My Private Jet + Sequins

Santa found OPI's My Private Jet and put it in my stocking!! Santa is so hip ;)

I LOVE this nail polish!! I remember reading somewhere that it's a more sparkly version of You Don't Know Jacques and I would have to agree - although just a bit darker!

For New Year's I added new Ulta's silver sparkly "sequins" nail polish on top! I love the look! So festive!

P.S. Taking pictures of your finger nail polish is awkward and tricky! Sorry. I'll work on it!

OPI colors to watch!

My mom introduced me to an OPI color that I like very much! I'm a little concerned that it may be difficult to find, as my research tells me it was in the 2009 Holiday collection, but it's called "Glove You So Much"! As you can see, it's a very pretty, darkish, perfect, holiday red!

I also learned about "My Private Jet" this week. This color is in OPI's brights collection, which you'll have to explain to me, because it's... DARK!! 

This picture especially reminds me of Sally Hansen's prisms collection. Anyone else?

By the way, I feel it's my blogger duty to warn you about looking up nail polish pictures in google image. Some of these people have talons for nails! Talons I tell you!! Nothing worse than long nails painted red or other dark colors. *Shudders* Keep your nails short if you are going to do a bold color people! 

This picture however, was rather amusing, considering the nail polish title :)

Not quite what I was looking for, but nice jet!

Fallin' for Greige??

I came across "greige" for the first time last week. You guessed it - a blend of gray and beige. Maybe I'm just behind on this one? Apparently gray was way big last year and this year it's greige. Here's what I found online..

Apparently this all started from a $23 bottle of Chanel nail polish, Particuliere:

Since most of us don't want to spend that kinda money on a bottle of nail polish, blogger The Bargainista has some other alternatives. The prices she had listed didn't quite look right so I tried to update a few from what I could find online.

1 - Deborah Lippman Waking Up In Vegas - $16
2 - Butter London Fash Pack - $14
3 - Essie Chinchilly - $8.00
4 - OPI You Don't Know Jacques - $8.50
5 - OPI Brights Over the Taupe - $8.50
6 - China Glaze FYI - $6.50

Last year I picked up You Don't Know Jacques during a sale at Ulta. It's a great neutral and even though it's kinda muddy, I like that it's different from the usual pink/red. Me gusta mucho!

Me likey!

I've given my blog a mini update by adding a few of my favorite fashion, food and other random blog /websites as well as labels for certain posts. Check them out!

Ok - a few fav. products that I've recently discovered / am enjoying right now!

1) Most of you know my OPI obsession. I just got two new colors and tried The Color to Watch first! It is in the Swiss collection line and is a shimmery lilac, lavender, silver color with hints of blue and pink. Personally, I think it is pretty fun! At times it feels kinda little kid girlie because of the shimmery brightness and other times I feel it blends in and strikes me as a more vibrant neutral? I dunno. It's definitely unique! I struggle with having loud colors on my finger nails, and this definitely doesn't feel loud.. juts feels like a good color for end of summer! Because of the shimmer factor, it took 3-4 coats to really cover the nail and make it opaque!

2) Burt's Bees just came out with two new-ish products in their lip balm collection: Rejuvenating Lip Balm with Acai Berry and Nourishing Lip Balm with Mango Butter! I picked up the Acai Berry and was curious to see how similar it seemed to the Pomegranate, but I love it even more!! It seems more nourishing! I miss the tingling from the original, but think this is a keeper! Also makes a good planned impulse buy since it's inexpensive!

3) Vino! Dad introduced me to this red wine, Rex-Goliath! I have only tried the Cabernet Sauvignon and love it! It is decently priced and rather tasty! A good one to have on hand, in my opinion, and it's easy to spot because of the rooster!

4) Stinky pits? I've been on the search for a new deodorant for some time! I feel like I've tried many types within Dove, Suave, Secret, and Degree product lines, but never found a favorite! I recently purchased Lady Speed Stick for the first time in.. maybe ever? and think I've found my new favorite! I like that it doesn't pill up... white deodorant clumps are just disgusting and need to be avoided! I picked up the Stainguard in Daringly Fresh scent. This product claims to fight the yellow stains that happen on white t-shirts and reduce the white residue on clothes! Magic! I can't speak to that, yet, as I've only had it for a few weeks.. but worth trying!

5) Ok so I debated for awhile about reviewing this next product, but clearly decided to do it! Prepare for awkward cringe.. NOW. I picked up a new type of pantyliner! Even intimate products such as this need revamping every now and then! This product is good because it can fit different styles of underwear. 'Nough said.

