January Favorites

3. SXY - Seductive Berry

This brand was a new find for me, and I ended up really liking the two I picked up at Payless! I'll definitely be getting more!

2. Spotted Rainbow Gradient
I love this technique. I need a little more practice with it, but I love the effect. It is almost like the coveted OPI Spotted, only not quite as simple, and you're not limited to one color.

China Glaze - Ride the Waves

I did not realize until I applied it that this one was anything but a creme.

It is actually an amazing jelly!

To keep said yummy, squishy finish, I left it at two coats of blue heaven.

China Glaze - Shower Together

This one is an oldie, but it is a goodie!

I've had my eyes on this one for quite some time, so I am glad I was finally able to add it to my stash!

Interesting Article - Polish Spending of 2012

I have another interesting article to share with you! :)

We are one crazy group of individuals... Apparently we, humanity, collectively spent $768 million on nail polish last year! Geez!

Check out the article!

Plastic Wrap Marble Nails

Earlier this week, I reviewed some acrylics from Born Pretty Store. In that post, I included a video tutorial of how to make bows with acrylic. Today, I want to show you the marble mani you saw me wearing in that video!

Built-in Nail Stylus

Technology... Geez! Now they're putting styluses in fake nails so you can still use touch screen devices with long nails...

Check out the article and video here, it is kind of interesting!

Glitterbomb Franken

I mixed this polish so long ago that I can't even begin to remember what all is in it. I think it was basically just a bunch of leftovers from minis that were almost empty and ended up not being too shabby. ^.^

Color Club - Warhol

Another gorgeous neon/hot pink! This one reminds me of China Glaze's Flip Flop Fantasy. Mine is actually almost out, so I'm really glad I bought this as a perfect replacement!

Again, it is darker and not so glow-y in person, but you get the idea. :)

Color Club - Wham! Pow!

This one is darker than I could capture, but, as always, neons are impossible! I love the name of this one, though! So very comic-like. ^.^

Color Club - Poptastic

Oh geez are neons ever a pain in the butt! So stunning in person, but absolutely ridiculous to capture!

Born Pretty Store - Stamping Plate M78 Review

I was extremely impressed with my first stamping plate from Born Pretty Store that I reviewed, so this afternoon, I have plate M78 to share with you! They sell this particular plate for $2.99 USD.

As is typical with stamping plates, it comes with a blue film on the top that peels off cleanly. These plates do not have a paper backing like ones such as Bundle Monster and Konad, but that doesn't bother me since I put a non-slip material on the back of all my plates anyway.

Born Pretty Store - Acrylic Review

I got a set of acrylic powders and acrylic liquid from Born Pretty Store to share with you today!

Clay sculpting is another hobby of mine, though I don't do much of it anymore. In a sense, working with acrylics is similar, so I've always been really interested in trying it out. Now, I'm not a big advocate of a full acrylic overlay because then it has to be sanded or filed off, which can destroy your natural nails!

Essie - First Dance

Typically, I am not a fan of reds. This one, though, I am okay with. Which is a bit of a surprise, because Essie and I kind of have a love/hate relationship. Of every Essie I try, I either love it or hate it, and I've only found 2/6 that I like a lot, sadly (not including this one).

I prefer reds that have a blue undertone to them, and aren't too tomatoey, so this one definitely works for me! It's opacity is amazing, but being a mini, the brush pretty much sucks as is usual with minis.

Baby Bottle Pop Scented Nail Polish

Just like the other, this dried darker than the bottle color, and with a great shimmer! It dried, and peeled and chipped just like the other, but smelled fabulous, too! 

Firmoo

I have a non nail related post to share with you. I was contacted by an eyeglass company called Firmoo to show and tell about a pair of their glasses.

First, I want to give you a summarized introduction of the company: Firmoo is the world's most popular online eyeglasses store, committed to offering customers the best quality products at the most affordable prices. There is no inbetween man when working with Firmoo because they buy their supplies directly from the manufacturer, so they can offer their products at great prices, plus they are online so there are no overhead expenses. If you're interested, you can read more in the About Us section of the website (here).

I was already impressed with Firmoo when I received their package, because I was very surprised to not only get glasses, but a cloth to clean them with, a hard glasses case, a drawstring bag (it is very soft and durable but I can't figure out what the material is), extra screws, and a nifty key chain tool that twists off on either end to reveal both a flat and a Phillips screwdriver. 

On top of that, it only took them 4 business days to arrive! So their shipping time is wonderful, too!

Bubble Yum Scented Nail Polish

This was much darker once dried on the nail than in the bottle, and a beautiful shimmer pops out like crazy once it is dry, too!

Stamped Snowflakes on a Sparkly Pink Background

I loved my glowing beauty from yesterday so much that I wanted to keep it a while longer and decided to do some stamping on top.

For the snowflakes, I used Bundle Monster plates BM319 and BM14, as well as Salon Express plate SE19.

I started with my base mani from yesterday of Kleancolor Neon Pink and two coats of Sally Hansen Diamonds, then added a coat of China Glaze Techno, and stamped on top with Born Pretty Store's white stamping polish, then finished everything off with a coat of Sally Hansen Insta-Dri fast drying topcoat.

Kleancolor Neon Pink + Sally Hansen Diamonds

Considering the bottle makes this polish look all wonky and separated, it applies solid. In fact, all of the Kleancolor neon polishes I have look like this and I have no idea why. I can shake them like crazy, and it does no good. I suppose as long as they go on like they should, though, it is alright.

