Swimsuit Fever

Summer is just around the corner, and I figured it was time for me to dedicate a blog post to some of my favorite swimsuit pieces I have spotted so far this year.

Insight Summer Bright Bandeau Top - $49.50 Pacsun

This striped bikini top has just the right amount of neon to make you stand out this year, whether you're at your local pool or on the beach. The bright color and shape of this top also gives the illusion of a larger bust. Try pairing it with high-waisted bikini bottoms for a complete look.











Op Juniors Rainbow Strap bikini bottom - $12.00 Walmart

The cut-out look has made it's way to bikinis, and I love it. This bottom is relatively cheap and has cute pops of color. It could be paired with almost any top. You can find Op swimsuits at Wal-Mart and mix-match pieces for the perfect set.






Hurley Anyway Swimwear Top - $49.00 Buckle

 I immediately fell in love with the color of this sweet halter top, and it has a great amount of coverage for bigger cup sizes especially.








 99 Degrees Day Tripper Swimwear Bottom - $28.50 Buckle

The tribal print decorating these bikini bottoms is super sweet, and it's not a string bikini so you don't have to worry about it falling off unexpectedly. The colors can match with different solid tops, or a completely different printed top. It's up to you!














Bombshell Push-Up Halter Top in frosted fern - $98 Victoria's Secret

 Bombshell bras at Victoria's Secret promise you 2 extra cup sizes and the bikini halter top is no exception (I personally own one in black, and I LOVE IT) I adore this print because it doesn't look too much like lingerie. You can find cheaper tops too!











Betsey Johnson Romance Triangle Top & Skirted Bottom in Berry Cool - both pieces $78.48 on islandtrends.com

Betsey Johnson is known best for her quirky and fun designs, and this is my favorite set of her 2012 swimwear collection. I love the mixed media aspect of the design, it's very three-dimensional and interesting. For those who are uncomfortable with triangle tops, there is also a halter top in the same design.

The matching skirted bottom is totally cute, best suited for girls with longer legs and larger hips. The string bikini version also exists, but I do think that this featured top and bottom would make the best combination.

Essie Nail Polish Review

I have had countless moments with nail polish that have proved to be disheartening. I often stick my wet nails to objects by accident, or get bubbles in the setting coat when I move my arms while they're drying. Or, I wait 30 minutes for them to dry only for them to chip the same day.
When I went shopping for nail polish last, I decided to try a brand I had never tried before since I was still being constantly disappointed by the supposedly great O-P-I. I ended up buying Essie nailpolish in sand tropez for around $7 on a whim. But after putting it on (over a base coat of Sally Hansen) I had a pleasant surprise- it smoothed on easily, dried in under 5 minutes, and took 5 days before there was noticeable chipping. It was opaque and matte - perfect for the look I was going for. I will now be collecting this brand of nail polish, I have never had this good of luck before in regards to staying power.

Rainbow Hair + La Riche Directions hair color review

Long time, no blog! I figured it was time to do an update, and what better thing to blog about than hair? It's one of my favorite subjects.
Just this past weekend I decided that I wanted to do rainbow colors in my brown hair, and I went to my stylist and she did this for me!

We bleached out streaks all over my hair first, foiling them, and then after leaving those on we started the color process, the whole thing (not including the cut) took about 3 hours total. It was worth every second! We also did two coontails on one side. The blue didn't take right on it.

I used La Riche directions Bright Daffodil, Flamingo Pink, and Mandarin. La Riche Directions is a haircolor brand that hails from the UK. The color itself was almost like a gel, different from Manic Panic or Special Effects. It took to my hair vibrantly, especially the orange and pink!
I will update in a month with how it fades out. It has many promising reviews so I'm keeping my fingers crossed and hope it will hold out. If not, I have plenty of it left over!

UPDATE June 8, 2012
Directions started fading in two weeks for me. It wasn't bad at first. Around the 5th week, it was mostly gone and the initial blond had replaced the streaks. I haven't bothered recoloring them.
I did use Directions on a friend of mine, and I must say that a small amount of it goes a long way. It covers hair easily. It's better to work with than Manic Panic.

Gilly Hicks.

I wanted to take time to give this new brand some attention. From the creators of Abercrombie and Hollister, I bring you its cheeky cousin, Gilly Hicks. It's basically an A&F Victoria's Secret but has the same traditional preppy style that is carried by its sister stores. Yes, I love it. I love everything about it. I went to a store in Aventura, FL summer 2010 and got a cute koala t-shirt and some sweat shorts, and I still wear them all the time. The clothing style is also pretty similar to A&F/Hollister, with the name on everything. Example:

 

But I personally find gilly hicks way cuter. The koala, its mascot, is adorable. The clothes are super soft and the store smells better than Hollister. The quality is exceptional for the price. Wearing them makes you feel like you are part of a community, and who doesn't love koalas? Of course the entire theme is 'down under'. They also carry cosmetics, such as perfume and good-smelling lipgloss. The cons for shopping here are the shipping cost, and there are not many locations yet.

I am not getting paid to advertise, all of these opinions I have formed on my own.

trashandvaudeville

I found a website the other day with the damn coolest pants. Examples:

http://www.trashandvaudeville.com/
Yeahh!

Shoes shoes shoes.

I can't believe it's been over a week since I updated. I keep putting it off, putting it off. I am so sorry. Especially since I haven't been doing anything important.
Looksies!

30 dollar zombie flats!

Black mummy wrap flats, 20 dollars!

Marimekko converse, 80 dollars. (Dawh.)

$10 bow sandals.

/all the shoes I want right now.
Ciao.

Tattoos & Piercings I aspire to aquire.

Updated on May 1st, 2012
I noticed this girl I know that I follow on twitter who uses tumblr made a post like this and I figured it'd be good for me to do since I am obsessed with planning what to eventually put on my body (I make lists, diagrams, etc) :P
I constantly change my mind but some of these I'm pretty set on getting. I'm having trouble choosing what I want to do with my mouth. I'll get it eventually.
Piercings:
right ear: third lobe piercing, industrial bar, tragus.left ear: snug, rook, helix (I'm also thinking I might do a 'surface tragus' piercing)
navel piercing.
vertical sternum piercing.
back dimple piercings.I don't want any piercings on my face.
Good thing about piercings that aren't microdermals, you take em out and they heal up good.
Tattoos:
 before you get excited, keep in mind that I may never do any of these.

three r's logo on my left wrist. I'm still wondering what colors to do.

I want something on my right outer thigh but I'm not sure what yet. I just know I want something there. Maybe a honey badger?

I've been debating between a sugar skull and the majora's mask for my left hip. Hey, maybe I'll do one on one side and one on the other.

I want Yin-Yang koi fish on the small of my back, or between my shoulder blades.

I'll keep changing my mind. Promise.