Spring Nail Polish

The month of March is here, and while it may not feel like Spring outside quite yet, the beginning of the season is fast approaching.  Warmer temperatures mean it's time to shed the dark colors and neutrals of winter and embrace pastels and brights for spring and summer!  With that philosophy in mind, I've listed some of my favorite transitional springtime nail polishes.  I wish I had personal pictures of each one actually on the nails, but I've linked some of them to their respective websites.  For the ones not linked, I couldn't find a good page, but you're welcome to look up how they look for yourself.

• Sinful Colors Social Ladder- Sheer, shimmery pearl color.  Subtle and fresh for spring.
• Zoya Shay- A creamy nude color, again with subtle shimmer. Classic.
• Essie Penny Talk- Love this one.  It seriously looks like you melted down some brand new pennies and painted the copper on your nails.
• CoverGirl Outlast Peaches & Cream- While I don't think this one is as long-wearing as it claims, it's a definitely special shade of orange.  It's a bright pastel, and I don't know how that's possible.  It is definitely a soft peach color, but in certain lighting, it can look downright neon.
• Zoya Cassi- A peachy-pink polish with some shimmer that is just PERFECT for Spring.  Zoya describes this color as being "undeniably girly," and I must say I agree.
• Sinful Colors Hazard- A daring orange, this one is a more saturated version of the CoverGirl polish from above.  Soft, yet VERY bright at the same time.
• Color Club Blue-Ming- I don't think the picture I've linked is very true-to-color.  In real life, it's like a bright, pale turquoise.  If you want people to notice your nails, this is the color to wear.
• Zoya Lo- This one is a bright pink cream, and I really like it on my toes...when they're stuck in some sand...as I'm sipping on a fruity adult beverage...is it time to go to the beach yet? No?

Do you have any nail polishes or beauty products you can't wait to bust out for the warmer weather?  Let me know!

February 2013 Favorites

February is such a short month!  Can't believe it's already over.  Here are the things I loved this past month:

Health

• "Dancing with the Stars" Fitness DVD:  Man, this is FUN. And, it's a great workout!  I don't think my body will ever look like that of the girls on the cover, but who knows? :)

• WeightWatchers:  If you've seen a few of my most recent posts, you'd know I started following the original WeightWatchers plan lately.  I'm already seeing results! LOVE IT.

Beauty

• amika Obliphica Oil Nourishing Hair Mask:  I've gotten into deep conditioning my hair lately, and this product is wonderful.  I first sampled it through Birchbox, but I've purchased the small size of the regular product.  Once I run out of this, I might need to purchase the bigger jar.  It smells so amazing, and it leaves my hair feeling soft and moisturized.

• CoverGirl 3-in-1 Outlast Stay Fabulous foundation:  Blends so easily, provides excellent coverage, stays on all day.  All without feeling heavy or cakey!  I'll be interested to see if this foundation still holds up in the spring and summer months when the weather is much warmer.

• Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Anti-Chip Top Coat:  Definitely should be a staple in any girl's nail polish stash. Makes nails super shiny, and it lasts for days.

• Coach Poppy perfume:  I received this for Christmas, and I already know I'll be reaching for it all throughout the spring.  It's such a girly, floral scent.  

Book

• Is Everybody Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns) by Mindy Kaling:  Another Christmas gift.  I took way longer to read it than I should have, but I finished it this month.  It was hilarious, and basically, I want to be her best friend.  I heard she has another book coming out later this year!!

Websites

• NouveauCheap: If you love drugstore products like I do, or even if you just like deals, this is the website for you!

• BuzzFeed:  Wonderful pop culture goodness.

Music

• "We Come Running" by Youngblood Hawke

• "Suit and Tie" by Justin Timberlake

• "Radioactive" by Imagine Dragons

• "Genius of Love" by Tom Tom Club

Oh, and here's a Nail of the Day pic:

Color Club/Birchbox collaboration "Put a Pin In It"

One last thing: My birthday is Saturday!  I don't know why, but I have a good feeling about 24.  I'll be in my hometown this weekend visiting family and friends.  I told my mom I didn't want any specific gifts, just for her to take me shopping.  Expect a birthday haul on here soon! :)

February No-Buy

Ever feel like you're drowning in all of your junk?  My obsession interest with all things beauty in the last year or so has sort of exploded and gotten out of hand.  I have way more products than a normal person needs or should have.  So, I'm going to enforce a "No-Buy" on myself for the month of February and participate in a Project 10 Pan of sorts.  Project 10 Pan is the practice of using 10 items in your beauty collection--whether it be makeup, lotion, shampoo, perfume, etc--as much as possible until you either "hit pan" in the case of makeup or use them up completely.  One rule: No new purchases until these items are empty!  I'm also going to try to use as many of the free samples I've accumulated. 
After going through all of my stuff, these are the 10 items I'm going to be using this entire month:

1. Body Butters

Lord knows I have too many kinds of lotions.  I have two different body butters (The Body Shop Shea Body Butter--this is a mini size-- and Lavanila Vanilla Coconut Healthy Body Butter) that are either almost gone or halfway gone, and I want to try to use them up completely.  I figure it's best to use these this month since they are very thick and hydrating for winter skin.

