Backpacks, Candles, Necklaces, Shoes, Oh My!

There have been a couple of things on my wish list lately.  I haven't done a 'Think of it Thursday' in a while so here you go ... on a Tuesday.  With the summer, comes new wants and desires.  I can't lie, whenever something comes out that I want, I usually go and get it.  I should probably practice more restraint but I guess it's also a good thing that I get what I want, when I want it (by myself with no help from anyone else).  A couple of these things are fairly new you'll notice, so let's get started!

#1: Herschel City Backpack Mid-Volume

I've wanted a Herschel bag for a long time now.  I first heard of them (I believe) last year when I was doing an internship at Beauty High.  There was a girl that had a backpack that I thought was so simple and adorable and I think it was from Herschel!  When I learned about the brand, I went online and started researching right away and instantly fell in love with everything on their website.  The bag I have pictured above is just to demonstrate the style that I most desire.  I haven't completely chosen the design yet because I am torn between a couple of them.  This is actually in the running as one of the designs (just to be my plain self, lol) but the other is floral and the other is different colors. 

You might be wondering why I want a backpack?  Well, as I am sure you can recall, I have done posts previously on my Longchamp bag that I use for traveling.  Do NOT get me wrong, I couldn't be more in love with that bag.  What I plan to do though, for commuting in and out of the city, is get something that can just be thrown easily on my back so that both hands are free.  I have found that this method is so much easier.  When you need to get our your train ticket, change the song on your iPod, turn pages in the book you're reading.. whatever!  This is just the best method to being efficient when you're traveling.  Also, the evenly distributed weight well help keep your back in tip top shape!  One more thing: I can't wait to only be using my Longchamp bag for special occasions now, because it is my all time favorite bag that I own, hands down.

#2: Bath and Body Works Candle: Mango Coconut Cooler

As if I don't already have enough candles.  Please know that I probably have double the amount of candles that I actually haul on the blog.  For every four candles I talk about on the blog, there are probably four other ones waiting in my cabinet.  I don't know what to tell you, candles give me ~*liFe*~.  Anyway!  I had seen that Bath and Body Works was putting out the Watermelon Lemonade candle much earlier than all of these other ones in the 'Summer Sips' collection.  This is such and adorable name for a collection!

I have done a ton of mango candles.  Some were from Bath and Body Works and some from elsewhere.  I find that no matter what candle and no matter where it comes from,  mango is just one of those scents that you cannot get wrong.  Coconut on the other hand, that's a different story.  I am intrigued by the candle for the two scents of course and their brilliant combination.  I think I'll give it a shot next time I'm in the store.  I don't like to order candles online for fear that they'll break in transit.  

#3: Turquoise Burlesque Tassel Bib from 

Bauble Bar

I would not be upset if this was my first purchase from Bauble Bar.  I can't lie, this design is divine.  When I order bib necklaces that are similar to this, I like to make sure that they are longer, not so short and choking me.  I have always been a fan of turquoise, but I really have only purchase rings with it in them.  I think it's time for me to take a step up and order this.  What do you think?  Could it be anymore gorgeous.  I also really want to try something from Bauble Bar in general, so this is an opportunity!  

#4: 'Durut' Suede Pointy Toe Pump by 

Manolo Blahnik

Now it's clear that this is a stretch item, but before we talk anymore let's pick our jaws up from off of the floor.  :O  Seriously, is there anything more gorgeous in this world?  I don't think so.  The color selection of this shoe is just gorgeous and perfect for fall.  I could see myself obviously bringing this into winter and being so comfortable.  They are so elegant, mature and head-turning in the best way possible.  While I say they're mature, they also remind me of something that Blair would wear on Gossip Girl.  I mean after all, I wouldn't be upset if I was strolling around the city looking like her.  

Have you been craaaaving anything lately?  I don't know about you but having these four things in my possession would just make me happiest of happy!  Let me know in the comments what you've been loving and send me a tweet if you want to share something with me that I should take a look at.  Thank you so much for reading and I will talk to you all very soon!  -Brit. 

