Review: Sally Hansen's Hard As Nails Xtreme Wear Nail Polish

Hello my beauties!

So I am not a beauty guru. But any fashion maven would know that beauty and fashion often go hand in hand. So I definitely won't be focusing on reviews, however, if I ever find a product that I love I am definitely be telling you all about it!!!

This first product I will be talking about is the Sally Hansen's Hard As Nails Xtreme Wear Nail Polish in Pacific Blue.

Color: 10 out of 10
I love the color. My best friend is super tan and everything that I own looks better on her (except a few select styles and colors). When she stole this nail polish from me (before I even tried it!) and I saw it on her, my spirits dropped and I thought "Oh no...this nail polish is only gonna look good on her..." I am very pleased to inform you. This nail polish looks amazing on literally every skin tone. It looks the exact same in the bottle as on the nails. It would have been perfect with just one coat too! I put on two but just out of habit.

Lasting Power: 8 out of 10
So in the CVS I got this product in, I believe it said that this nail polish should last 7 days. I have hardly any chips (see picture below) and it has been 6 days (I applied Thursday night and it is now Wednesday). However, I did notice that the edge of my nails had like 1/100 of a cm of white nail from the polish being worn off from me touching stuff. Now just a disclaimer, I keep my nails decently long so the tips are constantly being beaten up (figuratively speaking...they touch stuffs a lot).

Shine: 9 out of 10
Wow. My nails are still shiny. That is definitely a first. The only set back is that although overall they are pretty decently shiny, they still get pretty cloudy sometimes. But that can be fixed by wiping them with your fingers or washing your hands.

Price: 10 out of 10
Ok CVS is the most expensive drugstore around and I still got this nail polish for only $3.39. OPI and Essie nail polishes are hardly any better and they are more than twice the price.

I hope this helped you! I highly recommend going out and buying this nail polish!!!

~Giovanna

NYFW: Spring/Summer 2013 Favorites (so far...)

Hello dolls! So I have been eagerly procrastinating on my homework so that I could look at all the collections from NYFW. Obviously it is far from being over. In fact there are lots more designers to go! However, after finding my favorite collections so far yesterday I thought I would do a post about it.

Kate Spade

Bows. AHHHHHH!!! I am so obsessed with bows. I loved Kate Spade's collections. Most of the model's looks from the others designers I was able to collage and put together my favorites from the collections but I had to get a pre-put together one for Kate Spade. 

Rebecca Taylor

I love dresses. And pastels. And blue. And denim. This basically summed up her entire collection for Spring/Summer. Well done Rebecca Taylor...well done.

Lela Rose

I loved the dresses (obviously!) from Lela Rose. We are talking lots of feminine silhouettes, bright colors, floral patters (of course...it's spring after all), and the mirror patterns. I used to not like those. But I don't know...it's kinda growing on me. I have always been really excited for the fall fashions and I can't wait but now I am rethinking how I feel about which season is my favorite. However on the other hand, fall really is the most fashionable season.

Diane Furstenberg

I feel like this collection is really great for those girls who are tall and limber. It is filled with relaxed silhouettes and jumpsuits. There are also lots of low necklines. I personally really like this collection. The outfits look really great on the models but I feel like it will transition well into the regular people of the world too. But worry not! I won't be because I am too short and I can't afford it. But remember just pay attention to the trends! Not the designer.

Tracy Reese

Patterns Galore! I wouldn't wear anything in this collection or any of the trends, however I do love all of them. I love the brightness and slouchier, more relaxed silhouettes. My favorite is the dress on the left. 

Zac Posen

Oh. My. Gosh. I am obsessed. Ladylike silhouettes? Pastels? Florals? Tulle? Is there anything bad about this collection? The answer is NO! This is by far my favorite collection and for sure my favorite designer. ALL THE TIME. It's the best and I encourage all of you to research Mr. Posen. He is fab!

Jason Wu

Okay so technically this is makeup. But whatever. It's basic and vintage looking and I love the full lashes and the full brows. I definitely enjoy bold lips rather than bold eyes. It looks more clean to me. And definitely more of a fashion statement.

Woohoo! I love me some NYFW!!! I hope you all enjoyed! Have a fabulous Monday my lovelies!!!

~Giovanna

NYFW: New York Fashion Week

Is anyone else super psyched for fashion week? I am totally looking forward to seeing all the new upcoming trends. Oh how I wish I could be invited to fashion week. Don't have any connections:'( or even connections with connections with connections. So sad:( Comment below if you are excited to see the new collections from your favorite designers! Check out one of my last posts to see the trends for fall too!