2. Fragrances

I have a sample size of Forever Red by Bath and Body Works and a small Sexy Little Things Noir body mist from Victoria's Secret.  So, if you happen to wonder what I'm smelling like this month...there you go.

3. Neutrogena Healthy Skin Enhancer in Fair to Light

This is a great tinted moisturizer.  I'm almost finished with it anyway, so this project will give me an excuse to use it up completely.

4. CoverGirl Clean Oil Control Pressed Powder

I've already hit pan on this one; I just want to finish it.

5. Neutrogena Healthy Skin Blends sheer highlighting blush in Pure

Love this stuff.  I've actually had it for a really long time.  Kinda surprised it's not gone yet. 

6. Neutrogena Healthy Skin brightening eye perfector in Fair

I'll be honest: I don't love this under-eye concealer/highlighter.  Let's use it up and get rid of it, shall we?

7. CoverGirl eyeshadow trio in Shimmering Sands

Pretty, neutral shadows. 

8. Stila Smudgestick Waterproof Eye Liner in Lionfish

Definitely one of my favorite eye liners of all time. Looks beautiful on blue eyes!

9. Maybelline Great Lash Lots of Lashes in Very Black and Brownish Black

Awesome Great Lash formula, but the rubber bristle wand is why I love these.  I've had these for a while, so it's time to use them up.

10. Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Honey

My attempt to pick just one of my jumbo lip pencils and stick with it for a while.


So that's it!  No online shopping, no trips to the drugstore (except in case of emergency).  Wish me luck.  Of course, my birthday is in March, so I will probably lift the No-Buy for that, but I want to keep my shopping/spending habits in check from now on.  No more splurges!  Except in the case of a really great sale.  Yikes, maybe I actually do have a problem!

Had to sneak in a quick Nail Of The Day! "Kendal" by Zoya. Pretty grayish lavender--perfect for February!

January 2013 Favorites

I can't believe January is already over!  Time just goes by way too fast.  Here's the list of things I've been loving for this first month of 2013.

Health:

• Vitamins- As a part of my health kick in this new year, I've started taking daily multivitamins and a Super B Complex.  And, I love it.  I have a lot more energy than I used to.

• "Q&A a Day" journal- Falling under the mental/emotional health umbrella, I've really been enjoying using this journal as a tool for self-reflection.

Food:

• LUNA Bars- These nutrition bars come in a variety of flavors, and they're all delicious.  These aren't meal replacement bars, just a healthy snack bar.  The packaging says they're specially formulated for women, though I have no idea how.

• Mueller corner yogurt- Finally, a kind of yogurt that I don't dread eating.  My favorite is the granola variety.

Fashion:

• Scarves- A cold weather must! They can add the perfect amount of warmth to an outfit in addition to be snuggly and cute! My scarf collection has grown exponentially in the last few years...

• Skinny jeans- I know I'm a few years behind on the skinny jeans trend.  However, I haven't really felt confident enough in my body to pull them off until now.  At least, I hope I'm pulling them off! Haha

 Beauty:

• Batiste Hint of Color Medium/Brunette Dry Shampoo-  This stuff is AWESOME.  Most dry shampoos leave a white, powdery film in my brown hair that can sometimes make 2nd day hair feel even worse than it already does.  BUT, this product is tinted to blend in with dark hair. AND it has a faint caramel corn scent. AND I found it on sale at TJ Maxx.  Need I say more?

• Cover Girl Clump Crusher mascara- While not as volumizing as some of my favorite mascaras, this new addition to the LashBlast line has really impressed me.  It seriously leaves your lashes with no clumps and very natural-looking.  Thumbs up.

• Cover Girl LipPerfection Jumbo Gloss Balm- Another new Cover Girl product and the latest in the new beauty trend of jumbo lip pencils.  Sheer color and a silky, smooth texture. My favorite shade is "Blush Twist".

Music:

• "Come On" by Ke$ha- Not a huge Ke$ha fan, but this song gets me singing along.

• "Up Against the Wall" by Fiction Family- I heard this song on the radio a few weeks back and just KNEW I knew the voice. Surprise: It's Jon Foreman, formerly of Switchfoot. Love.

• "Nancy From Now On" by Father John Misty- I can't really explain why I love this song. I just do. It just hits me in a good place.

• "Thrift Shop" by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis- How can you NOT dance around like a fool when this song comes on?? (Video is below, and it's not censored. Just a heads up!)

 

Hope y'all had a great January!