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! (:

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.

Superficially Colorful Thermal Polish, Take 2

I am super excited for this post because I was not only lucky enough to get one surprise package from Jin of Superficially Colorful, but TWO!  She surprised me with four more of her amazing thermal polishes.  You can see the first set HERE.

First is Serene.  This is such a gorgeous color when it's cool and very, well...serene.  lol  It is a bright baby blue color with a little bit of shimmer.

This is Serene after it is warmed up.  It lightens up to a powder blue which is also gorgeous.  It's maybe not the best on my skin tone but I still love it.

Provocative is a darker red-toned purple and dries super quick.  It's also a one-coater if you are careful with your application.

This one also lightens up a bit under warm water to show off a beautiful red-violet color.

For someone that absolutely hates pink, I sure do love pink polish and this one is no stranger to the bunch.  Exalted is a super fun bubblegum pink with a bit of silver shimmer.

Just like Serene, Exalted lightens up to a powder pink (almost white) which is also not great on my skin tone but oh so fun.  I can't bear to NOT wear it.

Enthralled is a really pretty Coca-cola reddish-brown color.  It has some golden shimmer in it which is nice when the lights hits just right.

So I'm not sure if it's because I only used one coat for this swatch or if my camera is playing tricks but I've seen Enthralled a lot more red when it is warm.  HERE is a really great swatch from Smashley Sparkles where her's is more red.

I hope this post was as enjoyable as the last.  Now that I have eight of these thermals from Superficially Colorful I can't even pick a favorite.  What's yours?  Let me know in the comments below. (:

UPDATE:  If you are interested in purchasing any of Jin's amazing polishes, her shop will launch on March 3, 2014.  I'm not sure if the thermals will be available at first but she does make some other gorgeous one's to choose from.

Zoya Stacy

Today I have another one of those long awaited swatches that was delayed by Google+ auto-enhance.  It was showing more of a bright berry color rather than a darker, richer color.

This is only two coats of Zoya Stacy, which is my very first Zoya by the way.  I know it's a bit patchy and that's just because I didn't use three coats.  The application takes a bit of practice because it does apply a bit uneven and doesn't always self-level, but it is still one of my favorite Zoyas.  Each coat dries quickly which makes it such an easy color to slap on, walk out the door, and still have great nails with very little effort.  I'm all about things being easy.  I was hoping to post this during Fall since this was the color of the season but, ya know, Google+...  lol

Hope you enjoyed this.  I'm still sticking to my resolution and trying to blog my unswatched polishes.  Let me know if you are with me on this.  If not, what's your new year's blog resolution?  Have you stuck with it?!

Sinful Holiday Rebel

I know right now there are a lot of holiday manis popping up on blogs and some of them are pretty tame, but others are elaborate.  They are definitely amazing for someone like me that works in retail, but for those that can't go all crazy on their nails for work purposes or you just don't want to take the time to attempt the nail art, there are always less extensive manis.  I have one for you today.

From indie makers to dollar stores, you can find holiday glitters almost anywhere this time of year.  One of my favorites is Sinful Holiday Rebel.  It's a clear base with red and green glitters and even some holo glitters, but just a few.  I didn't realize until one reflected the light just right.  I used two coats over Zoya Trixie for a fun non-traditional holiday mani.

So what do you think?  Is something you think everyone could pull off?  Let me know in the comments below. (:

Peppermints Anyone?

I don't know about you all but when it comes to the holidays, I become almost addicted to anything peppermint flavored.  I don't even like peppermint the other eleven months of the year.  I especially love anything peppermint white chocolate...mmm!  So of course I had to do peppermint nails, y'all.

I used one coat of Zoya Purity as the white.  After that dried I used Bundle Monster plate bm-213 and Essie Forever Yummy for the design.  Then I added some little green and red rhinestones just to make it even more fun.  I know the stamp didn't transfer completely.  I don't know if it's my stamping technique (or lack thereof) or the stamping plate, but I honestly love this mani and wish I could wear this all the time.  I just think people would look at me nuts if they happened to see them outside of the holiday season.  lol

What do you think?  Let me know in the comments below.

Ugly Christmas Sweater

So I want to start off by saying that I am so sorry for disappearing yet again.  If you follow me on my Facebook fanpage, you may have seen my post about I needed a little bit of time to recollect and get my camera and laptop to work together.  I have been focusing a lot on my health and getting in shape and it's been taking up a lot of my time.  I think that's a pretty good reason to take some time away from blogging right?  Honestly I haven't actually painted my nails in about a month.  All of the photos you've been seeing are from a small stockpile.  However this "ugly Christmas sweater" mani is brand spankin' new!

I started with a base color of Zoya Stacy.  For the reindeer I used Zoya Purity and a skinny nail art brush.  I tried to make them have that pixeled or cross-stitch look.  For the trees I used a green nail art pen by Nabi and that's it.  Since I have nubbins I can't fit very much on them.  lol  I hope you all enjoyed the first of many Christmas manis to come. 

Paramore Still Into You Mani

I am so happy with how this mani came out.  I have been obsessed with this song from Paramore for the past two weeks (at least) so what better way to show it than to create a mani?  My inspiration is Hayley Williams outfit (and hair) in the video which you can see below.

And now the mani...

So what do you think?  I freaking love it.  My pinky and ring fingers are inspired by Hayley's hair which I love and wish I could do.  I used Jesse's Girl Julie G Party Dress for the red and Zoya Micky for the pink. My middle finger is copied from her yellow latex drip tights.  I used Zoya Avery for the nude and Zoya Pippa for the yellow.  My pointer finger is her DWEEB shirt and I used Zoya Purity for the white.  I know the letters look a little funky but I used a Kiss nail art marker and it wouldn't write smoothly over the top coat.  Whatevs.

This is probably one of my favorite manis, like, ever.  lol I'm a huge Paramore fan so this was super fun to come up with.  Let me know what you think in the comments below.  Are you a Paramore fan too?