The Blues: Frostbite and Xanadu

This winter has been so hard on my nails. They are constantly breaking and feel so incredibly brittle even though I am taking vitamins daily. With that being said, because my nails are so short right now I’ve fallen back in love with China Glaze’s Frostbite. I love it because no matter how short your nails are this color will always look good. Although it is my favorite, I wanted to add a little something to it. I picked up this Deborah Lippmann polish in Xanadu a few months ago but I hadn’t used it yet. It’s a lot of glitter so I decided to use it just for an accent nail. Check out the swatches below:

Xanadu reminds me of Deborah Lippmann’s Mermaid’s Dream but it doesn’t have quite as much texture. I love it nonetheless, but I don’t know if I want to use it for my entire manicure. What do you guys think? What nail polishes have you all been wearing this winter? I’ve seen some pretty awesome Spring collections from China Glaze, Color Club, and Zoya so I am looking forward to wearing bright colors again! Are there any particular collections you guys would like for me to swatch? If so, just let me know!

I hope you all are having a wonderful weekend. Talk to you soon! xx

5 Ways To Make Yourself Feel Fab

Everyone has those days when they just don’t feel attractive. I don’t know about you all, but I think the winter months definitely take a toll on your beauty. In the Spring we rush out to get our hair and nails done because we don’t want to get caught out in the city looking a mess. But in the Winter it’s hard to stay motivated when you spend most of your time at home or at work. I thought it would be nice to discuss some things that help me get myself out of the dumps when I don’t feel attractive. Here is what I do when I want to feel fab:

1. Get Dressed Up to Go Nowhere – I do this all the time. I will wake up in the morning, do my hair, beat my face, put my clothes on and sit on the couch. LOL…I know it sounds lame, but you’d be surprised at how great you feel when you look good, even if you have nowhere to go. Plus, if someone calls you to go hang out, you’ll be ready to step out at a moment’s notice!
2. Give Yourself a Manicure and Pedicure – You all already know I do this on a regular basis. There is just something about a clean, well manicured nail that looks so chic to me. Therefore, I paint my nails every other day, but I hate giving myself a pedicure! I let the experts handle my feet, and the spa I go to gives the best massages! Take a little trip to your favorite salon and get that mani/pedi girl…
3. Throw On a Pair of Heels – People that know me personally know that I hate wearing high heel shoes. However, although the hurt like the devil, they do make me feel sexy on the few occasions that I wear them. Put some heels on and find some place to go!
4. Take a Luxurious Bubble Bath – We are so incredibly busy that we rarely afford ourselves this luxury. Slow down for an hour, fill your tub up with bubbles, grab some strawberries and a glass of wine (or cider), and turn off your cell phone. Listen to some R&B or read a book you’ve been intending to start and relax. You can thank me now. Lol…
5. Buy Yourself Something Nice – Buying yourself something nice doesn’t mean that you have to go splurge on a huge investment piece. You could buy yourself a lipstick or some other beauty product that makes you feel luxurious. For me, it’s often a lip product or nail polish (obvi)…

These are just a few things I like to do to make myself feel good…However, everyone is different so let me know what you all do in order to make yourselves feel beautiful. I just might add it to my regime.

I hope you all are having a wonderful week! Be blessed…xoxo

Fashionistas Read Too: Top 5 Books I Read in 2014

I read quite a bit in 2014…During that time I discovered some new authors and genres that I’d like to share with you all. Here are my top 5 books of 2014:

1. Saga (Graphic Novel, Volumes 1-4) by Brian K.Vaughn and Fiona Staples – This was the first graphic novel series I’ve ever read and it is AMAZING! Not only is the storyline intriguing, but the art work is incredible. Simply put, Saga is about a family that is on the run. Alana and Marko come from different sides of warring planets. They decide to abandon the war effort and focus their energies on their child, Hazel. Their daughter, the narrator of the entire series, is considered to be an abomination. Therefore, the entire family is being hunted. Saga is often referred to as a sci-fi Romeo and Juliet sort of story…I know, I know, it sounds crazy but trust me, it is well worth the hype.
2. We Were Liars by E. Lockhart – I read this book in a day…Although she is the daughter of a single mother, Cadence Sinclair has everything she could ever want. Every summer she and her mother escape to her grandparents’ private island where she spends most of her time with her cousins. She typically looks forward to summers, until something strange happens and changes the way Cadence views herself, her family, and their fortune. I am being a bit ambiguous because anymore information than that will ruin the book for you…Just trust me, it’s worth the read.
3. Dangerous Girls by Abigail Haas – This fast-paced YA thriller is a must read. Basically, it is a story about a group of friends/teens who go on vacation together to Aruba for Spring Break. They are having an amazing time until their friend Elise is murdered. The crazy thing is that the police are convinced that Anna, Elise’s best friend, is the murderer although they have very little evidence. Of course, drama ensues as Anna struggles to clear her name, and finds which friends are really on her side.
4. Dark Places by Gillian Flynn – This book was crazy! It starts off a little slow, but is amazing nonetheless. The main character, Libby Day, was seven years old when her brother murdered her entire family. The narrative picks up with Libby’s life as an adult. Her trust fund is running low, and she needs to find a way to make money. When she is contacted by a group called the Kill Club, a group of people who are obsessed with murders and murderers, she figures out that she can get paid to simply talk about her family’s tragedy. However, the Kill Club begins to convince Libby that perhaps her brother didn’t actually kill her family. She begins to question what she always thought she knew for certain and begins to do some research. You’d be amazed by what she finds.
5. Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng – This was an incredibly endearing story about an interracial Chinese-American family and their struggles with race, acceptance and guilt. Early on in the narrative you find out that the middle daughter (Lydia) is dead, and both her parents and her siblings struggle to deal with such a disastrous reality. Lydia was her parents’ pride and joy, she was the child that was supposed to live out the American Dream. Lydia’s death pretty much shatters the already teetering family, and many of their secrets quickly rise to the surface. A must read!

