300: Revenge of the Blog

Guyssssssss, this is my 300th blog post! Did you think this post was going to be about that awful movie franchise? Then you obviously just found your way here recently. And have probably already departed.

As usual, I digress.

I know it's January here, I know, and I also know that means it'll be real cold for a real long time still. BUT, the magazines have gotten to me, and thoughts of spring nail trends keep popping into my head. Am I practically begging that goddamn groundhog to see its shadow on February 2nd with these thoughts? Probably. But I'm not stupid enough to believe a hibernating ball of fur can keep winter in Chicago from lasting until April. On to nail polish!

Via popsugar.com

As always, pastels will have their time. I love a good chalky green, but I feel petal pink and pale blue turning into a small obsession. Not at the same time, though. I made that mistake once and it looked like a baby shower on my hands. This gradient manicure from the Nanette Lepore Spring 2015 show definitely makes the list of nail looks to try in the coming weeks.

Short nails seem to be coming back around. Fine with me. I don't need any more painful hangnails.

Via popsugar.com

I'm also loving a double tipped French manicure. From the Sophie Theallet Spring 2015 show, I think the sheer base on this makes the whole look so chic, I absolutely cannot wait to try it. There's something about the delicate little pops of color on the nail tip that turn this into a can't-look-away design.

So that's what I'm most excited to jump into as we move through the endless Chicago winter. What nail looks will you take a stab at as we march toward spring (get it? March, spring? ha ha ha)?

Number 7: Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty

Yeah, I'm trying to read 100 books again. I know, I only made it to around 50 last year, but that just leaves room for improvement, right? Anyway, the first big hit on my list comes in at number seven (as in, the seventh book I've finished this year).

Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty, set in an Australian seaside town, centers itself around three women whose children have all just entered kindergarten. I thought it would be a frivolous little bit of something, some drama about motherhood and ladies who lunch and all that. As such, it took me quite by surprise when allusions to some terrible tragedy combined with a flashback framing device to set up a tense narrative fraught with struggles both large and small.

You all know by now that that's all for plot points I'm going to give you, but believe me when I say that this is worth a read. Moriarty renders her characters in beautiful detail -- though I admit that she succumbs to some rather tired backstories. However, assuming the author's mission was to use an extraordinary tragedy to reveal the everyday tragedies of these women's lives, these backstories emphasize her point nicely.

All in all, a well-crafted read, and worth the time I spent on it. Hopefully, the next 93 will be similarly enjoyable. Wish me luck.

And the Winner is...

Jessica Chastain is a stone cold fox, and she won the makeup game at the 2015 Golden Globes.

Image via Popstop TV

I love the soft shading of her smoky eye combined with lightly flushed cheeks and what is clearly a MLBB (my lips but better) matte lipstick. The subtle cat eye with eyeshadow instead of harsh liner seems destined to become my next eye makeup obsession. Of course, I'll never be such a beautiful ginger, but that's only because I have a violent aversion to dyeing my hair.

I'd love to say I found out who did her makeup, but my Googling game has been particularly weak lately. Anyone know? All I know is that it probably wasn't Bobbi Brown.

 Did you watch the Golden Globes? Who's your pick for best face?

Lilly Pulitzer for Target

Hey! Did you all enjoy the holidays? I did, but unfortunately got dreadfully sick right after Christmas. Bummer, right? Good thing I was still visiting my parents then, they took real good care of me, and I'm better now.

At any rate, while the weather here in Chicago continues to make me question all my life choices, I found out something very exciting: Lilly Pulitzer is coming to Target stores in the US and Canada and Target.com on April 19th with a 250-piece limited edition collection.

To say I'm excited would be a massive understatement.

Apparently the collection will include 15 exclusive prints featured on items in women and girls apparel, shoes, accessories, home, and entertaining. I know exactly what my summer is going to look like. I'm also hopeful, as someone in the plus size range, that Lilly will stick to Target's more generous sizing range so I can get some good summer dresses. The images from the press event look positively tantalizing and filled with the exuberant colors and patterns the world expects from Lilly Pulitzer, so I'd be extremely disappointed if a small size range limited my purchasing choices to accesories and decor. I remain hopeful.

Anyone else as thrilled as I am?

Picture and info via A Bullseye View.