1.31.2022

NOTD: NAILS INC. Sweet Nail Candy Scented Nail Polish in Noel Street

Two coats of NAILS INC. Sweet Nail Candy Scented Nail Polish in Noel Street. Candy Apple Red Creme.

Hey girl, hey. Babes, can we puh-lease take a moment to swoon over this bad boy?

Noel Street is a ravishing candy apple red creme that would seamlessly make a splash for all seasons - but feels most apropos for Christmastime or the fast-approaching Valentine's Day. The formula here is absolutely brilliant! Super fast dry, easy to apply, and absolutely stunning to look at. Tipwear was minimal, and there were no chipping issues. Absolutely adore this one and cannot wait to add it to my rotation for the holidays this year!

What nail color are you rocking for #ManicureMonday?


xx
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1.27.2022

jasmine

Free People Jasmine One-Shoulder Top in RED CLOVER.

LOVING the one-shoulder aesthetic of this cutie - so perfect for date night!

xx
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1.24.2022

NOTD: OPI Holiday 2021 Celebration Nail Lacquer Collection in Turn Bright After Sunset

Two coats of OPI Holiday 2021 Celebration Nail Lacquer Collection in Turn Bright After Sunset. Holographic Black Shimmer.

This color was very ho hum to me in the bottle; but on the nail it quickly turned va va voom!

Turn Bright After Sunset is a sophisticated holographic black shimmer that feels suitable for the holidays and beyond. At times it appears black with standard silver shimmer; at others it reads black with holographic explosion - either way is a stunner! This one dried in a flash, and had brilliant staying power. I'm absolutely obsessed with this beauty and highly recommend for year-round wear!

What nail color are you rocking for #ManicureMonday?


xx
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1.22.2022

arden

Free People Arden Long Sleeve Oversize T-Shirt in HEATHER GRAY.

Kinda want to lounge in this cutie for eternity. #sorrynotsorry

xx
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1.20.2022

BOOK REVIEW: Willodeen by Katherine Applegate



If you know me, you know that I rarely pass up a book penned by Katherine Applegate. She has held a presence in my reading repertoire since I was teeny tiny; so hearing of the release of her latest, Willodeen, sent me into a spasm of can't-hardly-wait excitement - and for good reason. Willodeen is neither a forgettable fable for children nor a tree-hugging tale for earth lovers; rather, it is a masterfully crafted ode to nature, diversity, and the ecosystem, spotlighting the interconnectedness of the universe through a cast of lovable characters and creatures you wish you could meet in the real world.

Orphaned as a young child when her parents and brother were consumed by a wildfire, eleven-year-old Willodeen has not had an easy go of it. Taken in by kindhearted Mae and Birdie, Willodeen, who has never easily fit in with her peers, is content with her station in life. Though she misses her biological family, she is dearly loved by Mae and Birdie, has food and a roof over her head, and, the best yet, has free reign of the woods surrounding her home, where she spends her days seeking out the elusive {and now endangered} screechers.

Screechers, known for being foul-smelling, odd-looking creatures with tusks, tails, a snout, and quills, have been a favorite of Willodeen's for ages. Due to the town of Perchance's new bounty on Screechers, however, their numbers are quickly dwindling. You see, the town's residents feel that Screechers mar the village with their unsavory smell and appearance and want to be done with them; therefore, hunting them to extinction is their primary goal. Willodeen, who was taught to love all creatures great and small by her Pa, disagrees with this sentiment, believing that Screechers play an important role in nature's web, and proceeds to stretch herself thin trying to save the Screechers because she has noticed something of the utmost importance...with the Screecher population drastically dropping, so has the Hummingbear population.

Hummingbears, if you've yet to have the pleasure of meeting one, are winged creatures whom craft shimmering bubble nests atop blue willow trees. A source of income for the people of Perchance, the presence of Hummingbears during the annual Autumn Faire have brought tourists to the town for years, bolstering their wealth. This year, however, not a single Hummingbear has appeared. In their place is nothing but devastation in the form of mudslides, fires, droughts, and fevers that continue to ravage Perchance. When Willodeen receives an unexpected birthday gift brimming with magic from a new friend named Connor, she feels that she holds the key to save the Screechers, uncover the truth about the missing Hummingbears, and restore peace, harmony, and balance between nature and townspeople.

