Quick & Easy Candy Corn Nails

I know its a bit late to be posting Halloween inspired nail tutorials but I thought up this quick idea and although you don't have to do candy corn colors you could still wear this any time of the year.
What you'll need
Paper plate (to put your paint on)
White, Orange and Yellow nail polish (recommended for this look)
Clear Nail Polish TopCoat
Cosmetic Wedge Sponge Applicator
Step 1: Paint nails using a white nail polish(1-3 coats)

Step 2: Take a cosmetic wedge sponge applicator and dip it into your orange nail polish(several coats) 2/3 from the tip of your nail toward the base of your nail.

Step 3: Take a clean side of your cosmetic wedge sponge applicator and dip it into your yellow nail polish(several coats) should be the last 1/3 of your nail at the tips.

Step 4: Apply a topcoat, let dry completely and your finished(I of course think that a matte topcoat would look more realistic so that's what I used)

*You could also have your nail tips white and the base yellow but generally the middle is always orange color, in which case you'd paint your entire nail yellow(Step 1) and sponge on the white at the tips(Step 3).

Create Smooth Nails

Ever get tiny bubbles on your nails after applying your polish or little nicks? Or have a rough or bumpy texture on your nails from glitter, nail designs or maybe just your nails in general? Well I've created an easy technique to help smooth the finish of your nails and have them looking as shiny and smooth as press-on nails(some people think my nails are fake)!What you'll need

-Essie Matte Topcoat in Matte About You
-Sally Hansen Topcoat in Hard as Nails Hard as Wraps in Clear

Step 1: Apply 1-3 coats of Clear Topcoat over your completed nails (If you have any glitter, shimmer, etc in your nail polish you'll need to apply more coats as Step 2 may alter the color, especially in those types of polishes)

Step 2: Apply 1-3 coats of Essie Matte About You (You can generally tell how many coats you need by the after-texture each coat leaves after being applied, in general the more you apply the smoother the nail will be). If you want to keep a matte look to your nails then you don't need to proceed to Step 3. Let Dry.

Step 3: Apply 1-2 coats of the Sally Hansen topcoat again once Step 2 has dried. Let polish dry completely and your smoother more flawless nails are complete!

P.S. This is just the brands that I use to do this but it may work with other brands as well. I know this may seem like a lot of coats of polish but it can generally be done fairly quick and the more coats that are built up on the nail the more it gets that press-on nail look as press-on nails sit higher up on the nail then natural nails tend to.

Sneak Peek

Since I loveeee Makeup sooo much...I couldn't help but take a sneak peek into my friends regular makeup bag...I'm sooo nosey(don't kill me, hah). Now, lets dive-in cuz I see sum MAC in their!!!LASH-A-DELIC FLIRT! FAST DEFINING MASCARA IN 01 MOD BLACK ($14)
I've never seen this before but looks like it's sold at KOHLS (we both use to work their)...it smells like old cheap mascara even though it apparently isn't and it's a bit liquidy then what I'm use to using.

MAC STUDIO SCULPT SPF 15 FOUNDATION IN NC42 ($35.50)
Seems blendable but few shades too dark for my fair skin (better for her Latin colour), has a weird smell :l Too expensive in my opinion but I also prolly wear makeup more often then she does.

MAC MINERALIZE SKINFINISH NATURAL IN MEDIUM PLUS ($27)
This appeared to leave a nice soft subtle finish to the skin but didn't seem to add much coverage but...what do you expect when a product says "natural skinfinish".

ESTEE LAUDER PROJECTIONIST MASCARA IN 01 BLACK ($19.50)
A more pricey mascara, I believe my Mom has this...hope this is the one she's using (LOL).

SPA H20 HYDRATING BODY BUTTER ($19.50)
I'm not sure what company sells this (some other state it seems)...I didn't try it but it looks like she uses this regularly as the top was screwed on loose.

VICTORIA SECRET PERFUME IN ORANGE FLOWER
I kept smelling something from the time I got near the bag and i wasn't sure I liked it at first but now the smell seems fairly alluring. I know she's the type which has odd perfumes, usually ones of peach fragrance. Although this tester says "orange" it smells more of strong yet muted floral scent. Apparently it's new this year and for those of you that don't know her...she gets discounts at VS ;)

MARKWINS BEAUTY IN LIGHT PALE 801
I think this is the brand name (sold at Target? Some kid makeup brand?), not sure where she got this exactly but it appears to be some type of coverage stick that seems more my color then hers, looks like she uses it often though.

MAC PRO LONGWEAR LIPCOLOUR IN DURASHELL ($21)
I did a wrist swatch with this and at first it's a nice pink color with gold shimmer, it goes on okay and then you follow up with the clear gloss. The gloss doesn't last long, it feels dry quick but the color does have some staying power as it fades into a nude-brown-pink color within seconds it seemed. BTW it took about 2 days for this to wash completely off my wrist!

