Lace Lollipops

Shellac Again

Brittany — Sat, 18 May 2013 22:55:44 +0000

Got shellac on my nails again. I haven’t had it in so long that I forgot how much better it looks than real polish (at least when I do my own nails). It’s shiny, and the best part is that it doesn’t chip. Chipping is so annoying, especially when you pay to get your nails done. So far, I’ve dropped a heavy ceramic dish on my nail, scraped it against a textured wall and they’re still perfect. I was even cutting a piece of paper and the scissors came down on my nail and not even a scratch. It’s amazing and so so so worth it.

The only thing I would recommend beforehand is to make sure you love the color. I usually get red or super light pink, a la Emily Maynard, but this time I decided to go a little wild. So far, so good! It’s been three days and I still love it.

We’ll see if I let them grow out, or if I decide I hate it.

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Keep up-to-date on my new postings by following me on Twitter. You can also contact me through my website here, email me at brittany@lacelollipops.com, or send me a message to my Facebook. Thank you!

Twitter, Once Again:

Brittany — Thu, 09 May 2013 00:05:02 +0000

For some unknown reason, the closing at the end of my posts has been linking to my personal Twitter instead of my blog Twitter…I thought I fixed that MONTHS AGO, but apparently not.

The Twitter account that posts all the post updates is @LaceLollipops and is the official account for the blog.
The Twitter account that posts all the one liners, complaints and pictures of my food is @briterinb, which is my personal account.

Follow one, follow all! Just wanted to make it clear!

Like an Animal

Brittany — Wed, 08 May 2013 23:38:49 +0000

I usually don’t wear animal prints, because I attach this stigma to them that says “cheap,” and other things that just generally surround the opposite of “classy.”

I’ve decided, though…who cares? Go a little wild, go a little crazy.

Do the things that you want to do and just be free!

I say this because recently I did something adventurous and fun and then I felt guilty for it…even though I didn’t do a single thing worth feeling guilty over. I realized that my childhood/teenage restrictions of “NOT ALLOWED” still grip me sometimes. And that made me mad!

I really wish I didn’t let the fear of “not allowed” (whether by society, or personal inhibitions) keep me from doing all the fun stuff I could be doing. So I’ve vowed to change that, because we simply just don’t know how much time we have left–and I’m tired of being so careful! Even when I did my one adventurous act of packing everything I own in the back of my car and moving to California by myself…I still was so careful. I just need to relax and enjoy life, and worry less.

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Zion National Park

Brittany — Tue, 07 May 2013 20:09:19 +0000

I was in St. George this weekend and was able to go to Zion National Park. It was beautiful! The contrast of the red dirt and the green foliage was striking. I also was able to spend a lot of time with my family, which always leaves me feeling buoyed up. We hiked up to the Emerald Pools and it was so beautiful. There were a ton of people there that didn’t speak English–I was really surprised! Anyway, I hope you can enjoy some of the pictures I took!

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Antelope Island, Utah

Brittany — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 18:22:25 +0000

I still have a hard time comprehending what it means to live in the West! Born and raised and East Coast girl, I still feel like I’m in an alien world when I see the vegetation and landscapes common in Utah.

Saturday began the week-and-a-half family “staycation” with my mom, dad, sister + her hubby + nephew.

We went to Antelope Island. Yes, there is an island in Salt Lake. It’s giant, and there are free-roaming buffalo and antelope. Also is a ranch on the island, with historic stuff from the original family that lived there. I took a ton of photos, and here are the best ones:

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Now That Finals Are Done

Brittany — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 00:25:21 +0000

I will never take 17 credits again…but finally, my exams are all over! And I think that I did better than I thought I was going to.

Also, my new sleep schedule has turned me into an old lady: I used to go to bed around midnight and wake up, well, whenever…but now I have to wake up by 6, so I go to bed by 10.

I have to say, though, I really like that I can enjoy the full days!

My new hobby: the travel section of Pinterest.

Boring Sunday update, but this week will be full of joyous, touristy posts since this is my week between Spring and Summer semesters and my family has decided to go everywhere.

Mostly, I just can’t wait to go to St. George this weekend!

More exciting + regular posts to come…

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How to make your eyelashes look like falsies:

Brittany — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 15:00:27 +0000

I don’t know about you guys, but I’ve pretty much always had a problem with false eyelashes. They are really difficult to put on right and the nice ones are pretty expensive. We all go through it. I had eyelash extensions at one point, and I thought they were fantastic, but looking back, they were pretty terrible and I REALIZED that my lashes are totally long enough on their own–I just wasn’t using them to their full, long & dark potential. SO, I give you my secret to making your eyelashes look like falsies:

MY METHOD—TOOLS:

3 different types of mascaras. I know, I know, but this is how I do it. All in black, obviously.
- Mascara A: with a wand that lengthens and defines (long, comb-like, evenly spaced bristles)
  - Not waterproof
  - Curved wand
- Mascara B: with a wand that thickens and volumizes (round, tightly packed bristles)
  - Not waterproof
- Mascara C: with a wand that shades and separates (round with short, rubber bristles)
  - Waterproof
Eyelash curler
Eyelash brush

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MY METHOD—STEPS:

Curl your lashes with the curler–put it as close to the base of your lashes as you can get without it hurting, then clamp and pulse 5 times, each side, upper lashes only.
Apply the mascaras in the order listed above. This way, they basically get a base coat, the polish and the top coat (complete with waterproofing). Make sure to get all the lashes, especially the ones close to the inner eye. Rewet your brush for each eye per application.
- Mascara A is applied to full lashes, helps solidify the curl you just did, since it’s a curved wand
- Mascara B is applied to the full lashes, but more attention on the top half of upper lashes
- Mascara C is combed through the full lashes
Comb the lashes with the brush to get out and separate any clumps that your third mascara didn’t get.
You now have rockin’ lashes.

