Product Spotlight: OPI Nail Envy

It's no secret that I'm a nails girl. That has become abundantly clear, both on this blog and in my life. But over the past year or so, my nails have started suffering tremendously. I have a part-time job that requires me to wear latex gloves, and as a result, my nails chip, peel, and crumble like you would not believe.

Suffering through the terrible winter that we've been having certainly hasn't helped my nails either, as they suffer more and more with every freezing cold day we've had.

I searched high and low for a product that I hoped could salvage my nails, and I found just that in OPI's Nail Envy. 

I was hesitant at first to buy a product so small that is so expensive (I paid close to $20 in the drugstore, although it is a few dollars cheaper to buy through Amazon) but after reading so many positive reviews online, I decided to give it a shot.

Applied a few times a week (either on its own or under a polish) this treatment has completely changed my nails! They grow ridiculously fast and they're nice and solid, whereas before they were paper thin. 

I absolutely recommend this product to anyone who struggles with thin, breakable nails! The price may be steep but the bottle is enormous and the product is excellent, so it's completely worthwhile. I've been using it since early January and I've barely made a dent!

Do you have any nail treatment (or other nail product) recommendations? If so, let me know in the comments below!

Ode to My Bangs

I've had bangs for almost my entire life. If there's anything I could call my trademark, they'd be it. There was a dark period in my life (let's all say it together....middle school) when I decided to go bangs-less, and needless to say, looking back on the evidence of that time is traumatic for me. So, for all intents and purposes, I've had the same haircut forever.

Exhibit A: Age Four

Exhibit B: Age 21

My friends and family frequently ask me if I'm ever going to grow them out, and without missing a beat, I give one of two answers: "Absolutely not!" or "I'm thinking about it." Both of these are true. On the one hand, change is good, and it's probably time for one. On the other hand, though, I love my hair and I've grown so accustomed to it. I can't imagine changing it; I'm terrified of what I'd look like if I did! My main reason for going back to the bangs in my early high school years was because I wanted to hide my gigantic forehead (read: fivehead) and this seemed like just the way to do it.

At the end of the day, hair identity crisis aside, I love my bangs. They've become so much a part of who I am--I'm known as the girl with the bangs, and though people sometimes draw exaggerated Zooey Deschanel-esque comparisons, I can't say I mind. For better or for words, they've become my security blanket--even when they get so long I can barely see, even when I'm working out and they're bobbing in front of me, getting in my way--I love them just the same.

BookTubers

I am a YouTube fanatic, but I recently discovered a community of vloggers that is of particular interest to me. They're called "booktubers" and I am hopelessly devoted to them. Booktubers post book reviews, book "hauls" (in which they show off their bookstore purchases) and other book-related videos like bookshelf tours, which may not interest everyone, but certainly interest me. 

My favorite booktuber of the moment is "BooksandQuills" or Sanne, a young woman from the Netherlands who is currently living in London. If you're a bibliophile like I am and you spend more than a few hours each week perusing YouTube, this is definitely a corner of the Internet you want to visit! 

Words to Wear

This past Christmas I was lucky enough to receive an extra special gift from one of my close friends--a Litographs tee, featuring the full text of one of my favorite books, Oscar Wilde's Picture of Dorian Gray. 

Upon visiting the site, I discovered a wonderland of prints, shirts, and bags featuring beautiful text graphics of every book I could imagine.

All of the shirts are handmade, and the company's mission is admirable. They may run a bit on the pricy side, but the cost is well worth it when you hold one in your hands. The craftsmanship is beyond impressive.