Ring The Alarm!

Couldn't really wait to post about these rings.  I was in H&M the other day not really looking for anything specific when I saw these hanging from afar.  I have been seeing Lo Bosworth wearing really simple, understated rings in her videos for the past couple of months.  Every time I see them I think about wearing them and finding them in some store for a price that isn't obscene.  

As you can see in the photo, the gas needle is not raised, so you know my car is off!  #safetyfirst.  I was waiting in the car for someone to come out of the store and I decided to have a mini photoshoot.  

I never actually purchased anything in the 'Midi-Style' because for some reason I didn't think it would be comfortable/I wouldn't be able to pull it off.  I decided to throw both of those things out the window amidst my 'Lo Inspo' and my great H&M find.  How cute is my wallet BTW?   

I want to say the package of rings which included about 10 of them all together was about $5.95.

As you can tell here, there are silver, gold and rose gold colored rings in the package.  All three colors come in different sizes for different fits.  Can you see in this photo how much this gel manicure has made my nails grow by the way!? (!!!!)  I am so happy and obsessed as you have already read (haha).  

Thanks for checking out the blog today!  I hope this inspires you to try the Midi-Style in an inexpensive way because I sure did and I love it.  Let me know if you plan to by leaving a comment or sending a tweet!  Thanks, once again, for reading and I will talk to you soon!  -Brit.  

My First Gel Manicure Experience!

GUYS.  I have jumped ship.  If you know me at all, you know that I am a nail polish MANIAC.  There's nothing that makes me happier than taking the time to sit here and do my own nails.  Whether it just be a polish change or a complete at-home manicure, I am just the queen of all things nails.  This has changed.  

~*ReVoLuTioNaRy*~

The Gel Manicure has changed my life.  Okay so granted, it's only been one day since I have had it but I can already tell you that I have fallen in love with it.  There are a few things that I wanted to tell you about just incase you were thinking about going in and getting one yourself.  I can almost guarantee that you are going to fall in love too.  

What I Was Expecting

#1: Expensive!?

Honestly, I don't know what I was completely expecting but there were a couple of, I guess you could say, misconceived notions about gel manicures for me.  The only memory I have of going to the nail salon is when I was about 10.  I remember that my mother used to get these outrageously expensive manicures week in and week out and I would always wonder why she would spend so much money.  Granted, they looked great when she came out but I just was thinking how expensive that was.  I thought, going into this gel manicure, that I was going to have to pay about $60-$70 for it and I was outraged.  This is absolutely NOT the case.  

My Aunt put my mind at ease and assured me that I would be only paying $22!  :O  I was completely shocked.  My Aunt was the one that got me interested in getting a gel manicure for the first time so I was taking everything that she said with complete confidence.  I asked her all of the questions that I had in my brain and it was a spur of the moment decision to go and get them done yesterday, I swear.  We were sitting at her breakfast nook in the kitchen dripping sweat from the run we just went on in the 91 degree weather when we just up and decided that we were going to go get manicures!  I feel sorry for the people that were touching us, ew.  Obviously we washed our hands and made ourselves look semi-presentable but we both felt gross coming straight from a run.  

#2: A Normal Manicure?

I totally thought that it was going to be just like a manicure.  You go in, you pick a color, you sit and wait and then finally they help you.  I thought after the manicure was done, you were to sit there for ages and let them dry.  I thought you had to dig awkwardly through your purse for your wallet and eventually grab out your credit card/wallet to pay.  This was not the case at all!  Being that I was such a no0b at gel nails, I think it showed on my face.  The woman (I could tell) was totally making fun of me.  I'm okay with that.  I didn't ask any questions because I wanted to refrain from acting a fool and that was the best choice possible, as I ended up doing everything perfectly fine.  Except for one thing.  Upon the entrance of my nails into the lamp, the smallest fuzz stuck right into the wet polish.  Five minutes later, the lady was blaming me for bumping my hand onto the top of the lamp.  I knew FOR SURE that I didn't bump it.  I made sure that I very carefully was sliding my hands in and out of the lamps because I am so incredibly clumsy.  Needless to say, she just completely re-did it and everything ended up being perfectly fine.  

