Oh manicures, we love you.  But why do you smudge when I’m reaching for my keys in my bag?  Or chip after I clean my dishes in the sink?  I think we need to talk.

Manicures are great!  Who doesn’t love getting their hands massaged and painted by a stranger?  I personally prefer to do my own nails, but that’s because my roommate turned me into a nail polish hoarder (hey Kel!).  While I can do my nails in about 10 minutes, I know a lot of people struggle.  Especially when painting your dominant hand with your non-dominant one.  Fortunately there are products like Sally Hansen’s Salon Effects nail strips that might be able to save you some trouble. Read More »

I have a firm belief that it’s impossible to look polished without nail polish. It’s the final accessory to an outfit that not only completes a look, but makes you look utterly put together. It’s so important that it of course slips my mind until the last minute all the time.

Nail polish and I have never been friends. I’m the girl who doesn’t realize she’s wearing dark blue nails until five minutes before she has to leave for an interview. I didn’t paint my nails for years because I knew, despite strict instructions on how to do a perfect at-home mani, that I did not have the patience to wait for them to dry, or the ability to stop checking if they are dry every five seconds only to smudge them with my grubby paws. I’ve left streaks of polish all over my apartment and have only had a wonderful set of nails when I’ve shelled out the cash at a salon because I’m inept at painting my own. And there is nothing less satisfying than paying for a great look, only to find it chipped the next morning.

Sally Hansen heard my plight, and finally came out with a product I’ve been holding my breath over for years (which was dangerous, to say the least). They’re called Salon Effects Polish Strips, which are so much better than the nail stickers I had prayed (with my chipping nails pointing towards the heavens) for all these years.

Simply put, they’re amazing. For less than 10 dollars, you can pick up this nail kit with a variety of shapes to fit your nails that last up to 10 days. They come in 24 different shades and they. are. awesome. There are muted, plain shades if you need professional digits, plus glitters, animal prints, and some fantastic fashion prints like my favorite, lace. Read More »

A collection of thoughts from my seven weeks on the “job”:

Last week, our managing editor (who essentially runs the production process – making sure layouts are updated and distributed, giving editors deadlines, leading weekly content meetings, etc.) emailed the entire staff and informed us that our “summer Fridays” would have to be put on hold. I had been dreaming of these summer Fridays – when the day would end at 2 pm and leave my entire afternoon open for trips to the beach, strolls around NYC, really early happy hours – since the day work began. Now they were being taken away from me due to the fact that the production of our upcoming issue was moving too slowly.

I have to admit that I almost shed a tear at my desk. The rest of my friends in the publishing and journalism world get summer Fridays! Half of my friends are unemployed! Why will everyone have free Friday afternoons while I’m stuck inside developing carpal tunnel syndrome from too much typing?? Read More »