Hey Sunshine
Monday, August 24, 2015
I may have a slight obsession with sunglasses. OK, maybe a bit more than slight. So simple yet so perfect, this small accessory is one you'll never find me without. A simple item meant to protect your delicate eyes from the sun is far more than just that in my world. An instant pick-me-up on a Plain Jane day or a chic topper to any ensemble, sunglasses are the perfect accessory to tote along on any day.
Whether driving or walking around the city, sunglasses are a must. Sadly, my eyes have become more sensitive over the years and require more coverage. They tear up on beautiful sunny days, windy partly cloudy afternoons and refuse to behave on bright winter mornings (low temps make it so much worse!). I suppose my love for sunglasses stems from necessity.
A love that began years ago with no stop in sight, my little collection of three sunglasses has blossomed into boxes upon boxes full of beautifully made eyewear. Like shoes or jewelry, I do tend to play favorites with a few classic pairs and break out the "good" ones on rare occasions. I think I may be the only strange one that'll purchase an "investment" (over priced!) piece and never wear it. I won't wear these treasured sunnies but they'll remain boxed and neatly tucked away free from damage. How crazy, right? You buy something to wear and, gasp, it may get damaged. Well that's kind of the point. Much like red lipstick, these investment pairs rarely get worn outside the house. It's completely bizarre, I know, but I'm working on it.
Along with the special ones and the moderately priced favorites (Kate Spade, Tory Burch, DVF, etc), there are a handful of cheap thrills. Surprisingly, those cheap finds (found in random vintage shops, street vendors, Anthro, F21, etc) have held up well.
Regardless of price, if you take care of your sunglasses and keep up with little things like adjustments of arms and such, you'll have them for quiet a long while. And please, learn from my mistakes, keep your sunglasses in a protective case or pouch. After years of tossing my favorite pair (wearing in photos below) in my purse sans case kind of ruined them. While it's not super visible, the lens are now home to some pretty deep set, irreversible scratches. Before you say it, I have tried all the home remedies to get scratches out. The worst involved Vaseline, but that's a story for another time.
Chic 4th of July Manicures with JINsoon
Friday, July 3, 2015
Happy Birthday America
Break out your favorite red, white and blue nail polishes, it's time to celebrate our lovely country with a little color. In honor of 4th of July, Jin Soon Choi has dreamed up two very chic (and super easy!) manicures that look great on any nail length.
While the first design features our classic patriotic colors, Jin opted for a brighter summer-friendly look for the second option.
Here's how you can achieve these fun nail designs yourself:
LOOK 1 -- STARS ON STRIPES
STEP 1 -- Always start with completely clean, polish-free nails which have been buffed and shaped to your liking. To ensure a perfectly prepped base, apply a base coat of JINsoon Power Coat to your nails.
STEP 2 -- Now comes the fun step, COLOR. While you'd usually use this step to fully saturate your nails in a solid color, you'll be applying two this time around. On one half of the nail apply JINsoon Coquette (red). Make sure to alternate between the top and bottom as you continue on to the next nail. For those who need bit of a cheat to get it perfectly even, just use a piece of scotch tap on the nail. It'll get it perfectly even every single time.
STEP 3 -- Once the red has fully dried, fill in the remaining halves with JINsoon Blue Iris (one of my favorite blues) and let it dry completely.
STEP 4 -- To get those cute flecks of white (stars), apply two coats of JINsoon Polka White to the nails.
STEP 5 -- Finally, seal this fun look with JINsoon Top Gloss, an ultra-glossy top coat.
LOOK 2 -- SUMMER DOTS
STEP 1 -- Like the start of any good manicure a clean polish-free foundation is a must. Trim and shape nails to your liking and apply a single base coat of JINsoon Power Coat for a ridge-free even base for color.
STEP 2 -- To get that perfect milky white opaque color, apply two coats of JINsoon Doux to nails.
STEP 3 -- Now comes the fun part, the colorful dot motif. Once nails are completely dry, use a dotting tool or tooth pick (the ball of a hair pin works perfectly too) and dot JINsoon Poppy Blue to a section of a nail.
