Summer Trend Alert- White Nail Polish

What is better than looking fresh, clean, and bright, especially in the summer? Put away your dark colors, ladies! Bright and fresh colors are what you should be putting on your nails from now on. Although I adore my bright pinks and reds, a vibrant bright white is my favorite color for Summer nails and toes. Bright white goes with everything and it definitely sticks out against tanned skin- it is the perfect shade for summer.

My favorite type of polish is OPI- they have every color polish you could ever dream of (with hysterically cute and fun names) and are of exceptional quality (this is usually the polish they use in nail salons). You get a wonderfully long staying power out of these polishes; They stay for quite some time without chipping.

OPI recently teemed up with Sephora and has created a "Sephora by OPI" nail color line. This line has the same quality of OPI nail polish, but there are many new exciting colors available. The bright white polish that I use on myself is from the "Sephora by OPI" line- it is called "A-ha! moment" (Item #1111228)

Whether you get your nails done or do them yourself, you really should experiment with bright white polish. I promise you will look fresh and clean if you try out this fabulous trend!

Verdict= Love it (4/5 stars)

You can buy the regular OPI polish line in nail and beauty salons. You can buy the "Sephora by OPI" nail color line at any Sephora (online or in stores).

Retail Price: $9 per bottle and up

Minx Nails

When I first saw celebrities like Lindsay Lohan, Katy Perry, Kim Kardashian, and Lady Gaga sporting these awesome designs on their nails I had to have them! Upon researching on the internet I found out what they were- Minx Nails. I rushed off to find the closest place that could put them on for me. I chose the cheetah print pattern with one golden metallic finger on each hand. My adventurous friend who wanted to come with me to experiment this new service got a black and white polka dotted print (as seen in the photo above). There are many different designs to choose from to suit any fabulous girl's fancy.

It takes approximately 1 hour to get them put on. To clarify exactly what they are- Minx nails are almost like a type of sticker that a certified technician puts on your nail. They are not just stick-on nails, but rather they are heated and melted under a very hot lamp and then shaped onto each nail individually. They are a mess-free, green alternative to nail polish; Minx do not need to dry, do not smudge, and do not chip.

The services at the salon were fabulous, but in order to get Minx put on you need to have a "dry manicure" instead of a regular manicure (you can't get any lotions put on or soak your hands in the water, etc.) That made it a kind of weird/different manicure experience. They looked awesome when I first got them put on, but after keeping them on for a few days they began to peel up on the corners and sides a bit. They felt weird on my fingers after they started to lift up and got kind of gross after about a week. My friend felt the same way and took hers off after 4 days. To be honest, I wouldn't rush to get them done again, but I am glad that I tried them out.

I would much rather spend less money and get a regular manicure- it lasts just as long, if not longer without chipping.

Verdict= Glad I tried it, but wouldn't do it again (2/5 stars)

I got mine put on at MiniLuxe salon in Newton, MA (they also have locations on Newbury street in Boston and in Lexington, MA), but if you just google Minx Nails and your city a bunch of locations will come up where you can get your put on.

Price for service: $50

TOMS Silver Glitters

I can't say enough great things about my TOMS silver glitter shoes. TOMS is known for its amazing mission- for every pair that you purchase, TOMS will give a pair of shoes to a child in need. This is a spectacular movement that Blake Mycoskie began with the founding of TOMS in May of 2006. Since this time, TOMS has donated over 600,000 pairs of shoes to children in need.

Shoes, something that many of us take for granted, are something that these children have to live without. TOMS states on their website why shoes are so important and necessary for these children:

Many children in developing countries grow up barefoot. Whether at play, doing chores or going to school, these children are at risk:

• A leading cause of disease in developing countries is soil-transmitted diseases, which can penetrate the skin through bare feet. Wearing shoes can help prevent these diseases, and the long-term physical and cognitive harm they cause.
• Wearing shoes also prevents feet from getting cuts and sores. Not only are these injuries painful, they also are dangerous when wounds become infected.
• Many times children can't attend school barefoot because shoes are a required part of their uniform. If they don't have shoes, they don't go to school. If they don't receive an education, they don't have the opportunity to realize their potential.

Not only is TOMS a great shoe to purchase because of this amazing movement, but the actual shoes that they sell are awesome! I chose to purchase the silver glitters in their signature style, which couldn't be any cuter. The glitters also come in white and gold. TOMS also offers shoes (both their signature design and other designs) in many other colors and patterns. They offer shoes in mens, womens, and childrens styles. On top of it all, they are super comfortable and give you tons of support. TOMS shoes offer both fashion and function in their many hip and trendy designs.

Seriously though, what could be more stylish than helping others in need? I just hope that the child who gets a pair of shoes from my purchase is able to get the glitter ones too! ;)

Verdict= FABULOUS!!! (5/5 stars)

You can purchase TOMS at www.TOMS.com or Nordstroms (in stores and online)

Retail price for glitters: $54

Retail price range for TOMS: approx. $44-$98

Tarte- "The Eraser" Concealer

One of the biggest beauty issues I have is a serious problem with under eye bags and dark circles. I definitely attribute this to all the stress and lack of sleep that I get in college and just in my life in general. Over the years I have tried many under eye concealers, but none have worked as well as this Tarte the eraser 4-in-1 natural concealer. It not only covers up the dark circles, but also works to heal them at the same time, which I think is awesome (and it actually works, too)!

