PRICE: $22.00 for the 4PC Mini Set.
7.15.2021
NAILS INC. Relationship Status: Blushing Nail Polish Set Swatches + Review
PRICE: $22.00 for the 4PC Mini Set.
7.12.2021
NOTD: Defy & Inspire Vita Fit Vitamin Infused Nail Polish in Ion the Prize
True story: I purchased this pretty because it was only $2.99, and I needed something extra for free shippingl but I am obsessed!
Ion the Prize is a brilliant blurple creme that I thought was going to be an electric blue {purchased online, so colors can be distorted} - but I'm not mad about the diff. This color is a stunner. Yes, it required 3 coats because it's fairly thin; but it is decadent once opaque, and is both chip-free and long-lasting. Not gonna lie here...I kind of want to buy all of the colors in this collection now!
What nail color are you rocking for #ManicureMonday?
7.10.2021
pietro
Obsessed with this cutie romper. Legit the best look to beat the heat!
7.08.2021
BOOK REVIEW: Truly Devious: A Mystery by Maureen Johnson
NGL here, my Harriet the Spy-loving heart did a little jump for joy while reading this one because Maureen Johnson's Truly Devious truly felt like a more grown-up, tech savvy version of the book that literally shaped my childhood, with Stevie taking up the role of Harriet, Nate starring as Sport, and Janelle headlining as the inimitable Janie. But I digress...Truly Devious, in a sea of supernatural, stands out as an unputdownable thriller in the vein of Agatha Christie and Sherlock Holmes that will make. you. swoon.
There is nothing truly remarkable about 16-year-old Stevie Bell, so when she lands a spot at the exclusive Ellingham Academy, a school nestled in the remote mountains of Vermont, priding itself on its gifted student body, she questions whether a mistake has been made. After all, her only true talent lies in her obsession with true crime - particularly a case that took place at Ellingham Academy eighty years ago {more on that later}. Nevertheless, Stevie is desperate to fulfill her desire of finding a dead body {morbid, I know}, and experiencing adventure that will put her on a path to becoming a detective, so she heads to the elusive institution. If a mistake has been made, they'll simply send her home - no harm, no foul.
A free institution for the best and brightest thinkers, inventors, and artists across the country; Ellingham Academy was founded in the early Twentieth Century by Albert Ellingham - a tycoon determined to create a novel learning experience highlighting that "learning is a game." But soon after opening its doors to the public, Ellingham's beloved wife and young daughter go missing. In their place is a mocking riddle constructed of possible heinous deaths the pair may endure, and an ominous signature...Truly Devious.
A cold case dubbed one of the greatest unsolved mysteries in American history; Stevie is convinced that by gaining access to Ellingham, she'll be able to hunt for clues and solve the mystery - thereby placing her on the map as an up and coming detective to be reckoned with. But soon after arriving at Ellingham, Stevie finds herself embroiled in a different death, one carried out by a Truly Devious copycat, and knows that it's time to put her detective skills to work to catch the killer - before the killer catches her.
My one qualm about Truly Devious was that I did not discover it sooner, because it was everything I've been hoping to find in a YA - romance on the backburner, mystery at the forefront, and a dynamite cast of characters. Though the idea of Ellingham, at times, seems too good to be true {free in this day and age??}; Johnson makes it work splendidly, and makes it difficult not to complete the book in one sitting. NGL, some may feel very perturbed by the cliffhanger of all cliffhangers at the end; but having bonded with the characters, I didn't see the loose end as a flaw - rather, a chance to come up with a few theories of my own before snagging the sequel, The Vanishing Stair.
If you're seeking a new mystery series to sink your teeth into, this one comes highly recommended. Bravo Ms. Johnson!
xx
7.05.2021
NOTD: NAILS INC. Relationship Status: Proud Nail Polish in Buckingham Palace Road
I don't know what it is about aqua/teal shades, but I don't love them. There's just something blase about them that I can never put my finger on; but maybe that's just me.
Buckingham Palace Road is one such shade. An aqua/teal creme that checks all the boxes for a bright, summer-perfect pedi; with a formula that is to-die-for {two weeks, no chips - natch!}. While, admittedly, this bad boy is not my cup of tea; if you dig a good teal you'll be swooning.
