Sally Hansen Makes Nail Art Even Easier

 

Confession: Although I've been drawing fun designs on my nails for years, I've never used a nail art pen. Instead, I usually end up with a makeshift pencil dipped in polish to complete my looks. So, when I saw Sally Hansen's new I Heart Nail Art line, I knew I had to try it.

 

I used the white pen to make flower petals on my nail for a springy vibe. Overall, I found it easy to use as long as you wait for your base coat to fully dry. When I first started my design, it was a little messy, but I was able to wipe off the white without messing up my bottom polish with a wet cotton ball. You also have to make sure to shake the pen well before using it.  

Get the look: I Heart Nail Art Pens

The Photos I Never Shared from the Boston Marathon Bombing

One year ago today, I was caught in the middle of tragedy when I covered Marathon Monday for my photojournalism class. I never expected to find myself less than a mile away from two explosions, worrying for my classmates and the runners I had just spent my day tracking to the finish line.

One year ago today, I was faced with the hardest decision of my (short!) journalistic career. A decision that some professionals haven't even been faced with thus far. One year later, I'm proud to say I pushed through emotion to cover an event that will go down in history.

After my class project on the marathon ended, I shoved my work out of my mind. I had no desire to relive the events of such a challenging day. So today, I'm sharing my Boston Marathon 2013 photos for the first time.

For class, I was part of a group staggered throughout the race to cover 2 specific runners running for Bottom Line, a charity here in Boston. We even photographed our runners as they prepared for the race.

One of our runners, Michelle, at a pasta dinner the weekend before the marathon.

I spent my morning at Boston College's Heartbreak Hill, watching the elite runners pass by and tracking my subjects, Michelle and Ginnie. 

 

Tatyana McFadden, the Women’s top Wheel chair division finisher, races down Heartbreak Hill.

 

Renee Killian, waits for her dad, Peter, to run by at the Bottom of Heartbreak Hill.

 

A group of elite runners, from left to right, Kara Goucher, Sharon Cherop, Akemi Oaska, Tirfi Tsegaye, Meseret Hailu, Rita Jeptoo, and Shalane Flanagan run down Heartbreak Hill. Jeptoo finished as the top Woman overall, Flanagan was the top American Woman, and the fourth Woman.

 

Svetlana Pretot, 41, an elite runner from France, shows off for the crowd at Heartbreak Hill.

 

Gina Slaby, a Navy lieutenant turned marathon runner passes by a group of soldiers at Heartbreak Hill.

 

A group of elite runners, from left to right, Dickson Chumba, Gebremariam, Gebregziabher, Levy Matebo, Lelisa Desisa, and Michah Kogo at Heartbreak Hill. In the men’s overall division, Desisa finished first, Kogo second, and Gebregziabher third.

 

Jason Hartmann, the top American man to finish the Boston Marathon and fourth man overall, runs past a group of U.S. Army soldiers at Heartbreak Hill.

 

Gene Carter, pushes Paul Appleby, who has cerebral palsy down Heartbreak Hill. They are one of four wheelchair-push teams who ran in the marathon.

 

Laurie Copeland is joined by a group of cheering Boston College students at Heartbreak Hill. This photo, more than any other, represents the cheerful mood of my morning. 

 

After Michelle passed me at Heartbreak Hill (mile 21), I snapped the above photo, I left to head to the finish line.

When the train I was on got to Kenmore Square, we were evacuated with no explanation. I ran towards the finish line, hoping to photograph Michelle. Instead, I found myself inside a pack of runners who had been stopped less than a mile away from Copley Square. 

 

As runners stopped by mile 25 waited to hear news about the bombing and find their family and friends, many found whatever they could to keep them warm.

 

After the runners who didn't finish the race started leaving, I headed back to Kenmore Square. Although I wasn't able to connect with either of my runners, I contacted Ginnie's boyfriend. He told me he was meeting her outside UNO's and I was lucky to arrive before she did to capture this  moment.