I literally cannot with this book y'all. It was so. good. Relevant, timely, and unforgettable. Applegate has woven a tale that is equal parts heart-wrenching and wondrous. Willodeen, as a character, is relatable and lovable. Her compassion is catching; and response to adversity within her life is admirable. Connor, on the other hand, is a friend we would all love to have by our side. Then there are the Screechers and the Hummingbears - the former known for being beastly, the latter known for being charming; yet both hold a place in my heart, along with a secret desire that they were a part of the real world. Cheers, Mrs. Applegate, for yet another magical adventure that will appeal to readers of all ages - and perhaps inspire more to respect and love nature, along with the animals around us.


Star Rating: ****


xx
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1.17.2022

NOTD: OPI Downtown LA Nail Lacquer Collection in Abstract After Dark

Two coats of OPI Downtown LA Nail Lacquer Collection in Abstract After Dark. Blue Purple Shimmer.

Le sigh...I do love a vampy blurple shimmer for the holidays.

Abstract After Dark is a sultry blue purple shimmer reminiscent of OPI's iconic Lincoln Park After Dark with the bonus of...sophisticated glimmer. This one showed signs of tipwear on a few of my fingers within 24-hours; however, aside from that, it held up well for the week that I wore it. Bonus: one of my students complimented it a week after wear. With a 7-year-old's seal of approval you know it's a w-i-n-n-e-r. Recommended for all of your chic soirees this season!

What nail color are you rocking for #ManicureMonday?


xx
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1.15.2022

rainier

Steve Madden Rainier Platform Bootie in BONE MULTI.

Legit swooning over these cuties for the past two months. I'm convinced I need them in my life!

xx
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1.13.2022

OPI Celebration 2021 Collection Nail Lacquer Mini 4-Pack Swatches + Review

Babes, I fell in l-o-v-e at first sight with this OPI Celebration 2021 Collection Nail Lacquer Mini 4-Pack when I spotted it at Ulta for one very important reason: it legit has shades that will see you through three months of holidays: Christmas, New Year's, and Valentine's which is rare and impossible for me to pass up!

Paint the Tinseltown Red is a Holographic Red with Red and Silver Metallic Flecks. Y'all, I don't typically go gaga over reds; but this bad boy right here slays. See what I did there? Paint the Tinseltown Red is a dreamy red holo that isn't your classic Christmas creme; yet still manages to bring all of the festive to your fingertips! This one was so easy breezy to work with. One coat and you. are. golden. Highly recommend this beauty for soiree season! This is 1 coat.

Snow Day in LA is a Pearlized Opaque White. I've never met a white polish I didn't like so y'all know I went a little crazy when this one entered my life. Snow Day in LA is a sparkling pearlized opaque white that lives up to its title. Did I know it was pearlized when I first picked it up? I did not. Nevertheless, my pearlized-disliking heart was a-okay with this cutie because the pearlized effect is subtle, sophisticated, and surprising {in the best way}. I struggled a little bit with the formula here because it was slightly streaky; but after three coats it reached full glamorous opacity. If you dig whites and want one that marches to its own beat, you need this baby in your life! This is 3 coats.

Turn Bright After Sunset is a Holographic Black Shimmer. This color was very ho hum to me in the bottle; but on the nail it quickly turned va va voom! Turn Bright After Sunset is a sophisticated holographic black shimmer that feels suitable for the holidays and beyond. At times it appears black with standard silver shimmer; at others it reads black with holographic explosion - either way is a stunner! This one dried in a flash, and had brilliant staying power. I'm absolutely obsessed with this beauty and highly recommend for year-round wear! This is 2 coats.

Big Bow Energy is a Classic Pink Creme. 'Tis the season for pinks to dominate, amiright?! Big Bow Energy is a bold classic pink creme that gives off all of the Barbie vibes. This one leans a little bit deeper {almost fuschia-esque} than your bubblegum pink, making it a good choice if you're torn between pink and red for V-day. Formula here was fab - depending on how heavy-handed you are during application, you may even be able to make this beauty a OCW. This is 2 coats. 


  AVAILABILITY: Ulta

  PRICE: $17.00 for the 4PC Mini Set; $10.50 for each full-size bottle.



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xx
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1.10.2022

NOTD: OPI Holiday 2021 Celebration Nail Lacquer Collection in Snow Day in LA

Three coats of OPI Holiday 2021 Celebration Nail Lacquer Collection in Snow Day in LA. Pearlized Opaque White.

