Wonderful Day Off!

So I had a day off all to myself today...and I can't think of any better way to spend it then doing crafty projects around our apartment!! :) 

I've been scoping out a couple different videos on YouTube about DIY nail polish racks. A girl who's videos I like to watch has a great one up on this project. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-QmkFhLfHg

Things that you'll need for this project are:

1. Three pieces of standard size foam boards (I got mine at Wal Mart). I just grabbed the black color because it went better with the leopard print.

2. A hot glue gun & lots of extra glue sticks.

3. A sharp Exacto Knife

4. A straight edge...a t square would work great. 

5. Something to measure with, a ruler or tape measure.

6. A pencil 

7. OPTIONAL leopard print duct tape. (Or any design duct tape.)

Directions:

- Take first piece of foam board, measure and mark every 5 inches across the shortest part of the board. Drawing a straight line across entire piece. This will be the backing board of the polish rack. The lines will be were you glue your shelves. After all said and done you will have drawn five lines down the length your board. 

- Second, take the next piece of foam board, measure and mark every 2 inches across the shortest part of the board. Make seven of these 2 inch pieces. These sections will be your shelf bottoms. Draw lines as straight as possible and then cut with an Exacto knife. 

- With the remaining half of the second piece of foam board, cut and measure seven 1 inch strips. These strips should also be the same length as the shelves. They will serve as the front of the shelf and what we will end up covering in Duct Tape.The tape serves no real purpose except to add a fun twist.

- Moving on to the third and last piece of foam board. Cut two 2 1/2 inch sections the long way (Vertically). These two sections will serve as the two sides of our nail polish rack. I also chose to cover mine in duct tape. :) 

- Take your first piece of foam board and begin gluing on each 2 inch section. Try to keep them as straight as possible, following the lines you have drawn on your backing board. When you think you have used enough glue...always use more. 

- After all shelf bottoms are glued on, glue the sides of your rack together. You're almost finished, it should look like a normal shelf or rack but without the front leopard print pieced to keep our polishes from falling. 

- Lastly glue your duct tape covered one inch strips to the front of every shelf bottom. This adds stability and again keeps the polishes from sliding off the rack.

- DING your snazzy nail polish rack is done and ready to be filled with all your beautiful nail polishes. You can also choose to mount your rack on the wall, it should be sturdy enough. I just chose to sit mine on top of my dresser! :)

 

My other project for today involved my wedding photos! :) I just haven't had time to put up this framed wall art that we got as a gift for our wedding. So I FINALLY printed out some of my favorite photos from our wedding! These frames were rather easy to put together and are a good quality. I think they are from Bed Bath and Beyond. ;) 

Picutresssss.

Thought maybe people would like to see some nail polish swatches!! 

So here are some pictures of the polishes I recently got. On the far left is OPI Pink Flamenco with Nicki Minaj Save Me over top. The middle nail is just about four coats of NM Save Me. (That'll take about one year to take off with polish remover.) And lastly is the combo that I will be painting my nails after I finish this blog. The base is Essie's Ballet Slipper with one coat of NM Save me on top of it! 

Here are all the products I used in making this post.The top coat that I have currently been using is called Out The Door top coat. I love it! I've been using it for a few months now and haven't had any problems. It isn't too thick, and does NOT get goopy like Seche Vite does after it's been opened! The drying time is AMAZING with this top coat! Which is a lot coming from me because I can't seem to help but want to touch everything in sight before my nails are completely dry! The price varies from store to store, I found my bottle at Christmas Tree Shop for like $4! I do recommend the top coat Seche Vite, but only for about a month or so, because it goes all thick and sticky! It costs a bit more, coming in at just about $9 or so! I guess they do make what is called a "restorer:" for Seche Vite...but I think that gets a little pricey too...So I'll just stick with my Out The Door instead of spending $20 on a top coat when it's all said and done!

Favorites...Recommendations.

Recommendations. 

Well being the slacker that I am I've accumulated a few new favorites since my last blog. I tired to get a bigger selection...a little something for everyone, ya know? These next things I have been loving lately. Not all of them are new, some I've been using for a while and just feel like they might be worth spreading the love. 

First are a few nail polish colors and a hair product. I've been wanting to try something, or anything from the Macadamia Natural Oil line. These products are a little on the pricier side so I wanted to start out with something a little less expensive. This trial size as less than 10 dollars. It's a natural oil for dry and damaged hair. With my over dyed over dried hair I've really been testing out some new products lately! I put this in my hair after I've towel tried it and before I use any other products or style my hair. I concentrate it on my ends. Because it is an oil it can get a little greasy or weigh down your hair if you add too much or use it in the wrong place. So by keeping it targeted on the ends it doesn't get that unwashed, matted look. Thank goodness. I've been trying to grow my hair long and this product has helped in my split ends and dryness. It is by no means mending my split ends that I have already, it just makes them feel more hydrated.

