Pastel Ombre Nails!

Zoya Jacqueline (base), RGB Punch, American Apparel L'Esprit, Sally Hansen Barracuda, China Glaze Re-Fresh Mint

Last night I was up until 1 a.m. doing my nails because I have a bad habit of doing my nails too late. For some reason, you'll never find me doing them on a Sunday afternoon like a normal person. OPI recently had some cute nail ideas on their Facebook page, which inspired me to do a multi-colored pastel ombre manicure. Just in time for Easter! - or anytime ever, if you love pastels like me. I just used my own go-to technique for ombre using the above polishes and sponges to blot the polish on.:

1. You really only need one sponge for a manicure. It's super easy! Paint the sponge and dab onto the nail. 
2. Make sure your base color is relatively dry or you will mess it all up. 
3. The most important part is making sure you use pigmented, opaque shades that you know will show up through blotting. 
4. If you think it looks like crap after blotting the color on, you are most likely right. Don't be scared! Top coat is the one last magical step that will pull everything together to look super pretty. 

What are your favorite ombre color combos? My favorite are white/pastel type combos because they are easy and remind me of unicorns.

Luna

Pamela Love Luna Ring

Ever since I moved (3 months ago!), I'll admit that I haven't fully unpacked my massive jewelry collection. I am really bad about that stuff. I've only pulled out a few favorite bracelets here and there to wear when I need a bit of accessorizing. Yes, it's sad but true, I've come to a point when I go days without wearing jewelry and that's totally uncalled for. With a much needed unloading session and my newest awesome purchase, I'll be back in full force soon enough.

After receiving an email that Pamela Love was having an hour long Daylight Savings sale (a REALLY good sale at that), I knew I had to swoop in on it. Not being too sure of what I wanted, I found myself more intrigued by her "low key" designs. They are subtle but so under the radar cool. The Luna ring was new to my eyes, but I knew right away that I wanted it in my collection. The sterling silver and lapis surrounded by crescent moons...so simple yet so lovely! Perfect for stacking. It also comes in brass but I vote sterling silver all the way. I've been investing more on jewelry I can wear everyday and I seriously have not taken it off since I got it.

Secret Word of the Day: CLOCKY

Say hello to my first piece of "custom" art. Almost two years ago, while aimlessly perusing the Internet, I stumbled upon Ben Zurawski's Clocky, inspired by Pee-wee's Playhouse. Looking at the rest of his work, it didn't take me long to find that he was just as big of a fan of Pee-wee and had made some of the coolest art related to the show. On a whim I emailed Ben asking how in the world a girl like me can get a Clocky for her apartment. It turned out that he did make custom Clockys (in fact, Paul Reubens himself had ordered some from Ben as gifts in the past, so you know this is Pee-wee approved). At that time, I had just moved into a new apartment and was not really equipped with the extra cash but I figured I would open that connection and see where it goes.

This is Ben's own Clocky 

After keeping in touch via the occasional email, I finally bit the bullet and got myself one of the coolest things to ever grace the walls of my home.  The worst part was waiting a little while for Clocky to be made, but he arrived safely just the other day. We popped a battery into the clock and put him on the wall immediately! I didn't notice until I was sitting on my couch one evening, but if you look closely, Ben had snuck my name onto the spinning blocks that make Clocky's teeth, truly making it my own. I just had to play around with the blocks first to figure that one out. I love my new Clocky. Thanks so much Ben!

Nail Candy

(Essie Absolutely Shore, Zoya Blu, Essie Bikini So Teeny)

I'll start by saying I do NOT need new nail polish. Ever. My collection is out of control. When this little drugstore by my job put a discount on all Essie, Zoya and OPI nail polishes, I couldn't help but do a bit of damage. It's for the good of spring preparation!

These three have been on my little mental list of polishes I'd like to own. Right now, I'm really excited about embracing white-pastels this spring/summer. I like the idea of a color that's light and "bright" without being a neon. It's also a cute look for short nails, which I sport on the daily. Essie's Absolutely Shore has been out for a while but Zoya's Blu just came out this year and it's the exact kind of white-blue that I've been looking for. And last year I got a manicure with Essie's Bikini So Teeny, loved it and evidently felt that it needed a home in my own home sometime. 

What's on your nail polish hit list?