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:

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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 Loves

Hello happies! I hope you're having a fabulous week! Just remember, Thursday is practically Friday, which means it's basically the weekend!

I got my September Birchbox a few weeks ago, and, among other lovelies, it contained these:

LA Fresh Nail Polish Remover Pad

Birchbox and Color Club Custom Collection in Tweet Me

At first, I was not that excited about the color of the nail polish. It's called "Tweet Me", but another appropriate name would be "Tennis Ball Green". Given my choice of nail polish colors, it would not have been my first. But, then, it sat and stared at me from my bathroom counter long enough to make me rethink it's neon-yellowy-green-ness. After looking at all the awesome colors that seem to be dominating the scene this season (hunter green, burgundy, plum, etc.), I realized that this neon-y tennis ball color would actually make for an unexpectedly fabulous accent color. This color is now on my toes (don't worry, there are no foot pictures in your future...at least not from this blog), and it makes me very happy. Next time I get a manicure, I'm thinking maybe a charcoal grey or navy blue with this color as the french tip color...how fashion forward of me, right?

As for the nail polish remover pad, my first thoughts were, "what can a fancy schmancy nail polish remover pad do that my Walgreens acetone-based remover can't?" After I used it, my thoughts were more like, "how soon can I get more of these lovely, orange-scented nail polish remover pads??" And then I thought, "excuse me, 'fresh tuscan orange scent', not 'orange scent'." How do the LA Fresh people know that Tuscan oranges are so much more appealing than regular oranges? Maybe it's their Italian accent...anywho, buy these...they're cool.

xoxo,

E

Milk Glass Obsession

I love milk glass...its not-quite-opaqueness always seems like it has been around for generations, giving it such a sentimental look. I am always in need of little dishes, bowls, and trays to hold all the things I tend to leave in my wake as I move through the day. I'm especially looking for milk glass cake stands to make some of my less-pretty bathroom items (i.e. floss, toothbrush, etc.) a little more happy. So even though I have a definite item I'm looking for, I can't help but google "milk glass" and ogle all the pretties that come up in my image search...

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Milk glass vases are the perfect combination of pretty-on-their-own and simple-enough-not-to-compete-with flower-prettiness.

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While I'm sure this intricate pedestal bowl was meant for a higher purpose, I can't think of a more sophisticated way to keep track of my key's and the nugget's leash.

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This may be the front runner for my bathroom catch-all. It would also be so pretty as a kitchen catch-all for dish soap, scrubbies, and rings for when you are washing those hard-to-clean pots and pans.

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I feel like I'm ODing on green milky beautifulness. Stop it.

I think my favorite milk glass pieces are either the colored ones or the hobnail (bumpy) pieces...or hobnail colored pieces! (gasp!) Anyone else out there share this milk glass love?

xoxo,

E

Homemade Frame

I've had a pretty hand-painted picture from Prague (holy alliteration, Batman!) since I studied abroad one summer a few years ago, but hadn't displayed it until now. Why? Because apparently street artists in Prague don't necessarily create their pieces on standard frame-sized paper. It has traveled with me through four moves and now finally has found its resting place.

I created a "frame" from a piece of wood leftover from my jewelry organizer project. Other supplies I used: acrylic paint, spray adhesive, clear gloss spray paint, and eye hooks.

 I painted the edges navy blue first, which, in hindsight I should've done last. It made covering the little bit of blue that made it on to the front of the wood hard to cover with the tangerine color.

 I painted about three coats of a bright tangerine color (really thick on the edges to cover the navy) to get an opaque look.

 Here it is drying on my balcony after attaching the painting with spray adhesive and sealing the whole thing with clear gloss spray paint. Don't you love the painting? I think the orange paint makes the blues, greens, and grays really pop.

 I attached two eye hooks to the piece of wood to help with hanging.

Finished product (not hung yet; I need to get some navy ribbon first!)...and yes I know it's a little off-center, the result of some over-zealous spray adhesive-ing.

I think I'm going to hang this picture in my bathroom to give the space a pop of color.

I hope you're having a happy week!

xoxo,

E

Farmer's Market Finds

Happy Monday! This is my last week with completely free days because new teacher orientation is this Friday! I keep waiting for myself to realize that school is starting in 15 days, but I think with the move, I've been a little distracted. As soon as my new apartment gets more organized, I'll be posting a little home tour. I love it so far; it's the perfect size for me and a little nugget that seems to be settling in quite nicely...

In addition to moving this weekend, my dad, brother, and I went to Greenville's downtown farmer's market. The downtown one is a seasonal market, so it really feels like a treat! I've been trying to eat healthier and lose a bit of weight, so shopping there has really made me think of cooking with seasonal, fresh ingredients as a fun thing. How could you not get excited to cook with these beauties?

 A rainbow of peppers, from banana to habanero.

Heirloom tomatoes that make me want to give raw tomatoes another shot. (I've gotten over a lot of my childhood pickiness, but a raw tomato still makes me a little nauseous)

Here are some of my purchases from this weekend. Can't wait to get cooking!

My only disappointment was that there were no more blueberries to buy. I know you can still get them for seasonal prices in the grocery stores, but it made me a little sad to know they are on their way out. The market is only open on Saturdays through the end of October, so if you're in Greenville and haven't been, get on it!

Have a happy week!

xoxo,

E

Call Me

How many of you are now singing the Blondie song in your head? You're welcome. If you're in search of happy on this lovely hump day, Debbie Harry has to be at least part of the answer.

Anyways, in addition to the awesome 80s, I'm also thinking about my favorite accessory, my iPhone. Since this is one of the few things that is always with me, I think it deserves to be pretty. Here are some options that would make me seriously happy to answer a phone call.

 These top three are all by Rebecca Minkoff and are currently on sale at Gilt Groupe. Not a member? Click here for an invite.

Phat Straps Hacienda Aztec case, $17

Love the pattern and muted colors. This Etsy shop has lots of other fun and different phone cases and camera straps.

Kate Spade Diagonal Stripe iPhone Case, $40

What a glamorous way to answer a call or text.

When you think about it, it makes a lot of sense to pay attention to how your every day items make you feel. I know I tend to spend a lot of money on special things, like a dress I'll wear to one event, but I don't pay as much attention to things I use, wear, or carry every day. These pretty phone cases are an everyday way to get your dose of happy!

xoxo,

E

Friday Happies

Here are a few things that are making me happy right now...

My little nugget chewing his raw hide stick. He holds it with his paws. It's really too much.

A fun Lilly Pulitzer planner gifted to me by my boyfriend's mom. It even came with event-themed stickers (you can bet I put a big ol' cake sticker on my birthday). This may be the thing to make me actually want to organize my life.

And finally, this crazy cool t-shirt blanket my mom made me from some of my sorority/Clemson shirts. She is amazingly creative (she's currently making curtains for my new apartment), and I'm SO lucky to have such an awesome mama!!

What is making you happy right now?

xoxo,

E