As for the nail polishes, I went to Ulta with the thought of spring on my mind. With all the dark colors from fall and winter on my nails I've really been wanting something to snap me out of the winter months. So I figured these new shades would be perfect for spring. From left to right, Java Mauve-A, Pink Flamenco & Cajun Shrimp. All from what I think is the normal permanent OPI collection. I've already worn all of them and have nothing bad to say about them!!
While we are on the subject of winter months, let's talk about hydration. I know that my skin, as well as my lips are really getting dry. As for my skin I've been slathering on a generous amount of Jergens Cherry and Almond scented body lotion. Not only does it smell great, it's also keeping my dry flaky skin at bay. As for my winter dry lips, I've been trying a few new things. I don't know if anyone else has noticed the plethora of lip balm type products that makeup brands have launched lately. Most of them claiming to add color, shine and moisture to ones lips. Revlon's "Lip Butters", Covergirl's "Baby Lips" and Loreal's "The Balm" just to name a few. I have tried a couple of these types of products, and I finally found one that holds true to what it claims to do. The "Baby Lips" by Covergirl provides a small hint of color while keeping my lips glossy and moisturized. The application feels comparable to Nivea's Kiss of Moisture chap stick. Not only does it give color, shine and moisture, but it also smells like grape kool-aid...who doesn't like that! The flavor mine is in is Grape Vine.

Ok ok ok, I know, this is the last nail polish. But I HAVE been waiting for this OPI collection to launch ALL MONTH!! The collection is Nicki Minaj by OPI. The one and only polish I got from this line is called Save Me, and it's an extreme glitter. It has all different shaped pieces of glitter including those cool long "bar" glitters. It throws a few different colors, like blue orange and green the most. I was looking for the perfect silver based glitter polish to go over my already painted nails...as a sort of accent. I usually only wear glitter on my ring finger. Just a touch of glitter over a polish here or there really makes a difference!! I won't be wearing this on all of my fingers as a stand alone polish for two reasons. One being it takes about four coats of it to go opaque. The other reason it takes FOREVER to come off. Even with my Zoya nail polish remover it takes some elbow grease. But none the less it is an amazing looking polish and I recommend it to glitter polish lovers everywhere!! As for the rest of the Nicki Minaj line, I think I can pass. There are three cream neons, and one other glitter polish. There is also one shatter polish in this collection. Most of the polishes are however doupeable. I didn't feel the need to go all crazy for this collection,
The last two items that are my favorite for this month are a little different than usual. I mainly feature makeup or hair related products but I thought I might throw these things in too...ey what the heck! The first is a candle from the brand Candle Cottage, it's in the scent Bakers Secret. Now this line of candles has been a little difficult to find. I've found it twice now at our local Wal-Mart. It smells AMAZING, like a baking blueberry pie!! I love all home scents and candles that have a hint of blueberry in them. This candle has a great burn time and the scent throw is great as well. They are a little on the pricey side, coming in at right about $8 a candle. There are a few other scents that I like from this brand, but like I said they are a little difficult to come by. The only other way to get a hold of some of them is online. Just google Candle Cottage. A few other noteworthy blueberry scented candles are Blueberry Scone by Yankee Candle. Better Homes (Wal-Mart) makes a good one, Wild Berry Cheesecake, and another called Blueberry Muffin. Target carries a novelty candle, I'm not so sure of the brand name, but that scent is also called Blueberry Muffin. And for those people who like the tart/wax warmers or burners the brand Scentsy makes a Blueberry Cheesecake wax tart that is by far my favorite!! Anddd now I realize that I have a weird infatuation with the smell of blueberry...on we go!!
Lastly is a bottle of wine. My husband and I were at our friends house for dinner and had a glass of this. The next day I was on the hunt to try and find it. A few wine/liquor stores later I FINALLY tracked it down. I'm not sure why it was so hard to find because it's delicious! It's definitely on the sweeter side of the spectrum! I'd recommend it to those people who are just starting to get into wine, or those that like sweeter wines. I enjoy it chilled or with an ice cube or two. It's by Thousand Islands Winery and it's their red table wine. Very sweet and full of grape flavor...almost a grape juice!!

And there you have it, my January(ish)  favorites!! TA DA!

