Tag Archives: pampering

Nov13

New Lime Green & Navy Nails

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New Lime Green & Navy Nails

Helloooo everyone! I spent a much needed Saturday morning at the salon after an even earlier morning at the skating rink getting my talons fixed up. It was so nice to sit back and relax after a work out that dragged me out of bed at 6:30 (Wah, wah, wah!) and now my claws are all ready for a Thanksgiving extravaganza with the most non-Thanksgiving colors imaginable – but that’s neither here nor there.

I brought my own polishes to Elysian Nails this time around because I had some new shades from Londontown that I have been dying to try out. I used Electric Avenue and Buckingham Blue and the final result is gorgeous. Check it out:

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Londontown is an amazing one stop shop for all of your nail care needs that features a vegan and 9-free formula. Their polishes offer gel like wear, a flawless application, and dries faster than any nail polish I’ve ever used before. I absolutely love all of my Londontown polishes but I think that this navy and funky green combination takes the cake. My nail tech was just as obsessed with the super rich and ultra glossy hues as I was and bringing in such a high end feeling polish made my experience even more posh.

If you have a nail crazy person in your life or you are one, yourself (Like me!), then Londontown is definitely the place to be for all of your holiday shopping needs. With the best nail and cuticle treatments and a wide array of stunning colors to choose from, your stockings will be stuffed with the most lux goodies on the market. Happy shopping!

What color of polish do you have on? What is your favorite funky color to rock? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct27

Tiny TJMaxx Beauty Haul

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Tiny TJMaxx Beauty Haul

Howdy! When it comes to beauty products, I am really not picky. I’ve never minded using bath and body care from the grocery store, drugstore makeup brands, and basic skin care. Well, that is, until I started working at The Body Shop several years ago, because that turned me into a skin care freak!

For a while, I was strictly using their products when it came to my skin care routine. I have since branched out and I have TJMaxx to thank for that, because they have such a fantastic beauty section with all kinds of fun new brands and old favorites to try. Now, whenever I run out of anything in my pampering routine, I hit up TJs to restock. Check it out:

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When it comes to styling my hair, a good heat protector and leave in conditioner are a must for me. Both help to eliminate any frizz and keep my hair silky and sleek for the perfect pin straight appearance. I had purchased my first bottle of thermal serum by RUSK way back in January and I am just now finishing up the bottle. This is astounding, because I use the product almost every day and, at ten dollars, that makes the cost per wear mere fractions of a cent!

This thermal serum works wonders. It smells awesome, it doesn’t leave my hair greasy, and my hair has never looked healthier even with daily heat styling. My ends aren’t fried and my locks are so smooth to the touch so I was very happy when TJMaxx had another bottle of it available because adding it into my cart was a no brainer.

And, of course, I would be nowhere without a good Vitamin C serum during my skin care routine. I chose a bottle of Provence Beauty’s brightening serum and am looking forward to trying it. It was six dollars for one bottle but it seems to be filled to the brim with product so I am hoping that it will last me a long time. Come cold weather, it is easy for your skin to take on a dull appearance from the lack of sunshine. Thankfully, my Vitamin C products keep me radiant all year long and I completely swear by them.

This was a tiny beauty haul but I did get everything I needed and then some… because, seriously, who goes into TJMaxx for just one thing?! 😉

Which beauty products do you swear by? How do you save money on your beauty routine? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct16

New Black & Red Matte Nails

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New Black & Red Matte Nails

Hello hello! During the car accident, two of my nails broke. I was in such a state of shock that I didn’t realize how much pain I was actually in and just thought about how I’d like to get my nails fixed up. But, unfortunately, I ended up in the hospital instead of the nail salon. Luckily for me, I always keep super glue on me for occasions such as this when a nail breaks or lifts and was able to fix the damage in the hospital bed. It looked janky as hell, though, so I was so happy to be able to get my claws right after a week of recovery! Check it out:

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As I made my rounds of visiting people once I was well enough after the accident, I noticed that my neighbor’s son’s girlfriend had matte nails and I was obsessed. So, I decided to get some for myself this time around. Since spooky season is upon us, I went for a black and red combination for ultimate slasher vibes on my talons.

