hair envy..

(she has the perfect wave down- I've been trying to perfect this for months) 

While I honestly can say that I love my hair and I am thankful that its thick and can do versatile things, lately I've had a little bit of hair envy. Elizabeth Olsen is quickly becoming my favorite Olsen I think. She is cute and has a cute personality and doesn't seem completely full of herself like her sisters have become. She also has great hair. I love her cut, its similar to my recent cut so I've been using her hair as inspiration for mine. I am also loving her color, its kind of an ombre but not quite, it looks different in different pictures (I think she changes it up often) but I love it every time I see it. I've been noticing lately my hair isn't holding the super blonde color that it is for long (thankfully lightening spray and blonde shampoo hold it out a little longer) but I'm thinking next time I head into the salon I may show Lizzie's lovely locks for some color inspiration too.

Ads of the Past

Being the journalism nerd that I am, I love looking at old ads. I almost analyzed ads for my senior thesis but then I changed my mind. The other day I discovered the Vintage Ad Browser which has ads that date back all the way to the 1800s. Its so funny to see how ads have changed as a print medium and I love looking at the fashion and beauty ones because some of them are pretty funny. Here are some that I thought were funny/neat!

Bow Ties in the 1920s

Boots from the early 1900s

Denim in the 70s (so much denim haha!)

Dresses from the 1890s

Hair products from the 1890s

Monday, my post talked about how Revlon first came out with the bottled nail polish and this is one of the first ads! 

What I'm Loving Wednesday: Black Magic

I have incredibly bad blackhead prone pores. Its terrible, I used to go to the dermatologist and get them extracted it was so bad. They aren't quite that bad anymore but I still have one of those blackhead extracters and I'll steam my face with a really hot wash cloth and pull them out. For a while, I've been reading reviews about the Boscia Luminizing Black Mask. If you haven't heard of it, its a black mask that brightens and purges your pores. It sounds amazing right? Well its expensive, its 38 dollars from Sephora and the tube isn't that big. The other day I went in Sephora and asked on a whim if they had a sample of it. The girl told me, "We can make one for you" isn't that awesome?

I was so excited to get my sample and she mixed it up in a little pod and gave me the instructions and I headed home to try out this black mask. As you can see you look at little funny and the smell is a little strong so it might make your eyes water at first. You let it sit on your face until dry and then it peels off super easy. I was amazed, my chin (where I get the most blackheads) was almost completely cleared out and my face as a whole was noticeably brighter. My sample pod had a little bit leftover, enough to do my trouble areas (chin, nose and forehead) so I did it again last night and could tell another difference. I may have to make the jump and buy myself some or just keep hitting up Sephora every so often for a sample!

So next time you are in Sephora and you are looking around for a new product, I'd definitely ask them for a sample of this mask! You won't be disappointed!

Capitol Couture

(can y'all  believe that this is Elizabeth Banks? She looks totally transformed and I can't wait to see her play Effie!)

As the Hunger Games movie draws closer and closer (59 days!) the Capitol of Panem is doing things to promote the movie. They launched Capitol Couture, a blog that features the wacky styles of the people of the capitol. For those who haven't read the books, the Capitol is a really high-fashion, uber trendy spot where everyone relies on the goods made in the other districts to be trendy. Trends include, crazy wigs, clothing and shoes. This has me even more excited for the movies, take a look at some of the crazy Capitol trends!

I can't wait to see more from this blog!! 

The History of Nail Art

So its safe to say that I am addicted to nail polish. I am obsessing over chipped nails all the time, I am always finding new colors I need to add to my collection, its bad but I have accepted it! The other day I signed up for Refinery 29's daily email list for a contest so I started getting their daily emails. The other day I opened it up and the main article was "The History of Nail Art" of course I read and was completely fascinated. Did you know that painting your nails (or some form of it) dates back 7000 years?  Here are some fun facts from the history of nail art!

So nail art dates back to 5000 B.C. to Indian women who would die the tips of their fingers with henna which is still done today but in a different way.

Next is 3000 B.C. when the Chinese came up a rough form of nail polish made out of gelatin, gum paste, beeswax and vegetable dyes. They would add flowers in for color and this process would sometimes take up to 24 hours to set up. Imagine having to wait that long for your nails to dry, I get frustrated when it takes longer than 30 minutes!

