And of course you can use any colors your little heart desires. We're thinking more reds or oranges for Fall? 

By the way, if any of you decide to do this, we would LOVE to see the finished result! You can email pics to anniehemlinekc@gmail.com - Can't wait to hear from you!

Poncho Crazy!

We've got a craze going on around our Hemline world - and it's all about ponchos! We love them for so many reasons: 1. They are so easy to wear, no matter your shape and size. 2. They are great for transitioning into Fall. Wear them on chilly mornings over a summer dress, and ditch the poncho as the afternoon warms up. 3. They are so bohemian - and you know how us Hemline ladies feel about bohemian anything.

So effortlessly cool!

www.freepeople.com

Here are a few ponchos we have in store and online right now to get your own poncho craze going!

Vintage Havana $60.00

Vintage Havana $55.00

Goddis $233.00

Mono B. $55.00

Mink Pink $106.00

Miracle City $60.00

Vintage Havana $70.00

Drink Recipes!

As promised, we are back again today with a few of our favorite, tried and true thirst quenching beverages!

We decided to give one alcoholic concoction, and one "everyone friendly" drink as well. 

This first one is made with watermelon, and since Summer is coming to an end, we recommend trying this one out soon while the watermelon is still ripe and delicious!

Watermelon Lemonade Slushy

serves about 6

half-bakedbaker.blogspot.com

• 4 cups watermelon, pureed and strained
• 4 cups ice cubes
• 2/3 cup frozen lemonade concentrate
• 1 cup cold water

   *For an adult version, leave out the water and add 4 oz. each 

    of vodka and limoncello

1. Puree watermelon in a blender. Strain though a mesh strainer.(You can skip this step if you want, but it will be harder to sip through a straw of it's not strained)
2. After it's been strained, in a blender on medium speed, blend together watermelon juice, ice lemonade concentrate and water until ice breaks down. 
3. Pour into glasses and enjoy!

Peach Sangria

makes 8 cups

www.myrecipes.com

• 1 (750-milliliter) bottle white wine
• 1 cup peach schnapps
• 1/2 cup frozen lemonade concentrate, thawed
• 2 nectarines, sliced
• 1 cup green or red grapes, whole or sliced (we think you get more flavor from them if they are sliced!)

1. Combine all ingredients in a large pitcher.
2. Cover and chill at least 2 hours. (we prefer to make it the night before to give the fruits a chance to really get all their flavor out!)
3. Stir before serving!

Sweet Treats

Where oh where has Summer gone?

I know it feels like Summer based on the temperatures still hanging around some of our Hemline cities, but now that school is back in session, it feels like it has come and gone so quickly! Officially though, we have a few more weeks of Summer left. We want to share a few recipes that we adore throughout the Summer, but you can absolutely make them year round. Today we will tackle a few sweet treats, later in the week we will reveal our favorite beverages - alcoholic and not! 

Here they are, two of our favorite not-that-sinful sweet treats:

Fruit Salsa with Baked Cinnamon Chips

from www.allrecipes.com

• 2 kiwis, peeled and diced
• 2 Golden Delicious apples - peeled, cored and diced
• 8 ounces raspberries
• 1 (16 oz) carton of strawberries, diced
• 2 tablespoons sugar (more or less to taste)
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar (more or less to taste)
• 3 tablespoons fruit preserves, any flavor (we like strawberry)
• 10 (10 inch) flour tortillas
• melted butter or butter flavored cooking spray

   Cinnamon Sugar:

• 1 cup white sugar
• 2 tablespoons cinnamon

1. In a large bowl, thoroughly mix kiwis, apples, raspberries, strawberries, white sugar, brown sugar and fruit preserves. Cover and chill in the refrigerator at least 15 minutes.
2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
3. Coat one side of each flour tortilla with melted butter or butter flavored cooking spray. Sprinkle tortillas with desired amount of cinnamon sugar. Cut into wedges and arrange in a single layer on a large baking sheet. Spray again with cooking spray (not necessary if using melted butter).
4. Bake in the preheated oven 8 to 10 minutes. Repeat with any remaining tortilla wedges. Allow to cool approximately 15 minutes. Serve with chilled fruit mixture. This salsa can also be served with cinnamon graham crackers or cinnamon pita chips. Best when made and eaten the same day, otherwise the fruit gives off so much juice that it gets runny!

