Serena Williams’ OPI line looks awesome under Shatter, too.

And, here’s the effect:

It’s certainly not for everyone, but it’s a-okay by Fergie…

..and of course, Mrs. Perry (Brand?).

LK + I swear by our nail salon, Lily’s Nails, on Piedmont + Monroe in the shopping center with RuSans + they’ve recently started using OPI’s Shatter.  Last week, when I was getting the OPI Axxium gel nails, Lily + another one of the technicians were trying it on themselves over various bold colors.  It looked really cool, I must admit, for the right time + place.  (Concert, Halloween, bachelorette party, etc…) 

Here are some other crackle ideas:

What do y’all think??  It’s not for everyone, but whomever it IS for – I want to be friends with them… 

xx, L

But hold on to your horses because next up?  TEXAS, TEXAS, yeehaw!

Your fingers can get a Texas-style makeover in shades ranging from Houston, We Have A Purple to San Tan-Tonio to

It's Totally Ft. Worth It

The names are hilarious.   Big Hair…Big Nails?  Sign me up.

I’m not a super-adventurous nailpolish person - but I may just have to give Austin Tatious a try…

Giddyup.

xx, L

Luckily, the gift/sundries shop at the Loews is like a one-stop-shop for necessities for millionaires…and chic splurges for working girls like myself…and I discovered Archipelago Boticario de Havana hair products there! 

(If you knew about this line and didn’t clue me in – shame on you!)

This fabulous little discovery made me start thinking about all the wonderful products  I found in 2010 and in case you missed the posts (or in case I forgot to write them…) here are my official Top 10 Beauty Products of 2010:

10.  All-natural shampoos.   I’ll go ahead and start with Boticario de Havana, but I can’t leave out Prive Concept Vert, either. 

The product comes out like shaving cream and expands with a touch of water.  You get a big bang for your buck and it smells divine!  Both of these duos are incredibly healthy for your hair and 100% safe for chemically treated tresses of any kind.  

9.  Trish McEvoy Waterproof Lash Curling Mascara - I am usually a drug-store mascara girl – normally, I can’t tell even the fanciest mascara from good ol’ Great Lash… until I met this little gem from Trish.  I swipe it on in the morning and it’s still going strong without a single smudge whenever I remove it. 

(Honorable mention: Trish McEvoy Line Refiner: this is my secret weapon for looking fresh as a daisy all day and all night!  It’s like a drink of water for your face!)

8.  OPI Axxium “No-Chip” manicure – it’s pretty much the only manicure I get these days…I only have to go 2x a month as opposed to my regular 4 and since my nail color absolutely never deviates from light pink, French, black, and sometimes grey or red, this is PERFECT for me.   Even for the gel colors, the best manicure in town is still at Lily’s…fact. 

New Year's Eve manicure

7.   Bliss Lid + Lash Wash – all you need is a cotton pad and a tiny bottle of this stuff and your eye makeup doesn’t stand a chance.  It works on even the smokiest of eyes. 

6.  Redken Extreme Anti-Snap leave-in conditioner – my genius hairstylist recommended this drugstore brand product and it’s made a huge difference in the health of my hair.  Plus, it goes on ultra-light and doesn’t weigh my hair down – I barely know it’s there!

5.  MAC Mineralize SPF 15 makeup – this is the first foundation that my skin doesn’t turn orange.  And it feels so smooth and fantastic.  Bonus: if you collect 6 containers and return to Mac, you get a free blush or lipstick! 

4.  Unite Dry Shampoo – Saved. My. Life.  Bonus: It’s also good for adding texture when your hair is supa-dupa clean, like right out of the shower, and is too slippery to hold a style.   

3. Clairsonic Mia Face cleansing brush – check out my previous post HERE, but it’s basically a Sonicare toothbrush for your face…and made by the same people.  It’s easy, it’s thorough, and your face will feel phenom.  Trust.