What nail color are you rocking for #ManicureMonday?
7.03.2021
7.01.2021
angele
Jury's still out on why I'm crushing so hard on this dress, but I'm obsessed and kind of want it in all of the colors!
6.28.2021
NOTD: NAILS INC. Relationship Status: Proud Nail Polish in New Bond Street
I love a good baby blue, but this bad boy takes baby blue to another level with subtle undertones of lilac that make this beauty stand out above the crowd {yes, I was just watching A Goofy Movie}.
New Bond Street is a cornflower blue creme that will make all of your pastel polish dreams come true. I'm obsessed with this shade for summer because it manages to bridge the gap between bright and pastel, and I am incapable of resisting that. Gorgeous formula here - easy to apply, super fast dry, and longwear. Def a new fave for me!
What nail color are you rocking for #ManicureMonday?
6.26.2021
stripes for days
Picturing myself lounging in this cutie two-piece all summer.
6.24.2021
BOOK REVIEW: The Young Elites by Marie Lu
Y'all, I tried so hard to like Marie Lu's The Young Elites; but there was literally nothing that I enjoyed about this book - no matter how many times I thought something might pop up to change my mind. NGL, I have had a 50/50 positivity rate with Lu's books {some I love, some I loathe, and sometimes I start to love one well after the halfway mark}; but this one just did not cut it for me. Womp womp.
One decade ago, a deadly illness known as the blood fever swept through Renaissance Italy. It claimed the lives of almost everyone it touched; but some children were spared - left with their lives, but scarred with strange markings that earned them the title malfettos {abominations}. Sixteen-year-old Adelina Amouteru is one such survivor. Her beloved mother, however, was taken; leaving her in the hands of a monstrous father who cannot see beyond her changes. Her once black hair turned silver, her eyelashes paled, and her once beautiful left eye is now nothing more than a jagged scar. In her cruel father's eyes, Adelina is only a malfetto - a burden upon their family's good name, standing in the way of lavish fortunes. Adelina thinks otherwise. She has heard of other malfettos - malfettos with strange abilities that leave people fearful; abilities that give them power. These are the Young Elites, and Adelina is determined to find them.
Burning with anger after learning her father's plans for her, Adelina kisses her younger sister, Violetta, goodbye and flees into the night. She has not gone far before she is found, and accidentally unleashes a dormant fury within, killing someone. Now armed with the knowledge that she too has powers, powers that would make people fall at her feet, she is even more convinced of her belonging to the Young Elites. But she'll have to reach them first. When she is apprehended by The Inquisition, led by the young Teren Santoro, and sentenced to death, her future seems unclear. But then she is rescued by none other than the Elites, and feels that things are falling into place. That is, until she feels their less than warm welcome.
Helmed by the handsome yet mysterious Enzo Valenciano {aka The Reaper, who, btw, gives off major Assassin's Creed vibes}, the Young Elites {aka the Dagger Society} is composed of a group of malfettos with abilities that range from manipulating other people's emotions {Raffaele} to commanding and controlling animals {Gemma}. Though their abilities are different, they share a commonality: they don't know what to make of Adelina and her illusionist abilities. Some want her dead. Enzo, however, the son of the late king of Kenettra, vouches for her, welcoming her into the folds of the Dagger Society, and determining that they will train her in her abilities. But Adelina has a secret - an agreement with Teren that she can't extricate herself from. One that will place all of her newfound Elite friends in grave danger.
This was the worst book I've read all year. Marie Lu can write, she can; but this one was just drudgery. The characters were mindblowingly boring who read like one-dimensional cardboard cutouts. I legitimately could not discern one from another because they were so uninteresting. Adelina, who I thought was going to be an amazing character was just dark and angry. And the supposed spark between her and Enzo? Yeah, I didn't feel it. In fact, I felt no chemistry between them; and even if I did, it wouldn't have mattered because Enzo was every bit as boring as Adelina. NGL, there were times when I really loved Raffaele {perhaps because of his calming nature}; but he was not strong enough to hold the weight of the entire book on his shoulders. I will say this...the ending, starring Maeve Corrigan, the Princess of Beldain was brilliant. Unfortunately, her appearance came too late for me; thus, I will not be reading the sequel The Rose Society.
xx
6.21.2021
NOTD: NAILS INC. Relationship Status: Proud Nail Polish in Grosvenor Place
Le sigh...shades like this are my absolute Kryptonite because they are far and few between and are simply charming for year-round wear.
