Spring Staples: Target Edition

One of my favorite things about the newly warm weather is pedicures! 

It might seem silly, but cleaning up your winter feet and switching to freshly painted toes in strappy sandals is something I look forward to all winter long. 

I had a little too much fun shopping at Target recently and stumbled upon the cutest shoes and polishes. I've paired my favorites below.

Summer staples 

Which best fits your personality? 

Today's Pickins:

1.  Easy Updo (Made for Mondays)

2. Cucumber Salsa 

Saw It. Pinned It. Did It. {Nailed It}

Yes, the title is a cheesy pun.

No, I am not sorry about it. 

But I am excited to be linking up again today! 

I often find myself lusting after the cute, trendy nail designs of pinterest and just never seem to pull them off. I feel like I am missing a step in the details or something because my project never turns out the way I had hoped. 

Upon a tidbit from a random lady at Target, I decided to give it one last try!

I pinned and pinned and drew some inspiration from these posts:

Reverse Manicure Glitter

Using Tape to Create Nail Art

and

Glitter Triangles

I basically combined all of the ideas into one and decided to use tape to create a glittered, reverse manicure in a triangle shape. 

I promise, it sounds much more complicated than it is. 

First, I picked out two colors that I liked together-- Essie's Case Study as the base color and Sally Hansen's Strobe Light for the manicure. 

Next, I painted the base color and let it dry. This didn't take too long.

Here's the secret:

I then used WASHI TAPE to create the triangle design at the nail beds.  Once the tape was pressed down, I simple stroked a few coats of the glitter polish until I was satisfied! I then pealed the tape off, let the glitter finish drying, and applied a top coat! 

The washi tape is the secret in all of this. The tape seals enough to keep the nail polish from bleed onto the base color but is light enough that it does not pull away the base color when it is removed.

Genius.

You may have seen the end result on Instagram:

And here is another shot of the final product!

I really like these colors together and I think it keeps the nail design fun and more mature than some of the other designs I see! 

Have you ever tried washi tape when painting you nails?

Today's Pickins:

1.  Acrylic Jewelry Stands for your organized New Year

2.  Block Letter Bookends-would be cute with initials

3.  Perfect Bachelorette Cake! 

Ess{ie}entials for the Holidays

It's no secret I am a nail polish addict with shoe hoarding tendencies. In fact , these are the two things that I love to plan my looks around! In keeping with the spirit of the holiday season, I decided to pair up some of my favorite Essie polishes with festive heels to create perfect mixes!

essentials for the holidays by southerncinderella  

I just love all of the fun party shoes I get to bring out this time of year and finding the perfect nail polish to match is icing on the cake! 

What are some of your favorite nail colors for the holiday season?

Today's Pickins:

1.  How to remove glitter polish--perfect!

2. Savory Cream Cheese Grits Recipe

3. A reminder for all of us...

Tomorrow's I am swapping with Ella from Champagne & Cardigans! Come back to read her post on holiday traditions!

Fall Fashion Favorites

Although our weather is still warm, I love transitioning into fall fashion! Here are some of the pieces that are currently making statements in my everyday wear!

1.       Leopard loafers seem to be the hottest thing to touch your feet this fall. A perfectly fun way to add pattern and flair to any outfit.

2.       Polka Dots have never been my thing, but I recently bought a top similar to this tie neck blouse that had a polka dot effect make with tiny little hearts!  In fact, I was wearing it in yesterday’s OOTD post!

3.       Colored skinnies have been in for a while now, but I have really been drawn to this wine colored pair. The deep red looks great with so many tops and isn’t too overpowering of a color.

4.       Chambray is new jean—oh wait. Just like jeans, I feel as though my chambray top goes with just about anything! From shorts, to leggings, and even colored skinnies, it’s the perfect neutral for this pattern-filled fall!

5.       Essie’s Glamour Purse might be my favorite nail polish color I’ve ever owned! Not to mention, I picked it up for just $2 at my local TJMaxx.

6.       I bought two trench coats at the end of last winter on a great special! As the weather starts to cool off, I can’t wait to pair them with leggings and ballet flats, wearing the coat like a dress!

What are some of your current “in style” staples in your wardrobe?

Today’s Pickins:

1.       Stay tuned to see how my DIY of this “frocket”crew neck turns out! 

2.       Monogrammed cupcake toppers—that just happened. 

3.       Good thing my lunch was filling or this CakeBatter Puppy Chow would be sooooo tempting! 

Latest Lusts - 9/17

Here are a few of the things I am lusting after these days!

1.       Brown Leather Tory Burch riding boots are at the top of my lust list! I really need a new pair of brown boots going into the fall!

