Turquoise and Gold Peacock

The photographs I have of this manicure do not even come close to capturing the beauty of it. What started out as a rather simple manicure (Julep Lena,) was transformed into greatness with the addition of the gold peacock stamp.

I was taking a break from work last week and getting some sun on the deck all the while experimenting with settings on my camera. I was attempting to show you the gold shimmer that is in Julep Lena, but couldn't capture it. In bright sunlight the gold shimmer seems to be brought out by the gold stamp of a peacock feather.

The stamp is by Nail Craze and stamped in Essie 'Good as Gold.' The peacock is a large stamp, so those of you with smaller nail beds may be disappointed.  I'm kinda psyched to grow my nails out in order to fit more of the design on my nails. I LOVE anything peacock.

Lena was part of my April Julep Maven selections, with Kaylen and Avery being just as bright and beautiful!

As usual, the most color-accurate photo comes from my iphone:

Hope your Monday isn't as dark, cold, and rainy as mine!

I'm a Boat Captain

I was pleasantly surprised last weekend to find out I could still fit in Old Navy clothes, a fact that I came upon by accident. Long story short, through my work facebook account, I saw that a friend had "liked" Old Navy, and it showed up as a suggested page, with an amazing chevron maxi dress as the profile picture. Not only did I "like" the page, I spent $75. Nice.

I purchased two maxi dresses in XXL (Misses) and crossed my fingers they would fit. Well, not only did they fit, they were way too big. It's a good feeling, considering I haven't been to Old Navy in years fearing I was only able to wear Plus, which isn't sold in stores. Because they weren't plus, I was able to return/exchange in store, picking up the XL dresses to replace them.

Of course I immediately made up for the years I hadn't shopped there, picking up the above heart sweater, a denim jacket, an outdoor/active zip sweatshirt, the maxi dress, and these linen pants.  Just when I thought I was destined to never find comfortable (dressier) pants, I came across fold-over linen pants. My mind was blown. These are by far the most comfortable pants, and are figure flattering as well.

The boat captain you ask? The day I tried these pants on at Old Navy I was wearing the same gold boat shoes, and immediately thought of Joel McHale from The Soup's impression of Hugh Heffner... "I'm a boat captain!" No? Then I got it stuck in my head and it wouldn't go away.

I am absolutely blown away at times with the view from our back yard, isn't it beautiful? Every now and then some livestock will wander across it, or a redneck's dead truck will be parked in the field, but it is absolutely stunning. 

I don't usually like taking outfit pictures on the weekends as there are more people around, but I somehow swindled my husband into taking these pictures for me, giving me a chance to get somewhat decent photos while avoiding the hair in the lipstick nightmare. My absolute joy of spending time with my best friend:

T-Shirt | Pants | Shoes: TJMaxx | Bag | Necklace (Ebay) | Sunglasses

Namesake Polish: Drew

Julep 'Drew' is by far my absolute favorite nail polish, and has become my go-to polish when I can't decide on a color.  I know for a fact it's for sentimental reasons as it's my husband's name, but the color has grown on me too. I did laugh that the only 'Amy' polish I have is blue, and the 'Drew' polish is pink, opposites for us!

This color is absolutely impossible to photograph accurately, even using my trusty iphone.  Julep describes Drew as a "fabulous fuchsia cream," but there are hints of orange in it, I don't see it as a true fuchsia. It's currently out of stock, so I am assuming it's a popular color!

I've gone through half the bottle since February, and considering it's out of stock, I need to cool my jets and start using some of my other colors!

Hope you had a great weekend, happy Monday to you!

Thirty: Over The Hill

Thirty. 30. Oh my god I’m going to be 30. I have less than a month before I leave my 20’s behind me and become old. Isn’t 30 like the beginning of the end? I remember when I thought 26 was old- when I was 19 and dating a 26 year old. Obviously I am struggling with this milestone birthday, which is only slightly made better with gifts. Slightly.

About a year ago I came across an article on Huffington post about 30 things woman “should have and should know” by the time they turn 30. The article was actually from Glamour magazine in 1997, later to become a book after it went viral. I have said book on my nook unread by the way. You can see the Huffington Post article here.  

By 30, you should have ...

