I am here to recommend a new, stylish beauty product that is flying off the shelves at most drug stores recently: the Sally Hansen "Crackle" overcoat nail enamel.

Choose any Sally Hansen nail enamel color, paint your nails, and apply a thin coat of any "Crackle" Sally Hansen color and watch as the nail polish forms a "crackled" look in seconds.

Crackle nail polishes are sold for about $7 in most drug stores. These are my nails with a red extra strength nail enamel and a black Crackle overcoat. I plan on investing in more colors in the near future... a must-have for girls who do not spend a fortune on salon manicures!

While enjoying our family vacation to Friday Harbor, Washington (part of the San Juan Islands), I found some awesome treasures I wanted to share. Some San Juan-related, some not.

From left to right: A memorabillia t-shirt from a local shop near Friday's Crabhouse, a delicious seafood restaurant that caters to all needs, along with a souviner "Friday Harbor" box from a shop by the ferry boat terminal, and a gift ring from latter as well.

Middle: A couple books I found at Serendipity's used bookstore (featured: O's Guide to Life book about numerous lifestyle topics and What If, a book highlighting "what if?" scenarios in life for the faint-hearted). While visiting the whale watching exhibit at Lime Kiln State Park, I picked up 3 postcards for a dollar. The sunglasses are from Friday's Crabhouse side shop where I purchased my tee.

Far right: Items from Pelindaba Lavender Farm, a natural San Juan farm that grows and produces their own products at their main farm located in Friday Harbor. My mom adores lavender--everything lavender!! Together, we purchased (and now share) five products from Pelindaba: a pitcher mix of lavender lemonade, lavender tea lights, lavender honey, lavender skin salve and lavender soothing hand wipes. The dog also shared our lavender joy while enjoying two small gourmet, lavender-chicken biscuits.

Friday Harbor has a LOT of fun shops and with rare experiences like Pelindaba Farms and Friday's Crabhouse, you never go without things to do. Two items not featured above in the photos are:

 

VOSS water, artesian water from Norway, sold in local drug and grocery stores, as well as Bobino cord wraps--small, medium and large, perfect for earphones, USB cords and other electronic accessories.

I was in need of a big change. My scrunched up “walk-in-closet” could barely be stood in, let alone dressed in. That’s when I asked my parents about the small storage room across the hall from me. We immediately began switching things out and loading the storage downstairs. My mom had said that she always wondered when I may have asked to use this small-ish room, and that it would be more-than-convenient in my College years. This new, generously big “walk-in-closet” is still in the works, but it has gone through an entire spruce up and is ready to begin its legacy.




Going in to this project, I absolutely knew my vision. I wanted a dark brown or dark purple hue for the walls. A salon-like, neutral area to relax and get beautified in. Not only would this be where my clothes and shoes were held, but it would be a place for memorabilia, photo frames and my entire make up and jewelry vanity collection. A place for a girl to dream! The above lamp I bought from the back-to-College Target selection for only $8 on clearance.

I bought the paint from the premiere collection at Lowe’s hardware for about $40 per gallon. Expensive, but worth it. Because it was a darker color than orange, it needed no primer, and the premiere paint added a nice finishing coat. The paint job (performed by myself and partner Mark) took a total of 10 hours of hard labor during two different days, but was very worth the outcome. It’s no Ty Pennington, but it will do.




The next detail to be born out of this room was the idea of photo framed memorabilia. I created a collage of memories in each frame of my grandmother’s, which are shown above in categories: Skating, Sentimental, Friends/Events, and Travel. I don’t have the most extensive collection of memorabilia, but it will grow with time, now that I have a reason to collect it!




The second step was to put in a new window (one that wasn’t 20 years old and rotting) and create a fine-finish frame around it. My dad, the lovely handyman, created a beautiful frame and also created a 10-cubby shelf where I chose to store my jackets, sweaters, scarfs, and all things in between. I made simple labels by printing out text and taping the backs of the paper onto the storage boxes. Tacky, but good enough for me.




I went to Jo-Ann’s Fabrics & Crafts and picked out a set of three boxes and a matching basket to store my make up products in, to give my table a sense of organization. It was a bit of a splurge, but all under $20. I am using my grandmother’s old kitchen table that has collapsible, removable sides as my vanity table.




My favorite splurge out of my own pocket is the 9-piece polaroid photo frame set by Umbra for $18 at Bed, Bath and Beyond. I used Instagram Apple effects to create the look of the photos for these delicate frames. The frames are writable, so you can use dry-erase markers to create captions for your memories.