2. L’Occitaine Almond Shower Oil is responsible for the BEST 5-8 minutes of my day.  This delicious lather leaves my skin SO incredibly soft and I smell like a bakery but not as sickenly sweet.  I demand that you try this immediately.   

1.  Brazilian Blowout – I think my #1 for 2009 was definitely the Keratin treatment, but the Brazilian Blowout provides the silky-smoothness I crave without the 3 days of torture while the product sits in your hair.  Miracle!  (I still get mine done at Mint Salon in Midtown.)

And that, as they say, is that!  Here’s to a happy, healthy, BEAUTIFUL 2011! 

I can’t wait to see what’s to come! 

xx, L

ugh, just ANOTHER reason to dislike Mr. West

Today, I broke my streak.  Lily’s just got in OPI’s Fall/Winter 2010 Swiss Collection, and it’s g.o.r.g.e.o.u.s.!

I immediately grabbed the Lucerne-tainly Look Marvelous, plopped down with Lily, and didn’t think twice about the Canadian Tuxedo I was about to get on both my fingernails and toenails.

OPI Lucerne-tainly Look Marvelous

It’s hot.  To me, it’s a funky party color, but classy + subtle enough to pull off at the office.  I’m in love!  (Sigh.)  The whole Swiss line is fantastic, but this color is definitely my favorite. 

Well, Canada, guess I’m headed back after all…

xx, L

You may remember, my main complaint the last time was that I got sick of my color, so this time I played it safe with a straight-up French manicure. Usually when I go French I prefer a “white on white” look – Waltz or Marshmallow for the base and the white tip like this…

…but since there’s not currently a comparable color in the Axxium collection just yet, I chose Bubble Bath/Hawaiian Orchid for my base…which still comes out pretty clear, witness:

I’m pretty happy though – it’s just a nice, classic mani, and you can never go wrong with classic, I think.  I’ll keep you posted with my results.  I learned today that you can paint another color on top, and since the gel polish is not affected by normal polish remover, you can remove the top color without damage to your Axxium manicure, so I’m thinking it may be worth it to have a neutral shade on at all times and paint them for special occasions!  Just a thought…

xx, L

PS I went on Stefani’s reccomendation to Eminence Nail and Spa above Ulta in the Buckhead loop.  Have you guys been there? That place is HUGE!

• The Brazilian Blowout

As you might recall, I am a Keratin Believer.  Please witness my previous post here.   A wise woman named Mara once said to me after her own treatment, “Now I have more time to focus on world peace because I don’t have to wonder whether or not it’s going to be a good hair day.  They are ALL good hair days.”

It’s the truth – the treatment is amazing. But the three days you spend as a Gremlin while this stuff works on your hair? Torture. So when Lindsay informed me that her salon, Mint, was offering a Keratin treatment which required a reduced amount of time for the product to set in, you better believe I was all about it.  I figured, any second I could shave off that process would be a vast improvement!   

I was outrageously and pleasantly suprised when I called in and discovered they have also very recently started to offer the Brazilian Blowout, which is 100% complete when you walk out of the salon, no downtime!  AMAZING. It took about 3 hours, and the process was similar: wash, apply product, blow out, bake in strand by strand with a flat iron…

Mary Joyce at Mint Salon working her magic

…and the result is EXACTLY the same. I recommend 100%.  I’ll let you know in a month or two if it lasts as long as the Keratin, but for right now at 2 weeks out, I am THRILLED.  Oh, but please note: you must stay away from Sodium Chloride products (as you do with the Keratin) but you must also stay away from Sulfide products as well.  Mary, who performed my treatment at Mint, recommended Prive Concept Vert for my shampoo and conditioner:

You may remember how obsessed I am with Prive as a line, but this stuff takes the cake.  It’s 3 liters of product jammed into this little bottle.  Yowza!  The tiniest bit of this product, mixed with a little water, expands to an entire handful and definitely more than enough for one use. Plus, it smells SPECTACULAR.

