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Beauty

DIY Manicure

July 12, 2012

Prep Work

 

I posted on Monday about my favorite manicures on pinterest, as promised here is my own DIY manicure for you all to try. Every lady should have a signature manicure in her rotation of mani’s. One go to that always looks perfect and is fairly easy and fun to apply. I found mine around the time of my birthday back in February and had so many compliments on the design. Everyone was surprised that I did them myself which is always a plus! My DIY mani is very simple yet packs a big design punch. I usually use silver glitter instead of the pink but wanted to try something new today.

Materials:

1. Nail File
2. Nail Clippers Optional
3. Top Coat
4. Nude Nail Polish
5. Glitter Polish

If your nails are uneven first clip them so they are all equal length. If not, skip that first step and proceed to file your nails. I like to keep my nails fairly rounded in shape and short since they break easily.

Paint one base coat of clear polish so your nails are nice and smooth. I always use my top coat as a base coat since it works the same.

Apply two coats of your favorite nude nail polish. I found this Face nail polish at J. Crew back in January and love how similar it is to my skin color. The nude should blend in to your hands and be very subtle. Let dry for a few minutes before moving on to the fun part, the glitter.

Paint one coat of glitter polish half way down your nail so that it looks like only the tips are painted in glitter. It is kind of like an extended french manicure or an ombre nail. The top part should have the glitter and the bottom of the nail near your cuticle should only be nude. Let dry for a few minutes before moving on to the next step. The length of the glitter does not have to be perfect, just eyeball and have fun with it!

Paint around one to two more coats of the glitter over the first coat of glitter polish. You really want to cake the glitter on top of one another so it looks very thick and heavy. The tip of your nail should look like it was sitting in a pool of glitter. Let dry for a few minutes and apply your clear top coat. This mani will take a long time to dry so be careful and give your hands a break. 

Look how glossy these nails are. I suggest giving yourself an extra layer of top coat each morning to prolong your mani and help avoid chipping.

Please send me some photos of your own DIY nails. I always am in the market for more inspiration!

Lauren

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Pinterest Nail Inspiration

July 9, 2012

Lately I have been super inspired by all of this DIY nail art I see all over instagram, twitter, and pinterest. I love how so many people take the time to turn their nails into little canvases of art. It is such a fun way to express yourself and a great accessory to an outfit. Even though my talents are mostly in jewelry design they are by no means in nail art. My DIY manicures are pretty simple. The craziest I have gone was painting each nail a different color. I do not have a steady hand for drawing crazy designs like my niece Audrey who is amazing. And she only just finished the ninth grade. I do have a signature manicure though that I give myself and get lots of compliments on. Expect to see a DIY post on that later this week. Until then, here are my favorite nails on Pinterest that I must force myself to try soon.

reminds me of ice cream melting on a hot day

such an elegant french manicure with the matte and shiny black

hello kitty love

obsessed with the rainbow glitter

way too cute. Love the watermelon must try

pastel hearts which are perfect for spring and summer

perfect nails for a wedding

reminds me of sexy stockings

Lauren

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Whats In My Bag

June 15, 2012

I have always wanted to create a whats in my bag post on the blog. I thought for my first one it would be fun to post about my Pan Am every day make up bag I used while on the road. My dad bought me a set for Christmas last year and I love it. Sorry for the poor quality of the photos. I took them on my droid one night in our hotel room and the lighting was terrible. But at least they are authentic to what life is like on the road!

My bag was packed with only the every day essentials that I needed while in the car and while getting ready in the morning at our hotel

1. Some light make-up for the day. Eye shadow, liner, primer, blush and brush, mascara, under eye highlighter, and many colorful and nude lipsticks.
2. Hair bands
3. Sudaphed for the cold which later turned into a sinus infection I was battling
4. Sugar free gum which I am addicted to
5. Razor, you never know when you may need it, right ladies?
6. Hello Kitty blotting papers. My forehead has become so oily from my bangs that it is a life saver
7.  Aleve
8. Nasal sprays for my allergies
9. Hand sanitizer because I did not want to touch any of the sinks in the nasty rest areas

I did have some more photos to show with close-ups but they somehow vanished deleted from my phone.

What are your travelling essentials that are always in your make-up bags?

Lauren

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More Make Up Favorites

March 19, 2012

I have more favorite make up products to share with you, obviously they couldn’t all fit into one post.

Chanel Illusion D’ombre Long Wear Luminous Eye Shadow

I swear I have this amazing new eye shadow in four colors. Red, purple, black, and silver. They are incredible and stay on all day and night long. They have a really cool gel like texture that glides easily across the eye with a brush and dries like a powder. Word of advice, I used my finger to apply the shadow at first and had alot of trouble applying it. When I used the product with the brush that comes with applying became a piece of cake.

