In WIth The Nude

A pop of color is currently on trend. However, if you ask me there is nothing trendier than a nude nail.  Nude nails have gotten as matchy as foundation which is awesome!  There are dead ringer shades for every complexion from alabaster to ebony.  Here are a few nude colors that make my nail beds swoon:

/ 1MAC 'Skin' Nail Lacquer / 2 HIPP X RGB Nail Foundation /
 /3 Dior 'Nude Collection' Vernis NaiL Lacquer  
/ 4 Laura Mercier Nail Lacquer Nail Polish - Cocoa Suede  / 
/ 5 Rococo Nail Apparel Foundation avail @ beauty.com / 6 Lippmann Collection Naked /
/ 7 OPI Samoan Sand avail @ drugstore.com /

Me sporting Samoan Sand by OPI

Here is a video to help you choose a nude shade that is ideal for your complexion.

Home Decor Obsession: Starburst Mirrors

Starburst mirrors is something that works in every design esthetic.  You can put it over a mantel, over a headboard or dresser in bedrooms, over sofa, even in a bathroom!  Use a cluster of small mirrors or one big one by itself for impact.

Crateandbarrel.com Wall Mirror

Horchow.com Rain Drops Mirror

Global Views Mini Sunburst Wall Mirror, Gold

Woodland Imports Wall Mirror

Grouping of Sunburst Mirrors

Wallpaper in Bathrooms.

Hey Finessees!  Hanging wallpaper in the Bathroom isn't the most popular choice of wall covering because of moisture, but it can completely alter the look of a small space! What do you think about wallpaper in the bathroom?

Let us know in the comments!

 Bathroom by Mill Valley Interior Designer Jute Interior Design

Powder Room by Baltimore Interior Designer Elizabeth Reich

 Powder Room by San Francisco Interior Designer Artistic Designs for Living, Tineke Triggs

previously featured here

7 BLOGS TO FOLLOW AND WHY

It's the final day of Joi's Mini Blog Challenge. Whew I made it.  7 STRAIGHT DAYS OF BLOGGING.  Rounding out the challenge is "7 Blogs To Follow and Why".

TheSITSGirls


Their blog is something like the bloggers bible.
  Tiffany and Francesca are the women behind
a community of 40,000 strong bloggers and the Bloggy Boot Camp.
I frequent this blog weekly.  I've learned so much over there!

FOLLOW TheSITSGirls



AphroChic

AphroChic is a husband-and-wife team Jeanine Hays and Bryan Mason. They started  interior design blog, a place for Jeanine, a former attorney, and Bryan, a Ph.D. student,
 to escape the stresses of work and share their passion for culture and design.
  AphroChic offers home decor products inspired by cultures around the globe,
 AphroChic sets out to prove that ethnic heritage and culture can go hand in hand with the luxurious and the modern.  Their accent chairs are swoon worthy.

FOLLOW AphroChic 



Copy Cat Chic

Copy Cat Chic is the brainchild of +Reichel Broussard.
Her blog is the result of bargain shopping for items for a house
she purchased in the uber expensive San Francisco Area.
Copy Cat Chic are high/low savvy specialist.  Yours truly,
MyFInessedLife has been featured on Copy Cat Chic (see here and here).

FOLLOW Reichel here and here




Wendys Lookbook

via

Wendy is a fashion blogger  that hands down has the genre on lock.
I love that her look encompasses edgy, trendy, and classic....but wait for it
still suitable for a woman of a certain age!  OMG how does she do it?
I do not know, but I have no qualms jocking her style.

FOLLOW Wendys Lookbook





Joel Osteen Ministries

I am not overly religious but I have a strong faith in GOD
I have no doubt that HE sustains me and carries me.  
My faith in GOD has gotten me through it all.
I am forever grateful and cannot praise HIS name enough.
I'm saying all this to say Joel Osteen  is an amazing guy!  
WE ALL NEED NOURISHMENT--are still searching?  It can't hurt to check out his ministry.

Follow Joel Osteen Ministries



Ask Anna

If you ever wonder how to clean your oven, to remove a carpet stain,
to make your laundry whiter,
or to have your toilet be self-cleaned simply Ask Anna.
Her blog is packed with cleaning and organization tips.
The perfect place to answer everyday questions.

FOLLOW Ask Anna.