All of my friends who work at Elysian Nails knew about the car accident and were so kind and attentive to me. My girl, Mary, who has now become my usual nail tech did such a wonderful job, as per ushe. She takes her time, which I love, and was able to repair all of the damage and sharpen my claws to perfection – just how I like it.

It was so nice to be able to take an evening to myself to relax after everything that had happened. I had a blast girl talking with my favorite nail techs and the lovely ladies who were sitting beside me and I left the salon feeling like a million bucks. Thanks to the team at Elysian Nails and to Mary for helping me feel like myself again! ❤

What color of polish do you have on right now? How do you do Halloween nails? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Sep15

New Cotton Candy Nails

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New Cotton Candy Nails

Helloooo! My favorite form of pampering definitely has to be getting my nails done. To me, there is nothing better than sitting back, relaxing, and getting my talons right. I think my monthly nail sesh is worth every penny and I always look forward to being able to spend a Saturday morning in the salon. Now that I’m actually experimenting with colors, I decided to go for a candy themed mani and I am in love with the soft pink and violet. Check it out:

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After last month’s lemonade nails, I became obsessed with doing different colors on both hands. I really don’t believe in spending an arm and a leg when it comes to getting my nails done so that means no bling bling and anything else that’s going to upcharge my total. Playing around with different polish on both hands is a fun and more cost effective way to amp up your mani without breaking the bank. And, since I’ve began this trend, it has been a hit!

I love my cotton candy colors, which I thought would look really sweet for my upcoming family beach vacation. Soft colors in the sand that reflect an ocean sunset? Yes, please! As per ushe, the nail techs at Elysian Nails had my nails looking their best and I left the salon feeling like a whole new woman. And, the compliments from all of the ladies at Elysian didn’t hurt, either. So, if you see other people sporting this trend – tell em’ Lil Red started it! 😀 😉

How do you rock a fun mani? What color of polish do you have on today? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Aug13

New Lemonade Nails

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New Lemonade Nails

Hellooooooo! At the beginning of August, I went to my stomping grounds of Elysian Nails for a bit of pampering. My claws were looking jank and they needed filled, cut down, and sharpened desperately. I was also looking forward to changing the color to give one final hurrah to the warm weather before fall begins – it will be here before we know it! Take a look at my New Lemonade Nails and let’s discuss:

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I have a punk themed OOTD shoot planned and I loved the idea of bright yellow nails along with the red plaid of the blazer that I’ll be sporting. So, the traffic light yellow was an absolute must. And, on my way to the salon as I pondered what color to get the accent nail, I thought some flamingo pink for a lemonade theme would be adorable. As the cogs started turning, I decided that getting the reverse of the colors on each hand would be even MORE adorable and the rest is history.

Are these nails punk? Lol, not in the slightest. But, damnit, are they cute. The bright colors and the unexpectedness of each hand being different gives me an instant confidence boost and my nail tech definitely did me right. These are the perfect lounge by the pool with a fruity drink in hand nails and they just might be my favorite yet!

What color of nail polish do you have on right now? What is the craziest color that you ever experimented with? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun21

Bath Bomb Blitz: Lush’s Goldrush Edition

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Bath Bomb Blitz: Lush’s Goldrush Edition

Hellooo everyone! This past week, I enjoyed taking a soak with a bath bomb from Lush called Goldrush. Giving the ultimate mermaid experience with gorgeous turquoise water and glitter for dayz, this bath bomb was a definite hit. Take a look at some pics and let’s discuss:

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Although Goldrush was small, it was a mighty little bath bomb. The blue power ball was really pigmented, which I was so happy about. Sometimes the smaller bath bombs just tint the water and that’s always disappointing. About halfway through the bomb fizzing out, the glitter started coming from the core and it just didn’t stop! It made for a bath that was perfectly lux and oh so pampering.

Goldrush was a very solid bath bomb overall and it would be a great one to gift to someone or just for yourself! I give it a 7.5 out of 10.

