obsessed: color block nails

I've been battling incredible allergies this week on top of a nasty cold, and Wednesday I wound up staying home on the couch. I read and did some blog redesign and then of course turned to Pinterest which inspired me to try these color block nails. they were so easy, and turned out so great, that last night I spent 10 minutes rifling through my collection coming up with possible combinations. [though that could have been the cold meds fueling my enthusiasm]

I painted my nails solid with turquoise and caicos, then cut a strip of scotch tape to cover the center part of my nail. I used go overboard on the base, marshmallow on the tips, and peeled off the tape.  the marshmallow is a sheer white, so the blue came through from beneath. the colors ended up so pretty, and I love the striped look. I'm thinking a summery purple/fuschia/coral combo is next...

happy weekend!

things to love

just a few things to love about this week...

1. we finally went to see the Hunger Games. I was a little put off when I finished reading the series [I didn't really like the last book] but the movie was great! they did a good job of portraying all the violence without it being too bloody. the parts they cut or changed didn't hurt the storyline. I also enjoyed having an outside perspective, instead of just Katniss' point of view.

2. wearing my mint jeans. I paired them with my chambray shirt + a skinny belt. and it made me feel like I had just stepped out of a JCrew catalog. [minus the effortlessly tousled hair... mine refuses to cooperate and just looks overworked. we can't all be perfect.]

3. new iPhone apps for editing photos. Katie always texts me when she finds something cool, and I've been loving CameraBag ever since I loaded it. they have a ton of filters and that's where all my recent polaroid-esque photos are from. I also discovered Phonto and SketchBook from this blog post. [I've recently been obsessed with this blog, if you can't tell from my pinterest boards.] Phonto is an easy to use app for adding text, and they have a TON of fonts and you can customize your colors. I used it in the first photo of my mint pants. Sketchbook is a little more complicated, but it lets you draw on photos! you have to go into layers and import a photo, then you use your finger to doodle. it takes some practice on the iPhone, but I bet it would be awesome with the iPad.

4. making steps to launching the Taiwan blog. I've been playing around with headers and finally settled on this one. I still haven't officially decided when to start blogging... does 4 months before we actually move sound ridiculous? maybe I'll wait until I'm unemployed. that would be 2.5 months before. part of me says I should stop debating and just start it already. but part of me is scared that people will get bored with me posting about home and whatnot and stop reading before I even get to Taiwan. that's something I've thought about a lot. I know I should focus on just writing. the main point of this blog is to keep people updated and to record what's happening in our lives, but I'm overly ambitious. I shouldn't be concerned with growing a large readership, but I'm vain enough to want one. I think my success with the baking blog spoiled me. since I'm giving up my food blogger niche along with my oven, I've been considering what else is out there. "lifestyle" seems to be the genre I'm falling into [which is basically what I do here, unless "iPhone nail photos, irrelevant rambles, and lengthy lists" is a genre] I suppose one way to look at it is: I'm a complicated person, with varied interests and hobbies. why should my blog be limited to one thing? and that is exactly why I've always felt weird having both this and the baking blog. I'm one person, not two. time to merge!

 5. and finally, I'm only a few hours away from officially being on vacation. Husband and I are heading down to NC to meet up with my parents and sister and brother-in-law. hopefully I'll be getting in lots of relaxing + beach time. after this I'll be swamped through my last month of work, and then packing + moving will take over my life. I also decided I'm going to reactivate facebook. [this decision was met by several cheers] hopefully I can keep the obsession to a minimum, and since I cleaned out a lot of "friends" before I left the annoyance can be [mostly] avoided. so yes, reactivating. after vacation.

two tone tuesday

big spender / go overboard

DIY tiny heart manicure

my nail obsession continues. this tiny heart manicure is inspired by my new earrings, 

these little sprinkles, and [oh yeah] that holiday going on today...

 I love pink + grey together and this was the perfect way to mix up 

 steely power clutch with rosy eternal optomist. [dont you just love that name?]

I used the end of a bobby pin to paint on a tiny heart after my base color was dry. I practiced a few times on a piece of paper and found the best way to shape the heart is by dotting on one rounded bump, then dragging it down for the point. repeat on the other half and add a second coat if your pink is too sheer.

week 49: sparkle and shine

I am so obsessed with these glitter nails. Essie power clutch from the fall line coated with the holiday luxeffects set in stones. I seriously think from now until the new year my fingers are going to be sparkling.

[not that there's anything wrong with that.]

friday five [in photos]

1. sparkly nails: Essie "set in stones" over "power clutch"

2. messy Friday hair

3. Beau deciding he would rather sleep under the tree than destroy it

4. crafting Christmas presents galore

5. dark chocolate peppermint bark. duh.

two-tone nails tutorial

continuing my obsessions with all things Pinterest- inspired and nailpolish... I tried out two-tone nails the other day. turns out this is SUPER easy to do, and all you need is scotch tape. I used Essie master plan [lighter shade] and merino cool [darker shade]. I was going for a more subtle effect, so I stuck with two colors in the same purple/gray family, but I'm so trying this out with bolder combinations...

here's how I did it:
1. paint your nail solid with the lighter color and let dry.
2. use scotch tape to block off part of your nail what you want to stay the light color.
3. paint on the dark shade over the exposed nail.
4. before the polish dries, carefully peel off the tape. you'll be left with perfect lines!
5. touch up any areas that need it, dry, add a top coat.

week 46

how I do business casual:

essie "size matters", grey tweed dress, pattern tights

packing + procrastination

I am the worst at packing. the worst. I take forever. I get anxious about not bringing the right things, because I always seem to end up forgetting something. or having wayyyy to much. I waste a lot of time washing things I don't end up packing, and trying on outfits.

so I'm happy to report my suitcase is full [minus what's drying overnight] and my sister's wedding gift is wrapped and in the car. I tried on about 12 thanksgiving dinner outfits before settling on the above. and I'm sure I won't wear half of what I've packed. but, I'm packed.

Beau was absolutely no help. when he wasn't napping, he was jumping in my clean laundry piles and hiding in my suitcase. or fighting with Rocky. they always get cranky when they know I'm leaving town. punks.

 for now it's time to relax... beverage and pedicure, chopped marathon on food network, maybe a little pinterest-ing. then a good night's sleep and a 10 hour drive back to MI!

#8: newsprint nails [first attempt]

I'm not a girly-girl, but lately I've been obsessed with nails. Not creepy, I-kinda-look-like-a-hooker, nails. Paint them yourself at home [on your real nails] nails. I used to only paint my toenails. If anything, my hands would sport a pale pink or clear coat. Totally natural and neutral. And then I started buying bottles of Essie. and I can't stop.

These two colors: power clutch and merino cool. I've been rotating them for the past month. Charcoal Grey is very in right now. My sister is getting married in a few weeks [!] and my dress for her wedding is dark charcoal. I of course needed a smoky purple as a complement, because wearing the same color nails as your dress is a little matchy-matchy for me.

I'm currently wearing the purple [merino cool] and decided to try the newsprint nail technique. I wouldn't exactly say I was UNsuccessful... but I'm going to need to make another attempt.

I think a lighter base color would have helped, and I definitely put the top coat on too soon and it fuzzed up my letters. I also discovered that soaking your nails in vodka: not necessary. You only need to dip the paper in and press on you nail. BUT only press it down once and don't move it because your letters will blur.

I can't exactly cross this off my list yet, but it's good learnings for the next attempt!