August Favorites

3. Shark Week 2013 Nails

2. Twinsie Tuesday Chevrons

1. Black and White Fishtail Braid Accent

Diamond Candle Giveaway

So I was contacted by a representative from Diamond Candles a couple of weeks ago. They sent me a candle in the scent of my choice. I was pretty excited, because I've been dying for one of these, and I know they're pretty popular among us nail aficionados! 

L.A. Colors - Matte Orange

I picked this one up on a clearance shelf for $1 awhile back, and I surprisingly actually ended up quite liking it even though it is an orange!

Twinsie Tuesday - Ice Cream Mani

I had a lot of fun with today's mani, and love how my design turned out!

Claire's Day Dream Color-Changing Polish w/ B&W Fishtail Braid Accent

I have a guest post up at Nail Wish on this black and white fishtail braid!

Black and Nude - Studded Criss-Cross Nails

I had the idea to try out a nude (Zoya Avery) and black (Wet'n'Wild Black Creme) combo mani.

I did the nails, they bubbled like crazy. Took pictures anyway and they've sat on the back burner until I had time to post them.

Zoya - Blu

When Zoya offered their limited edition Color Cuties mini polishes, I had to have one of each! Many of my Zoya lemmings were included, and I rarely finish full-sized bottles. Plus, even though I already had a few of them in the full size, they are just to teeny and cute to not need the entire set! I love me some Zoya, so I'm totally okay with owning backups of them, anyway!

Twinsie Tuesday - Chevrons

Since the final Busy Girl Summer Nail Art Challenge, I've been on a watercolor nail kick! So I grabbed a bunch of colors: Zoya Evvie, Elodie, Wednesday, China Glaze Peachy Keen, and Budding Romance. I added some acetone to my colors and just layered them on until I was happy with the look.

Color Club - Beyond

I swatched this forever ago, but never got around to posting. So here it is, finally!

Julep - Daphne

So I had a meeting with a couple of other Public Relations people not too long ago, and had decided on a toned-down, redish colored dress to wear. Then I couldn't decide on a polish color to go with it. I debated on other shades of red or pink. I thought about going with a classic nude, too; but in the end, I checked out a color wheel and went with one opposite my dress.

It may not be the most "professional appropriate" mani/combo, but I decided on Julep Daphne.

Busy Girl's Nail Art Challenge - Watercolor

For my watercolor nails, I wanted to try them in a way I haven't before. The watercolor nails I've done before were done by putting spots of polish on my nail, then loading a brush with acetone and thinning them out. This time I decided to try adding acetone to my polish first, then applying it to the nail.

They turned out fine, but then I decided to add more to them, and after I painted palm trees on top, you can't really see the watercolor background. Still, I like how they turned out!

If I See One More ____ Mani, I'll Puke!

Have I mentioned that I love doing collabs?! Well, I do. And of course, I've done a gazillion more!

A while back, I did a collab with a few other girls were we did designs that aren't necessarily bad or ugly, but are overdone. So in another collab I did recently on IG with Amy and Mai, we repeated that same theme, for a second version.

Twinsie Tuesday - Circus Inspired

Today's Twinsie Tuesday theme is, you guessed it, circus nails!

It took me a while to come up with something for today. I knew I wanted to do a clown, but I couldn't decide on his background.

I tried to go for a circus tent look with the "curtains" kind of pulled over the to side. It didn't really turn out very tent-ish, but I still really like it!

Born Pretty Store - Lace Stamping Plate QA72 Review

I've used quite a few stamping plates from Born Pretty Store in the past, and today I have another one. This time it is plate QA72. It has some lacy images on it, and a few little angels that look like maybe they're supposed to be cupids, but I'm not entirely sure.

Busy Girl's Summer Nail Art Challenge - Hearts

I had an idea for the heart nails I wanted to do today: I wanted to do a single color and create the hearts through a deductive process. I happened to be wearing Sinful Colors Mint Apple, so I tried it out on them.

Incoco Nail Polish Appliqués - Review

I received some nail strips from Incoco to review and show you. They sent me three packs of strips, a booklet with all the different styles they have, instructions, and information about the strips, and two files and orange wood sticks.

Incoco strips are made of nail polish, so you have to use them soon after opening the package, or, as I discovered with some of my leftovers, they end up drying out within a couple of weeks.

The first set I tried is called Sweetie Pie, and retails for $8.99.
Bling Bling is a basic silver glitter for $7.99.
Fashion Fusion is also $8.99 and from their neon collection.

Rock Star French Manicure

Is this new? I haven't seen an "official name" for this sort of look before!

Shark Week 2013 Nails

I keep seeing a lot of awesome Shark Week manis on Instagram, so I gave in and decided to jump on the bandwagon!

Born Pretty Store - Holo Polish Review + Comparison

One of the newest, popular items at Born Pretty Store is their holo polish. Today, I have one to show you! The one I received is blue, it is #8 (of 12). These polishes normally run $12.88 USD, but are on sale for $5.59, for a 6ml/0.2 fl oz bottle. If you remember my review of the glitter gradient polish trio from Born Pretty Store, this polish is the same size those were: slightly smaller than a China Glaze mini.

Twinsie Tuesday - Mish Mosh

The theme for today's TT post is Mish Mosh (or Mix Match) nails. For this challenge, I wanted to do something slightly different (obviously, since that's the point) on every finger, but keep the same color scheme throughout.

Born Pretty Store - Playing Card Water Decals Review

I was mostly excited to share these water decals from Born Pretty Store with you because of how detailed the king card decal is! I do wish there was a little more variety in these. Maybe have a king from each suit, instead of all hearts, or something. But, still, I couldn't paint a king card this detailed in my wildest dreams, so I really like these!

Essence - Gorgeous Bling Bling

Ever since I first saw a swatch of this polish, I wanted it so bad. I can't get Essence polishes here, though, so a little birdie whispered in my swap buddy's ear, and I was so excited to see that she'd found it for me!!

I couldn't get over how unique and pretty this one was, and thankfully it did not disappoint! I love the burnt orange color, the gold flecks; I love everything about this polish! It was perfect in two coats!

Born Pretty Store - Glitter Gradient Polish Trio Review

Born Pretty Store sent me this set of polishes to share with you. They are meant to be worn together for a gradient look.

The trio I received is #04, and includes a silver, a middle darker grey/silver color, and a black. All three have some chunky holo bits in them, too!

Gradient Palm Tree Nails

Quite a while ago, I came up with the idea to try out some gradient palm tree looks. The first one was over a base of China Glaze Dance Baby and Lush Lacquer Party Rockin. I did the palm trees with acrylic paint, gradually adding more white to it as I filled in the palm tree shape.