 

Chanel Les 4 Ombres Quadra Eye shadow Eclosion

I love eye shadow quads. You can use one color or all and have lots of fun creating different looks. Lately I am gravitating toward reddish plum shades that bring out my green eyes

 

Chanel Rouge Allure Velvet

I am in love with this new line of lipsticks from Chanel. The colors glide on super easy with the most amazing texture. They are a matte lipstick but not drying and look so beautiful on. I bought three out of the 8 colors, La Caline being my favorite. The other two were La Sensuelle and La Fascinante

Nars Funny Face Lipstick

I love Nars lipsticks. They have great pigment and stay on all day long. Funny Face is a bright pink that is perfect day and night

 

Nars Night Star

I have been using this eyeshadow since college. When I wear a bright red or pink lip I like to have very subtle eyes. This eyeshadow is perfect because it leaves a hint of color with gold sparkle. Looks amazing with a little black eyeliner too.

 

Benefit BADgal kohl Pencil

A little goes a long way. I put the liner on and then smudge it with the back of an eyeliner sponge to mess it up a little

Benefit Bad gal Plum Mascara

I love the color of this mascara. The brush kind of annoys me and seems to make the mascara clump on my lashes so when I use it i use my own disposable brush which seems to do the trick. Purples are a great color to bring out hazel green eyes which I have

Hope you enjoyed this make up series. I will have more for you in the future. What are your favorite products?

Lauren

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Make Up Favorites Every Day

March 14, 2012

All of my friends know that I am make up obsessed. My friend Amanda who is a fellow makeup lover and I could spend hours looking through colors at Sephora and Bloomingdales. The older I get the more daring I get with my makeup. I love to wear bright lipsticks and have finally embraced wearing red shades too. I used to only wear lip gloss and within the last year have fased them out in exchange for lots of pigment. I thought it would be fun to share some of my favorite products with you and am breaking it down into two posts. For the first, below are some of my favorites for a natural day time look. Click on the link for details.

Benefit “That Gal” Primer

I have been using this pink toned primer for the last two years. I never wear foundation or powder on my face because I hate the feel of caked on make up. This primer is amazing though. It evens out my skin tone and brings out a nice pinky glow to my complexion. It is the first product I put on my face

 

YSL Touche Eclat Radiant Touch

I began using the YSL highlighter in replacement of a concealer. It covers up my dark circles and shadows and makes my eyes brighter. It is pricy and I am noticing that other brands are making their own versions

 

Benefit Sugarbomb Blush

I love how this blush has four different shades that you mix together to create the perfect color

 

Benefit Big Beautiful Eyes Eye Shadow

I swear this set gets the most use out of all of my eye shadows. It is the perfect color combo for a day time every day look. I wear it with all shades of lipsticks even reds. I use the brown shade as an eye liner at night for a dressier look

Clinique Almost Lipstick Black Honey

This lipstick is one of my favorites. Its a sheer lipstick that looks great on everyone and has a really pretty soft black berry sheen to it.

Great Lash Maybelline Lots Of Lashes

I bought this mascara for the first time when I read that it gives you doll lashes and it really does. The smaller brush reaches all hard to reach lashes coating them in a really nice black shade. I was even asked if i was wearing falsies which in my opinion is a great compliment

Lauren

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Holiday Wish List For The Boys

December 19, 2011

Happy Monday,

I can’t really dread this Monday since Christmas eve is on Saturday night. I am definitely looking forward to the holiday. To kick off the last week of holiday wish lists, I thought it would be fun to post a list for the boys in our lives. Husband, boyfriend, father, brother, friend, this wish list reaches out to all of them. I personally love to shop for Craig. I really like his style so it makes it very easy for me when I shop and we usually just go together. He picks out what he likes and I choose what I like. No stress which makes it a great activity for both of us! And for you ladies or gents out their who don’t love the style of your significant others, the holidays are the perfect time to add the things you do love to their closets. Click on my pinterest board for all the links and to see some extra’s that didnt make it below.

For The Boys Wish List

1. Uniform Wares Watch- has a vintage feel with the missing numbers. Reminds me of a watch Don Draper would wear

2. Filson Wool Messenger Bag- Craig would love to carry this plaid mans bag to and from work every day

3. Marc By Marc Jacobs Cell Case- most cell cases are soo boring. I love how this one has a creepy guy in a wife beater

4.  Balenciaga Wallet- studs underneath leather, yes sir!

5. Persol Sunglasses- tortoise-shell and a light brownish lens makes such a great color combo

6. Lanvin Tie Pin- I think it is time to bring this retro trend back

7. Ralph Lauren Polo Black Collection- really like the sleekness of the bottle. Wouldnt mind having it as decoration for the bathroom

