At the top of my A-List

Wow, 90 followers! Now I'm feeling guilty about being lazy in my posting. Thanks to you all for considering me follow worthy!

So this polish (Essie A-List) was in my stocking and at first I was prepared to be "meh" because if I don't wear the right red it's pretty horrific but once I put it on I was totally "WOW!"

This is a perfect red! And holy cow how red it is. It is as juicy as Snow White's apple, as Vampy as Morticia Adams and as sexy as as a Betty Page in all her pinup glory. And did I mention that I love it? Well I do...Lots!


The application was a bit "meh" though, this is four coats (and we know how I feel about more than two) and even though this flowed onto my nail as smooth as silk and the juicy, vampy, sexy goodness was there in two coats, there were also some not so any of the above bald spots that kept showing up needing another coat to cover them.
Was it worth 4 coats?
Yes, yes it was most certainly!
Would I wear it again?
You better believe it!


Now that I've showed you my awesome nails, (no false modesty here, this color really is awesome!) I have to share my little bit of news and ask for you all to cross your fingers for me.
I have a job interview come Monday. It's at a quilt shop in the sweetest little historical village turned shopping...uh...village (my favorite is the old fashioned candy store, mmmmm fudge!). The hours are very reasonable, they're closed on Sundays so I'd have time to be with my family and they're almost literally around the corner. Ok, 5 corners if you don't count pulling out of the driveway. And it involves something I love doing, so lots of good mojo sent this way please, fingers crossed and all that! If I get it, I'll have money to buy polish again(which hasn't happened in over two months) so...Pleeeeeeeease!!

Thank you all so much for reading, I love my followers and I love comments, leave me some!
Until next time, be safe and happy!

Christmas Mani

Yeah, this post is late I know, I've just been enjoying a vegetative state for the last few days. I for one think I deserve it. :)


So here is what I've had on since Christmas Eve day. I didn't get pictures early on so I know they're a little rough now. Not bad for a week though.
So I have a pretty French where I used Orly Winter Wonderland for the tips and OPI Let Me Entertain You for the nail base. I for one think it turned out ubber cute.


And how serendipitous that Let Me Entertain You matches the yarn that I'm using to make my daughter a scarf with so perfectly.
I think I may have to borrow it when it's done so I can coordinate my nails with my accessories.

I hope you all had a wonderful holiday and have had a chance to vegetate. Thanks so much for reading. Until next time, take care!

Pampered Piggies

I hope you all had a wonderful holiday. I know I did. It's been nice to finally get some down time after all the go go go! I've been soooo lazy, I've had the same mani since Christmas Eve! Time to get back in my groove.

I kinda laugh at myself, while I was on active duty for the Air Force my feet were always well groomed, perfectly manicured and since they were the only nails I painted, my toes were always bright, loud, blingy and everything my nails couldn't be due to our appearance regulations.

Lately the poor things are sorely neglected with my thought process being "I'll get around to taking care of them". Well, when my heels actually snagged on my comforter the other night I knew the time had come to pamper them a bit and put a lick of polish on.

Here they are looking much happier wearing three coats of Hard Candy's Sweet P.


I think this is going to have to go in a box to the UK, I have a friend there that adores all things lime green.

Merry Christmas

As I spend this holiday weekend with my family and friends I wish you all peace and happiness and the best that this time of year has to offer you.

Anita

Who Wouldn't Want to be Barbie She Really Does Have Everything

Was out and about tonight and saw this

Photos courtesy of the boyfriends iphone

For $180 US dollars you can get this little beauty.


Seriously?! You can put pictures on your nails!! If I'd had $180...but

The catch for me at least...the nail size. Pretty much good for young girls and nubbin nails.

Some Holiday White, Green & Gold...& Red

Yesterday was my daughters 16th birthday so I'm going to be brief and get back to my mad and crazy state of "OMG only two more days to Christmas!!!".

I like how this turned out. Two coats of Orly Winter Wonderland, painters tape for a nice edge and some Meet Me Under the Mistletoe (I free handed the french on my ring finger) then some Stripe Rite gold glitter and red for some additional color and bling

Tiny Snowballs, Ho Ho Ho!

Thanks so much for reading...er, looking

Until next time.