This one is Neon Pink. Such an original name. 

I layered a couple of coats of Sally Hansen Diamonds on top. This is one of my all-time favorite glitter topcoats! I have gone through, I believe, 3 bottles, and am due for another soon!

Quince de Creatividad

What else do I love besides nail polish? Knitting is another enjoyment I partake in!

Cleaning up Manicures

Doing my rainbow gradient nails gave me this idea. Even if you surround the nail with petroleum jelly, or use tape, some cleanup is still always required with gradients. I figured showing you the way I clean up around the edges of a messy mani would be a good thing to share and may be helpful to someone.

Spotted Rainbow Gradient

I recently learned a fun new water marbling sort of technique and couldn't wait to try it out over my rainbow gradient nails!

The original look calls for black polish on top, but I could not get any of mine to cooperate, plus I'd left purple out of my gradient, so I opted to use SXY's Violet Vixen instead!

You can tell I got better with progression, because the pinkie was the last nail I did, and it looks the best. I definitely need more practice with this technique, but I love how you can pretty much make any color look similar to OPI's Spotted with it!

Rainbow Gradient

I love gradients! It is one of my favorite nail art techniques! I have done tons of them in the past, but, surprisingly, never a full rainbow gradient.

I did forget the purple in this one, so I suppose it is not a true full rainbow, but I made up for missing the purple... You'll see how later! :)

SXY - Violet Vixen

Now, I do appreciate the attempt here of letting you know what the color probably is with the polish's name... I showed you Seductive Berry yesterday. It is a berry color. Simple enough. This one, while still a really pretty purple, is not violet!

I realize they're going for amusing alliteration (see what I did there ^.^) with the name, but that's like naming a hot pink polish "Riveting Red" (that isn't a real example, I can't actually think of one, so I had to use my imagination) or something!

Anyway, here is the second polish I picked up from SXY by Unforgettable Moments. It is Violet Vixen.

SXY - Seductive Berry

Made a trip to Payless a while back... It is pretty amusing that I have been in that store I believe a whole 3 times in the half a dozen years or better that it has been open, and never once made a shoe purchase. I did, however, discover another line of polish I haven't tried they started carrying since the last time I was there. Of course, since it was on sale, I had to pick up a couple to try out!

The first one I decided on is Seductive Berry from SXY by Unforgettable Moments; a pretty, berry creme color. It took 3 coats, but each was smooth, easy, and it dried pretty quick, too! I am not a huge fan of red polishes, but this one leans very pink and is just beautiful and so yummy-looking in person!

Zoya Natty with OPI Don't Pretzel My Buttons

I decided to stamp on top of Natty and used Bundle Monster plate BM110 and OPI Don't Pretzel My Buttons.

Zoya - Natty

Zoya just never disappoints! I've got another blue beauty today... Natty.

Snowman Polish - Banana Scented Yellow Paired with Blue & Purple Glitter Topcoat

I added the second of the snowman polishes my mom got me on top of the yellow one I showed you yesterday. I actually ended up really liking this combo!

Snowman Polish - Banana Scented Yellow

I have one other banana-scented polish that was an accidental find at Sally's, and I absolutely loved it! So I was pretty ecstatic when my mom found this one at a craft show for me!

While this one was very unruly, it smelled so yummy, and it is such a bright, beautiful yellow (which says a lot, because I am not a big fan of yellow polishes at all)!!

Stamped Pink Gradient

After I wore the gradient I showed you yesterday for a day, I decided to stamp on top using a random design from one of the Bundle Monster plates, and Pixel Marvel-icious.

Subtle Pink Gradient

I chopped my nails off in December. No real reason. I didn't have a break or anything, just felt like it. I usually prefer nails on the shorter side, and I loved them the last time I cut them this short. I'm not so sure this time, though...

Regardless, I have gotten through all of my scheduled posts that got pushed back due to the nail art challenge I completed last month, so now I finally have some fun stuff to show with my new nubbins.

I started off with e.l.f. Light Pink and created a rather subtle gradient using it and e.l.f. Bubble Gum Pink.

Born Pretty Store - Stamping Plate QA5 Review

As well as the polish and studs I showed you yesterday, I was given a stamping plate from Born Pretty Store to review. The one I picked has bows, skulls, and anchors. I don't have a decent bow stamp, and I love the adorable skulls and crossbones! It retails for $2.99 USD but is currently on sale for $1.99, which, when it comes to stamping plates, is an absolute steal!

Born Pretty Store - Studs & Polish Review

Today I have some really cute nail studs and a beautiful polish from Born Pretty Store to share with you.

First, the polish. The one I got is #41. It is a great mauve-ish color with a slight silver shimmer to it. It is barely visible to the eye, and I was unable to capture it on camera.

December Favorites

Since I participated in a nail art challenge in December, I had tons of manis to choose from for my favorites. It actually wasn't nearly as difficult to narrow them down as I anticipated it would be!

4. Sinful Colors - Blue by You

I so raved about this polish! I love it. It is easily one of my favorite blues ever, so of course it had to make it into the top picks this month!

3. Snowflake and Snowman Tips

I was unable to come up with an original name for this one... so sue me. Idc, I loved how these turned out! I couldn't get over how adorable that little snowman was!

2. Spun Sugar Rainbow Nails (from Day 13 of the December challenge "inspired by an artwork")

I actually just went into these messing around and they ended up being a thick, goopy mess, but I still loved how they came out!