Just a Little Polish

Sephora by OPI: Chestnuts About You

2013-01-22T00:16:00.002-08:00

This is one of those polishes that I find myself reaching for time and time again and the reason is simple. It matches everything! Not only is is great to wear all year long but the color is such a beautiful light coppery gold that it goes with any outfit. This is also one of those foil type polishes which I love to use especially while traveling because they dry quickly and hide any mistakes or chips really well. Trust me, give this polish a shot and you'll love it as much as I do.

*You can click here to purchase!

*natural sunlight, 2 coats, Canon T3.

Essie: Forever Yummy

2013-01-17T19:19:00.000-08:00

Here's the thing, I've been on the hunt for the perfect shade of red polish for my skin tone and I think I'm finally getting closer and closer. 'Forever Yummy' by Essie is a great mid-tone creamy red that isn't too tomatoe-y like some of the other reds I've tried. While I do like the way this color looks on me I don't think it's quite perfect yet...guess I'll still be trying out some other shades to narrow it down! I know, pull my leg right??

*You can click here to purchase!

*natural sunlight, 2 coats, Canon T3.

A Little Glimpse

2013-01-02T19:41:00.000-08:00

Here's a little peek at what I've been up to for the past few months, through my Instagram photos of course!

So lucky to live in HI.

The cutest little house in my family.

My cousins and I on our way home from the beach.

You know you're in Kauai, when you're surrounding by the palm trees.

Finally accomplished homemade cinnamon rolls. (recipe to come!)

One of the many double rainbows from a few weeks ago.

The cutest little baby. Seriously though, how adorable.

A pouch at Kate Spade that I neeeed.

Merry Christmas! I've seen Wicked three times now, and it just keeps getting better.

A view out the window on my flight to Oahu.

Yum.

Glimpse of my packing essentials.

Some quality beach time with my best friend.

Like a postcard.

Happy 2013!

2013-01-01T09:30:00.000-08:00

Hey Guys, I'm baaaaack! So I know by now this is like my third attempt at "starting over" and I keep falling off the wagon but I seriously PROMISE you this time it'll stick. Third time's the charm right?

Over the past few months this blog has kind of fallen by the wayside but I'm making it one of my resolutions for the new year to get back into posting regularly. To start us off, here's a little update on my life.

I'm still working pretty hard to try and get back to the city as soon as possible, which means about 50-60 hours a week for me (as you can see now why I didn't have much time to blog). By the time I get home I just want to pass out so I haven't really wanted to put much effort into anything else. This is all about to change my friend, so get excited ;)

While I know now what kind of content I want to post as well as what kind of direction I want to take this blog in with the coming year, I am still working out some sort of schedule that will fit in with my school and work life. I will get this figured out soon, but not to fear I already have a few posts lined up for the next couple of days.

I'm super excited to get back into this and I hope you guys are too! Talk to you soon. xx

Julep: Niecy

2012-10-19T17:01:00.005-07:00

This is the very first Julep polish that I've ever tried and I can finally understand all the hype behind this brand. The bottles take a little getting used to but the brush is nicely shaped and this color went on perfectly in 2 coats. 'Niecy' is similar to OPI's 'Strawberry Margarita' from what I've seen in photos, however I don't actually own the OPI color so I couldn't exactly compare the two. This warm hot pink is gorgeous and perfect for anytime of year in my opinion.

*You can click here to purchase!

*natural sunlight, 2 coats, Canon T3.

Think Pink!

2012-10-16T18:57:00.000-07:00

{click any of the items above for a direct link!}

Breast cancer is something that affects us all, whether it be an aunt, mother, sister, or friend in this day and age it is almost a guarantee that we all know someone who has been touched by this terrible disease. Thankfully many of them have pulled through as strong survivors and emerge brighter and bolder than ever. So here's to October breast cancer awareness month, let us all be aware and proactive in preventing this disease from taking or affecting any more lives.

On a less serious note I think that the best way (other than donating to a charity) to support the fight against breast cancer is to incorporate some pink in your wardrobe! Above are some of my favorite pink options; it's so simple to add some pink into your everyday life whether it be a nail polish, a little bracelet, gorgeous necklaces, or a full on pink outfit. Throughout October wear some pink and support all of the women who have conquered this disease, so THINK PINK!

