My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic manicures!

I'm mildly in love with My Little Pony, hehe!  I attempted to do a Rarity-inspired manicure (the pony on the bottom left, btw) before, and it was just like... disastrously overdone, haha!  So I toned it down, went with a more simple look, and I really love how it turned out!  I did the art with a dotting tool, and used a dozen different polish colors.  If you would like to know what any of them are, please ask! :)


I've been gone forever.  A lot has gone on in my life since my last post.  Good things, mostly!  I got engaged on May 8th, 2011, and we're getting married in a few months on October 20th.  So there's been a lot of wedding planning and preparing for married life that's gotten in the way.  And laziness on my part, of course. ;)  I got out of what became a terrible job, and found something that suits me much better and challenges me every day.  It's also an office job, which is treating my nails well. They're still a bit shy about growing, but they're longer and stronger than they ever were when I was working as a baker.  I still paint almost every day, and enjoy stamping even more now than I did when I was blogging.

This isn't a promise that I'll be back to blogging full time, unfortunately, but I'll do my best to update once in a while, just so people know I'm not dead. ;)  Until that time, though, enjoy some cute pony manicures.

Thank you all for keeping this zombified blog on your follow list. <3

Zoya BOGO Promo!

Zoya just announced their BUY ONE GET ONE FREE (!!!!!!!) promotion for their brand new Sunshine, Summertime, and ModMatte lines!

The buy one get one free deal is only good on polishes from these collections.  It also appears that you must already have an account on Zoya.com for this promotion to be applicable.

Check out this website for the details!


What am I getting?  Definitely the entire Sunshine collection!  I can't get enough of bright, glass-fleck-y colors! <3  Check out swatches of this collection here!!

Are you going to take part in this ZBOGO? :)  What colors are you after?

:D

Gianna, the lovely author of the incredibly informative Nouveau Cheap just posted about my Meijer finds and the new version of Daddy's Girl!

Check it out and follow her blog!

New formula for Sinful Colors Daddy's Girl...?

YES PLEASE.

I was poking around the polishes at a Midwest superstore called Meijer and happened to pick up a bottle of Sinful Colors Daddy's Girl.  I know that some bloggers have a lot of love for it, but I've always been on the fence.  However, what I saw yesterday completely changed my perspective.

 Please click the picture to get a better view of this gorgeous new shimmer!!

This picture is more subtle, but click away to see the neat duochrome of the microshimmer in the bottle.  Blue, red, gold!  That doesn't show on the nail, but my pictures don't even get close to capturing the beautiful colors coming from this bottle.

The formula that I found is on the left.  The original formula is on the right.

If you've seen Daddy's Girl swatched before, you know the drill.  It's a purple jelly polish, and near impossible to capture.  It comes through very blue in my picture, unfortunately.  In reality, it's a true purple jelly, with stunning red shimmer running through it.  I'm finding that the red-violet color really compliments my skin tone!

And here's the standard bottle shot.  This is a good one to click to see the red shimmer!  This is three easy coats.


I really hope that this is a completely new formula, but I can't be sure.  It could just be an odd batch.  It seems like their new polishes all have a raised "SC" on the cap, but this bottle doesn't have that.  I adore this red shimmer version.  It reminds me of Nfu-Oh 51 without the flakes. <3

So has anyone else seen this version floating around?


Thanks for reading!

Nail Tek Xtra and Milani Garnet Gems review!

First and foremost, I forgot to post this!  Almost a month ago, while fellow blogger Jill from Just Peachy was on a Hawaiian vacation, I did a guest post for her!  Click here for my review of Milani Garnet Gems!



I also wanted to give you guys an update on my peeling nails situation.

Instead of jumping right back to Sally Hansen Miracle Cure (which has an absurd name that I honestly just equate with snake oil), I opted instead to give Nail Tek Xtra a try.

The bottle says that it's for difficult, resistant nails.  The box even says that this should be used on nails that other products don't seem to help.  That sounds like mine!  So I'm giving it a shot.  While we were snowed in last week, I took the time to give myself a very nice manicure.  I used cuticle remover, pushed back my cuticles, and also took the time to buff the surface of my nails.  I don't usually do this, but this seemed to help.  I don't have outstanding ridges, but the buffing and shining really helped reduce the severity of the peeling that was going on.

I've been wearing the Nail Tek base coat since.  I know that it will take a while to notice progress, but I'm already seeing a definite turn around in the nosedive my nails were taking.  I'm looking forward to seeing just how well this Nail Tek Xtra holds up.


As always, thanks for reading!

Oh, the weather outside is frightful!

