Polished and Pretty

Hello! It has been forever since I updated. But I'm back with a little post on something that is very important in my life; Nail polish.

Historically, the sale of lipstick skyrockets during a recession. The reasoning is that, while women were pinching pennies and sacrificing other luxuries, they would treat themselves to new lipsticks which are inexpensive and made them feel better. Well, nail polish is the new lipstick! Many women are opting to do their nails at home. Salon quality bottles of polish are readily available at your local drugstore or even Target for less than the price of a professional manicure. Even though there is nothing like a professional job, I am certainly not going to spend $20 every week for a manicure (recession or not). But with the nail polish I've accumulated, I could probably open my own shop!


Today, I'll show up some of my favorite manicures I've done on myself.

Last year, O.P.I. came out with a Black Shatter as part of their Katy Perry collection and it took the Nail Polish World by storm. I guess it wasn't really all that revolutionary since people have told me that they owned polishes like it in middle school. Regardless, it was all the rage.

The photo below is the Black Shatter layered over one of my favorite polishes, Not Like the Movies (o.p.i) It's this really pretty silver that shines pink and green in certain lights with flecks of glitter in it. So pretty. It reminds me of an alien. (wish I had a bigger picture!)

Sally Hansen came out with these neat little nail polish stickers. They do take a little getting used to and they are a little expensive ($9 per pack) but they are undoubtedly cool. This photo is my first attempt. The pattern is called Misbehaved. I got more comments on this then any other I've ever done.

Finally, this is a manicure I do a lot because I love the colors alone and they are so girly and fun when you put them together. Essie's Eternal Optimist and ICE brand's Spitfire. The Essie is really a nice, neutral pinky brown. Pretty and subtle. Spitfire is chock full of pink glitter and looks amazing on its own!

These are just a few of my favorites. I'll definitely post more in the future. I talk about nails and nail art and polish with my friends all the time. I've even gotten my 15 year old cousin, Hannah, really into it. Whenever my family comes over now, someone goes upstairs in my room and gets my kit. I do my nails about every other day. It's fun. It's cheap. It's relaxing. Good times!

My Favorite Things A to Z

Wikipedia defines Love as "an emotion of strong affection and personal attachment". So here's a brief list of things I love:

A. Airplane. In college, two of my friends surprised me at work with balloons attached to this metal airplane. I have NO idea what the significance of the airplane was (they couldn't tell me either) It was the sweetest thing. It's been in my bedroom ever since and that airplane is where I hang my jewelry now.

B. Braids. I love wearing my hair in braids. I'm sure someday I'll be too old to rock them (maybe I already am?) I mastered the fishtail last summer and it's now what I use when most girls would rock the 'messy bun'.

C. Coffee. I'm sure I could function without it, I choose not to. It's my drug. And I don't care. People say I drink too much and that I'd be less hyper if I eased up on it. Those people are another C word, "CRAZY!"


D. Dresses. I wear dresses all the time. This probably goes against the rules of feminism but I think guys have it really hard having to wear pants all the time. Dresses are more comfortable. And prettier. Besides, God went to all the trouble to make me a girl, I might as well have fun dressing like one.

E. Edamame. You see this little super veggie a lot in Asian food and I think its delicious! Plus, it has a lot of vitamins that I need, as a vegetarian. I am always looking for recipes that contain it.

F. Friends. It's always important to make friends wherever you go. After all, Friends are just strangers you haven't shared pizza with yet.

G. Green. Recycle. Reduce. Reuse.

H. Handbags. There was a time when I had more purses than Imelda Marcos had shoes. I've slimmed down my collection quite a bit but still look at them in every store.

I. Ipod. I broke my adapter to play mine in the car and it's been rough without it.

J. Jail. Never been. Hope to never go.

K. Ke$ha. I don't care what anyone says. Any person that likes glitter more than me, is okay in my book.

L. Lost. Okay, confession time. I still look at fansites for the tv show Lost. Even though it ended like, two years ago. My friends and I were obsessed with this show. We watched it religiously together and talked about it endlessly. I'm still confused by so much that happened and still

M. Margaritas. I had my first margarita on my 21st birthday. The rest is tequila-soaked history.

N. Nail polish. I spend far too much time reading nail polish blogs, staring at nail polish in the drugstore and at Ulta. It's kind of weird actually. I'll try to post reviews when I buy one I really like.

O. O.P.I. Muppet Collection. I'm dying for Meep-Meep-Meep & Rainbow Connection!

P. Pinterest. I've recently been introduced to this fabulous way to waste time online. Everything is so beautiful on there. Check it out.

Q. Qdoba. Like Subway, with burritos. Amazing. My Roomie and I once drove 40 minutes just to eat here. Speaking of...

R. Roomie. My college roommate Nicole is the greatest person I've ever met. I know I can always count on her to answer the phone if I need her (even though she hates to the phone) She lives in North Carolina now but I still talk to her all the time and was blessed enough to have been in her wedding last year. I know I can always count on her to answer the phone if I need her (even though she hates to the phone) She's wonderful. And she blogs. You should check her out.

Flip Flops & Combat Boots

S. Salt & Vinegar chips. One word. Delicious.


T. Twenty-five. That's how old I am. It seemed so ancient when I was a kid.

U. Unique. Thank goodness everyone is. The world would be so boring if we were all the same.

V. Venice. Best boat ride I've ever taken.

W. Wine. There's really nothing better than a glass of wine between friends. I used to much prefer whites but I've been craving some light reds lately.

X. X-Ray.

Y. Year 2012. My favorite holiday is New Years Eve. I can't wait for the next one!

Z. Zoo. I didn't get to go this summer and I am so bummed about it!

Well, that's all for now. Until next time!