I've never met a white polish I didn't like so y'all know I went a little crazy when this one entered my life.

Snow Day in LA is a sparkling pearlized opaque white that lives up to its title. Did I know it was pearlized when I first picked it up? I did not. Nevertheless, my pearlized-disliking heart was a-okay with this cutie because the pearlized effect is subtle, sophisticated, and surprising {in the best way}. I struggled a little bit with the formula here because it was slightly streaky; but after three coats it reached full glamorous opacity. If you dig whites and want one that marches to its own beat, you need this baby in your life!

What nail color are you rocking for #ManicureMonday?


xx
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1.08.2022

mei

Save the Duck Mei Puffer Jacket in SHELL BEIGE.

Seriously obsessing over this beauty! How perfect is it for chilly California days?!

xx
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1.06.2022

BOOK REVIEW: When Lightning Strikes {Missing Book 1} by Meg Cabot



I first read Meg Cabot's When Lightning Strikes years ago, when it was published under the pseudonym Jenny Carroll as part of the 1-800-WHERE-R-U series. I remember being obsessed with the books {though, sadly, I lacked cable so was never able to check out the TV adaption, 1-800-MISSING}, so when I was recommended the series on Kindle I thought I'd dive back in. Was it as fantastic as I remembered it being? Negative. Did I still enjoy it? Totally!

Sixteen-year-old flute-playing sophomore, Jess Mastriani, has a history of trouble. Fistfighting with members of the school football team, mouthing off to members of the school faculty, serving daily, after-school stints in detention. Jess doesn't mind 'fessing up to her crimes. After all, they all stem from her fierce love of her friends and family, and determination to defend them at all costs. Case in point, her older brother, Douglas, diagnosed with schizophrenia; and her overweight BFF, Ruth Abramowitz. But what Jess most definitely doesn't mind is the extra time her misbehavior earns her with bad-biker-boy-from-the-wrong-side-of-the-tracks-and-guy-of-her-dreams, Rob Wilkins, a senior who also happens to spend more time than not in detention. The thing is, Jess is used to causing trouble; so when she falls into trouble, through no fault of her own, during one of her more innocent activities, things get a little topsy-turvy.

You could blame it all on Ruth. After all, if she hadn't insisted on walking home from school to get a little exercise {read: trying to slim down after being called fat by a jock}, Jess would have simply hitched a ride home on the back of Rob's hog. And if Jess hadn't agreed to walk home with Ruth, she wouldn't have been caught in the rain. And if she wouldn't have been caught in the rain...well, she wouldn't have been struck by lightning. Don't get me wrong...she's totally fine. But now she can look at the face on the back of a milk carton, and tell you exactly where that missing person is. Which sounds pretty awesome, but kind of bites considering the FBI is on her case. Like literally.

Now, Jess is residing on a military base where she's being researched on; and she's come to the conclusion that her new superpowers aren't all that thrilling. For one, they sometimes lead to the discovery of missing persons who are no longer among the living; and two...sometimes the people she finds don't need or want to be found. Take the 12-year-old boy she thought she was helping. He was actually hiding out with his protective mother from an abusive and powerful father. Now Jess is determined to help him out of the mess she created and bust his mom out of jail. But she'll need all of her bad boy buddies to help her complete her mission.

I was obsessed with this series when I was younger; but grown-up me? Not so much. Don't get me wrong, it's a fun romp; but many of the things that occur within the pages are downright ridiculous and far-fetched. Rob is still crushable; and Jess is fun {at times}, but the overall feel of the story is over the top. If you're looking for a serious fiction YA, this isn't it. If you're looking for humor with a dash of sci-fi, you may enjoy this one.


Star Rating: ***1/2


xx
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1.03.2022

NOTD: Essie Nail Polish Collection in Blanc

Two coats of Essie Nail Polish Collection in Blanc. White Creme.

Is it even winter if you're not rocking white creme polish on your tips?

Blanc is a brilliant white creme that makes me think of all of the winter things {sleigh rides, marshmallows, snow}. There's just something about a white mani that is all things dreamy and magical and perfect! This one applies beautifully and lasts. for. days. Bonus: my second grade babes complimented the color so. many. times. Thus, total winner!

What nail color are you rocking for #ManicureMonday?


xx
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