Sephora by OPI: Rumba Romance

2012-10-11T19:12:00.001-07:00

Another beautiful shimmery foil type polish from Sephora by OPI, 'Rumba Romance' is formulated much like 'Because I Said So', 'Teal We Meet Again', 'Mermaid to Order', and many others. I specifically like these types of colors because they give a similar effect to glitter polishes but aren't as chunky of difficult to remove. They also have that foil finish so you don't have to be too careful when applying and your coats don't have to be exactly perfect.

*You can click here to purhase!

*natural sunlight, 2 coats, Canon T3.

What's In My Makeup Bag?

2012-10-10T16:39:00.000-07:00

{click any of the items above for a direct link!}

I'm no makeup artist by any means, but I figured I would give you all a peek at what I keep in my makeup bag! I also don't have an extensive makeup collection so once I find a product that I like I tend to stick with it. Almost all of these items get used on a daily basis, sometimes if I'm not feeling it I'll go a little lighter on something like mascara, eyeliner, or blush but 99% of the time I like to have a complete face on if I'm going out anywhere.

My favorite foundation is Nars Matte, but with the budget of a college student I figured it might be a good idea to try and find a good drugstore version. This Maybelline Fit Me Foundation is what I've been using recently and while it isn't my favorite, I'm going to use the bottle up before trying anything new.

After foundation I powder my face with MAC Skinfinish Natural in the shade 'Medium Dark', then I move onto prepping my eyelids for eyeshadow by using a MAC Paint Pot in 'Rubenesque'. For everyday makeup I like to use 'Jest' all over my lid, 'Mulch' in the crease, and 'Naked Lunch' as a highlight. It's nice and subtle but still a really pretty combination.

I use MAC Fluidline in 'Blacktrack' on my upper and lower lashlines and I set it off with any black eyeshadow. Right now I'm liking L'Oreal Voluminous for my upper lashes and Maybelline Falsies for my lower lashes.

Benefit Benetint has been a favorite product of mine for years, I think I'm on my 4th or 5th bottle. On days when I really feel like amping up the blush I like to use this Nars Multiple in 'Maui' over the Benetint or sometimes I'll use Nars 'Orgasm'.

Last but not least, my favorite lip color right now is the Revlon Lip Butter in 'Lollipop'. I never really used to wear color on my lips besides balm and maybe MAC 'Cremecup' once in a while, but I like how easily I can achieve color with the Revlon Lip Butters.

What are your go-to products? Any hidden secrets in your makeup bag that you're dying to share?

xoxo

A Few Changes...

2012-10-08T18:57:00.001-07:00

Hey guys!

So while I was taking a break from blogging I tried to refocus my energy and really decide what I wanted to do with this blog. Nail polish will always be a constant focus here because that is truly why I started blogging in the first place, however I think it's time to branch out a little.

A few changes:
-I'm going to start watermarking my photos with 'justalittlepolish' in the lower corner. Granted this is something I should have done a long time ago but I always thought that I was going to change the name of this blog to 'emilychiemi' so I used that as my watermark.

-I was trying to brainstorm new names for this blog because I thought that 'justalittlepolish' was too restricting, meaning I thought that I couldn't write anything BUT nail polish reviews here. For now, I decided to keep the name and just blog about whatever I want (meaning it could be anything from nail polish to recipes to fashion ideas to TV).

-I may make other changes to the name and the branding side of things in the future (I'm chronically indecisive), but for now everything will remain the same.

-I am going to start including a link to where you can purchase the specific polish at the bottom of every post. Now this is an Amazon affiliate link and if you don't want to click it you don't have to. I'm just putting it there to make things more convenient for you!

-I have lots of new ideas so keep checking back! Also, feel free to send me requests for anything that you want to read about. You can either leave them in a comment or email me at justalittlepolish@gmail.com I love hearing from you!

That's about it for now, thanks for sticking with me through this whole experience, I'm back and bursting with new inspiration!

xoxo, E

Revlon: Coastal Surf

2012-10-08T18:45:00.000-07:00

'Coastal Surf' is a bright true blue creme that reminds me so much of the ocean. It goes on smoothly in 2 coats and was just as vibrant as it is in the bottle. The fact that it goes on just like it is shown in the bottle is great because I find that a lot of times with bright colors you either have to use a white base coat or a ton of coats before you can get the true color to show through. Do you have any favorite shades like this that I should try out?

*You can click here to purchase!

*natural sunlight, 2 coats, Canon T3.

Fall TV Lineup

2012-10-07T19:39:00.002-07:00

Normally around September-October is one of my favorite times of the year for a few reasons:

1. The weather starts to cool down into fall. (Not that I don't love the summertime but I really enjoy getting to experience different seasons.) *Sidenote: not something I get to necessarily see in Hawaii, but I loved seeing it in Chicago.

