Pick A Pair: Mani-Pedi Combos You'll Love

I got the idea for this post when I was doing my last mani-pedi. I always try to come up with chic, unique, and eye-catching combos for my mani-pedis. It's easy to pull two polishes from the newest collection and have them go together, but it's much more fun to mix and match old favorites and watch them come to life in a new way.
This Spring's collections from Essie and OPI were a little disappointing in my opinion. There were definite winner polishes amongst the bunches, but I didn't end up purchasing much at all, which y'all know is unusual for me! So I've actually really been enjoying shopping my collection and rediscovering old favorites. These are just suggestions, and feel free to look at your collection and change the combos based on what you have. There are no rules when it comes to mani-pedi combos in my book. If you think it works, it probably does! I also want to say that I've set these up so that you can wear them with either polish on your fingers OR toes, so there's no right way to read this!

The combo that inspired this post! I love these polishes together! I think they work with either polish on fingers or toes. I'm currently wearing Ole Caliente on my fingers and Bikini So Teeny on my toes. It just feels more unexpected to have the baby blue on the toes, which I love. Plus, the hot coral on my fingers is to die for! But I'm thinking I'll reverse this one soon! 

This combo is a little cooler in nature. If you don't have Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear Pacific Blue, you might have Essie's Butler Please. I like the idea of these two together because they both have purple tones to them. Also, I like to add the Revlon glitter in Radiant as an accent to Pacific Blue sometimes, so that's a fun addition if you're bored! Again, it's up to you which is for fingers and which is for toes!

Zoya Elodie is such a gorgeous color, I feel like it just looks like the inside of a grapefruit! I had to pair it with something equally dynamic, so I chose Essie's Boxer Shorts, which is a blue with shimmer and purple shades to it. This combo will feel really fresh as we head into spring. In a more conservative setting, Elodie works well on fingertips, but I think this combo works well both ways. 

I wanted to do a combo that felt like it would work for someone who had to be in an office setting. This includes a really gorgeous nude shimmer for fingertips from this January's Mariah Carey collection, and my favorite glossy hot pink shimmer from the Minnie Mouse Collection. The shimmers pair well together, and it's a good balance of grown up and girly!

Last, but not least are Where's my Chauffer and Pink Friday! I like these two together because they really bring out the true pastel tones in each other and they were both big sellers in their own collections. I think combined they'd look incredible and feel like Easter came a little early. Give it a whirl and let me know how it goes! 

These are just a few of the combos I came up with this week while I shopped my collection. What are your favorite color combos for spring? Do you shop your collection, or do you have to have something new to keep inspiration flowing? Share your favorite pairs with me please, I'm always looking for a new duo!

Hope you're happy and healthy!
Love,
Hannah

Time for a Staycation!

What, you're not lucky enough to be headed somewhere exotic and fabulous for Spring Break?

Me neither! So I'm having a Staycation and you're invited! 

Here's the plan:

Got any other ideas for a fun little staycation? Share with me, because I'll be home for a while!
I'm using my student ID to seeing American Idiot (the musical) this weekend! I got front row tickets with my best friend and I'm super excited! I'll let y'all know how it goes.
Hope y'all are happy and healthy!
-Hannah 

Valentine's Day Phone Backgrounds

I am one of those girls who actually loves Valentine's Day. I may be single, but that definitely doesn't mean I can't enjoy a holiday devoted to love and chocolate.  I always take time to decorate for Valentine's Day and enjoy a day full of chocolate, chick flicks, and time with people I love.
So be a rebel this year and fall in love with the world's most hated holiday! Tell your friends and family you love them, and give out Valentine's like it's a 3rd grade class party.
To help you get into the Valentine's Day spirit, I made 6 fun phone backgrounds for y'all to use!

How are you celebrating this Valentine's Day? Share your plans with me, I love to hear about cute Valentine's Day plans! 

With lots of LOVE,

Hannah 

PS- Just wanted to apologize for not posting much lately! I've been very ill and struggling to get better, and I just haven't had energy to blog. Hopefully I'll be back at it all the time soon!

