Pretty in Purple

Quick post today...because today's the first day of summer (for me, at least)! Woo hoo! I'm celebrating by getting a new cable box, cleaning my apartment, and shopping for supplies for the summer camp I'm running next week. I know, I know, way too much partying for day one; I'll try to scale back in the coming weeks.

Even though I might not be beaching it, I can still feel summer-ready with my pretty summer nails!

 

This is Essie's "Play Date" and the icky iPhone picture doesn't do it justice. It's bright and cheerful and everything I'm looking for in my summer nail polish!

Happy hump day!

xoxo,

E

Seasonal Fall Colors: Part Two

Last week's post got me thinking about how an awesome nail color can really help finish an outfit, especially during the colder months, when we are often completely covered up with coats and such. Darker, cloudier, vampier colors have a delicious inkiness that can warm things up, and glittery colors can bring the perfect touch to that party outfit you know you'll be rocking this season.

Here are the colors topping my wish list this year:

OPI Nein! Nein! Nein! OK Fine!

An awesome matte grey color that mirrors the clouds on wintry days.

butter London Royal Navy

The color of a winter sky on a clear, chilly night.

Essie Gym Dandy

Described as a "motivated greige brown". Greige? How did I not know about this amazing color?

Essie No More Film

This feminine violet is a goop pick for this month's Birchbox. Here's hoping my request for a goop-curated box is fulfilled this month.

OPI Goldeneye

What better way to ensure you're party ready than with a glittery gold?

butter London Jack the Lad

Gold, green, and turquoise glitter combine to make what I can only guess is a very bad-ass shade of gun metal. 

Nail polish is a relatively cheap and risk-free way to get in on a trend. What colors are on your wishlist?

xoxo,

E

Seasonal Nail Colors

I know I did a nail color post last week, but, wouldn't you know it, my at-home manicure chipped just three days later. Hate that. Chipped nails are even more obvious with dark colors, too. Hate that even more.

But this blog isn't about things I hate...so I just turned to one of my other favorite fall nail colors for my next at-home manicure attempt!

I picked up OPI's Give Me Moor! after, you guessed it, I messed up a professional manicure approximately two minutes after leaving the salon. A quick trip to Ulta fixed that and gave me one of my still-favorite nail colors for the chillier months. It's an almost-black purple that is deliciously inky.

Happy Hump Day!

xoxo,

E

At-Home Manicure

Happy Monday! I had a relaxing weekend, which is exactly what I needed. I also finally got my hair cut and highlighted after five months! Very exciting stuff.

I also tackled the at-home manicure on Sunday afternoon, which is no small feat for this right-hand-only gal. I've always bitten my nails, so when I finally allowed them to grow almost to the tips of my fingers, I figured I would reward myself with some pretty new nail polish. Here's what I went with:

via

Essie "Stylenomics"

I love dark nail colors because they always looks better on shorter nails...which, conveniently, I always have! Seriously, they're usually nubbins. I think it's a testament to how happy I am at my new school that I haven't been chewing them every other second. Hunter green is really popular this fall, too, so I get to participate in a trend for less than $10! Ka-ching! Essie's Stylenomics is awesome, an almost-black green.

I've read and watched tutorials on how to give yourself an at home manicure, but the only thing that really works for me is taking a really long time and using a nail polish remover pen. I seriously take like  two hours from start to finish to make sure that the polish is really dry before moving to my second hand.

Here's the finished product on my left hand: 

Happy polishing!

xoxo,

E

Birchbox Surprise!

If you know me, you probably know I love new things (or new-to-me things). As soon as I get home from the grocery store, I get excited about all the yummy food I can make with my new ingredients; I love shopping at consignment shops for new-to-me finds; I can even get excited about new deodorant if it's something I haven't tried before. I think that's why I love crafting so much--you get to make something completely new!

That's why I am THIS excited about my new subscription to Birchbox. I applied for a subscription a few weeks ago and finally got an email that it was my turn a few days ago. For just $10 a month, you get a box of new (!) beauty samples to try. If you're still on the fence, just check out all the brands they carry...yeep! (That's a squeal of excitement for those not in the know.)

Here are some things I would definitely "yeep" for if they showed up on my door step...

Oribe Impermeable Anti-Humidity Spray

Pretty sure I would take this everywhere.

Supergoop! City Sunscreen Serum 

Perfect for football season!

Deborah Lippman Don't Tell Mama Nail Laquer 

Amazing color for fall.

stila stay all day waterproof liquid eye liner

Maybe I could use this to finally master eyeliner. I would use this tutorial. I may have to work up to the winged look, though.

What would be in your dream Birchbox?

xoxo,

E

PS-- This post is sponsored by my constant search for new happies, not by Birchbox, or anyone else for that matter. I can't wait for my first box of samples!