Call Mary Joyce at Mint Salon for an appointment 404.724.9669.  Tell her the Q+DD sent ya!

• OPI Axxium soak-off gel nail polish
  

I didn’t think I could do this.  I am a commitment-averse person.  I can barely decide on a pair of shoes for an evening, let alone a nail polish color for 3 weeks, but I finally bit the bullet and tried OPI’s new gel colors.

Not to be confused with Gel Nails or Acrylics, this gel is painted on like a polish, but dries under the UV light to a smooth, hard finish like the aformentioned products, but with no damage to your actual nail!

A few things to note: once the polish is applied, it must be soaked off like acrylics or gel nails.

Also, the colors are MUCH lighter than they appear. If you are choosing a neutral shade like Bubble Bath, it will dry almost clear.

Now, since I am not and will never be a naked nail girl, AND since i was in an 80′s kind of mood when I was doing this, I went with HOT pink. I had to have them soaked off early because I could no longer stand the color, but I could have easily gone another week.  Check it:

After 2 weeks!

If you think gel color may be for you, there are several salons offering this in town including Nail and Toe Spa in Buckhead, Top Nail in Toco Hills, and Hammond Nails in Sandy Springs.

Finally, the last beauty product I need to share with you is…

• The Clairsonic Mia

From the creators of the Sonicare toothbrush, this little hand-held wonder ensures that my mug gets a thorough 1-minute cleaning at least once a day!

It’s completely waterproof, so if you want to use it in the shower that is a-ok and the charge lasts a REALLY long time! My mom brought it in as a gift when she came to visit, and I absolutely LOVE it.  I can definitely tell a difference in my skin and it makes my nightly routine SO much easier.  I use it with my glycolic cleanser from my dermy and plain ol’ Cetaphil…the Mia works great with both!

Ok, that’s all I’ve got for now.  I’ll continue to look into the open sea of beauty possibilities and report back.

Further bulletins as events warrant.

xx, L

The Spa is incredibly luxurious and feels a bit European.  It is not cheap, either, as they use some of the finest spa products available by names like Arcona, Karita, Bulgari, Kai and Sodashi.  They will even let you tailor spa services to your specific needs.  (Love ordering “off the menu!”)  However, I might feel a little ridiculous booking a 60-minute appointment for someone to just rub my feet, although that = my heaven…

The Spa, itself, is relatively small in size, but that makes it feel more intimate - not like you are at a factory.  And, it’s open every day from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.  and you only need to give them an hour or so notice for most services.  How nice - a spa that works around your schedule!

Here’s the Q+DD on The Spa at Four Seasons Hotel Atlanta:

The Spa at Four Seasons Hotel Atlanta reflects the ultimate in luxury and serenity.  The tranquil setting allows your stresses to melt away and promises to replenish your total being. Designed for peace and privacy, the facility’s ten treatment rooms, including the nail suite, are soundproofed for a secluded retreat.  The colour palette throughout the Spa, including the couples suite, aesthetics room and nail suite, mirrors nature’s calming influence. Materials reflect a dedication to beauty and excellence.

Services are performed by highly trained, intuitive staff who bring you to a place of complete relaxation and renewal.  Indulge your senses.  Whatever spa services you choose, the experience will be beyond compare. Complimentary fresh fruit and juice are available in the quiet room where guests unwind before and after treatments.  Guests can also enjoy a light spa lunch while sunbathing just steps away on the sun terrace.

A list of spa services + prices can be found here:
http://www.fourseasons.com/atlanta/spa.html#image-atlanta-hotel-ATL_083

The Spa at Four Seasons Hotel Atlanta

The nail technicians used the most incredible polish on our fingers and toesies made by SPARITUAL.  I loved it so much – I couldn’t leave without a bottle of my own.  SPARITUAL is a vegan nail lacquer free of DBP, formaldehyde and toluene.  They have about 80 different colors and are only sold at the Four Seasons and Callaway Gardens in and around Atlanta.  The color I used and purchased was “Flower Child” shimmer – it’s a perfect purple-based color for winter. 