2. I can officially start my countdown to Christmas!

3. Cute fall clothing. I'm looking at you circle scarves, military jackets, and riding boots.

4. The return of the fall TV lineup.

Let's go through a run down of the shows that I'll be catching up on this fall...

*photo source

I couldn't get enough of this show last season. Zooey as Jess is adorably quirky, seeing the relationship between the roommates evolve is hilarious, Cece adds the glamour, and Schmidt. I mean really? Who wouldn't love to have a friend like Schmidt?

*photo source

Big Bang is immensely popular and has created somewhat of a cult-like following and I have to say that I agree. My family and I love watching this show together all of the characters are pretty funny but it's Sheldon's one-liners that are particularly hilarious.

*photo source

This show has been one of my favorites for as long as I can remember. One summer a few years back I got really into it and watched all of the old seasons on Netflix until I was caught up. Yes, I'm still tuning in every week but I'll be the first to tell you that it is nowhere near the same without Michael Scott. I've heard that this season will be the last season for our favorite paper company over in Scranton, and while I'm a little bit sad that I won't get to see John Krasinski every week I definitely think that it's time has come. The Office took a bit of a nosedive after Steve Carrell left and while it's been trying to come back with fresh material there are times where I would rather watch an old rerun that a current episode. I guess we'll always have the memories right?

Phew, this post was definitely longer than I intended but I think I covered just about everything. Are there any favorite TV shows that keep you hooked?

Essie: Cute as a Button

2012-10-05T19:16:00.000-07:00

{click to zoom}

This color definitely lived up to it's name, the bright coral toned orange is so cute that it perks your day up as soon as you coat it onto your nails. It went on nicely, opaque in 2 coats, and stayed on for a good few days (not surprising since it is Essie). For me personally these types of colors only work on my skin tone when I'm mildly tan and not when I'm rocking a mid-summer tan, but I can definitely see this color being great for almost anyone.

{click to zoom}

*natural sunlight, 2 coats, Canon T3.

Jumping Back In

2012-10-03T22:23:00.002-07:00

I haven't blogged anything for about 2 months (give or take) and I think I'm finally ready to get back into the swing of things. You may have seen that my last post 'Vacation' stated that I had been really busy hosting a home stay from Japan so I didn't have much time for blogging. Anyway my life has been a crazy mess this past month so I took some time to re-evaluate and give myself some time away before jumping back in.

On August 20th my Grandma passed away. I can't believe that this happened so soon, my Grandpa passed away in January 2011 and it feels all too soon that my family is going through this again. When my Grandpa passed away everyone was in a rush, all of the grandkids had to go back to college, the adults had to go back to work, and decisions had to made quickly. We were given a little bit more time when it came to my Grandma's passing but it still feels like everything happened too fast.

Anyway, since she passed away I've been toying with the idea of dedicating a post to her but haven't been able to find the words. There are so many memories and stories that I want to relive but time is just moving on. So instead of forcing myself to explain any further or write down words that I don't have yet, I'm simply going to try and move forward. Maybe I will sometime in the future or maybe I won't.

I didn't intend for this post to be so deep and mournful but there isn't really any other way to describe where my head & heart have been for the past few months.

With this time away has come a new itch for blogging, new inspiration, and new ideas. I have so many ideas for posts that I can't wait to get started. Thank you for coming on this journey with me and thank you for allowing me to express myself the best way I know how, so let's jump back in shall we?

me & my sister with my grandma & her sister

Vacation

2012-08-19T18:00:00.001-07:00

As I'm sure you can see, my last post was on August 8th. I promise there's a good excuse! My family decided to host a high school aged girl (16) from Okinawa for about 10 days. This meant that we were busy all week showing her around Maui and trying to get to know her as much as possible, despite the language block.

We have been hosting girls from Japan & Okinawa for years now, I think we've hosted at least 6 or 7 times since my sister's and I were little. Besides having the experience of having them here on Maui my middle sister and I have both had the homestay experience in Japan.

It was a great experience and one that I am very grateful for, it really makes you realize how different some cultures are and teaches you that you can interact and get to know a person without speaking the same language that they do.

Long story short, I am back to blogging after a bit of a vacation and have lots of posts coming your way!

