All That Glitters is Gold

Despite what anyone tries to tell you, turning thirty is N O T scary. It feels peculiarly like turning 29, and 28, and even 27. But not 26, because 26 year-olds are young, ya'll. Like babies. Sike, we all know a number doesn't define you anymore. Or so I've been telling myself since I turned 30... #foreveryoung

Sure, there's that momentary ping of, "Holy cow, where did my 20's go!? Did I do them justice?? Did I get all of my 20-something acts of stupidity out of my system??"—but that's a fleeting flood of thoughts. It's quickly followed up with the much calmer affirmation of, "your 30s are the best years of your life"—as you've heard all throughout your 20's from much wiser, experienced, ::ahem:: older individuals.

So far, they're right. Sure, it's been all of a week—but I can f e e l it. The security in yourself, the way you can shrug judgement off your shoulders, the way compliments roll off your tongue, the strength you feel in your bones {I hear that doesn't start to go until your 40s...} and the calm you feel in your heart. Regardless of where you thought you'd be in life when you reached 30, you're here, and that's an achievement in itself. So put on a gold sequined romper and show your 30s what it's ALL about, baby!

{I apologize ahead of time for the flood of pictures... Who am I kidding?! No I don't! This sunset shoot was all made possible in a mere 20 minutes with the photog-tastic Renee Hollingshead Photography, who JUST launched the most incredible new venture—photography meets travel meets frame meets your wall. You can now live vicariously through Renee's travel by hanging her lovely little prints on your wall. And if you're lucky enough, you can have her as your 20-minute photog, too <3 THANK YOU, RENEE!!}

 

My usual wedding creator-in-crime finally got a chance to turn her tools on me & created the make-up look of my d r e a m s. I wanted eyes that popped, lashes that yelled B A M & lips that said, "pshhh, 30 ain't got nuthin' on me." She delivered & then some. {THANK YOU, SARA-BEARA!!}

 

 

Romper: Lulu's {no longer available at Lulu's} Same elsewhere, Short Sleeves & A D O R E // Earrings, Rings & Bracelets: Francesca's // Shoes: Oldies {so much so that I can't recall where they're from!} Similar{and Steve Maddens - score!} & Similar {great price at Forever21!}

 

{As the sun set, we got in a few more snaps with Ms. Paris—and of course, some kisses <3}

But wait, you don't think I got all dolled up for a 20-minute photoshoot, do you?! As fabulous as that sounds, what's even m o r e fabulous is the glitz & glam Hollywood-themed party that my hubs, sis, mom & besties threw me. Coming from the party-planner extraordinaire—they threw the party of my L I F E. Blowing any of my themed-out, foodie-approved, detail-oriented parties of the past out of the w a t e r. Stay tuned for a full recap & peek into my gold, pink & F A B U L O U S 30th birthday party!!...

Photographer: Renee Hollingshead Photography

Make-up Artist: Sara Kauffman with Imperishable Beauty Make-up Artistry

Location: Private

Balloons: Amazon {ribbons & flair added myself}

XO,

Nikki

Vegas Abs in 20 Days

Fresh off the heels of a 7-day plank challenge with fellow fab blogger {popcorn and pandas} & soon-to-be BeachBody Coach {countdown to post-VEGAS PiYO}, my bestie & I were revved up and eager to keep our middles whittled in prep for our early bikini-season-debuts in VEGAS {I don't know why I feel like that should always be in all caps. Just me?}. That's when I turned to my old-faithful—the abs that started it all.  

When I first started weening into working out in 10th grade, I quickly found that the one exercise I didn't absolutely d r e a d was abs. Abs, abs, abs—all day, ery'day. I was ABsessed. And who, pray tell, induced this ABsession? Why, B.Spears, of course {are we shocked that I found a way to weave Brit into another post?!}. I hung a picture of Brit-Brit's "I'm a Slave for You" abs on the back on my door and would hit the floor every night with my mini made-up ab routine. Truth be told, I still hit the floor every night with that quickie routine—only now I'm laying in front of the TV watching Pretty Little Liars instead of staring at Britney. W A Y more grown-up now, obviously.

When it was time to create a new ab-chiseling challenge that would carry us to VEGAS {where I'll be seeing those abs up close & personal... Front row Brit tix, ya'll {!!!!!!!!!!!}—F R O N T row. Yea, just wait for that post.}, I turned to my ab-idol once again. And who wouldn't?! Look at that fABtastic stomach. She's still got it, ya'll. As soon as I saw that those abs were gracing the cover of Women's Health, I raced right out and nabbed a copy. Only, this time I didn't post the ab-inspiring picture of her on my bedroom door—I thought that might be a bit awkward for the hubs. So, instead, she sits abs-up on our kitchen table ;-) {I have a very supportive husband...}

Whether you're planking for VEGAS, crunching for Cabo, or just need a challenge to kick-start those Summer abs, this 20-day stomach-cincher will get. it. done. Join us!! And let us know how you're doing—we can all "bellyache" together ;-)