As for any makeup brushes she used it generally consisted from the Victoria Secret Very Sexy Collection which came with her makeup bag. She mostly used foundation brushes...well she didn't have any eyeshadow so no need for the other brushes I suppose. She does groom her brows with a Maybelline brow brush, heh. All in all this total collection of hers is over $136.50, eep, I'll stick to drugstore stuff! Her usual makeup is generally natural looking, unlike her sister who does makeup vids on YouTube that are sooo caked-on and bold you'd think Drag Queen ;D LOL

P.S. If you invite me over...I WILL go through your makeup!!! SYKE...but not really ^.^ hahah

Fall/Winter Eyeshadow Trends

If there's one obsession I have in life it's eyeshadow! Listed below are current eyeshadow colors that are trending about for the rest of the year and using L'Oreal products I was able to dupe them for you, enjoy!
Black Eyeshadow, Mascara, Pencil's, Sticks, Paints are a must to any makeup collector so here are a few picks!

The new eighties trend this year is about one element be it lined cat eyes; contoured cheeks; defined lips; bold blush; dramatic highlights. In this post we're just sticking to eyes and nothing says renewed eighties like bold blue eyeshadow reved up with a modern brown.L'Oreal HIP Bright Duos Shadow, Roaring 234 (image above)
or...

L'Oreal HIP Bright Duos Shadow, Flamboyant 538

or...
L'Oreal HIP Bright Duos Shadow, Forgiving 236
with...
L'Oreal HIP Shocking Shadow Pigments, Intrepid 914

Nothing says glamour better than washes of gold and its cool to see I'm not the only one deciding to sport it on the brows as well as the lids cuz I just can't get enough ;DL'Oreal HIP Shocking Shadow Pigments, Visionary 924 (image above) Nothing says shady glam rocker better then some black on silver, so go ahead and get down with your bad-self!L'Oreal HIP Bright Duos Shadow, Platinum 906 (image above) Those of you looking for a more natural modern eighties appeal you can stick with contours and defined lines but here are some deep sultry shadows to sooth the soul, ya dig.L'Oreal HIP Bright Duos Shadow, Poppy 807 (image above)
or with...
L'Oreal HIP Shocking Shadow Pigments, Intrepid 914

Target Fall/Winter Fashion Ideas

As I was searching for fall/winter fashion this year I came across a few styles (as pictured below) and thanks to Target.com I was able to some-what dupe the looks, enjoy!

It was hard to dupe the top to this look (below) but I figured since it has that ripped fishnet feel I'd pick a chunky bold almost sea-like necklace (pearls, chains, buried treasure! haha) to make this top POP. Since most of us women need a handbag I picked this rusty bronze colored hobo bag which complimented the color tone in the shirt and necklace while upping the metallic feel that was lacking from my top.

That's it for now, your comments are always welcome...maybe you can find a better way to dupe these via Target or perhaps a different store but I thought these weren't bad given the circumstances I used, haha. Would love to see different dupe trends that everyone could create for this year! TTYL!!!

Nail Trending

I picked up "For Audrey" by China Glaze recently, got compliments on the color in fact! The pink color is "Basket Case" by Orly which is one of my favvv pinks that also gets compliments as well and I totally dig the name, haha. The gold glitter on top is "Gold Rush" by CoverGirl which looks kinda cool with a matte topcoat if you don't wanna sport the normal shiny look as pictured above.

This is a marble water technique I found when surfin' YouTube. I put these two colors on top of Milani "Colorful in Coral" which is a reddish pink color. The yellow color is Sally Hansen "Lightening" and the orange color is Essie "Bright Tights" which is a bright orange that I've been searching everywhere for. This is a messy technique to be honest and I can't say I was THAT crazy with the results but it was my first attempt at this, so be easy.

This is Milani in "Timeless" which I came across last month I believe and it was the last one left at the store apparently and I haven't seen it on the web. The top photo has a matte top coat in Essie "Matte About You" which is suppose to be all the rage this fall...my mom hates it and for my personal review its kinda cool but the matte finish starts to rub off and my nails seem to chip more. Mr. Sweety complimented me on the shiny version of this ;PI've been upping my polish game to make more unique looks so I took the matte version of Milani "Timeless" and turned it into a french manicure style using NYC "119A" and leavin' it in a shiny finish. Tip for a cheap/easy french manicure: Place a piece of scotch tape over completely dry nails to get straight lines, peel off the tape as soon as your wet nail polish has been applied ;D

Happy Trending

I wasn't sure how interested people would find my casual winter style to be so I decided to take a pic of my outfit today...mainly I just wanted to share my new scarf ($5 Wal-Mart find, CHEAP!). It seems every year I get a new scarf which becomes my new found love that I carry around everywhere to keep me warm. I noticed their have been lots of trendy leopard prints going around this season and this scarf comes in several different colors (pink, purple, silver, etc). Its not totally leopard print as it has this zebra stripe to it but the colors sort of give it the leopard appeal I was hunting for and I think it'll look cool with brown or black clothing.

