NOTD: Distressed Valentine's

Hello!

Here's a cute Valentine's Day look I just finished.

Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

I started with a base coat of Duri Rejuvacote, two coats of China Glaze Friends Forever, Right? on all my fingers but my thumb, which got two coats of Zoya Shelby. This was all topped with one coat of Seche Vite before stamping the chevron pattern from BM-201 with Zoya Geneviev, then again with Pure Ice Gossip and the hearts from BM-317. I added one coat of NYC In a New York Minute topcoat to add shine.

I didn't intend for it to be so grey and distressed, but it worked out well anyway.

Hope your day is great!

More soon! ^_^

NOTW: September to December Overview

Hello!

I'm going to take this opportunity to catch up on some nails of the week I wore during the last three months of shoddy blogging.

First, here is the mani I wore for our one year anniversary celebration in September. I started with three coats of OPI Don't Touch My Tutu over my base coat combination of Duri Rejuvacote plus Sinful Colors Nail Hardener. I added one coat of INM Northern Lights. I used a decal and then painted a tiny red heart, and finally, sealed that with one coat of NYC In a New York Minute.

Second, I tried out this beautiful peachy shimmer gel polish. My sister went the gel polish way, but I like changing mine up more often. Gel was fun to try, but it's definitely not for me. I think this was a Sally Hansen color, and the decal came from the clearance section at ShopKo.

Next, I wore this pretty autumn look on our long weekend trip to Duluth in October. We had great weather and beautiful fall color! My base here is OPI Sleigh Ride for Two.

Zoya re-released Harlow, from their Matte Velvet collection this past fall, and I had been lemming it forever. I put it on immediately once it arrived and added a coat of Rainbow Honey XOXO over my ring and middle fingers. I did use topcoat to make it shine and last a bit longer.

Last, I did this rather simple stamped looked. Sally Hansen Wet Cement is the grey, and I stamped with Pure Ice Gossip and BM-321. The darker grey on my ring finger was an experiment - I tried one coat of Dance Legend Albion over a creme-base, but preferred the look without.

More soon! ^_^

NOTW: Two Weeks of Jamberry Christmas!

Hello! Merry Christmas! I hope you are enjoying the holidays!

I have two different looks to share with you today that I did while wearing some Jamberry nail wraps as accent nails.

The first, is this peppermint candy look I wore last week:

Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

I used Zoya Elisa and Orly Au Champagne here over my base coat of Duri Rejuvacote plus Sinful Colors Nail Hardener. I stamped the candies with Zoya Elisa and Bundle Monster plate BM-213. The candy cane stripes are nail wraps from Jamberry. I was a little sad to see that the red on the wrap was much more orange-toned than my polish, which made this one my least favorite of the two designs.

The second, is this festive little number I'm currently wearing:

Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

This mani features OPI The Color of Minnie over my basecoats, which is a punchier, brighter, and more orange red than Zoya Elisa. While it still doesn't match the red on the nail wrap perfectly, the colors do play nicer together. After that was topcoated and dry, I used one dabbed on coat of KBShimmer Kringle All the Way to add some sparkles to my middle finger and double-topcoated it smooth.

I hope your holiday is bright and cheery!

More soon I hope. ^_^

NOTW: Classy Christmas Skittle

Hello!

I'm excited to share these nails with you today! I absolutely love the burnished, rich colors.

Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

I started with a base coat of Duri Rejuvacote and then painted two coats of OPI Sleigh Ride for Two, the burgundy shimmer, and Zoya Hunter, the deep green creme. The gold glitter is Sinful Colors All About You, and the silver hex glitter is Essie Set In Stones. I stamped the various gold snowflakes with Orly Luxe from Bundle Monster plates, BM-323 and BM-H01, and then I added individual glitters picked out of Set in Stones. Two coats of topcoat followed that.

Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

Nicely festive, yet not over the top.

More soon! ^_^

Copycat NOTW: Sweet and Cozy

Hello!

I wanted to share with you this sweet, cozy, wintry mani I've been wearing all this week. I was inspired by this pin.

Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

I started with my base coats - Duri Rejuvacote and Sinful Colors Nail Hardener. To that, I added two coats each of Sally Hansen Wet Cement, the light grey creme; Zoya London, the medium grey texture; and OPI Don't Bossa Nova Me Around, the greyed-out pink creme. Once dry, I embellished the look with delicate dots in Wet Cement and Konad Special Polish white over the Don't Bossa Nova Me Around on my middle finger, a snowman stamp from plate BM-318 over the Wet Cement on my pointer finger, one coat of OPI Muppets World Tour over the Wet Cement on my pinkie, and, finally, a clear rhinestone on my thumb. Everything but the textured polish got one coat of Seche Vite to finish.

Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

I loved this look and got plenty of compliments on it.

More soon! ^_^

Copycat NOTW: Bat Swarm!

Why hello there!

Here's what I've been wearing this week! I was inspired by this pin.

Halloween Nail Art. 

I started with one coat of Duri Rejuvacote and one coat of Sinful Colors Nail Hardener. After that I used two coats of Color Club Fashion Addict sealed with one coat of Seche Vite. Once dry, I created a gradient with Color Club Fashion Addict and Wild at Heart. After another coat of Seche Vite, I used Konad Special Polish in Black to stamp my bat swarm from image plate, BM-H08. Everything was then topped with NYC In a New York Minute!

I've missed the blog -- if I can, I'll play some catch up with hauls and story-time this weekend. Life has been like a rollercoaster this past month leaving little time for nails. I'm a bit out of practice, so my right hand, pictured up there, turned out much better than my left. Even my nails have been in sorry condition lately, so I definitely need to refocus on moisturizing before we get back to swatches! Offda.

Hopefully, more soon! ^_^

NOTW: Ready for Fall with Cozy Plaid!

Hello!

This week's mani was definitely ready for Fall! I used two coats of Powder Perfect Widow's Walk on my thumb, pointer, and pinkie. My middle and ring fingers got three coats of Sally Hansen Big Smoky topcoat before I stamped the plaid image from Konad plate m60 with Konad Special Polish in Black. I used one coat of Seche Vite over everything to complete my cozy look!

Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

Even though temperatures this summer have been really quite nice and mild, I am definitely ready for fall and snow! I'm so glad to be back in Minnesota--here's to a proper winter! I've missed it!

More soon! ^_^

NOTD: Sushi Nails!

Hello!

Here's my most recent mani! I went out for sushi with some friends recently and thought I needed to paint my nails just for the occasion!

Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

After my usual base coats, I put on two coats of China Glaze Be More Pacific. To my pointer and pinkie fingers, I added one coat of Chick Polish Hipster Chick. The stamps all came from FUN IP #3 and were done in Konad Special Black, for the most part. When I bought that plate, I didn't I'd ever use those three stamps! I've since tried sushi and become a bit of a fangirl about it (obviously?!). I made a decal out of the pile of sushi image, so I could color it in. I used China Glaze Glittering Garland for the nori, OPI Toucan Do It if You Try and Color Club Wildflower for the seafood, and a tiny bit of Milani White Out for the rice. It was my first time trying that technique. I thought it was super fun!

Indoors, natural light, no flash.

These turned out better than how I envisioned the mani when I started it! So fun!

More soon! ^_^

NOTW: Valentine's Day with Zoya

Hello again!

Today, I have yet another nail art post!! This one is what I wore for Valentine's Day! Soon we'll be caught up -- only one more old mani left!!

Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

Keeping on with this week's inadvertent theme, I started with another polish from the Naturel Collection, this one is two coats of Zoya Rue over my base coat, plus Qtica Extending Topcoat. Once that was dry, I used Pure Ice Gossip to stamp various lovey-dovey images, sealing them with NYC In a New York Minute. My ring fingers got two coats of Zoya Miranda.

I had a really good few weeks back at the beginning of this year nail art wise. The stamping in the last three posts is probably the cleanest I've ever managed, and I thought all my looks were well put together. While I can't believe it took me this long to post them, it sort of worked out nicely because Zoya just released a second Naturel Collection.

More soon! ^_^

NOTW: Pretty in Pink

Hello!

Like yesterday, I'm dusting off this look to show you today. I wore this one the week after yesterday's pretty.

Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

This delicate look started with Duri Rejuvacote, Sinful Colors Nail Hardener, two coats of Zoya Brigitte, and the Qtica Extending Topcoat. The stamps were added the next day to ensure the base color was dry, and I used Essie Nothing Else Metals. I added a pink rhinestone to my ring finger, and sealed everything with one coat of NYC In a New York Minute. It's another mani that I absolutely adored!

More soon! ^_^

NOTW: Secret Garden

Hello!

I am fail blogger again! But I regret nothing, Azeroth needed me! I'm a hero, don't you know? ^_^

So, since I've been playing too much World of Warcraft and don't have any pictures edited for this week, let's go all the way back to January in Maryland when I wore this beautiful mani.

Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

This started with my normal base coat combination. Then, I used two coats of Zoya Odette, which was then topcoated with Qtica Extending Topcoat. After a lot of dry time, I stamped the swirls with AEngland St. George. The glitter accents are the fabulous, Rainbow Honey Metalmark. Lastly, I used one coat of NYC In a New York Minute to seal everything in. I totally loved this look so much. I might have to revisit it!

Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

More soon! ^_^

Bonus NOTW: Blush!

Hello!

Today's look is another one from a few month's ago. This one started with my usual base coat combination, and two coats of Orly Naked Canvas. To that I sponged on Rainbow Honey Sword Lily to create a soft gradient. I stamped the scroll work image from FUN #3 Stamping Plate with Konad Special Polish in Black over my gradient and sealed it with a quick coat of NYC In a New York Minute. Voila!

Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

More soon! ^_^

Bonus NOTW: Lilac Skittles

Hello again!

I've got so many manis from my hiatus earlier this year that we're doing extra posts until the blog is caught up! This pretty lilac number was on my fingers for our roadtrip to South Carolina a few months ago. In fact, I snapped the last picture outside in downtown Charleston, near the South Carolina Aquarium. It was a beautiful day!

Lilac Skittles. Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

I started with my base coat combination of Duri Rejuvacote and Sinful Colors Nail Hardener. My middle finger got two coats of Color Club Fashion Addict, while the rest got two coats of OPI Don't Bossa Nova Me Around. I used some striping tape and Color Club Fashion Addict with Color Club Wild At Heart for my ring finger. The stamps were done with Wild at Heart. The geometric images are from BM-202 and BM-213, and the hippo you can barely see on my thumb, is from the FUN stamping plate #3. One coat of NYC In a New York Minute and off we went!

Lilac Skittles. Outdoors, sunlight, no flash.

More soon! ^_^

NOTW: Blustery Night

Hello!

I wore my combination of Nyx Algae and Aqua Glitter for a few days, then stamped this bushy image from Bundle Monster Plate BM-310 over it with Konad Special Polish Black. This mani reminds me of one of the rare, warm balmy nights when the moon is full and the breeze is tussling the branches about. The night feels alive, and it seems as if anything can happen...

Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

More soon! ^_^

Shining Stars

Hello!

A different kind of post for today - a sampling, if you will! A friend of mine recently got her hands on the mini set of OPI's Coca-Cola collection, and while visiting, I played with two of the shades. I used OPI Get Cherried Away for all my fingers but the ring finger, which got painted with OPI A Grape Affair. I think I used two coats of each over Sinful Colors Base Coat with Seche Vite on top.

OPI Get Cherried Away with OPI A Grape Affair. Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

After a few days, I livened things up with some nail art. I stamped the cascading star image from Bundle Monster plate BM-H25 with Zoya Trixie and added one coat of Black Cat Lacquer Discotraxx on my accent nails. This then got topped with one coat of NYC In a New York Minute.

Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

More soon! ^_^

NOTW: Orange Skittles

Hello! Happy Friday!

Finally, back to some nail art around here!

Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

For this mani, I started with two coats of Zoya Cole over my go-to base combination of Duri Rejuvacote and Sinful Colors Nail Hardener on all my fingers except my middle finger, which got OPI Toucan Do It If You Try. Once dry, I stamped various bubble and swirly designs over Cole with OPI Toucan Do It If You Try. My index finger got the dry brush, distressed technique. It was my first time trying it out, and I really liked the look. Everything then got a quick coat of NYC In a New York Minute to seal the deal.