8. Portable FM Steroe Boombox- plug your Ipod or phone into the box for a convenient but fun music experience

9. Digby & Iona Signet Ring-  not only used to adorn your finger, the ring is also a working wax seal, so cool!

10. Tommy Hilfiger Belt- nice nautical feel

11. Miansai Bracelet- For the outdoorsy guy who does not like to wear alot of jewelry

12. DSquared2 Boots- love all of the dark colors. Would love to buy these for Craig but they are way too expensive for my budget, boo

13. Prada Money Clip- the old school way of carrying your money around

14. Tommy Hilfiger Tie- would look great with the Tommy belt. Two accessories for one look equals score gift

Happy Shopping,

Lauren

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Black Holiday Wish List

December 14, 2011

Happy Holidays,

I think it is safe to say that everyone feels comfortable wearing the color black. So many words come to mind when I wear black. Classic, edgy, vintage, slimming, tough, feminine, Victorian Goth. It is funny how a color can provoke so many thoughts. You really can’t go wrong with wearing black unless you are wearing head to toe. I always like to add some pop of color so I don’t look “depressed”. Below are some of my favorite black makeup and accessories. Click on my black wish list pinterest board for links to these wonderful items and to see other items that did not make it below.

Black Wish List

1. Alexander Wang Bag- seriously the perfect every day bag. Love how the zippers add a bit of edge

2. Made Her Think Earrings- edgy yet glamorous, the crystals are set inversely in an unexpected way

3. Made Her Think Ring- black on black. Notice the tiny black stones set into the ring. Such a nice subtle touch

4. Nars Eye Shadow- Night Clubbing is a black shade with tiny flecks of gold in it. Looks perfect with a smokey eye or creating a liner with it

5. Gucci Heel- the perfect mary jane style and I love the patent leather

6. Tory Burch Wallet- perfect size and shape I would use it as a clutch too

7. Deborah Lippmann Polish- Fade To Black, love how dark this polish is

8. Bottega Veneta Earrings- So unusual, really like the contrast of the black metal mixed with the rhinestone and creepy eyes

9. Dara Ettinger Ring- I have a bunch of her druzy rings just not in this color combo. They are very comfortable to wear and always look beautiful. They come in a ton of color combos also

10. Kelly Wearstler Necklace- love the gun metal shade of metal mixed against the over sized fossil pendant

11. Lauren by Ralph Lauren Loafer- I seriously love patent leather accessories. Especially when they come in the shape of a masculine loafer

12. YSL Black Tulip- I would wear just a smidge of the lipstick, dab it and put a little gloss over for a stained effect

13. Made Her Think Bangle- How cute are the swallows, they appear to be flying around your wrists

Happy Shopping

Lauren

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Silver Holiday Wish List

December 13, 2011

Happy Holidays,

When I think about silver jewelry the first word that comes to mind is Tiffany’s. It is such an iconic store and brings happy thoughts and feelings. If your sad and need a pick me up go to the store. Looking at all of that beautiful jewelry will make you feel better. I think Holly was on to something. Back when I was in middle school and highschool everyone wanted and wore jewelry from Tiffany’s sterling silver collection. The iconic pieces that come to mind that all of the girls had were the heart tag chunky bracelet, the silver ball bracelet, and their bean collection. Over the years when I had some holiday money I would go in and treat myself to some pieces. I had a couple of rings and a pair of earrings that I loved. And I was so careless with my jewelry that I lost all of the jewelry from Tiffany’s. I still regret it to this day. But I did manage to hold on to one Tiffany’s pice. A silver lower case L pendant. I don’t wear it too often but I am wearing it now as I am writing this post. I don’t have a ton of silver jewelry in my collection but I have a few pieces. And I love to mix and match them with my gold pieces. They just work so well together. Below are my favorite silver accessories that would make perfect gifts this holiday season. Click on my silver pinterest board for further details and to see some extra goodies.

Silver Wish List

1. Dannijo Silver and Crystal Earrings- the crystals add a little glamour to the toughness feel

2. Whitng & Davis Heart Purse- seriously the cutest purse I have ever seen

3. Vince Camuto Silver Pump- perfect to wear with all of those LBD’s

4. Tina Tang Necklace- always a fan of jewelry that will just spell it out for you

5. Deborah Lippmann Polish- I have the gold version and would love to have this silver polish too

6. Ariel Gordon Ring- the band is nice and thin in size and the dangling heart is so adorable

7. Burberry Watch- I like how the band is mimicking Burberry plaid

8. Vince Scarf- you can’t go wrong with cashmere. It is insanely soft and warm

9. Dannijo Necklace- the perfect collar necklace to add to all of your dresses and tops peter pan style. I also love the cute bow in the middle