Do you prefer bath bombs or bubble bath? What is your favorite color for your bath water? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

PS: Special thanks to Kate from Live In The Nautical for this treat! ❤

PPS: Sorry this post is a bit lackluster – I am writing it with a horrible hangover. #justbeinghonest #whoops

May7

4 Alternative Ways To Feel Your Brilliant, Beautiful Best

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4 Alternative Ways To Feel Your Brilliant, Beautiful Best

It’s all too easy to fall into a bit of a slump. We’re not unhappy, far from it, but we’re not exactly walking the streets feeling our most brilliant, beautiful best. But why shouldn’t we? There are plenty of things that we have to do as adults, but it’s the fun things that we’re capable of that make life worth living. If it’s been some time since you were feeling fantastic about yourself, then take a look some of the tips that we’ve outlined below. You’ll be walking on cloud nine and find that you’re all-around able to better handle the humdrum aspects of everyday life:

Get Dressed Up:

There are few things better than getting dressed up and heading to the city for a night out. Alas, we only ever really do this when we’re celebrating a special occasion, at which point it’s not really something that we want to do, but something that we need to do. It’s much more fun and enjoyable to get dressed up and go out into the town for no other reason than that we want to live life to the fullest. So the next time you have a free weekend, hit the stores, get a new outfit, and go out to enjoy all the possibilities of an evening out.

Attend a Shoot:

We don’t get as many opportunities to really show off the sensual side of our personality. As such, it can feel like it’s forever just lying under the surface, just waiting to get out. So why not let it out? A boudoir photo shoot is a fantastic way to express yourself and always leads to an increase in confidence (just wait till you see how good you look). Book a photo shoot here and let your inner and outer beauty shine through. You’ll be walking high with confidence afterward!

Listen to Music:

There are some tracks that just make us feel good. Indeed, this is one of the fun things about music: it transports us, briefly, to another world, and allows us to explore sides of ourselves that are sometimes left dormant for too long. If you want to feel great about yourself, then there are few better ways than heading out to dance for the night. People can get put off by super clubs and the like (and understandably so), but there are plenty of more niche, focused dance halls in your area, too. Grab some friends and dance the night away.

Hit the Spa:

Our bodies take a bit of a beating as we go through life. Sometimes, the weariness begins to feel normal, but it’s not! It’s only after you hit the spa or do a spot of yoga, that you realize that your body can feel oh so much better. Treat your body well, and you’ll be comfortable, relaxed, and just as you were supposed to be.

Whatever you end up doing, make sure you do it with confidence and a smile on your face!

Featured Image By: Pexels

Mar7

Bling Bling!

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Bling Bling!

Hiii everyone! During my last trip to Pittsburgh, I got the microblading on my eyebrows touched up and finally got some tooth gems on my teeth by my fabulous cousin, Laura, the owner of La Marie Brow Club. I have wanted the adorable bling bling on my teeth for months now and I was so happy to be able to get it done! I love the extra sparkle they give to my smile and I just had to share a pic with all of you:

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The tooth gems that Laura applies are a totally pain free body mod and can last up to six months on your pearly whites. They are such a fun way to treat yourself to something new without going as extreme as a piercing or tattoo. If you are a fan of the bling, the tooth gems are a must – and also microblading. Peep those eyebrows, baby!

It was so nice to be pampered in Laura’s amazing studio and I left feeling like a million bucks. Be on the look out for a post on the microblading touch up soon! 😀

How do you incorporate some bling into your look? What is your favorite way to treat yourself? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jan9

New Matte Navy & Lavender Nails

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New Matte Navy & Lavender Nails

Hiiii everyone! Thanks to a fabulous new salon and nail tech, I had the most wonderful pampering experience after my month of recovery from surgery. It felt so good to get a much needed fill and have some time to get beautiful after feeling awful for such a long time. And, I even experimented with some new colors and a matte top coat. My new nail tech, Sam, did a bang up job and I am nothing short of obsessed. Check it out:

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The new salon that I have been going to is called Elysian Nails, and it is the most gorgeous and luxe salon I’ve ever been to. And, to make things even better, their prices are insanely low, despite such a posh atmosphere. I follow Elysian on Facebook, and I saw a picture of someone’s nails done in indigo matte and it looked so pretty that I just had to give a shade of blue and a matte coat a try.