My Finessed Life

My Finessed Life is my blog.   I have 3 full time jobs: my career in dentistry, I'm a wife, and a mother to a beautiful 3year old girl (not necessarily in that order). I blog about improving health, finances, home decor, beauty and fashion.  That's right I am putting my mess in the universe in hopes that balance will no longer elude me.   Perhaps I can help you do a little finessing too.  Join me on my journey to finesse my life.
FOLLOW MyFInessedLife

WHAT I WISHED I KNEW BEFORE I STARTED BLOGGING

Hey Finessees.  It's day 6 of Joi's Mini Blog Challenge and she posed the question "What is that we wished we knew before blogging"?   Well I cannot answer that question without a mini story first.  

I  started MyFinessedLife on Feb 8th.  I was high strung full of momentum and ready to chat with the world.  No one told me that I will have to work really hard to generate traffic.  Search engines are pathetic at recognizing your content.  The traffic will not come easy and you need all the help you can get.  Here are a few things I wish someone told me:

• SET UP YOUR SEO EARLY- SEO stands for “search engine optimization.” It is the process of getting traffic from the non paid organic listings on search engines. All major search engines such as Google, Yahoo and Bing have such results.
• BE VERY ACTIVE SOCIAL MEDIA
• USE BACKLINKS Backlinks are links back to your site from an external website.  They are also a very important in SEO.
• SUBMIT YOUR BLOG TO DIRECTORIES   You can find a list of a few directories here
• PING  Pinging your blog is like saying look at me.  Do this with each new post.  Here are a few places you can do that  Ping My URL, Feed Shark, and Pingler. Be mindful not to over do it with the pinging, you will get called out for  PING SPAMing.
• CREATE A SITEMAP  You can visit www.sitemaps.org for more information and how to make your own sitemap.

I am by no means a blogging expert.  I have only a hand full of followers.  I am currently working on improving the above aspects of my blog. If anyone has some knowledge to share please do. All comments are welcome.

DIY How to Stud a Pair of Converse

Hey Finessees! It's Day 5 of this mini blog challenge and Joi is really pushing the envelope today with asking us to do a DIY.  While I am the crafty creative type, I haven't had time to do any DIY's .  However, here is one that I've been wanting to do for longer than I care to admit.  Life and work often get in the way.

SUPPLIES:

1 Pair Converse – any style

Multiple packs of studs (quantity depends how you would like to stud the sneakers)
1 Leather hole puncher (available for purchase @ M&J)
1 Ruler
1 Pen or fine point marker


STEP 1
Figure out the stud pattern.  

STEP 2
Using your ruler and marker, carefully make equally spaced marks on the shoe, marking where you would like to place the studs.

STEP 3
Now that you’ve determined the exact placement of the studs, it is time to start punching. Leather punchers make diffferent sized holes. I recommend testing on a separate fabric to see which size hole will fit your specific studs. After you have this figured out start punching holes in the spots you marked.

STEP 4
Once you have all your holes punched, start placing your spike.  If you use the spikes from the above link they are easy to use and no plier needed...just screw in place.  Now you have an oh so FINESSED pair of studded sneakers.

Join the Party Here

Mind Your Oral Health: Your Body Will Thank You

Hey Finessees.  Joi at rxfitnesslady invited me to participate in a mini blog challenge.  Todays challenge was to  vlog, video, or podcast.  I decided to share 5 VIDEOS (pow Joi!) on oral health.   Below you will find videos that I recommend frequently while seeing patients.

Good oral hygiene results in a mouth that looks and smells healthy. This means:

• Your teeth are clean and free of debris
• Gums are pink and do not hurt or bleed when you brush or floss
• Bad breath is not a constant problem

If your gums do hurt or bleed while brushing or flossing, or you are experiencing persistent bad breath, see your dentist. Any of these conditions may indicate a problem.

Your dentist or hygienist can help you learn good oral hygiene techniques and can help point out areas of your mouth that may require extra attention during brushing and flossing.

How is Good Oral Hygiene Practiced?
Maintaining good oral hygiene is one of the most important things you can do for your teeth and gums. Healthy teeth not only enable you to look and feel good, they make it possible to eat and speak properly. Good oral health is important to your overall well-being.

Oral Health Basics

How to Brush

Learn the technique recommended for the best cleaning.

Watch "How to Brush" video

How to Floss

Find simple instructions for effective flossing.

Watch "How to Floss" video

Toothbrush Mystery

Head to the toothbrush aisle with confidence. Learn how the differences in brushes may be better suited for your unique needs.

Watch "Toothbrush Mystery" video

How to Freshen Bad Breath

Uncover the causes behind common bad breath and how you can fight them through simple changes to your daily oral care routine.

Watch "How to Freshen Bad Breath" video

Cramming

Find out why cramming for your next dental check-up won’t work and learn simple steps you can take in between visits for a healthier mouth and a better check-up.

Watch "Cramming" video