If only...

I could look like this every day...

jcrew...as always

I take it back...

I take back my professed love for red glitter that I threw out there on Friday. Now- I'm all about the copper...

Source: liveinvogue.wordpress.com via Devon on Pinterest

the holidays at my fingertips

It's Black Friday weekend! Which in my house means sleeping in until I have to go to work, the beginning of Christmas music, holiday decorating, and the official Dec 25th Countdown (29 days! woohoo!)

One thing I love about the holidays is the excuse to dress up just a little bit more- and that love extends to my fingertips. I rarely do my nails due to my job, but that makes picking out a holiday color that much more fun. This year, I think I'm going to jump on the red glitter bandwagon (last year was gold, specifically OPIs Glitzerland).

Glitters can be tricky, but here are a few I've found around the web:

Source: lippmanncollection.stores.yahoo.net via Devon on Pinterest

Source: lippmanncollection.stores.yahoo.net via Devon on Pinterest

Source: sephora.com via Devon on Pinterest

Shine on!

wet hair

Source: glasswingcollection.tumblr.com via Rebecca on Pinterest

Source: thepursuitaesthetic.tumblr.com via S on Pinterest

Source: downandoutchic.blogspot.com via Rachael on Pinterest

The combination of rain and a broken hair dryer has left me with a tangled mess of wet hair for 3 days now. Oh how I wish I could pull off chic looks like this- instead, I was blessed with lots n lots of unruly locks that need to be serumed, dried, and straightened within an inch of their life. Amazon- please hustle with my new hair dryer. thank you :)

this morning

This morning, I walked down the hill to the river, and saw something beautiful. Dancing across the river in the gray, rainy morning was a bright orange flame. A flame so bright, I thought someone had started a fire to keep warm. As we got closer, the flame got smaller, and I realized- it wasn't a flame at all. Instead, it was the reflection of a small, barely noticeable amber light high up on the banks. The light didn't make much of an impression on the ground, but the glassy surface of the river brought it to life.

Just because you don't make a noticeable impact to those immediately surrounding you certainly doesn't mean you don't make an impact at all.

New Nail Routine

Ever since the boy proposed, I've become very aware of the awful state I keep my nails in. A little bling can do that! Admittedly, I'm not kind to my hands- I work with them every day, slather them in hand sanitizer, and usually dig around in the dirt once or twice depending on what's going on. Now that I keep staring at my nails (and ring!), I've decided to start a little routine.

On our vacation, I had a chance to stop by the spa owned by my future MIL. She knows a TON about products and immediately handed me a bottle of CND Solar Oil Cuticle Treatment upon seeing my fried mitts. 

tiny bottle- big results!

I've used greasy cuticle oils in the past, but this one is phenomenal! It goes on with a brush applicator, smells lovely, and sinks in to my skin asap. I immediately saw results and also noticed when I stopped using it for a few days. Applying it takes only 20 seconds- definitely worth it!

I don't usually paint my nails- and when I do, I love dark vampy shades or fun brights. They are hard to maintain though, and usually my hands look a mess in 2 days flat. Instead, I've decided to embrace milky nudes that keep my nails looking shiny and fresh for days on end! Plus, you can't notice chips nearly as fast :)

A few favorites:

Essie's BBF Boy Best Friend (I like to call it Best Boyfriend!)

Essie's Hi Maintenance

OPI's Bubble Bath

OPI's Coney Island Cotton Candy

Do you have any favorite "go to" easy nail tips?

Mani Update- Gone baby, gone.

Remember how I said I had a nail picking problem? Well, shortly after taking my Friday pictures, I was done for. Monday's are hard on a girl- ok?

The edge peeled up- so I pulled.

Then the nails were uneven- they needed a little help, right?

Before I knew it, I had bare, scratched up nails.

No pictures for the proof, but compared to other overlays, my nails aren't in bad shape. I'm pretty confident that taking the polish off with an acetone soak would have been easy and much more effective than scratching at my nail beds, but you live and you learn!

End thoughts: I'll do it again for a special occasion. We have a wedding and a few trips coming up in the next few months, so I'll try to be better about leaving my tips alone until then!

Mani Update- Week 1

The initial mani using OPI Axxium:

After one week (Friday-Friday):

ew, ignore my dry winter mits

Considering my manis are usually DESTROYED after 2 days, I'm pretty happy! Although it's certainly not indestructible (some tip wear, uneven grow out, fading in some places), I put my hands through hell every day. I use hand sanitizer about every 8 minutes between the hours of 2 and 7, walk the dog 3x or more a day (its been 15 degrees out most mornings), and don't use cuticle oil or lotion nearly enough. Add in the fact that I type a good bit and pick at my nails-bad habit, I know- and you've got a pretty tough little mani.

The areas where I noticed the most peeling/chipping were areas that were applied thickly. Anywhere that the product pooled around the cuticle has caused a little more wear to show up. That being said, I would still go for 3 coats of color next time for a deeper finish.

I think I am going to do another coat of OPI Ink (regular polish) on my own in a few days to fill in the cuticle grow out and cover up the tip wear.

Have you tried the Axxium line yet? Any favorite colors?

