Spring Trends: Metallic Gold Nails Easy Manicure Tutorial

Dear Wonderful Reader,

How amazing does a fresh manicure feel?! 

Metallics are making a comeback this Spring and it’s rather a glamorous one. I fell in love with Gold Medal from Sinful Colors ($2) the moment I saw it at the drug store. Gold is a perfect color to try out this trend with because it’s neutral enough to  blend in with your skin tone and it’s also metallic.  The color is fun, classy, and glamorous. It will give your gold jewelry a kick too!

What You Need

(Right to Left…Sorry, I didn’t have the “mirror” effect)

1. Nail Clipper
2. Cuticle Pusher
3. Cuticle Nipper
4. Nail File
5. Sinful Colors nail polish in Gold Medal
6. Sally Hansen – Super Shine, Top Coat
7. Nail Polish Remover
8. Q tips – Precision Tips
9. Vaseline Total Moisture Healthy Hand & Nail Conditioning Lotion
10. Johnson’s Baby Oil Gel Shea and Cocoa Butter

1. Take off any old nail polish with nail polish remover. Then, soak your hands in a bowl of mild hot water for 10 minutes to soften and loosen your cuticles. Feel free to substitute the bowl technique with taking a bath.
2. Clip your nails to the desired length with a nail clipper. I like mine short!
3. Gently push back your cuticles with the cuticle pusher. Then nip off the excess dead skin. I tend to over do this step and then regret it later. So, keep in mind that less is more with this step.
4. File your nails!
5. Apply one coat of the nail polish color. One coat is enough for this color since it’s not sheer. *Many people advise to apply two coats but I find that this prevents my polish from looking smooth and even.
6. Apply the top coat for a glossy finish. This is the best top coat, I have ever used. It’s very shiny and it dries very quickly.
7. If you are like me, and you kinda paint the polish all over your nails and skin and you end up with hands that look like a hot mess, then this step is crucial for you. Add a little nail polish remover in the nail polish remover’s lid. Then, dip the Q – tip in the nail polish remover and press firmly on the skin around your nails. *For this step I used the Precision Tips Q tips (around $3), which are basically Q tips that are enhanced for special uses. Their tips are slimmer and firmer than normal Q tips. I also tried using the generic Q tips but they were useless since their tips were bigger and softer.
8. Wait until your polish dries. Then, rub the conditioning lotion into your skin. And for a little extra sass, rub your skin with gel baby oil. This product smells delicious and I find the gel form more manageable and less messy.

Happy Pampering!!!

P. S. Go the extra mile and treat yourself to this lovely hand and arm massage. You can enhance it and perform it on yourself or just have a friend or a loved one assist you.

Fabulous Friday: Spring State of Mind

Dear Wonderful Reader,

I know it’s not Friday…

With only 5 days left until Spring (March 20th), I feel the rush to liberate myself from those heavy Winter coats, long Winter boots, and  start Spring Cleaning my closet, my house, but most importantly, my mind. Winter may have brought me some challenges, and some tests, but it’s time to rid myself of all that stress and heavy-sighing and indulge in a Spring State of Mind.

This post will feature the latest Spring 2014 looks from the runway, not for imitation purposes, but to spark your imagination and fire your soul for Spring. Now, it’s important to note that a Spring State of Mind requires more than just shifting or updating your closet; after all, it is a state of mind. So think of this Spring as a new start where  flowers blossom and  grass gets greener and spring yourself forward.

Spring Cleaning Your Mind

1. Sit down in a quiet, clean area and start free writing (writing mindlessly) about your life and where you are in life. Do that for 10 minutes. Then, read it again.

2. On a blank sheet of paper, create a table with four columns and labels them as follows:

• a. Things I’m grateful for:
• b. Things I need to improve:
• c. Things I need to let go of: this one is could be challenging but a good rule to follow is: If something is weighting you down mentally, emotionally, or physically and making you unhappy, then you’re better off without it.
• d. Things I want to achieve:

Work on this table for as long as you need.

3. Look over each column with a realistic eye, and believing heart, and just be honest with yourself. We are our own worst judge, so remind yourself at every second to be positive and gentle towards yourself.

