For my graduation from Villanova University this May, my two sisters got me the best graduation present – personalized nail polish. Thanks to Dollish Polish, a homemade nail polish vendor, they had two polishes made for me that no one else in the world has – “‘V’ for Villanova” and “Nova Nation,” two phrases that would mean a lot to any Villanova grad. I wanted to create a manicure as unique as the polishes, and I really think I achieved that. I got so many compliments from this manicure, and I couldn’t have been happier with the way it turned out. Let’s see how I did it!
Manicure Monday: Graduation Glitter
Bond, James Bond: OPI’s ‘Skyfall’ Collection
You may need to mentally prepare yourself for this upcoming OPI collaboration. To celebrate Skyfall, the latest Bond film coming this November, a 13-piece OPI nail polish collection inspired by the James Bond movie franchise is launching this October. Each shade is named after a Bond title! I got a chance to test out the colors early, and I may have found my new favorite shades for fall. Get a sneak peek of all the colors and hear what I think of them right here!
The World Is Not Enough, Live and Let Die, On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, Tomorrow Never Dies, Skyfall
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So You Think You Can Dance: ‘Top 10 Perform’ Music Highlights
Before I begin my mini recap of this week’s music from So You Think You Can Dance, I apologize for my lateness – my birthday was yesterday and it turned out to be much more busy and eventful than I thought it would be. But enough about me! Wednesday’s episode brought back the all-stars, who are various contestants from previous seasons, to be partnered up with the top 10. Some of my favorite dancers from way back when performed and it was very fun to watch. Check out videos of the performances and listen to and download some music after the jump!
Juicy Couture ‘Viva la Juicy – La Fleur’
Ladies, at some point or another, you’ve surely donned something Juicy Couture. It’s likely because the brand has something for everyone: from the terry cloth bags with cutesy plastic cherry charms that you loved in middle school to the luxe dresses that you’re drooling over for your fall wardrobe right now. But the most consistently sophisticated part of the brand has always been the substantial fragrance collection. In celebration of their newest launch, Viva la Juicy – La Fleur, Juicy will be giving away 10 bottles to Twitter followers tomorrow, August 24. To learn all about the fragrance and Tweetstakes, read on! Continue Reading »
Picante: Springfield, NJ
Down the street from Thai Amarin, a new Collabor-fave, is Picante “The Taste of Mexico,” a cool lunch spot that has gained much critical acclaim in the area. Let me tell you: Chipotle, this is not. Fresh, authentic, and reasonably priced, this place is a gem. The best way to describe Picante and its dishes is “colorful.” Bright, festive decor and a fresh mix of ingredients characterize this small eatery. For my first experience at Picante, I took along my mom. Want to see what we ordered and hear what we thought about it all? Read on!
Manicure Monday: Frenchie
My hands-down favorite manicure has always been the classic French. It’s simple and elegant. It always makes my nails look longer and prettier than they really are. I think it’s a great manicure for almost any occasion. I like to play up a French manicure any way I can, and for Manicure Monday this week, I’ve decided to change up the colors! Read on to see my modernized French manicure.
Yes To Awesome Products!
Love using natural products, but find them to be generally ineffective? That feeling will end the second you try out Yes to Carrots products. Made from natural organic fruits and veggies, these product really work, smell amazing, and are totally affordable. And now, Yes to Carrots is teaming up with celeb stylist Gretta Monahan! (That’s me with Yes To Carrots co-founder Ido Leffler and Gretta herself!) Check out our gallery of the Yes to brand’s newest launches (including the awesome new shampoo and conditioner line) and learn about how you can chat with Gretta!
Music Video: Beyonce, ‘I Was Here’ (United Nations Humanitarian Day Performance)
Queen Bey has graced us with an amazing video of her special performance at the United Nations General Assembly in New York on August 10th. With the help of the UN, producer Scott Robinson, and co-directors Kenzo Digital and Sophie Muller, this music video was created in honor of World Humanitarian Day (tomorrow, August 19). Beyoncé and the UN are aiming to reach 1 billion messages of hope in 1 day with this campaign, which encourages people to do good for others.
On a personal note, I support the International Rescue Committee and Save the Children. Please note that you should do your research on different organizations to find out what cause you want to support and how those organizations use your money. Charity Navigator has ratings of 10,000 charities and is a great place to start if you’re interested in giving monetarily. If you can’t give money, then give your time! Will you make your mark?
Listen: Island Music to Top Off Your Summer
The end of summer is approaching and the feeling is bittersweet. But the season isn’t quite over yet, which makes the songs I’ll be sharing with you totally appropriate. Island music is the best kind to kick back to. This genre is characterized by a reggae/R&B sound and is usually made by artists of Polynesian background (Hawaii, New Zealand, Samoa, Tonga, Fiji, and the list goes on). Click through to listen to 8 of my favorite tracks (plus some links to a few more!):
So You Think You Can Dance: ‘Top 14 Perform’ Music Highlights
Tonight’s episode was all about the top 14 and choreographer Mia Michaels. All 8 routines (that’s including the amazing opening group routine) were choreographed by Michaels. While I was scratching my head over how she could choreograph and teach all those pieces in such a short time span, I soon learned that each couple’s piece would be one that was already done in a previous season. As a long time fan, it was really cool to look back at Mia’s material again. Here’s what the episode brought music-wise:
The Collabor-eight 