leahtackles – Page 14

Beetles Gel Nail Polish Kit with U V Light | Review

May 10, 2021 & Leave a Comment

Hi there! Happy Monday!

I hadn’t gotten a manicure in probably close to two years. I got sick of painting my nails with a base coat, two coats of polish, and then a top coat only to have them chip after a day or two. I got gel manicures before special events, but when times changed in March of 2020, I started seeing more and more folks doing gel manicures at home. I asked for a gel manicure kit from Amazon, and it has been a GAME CHANGER.

Beetles Gel Nail Polish Kit with U V Light | Review

The kit comes with the UV lamp, 6 gel polishes, a base coat, a matte top coat, a glossy top coat, cuticle oil, toe separators, a buffing tool, and several other cuticle and manicure tools.

This kit did take a bit of trial and error. My first attempt I struggled to get the edges of my nails to work well, but I realized that I needed to be careful to not let any excess polish go onto the skin next to my nails because once the polish is cured, any polish on the edges also hardens and then my nails don’t have a nice shape. I did also notice that a couple of the polishes didn’t cure as well as others, but overall this kit is a WINNER.

Hate waiting for polish to dry? Or nicking your polish or smudging them? ME TOO. My FAVORITE part about this kit is that the polish cures so quickly. It takes me about 45 minutes to do my nails, which is similar to the time you’d spend in a salon, and the cost of this kit is less than the cost of one gel manicure. I also purchased extra Beetles Gel Nail Polishes so I would have more options.

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My final thoughts are this kit is SO WORTH IT! I have bought gel polishes before, but the light is what really makes it a gel kit. Have you ever tried a UV Light gel manicure at-home kit?

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Nadine West Unboxing

May 3, 2021 & Leave a Comment

Hi there! Happy Monday!

Have you ever wondered how a clothing subscription box works? Nadine West offers an affordable style subscription service.

I have shared my outfits from Nadine West for three years now on my blog (read the posts here). Nadine West sent me this box for my consideration for review but I was not paid to write this post and as always all opinions are my own.

What is Nadine West?

NadineWest.com is a company that sends you an outfit to try on and you keep only what you love. The outfit is a surprise, but you take a style quiz and the stylists get to know your style more each month. The outfits are affordable with pieces costing about $10-$30 each, which is very affordable compared to other similar services.

How Does Nadine West Work?

On the Nadine West website, you take the style quiz so that the stylist can get to know what you are looking for in an outfit. You will receive a pink package in the mail with your personalized outfit. Try on the outfit and keep what you love and send back what you don’t.

My Thoughts On Nadine West

The style quiz was super easy to do, which was great because I wanted something that didn’t take too much time but I was still able to make notes to make sure the stylist knew my preferences. I really loved the surprise aspect of this, and it was like opening up a girly gift from a really stylish friend. I cannot stand having to return things, it is such a bummer, but I LOVE the way this company does it because your outfit comes with return shipping.

Nadine West Coupon Code

Use the referral code “Nadine” on NadineWest.com (not an affiliate code for me, just sharing the one they currently have on their website) to waive your shipping fee which means you’ll get your outfit in the mail without paying anything!

Nadine West Unboxing

This wasn’t a great box for me, but I do really like these black joggers! They will get a lot of wear.

Nadine West Final Thoughts

I very, very rarely like the pants that I get sent. I like the tops quite often and have found some closet staples. I would much prefer to receive fewer pieces of higher quality.

Have you tried any fashion boxes like this? Have you tried Nadine West? I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments!

Have a wonderful rest of your week! Thank you for reading! xx

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How-To Find Selvedge Denim | Redline Vintage Levi’s

April 26, 2021 & Leave a Comment

Hi there! Happy Monday! And, most importantly, HAPPY 10th BIRTHDAY to my sweet, sweet Hailey!

I now own selvedge denim that is older than both of us ; ) A couple of years ago I switched to a neutral wardrobe, and I’ve never once looked back. A capsule wardrobe is a game-changer, if you haven’t tried it I *highly* suggest it. Now that I’m committed to neutrals, I’ve begun to make a real effort to purchase less fast fashion and buy more sustainable fashion.

