Polish Those Nails!

I moved this past month and my new roommate keeps a large plastic container under our coffee table of all the finest colors in OPI, Essie, & other great nail polish lines. I was thrilled to see the collection of over 50 polishes, but what girl wouldn't be? I always enjoy winding down after a day at work with a dose of E! News to catch up on the latest fashions...and maybe a glass of wine :) What better time to do my nails and pamper myself too!


[my roommate lined up our OPI nail colors into a rainbow, and squealed with excitement...followed by a tweet-including the picture of course!]

Now, deciding what color to use.....
Deciding what color polish to wear can sometimes be difficult when there is so many to choose from but I always try to make sure my finger and toe nail polish colors complement each other. There is no "wrong" color to wear, but different shades standout for different seasons. If you have gotten your June issue of People Stylewatch, on page 94 they have sandals & toenail polishes that make great combinations for a standout look.
Here are a few easy ones to try out:
black flats + Nicole by OPI in Daffy Dill
teal sandals + Deborah Lippmann in Girls Just Want to Have Fun
burnt orange sandals + Dolce & Gabbana in Passione
gold sandals + Mary Kay Limited-Edition in Coral Stone
Stone colored flats + Essie in Fair Game


[Two nights ago I painted my nails with Essie in Tart Deco. It was originally a coral color but once I finished it with the clear coating it turned into a neon orange...either way, I love it! You can hardly see my toe nail color, but it's a beautiful cobalt blue color from Sally Hansen-sorry ladies, but this color is no longer sold!]

All this talk about nail polish makes me want to go add to my collection! On the top of my list is the OPI Katy Perry Collection in Black Shatter. I have heard great things about this polish because it is very easy nail art that you can do in minutes and transform your favorite shade. To use it, apply the shatter coat over your favorite shade of nail polish...it'll break up into a unique leopard-like pattern!

I encourage everyone to get together your nail polishes, Q-tips, cotton balls & nail polish remover and put together a kit to keep somewhere easily accessible. If you don't already have a large collection of nail polish, I suggest trying to get a few shades in each color category. Don't go for all pinks & reds, try a purple, blue, green, etc.

Add a punch of color!

Electric Blue is the New Hue!

How to Wear:
Don't overdo your blue ensemble. If you plan to wear blue from head to toe, you will look like a lady smurf! Try to keep things minimal and simple. If you have a solid blue dress, like pictured, try nude shoes with gold earrings. If you are confident enough, pair it with bright colored shoes!
If you decide to pair with blacks, the cobalt blue is an easy color to wear. It is perfect for any occasion-day or night. It is versatile and can be worn to casual or formal events.
Whichever way you feel best wearing electric blue, it is sure to add a punch of color to your outfit and make you stand out in a crowd.
If you need help styling your outfit with your cobalt blue hues, comment here and we will help you out!

Buffalo Chicken Dip

Thanks to everyone who made it out to our first tent sale this past weekend! We still have goodie bags to give & a free t-shirt for purchases over $75! For those of you who came out, you know the food was delicious! We brought back everyone's favorite dish from our previous sale, Kelin's Ranch Dip, and also had a new dish, Buffalo Chicken Dip, that was voted another favorite from our customers and employees. Many people wanted the recipe so I will share it with you!

Buffalo Chicken Dip

Ingredients:
3 chicken breasts
2 cups of shredded cheddar cheese
1 cup ranch dressing
1/2 cup hot sauce
8 oz. cream cheese
Scoops, celery, and/or fritos

1.
Boil the chicken breasts. Once they are done & completely white in the center, drain the water out and let the chicken cool. (If you want to skip this step, you can purchase a rotisserie chicken from the deli and move to step 2)
2.
Shred the chicken into small pieces. This can take a little while so hang in there!
3.
Mix all the ingredients together and smooth out evenly in a 9 x 13 glass dish. (You can also add a layer of shredded cheese to the top!)
4.
Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Enjoy!

McAuley's Spring Savings Sale!

Don't miss out on our BIG SPRING SALE! Going on Friday & Saturday in the store and all weekend long on the website! So many new markdowns & great prices you don't want to miss! We will be giving out a free t-shirt with purchases over $75 while supplies last!

Tired of Wearing Your Hair the Same Way?

Check out the 2011 Hair Trends & try something new!

Long Hairstyles

Double Hair Knot
While some hair accessories will still be in this year, there is a larger push towards au naturel. Amongst those styles will be the double hair knot. You can wear it smooth & polished for a modern look, or messy for a laid-back vibe.

To learn how to do this hairstyle, click here.

Braided Topknot
When have braids ever been out of style? We have worn fishtail braids, side braids, french braids, classic braids, and the list could keep going on and on...Now we introduce to you the braided top knot. Born on Sass & Bide's spring 2011 catwalk, it's a style that has everyone excited: it's detailed, it has a messy factor that is shows off a too-cool-to-care attitude, you can style it yourself, and it simply...turns heads!

from runway..

...to the red carpet...

...to your fashionista!

to learn how to do this hairstyle, click here.
to learn how to do this hairstyle without the braid, watch this video.


Bird's Nest Bun
This has been the favorite of the season because it can be a little wispy, a little messy, but it's elegant. It quickly went from runway to the red carpet. A great hair style for any occasion--even a perfect hairdo for a bride's special day!

To learn how to do this hairstyle, watch this video.


Short Hair Styles

Waved Bob
The longer bob has been a popular hair cut for the season, but if you have a shoulder-length bob, how do you keep it interesting and varied? Most lean towards straight, or a modern take on the 70's-glam blow wave. Here is another trend to try...the waved bob.

To learn how to do this hairstyle, click here.

Styling Tips: How to Wear Polka Dots

While many of us wore our fair share of polka-dots in elementary school, this classic print can easily look grown-up and sophisticated with the right styling. Actress, Lily Collins (pictured) wore a polka-dot top with classic wardrobe staples. She made an excellent decision by pairing it with an elegant white blazer to keep it fresh and modern. If you want to recreate this look, but aren't sure where to begin, let us be your guide. Simply start with a great polka-dot top, such as our Sheer Polka Dot Blouson Top in Black or White, both of which are a far cry from our playground days! Next, add a blazer, like our 3/4 Sleeve Blazer, and finish with a pair of skinny jeans, such as Citizen of Humanity Hope Cargo Skinny in Black or a dark denim such as iT! Jeans Ultra Skinny in Blue Bird. You now have yourself the perfect Collins inspired ensemble!