Year of the...Dragon?

Happy 2012!!

I hope everyone had a great holiday season, I know I did!! With as much lead up as we have for Christmas and the New Year you would think that I would be glad to see it go. However, that is not the case. Ever since I can remember I have dreaded that "day after Christmas" feeling. Come on, you know that feeling. Where you've put so much time and effort into something and it's gone in the blink of an eye. I suppose I could compare it to the planning of my wedding and the day of my wedding. You have crazy expectations and dreams. You focus so hard on it, and then...whoop, there it went. However enjoyable, it just doesn't last long enough. I have also found out that it gets worse the older you get. We get up later (I will not get up at 5:30 on Christmas morning to open socks and oven mitts.), we get sleepy earlier, and we don't get anything cool to play with. Yeah yeah I know, I wouldn't ever trade time with my family and loved ones for anything, I'm just saying getting older blows.

So in an attempted to prolong my memory of the holidays and the year 2011, I thought what better way to start off the new year than an overview of the last. Here are some of the most recent products that I have gotten...some of them I'm sure will become favorites in 2012, 

From left to right: ZOYA in Edyta. ZOYA in Stacy. ZOYA nail polish remover. Ulta Professional makeup primer. Urban Decay eyeshadow in Midnight Cowboy Rides Again. OPI in Pamploma Purple. OPI in My Private Jet. And China Glaze in Cracked Medallion. 

 I have an obvious nail polish problem. Problem. I constantly convince myself that there is something I have to get at Wegmans, just so I can walk down the nail polish isle. I can justify most nail polish purchases with the thought of at least ONE shirt that I have that would match said nail polish color. I think that in 2012, to please my wallet, and my husband. I will try harder to use the colors that I already own. I buy them because I like them, so I should use them more than once, right? As long as I can get though the next couple releases of the limited edition nail polish colors I will be fine. Nicki Minaj has a collection coming out in January, and most of the polishes are kind of neon. I'm not a huge fan of neon nails. HOWEVER, there is an amazing bar glitter that I must have. I missed out on the glitter polish from the Muppet's collection. I haven't given up totally, I am still on the hunt. I have spent the last couple months in search of the perfect glitter polish. One that can go with many of my polishes. It needs to be the right consistency and application. I'm thinking of a couple Deborah Lippmann bottles...but have yet to commit. I like a glitter ring finger every once in a while, and I have yet to find that special one.
So far I like the ZOYA products I purchased, the only place locally that I can find them is at Ulta Beauty Supply. The remover is great, so is the packaging. The OPI colors I have gotten are great, perfect for the holidays. My Private Jet is going to be a staple throughout the year of 2012, I can tell already!! The Crackle from China Glaze is not the most amazing polish ever. It might have been because I didn't give it enough time or enough polish. But I will certainly be giving it another chance to wow me because the color is pretty!
The Ulta face primer I picked up on a whim. I'm not sure if I love it yet. I know I don't hate it, and it hasn't made me break out. (knock on wood) It has the same silicone feeling that the Smashbox Photo Finish has. And it does have a great matte finish that stays with me all day long.
For the first time I am a little disappointed in Urban Decay. I love the other shadows and palettes I have from them. However, this single shadow does not live up to it's hype. The payoff isn't great, and it has a TON of fallout. I was trying to get something to compare to my Sidecar. Which is in the NAKED palette that I am still currently loving. And this was not a great pick. I figured because it was so popular and had a similar glitter and color to it as Sidecar it would be a good bet. Foiled! It's not a horrible shadow, it just lacks what I love about the color from the palette. Even when using a MAC paint pot or Urban Decay Primer Potion it still doesn't hold well. I'm looking for something comparable, but in a single shadow so that I don't have to lug around my NAKED palette in my bag.
With the winter months upon us, my golden glow is fading fast. I don't have the time to keep up the tanning visits at the salon, or even a spray on tan. That being said I have had to find a bronzer that works with my paler skin tone for the winter. I forgot how much I loved the Elf bronzer/blush compact. I remember loving it last winter, but as soon as I hit pan, mine shattered. By that time I was using my Nars or MAC bronzers because I had gotten a little bit of a tan. So I am back to loving me some Elf. Not only is it cheap, it is a great quality. I'm not a huge fan of the blush, but for $3 what can I ask for! :) 


 And there you have it, A recap of my last few purchases from 2011. Most of those items will gain a place in my makeup collection. Those that don't make the cut get shoved into a bin under my bathroom sink. Where they live out their miserable lives with other hair and makeup products that just don't live up to the claims their companies make.