Find out more about SPARITUAL here:
http://www.sparitual.com/nail_lacquers/

earth-friendly nail polish

Fight the winter blues by treating yourself to a little spa splurge at The Spa at Four Seasons Atlanta.  And, make sure to ask for SPARITUAL nail polish!  It’s just divine, dah-ling. 

xx, L

The Spa at Four Seasons Hotel Atlanta
75 Fourteenth Street
Atlanta, GA  30309
404.253.3848
www.fourseasons.com

1. Manis and pedis at Nail + Toe Salon in Buckhead
Generally, I’m pretty loyal to Lily, but I think Nail + Toe does a terrific job and each manicure comes with an amazing 5-10 minute shoulder, neck, and scalp massage, gratis! Can’t beat it with a stick. While our nails and toes were polished (Essie “Angel Food” on our hands and OPI “Lincoln Park After Dark” on our toes) we polished off a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc and decided we needed to eat. Stat.

2. Light bite at Parish in Inman Park
I think Erin put it best when she said, “Was it the best food in the world? No. Was it the best “spot-hitter” for what we were craving? Yes.”

It was 9:30ish by the time we got there and a little chilly and rainy outside, but when we walked into Parrish, it was lively and warm and cozy and everyone was having an absolute blast. There were pretty people laughing at the bar and the restaurant was packed with little rowdy tables sharing bottles of wine and oysters on the half shell and whatever else. Fabulous. After hearing almost every single server’s advise, we settled on the Milk + Honey Salad (baby spinach with house made almond nougat, dried apricots and cherries, apple wood smoked bacon and chile and wildflower honey vinaigrette), the Squash + Dumplings (1/2 an acorn squash maple roasted and filled with buttermilk parmesan dumplings) and the Mahi Mahi (simple grilled over seasonal vegetables) then…the Bananas Foster. Amazing. When our glasses were empty and the live music packed up and went home, we thought we figured it was time for the next stop. After retrieving our keys from the valet, Bishop (hi, Bishop!), we decided to check out the cigar bar up the street.

3. In-and-out of Highland Cigar Co.
We both liked the idea of smoking a cigar, but when we walked into a wall of smoke, we walked right back out at the thought of either having to wash our hair that evening or having our pillowcases smell like an ashtray. But who knows? We may be back. Next!

4. P’cheen
MWolfe tells me P’cheen has his favorite burger in the city. I’ve never tried it. In fact, I have never had any food at P’cheen, so I can’t tell you what it’s like. What I can tell you is this: I have never had a bad time at P’cheen. It’s just a laid back, cool bar/resto. EZ and I drank cheap beers at the bar and giggled while we speculated about the life stories about everyone we saw and polled people on their favorite theme-party ideas (research for the 5th annual EZ/LK Birthday Bash coming up in early 2010. Get excited.)

All-in-all, fabulous GNO. Even on a cold, rainy Friday. So grab your go-to girl and g-o. I suggest someone as fabulous as EZ.

xx, L

Parish Foods & Goods
240 N Highland Ave NE
Atlanta, GA 30307
(404) 681-4434

Buckhead Nail and Toe Spa
3210 Roswell Rd NW
Atlanta, GA 30305
(404) 869-8999

Highland Cigar Co
245 N Highland Ave NE
Atlanta, GA 30307-1936
(404) 477-2415

P’cheen International Restaurant
701-5 Highland Ave NE
Atlanta, GA 30312
(404) 529-8800

- Audrey HepburnLike Audrey, I take my cuticles very seriously. Even if I am broke as a joke, my manicure and pedicure are the last thing to go. You’ll never catch me without neatly lacquered nails. Fact.

