Ain’t Misbehavin’

I know it’s been like a month! But I have been doing really well. I have traveled to New York, LA and just booked a trip to Barcelona in the last month! A high fashion model with runway bookings you may ask? I’m just lucky enough to have a husband that travels for work and I couldn’t pass up the opportunities to check out what the coasts like to wear.

I mentioned it before but one of the things I notice most about fashion in NY and LA is the ability to be fearless in their choices. It’s a rule I am trying to live by on a daily basis. Pick something you would not normally wear and don’t look back. I have been having a ton of fun mixing and matching new and existing pieces. I have a shoe collection that I am finally in envy of and I spend wisely and only buy quality pieces that will last years to come.

One of my latest experiments is with all the new nail design kits that are in the local drugstore. I love, love, love doing my nails. I had my own nail polish-a-day challenge a few weeks back and while I loved adding that difficult to remove glitter to my fingertips I have been really curious about the Sally Hansen Nail Effects. I have read mixed reviews, with a 50/50 success rate. My cousin Marissa had used them earlier this summer and while her blue glittery fingernails came out flawless, you would never suspect she does her own nails by the way they look. She does but she’s a ton more patient than me 🙂

I thought I’d give it a shot and it wouldn’t take long to figure out if it would or wouldn’t work. It costs $10 for a pack of 16. That’s high if you think it claims to last 10 days. That’s a little less than a manicure and there’s no guarantee it is going to work. I bought the color Misbehaved, which depending on the way you look at it, is either reptilish, lacy or even New Orleans ironwork-y on a glittery gold background. Perfect for Halloween or a little Who Dat football!

Preparation is key. You want your nails as smooth and clean as possible. No hang nails, pushed back cuticles, you need it to be as flawless as possible to get started. The kit comes with a nail buffer, the little wood stick to push back cuticles, and 16 strips. You apply at the cuticle and just push it down and smooth it out. Once it is smooth and you feel that it’s sticking, you use the handy little file provided and file the excess off. I didn’t think this step would work as well as it did. You can also use the stick to help pull it away from the edge of your nails where it overlaps on your skin.

I have really small hands so I was a little worried since the strips are pretty wide. The application is a very slow process!!! Patience is key so set aside some time. I would say the entire process took me about 45 minutes. Part of that has to do with the obvious, that whatever hand you don’t write with is going to be painstaking! The strips are very easy to apply once you get the hang of it. I was concerned it would be really sticky but I did have to pick one back up after I applied it wrong and with a little care, it’s more durable than you think.

I really do love them and it came out much better than I expected. I have had them on for a few hours and I was even knitting some hand warmers. They do catch a little bit and one of them has chipped a little. However, I decided to add a clear base Sally Hansen top coat and I can tell that has sealed them a bit. I also know that because I use my right hand much more than my left, it’s going to get beat up a little bit. More to come on the wear and tear over the next few days. Not sure I’ll make it to 10 days but I didn’t think I’d get this far.

I’d definitely do this again, but not on a weekly basis. I bet feet would be pretty cute actually!!! (Ah good thought, Christina!) I give it two cute misbehaved thumbs up!

I’ll be checking in a little more regularly so thanks for sticking around! Stay tuned. With Halloween on the way, I have purchased a ton of cute new brightly colored stockings thanks to the Spirit pop-up shops all around town. Compared to the $12 that the Hue stockings cost, I have managed to get some hot pink, red and bright kelly green stocking for about $5 a pop. The fearless fashionista in me has some plans to experiment a little this Halloween week!

Dress Like a New Yorker – New Challenge

It’s Monday and I’m here with a 3 day challenge that I think will be fun. My previous post, on New Yorkers and fashion, have lead me to my latest challenge. I enjoy challenging myself to be a tad fashion forward and I admire the fearlessness of New York women and their fashion choices. So this week, I will dress based on each of the observations. Let’s recap so we all know what I’m in for.

– New York Women are Unafraid to Experiment

– Their wardrobe is a host of unique, one-of-a-kind pieces

– Fashion should be effortless

So with that being said, today I am attempting to be effortless in my fashion choice. Today we are experiencing some really cool temperatures. I don’t love the cold (50 degrees is cold for me!) but I love dressing for the cooler months. I’m kind of in love with this look and it was extremely comfortable to wear all day! The best part was that the stockings have the same chevron pattern as the dress! Subtle but noted! (still getting used to having my pic taken)

Already have tomorrow’s look ready. It’s going to be my Unafraid to Experiment Look. I’m a little nervous because it will be trés bold! Stay tuned.

The ABCs of NYC

New York City and Fashion go together like peanut butter and jelly! Like Princess Kate and William! Red Beans ‘n’ Rice!! I have been meaning to share my New York experience and I apologize for the long delay. In fact, I have started this post numerous times at a loss for words on how to describe the lifestyle of New Yorkers, but I think I have finally figured out a way to put it all together. I’ve broken down a few key observations that I’d like to share.

1. New York women are unafraid to experiment. You want to wear a pair of green tights and pair it with orange shoes, a motorcycle jacket and a short dress? Go for it. No one cares. The pace of the city is overwhelmingly fast so unless you are a visitor like me, there’s no time to stop and stare.

2. Shop unique one-of-a-kind pieces. Fortunately for New Yorkers there are hundreds of street markets, resale boutiques, thrift shops and sample sales (We walked right into a Michael Kors sample sale on the street!!) to fill 100 closets on any given day. You know how you can often spot someone wearing a top from Ann Taylor or Banana? Well, I think New York women make the effort to find the only top in the world that exists and add it to their wardrobe.

3. Fashion should be effortless. I don’t know how they managed to do it but everything looked effortless. If I eventually walked out the door in a loose fitting sweater, skinny jeans and riding boots, complete with a newsboy hat and layers of gold necklaces, I probably would look like I’m going to a Halloween party. I just can’t think like that.

My trip to New York was a real eye-opener for me fashion-wise. I realized that I need to be unafraid. Not concerned with with what people may or may not say and if something feels right, go for it!

In another note, I had a rough fashion week. I eventually wore that Saints shirt I’ve been meaning to leave for Sundays this past Tuesday, I wore a lot of grey and my nails were not perfectly polished. I feel like New York had this strange effect on me, where I was so exposed to a world that I’m very unfamiliar with. Maybe I’m not cut out for the cutting edge. I like to believe that I have it in me to be this savvy fashionista, but seeing some real fashionistas, and fashionistas who aren’t even trying, sort of crushed my spirit about this whole thing.

To get myself out of that slump, I headed out on this gorgeous cool sunny day for a little retail therapy over to one of Atlanta’s exciting outdoor shopping experiences: Atlantic Station. It’s really just an outdoor mall, but it’s lovely and never crowded. I’m so happy to share with you, my latest purchase! I walked right into a super shoe sale at Dillard’s and look what I got for $15!!!! Who doesn’t need a pair of hot pink pumps. I may not be ready for the Big Apple, but I’m always available for a Big Sale!

I am heading to the West Coast next week to visit my brother and sister-in-law in Los Angeles. I’ll also be heading to a conference with my husband, at the Culver Studios. Whew jet-setting to the opposite coast to see how the California girls like to dress. Hmmm…We’ll see! Should be interesting to say the least!