Do you ever look peek at a blog sale and find yourself wanting something so bad, but knowing that you shouldn't buy it?  I have to keep telling myself "Repeat after me: 'I will not spent $50+ on a few bottles of Lippmann polish, I will NOT spend $50+ on a few bottles of Lippmann polish!!!'"

...Though they're three great colors that I really want........

I WILL NOT SPEND $50+ ON LIPPMANN POLISH!!!

...... *cough*

Apparently Snowpocalypse is in the process of hitting us.  What is my reaction to this?  Do I rush out to the superstores and stock up, or fill my car with blankets and emergency rations just in case of a slide off?

Psssh, of course not!  I was too busy giving myself a cute snow manicure!

Here's both my right and left hand.  I used Nicole by OPI Midnight Snowfall (which has a ridiculously appropriate name, by the way) for the base.  Like all blurples, the color in the photo is, of course, inaccurate.  I like this polish a lot because it's simply the most straight forward blue violet cream I've seen, I think.  I used two coats here, but ladies with longer nails will likely want three.  It's a little thin for being such a dark polish, but the end color is totally worth it!  For the snowflakes, I used Nicole by OPI Positive Energy.  I used one snowflake on each nail (not bothering to line them up nicely, obv), and two flakes on each thumb.

Sorry for no bottle or plate pictures.  They're all over at Bradley's apartment, which is far across the frozen tundra. :P

Considering that I managed to do this manicure and watch Lost at the same time, I think it turned out pretty well!


I have a question for you ladies!  Outside of the China Glaze Khrome and Romantique polishes, what others work very well for stamping?  I've been using Nicole by OPI Positive Energy and Light a Candle a lot lately, and I also just picked up a metallic pink from Orly.  Also, what's the best opaque white polish to use for stamping, outside of the special polishes?  Please share any and all suggestions!


Thank you for reading! :D

Heeelp... :(

Adorable sad kitty for your troubles.

I have a BIG problem with my nails peeling.  They're almost always peeling to a certain extent, but a huge chunk almost half the size of my entire nail just flaked off of my thumb, and it makes me sad. :(  I understand that a way to reduce peeling is to not expose your hands to so much water, but I'm sorry to say that less exposure to water isn't an option for me, so I need a different solution.

I think that Sally Hansen's Miracle Cure base coat might have been helping, but my bottle got awfully thick about half way through, and I stopped using it.  My new base coat does jack, though, and the peelies are back.  I've considered buying more Miracle Cure, but it doesn't seem to be worth the $7.00 if I can't use the second half of it. :/

Anyone that has peeling nails and a great base coat that treats them well, I want to hear from you!  I definitely prefer something that I can buy in a store as opposed to online, but I'm open to every suggestion.

Getting older.

I decided a couple weeks ago that it was time to break down and try some nail stamping.  I went with the Bundle Monster plates from Amazon (which you can find here).  At twenty-one plates for $17.99, it was definitely worth a shot.  My first few attempts were pretty disappointing, but I think that's to be expected.  And then I got this:

Thankfully this particular manicure worked out very well.  I love houndstooth.  It wouldn't be a stretch to say that it's my favorite pattern. :)  This was two coats of Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear in Black Out (I believe that's what it's called) with a stamped coat of Studio M French Tip.

 

You can tell that I didn't clean the plate before doing the index and middle finger on the second picture.  I know better now, hehe...  I stamped every finger vertically, and then stamped each thumb horizontally.  Since the stamping color was white, cleanup was the easiest thing. :)

I adored this manicure!  I believe that I wore it for three full days before I forced myself to take it off and put something new on, just so I wouldn't get out of the habit.  It hadn't even chipped, though. :)  A definite success, if you ask me.

As for the title of this entry, I am getting older.  Today is my birthday. :)  I don't yet know how I feel about turning twenty-five.  I don't feel like I've achieved the accomplishments that I thought I would have by now.  Shouldn't I have an actual profession?  Some sort of road map detailing the plans for the rest of my life?

Though I'm not always sure of where I'm going, I am always certain of this:  I love the life I've been given, no matter how uncertain I become.  I am blessed every single day, even when I'm being too self-absorbed to see it.  The good in my life outweighs the bad in an outstanding way.

I have parents that love me, and sibling that I connect with, and family that looks out for my well being.  I have friends that always listen and persevere, even if I'm the one that's made things hard.  I have an amazing man in my life that overfills my heart with joy every time I see his smile.

Even if twenty-five is uncertain, I do know.  If this year to come is as richly blessed as the year that's passed, I am fully ready for it.

 

:)

Thank you for reading!

Awards out the wahoozie!

Sorry to be so absent of late, ladies. :(  I only get sick a couple times a year, and this is one of those times.  So to all of the kind gals notifying me of awards, I wasn't ignoring you, promise!

I received the Stylish Blogger award from Morgan at Pass the Polish, Please!, Kari from Once Bitten, Carissa from Love, Carissa, Eva from Evakke Beauty, Lindsay from Yacking about Lacquer, Dori from Kiss my Acetone, Belle from J'adore Lacquer, and Lois from Nail York City!  Thank you so much! :D  It's encouraging to know that people read my blog.  And *gasp!* they... might even like it! :O

 

1. Thank and link the person who gave you this award. (check!)

2. Share 7 things about yourself.

3. Award 15 recently discovered great bloggers

4. Contact these bloggers to tell them about this award


Seven random things about me:

1.  You will almost always find me with a book on my person.  Even when I'm carrying a small purse, there will most likely be a paperback jammed inside. :)

2.  I'm not quite as violently nerdy as I used to be, but there's certainly still things that I nerd out about from time to time.  I absolutely love Joss Whedon's work, and I still play video games when I can make them my main focus.  I've also come to really enjoy strategic board games.

3.  I hate needles more than almost anything else!  I doubt that I'll ever be able to get a tattoo, even if I really, really want one.  I was also too afraid of the needles to muster up the courage to get any other piercings, so I decided instead to stretch the lobe piercings that I have.  I'm sitting pretty at a 0g, and I'm very pleased with them. :)

4.  I used to wear contacts, but a few years ago, I opted to go back to glasses.  Why?  I was very irresponsible about making sure that my contacts came out every night.  Also?  I look pretty great in glasses. lol

5.  A couple random things that make my skin crawl that might not bother other people are utensils or straws scraping against Styrofoam, and just the thought of chewing on a wool glove or mitten.  Weird, right?  I've got shivers thinking about how unsettling those things are, though.

6.  One of my favorite things to listen to is a podcast called Stuff You Should Know.  The hosts are always informative and entertaining, and there isn't much than I love more than learning new and interesting things!

7.  I never really thought that I would keep writing in this blog.  Posts may be few-ish and far-ish between, sure, but the writing is still happening.  I can't thank you, my readers, enough for motivating me! <3

1. Why did you make this blog?
I don't know how I originally ran across it, but sometime last Spring I fell absolutely head over heels for the China Glaze Up and Away collection.  I found swatches of it on Gina's blog Prim and Polished, and and needed to have the collection.  After spending almost $40 on nail polish in one day (a number that doesn't always seem so small now... lol) I decided that I couldn't spend that much money without sharing my polishes with people.  So I started a blog. :)

2. What kind of blogs do you read?
I mainly read nail blogs.  Beauty blogs are sometimes fun to read as well.  I also enjoy cooking blogs on occasion.

3. Do you have a favorite make-up brand?
I don't really have a favorite brand.  I very rarey wear makeup.  On the odd occasion that I do wear it, it's never more than eyeshadow, mascara, and maybe some tinted lip balm.

4. What about the favorite clothing brand?
Again, I don't really have a favorite brand.  If it fits and looks good, I'm in.  I do most of my shopping at a secondhand boutique called Clothes Mentor.  I spend so much time in my work clothes every week that I have a very hard time dropping lots of money on clothes that I know will just sit in my closet gathering dust.  Plus, I have this crazy nail polish addiction.  Something had to give!

5. What piece in you make-up bag is the most important to you?
My nail polish!  Haha!  Like I said, I don't wear makeup often enough to care.  As far as my nails go, though, I have a little container with acetone and plastic scrubby bristles inside.  This is quite possibly my favorite nail-related toy.  No more scrubbing at glitter!  Let your finger soak a moment and then move it up and down to let the bristles do the work.  How nice is it to idly watch television while you remove stubborn nail polish?  Sooooo nice. <3

6. Your favorite color?
My favorites are green, teal, and purple.  I'm a little more picky about my blues, but honestly, I'm pretty much in love with the whole cool side of the color spectrum.

7. Favorite perfume?
I'm also not a big perfume wearer.  Gah!  I fail as a beauty blogger! D:  I do enjoy some scents, though.  I really like Bath and Body Works' Vanilla Noir perfume.

8. Your favorite movie?
I really like Serenity, Braveheart, A Tale of Two Sisters, [REC], Garden State, (500) Days of Summer...  I'm pretty flexible about movies that I'll watch and enjoy.

9. What countries would you like to visit?
I would really like to visit Europe someday.  I know that Europe consists of several countries. :)  But I would like to see them.

