Mani of the Week ... e.l.f.

This week's mani ... 2 coats of Metallic Magenta by e.l.f. & (ring finger accent) in 

Fur-Ocious Vocals, Sally Hansen Nail Polish Strips.

 Indoor Sun

Outdoor Shade

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Loving the way this color pops! And the cheetah print ... always my fave!! I am trying to get all the neons and brights out of my system - fall is just around the corner!!

All Lacquered Up ... Nail Polish Swap!

  Have you girls checked out this fun swap yet? I just signed up ... so exciting!! Hurry and get signed up ... the entry deadline is coming up soon!! ~ Happy Wednesday!!

Mani of the Week ... I Need A Refresh-Mint

 Wet n Wild's Megalast Polish in I Need A Refresh-Mint

LOVE this color ... It is almost like a Tiffany blue or a Robin Egg shade. I first spotted this color over at Fashion.MakeUp.LifeStyle's blog, and the oh-so-sweet Marina emailed me the color info.

I added a little diagonal sparkle on half of each nail, but it doesn't show up very well ... next time I will use a darker sparkle, or even a contrasting color!

Hope everyone is having a fabulous week!!

xoxo

Camping ... Conquered!

 I SURVIVED!!

Camping was a lot of fun. Once the tent was up, the gear all laid out, and the food was all organized, I was able to relax a bit and take it all in. While I was not a fan of all the dirt, the cocktails around the campfire sure helped with this minor issue. We ended up staying the one night, only because day 2 was a bit cooler and I didn't pack enough clothes for me and the kiddos. Note taken for next time ... yes, there will be a next time!

Thanks so much for all the tips and support for my first camping trip, peeps!!

xoxo 

I am going camping y'all!

My fam and I are going camping with my bestie and her fam. Like real camping. Outdoors. In. A. Tent.

Now, I do not consider myself to be prissy at all, but this chica does not like dirt. I have a hard time at the beach because of sand (eww!) and walking barefoot outdoors gives me the heeby-jeebies! I am a bit of a germ-a-phobe when it comes to public bathrooms, too. Unless it's an emergency, I ain't using one. And porta-potties? Hell to the NO!

So why am I going camping, you might be wondering?
Because all my friends are doing it.

I've got 2 boys who love the great outdoors, and what kind of momma would I be if I wasn't up for a little adventure every now and then? I like the art of surprise, and let me tell ya - my husband is SHOCKED that I am actually planning such a trip. Most of our friends go camping all summer long, so I figure with enough alcohol enthusiasm, I will rock this trip out!
The trip is planned for one night with an option to stay an extra night. Hey, baby steps. I am a newbie at sleeping in a camping park close to home with bathrooms and showers the wild wilderness. No pop-up trailers here ... we will be in tents under the stars, cooking on a Weber Grill an open fire, and singing Kumbaya 'round the campfire.  Ok, maybe not that last part. ^ 
So what will one need on such a trip? I am the head of packing for my family. I want to make sure I grab the essentials without going overboard; confirming any suspicions that this is, indeed, my first romp in the woods.
What tips do you have for survival (slightly kidding, although if I see any snakes, all bets are off and we are back home before dark! ) and what are some easy recipes that are a must for camping?

DIY ... Easy Up-do!

Please forgive the blurry iPhone pics ... just a quick post on an updo I did the other day in the 98 degree (holla) heat!!

 Gather up the hair and bangs around your face and seperate into 3 pieces. Braid these sections towards the back of your head and pinch off at the end.

 With your free hand, gather up the rest of your hair and include the end of your braid. Wrap up into a messy bun, leaving several strands longer, and secure with a rubber band.  

Kinda hard to tell from this shot with my darker hair, but this style adds a little twist to the typical summertime pony. It's quick and easy, plus I get lots of compliments ... gotta love that!

Mani of the Week ... Swirly Tips

Another mani inspired by Pinterest ... such a crafty little site.

 Pick out 3 colors ... I went with Jessie's Girl Baby Cakes, NYC Lexington Yellow, and Metallic Blue by e.l.f.

 Paint your base color and let fully dry ... I actually waited a full 24 hours to allow the polish to set, but you don't need to wait that long.

Take color #2 and paint on an un-even swirly tip. I did 2 coats of each of these colors.

 With color #3, paint a thinner swirly tip, leaving a layer of polish #2 showing.

