Saturday, July 23, 2016

NOTD: Formula X for Sephora 'Free Spirit'

Today's nail of the day is a beautiful pastel blue in the shade 'Free Spirit.'  It took 2 coats to achieve full opacity easily and this stuff wore well for 5 days with NO chips. I really love Formula X's formulation and find that I'm almost always satisfied with my manicure after using it!

I highly recommend this shade if you're looking for a pretty blue! Formula X is sold at Sephora for $10.50 a bottle.

Check it out HERE!

Wednesday, July 6, 2016

NOTD: Essie 'Viva Antigua!'

Today's NOTD is from Essie's new Summer 2016 collection. The collection is full of bright colors inspired by Rebecca Minkoff's travels to Antigua. Viva Antigua I find to be a pretty unique standout in the collection which is why I selected this one from the bunch. It is a turquoise with A LOT of green in it with gold and turquoise flecks running through out. This stuff is gorgeous in all lighting and is the most perfect formula-2 easy coats to full opacity!
Check this color out if you're looking for a fun addition to your Summer nail wardrobe!
Check out the collection here!

xxSJ

Friday, July 1, 2016

Steph Reads: Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

Ready Player One follows teenager Wade Watts as he plugs into the virtual reality Oasis on the daily as his avatar, Parzival. Wade is obsessed with the creation of the Oasis, more specifically the Easter Egg hunt hidden within laid out by the creator of the virtual world following his death. The prize for completing the hunt is control over the Oasis as well as a fortune beyond belief. After Wade unlocks the first clue in the egg hunt, both his reality and virtual lives hinge on his ability to complete the quest for the ultimate prize.

If you like books that focus on world building, then you will LOVE this book. Cline does a fantastic job of explaining the rules of a world living almost solely in virtual reality. From currency to crime, he covers it all.  Though some elements are a bit fantastical, there are some hard truths about living in a virtual reality and being addicted to technology that Cline shines a light on. I found this book incredibly entertaining from start to finish though I do think in the latter half of the book some plot elements and climaxes were resolved a little too simply and cleanly for my liking. You do not have to be an 80s video game fan to enjoy this book as there are plenty of pop culture references to enjoy regardless of your interests and experience in gaming. This novel is being adapted into a film directed by Steven Spielberg and will surely be a fun one!

Check out my other Steph Reads posts!
11/22/63 by Stephen King
Baby Proof by Emily Giffin
Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty
I Didn't Come Here to Make Friends by Courtney Robertson
Golden Son by Pierce Brown
The Hypnotist's Love Story by Lianne Moriarty
The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins
Bossy Pants by Tina Fey
Red Rising by Pierce Brown
The Guardian by Nicholas Sparks
Someday Someday Maybe by Lauren Graham
The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides
Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin
We Were Liars by E. Lockhart
The Husband's Secret by Lianne Moriarty
Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn
What Alice Forgot by Lianne Moriarty
Uninvited by Sophie Jordan
Splintered by AG Howard
Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

Beneath the Glitter by Elle and Blair Fowler