Monogrammed iPhone Case Rant

As some of y'all may know, I just got my first iPhone (or any smart phone at all) this summer for my 20th birthday. I wanted to find the perfect case, and I spent a lot of time thinking about what to get. However, I knew then (and still believe now) that I'm too clumsy to get something based solely on looks.
So, in July I ordered a monogrammed otterbox for my iPhone. I felt like this was the perfect marriage of style and protection for my phone. I absolutely LOVED it, but it was rather pricey. After tax it was about $75. For that price, I really expected high quality and style. That lasted.
I hate to give a negative review on my blog, but I know enough people who have looked at these cases in my circle of blogging friends that I felt the need to say something.

To quickly and very honestly sum up my experience buying this phone case from In This Very Room: I ordered in mid-July, and the case took more than a month to get to me. Prices were high, but I did get a free shipping coupon from their facebook. Overall, they do price these monogrammed Otterbox cases a bit lower than other places I've seen them, however I can't speak for the quality of other retailers. When I got it my only issue was the absolutely ridiculous wait time. I get that it's personalized, but their site says "Up to TWO weeks" not 4-5.
Here's where my real issue has come in. The actual case is typical Otterbox Commuter quality BUT I paid an extra $30ish to get this case monogrammed. So I do expect that part to hold up!  I thought I'd give you a visual of how much it's chipped in 6 months.

Here's my phone case when I received it in August.

I love the design and monogram. 

Overall, very happy with initial quality despite wait time. 

Ok so here's a close up of my case in early November (so about 3 months after I received the case) when I decided to contact In This Very Room. You can see the beginnings of chips around all the edges where pink is showing through. 

November 2012

Finally, here's my case yesterday. The chips have become really obvious and the case looks much older than 6 months. Also, to be clear I was NEVER contacted after I sent two separate messages to In This Very Room via their website. I mostly wanted to find out if it was a fluke and I could get a refund or if this was just the quality of the product. Since I never heard, I really have to assume it's a product quality problem.

Monogrammed iPhone Otterbox case after about 6 months.

As I said, I really don't like to write negative reviews or posts on this blog, but I do think it's important for people to know that these popular monogrammed Otterbox cases don't hold up at all. The good thing about my case is that (because it's an Otterbox) it really has kept my phone safe!

Overall Experience Recap:

• Long wait time for phone case to arrive (twice listed wait time on site)
• Chips began early on and have continued to get worse. I treat my phone well but it chips from everyday use.
• I contacted the site twice with photos and a question about my issues with the case, and never heard back. 
• At six months wear is very obvious and I'm looking at replacing it with a new case.

So that leads me to my current dilemma: what should I replace this case with now? I still want the safety and function of the Otterbox, but I would like something cute too!
If you have any recommendations for quality, sturdy iPhone 4S cases at reasonable prices please comment and let me know!
Next Monday I'm planning to do a roundup of cases I'm looking at. Maybe y'all can help me choose?
Any input is appreciated!

Stay beautiful,
Hannah

PS- Leave your blog link in the comments if you're a recent follower and you haven't commented yet! I want to follow everyone but I'm having some issues with blogger! Thanks y'all! Sorry for the negative post!

You Little Stud!

So if you didn't know, I chopped my hair all off this fall. About a month after surgery, I was itching to cut my hair and tired of having my long bob get stuck in my neck brace (oh yes, neurosurgery is that glamorous!) So I took the plunge and chopped it all off.

One of the perks of pixie cuts is that no matter how small earrings you wear are, they're totally visible! I've never enjoyed earrings as much as I have since I got short hair, but I've really fallen in love with little studs.

To find: (One) (Two) (Three) (Four) (Five) (Six) (Seven)

Stud earrings are great because they add a little extra style without distracting from your makeup or outfit. You can also find them pretty much everywhere from Target to Kate Spade.

Have you traded in your heavy dangling earrings for a more lightweight option? What do you think of studs? Any favorite places to shop for them? Share with me, I'm always looking for cute jewelry options!