#3: Heat And Lamps!?

Now I guess this technically could have gone under the 'Normal Manicure' section of this post but I had to differentiate because of my interesting story about messing up the nail (natural Brittany move).  I was absolutely amazed at the way the gel manicure process went.  It was nothing like any other manicure has ever been for me.  First, they clean your nails (this is about as normal as it gets).  There's a base coat that is applied once and then you stick your hands in these small neon lamps that are glowing with heat underneath the table.  Now granted, I knew the process but I had just never gotten it done before.  

Once the base coat is applied and your nails are sitting under the heat lamp, you are prompted by the artist to give your hands to her and she starts applying the color.  Now depending on the color that you select, the amount of coats my vary.  With that being said, between each coat, you are to put your hands back under the heated lamps.  After the top coat is applied and you wait significantly longer than between each coat, the artist takes rubbing alcohol and a cotton ball and rubs it on your nail.  At this point I was freaking out wondering why she was trying to ruin my nails.  I mean obviously I trust them, they know what they're doing, but I just was like 'Ummmm.. what?'  Needless to say, you take out your nails from the heat, she hits it with the alcohol and then its COMPLETELY DRY.  

I was literally amazed.  I still was fumbling around for my money to pay like an idiot and the artist was like, 'Oh honey, don't worry, that's dry.'  I felt like a complete idiot haha, but hey!  I wasn't sure.  Overall, my experience at the salon was absolutely amazing.  I am so happy that I went and that my Aunt took me to such an awesome place called Star Nails.  Now I'm sure that you all have places wherever you live to get gel manicures but if you live in the Ocean County/Jersey Shore area, I would suggest Star Nails for sure!  They have this really awesome program where you get a card and for every service you get, they check it off.  Eventually when you reach 10 services, you get a $20 credit.  This almost equals out to a free gel manicure.  Pretty awesome.

Here are some photos of my nails.  I am so pleased with the way they look.  They're shiny, perfect and this is such a perfect color to have on the nails if you are looking for 'office appropriate/interview friendly.'  I cannot wait to go insane with the colors over the holidays and everything.  I hate to say it, but I think I might be making a big change in my nail polish collection.  Time to clean it out a little bit and give some to my 11 year old neighbor.  And we never thought this day would come.  

Sorry for the awful angles of my hands.  Ew.  Anyway!  Send me a tweet/leave a comment and let me know if you have ever gotten a gel manicure!  Is there anything that I must know about getting them in the future or am I just super excited and probably sounding psychotic (lol).  Thanks for reading!  -Brit.

Fourth of July Manicure #3: red l WHITE l blue.

Here it is!  The final installment of the red white and blue series!  I didn't go insane with this manicure because I felt like the accent nail said a lot already.  I also wanted to use a little more sparkle on other fingers.  Overall, I think I like this one the best!  The pin stripes are adorable and I just LOVE the white polish.  Best part?  Here's a little tip for you, white polish looks amazing with a tan!

I hope you guys enjoyed the cute little series!  Check out my previous red and blue manicures!  What will you be wearing on your nails this weekend?  Leave a comment below or send me a tweet!  -Brit. 

Fourth of July Manicure #2: RED l white l blue

Hello, hello!  I am back today with the RED version of my red white and blue series.  This is just a cute little take on something with lots of red.  I like the fireworks on the accent nail with some glitter right on top!  Once again I think I went a little too heavy on the glitter polish but I have to be honest, I messed up the lines on the fireworks a little so I'm happy with the glitter (lol).  That's the beauty of using a top coat with texture though, it's easy to fix your mistakes!

I hope you guys enjoy this second installment of my Fourth of July nail series.  What have you liked better so far: blue or red?  Let me know in the comments below or send me a tweet!  -Brit.