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When I’m obsessed with something, I tend to stay obsessed. I first featured Mermaid Fishtail Braids on my blog in February, and now I’m becoming enamored with the delicate braids again. Although I’m kind of lazy when it comes to doing my hair (wash, brush, air dry, typically) I’m willing to try some of the easy tutorials I’ve found online. Check out a couple of my favorites below.

Image via Refinery29

Refinery 29 has a great tutorial by TRESemmé hairstylist Elsa Canedo who created the braids above for the Mara Hoffman Swim runway show. If you know how to do french braids, then this tutorial will be super simple for you. If you’re French Braid challenged, like me, you’ll need some extra help.

Image via Sasha Owen

I love this Mermaid braid variation courtesy of blogger/model Sasha Owen. It’s super simple to do, and I didn’t even watch the youtube tutorial with the sound on. I have no idea what she actually says, but it’s still pretty easy to follow just by watching. Since I have super straight hair (from a Keratin treatment months ago) I would probably have to wash it sans conditioner and tease it first to get the desired effect, but that’s doable, even for a lazy-hair doer like myself.

What do you think about Mermaid Braids? Will you be trying them this summer?

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If you’re a long time reader of Ode To Awe, you know I have a slight obsession with the Party Monster/Home Alone star ( see here , here and here .) So, it should really come as no surprise that I would want to show my love for the Mac on my nails. After coming across Lynn’s boutique on etsy, I emailed Lynn and asked if she could create custom Culkin nails for me, featuring my favorite bad boy pic of his. For the super reasonable price of $8.99 plus shipping, I will soon be the proud, albeit insane, owner of Macaulay Culkin Nails.  Of course, once they arrive, I’ll do a proper review and post, but I just couldn’t wait to show them off!

When I look at these photos from the Russh Magazine, I get a little jealous. After a brazilian blowout and keratin treatment, my hair basically does one thing, and that thing is fall flat and straight. I could probably replicate the look above, even with my straight hair, but I suck at doing anything to my hair other than washing it, brushing it, and leaving the house. Time for youtube tutorials?

Yeah, probably not. Love complicated hair, but I’m just not the type to put so much effort into my hair. I’ll just keep staring at these photos and longing for a professional stylist to fall me around and make my hair into pretty works of art.

My nails look like chipped shit.

I go way too long between manicures and I’m lazy as all hell to do my own nails. Plus, I kind of suck at it.

Luckily for me, I recently bought some kick ass nail colors by Illamasqua at Sephora that go on pretty neatly and nicely and stay on for at least a few days chip free. This shit is the bomb/ da bomb depending upon whether you want to bring it back to the 90′s or not.

Check these hot to trot colours out. Rampage on the left, rare on the right (and they basically look like that in real life). I’ve yet to do rare but it’s amazing, like a neon yellow with just the right amount of green tint, so good.

Speaking of, Da Bomb happened to be the name of my pseudo “club” in middle school. We had a magazine and ID cards and only let select members of our school into our club. We were a bunch of underage assholes. Those were the days. ( Luckily I have grown out of being an underage asshole into an of-age sweetheart, not to be confused with Sammi sweetheart of the Jersey Shore. That girl is a total bitch).

No, scratch that, it does not. I’m just anticipating my upcoming 90′s themed party and of course, what 90′s themed party would it be if we didn’t kick in some flannel and Nirvana? Of course, I’ll be switching it up with Sublime, Ace of Base, Sneaker Pimps, La Bouche, Prodigy and lots lots more. Love 90′s themed parties, except instead of smelling like teen spirit, I’d much prefer to smell like one of the following scents:

My absolute favorite, I’ve been using this forever, perfect daytime perfume.

Seriously intoxicating, it’s pretty strong so it’s great for going out at night.

New fave, a few of my friends have it and it’s amazing. I haven’t bought it yet, but I’m def. going to asap.

You can get 2 out of 3 at Sephora, but I love browsing places like Fragrance Shop, the perfume is less than half the price!