Rainbow Gradient with Nail Foils

OMG it worked this time.  My last post (which was way too long ago) was a total nail fail but it was supposed to look like this.  I wanted to re-create it because I knew it was going to be awesome and I was right.  Totally awesome!

I started with all the gradients first and then let them dry.  Then I applied the foil glue using a fan brush but this time much less generously.  Then when it dried I used the dotted holographic foil from Born Pretty Store and there you have it.  I'm sure you're all wondering what polish I used and since it's a lot, I'm going to just make a list going from pinky to thumb.  I know you can't see my thumb but it's a yellow, coral, pink combo. Here they are:

Zoya Malia
Color Club Lavendarling
Color Club Hydrangea Kiss
Orly Snowcone
Color Club Blue-ming
Pop Loud Lime
Sinful Unicorn
Zoya Pippa
Jesse's Girl Julie G All Things Girly
Julep Reese

So there you have it.  Now I say this all the time, but this time I mean it...I am swatching and trying to come up with great nail art to keep the blog going.  I actually did swatch a few colors and I just haven't posted them because looking back at them, I thought they were really bad.  I had two chipped nails and so they were super short and just gross.  lol So keep coming back.  I know I'm trying to. (:

Total Nail Fail w. Foils

Heeeeyyy!  I hate to even show you all my disappointing mani today but it's all I have.  The idea in my head was much better than the actual execution.

I started with a super fun and perfect pastel vertical gradient over all my nails.  Sadly I didn't take a photo of it because I had smudged some beyond repair.  It wasn't supposed to matter though because I was going to put the foils over it.  I brushed on the foil glue with a fan brush which was supposed to leave some space open to show the colors behind the silver foil.  Weeelllll, that didn't happen.  Apparently I brushed on too much glue so when I applied the foils, there were hardly any breaks for the rainbow to show through.  Trust that I will be re-creating this mani in the near future...like, probably this week because I know that the outcome will be some much better.  Trial and error, People!  lol

Is this really the worst mani?  Up my spirits and tell me it's not (even if that's a lie...lol) in the comments below.  (:

Darling Diva Polish Landslide

So tonight's swatch is of a polish that I can't believe I didn't purchase any sooner.  It's green.  It's holo.  It's inspired by one of my favorite singers.  It's...

...It's Darling Diva Landslide!  I only needed two coats of this one but used three just in case there were any bald spots or dragging.  Sometimes it's hard for me to tell with holos until I take a photo.  I mean, there isn't much to say about this.  It's gorgeous.  What more do you need to know?  lol The formula is great too by the way.  I know sometimes with indie polish, they formulas can be finicky but I've never had an issue with any of the Darling Divas.  With that said, you should buy some.  lol Right HERE!

I hope you all have a great night.  I'm trying to think of some fun nail art I can do and then find the time to do it.  I have been working out everyday after work so that only leaves about 20 minutes after class to get everything together before it's bedtime.  Let me know if you all think of anything.  I'm always open to suggestions.  Good night!

Julep Plie Wand Reveal

Hey hey there!

I didn't abandon you again.  lol I was just busy.  (:  So tonight I have a different kind of post.  It's not really a review as it is just an introduction to a new product.  I finally received the Julep Plie Wand.  For those of you who are unfamiliar with this product, it's basically a magnetic attachment that you place on the provided caps, and it's supposed to make polish your nails easier.

This is a photo of the box but there is a YouTube video below where you can see how it works and listen to all my ramblings.

I'm not going to type out everything that I said in the video because it's a lot but I will add a small update.  I didn't mention this in the video (because I just figured it out) but the extra cap that I show you doesn't fit on the Julep polish bottle because it's defective.  Actually 2 out of the 3 I received are defective.  The brush handle is stuck inside the magnetic cap cover.  /:

So if you have this product let me know what you think.  Did you have the same thoughts or issues as I did?  Did you love it?  Let me know in the comments below. (:

Zoya Harmonie

Well I told you all there would be some nail art today but I couldn't think of anything to put on them and I'm super exhausted.  Like face-rolling for real.  I decided it would be easier for me to just post what I already have done and not rush to create some nail art.

Today I am showing you Zoya Harmonie.  I always say Zoya makes the best purple polish and this one is right up there with the rest.  I needed three coats for these swatches because it does have a thinner formula, but it's so pretty.  The finish is a little bit pearly  but not so bad that you can see all the brushstrokes...only a little.  I feel like I should have tried OPI Lay Down That Base before I put this on but I wanted you all to see it how it really is, and I love the way it looks.

Sorry again for no nail art but if you have any suggestions, please leave them in the comments below.  Otherwise I'm just going to rely on Pinterest for inspiration. (:

Red Dog Designs Love Hurts

Hi All!  Sorry for the late post but I just got home from my yoga class.  Health comes first!  And speaking of health, I have really been craving and enjoying some amazing watermelon recently and so I wanted to put on a polish that reminded me of that.

