Catching Fire Nails

This blog post is inspired by one of my favorite books,  Catching Fire. C and I are going to the midnight premiere tomorrow and I thought I should paint my nails to get in the spirit. This nail art incorporates the colors of fire and my love for Peeta Mellark.

Size of lines can change depending on how
Long or your nails are.

Supplies:
Makeup sponge
Red nail polish
Orange nail polish
Yellow nail polish
Clear coat
stickers of your choice (optional)

Directions:
First, take your clean makeup sponge and paint a thin strip of the colors in whichever order you choose. ( I chose to paint red at my tips, orange in the middle, and yellow at the base of my nail) Next, take the sponge with those colors and pat it on your nail. (yes, this is messy so don't sweat about it! We will deal with that mess later). Reapply those colors for every nail. If you want a soft, light color you may only have to pat it once while if you want stronger, bolder colors you might need to repeat on your nails 2-3 times. Once you have the color to the intensity you choose, follow with a base coat to smooth out the applied colors and add shine. If you so choose, you can add decoration as I did. I choose to add the words "I love" on my left hand and "Peeta" on my right. To achieve these words I took small scrapbook stickers and placed them on my wet topcoat. To ensure they stay on, I put one last layer of topcoat on top. Lastly, take a Qtip dipped in nail polish remover and clean up the edges of your nail and any polish on your skin. Have fun creating this look and, MAY THE ODDS BE EVER IN YOUR FAVOR!

                                                                          Love,

                                                                                 S!

Sunday Funday!

Hi guys, this post is kinda mishmoshed(is that a word? we can make it a thing) together, so lets get started. Yesterday at Target I picked up two new lip products. The first is the Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Smitten.  Oh my word, where to begin. I first heard mixed reviews about this product, but after discovering Essiebutton(my favorite youtuber) and hearing her rave about them, I decided I had to try them out myself.

I am extremely impressed by this stain! When I first put it on I noticed how smooth it is. Revlon named this product well. It has the soft, hydrating texture of a lip balm in a lasting stain. The color of Smitten is gorgeous! Its the perfect berry hue against my alabaster skin, I'm sure it would look good on almost anyone! It truly does last, for around an insane amount of time. Even after a full night's sleep my lips were still somewhat pigmented. This product does have a scent. In my opinion, it smells exactly like the green, slightly minty latex gloves my orthodontist wears. I don't have a problem with the scent because you can only smell it in the actual crayon, not when you are wearing it. I also love that this is a crayon, much more convenient than some other packaging.   I would definitely buy this product again.
For a more detailed review of these, go to   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=srrRZ4I4Z9Q Essiebutton is AWESOME! 

The second product I picked yesterday is the L'Oreal Paris  Colour Riche Caresse Wet Shine Stain in Lilac Ever After. Unfortunately, you can't win 'em all and this product has not impressed me so far. I thought it would be a good dupe of the YSL Glossy  Stains, but this product leaves my lips feeling sticky, not cushiony. I love the shade, just not the feel on my lips. The stain does last a good amount of time, but not as long as the Revlon Just Bitten Kissable.

 

                                            (the color swatched on someone else) 

This last lip product is also by Revlon (sensing a pattern?) its the Super Lustrous Shine Lipstick in Lovers Coral. I purchased this product at Ulta two weeks ago and was shocked. I usually hate lipstick, it settles into the lines of my lips and is way too dry for my taste. BUT this is different, its soft and sheer and doesn't settle into lines. The color is the perfect orangey pink and glides on like butter. 

Last, but not least, I decided to make my own lemon and honey body scrub. Here is the recipe: 

1 cup sugar, 1/2 cup olive oil, Juice of 1 lemon, 1 tbsp honey. This scrub will leave your skin soft, and supple. The olive oil creates a nice moisturizer that quickly absorbs after rinsing of the rest of the scrub. Bonus; the lemon and honey makes this scrub smell amazing! Have a great week everyone! Don't forget to count your blessings and thank those around you for all that they do. :) 

Love C!