2.       My trip to Key West is so close!  I have been counting down the days until this getaway!

3.       A few more skinny belts, especially this tortoise one, would be a perfect addition to my fall wardrobe.

4.       Kind of a constant lust, but I have been drooling over the dainty monogram bracelets! I like them so much more than the “super statement” monograms you usually see.

5.       More leopard.  More more more!

6.       Essie’s  “Fishnet Stockings” makes for a sexy fall nail color. I’ve been going with more muted shades but it already feels like it is time to brighten up!

7.       The Orange and Blue Dixie Dress from Twelve Saturdays has me dreaming of cool fall nights spent at Ben Hill Griffin!

8.       The obligatory “I am never going to buy one but I really really want one” mention of the Kitchen Aid mixer.

On a personal note, something special about today:

“Few people of our generation know, but on this day in 1944 Operation Market Garden commenced in Holland. My Oma rode on top of an Allied tank to celebrate their liberation from the Nazi's.Unfortunately the daring plan to end WWII failed, and thousands of American and British paratroopers lost their lives. The ensuing months of revenge the Germans had on my Oma and the Dutch people should never be forgotten.”

I think of/miss my Oma every day, especially when it comes to important “growing up” events.  She was always such an adventurous and courageous woman!

What are you currently lusting after?

Today’s Pickins:

1.     I am actually not a Michael Jackson fan, but this cover could make me one! 

2.     This glitter starfish mirror at the new Lilly Pulitzer store would be a fun DIY! 

3.     I actually won the “That’s why her hair’s so big…” sorority superlative last year. The thing is, I love having big hair!

Time Flies, So Slowly

I’m having a moment where I remember how fast time really flies. I’m sure we can all agree, when we were younger, we use to wish time away. We’d wish for school to be over for summer to come, or our birthdays to get here, or even for the semester to end so that we did not have to go to a class anymore.

It’s crazy to think it has been three years since I started at the University of Florida and joined the most amazing sisterhood on the planet. It has been so hard watching the rest of PC09 go back to school and not being there to join them. Yet, at the time, I loved college but was ready to “grow up”.  I miss my sisters more than anything and wish I could go back just for one last year. But that’s the funny thing about it, we wish time away because of all the bad we see, not even looking at the fun times that are flying past us! It’s only been three months and my memories of class are already wiped from my collegiate memory vault.

Even this past week flew by! It feels like it’s only been on a few hours since I was sitting on the tarmac, delayed FOR HOURS, waiting to fly to North Carolina. I counted down the days, for months, waiting for the trip. The last week before the trip seemed to take the longest; yet, this week post trip has gone by in the blink of an eye.

While this post may seem a bit sad, both of these distances in my life will be gone two weeks from today!! So here I go, wishing time away…again.

Today’s Pickins:

1.       I am a total ring person, so it didn’t take much for me to fall in love with these State Love Rings!

2.       Maker’s Mark cookies!? I know a guy that might just love theses…

3.       Coral and Lavender color schemes are inspiring my current nail polish plans!

4.       I think it’s a good thing that Lilly Pulitzer is only offering the Panhel table cloths in the original four chapters. Otherwise, I might be tempted to buy!

 

Something Borrwed: Wedding Traditions and Superstitions

I’m off to Raleigh for a wedding this weekend! Weddings are one of the most common traditions among all groups of people but we have all added our own twists over time. From the classic white dress to rain, every symbol has some type of meaning. Here are a look at some superstations and traditions associated with the big day!

 

What are some wedding traditions and superstitions that are important to you?

Today’s Pickins:

1.       Sorority Ever After is a genuine, honest resource for all things Pan!

2.       If you send Haute Threads an old Tee, she will make you a gameday dress!

3.       Using decorative jars to both display and store your nail polish. Glam décor, anyone?

4.       Monogrammed wine stoppers are a small but special gift for any occasion!



Changing Colors

As a Florida girl, I have a hard time remembering that fall is near. It really isn’t until we have our first brisk game day in The Swamp that it really hits me that fall is here.

I’ve always hated the sudden transition from summer hues to fall hues and wish it was a bit more gradual. One of the best ways to mitigate this sudden switch is to transition slowly—and a great way to start that it with your nails!

A secret nail polish addict, I seem to change my color at least once a week and own more nail polish than I have room for. I’ve found that some of the colors I already have had great hints of some fall inspirations which are perfect for the transition!

What are some of your favorite ways to transition from summer to fall?

Today’s Pickins:

1.       Shamrock Shake copycat recipe!? Might have to break my “no sugar” rule for this! 

2.       Making a T-Shirt quilt  is a perfect winter project will all of my old Sigma Kappa tees.  

3.       Brightly colored doors are one of my favorite parts of a home, especially the bright blue! 

4.       Lilly Pulitzer’s Oar dressing room in their new Maryland store would be an awesome recreation in a nautical bathroom!