Chocolate-Banana "Ice Cream"

makes one single serving

• 1 banana, frozen
• 2 tablespoons cocoa powder

    Freeze the banana, peel on. This will take a few hours at        

    best. Take out of the freezer and cut peel away. Put it into a 

    blender and add the cocoa powder. Blend until smooth and 

    creamy! OPTIONAL: Add 2 tablespoons of peanut butter it that's

    your thing!

The best part of this recipe? Not only is it delicious, but it's dairy free and only 110 CALORIES! 

Tune in later this week for our favorite beverage recipes - yummy!

TOMS Shoes Sale!

Hemline Kansas City is having a TOMS shoe sale! 

We are getting in so many styles for Fall, and want to give our customers a chance at getting these cute little shoes at a great discount, for 3 days only!

Come in tomorrow, August 19 - 21 and get 25% off any and every pair of TOMS you purchase! Perfect for back to school too!

Hope to see you at Hemline in Kansas City this weekend!

Transition Pieces

Can you believe it's already the middle of August?! Kids are going back to school this week already! That means Fall is just around the corner.

 We picked a few of the many amazing things we have in store right now and put one item together two different ways, in hopes that it will help give insight on how to wear things in this still-Summery weather to the colder days that are just ahead! Because if you are anything like us, you are NOT looking forward to buying a chunky sweater when the thermometer still reads 90! Have no fear though - you can wear the following pieces (and a ton more!) right now - and right into Fall and Winter with a few small changes.

Jeans: Hudson Mia Flare $189.00

T-shirt: Chaser Grateful Dead $59.00

Black Heel: Messeca $198.00

Earrings: Zad $15.00

Clutch/Wallet: Bed Stu $42.00 

Loafer Wedge: Sam Edelman $150.00

Orange Top: Free People $128.00

Sweater: Free People $168.00

Skirt: Mono B $40.00

Poncho: Subtle Luxury $150.00

Tank: LA Made $42.00

Necklace: Serefina $68.00

Boots: Seychelles $250.00

Striped Sweater: Lind & Dot $83.50

Skirt: Aryn K. $70.00

Tank: Jaloux $105.00

Boots: Seychelles $170.00

Sweater: Goddis $230.00

Necklace: Serefina $68.00

Pretty and Easy Hair Tutorials!

We all have those days. The days you do not want to mess with fixing your hair. There are only so many days in a row in which you can sport a ponytail without starting to look lazy! 

We found two of our favorite looks on thebeautydepartment.com and wanted to share them with you guys! They can both be done with freshly washed - or unwashed - hair, and take just a few minutes. The result is beautiful though!

First is the Ballerina Bun. It's so pretty and feminine, and it shows off your shoulders in those pretty little summer dresses. Pull down a few wispy's around your face and neckline for an even sweeter look!

Then we have a pretty little up-do that looks complicated. But we promise, it's not! It's just so pretty! We got this tutorial from thebeautydepartment.com as well.

Now give the pony tail a rest, and go have some fun with your hair! 

Best Friends Forever!

While lounging around in my bed a few weeks ago, trying to get over a bad case of the flu, and bored out of my mind from the internet and all it's wonders, I started thinking. What else could I do from my bed that would keep me occupied enough to take my mind off of how badly I felt? 

I remembered the small kit I had from my childhood that I carried with me religiously - my kit of embroidery floss from which I made about a zillion friendship bracelets. I still had it, all still organized and just asking to be used! 

I wondered if I would remember how to do it. It was like riding a bike! It all came right back to me, and I was off making bracelets for all my BFF's.

I scoured the internet to find new designs, and came across a great blog that shows some that looked really fun. Since I didn't document my bracelet making skills from my flu ridden bed, you can visit the tutorial here. Go get some pretty colors, and start making some bracelets! I have people ask me all the time where I got mine. I can proudly tell them they are hand made, by me!

For the Love of Shoes!

Fall is quickly approaching (can you believe it!) and our racks are starting to reflect the cooler days that are coming. We picked some shoes from around the Hemline group and showcased them here for you all to see! These shoes are all great transition pieces, but can be worn well into the Fall and Winter months! Think Holiday parties and these cheetah print Messeca's. Oh my.