4th of July insipired nails using at home gel system

I love all the patriotic painted nails popping up all over Pinterst and Instagram, but the picture above is by far my favorite take on 4th of July inspired nails.  


It's been a while, but I blogged about my love for gel manicures a long time ago.  The only problem is that sometimes I can't make it into a salon and gel manis can be pricey.  Well, my loves, did you know you can give yourself at-home gel manicures??  You can!  Ulta carries a brand called Red Carpet Manicure, which is an at home LED gel system.  


I'm certainly not a gel nail or nail art expert, so Red Carpet Manicure nail technician Danielle Candido is giving you bargainistas a step-by-step guide to achieve patriotic gel nails at home.

1. Paint the whole nail with Red Carpet Reddy

2. Before curing the second coat of color, take a striping brush and lay down a stripe of Drop Dead Gorgeous. Do not cure this layer.  

3.Clean the brush and  lay down a stripe of White Hot either right next to the first stripe or even down the center of the first stripe. Do not cure this layer.

4. Clean the brush.

5. Next, with the thin edge of the flattened striping brush, pull the tip of the brush through all the lines in a pre-determined pattern and cure.

6. Apply a thin coat of Brilliance Top Coat. Cure and wipe with Purify 

I have wanted to jump on the at home gel nail train for a while, but didn't really know which products to use. I discovered that Red Carpet Manicure has a starter kit with a portable light for $59.99, which I think is a good price if you think how much money you'll be saving in the long run.  I might have to take one of my 20% off Ulta coupons and scoop this bad boy up.

Has anyone bought an at-home gel manicure kit?  What brand did you buy and did you like it?

What do you think about patriotic nails?  Will you be jumping on that trend this 4th of July?

Friday Favorites!

We made it!  'Tis Friday aka my favorite day of the work week.  I apologize for my absence the last two days, but I've been a busy lady and I have some very exciting news I will be announcing on Monday.  No, I'm not with child.  No, I'm not wifed up.  Something way more exciting, I promise.  

Until then, I am sharing my favorites from the week.  And I need your help deciding a "favorite of my favorites" dress so be sure to help a sista out by commenting below.  Thank ya kindly!

OMG y'all.  Practical jokes are quite possibly my favorite thing ever.  Like I will laugh so hard I can't breathe.  Imagine my delight when I discovered these 4 life-long friends who have an entire TV show devoted to practical jokes on TRUtv.  Please, please, please watch them.  If they don't make you laugh hysterically, we cannot be friends.

1 / 2 / 3

As I mentioned recently, I am traveling to Charleston, SC in about a month.  Thus, I need some new cute beachy, summery dresses.  Which one of these three dresses do you like best?  They are all from my favorite (because it's affordable) online boutique KiKi La Rue.  I'm sort of leaning toward numero uno.  Thoughts?  

Five Friday Faves

Hidey Ho Neighbors (Home Improvement flashback anyone?)! Only a few more hours until we can bust out of our places of employment (unless you are a SAHM in which case your work never ends) and relish the freedom that only comes from the glory that is the weekend.  Amen.

Before I get into some Friday Faves, I want to thank every one who voted for Beth and Mandy to win the free trip to Europe that I posted about last Friday.  Unfortunately, they did not win, but they did come in third place, which isn't too shabby. Regardless, so many of my readers voted for them and they (and I) appreciate the time y'all took to support them!  I've said it before and I'll say it again, my readers are the BEST and thank you so much!

Moving right along ...

I have a random list of faves today, but nonetheless, I am sharing.

My favorite grocery store find of the week is cooking star Giada de Laurentiis' pasta sauce available at Target.

Giada de Laurentiis Pasta Sauce - prices vary by Target store

I bought the roasted garlic flavor and used it over pasta this week.  It was the best canned sauce I've ever used.  In fact, recently out of more than two-dozen A-lister food products (including products from of Emeril Lagasse and Mario Batali), her Tomato Basil Pasta Sauce took home the prize for pasta sauce “Best Buy”.

My favorite nail polish of the week is e.l.f. essential nail polish in Lilac for only $2.

My favorite UPS delivery of the week? The Conair Xtreme Instant Heat Hot Rollers I ordered on Amazon for $29.97.  I can't wait to try these out this weekend and tell y'all what I think.  These are the same ones that hair goddess and Real Housewives of Orange County star Gretchen Rossi uses.   Tell me she doesn't have the best hair ever.

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My newest favorite coffee creamer is  International Delight Cinnabon flavor.  Coffee that tastes like a warm cinnamon roll?  I mean ... yes.  Just yes.  

