Friday, August 31, 2012

10 Day Challenge Day 3: Favorite Book Or Inspired By A Book

Hey Ladies!

So day 3 is Favorite Book or Inspired By A Book. My favorite book is Gone With The Wind, but I wanted to use that for day 8: Favorite Movie or Inspired by a Movie. So my second favorite book is Anthem by Ayn Rand. I read this book in high school and loved it so much I have read it almost every year since.

It is an amazing story of a man who dared to stand alone as one, in a society where men and women are seen as a collective "we".





I used 2 coats of Sinful Colors Snow Me White on all my nails. Then I busted out my paintbrush and Sally Hansen Mellow Yellow and painted the little lightbulb. It is not my greatest nail art, but I kind of like the simplistic look.

What is your favorite book?

Thursday, August 30, 2012

A Few Money Saving Tips From A Polish Addict

Hell there, Ladies!

So during my giveaway, in the section where it requested a suggestion in a blog post comment, a few people left me the suggestion to share some ways to save money while still being a polish-aholic.

Now keep in mind, these are just some ways that I have come up with, and they may not all be relevant or plausible for everyone. These are just a few tricks and tips that I like to follow...most of the time.

1. Shop clearance- Don't underestimate what you can find in clearance sections. I have found some amazing polishes and nails supplies for super cheap while rummaging in the clearance section. Target, Ulta, Sally's and even drug stores can have some ridiculously low prices on some quality stuff when they are trying to make room for more current items.

2. If you aren't in love with it, wait- This one kind of goes along with shopping the clearance. A month or so ago, I was eye-balling China Glaze Mahogany Magic but I just wasn't sure if I was IN LOVE with it. I couldn't justify spending $8 on it. A week ago I was in Sally's beauty and I nabbed that bad boy on clearance for $1.50! If you are humming and hawing about if you like it enough, don't get it. Chances are you will forget about it once you leave the store. And you might get lucky and find it later marked-down.

3. Buy minis if available- I love Indies as much as the next gal and believe me, I have my share of full size as well. But, if they are available, I prefer to buy minis if it is a new brand to me or a new color I haven't tried. If I love it, then I will later get the full size, but I have found that I usually use my colors only a few times (with some excepts of course) and a mini will usually be sufficient. This way I am spending $4-5 instead of $9-12. Same goes with OPI and Essie collections. You can usually get a collection of 4 minis of the newest polishes for around $12 instead of $8-8.50 each for full size.

4. If you don't love it, return it- Now this mainly applies to larger stores, such as Target or Ulta. I understand that Indies are independent and cannot afford to return polishes just because someone isn't happy about the color. And I am also not saying that you should buy that really expensive polish, swatch it once for your blog and return it. That is not OK! What I am saying, is that if you get it home and try it out and it just isn't what you thought it would be (maybe the color is exactly like another one you have, or the formula is streaky, whatever), there is no reason you should have to eat that $8.00. Bring it back!

5. Enter giveaways- This one isn't just practical, it's super fun! I can spend about 2 hours a day doing giveaway entry forms. And there are always new giveaways popping up. I have won 5 to date and have gotten some pretty awesome prizes! (see photos below)

6. Limit yourself to one- When logging into Etsy for an Indie restock, I tell myself, "if there are minis, you can get 2. If no minis, you can get 1". That way, when I get to the shop, I spend a minute or so looking at all the ones that catch my eye, but only purchase the one I love the most. This takes a huge amount of effort and willpower and I will willingly admit that I am not always successful. But 90% of the time, I leave the shop having purchased only one polish. Now, there have been times also that I didn't get the polish I wanted because it was already sold out. So I hummed and hawed over the other ones because "I really want a Dollish Pollish because I don't have one yet". But I end up leaving with nothing. Why buy one that is just so-so (to me) just because I couldn't get the one I really wanted? Why buy one just to buy one? I would rather spend that money on one that I know I will cherish rather than one that will sit in my storage drawers, not getting used.

7. Shop Copious and use credits- If you are not familiar with Copious, it is a site where people can sell their polishes, beauty products, clothing, etc. Just for signing up you are given a $10 credit to use on whatever you want. Periodically, they send out codes to get another $10 credit good for a limited time (usually a weekend or a few days). I have spend maybe a total of $5 on everything I have gotten on Copious (see photos below). If you haven't signed up, you can here and get your first $10 credit.


