under the sea

A little sea inspired manicure for the week by the sea.

Blue: Essie Mezmerised
Blue Glitter: Julep Ivy
Green Glitter: Julep Harper
Ring: borrowed from Karoline  {adorably similar}





Linking up with the Nail Files and Mani Monday

messy hair, don't care

Since my bangs are finally long enough, I haven't been wearing my hair up much ... but this morning I had no intention of washing and drying and attempting to style my hair, so bun (and dry shampoo) it is. Good thing I didn't waste any time doing my hair because I ended up look like this for a while. Cute, huh?

Blazer: J. Crew  {save / exact}

Sweater: Forever 21  {save / splurge}

Jeans: American Eagle  {exact}

Scarf: Victoria's Secret  {similar}

Shoes: Tory Burch  {exact}

Earrings: Tiffany & Co.  {save / exact}

Watch: Fossil {save / similar}

Nails: seen here

wrap it up with a bow

I may not be decorating my house for Christmas, but at least my nails are festive. How is it December already?!

Pink: Sally Hansen Shell We Dance?
Glitter: Julep Vivien (from December's box)
Ring: Forever 21


Linking up with Mani Monday and the Nail Files.

All That Glitters

Light and sparkly after weeks of maroon and black.



Base: Essie Ballet Slippers
Glitter: Essie Set in Stone









Linking up with Mani Monday and The Nail Files.

2for1

Today I was at the shipping dock, which is in a different part of the building than I work in. A man I occasionally work with was also there and asked if where I work is cold enough to warrant a scarf. It's a silly question to have to ask someone in August, but the room I sit in IS really cold. Hence the scarf. It looks a bit silly coming out of a lab coat though...


Cardigan: thrifted J. Crew
Tee: Target
Scarf: H&M
Jeans: Joe's Jeans
Purse: Coach - graduation present
Shoes: Simply Vera Vera Wang
Watch: Boccia

I went in the opposite direction as last week and went dark. Remember that there are 6 days left to win an intro box from Julep Maven. You can enter here!

Blue: Essie Midnight Cami
Gold: Julep Oscar, c/o



P.S. I'm guest posting for Jen at Librarian for Life Style while she is on vacation!

Linking up with Mani Monday and the Nail Files.

Summertime Sadness

This is not my favorite manicure of all time. I wanted to keep it light and "summery" but I'm so excited for fall that I wanted to use my copper glitter. So there you have it folks. I'm trying to cut back on buying nail polishes right now since I have heaps of them, but sometimes I'm bored with what I have. Are you ever uninspired when it comes to doing your nails? Or is this such a #firstworldproblem that I should just shut up?

Linking up with the Nail Files and Mani Monday

Base: Julep Renee
Glitter: OPI Traffic Stopper Copper

Remember you have 2 ways to get a box of Julep Maven for 1 cent or less!

1. You can get your own box by taking the beauty quiz here and then get your first box for only a penny.  Use the code MAVENINTRO.

2. Julep Maven and I are holding a giveaway to give you the chance to win a beauty box!  It is open to all US and Canadian residents. Enter here!

Please let me know if you decide to order a box through my link so I can thank you properly :)

Julep Maven Giveaway

A few months ago after receiving my third Birchbox and being disappointed for a third time, I was reading a blog talking about the newest beauty box they received, a Julep Maven box. I was intrigued by what the Julep box offers : $40+ worth of nail products for $20. There were three factors that I especially liked about this beauty box: the fact that you get a preview each month of what you would receive so you can opt out if you don't want to pay for it, you can get your first box for a penny, and you can earn free boxes by referring others. I figured I had nothing to lose by spending 1 penny to receive 2 ~free $15 nail polishes.

I received my first box right before the 4th of July and was immediately a fan. The polish goes on smoothly, it  is long lasting, and best of all, it is toxin free. I also really like the brush - it allows you to make very clean and straight lines. You can see my first two manicures from my first box here and here. 

This manicure was made used Natasha and Oscar from June's Bombshell box*. I think the colors are perfect for summer! I used Natasha as the base, waited for it to completely dry, used scotch tape as a guide and then used 3 layers of Oscar on top.

Linking up with #SawPinnedConquered (as it's inspired by this pin), The Nail Files and Mani Monday.

I have teamed up with Julep Maven to offer you two ways for you to try out Julep nail polishes for yourself:

1. You can get your own box by taking the beauty quiz here and then get your first box for only a penny. What do you have to lose? Use the code MAVENINTRO for the penny special.

2. Julep Maven and I are holding a giveaway to give you the chance to win a beauty box!  It is open to all US and Canadian residents. All you have to do is enter below. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*Disclosure: I received a free Julep box as compensation for this post. All opinions are my own - I really do love this nail polish!

Nailed It! Giveaway

I love the idea of chevron nail art, but after spending several hours on my last attempt I knew there had to be an easier way. After participating in Mani Monday for several weeks, I noticed these awesome manicures with chevrons and knew I had to get some of my own. I purchased a sheet of chevrons and a sheet of bows from  Made by Munchie's Mama and I'm so excited about the way it turned out!

Grey: Essie Chinchilly
Glitter: Wet n Wild Sparked
Chevron: Made by Munchie's Mama






Blue: Essie Midnight Cami
Bow: Made by Munchie's Mama
Striping Tape: eBay 




linking up with the nail files , #SawPinnedConquered and Mani Monday

To get you in on the fun, I have partnered up with MBMM to provide one Nailed It Decals sampling pack to one lucky winner! It includes chevrons, moustaches and bows. I'm jealous I can't have one of my own!

Giveaway is open for 1 week, and will be announced next Sunday night. This is open to everyone, just enter below!




a Rafflecopter giveaway

Traffic Stopper Copper

The best part about nail posts is that the titles really write themselves! ;)

I know we're in the middle of summer, so brights and pastels are the go-to choice for manicures...but I'm already longing for Fall so my nails are getting ready early.

Last week I mentioned that I started using Seche Vite top coat - I really like it! It dries quick (no bedtime smudges), and I didn't have a single chip until Friday. I highly recommend it.

Black: Nicole by OPI Razzle Dazzler

Glitter: Sephora by OPI Traffic Stopper Copper


Linking up with the Nail Files and Mani Monday

No Place Like Chrome

I had two nails break this weekend, so even though I just did my nails on Thursday, I had the perfect opportunity to try out some of my new polishes. I've been eying up metallic nail polishes {like this one} for a while so when I saw that Essie was coming out with a new metallics line, I was so excited! I picked up a bottle today at Target. Its not a perfect metal like the pictures, but it does the job. If you try this out, don't be discouraged by the first coat - the bumps and scraps are smoothed out by a second coat.

What do you think? Are you going to try out one of the new metallic polishes?

Silver: Essie No Place like Chrome
Black: Nicole OPI Razzle Dazzler
Blue: Loose Glitter covered with Orly Spazmatic

I also purchased Orly Spazmatic and the Seche Vite top coat that I've heard so much. I'll be sure to report back on if it lives up to its reputation!




Linking back up to The Nail Files and Mani Monday.

I Feel Love

This is a mash-up of these two pictures. We're going to the wedding of a couple I set up 6 years ago (matchmaker!) so I wanted something sparkly and cute.

Base: Sally Hansen Shall We Dance?
Heart: OPI My Throne for a Cranberry Scone
Glitter: loose glitter from a craft store applied with a paint brush

Linking up with Mani Monday - go see what the other ladies have been doing to their nails!