{ manicure mondays } 11.20.12 -- rich fall colors

Little known fact about me: My favorite holidays are not my birthday or Christmas (which fall within 20 days of each other). I've always had a deep love for fall holidays like Halloween and, especially, Thanksgiving. I love everything about it -- the food, the decorations, the color palette, the sanctity of a day devoted to parades, football, and pie. And though it's always a little more melancholy as I've gotten older and the amount of seats at the family table (once twelve) has diminished (to four, plus the spot for my adorable Golden Retriever under the table), the thing I still value most is the time with my family. But I also really enjoy the chance to exploit any opportunity to get into the holiday spirit.

One thing I love almost as much as a good holiday is a great manicure. Those of you who have been frequent readers know I'm nail polish obsessed. Naturally, I've put together one that will catch eyes at your Thanksgiving table.

{ maroon and gold manicure }

Main Polish (burgundy): 

OPI - Diva of Geneva

Accent Polish (gold):

Essie - Rising Power

Glitter Polish:

OPI - Golden Eye

I love the trend of accenting one nail with a different color. Nail art can be fun, but there's something so (pardon the pun) polished about a clean manicure with one or two nails in a different color that is either in harmony or contrast. This is one of my favorites -- the colors are so rich and also so beautiful. 

The technique that steals the show with this particular manicure is the application of the glitter. As opposed to coating the entire nail with it, you only use it near the base of the nail and have the polish most heavily concentrated there, then let it fade up the nail. It's a technique I learned from a friend and it almost creates an ombre effect of the glitter, if that makes sense.

This particular gold glitter polish is the absolute best I've ever tried and I've tried MANY. It's a part of the new OPI Skyfall Collection in honor of the newest James Bond movie. I'll be buying several bottles to keep on reserve -- this is a must-have polish for any 

All these polishes are also currently available in stores like Ulta (though OPI and Essie polishes are only for sale at the brick and mortar stores, not online). However, if you do not have an Ulta nearby, I highly recommend AveYou Beauty for OPI polishes (even some polishes that have been discontinued are available there) and Essie. Transdesign also has great prices on China Glaze and one of the best selections of Essie polish.

{ gossip glamour looks for less } Blair Waldorf -- seventeen candles, 1x08

Hey guys!

I'm so sorry it's taken awhile for me to get started reviving this blog and getting back into doing Looks for Less. I've had a couple surgeries and been sick with the flu for about a month. But I'm hoping to get tons of outfits in in the next few weeks between now and the finale (sad face). I'm also starting to do research on The Secret Life of the American Teenager and Glee so I can start doing Looks for Less inspired by those shows.

Here's Blair's birthday outfit from 1x08, Seventeen Candles. :)

{ BlairWaldorf in Gossip Girl -- 1x08: Seventeen Candles }

(1) Jack by BB Dakota "Onyx the Dance Floor" dress -- ModCloth -- $59.99

(2) Eva Franco for ModCloth "The Missing Ink" dress -- ModCloth -- $204.99

(3) "Repeat the Sequins" dress -- ModCloth -- $52.99

(4) SL Fashions Sleeveless Party Dress -- Macy's -- $69.99

(5) Chevron Stripe Full Tights -- Express -- $11.83
(6) Michael Kors Cynthia Cap Toe Pumps -- Bloomingdale's -- $150.00
(7) Soft Style by Hush Puppies Dharma Dress Heels -- Kohl's -- $60.00
(8) Lyn Necklace -- Aldo Accessories -- $25.00
(9) July Birthstone Swarovski Crystal Ring -- Bonanza -- $14.95
(10) Feather Statement Necklace -- The Limited -- $34.90
(11) Candie's High Heel Mary Janes -- Kohl's -- $39.99

If you're looking to recreate this absolutely beautiful and timeless, soft, dewy makeup look that Blair is sporting here, I highly recommend these beauty products from Mary Kay. I am a Mary Kay consultant and beauty expert.

For Blair's subtle, but beautiful eyes ...

{ Shimmery Soft Brown Eye Shadow }

Mary Kay Mineral Eye Shadow in Chocolate Kiss -- Mary Kay -- $6.50

For Blair's full, soft, naturally glossy and shiny lips ...
{ Peachy Neutral Nourishing Gloss }

Mary Kay Nourishine Plus Lip Gloss -- Mary Kay -- $14.00

There's more where this came from! Check back soon!

xoxo,

Heather Nicole

{ gossip glamour looks for less -- UPDATE } Blair Waldorf -- the wild brunch, 1x02

Not all that long ago, I did a post on the white dress that Blair Waldorf (played by Leighton Meester) wore during Episode 1x02, The Wild Brunch. I found a lot of great dresses that were close and a lot of awesome options that you could get a similar look from or totally make your own.