This is everything I have won to date:
(Fever Lacquer Midnight In Your Shortest Skirt)

(Sally Hansen Cherry, Cherry, Bang, Bang! and some cute little minis)

(a perfume, press on leapord nails, Wet n' Wild Blue Wants to Be A Millionaire, Mini green shimmer from Icing, mini white shimmer from Icing, mini OPI I Vant To Be A Lone Star)
($15 Gift certificate to Born Pretty Store)

(Rainbow Polish Yo-Duh-from her new Star Wars inspired collection. I won this last night in a contest to guess the inspiration behind the polish - photo courtesy of Rainbow Polish)

And here is everything I have gotten on Copious.com:

(Rainbow Polish Monarch - I used a $10 credit for this and only spent $1.50!)

(China Glaze Harvest Moon)

(Kleancolor Cappuccino)

(Spoiled by Wet n' Wild Ants In My Pants)

(Kleancolor Mud Pie Sparkle)
I hope this helps some of you out there. If you have any other tip and tricks, please post them in the comments. I would love to hear any other ideas you all may have!

10 Day Challenge Day 2: Rainbow Nails

Hey dears!

So today is day 2: Rainbow nails. I kind of cheated and didn't do traditional rainbows. Instead, I used a polish I have been wanting to try for awhile. Rainbow Polish Monarch!

This polish has orange and yellow micro glitters, orange, yellow and black hex glitters and black square glitters all in a clear suspension base.



I bought this beauty on Copious when I had a $10 credit so I only ended up paying $1.50!


I layered 2 coats of Monarch over Sinful Colors Snow Me White on all my nails except the ring finger. That one I used China Glaze Liquid Leather.


This polish went on beautifully. Very smooth with a perfect amount of glitter on the brush. Very minimal "placing" of glitters.


 Tonya over at Rainbow Polish makes such gorgeous glitter polishes and I can't wait to get more! You can find her Etsy shop here.


Monday, August 27, 2012

A Polish Addict Is Having A Giveaway!

Hey guys, just wanted to let you know that A Polish Addict is having a giveaway where there will be 3 winners and each winner will recieve 3 Shimmer polishes!!
How awesome!

Here's the link.


10 Day Challenge Day 1: Pink Nails

Hello Everyone!

So I have decided to start a challenge on my own. I found one that sounded easy enough for a newbie like me. It is the 10 Day Challenge and it goes like this:

10 Day Nail Challenge
Day One - Pink Nails
Day Two - Rainbow Nails
Day Three - Favorite Book or Inspired by a Book
Day Four - Animal Print
Day Five - Blue Nails
Day Six - Favorite Celebrity Manicure
Day Seven - Favorite Freehand Nail Art Design
Day Eight - Favorite Movie or Inspired by a Movie
Day Nine - Favorite Color Combination
Day Ten - Ombre Nails

I will be doing this at my own pace, however, so it will take me a little longer than 10 days. I like to keep my designs on my nails for a couple of days so that I can enjoy them.

So here is day 1: Pink Nails


My mani has everything! Neon (though you can't see it), dots, glitter, rhinestones. taping!


 Thumb: OPI Pink Frinday and Strawberry Margarita (for the dots).


Pointer: China Glaze Shocking Pink (Neon). I had the hardest time capturing the neon of this pink. My camera just wouldn't do it :( I used Sally Hansen Rockstar Pink for the tip and finished it off with a strip of pink striping tape from The Born Pretty Store.


Middle: OPI DS Reserve and some magenta rhinestones I got on Amazon.


Ring: This was one coat of OPI Tijuana Dance? And then 2 coats of Essie A Cut Above.


Pinky: So cute! OPI Princesses Rule! (2 coats). Then I fished some hearts out of my bottle of OPI Nothin' Mousie 'Bout It to place on top.

Then I topped everything off with a good coat of Seche Vite.


Cute Huh?

Friday, August 24, 2012

FLOAM!!

Hello lovelies!

I have one of my lemmings here for you today. I have wanted this polish for months! I have entered giveaways and stalked the Ninja Polish website, and finally I got an email around midnight one night from Ninja Polish saying that it was back in stock. I crawled out of bed and ordered that bad boy!

And here it is in all its Floam-y glory:



Application was...weird. It went on really well but it was strange working with such tiny glitters. I did 3 thick coats. and cleanup was HARD! I pretty much gave up after my pointer finger. But by the end of the night it had all rubbed off of the skin on its own anyway.


I unfortunately was not lucky enough to snag one of the original bottles while it was still being made by Nailventurous. I got it in the first restock being made by Ninja Polish (with her permission, of course).