Grosvenor Place is a Barbie-esque lilac creme that makes me want to break into Aqua's Barbie Girl. True story. The bright yet muted tone makes it stunning for spring straight through summer; but would also look gorgeous for winter {hint hint}. Formula is positively perfect. The opacity builds quickly, and the wide brush itself makes it possible to oftentimes cover the entire nail in just one swipe. Obsessed with this one!
What nail color are you rocking for #ManicureMonday?
6.19.2021
6.17.2021
6.14.2021
NOTD: Sally Hansen Insta Dri Nail Color in Gain Mo-Mint-Um
Ladies, y'all know how I feel about mint nail colors, but there is such a shortage of them on the polish market; so I was ecstatic to stumble upon this bad boy!
Gain Mo-Mint-Um is a glorious mint creme that retains that saccharine pastel vibe {so perf for spring!}; whilst harboring a bright undertone that makes it magnifico for summer vacay! As always with Sally Hansen, the brush collects way too much polish with each dip in the bottle; but with careful application, you can still get a gorgeous, even mani. Highly recommend this beauty for tips and toes!
What nail color are you rocking for #ManicureMonday?
6.12.2021
6.10.2021
elliott
Summer date night sorted, amiright?
6.07.2021
NOTD: Sally Hansen Insta-Dri x Mentos Nail Polish Collection in Peppermint Dandy
Le sigh...legit swooning over this bad boy!
Peppermint Dandy is a brilliant bright blue that you will be grabbing for all. summer. long. #Fact. Formula here is fire. Not only is this beauty a OCW, it is fast dry, and literally chip-resistant. As always with SH, wipe excess polish from the brush on the lip of the bottle before applying to the nail. As long as you remember to do that, you. are. golden.
Sally Hansen is seriously stepping up their color game this season and I am here for it!
What nail color are you rocking for #ManicureMonday?
6.05.2021
rainbow heart
LOVE how playful these pretties are for the summertime! The $12 pricetag doesn't hurt either.
6.03.2021
NAILS INC. Relationship Status: Proud Nail Polish Set Swatches + Review
PRICE: $22.00 for the 4PC Mini Set.

5.31.2021
NOTD: Sally Hansen Limited Edition Donut Shop Miracle Gel Nail Color in A-Dough-Able
It's true, I stumbled upon another pastel yellow nail color, and I am so not mad about it.
A-Dough-Able is the parfait hue for spring; but while the shade lives up to its moniker, the formula is anything but adorable. Yes, it applies very well; but this beauty started displaying cracks and chips within 24 hours, which only got worse as the days went by. While the color is brill; the formula left a lot to be desired. Womp womp.
What nail color are you rocking for #ManicureMonday?
5.29.2021
5.27.2021
BOOK REVIEW: Shadow and Bone {The Shadow and Bone Trilogy} by Leigh Bardugo
My plan was to finish Leigh Bardugo's Shadow and Bone prior to viewing the Netflix adaptation; but life got in the way, and I didn't end up turning the last page until a week after binging the show {in one day}. Regardless, my viewing didn't impact my enjoyment of the book or vice versa. NGL, I actually preferred the show over the book {#sorrynotsorry}, but both were quite charming in their own way.
Ravka has been ravaged by the Shadow Fold {aka the Unsea or the Fold} for as long as 17-year-old Army cartographer, Alina Starkov, can remember. A consequence of dark magic that placed a swath of darkness in the midst of Ravka, splitting it in half {the East and the West}, and making the only viable option for crossing it {sometimes successfully, sometimes un} via Sandskiff; the Shadow Fold is responsible for taking the lives of Alina's parents, leaving her orphaned as a child. It is also responsible for the deaths of her bestie {and not-so-secret crush} Malyen Oretsev's {aka Mal} parents.
