"It's Complicated" Nail Design

Welcome to another nail design tutorial!
View the corresponding video for this look on my YouTube channel

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AwGU0VL2Olw

This is a wild and eye-catching design that features a unique glitter and cheerful colors...

Begin with any base coat...
I love Kiss Diamond Hard Strengthen & Grow because it hardens your nails and also dries very quickly. Also, it doesn't add a lot of thickness underneath the polishes you put over it...

Again I am using two recently acquired Julep polishes...you can use ANY brand or ANY color you like though, it is all about having fun after all! :)

The first color is Teri, a pastel orange that I got my March "It Girl" Julep box...
This polish goes on very well, and is very opaque in only one coat...
I did two coats just because I always do, and I think it looks better...

Next, I am using Lauren which I just got today in my Julep Spring Mystery Box.
This is rather sheer and definitely needs two thick coats to fully cover the nail...

Paint all nails except for your two ring finger with Teri (orange) and the two ring fingers with Lauren (pink)...allow to dry for at least five minutes...

Now to stamp, we will be using the Cheeky Summer Collection plates and we are using plate CH44...the bottom middle design...

Over all of the orange nails, stamp the design in white...I used my ArtDeco polish in White.
I have found this brand to stamp rather well.
These are $1.00 at almost any store and are a decent and much cheaper alternative to Konad special polishes if you want to save yourself some money...

On your pink accent nails, use any colored glitter...
You want to do several coats to get a lot of sparkles on the nail.
I used one of my NEW favorites, "It's Complicated" by Pure Ice $2.00 at Wal-Mart..(See my Favorite Things video and previous blog post). This is a cheap dupe for "It's a Trap-Eze" by China Glaze in my opinion!

Add any top coat of your choice and you are done!!!

I used Kiss Jet Dry Quick Drying Top Coat...

Let me know what variations you do! Comment Below!

Birchbox Bonus Points Haul- Stila in the Moment Palette!

Hello darlings!
As you know, I feel that the rewards program with Birchbox is by far the best of all subscription boxes out there... I recently cashed in some of my points and got a great deal on a Stila palette, plus a few extra goodies!

First, these Stila palettes have caught my eye for a while but I was struggling with shelling out $39.00 for one, so when I realized I had some Birchbox points to redeem I took the opportunity to snatching up!

I chose the In the Moment palette because it seemed to have a lot of purples, which is the "best" contrast to green eyes, which I have...
It also has some neutral highlights and some dark browns and a black that I knew I would get some use out of...(more in-depth review to come)

Since I had 100 points to redeem, I got this palette for only $29.00 as opposed to $39.00 and also got free shipping!

Now here is the kicker that many people forget about!!!!

Whenever you spend $25.00 on *anything* in the Birchbox store, you get a "Pick-Two Sample Pack" for free. This usually costs $10.00 on it's own because they are larger, more "travel-sized" samples...BUT you have to go to a separate place on the website (Birchbox Bonus Shop) and manually enter it into your cart before checkout, or you simply don't get it.
They don't automatically include it!
SO if you are somewhat scatter-brained like myself, it is VERY easy to forget this extra step for free goodies!

I didn't forget it this time and also received a rather large sample of both Miracle Skin Transformer Hydroactive Microderm, and Catwalk by Tigi Volume Collection Your Highness Root Boost Spray...

I will get several uses from each of these samples because they are rather large..

All-In-all, I got the Stila palette (NO shipping and NO tax) and two deluxe samples for $10.00 LESS than what I would have paid for the palette ALONE! Ah-mazing!

Can you say very happy customer?!?

You've done it again Birchbox...you've done it again...touché! :)

Watch this Unboxing on my YouTube channel below!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_hRQf_Wd5Ag

Julep Spring Mystery Box 2013

Hello all! I finally received my Spring Mystery Box from Julep!

It was $24.99 which is about $5.00 more than they cost but hey, I like what I got!

Let's dig in and see what wonderful surprised I got! Yay! :)

First, let's start with the extra items that were in my box...

I got Julep Daylight Defense SPF 30 for Hands and Face...this is a lotion.
I really like the smell and it doesn't appear to be greasy so I might consider trying it out on my face although I am usually wary to put lotions that I'm not acclimated to in such a sensitive area....
I guess we will see what happens!

It's a full-size, and normally costs $22.50 on their website...therefore, that pretty much covers the cost of the box in this one item...