10. Tiffany Key Ring- a classic and iconic piece for all of your keys

11. Steve Madden Loafer- you know me. I love anything and everything with sequins

12. Alexander Wang Wallet- the wallet has such a bright metallic leather and is the perfect size to fit into many purses

Happy Shopping

Lauren

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Yellow Gold Holiday Wish List

December 12, 2011

Happy Holidays,

My love affair with jewelry really started when I was in fifth and sixth grade. At the time, I did not have any “real jewelry” in my collection and I hated anything gold. Back then gold jewelry was not cool, at least for people my age. Everyone was wearing sterling silver and costume and that is all I wanted. On the weekends I would take walks by myself to Bloomingdale’s and Claire and look at all the jewelry making small purchases for myself. I bought lots of tiny silver rings, earrings, and anything beaded. Especially in the shape of tiny flowers. It was the 90′s and beaded floral jewelry was very “in” at the time. And I had to have it all. I bought tons of boxes, and hanging racks, and earring racks, and travel bags to store and display my collection. As I got older my taste in jewelry was always evolving. My interest in silver jewelry began to diminish and all I wanted to wear was gold. Real and faux I loved it all. Today gold is still a favorite of mine. I love how warm the shade is, and most of the vintage jewelry I work with has a gold tone. I will do some future posts with some of my favorites from my own collection. But for now I created a gold holiday wish list with my favorite gold accessories from all over the web. Please click on my pinterest board for links for each of the items below and to also see some extra goodies that did not make the list.

Gold Wish List

1. Marc By Marc Jacobs Ballet Flats- I love anything with glitter, especially when they come in the shape of cute animals for my feet

2. Madewell Pouch- I love the shiny patent leather and it is the perfect size to hold some cash and coins

3. Catbird Alphabet rings- These tiny rings come in every letter and would look great stacked on one finger or spelling a word out across your hand

4. Kenneth Jay Lane Earrings- very classic shape and I love how oversized they are

5. Lulu Frost Code Ring- The numbers in this collection are based off of the Plaza Hotel vintage door room numbers. My lucky number is 8 especially when it is covered in 8 diamonds

6. Michael Kors Gold Watch- I have the rose gold watch but would love to give it a yellow gold sibling too

7. Mulberry Bag- Alexa Chung’s infamous namesake bag

8. Deborah Lippmann Polish- There are flecks of 24 karat gold in the polish, looks very fun and elegant on and lasts for a while

9. Bauble Bar Cuff- love how chunky the cuff is and how it mimics the style of a chain

10. Bittersweets NY heart necklace-  The heart is organic looking and hammered giving it a kind of modern yet vintage feel to it

11. Miu Miu Shoes- I am honestly in love with this shoe. I mean gold glitter, leopard print and a chunky heel. It is perfect

12. Pamela Love Cuff- The tribal design is amazing and I love how large and shiny the cuff is

Happy Shopping,

Lauren

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Rose Gold Holiday Wish List

December 9, 2011

Happy Holidays Everyone!

Now that December is in full swing I am more than ready to share a ton of holiday wish lists/gift ideas with all of you. I mean what is better than a giving during this time of year and I have been scouring the web finding my favorite things. I have many wish lists planned that I am currently working on. My goal is to share all of my lists from now until Christmas! Hopefully they will give you tons of inspiration when creating your own gift lists or help you with your search for gift giving. For the beginning of the series, I thought it would be fun to create wish lists that center around a color theme. For shopping links to each of the items listed click on my rose gold Pinterest board. Each item listed has a link to the specific shop ready for purchase! I also have some extra goodies that did not make it to the wish list but are on the Pinterest page so have a look.

Rose Gold Wish List

1. Estee Lauder Rose Gold Eye Shadow – Nothing brings out your eye color more than some rosy pinks and the rose gold case is nice and shiny looking

2. Pamela Love Rose Gold Tribal Ring -  The perfect modern looking cocktail ring

3. YSL Pumps - Love the oversized platform, classic with a sexy twist

4. Michael Kors Rose Gold Watch - Just bought this watch a few weeks ago and it matches everything in my wardrobe

5. Alexander Wang Purse - Small enough to hold all of the essentials when attending those holiday parties

6. Deborah Lippmann Glitter Nail Polish - I own a few of her glitter polishes and they are great quality. Put on lots of coats though to maximize glitter

7. Jules Smith Kiss - The perfect quirky necklace to give to a loved one

8. Chloe Snake Cuff - I will always be a lover of snake jewelry. This Chloe has such a fluid modern feel to it

9. Sam Edelman Ballet Flats - Love the neutral rosy shade and the tiny gold studs

10. Chan Luu Wrap Bracelet - Would look great mixed with an assortment of gold bangles

11. Ileana Makri Skull Ring - Black diamonds and rose gold go hand in hand. A little punk but still delicate.

Happy Shopping!

Lauren

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