While attempting to cross the Shadow Fold with her squadron, the Skiff she is aboard is attacked by Volcra, the monsters residing within. Faced with near-certain death, Alina unconsciously calls upon a long-dormant power, enabling her to hold the darkness back and make it out of the Fold alive. It is only once she has reached safety that she is identified as a Grisha - or, better yet, a Sun Summoner. The only one of her kind. Saddled with the knowledge that she may be the only one who can eliminate the Shadow Fold, and free Ravka; Alina is thrust into the Grisha's world of aristocracy and dangerous politics. Under the watchful eye of Baghra and the handsome yet oft-times frightening Darkling, Alina must master her gift all while surviving the backstabbing behaviors synonymous with life in the court.
If I'm being honest I have to admit...Alina is fairly lackluster when it comes to a protagonist. As is Mal. Unfortunately, having binged the Netflix adaptation prior to finishing the book, I fell for Kaz, Inej, and Jesper. They were the characters who kept me coming back for more; so to see them missing from Shadow and Bone left me gutted. I later learned that they are characters in Bardugo's other book series, Six of Crows, which I am so excited to read; but have been advised to hold off on until I have completed the Shadow and Bone Trilogy. So will I? In time...
Though I'm not ready to visit Ravka again at the moment, I do feel that Alina and Mal have the potential to grow on me with subsequent adventures, like the sequel Siege and Storm, which I've heard surpasses its predecessor. Whether that is true or not remains to be seen; but I'm willing to give it a whirl if it brings me one step closer to meeting the novel versions of Inej, Jesper, and Kaz.
xx
5.24.2021
NOTD: NAILS INC. Relationship Status: Proud Nail Polish in Shaftesbury Avenue
This color y'all? Dyiiiiing!
Shaftesbury Avenue is a delicious bright coral creme that gives me all of the watermelon-inspired summer picnic in the park vibes. This beauty right here is brilliant to work with. Application fell just shy of OCW status. But the ultimate clincher? I wore this bad boy for 12 days with nary a chip, crack, or even visible tip-wear. Highly recommended!
What nail color are you rocking for #ManicureMonday?
5.22.2021
5.20.2021
completely charmed
I'm not sure what's more appealing: those romantic sleeves, or the fact that this stunner is under $40!
5.17.2021
NOTD: Ciaté London Mini Paint Pot in Golden Hour
Le sigh...I feel like this beauty was made for the transition from spring to summer, yes?
Golden Hour is a gorgeous metallic rose gold that is slightly reminiscent of an old fave of mine {essie's Penny Talk}. NGL, during application I did feel like brushstrokes were visible; but top coat cleared that right up! Overall formula was brilliant; just be sure to wipe the brush on the lip of the bottle before application to avoid the dreaded cuticle chase.
What nail color are you rocking for #ManicureMonday?
5.15.2021
5.13.2021
BOOK REVIEW: Champion by Marie Lu
Wow. It has been quite some time since I first joined Day and June in their mind-blowing escapades, but in the days leading up to my first COVID vaccine, I felt compelled to follow-up with the stars of the plague-focused Legend series, so naturally, I reached for Marie Lu's Champion. Intriguing? Yes. Did it live up to its predecessors? Negative; but it was still enjoyable.
Day and June have not seen each other in three months. Though each pines for the other, distance seems to be the answer for survival - especially with Day hiding a secret, life-threatening illness from his beloved {he's dying as a result of Republic experiments}, and June making moves in the political world working alongside Anden as a Princeps Elect. The Republic is finally on a path of success for the people, with a peace treaty with the Colonies on the brink - and then things turn sour.
With just days left before the treaty is signed, there is an outbreak of a new plague strain throughout the Colonies - a strain far deadlier than the previous - that pushes the Colonies to declare war with the Republic. Though from the outside the Republic appears strong and powerful; they are lacking in both weaponry and combatants, and require an alliance if they are to survive - which very few territories are willing to even consider. The only option for survival? Hand over a plague cure or fight.