• a. Things I’m grateful for: Thank God. Don’t take any things for granted, cause you may wake up one day and not find it. And don’t forget to celebrate your little accomplishements.
• b. Things I need to improve: Think of realistic steps that you could take to improve them. If your stuck then get some books on the subject or research it on the internet.
• c. Things I need to let go of: take sometime with this one and try to envision your life without those burdens and how happy, and light you’ll feel. Then, convince yourself that it’s time you choose to be happy, and unstoppable (even in the littlest of way). You owe that to yourself!
• d. Things I want to achieve: I don’t care what your dream is, I know that you can do it, because that’s what God promised to his children. But, remember that YOU play a big role in achieving your dream. You have to believe that it will come true and that all those people or unfortunate circumstances that discourage you are only there to test your faith or strength, they are merely objects, and God is the sole decision maker, so be friends with him! Remember, baby steps are totally ok and encouraged; CONSISTENCY IS the real KEY! Einstein said, “Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” So I want you to fully embrace your Spring State of Mind and slap doubt in the face every time he knocks on your door and tell him, “You’re not welcome here”, and kick him out.

4. Make a clean, visually appealing version of this table and omit the, Things I need to let go of column. Frame it or tape it next to your closet. Every day wakeup expectantly, ready to rock (or tackle!) the day, and pick an outfit that makes you feel GOOD and fabulous (doesn’t have to be expensive!). Then,  glance over at the table and keep your eyes and focus on the prize!!!

At Last, here are the aforementioned pictures:

Enjoy…

Dolce & Gabbana Dolce & Gabbana AltuzarraBurberry ProrsumDiane von FurstenbergMichael KorsMichael KorsVersaceAlberta FerrettiJason Wu

P.S. Please excuse the lengthy-ness of this post; it was supposed to be solely about  Spring fashion, but then this happened! Stay fabulous!

Fabulous Friday: Oscars 2014 Worst-Dressed Pt. 2

Dear Wonderful Reader,

I present to you some of the fashion mistakes and regrets on Oscars 2014 red carpet. Those are just my opinions, so please don’t be offended, and let me know what you think in the comments below.

Enjoy…

Charlize Theron, Dior

Her dress is actually stunning, but it just looks like the straps are being pulled up by magic and that just adds a funny effect and kills the whole thing. She is “worst dressed” compared to her gowns in past events, but not the entire Oscars.

Julia Roberts, Givenchy Couture

Again, dress isn’t bad, it just looks like a granny dress.

Anna Kendrick, J Mendel

Really dislik this dress. It’s very distracting and looks like an experimental piece for the designer.

Glenn Close,  Zac Posen

Dress is quiet elegant, but the exaggerated amount of coverage makes the blackness unbearable. Wished she had taken off that “mini sweater”!

Pharrell Williams & Helen  Lasichanh

IDK why, but  Pharrell looks like he wants to look more feminine and Helen wants to look more masculine. Could they be going for the shock value?!

Kristen Chenoweth

Chenoweth’s gown makes her look like a statue because of its stiffness, and goldenness.

Kerry Washington, Jason Wu

Washington’s gown looks like a rolled up fancy curtain that was secured to her bust by a bobby pin.

Viola Davis

Davis’s dress looks like a bad high school prom dress.

Liza Minnelli

Hmmm… She should lose the pants…And those shoes…And just the entire outfit and put on something else!

Kellan Lutz

His tuxedo look like it’s gonna burst cause it too tight, and I didn’t like the blue lining on top of the tuxedo’s pockets very much.

Fabulous Friday: Spring 2014 – Cool Bomber Jacket

Dear Wonderful Reader,

The baseball-inspired bomber jacket that many of us loved in Fall/Winter 2013 is prevailing again this Spring with more colorful twists and kinky patters. I absolutely love it. This badass piece adds a cool, effortless touch to any outfit. Plus, it will keep us warm in style on those windy Spring nights.

Enjoy it on the Runway

Left: Here the bomber jacket takes on a softer turn to complement the outfit’s feminine style.

I can’t wait to get my hands on something like this: a form-fitting long skirt and its matching cropped bomber jacket (though I would prefer it to be tighter that the one pictured). Note to self: Start exercising!

I really love those two styles. I love the masculine, old school feel of the baby blue piece and sporty, flirty style of the black piece.

Pair it with

A. Short dresses

B. Cropped tops or tops and shorts

c. Cropped tops or tops and skinny jeans

My Recommendations 

1. Zara @ $79.90

2. Gap @ $64.99

3. Forever21 @ $34.80