Gel French Manicure from Home

 

 

 

 

Today, it was time to freshen up my nails. So, I decided on a French manicure. I love how this look is always classic and so simple to do. All of the products I used here are actually from Finger Paints Gel Polish. Since I've started doing my nails myself about a year and a half ago, I haven't found a brand I like better. Like every gel look I do, I used a top coat, base coat, and chip bonder. This bright white color is called Stay True to the Art, and all of these products were found at my local Sally Beauty for about $10 each. These took about an hour to do and will last me at least 2 weeks!

-TayJ

Happy Summer Solstice!

 

 

 

 

 

 



I've always said the color emerald green compliments everyone, and I still believe it. This spaghetti strap silky tank was found at J. Crew for $10 on clearance. Unfortunately, I was so obsessed with the deal that I ended up hurrying to the check-out line before even trying it on. I would have preferred a size medium, but I was too late. Note to self: always try clothes on! In the past, I've also worn this piece with a blazer and statement necklace. A similar tank can be found here for $9. These blue and cream bottoms are a bit of a surprise because it's not actually a skirt... it's a skort. Am I like ten again? Yes. I got it from Gap for $7, and wear it pretty often. Not only is it high-waisted, but it's also super comfy.

Next week, I'll be blogging about a new gel manicure look. So, stay posted!

-TayJ

Floral Fun

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I've recently become obsessed with this floral blouse this season. The exposed shoulder look is pretty trendy right now, and I have to say that I am definitely here for it! I've always had naturally broad and muscular shoulders my whole life, which I sometimes can even be self-conscious about. So, I love that this look shows them off while also allowing them to appear a little softer. The base color is black, and the pretty floral pattern has hints of cream and light blue. It's so comfy, and was originally found at Marshalls (my go-to) for $15. A similar top can be found here for $25.

 These colorful pants have lasted me a couple of years now. I've been in love with them ever since I first tried them on. Not only do I love the color, but I also really like how they fit. Unfortunately, mama did not bless me with much junk in the trunk. However, these pants are able to accentuate the curves I do have without making them appear flat. One downside to these pants is that they're kind of a weird length. Without rolling them up a little bit, it just looks like they're too short, which is a little odd considering I'm only 5'2. So, usually I just turn them into a cute pair of capris unless I decide to throw them on with boots for a look later in the season. I bought these pants on sale from Express for $25. You can find a pair like these here on clearance for $25 too (originally $50).

Hope everyone's summer is going well! Lately, I've just been doing research at my university and working. Next week, I'll start volunteering at a hospital as well. I want my medical school applications to eventually show that summer of 2017 was pretty productive. The other day, I finally got to take my first swim of the summer, which was everything I hoped it would be.You'll probably be able to find a picture of the outfit I wore with a few details about the look soon on my Instagram. I keep trying to convince myself to go to the gym more often, but I usually end up only going about once a week. Once I get there, I'm fine. However, just getting there is the difficult part. In fact, tonight I ditched my original plans of going to workout in order to make a stop at the McDonald's drive-through! Whatever...I'll make up the extra squats later.


-TayJ

Hello, June!

 

 

 

 

 

I got these pants at Old Navy for $25 in an outlet mall a couple years ago and totally forgot they existed. Don't you hate when you buy something and never wear it? Also, I think it's kind of ironic that the pants are navy considering they came from Old Navy. The coral top was a $12 Marshalls find. I tucked it in here and just bloused it over, but I often wear it loosely as well. These $10 wedges from Charming Charlie are the same ones in my last post. Yes, I usually wear the same pair of shoes frequently...oops. Similar pants can be found at Macys for $35 (originally $59). A top like this one can be found at Target for $17. It also comes in a pretty mint green color, which would also be cute with the pants. I literally wear this top from March to October. When it gets a little chilly here (and it usually does), I  just throw on a sweater and some boots with it.

Now that it's June, I've decided to create a summer bucket list, or really to-do list. I just wrote down several hobbies I would like to learn, books I want to read, new places I want to visit, and new foods I have to try. Nothing major. I just always feel like I missed out on a lot of the things I wanted to do by the time August begins. Do you guys make lists like these? I have this theory that if I actually write my thoughts down, I'll be more likely to attempt them. Let me know if you have any summer suggestions!