Next up, I got three chocolate eggs, complete with nutritional info...yummy!

Then I got 3 neon Twistbands, which are hair-ties that are not supposed to leave creases in your hair. My hair still creases with these but not too badly, they are good for braids or low-ponytails because of the colorful design...

I got a new Julep nail file...always a handy item to get...

I got one packet of the One-Step Polish Remover Pads...these retail for $7.99 on the Julep website. That's kind of a ridiculous price considering that the tiny travel size bottles of polish remover are like $0.50! Why can't you just keep a small one of those in your purse in a Ziploc bag with some cotton balls?!?! Just make sure the lids on tight!!!!
Anyway, these will come in handy one day I'm sure...lol :)

Now let's get to the polishes!
I got three. I got Mystery Box Version #1 ( it tells you what version you got on your packing slip)
I got the "Mystery Color" that's "supposed to go with everything" Camille.

This polish is comparable to China Glaze's Luxe and Lush I am told.
I was wanting that polish, so I am glad I got a good dupe in my Mystery Box! Thanks Julep! ;)

The second polish I received was Ashley, this is a pretty tangerine orange with some metallic looking shimmer in it...

Finally the last polish in my Mystery Box was Lauren. This is described as a "Hot tropical pink crème," but applies somewhat sheer. Definitely a two-coat polish...but pretty nonetheless!

Of course, if you are a Maven, each polish costs $11.20...since I got 3 that adds up to $33.60 worth of polish..overall making my box at least worth $64.09! Pretty good value.

I like the surprise of the Mystery Boxes and think they are a fun treat to give yourself. My only wish is that Julep would give you Jules when you purchase them.
It kind of bugs me that they don't...

Tune in to my YouTube channel to watch this Unboxing

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vwGZ_FQpopE

And a nail design tutorial featuring Lauren from this box!!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AwGU0VL2Olw

Take care! Xoxoxo! :)

A Few of My Favorite Things!

Wow, I can't believe that it is already March!!!!

I have not posted any of my monthly favorites up until now!
How can we fix this? Simple! Just share my favorites of 2013 THUS FAR...meaning Jan-March! :)

Do you use these? Do you love them too? Do you hate them?!?
Maybe you know of something better than I need to try! Let me know!!!! :)

Watch the corresponding YouTube video of these products for a better look!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zunniQ0_A2c

1) Sally Hansen Insta-Dry in Mint Sprint
Amazing color pay-off! One coat and DONE! :) Perfect for a quick mani or pedi when you are in a rush...you can find this at Wal-Mart or any other beauty store for under $4.00!

2) Pure Ice in It's Complicated
This polish is a fabulous and affordable alternative to the rare-to-find China Glaze It's a Trap-Eze
Only $2.00 at Wal-Mart...amazing rainbow glitter in a sheer base!
LOVE the polish and LOVE the price even more!!!

3) Color Club Poptastic Collection
There are several different colors in this collection. Here is a collection of 7 that I recently purchased off of eBay...They are SO bright and cheerful. Just in time for summer! :)
Watch for more specific names of the polishes and more swatches...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5TVD5qtZrDY

4) Cheeky Summer Collection Nail Stamping Plates
I purchased mine from Amazon. They are high-quality and not very expensive, they are great for beginning stampers such as myself!

5) theBalm Cosmetics
Any and all products! I am obsessed with this brand! I got hooked on Mary-Lou Manizer, a beautiful highlighting powder and went on to purchase the Put a Lid On It Eyelid Primer, and the Nude Tude Eyeshadow palette (an everyday staple for me now)!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KidWm6hB8w

6) Kat Von D Starry Eyes Palette (eyeshadows only, not the lipsticks)
This palette contains four eyeshadow trios, each including a highlight, lid, and coordinating crease shade. These shadows are long-lasting and gorgeous! The lipsticks are terrible and get all over your teeth...just plain awful...:/

7) Maybelline Rocket Mascara
Don't waste your money's high-end mascara a when this one doesn't flake out on your face, washes off easier than an waterproof formula, and is under $10.00!!!
This is the only mascara I will buy from here forward! Value and quality!

8) Mark Hook-Up Lip Gloss in Honey
Convenient to keep in your purse with the matched mascara. Great for touch-ups on the go!

9) MAKE Eyeshadow in Burnt Umber
Got this in my March Birchbox and it stays on SO well!
Considering purchasing the full-size once this is empty!