Une-deux senses

Monday, June 27, 2011

Manicure Mondays: Glitter Ombre

I'm quite literally obsessed with painting my nails... on a tri-weekly basis. My nails are begging for air, but I can't help it! I just love trying new combinations, techniques and colors on them - especially now that it's summer! I've been seeing ombre nails everywhere lately and I've tried it before, but was never really successful at them... until now.

Ombre basically means color gradation, fading from one color to another or just from darker to lighter. Ombre with solid colors is extremely hard, that's why I kept on failing. But... ombre with glitter... much, much easier and much, much sexier.

I tried two techniques, one with loose glitter and one with a glitter polish. After seeing one of my favorite fashion bloggers give a mini-tutorial, I knew I had to try it. You can look at her blog for the tutorial, since being that I am the one that takes photos and I am the one whose nails I'm doing... it's pretty impossible to give you a tutorial myself!

{what i used}

CND stickey anchoring base coat

ORLY glitz & glamour (base color for all other nails)

OPI spark de triomphe (top glitter coat for all other nails)

Santee rich gold (for the accent nail base color)

Sallygirl sparkle effects loose glitter in gold (glitter for the accent nail)

Seche Vite dry fast topcoat

Nicole by OPI drying drops

For another manicure, I decided to do a glitter ombre manicure again but using a different method. This time, I painted my nails one base color, in this case, a gorgeously metallic foil gold-silver. Can you believe I got this for a buck?! One of my favorite polishes ever.

After letting the base color dry completely, use a glitter polish to gradate glitter from the middle of your nail to the tips. I recommend using a glitter polish that has a combination of both large and small glitters. I used Deborah Lippmann's 'Today was a Fairytale.' It's super pricey but her glitter polishes are way worth it! They are the most unique and gorgeous polishes ever and you can't find anything like them. I also recommend using a glitter polish that isn't opaque, it should be somewhat sheer so that you can build upon the glitter opacity.

Basically, paint one light coat of glitter starting halfway down your nail. Let it dry, then paint another coat a fourth of the way down from the tip. Let it dry again, then add one last layer at the very tip, that way the glitter will be most concentrated at the tip! Ta-da, ombre! Finish off with a topcoat and my favorite invention ever: drying drops - they make your polish dry to the touch in one minute and completely in five - a life saver.

{what i used}

CND stickey anchoring base coat

Santee rich gold

Deborah Lippmann today was a fairytale

Seche Vite dry fast topcoat

Nicole by OPI drying drops

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

M.I.X.T.A.P.E!

Songs I'm obsessed with at the moment:

Pedro . Fear and Resilience {Dangermouse Remix}

I originally heard this song while watching Skins UK and fell in love with it. It was super hard to find! But totally worth the purchase.

Alesso . Nillionaire // Pressure Remix {Nadia Ali, Starkillers, Alex Kenji}

This kid is amazing! What is up with the Swedes producing such great house music? He's literally 18 and is making amazing, amazing music. Nillionaire is my summer anthem and his remix of Nadia Ali's Pressure is just mind blowing. Seriously though... mind... blown.

Beirut . Goshen // East Harlem

Ah! New Beirut! That's all I have to say. Wait I have one more thing to say... I die for his new album cover. Die.

Germany Germany . River // Rain

My new recent discovery. I love good instrumentals and germany germany really bangs out some great melodies.

AN21 & Max Vangelli . Swedish Beauty

Sound familiar? That's because it's based off the soundtrack of 'American Beauty.' Amazing is all.

Oh Land . Rainbow

Sometimes there's nothing I love more than a gorgeous female vocalist; something you can just sing along to (or at least try to... in my case).

Kylie Minogue . Get Outta My Way {Yasutaka Nakata Remix}

Gotta love me some Kylie. Seriously the funnest song ever. I could dance to it all night.

Stornoway . Zorbing

Another summer anthem. Folky vocals mixed with a plethora of instruments equals love.

Skrillex . Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites {Kaskade Remix} // Promises Ft. Nero Remix (Nero)

Skrillex just looks so badass. This song is super badass... as is every song he's ever made!

The Japanese Popstars . Song For Lisa {Benny Bennasi Remix}

I love listening to this song with the windows down, wind in hair. A perfectly chill song and the vocals are just hauntingly gorgeous.

Sidney Samson Ft. Tara McDonald . Dynamite {Nicky Romero Remix}

Ever since his remix of Flash, which was played by literally every DJ and at every set at Ultra, I've been looking forward to more of Nicky's work. This remix definitely did not let down... it's a definite banger!

{links are to where you can download}

Tailored Tuesday & Travel

1. Miu Miu 'Cashmere and silk blend cardigan'

cardigans will always have a place in my heart. i seriously own 100.

2. 3.1 Phillip Lim 'Eyelet embroidered silk and cotton blend peplum top'

the most darling top ever and it looks super flattering!