Ultimately, neither of my runners were able to finish the marathon. But both were safe and reunited with their families.



All photos (c) Rebecca Shinners

What to Do if You’re A Senior Who Can’t Apply to Jobs Yet

I’m a senior, graduating in a month, and I haven’t started looking for jobs yet. In fact, I can’t start looking for jobs yet. The field I want to work in doesn’t hire on a strict timeline, like some of the business majors out there may be used to. Instead, I have to graduate and be in New York for a company to even review my application. In the magazine publishing industry, national titles hire within two weeks of a position becoming available.

Unfortunately, when I tell someone new that I’m a senior, they only have one question for me: what comes next?

Here are my tips for answering the dreaded question of what you’re doing after graduation, when in fact, you can’t start looking for a job yet:

1. Assess your situation: Have you had strong past internship experience? Or are you just starting out in the field you want to work in? If you don’t have much access to the industry, you might want to consider applying to paid internships for the summer.

2. Don’t settle: On the other hand, if you’ve already had the experience you need to establish connections in your field, resist the urge to apply to internships. While it’s tempting to know what you’re doing over the summer, you won’t be free to look for jobs until the fall. I made the hard decision to stop applying for internships because I have connections now that may not be as current a few months down the road.

3. Make a plan: As I said earlier, the industry I want to work in is completely in NY. So, my plan is to go to New York and start having informational interviews to find positions to apply to.

4. Know (kinda) what you’re doing:  I’ve boiled down a simple response for when people ask me what I’m doing after graduation. “I’m going to move back to NY to look for a job at a magazine,” is my typical answer.

5. Stop worrying: Honestly, I don’t hate that I work in an industry where I can’t start applying until after graduation. It gives me more free time to enjoy my last month at BU.

6. Make new connections: Know of someone with a position you’d love to have in the future? Whether there’s a job opportunity there or not, reach out for an informational opportunity. Who knows, it can lead to something down the road as well as helpful tips to use now.



This post originally appeared on the BU CCD-ERC Student Ambassador Tumblr.

Forget Your Basic French With Glitter Tips

I've been adding glitter to the tips of my nails for an extra dose of sparkle for some time now. However, I recently discovered a new way to upgrade the look.

The Inspiration: Cosmo's Glitter Nail Tutorial

Cosmo's how-to featured nude nails with piles of glitter. While I felt the tutorial was a bit specific to using certain types of glitter, my main takeaway was how to layer different glitter polishes.

My Way:

Instead of leaving my nails nude, I chose an off-white polish that I'd normally reserve for when I'm a bit tanner. However, adding glitter to the white gave it a more springtime feel.

Get the look:

1. After applying your base coat (always apply base coat!), paint a white coat of polish on your nail. I used Nicole by OPI's sweet surrender. Let it dry.

2. Use a gold polish to paint a stroke across the tip of your nail. It should be about the width of the brush itself. Don't worry about it being straight, the glitter (step 3!) will cover up a messy line. I used Sephora by OPI's worth my weight.

3. For this step, you'll need a clear based polish with loose glitter inside, like Essie's jazzy jubilant. You need to get as much of the glitter on your brush as possible and paint it over the gold line you made.

4. Paint a topcoat on and prepare for compliments!

Festival Trends: How to Wear Flowers in Your Hair

Festival fashion back and more hippie chick than ever with flower crowns appearing everywhere. Whether you're going to Coachella (bring me with you) or just relaxing at your local park, this fun accessory gives any outfit a springy, laid-back vibe. Even our fave boho queen is getting in on the trend.

Get the look:

1. Daisy Headband 

2. Flower Clip 

3. Paper Rose Crown

4. Oversized Bright Blue Flower Crown

My Way:

Instead of a flower crown, I opted for this flower clip from Asos and braided it into my hair. Although I found the product a bit hard to use at first, it instantly transformed my outfit to boho glam. I'm looking forward to wearing it when the weather warms up this spring!