I’ve linked these titles to Amazon, but you can also find them in Target, Barnes & Noble, and Books-a-Million. Please let me know if you decide to read any. Also keep in mind that if you aren’t sure you want to commit to buying a particular book, remember that you can download a sample to see if you like it before purchasing.

My goal for this year is to read 75 books…Wish me luck! Lol…I hope you all have a fabulous weekend! xx

Getting Organized…

So let’s talk about getting organized…I purchased this Kate Spade 2015 Agenda (small size with black and white stripes) at http://www.swoozies.com and I am in love with the interior. It is very chic but also very understated so that you could dressed it up with various stickers and washi tape if you’d like. What I like most, and what has been keeping me organized, is the monthly view on two pages. There are weekly pages in this agenda as well, but I find that I don’t really use them much. When I can see the entire month at a glance, I get a good sense of what’s coming up as well as things I need to take care of immediately.

I just started this month so it’s a little bare, but normally I like to mark bill dues dates, gym days, events and other things that I need to remember.  I try to find space to write down the books I want to read during that month also, and I check them off as I complete them.

I haven’t fully gotten into planner decorating, but I definitely plan to. I think that being organized can be fun if you spruce it up and make it work for you and your personality. The journaling memos in this picture are from Michaels’ Heidi Swapp collection. I love them so much and I will def be going back to purchase more! The page flags are from the dollar section at Target. I had to search for a minute to find those things too! And I really wish I could find more than one but whatevs! Lol…This 17 month calendar retails for about $30, but there are some more affordable ones out there…

Actually, Sugar Paper just released their line of agendas and notebook planners at Target this week. You can get the smaller agendas for $7.99 and they are super cute! Here is a quick look at them…The one on the left just has the monthly view 2015 calendar and the rest of the notebook is for notes. The one on the right is an actual agenda with both monthly and weekly views. Therefore, you can choose one based on your needs/preference.

Do guys maintain an agenda? If so, what kind? I have been watching tons of Youtube videos and following some folks on Instagram that are really into this and would put my little planner to shame, but we all have to start somewhere, right?! I really want this neon pink Filofax, but it appears to be sold out everywhere…Besides, I have to make sure I actually maintain this agenda for more than a few months before I go investing a bunch of money into a Filofax.

Anywhoo, I hope you all are having a blessed weekend…Talk to you soon! xx

Where Have You Been Kelz?

Hey guys! I know I have been MIA for the past couple of months, but you know how life is…The purpose of this post is for me to share a few things with you all and hopefully gain some insight from you as well…

First, I am in the process of looking for a new job, which is a job in and of itself. I have been at my job for 9 years, which is a long time to just pick up and leave. But at the same time, I am all about progression and growth so I can’t just keep sitting here waiting for things to change. I have to move it along. As a side hustle, I have been considering going to school so that I can get my nail technician license. You all know how much I love nails! So I am looking into that at the moment as well.

Second, I have been thinking a lot about doing a lifestyle blog similar to this one, but I would discuss books, fashion, relationships, fitness, home décor, etc. Basically, things that I am interested in. Each subject having its own section. Sometimes I just feel like I am so restricted as to what I can talk about here. If I can figure out how to leave this blog in tact and add various categories then I may do that as opposed to completely changing my domain. My problem is that I have so many ideas, they sometimes get jumbled together and I have a hard time just making a decision.

Third, I have been reading like nobody’s business. Lol…Young Adult, New Adult, Adult Contemporary, etc. And I am officially addicted to Booktube (Youtube videos that are all about books!).  I have come across a lot of literature I wouldn’t have known about otherwise. It’s crazy! You guys can follow me on Goodreads if you’re interested in what I am reading.

Lastly, I am hoping that you all could tell me what you would like to see here on the blog…My nail posts are usually pretty popular so I will continue to do those. I’d also like to continue to do my Fashionable Reads series. What else do you all want to see? I received a request to discuss my hair routine so I plan to do a post on that as well. But I need some help here…Please give me some feedback on what you all would like to see on the blog so that I can add it to my plans. It’s been almost 5 months and I miss blogging…I miss interacting with you guys!