Sephora by OPI: On Stage

2012-08-08T18:29:00.000-07:00

{click to zoom}

I'm thinking that this was part of the dance collection but I'm not sure, it could very well be wishful thinking on my part but doesn't the name 'On Stage' just fit? To be honest I didn't keep this color on my nails for very long (maybe 2 days?) but I do think that it is one that I would love when fall comes around.

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'On Stage' can be described as a blush toned mauve cream polish. In my opinion it went onto my nails a little darker than it looked in the bottle, but these pictures show the accurate color. Two coats and the color was opaque without flaw.

{click to zoom}

*natural sunlight, 2 coats, Canon T3.

Wishful Monday

2012-08-06T18:12:00.000-07:00

{buy here}

I know, I know I already have a Michael Kors gold watch that looks exactly like this. But can a girl really ever have enough accessories? Plus, I've had my Michael Kors one for over a year and I wear it every single day so it's starting to show a few light signs of wear. This is around the same price range ($200) but it could be a good alternative!

{buy here}

When I was in Macy's a few days ago I saw a Free People blouse that looked exactly like this (only in black & cream) but I didn't want to fork over the $80+ that it cost. How cute is this top?? And it's only a fraction of the price plus the mint color is something a little more unexpected than the black one that I was eyeing earlier.

{buy here}

The black flats that I bought from Target last fall finally gave out a few months ago (I'm surprised at how long they lasted!) but since it's summer I haven't bothered to replace them. So I found these at 6pm.com and they are Nine West which will hopefully indicate good quality but the best part is they're under $40! I don't quite remember but I think my Target ones were around $15 so in comparison it's not a bad price.

Recipe: Lasagna & Breadsticks

2012-08-02T22:43:00.000-07:00

This dinner is literally so easy to make! It is a little time consuming (I'd allow 2 hours or so) but it's all super easy work. I used this recipe for the lasagna and this recipe for the breadsticks. Instead of browned turkey I use beef, I add a few pinches more of the seasonings, and I use 1 and a half times the amount of the ricotta mixture.

When I made this dinner the first time I used a different breadstick recipe that came out a little too crispy for my liking but these breadsticks are honestly some of the best I've ever had and they don't take any thought to make! My entire family loves them, which is great since I like to make them.

Let me know if you try those recipes out and how you like them :)

Revlon: Provence

2012-08-01T23:41:00.002-07:00

{click to zoom}

Pale lavender polish, you've got me again! 'Provence' by Revlon is part of their new Colorstay collection (which I'm loving!). I reviewed 'Buttercup' here and I've been using the top coat for a few months now. Trust me, I will love practically any pastel colored polish and this one is no exception I wore it for about a week straight with no chipping and minimal signs of wear.

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'Provence' went on nicely giving off a great creamy finish with just 2 coats. I saw this polish the same time that I saw 'Pilates Hottie' by Essie and they look very similar but I haven't tried out the Essie one yet so I'm not sure how similar they will be on the nails, but this could be a very good alternative!

{click to zoom}

*natural sunlight, 2 coats, Canon T3.

Olympic Worthy Nail Polishes

2012-07-31T04:53:00.000-07:00

{click any of the items above for a direct link!}

Silly, I know but what better way to support the US athletes than to sport some fun colors on your nails during the next 2 weeks. We all know that sitting on the couch watching the Olympics painting my nails gold is the closest I'll ever be to the games so I figured I might as well suggest some of my favorite gold, silver, and bronze polishes.

There's a whole collage here of different colors (bronze was the hardest to find) and the great thing is that they range in prices so that you can find one that fits your budget! How cute is this? Butter London even released a fun little Olympics pack with 3 bottles of polish, one in every color.

I think my personal favorites are the Deborah Lippmann gold glitter and the Revlon silver. It's only been 2 games and I'm already completely wrapped up in Olympic mania, I woke up at 3:30 AM my time just to watch the women's gymnastic prelims. That being said I'm thinking about writing a post dedicated to the Olympics outlining my favorite events and athletes. #goUSA

Wishful Monday

2012-07-30T19:32:00.001-07:00

{buy here}

I had one of these room sprays a few months ago and I loved it. It was more of a clean linen smell but I think that getting something like this would be great. For my dorm room freshman year my roommate and I had those jelly air fresheners that smelled like vanilla and our entire room always smelled amazing. These are great because they give the same effect as a candle but they are so much easier. (They're on sale right now! 2 for $10!)

