My Nail Care Routine + Top 10 Summer Polish Picks

Hello friends! I don't know about you, but I absolutely love painting my nails. Here's how I keep my nails in peak condition plus my top 10 nail polish picks for the summer:

The Care: I paint my nails once a week, so it's super important that they stay as healthy as possible. I make sure they're always clean and trimmed so they don't break, and I make sure I use a special tool to remove surface ridges to make the polish apply smoothly (I like the four-sided bricks with a file and three-step smoothing sides). But most importantly, I always, always, always use a base coat - it keeps the polish from staining and damaging the nails - and a top coat to keep everything lasting as long as possible.

My Summer Top 10:

• Julep "Hope" - This white-hot polish is a satin finish, so it looks semi-matte when dry. Adding a normal top coat will take away the matte finish, so I always use a matte top coat with this color.

• Essence "Don't Be Shy!" - This neon yellow-green is one of the colors from the gel line, so it's super glossy.

• Essence "Indian Summer" - This is another from the gel line, and its neon pastel coral color makes it a true summer hue.

• Sephora Formula X "Power Source" - This neon red is what's on my hands right now, and it's survived about a week with minimal chips. (The picture is of a sample, hence it's tininess.)

• Sinful Colors "Lie-Lac" - This pastel purple is a perfect transition from spring into summer.

• Sinful Colors "Amethyst" - This is a darker, mid-tone purple, so it's great when I want something darker but still fun for summer.

• Julep "Bailey" - This is my favorite shade of blue for nail polish (especially for the Fourth of July - very patriotic). The only downside is that it's very gelly and sheer, so it takes a few coats to build up to the full color.

• Revlon Colorstay "Costal Surf" - This bright sky blue has an amazing brush - it's a bit flat and wide, so it covers the nail like a dream.

• Essence "Play With My Mint" - Can you tell I like the Essence gel polishes? This minty blue-green is bright enough to hold its own against more neon summer colors.

• Julep "Winter" - Despite the name, I think this super light gray is the perfect alternative to true nudes that are popular in the summer.

I wish you all the best,
Erin

Sweet Spot: The Essential Baking Toolbox

Hello friends!  I've been super into my baking lately, and I've really gotten the chance to figure out the essentials I need to make amazingly impressive desserts and treats. I keep everything I have separated into four categories and stored in four clear bins for easy access and storage, so I'll go box by box and tell you what's in my essential baking toolbox.

The Tools Toolbox - This is the box where I keep the mechanical stuff that I really only use for baking. My top picks are:

• Silicone baking mats: These are great for baking cookies and scones; usually I like cookie sheets with parchment, but I hate cutting it down or risking it burning over the multiple uses it takes to make a full batch of anything. These are the perfect solution to that.
• Disposable piping bags: I absolutely love the look of piped icing, but I hate cleaning piping bags with a passion. These let me get everything done, then just cut the tip out and toss the mess.
• Piping tips: For me, only two piping tips are absolutely essential: a round and a star, preferable larger and open. They give the looks of classic cupcakes and elegant, swirly cupcakes.
• Palette knife: The essential tool for cake frosting. I like to have two; a large straight one for the sides and a bent one for the top.
• Ice cream scoop: These are essential for equal portions in baking. I like the ones with the squeezable handle that shuffles the dough or batter out, and I use them for everything from cookies to cupcakes to scones.
• Cake leveler: This tool looks like a saw and is used similarly to even out risen cake tops. As long as its feet stay on the table or countertop, your cakes will be perfectly level every time.
• Electric hand mixer: This is the most essential tool of the bunch - most everything starts with a creamed butter base of some sort, and this makes it so much easier than trying to do that by hand.

