Nouveau Prep

So what's up with The Otter Bay Company and what's an otter got to do with nouveau prep? Here's what: do you have a favorite t-shirt? (That's rhetorical, of course you do, everybody does, right?) Mine's the one t-shirt that my mom always looks at me wearing and starts to roll her eyes, because I just wore it yesterday or the day before or 3 days before. But, unfortunately, my fave summer t-shirt doesn't fit anymore, so I've been searching for a new one. Which got me thinking... what makes a favorite t-shirt?

And I've come up with a few ideas.

1. It's got to be a great color. 2. The fit has to be exceptional. 3. It has to be comfortable enough to want to sleep in it, and occasionally I do. 4. It has to be borrow-worthy. 5. It has to be cute, of course.

So I started my search... and found THE SHIRT. The Otter Bay Company t-shirts. I hadn't seen them around, but spotted them on a few preppy Tumblrs I follow. I went crazy for the colors. So I got 2 from The Otter Bay Company - thank you, thank you, guys - and they are better than they look online. The t-shirt colors are vibrant, the fit is slimming, they are really comfortable, and I love the material. I don't know enough about fabric other than to say it's a fabric that breathes and stretches. Meaning sweat pits and binding arms are a thing of the past. They are borrow-worthy (but I won't be lending because I'll be wearing them too often) and they are definitely cuter-than-cute. Plus, I adore the deep-V and the longer length. The cut is perfect, but very junior, meaning size up at least one size, maybe even 2 sizes. I usually wear a small and the medium is snug. I might try a large and see how it fits.

So, I'm done, my checklist complete, the perfect tee is found just in time for summer and I'm set. I'm a fan of the otter: The Otter Bay Company, you rule. ~Chloe

Earn rewards (like gift cards) by watching teen TV?

I watch a lot of teen TV shows, like the Kardashians, Real Housewives, Toddlers & Tiaras, etc. and OMG, I just found my new favorite app: Viggle. If you are an avid teen TV watcher like me (don't worry, I like to read books too!) then you will obsess over this app as much as I am! When I first heard about Viggle, I have to admit I made fun of the name because it reminded me of the Russian Wiggles (if there's such a thing), but in reality its the best app ever! All you have to do is download the free app, and watch TV. Then you earn rewards. Sounded too good to be true, right? Well, here's how it works:

While you're watching TV you press a button, and the app "listens" to the show like "Shazam" does and you rake in the points. One of the greatest aspects is that you can set reminders, so that if you want to add a new show into your routine, then it's as easy as the press of a button, and you'll receive a reminder that your show is starting! Once you've acquired a certain amount of points, you receive real life rewards like a Starbucks gift card, or iTunes gift card, or you can even save your points and receive a Macbook Air, although I've calculated it and it would take years. But, honestly, all this TV watching I do is going to get rewarded and it doesn't get much better than that, especially over the summer. What's interesting is that I've watched some new shows just to get points and found out that they weren't that bad, so I guess Viggle is working. I may discover some new shows I like, or I may just keep watching my same ones, but I may get something for doing what I do anyway!

Let us know what you think of the app in the comments below...do you think it is good or bad to be rewarded to watch TV?

Chloe's Beauty Challenge-$15 Teen Beauty Tips

Chloe loves makeup and loves to try new brands. But they don't always turn out to be as great as she hopes. So we decided to create a new column just for her: Teen Beauty Tips. Every few weeks she'll go shopping for makeup or beauty items. But since that's too easy, we wanted to make Chloe's Beauty Challenge a real challenge.. so she only has $15 to spend to come up with Teen Beauty Tips... and she can only spend it in a drugstore or similar store (CVS, Walgreens, Target, Rite-Aid....) Originally the amount was $10, but the price was too limiting since we wanted a variety of items in each article, so we upped the amount to $15 to make it a little more interesting for Chloe and you!! Let us know what you'd like her to try.... This week, I picked up Maybelline’s Dream Lumi Touch which was $6. It's a cover-up / illuminator. I have dark circles under my eyes when I'm tired or have allergies, and yes, I have blemishes. I wanted something that could work on both areas. This product comes in a multitude of colors and I chose Ivory because I'm pretty pale right now. The color was nice and not noticeable, which was great. I liked the consistency of this product because it was liquid-y, but wasn't too thick or too thin and it was easy to blend in with my skin. I don't wear a powder or foundation, so it had to look natural. It did. The only drawback was that the liquid dried on the brush between uses which lowered the rating. Rating 3 out of 5 stars.

Next I was so excited to try Wet n Wild’s Color Icon eye liner for $0.99. Normally, I would be very hesitant to try out this eyeliner because my eyes are incredibly sensitive. Most eyeliners make my eyes water, and during allergy season they get red and itchy too. I typically would not have tried this eyeliner, but because of the Beauty Challenge, I knew I could! And boy, am I glad! The pencil is really long, meaning it will last forever with me, and since I can sharpen it, it won't expire. The color is intense, it didn't make my eyes water, and it lasted all day. I couldn't have been more happy with this purchase... and plan to buy plenty more Wet 'n Wild Color Icon Eye Liners whenever I have $1 left to spend! Rating 5 out of 5 stars.

Clean & Clear Advantage Acne Spot Treatment for $6.99 Speaking of blemishes, I decided I needed to try this spot treatment too and it worked great. I put it on right after I felt a zit coming, and my blemish went away faster than usual. It didn't completely stop it from coming, but I haven't found a miracle treatment that can! But it definitely cleared up a lot more quickly than it would have without this applying anything. The Acne Spot Treatment has 2% salicylic acid and the directions suggest applying 1 to 3 times daily to clean skin. The price is reasonable, and it worked well. I applied it morning and night after I washed my face, and would highly recommend it. Rating 5 out of 5 stars.

Until the next $15 Teen Beauty Tips. ~Chloe