Sorry I have been out of it this weekend! I finally got to begin my drivers training (ya I'm late in the game...no judgement!). And I finally finished my first week of school (I am even in my business class right now making this post!). Don't worry I have a lot of ideas of new posts coming up! Have a fabulous almost weekend my beauties!

~Giovanna

August Favorites

Happy September dearies!
I don't know about you but with school starting and the temperatures getting higher and higher, I am ready for the weekend. Here are a couple of my favorites for the month! Enjoy!

Favorite Makeup Look: Lips! I am obsessed with pink lip colors. Revlon's "Temptress" (shown below) was my all time favorite this month and I think it will be for a while. I wore it everyday (minus 4 or 5 days when I felt like switching it up). Personally, I can't pull off the sultry smokey eye so when all else fails, PLAY UP YOUR LIPS! Works every time;)

Favorite Accessory: My Geneva watch. For sure. I wasn't in the market for one of Michael Kors' Rose Gold watches because they were too high over my budget and I like spending a little on a lot, rather than a lot on a little. I took this picture before I went to mass, hence the cross bracelet and saint bracelet too! But I did normally where the cross and watch together, even when I wasn't on my way to mass.

Cross bracelet: thrifted, Geneva Watch: eBay, Saint Bracelet: your local Catholic bookstore

 Favorite Memory: Being there to drop off my litte brother at the train station so that he could start his first day of high school at his new art school!

Favorite Hair: Top Knots. This summer has been blazing. In fact yesterday was picture day at my school and I was so not used to having my hair down all day and I literally had to sit on my hands so that I wouldn't put my hair up into a bun. I also really like putting bows on the back of my top knots. Sometimes I put smaller bows on the frontish side area. If that makes sense...

Favorite Sight: I loved being able to look out my window at those clear California summer skies. So beautiful. My backyard isn't exactly scenic and I wished I could have gotten a prettier picture of the beach or something but I didn't quite have any at my disposal (I try not to pull out my phone at the beach! Too sandy!) Anyways, although I am eagerly awaiting fall, I will miss seeing and feeling the sun all the time. 

Favorite Memory/Laugh: Ok so maybe many of you will think this is just odd, but I got a cat recently because my last cat died:'(. Now the girl in the picture is my best friend and her name is Natalie and she loves imitating Dixie (my new cat). So this was her best impression and if I might add she does a fabulous job!

Favorite Advice: Number One: Who wouldn't take advice from the beautiful Darren Criss? I still believe that I'm "Not Alone" because of A Very Potter Musical (that's right. I have been his fan from the beginning). Number Two: This advice is actually really true. I have found that the best friends I have (that I actually like almost 100% of the time) are the ones that like me almost 100% of the time too! I mean granted, we can all be buttheads sometimes...but honestly I would rather get into a genuine fight with someone that I absolutely adore and love as a friend that I know that I can be myself around, then tread lightly around someone to make sure that they still like me and have to map out every action and word I have!!! The main gist..."Be Yourself!" (cheesy right? I never said I wouldn't be!)

Favorite Feeling: Finally cleaning my room. So does anyone else have a mom that is constantly nagging because you won't clean your room? Well this girl does. And yesterday while my mom was taking a nap I decided to clean my room to make her happy. That and because I wanted to be able to go to our first football game of the year. But whatever, details, details. When it came down to it, I love the way my room looks when its clean and I feel super feminine and even a bit regal. Good feelings, good feelings.

Anyways that is it for today! I hope you all enjoy the rest of your day and the rest of September!!!

~Giovanna

Back to School: Fall 2012 Trends

Well tell me if I am the only one, but after the crazy hot weather in southern California, I am totally ready to get into wearing my cozy Grandma-chic cardigans and high waisted pants with some of fall's new trends. This post is going to be limited to the runway shows but I will be carrying on with the rest of my "BTS" posts this week and next. Enjoy my beautiful readers!:) And don't forget to comment if you are ready for fall to be here already!

Trend: Ladylike
Who did it best? Oscar de la Renta
I don't know what it was about Oscar de la Renta this season (or every season for that matter) but I just adore every piece that came down the runway from him. Magnifique!

Trend: Head-to-Toe White

Who did it best? Derek Lam (far left picture)
I love the simple yet bold look of white on white. The monochromatic palette lengthens those of us who sit on the lower end of the height scale too!

Trend: Fur

Who did it best? BCBGMAXAZRIA

Personally I really like that rather than go all out fur coats like Michael Kors (although I absolutely adore that look), they did fur accents. By doing accents rather than big looks like giant fur coats, the trend is made a whole lot more wearable.

Trend: Military

Who did it best? Jason Wu

Does anyone else remember the terrible camouflage pants and jackets and shirts and hats and every other clothing item from way back when? I was only in elementary school when this trend was really popular but to this day I can't stand that trend. When I heard military was coming back for the fall season I did a double take and almost broke into tears (just kidding ;)) Anyways! I was pleasantly surprised to see this military look is very tailored. Much better than the tacky military patterns of the past!