1. One old boyfriend you can imagine going back to and one who reminds you of how far you’ve come.

2. A decent piece of furniture not previously owned by anyone else in your family.

3. Something perfect to wear if the employer or man of your dreams wants to see you in an hour.

4. A purse, a suitcase, and an umbrella you’re not ashamed to be seen carrying.

5. A youth you’re content to move beyond.

6. A past juicy enough that you’re looking forward to retelling it in your old age.

7. The realization that you are actually going to have an old age -- and some money set aside to help fund it.

8. An email address, a voice mailbox, and a bank account -- all of which nobody has access to but you.

9. A résumé that is not even the slightest bit padded.

10. One friend who always makes you laugh and one who lets you cry.

11. A set of screwdrivers, a cordless drill, and a black lace bra.

12. Something ridiculously expensive that you bought for yourself, just because you deserve it.

13. The belief that you deserve it.

14. A skin-care regimen, an exercise routine, and a plan for dealing with those few other facets of life that don’t get better after 30.

15. A solid start on a satisfying career, a satisfying relationship, and all those other facets of life that do get better.
 

By 30, you should know ...

1. How to fall in love without losing yourself.

2. How you feel about having kids.

3. How to quit a job, break up with a man, and confront a friend without ruining the friendship.

4. When to try harder and when to walk away.

5. How to kiss in a way that communicates perfectly what you would and wouldn’t like to happen next.

6. The names of the secretary of state, your great-grandmothers, and the best tailor in town.

7. How to live alone, even if you don’t like to.

8. Where to go -- be it your best friend’s kitchen table or a yoga mat -- when your soul needs soothing.

9. That you can’t change the length of your legs, the width of your hips, or the nature of your parents.

10. That your childhood may not have been perfect, but it’s over.

11. What you would and wouldn’t do for money or love.

12. That nobody gets away with smoking, drinking, doing drugs, or not flossing for very long.

13. Who you can trust, who you can’t, and why you shouldn’t take it personally.

14. Not to apologize for something that isn’t your fault.

15. Why they say life begins at 30

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So, how do you stack up? I would definitely say I’m 30 for 30, even if I don’t think some of these are actually that important by 30. 

When I think of what I accomplished in my 20’s, and the goals I have for my 30’s, I can sleep at night, I can look forward to the days to come, even if I can no longer “relate” to the style posts in People StyleWatch divided up by 20’s, 30’s, and the grave. Haha, just kidding.

Photo and Article Source

 

You Are More Beautiful Than You Think

 

 

I know I'm a bit late to this, but I wanted to share this with you regardless. A friend of mine posted this on her Facebook wall, and I happened to see it right before going out to dinner with new coworkers. Tears and all. I would say they probably thought I was nuts, but I'm sure they had already come to that conclusion and didn't expect anything else.

 

"We spend a lot of time as women analyzing and trying to fix the things that aren't quite right, and we should spend more time appreciating the things we do like."

 

You are more beautiful than you think.

 

Dove



You're Such a Budapest

'You're Such a Budapest' and 'Polka.com' are both from the 2013 OPI Euro Centrale collection, consequently 2 of my 3 favorites from the collection.  I have actually made a few trips to Ulta and other OPI retailers looking for Budapest, and lucked out this past weekend on an impromptu trip to Ulta. And by impromptu I mean I was at Old Navy, right next door to Ulta, and couldn't waste a trip to the mall without going to Ulta, I mean seriously!

 

Don't you just love how the colors bounce off my husband's ratty old Nike sweatshirt that I have commandeered? He's had this Nike sweatshirt for over 10 years and it's seen better days, but I love it and refuse to give it back to him. It's been washed so many times the chocolate brown is fading in spots, the word Nike is barely legible on the front, the hood is practically hanging on by a thread, and you can't put anything in the pocket due to the gaping hole. And I love it.

My favorite musical by far is My Fair Lady, and every time I think of this nail polish I think of this song, 'You Did It,' with the line about the hairy man from Budapest. I've had this song in my head for hours now:

Earth Day

 

I have decided to begin talking about Sustainability a little more here on my blog, and I don't think there's a better time to start than Earth Day. Believe me, you don't have to be the granola, tree hugging stereotype to be more sustainable, just start with baby steps: turn out the light when you leave the room, recycle your soda bottles, or just plant a tabletop garden. Sustainability is sexy!