Let it Snow...(but just on my nails)

*Whew* I just about had a cardiac. I refreshed my Dashboard to look through my "following" updates and it was blank. It said I wasn't currently following any blogs....?!?!?WHAAAaaa???!!! Luckily another refresh fixed it, but for a moment there...


I know you all know my feelings about the cold. Snow is pretty, it's sparkly (and what girl doesn't like sparkles?) and...and...stretching here (usually) white. But lets face it, it's frozen water and frozen = cold. So I prefer to see my snow gracing the nearby mountain tops rather than being on the ground in my local area...on my driveway, waiting to be shoveled. I like it on my nails now too though. I think it's super pretty.
I used Yoga-ta Get this Blue by OPI as my base color then blinged it up with Revlon Star top coat. (You will recognize that combination from a previous mani) I had to go fishing to get all of the hex glitter, just a normal application makes it rather sparse. Once that was dry (Orly Sec 'n Dry helped with that part) I took a dotting tool and a very fine brush along with some white acrylic paint and hand drew my snowflakes on.
I tried to keep it fairly random
And I my thumb isn't quite what I wanted it to be...but oh well.

Is everyone ready for the holiday? I so am not. My daughter's 16th birthday is tomorrow so I've been scrambling to get stuff done for that. I may be certifiably crazy by the time all is said and done. I guess I better get back to it. Until next time, take care.

Yo Ho, Yo Ho, A Holly Vine for Me!

I couldn't resist my silly title since my base color is Savina Black Pearl. I wish I could get better pictures of it because it's a lovely duo-chrome blue/pink that reminds me of abalone shells. The pink didn't want to come out and play by light of my ott light though. How I miss the sun.

It's not quite what I qualify as a winter blue, but I thought it might make a fun background for my holly vine. I used three coats to get it nice and smooth...and then promptly dinged my thumb and forefinger. *sigh* I'm chronic.

This look is easy as pie, just take a darker nail striper and draw in your vine (Color Club) then go over it with a metallic striper (Stripe Rite silver (not glitter)).
Then using the pen tip of a two way nail pen (Nail Star) in red, dot in your holly berries in groups of three along the length of the vine.
Using a green 2 way pen do the same thing for the leaves but pull the dots out to a point. Add your top coat (not shown) and you're done.

I'll admit, I designed this look using a different technique (shown below ) that is a significantly more detailed, but tonight I wanted to see how using my 2 way nail pens and a couple of striping polishes works for a simplified version. While very different, I think this is still pretty darn cute.


Let me know if you're interested in seeing a tutorial on the more detailed version. Until next time, thanks so much for reading and commenting.

Home!

I had a lovely week with Family. But no wireless, since it was a bit awkward asking to use Grandma's computer I just sat back and relaxed. I'll have nails for you in the next day or so. Thanks for your patience!

An Early Spring

I think I've mentioned (more than once or twice) that I am not a cold weather type of person. It does funny things to my skin (considered yourself warned when you see my poor cuticles) and well...I just don't like being cold.
While it hasn't been as cold the last couple of days (the snow is actually melting) it's still not what I would consider warm but since it's not been too bad I thought premature spring mani was in order.

You only get four fingers because I did a major blurp on my thumb and just wasn't feeling the re-do. That and the cuticle on my thumb looks like it's been through the garbage disposal and no amount of lotion, balm or oil can get it photo worthy.

I like my little rosettes, they're so easy. I wish I could take credit for them but alas no, so for those wanting to try, there is a great tutorial on them here.

I used one of my totally awesome QRS polishes in News of the Beloved as the base color. On the ring finger I layered some SH Fire Opal Nail Glaze in Bright Opal over the top and I'm kinda wishing I'd done that on all the nails because it's super pretty. From there I used a dark purple and white acrylic paint for the rosettes with a green acrylic for the leaves. For a little bit more punch I added an eensy weensy lavender jewel in the center of two rosettes, one on my ring finger the other on my index finger. Then topped it off with Orly Sec 'n Dry

Over all I am really pleased with how this turned out. I am really enjoying my little breath of spring. What about you? Do you blame me for wanting an early spring?

