With the beach almost in sight, I know us girls are already thinking about what to pack for our week of relaxation.  To dress to impress, don’t forget to bring the following items:

1: Colorful & Cute Sneakers

Although beaches normally call for flip-flops and sandals, I always love to bring along a pair of sneakers.  They are great for travel and walks on the boardwalk.  However, ugly athletic sneakers are definitely not acceptable.  Try to look for a pair of bright canvas sneakers like these I recently found on display at Target.  They come in so many colors, I was almost tempted to buy them all!

2: Designer Beach Bag

I have a major weakness for bags, so of course I prefer to haul around a designer beach bag.  Nothing says, “I am ready for summer” like a colorful, woven tote.  This Marc by Marc Jacobs “Stripey Straw Sami” Tote caught my eye with its beautiful orange and blue coloring.

3: A Natural Looking Tan

When you first arrive at the beach, who wants to be the only pale, ghostly figure?  To achieve a perfect (but fake) tan, try the Flawless Self-Tanning Liquid by Fake Bake.  The instant results are almost effortless.  The great thing about the formulation is that it is fast drying and does not transfer onto your clothes!  Unlike other tanning lotions, the nasty fake tan smell is extremely faint.  AND it works on all skin tones.

What are your spring break essentials?  Share with us by leaving a comment below!

—Jackie

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Being a fan of unnecessarily large handbags, I was floored when I was introduced to the Celine Cabas Cloudy tote.  This new obsession of mine began when I saw the variety of beautifully colored leather that the bags are offered in.  Coming in both solid and multiple colors, the collection makes great use of the on-going color blocking trend.  The only problem…the price tag.  With the cheapest option running at a little more than $1,000, I almost gave up hope.

As college student, I am always on the hunt to find cheaper alternatives to my fashion cravings.  This week, The Limited helped me out!  They have recently introduced an almost identical inspiration of the Celine tote.   Still both classy and colorful, the price will give your credit card a little breathing room at a pleasant price of about $70 .

—Jackie

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Forget the simple, boring manicures that we have worn for years, and focus your attention on the nail trends seen during New York Fashion Week!  Among the geometric shapes and flesh-colored polish, glitter continues its popularity, but in a new form!

Ombre hair took its turn last fall, and now the ombre trend is coming to nails.  Not sure what “ombre” is?  It is the trend of dark to light in a flowing, natural manner.  Curious on how to achieve the look?  It is really a very simple process.  Here is what you will need:

- Base coat

- Fine glitter polish

- Any type of loose glitter

- Clear topcoat

Step 1- Apply your base coat.  I prefer darker colors so the glitter will have more of a “wow” factor.

Step 2- Apply the fine glitter polish to the top 2/3’s of the nail.  Do not worry about being precise; I actually like it more when they all look a little different.

Step 3- While the glitter polish is still wet, sprinkle the loose glitter to the top 1/3 of the nail.  If the glitter polish happens to dry too quickly, apply a little of the clear topcoat to the tip of your nail and then sprinkle on the glitter.  Again, this does not have to be precise.

Step 4-  Wait for all the polish to dry, then apply a generous clear topcoat.

Now you can enjoy your new glitter, ombre nails- fresh off the runway!

—Jackie

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