Trend: Leather

Who did it best? Calvin Klein

Now don't think that just because Calvin Klein used mostly black leather means that you have to stick to this monochromatic palette to pull off the trend. Many other designers stuck with red leather as well. I'm not sure which I like more. I am leaning toward the red leather. It feels more fall to me. But to each his (or her!) own.

Trend: Metallics

Who did it best? Tom + Lorenzo

Ok just to clear the air, I would never be able to pull this trend off. Too much sparkle for me. I love being the center of attention (it is the Italian in me) but with this white skin and imperfect body I would not like the heavy metallics everywhere. Plus I like my bold pieces being jewelry, lace, or makeup. Just a personal thing. But for those of you who CAN pull this look off, more power to you! It looks so amazing on some people!

Trend: Pantsuits

Who did it best? Miu Miu

Now personally I don't have a job that involves me wearing pant suits. In fact I normally just show up to people's homes to watch their kids in high waisted shorts and a t-shirt or sweater (depending on the time and weather) and make sure nothing is broken and they give me a good report to their parents. Anyways that is beside the point. For those of you who are eager to venture outside the box at your 9-to-5 job this fall, I would recommend the printed pantsuit. It is such a fun twist on the gray or black pant suit and if you are worried about the weird looks, you can get them in not so out there patterns too. No need to worry:)

Trend: Pleats

Who did it best? Rebecca Taylor

I love pleats. That's all I can say. Maybe it's cause I have been wearing them in my uniform since 5th grade. But then again that would make most people hate them. I don't know! Originally I was afraid to wear them because with my petite but curvy figure, I thought I would be overwhelmed and looked bigger than I was. But I was pleasantly surprised. So I encourage everyone to try them out!!! I love how Rebecca Taylor did the sheer panelling. It is sexy but subtle (ooh lala;))

Trend: Peplums

Who did it best? Jason Wu (second from the left)

Two homeruns for Jason Wu! I love the way he makes it so ladylike and pretty! Ladylike trends like these (and the ones I mentioned above) are always my favorites. And this trend is definitely the most figure flattering for every body type. It emphasizes the curves of those well endowed and adds curves to those who aren't. This one makes it into my top 2 favorite trends of this fall and winter.

Trend: Oversized Coats

Who did it best? Who even knows...

I'm sorry for mentioning this trend and even more sorry if you really love this trend. No hate I promise! But I just do not understand this trend, except for the models who wear exaggerated trends like these every time they walk down the runway. This trend is not figure flattering and just seems overwhelming. Call me crazy but I like defining my lady qualities and keep the loose fitting, large clothing items to the nuns (I'm allowed to say that! I have more nuns as friends than I would like to admit).

Well I hope that this was helpful to all you fabulous fashion mavens!!! Keep checking up for more updates:) Have a wonderful week!

~Giovanna

Goodbye Summer

Some of my summer memories: choir concert, younger brother's graduation, 1D concert

My best friend Natalie (top left), cleaning out my binders (left middle), my friend's sweet sixteen (left bottom), photo shoot (right)

Going to the park with my best guy friend (top left), spending $30 on socks at Forever21 (top right), VBS set up day (bottom)

Well today marks the last day of freedom from my fabulous private school education. School officially starts tomorrow and then I get to have a good old time studying for all my english tests on the multiple books I had to read over the summer. Alas, it was incredibly exciting seeing everyone at orientation today! I always miss everyone's beautiful faces. I will be posting some back to school ideas this upcoming week. Varying from ways to accessorize a school uniform to my favorite nail polishes of summer and fall! Check back soon my lovelies!

Giovanna

Hey dolls! I'm Giovanna! I'm a junior in high school and I'd like to think that I've got an eye for fashion! My journey hasn't been as long as others, seeing as many girls used to watch their mommy apply makeup or get all dolled up for a date out with her hubby. That doesn't mean that my mom never got dolled up, it just means I never cared enough to pay attention! I was the absolute tomboy. I didn't even care how I looked until about the 6th grade. When that finally occurred, I took a page out of my sister's goth style book and twisted it into a bright, punkish "hardcore" Panic! At the Disco-esque style that normally centered around neon pants and tee shirts. As my style developed many times and I grew up I have found that I am actually quite the girly girl! My style ranges from hipster to romantic. My favorite trend right now in fact is peplums, oxfords (I have 7 pairs now!), and collars. I'm so excited to hopefully be an inspiration or help out the newbies and experts. God knows I needed it! And still need it often! I can't wait to know you all better! Enjoy! <3

~Giovanna