Love it!!

And just for fun, here's Miss Maddie! MEOW!


Thursday, August 23, 2012

Hare Polish: Midsummer's Midnight

Hello, ladies!

I have for you today another Indie polish that is very prominent in the polish world. It is Hare polish and it is my very first Hare purchase.

This is Midsummer's Midnight:



It is a black jelly base with purple hex and micro glitters, green and pink round glitters, and square blue glitters. It is so beautiful. I layered one thick coat over one coat of China Glaze Liquid Leather. The formula was amazing! No "placing" of glitters and they went on so smoothly and evenly. I couldn't ask for better coverage.






I just love this polish and it will definately not be the last Hare I purchase!

Sunday, August 19, 2012

Birthday Nails!

Hello, Ladies!

So tomorrow is my BIRTHDAY!!!!! I love birthdays...especially mine! Husband and I go to the zoo every year and this year, he's gathered all my friends, my family together for a huge birthday dinner at the new hibachi/buffet in town. I'm so excited...I can't wait!

So check out my birthday mani:


I absolutely love this!! I used ONE COAT of Sinful Colors Snow Me White as the base for all my nails. ONE coat...that is amazing for a white, I must say.


The present is Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Brisk Blue. The bow and ribbon is Sinful Colors Nail Art Sunny Day.


Red balloon: OPI You Rock-Apulco Red!
Green balloon: an unnamed mini green polish I won in a giveaway
Blue balloon: Sally Hansen Hard As Nails Blue It
Strings: Orly Instant Artist Jet Black


Cupcake!!! For this I actually used a tutorial by the lovely Jill over at Jilltastic Nail Design & More which you can find here, with a couple of alterations. I used Ulta Celebutante for the cupcake cup and Sinful Colors Let's Talk for the folds in the paper. For the frosting I started with OPI Pink Friday and then layered over it Claire's Candy Shop. I used Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Brisk Blue for the candle and Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear in Mellow Yellow and Sun Kissed for the flame. I think this one is my favorite!


And lastly, the candle. I used Sinful Colors Lavender for the candle with Essie Mezmerized for the stripes. The used Mellow Yellow and Sun Kissed for the flame again.

You wanna see it all together again? OK!


What do you think?? This has to be my all time fave mani I have ever done!
What's your favorite mani you have ever done?

Friday, August 17, 2012

Blue Jeans & White T-shirts

Hey Ladies!

Today I have for you another quick post as I am off to go camping with Husband and my parents for the weekend.  I had to cut my nails down to little nubbies, I was scared to break them. :(

But I am wearing a beautiful polish I was really excited to order. It is Daring Digits T-shirt & Jeans. I love the look of this polish. It is a white cream (I am a sucker for a white cream base) with blue micro glitters and  blue hex glitters.


I layered 2 coats of T-shirt & Jeans over one coat of Sinful Colors Snow Me White. I only ordered a mini bottle and I knew as soon as I opened the package I would love it. So I didn't want to use it all up doing layer after layer to make it opaque. (I am guessing it would take about 3-4 coats)


I am renaming this polish in my head to Bluejeans & White T-shirts as that is what it reminded me of when I saw it. BJ&WT is one of my favorite songs from The Gaslight Anthem. I just love this band and I did my first nail art for a concert of theirs. You can see it here.

You can listen to the song and see the amazing TGA on Letterman here (I hope you do!) and the actual recorded version here.

MACRO SHOT!!

I just love Blue Jeans & White T-shirts ;) the polish and the song.

What do you guys think? I would love to hear what you think of the song as well as the mani :)

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Nail Drama is having a giveaway!

Hello everyone, Just wanted to share an awesome giveaway with you all!
Nail Drama is giving you a chance to win 15 polishes from Australian Brands!! It's open INTERNATIONALLY too!! Ends August 31.

Go here to enter!

TIOT Zebra Mani

Hello, Ladies!

So it's Try It On Tuesday and I decided to use a polish that I have been meaning to get to but just never got around to it...OPI Skull & Glossbones.


In the bottle, it looks like a color I would never buy. But I have seen this color used quite a bit on Chalkboard Nails and I loved it, so I picked it up when I saw it on clearance at Ulta. Its a beautiful greyish-tan cream. And it goes on so nicely. These photos are without topcoat.



And then to spice it up, I added some zebra stripes with my BM-223 stamping plate with Sally Hansen Pink Satin.