{how to: nude nails with shimmer}

So, I love me some nail art: as in, I love looking at it. However, I love wearing bold rings and bracelets and prints sometimes and I hate when any one part of an outfit looks too busy and crazy, so I tend to stay away from nail art and stick with bold colors... Today I'm compromising.

I saw a nail similar to this on Pinterest and thought I'd try it for myself!

Start with a good base: here's how to give yourself a mani!

Here's What You'll Need:

A nude polish, {Essie: Brooch the Subject} or any polish really, be creative!

Shimmer/Glitter, I'm using two loose glitters, since I like to wear both silver & gold. The silver is definitely more of a glitter and the slightly bronze is a finer shimmer

A small fluffy makeup brush

Top Coat: This is OPI

Step One:

I started off with two coats of Essie's Brooch the Subject:

Step Two:

One. Nail. At. A. Time. So the polish is still wet. Apply one more coat of Brooch the Subject. Get a slight amount of glitter on your fluffy brush and just tap the brush itself so it falls onto your nails. I did the silver first, then followed up with the bronze.

Step Three:

Wait until your nails are COMPLETELY dry and then finish up with your top coat!!!!

After my nails were 101% dry I washed my hands and gently used a nail brush to knock off any extra glitters!

{how to: mani/pedi}

Tis the season for bare feet, and you're going to want those toes looking purdy!!

I'm going to give you a step-by-step on how to give yourself a mani/pedi, because let's face it, it's not always feasible to spend $60-80 every 3 weeks... and as long as you have the tools it's super easy {and kind of relaxing} to do it yourself!

Here's what you'll need:

Nail Polish Remover: I love the one from Zoya, it smells good, it's really gentle and I love the design of the bottle (you push the top and it comes out rather than taking a lid off)

Cuticle Remover: This one is from Creative

Buffer: OPI Brilliance is an awesome one

Cuticle Nipper & Pusher: they sell great ones at Ulta & Sephora

Nail File

Nail Clippers

Nail Brush

Cotton Balls

I'm not sure this needs to be said, but these steps are the sames for fingers & toes.

Step One:

Remove old polish. I like to hold the remove+ soaked cotton ball over each nail for a few second and it swipes off much easier. 

**This is also when you will clip and file your nails if needed.

SOAK

{I like to just do this in the bathtub, it's easier! Turn on some music! Or if you don't have access I've cleared off the counter next to a sink and used that.}

Step Two:

Apply a small amount of cuticle remover to each toe, rub in, and let sit about a minute. I do this one foot/hand at a time.

Step Three:

Use the bigger, flatter end of the cuticle pusher from the tip of the nail to the base, be gentle but use enough force so it works! This will push the excess cuticle to the base of the nail and get of a nasty layer of build-up. It's amazing how much junk you get off with this. {and yes, I am that pale}

Step Four:

Use the cuticle nipper to nip off any excess cuticle hanging around. All of that excess you just pushed down: nip it! Any hangnails: nip them! Any super dry yucky skin hanging around the sides of your nails: nip them! Be cautious because this is cutting your skin off, after all. You'll get the hang of it, and you shouldn't bleed at all, and long as you don't go crazy!

Step Five:

Use your nail brush to brush off any extra bits hanging around. I use a foot-file thing regularly in the shower, but if you don't this is the time you'll want to use a pumice stone or file on your dry heels and any other callused areas of your feet. The soaking portion is now over! Next you'll want to moisturize your hands/feet, especially those heels!! Any creamier body butter will work, this Cucumber Heel Therapy from Creative Nail.

Step Six:

Use a buffer {I use a coarser one on my toes in addition to my OPI Brilliance buffer} to smooth out any rough edges or ridges. After cleansing the nail with some nail polish remover, which is essential to your polish sticking, it removes any remaining moisturizer or oils from the nails, you are ready to polish!!

Polish:

This might be the most challenging part: decide on a color!

I used Hot & Spicy by OPI

{my brother's wedding}

My big brother got married on May 5, and here are some pictures!!!

Me & the bride (my new sister-in-law) decided on a braid theme for the bridal party, so every Bridesmaid, even the pixie, had a braid somewhere in our hair. It really tied the whole thing together and kept it cohesive even though the styles were varied.

This was right after the dress was put on, before the water-works started!

Me and my mother

These two cuties during the "first look!"

We decided to move the blusher-veil and flower to the back of her hair on the side after the reception. This maintained the bridal look but kept it out of her face!

*Photography: David Fiser  and Katie White

*Hair & Make: Me: Sarah Magers

*Bridesmaids dresses: Forever 21, Modcloth, various boutiques

*Venue: Red Barn Farm: Weston, Missouri

<3 Sarah

{bronzer + self-tanner}

GLOW BABY GLOW

If you're asking yourself this question:

I'll answer that for you... no, no it's not.

And since it's the season of glowing skin, let me help you out...

My favorite self-tanners:

Arbonne BefoRE Sun Made In The Shade Self-Tanner SPF 15

$30.00

This has probably the best smell of any self-tanner I've ever used, it's a spritz spray, so you just spray it where you want it and rub it in. I use this the most. It's also SPF 15, and botanically-based which is ALWAYS a plus!

Fake Bake Airbrush Self Tanning Spray

$31.50

I don't love this spray as much on my legs, but it's amazing to spray on your back and face. It's a fine aerosol with 360* nozzle, so you can hold it and spray all of those hard {impossible} to reach places. 

When I don't have time, or am too lazy I LOVE this product! ...Ok, even when I do spray-tan or apply self tanner I love this product....

Sally Hansen Airbrush Legs

$12.49

This is so easy to spray on {just make sure you stand in natural light or good lighting so you can tell if you blend it in!} and makes your legs look flawless. This is almost a necessity for the short dresses of summer. It does have a shimmer to it, so keep that in mind. I LOVE THIS!

Favorite Bronzers

Arbonne Bronzer

$36

A little goes a long way with this baby. It has the most beautiful sun-kissed glow that really does look like you've been out in the sun soakin' up the rays!

Two Faced Pink Leopard Bronzing Powder

$29

Okay, so this might be in my favorites because it's so darn cute. It's also very pretty on your cheekbones. It has more of that rosy bronze that's so beautiful for a night out!

Sephora Collection Sun Disk

$22

First of all this thing is huge! {4.5" in diameter}. It's my go-to daily bronzer. It has a bit of a golden shimmer, but nothing too sparkly, definitely nothing obvious.

So next time someone tells you this:

Say "No amount of surgery will ever help how hopelessly ugly you are." Straight, to the point, and very mature. That's my advice anyway.....

<3 Sarah