You can make these layers as thick or as thin as you prefer.

Add your fave top coat and you are finished!

 Outdoor in full sun

The fun part with this mani style is the fun color combos you can use ... pastels, brights, neons, metallics ... the choices are endless! How cute would these be to rep your favorite sports teams, holidays, or seasons? I also love that you don't have to have mad skills in the perfect polish department. The swirls are not meant to be even, so you really can't go wrong!

Arm Candy

How cute are my bracelets?!? Omgsh ... I adore stacking my favorite wristlets. The three bangles are from Forever 21, the two beaded bracelets were handmade and gifted, the threaded bling is from American Eagle, and the pave cross ... $11 and can be purchased here.

I tried it ... Wen Hair Care by Chaz Dean

WEN® Cleansing Conditioner

WEN® Cleansing Conditioner is a revolutionary new concept in hair care. A 5-in-1 formula, this one product takes the place of your shampoo, conditioner, deep conditioner, detangler and leave-in conditioner. It cleanses hair thoroughly but without lathering and all the harsh ingredients that may be found in ordinary shampoos—it is designed so it won't strip your hair and scalp of their natural oils. Your hair is left with sheen, moisture, manageability and better color retention.

Unlike many ordinary shampoos, WEN® cleansers are made with natural ingredients and contain no sodium laurel sulfate or other damaging detergents. They don't lather; instead, they create smooth foam when mixed with water for shinier, healthier-looking, more manageable results.

A cleansing conditioner that does not lather ... a hard concept for me to get used to. I have been using Wen Cleansing Conditioner in Lavender for the past 3 weeks. While it is kinda weird to be washing my hair with conditioner, I have to admit that this stuff is pretty awesome!
This last year, I have put my tresses through the ringer ... hair extensions, bleaching and coloring, ombre dying ... my poor hair! The last visit to the salon, I cut quite a few inches off my hair to get rid of the dry, brittle ends. I have since been dying only my roots a dark brown color to blend the grow out, but I am over the harsh chemical processing.
To use Wen, you are instructed to dispense 8 to 16 pumps into your hands and massage the conditioner into your hair, combing it through from scalp to ends, and then wrap up hair into a bun for 2 to 5 minutes. For best results, they recommend putting the cleansing conditioner in right as you get in the shower, and rinsing it out as the very last thing before getting out. For extra conditioning, after rinsing your hair clean, you can put a dime-sized amount of Wen throughout the lower portion of your hair while hair is still soaking wet.
In my damaged hair, I use the full 16 pumps. The product is in my hair for the entire time I am in the shower, usually 15 minutes or so. After rinsing, while my hair is still dripping, I use a full pump for the leave-in conditioning.
The results are incredible! Super soft hair, smooth and re-hydrated. The most impressive result ... no need to flat iron!! Since doing the ombre look, I have had to flat-iron my hair every.single.time I shower. A process that takes up time, and adds stress to my locks. Wen has brought so much life back to my hair. It feels healthier, looks shiny and smooth and smells uh-mazing!! I am a big fan of the lavender scent - the aromatherapy it provides in the steam of the shower is so relaxing, and my hubby compliments me on how great my hair smells. I am excited to try the Sweet Almond Mint scent next!
Overall, I am loving Wen Cleansing Conditioner. Retail is $32 for a 30-day supply. Being that this one product is replacing several individual products, the price is worth it. There are several specials and deals online to get you started, and Wen is backed by a 60 day guarantee. You really can't go wrong!
Have you used Wen Cleansing Conditioner? What are your thoughts? What are the products you love for your hair care?

Mani of the Week .. NYC Mint Breeze & Tutorial

This week, I am rockin' NYC Mint Breeze ... a fabulous green-teal color! This shade is from the Expert Last line, and so far has gotten me several comments on how it looks like a Shellac manicure!

 The cheetah print was all done by hand ... all.by.myself!! Oh yeah, peeps! Homegirl is gettin' crafty up in here!! I see way too many fancy manis on Pinterest to not try some of them myself ... more to come, but I will show you how I did this one!

 SUPER easy!! Grab the two colors you wanna use for your animal print. I used a silver color from a brand called Hoof that I got at Ross a while back, and a charcoal color by OPI called Suzi Skis In The Pyrenees.

