OPI What Wizardry Is This?

Ok so I first off want to apologize for going "missing" for two days, but I had some personal issues that took precedence over other aspects of my life.  I was finally able to pull myself together this morning and push it all back down inside.  Don't worry.  I'll be okay.  I really wanted to come back and give you all an amazing post, but it just wasn't happening.  Do you ever have those days where it looks like you've never painted a nail a day in your life?  Everything you do looks like crap.  That's today.  Oh and somehow I cut my cuticle so everytime I try to fix or change the polish on my ring finger, it burns like hell!  Soooo I had to dig into my stockpile of photos and I found a good one.

Woot!  I love, love, LOVE this polish.  Yes.  Another sand.  I love my textured polish.  This is OPI What Wizardry Is This? from The Great and Powerful Oz collection.  I don't know what I think about the movie preview, but the collection is pretty.  I don't think I'm going to buy any of them (besides The Lights of Emerald City...I already bought it) because I already own colors that are very similar.  

WWIT? is a dark bronze-y brown shimmer with olive green undertones.  This polish, unlike the previous OPI sands, has very little shimmer on the nail when it dries but it still isn't completely shimmer-less.  It definitely catches the light.  It does dry matte like all the others, but I learned something really fun.  I know a few ladies that don't really like the matte look but still want to try the textured trend.  All you need to do is wait for the polish to dry completely and then add a thin layer of your favorite top coat.  This will still show the texture but leave your manicure looking fresh and glossy!

I promise I will come back tomorrow with something more exciting.  Some nail of sorts.  (:

Zoya PixieDust Collection

OMG!  I finally got them!  My Zoya PixieDust collection is here!!  I feel like they couldn't get here soon enough.  As soon as they came, I ripped them open, ate all the candy in, like, 2 seconds (they were sent from a friend...thank you Jen!!), and then I got down to swatching.  So here they are, just like I promised.  6 of the most beautiful Zoyas I've ever seen.

From L to R: Godiva, Vespa, Nyx, London, Dahlia, and Chyna

Godiva:  I used 3 coats for full opacity and OMG, it's gorgeous.  I'm so amazed at how it really looks like wet sand in the bottle.  It really just makes me want to go on vacation.  lol  This is also the perfect shade of nude for my skin tone and the sparkle is so subtle but really adds some great dimension.  It's such a delicate color.  Does that make sense?  This is definitely one of my favorites in the collection. (as if I could choose a favorite at all)

Godiva with top coat:  I only needed 1 coat of Gelous and 1 coat of Seche Vite for all of them to make them smooth.  I love this with a top coat because it looks like yummy sugar cookies!  mmm

Vespa: OMG!  That's really all I can say to accurately describe how I feel about this beautiful sage green polish.  For this one, I used 3 coats but I could have gotten away with 2.  It's just force of habit for me when taking photos to do 3 coats for good measure.  The sparkle in this one really stands out.  I'm in love.

Vespa with top coat:  I love this one glossy too.  With the top coat you can really see the glitter pop and I think the color is transformed into something really gorgeous.

Nyx: Blue is my least favorite color, but Nyx is just beautiful.  I mean how can you not love sparkly periwinkle polish.  I really love the glints of sparkle.  It's like moving water.  This is 3 coats.

Nyx with top coat:  Sorry this is a little blurry but I had full camera freak out.  The sparkle was too much for it to handle.  I am not a big fan of Nyx with a top coat.  I think the high gloss really distracts from how beautiful it really is.  The top coat seemed to make it more baby blue and less dusty blue.

London:  Oh man.  If I didn't love a foggy grey polish before, I do now.  This is the perfect shade of grey with the perfect amount of sparkle.  As I was waiting for this to dry, I could see it really transform and lighten  up before my eyes and I got super excited.  2 coats are shown.

London with top coat: This is another combo that is not my favorite.  I really just love the textured polish to stay that way.  Matte!

Dahlia: *gasp*  This one was a surprise favorite of mine.  I mean, I know it's just black, but I thought it would be just that.  Plain ol', simple black with texture.  I didn't know how much silver sparkle was packed in until I pulled out the bottle.  It really keeps the polish from looking too dark.  I also love that it dries a little on the charcoal grey side.  I noticed this with OPI Stay the Night too.  That's why I loved it so much.  I used 2 coats of this one.

Dahlia with top coat: WOW!  When I added the top coat, I immediately thought of Zoya Storm.  Then it made me wish that this sugary sparkle in this polish was not silver, but multicolored or scattered holo like Storm.  Aside from that one tiny wish, I LOVE this polish.  I used 2 coats.  Oh and sorry for the crazy glare on the bottle.  This was the best photo I had.

