Workout of the Day: Long(ish) Run

When I say "long run" I don't really mean long run. Usually that implies about 10+ miles..and I'm pretty sure I wouldn't live through that right now. I went for a 5 miler and it ended up taking me an hour (plus a 3 minute cool down). It felt good to just get on the treadmill and watch some Gossip Girl and just...run. Granted I did take walk breaks and I may have hopped to the sides for water breaks but still moving for one hour is better than sitting in front of my computer doing nothing. I did some ab exercises and arm exercises too but then I concentrated on stretching, something I should probably start to do every day. My flexibility is almost nonexistent! My gymnastics coach would kill me if she saw how little flexibility I have left.

Hellooo Holo! Let's DV8!

Hey everyone! I have another swatch post for today of, dare I say, the super fantastic lemming China Glaze DV8?! Yes, I said it! My amaaaazing boyfriennnnd included this as part of my Christmas present bundle (along with a tonnnn of other stuff I love) and I couldn't wait to share it with you guys! I wanted to make sure I got the pictures right though. DV8 is part of the China Glaze OMG collection which has been discontinued (which explains whyyyy I've been chasing this puppy down for...since I started this blog practically)! It's my very first holographic nail polish and I think it may have unleashed a holo-craving polish monster (not that I wasn't always a polish fanatic).

Seriously, I could die right now. These pictures don't even do it justice. This doesn't even show the holo-ness of the polish. When you shine a bright light on it...

^Like this^ 

...you can see all the beautiful holo in the polish. Seriously...I know skittles says "taste the rainbow" but I say, with China Glaze DV8, you can have the rainbow on your nails. It's so fantastic. Here's more.

 Breathtaking if I do say so myself.

 Yep, I had to include another.

Ahhh, breathe a triumphant sigh now that I've caught this little polish. I feel like I will use it alllll the time when I'm looking for a fantastic and simple yet still absolutely eye-catching manicure.

Oh, and not to take away the excitement from DV8 but...also in my boyfriend Christmas bundle was my very own Helmer! WAHOOO! I felt like a little kid in a candy store on Christmas. I'll be posting on my Helmer just as soooon as I can! Until then, scroll back up and immerse yourself in the B-E-A-U-T-Y that is China Glaze DV8.

Raspberry Beignets with the Roomie

My apartment-mate S and I are attempting to make Raspberry Beignets today. They're like little french doughnuts that you can roll in sugar and fill with jelly. I know, I know--so healthy, right? I hope they turn out really well (or at least edible). We have to deep fry them for a little bit though, so I'm a tiny bit worried about that. I hope we don't burn the apartment down. Wish us luck!

What they should end up looking like! Keep your fingers crossed.

Update: nailed it! (just kidding!) They were ok for our first try!

Workout of the Day: Aloha

My older sister S left for Hawaii today! Grrr, I wish it were me! Instead I woke up and hauled it to the gym. I was a little disappointed with my total workout though because I thought I had more time than I actually did *doh!* I only had about half hour and so I did a little over 2 miles. I'll take it because it's better than nothing but tomorrow I'm aiming for at least 4 miles combining running, jogging, and walking, as well as a brief yoga workout. I'm sort of only at the beginner/intermediate level...I was a competitive gymnast for 13 years but I retired my junior year of high school and seriously just quit any type of fitness training. Now, quite disturbed by where I let myself go (in terms of body weight and tone), I am making it my plan to run a 5K (3 miles) by the end of the year and to live a truly healthy life. You got it, workouts and eating clean here I come! I would love to make it up to marathon level but...let's not get ahead of ourselves here!

A very merry Christmas

For Christmas this year, my aunt in CA spoiled us with tonnnns of stuff. It included stuff for birthdays and the holidays so it was seriously a whole fiesta in a box and I couldn't help but want to do a blog post to thank her! Remember a little bit ago I did this post saying I wanted to learn how to cook/bake (and yes, I still blame Ina Garten for that)? Well, my aunt reads my little blog here and found the most amazing cupcake liners/cupcake book to help me on my way to being major competition for Ina Garten. I can't wait to bake some cupcakes! However, until then I decided to do a cupcake liner inspired manicure as a big "Thank you!" to family in California.