And last but not least, my favorite online deal are these Kendra Scott earrings from Gilt for only $28!  If you haven't signed up for Gilt, you need to.  Just go to their site by clicking here and sign-up for your free account. Once you sign up, you get instant insider access to today’s top designer labels at up to 60% off retail.  It really is that easy!  Today they have a wedding shop going on, so all you soon-to-be wed ladies should check it out.

The end.  Have a fabulous weekend!

5 Friday Faves (+ an etsy giveaway)

It is hard to believe at this time last week I was basking away (In the shade with SPF 55+. Have you seen how pale I am?) on a Hawaiian beach.  Le sigh.  I have been beyond exhausted all week and I cannot wait to sleep in tomorrow. CANNOT WAIT.  Like you have absolutely no idea.  

Oh, so I promised you a Hawaii recap two days ago? Well, don't hate me, but can you wait until Monday? Ugh,  I know.  I'm the girl that cried wolf.

I have literally been eating whatever scraps I can find in my house (the grocery store is calling my name), working out and then passing out after work every night.  But I end up waking up around 9 p.m. and not being able to go back to sleep until after 2 a.m.  Like I said, exhausted.  Editing all the pictures and writing candidly about the trip is going to have to wait until this weekend.  I keep getting "Um, are you alive?" and "we are not friends" texts from all my friends because I owe them all phone calls in a bad way.  So you my dear readers, are not the only ones I've been neglecting. 

Enough of my excuses. I have Friday Favorites from the week below and you'll have to scroll all the way down to see how to enter today's Etsy Giveaway c/o the sweet Becky at Petals, Lace and Pearls!  You may remember her as one of my February Sponsors.  TGIF. Please love me still.    

Favorite Nail Polish: 

I have been eyeing this trend and I finally took the plunge and went mint green!  On my nails is "Blue Mist" by e.l.f., a bargain $1 dupe for essie's Mint Candy Apple.  I've said before I'm not a fan of cheapo nail polish, but this particular polish has actually held up well for me.  No chips!

Favorite Hair Style:

My messy bun. All day, every day for work.  Saves my hair from the heat.

Favorite Food:

Slow Cooker Italian Chicken over tri-color rotini c/o Beth via Pinterest - So good and so easy to make. My brother and nephew loved it (as did I).

Favorite Funny:

I was literally just telling this to someone yesterday.

Favorite Picture:

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And now, for the giveaway courtesy of her:

  

This is Becky, the crafty lady behind Petals, Lace, Pearls who makes "pretty things for pretty girls".  She is a mama bear to a sweet baby girl, a fellow Texan and she just got back from Kaua'i too! 

Today she is offering all of my U.S. readers a chance to win a $25 credit to her etsy shop, which has pretty headbands and necklaces for grown-ups and girls:

We're making it easy to enter.  All you have to do to enter is like both of our Facebook pages:

"like"

  Becky's Facebook Page 

and

"like" 
my Facebook page

Once you've done that, leave a comment letting me know!

For extra entries, you must leave SEPARATE comments or they will not be counted (sorry Charlie).  

[Follow Becky's Blog via GFC]

[Follow Becky on Pinterest]

[Follow The Bargain Blonde via GFC]

You have until Sunday, April 1 at midnight PST to enter.

5 Spring Shade Faves

Essie is by far my favorite nail polish brand and with the official "First Day of Spring" only five days away, I thought I'd pick out 5 spring shade faves.  So clever, I know.

The Spring nail polish color trends I'm swooning over are coral, lilac, mint, peach and pastel pink and these five essie colors need to get on my nails immediately.

1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5

What about you?  What colors are you painting your nails this Spring?

5 Step DIY Pretty Pedi

I challenge you to find me a girl who doesn't love to be pampered.  I mean, is there anything better than hitting the salon with your best girls for a relaxing pedi in a vibrating chair? I think not.

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But I also think there is something to be said for the calm and quiet that comes from taking some time to give your feet a little love at home.  Just you, your toes and a bottle of your best polish.  

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A salon pedicure is a fab treat, but a treat it should be.  To save some dollars while keeping your toes in check between outings to the salon,  give yourself an at-home DIY pretty pedi with these five steps:

Doing it yourself may require more effort, but just think what you can do with that extra $30 to $50 dollars you would have spent at the salon.

May I interested you in a new dress? A pair of wedges for summer? Dinner & drinks? The list goes on.

1. H&M Dress - $34.95 / 2. Mossimo Strappy Wedge - $29.99

So whether you plan on hitting the town this weekend or being a couch potato (my fave), make sure your toes don't look funky and give yourself a DIY pedi Bargain Blonde style.  TGIF bargainistas.