Last night, in the midst of my insomnia, I was browsing around Banana Republic's new Mad Men Collection. The dresses are totally chic and retro (read: super cute) all at the same time. And one beautiful white dress stood  out to me. When I zoomed in, I was immediately in love with how adorable it was and how much it reminded me of that beautiful white dress I was searching for just weeks ago.

If you're looking for a beautiful white dress for spring, this one is it, all Gossip Girl association aside. But this dress has a very distinct patterning that is so reminiscent of the one worn by Queen B. Check out this quick update -- and if you're looking for other similar pieces or accessories to go with, check out the original posting here: Gossip Glamour Look for Less, Episode 1x02 -- Blair Waldorf. As always, a disclaimer: I am not solicited by companies and I have not received any compensation for my opinions or sharing this find with you! Just consider me your Internet shopping pen pal! :)

the mad men collection elbow sleeve draper dress -- Banana Republic -- $130

Enjoy!

xoxo,

Heather Nicole

{ gossip glamour looks for less } Blair Waldorf and Serena van der Woodsen -- bad news blair, 1x04

I was browsing around on Ideeli this morning, not looking for anything in particular, when these two dresses literally jumped up off the page at me. I just finished pulling potential items from some other outfits in 1x02, 1x03, and early 1x04 last night, and I hadn't even begun to think about this look yet. But when I saw the perfect shoes on the page to match, I knew I couldn't hold back.

So here they are -- Serena and Blair in the bright, backless dresses as the end of 1x04, running around New York and taking goofy pictures. And here are some amazing dresses to help you recreate this look for yourself. Remember -- Ideeli's sales have a time limit and sometimes popular items sell out, so you'll want to snag these fast.

eight sixty solid scoop back dress in red -- Ideeli -- $39.99

black and white polka dot head band -- Lilies Boutique -- $5.99

chaps patent leather skinny belt -- Kohl's -- $26.00

eight sixty solid scoop back dress in royal -- Ideeli -- $39.99

red patent skinny belt -- Banana Republic -- $29.50

bcbgeneration court two nude color blocked platform pumps -- Ideeli -- $54.99

Don't worry -- I promise I'll go back to the earlier outfits before these two, but I just knew these dresses wouldn't be around long, so I did this while I could.

Hope you've enjoyed this! :)

xoxo,
Heather Nicole

{ ten for tuesday } 2.28.12 -- my 10 favorite nail polishes

I'm obsessed with nail polish. And because it replaces a previously awful habit -- nail biting -- I indulge myself often. (Probably a little too often.) But no matter how many polishes I find myself leaving Ulta with (when I only went there for shampoo) there are ten all-time favorites I always find myself returning to.

A disclaimer: I've provided links for where you can buy all of these polishes online because I know a lot of readers don't have access to a wide range of polishes. None of these sites have solicited me to advertise for them, I'm simply sharing those I've had the best luck with personally. I have not been compensated for this advice. If you do live near an Ulta, you'll find most of these polishes there as well.

OPI's Rumple's Wiggin' is a beautiful light lavender color. Though some would say it's strictly

a spring color, I also find it really beautiful in the winter. It's also an awesome color for your toes

or a reverse French manicure (with this as the base color and white at the tip). Unfortunately,

this color was part of the Shrek Forever After Collection and is therefore limited edition. However,

it is still available in limited quantities through Amazon's Marketplace from sellers like VIPNail.

Essie's Smooth Sailing has become my ultimate favorite blue nail polish. Though I have many

none quite compare in beauty to Smooth Sailing. What the photograph doesn't depict well is

the beautiful silvery duo-chrome the polish has. And while most blue polishes give your nail

beds a nasty blue stain when you remove it, this polish is an exception to the rule. It's available

on Aveyou Beauty.

This is my absolute favorite glitter polish and it's also become a favorite among my friends.

It's the ultimate polish for a night out -- just enough glitz without being gaudy. It's simply a

fun polish to look at and I've even worn it to work in a business setting and gotten plenty

of compliments. It's not flashy -- just fun! It is also VERY reminiscent of OPI's Absolutely

Alice polish, which was limited edition and nearly impossible to find. Another great thing

about China Glaze's version is the dramatic different in price point. It's available on

TransDesign for only $2.99. 

This polish is a perfect Tiffany blue and in my opinion, no other brand has gotten the color

right besides China Glaze. It's the perfect mix of a blue and green. It's not too pastel and it

isn't too bright. You know what that means? You can wear it all year round. This is another

polish available through TransDesign at $2.99.