If you’re like me, you probably have a go-to manicurist in your neighborhood. For me (and Linds and Mer…), it’s Lily’s Nails on the top floor of the two story strip mall at Monroe and Piedmont. You don’t need an appointment (which is key for last-minute girls like myself) and my fabulous $10 manicure lasts at LEAST a week. Plus, Lily, the owner, is adorable and will occasionally serenade the entire salon with Top 40 songs as she bustles around the place. Fab. If that is convenient for you, I suggest you try them.

Lily’s Nail & Spa
1529 Piedmont Ave NE Atlanta, GA 30324
(404) 249-8080

BUT: We have all been stuck outside of our ‘hood in desperate need of a mani. Never fear. I enlisted a glossy little group of girlfriends (Linds, La, EZ, Stephanie, Stefani, Christine, Cari, Meredith and Stacey) to help make a handy-dandy list of our favorite places around town!

However, if we have somehow missed your favorite place, PLEASE kindly leave the address and phone number in a comment.

Buckhead:

Both Stephanie and Stefani recommended Sugarcoat (www.sugarcoatbeauty.com)
And when I lived in the Eclipse, this was my go-to as well. It’s the cutest salon ever. It’s pink and girly and PRISTINE. It’s also the best place to get an adorable gift, they offer fabulous products (Haviana flops, Hanky Panky, Lollia, etc.) and Sugarcoat is owned and operated by the cutest duet of ladies (well, besides L+L, of course), Christie and Colette, who are PERFECT to consult with on gift options or polish colors! C+C – I miss you!
Note: You DO need an appointment, though, they book up quickly.

Sugarcoat
256 Pharr Rd NE Atlanta, GA 30305
(404) 814-2121

Stefani also recommends Eminence (on the top floor of the two story strip mall in Buckhead Loop) She says the massage chairs are to die fah!

Eminence Nail & Spa
3495 Buckhead Loop NE Atlanta, GA 30326
(404) 846-1555

EZ is faithful to Nail and Toe. (They do a great job and offer a fabulous shoulder massage with every manicure…)

Buckhead Nail and Toe Spa
3210 Roswell Rd NW # B Atlanta, GA 30305-1822
(404) 869-8999

Christine goes to Glamour Nail (in “The Peach” shopping center)

Glamour Nail
2900 Peachtree Road NW Atlanta, GA 30305
(404) 239-0717

Midtown/Highlands:

If you can’t make it to Lily’s, Christine recommends Highland Nail (off Amsterdam)

Highland Nail
1190 N Highland Ave NE Atlanta, GA 30306
(404) 249-6245

Sandy Springs:

You can find La at her weekly Friday 3:15 appointment at Hammond Nails (off Roswell Road)

Hammond Nails & Spa
4279 Roswell Rd Atlanta, GA 30342
(404) 250-9698

Recently, she has been getting “Gel Nails” which is a new process by OPI. For $25, they will paint your own nails with a similar solution as acrylic nails. The benefit? It lasts 2 weeks without ANY chipping and does not harm your nails. Note: you must have them “soaked” off a la acrylics as well. As far as I know, Hammond Nails is one of the only places in town offering this service.

Cari loves Nail Talk and Tan (in the Target Shopping Center by Perimeter mall.)

Nail Talk Tan & Spa
90 Perimeter Center Pl NE Atlanta, GA 30346
(678) 320-0400

Stacey either goes to Hammond Nails or Fancy Nails (She said Fancy Nails is cheap + good but not actually Fancy.  Which is funny because conversely, Stacey herself is fancy + good, but not cheap.  Interesting?)

Fancy Nails
6125 Roswell Rd NE # 10A, Atlanta
(404) 257-1205

Please stay tuned for a post regarding polish color. For now, I’ll leave you with a quote from the American cinematic masterpiece, Legally Blonde 2: Red, White and Blonde (2003):

“Never underestimate a girl with a French manicure and Harvard Law degree.”

(Listen, I don’t have one of those things, but don’t you underestimate me, either.)

xx, L

PS. Thanks, ladies!