I love navy blue and lavender together, so I thought that it would be a perfect color combo to go with as I venture away from all black everything on my nails. But, the matte finish looks so good that I told Sam that a black matte mani next fill just has to happen – no ifs, ands, or buts. I can’t wait!

Do you prefer a matte or glossy finish on your nails? What color of nail polish do you have on right now? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct19

Lil Red’s Adventures In Microblading

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Lil Red’s Adventures In Microblading

Hello! During a recent trip to Pittsburgh, I got to spend time with my super cool cousin, Laura, exploring the city, eating hella food, and having her microblade me! Laura is one of the pioneers in bringing microblading to Pittsburgh and owns her own studio, La Marie Brow Club, where she works her magic. Admittedly nervous, although I had absolutely no reason to be after the fact, I am now a walking testament to Laura’s work and am a firm believer in the power of microblading!

My nervousness definitely stemmed from the fact that I am a low key girl when it comes to my brows. I fill them in with an eighty-nine cent pencil annnnd that’s about it. Whenever I pluck them, I always end up overdoing it so, now, I just let them do their own thang. Have I wanted better brows? Sure. But, I’ve never been keen on constant waxing and maintenance and, at first, microblading sounded lightweight terrifying! But, now that I officially have amazing brows, I can’t believe that I didn’t do this sooner. Take a look at my before and after shots and, then, we’ll discuss everything further:

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As soon as we got to the salon, Laura immediately got to work preparing the space and explaining the first steps in the microblading process to me. First, we took some before pictures, which you can see above. And, then, Laura began to map out my brows according to my preferred side, which happens to be ol’ rightie. She used an eyebrow pencil to take measurements and used her makeup artist’s eye to create an outline that enhanced my right brow and made my left brow closely mimic its partner.

After a game plan was made special for my MUG, Laura applied a topical numbing agent to my brow area and we let it sit for twenty minutes before the microblading began. For those of you who aren’t hip, microblading is the manual process of implanting pigment into the upper region of our skin’s dermis in a way to mimic the appearance of natural hair. The blade that is used is dipped in pigment and each hair stroke is manually placed into the skin.

Once my brows were comfortably numb, Laura began the microblading festivities. The best way that I can describe the feeling of being microbladed is like getting papercuts on your eyebrows. Papercuts are a pain in the butt. But they are not unbearable and, although I could definitely feel some strokes more than others, the overall level of pain was extremely tolerable.

During a brief break after Laura’s first pass with my brows, a second numbing agent was applied to help ease any discomfort after wiping them down. Then, a second go was made for Laura to add the final touches and hair strokes to complete my beautiful new brows!

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^^^ Peep those results!

Spending time with Laura in her salon has been the highlight of my last few months and I cannot wait to come back to Pittsburgh in two months for her to touch my brows up. La Marie Brow Club provided a sterile and safe environment for me to get eyebrows perfectly customized for my face. Laura made me feel so comfortable and secure with all of the choices that we made together and she walked me through every step of the way with ease.

Watching my cousin display her amazing talents and doing a damn good job of it was so inspiring to me. Laura’s artistry involves immense skill and she was able to complete a task that looks dauntingly difficult with a smile on her face and well thought out answers to all of my questions. Saying I recommend Laura highly is an understatement, because she instilled a newfound confidence in me with her craft, and nothing can ever top that.

Take an inside look at Laura’s salon, located behind Lantern Rose tattoo shop!

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More about Laura:

Laura opened her business, La Marie Brow Club, in April of 2017 and received her certification in January of 2016. Not only does she offer microblading, but she also does upper lash line enhancement, freckles, beauty marks, and tooth gems (Which are so cute!). Laura has spent over ten years in the field as a licensed cosmetologist and esthetician, but enjoys doing eyebrows the most. When she is not booked at the salon, she loves spending time with her boyfriend, Victor, and beloved pets: Randy the cat and Lucille and Igor the Boston Terriers (And they are all so cute, too!).

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Interested in getting microbladed? You can reach Laura with the following:

Social Media Platforms

Thank you so much again to my beautiful and talented cousin for finessing my brows! Laura has the Lil Red Guarantee for fantastic results and service so, if you were at all on the fence about being microbladed like I was, trust in that and schedule an appointment today!

Do you have microbladed brows? How were your results? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah