Mani Monday: Marble Nail Art

Marbling your nails can give you some killer nail art... but, it takes patience. The good thing: Different results every time so your nails will have a uniform, yet, variant look. The bad: Prepping can be time consuming (drying time takes at least 15 mins in my experience.) However, it does look dope when you're done.

What you need: 

1 plastic cup with room temperature water

Toothpick or wooden nail pick

Tape - I prefer Scotch 

Nail polish - as many colors as you choose

Before you marble, you'll need to tape up. Place a piece of tape below the cuticle and around the edge of your nail, covering any exposed skin. This keeps your finger clean from excess paint that you WILL get on your finger. You will need to touch up with nail polish remover... but tape will save you time.

To prepare your marble art, drop each nail polish color one at a time. The first color will start to disperse in the water, followed by the next creating a bulls-eye. This is exactly what you want. Drop each color quickly, at least twice for each polish. The polish dries on the surface of the water so you'll need to start marbleizing the colors with your toothpick/nail pick by drawing lines in the polish to create a marble look.

When you run your tool through the water, you'll be creating a marble effect, like so!

Next, dip your finger in the water and hold it there. Use your toothpick to remove any nail polish floating around your finger.

Remove your finger and your done! Wait 15 mins before applying the topcoat and removing the tape. You may have some water on your nail so let it dry completely or else you'll smear your topcoat with the nail polish you've just marbled.

For a better tutorial (not my own), check out some nifty YouTube videos from MySimpleLittlePleasures!

The Feel Good Drag

I often feel naked without some type of stark contrast to any outfit I wear. By that I mean taking a look that may have a certain vibe to it but punching it up with a leather bootie. Let's face it though - black always looks streamlined, often rough and tumble and if it's leather then hot damn!

Outfit:

Sheer lace top - Forever 21

1969 mid-weight snakeskin print legging jeans - Gap

Leather booties - Modcloth.com (bought last year)

Bracelets - Petite Hinged Bow Pave Bangle & Rivet Wrap Bracelet  - Henry Bendel

Tiny Pyramid Stud Bracelet - Forever 21

I have a habit of mixing edgier pieces of my wardrobe against something really feminine. The perfect marriage of two things I love pairing together, this sheer lace top and these 1969 mid-weight snakeskin print legging jeans from the Gap represent my stylespiration for a sharp vs. soft look. It always goes back to music for me... translating my music preferences into my wardrobe in some way. 

Either way, Harley doesn't care what I walk him in... just as long as he gets to lead.

Oh, and I've added a Facebook page for House Of Jeffers! If you like what you see here, please "Like" my FB page!

Cold Play in Yellow

You know when you buy something that you fall in love with fast... but it doesn't really match with anything in your closet?

It happened to me when I found these shoes. I'd been scouring high and low for a pair of leopard/animal print stems to add a little "bam" to my step, and these BCBGeneration Secret B peepers were the ones. By the way: if you do a happy dance in the middle of a department store, it means you should buy whatever you're holding.

Outfit:

Fit & Flare Dress - Forever 21

Heart Tights - Topshop

BCBGeneration Secret - Secret B Booties

My standard black boots will always be a go-to, but this winter, I want my wardrobe to stay as loud and lively just like my favorite season: summer. Then again, it's been 65 degrees in November in New Jersey. What gives... Of course, the color scheme will change, but I don't think you have to sacrifice what you love to wear just because of the weather. I plan on punching up prints and mixing textures - keep it funky and colorful! 

Accessories:

Arty Ring - Modtoast

Henri Bendel Bow Bracelet

Spiked Bracelet - Forever 21

All Black Everything

Well, we all know how the H&M Versace debaucle ended... So I wasn't planning on going out for Black Friday. Until...

... I remembered a contest I won for a JCPenney gift card... and suddenly, Mike and I were determined to use up my winnings on Black Friday to get some stuff for the apartment, and other goodies.

This called for ninja shopping skills at 7 a.m. and of course, proper attire: all black everything. And yes, that is my kitchen.

Outfit:

Knit beret - Target

Scarf - H&M

Leather jacket - Zara

Thermal - Forever 21

Black jeans - Zara

Shoes - Converse

Despite what you'd expect on Black Friday, the crowds were manageable and not overwhelming. I was able to take my time, soak up the bargains and walk out of the mall with bags full of gifts and savings. While I love to sleep, I love a bargain even more.

Check out some of my Black Friday Finds and weekend pics!

Forever 21 necklace 

MNG by Mango for JCPenney / I Heart Ronson Shirt - JCPenney

Bloomingdale's Nifty Gifty catalogue made for a great Sunday read!

Like these photos? Then follow me on Instagram at House Of Jeffers!

Sleep Depravation, Meet Versace by H&M

I had mixed feeling about actually attempting to get my mitts on something from the Versace for H&M collection. Because... you hear about people go as far as camping out for 3 weeks in advance and selling their firstborn and whatnot. Okay, slight exaggeration, but you know what I mean.

This quick video sums it up pretty well.

7:45 a.m. Notice the sighing and self-inflicted eye rolling. I commence my master plan to be among the first in New Jersey to shop the collection. This results in a pony tail. Cherish seeing it my friends, cause it's few and far between I go out in public like this.

I had my eye on three items, any of which I'd be happy to have:

Photos courtesy of H&M

8:00 a.m. Arrive at Garden State Plaza on my way to H&M. I spot two girls toting loud shopping bags from H&M. Oversight No. 1 - This mall usually opens at 10 a.m., normally, but Saturday, the store opened early. Oops.

8:05 a.m. Make it to H&M to be greeted with two organized lines, roped off with about 15 security guards in front of the store.... about 75 people deep.

8:10 a.m. Quickly make friends with people standing in front of me and compare "How long have you been waiting" stories. One person tells me someone was here since 10 p.m. last night... some even slept in their cars and came at 6 a.m. Oversight No. 2 - People really did camp out to shop, something I thought only New Yorkers did.

Plus, it gave me time to admire this dudes shoes:

Eventually, an H&M employee comes around with wristbands. I get a white one... marked with a time of 12:25 p.m.

8:45 a.m. Tell myself, "Totally should I slept in."

Meanwhile, people are flying out of the store with multiple bags, sometimes escorted by security guards. Some people say there's stuff left, or nothing left at all. I figure wait it out till I physically can't stand anymore.

About an hour and a half passes before another bystander, aggravated with her wristband time of 11:30 a.m., gives hers to me. It's now 10:15... I'm so close!

So... in the end, I made it out with this:

Filled with this:

No Versace for me. Turns out by the time it was 10:30 a.m., an employee let those with wristbands take a peek at what was left of the collection - meaning, palm tree pants and books. At that point, I was already in the store and my hopes being dashed, I just shopped instead.

All for naught? Not so much. Still shopped and still got a blog post out of it. = )