I have several pairs of higher-end denim, but a few weekends ago when my husband was forced to spend some time on the couch relaxing (how sad is it that we crave illness or injury as we age for a forced break?) was researching men’s sustainable style and asked me about selvedge denim. I hadn’t heard of it but after a quick Google search, I knew I had to own a pair.

What is selvedge denim?

First called “self-edge” selvedge is the narrow , tightly woven band on both edges of the denim fabric. Selvedge prevents the edge of the jean from unravelling and shows a clean, finished look. Selvedge is done on old shuttle looms. The slower pace of shuttle looms puts less tension on the yarn. And it’s a fact that shuttle looms tolerate more slubs in the yarn, which add character to the denim fabric.

How-To Avoid Fake Selvedge Denim

I began looking on Poshmark, eBay, and Googling Selvedge denim and quickly learned that there is a lot of misinformation out there, and also a lot of fakes. Some companies even sew something into the jean that mimics the look of a selvedge denim. I knew that I didn’t want to risk getting a fake pair, so I began researching places to buy new or authentic selvedge. I decided that I wanted to order Levi’s specifically because I loved the idea of having a pair of the OGs. I found JEANSLOVESHOP on Etsy and Lindsey, the owner, gave me a huge education on vintage Levi’s and I’m thrilled to be able to share her knowledge and passion with you!

Vintage Levi’s Selvedge 501’s

Lindsey, the owner at JEANSLOVESHOP on Etsy is INCREDIBLE. Her shop boasts all 5 Star reviews, and she made the experience special and easy! On her shop, she shares her story of a life-long love of vintage Levi’s, and that comes through in her exceptional attention to detail and incredible knowledge. Instead of guessing a praying that a pair would fit, based solely on my typical size (which we all know can be a crapshoot), Lindsey helped me to measure a pair of jeans I already owned and with several back-and-forth messages, she was able to send me the options in her shop that she thought would be a great fit for me. The result? A pair of jeans older than I am that fit like they were made for me!

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The $15 Amazon Find You Need! | The best belts, ever.

April 12, 2021 & Leave a Comment

Hi there! Happy Monday!

Last year I found myself wearing lots of dresses that were the flowier, t-shirt, and baby doll style and I needed a belt that would give me a little shape. I love a nice quality leather belt for daily wear, but none of the belts I had fit at my real waist, so I headed to Amazon and ended up with what has become one of my favorite Amazon purchases of all time [as good as Tinkle Razors!]

Waist Belt For Dresses

I was worried that these would look incredibly cheap, but they work perfectly and add a classy look that completes the outfit. I believe in adding a “third piece” as of mentioned on here several times, to complete an outfit, and this works perfectly for that.

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Do you have an Amazon favorite that you can’t get enough of? Please, share it in a comment!

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Morning Routine Mini-Course

Why I Only Wear Neutrals

March 22, 2021 & Leave a Comment

Hi there! Happy Monday!

I wear neutrals almost exclusively. White, black, beige, gray, navy, denim, and I also consider blush and olive in the neutral category. I do not wear patterns or florals, but I do wear stripes, leopard print, plaid (buffalo check and gingham), and the occasional polka dot. But, why? Do I hate all colors? No, not at all…let me explain.

Why I Only Wear Neutrals

I love clothes, and if you could hear me in a store? “Cute. Cute. Cute! That’s cute”. But I hated not haven’t a definite style. In high school I wore the typical Abercrombie, Hollister, and American Eagle garb that was popular amongst high schoolers at the time. In college my wardrobe bounced around a lot, until I got a job at Abercrombie where we wore “core colors”. I LOVED it. What do I wear today? Navy, gray, or white. In my mid-twenties, now no longer working for Abercrombie, I bounced around and just bought whatever I thought was “cute” but didn’t really know what my style was. It was then that I decided to start figuring out more clearly what I liked, what I wanted my style to say to the world, and how to build a capsule wardrobe.

I went through my closet and pulled out anything I could sell or donate. I still do this every few months.

I now only buy neutral colors and it is a GAME CHANGER.

Why I Love Neutrals

Versatile
Timeless
Looks high-end (especially black. Black faux leather, black blazers even if inexpensive, look luxe)
You can invest (I haven’t done a lot of this yet, but if I spend $$$ on a classic piece that I’ll have forever that’s way better than on something trendy or that I won’t like in 2 years)
It’s so much easier to shop. I get to ignore 75% of every store or clothing section.
You can repeat and mix-and-match outfits easily (Once you get pictures in a floral dress, it’s far harder to repeat, no?)