Once all the nails are covered with concentrated sections of Poppy Blue, continue this step with the next three nail colors (JINsoon Farouche, Charme, Enflammee)
STEP 4 -- For a finishing touch, apply JINsoon Top Gloss atop your design after they've completely dried. The result with leave nails looking perfectly polished, super glossy and will prolong the manicure for a few more days.
Whether you're sticking with our lovely red, white and blue or feeling extra summery, make sure your nails make a splash this lovely celebratory weekend!
Images: Courtesy of Jin Soon
Olivia Palermo's Signature Manicure
Monday, June 22, 2015
Olivia Palermo x Ciate London
I think its safe to say that my sisters and dear friends are all very familiar with my red manicure addiction. Its a perfect color that goes with any ensemble and looks pretty on every single skin tone. Although I love many polish colors (creamy whites, nudes, pale pinks, mint, etc), there is something that always brings me back to red and continues to be my go-to shade nine times out of ten.
Over the years I've racked up quite a few red favorites and will certainly add this one lovely red created by one very cool style maven to that ever-growing collection.
If you haven't already heard the big news (are you living under a beauty deprived rock?!) let me enlighten you a bit. Ciate London, the beauty powerhouse across the pond, has appointed socialite Olivia Palermo as their Guest Creative Director. Among the fun duties of her new role, OP got the chance to create a three-piece nail polish range for the SS 2015 season.
The luxe polishes feature three summer-friendly shades (creamy light pink, chic coral and red) which I'm sure all her style fans will rush out to buy. One shade that really pops against the rest is Hutch, OP's signature red polish. As a fan of both the color and her style (how could you not!), this polish was a must buy on my seasonal beauty list.
A bold beautiful red, Hutch is the kind of classic red you'll reach for time and time again. The polish itself is quite nice and is equipped with the large rounded brush, similar to Dior polishes, which makes application a breeze. The formulation is nice and opaque with a glossy finish, ultimately making top coat optional. You get an opaque application with one coat, which I really like.
Although I pay great attention to the overall quality of a product, I'm equally a sucker for great packaging. In this case, the presentation certainly didn't disappoint. Boxed and nestled in a small base, OP's Ciate polishes are so sweetly presented and will certainly add a jazzy touch to your vanity this season. I mean come on, the whole boxed presentation is dripping in gold foil accents. Pretty perfect if you ask me.
Can't wait to get my hands on the rest of the collection.
The collection is available at Sephora.com
Press Images: Ciate London
6 Years
Wednesday, June 10, 2015
For those who aren't familiar with my story you can read all about it here...
While this is always an emotional time of year for me, this year felt even more so. To know that I am only four years away from the BIG TEN is pretty crazy! Each year, this sweet celebration gives me the opportunity to evaluate the past year, concentrate on the accomplishments and truly take a moment to be thankful for how fortunate I was to receive a perfect match and make it another year without any major medical emergencies. The feelings I felt on that day (or year, rather) will always be with me and the experience as a whole has ultimately shaped the person I am today.
Reaching the Big Five rejection free was such a big deal and cannot believe a year has passed since that milestone. It's hard not to get emotional and literally beam with love around everyone, especially my sisters. To say they are the greatest support system is an understatement. To every single individual who as made a difference in my life during this amazing journey, I send you my biggest thanks and radiate my love to you this week.
It's quite unfortunate how the important topic of organ donation is still not widely discussed. It is a challenging and heartbreaking experience to be placed on this list. The wait for a perfect organ match to swing by can take years for many and sadly, most pass waiting for one. As of 9:40 this morning, there are 122,994 candidates waiting on the list. To speak in numbers, an average of 21 individuals pass daily, a figure that's seriously too big to accept.
While this is a personal decision, I would love for you to look more into this as its SUCH a big deal but a wonderful contribution should you decide to become a donor. Remember, you don't need organs in heaven :)
Style note: This is the outfit I wore to my Anniversary dinner with one of my dearest friends.
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