Twas the weekend before Christmas

Only five days until Santa shimmies down the chimney.  Can you stand it?  I'm happy to report among other things, I got a lot of my Christmas shopping done this weekend.  Hallelujah hollaback!

I kicked the weekend off by having dinner and drinks with my girly friends Liz and Stefanie Friday night at a deelish Italian restaurant.  It's safe to say I gained 10 lbs from this meal:

Eggplant parm, angel hair pasta with garlic, olive oil, fresh tomatoes and basil, pepperoni and black olive pizza and our drinks!

Holiday cheers to mah besties:

The lights outside the restaurant were so magical!  We picked the perfect place for a holiday din. Don't you think?

Saturday I got a lot of shopping done during the day.  One of the stores I hit up was Ulta, and I couldn't resist buying myself a little sumthin, sumthin: "Your Hut or Mine" from the essie resort collection 2011.  It was on sale for $5.99, so basically I took it as a sign from Santa to get myself an early Christmas gift.

It's hard to tell in the picture I took with my cell phone above, but the color has a really pretty shimmer to it:

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Essie is quickly becoming my favorite nail polish brand.  You seriously cannot beat the quality and color selection.

Sunday I picked my Mom up from the airport and brought her a Sonic diet cherry limeaide like I always do because she doesn't have Sonic by her in North Carolina.  I'm a good daughter, so I like to make her jealous with Sonic drink pics:

We went to lunch then did some more shopping.  I'm sure this will come as a shock, but I bought myself a few things that were on sale when we were at Old Navy.  This sports bra (on clearance) to wear around the house or to sleep in because it's a low impact bra. So. effing. comfortable. I want 100 more.

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And my new obsession?  Sleeping in over-sized flannel t-shirts. It's seriously the only thing I've slept in for the past few weeks.  Old navy has some that are long and I love them so I got another while I was there. It was on sale for $12.

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Try out big oversized button ups for lounging and sleeping.  Trust me, it will change your life.

Last but not least, Reese had his church Christmas play Sunday night.  Naturally, he took the sheep he was holding and sang with it on his head.  He is so my nephew:

Don't you just want to steal him?  I don't blame you.

To cap the weekend off, I did one of my favorite things: WRAPPED PRESENTS!!  For reals y'all, in a second life I'm coming back as a professional present wrapper.  I'm not saying I'm good at wrapping, I just love to do it.  This little lady is on her way to Greenville, SC for my boo Beth.

Last but not least, don't forget that it is still the 12 Days of Blogger Giveaways!  Head on over to Keep Calm and Carry On to see the awesome stuff Katie is giving away for the seventh day of Christmas.

"How the Glitz Stole Christmas" Blog Swap Link-Up!

Dun, dun, dun ... the day has finally arrived.  It's time for us to show off what we got for Raven and I's "How the Glitz Stole Christmas" bloggy swap!

I hate to brag (no I don't), but I had a pretty amazing swap partner.  Meet Ashley and her precious 7-year-old daughter Madilynn from The Simple Things ...

So, so cute!  What else is cute are all the goodies she sent me for the swap, which arrived in this perfect gold box.

Wanna see what was in the cute gold box?  Check, check, check it out ....

This travel-sized OPI Nail Treatment kit with 3 mini OPI nail treatments, nail wipes and polish nail remover:

Along with Wocka Wocka from OPI's Muppet collection:

It's a really pretty subtle shimmery red and perfect for winter!!

What's that under my hand in the picture above? Oh, that's the Simply Vera by Vera Wang white and gold studded clutch I got as well. It's gorge and I will for sure be using this the next time I go out.

Last, but not least, she also sent me these trendy tribal fashion "boo-boo" bandages and polka dot nail files:

Girlfrand hooked me up!!  Thank you SO MUCH Ashley! I love it all and couldn't have asked for a better partner.  If you want to see what I got Ashley, click here.

Now it's your turn: Show us what YOU got by linking up below!  I canNOT wait to see all of your gifts.



See you ladies back here tomorrow as I kick-off the 12 Days of Giveaways!  You're not going to want to miss this.

I've been making some guest appearances lately, so here's where you can find me around the web:

Today I'm over at Jac and Leah's blog "Sweet and Sour Showers" dishing on the Cupcakes and Cocktails shower I threw recently. 

And on Friday I was over at Lindsey's blog "Keep it Classy, Alabama" blogging out my Dos and Donts for a trip to The Big Easy!

Be sure and check both blogs out!