Chyna: aka my number 1 favorite from the whole collection.  This is the only one of the 6 that doesn't have silver sparkle, but a dark red.  I am so happy that this is a darker red and not a super bright red.  I think the shade and texture work very well together to make something amazing.  I only needed 2 coats.  The red base in this one is super saturated.

Chyna with top coat:  When I add a top coat to this one, I immediately think of China Glaze Ruby Pumps.  It's pretty, but it doesn't wow me like when it's matte.

So my initial reaction to this collection:  Oh wow!  I must have all of these!  My reaction after swatching them all: Oh wow!  I'm so happy I bought all of these.  lol I have been wearing my OPI sands a lot since I got them, so I am super excited that I get to add these to the rotation.  My favorites of the collection are definitely Chyna and Dahlia with Godiva and Vespa tied for a close second.  Nyx is pretty, but I may not wear it as often.  I added the top coat so that all of you could see how they transform, but I, personally, will only be wearing them matte.  I am always a sucker for matte polish and then to add texture...I die!!

So what are your thoughts on the textured trend?  Have you taken the plunge or are you just not into it?  Leave your questions and comments below.  I'd love to know what you all think.

My Week at a Glance 2.17 - 2.23

So I just wanted to recap with everyone how my week went on the blog.  I feel like I really stepped it up this week while I was recreating some amazing manicures that I've pinned.  I tried to choose ones that would challenge me a bit and better my nail art skills.  I also got to do new techniques so that was fun.  I gained a few new followers so welcome to you guys!  I received some amazing nail mail and went a little shopping spree after a tough day at work.  Enjoy!

Pinterest Week Day 1 and Day 2 manicure comparisons

Pinterest Week Day 3 and Day 4 manicure comparisons

Pinterest Week Day 5 and Day 6 manicure comparisons

Pinterest Week Day 7/Sat-ART-day (1960s) manicure comparison and Zoya Posh - the color on Posh is not coming out right at all.  I guess that's because of my iPhone and the lack of lighting in my living room.  It's actually red for those that don't know.  It's beautiful!

My beauty supply haul from Thursday.  From L to R: Essie Buy Me a Cameo, OPI Lights of Emerald City, Sation Shyest Shade, Sation Class Clown, Color Club Fly With Me, Color Club Wing Fling, and Color Club Lava Lamp

My amazing Zoya PixieDust collection came in today.  I will have swatches for you very soon.  Maybe tomorrow.  We'll see.  ;)

Pinterest Week Day 7/Sat-ART-day Mani

Today is a multi purpose post.  I knew when I started Pinterest Week that I may have to skip The Crumpet's Sat-ART-day mani.  I just couldn't have that happen so I tried to find something that I pinned that could work for The Crumpet's 60s Inspired theme as well, and I did!!

Day 7: The Sugar Cube
MY PIN HERE
ORIGINAL POST HERE

WOW!  Talk about bright, ya know?  Yeah so I thought for the Sat-ART-day theme (60s Inspired) I would do tie dye!  This was my very first time doing a needle marble, but I think I nailed it.  LOL...nailed it.  I'm so lame.  Anyway, when I think of the 60s, I think Woodstock, psychedelic colors, MAKE LOVE, NOT WAR.  I should have been this age in the 60s.  

I got the inspiration from Erin of The Sugar Cube blog.  She used different colors than I did and she did her needle drags horizontally, but I thought doing them vertically on my nails worked better and it was a lot easier for a first-timer.  I also thought the neon colors worked well with the 60s theme.

WHAT I USED:
Zoya Charisma - magenta
Sinful Pink -  neon pink
Color Club Lava Lamp - orange
Spoiled Did I Dye It Too Blonde? - yellow
China Glaze  Kiwi Cool-ada - green

I had a lot of fun with this needle marble so I will definitely be doing it again.  Back to the Sat-ART-day part...Don't for get to check out everyone else's 60s manis below.

I hope you all enjoyed Pinterest Week.  I had a blast recreating the manicures that I've had pinned for so long.  This was a really great excuse for me to do them and also to get nail art practice.  I will be sure to keep it up.  Have a wonderful Saturday, and if you decide to recreate any of these manis let me know.  I love seeing how other polish addicts interpret nail designs.

Pinterest Week Day 6

Oh my!  I feel like I'm running a bit late on this post just like yesterday.  I've just been putting it off.  Not the mani.  That's been done.  It's the editing of photos that always takes so long and I just don't want to do it sometimes.  I'm super tired right now and my eyes are crossing.  lol  Let's get this going!!