There are a few more changes to make to this room, a wardrobe piece to be crafted and a few mirrors to hang, but I am prepared to start cherishing this room as my baby as of today. I invested my sweat, time and energy in to it, and I love the awesome group effort that was put in to it.

So, about a week ago I began the search for a cheaper, equally worthy make up brand that would suit my needs--the needs that BareMinerals has fulfilled for the past year (see my article about it here).

Now, I'm typically not a drug store go-getter, but I happened to succeed in my search, and discovered Covergirl's spin off on clean, sensitive skin formulas for individualized skin tones. I went over my other options such as the newly released Perfect Match by L'Oreal, but trust Covergirl with their chemical content much more than L'Oreal.

What's the price difference between the Clean foundation sets by Covergirl compared to BareMinerals? A lot! While having a pure mineral-based make up for your healthy skin may be worth the extra bucks for someone in their 20s or 30s that needs repairable skin treatment and can chip in those extra bucks, for a teenager that desires to hide a few red spots without coating their face with crap, they need the bare minimum that will get the job done!

Starting with the foundation (#1), apply as much as you desire, as it is a liquid-base. Then grab one of the cases of pressed powder--depending upon your skin tone and which branch of foundation set you choose ("Clean", among other types) you will either grab the circular container with a brown or green lid (#2). Brush this on over your foundation to smooth the finish. If you're someone like me that does have red spots and the occasional zit, I'd suggest spending an extra few bucks and purchasing some concealer (#3). For my extremely visible birthmark that is bright red and smack-dab in the middle of my chin, I use a stick concealer (instead of liquid) by Physicians Formula. 

Foundation and powder start at around $6 a pop, and concealers come in a variety of price ranges and variety of bases. Look around and experiment to find which make up brand is right for you. Less is more, paying more does not mean you will get a award-winning product. I am not afraid to say that Covergirl is doing as much as BareMinerals does to my face for a fraction of the price. No shame here!

I hadn't popped in Payless Shoe Source in quite some time, but did so today to search for sandals that would match my needed criteria - arch support when orthotics cannot be inserted.

What did I find? Two amazingly cute pairs of shoes by the Payless-supplying brand: Montego Bay Club. Right now, Payless has a buy-1-get-1-half-off deal on all shoes, so I scored a $30 deal from $40, and walked out of the store with some Mira Wedge Slides and flip flops with a nice, beaded trim. If I could have had one more pair? I would have purchased a pair of the Sammie Embellished Wedges.

I was a happy bargain hunter. It is so rare when you find a affordable, comfortable, and cute shoes all in one visit to the shoe store!

If you are of the middle-class fortune, do you always shop at retail stores such as Target, Forever 21, Macy's, and other chain corporations to buy your clothing? I typically do, but have began branching out.

I decided to see if I could visit a thrifty, used item store and discover some good fashion steals. And, I did; I bought designer brands (such as Romy, Worthington for JC Penney, and Le Chateau) for a fraction of the cost! Now, I don't mean to sound like a cheapskate, but you can literally purchase $60 tops with no wear and tear for $3-9 dollars. That is a big-time money saver.

I have been on a massive hunt for barely used, decent fashions throughout the day, and came up with at least nine shirts, fancy high-heels, and four pieces of jewelry.

I cannot explain the feeling knowing you just spent under $60 for several great pieces of clothing, instead of two or three. I suggest checking out your local thrift stores, or even your local R.O.S.S. if you would like a good bargain. Keep your standards with Macy's, Penney's, etc still standing, but let your hair down once in a while and be a money saver!

Typically, I'm not one to give in to "the beauty 411" that the self-centered girls at my school rave about, but a beautiful friend of mine introduced me to a wonderful product that I hope to be using for many weeks to come: Sally Hansen Salon Effects. They are nail strips (real nail polish, might I add) that you apply with a nail filer, and last from 10-12 days!

With the easy 1-2-3 application, it's hard to mess up, and worth the price! They currently sell at drugstores such as Walgreens for approx. $8-10--way cheaper than any professional manicure you could spend hours (and a fortune) on. And get this... NO HARMFUL CHEMICALS! I was stunned and delighted.

I purchased the zebra print, but they come in a variety of colors, shimmers, sparkles, and designs. I love how neat my fingers look on the keyboard typing this blog post!

It was truly love at first sight.

 

While I am no pro on make up application (you should see my face after I apply it!), nor the biggest make up and glamour junkie, I have blemishes on my face that I just need to take care of, at least for the time being. I was born with a good-sized, red birthmark, smack-dab in the middle of my chin! Now, do not get me wrong: this is not some advertisement for BareMinerals… but, I just love BareMinerals make up!