This beautiful grape polish with a delicate gold sheen to it is the newest to join the ranks

of my favorite polishes. It's part of OPI's new Holland Collection and it's a color that feels

glamorous and trendy all at the same time. If you're hesitant to try the super dark polish

that models and actresses alike are opting for, this is a nice halfway mark. You can grab it

on Aveyou Beauty. I also featured this polish last week on Tuesday's Tip -- check it out!

Meet Me on the Star Ferry is another polish that my friends have come to love and it

has been on my most-used list for about a year now. I love how versatile it is. It is

dark, but because of the golden shimmer to it, it's still somehow light. A cross between

a burgundy, a wine, and even a little brown, it goes with nearly everything. It looks so

winter appropriate, but the way it picks up the sun in the summer is beautiful, too. This

polish is a part of OPI's Swiss Collection from fall 2010, but it's still readily available

at stores and online at Aveyou Beauty.

Ate Berries in the Canaries was part of OPI's fall 2009 Espania Collection. After reading raves

from so many beauty bloggers and hearing so much love for it from beauty gurus on You Tube,

I had to give it a try. It's the only polish I had a hard time getting an accurate color translation on.

From in person to on camera is a big difference and Aveyou Beauty shows it being more purple,

but don't let either of us fool you -- it's the epitome of the perfect fuschia and I can't help but look

at my nails and smile when I wear it. It's a very perky color and great for spring and summer.

I've never been much for red nail polish. I think it's because I just usually find red polish to be

boring and predictable. For my entire life, I swear to you, one of my aunts has worn the exact

same shade of red. With so many beautiful colors out there, how can you possibly choose one

to stick with for a literal lifetime? But this particular shade takes the cake and the more I use it,

the more I find myself saying that if I could only have one polish for the rest of my life, it would

have to be this one. It's a perfect candy apple red -- not too dark, crimson, or orange. This is

a perfect shade to wear year round, and though the word "toes" is in the phrase and it certainly

looks good on your toes, I think it's way too fun to keep covered by shoes most of the time.

I love this polish so much that I featured it in a post this past fall. With just a touch of coral to it,

it's a completely unboring red. This one is also available on Aveyou Beauty.

Kiss on the Chic was the very first OPI polish I ever bought. I got it last year in early January

because I loved how tasteful and pretty it was and also how it was a unique neutral. I was in

the midst of conquering my nail-biting habit then and I wanted a good color that would go with

everything, that would look natural, and that I could keep applying as my nails started to grow

out. I still return to this polish if my nails have been brittle and are breaking. It's also become a 

vacation favorite of mine -- this was the shade I wore to California because I knew it would be

perfect for any outfit. My mom doesn't tend to like lighter nail polishes and likes brighter colors.

But even she has borrowed this polish to take to her manicurist because she loves it so much.

Kiss on the Chic is available at Aveyou Beauty.

Last, but certainly not least, is Essie's Chincilly, a perfect light gray that is appropriate at all times

of year, but especially winter and spring. This is a hugely popular shade of Essie's, so much so that

I was on the hunt for it for months. Every where I went, they seemed to be out of it. Luckily, you

won't have to search so hard -- it's available on Aveyou Beauty, too.

xoxo,

Heather Nicole

{ tuesday's tip } 2.28.12 -- resuscitate your polishes

The day before I left for San Diego, I was doing what most girls do before a vacation -- scrambling through to-do lists, over-packing, and primping so that I'd feel my best for my trip and not have to worry about too much while I was there. On my list -- giving myself an at-home manicure.

For those of you who read this blog, you know I'm nail obsessed. I love giving myself manicures and the time I spend perfecting it rivals the amount of time that guys spend playing their X-Box. I revel in saving myself the cash but having a professionally polished look and I love to teach others (check out last week's Tuesday's Tip for an at-home manicure manual).

But on the day before my trip, Murphy's Law seemed to be in full swing over all my plans -- whatever can go wrong was absolutely going wrong. I spent an hour on my nails and was just finishing it off with a quick-dry top coat of Seche Vite (one of my fave top coats) when I noticed it the consistency had gotten mysteriously thick -- almost gluey. Of course, I didn't really notice it until I was halfway through topping off my nails and soon, my nails were sticking to anything and everything within a three foot radius and my polish looked more like clay.

Annoyed, I removed all my polish, started from the top, and used a different topcoat. When I finished, I ranted about my top coat on Facebook and went about my not-so-merry way.