3. 3.1 Phillip Lim 'Knot-front silk-jersey shorts'

love the fabric of these shorts, looks so lush.

4. Tom Binns 'Still life sterling silver-plated chain cuff'

every girl needs a little bling in her life.

5. Chloe 'Aurore leather duffel bag'

so luuuuuuxe.

6. Valentino 'Chain-strap scalloped leather sandals'

i die for these. scallop = love.

7. Z Gallerie 'Stylish white veneto suitcases'

seriously gorgeous. probably not at all practical though...

8. Marc Jacobs 'Daisy eau so fresh perfume'

one of my definite favorites.

9. Supergoop! 'SPF 30 quickstick'

for on the go skin care!

10. Sephora 'Large round brush'

biggest mistake i've ever made traveling? forgot to bring a hairbrush... worst experience ever.

11. Spoon Sisters 'Take charge kit'

how awesome is this?! be ready for any outlet international challenge.

12. Topshop 'Natural cut out floppy hat'

i die for this floppy hat. this is the epitome of a Californian summer.

13. Topshop 'Tortoise shell keyhole metal arm sunglasses'

i love sunglasses with a retro feel, these are so gorgeous!

14. Sephora Collection 'Lush flush lip and cheek stain'

haven't tried this, but it looks like the perfect 'bit-lip' color

15. LUSH Cosmetics 'Sex bomb bath bomb'

i LOVE lush bath bombs - a bit pricey, but the wow factor is totally worth it.

{skogafoss, iceland}

i'm one of those weird people who prefer overcast, cool days over sweltering summer heat. i think i'd love it here.

{purple loosestrife, troy meadows, new jersey}

nature is far more beautiful than i could have ever imagined.

{the eiffel tower, paris, france}

such a magical picture of a magical place...

{bagan, myanmar}

ummm can this be real life?

{jantar mantar, india}

almost looks like a picture. amazing architecture!

{the blue city, jodhpur, india}

blue city is right!

{stonehenge, united kingdom of great britain and ireland}

such a gorgeous wonder...

{trevi fountain, rome, italy}

oh how i wish i could come here just to make another wish!

{london, england}

london's calling!!!

{keukenhof garden, the netherlands}

if that was a chocolate river, i'd swear this was willy wonka's chocolate factory.

All images from Pinterest and Net-a-porter.

Images are linked to their sources.

Monday, June 20, 2011

Berry-Yogurt Parfaits + Homemade Granola

It's a simple formula: granola and yogurt, but it seems to work so well together huh? In the mornings I just love the creamy-sweet-tartness of yogurt mixed with the crunchiness of homemade granola. I brought home a whole load of fresh berries the other day and I was just inspired to make some granola to crunch along with it. I love summer and it's welcome wagon of sweet berries!

Anyways, I love my granola simple as can be. I don't like to add in too many add-ins such as dried fruit and nuts because I love adding fresh fruit instead - and why wouldn't I when I have fresh berries as beautiful as these? Making homemade granola is so simple and so easy - it really takes very, very little effort. Using it in yogurt-granola-berry trifles is just how I like to enjoy it, but I imagine it'd be excellent over ice cream or oatmeal as well!

Maple Pecan Granola

YIelds: about 2 cups

Original recipe here.

1 cup pecan halves

1 1/2 cups old fashioned oats

1 cup unsweetened coconut

1/4 cup wheat bran

1/2 cup pure maple syrup

1/4 stick butter, cut into small pieces

1/2 tsp. kosher salt

Preheat the oven to 325 F. Spread the pecans onto a baking sheet and toast for 25 minutes, stirring halfway through, until toasty and brown. Butter a rimmed baking sheet or line with parchment paper, set aside. Toss together the oats, coconut and wheat bran into a large bowl. Crunch up the pecan halves to break them up and add them to the mixture. Add the maple syrup into a small saucepan. Place over medium-high heat for 7 - 10 minutes to reduce it by 1/4. Add the butter and salt and stir until the butter is melted. Immediately pour into the oat mixture and mix thoroughly to make sure everything is coated. Pour the mixture onto the prepared baking sheet and spread evenly. Bake for 10 minutes, remove the sheets from the oven and scrape the outer edges towards the center and the center to the edges. Repeat this two more times for a total of 30 minutes. Allow the granola to cool completely on the sheets - this will allow clusters to form. Once the granola is cooled, stir in the dried fruit.

Berry Yogurt Parfaits

Yields: 2 servings

1 cup vanilla yogurt (non-fat or low-fat)

1/2 cup homemade granola

1/2 cup fresh berries (blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, etc.)

In two short glass, add 1/4 cup of yogurt to the bottom of each glass, sprinkle with some fresh berries and most of the granola. Top each with 1/4 cup more of the yogurt, sprinkle with the remaining granola and fresh berries. Enjoy!