"You better werk, bitch." -B.Spears

XO,

Nikki

Transitioning to Spring with a Winter Wardrobe

I love, love, LOVE a good romper. My Spring & Summer wardrobes contain quite the collection of rompers—so much so that their designated section {are you surprised that I have "designated sections" in my closet? I didn't think so.} takes up nearly a 1/4 of my closet from April to October. With this devoted love of rompers I can't possibly go without them from November to March, but the freezing temps in the DMV don't really lend to a romper's functionality—ie itty bitty shorts. When the temps tease of crisp Spring air, the romper-lover in me starts to itch for that comfortable yet fashionable one-piece. But alas, my closet still wreaks of my Fall & Winter wardrobes, aka, heavy, cozy, frigid-fighting layers. When it's not quite time to dip into the Spring totes, but you just M U S T romp-it-out tonight, put together this transitional getup that fulfills all needs {and romper dreams}. 

 

Dip into your Fall/Winter wardrobe & channel Blair Waldorf's love of tights, boots that serve as fashionable ankle-warmers {and gracefully hide the warm fuzzy socks beneath} and a cozy vest that doubles as a warming layer & an understated "coat." You're fulfilling your hankering for rompers, keeping your current wardrobe in-tact & leaving the option to shed that outer layer in the case that Spring teases with that random day of warmth in March. It's a fashion win-win-win. 

 

This boho-meets-vintage look screamed for a hippy-meets-Brigitte Bardot 'do {say that five time fast}. Half crown braid + center part = the perfect modern-Bardot baby.

Romper: Langford Market {no longer available} Similar & Similarly WANT // Vest: Wet Seal {an A N C I E N T find & one of my most prized bargain buys at $7!!} Similar {& MAJ sale} & Similar // Tights: Target {the B E S T—soft, stretchy & perfect thickness. I only have them in about 12 colors...} // Boots: Kohl's {oldies} Similar & Ca-UTE // Watch: Amazon, Similar & Yesss {all things elephant} // Rings: H&M, Forever21, gifted {random oldies} Similar {& p e r f e c t for this modern Bardot look—because Nicole Richie really is a modern Bardot.} & Similar // Necklace: Forever21 {no longer available} Super Similar {and a two-for-one!}

XO,

Nikki

Top Ten: My MUST Have Beauty Products

Every girl has her go-to beauty regimen, bag of Mary Poppin tricks & new finds that she's o b s e s s e d with. I, of course, take obsession to a whole new level. When I find a product I love I devote my life, spending money, hair, skin & nails to that product. Sure, I add a newbie into the mix every now & then, but seldom does it make the every day rotation. You've got to be GOOD—real good—to make that list.

Needless to say, these top ten must have beauty products are T H A T good. You'll notice that there aren't any hair products on this list... Silly rabbit, don't you know me well enough by now?! There's a whole top ten dedicated to those must haves.

Your flaky skin, dry hair, stagnant complexion, cracked lips, limp lashes & pasty skin will rue the day they met this list...

1. Mary Kay Oil Free Hydrating Gel {$32} - I can't tell you how many years ago I added this to my regimen, but I can tell you that it will never, ever, leave. And if it tries, I will findddd youuuu {nod to Wedding Crashers...anyone? Anyone?}. The best way I can explain this is that it's like milk for your face—it just quenches the heck out of your skin, & you're instantly oh-so-baby-soft.

2. Coastal Scents 22 Piece Brush Set {$32} - Once upon a time I had a gorgeous set of make-up brushes from Sephora on my Christmas list. Of course they cost way more than my face really deserves {let's be honest} & I didn't really do my research to see if they lived up to their pricetag. Enter the hubs—researcher extraordinaire—who came across this seemingly incredible deal on Amazon for a massive set of brushes that had 4.5 stars. Come Christmas morning I open said set of brushes that was NOT on my original list—skeptical, party of one! But all it took was one swipe across my cheek & I was SOLD. These are the b e s t brushes I've ever owned, & I have been around the block with some make-up brushes. At that price you can replenish every year—not that you would need to because they hold up amazingly! Bottom line: buy the brushes, and always trust your hubby's researching abilities.

3. Aquafor {$4} - I used to be a faithful Burt's Bees girl, & although it's still in a periodic rotation, this little tube gave it the regular rotation boot. I credit this marvelous find to my step-sis who swore up & down that it would patch every crack in your lips. Sunburn, windburn, winter cracks, summer chaps—this cures all. And yea, it's a measly $4 at your local drugstore, so stock up—for life. 

4. Younique Moonstruck 3D Fiber Lashes {$29} - Remember how I got around with make-up brushes? Well, just consider me the pimp of mascara, because my bevy of tubes was nearly embarrassing. I had four varying kinds in my make-up kit at all times, with a sampler waiting in the wings to mix it up whenever I felt the usual tubes weren't cutting it. And then someone says, "you should try fibers!" One glance at a before & after & I was hooked. The proof is in the pudding...or, in this case, in the fibers. I love those little shreds of magic! Trust me on this one, the price, the oddity of painting fibers {of what look like shreds of carpet} on your lashes & the double tube application is every bit worth it the second you see your lashformation.

