DIY~ Duct Tape Bow

Hey girlies! Now that summer vacation is winding down to and end, we need to start getting back into the swing of things. School is around the corner and that means late nights studying, early mornings, and bad hair days. An easy, quick choice is to pin back bangs with a bobby pins, but using a bow adds some quirkiness and preppiness!

Bows can be great to accessorize an outfit or add some color, and wearing a duct tape bow will make an outfit pop! But you won't even realize it's duct tape from far away! It costs a few cents to make and it's a great project to do with friends on a lazy day!

Nail Tutorial ~ Perfect French Mani

Hey girls!

Today I wanted to show you guys a quick tutorial on how I love to create a super easy french manicure.  This look is one of my all-time favorites because it can be literally be worn with anything from casual to dressy.  It's a nice change from super bold colors, yet still looks chic and different.  I used to use tape, but it gave be these boxy french nails that didn't look amazing.  After much testing, I found this great solution that everyone has in their home that really makes your french mani pop!

I chose band-aids because they are sticky like tape but have a rounded top so that the white portion of the manicure is rounded.  It made the process so super quick and extremely easy!  The greatest piece of advice I have though is make sure it FULLY dries.  If it's not rock solid yet, I would not stick the band-aid on or else you will end up with a gloppy mess.

Let's get started!

Guide to Bargain Shopping

Hey girls! We're back in the swing of things now that the giveaway is over--a special congratulations to Hanna Lee!

As you all know, from the title of our blog, we love bargain shopping! There are a few tips to keep in mind when you're hunting for deals, and even though they're well known, I want to tell you my personal experience!

1. Know how often you shop! If you shop once a month, or once a week, it's always good to know how often you shop! If you get to the point where you can't keep track of which stores you went to, you know you're shopping to much! 
2. Limit yourself! I set my limit to no more than 5 pieces per store. If it's shoes, clothing, or decorations for my room, I don't buy more than 5 at any store because I know I won't get good use out of them!
3. Don't shop just to shop! You should go into a store looking for what you want, and with a budget! Going into stores like Target, Wal-Mart, Marshall's, or TJMaxx is dangerous because you can find so many things you want, but don't need!
4. There's no such thing as out of season! Just because a tag at Marshall's or TJMaxx says it's out of season, it doesn't mean it isn't fashionable! The color might be discontinued, or the collection might be last season's but it's still the same style and cut!
5. Always shop the sale section! I don't frequently go to the mall, but when I do, I always shop the sale section at JCrew, Urban Outfitters etc. The prices can be comparable to Forever 21 and they're still just as cute! Even in discount stores or less expensive ones, shopping the sales will get you the best deals!
6. Outlets are your friends! Even though most outlets are out in the middle of nowhere, it's definitely worth it to plan a few trips a year! I've tried going to the outlets at all times of the year, but it's only worth the gas money if it's the outlet price with an additional sale! I've found the best times are the Fourth of July, Black Friday, and the week between Christmas and New Year's.
7. Stock up on basics! Don't wait until your basics have holes in them or are falling apart! Buy quality basic pieces on sale! They'll be a fraction of the price and you'll always have them handy! You're never going to have to go searching for a white v-neck or black leggings again!
8. DIY the trends! Channel your crafty side and learn how to sew! Hemming a shirt is as easy as it looks, it's much more convenient to buy a shirt from Forever 21 and hem it than go to Nordstrom. The new army candy trend is also perfect! Beading and braiding is super fashionable!
9. Find dupes! Stores like Forever 21 have copycats and dupes weeks after the originals come out! There are usually more colors and the material isn't bad! Don't fall into the brand-name warp hole! Eyeshadow colors and eyeliners have dupes all over the place! And brushes come from every brand at the drugstore! 
10. Pay for the quality! Things like leather goods (belts, bags, shoes) and high quality cotton and cashmere can't be duped! However, you can find high quality belts, shoes and boots, and sweaters at the outlets, TJMaxx, Marshall's and Nordstrom Rack. I have leather belts for 7 dollars, a pair of Uggs for 30 dollars and a leather Valentino bag for 35 dollars!

Using these tips and tricks any time soon? Have any of your own? Leave your questions, comments, and requests in the comment section below. Stay beautiful!

xoxo Eve :*

Nail Tutorial ~ Half Moon Mani

Hey everyone!

Today I have a cool manicure to share with you guys!  It's one of my favorites since it's so unique, yet super simple.  It's sort of like french tips with a twist and is just a stunner to look at.  I love this look for the summer, especially if you can coordinate your colors with your swimsuit!  A fun idea might be to invert the colors on your toes so they match, but in a more subtle way.

Let's get started!

Nail Tutorial~ Pink and Red Color-Blocking!

