4.10.2015

Dream Spring 2015 Wardrobe: Hippy Chic

Spring survey says... Hippy Chic, baby. With the 70's AND 90's making a MAJ comeback, you can expect the fashion mash-up of your dreams. It's the nostalgic threads of your childhood, meets hints of the era you wish you would have lived {and dressed} in. We're talking flares, florals, pastels & platforms. Every piece is a statement - and all you need is one. But why limit to one when there are 13 lucky pieces in this collection alone?! #bonafideshopaholic


Spring 2015 Trends


Happy Spring Shopping!

XO,
Nikki 
 V-neck Floral Maxi from Romwe {$16.50—MAJ sale!}






Florals With Zipper Midi Skirt from Romwe {$18.90—You guessed it... Sale alert! You can thank me later.}



Distressed Frayed Flare Jeans from Charlotte Russe—Love the frayed bell-bottoms! {$34.99—Buy One, Get One $12.50}

















4.04.2015

I Like Big [Hair] Buns {And I Cannot Lie}

It's no secret that I d r e a d washing my hair. As odd as it sounds - I work all week to build up that grit and style and wiping the slate clean just bums me out! But, when you typically go 5+ days without washing {go ahead and shudder, but I'm saving my hair from stripping its natural oils. Now what?!}, the styles you wear throughout the week must evolve with the grit build-up. By Day 6 it is almost always UP, because, let's be real - no matter how incredible Kenra products smell, on day 6 they get a little stale {more shuddering}. My go-to Day 6 'do is the big ass ballerina bun - brought, taught and coveted by ballerina babe Lauren Conrad


Now, I'm going to tell you something that may shock you. Ready?...

I don't know how to do the actual "sock bun." Not in the sense of when you're using an actual sock. Or a fake sponge-sock thingamabob. Or whatever it is you crazy kids use to fill out your ballerina buns. I just don't get it, and my stylist hands can't maneuver it. Thanks to LC, I never have to succumb to the sock. All I use is my god given natural locks, and a few essential materials. 


Materials
Hair elastic
Few bobby pins
Few hair pins (yes, there's a difference)

{Photo cred to the hubs <3}
Step 1: Gather your hair into a high tight pony, using the elastic hair tie. {Stylist tip: I like to spray the sides/top/bottom of my hair a bit with the finishing spray and smooth back with the teaser comb for a super sleek look.}
Step 2: Using your teaser comb, back-comb the pony until it's a huge, bristle, ratty, knotted mess. Get in there and MESS that pony up - don't be shy! The puffier the ponytail, the bigger the bun, ya'll. 
Step 3: Now L I G H T L Y smooth just the outer edge of your ponytail - but leave that teased poof in the middle so it still has some good girth. I very lightly smooth just the outer later. {Stylist tip: We're not going for Nutcracker-perfect-ballerina-buns here. Messy is sexy. Don't worry about those flyaways - no one's looking at them - they're all looking at that fab bun.}
Step 4: Now twist your pony just a little, but not too tight that you flatten the thickness of your "tail."
Step 5: Loosely wrap the tail around your head and tuck the ends under the bun once you've fully wrapped around. Don't worry about making the bun's circumference, placement and shape perfect right this moment - we'll mold that baby shortly. 
Step 6: Secure the bun in place with your hairpins. I typically use one at each directional point (north, east, south, west). Here's where you want to make sure the placement of the bun on your head is where you want it to be, because you'll be securing it in that spot. It's bulky and sturdy enough for you to just kind of push around until it's center {see why we gave it such good girth early on?!}
Step 7: Now fluff out with your bun out! I like to make my B I G. Using my hands I just lightly stretch, pull and "fluff" until it's as big as I want him to be {yes, my bun is a guy - I don't stereotype on ballerinas}.
Step 8: Now that you've tossed your bun about, you've likely caused a little disruption of that smooth outer shell. Go back over your bun and LIGHTLY - I emphasize LIGHTLY - comb around the outer shell just to smooth to your liking. Again, remember, we're not trying out to be a sugar plum fairy. Modern buns are NOT perfect. Actually, they are. They are perfectly imperfect. Once you have smoothed and secured your bun, go ahead and spritz with your finishing spray, smooth any flyaways on your sleek sides, and shellack that bun in place. {I didn't think I needed a picture step for how to use hairspray. If you haven't figured out how to pop off the top and spray, this tutorial may be a little advanced for you ;-)}
Step 9: Rock out with your non-sock-bun out!!

XO,

Nikki

3.27.2015

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!!...

Make-up Artist: Sara Kauffman with Imperishable Beauty Make-up Artistry
Location: Private
Balloons: Amazon {ribbons & flair added myself}

XO,

Nikki




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