By the time I'd landed in San Diego the next day, I'd gotten a response from a friend of mine we'll call M, who works at an upscale salon in the city I live and is very, very reputable.

"Drop a couple of drops of acetone into your top coat (slowly) and that should thin it back out! :)"

When I got home, I ran out to buy an eyedropper, and sure enough, her trick worked like a charm. It doesn't just work for top and bottom coats either. According to my research online, you can use it in regular nail varnishes as well.

Follow these three super simple steps and your favorite nail colors and protectants will be in your arsenal for awhile:

1. Fill a small eye dropper up about halfway with acetone and mix 3-4 drops with the polish. 
2. Close the polish, shake it up, let it sit for a good 30 minutes at least.
3. Check the consistency of the polish. If it's still a little thick, add another drop or two, shake it up, then let it sit for another 30 minutes. Repeat until it returns to a normal consistency. 

Love nail polish? Me too -- check back here later today for my first Tuesday Ten. The theme: My favorite nail colors.

xoxo,
Heather Nicole

{ tuesday's tip } 2.21.12 -- make the most of your manicure

Last week, electronics were not my friend. My laptop charger died, rendering me computer-less until today, and my 1-1/2 inch barrel curling iron followed suit. After a frustrating visit to the Geek Squad at Best Buy where I learned my service contract would only replace my charger if I brought a copy of my contract -- which is at my parents' house an hour or so away -- and if I were willing to wait one to two weeks for it to be shipped, I unhappily shilled out $65 for a new charger. Granted, it is a universal laptop charger that comes with a special port you can attach to the battery so you can charge your iPhone/iPod/e-reader without feeding off your laptop's battery life, but $65 is two weeks worth of groceries for me and as a college student, every penny counts.

On the way home, I stopped at Ulta, to replace my new curling iron. This purchase was much more exciting and much less depressed. Why is it that buying something you need that is too expensive is frustrating, yet buying something you really want more than you need is elating? At least the curling iron was only $20, but anytime I walk into a Ulta, even with a list or a single item to purchase in mind, I always come out with more than I intended on. Today was no different, and my mood and the dreary, slushy, snowy weather made me apt to buy more.

One of the items I purchased is a polish from OPI's new Holland collection. I've seen the polishes in the magazine ads and I really didn't think they would be anything special. Trust me when I tell you that these polishes must be seen in person to appreciate their beauty. Most of them have a beautiful duo-chrome sort of sheen that is in no way gaudy, but absolutely stunning. The shade that captured my eye from the second I walked in the door is Dutch 'Ya Just Love OPI?, a beautiful grape purple with a delicate gold reflex that is simply gorgeous when it catches the light. I loved it so much that I had to race home and put it on right away. Take a look:

My nails are probably one of my favorite natural accessories. I love to do my hair and makeup, but painting my nails a new color is always exciting. But I wasn't always this way. It was a habit I hung onto for at least twenty years. Last year, I finally managed to kick the habit. After watching several beauty and fashion bloggers, getting a good feel for different at home manicure techniques, and researching quality products and tools, I finally decided to take the plunge. Now, giving myself a manicure is something I really look forward to and enjoy. I love how I can change my look with my nails.

I thought I'd take Tuesdays to share some of my favorite tips, whether it be for beauty, fashion, lifestyle, cooking, interior design, or whatever happens to be on my mind.

This Tuesday, I'm sharing my tips for giving yourself a great at home manicure ...

{ 1 - get yourself some manicure tools }

Having a nice set of tools is most important and it makes all the difference in the quality of the manicure you give yourself. My set was given to me as a Christmas present and came from Bath and Body Works, which unfortunately they do not sell right now. However, I love this set from Ulta. It's affordable and great starter. My favorite nail file is by Revlon and super affordable -- you can buy it online, but you can also find it at any drugstore or Target. I love how easily it shapes my nails and how high quality it is. I've had it since September and I still don't need a new one yet.

If you're a recovering nail biter like me, your tools are that much more important. It becomes even more important for you to have a small kit of essentials in your purse at all times. You're so much more likely to return to biting your nails if you have rough or ragged edges. This kit is perfect and will fit easily in your purse. Once you get to a point where you don't need all that in your purse all the time, it's still great to keep an emery board with you. I swear by these mini nail files by Ms. Manicure and the greatest part is that they only cost a dollar for a packet.

Don't forget to care for your cuticles. I'm a habitual cuticle biter, even now that I've stopped biting nails -- if they're dry, they bug me. To keep myself from gnawing on them, I use Essie's Cuticle Pen. It's an easy way to use cuticle oil and you see instant results.