No promises for next week, you guys. It's my town's annual festival this weekend, and our social calendar is full! There's a carnival in town, fireworks, car show, parade, live music, adult beverage garden.... not to forget Father's Day and my mister's birthday! I'm not sure if I will get any nail time in or not. I've got some back-logged nail art sitting here, so I'll post what I can!

More soon! ^_^

GOT Polish Challenge: Orange

Hello!

Today's GOT Polish Challenge prompt is "Orange"! I double-dipped for inspiration this week!

I started with two coats of China Glaze Riveting over my base of Seche Clear. Riveting is the best orange polish -- It's so gorgeous! I then stamped the orange slices from Bundle Monster plate BM-308 in Konad Special Polish White. I sealed that with one coat of NYC In a New York Minute.

Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

Then, I used one coat of Zoya Coraline, another oldie but goodie (so old, in fact, it was one of my very first swatch posts!), to create a stamped jelly sandwich. I finished that off with one coat of Seche Vite.

Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

Finally, I added one coat of Butter London Matte for this shimmery, juicy look.

Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

More soon! ^_^

An InLinkz Link-up

GOT Polish Challenge: Chevron

Hi!

Today's GOT Polish Challenge prompt is "Chevron"!

I started with two coats of Wet'n'Wild Red Tape, which is definitely one of my older polishes. I did take swatch pictures of it before I continued on with the nail art, so expect to see a full-fledged post on that in the next few weeks. I remember that I purchased Red Tape sometime in 2010, soon after I moved out here. I hope it's still available from Wet'n'Wild in some form because it's a vibrant red-orange unlike anything else I have.

Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

After that was mostly dry, I sponged Barielle Lemondrops over Red Tape in random places. I hit that with one coat of Seche Vite. Once it was all dry, I used the fantastic chevron image from Bundle Monster plate BM-201 and Konad Special Polish in Black. A quick coat of NYC In a New York Minute and voila!

Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

Bright and fun! I did attempt to do a nude and black chevron-shaped french tip before these, and it was a complete fail. So, in my frustration, I nubbinized my nails and went with this look instead! When all else fails, stamp it!

More soon! ^_^

An InLinkz Link-up

GOT Polish Challenge: Valentines

Hiya!

Today's GOT Polish Challenge prompt is Valentines!

While I love pink polish, I wanted to go in a slightly different direction for this Valentine's Day-themed mani. I started with two coats of China Glaze Sweet Hook over a base coat combination of Duri Rujuvacote and Sinful Colors Nail Hardener. One coat of Seche Vite followed that.

Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

Once dry, I used China Glaze Snap My Dragon and Cult Nails Nevermore to stamp several images from these Bundle Monster plates: BM-03, BM-H17, BM-317, and BM-09. I sealed everything with one coat of NYC In a New York Minute.

Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

I had a terrible time stamping! No matter what I did, I got the faded, distressed, and just not clean image transfer you see on every nail! I couldn't find my Konad Special Black, which might have solved this problem, so the hunt is on! At least the distressed look is consistent throughout, so, yeah... I meant to do that! :P

More soon! ^_^

GOT Polish Challenge: Green

Hello!

Today's prompt is green.. my least favorite polish color of all... welp, let's get on it!

I started with one coat of Sinful Colors Base Coat, two coats of Rescue Beauty Lounge Halcyon, and one coat of Seche Vite. Once that was dry I attempted to stamp a floral design in pink (which you can sort of see on my pinkie), but had no luck. I think either my stamping plate isn't etched deep enough or the pink polish I tried to use has gotten too thick. So, I abandoned that idea for the ivy pattern from Bundle Monster plate BM-312 and Cult Nails Nevermore, which worked out much better! I randomly stamped parts of the image around my nails to evoke the sense that the ivy has started to get overgrown on my nails. I think it turned out quite nicely.

Indoors, artificial, light, no flash.

I like the somber look of this. There's something reminiscent of The Secret Garden about it. I like how the pink shimmer in Halcyon adds a bit of interest and intrigue. Okay, Green, you can stay... in small quantities.

Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

More soon! ^_^