The rules are: copy the picture, answer the questions and send it to your favorite blogs!

 1. Thank and link back to the giver of the award.  (Thank you, Morgan!  Hoosier Power!)

2. Sum up your blogging philosophy, motivation, and experience using 5 words:  Gotta flaunt them digits, yo!  (Or, "Sole purpose: to induce lemmings.")

3. Pass it on to other bloggers that you feel have substance in their blogs.

I’m tagging these blogs for both of the above awards: If you already posted about these awards - don't worry about re-posting :)

1. !Kendal
2. Bonny Binnacle
3. Canadian Nail Fanatic
4. Glitzkrieg
5. J'adore Lacquer
6. Just Peachy
7. Laquerish
8. Let Them Have Polish!
9. My Lucid Bubble
10. Normal Girl Nails
11. Polish of the Day. Ish.
12. Polish Pauper


I didn't fill in all fifteen spots because I want to give this award to my readers as well!  If you haven't received these awards, please consider yourself tagged, and spread the love!

Make sure you check out the blogs of the lovely ladies that tagged me as well! :)

Swapapalooza!!!!!

My favorite thing about nail polish collecting is the treasure hunt aspect of it.  It's a lot of fun to stumble across rare gems in nail salons, but I find swapping even more fun.  And what's better than giving nice things you've found to people that want them?  Especially when they give you a treasure that you've been seeking in return!  Genius!


These are three swaps that I've conducted lately with some very special ladies.  I love everything that I've received from them!  I'm putting them in chronological order.

This is my swap with Barbara from Biba's Beauty Corner.  She's a darling lady from Slovenia, and I was extremely eager to engage in this swap.

I originally requested the swap so that I could get my hands on S-he Stylezone #466, the gray polish.  I'll post my mani sometime, but it's absolutely gorgeous.  It's a gray with a touch of blue, and filled with a subtle golden shimmer.  I've found that it looks different in almost every light.  Gorgeous!

Aren't they beautiful?  I'm saving the pink holo polish for when it's more sunny out.  The brown there on the left is incredibly stunning as well.  It's going to be a wonderful winter polish!

Barbara also added some of my polishes to her Barry M order!  Wow! <3

I got Mushroom, Raspberry, Dusky Mauve, and Nail Effects. :)

These were a bit of a surprise!  I had wanted Back to Paradise (the middle polish), but the other two were new to me! :)

Sooo pretty!  The Twilight Essense polish is going to be gorge for winter, too!


My second swap is from Tammy, author of Canadian Nail Fanatic.  Let me tell you, I was very anxious to receive this swap!

Along with the polishes that she sent me, she also sent along the little booklet from CND (which of course makes me wish I could have more!) along with a little baggie filled with a generous number of multicolored nail art gems.  I'm not huge into nail art now, but I'm looking forward to using these whenever I get around to buying Bundle Monster and Konad plates!

Can you see why?  I've been lemming the CND Night Factory duo since I first saw them swatched, but as far as I know, there's nowhere to buy them here in town.  Tammy very generously swapped these with me.  And wait... can you see...?

That's right!  Merry Midnight! <3 <3 <3 <3  This has been another huge item on my wish list!  Oooo la la, and isn't it gorgeous?!  Even though this wasn't a big swap a la number of polishes, it was definitely a worthwhile swap for me.  I am in love with these polishes!

And check out these great extras!  She sent me two beautiful Colorama flakie topcoats!


This last swap here is from Jill over at Just Peachy!  After seeing Cosmetic Arts All the Trimmings, I contacted her to see if she could find it for me.  Our small polish swap morphed into a bigger, more exciting and polish-filled endeavor!

Check out these goodies!  I'm super psyched to wear all of these!

These are the three Cosmetic Arts polishes she sent me (All the Trimmings in the middle!), along with a tube of Jesse's Girl primer.  Thank you again for finding these for me, Jill!

She also sent me LA Splash Golden seahorse, this neat Oke Doke polish, and a little tube of Jesse's Girl lip gloss.  And do you see those little pods?  They're eyeshadows!  Jill is such a dear, mixing up a couple eyeshadows for me!  From what I can see from the outside (I don't want to open them until I use them.  Spilling them on accident would be a tragedy!), the top one is a purple-gold mix and the bottom one appears to be a stronger pink-peach with a hint of gold as well.  These are both gorgeous colors that I can't wait to wear with the primer she sent! :)


I had a wonderful time swapping with these three fantastic ladies, and I'm looking forward to future swaps with each of them. :D  I encourage all of you to check out their blogs and follow them, if you aren't already!

Thank you for reading!