Neutral Outfit Examples

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A few great neutrals on Amazon to get you started.

Do you prefer neutrals? Or are you all about color and patterns?

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Time and Tru Women’s Long Sleeve Button Front Shirt

The PERFECT button-front shirt and it’s from Walmart| Time and Tru

February 8, 2021 & Leave a Comment

Hi there! Happy Monday!

We are less than a week from Valentine’s Day, and I found the most adorable embroidered heart button-front (button-down is how I say it, but it doesn’t have buttons on the collar, so technically speaking, button-front is correct) at WALMART!

I was just getting into line to grab some random essentials and I saw the sweetest little shirt with blush pink and white stripes and little embroidered hearts on a T stand in the Time and Tru section of Walmart. Not into the hearts? No worries, they also have an adorable one with embroidered fruits that is so perfect for spring and summer. Embroidery, not your thing? They also make this shirt in solid colors.

Why I Love It

Walmart Time and Tru

The fit is perfect! It says it is a relaxed fit, but because I have brought shoulders I sized up to a medium from my normal size small. I love this shirt because it tucks in perfectly, and you could knot it in the summer with white or denim shorts for a precious look. And, of course, the price tag at $15.98 is something to love!

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In closing, DON’T SLEEP ON WALMART! Have you tried any of the Time and Tru collection from Walmart? Let me know in a comment and read my other posts here.

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THE JEWELRY BRAND YOU NEED TO TRY THIS YEAR | MADE BY MARY

January 18, 2021 & Leave a Comment

Hi there! Happy Monday! And, more importantly, Happy MLK Day. I hope that you take some time today to educate yourself and unlearn, where necessary.

I don’t buy jewelry often because I don’t like spending money on stuff that will tarnish or break quickly (unless it’s holiday earrings, I’ll buy those for sure) but I am not in a position in life where I feel that I can spend money on jewelry that I lust after on Instagram. My dear friend told me about Made By Mary a couple of years ago, and finally, just a few weeks ago I ordered my first two pieces, and today I will share those with you.

Made By Mary Jewelry

Made By Mary was started in 2013 by a mother and while the company has grown substantially since its inception, each piece is still hand-stamped for you.

What is gold filled?

Gold-filled is a pressure-bonded layer of gold that has 100 times more gold than plated jewelry. It is durable, won’t chip or flake, and it is tarnish-resistant. It is much more affordable than solid gold jewelry.

Live In Hoop Earrings

I knew I wanted to snag a pair of these when I placed my first order because my friend had spoken so highly of them. I am a stud earring girl, and the smallest size of Live In Hoop earrings is so small it’s almost stud like (in fact, my 9 year old calls hoops this small loops! She got her ears pierced last year and she calls her own similarly sized pair her loops). I always take my earrings out to sleep, workout, and shower but I have left the Live In Hoop earrings since I got them and I don’t even notice them. They do have a tutorial for how to put them in, but I was able to ask my husband to help me and it only took us a few minutes to get them in.

Mini Lennon Rectangle Necklace

I love the simple style of this necklace and it can fit up to two lines of 4 characters each. You can also opt for a Made By Mary hand drawn zodiac. I chose to get “1K” to commemorate that in 2020 I ran over 1,000 miles.

I plan to continue to build my Made By Mary necklace, with my biggest reward piece being a Roman Numeral bar necklace. I also would like to get some for my children, and husband.

Do you have any Made By Mary pieces? What piece would you pick, first?

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The Barista Watch Gift Set for Coffee Lovers

Unique Gift Ideas 2020 | JORD | + GIVEAWAY

November 30, 2020 & Leave a Comment

Hi there! Happy Monday!

2020 has been…well, here we are ; ) And as we approach the gift-giving season, I am feeling like everyone on my lists is deserving of an extra-thoughtful gift. I’ve been sharing my JORD Wood Watches for several years now (see my posts here), and I always enjoy working with them because both my husband and I count them as our favorite watches. This year I want to open up this post to share more from JORD, because they have a lot more than watches available on their website, and everything is packaged perfectly and ready to gift. YES!