The Edibles Toolbox - This box has all the edible things I don't keep in the pantry: sprinkles, food coloring, extra vanilla, etc. My top picks are:

• Food color paste: Food color paste is much more concentrated than the liquid stuff, so it ensures your baked goods turn out the color you intend (goodbye, pink watermelon cake!).
• Sprinkles: I like to keep a variety of sprinkles on hand. Good for cakes, yes, but even better for cookies - Dip any raw cookie dough (sugar is always my pick for this) into sprinkles, bake as per normal, and end up with schnazzy cookies that were no extra work at all.
• Candy melts: I always have a bag of candy melts on hand (usually just the basic white because I have a box of candy-specific coloring). You never know when you'll need to make a white chocolate ganache or whip up some Oreo truffles for a party.

The Cupcakes Toolbox - I'm going to be very honest, this box is 99% guilty pleasure buys. The entire box is full of any cupcake liner I will ever need, which I will probably never use up in my lifetime. But I'll give you my top picks to be ready for any occasion:

• Basic colors: If nothing else, you need white liners, but I also really love the basic colors for their versatility.
• Patterns: Also very versatile, I love patterns for more plain-looking cupcakes.
• Holiday/theme-specific: These are the smallest group I have, but it's nice to have liner with balloons for birthdays, ornaments for Christmas, etc.

The Presentation Toolbox - This is the box where I keep all the little bags, boxes, and toppers to make my treats extra cute, especially if I'm gifting them. Here are my top picks:

• Individual cupcake boxes: I love making giant cupcakes for people's birthdays, and these are perfect for giving them away.
• Twist tie bags: These have the same basic principal as the cupcake liners - one basic is necessary, multiple decorative are nice to have. I like to have different sizes and I try to keep the seasons neutral because I don't use these as often.
• Large treat boxes: I have a few Christmas-themed larger boxes perfect for giving cookies to people. This is only necessary of you're a bake-aholic like me during the holidays.

I wish you all the best,
Erin

Collective Summer Haul & Lookbook

Hello friends! I thought I'd share some of the pieces I've been collecting for the summer and how I plan on styling them (minimally - I'm always indecisive, so things like accessories will change every time I wear these). I'll link any that are still available, but some of these go back to winter and may not be online any more. Here we go!

Kohl's

• Alice in Wonderland Ruffle Dress in Teatime Blue http://www.kohls.com/product/prd-2442971/disneys-alice-in-wonderland-a-collection-by-lc-lauren-conrad-ruffle-dress-womens.jsp?color=Hearts_Blue

*Shoes: Payless (regular rotating stock)

• Alice in Wonderland Peplum Graphic Tank http://www.kohls.com/product/prd-2443169/disneys-alice-in-wonderland-a-collection-by-lc-lauren-conrad-peplum-graphic-tank-womens.jsp

*Shorts: Dressbarn (linked below), Shoes: Kohl's (linked below)

• Alice in Wonderland Definition Graphic Tee http://www.kohls.com/product/prd-2529066/disneys-juniors-alice-in-wonderland-definition-graphic-tee.jsp?skuId=Disney's+Juniors'+Alice+In+Wonderland+Definition+Graphic+Tee&search=Disney's+Juniors'+Alice+In+Wonderland+Definition+Graphic+Tee&submit-search=web-regular

*Shorts: Forever 21 (linked below), Shoes: Kohl's (many years ago)

• Grayson Threads Ampersand Graphic Tee http://www.kohls.com/product/prd-2542426/juniors-grayson-threads-ampersand-graphic-tee.jsp?skuId=Juniors'+Grayson+Threads+Ampersand+Graphic+Tee&search=Juniors'+Grayson+Threads+Ampersand+Graphic+Tee&submit-search=web-regular

*Shorts: H&M (linked below), Shoes: Target (many years ago)

• Chaps Chelsi Women's Espadrilles (not available online, may be on clearance in stores)

Dressbarn

• Black and White Crinkled Shorts https://www.dressbarn.com/detail/black-and-white-crinkled-shorts/102597617/150

*Top: Old Navy (regular rotating stock), Shoes: Payless (regular rotating stock)

• Signature Fit 5" Lace Shorts in Navy https://www.dressbarn.com/detail/signature-fit-5-lace-shorts/102646147/442