-TayJ

Pretty in Pink

Like everyone, I love bright colors in the warmer seasons, and I especially love pink. This dress is a Crown & Ivy Petite dress size 4P that happened to be a free hand-me-down! My aunt was cleaning out some of her closet and was giving away this little number, which fit perfectly. This just goes to show you that good finds can literally be found anywhere. The brown wedges were found on sale at Charming Charlie for $10 while the necklace is from J. Crew and was still under $20 on sale. I hardly purchase anything not on sale to be honest. I like this look because I think it sums up a lot of my style: simple yet classic. A similar dress can be found here for $43. You can also find brown/tan wedges anywhere this time of year.

It's crazy to think that June will arrive by the end of the week! Here, it has been 45 degrees one day and 90 degrees the next day.  So, I'll be happy to see some consistent weather next month. What's the weather like where you live? One thing I hate about summer here is the humidity! Being a girl with naturally curly hair, the humidity makes my hair unbelievably frizzy and often harder to style. I usually just end up throwing it up in a bun by the end of the day.

-TayJ

My Favorite Romper

   

I found this white lace romper on sale a couple of years ago at Hollister for only $20, and I've been in love with it ever since! I love how perfect it is for both casual and dressy occasions. Here, I paired it with some gold sandals (not pictured) and a pink necklace. I like the larger necklace with it since it's so bare on top, and I thought it would direct the attention away from my broad frame. You can't see my makeup, but I also applied a very natural look with pinky tones on my eyes. To dress it up more, I would probably throw on some cute wedges and possibly a belt. I also enjoy that it's fitting, but also not too constricting. I usually wear a small, but I got this in a size medium just so I could be a little more comfy. Speaking of comfy, did I mention that bras really aren't necessary with this look? The double layer of loose lace really camouflages the chest!  Similar looks can be found here for $25.

-TayJ

Introduction to Gel Nails

After lots of money and time spent at the nail salon, I finally decided to learn how to do my own gel nails about a year and a half ago. Honestly, it's probably the best beauty decision I've ever made! People are constantly asking me where I get my nails done and are always so surprised to learn I do them myself. They are also a lot cheaper and less damaging! The start-up kit with the LED light and a few polishes was about $50. This was more than I wanted to spend, but I still use mostly all of the products in the kit today. The gel manicures last at least 2 weeks, and I usually push them until 3 weeks because they take about an hour to do...and I'm lazy and sometimes just don't find the time. So, I will occasionally post my gels here and attach the products, colors, and prices along with them. I won't post all of them because I often repeat certain styles, and you can imagine how redundant that could become. Let me know if you have any questions because they can be kind of tricky at first!

 -TayJ

One of my Favorite Pieces of Clothing this Summer: High-Waisted Shorts

 

 

High-waisted shorts are probably one of my favorite articles of clothing this summer! I think they make my waist appear smaller and legs appear longer. I had been looking for a pair for a while and even attempted to create my own distressed pair with some old jeans (which unfortunately failed). So, I was so lucky to find these at a local thrift store for only $7! I was a little hesitant at first because they are a size 7, and I don't actually wear a size 7. However, they do run pretty small and happened to fit! Similar shorts can be found here for only $20, which is a bit higher than mine, but still a good deal. The sunglasses were found on sale for $10 at Kohls, and the croptop tank was found for $12 at Marshalls. These two items you can literally find pretty cheap everywhere because they are so common. Aviators and white tanks also never go out of style!

-TayJ

Introductions

Hello! My name is Tayj, and I'm very new to the blogger scene. I am from the Chicago area and attend college in the Windy City as well. I would eventually would like to pursue a career in medicine. Being around all of the hustle and bustle of the city, I have found so many style inspirations around me. I intend for this blog to showcase not only my latest styles, but also shed light to my personal character. I enjoy good fried chicken and Law & Order: SVU. I also totally know what it feels like doing endless cramming during finals week. Hope you all enjoy my content, and questions and feedback are always welcomed!