{buy here}

This lace scarf from Free People is absolutely gorgeous. I've been holding out on buying it, hoping that it will eventually go on sale but it is still priced at $48. Since I'm going to school in Chicago I really need scarves that are of a heavier/warmer weight but I think that this would be cute for spring or fall outfits.

{buy here}

At $20 for 10 notecards these can get a little pricey but for special occasions or extra nice thank you notes they could be great. I love everything about them, the gold and creme striping on the inside of the envelope, the bright raspberry color of the card and the dainty gold bow on the top, they're just so adorable!

Sephora by OPI: Teal We Meet Again

2012-07-28T19:21:00.000-07:00

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I usually go for creme finish on my nails but sometimes when I want something a little more fun I like to go for a glitter or a metallic. Polishes like these {1, 2}are a great middle ground, they have micro shimmer particles that give off the glitter effect and they go on like a foil which makes the colors look metallic and shiny.

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'Teal We Meet Again' is a fun bright color that I actually really like on my skin tone. It goes on smoothly allowing me to get a perfect application without any clean up but I don't find the color to be all that long lasting. I applied it a day and a half ago and I can already see the tips of my nails poking through. If you're someone like me who changes their color often this won't be too big of an issue.

{click to zoom}

*natural sunlight, 2 coats, Canon T3.

Recipe: Pizza

2012-07-26T20:28:00.001-07:00

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I've been trying to cook dinner at home more often which has resulted in me trying recipes out of my comfort zone. First up was pizza. When I say comfort zone I mean the dough because we all know that spreading the sauce out and adding all of the toppings is easy but when you get to baking your own crust it can get a little tricky.

If you are thinking at all about attempting to make your own crust I say DO IT! I've made this recipe at least 4 or 5 times now and it couldn't be any easier. Baking times and oven temps can get fidgety, but all else was smooth sailing. I used this recipe for the crust and added my own toppings.

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For the first photo I used pesto, mozzarella, grilled chicken, red onions, tomatoes, and peppers. In the second photo I used a mixture of honey and regular BBQ sauce, mozzarella, kalua pork, red onions, and peppers. After I had all the toppings on I sprinkled a pinch of salt and pepper on each pizza and brushed the edges with olive oil before popping in the oven.

The recipe for the crust is pretty self explanatory but if you want to know how I did mine I'll explain in detail. After you roll out the dough into the desired shape (I still haven't perfected the circle, oh well) I pop it into the oven on a piece of parchment paper for about 8 minutes. It puffs up a bit and creates air bubbles so push those down after you take it out. Then I spread with sauces and toppings and bake until the cheese is all gooey and the edges are golden brown.

Believe me, if I can do it you can do it. My family loves this easy recipe and I've been asked to make it for friends as well. Have fun in the kitchen!

Essie: Olé Caliente

2012-07-25T20:07:00.000-07:00

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I'm sure everyone has a color like this in their collection, but if you're in the market for a new red I highly suggest Essie's 'Olé Caliente'. Shown here is one coat, ONE COAT. I'm not even kidding you this color is so opaque and perfect that it would be a great supplement to any red polishes you already have.

{click to zoom}

Personally I like the darker reds most of the time but a great tomato based bright red is good to have on hand as well. I can see someone with a lighter skin tone loving this color, it would really make their nails look nicely polished and defined. As for the lack of description or story behind this polish I apologize, I still can't get over how opaque it was! ;)

{click to zoom}

*natural sunlight, 1 coat, Canon T3.

Wishful Monday

2012-07-23T20:56:00.002-07:00

Etsy Obsessed! If you can't tell by all of the contents in this post, I have been loving browsing Etsy lately. These are just a few of my favorites, but trust me when I say that my Etsy wish list is miles long.

{buy here}

Back to School: Nails!

2012-07-23T03:39:00.002-07:00

{click any of the items above for a direct link!}

Whenever I was bored at school I would stare at my nail polish (beginning signs of an addict!) and my teachers would think that I was reading whatever was on my desk, win win! While I am not encouraging students to not pay attention in class ;) I'm simply saying that if you were to get bored at school these would be some awfully pretty colors to look at.

Bright colors like these will nicely go with any outfit and the instant pop of color will make you feel like you're out at the beach enjoying the summertime instead of stuck in a classroom. There is a range of prices in the little collage above, something for everyone I like to think, the prices range from $4 at the drugstore to $20 at a department store.

Award for the cutest name goes to Essie with 'Bikini So Teeny', you can't get anymore summery than that!

This series has flown by, this is officially the last post so....here's to wishing you a great school year!