Day 6: Nails and Noms
MY PIN HERE
ORIGINAL POST HERE

Today was a super crazy and busy day at work so when I got home, the last thing I wanted to do was nails. I mean, I'm just being honest here.  Just because of that I had to do something quick and simple.  A splatter mani!  Messy but very easy.

I've been wanting to recreate Rie's metallic splatter mani for awhile.  I almost forgot about it.  Almost.  I love the fact that she not only chose to do metallics, but that she chose to do it matte.  I'm a sucker for matte.

WHAT I USED:
Nails Inc noho - black (I can't stop using it!)
Ulta High Roller - gold
Zoya Trixie - silver
Essie Buy Me a Cameo - rose gold
Hard Candy Mattely In Love - top coat

This is Rie's gorgeous mani that she originally used for the 31 Day Challenge.  She used copper instead of a rose gold color which I love better (the copper I mean).  I was just in such a hurry and I couldn't find one that I liked at the beauty supply so I settled for rose gold.  Eh.  Whatevs, right?!

Pinterest Week Day 5

So my recreation of this mani came out not quite the same, but I did my best.  Don't get me wrong.  It came out great, but it's a water marble so there was no way I could get it 100% right.  Check it out.

Day 5:  did my nails
MY PIN HERE
ORIGINAL POST HERE

Elizabeth of did my nails is part of the Twinsie group and as a theme for Twinsie Tuesday they did black and white manis.  I just loved her version of the water marble.

WHAT I USED:
Julep Meryl - grey
Sally Hansen White Tip - white
Nails Inc. noho - black

I haven't done a water marble in so long so I'm glad this one was super easy.  The Nails Inc. noho spread surprisingly well.  And it still came out leather-y.  It was cool.  Anyway when I dipped my fingers, I dipped them the wrong way so the flower design is on the wrong side.  Oh well.

This is Elizabeth's manicure.  Isn't it so cute?!  Glad I came across this one.  I also love that it's black and white.  It's very non-traditional for flowers.  Whatever.  I know this was a little late, but at least I finished it.  I was putting it off all day.  Not because I didn't want to do it, but because I kept getting distracted with Facebook and tv.  Oh and food!! (:

Pinterest Week Day 4

So today is not my favorite day because my recreation of the chosen mani is terrible.  I thought it would be easier, but it wasn't.  It didn't help that I was sleepy and rushing a little.  I know better than to start my mani at 8pm when bedtime for me 9pm.  I'm 27 but like an old person.  I love to get in the bed early, watch my shows, and then just drift to sleep.  Not stay up doing nails.  lol

Day 4: Dressed Up Nails
MY PIN HERE
ORIGINAL POST HERE

I'm not going to go into too much detail about the mani, but I'll just give you a quick rundown.  Whitney from Dressed Up Nails used this design for the Geometric Challenge on triangle day.  She incorporated the triangles over the glitter on the middle finger and thumb.

Like I said I thought this would be easier to recreate, but I was a little shaky so my lines are not straight and they came out very thick as opposed to Whitney's thinner, cleaner lines.  I'm still trying to get the hang of nail art brushes and freehanding designs.

WHAT I USED:
Color Club Blushing Rose - pink
Orly Snowcone - blue
pop Gold Glitz

This is the original manicure by Whitney of Dressed Up Nails.  Hers is much better than mine.  (:

Pinterest Week Day 3

Ok so I really thought that yesterday was going to be my favorite manicure from this week, but now I'm not so sure.  I really love how this one came out.  I thought it was going to be super difficult, but surprisingly it wasn't.  Check it out.

Day 3: The Daily Polish

MY PIN HERE

ORIGINAL POST HERE

So on Kaitlin's manicure, she used China Glaze Refresh-mint as her base color.  I didn't have to color and the mint I do have is very bright and spring-y.  This was not how her mani was portrayed so I thought using a dusty blue would work out just fine.  Turns out, I LOVE IT!

I free-handed the heart dream catchers with a nail art polish.  Ya know, the one's that come with the skinny brush?  Then I used the same black and a white to do my best feathers.  They are okay.  Then I just dotted on the same colors that Kaitlin used for the beads.  She actually used glequins, but again, I don't have those.

WHAT I USED:
Color Club Hydrangea Kiss - blue base
Kiss Nail Art - black
Kiss Nail Art - white
China Glaze Flip Flop Fantasy - pink dots
China Glaze Trendsetter - mustard dots

Here is the original manicure at The Daily Polish.  Her nails are longer so you can actually see the feathers unlike on mine.  lol her lines also came out cleaner, but anyway, if you want to recreate this mani too, just click on the link above (the one that says ORIGINAL POST HERE) and it's actually a tutorial post.  Have fun and good night!