In other news, I get to go to Southern California next week! The weather is supposed to be in the 80's and I am super excited! I leave Monday and get back late Friday/early Saturday...unless of course the warmth seeps into my bones and I decide to not come back until it's spring here. ;) Hmmmm, we'll see.

Mostly Pictures Monday

Orly Winter Wonderland 2 coats.

I think it's prettier than the snow. What do you think?

Snowball fight anyone?

A Here and There Haul

It's my military weekend so no polish on nails. I've been working on some ideas though and am excited to see if the actual nail works out the way my brain says it should.

I've been gathering polish for a swap and the funniest thing has been happening. I seem to be ending up with more polishes as well. Strangest thing that, don't you agree? *wink*

So this isn't actually a haul I suppose given that it's been a bottle here and there but I figured I'd put them in one post.

OPI Here Today... Aragon Tomorrow (not the matte), OPI Ink (gorgeous color!) and Color Club Rule Breaker

Mood Struck Mauve to Pretty Pink, Purple to Light Pink, Claire's Mood Flirty/Shy
and Mood Struck Blue to Lavender.

Darling Daughter begged for more Mood Stuck polish after being delighted with the green version. I also picked up some Claire's Mood.

I was kinda irked though, the blue and mauve Mood Struck polishes have brushes that look like this...

One messed up brush.

So I plan on taking them back to exchange for bottles with nice brushes.

I also picked up some cute nail stickers mostly because I love the little snowflakes. But the best is yet to come...

I promise, it's worth it!!

*Squeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!*

How freakin' adorable are these!?! Oh my word, it was love at first sight! Let's get a little closer shall we?

Care for a cupcake?

Yes, definitely too cute for words! Thanks so much for reading. I hope you have a lovely day. Until next time, ciao!

Glaming it up with Revlon Star Top Coat

It really does look like stars!

I'm sure you remember my last NOTD OPI's Yoga-ta Get This Blue. I wanted to extend it out a couple more days and realized that I have a whole lot of fun top coats that hardly ever get used.

Yay, some blue skies!

Time to rectify the situation! Out came Revlon's Star. This is a barely blue clear base with holographic hex glitter and fine silver glitter. Sooooo pretty.

I did have to do a bit of fishing for the hex's but very worth it I think. Don't you agree??
I'm so glad we had a bit of sun so you can see the shine!

A Lovely Winters Blue

The snow peeked through the clouds today and I dashed into the kitchen (my polish and supplies are all on my kitchen table) to pick a new polish to show you.
Between the weather and the inversion, sun is a hard to come by commodity this time of year so I'm going to save my special polishes for when the sun shines.

Look, blue skies!

This is OPI Yoga-ta Get This Blue and you really do gotta get it. It is just beautiful! I love the way it glows, and while it's a cool blue, it's not a cold blue. Does that make sense? It's the only way I can think of putting it so I hope so.

Pardon my cuticles, between holiday cleaning and harsh weather it's hard to keep them pretty.

You should know, I detest the cold, but I love you all so much that I braved the cold so I could take pretty pictures in the snow just for you ;)

See, a pretty snow picture just for you!

So this was two coats of polish over Orly Ridgefiller. The first coat dragged just a bit, but the second coat went on smooth as silk. I love me some OPI!

Hope you all are enjoying yourselves and not going too crazy with the impending holidays. Have a lovely one and until next time, ciao!

Fabulous Flutterbys

Usually I wait a respectable amount of time before I borrow *coughstealcough* anyone elses ideas but when I visited Orlica over at Confessions of a Polishaholic and saw her beautiful Butterfly Wings Tutorial I figured imitation in the sincerest form of flattery and had to recreate the look.

I did mine differently in that I used three different colors of holos for my base color and didn't use a lighter shade to highlight because I didn't want to mess with the prettiness of the holo because it reminds me of the iridescence of a real butterfly's wing.

Aren't they pretty!!!
Yeah, a little heavy on the pictures but oh well.


On the business end, I used Orly Ridgefiller as my base, then Sally Hansen Nail Prisms in Blush Diamond for the pink nails, China Glaze L8R G8R and 2NITE for the green and blue nails. I used my black 2 way nail pen for the lines and white acrylic paint for the dots. (Check it out, the paint's named after yours truely!)

I am totally loving these nails. Thanks so much Orlica for the inspiration!!!