*JORD provided me with a gift set for review, but as always all opinions are my own and I do not accept money in exchange for a positive review.

Shop Small For Holiday 2020

JORD is a small business with less than 10 employees. They are located in St Louis and are a family owned business. In 2020, we are all doing our best to support our local shop and shopping online keeps everyone safe (but let’s be real, I am always all about online shopping…just ask our UPS guy!)

Custom Gifts Delivered to You

JORD’s signature timepieces are available with custom engravings: backplates and cedar gift boxes can be personalized engravings such as monograms, images, & personal messages.

I picked out an incredible gift set! You can scroll through and pick any watch you like and the gift set comes with matching wood sunglasses along with a cool, collapsable JORD sunglass case! I was thrilled to see that they offer leather Apple Watch bands, becuase while I love my JORD watch it sometimes collect dust because I am always wearing my Apple Watch.

Whenever I order from a company that isn’t Amazon, I worry about shipping taking forever or costing more than the gift, but JORD offers fast and free worldwide shipping. Each watch can be professionally-sized as well. Generous returns and exchanges and great warranties make purchases for loved ones worry-free.

Ethical Handbag Collection for Her

JORD’s newest line of accessories is a collection of luxury handbags. They come in lots of colors and styles – crossbody, backpack, clutch… The purses are made ethically of JORD’s own type of vegan “leather” – created from cork! It isn’t like a wine cork though ; ) I asked! This is very soft but durable.

Unique Gift Ideas

One of the things JORD is known for is the materials they incorporate into their unique accessories. So they have developed a way to suspend real coffee beans around the watch! The dial features the color of the roasting process and the deep roasted coffee color band is created from JORD”s vegan cork “leather”. It’s available in a gift set featuring local St. Louis coffee beans plus a collector’s thermos. The watch is minimal in style and size – perfect for any coffee lover on your list!

The Harper Limited Edition Gift Set

This watch series has beautiful marble and stone faces plus interchangeable wood and padded leather watch bands. The cool thing is that each watch is unique because the pattern and color on the face are unique. The face itself has a modern retro feel that I love and can be personalized with your choice of bands!

Burmese Dover II Automatic Watch

This is the prettiest watch! The wood is a warm cedar tone contrasted with dark gunmetal steel fittings. This variety of Padauk wood is rare, so this is a limited edition timepiece for this year. The Dover has a skeleton face that allows you to see the automatic watch movement (no batteries needed!)- a super cool classic gift! My favorite part is that it comes with a special engraved gift box.

Stocking Stuffers

JORD offers a variety of new accessories: watch styles, from casual to sophisticated, many colors of Apple bands to dress-up any Apple watch finished in a variety of materials, as well as cool sunglasses & hats.

Signature Apple Bands in Exotic Wood and Leather

Know any guitar lovers? JORD’s limited line of harmonic apple bands features woods from American guitar designers. In 2019, JORD’s wood Apple bands were voted “best” of the year by Forbes! These bands are a strong statement piece to really dress up any Apple watch and I find them to be a very gender-neutral piece. I am loving mine and it is easy to put on and take off of my Apple Watch.

Sunglasses & Blue Light Glasses

I am loving the pair that came in my gift set! They are so much fun. They have a huge variety of vintage-inspired and modern sunglasses – great lenses and finished with cool, natural materials. Blue light glasses have become super popular, and JORD has you covered! Check out their blue light glasses with natural accents ; )

Steel Wool & Carling Retro Hats For Men

I always talk about hats because they can take clothes (say jeans and a tee) and turn them into an OUTFIT! Check out JORD’s steel wool flannel and signature, structured caps!

Giveaway

All entrants will receive a 20% off gift code for JORD store sent to their email
Excludes Limited Editions & restrictions apply based on availability
The winner will receive a gift code toward a free gift set directly to their email!
ENTER JORD GIVEAWAY HERE!

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Who knew? JORD has something for everyone : ) I want to hear from you – did any of my gift recommendations work for you? Tag me and @JORDwatches in the pics!

Jealous of my gift set? I’ve got you! Just enter via my link to win! Whether you win or not, you’ll automatically get 20% off to use on any gifts in JORD’ shop ; ) Good luck and happy shopping!

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