This is Red Dog Designs Love Hurts from the Valentine collection.  I know the base color isn't spot on with a watermelon but the black glitters reminded me of seeds.  There are also holographic circles in there that are just gorgeous when they peek out of the magenta/pink base.  I believe this is two coats.  I don't really remember because I had this swatched for a long, long time.  I hope you all have a great night and I'll have some fun nail art for you tomorrow...if I can come up with anything. (:

Dark Rose Mani

Hey Everyone!  I can't wait to show you all this mani.  I don't even know how I came up with it, but it's so ME!  Let's check it out!

I started with two coats of a sparkly dark grey that I mixed myself awhile ago.  Then I used Julep Joy (mauve) and Zoya Posh (red) to create the abstract roses.  Then with my go-to black creme, Sinful Black on Black, and a super skinny nail art brush I added random curved lines to make the roses look like actual roses and less like red and mauve blobs.  Then with the same black polish, I did a color block.  I also used Zoya Veruschka mixed with a little Zoya Zuza to create the perfect green leaves and then I added a matte top coat and done!

I think this is such a cool, gothic style mani with a little bit of a girly flare.  It's definitely something I would be seen in if it were a fabric.  I actually used to have a dress that sort of looked like this but I lost it.  ):  I think someone stole it to tell the truth.  Hmmm...I should look into that.

Well I hope that you all love it as much as I do.  I know it's not Spring/Summer looking but, like I said, it's so ME! (:

Zoya Solange

Finally!  I got my hands on Zoya Solange.  It's been a while so I can't remember where exactly I got it, but I remember it being really cheap.  I told myself for the longest time that I didn't need it but I was so wrong.  I might be crucified by some that I know for saying this, but I LOVE yellow polish!

Zoya Solange is part of the second set of PixieDusts that Zoya released.  I think it was the Summer set.  I used two coats and probably should have went for a third but it's difficult to tell there are bald spots in person.  It dries matte just like all of the PixieDusts except this one contains a gold metallic pigment that is exclusive to Zoya.  I feel like this is the perfect shade to welcome the warm weather that has been coming our way.  It just makes me want to hang by the pool with my shades on.

Does Solange make you feel happy and fancy-free?  Let me know in the comments below! (:

Swirl Design with Nail Craze

Why yes!  That is nail art you see.  I haven't been big into nail art lately (or blogging at all actually) and especially with stamping.  It's not my forte, but I finally got my hands on a couple of Nail Craze plates and they make stamping so fun.

The design above is from the Nail Craze plate NC02.  It's the one with the unicorn and pegasus in case you don't know which one I'm talking about.  I have lots of other plates from different makers and this is by far the best one I've used.  The etches are just right so that the design lifts perfectly off the plate and onto the stamper with ease.  It transfers perfectly without any "bald spots" or lifting like I've gotten with many other plates.  The colors I used underneath are Color Club Blue-ming (mint), China Glaze Pool Party (pink), and Color Club Hydrangea Kiss (purple).  I just sponged them on individually if you wondered.  When I was dry I added one coat of China Glaze Fairy Dust and then the swirly stamp over that.  I absolutely love how it turned out and feel like it was the best way for me to ease back into nail art without too much effort.

I'm gonna try to keep this up so keep coming back.  Have a wonderful Sunday!  (:

Orly Retro Red

OMG!  Who is this invading your feed?  IT'S MEEEEEE!!  I have been M.I.A. for awhile and I really needed it.  I needed to focus on all other aspects of my life because I really was getting lost in blogging and overwhelmed with it and everything else life was throwing at me.  But I have been slowly collecting nail photos (when I actually feel like painting my nails) and I just sat down today to edit and watermark them.  It's not very many but I am excited about them.  I received some lovely nail mail from a friend, Jen from My Nail Polish Obsession, a while ago with two lemmings and today I have for you.

This is Orly Retro Red from the Plastix collection.  When I first started blogging I saw these on someone's blog and just about died.  I had to have them and now!  BUT they were already difficult to find anywhere.  Then I went on a lovely polish shopping trip with Ashley from Smashley Sparkles and saw all four of them in a small nail supply.  I had to pass them up though as I had already spent WAY too much money.  lol.  Haven't we all been in that situation?  Well anyway over time, Jen has managed to find all four for me and sent me the best surprise nail mail.  I love her! ♥

So for the swatches I only needed two coats and it dries so fast.  The finish is, of course, like plastic.  Not entirely matte but with just a bit of a sheen.  I assume they are like the Illamasqua Rubbers?  I don't know because I don't own any Illas at all.  I've only posted one of the other Orly Plastix not too long ago.  You can view Old School Orange HERE.