Nail polish disclaimer***

***If you prefer not to read sad tales of my nail polish woe, then avert your eyes, this is your warning.

I was once a slave to nail polish, always indulging my whims when it came to nail color. OPI was my favorite. I’m also the kind of girl who, at the first sign of chipping or color rising up from the tip of my nail, would always remove and re-paint. Then when the movie Burlesque came out she I it, loved it and then fell in love with the OPI colors inspired by the movie. I was most taken with the sparkly colors. In a previous post I can even be quoted saying “the sparklier, the better.” And it is here that my tale of woe begins. I went a little overboard at Ulta one day last week buying 6 of the 12 Burlesque-inspired colors of OPI nail polish, including one of the sparkly colors (“sparkle-licious” was out, so I bought “slimmer and shimmer”) and promptly gave them to my dad so he had some more stocking stuffers for me.

On Christmas day I painted my nails with “shimmer and simmer” and they looked great! Not to be outdone by the instant chipping one must tackle with sparkle nail polish, I just kept coating my nails. The texture of sparkle nail polish is different than that of normal nail polishes – you can keep adding and adding without it looking grossly layered.

When I came home from our vacation I wanted to try out a different color (since I have so many new ones!), so I head to our nail salon to have them remove the sparkle polish for me. I’ve had experience with sparkle polish and even the strongest of nail polish removers, let’s just say they agree to disagree. The lady at the nail salon fails with their salon-strength polish remove and tries a number of other things before finding thing one that worked. She was sanding my nails with a drill to get rid of the sparkle polish. When she was done it looked like I’d just sprinkled fairy dust on her station.

I learned my lesson: sparkle nail polish is best left to young girls who aren’t a control freak when it comes to nail polish maintenance. 😦

The new me

Just in time for the holidays, a new year, a great internship and a big move I decided to change things up a little and get a new look. The bangs are new.

I’m in love with my bangs and am getting even more excited about everything ahead of me. My roommate helped inspire this change. She got bangs for the first time in her adult life this fall and she’s even more of a stunner now! I got all nostalgic looking back at high school pictures when I tried bangs and promptly grew them out. Braving my doubts – with the encouragement of my closest friends – I went for it. And I’m so glad I did. The look I went for is inspired by Anne Hathaway as Andy Sachs, Zooey Deschanel and Rory Gilmore (seasons 6 and 7).

Is Sephora Santa’s lesser-known daughter?

Because after this uh-mazing deal I found, I’m beginning to think it’s more likely.

The other day I made a more than necessary trip to Sephora to pick up some more BADgal lash mascara (benefit, $19) and another Sephora eye lash curler (Sephora, $5). I managed to also walk away with one of Tarte’s LipSurgence Natural Matte Lip Stain (in Envy, $24) – still on my quest to find the superior lip stain (more on that later). While in line to check out, amidst their other last minute items I was almost tempted to buy the NARS lip gloss/lip stain duo – usually $36, currently $10!!

Based on my other purchases it may be a surprise that I turn my nose to some products and brands due to price (in this case, too high), but NARS is usually a little too far above my radar. So imagine my surprise when I stumble upon this incredible lip duo for such a shockingly low price! I had to do a literal double take. I immediately got out of line so I could try the product. (Caveat: I’m not much of a gloss person because nine times out of ten it’s way too sticky and goopy and thick). Thinking back on it right now, I can’t really think of why I didn’t buy it on the spot. Probably because I was already spending over $50 when the original plan was about half that (remember the Tarte lip stain? that wasn’t on my radar for the trip). But now I’m seriously doubting my sanity in that moment. My advice to anyone with a less level head on their shoulders: give in to your more base instincts and spring for this NARS lip-duo, it’s one of the better beauty deals you’ll come across this December.

OPI razzle dazzles

It’s no secret that I’m taken with Burlesque. I’ve seen it twice and wouldn’t need arm-twisting to see it a few more times. A more recent development is my affinity for the new Burlesque inspired color collection from OPI. With names like ‘Teas-y does it,’ ‘Sparkle-icious,’Let me entertain you,’ and Extra-va-ganza’ these 12 colors are perfect for holiday nails and toes. Now that I’m done with finals I’ll buy a bottle (or three) and celebrate the end of said finals – along with the fuschia streak me and my girlfriends put in our hair.

A bottle or two from this collection is a great stocking stuffer idea for anyone – myself included. The sparklier the better 🙂

Red carpet magic

In the most inspired red carpet move of the year, Natalie Portman wore a stunning black cocktail length frock to the Gotham Independent Film Awards Nomination presentation. The best part? This gorgeous dress is part of the Lanvin for H&M capsule collection and costs less than $200. Natalie accepted a nomination for her role in Black Swan, which I can’t wait to see!! A ballerina thriller with costumes designed by Rodarte. Swoon! Teen Vogue’s Beauty and Health Director Eva Chen tweeted this after seeing the premier: “Black Swan will shock & awe you. Shock bc it’s kind of freakydeeky & scary, awe bc of the Rodarte costumes.” Um, I can’t wait to see this movie, but I’ve already said that… about three sentences ago.

The Lanvin for H&M dress in aubergine (far right):

This visual reminds me of the visuals I saw while in Paris and London! It’s like something from a Harvey Nichols or Galeries Lafayette window display. And the thought bubbles are genius. Here are some more Lanvin for H&M images because I’m now slightly obsessed. The only reason these haven’t been on here already is because I’ve forced myself not to look at the H&M website until the Dallas location opens – at Northpark (or I move to NY… whichever is sooner).