Hey girlies! How are we all doing today? I decided to try out some color blocking on my nails! I've seen it on youtube and on celebrities already, but I've never had the chance to test it out myself, and must I say I'm OBSESSED! I prefer this over paint 3 nails one color and the other 2 another because I think that just gets confusing... but that might just be me. I love the look of the pink and red because in some lights it can look all red or all pink because of the close contrast. Also, the work the twice as many outfits!

Wet n Wild 429D Dreamy Poppy and 414 Red Red

All you'll need is 2 nail polishes and 10 pieces of tape! 

Let's get started!

Tutorial~ Makeup Brush Cleansing

Heyhey girlies! How was your day? I'm at home all ready to blog and I have a VERY important post for all you makeup collectors out there! We all love putting on makeup and giving ourselves that extra little boost, but we want our skin to feel good! I think I hear your skin crying! Have you been washing your brushes lately? Germs and bacteria build up in those things faster than skyscrapers in New York City! You need to make a brush cleaning schedule; wash your eye brushes every week and face brushes every 1-2 weeks. Your skill will be thanking you!

What you'll need:

1. Some dirty makeup brushes! You'll need to give them a good wash if you've been changing colors with your brushes, been using them for over a week, or there's too much product in your brush.

Keep reading! Keep reading! We're dirty!

Nail Tutorial ~ Jelly Sandwiches

Dear American Apparel,

OMG I cannot thank you enough for releasing the new "Sheer" nail polish collection for the summer.  You have seriously made my whole summer because of these wonderful new nail polishes.  I was on the market for a jelly polish that I could layer glitter in between and now I think I have found my new love.  Not only does your polish have the perfect amount of sheerness to it so that the glitter can peak through, the pigmentation is also just out of this world.  I can't wait to go back to the Mall and purchase more so I can do some ombre nails next.

Lots of love,
Kaylie


Hey girls!

 Haha today I have a super fun nail tutorial to share with you guys.  A jelly nail sandwich is dare I say it, even yummier than the real thing.  This is a super simple look that just involves sandwiching a layer of glitter in between two coats of polish.  It gives a cool 3-D look to the glitter, as if it's floating in the polish.  This look cannot be achieved with any old polish.  It takes a polish of a sheer and jelly nature to make it successful.

I have been waiting forever to be able to test out this look since I've been having a hard time finding the right jelly polish for a reasonable price.  There are some scattered Essie's that I know have a sheer finish, but I find it hard to make myself purchase them for $8 each.  I have heard that Revlon's "Sheer Seafoam" is a jelly-like polish but it lacks the serious pigmentation I want in a polish.  When I thought all hopes were lost, I found myself wandering American Apparel to just browse and my eyes instantly met the new "Sheer" polishes.  I didn't believe it was possible, and yet there it was.  I used the tester and absolutely fell in love with the finish and immediately thought of some jelly nail sandwiches!  Without blinking an eye I picked up a super pretty coral color for only $5 called "Manhattan Beach" just to try and now that I'm completely in love, I'll definitely be going back to pick up her sisters.  Sigh...  it is possible to be so in love with an inanimate object?

Keep reading to find out more!

NOTD~ Rocker Chic Microbeads

Hey girls! Sorry for the delay, but I've been working on a VERY exciting post for you guys! I have been in the market for some caviar nails lately, but I couldn't bring myself to spend the money on a kit from Sephora that would only last a few days... so I ventured down to Michael's to look for some microbeads, but I found something better. SELF ADHESIVE BEADS!! Instead of covering your entire nail with beads, you can arrange them in a design and then top it off with a thick layer of clear coat.

The beads are from Michael's and the brand is Liquid Beadz. I found this container on sale because I was slightly dried out, but there is a large selection of them for around $2.99 US at Michael's, A.C. Moore and other craft stores!

Keep reading to see more designs!

Nail Tutorial ~ Water Marbling Nails

Hey everyone!

Today I was long overdue for a new manicure and thought I'd try something a little different from the standard one note nail.  I love marbling my nails during the summer, especially for a fun day at the beach.  I have this quick tutorial to show you guys how you can achieve the same look!


Things you will Need:

A cold bowl of water

A dotting tool or toothpick  (Make sure you don't mind getting a little dirty!)

Nails painted with some base color/coat

2-3 Nail Polish Colors  (Preferably of contrasting colors to your base color)
From left to right:  Essie Meet Me at Sunset, WNW I Need a Refresh - Mint, Revlon Buttercip

A roll of tape  (Scotch will work perfectly!)

 Keep reading to find out more!

Nail Tutorial~ Quirky Bunnies

Are you getting your tan on? Feeling the heat already? Gazing down at your fingers and seeing these bunnies will surely brighten up your day. These pastel colors will complement your new tan… and even though it’s already a little late for Easter. Who says you can't rock this everyday of the summer? I sure will.

Here’s the design I created...

Inspired by Bethany (MacBarbie07 on Youtube)- tell her to check it out!