Easy Nail Art Tutorial

Shannon Smyth2 comments
Super Easy Nail Art How To Using Dental Floss Honestly, the easy button was made for people like me. There are just some things I have no patience for, and nail art is one of them. I wish I could tell you that as a beauty blogger I am super creative and uber crafty and create endless nail looks to swoon over, but the truth is, my nails go bare most of the time. It's a tragedy really. For some reason, ever since I wore shellac back in 2011, my nails have never grown to any substantial length. But that's not my only excuse. I simply lack the skill required to paint cool scenes on my tiny nails. Then Pinterest to my rescue! I came across an amazingly easy nail art tutorial, and I was pretty excited to be able to recreate it with some modifications. You'll need: A large piece of paper 2 Flossers 3 Bottles of your favorite polish in complementary colors 1 Base Coat 1 Top Coat Easy Nail Art How To #nailart I recently received Ricky's NYC RickyColor Nail Polish in Final Share Weekend (hot pink), Sweating in the Subway (bright purple) and Banker Husband (bright teal.) This was a great opportunity to wear them all at once (and to show off my mad new skills.) How to:
  • Apply a thin layer of base coat.
  • Apply one solid color  to all nails. (I chose hot pink.)
  • Lay your paper flat. Towards the top swipe one color a few times (generously) in the same spot so that you have a thin layer of color.
  • With one hand under that part of the paper (to push the paper into the thread), use your other hand to dip the thread of your flosser into the pool. Be sure to ONLY get the thread covered in polish (or else it will be a big mess on your hands.)
  • Now firmly apply the floss three times across your nails on one hand in different spots. (I did mine straight across, stacked.)
  • Apply your final color on the paper, swiping enough to create a thin layer of it.
  • With one hand under that part of the paper, use your other hand to dip the thread of your flosser into the pool, getting only the thread wet with polish.
  • Firmly apply the floss three times across your nails on the same hand, but in different spots. (I did mine diagnol.)
  • Repeat these same steps on your other hand.
  • Lastly apply your top coat and let dry.
Easy peasy. I love that each nail doesn't look the same, yet it still looks cool. All the colors work together and the look is eye catching. The original how to called for putting the polish pooled in a bowl, but I didn't want to waste more color than I had to and I only wanted to get the thread wet with paint and not the whole flosser. What do you think? If you replicate this how to, let me know! Subscribe to A Girl’s Gotta Spa! Watch our reviews on YouTube, see our pins on Pinterest and check us out on Instagram and G+. Got a Kindle? We’re on Kindle tooShannon on G+ *Disclosure

