Two-Toned

When it comes to painting my nails, I rarely do more than a simple solid color, or just a bit of gloss. Not that I don't appreciate bright colors or the occasional fun design, but I just find it labor intensive for something so short lived. I feel like I can't go two whole days without chipping of the new polish... even if I do make it through the painting them without creating a mess. But this modern colored take on a classic was so simple, it was worth giving a try.

I decided to do a twist of french tip using two hot colors: mint and metallic!  I used Revlon colors Minted and Silver Dollar. They're reasonably priced, and they are well saturated with color. I hate getting a new polish home only to find that it takes at least 3 coats to make it somewhat opaque. Who has the patience for that?

After clipping and filing my nails into shape, I started by applying two coats of the mint color, leaving plenty of time to dry between each coat - the hardest part for me. I then used sticky address labels to protect the lower portion of my nail, and painted the exposed tips silver. You could use scotch tap or any other stickers you have lying around, but just know that if it's super sticky, it's going to pull off the polish, so stick and un-peal it from your skin a few times to pick up oils and lessen the adhesive power. I painted two coats of the silver on my nail tips. Right before was completely dry, I pealed off the sticker and lightly pressed my nails with my finger tips to smooth the polish and make sure there are no lumps. It's pretty easy to do touch ups when need be.

My Real Beach Bag

I've already posted about what would be in my dream beach bag, so now I'll let you take a look at what's in my actual beach bag! I'm pretty proud to say that it's not too different. I take my own advice. Sometimes.

The best part is, everything I bought was really affordable.

Clockwise starting with the sneakers:

• Sneakers - I bought my shoes on clearance for $5 at Urban Outfitters, but they always have the Keds style shoe at a pretty reasonable price, often paired with "buy two for" offers. I also saw that Target had some solid navy ones for about $12 bucks.
• Sunglasses - These are from Target for $17. It's important to buy sunglasses that block 100% of UV rays when you're going to be wearing them for long periods of time in bright sunlight. A lot of the cheaper ones, though cute, don't actually protect your eyes. Plus I love the vintage slight cat eye that this pair offers!
• Sunblock - From Target, but available most anywhere. I especially love the Neutrogena Sensitive Skin. Sun screen has always burned my face and stung my eyes, but this stuff doesn't irritate me at all. Plus, it's 60 spf, and though in reality, 60 spf only blocks like half a percent more UV rays than 30 spf, when if comes to those easily burned areas, I feel like the safer the better.
• Water Bottle - Andrew bought this for me from Wholefoods/Wholebody for Valentines Day, so I'm not sure of the exact price. It's from Lifefactory, and it's somewhere in the $20 range. It's glass, so BPA isn't an issue, which I LOVE. But you don't have to worry about it breaking because it's encased in a silicone type material. Genius.
• Reading Materials - I pretty much ALWAYS have to  carry a book with me. I'm a compulsive reader. If I don't have something to read, I'm reading ingredient lists or posters and signs. So, I brought a lot of options to the beach... but these are the ones I actually read.
• Divergent by Veronica Roth - If you loved the Hunger Games Series, then this is the next one for you. I read the first book in two days (my copy is already dog-eared), and I can't wait to get the second book! Unfortunately, the third one isn't out yet, so be forewarned. Thrifty shopper tip: It's on one of BAM's book club lists, so they had a 20% coupon in the store. However, I encourage you to support the independent bookstores near you whenever you can afford to!
• Anthology - Amazing design magazine! I picked mine up at Anthropologie.
• Design Sponge News Paper - For the second year in a row, the fantastic blog, Design Sponge, has released their summer news paper. Lovers of print rejoice! The publication is available for a short time at Anthropologie and West Elm.
• Head Scarf - I got this scarf, and many others, at a flea market in Berlin, but I've seen them at thrift stores, and my grandmother has bestowed a couple of them on me. There are lots of ways to tie them, but one of my current favorites involves wrapping it around my head twice, and ending with a small bow to the top and side. 
• Beach Bag - $38 dollars at Anthropologie. I justified it because I could see myself  using this at the farmers market and for picnics in addition to the beach. Heck, it could even hold magazines in my living room! It's so pretty. And it's a basket... not just a bag.
• Blanket/Background - $6 Goodwill find.

Sea Creatures

It's about that time of year again. In a couple of weeks Andrew and I will join in family for their annual trip to the beach. Last year, to occupy me, Andrew took us to the Aquarium on Dolphin Island...