Stay beautiful,
Hannah

Lilly Pulitzer New Year Cheer Sale Haul

Yesterday was a big day for Lilly lovers! I happened to be in the car for the start of the sale, on the way to Chapel Hill for a bunch of doctor's appointments. I was really worried that I wouldn't be able to shop it, but my handy iPhone saved me!  I got a few great pieces and I thought I'd share! I'm SO looking forward to it all getting here.

Clare Silk Dress in Multi Getaway Garden- A silk jersey Lilly dress has been on my wishlist for a while. It's my favorite of their fabrics, and I just think they're great dresses. However, charging $258 for this dress felt like a bit much. A lot much, really. I got it for $59! Thrilled.

Hart Top in Bomber Blue Hush- I love Lilly tanks because they're so versatile. This has a zipper in the back, and is nice enough to wear out, but can also be layered under a quick cardigan for an easy peasy outfit for class. This was $24.

Murfette Scarf in Cameo White Sweet Nothings- My GOAL for this sale was to get a Murfee or a Murfette. By the time I got on at 5 til 8 (seriously) the Murfees were gone. Ugh! However, I love this print and I can't wait to throw this on with a white tee and jeans.  Grabbed it for $29.

The last two things I got were surprises for me. Lilly marked down a lot of Sorority collection items! I  spent a combined $20 on these two little things. Always love to add some extra Lilly ADPi print to my dorm.

Dry Erase Board in Shorely Blue Alpha Delta Pi

Printed Frame in Shorely Blue Alpha Delta Pi

So that's my haul! I feel like I did really well for being in my car and it being my first Lilly sale experience! I can't wait for it all to get to Charlotte!

Did y'all set alarms for the Lilly sale? Tell me what you snagged! There were some fantastic deals!  I helped my mom get some stuff for an upcoming Hawaii trip she has too! We had a great time shopping on the road haha! 

Stay beautiful,

Hannah 

Beauty Resolutions

It's a few days into the new year and I've got resolutions on the brain. Most of us do, right?
My life is chaotic enough that I'm not going to make major resolutions about things like weight loss or grades or anything--- but I think making some resolutions about my makeup routine is something I can easily commit to!

Without further ado, here are my 2013 Beauty Resolutions:

1. Invest in quality pieces that I love. Less is more! 

 I realized recently that I can be an impulse buyer when it comes to beauty. Sometimes I want it all, sometimes I want whatever's right in front of me at Ulta. Building a nice collection isn't about buying a ton of cheap lipsticks in shades I'm not sure I'll love. 

This year I resolve to treat myself to quality more often. I resolve to plan out purchases based on reviews, swatches, and needs in my makeup collection. 

This means not always getting another nail polish just because it's limited edition. This means not impulse buying tons of drugstore makeup when I'm not sure about the quality.  

This means falling in love and obsessing over Nars eyeshadows and treating myself to them because they're unique, and incredible quality. Or buying MAC lipsticks after I've gone and tried them on instead of getting 3 Maybelline lipsticks that will go bad because they don't really suit me anyway. This means hunting down cult products.

  Every purchase should be exciting. 

2. Throw things away! 

My name is Hannah and I am a pack rat. I have drawers in my makeup cabinet with mascara that's 95% used up. I have liners I hate hanging out with my absolute favorites. I still have lipsticks that don't perform well because of age. Time to clean out. Maybe I'll reward myself after a big collection purge?

Simplicity and organization mean being able to see my collection and use good pieces more! 

3. Clean my brushes more. Invest in more brushes! 

Using dirty or low quality brushes on nice makeup is like digging into a fancy dinner with your bare hands. You just shouldn't.  I'll admit to being bad about cleaning my brushes. This year, I want to do better. I also want to get some more brushes to help with my technique. For instance, I've been lusting after the Sigma Performance Eyes Kit. Adding this to my arsenal would be great, and would help me improve my technique. 

Sigma Beauty Performance Eyes Kit- $61

Better tools, better results. 

