My inspiration for this week’s Manicure Monday came from my weekend getaway in Ocean City, Maryland with my boyfriend. I’m typically dedicated to the Jersey Shore, but as a last hurrah before we both start work, we decided to do some traveling. Ocean City is absolutely beautiful. For those of you that know the Jersey Shore (the real Jersey Shore, not the show), it’s the perfect combination of Cape May and Wildwood. If you take the cleanliness and small town feel of Cape May and add in the boardwalk atmosphere of Wildwood (minus some of the crazies), you’ll get Ocean City. It’s a fun shore town with pristine beaches and a love of seafood (we had all-you-can-eat crab for dinner one night!). It got me in the mood for casual, preppy nails inspired by the beach. Read on to see how I got this look!
Manicure Monday: Preppy Blues
The Bag That Got To Me!
Remember the bag that I stalked? The “one that got away?” The obsessive bag-hunt continued even after I publicly proclaimed the Rebecca Minkoff treasure a loss. I promised our readers that I would update you if I ever found the bag of my dreams: or an acceptable second-place love. Well, here’s living proof that it’s now (finally!) mine! (Or, you know, a picture of the proof.) Read on to see how my persistence- if you’d like to call it that- literally paid off! You’re not going to want to miss this one.
10 Songs to Kick Up Your Summer
I’ve taken the liberty of putting together a little playlist to give all of you something other than “Call Me Maybe” to listen to. Exciting, yes? This is a small collection of songs that put me in that feel-good summer mood. I tried to give a mix of new and old, and genres span from rap to disco house to pop so hopefully there’s something for everybody. Take a listen and if you enjoy it enough, you can download all 10 songs! Don’t skip anything!
So You Think You Can Dance: ‘Meet the Top 20’ Music Highlights
Last night on FOX, the top 20 contestants for season 9 of So You Think You Can Dance were revealed. I’ve been a fan of the dance competition since season 1 (though there are some seasons I’ve paid more attention to than others). The music that the choreographers and dancers use in the show is just as exciting as the dancing. I’ll be tuning in every week and reporting back to you guys about my favorite songs. Whether you follow the show or not, this is still a great opportunity to discover new music.
So how did last night go? Continue Reading »
Music Video: B.o.B, ‘Both of Us’ ft. Taylor Swift
The video: Yesterday brought the premiere of the music video for “Both of Us,” the latest single off B.o.B’s sophomore album Strange Clouds. It was shot in Nashville, Tennessee but don’t let the location fool you. This video shows a different side of the city and its people – great examples of gritty, rural Americana. Taylor Swift hanging out at a smoky pool hall is hard to believe but whatever, we’ll take it.
The song: Following the formulas of B.o.B’s singles with Bruno Mars (“Nothin’ on You”) and Hayley Williams (“Airplanes”), “Both of Us” stars a big-name singer belting out an infectious chorus. Swift’s vocals and harmonies are enchanting in this track. Unfortunately for B.o.B it feels like he’s interrupting a Taylor Swift song when he begins to rap. When it comes to his lyrics, I don’t doubt that he’s trying to be earnest. However his message falls pretty short in the originality department – B.o.B is a repeat offender of this. Despite all that, “Both of Us” still has the power to top the charts. T-Swift, don’t break your back because you are definitely carrying this single.
Watch the music video for “Both of Us” after the jump:
S’Mother
Moms are great, aren’t they? Mine reads The Collabor-eight multiple times a day: she’s our biggest fan. That being said, crazy mother stories are some of the funniest out there. Because everyone can relate to knowing a friend or relative that you love unconditionally, despite the crazy. So you can pretty much already guess what I thought of S’Mother: The Story of A Man, His Mom, and the Thousands of Altogether Insane Letters She’s Mailed Him. This book by musician Adam Chester is a memoir told through the ridiculous notes his overprotective mother sent him throughout his adult years. the integration of Adam’s memories and his mother’s nonsense notes makes for a fresh take on the memoir genre. Continue Reading »
Bucktooth Betty (continued)…
“You can completely say no,” he started. “But one of your cavities is perfect for my regional board exams coming up. I mean, if you gave me the opportunity to fill this tooth, this would be at no charge.”
I liked this. When it came to buying drinks for friends and splurging on weekend getaways, I was Bill Gates. But my budget for cosmetic changes or clothes for myself was the equivalent of Paris Hilton’s budget for camping gear. And again, there were no major organs involved.
“Alright, I’ll do it.” I adjusted my sticky back and sat up in the dentist chair as if I was on an interview. “What are the details?” Continue Reading »
Manicure Monday: Black Caviar
5,000 page views and the purchase of our very own domain name is cause for celebration! I’ve decided to celebrate in the best way I know how – my manicure! The most perfect celebration manicure is a caviar manicure, of course. Thanks to an awesome graduation present from one of my sorority sisters (Thanks, Melissa!), I got to give Ciaté’s Black Pearls Caviar Manicure set a try.
The DotCom Giveaway Celebration!
Notice anything different about us? No, we didn’t get a haircut. We’re now thecollaboreight.com! Thanks to our loyal fans, we’ve reached 5,000 page views since going live just two months ago. To celebrate, get the word out, and thank you all, we’re running our first giveaway. (And if this one goes well, you can expect a lot more to come.) Read on for details about the products and how to enter! Continue Reading »
OPI’s Spiderman Collection
Are your Spidey senses tingling? OPI has done it again: the second you think they can’t outdo themselves… they, well, go and outdo themselves. The latest collection features shades inspired by The Amazing Spider-Man. In true OPI fashion, the shade names are almost better than the colors. From left to right: Shatter the Scales, My Boyfriend Scales Walls, Call Me Gwen-ever, Your Web Or Mine?, Just Spotted the Lizard!, Number One Nemesis, and Into the Night. Which are you loving?
The Collabor-eight 