The product boasts a twist up design, which allows you to easily choose the amount desired to paint onto your skin with the soft brush. It feels light and airy when on your skin, but also completely covers up those dark circles that all women hate.

All Tarte makeup products are all-natural, and this one is no different- it has "skinvigorating ingredients" including: Safflower seed oil, Arnica flower extract, Cucumber extract, Vitamin C and Vitamin D. This product is dermatologist tested and also cruelty free, which is something that I think is really important.

Verdict= Love it (4/5 stars)

You can purchase the "Tarte The Eraser Concealer" at Sephora

Retail price: $21

Shoedazzle- Monthly Shoe Society

I first heard of Shoedazzle, the monthly shoe society, through media press by Kim Kardashian, the celebrity founder of this innovative business. Being a fashion interested college business student, I found the idea of having a monthly shoe club an extremely interesting business idea. I waited a while to sign-up, but eventually caved in and decided to give it a try.

This is how it works: You fill out a style profile online, which asks you about your favorite brands, shoe styles, colors, celebrity styles, etc. After this style questionnaire is completed you must supply your credit card number to Shoedazzle**. You then receive a selection of 5 pairs of shoes on the first of every month in your personal Shoedazzle shoe showroom. These shoes are "hand-picked" by the fashion shoe stylists based on your own personal style profile quiz answers. From there you can either choose one pair of shoes from your showroom to purchase and get sent to you, request 5 new picks, or opt to skip the month (and not be charged).

The shoes are of decent quality, but for the $39.95 price tag you know you aren't getting a pair of Manolo's so you can accept/expect the quality. However, the shoes do look very chic, fashionable, and trendy. For something so trendy, I much prefer to buy a cheap shoe, wear it a few times, and be done with it- which works perfectly with Shoedazzle. The only thing that I can say negative about Shoedazzle is that many of the shoes that they offer have been found on other websites for cheaper prices (under $20). But at the same time, many shoes offered are "Shoedazzle exclusives", and others are found for more expensive prices on other websites (over $60).

I have received a pair of shoes every month since I signed up in September of 2009, and I am a very satisfied and happy customer with this shoe society. I get so excited every first of the month to see the personalized shoe picks that I receive, and it really is fun! Overall, I think Shoedazzle is a great business idea that offers a great product at a very reasonable price. This is perfect for any girl who, like me, loves her shoes!

**They will NOT charge you until you have decided to purchase a pair, you always have the option to skip the month. Your credit card will just be kept on file for when you do decide to purchase, but you can not receive any personalized shoe selections until you supply your credit card number.

Verdict= Love it (4/5 stars)

You can sign up by clicking this link: http://www.shoedazzle.com/invite/129q79e2gx

Monthly membership fee: $39.95 per month

Marc by Marc Jacobs "Classic Q - Ukita"

Time for my first review!

I just finished my finals yesterday and was SO excited to come home and see this fabulously beautiful purse waiting for me!!! :) I have been eyeing it for quite some time now every time I walked through Nordstroms, and finally caved in to buy it. I needed a purse for NYC this summer- it needed to be large enough for a laptop and books, cross body style, durable, and have a closed/covered flap- this "Classic Q- Ukita" definitely covers all the bases. I love the color (I got black) and the hardware is gorgeous (a very shiny, light gold). It has a magnetic closure, interior zip, and cellphone pocket. The Marc Jacobs logo-print lining is adorable! The bag is cross body, but it also has the option to be an under arm bag as well (you can either remove the long cross body strap or leave it on, either way looks great); This allows a transition from day to night, makes this bag look different, and gives you an option about how to wear it. I would absolutely recommend this bag to anyone who wants to be trendy, but still needs some functionality in a bag as well.

Verdict= Love it (4/5 stars)

You can purchase the "Marc by Marc Jacobs Classic Q- Ukita" at Nordstroms or Saks.

Retails price: $498

My First Blog Post!

Hello everyone! Welcome to "Fab-YOU-lous", my brand new blog! I am so excited to be posting for the first time- writing a blog is something that I have wanted to do for quite some time now, and I am so happy that I finally am doing it. Now to introduce myself- My name is Annie. I was born and raised in Boston, MA. and I am a college student at a highly esteemed, very serious business school in Boston. However, my true love remains in fashion and being artistic and expressive, which is sometimes difficult to do at such a business oriented institution. I engage in theater arts in school and try to spend as much time as possible being artistic. The posts on this blog will be about fashion, trends, style, art, beauty, and what is in/out for both women and men. I also plan on giving reviews on my favorite products as well as new accessories, clothes, products, and miscellaneous other things. My main goal is to inspire you to look good, feel good, and be confident through fashion! Never forget that YOU are Fab-YOU-lous!! xox