You Disappoint Me

So I tried my first Essie. I'd gotten a set of mini's called the Wedding Collection and wanted to first wear Borrowed and Blue, because everyone knows how much I love blue polishes!

You should probably not sniff your fingers in public...

The little gem that I mentioned the other day that was calling my name... Well, I was pleasantly surprised because, not only is it a really pretty color, but it's also scented! ^.^ The beauty I speak of is Color Club's Raspberry Rush.

This gorgeous, summery pink dried really fast, was opaque in 2 thin coats, and (although I swear I am immune to the smell of polish, anyway) had a lovely scent not only after it dried but during application, too. 

The most color-accurate pictures I was able to get were with my phone, so the pics are pretty crappy, but, here, in all its glory, is Raspberry Rush:

Sun

How is it that a SHOE store can create some of the best polish?!

This, Brash's Electric Sky, is the second of the 2 polishes I picked up at Payless Shoes.

This one is just as great as Sergeant Khaki was in every way! It was opaque in 2 coats and has great wear and application! Plus it is a beautiful blue (with tons of silver shimmer), and we all know what a sucker I am for great blues! ^.^

Because I like for my nails and my shoes to match...

So apparently Payless Shoes sells nail polish. I was not aware of this. Then again, I've never been into our Payless. Though it is kind of funny that my eye can catch nail polish at a glance in the middle of bright, summer wedges. =P

Anyway, I decided to pick up two colors that were on sale for $1 a piece. The brand is Brash. The one I have today is call Sergeant Khaki.

One Spectacular Lady!!

I recently won a giveaway from Ice Queen's Nail Parlour and let me tell ya, she is pretty darn amazing!

I received the prize a couple of days ago, and boy was I surprised when this giant box showed up!

I Inspired Myself

Since I featured a Del Sol polish on the last From the Vault, I'd decided to do my St. Patrick's Day nails with another Del Sol, and so I figure I might as well show yet another one that I have, as well. ^.^ This one is two coats of Rockstar.

Regular

I Seem to Have Swallowed a Peach...

About a week ago I got some good non-polish news in the world of Nails Like Lace! I'll let you guess what it is. ;)

From Cluster of Clovers to Being Green with Envy - A Doubled Mani Holiday

I did two different St. Patrick's Day manis. I didn't really like the first, so I redid them.

For the first, my base color is Del Sol First Kiss, then I sprinkled on some loose gold glitter and stamped with Bundle Monster plate BM03. The darker green is Sinful Colors Envy and the lighter is Sally Hansen Grass Slipper. I'm not very impressed with how Envy stamped, though. I wish it would have been more opaque. Oh well. Now I know better for next time.

Furry Friday - Baby

This is one of the kittens that my cat, Squeakers, had, and who now resides at my mother-in-law's house. She goes by many names, including Itty Bitty, Baby and Mini. When she was born, she looked exactly like her Momma, down to their calico patterns, color placement and everything. They're extremely different now, though!

Its actually a kind of funny story with her, because Momma (shut up, that's the way I like to spell it ^.^) had not been around any male cats at all. She was the only cat inside the house and never goes out. Then all of a sudden, one day when we woke up, there she was, laying on the love seat licking clean a little clone of herself. The baby was teeny tiny and the only one of the litter, so we had no clue she was even pregnant!

Quince de Creatividad - Christmas Tree Nail Polish Ornaments

I made this quite a while ago, but since I only do the crafts post once a month, it got pushed back. 

I got the idea to make tree ornaments with nail polish and searched for the best way to accomplish it on YouTube. There are a lot of videos but I found that the best way is to take the clear balls, pour polish inside and roll/tilt the ornament, coating the whole inside, then let it sit to dry upside down in an egg carton or something.

I used Finger Paints flakies first and a plain black background. 

Lamplight

How often is too often: Buffing & Filing

Firstly, I just want to say, NEVER go to Yahoo! Answers in search of nail care tips! Oh man. 


From blogging for a year, I already know that buffing about once a monthish is alright, but I decided to research the topic a little further and I made the mistake of clicking on Yahoo! Answers... I saw everything from things like "let your nails rest between polishing, they discolor because the polish isn't letting oxygen get to them, they need to breathe" to "my nails are weak, but I don't want to use any polish or strengthener, I just buff them all the time to try and help". -.- Oh ignorance truly is bliss.

Anyway, buffing is a nail care technique that involves rubbing lightly against the nail with a buffing board or cream, [that] can make your nails shine and smooth without any uneven ridges in them.¹ Also, buffing will increase circulation to the nail bed2, which will promote nail growth.


It can take three to six months for your nails to grow from cuticle to tip. This is why it's important to gently buff your nails only when needed so that the same spot doesn't get buffed too much -- in this case, less is really more .¹

Can't Pick the Best Underwear, but Refuse to go Bare!

So I've been trying a new basecoat for about a month. Have you ever been to Sally's and seen those big bottles by Beauty Secrets? That's the one!

Well, in comparison to what I usually use, the Sally Hansen Hard as Nails basecoat/topcoat, I can't decide which to stay with.

You Hinder my Mood

Apparently Claire's Mood polish + topcoat = a no-no.

I was able to get one shot of the color difference, though, before I went dot crazy on top and added some China Glaze Fast Forward.

I call this a fail for two reasons: a) Polish that changes from blue to lighter blue or pink to pale pink? Really? If the change was more drastic like the sticker shows, then that's better. Otherwise, lame! And b) Damn you, topcoat! I've never seen a color-changing polish before that no longer works with topcoat over it! -.- Also lame. 

Plus I haven't seen one that dries so matte like these do, but I am okay with that, for the most part.

Alas, I actually kinda like my circus of dots creation in the end. The blue one is Flirty/Shy and the pink is Excited/Bored. The dots are just done in the opposite "mood" polish. The two nails on the left are what they normally look like and the two on the right are what they change to.

Sister Suffragette

Although it is not an "official holiday" in the U.S., today is International Women's Day. In some places, it is sort of just a combination of Valentine's Day and Mother's Day to show love for women. In other places, it's a political holiday for women's struggles and achievements.

Nonetheless, I decided to do a mani for today.

When I think of women's rights, women's suffrage, feminism and things like that, I always think of the scene from Mary Poppins when Mrs. Banks sings "Sister Suffragette" about women's suffrage, and the "we can do it" poster with the working woman flexing her arm on it.

Squishy Blue Wonderland

Yep, you read me right: A squishy blue wonderland. That's exactly what Revlon's Royal is!

Just look at that gorgeous, mirror-shine of harmony!

Spring Critter nails

These nails were inspired by a design that Robin Moses did. Her's is way better, though; she's crazy talented with a paint brush and a teeny canvas!!

Sun

Laine Blog Award

I received this award from Polish and Charms yesterday! Thank you so much, Meredith!

If you haven't seen her creations yet, you should definitely check out her blog. She makes some awesome jewelry!

The rules:
1. Link back to the person who gave it to you.
2. Blog about your award.
3. Give this award to 5 bloggers & let them know you gave it to them.

From the Vault - Del Sol

For this look, I had started with a base of Crayola's scented polish in orange. Then added a few coats of one of the Del Sol polishes (but now I am not sure which one it was) and some flower stickers.

At the time, my husband had one of those really bright construction lights or whatever they are set up in one of the rooms we were remodeling, so I was playing and taking pictures in front of it. Then I really liked how it made the polishes look layered together.