During the middle ages, manicures weren't that common (I would have died living then!) but during the Renaissance it picked back up and women played around with pattern and many decorated their nails with pictures of eagles. Interesting! 

1932 was the year Revlon came out with bottled nail polish. Even during the depression, painting your nails was still popular because of the easy accessibility and affordability of Revlon polish. 

In the 70s, the french manicure was "invented" and became every girls classic staple of manicure. Any time you just want a basic manicure, girls go with french! 

Now we have stick on nails, nail stickers and the gel manicure. Its amazing to see where nail art started and where it is today. I can't wait to see what is in the future for nail art! 

if i had a valentine...

I would send him these Hunger Games valentines because they are just too cute ( and I would probably make him send me the Peeta one!). But sadly I don't have a valentine but I just love them I'll just have to send them to my fellow Hunger Games obsessed friends! 

Only 63 days until the movie comes out! So Excited!!! 

what would anne elliot wear?

A few weeks ago, Hello Giggles posted a post titled "Which Jane Austen Heroine Are You?" and I got to reading them. Of course every girl wishes they were Elizabeth Bennet but I realized I was Anne Elliot.  I actually think I am Anne Elliot living in a Bennet household because my mother reminds me of Mrs. Bennet a lot and being in a house full of sisters- I feel like we are the Bennets sometimes.


"You are good natured and kind. Okay, so you’re not fun with a capital F kind of fun- you’re not the sort to sky dive or do Tequila shots with some random yahoo you meet at a club. In fact, you’re not really into clubs, unless, okay, it’s a book club.   Still, you’re a gal with high standards. You know what real love tastes like and you arent about to settle for anything less. You’d rather be alone than end up with the wrong person.  You were easily persuaded and influenced when you were younger and you own that.  Even though it sort of kills you to admit that you used to be sort who couldn’t handle the mere thought of disappointing anyone, you are well past that phase. You do what you like, you take care of your own and you don’t make a fuss because it’s nobody’s business.   You thank God every day that you aren’t and never will be a reality TV star.   You are Anne Elliot."


 I had never read Persuasion before but these characteristics sure did sound similar to myself. So I got to reading (all of Jane Austen's novels are free for Kindle!) and fell in love with the story. I have always loved Pride and Prejudice but I feel like Persuasion has a little bit more of a realistic storyline where Anne was persuaded when she was young to turn down Wentworth and never gets over it but over time he comes back into her life. While we would all love to have Mr.Darcy come into our lives and fall in love with us at first sight, I wouldn't mind Captain Wentworth except for that I haven't turned down any guys lately to come back into my life 6 years from now, darn.

I got to thinking about what Anne Elliot would wear today, I see her keeping a classic style. Textures like lace and ruffles but in neutral tones. Simple but chic is how I see Anne Elliot dressing if she were around today.

top. pants. flats. locket. ring

I see Anne wearing this when she goes to stay with her overly-dramatic but humorous sister Mary. Anne is put in position of nurse after one of Mary's sons falls and breaks his collarbone. Even though I wouldn't call that the most delightful job, I can see Anne wearing some cute flats and cigarette pants with a pretty lace top. She has to look good in case Captain Wentworth comes around am I right? 

top. skirt. heels. clutch. cuff. necklace.

While people may have deemed Anne an "old maid" at 28, who says old maids have to wear lame shoes? The night at the concert in Bath wear Wentworth gets jealous of Anne giving attention to Mr. Elliot, I see Anne keeping her classic style but still looking amazing to make Wentworth's knees weak. I love the color combination of lilac and this burgundy red color. 

dress. cardigan. sandals. earrings. bracelets.

Cue "We've Found Love in a Hopeless Place" because finally Wentworth and Anne are together and in love heading back to Anne's childhood estate Kellynch. I picture Anne ditching her solid colors with a little pattern, florals to be more specific. I see her hair down and flowing with her beauty restored now that she is with her soulmate. I  am just obsessed with this dress from Asos- so pretty! 

So have y'all read the Hello Giggles article? What Jane Austen heroine are you?