Have you tried any new products that are worth sharing?

Favorites!

OK - I've been wanting to do a top 10 favorite list for the summer and finally have my stuff together to do it! Warning: this is a pretty girlie list! One of the many reasons I wanted to start this blog was to share things that I like (from new recipes to fashion to whatever!) that you may like for yourself too! So, get ready for the first ever Almost Daily Ramblings top 10 list!

Number 10: Busken's Skinny Cookie
Those local blog readers know my love for the original Busken cookie - and after tasting this "half the fat all the flavor" cookie, I was impressed! Nice work, Busken!

Number 9: Purses!

I've been helping my mom find the perfect purse and it has given me the purse bug!! I particularly LOVE this shape, style and color for fall - this purse happens to be in the fall line of Doncaster! Of course we ran into a few new favorites at the Coach Outlet too, but I resisted as I'm not so much able to be purchasing new purses right now!

Number 8: Almond M&M's

There has been a lot of talk about the new pretzel M&M's, but after trying them, I must say I wasn't all that impressed! I love the sweet and salty combo, but would rather have my M&M's separate from the pretzels. On the other hand, these Almond M&M's are genius! So yummy!

Number 7: Etsy + flower earrings

For those of you not familiar with Etsy, it's time to get familiar!! It is a wonderful website that claims to be "your place to buy and sell all things handmade, vintage, and supplies." I'm currently loving flower earrings. Haven't found the perfect ones, but think that these are pretty fun!

Number 6: Opi's Hong Kong Spring / Summer Collection

I personally love "Hot & Spicy" in this collection - I think it is a fun orange that will take you into the fall. It has enough peachy / pink tones that it's not Halloween-y but still bright and fun!

The Fall/ Winter Collection "Swiss" is also out and has some promising colors - I'm liking the blues and greens: Yodel Me on My Cell, Ski Teal We Drop, & Cuckoo For This Color

Number 5: Big Rings

I know big rings have been in style for probably forever, but I just purchased my first semi-big ring not too long ago! It's a white "square stone ring" from the Limited and I love how the white jazzes outfits up for the summer! It's even on sale now and comes in other colors too!

Number 4: Summer Beer

I am in love with Samuel Adam's Summer Ale! An American Wheat Ale described as "citrusy with a hint of spice from lemon zest and rare Grains of Paradise." Makes a nice change from Bud Light Lime! Note: I think this beer is much better on draft!

Number 3: Cake Wrecks
Cake Wrecks is the name of a blog that features disaster cakes - "when professional cakes go horribly, hilariously wrong". This blogger is hilarious!! I find myself laughing out loud at times when I read her description of some of these cakes!!! Definitely worth checking out on a regular basis!!!

Number 2: Hobo International Rachel Wallet
I first became aware of Hobo International while I was living in Tuscaloosa. One of the stores I went to for jewelry had a good selection of their line! This make is pretty pricey, but the wallets are gorgeous, fun and vintage looking! Needless to say, I had been on the hunt for the "Rachel" wallet for some time, but was waiting for the fall line to come out.. yadda yadda. Anyway, after a trip to TJ Maxx I realized they sometimes carry Hobo International! That was enough for me, I was determined to find MY wallet at TJ's for a reduced price!!! Sure enough, the wallet gods (kidding, kidding) were on my side and I found it for 70% off!! SCORE!!! Side note: Maxxinistas, I noticed the other day that they started carrying designer jeans like 7 For All Mankind, Diesel, and Joe's Jeans!




Number 1: Fashion blogs!!!!!!
OMG! I'm so excited about this new discovery!! I love InStyle magazine, but magazines can be so expensive -- this is a total fix! Read: free! My favorite is a blog called The Chloe Conspiracy. Chloe posts an outfit of the day almost every day and includes the picture and links to where you can get those pieces AND similar styles!
 

She also does another site called See Chloe Shop where she posts daily lists of deals at various stores, and her top picks at each of those stores. My style is not always aligned with hers, but most of the time I really like what she puts together and find that it gives me inspiration for what I can mix and match in my own closet!
 

Another fashion blog I love is called Uber Chic for Cheap. Blogger Madeline also posts sale info at various stores, in addition to posting pictures of styles from more expensive stores like J Crew and Anthropologie and similar look-a-like styles for less! Gotta love a bargain shopper!

Other sites I like but don't frequent as often: Be Real Luxe, Cupcakes and Cashmere, and I am Style-ish! Enjoy!

Ok folks, I'm spent! Happy Friday!