Smart N Snazzy: DIYs, fashion and decor
Lia Athanaeleas started Smart N Snazzy to share her love for fashion, decor and DIY projects. She is budget savvy and is always on the search for new, creative ways to look and feel like a million bucks — for less. She’s here in our home state of Colorado, so we are extra excited to introduce her to you. Meet Lia …
Where I’m based: I’m in the suburbs of Denver, and have been here for the last eight years!
How long I’ve been blogging: I started “SnS” two and a half years ago.
Blog basics: I started Smart n Snazzy to share my love of fashion, DIY projects, beauty, and decor. I have expensive taste but a limited budget, so I wanted to hopefully inspire others! It’s all about staying stylish without going broke.
Other blogs I love: TfDiaries, Thanks, I Made It, …Love Maegan, Stripes & Sequins and Studs and Pearls are a few of my must-reads!
Favorite stores: Sephora, Target, Nordstrom, New York and Company, Old Navy and all thrift and craft stores! Oh, and who could forget the Dollar Store!
What kind of décor projects do you gravitate towards? I spent the first 26 years of my life on the East Coast, so I’m obsessed with anything beach and ocean inspired. My decor revolves around that same theme. It’s very fun and bright, yet neutral and relaxing. I’ve never met a shell I couldn’t incorporate into my decor, and I think that a fresh coat of spray paint can give the most boring object a new life!
Where do you get your inspiration for your DIY projects? Inspiration is everywhere! I think most of my inspiration comes from all of my time on the East Coast, so there is some New England nautical and Florida surf-infused edge. I subscribe to so many magazines because they’re so inspiring to me; I make inspiration scrapbooks and a lot of my projects begin there. Street style is also super inspiring, I love seeing what other women wear and how everyone has such a unique style. Interestingly enough, I get so inspired from nature; the different textures and colors are incredible.
What’s your favorite thing in your closet? My shoes — all of them. Shoes make an outfit and inject such personality into it. Even a pair of boyfriend jeans and a plain t-shirt are instantly chic with the right shoes.
If you had to paint your nails the same color for the rest of your life what color would you choose? I don’t know if I could handle that. It may be cause for a mental breakdown — maybe a holographic pink. I can never stop staring at my nails when I wear a holographic polish, and pink is my favorite color.
What do you think the trick is for being stylish without going broke? Style is different for everyone, so it starts with knowing what works for you. From there, it’s knowing when to splurge and when to save. You can’t let the Jones’ get you down. Rather than coveting a piece that you can’t afford even if you combine all your credit cards together, take a trip to the craft store and spend a few dollars and make something that’s 100 percent unique and is sure to make others envious of you!