Braided Headband

   Hey Wellie lovers! Today I am sharing a quick and easy DIY that shouldn't cost you any money whatsoever, the three strand braided headband.

   For supplies all you need is scissors and an old shirt. Using the scissors, cut across the front half bottom of the shirt creating one strip (I used an old white shirt). Repeat twice more to create three strips around the same size. Line up the strips and tie them together at one end. Braid down the strand and finish with another knot. Tie both knots together to fit the size of your head.  These headbands are really comfortable to sleep in or to wear out and are really easy to customize how thick you want them.
                                                                                      ~S




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These are a few late pictures of my family's pumpkin carving night.   

Pumpkin guts, YUCK!

Flower pumpkin.

A Cyclops, Pirate, Jack and flower pumpkin.

                                                                                                                                               

C's Fall Favorites

My Fall Favorites

Boots, scarves, crunchy leaves. No wonder fall is so romantic! This crisp, cool time of year is always inspiring to me. So, here are some of my favorite things about fall.

*All opinions are my own. None of these companies know who I am. Please keep in mind that my complaints may not be an issue for you. Every consumer is different.

Boots. These are, perhaps, the best style of shoe. They are versatile, comfortable, and warm. Most fall days see me wearing skinny, or even boot-cut, jeans tucked into some brown leather boots. I am a big fan of Steve Madden and currently own his Candence Leather Boots in Cognac.The amount of compliments I received on these boots was insane. I purchased them two years ago and was one of the few wearing them. The fall after I had puchased mine, everyone had a pair, they are a hit! Unfortunately, these are no longer available and have been replaced by the Craave Boot(such an odd name, especially for a shoe, right?). While the two are very similar, the Craave has a buckle on the back that I am not too keen on. Also the cognac Craave boot is darker than The Candence Boot in Cognac.

The Candence Boot (discontinued)                         The Craave Boot (currently available)

                     

I also love combat boots right now. I own the Steve Madden Troopa Boot in Brown. They offer many colors to choose from. I love the heel on these boots. Originally I was unsure about a medium sized heel because I am almost 5' 9'' as it is. However, they do not make me look like an Amazon, they are comfortable and versatile and pair well with almost anything. My only complaint is that you must be careful around surfaces that could, potentially, scratch the leather on these boots. After having them for a week, I was climbing some concrete steps and the toe of both boots was scraped and showed a small white line on each boot. Lesson learned, don't walk too close to the steps. I do still wear them, the lines are hardly noticeable to others.

My latest fall shoe is the Hunter Wellington Boot. Hunter has been around since World War I, thats right Downton Abbey fans Matthew probably wore a pair in the trench. These are made to be worn in the rain, they are all natural rubber. Mine are the Tour Packable Boot, the only difference between mine and the original is that the Tour bends and is great for packing in suitcases. I did notice that the shade of green the Tour is offered in is slightly different from either shades of green that the Original boot comes in. My advice, find a store that carries these and try them on in person. This way you know what size you need, these boots run small, what color you like, and whether you want the Original or the Tour. I almost ordered mine online. Thankfully, I went to Nordstrom and tried them on instead. Originally, I had thought I would be better off with the original. I was skeptical about the durability of the Tour. However, upon trying on the original, I found them to be a little too stiff for my taste. I then tried on the Tour and found them to be extremely comfortable and not at all flimsy. I love my pair and know you will too!

Fall items: Bath & Body Works Slatkin & Co. three wick candle in Leaves

This candle smells just like fall. Crisp, crunchy leaves accompany fresh apples and a hint of spice. Everything comes together beautifully!

Tea Forte Sweet Orange Spice (loose): This just may be my favorite tea of all time. If you are a cinnamon fan this tea is your new best friend. Spicy cinnamon and zesty orange flow together to create the perfect fall blend.

OPI in Russian Navy: Navy blue and I go way back. This deep, sultry beauty is flecked with just enough glimmer and beautiful indigo nuances.

Statement Necklaces: I'm always impressed by anyone who can find a way to make bright colored jewelry work for fall.