Forever 21

• Crochet-Trimmed Shorts in Black/Grey http://www.forever21.com/Product/Product.aspx?BR=f21&Category=bottoms&ProductID=2000152482&VariantID=023
• Lace-Trimmed Floral Shorts in Navy/Coral http://www.forever21.com/Product/Product.aspx?BR=f21&Category=bottom&ProductID=2000133404&VariantID=033 (final sale, only available in XS)

*Top: Kohl's (Regular rotating stock), Shoes: Kohl's (many years ago)

H&M

• Lyocell Shorts in Olive Green http://www.hm.com/us/product/36050?article=36050-B&cm_vc=SEARCH (available in black only)

I wish you all the best,
Erin

Just Do It - Making Changes for Your Own Happiness

Hello friends! Over the past few weeks, I've been doing a lot of "just doing." I thought I'd share my experiences with you, and hopefully this helps people like me who have a hard time with the whole concept of "just doing."

Let me start by saying I'm a chronic over thinker. If you give me a simple task, I can easily think of every way something can go wrong. So naturally when I have to decide things for myself, it's nearly impossible. I have a book of excuses ready to deflect anything that has the slightest potential to go wrong, making it hard to do anything. And forget being spontaneous. My brain goes into overdrive and I'm surprised I haven't caused some sort of implosion within myself because of that.

So you may be asking, "How can you 'just do' anything if you're always like that?" Well, most of it is a change of mindset. I finally admitted to myself that I was really unhappy, and that nobody could change that except me. 

The first step to being happier was cutting off all the negative people in my life. I had people I was still calling friends who just made me miserable, and for the most ridiculous reasons. Some I haven't spoken to in a few months (happily), and they try to reenter my life relentlessly through social media. Apparently, three rejections to follow isn't sending a clear enough message. Another "friend" was just so negative about everything I did; I once posted a picture of my family and me and she commented that she "see[s] how it is." It was my family, for goodness sake! Needless to say, having those people out of my life is a big relief.

Next, I needed something (or a few things) to occupy my time. School was about to end for the summer, giving me four months to either waste or make the most of. I went out and bought a bunch of craft supplies for things I've been meaning to do, baking supplies to fuel my baking kick, books to keep my mind going, and found a job that feels fulfilling. I work part-time, so it's enough to feel like I'm doing something productive (and make connections for after I graduate in a few years), but not so much to drain me. And through that job, actually, I found the confidence for my third step.

Before we get there, I have a few more confessions: I'm ridiculously shy, so talking to people is hard enough on its own, but that shyness often comes across as mean or anti-social even though I don't mean it to be. I also have never been on a date or really ever talked to a boy in a not-forced environment. So you can see that this all sets me up for success in the quest not to die alone.

Anyway, there was a boy (eek!) my age at the place I work (I say "was" because yesterday was his last day), and oh goodness, he is perfect. 99.9% of the time, I never act on my emotions and my golden rule is to keep everything bottled in, but something in me told me not to let him go so easily. He's moving away for the next six months, but I'd at least like to get to know him in that time, even if nothing happens (although something happening would be great). I Googled what to do last night (because Google is the oracle of all answers), and saw a situation similar to mine posted in a forum. The response is what stuck with me: Regardless of the outcome, the only losing situation is the one you're in now. The worst that can happen is for him not to be interested, but the best could be better that you'd ever imagined. Not taking the opportunity now leaves a question mark forever.

So without ever having talked to him, I sent him an email this morning. I worded it to mostly focus on work, as we're in overlapping industries, but left it open (and dare I say flirty? . . . Who am I kidding, I flirt worse than a piece of lint.), suggesting a fun trip to take when he studies abroad and to keep in touch. No response yet (it's been an hour), but I feel so empowered, just sending the email. Of course, I want something to come of this, but at least I can say I was trying to make it so, not just watching another opportunity go by.

And there you have it, my tales in "just doing." I hope this was helpful or encouraging in some way. If you're stuck like I was (and am, probably, I just don't know it yet), just do it. You have so much more to gain than to lose.

I wish you all the best,
Erin