Heart This

I love the nail color trend where just one nail is painted a different color from the rest.  I find that my wedding ring finger is the ideal nail for this look; as the only finger that always has a ring on it, this inherently sets it apart from the rest, and the nail color variation plays on this.  I have seen a lot of different color schemes that work, but I personally like one nail that really pops--like all pink with one gold, or all grey with one red.  Go bold.

My Pin-spiration

Then, while on Pinterest the other day (it's an addiction), I saw this clever variation on the trend, which is so timely with Valentine's Day just around the corner.  The dusty rose color shown really doesn't work for me personally, but I think the concept is the cutest thing ever so obviously I had to try it out for myself.  For my color palette, I went with my trusty Chanel Frenzy for the base color, OPI Red for my heart, and a topcoat of Essie Good to Go for rapid drying.  I heart this!  Literally.

My version

Episode 5: Fake A Flawless Face

Correcteur Perfection Long Lasting Concealer in beige clair
by Chanel, $40
Available from Nordstrom

Like many little girls, when I was growing up, I love love loved using my mother's make-up, applying her Guerlain bronzer and Lancôme eyeliner like a pro (or so I thought).  Along with other important life lessons, I am thankful to my mother for teaching me about the joys of make-up and the importance of the "less is more" philosophy.  But of all the fabulous, fancy products and cosmetic secrets I have inherited from my her, perhaps the most important is the secret to a flawless face.


Chanel's Correcteur Perfection Long Lasting Concealer might very well be the most crucial product in my make-up bag.  The creamy, gel-based concealer is lightweight and easy to apply, yet it stays in place all day, flawlessly covering any imperfections.  As an added bonus, a tiny dab'll do, so even though the $40 price tag is a little steep compared to competitors, this tube will last you practically forever.  Since I hate to look overly "made up," the lightweight formula is what I love most about this concealer.  It allows me to minimize those pesky imperfections without the incriminating evidence of a heavy product, allowing me to innocently claim: why yes, I do wake up looking this perfect!  When it comes to a flawless face (or even faking one), it seems that mother knows best, and for that I am thankful.

Earn Those Xs and Os: 5 Gifts to Get Into Her Heart

News flash: Valentine's Day is just one week away! Okay okay, so maybe it is just a Hallmark holiday, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't seize the opportunity to earn those Xs and Os. Fortunately for you, today's gift guide is your essential road map into her heart--and at five reasonable price points to boot!

For under $25, you may not be able to give her the sun, but at least you can keep the rain away with this Clear Bubble Umbrella from Urban Outfitters. I fell in love with this umbrella style when I was in London last year but couldn't for the life of me find a vendor actually selling them! Fortunately for me (and you), they've made it to the good ol' US of A--this time sporting a cheerfully festive red handle and trim that will remind her of your love even on the rainiest of days. And if you really want to stand under her umbrella? Well then, I dare you to channel Rihanna and serenade her... Price tag: $18

For under $50, give her two hearts instead of one with a pair of festively adorable Glitter Heart MP3 Speakers by Juicy Couture. What girl doesn't love an instant dance party?--and especially one in such cute packaging. These glitter adorned, heart-shaped speakers with Juicy's logo banners fit conveniently into the headphone jack of any MP3 player or computer. And not for nothing, if you're not especially partial to her musical taste (my adorable husband thinks that listening to my iPod is akin to slow torture), this concession is sure to steal her heart. Price tag: $48

For under $75, you can win her over by supporting a good cause, thanks to these customizable Converse Red All Star I "Heart" sneaker. Wearing your heart on your sleeve is so last year. This Valentine's day, let her wear your heart on her shoe, and take pride in the fact that 15% of the net retail sales of these Converse (PRODUCT) RED™ shoes will be paid to The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. Starting with a blank canvas in the form of Chuck Taylor All Stars, choose her favorite colors for the shoe's outside body, rubber sidewall, racing stripe, laces, tongue, and stitching. For the finishing touch, melt her heart by filling in the blank: I "heart" ___________. Price tag: $65

For an even $100, you can cook your way into her heart with a set of four Mini-Cocottes by Le Creuset. Show her what you're made of in the kitchen by serving her favorite meal. And since presentation is everything, you're sure to win points with this scaled-down version of Le Creuset's famous cast iron casseroles in a festive red enamel. As an added bonus, this set comes with a special Le Creuset cookbook, featuring 25 unique recipes specifically developed for this cookware. Price tag: $100

For under $150, you can personalize her preppie with this Personalized Foldable Tote from Longchamp. If your love is an Eternal Prepster, she's guaranteed to fall head-over-heels for her very own customized Longchamp. You can opt for a festive deep red tote--or choose from one of Longchamp's other signature colors: black, chocolate, graphite, or navy. Then select one of three monogram styles, along with your desired monogram color (black, green, red, brown, gold, navy, purple, or orange). After all, if your girl is one of a kind, shouldn't her bag be the same? Price tag: $145

So no matter your budget, let your lady love know how you feel with one of these five fabulously festive Valentine's treats! And if you play your cards right, you might earn an X and an O at the end of the night. Happy shopping, lovers!

Images, in order of appearance: (1) Clear Bubble Umbrella in red $18, from Urban Outfitters (http://www.urbanoutfitters.com/); (2) Glitter Heart MP3 Speakers by Juicy Couture $48, available from Neiman Marcus (http://www.neimanmarcus.com/); (3) (Converse) RED All Star I "Heart" $65, available online from Converse (http://www.converse.com/); (4) Mini-Cocottes by Le Creuset, set of 4 in red $100, available at Bloomingdales (www.bloomingdales.com); (5) Personalized Foldable Tote in deep red by Longchamp $145, available at Saks Fifth Avenue (http://www.saksfifthavenue.com/).