back to school – Page 2 – Adventures in Polishland

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Back to School Week | Cute & Casual School Outfits

Posted on August 14, 2013August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Wednesday! Today’s post is a first on Adventures in Polishland — fashion! One of the best parts of going back to school each year is putting together some cute, new outfits. Whether you’re going on a shopping spree, or searching through your closets, they key to the perfect school ensemble is feeling comfortable and looking great, too. I usually keep it pretty casual at school since I’m there to learn above everything else. Let me show you a couple outfits I plan on wearing this fall, plus some of my favorite clothing stores and back to school must haves!

First up is my go-to look — jeans and a t-shirt! Whether you’re in middle school, or law school like I am, you can never go wrong with the basics. To liven my outfit up a bit, I chose a feminine floral top, and added a necklace. I’ll share the product details below.

Top: Forever 21 – $13.80 – not sold online
Necklace: Forever 21 – $10.80 – CLICK
Jeans: American Eagle – $44.95 – CLICK
Shoes: Converse – $49.90 – CLICK

For days you want to look a bit more polished, swap the sneakers out for some flats, and choose dark colored denim. I’m totally ready to hit the law library in this outfit! Below I’ll link to the products I’m wearing, but since the jeans and shoes are from older brands I’ll find similar items for you.

Top: Forever 21 – $15.80 – CLICK
Necklace: Forever 21 – Spring Collection
Jeans: PLNDR – $24.99 – CLICK
Shoes: Delias – $19.90 – CLICK
Bag: Michael Kors – $103.50 – CLICK
Casebook: Amazon – $125.49 – CLICK

Back to School Fashion Must Haves!

Sperry Top-Siders are my favorite shoes! They’re comfortable, cute, and come in a ton of colors.

To carry those books, sport a cute bag! I love leopard print — it never goes out of style.

Don’t be late! Invest in a stylin’ watch to get you to class on time. I love my rose gold one from Michael Kors!

Best Stores for Bagainistas!

JCPenney – Arizona jeans are my favorite! They come in all sizes and lengths, not to mention colors and styles, too.
Forever 21 – Always super affordable, and always trendy!
Delias – Cute, comfy, and cool clothing! Seriously!
Express – Shop during clearance events and you’ll snag amazing deals. They have beautiful dresses!
BaubleBar – Gorgeous jewelry and great prices. I love their statement necklaces!

That wraps up my fashion post for Back to School Week! I hope you liked the outfits I put together, and the pieces I picked out. When you head back to school, remember to wear what you like and what makes you feel most confident. Respect your school dress code (and your parents!), but let your real style show through. Let me know your favorite stores to shop at in the comments!

This post contains affiliate links. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Back to School Week | Makeup Bag Essentials for School

Posted on August 13, 2013August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Tuesday! Now that I’ve officially accepted the fact that I am heading back to school next week (ah!) it’s time to start putting together my book bag. While I don’t tote a ton of cosmetics to school, it’s important to carry the essentials just in case the unexpected happens. Let me share with you the goods I’ll have in my makeup bag this school year!

Here is the makeup bag I will be using! I got mine from Ipsy, and I just love the leopard and neon print. The reason I am choosing this bag in particular is because of its flat shape — it will easily fit into my book bag without taking up much space! I know this can’t be easily purchased, so I would definitely recommend these:

Forever 21 “Leopard Print” – CLICK
Sephora Collection “The Night is Young” – CLICK
Sonia Kashuk “Yarn Print” – CLICK

Now onto the essentials inside! I think these items are needed, and yes, they all fit in the bag!

Hand Lotion: You never know when your hands will be dry! Keep a travel size lotion on you at all times, especially in the winter. Plus, having lotion is a great way to meet people — I can’t even tell you how many times I’ve been asked if I had lotion! Pick a brand and scent you’ll like, and one that won’t bother those around you. [Julep Age Defying Hand Brightener]

Powder Compact: Women historically go to powder their noses for a reason! Pressed powder is the perfect touch up, and keeps your skin looking great all day long. I like to have a compact with a mirror in it as well. This one from Covergirl also has a sponge inside so I don’t have to carry a brush! [Covergirl Fresh Complexion Pocket Powder]

Hair Ties: If it gets too hot or starts to rain, you’ll want to pull your hair up! While I love ribbon hair ties, it’s good to have a plain black one, too. It goes with every outfit! I find that Goody from the drugstore is the perfect go-to brand (and it’s affordable!). [Goody Ouchless Elastics]

Colgate Wisp Brushes: If you decide to have a garlic-filled lunch at the last minute, you’ll want to be able to freshen your breath before class resumes. No one wants to be embarrassed about her breath, that’s for sure! You can grab these Wisps at the drugstore and keep them for when you’re in a pinch. [Colgate Wisp Brushes]