OPI Axxium Manicure Review

I don't have much time, but I HAVE to share my mani experience from today! I had read a lot about the new "semi permanent" or UV Gel manicures that are out there now. The promises of 2 weeks, no chips sounded too good to be true, but I had to check it out! I work with my hands, so manis are for special occasions only- and they usually last about 2 days. IF I make it out of the salon without smudges.

My local nail salon carries the OPI Axxium line. They had an amazing color selection, but I went in knowing I wanted OPI Ink, my favorite winter dark. The technician did 2 coats of color, but I may go for 3 next time for a deeper saturation.

Here's what my nails look like now (please pardon that they are dry and icky winter hands!)

The Axxium color is pretty true to 2 coats of polish

A little messy around the base of the nail, but ok!

Not bad- especially because following the mani, I did the following:

• reached into my purse to pay
• walked home with my hands in my pockets
• opened the door- greeted a VERY happy little puppy
• gave Riley a good belly scratch and some snuggles (notice- there is NO dog hair in my mani!)
• cleaned the kitchen
• braided my hair

All of this done within an hour IMMEDIATELY after pulling my hands out of the last 2 minute drying cycle.

I'll give a more detailed review later, but so far, I think this is pretty phenomenal. Also, I'll be taking pictures to see what happens over the next 2 wks!

Gimme Some Sugar!

After the "Big Freeze" comes the grossness of the "Big Melt". With today's 40 degree temps, I think I will be living in my Hunter boots and wearing my hair in a top knot for the remainder of the week.

To brighten my spirits a bit today, I've been slathering on Fresh's Brown Sugar Body Cream and spritzing their dually named fragrance.

What's your gloomy weather pick me up?

Post Workout Beauty Routine: Hair

I think one of the hardest parts of getting to the gym is planning a block of time out in your schedule. Are you a morning person? A lunch break cardio girl? After work spin class junkie? For me, I prefer the morning to mid day workout since my workday extends a bit later than most.

But then there's the dilemma- I look gross.

Yup- scheduling a time to work out isn't hard, it's the workout THEN get re-dressed and primped time issue that I struggle with.

I don't think I'm the only one here- so I want to share my "post workout beauty routine" and maybe get some extra tips and tricks along the way!

Hair:
Everyone swears by dry shampoo. I can't stand it. I'm pretty sure my hair reacts to just seeing the can out on the counter...it falls limp, gets greasier, and looks like I haven't washed in weeks. Maybe I'm doing it wrong? Help!

I have 2 tactics here. If I had a moderate mid day workout with not too much sweat (rare), I spray my roots with hairspray, flip my head over, and dry upside down. The alcohol base sucks out the sweat, I get lift, and I swear it doesn't smell bad either. From there, I style it up or if I'm REALLY lucky, leave it down.

If I've had a great workout and look the part, my only option is to shower. Ugh. Since the time it takes to shower cuts down on virtually all other aspects of getting ready, I need to make my hair routine quick and dirty. Introducing my wet hair best friend: MoroccanOil. A dime sized amount of this argan infused serum makes my hair super soft and cuts airdrying time in half.

get it here

Afterward, I do a fishtail braid to keep my locks out of the way and looking office ready. I used to think it would be impossible to braid my hair this way, but I found an easy tutorial through BellaSugar and practiced on both wet and dry hair over a weekend. The result: a braid that looks complex, takes minutes, and can be made business appropriate or casual based on precision.

Do you struggle with the post workout clean up? What works best for you? 

Bubble Bath!

Last night, I decided to do something I haven't done in 6 years: Take a bubble bath. It. Was. Glorious.

After living in college housing, sharing a bathroom with 2 roommates, and the awful peeling tub of the last condo, I finally had my chance. Aside from trying to keep Riley out of the tub and eating all the bubbles, it was total relaxation. I forgot about my mounting Christmas to do list and vegged for at least a half hour.

Relax and Unwind by devonclaire on Polyvore.com

I'm a little bit of an addict for "spa products", and these are the few of my favorites that made it out of the cabinet last night.

• Bliss Triple Oxygen Face Mask: I've never been to a Bliss Spa, but I live by their products. Using this mask 1-2x per week gives my skin a pick me up like no other. It's hydrating too- unlike heavy clay masks I've used in the past.
  
  
• Philosophy Vanilla Birthday Cake: mmmmm...I got this in a Sephora VIB reward pack. Not the best bubbles, but it smells just like the real thing!
  
  
• A Gel Eye Mask: Mine is from the Body Shop. Chill it, heat it up, whatever suits your need. The boy will pop this in the freezer for me if I have a headache and it works wonders.
  
  
• The Body Shop Spiced Vanilla Body Scrub: I had never used the Body Shop's scrubs until last night. They are more of an abrasive lotion than a salt scrub- which was a nice change of pace. The creamy texture did a good job on my knees and elbows while moisturizing at the same time. I'm not one for floral scents, so the warm vanilla tones of this fit my needs perfectly!
  
  
• Capri Blue Peeled Navel Orange candle: Every girl needs a little mood lighting :) and with the strong scents of vanilla in the products I used, the faint orange didn't overpower.
  
  
• The perfect fluffy white robe: enough said.

{Now, back to that Christmas To-Do list!}