{ 2 - spring for pricey polishes }

I am a polish snob. I rarely use drugstore brands, mostly because I haven't found one brand whose brush or formulation I like. I swear by OPI, Essie, and China Glaze. Sure, they can be a little expensive, but to me, it's worth it.

Think about it this way -- every time you don't bite your nails, you're ingesting fewer germs, so you're inevitably cutting out on the cost of cold medicines or doctor's visits. If you're working or going for a job interview, having well-maintained nails is a must and considered very professional. For girls, especially if we're interviewing with another woman, it is absolutely a part of the first impression you make on someone. Well kept nails could actually turn out to be profitable. Besides that, I think that colors from higher quality brands are just brighter and richer. Looking at my beautifully polished nails makes me happier. When I look at how many days I am made happier by a single polish, the $8 a bottle doesn't seem so bad.

You can cut down on price though by searching on the web. Some Amazon marketplace independent sellers run nail polish shops that are very reputable and have great reviews and discounts.

Though I buy most of my polishes from Ulta, I also use the Internet if I want to order in bulk, want a better selection, or am looking for hard to find limited edition polishes (like the ones from the Muppet movie that recently came out). My absolute favorite store online for polishes is Avenue You Beauty -- they have the best selection and it's easy to find exactly what you're looking for. I've also used Nail Etc. and TransDesign (which has phenomenal pricing for Essie and China Glaze polishes) and like them both.

Get a few, high quality polishes you love instead of a bunch of cheaper polishes that won't last as long or give you as much enjoyment.

While you're buying polishes, make sure to get a bottom coat and a topcoat. My favorite base coat is Seche Clear. I also love Seche Vite fast dry topcoat. But my favorite topcoat is Sally Hansen Hard as Nails Strengthening Top Coat -- it treats brittle or weak nails and really helps your polish hold.

{ 3 - practice makes perfect }

Set aside one hour once or twice a week to give yourself a manicure. Make sure you do it at a time when you're not going to need to do anything that could chip or mangle your work. I like to do it after dinner, usually a couple hours before bed. Polish takes a full 12-24 hours to completely set. One way to reduce the risk is to sleep through it, but I'd wait at least an hour after to apply your topcoat before you hit the sack. Here are the best general steps I've found to achieving a manicure that looks like you just left the salon, not your kitchen table:

• Remove any old polish from your nails. Even if you don't have any polish on them, it's a good idea to quickly swipe some non-acetone polish remover over your nails to get rid of any natural oils.
• Use a good hand cream and take a few minutes to really massage it into your fingers -- well cared for skin makes for healthy nails. I like Sally Hansen Nails & Cuticles 24 Hour Hand Cream.
• Use cuticle oil on your cuticles and massage it into your cuticles and fingers. You can go sparingly here -- a little goes a long way. Push back your cuticles now, too, with an orange stick. If you need to trim your cuticles, do it now, but make sure you've sanitized your trimmers and be very careful.
• Wash your hands and buff your nails dry with a soft towel to remove any excess lotion or oil from your nail bed.
• Shape your nails with a good emery board. Only file your nails in one direction, not back and forth, which can actually cause your nails to be more ragged and damaged. Clip your nails now, too, if you need to trim them.
• Apply a base coat to all of your nails. Allow it a good five minutes to dry.
• Apply one thin coat of polish, doing your best to cover the entire nail. Keep non-acetone polish remover, clean orange stick, and a few Q-Tips near by to remove any mistakes right away from your skin before it dries. Allow your nails five minutes to dry.
• Apply a second thin coat of polish. Make sure you get a good coat of polish at the tips of your nails, so much so that it actually sort of wraps over the tip. This will ensure that you get less chipping.
• Before applying a topcoat, check your nails for any little areas that were missed, and use the side of the brush (not the flat part) to fill in any bare areas. 
• Immediately after finishing with your nail color, apply a topcoat. This will ensure that the polish dries along with the top coat, making it stronger. Allow your nails five minutes to dry.
• Finally, apply a thin coat of top coat just to the tips of your nails to minimize chipping. Allow your nails to dry a full twenty minutes before doing any activity.

{ 4 - maintain, maintain, maintain }

Before bed every night, make sure you rub a good hand cream into your hands liberally and massage it into your cuticles. If you do it before bed, you give it all the time you're sleeping to absorb and heel any cracks.

As the week goes on, take time to reapply your topcoat (unless you plan on changing your color). If you decide you want to reapply the current shade that you have on, simply use a file to sand down the edge where the polish has grown out, then fill it in with the color. One thin coat should do.

So that's it for this week's tip.

What kind of topics would you guys like tips on?

xoxo,
Heather Nicole