sheer genius

we can't wait to try out these new sheer shades from american apparel... just in time for summer! and we love their cali beach names... especially moonlight beach (MBAH's old stomping grounds!)

happy friday! xx

manic panic

dying my hair some crazy color is kind of like how i'd love to get a full sleeve of tattoos... 

i'll never do it, but my alter ego really wants me to!

stay safe this weekend!

image via

the beauty department

did you see miss conrad's new blog, the beauty department? 

i'm excited... it looks cute! 

loved the ombre nails idea that they had on there today.... 

go check it out! 

all images via the beauty department

lucky lucky lavender

I'm normally not one to go for things in pastel pink or purple shades... but i must say i'm in love with this OPI nail color called Lucky Lucky Lavender! 

OPI Lucky Lucky Lavender

i purchased a few new shades of polish before my kauai trip and randomly picked this one and it turned out to be a great choice! it's part of their hong kong collection.  it's a light pinkish-purple color and is quite refreshing for me since i've had a hard time straying from the gray tones i just can't get enough of. :) it's the perfect shade for summer pedicures! 

ps.... if you haven't been to the OPI site, check out their "try on this color" feature. You can click on any of their nail colors to see what it would look like on your skin tone. it's fun to play around with... 

Mixing it up...

I'll admit it, when it comes to makeup, I'm boring. I find a lipstick/blush/eyeshadow shade I like and I'll wear it for years. It's just how I roll.

So, last week I was having drinks with a few fun gals and one of them is a makeup artist here in Portland (moving to LA, soon!). She was rocking hot pink lipstick and when I commented on it, she busted out her little bag of tricks and gave me a mini-makeover at the bar. I was a little scared when she started applying hot pink blush and hot pink lipstick, but I gotta say, it looked RAD! Especially for a night out. Who knew? Her suggestion is to keep the eyes bare, (although I look about twelve without mascara) and freshen up for summer with hot pink cheeks and lips.

Give it a shot and tell me what you think!

Nailed it.

My good girlfriend Greta gave me Chanel nail polish for Christmas this year and while I was thinking, "My goodness, how fancy is this?" I was also wondering if it was really any better than OPI or any of the other polish I've used. Nail polish is definitely not something I spend money on. Well, I am officially a huge fan and I have to say, it's worth the splurge. I got a pedi on January 24th and I don't have a SINGLE CHIP. I'm not joking . . . best. polish. ever.

I think I might buy it in black...

Happy Wednesday! xo

All about the hair.

I have color issues. I know what I want it to look like, but no matter what, I'm never happy with the results when I get it done. Too streaky, too highlight-y, too soccer mom-y, too brassy or too purple-y. I always prefer it about 3 weeks grown out, but by then the ends are dull, plus there's such a harsh line where it's grown out.

Enter Balayage. This technique is designed to make hair look sunkissed and more natural. I guess they sort of "paint" the hair, instead of using foils. We recently had an intern at work who had it done and it looked awesome. It's apparently used on all of my hair idols (see below) and I found a gal in Portland that does it. Word on the streets is she's kind of a rock star. Stay tuned!

Love, love, love Gisele's hair....and her husband.

Thanks San Diego Songbirds for the inspiration!

Who else could pull this outfit off?

Like she just stepped out of the surf...

Who doesn't love Jennifer Aniston's hair??

MAC Attack...

I swear I'm not sponsored by MAC. I just love their eyeshadows and lipsticks. Plus, they're so cheap, you can afford to experiment a bit. Not only that, but they have a recycle program, so you can bring 6 empties in and exchange them for a free lipstick! It's super funny, too . . . as I type this, one of my co-workers just stopped by my office and said, "Ooooh, new lipstick? I really love the color!" No joke.

A few weeks ago I was in Nordstrom and I saw a "limited edition" lipstick, called 5N, I'm not kidding people, it's the BEST color I've found, so far...in my life. It really is the ideal plum-brown-lipcolored shade, at least for my coloring, but I suspect it'd be a favorite for many. It was sold out when I was in there today and they will only have it for a limited time, so I'm gonna stock up.

Go. Buy it. Now.

Black weekend...

I'm bored. When I'm bored, I spend. I normally dread the crowds that Black Friday draws, but decided to brave it anyway this weekend. I bought several Christmas presents (hint: Santa's lovin' cashmere this year, folks!) I also recently "donated" all of my bath towels to my former "roommate", which meant I had to go get all new white fluffy towels today . . . darn. TJ Maxx had DKNY, 100% cotton for $7.99 each - love that!

I also visited Aritzia, where they were having their 25th anniversary sale. Everything in the store was on sale and thanks to my sweet, saintly mother, I had a $100 gift certificate. I picked up some fab gray leggings by TNA and a great cashmere/cotton/silk wrap cardigan by Wilfred. Together they'll be super cute with a skinny belt and heels/flats/boots.

Finally, I killed some time in the easiest place in the mall to spend money . . . Sephora. Here are a few of my favorite beauty must-haves:

I'm obsessed with the creaseless cream shadows by Benefit. I've tried Birthday Suit and Flatter Me, both amazing shades, but this time I went with R.S.V.P. I love these because they truly, truly don't crease at all, they have great shimmer and they last forever. You can also layer powder shadows over them. I usually go with MAC Satin Taupe or Style Snob for the crease.

Also by Benefit, this Eye Bright stick is fantastic. They call it a "nap in a stick" and that's exactly what it is.

I also recently picked up this concealer compact by Laura Mercier and so far, I'm kind of loving it.

Everyone knows the baby powder trick for greasy hair, but I love this hair powder by Oscar Blandi. It smells more citrus-y, less baby and has a great texture.

I heard about this new lipstick, Our Pick, by MAC on whowhatweardaily.com and while it is NOT the best color (it's like a cement, taupe-y shade), it layers amazingly with almost every other lipstick I have. It's almost like a "base" color or something.

Finally, my good friend turned me on to this nail color like 7 years ago and I have never looked back. It's truly the best red there is. Two words: Malaga Wine.

What else do I need to try? xoxo