Anyway, I hope all is well with everyone and I’ll be seeing you in my next post! xx

10 Nail Blogs You Need To Know About

Lately, I have been obsessing over nail art, and in the process of looking up various swatches and tutorials online I’ve stumbled upon a few nail blogs that I am absolutely in love with…and because I love you guys (gals) so much, I thought I’d share them with you today. Check them out below:

http://www.alllpolished.blogspot.com

http://oflifeandlacquer.com

http://www.coloresdecarol.com

http://lacquertude.com

http://pshiiit.com

http://www.fashionpolish.com

http://www.nailescapades.com

http://www.peachypolish.com

http://workplaypolish.com

http://www.refinedandpolished.com

I hope you all enjoyed this post and actually check these bloggers out…They are amazing!!

*All photos are from the nail blogs listed in this post*

Deborah Lippmann – Blue Orchid

Hey dolls!!! Today, I have some swatches of one of my favorite colors at the moment from Deborah Lippmann’s Spring collection. When Sephora was having their 20% off friends and family promotion a little while ago, I took advantage and bought this beauty. Everyone knows Deborah Lippmann is expensive, but no one can deny the quality of her nail lacquers:

Blue Orchid is a creamy pastel blue with grey undertones, but is probably a tiny bit more blue in person. I love it! You could actually get away with wearing just one coat, but I did two in these photos to make sure the color was even. You guys know I love my blue polishes and this is no exception. There is actually one other color I want from this collection, Flowers in Her Hair, but it seems as if I’m going to have to go on a bit of a search for it.

If you haven’t already seen it, be sure to check out Deborah Lippmann’s Summer collection here.

I hope you all enjoyed this post and I promise I will talk to you soon!! xx

Spring Handbag Wishlist

This Spring I really would like to switch things up a bit when it comes to my handbags. I am definitely a big bag kind of girl, but since I am planning to hang out more this Spring, I also need a chic mini bag as well. Zara and DVF have some great options so I am hoping to snag at least one this season.

Check out some of my picks below:

Spring Handbag Wishlist by clutchez featuring MARC BY MARC JACOBS

What handbags are on your wish list at the moment? xx

China Glaze: City of Flourish Collection

Hola!!!!!!! Today I have four colors from China Glaze’s new City of Flourish collection. Sally’s Beauty Supply had a sale on all their China Glaze polishes, buy one get one free, and you know I hopped all over that. I purchased four of the twelve colors available in this collection:

Thistle Do Nicely (3 Coats/No Top Coat)

Thistle Do Nicely is a peachy/pink neon color. It’s probably my favorite color in the entire collection because it is super bright! Reminds me of China Glaze’s Flip Flop Fantasy.

At Vase Value (3 Coats/No Top Coat)

At Vase Value is a gorgeous cream mint color. It’s very similar to China Glaze’s Re-Fresh Mint, but Re-Fresh Mint has more of a white undertone.

Spring In My Step (3 Coats/No Top Coat)

Spring in my Step is the kind of nude I like to wear. It’s actually a little more pink in person and I love it!

Peonies & Park Ave. (2 Coats/No Top Coat)

Peonies & Park Ave. is a traditional creamy pink. Not as bright as I thought it was going to be based on the swatches I had seen. I def could have left this one in the store…It’s not a bad color at all. I just feel like I have seen this pink many times before.

Overall, I like the colors I chose. One thing that I will tell you is that the formula on all of these polishes is STREAKY!! A lot of the colors required 3 coats for full opacity so keep that in mind when you are deciding whether or not to purchase. Be sure to check and see if Sally’s is still having a sale on this brand. If not, you can always purchase these on Head 2 Toe Beauty. 

I hope everyone is having a great week! xx

Fashionistas Read Too: Recent Reads…

I really would like to start a book club…I read and listen to books so much it is a serious addiction. So last week I finished Sue Monk Kidd’s The Invention of Wings, which was a pretty good read. I tried to solicit some friends to read it with me but, as far as I know, only my sister (shout out to Keisha!) finished it.

Kidd is a feminist to the core, so naturally her narrative focused on two female protagonists, Sarah Grimke and Handful. Sarah was the slaveholder’s daughter and Handful was her personal slave. What I found most interesting about Kidd’s story is that it is told from both perspectives. Each chapter alternates from Handful to Sarah revealing how both women felt trapped in the antebellum South in the last 1800s. Rarely are we able to hear the perspective of a Caucasian woman from that era who was against slavery. I don’t want to reveal too much of the story just in case you plan to read it, but it was an interesting read…Not quite as good as The Secret Life of Bees, but very close…

I also just finished John Grisham’s Sycamore Row the other day, which is much more fast paced than The Invention of Wings. Sycamore Row is a narrative about Seth Hubbard, a rich old man who commits suicide, and leaves the majority of his estate to his maid in a handwritten will. It takes place in a small Mississippi town in the 1980s, and no one can understand why he would do such a thing. Basically, the debate is whether or not Hubbard was in his right mind at the time that he wrote the will, and whether or not his maid influenced him to do so. What I loved about this book was that it was packed with suspense. I could not stop listening…Loved it!

I know I am such a NERD, but I embrace it! I hope that you all are having a blessed week. Don’t let the snow and gloomy skies bog you down too much! If you find yourself idle or super bored, pick up a book and escape reality for a little while! xx

Image: Pinterest