Mood Ring + Nail Polish

This makes two consecutive posts about nail polish, but I couldn't pass up this unique version. I've always had cold hands, my doctor blames poor circulation, which was awful during the winter, but perfect for mood rings. While most of my friends would busy themselves with trying to change the stone from an ugly brownish green to a striking purple, my ring would oscillate between deep and deeper blue.

Perfect Formula, the beauty gurus behind many other color changing products, have created a line of nail colors to match your mood not for the length of a typical manicure, but by the minute. Changes in body heat trigger the polish to transform from cool, deep tones to warm, bright colors. When we relax or are content, our body temperature cools. Excitement, nervousness, or anger causes the reverse and our body heats up. Other environmental factors, from taking a warm shower to holding a chilled glass, will also spark a transformation. Imagine all the possibilities!

Summer Flutters

I just discovered OPI's latest batch of nail polish colors, the Summer Flutter Collection, and I am in love. I'm especially a fan of "Flower to Flower" a bubblegum pink with a hint of silver sparkle. I'm also intrigued by the bright orange "Flit a Bit". It reminds me of Creamsicles, one of my favorite summer treats. I'm a bit worried that my fingers will be too reminiscent of traffic cones with such an electric hue, but if there's any time to flaunt bright color, it's the warmer months.

I'm also won over by the flower power display. Absolutely perfect for summer!

Rompers

Every once in a while, I meet a trend that is hard to incorporate subtly. Usually, if a trend is a bit much, I'll just incorporate it as an accessory, for example: animal prints, leather, metallic.

Rompers, however, pose a more difficult task. There's really no way to wear a piece of clothing without wearing, well, the entire piece. While I think they'd ultimately be flattering (my legs are probably my best physical asset), I can't help but fixate on the childish vibe of the piece.

It might just be a matter of finding the right romper (alliteration anyone?). A strapless number would lend a more mature edge while throwing on a cardigan and wedges would give it a more sophisticated air. A darker, more subdued color, like the pictured version from Tilly, would also do the trick. Happy shopping!

Facebook: Relationship Predictor?

Further proof that Facebook holds an exorbitant amount of personal data, a recent article details the relationship patterns uncovered by Mark Zuckerberg's software engineering experiments. Using user data commonly collected by the site as part of a published "Newsfeed", Zuckerberg predicted the emergence of relationships based on factors such as conversations, tagged pictures, and mutual friends.

David Kirkpatrick further explores the connection between these social networking experiments and reality in his new book, The Facebook Effect. He writes:

As the service’s engineers built more and more tools that could uncover such insights, Zuckerberg sometimes amused himself by conducting experiments. For instance, he concluded that by examining friend relationships and communications patterns he could determine with about 33 percent accuracy who a user was going to be in a relationship with a week from now. To deduce this he studied who was looking which profiles, who your friends were friends with, and who was newly single, among other indicators.

While the realization that a software engineer could be privy to such personal indicators that your relationship is on the rocks is somewhat frightening, the issue exposes an interesting dilemma. Should you have access to such information about yourself and/or your partner? If Facebook developed a "Relationship Health Monitor" program, would you use it? Would it notify both parties, or only the one growing disinterested?

For now, hopefully the signs of a waning relationship become visible to both parties so that they are able deal with the situation appropriately, without relying on Facebook.

Summer Shoes

When it comes to shoes, like any girl, I tend to adopt the "more the merrier" approach. Enter these adorable boat shoes from an unlikely source, Payless.

As much as I admire sky-high heels and platforms, I'm most comfortable in a cute flat. Not only would these shoes make a practical choice for summer strolls, the combination of the bright shamrock green and cheery pink whale print is simply adorable. When it comes to resisting the urge to go barefoot this summer, these shoes might just do the trick.

Business Cards

Networking. A word that seems to be a favorite of parents, career counselors, and professors. I've come to recognize its necessity as I've grown up, but I've yet to acquire the trademark of the networking world: the business card.

It's not for want of design or printing opportunity, but my main impediment to a card carrying lifestyle is the simple doubt that a college student my age needs her own business card. Sure, I have a summer employer and job title, but it's hardly something connected to my dream career or necessary to broadcast to every potential contact. However, in the midst of so many channels of communication (mail, telephone, email, websites, etc.) doesn't it make sense to have a way to easily give this information to someone?

Enter the business card. In it's simplest, dressed down version, a business card is part of a two second transaction that is more convenient, and professional, than fumbling for a piece of scrap paper and a pen when handing out contact information. While I love all things creative, there's no need for an unusually elaborate first business card. Instead, think simple, informative, and not too young or flashy. Be sure to include your name, address, cell phone number, email, and website (if applicable).

Nothing like a personal business card to make you feel grown up!

Summer Workouts

I've been home from college for less than a week, and already I'm starting to miss the little things. From my friends to a stroll across the front lawns, there are a few things impossible to replicate at home. I'm even growing nostalgic for little things, like grabbing iced coffee exactly ten minutes before class and my trademark salad in the dining hall.

The other thing I miss: the gym. One perk of my summer job is that I have free access to the on campus gym, but in the next few weeks until that starts, I've been finding other ways to get in some exercise. All of this can be done in your backyard (substitute jumping jacks or jump rope for cardio), inside near a treadmill, or by an outdoor track. I'm a fan of circuits because they keep my heart rate up, even when I'm doing strengthening exercises. Here's a sample:

• Warm up: 15 minutes running (outside if it's nice, treadmill if it's raining)
• Ab work (crunches, mountain climbers, etc.)
• 5 minutes of running
• Planks, push ups
• 5 minutes of running
• Lunges
• Cool down: 10 minutes of jogging

You can easily add more or less exercises depending on the length of your ideal workout. Sometimes I'll add a longer run at the beginning of the workout, and other times I'll add strengthening exercises with weights. Mix it up and you'll be surprised how quickly the time flies!

P.S. The shoe is the Women's New Balance 902. I love the bright color, though the price is a bit steep. A girl can dream...