Perfume / Body Spray: Everyone gets stinky once in a while, so I like to carry a perfume or body spray in my makeup bag. I get so many perfume samples from Sephora, so instead of purchasing a travel size product, I just stick a sample in my bag! If you prefer lighter scents, opt for a body spray instead. [Juicy Couture Couture La La]

Oil Absorbing Sheets: Heading back to school in August means the heat and humidity are sticking around for a while. To make sure I don’t look like a grease ball, oil absorbing sheets are necessary! These are great because they don’t mess up your makeup, but they leave your skin looking great. Any brand will do, but I suggest Clean & Clear and the CVS brand. [Clean & Clear Instant Oil Absorbing Sheets]

Mini Nail Files: We’ve all been there — that awful moment when (gasp!) you break a nail! I just love these mini nail files. They are cute and disposable, and save you in an emergency situation. These are also perfect to share with a girlfriend when she’s in nail trouble. [Tweezerman Matchbox Files]

Lip Balm: Every girl needs a good lip balm with her at all times! I like to have both a clear balm and a tinted lip color just to be sure I’m set for every occasion. Keep those lips soft and moisturized with your lip balms of choice. [C.O Bigelow Lemon Lip Cream & Baby Lips Cherry Me]

Antibacterial Lotion: My last must have is probably the most important, and that is antibacterial lotion. You never know when you’re going to touch something gross and won’t be able to wash your hands. I personally love the unscented lotions like Purell, but Bath & Bodyworks has tons of scents if that’s your thing! [Purell Instant Hand Sanitizer]

These are all of my makeup bag essentials for school! As you can see, I like to stick to the basics and ensure I’m ready for the unexpected. I hope you found this post helpful as you put together your backpack for the new school year. Be sure to let me know what items will be in your makeup bag in the comments!

This post contains affiliate links. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Back to School Week | Get Back to Hogwarts with Kawaii Nail Lacquer

Posted on August 12, 2013August 16, 2013 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Monday, and welcome to Back to School Week at Adventures in Polishland! This is a sensitive time of year for those of us who are heading back to class, and I thought it would be fun to focus on some of the best parts of going back to school instead of dwelling on the forthcoming homework and exams. I will have a new post up every day from Monday to Friday featuring nails, makeup, fashion, and more. I thought I would kick things off with a review of some Harry Potter themed polishes from the indie brand Kawaii Nail Lacquer. Back to school time would be super awesome if I was going back to Hogwarts! Let me show you these magical polishes!

First up is Gryffindor! You might be in Gryffindor if you are brave and chivalrous. Its house colors are crimson and gold, and this glitter polish fits the mold! Griffindor is a glitter polish in a clear base, and is full of fine glitters, small hexagons, squares, and bars in a mix of red and gold. I layered one coat over L’Oreal Breaking Curfew to get this look. I wonder if Hermione would sport this polish… Maybe not, but I sure do like it.

Next up is Hufflepuff! Students in Hufflepuff are loyal and exceptionally good finders. Its house colors are black and yellow, but don’t be fooled — its animal is a badger (not a bee)! In polish form, Hufflepuff contains black, yellow, and gold hexagons, fine gold and black glitters, and black bar glitters. I layered one coat over OPI Skull & Glossbones. While no one wants to end up in Hufflepuff, at least you’ll have this gorgeous nail polish to wear!

Ravenclaw is up next, and I couldn’t be more excited! Why, you ask? It’s because I am a Ravenclaw! Students in Ravenclaw are wise individuals, and its house colors are blue and bronze (not blue and silver as seen in the movies!). The Ravenclaw polish has bronze fine glitters, hexagons, and bars, and blue hexagons as well. I layered one coat over ncLA’s Malibu Beach Babe. While this manicure may not be whimsical enough for Luna Lovegood, it’s perfect for me!

Last but not least is Slytherin. Join the ranks of the Malfoys and Blacks if you’re cunning and resourceful. With house colors like silver and green, I knew this polish would look awesome. It’s filed with small and medium hexagons, and I layered one coat over Julep Brandt to get the look in the photos. You’ll be ready for Defense Against the Dark Arts with this polish!

All in all, I am loving these Harry Potter themed polishes from Kawaii Nail Lacquer! They all have amazing formulas, and they represent the Hogwarts Houses perfectly. Unfortunately I won’t be going back to Hogwarts this year (my owl hasn’t showed up with my acceptance letter yet), but I think these polishes are super fun to rock on your nails this fall. You can purchase these polishes from the Kawaii Etsy shop for $8.50 each HERE and follow Kawaii on Facebook HERE.

Be sure to let me know which Hogwarts House you would be sorted into in the comments!

This post contains some affiliate links. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.