 Using the end of a super thin paintbrush (got this one at Sally's Beauty supply), dip just the bottom in the base color of choice and place several dots on top of your polished (dry) nail. I re-dipped after each dot, making sure the base was going to stand out and not look too thin in color. Give a few seconds to dry.

 Next up, take the brush end and dip in the outline color of choice. Being that animal print is never perfect, don't fret this part! Simply outline the dots. I didn't encase the entire dot, leaving spaces to look more animal-like. I also added a few black splotches to fill in the bare spots a little better.

If your brush is thicker or not the right angle you want, you can either cut it down a bit with scissors to the desired size needed, or use just the corners of it (as I did).

Give a few seconds to dry and add your favorite top coat to lock it in.

And there you have it ... so easy and can be done in just a few extra minutes! What do you think? Have you tried any fun mani styles at home? Please share!!

Fashion Friday ... Summatime Shorts!

Just drooling and wishing these outfits were mine.

Thanks Pinterest.

Boats 'N Hoes ... minus the boats.

So disappointed in Miss Kristen. Cheaters never prosper ... especially when they wanna make out with a married daddy of two kids and break the heart of the man that would have given her the world! I mean, REALLY?!?! I am sure the gossip will continue and more details may surface (was it really just a kissing affair?), but how could two people be so selfish to destroy relationships, tear apart a family, and break the trust of their loved ones so carelessly? Shame, shame, shame!

Nail Color of the Week ... Good to Grape

Sally Hansen's Good to Grape from the Complete Salon Manicure line, purchased at a Ross store for $1.99. Directions are simple - 2 coats of polish and let dry. No need for a basecoat or top coat.

 Here is a shot of the color indoors with a flash ...

 Indoors without a flash ...

 Outdoors, full sun, with a flash ...

and outdoors, full sun, without a flash.

~

My verdict ... not a bad polish! The brush is extra wide, which I had to get used to, but it made for quicker application. Although the bottle says no top coat is needed, I always like extra shine and quick dry time, so I painted a coat of my favorite Seche Vite on top. Wearability so far has been great - day three with no chipping or peeling! Not too shabby for $1.99!

Puffy Eyes? Try this .. Origins GinZing

GinZing^™

Refreshing eye cream to brighten and depuff.

√ 86% brighter appearance

√ 80% reduction in puffiness

Late night? Long flight? Look tired all the time? Prepare to become one of the perky people! Nature's clinically-proven morning-after eye cream instantly reduces dark circles. Unsightly bags and puffiness virtually disappear. And Origins proprietary complex of Caffeine from Coffee bean, Panax Ginseng, Magnolia Extract and natural optic brighteners rapidly wakes up, refreshes and restores radiance to tired eyes. Best for all skin types.

I received a sample of this eye cream with a Sephora purchase recently, and am LOVING it!! I have major puffy eyes, no matter how well rested I am. I have tried several treatments to remedy this little issue; tea bags, cucumbers, Preparation H, ice cubes, even an under eye massage a doctor recommended one time. Nothing seems to work.

GinZing seems to really brighten my eyes and those dark circles, plus de-puffs! It is slightly cooling when you first apply it. I think it would be great to keep in the refrigerator for an even cooler sensation. A little amount goes a long way, too! This eye cream retails for $29.50 for .5 ounces, but you seriously only need a dab! This little product will definitely be in my next Sephora order!

Do you have a favorite eye cream that works miracles on puffy eyes and dark circles?

Hump Day Humor ... for the love of food!

Find me on Pinterest - link in my sidebar ----->

Nail Color of the Week

My nail color this week is a hot little neon pink by China Glaze ... Pink Voltage!

I snagged this one at my nail salon after getting a mani/pedi and falling head over heels with this vibrant pop of sexiness! Neon colors are fabulous right now in all aspects of the fashion and beauty world ... one thing I love about this trend is how tan I look when I rock the brights!

 Pink Voltage ~ outdoors

Pink Voltage ~ indoors

What about you? Are you embracing neon colors? What's your favorite nail color of the moment?

Fashion Friday

 White skinny jeans ... Love Culture (and only $15.90!)

Cardigan ... JC Penney

Ruffle Top ... Hollister

 Bracelets ... Target

Thumb Ring ... Kohls

Stacked Rings ... Nelle & Lizzy

Shoes ... City Streets ... JC Penney

These 5-inch heels are actually super comfy, and they were $30!