I know this will sound like the women on those infomercials, but I have tried everything: drugstore make up, Neutrogena, even MAC! All of which I have been extremely dissatisfied and discomforted with. I figured I would scavenger up a mini get-started guide for anyone who is wondering about the pricing and facts of BareMinerals.

You can begin with the Starter Kit which is about $50 from Macy’s. This includes the basics: foundation, mineral veil, warmth, three brushes, and some samples you can ask the lovely women at the counter for (such as primer, zit cream, etc). A primer bottle (primer is a given; you need primer to avoid the blotchy spots and awkward smearing) is a purchase of $21 (should last about a year), and any additional foundation ($25) and mineral veil ($19) will be priced separately (usually an every-6-months purchase).

Foundation is the basic part of your make up, the starting cover on the canvas of beauty! Mineral veil is what it sounds like: A bunch of minerals, SPF15, to protect and nourish your skin. Warmth is a blusher: a darker covering for some balanced color. All of these products will be a definite investment, but a smart spend.You will always want to use a cleanser and a moisturizer when you wake up in the morning to reduce your skin’s oil, and dampen the skin.

BareMinerals is an 100% pure mineral blend, it is also made from pure virgin soil which speeds up cell turnover to minimize fine lines and wrinkles, remove red spots and blemishes, and increase skin firmness, improving the condition of your skin. All of BareMinerals is chalk-full of SPF, and is proven to reduce common cases of rosacea and acne. With its light texture and feeling, it literally feels like nothing is on your face at all!

Using the BareMinerals’ mantra “swirl, tap, buff”, you begin by taking a tiny droplet of minerals into the container’s cap, swirling your brush around really good, warming the minerals up so they set nicely on your skin. Tap the excess minerals back into the cap, semi-harshly buffing the brush on your face, yet not forcefully, working the minerals warmly into your skin for a clean finish.

I absolutely adore my make up and plan on saving in on the investment for many more years to come.

About a week ago I decided to research some more and tap into my personal style.

First part of this process is learning your silhouette which you do by going to Style Makeover HQ and searching for your body type using their identification list.

The second part is finding out the colors that accent your skin tone, hair color and eye color. I can't say I was surprised at my results, but the experience was a good one.

Here are my results:

Rectangle Body Shape

Your main style aim is to add curves by defining your shoulders.

Do wear shoulder pads, semi-fitted clothes, short-sleeves and sleeve-less tops and dresses, medium to high necklines, dresses that wrap or flow through the waistline, straight to gently flared flat-fronted pants, and a-line shirts.

Do not wear clingy fabrics, fitted clothes, low necklines, baggy tops, baggy pants or narrow skirts.

Balanced Body Type:

Your main style aim is to elongate your mid-torso.

Do wear jewellery, scarves, and garment designs that draw the observer's eye up towards your shoulders and face, medium-long tops, un-tucked tops, tops and bottoms in the same color, skirts and pants with narrow waistbands or no waistbands, straight or flared skirts, waisted, and low-rise or hipster pants.

Do not wear short tops, empire line tops and dresses, wide belts, pants or skirts with a high waistband.

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The second part is the funner one. Now you get to find out what the colors that compliment your body are.

Fashion experts look at your skin, eyes, and hair for complimentary tones. One of the best, but time-consuming approaches, is to go to the mall and ask a professional to assess what colors seem best for you. Asking them won't cost a penny - unless you get sucked into buying a truckload of cosmetics.

In the world of fashion, you'll sometimes hear people talk about what season they are; it is a concept that beauty professionals use to figure out what colors suit people. Check out the list below and see where you fall. If you fit into more than one category, you are most likely a mix of seasons, as most people are!

Winter: Blue or pink undertones (skin), brunettes, dark eyes. Colors that look good: White, black, navy blue, red, shocking pink.

Summer: Blue or pink undertones (skin), natural blondes and brunettes, pale eyes. Colors that look good: Pastels, lavender, plum, rose-brown, soft blue.

Autumn: Golden undertones (skin), redheads and brunettes, golden brown eyes. Colors that look good: Beige, orange, gold, dark brown.

Spring: Golden undertones, freckles (skin), straw-colored or strawberry-blonde hair, blue/green eyes. Colors that look good: Peach, golden yellow, golden brown.

My result:

Winter!

That's silhouettes and colors in a nutshell for ya.

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This post is part of the category "79 Things". Click to see the complete series of 79 Things.