4. Try new things! 

Even if this just means rocking neon lips in my dorm room, it's important to experiment. I want to be bolder this year, and learn more. This means watching more Youtube videos,  reading more blog tutorials, and even trying on bolder colors in Sephora and at MAC to see if I like them.  I may love my Naked Palettes, but I have some really great products in my arsenal that need a chance in the spotlight! Add new techniques to different products and the possibilities become endless. 

New year, no fear.

5. Make beauty fun every day.

We all have days when we throw on makeup without thinking or enjoying all the great products we've invested in. This year I want to enjoy getting ready every day. I think resolution #4 will help with this, because new products and techniques make getting ready so much more exciting.  So I'll try not to throw on a cream shadow and mascara like it's a hassle this year. This will be time consuming, but I have a good feeling it will be very worthwhile. 

Getting ready is (at least) half the fun.

Those are my 5 big beauty resolutions for this year. Have you resolved to shake up your makeup? What's your biggest priority in beauty for 2013? Share your resolutions with me! 

Stay beautiful,

Hannah 

Urban Decay's Naked Craze

I am a huge fan of Urban Decay. I bought the second Naked Palette the minute it came online with Danielle on the phone, both of us screaming in excitement. However, even I am starting to wonder if Urban Decay is trying too hard with all of the recent Naked releases.

This year we've seen the launch of several new Naked products. There have been quiet releases like the Naked glosses (which are just shades of their lip products) and a few other small products, to the very hyped releases of Naked Skin and the Naked Basics Palette. I've even got a preview of some of the new Naked products!

Let's take a look at the Naked Family:

From left to right: TOP- Naked 24/7 Glide On Lip Pencil, Naked  Super Saturated High Gloss Lip Color. BOTTOM- Naked Lipgloss, Naked 2 Lipgloss
(all via Urban Decay)

Top left to right: Naked Palette, Naked 2 Palette.
Bottom: Naked Basics Palette
(all via Urban Decay)

Naked Skin Foundation
(all via Urban Decay)

Above are all the products currently available on Urban Decay's website. There is a great range of eye products with the three palettes- I actually love that the Naked Basics Palette was (almost) all matte. I think it compliments the other two palettes well, and is a great addition to any makeup wardrobe. In terms of lip products, I feel like these are the forgotten Naked products. They're only shades out of Urban Decay's lip products, so it's no surprise they weren't made into a big deal. Finally, the increasingly popular foundation line Naked Skin has been well-received in the beauty world, proving the Naked phenomenon is not just hype!

Urban Decay is taking it a step further with the next two Naked releases: Naked Flushed Palette and Naked Nail Set.

Naked Flushed: 
This product information was released New Year's Eve, and I imagine this product will get a lot of attention. The idea is that you can get a Naked, healthy flush with this palette containing a blush, bronzer, and highlighter!  My only preemptive complaint is that the included bronzer looks very orange. I would have preferred something with a chocolate tone, but I'm looking forward to reading reviews and seeing in depth swatches of the product.  The Naked Flushed Palette will be $30, which sounds like a good deal if the products perform well!

(These two images via Temptalia)

Naked Nail Set: 

(Image via Musings of a Muse)

As a true nail fanatic, I was thrilled to hear Urban Decay released (available now on Sephora's website) a set of nail polishes based on the famous Naked Palette. Once product images and information came out, I was a little disappointed to see that the nail polishes are all mini. I would have loved to see a mini set like this and individual, full size polishes released.  As is, the set runs $26 for 6 polishes at .16 oz each. To give you a comparison, most full size polishes are .5 oz, so these are quite small.


All in all, I am a fan of the Naked Product line from Urban Decay. The eyeshadow palettes are an incredible deal, and I'm definitely curious about the nail polish set! There are a few Naked products I'm not as eager to try, like the Naked Skin line, but I do think that Urban Decay has done a great job running on the success of the original Naked Palette.

What do you think of Urban Decay's Naked makeup line? Are there any products you're dying to buy? Or has Urban Decay taken it too far with the latest releases of Naked products?

Stay beautiful,
Hannah