Dragon Earrings from ModCloth

Necklace Pendants from Ebay

Scarf from Wal-Mart

Black Swing Jacket from Target

Maroon V-Neck from Ross

Denim Boot Cut Blue Jeans from Debs

Black Kady Boots from Target

Mascara Blunders

Some makeup brands make many attempts to re-design their beauty products... unfortunately it doesn't appear they're making any real upgrades to their new designs as the outcome is hideous. My honest opinion is that these funky mascara designs don't work and if you're like me...you'll end up throwing them straight into the trash (unless someone in Makeupalley.com wants it?!) Anyhow, here are some mascaras to NOT waste your money on ;P

Mascara Cons...
Product: L’Oreal Paris Telescopic Explosion
Cons: The brush is so small it makes it unstable and hard to get a continuously even coat/s of mascara applied to your lashes. It definitely doesn't volumize your lashes as they stick together, it goes on a bit gloppy. Although it may make lashes appear longer it's such a messy look with this wand that it really doesn't look good unless you can use a more basic shaped mascara wand.

Product: Revlon DoubleTwist MascaraCons: This space saving gaped design only allows the mascara to fill into the empty spaces inside the wand. Mascara really glops on with this wand, not lash flattering at all and the mascara doesn't seem to be the greatest quality even if you decided to use a better wand.

Product: Maybelline Define-A-Lash Pulse Perfection

Cons: First off for $15 drugstore mascara, I'll pass on the purchase. Secondly if people are sooo lazy that they can't wriggle a mascara wand as we've been doing for so many years already then... yea, 'nuff said. Also I read plenty of mixed reviews that the vibrating wand makes you blink too much as if it'll vibrate right into your eye and I've seen review pics online of this and those tarantula lashes just aren't at all cute.

Lights Inspired

This past week I was inspired by "Lights" and I don't mean the kind that you use in your everyday life but Lights (Valerie Poxleitner) the musician. I've watched majority of her videos after discovering her via MySpace, I even found her CD at BestBuy (apparently only found at selective BestBuy stores) also her website says her CD is sold at Target but I didn't find it online (target.com) nor did I find it in the stores so...kinda thinkin' that was a lie.After watching her "Saviour" music video I remember catching a glimpse at the bedside lamps she had (as pictured in the beginning of this post), so as I made a trip to Ross for some cheap shopping I ended up seeing these 2 lamps which for whatever reason reminded me of the vid, weird since these Ross lamps don't look at all identical to the ones in her vid. I guess her 80's space-age retro vibe just made me feel these would almost be to the same effect as the ones in her vid... don't ya think?

The other thing about Lights is...she feels a persons shoes can reveal a lot about them, which even helped her in picking out her band-mates. Before I even knew Lights existed I saw some adorable boots at Target and...I passed them up, but after seeing how Lights had similar boots in almost every video (she just paints them different colors) I just had to run back and pick-up these! BTW these shoes are totally comfortable and honestly...I feel so empowered and ready for adventure when I wear these (totally crazy right?!). The only downfall is the top of these boots is a bit flimsy and look kinda odd around the ankle when worn outside of pants or bare legs (OMG, I bet these will look cute with my furry black leg warmers over top!).
As per my Twitter I am currently designing one of my fish tanks in a "Lights" style, mainly like her Saviour vid but I'm also adding a comic flare to it. I'm not sure if I'll post it up on here or at Guppy-Guide yet but stay tuned for more as the tank is still undergoing remodeling! Sorry for sounding in love with Lights but her music is sweet and I love that she's bringing keytar back ;) haha

Hell's Kitchen

This is the first time I've watched an entire season of Hell's Kitchen...oh man do I heart Chef Gordon Ramsay, jahaa... okay I def wouldn't want to be the one he refers to as a "Donkey" but he does make for entertaining TV. I also like playing his Wii game which I believe may be similar to Cooking Mama but the game also gives you recipes that you can do outside of just the hustling and bustling game-play around a kitchen.

For those of you that didn't watch this season it seemed hard for them to complete an entire dinner service, the first guy to leave was totally "BP" as my friend and I would say, people having trouble cooking lamb, halibut and just getting along in general esp. on the ladies team, Chef Ramsay even got sooo upset during one dinner service that he walked out of the kitchen and shockingly Kevin didn't win this season. Instead the winner of Hell's Kitchen this season was none other than an expression-less "one armed bandit" named Dave Levey, who's more of a cook with one arm then any other contestant could have possibly been this season. I don't even think he won any challenges except the one at his final cook-off with contestant Kevin.

After watching the show their were a few things I wouldn't mind learning to cook... risotto, scallops and a few other popular food items that I've never made before. So...stay tuned and perhaps when I'm not procrastinating I will get around to sharing a bit more as I've been meaning to do.