Speak Now

dress: gifted from a friend //scarf: gifted from a friend //cardigan: Nordstrom B.P. HIP ~$35 //belt: F21 $4 //tights: Old Navy $4 SALE //ring: kiosk in Hawaii and gifted from family

First and foremost, I would like to say hello again...after being MIA for an entire week! Question: Have you ever studied so hard, went to bed, and woke up feeling like you were hit with a large object? Yeah, that was totally me, yesterday. It's a really strange concept, really-- how studying can sometimes make you more tired than running a great distance.

I had a revelation the other day. I finally decided on a voice to use while writing my blog posts. Before, I wasn't sure how to say this-n-that because I wanted to sound like an intelligent person, yet very casual. Looking back on my older posts, there is an obvious flip flop between many different voices. I was reading advice from Jessica of What I Wore, and she encouraged people to write as if they were explaining something to a friend. I couldn't have said it better!

I would also like to thank you lovely bloggers for leaving such sweet comments. They truly make my day, and I just wanted to let you guys know...you will always have my support! :) As corny as it sounds, even though we have never met in person, I see each and every one of you as a great friend. Of the blogs that I have come across, you are all such talented, creative, and genuinely kind people. I am hoping to meet more of you!

Now... on to the meat and potatoes of this post. One of my good friends recently came back from studying abroad. She surprised me with this gorgeous scarf, and a late birthday present: a bold purple dress. As a kid, I remember looking through an issue of Allure magazine and coming across an article on how to wear a lot of the same color. The take-home message of it was to wear different shades that were not of the same opacity. For example, since the dress is of a darker shade, it is ok for me to wear the scarf with it because it is much lighter. So, then next time you feel like flaunting your favorite color on an entirely different level, have no fear of resembling a fruit. :)

Hair It Is

Yesterday afternoon, I went to get my hair deep conditioned for the first time. I have been slowly damaging it all summer by sitting in the sun, soaking it in ocean water, and using heated tools. I was excited for my hair to be smooth again, but was mostly looking forward to the way the hairstylist was going to style it. I usually get my hair cut by my mom, so it is always up to me to style my freshly cut hair, which always ends up looking mediocre! She ended up doing a wonderful job, and because she is good at what she does, it looked a million times better than what I had when I first walked through the door.

Here is a video I found with a few tips on how to blow-dry your hair professionally/maintain that great texture you get after leaving a salon. The introduction is really funny too :).

P.s, I'm going to be a bit slower on responding to everyone's comments this week because I have a big test coming up. :\

100th post: Well Polished

This season's nail polish trends are tailored for the girl who loves a little bit of everything. Whether she is glitzy, glamorous, innocent, bold, or fierce, she will find love in the trends to come for Fall 2010.

The trends pictured below are in this order:

1. Metallic/Glitter

2. Mysterious Purples

3. Gem Inspired

4. Amorous Reds (my favorite!)

Not pictured: Nudes/Muted shades

Thanks for all of your support! xoxo

OPI 'Glamour Game' //Sephora for OPI 'Only Gold For Me' //F21 Nailpolish 4 pack

F21 'Lavender' //Sinful Colors 'Fiji' (metallic nailpolish by Sinful Colors requires several coats to obtain color seen in bottle)

Cover Girl NailSlicks 'Sunrise' //F21 Nail Polish 4 pack

Sinful Colors 'Thimbleberry' //N.Y.C. 'Broadway Burgundy Frost' //Revlon 'Valentine' //Petites 'Cabernet' //N.Y.C. 'Big Apple Red Creme'

Does This Mean You're Moving On?

image via WeHeartIt

This week's list for MUSIC MONDAY:
1. 'Great Expectations' The Gaslight Anthem
2. 'How I Could Just Kill A Man' Charlotte Sometimes
3. 'I Miss You' The Honeydogs
4. 'Does This Mean You're Moving On' The Airborne Toxic Event
5. 'Something New' The Airborne Toxic Event

Sequins

cardigan: Nordstrom B.P. HIP $38 //tank: Urban Outfitters $25 SALE //leggings: Nordstrom HUE //turquoise ring: street vendor in Hawaii //nail polish: Revlon in 'Valentine' $2.99 SALE

Rather than dreading the end of summer, I am going to try and embrace it. There are three things I am really looking forward to: my senior year of college, seeing all of my colleagues, and FALL FASHION!

Bargain Hunting Diaries: Vampy Nail Polish

I have been obsessed with looking for a good glitter nail polish lately. With the cold weather slowly dominating the last weeks of summer, and the up-coming spooky holiday, I have been especially interested in darker shades. After Emily, of Cupcakes and Cashmere made a post about Deborah Lippmann Nail Polish last week, I just had to check it out. 'Bad Romance' was a shade that caught my eye. For those who enjoy a good bargain, I found a replica going by the name of 'Mummy May I' by China Glaze. $18 vs $6? I think I'll take the latter.

 

images via here and here

*Note: These are borrowed images of other people's swatches. See highlighted links above for these individuals' websites.

Splurge 'n Save

image via WeHeartIt

Want to know how you can save money while still keeping up with this season's trends? Look no further! Here are 3 tips:

1. Organize your closet so you know what you need, and what you already have. Try your best not to purchase unnecessary items. Stick to the plan!

2.  Ask yourself the "cost-per-wear" question: "What is the item's price divided by the number of times I plan on wearing it?" A good price per wear is $5. Any more than $7 is not worth it. Unless of course...the item is a prom/wedding dress!

3. 70/30 rule: at least 70% of your closet should consist of classic pieces you can wear all the time, while no more than 30% should be left for trendy items. Trendy items should never be splurged on, since they got out of style so quickly.

All tips inspired by People's Style Watch Magazine.