While Prodigy, for me, started out very slow and then picked up; Champion presented the opposite problem: it started strong, petered out a bit, picked up again then continued in that ebb and flow motion until the final page was turned. Part of me feels that this was just an extension of problems that had begun for me within the pages of Prodigy - such as my growing lack of interest in Day and June, and the stronger focus on politics. That said, Champion did have its moments.
While June was completely uninteresting for me until the final chapter, there was a hint of Day's old, charming spark sprinkled throughout the pages that kept my hope alive; whereas Anden, whom I had actually enjoyed in Prodigy became incredibly boring. TBH, the two standouts in this installment were Eden and Pascao - Day's younger brother, and the loyal Patriot runner, respectively. These two are the main reason I muddled through the endless passages of political talk, and stuck with the story until the end. Well, them and the Antarctica experience, which is brief, but so awesome to read about due to the virtual reality aspect.
Though not as thrilling as its predecessors, Champion is an intriguing continuation of the series; but, it is not, as many thought, the conclusion. There is now Rebel, the fourth installment, and I, for one, cannot wait to get my hands on it - if only to see more of Eden and Pascao!
xx
5.10.2021
NOTD: essie Nail Polish in Bahama Mama
Ooh babes, if vampy is your thang you need this beauty in your life!
Bahama Mama is a rich, purple plum creme that is ultra-reminiscent of raisin and perfect for year-round wear. This one has a decadent formula that has OCW potential, and dries in minutes so you can be on your way! Though I tend to rock vampy hues during the fall and winter I can def see myself wearing this one throughout spring and summer {perhaps as a pedi color}. Highly recommend my loves!
What nail color are you rocking for #ManicureMonday?
5.08.2021
5.06.2021
throwback
LOVE the throwback feel of this cutie!
5.03.2021
NOTD: Sally Hansen Insta-Dri x Mentos Nail Polish Collection in Mint To Be
Not completely sure where the mint in the name came from {perhaps a nod to spearmint as it's a Mentos collab?}, but I don't really care, this color is fiiire!
Mint To Be would have been perfect for St. Patrick's Day; but I only just discovered this gorgeous green, so maybe next year? This beauty was just shy of a OCW and is decadent for sunny spring days! Formula is a dream to work with. Yes, the brush is standard difficult Sally Hansen; but the polish itself doesn't run, or gravitate to cuticles; plusit's quick dry, so you can polish and go. Highly recommend!
What nail color are you rocking for #ManicureMonday?
5.01.2021
4.29.2021
OPI Hollywood Spring 2021 Nail Lacquer Mini 4-Pack Swatches + Review
AVAILABILITY: Ulta.
4.26.2021
NOTD: OPI Hollywood Nail Lacquer Collection in Emmy, Have You Seen Oscar?
Ladies, based on the bottle, I totally thought this beauty wasn't going to be apropos for spring summer, but I was so. wrong.
Emmy, Have You Seen Oscar? is a bright cherry red creme with a subtle coral orange undertone that makes it an excellent choice for summer manis + pedis! Formula is phenomenal. This one was just shy of a OCW, dried in minutes, and lasted for nine days with zero chips. Do not miss out on this one!
What nail color are you rocking for #ManicureMonday?
4.24.2021
4.22.2021
endless rose
Feeling those Cher Horowitz vibes!
4.19.2021
NOTD: OPI Mexico City Nail Lacquer Collection in Don't Tell A Sol
Y'all...pretty sure I have found the best yellow polish in the history of yellow polishes. Trust.
Don't Tell A Sol is a bright lemon yellow creme that will make you start humming Pharrell's Happy whenever you take a gander at it. Seriously though...this color is the epitome of bubbly, effervescent joy, and I am here. for. it. Color aside, formula here is fantastic. I legit wore this beauty for two weeks with only minimal tipwear, which is a first {and likely a last} for me. If you love a good bright, you cannot miss this bad boy!
What nail color are you rocking for #ManicureMonday?
4.17.2021
4.15.2021
out & about
Swooning over the easy, breezy fit of this beauty!
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