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Note To Self: Dream Big

Shannon Smyth4 comments
A Girl's Gotta Spa! 8th blogiversary! I shuffled a few pieces of loose leaf papers together on my desk and stapled them. I opened to the first page, put pen to paper and began to write out my short story, along with illustrations (my "books" always had illustrations.) The first page would always say, "Written by Shannon Crino" in perfect cursive penmanship. Then, dressed in my neatly pressed green plaid St. James school uniform, I would bring it to the front of the class and place it next to the other books my fifth grade teacher had organized for our daily reading time. I'd then sit and eagerly await my classmates to take one of my books and read them. I'd patiently watch their expressions as they would finger through the pages, and when they'd look up, their eyes meeting mine, they'd smile. That sealed the deal for me when it came to writing. I knew I wanted to be putting words on pages that meant something to someone. A way I could resonate with them. For the rest of my life. Later that year, as one of my newly written books sat on the coffee table in my parent's den, my father remarked, "Your illustrations and books are ordinary. There's nothing that stands out that makes them amazing. They're just..." (and I hung onto each crippling word) "plain." I was crushed. And with that critical statement from my father, I put down the pen. Approximately 4 years later, during my obsession with Rat (let's be clear--the rock band, not the rodent), I secretly began writing in a notebook crafting stories of how Warren found me so amazing and Robin was madly in love with my best friend, Tiffany. One notebook turned into ten, the pages filled with soap opera-like strife of love and betrayal. I would spend countless hours in my room putting the words that flooded my head onto paper. The notebooks would go into my closet each night to be hidden away from prying eyes. Once the obsession with Rat was over, so was the story writing. Eventually I just considered them clutter, and told myself no one would ever want to read about how a rock star fell in love with an average girl. I tossed them all out and put down the pen once again. During my final year attending Rhode Island College for my Bachelors in Psychology, my parents filed for divorce. Shortly after, the relationship with my boyfriend of 3 years ended as well.  The dusty pen found its way back into my hands and I took my sorrows out on paper. Once I became a wife and mother, it would get put to the wayside for many years...although instead of forgetting about it, I would yearn for it. I would lean more on what others thought I should be doing, all the while knowing that writing was what I was meant to be doing. Dream Big On October 24, 2005 I took the leap and pressed Publish on A Girl's Gotta Spa! I've never thought of the blog name as just a title. It was (and is) an action phrase, a verb...hence why there is an exclamation point on the end of it (that many print and online publications seem to always leave out.) I grew up in the Calgon, take me away era and A Girl's Gotta Spa! has the same intention. Additionally, it is not Girls Gotta Spa (and to be honest, when people say that, it's like hearing nails on a chalkboard to me.) That indicates that "other girls" need to spa. "A" indicates singularity. And in that singularity, it means YOU. Girl's versus Girls because the apostrophe indicates possession. In the end, each part of A Girl's Gotta Spa! means that you, essentially, are taking ownership over pampering your mind and body. Blogging has been the best thing I have ever done for myself. It has been my creative outlet, it helped me create an income when there was none, it helped me make contacts and develop relationships outside of my tiny town in the Poconos.  Not only has my writing helped me to resonate with others, it helped you to resonate with me. Solving your skin care woes became my passion, and arming you with information about product hype encouraged me to always get to the bottom of those so called "claims." Long or short, each post I write, I carefully think through, like I am speaking with a trusted friend. Just in case you don't know, today I celebrate EIGHT years of beauty blogging. About one year (almost to the day) into blogging, my life would once change again when a NYC PR firm would approach me to work for them. And as I detailed in my About Time post, I doubted myself and my abilities (go read that post, it's really good!)  As we always say in Psychology, fear and doubt come from trauma in our childhood. I truly believe that one moment where my father made me feel like I wasn't good enough set the stage in my mind (along with countless other criticisms from people along the way), that I could never dream big. To that, I now say, "You are only confined by the walls you build for yourself." Instead of allowing the words of others to build me up, I instead put these things called dreams in a box and put them away as the words of others would tear me down. During these eight years of beauty blogging I've been in countless beauty magazines (online and print), I've been on TV, I've spoken at beauty industry conferences, I've been a mentor to new beauty bloggers, I've worked for a top beauty PR firm, I've become a social media consultant, I've helped launch small brands and I've helped large brands grow traction...I've become a mom to four wonderful boys, gotten a divorce, got remarried to my very best friend and finally began to feel comfortable in my own skin. Most of all, I have confidence in my abilities and who I am. Now, in year eight, we have a team of writers (all talented women, in fact), but while they write (and I continue to edit and do reviews too), I'm beginning to shift my focus to something I've wanted to do for a very long time. Have my own bath and body line. (You can check out our Indiegogo campaign.) I'm working very hard behind the scenes (YOU GUYS it is SO much work), but I feel just as much passion about it as I do about writing. While there are many (as in countless) days where I get down on myself and feel like I can't do it or that no one will buy it (except maybe my mom and mother-in-law), I keep reminding myself to dream big. I keep bringing myself back to be that 11 year old girl who desired to dream big and do what she loved. And so, with that, I want to clearly tell you that if you have dreams and aspirations--go for them! Don't let the criticisms of others become obstacles. Don't doubt yourself. Know your worth. Be your own inspiration. Respect your talents. But most of all, dream big and find your way to those dreams no matter how long it takes. Because IT WILL happen. To many more years of beauty blogging (and beauty products!) Thanks for always listening to me, Shannon Subscribe to A Girl’s Gotta Spa! for more beauty reviews! Watch our reviews on YouTube, see our pins on Pinterest and check us out on Instagram and G+. Got a Kindle? We’re on Kindle tooShannon on G+

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Beauty Blogger's Favorite Fall Lip Colors

Shannon Smyth2 comments
Wondering which lip colors are on trend this Fall? Some of the top beauty bloggers (yes, including me!) decided to get on camera and dish about their favorites.

Beauty Blogger's Favorite Fall Lip Colors

Beauty Blogger's Favorite Fall Lip Colors 2013Yes, that's me standing in the woods! And how can you not be distracted watching Clumps of Mascara's gorgeous daughter trying to snag her lip gloss?

Everyone has some great lip color picks! My favorite lip color for Fall is Three Custom Color's Lip Gloss Pot in Simply Beautiful. It looks brown-ish in the pot, but I assure you that it's a neutral color and looks great on all skin tones. I apply with a lip brush and you only need a small amount to make your lips pop. Three Custom also sells this color in a lipstick, gloss and even as a cream blush.

