NCLA Nail Wraps

Watch out Sally Hansen: there is a beauty company in town that is looking for a piece of the nail sticker market. Meet your new frenemy, NCLA.

I was lucky enough to win a few pairs of NCLA nail wraps from a fellow fashion blogger and was thrilled to give them a try. You guys know I love Sally Hansen’s nail stickers so I’ve been interested in seeing if NCLA could top them. The short story: the patterns are edgier but I prefer the feel and application of Sally Hansen. Let’s break it down:

Pros
The look = insanely hip. I love this ikat print. It’s fashion-forward, a bit edgy, and so colorful. NCLA has a ton of other fun patterns here.

Cost = $16 for 2 sheets of 22 wraps. That’ll get you 3-4 applications for $16 — not bad at all.

Cons
Time commitment = high. NCLA instructs you to paint a clear coat, let it dry, apply the nail wrap, and then add another clear coat. For comparison, Sally Hansen nail stickers don’t require any polish at all, thus cutting down on the application time considerably.

The feel = so-so. It’s tricky to get a super smooth edge on the tips. You’ll need to keep a nail file handy for the first day or so to smooth the edges of the wraps.

Overall Verdict
Fun for a special occasion but the feel could definitely be improved!

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Fashionable Stocking Stuffers

Christmas stockings are a big deal in my household. I love opening a bunch of small gifts all carefully wrapped in green and red tissue paper. My family always has a few predictable stocking stuffers (lotto tickets, Cheese Balls), but in case you’re in need of a few fresh ideas, I’ve pulled together eight fashionable and thrifty stocking stuffers!

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Where to shop: (1) Forever 21 Embossed Leopard Print Clutch $16 // (2) Sonia Kashuk “Circle Of Hope” kabuki Brush // (3) Chronicle Books Elephant Journal $9.95 // (4) Target Cable Knit Stocking with Sequins $13 // (5) Wet Seal Bling Bow Waist Belt $11 // (6) Goody Doublewear Elastics $4.99 // (7) Minimergency Kit for Her $13 // (8) Sally Hansen Salon Effects in Kitty Kitty $8.11.

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Happy Half Birthday to Style Me Thrifty!

I looked at the calendar today and realized, whoa, it’s already September. That means Style Me Thrifty has been part of the blogging world for exactly 6 months. When did that happen? They grow up so fast!

Cheers to half a year of blogging!

It’s been an awesome blur of late-night writing, wacky blog post brainstorming sessions, handing out hot pink business cards and receiving wonderful feedback from my readers (thank you!).

In honor of this mini-milestone, I’d like to share SMT’s 6 most popular posts from the past 6 months, in case you’ve missed any.

Please post/email/Facebook me your style questions!

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Top 6 Posts from the Past 6 Months:

1. Introducing… the Spin Pin! – I should have bought stock in Goody’s Spin Pin. This product is awesome and you girls clearly thought so, too, making this my #1 most visited post! Since writing this, I’ve discovered Mini Spin Pins, so be sure to check those out if you have finer hair.
   
2. What to Wear to a Spring (or Summer) Wedding – One of the best parts about blogging is seeing my friends wearing something that I recommended. Check out Amy below, in that adorable BCBGeneration ruffled dress that I suggested in this post. Flawless, Amy!
3. Nail Stickers?! – The lady at Quiznos asked me about my nail stickers the other day. These things sure turn heads! Have you all tried them yet? I went with the “Check it Out” pattern this past weekend for my trip to Nashville. So fun! (but I’m finding that they grow out within 6 days or so).
4. Top 10 Tips for Looking Fab at a Bridal Shower – Styling my sister for her own bridal shower was the catalyst for starting this blog. This was one of my first posts so I have a soft spot in my heart for it. (And for my adorable sis and mom!)
   
5. DIY Wedding Signs – I’ve gotten a TON of visitors via keyword searches for “wedding signs.” I can tell this is a popular decoration at weddings right now!
   