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MY METHOD—CLEAN UP:

With all that mascara it probably looks impossible to clean off, but it’s really not, especially the longer you leave it on. When it comes time to remove the eye makeup, I just use Dove soap bar (I freaking love their soap, it’s so hydrating) and a reusable exfoliating pad. I usually do it in the shower, so I don’t know if that makes a difference, but I have never had a problem. If I get out of the shower and still have mascara, I use a Q-tip with a little water to fix it. Easy-peasy.

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MY METHOD—PRODUCTS:

Mascara A: Maybelline Cat Eyes; Mascara B: L’Oréal Extra Volume Collagen; Mascara C: Maybelline Rocket Volume; Regular brow & lash brush. The best part is that all these mascaras were on sale, and are really cheap–so you won’t have to spend as much money!

I do this about once a week, on Sundays, or when I go out/do performances/want to impress people. I’ve gotten asked if they’re false lashes before, and told numerous times how they just make my eyes “pop!” If you try it, let me know how it goes.

–SIX HOURS LATER–

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The Green of Spring

Brittany — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 21:10:11 +0000

Spring is finally here! The tulips are budding, and it rained this morning and walking around campus smelled like plants. Spring truly is one of my favorite seasons.

I am seriously holding out hope that this weekend is going to go well. I was at the bank today and the teller said, “any plans for this weekend?” And I, in a bitter tone, immediately replied “no.” Then I remembered that I do have plans and I’m just so used to not having plans (and apparently being bitter about it), that my trained response to that question came out immediately in the negative.

Also, I helped a little earthworm back to the safety of the dirt from the sidewalk today. I felt like a child, bent down poking at a worm with a stick until it went the way I wanted it to go. Also also, I’ve been seriously contemplating chopping off my hair for a couple weeks now! I’M JUST SO NERVOUS. I probably won’t do it. I don’t know. I might…

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Perspective

Brittany — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 22:17:39 +0000

Life is all about perspective. Yesterday, I went to a Peace Forum that talked about survivors of sexual assault and how the culture is different here in the bubble that is Utah. A woman came and spoke, Dr. Niwako Yamawaki, who is a psychology professor at BYU. She did a really good job and had some really interesting research on sexual assault and rape. It’s kind of a heavy topic and I pretty much always leave feeling heavier when these things are discussed, but it was really good for me to hear.

Some of you may know that my plan in life is to do humanitarian work, mainly for women, so going and listening to people tell their stories was almost surreal. Of course, we’ve all read about these horror stories, but to see real people sharing their real stories, was scary! Dr. Yamawaki shared some statistics, one of which was that 31% of reported sexual assaults in Utah are those committed by family members of the victim.

My mother works in criminal law and as I was telling her about how it felt to hear all the stories, she told me how to work in this kind of environment, you really have to remove yourself emotionally. I’ve always been extremely empathetic, so trying to look at everything clinically and not let it upset me…I thought I would be able to do it, but after last night, I’m not so sure.

There are so many people struggling out there. I feel so fortunate to be where I am, and I asked my father yesterday why it is that I have all that I do while other people are struggling all around. He said something interesting, that I believe–something along the lines of “some people are prepared to help other people.”

Read more on the event I went to last night here.

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A Pet Peeve

Brittany — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 04:07:29 +0000

Walking apologies:

People who walk around like they’re constantly sorry you have to see them.

Example:

That person that gets up during class and has to walk out for whatever reason. They slouch, hunch their shoulders up to their ears and pull their sleeves over their wrists (or fold their arms really tightly) while they walk out, head bowed. And they make that face, like a strained smile, as if they’re trying to add humor to deflect from how uncomfortable they feel. I know you know what I’m talking about. It’s usually women, I’ve noticed, and it really bothers me!

I think they do it because they know people are looking at them and they don’t want them to. I don’t think they realize how much more obvious they make themselves when they behave that way. You know what would be better? Just walking like a normal person. When you’re body language is screaming “DON’T LOOK AT ME WALKING IN FRONT OF ALL YOU AND ALSO I’M TRYING TO LOOK REALLY SMALL BY SQUISHING MYSELF INTO AS CLOSE AS I CAN GET TO A BALL,” people are definitely going to look at you more. I mean, just go ahead and run out with a jacket over your head, we all know that’s what you’d rather do.

Walk like a normal person. Yes, people are going to look at you, because you’re getting up and walking out of something where everyone else is sitting. But whatever. Nobody sits and thinks, “that girl is such a slacker, she’s probably going to fail all the tests.” No one cares. You’re just a moving object, so we turn and look and then forget almost immediately…unless you walk out like you’re trying to sink into your turtle shell, then I wonder what you possibly could be doing to look so guilty.

Have some confidence. And stop laughing at yourself every time you say something wrong or stumble over your words. Just move on like a normal person, and PLEASE, for the love of all things, DON’T make that “blblblblblblblbl” noise when you get tongue-tied.