Watch the video below and a big thank you to Phyrra for putting this together!

Beauty Blogger's included:

Gouldylox Reviews Clumps of Mascara Beauty and Fashion Tech My Beauty Bunny Beauty Info Zone Raging Rouge Phyrra We Heart This A Girl's Gotta Spa!

Subscribe to A Girl’s Gotta Spa! Watch our reviews on YouTube, see our pins on Pinterest and check us out on Instagram and G+. Got a Kindle? We’re on Kindle tooShannon on G+

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4 Beauty Blogger's Must-Have Hair Care for Fall

Shannon Smyth
Must-have hair care for fall via @agirlsgottaspa Ever since I had long golden blonde hair with banana curls as a little girl (and then proceeded to cut it off much to my mom's horror when Dorothy Hamil was popular)...I have always been obsessed with hair care products. From hair color (dye, highlights, low lights, etc.) to hair styles and accessories (perms, crimping, hot rollers, flat irons, big hair, long hair, short hair...you name it!)  to hair products (hair masks, hot oil treatments, leave-in conditioners, glossing serums, etc.) I could probably start the Encyclopedia of Hair Care (much like my Encylopedia of Mascaras on A Girl's Gotta Spa! Facebook fan page!) I asked my fellow beauty blogger's their must-have hair care product for Fall and here's what we came up with: Amber from Rouge 18: Living Proof's Full Root Lift Spray is changing the hair landscape as we know it. Without stickiness, it delivers hair that is heavier, volumized and more ample, somehow. It's my new go-to item.   Lianne from The Makeup Girl: Peter Lamas Rice Volumizing Protein shampoo/conditioner. Ever since I have been getting regular keratin treatments to smooth out the frizzies, I have to use sulfate free products when washing my hair. Not only does this give me body without being crazy it's certified organic and super gentle on my hair. Cybele from Cybele Says: Hair straightening systems seem to be all the rage and they seem to just get bigger as time goes on. The latest being Global Keratin Hair Taming System and what's great about this system is that you can choose the level depending on your hair type - Light Wave, Curly or Resistant. Check their site for salons that offer the treatment. Shannon from A Girl's Gotta Spa!: Jonathan Product Green Rootine Dry Shampoo.  On days when my mom-on-the-go schedule is super busy and I don't have time to wash and style my hair, this brush-on powder is perfect. It absorbs excess oil, dirt and product build-up from my hair and scalp, but also increases volume in my hair. What's your must-have hair care product for fall? Don't forget to Like A Girl's Gotta Spa! on Facebook, talk to me on Twitter @agirlsgottaspa and subscribe to this beauty blog! *Disclosure

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4 Beauty Blogger's Must-Have Beauty Accessories for Fall

Shannon Smyth1 comment
I love beauty products, but don't forget the beauty accessories! I'm talking hair dryers (can't live without my Conair Infiniti Nano Tourmaline Ceramic hair dryer), skin care accessories, makeup accessories...you name it! Here's some must-have beauty accessories for Fall from my fellow beauty bloggers (and myself!): Aly from AlyWalansky.com: For me, it's Crest 3D White Pro Effects Whitestrips. My income is super limited and yet, I'm expected to constantly smile for pictures and attend events, sometimes with just a few days' notice! This really truly makes my teeth look whiter in one day - which is great, until I break out the wine! Adina from Krasey Beauty: My must-have accessory is the Clarisonic, of course. It is a skin game-changer, a face fortifier, and a confidante to complexions everywhere. I use mine nightly for a massage and proper cleansing in one, and my skin glows for it.   Julie from I Heart Heels: The Zeno is my go-to on the spot "facial." It really keeps my skin clear (with one ingredient - heat!), and I'm really loving the Zeno Hot Spot for fall because it's so portable - and pretty! Shannon from A Girl's Gotta Spa!: Renee Rouleau Toning Cloths. I cannot live without these and if you have used them yourself, then you know that once you try them, you will never ever go back to using cotton balls or cotton pads! There is no lint, and these cloths are gentle enough to use on your face to remove makeup and apply toner, yet also strong enough to use when removing your nail polish. They are triple duty beauty! What is your must-have beauty accessory? Subscribe to A Girl’s Gotta Spa! for more beauty reviews! Watch our reviews on YouTube, see our pins on Pinterest and check us out on Instagram and G+. Got a Kindle? We’re on Kindle tooShannon on G+ *Disclosure

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