My inspiration: the goodies of course! How awesome are these? 

The manicure(s):

But seriously, don't you just want to gobble this cupcake up?

And by the way, how adorable is this wrapping paper? Maybe this is another nail design inspiration in itself!

So, one more time, I'd like to say a giant THANK YOU to Aunt, Uncle, and Cousins for spoiling me with such fantastic goodies. Thank you thank you thank you. (PS I graduate in May....shall you be visiting?? I mean, it is about time! =D )

Pampering? Me? Yes, please.

Yesterday, my sister and I went on our first little adventure of 2012:  to Tommie Salon in Philadelphia for massages. I had never had an actual masseuse so the experience was completely new. It was originally for Steph's birthday (which was back in October) but she waited for me to come home from school so we could go together. We both work as waitresses and who knew how much tension could form from carrying all those trays?! I think we'll have to make this a yearly ritual. It was so relaxing and I loved being pampered (what am I saying? Of course I love being pampered--that's why I do my nails all the time).


So anyway, nails for today are a swatch of Ulta Professionals' Cocktail Waitress. I thought it fit since...the massage definitely relieved a lot of stress that was knotting up my back muscles from being a waitress.


I can't say I'm in love with the application. The biggest problem with Ulta brushes, in my opinion of course, is that they're awkward to hold onto. You know what I'm saying? I'm sure you have that one polish that just feels awkward in your hand. That's what I'm talking about. The brush is a big rectangle and then the actual bristles are so tiny. The color was nice though. Applied pretty evenly and dried decently quickly. I'm sure this is a dupe for another color though. Hmm, perhaps I'll see if I have a dupe for it!

I really need to improve my photo taking abilities.

12 Things For 2012

Happy New Year's everyone! I hope everyone's 2011 has been filled with good times, good food, happy memories, and, most importantly...many manicures! Last year I worked on creating a list of things to do. Shall we reflect on that maybe?

11 Things for 2011

1. Save money. No idea what for though, I'm thinking my 21st birthday, a trip to Paris, a new TV, nail polishes. Check! I had a fantastic 21st birthday, gotten a new TV, and bought many new polishes. No trip to Paris but I'm working on it.
2. Continue to do well in my undergrad courses and be a strong law school applicant this fall (ohh that sounds really soon *grabs LSAT practice book and starts studying*). Check! I even have been accepted to TWO law schools already!
3. Get better at Black Ops. Ok don't laugh just yet-- I have a thirteen year old brother who plays nothing but that game and I never play it so then when I decide to go against him..he always kicks my butt! Just once I'd like to beat him! Working on it!
4. Plan/Have an amazing 21st birthday in an amazing location with my sister/family (She LOVES planning vacations and stuff and we're thinking Vegas/Miami/New Orleans/a cruise). AHHH SO EXCITING! Nope we didn't get to do anything overly fantastic but I did get to spend a night in AC with my boyfriend celebrating my 21st birthday. Vegas/New Orleans can wait.
5. Use EACH of my polishes for the base of a design. I'm working on it.
6. Swatch EACH of my polishes. Carrying this one over too.
7. Eat healthier and exercise more. Ok so I really enjoy being fit (I was a gymnast for thirteen years) and I really enjoy working out...I just don't anymore. And as far as eating goes...I eat like most people my age do--horribly. I hope to make yoga, working out, and eating healthier legit habits in 2011.  I think I did pretty well here. Too bad you're never done eating healthy and exercising. I'll keep working on it.
8. Dress better. Ok, not that I dress horribly but seriously I love the way my sister dresses. Of course, I've walked the "copycat younger sister" path basically all my adolescent life so I'd like to NOT do that now. She does dress really cute though. Check!
9. Keep my room organized for longer than 6 days. I feel like I have to organize it at least once a week to prevent all out havoc. Complete! I loooove organizing. My room looks incredible.
10. Watch all my movies at least once since, like my nail polish collection, my movie collection is a tad...enormous. Done!