5. Coconut Oil {$9} - This isn't just a beauty product, it's a phenomenon. You can now find it anywhere from your local drugstore, to the grocery store, & even at bulk-buy warehouses like BJs and Sam's Club. And yes, yes you do want a massive tub of it, because you will go through it faster than you can say, "pass the coconut oil, please." How? Well, let's see, I've used it as a hair mask, while cooking or baking, on dry skin, to minimize mosquito-bite itching, & have heard tales of adding it to your coffee & using it on diaper rashes. You can literally put that shit on & in everything. E V E R Y T H I N G.

6. Kat Von D LadyBird True Romance Palette {No longer available ::sad face:: Similar & Similar} - Hi, my name is Nikki & I'm a total palette junkie. ::Hi, Nikki:: Ya see, palettes are like a beautiful collaboration of colors that just look so comfy cozy together that I just want to own them and give my face a chance to cuddle with them. Is that so much to ask?! My Christmas list is always laden with five+ palettes, and I use them all on rotation, as needed. But every now & then you come across a palette that you use once, maybe twice, maybe even t h r i c e a week! Now, I know this sounds crazy, but when you have 15+ palettes at your fingertips you don't want to show favorites, but, let's be real - a classic matte palette is just going to hit your make-up sweet spot. And this little LadyBird certainly did.

7. Pink Sugar Perfume {$30-$60} - While I also have at least 10+ scents on my vanity shelves at all times {half of which are of the Britney Spears variety—don't knock it 'til you've smelt it!}, this one is a l w a y s one of them. It's sweet, it's decadent & it just screams girly! *Shopping Score: scope it out at Nordstrom Rack or TJMaxx for half the price!

8. MAC Cosmetics: Prep + Prime Fix {$22} - When you work two jobs, are constantly on the go, by the end of the day your face starts to feel like it might crack from daylong stale make-up. No bueno! Spritz this little hydration-nation on your face and you will instantly be rejuvenated. It's more than water—it's magic in MAC bottle.

9. POND'S Cold Cream Cleanser {$4} - I'm going to let you in on a top family secret...come very, very close...closer now...POND'S, ya'll, POND'S. Yea, that tub of white cream that your grandma used to cake on her face—that's the stuff. Fun fact: Pond's cream was created all the way back in 1846, & there's a reason why it's still gracing drugstore shelves worldwide. It WORKS. My grandma used that stuff for as long as one can remember, & although she passed a couple years ago {insert heart emoji}, she did so with baby soft wrinkle-free skin. W R I N K L E-free, ya'll. Would I lie to you? No. Go buy some POND'S.

10. L'Oreal Sublime Bronze ProPerfect Airbrush Self-Tanning Mist {$8} - As a licensed cosmetologist I have access to some of the finest self-tanning products, & while I still remain faithful to Tan Towels, I could never find a spray that 1.) was inside my monthly self-tanning budget, 2.) didn't stink like rotten bananas, & 3.) left me with a bronze-glow & not an oompa-loompa inspired-tan. That's when a bestie turned me onto this drugstore buy {or, if you're like me, you subscribe to it on Amazon and it shows up on your doorstep every month like clockwork... Time to tan!} & I'll never go back. If I ever hear one word muttered about it being discontinued I will buy the lot of it & never live a pasty day.

Spring & Tribal Curves Ahead

They "say" Spring is right around the corner... I'll believe it when I can see actual grass beneath the mounds of snow & ice. But, just in case, we should probably start stocking up on layered essentials to help us transition from Winter to Spring. Because who am I to deny a shopping opportunity? ::wink wink, nudge nudge, shop shop::

Here's to lightweight layers, pastels, curve-hugging dresses, tribal chic, jungle-inspired, airy romantic tops, classic trenches, rompers & so many more Spring trends I am d y i n g to purchase & pull out of the totes <3

Countdown to Daylight Savings, aka, the end of Winter depression: 7 days!

Countdown to Spring: 18 days!

Countdown to a new seasonal wardrobe: In Progress 

Dress: Target in Navy {peep your local Target before purchasing online—I got mine in-store for $11?} // Sweater: Old Navy {ancient} Similar & Similar {in a variety of colors} // Tights: Target {my absolute FAV tights—I only own about 47 colors. The softest, stretchiest & thickest tights. Not to mention the chipper chicken price {that's "cheap" for you non-Father of the Bride quoters}—if they tear, just buy another pair!} // Tan Suede Booties: Kohl's {couple seasons old, but forever classics—a must invest!} Similar & Spring-worthy!  // Sunglasses: TJMaxx {oldies} Similar {almost spot on!} // Necklace: Wet Seal {oldie} Similar // Thick Bracelet: World Market {no longer available—check out other options in my Military Chic post!} // Stackable bracelets: Variety buys from Nordstrom Rack, Forever 21 and god knows where else—but don't worry, stackables are a dime a dozen—Similar & Similar {because, anything with an elephant} // Rings: Tribal Stackables - Forever21 {oldies}, but here's a recap on some others from my Flippy Floppy Hat post—Similar & MAJ {Wishlist}

XO,

Nikki