6. Reader Poll: Thoughts on Backless Shirts? – 47% of you voted in the poll and said backless shirts, like Bachelorette Ashley’s, are super cute and you’d totally bring sexy back. Rock it, girls!
   

It’s My Birthday and I’ll Shop If I Want To!

Anyone else celebrating a birthday this month? If so, I have a suggestion for all you summer birthday babes. Why not splurge a little and buy yourself a thrifty present this year? Cmon, you deserve it!

While in pursuit for my own birthday treasure, I stumbled across a few items that screamed “Wear me to a birthday party!” so I thought I’d share my finds with you all. Here are a few outfit ideas for your next birthday celebration. Go on, treat yourself to something nice!

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The Romantic Birthday Dinner
Is your significant other taking you to dinner? Wow him in this outfit.

Where to shop: Daytrip Scribble Print Tube Dress ($32 from Buckle.com); Silver Metal Bangles ($8.50 from Old Navy); Rocket Dog Omari Metallic Sandal ($44.95 from DSW). Total cost = $85.45.

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The Girls Night Out Birthday
Great for a night of cocktails and dancing with your girlfriends.

Where to shop: Halogen Twist Neck Sleeveless Top ($39.90 on sale at Nordstrom); Fab Skinny Black Jean ($10.50 from Forever 21); Qupid Please 03 Berry Velvet Pointy Toe Pumps ($31 from Lulu’s); Boho Chic Earrings ($3.80 from Forever 21). Total cost = $85.20.

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The Bohemian Birthday
Perfect for a backyard garden party or outdoor brunch. 

Where to shop: Mimi Chica Asymmetric Hem Dress ($46 at Nordstrom; Vibrant Beads & Chain Necklace ($7.80 from Forever 21); Jessica Simpson ‘Jacqui’ Flip Flop ($58.95 from Nordstrom). Total cost = $112.75.

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PS – If you’re curious, I ended up buying a work dress from Rue La La as my birthday splurge. Oh and new nail stickers! This time I went for Sally Hansen’s Real Nail Polish Strips in Glitz Blitz. Glittery perfection. The glitter in the strips made them a little trickier to get a nice clean edge, but it just takes a little patience.

Nail Stickers?!

In a former life, I think may have been a manicurist. I love being girly and doing my nails.

That said, I realize the general female population probably does not share my hidden talent of super steady hands — which is why beauty companies are coming out with a genius, mess-free alternative to nail polish: nail stickers.

Trend-setting celebs like Lady Gaga and Katy Perry have been photographed wearing Minx nail stickers in wild patterns like cheetah print and polka dots. Minx strips are applied at a nail salon without a drop of polish and last up to 2 weeks. Sounds great, right? Unfortunately, Minx comes with a hefty price tag of $40 and up.

Luckily Sally Hansen has come out with cheaper alternative for us thrifty gals: Sally Hansen Salon Effects Real Nail Polish Strips that only cost $8.50 at Target. I’m a sucker when it comes to nail trends (black nails, anyone?) so I picked up the Misbehaved pattern and gave these  a try. Check out my fishnet nails!:

Here’s the scoop on these crazy things…

Application: The box comes with 16 different sized strips that you firmly stick to your nail and then carefully file off the extra to make the strip fit your nail. The strips smell like nail polish but aren’t wet — just sticky enough to adhere to your nail (almost like a stamp).

Time Commitment: THIS is the best part. It took me about 20 min to apply and then I was immediately the door. You don’t have to sit around and wait for them to set or dry!

How Long Did They Really Last? The box promised that they’ll last up to 10 days and I was shocked to find that, sure enough, I went 10 days without a single chip. Perfection. The only reason I finally took them off (using nail polish remover) was because my nails started to grow out a few millimeters and the stickers grew with them. I found that my hair would get caught on the bottom ridge of the nail strip. Odd. Below is a pic at day 9 with the stickers…

Day 9

Overall: I give these a B+. I definitely recommend trying these out, especially for a special occasion. You’ll feel like Lady Gaga for 10 days!