And last but not least, my 11th To-Do: Finish everything I start, whatever it might be. Right now I'm looking at a cross-stitch project I started last Christmas that I've been working on the last week. That will be the first unfinished business to be completed! Nope, still haven't finished that cross-stitch project! Ha. I think I'll spend the next two weeks working on it.

12 Things for 2012

1. Go on a vacation. I'm talking about an actual vacation: a few days down the shore, a trip to Maine, camping, etc.

2. Use each of my polishes.

3. Swatch each of my polishes.

4. Move out of my parents house (if possible and practical to do so).

5. Finish that cross-stitch project.

6. Graduate from undergrad! (and start law school!!)

7. Run more. I started going for runs during the semester and I'd like to do that more. Maybe even run my first race (outside of my track days). A 5K perhaps?

8. Stretch more and become more flexible.

9. Complete some nifty crafts (for example: photo coasters like these)

10. Fix my radio in my car.

11. Buy a Nook Tablet or iPad or something similar. 

And the last and biggest thing I'd want to do: #12. RELAX. I get so worked up sometimes about things and I'd like to just chill out and roll with the punches more. Sometimes I can be really uptight. Let's work on that.

Happy New Year: Top 11 of 2011

Happy New Year everyone! Last year I did a post of my top favorite polishes for the year. I decided to go ahead and continue something similar for 2011: Top 11 Designs of 2011. Enjoy my post of reflections :)

Starting the list off with #11: "Inspired By: Victoria's Secret" manicure from August

#10:  My "Lost Your Marbles" water marbling manicure of February

#9: "100 Cherries on My Nails" mani from February.

#8: "Patchwork Perfect" pedicure from February

#7: "Anything Goes" manicure from June

#6: "TGIS weekend" zebra mani from May

#5: "Manic Monday" manicure from February

#4: "Black Flowered French" manicure from January.

#3: "Designer Week - Burberry Friday" manicure from January

#2: "Animal mania: I love zebra" manicure from November :) We all know my obsession with animal print!

#1: "Colorful Leopard" manicure from July

Totally Tuesday - Awesome Argyle

Hey polished pretties! Finally, a new To(e)tally Tuesday coming your way! I know it's been a long while since I showed my pedis some love but I have a new design that I wanted to share. My mom used to love argyle socks and yes, I would make fun of her. I can't really say my feelings have changed too much but I have found out argyle does make a nice nail design. It's a tad messy but it was my first attempt so..I think it's alright.

Animal Mania: I love zebra.

I am totally unique just like my fellow 20somethings when it comes to obsessing over animal print. In particular, my favorite animal print 100% has to be zebra. I know people love leopard, cheetah, giraffe, etc. as well but I love the monochromatic-ness of the zebra pattern. The black and white is clean and simple yet still fun and unique. I mean, they do say "no zebra shares the same stripes" right? So, anyway, I am so excited to share this manicure with you all. I think it's one of my absolute favorites of all my designs and I really think they came out well! Check them out:

I used Orly White Out for the base (quite a few coats, too) and then Orly Liquid Vinyl for the stripes. As my boyfriend said when I sent him a picture, "They looked spot - er, stripe on." :)


And now to convince you all how zebra obsessed I am. My roommate always jokes with me when she sees a girl with anything zebra. An umbrella, rain boots, you name it, she says I would go steal it if that would be acceptable. Sad thing is, I would totally consider taking down someone wearing really cute zebra rain boots or rocking a zebra book bag. Let's take a look at the evidence.


Exhibit A: My really fantastic (and completely useful!) zebra duct duck tape. I even used this duct tape to give a little pizzazz to my apartment light switch.

Exhibit B: My super duper Nicole Miller zebra print wallet. Yes, this excited me for TWO reasons:  (1) it was zebra and (2) the designer and I share the name "Nicole". See? No question, I HAD to have it! 

And last but not least, Exhibit C: my entire bed. From pillows to sheets (including a body pillow), everything is zebra.

See? So yeah, wayyy obsessive over zebra right now. What are your thoughts on animal print? Anyone else into animal as much as me?