QRS Ivy Wreath

We all have polishes in our collection that are rather "meh".  For whatever reason we don't care for them, they don't look good on us, we don't like the shade...yadda yadda.

 

Of all the QRS colors I ordered this would be my least favorite.  I think because it reminds me of green tempera paint from my childhood and every time I see it I can smell that paint.  Ick!

Unfortunately in my opinion there isn't a redeeming factor either.  There's no shimmer, no depth.  It's just a rather flat, blah green to me. It was also rather thick and difficult to apply as well and offered up some rather large scale streakage.  It's nothing personal though and I still absolutly adore the QRS brand and will be buying more of their polishes.  Considering how many of them I have it's pretty good odds that only one doesn't suit me.

Thanks for stopping by and until next time, take care.

The Tronica Bandwagon

Initially I was going to sit this one out the because of the "barely there" comments I was seeing about the holo effect of the new Tronica Collection but when my Local Sally's had them on sale 2 for $10 a while back...well, what the heck and picked up four (They only had five colors left).

None of the colors available screamed hello or hallelujah at me but I'd really like to see the rest of the collection before I go forming an all encompassing opinion.  Here I have Digital Dawn on all but the accent finger which is 3D Fantasy. 

I do like them, and yes the holo is very, VERY subtle, even in full sun which I was lucky enough to get a bit of this last week.

The application was pretty average for China Glaze, the polish pretty much putting it's self on my nails.  Clean up...  Well, often with holos I end up feeling like I've had a fairy fart on my fingers, with shimmer in ever groove necessitating several rounds of remover and a good scrub, but this cleaned up quite nicely.  

As I said, I want to personally see the rest of the collection before forming my opinion but first impression is...Meh.  Not terribly impressed but not finding it a fail either.  Have you an opinion on the Tronica Collection?

Pretty Pastels

Happy Easter!  I've been so busy but I wanted to take the time to do a sort of themed mani for the occasion.  I love how you can start a mani with one idea in mind and then finish up with something completely different, don't you?

I originally went into this mani with some fun Easter-y nails in mind, polka dots to be specific, I was going to do the lavender dots on a green base and then green on the lavender base.  I got one nail done and it so didn't turn out in life what I had pictured in my mind.   The dots were too big (and they smudged) and they just didn't look right.  So I scrapped that idea.  I still wanted to work with the colors though, so what to do.

I ended up pulling out my french guides and using them to create a fun and colorful french.  Added some itty bitty dots with some acrylic paint and a dotting tool and viola!

Much more to my liking, what do you think??  I got a lot of complements on them at work, I was pretty darn pleased...right up to the point where I broke two nails and chipped most of the others beyond repair. (insert sad face here.)

Colors used,  China Glaze Re-fresh Mint and OPI Done Out in Deco (pink is acrylic paint) Seche Vite top coat.  Both of these colors are amazing to work with but the Re-fresh Mint dries much too fast in the bottle and started getting really thick toward the end.

I must be going through a mind alteration because I'm actually really liking these soft colors.  A big change from my usual bold and dramatic usual choice. Thanks so much for stopping by.  Until next time, take care!

Posies

I've been slaking off I know.  I've been covering for one sick co-worker after the other so working two to three days more per week than usual on top of college and my military education.  Time has just not been on my side. As is I'm maybe getting two polish changes a week if I'm lucky.  *Sigh*   Hopefully people get healthy again (and I don't get sick, knock on wood) so I have a bit more time.
We've been having icky weather for the last week and a half.  Today we got severe lightning and thunderstorm warnings.  But April showers bring May flowers, I'm just having a silent rebellion to this weather on my fingers and bringing on the flowers early because I have a lovely spring color and some pretty posies.

I started with a base color of Orly's Gilded Coral.  This is from the Precious Collection.  It's a looks like it should apply sheer, but surprise, it's a two coater polish.    I love how it transforms in different lights from a soft pink shimmer to a gorgeous peach with gold shimmer.  Really pretty.

I started off with just one flower but then got a little happy with my dotting tool.

I used acrylic paint for the flowers and leaves.  Whenever I try using polish it always dries way to quickly and the cheap miser in me feels like I'm wasting polish.  Am I the only one that feels that way? 

Hopefully next week I can pull a polish marathon and get a bit more steady in my posting.  Thanks so much for sticking with me.  Until next time, take care. 

Precioussss My Precioussss

Argh, I can't believe this didn't get posted, I got these like forever ago, wrote the post and then for whatever reason didn't publish it.  So belated pretties.  

Ok, entry title aside I'm having to fight the urge to run around doing my best Golum impersonation.  Look at what arrived in the mail!!!

Two hard to find OPI's that made me break m $12 rule.  Blue Moon Lagoon for which I blame The PolishAholic.   She posted some lovely swatches that sent my drool-o-meter into overdrive, and OPI DS Original that I have been seriously lusting after for quite some time.  I have one more DS that, given the day, I would seriously consider giving m first born child for and my DS lemmings will be fulfilled.

Look at Original, a beautiful lavender that even though I have no natural sunlight to work with the A-M-A-Zing rainbow/holo still comes out.  Just gorgeous!  I wish you could see this in real life, it just befuddles my mind at how strong the linear holo is on this. 

And Blue Moon Lagoon...*sigh*  The holo is amazing on this too.  This came out before the big

3 free push, so it's still got the original formula and a regular brush.  I sniffed both though and they actually don't smell that dissimilar.  The formula doesn't seem that different in consistancy from the Designer Series, which is more fluid than most other polishes.

I'm soooooo excited to try these on my nails!  Stay tuned for swatches!!!

Orly Precious Collection - Pure Porcelain

Ug, I'm failing on my posting.  I've been stressed with school, my military continuing education and the new job which I believe I've mentioned before just kills my nails.  I've pretty much come to the conclusion that I'm doomed to have shorties and that they only get to look nice during the first part of the week because there's no point in trying to keep them nice for work (Insert sad face here).  Anyway, enough whining, I'll try to step it up a bit.

I'm really surprised that this collection (Spring 2011) hasn't gotten more face time.  So far I have three out of the six and plan on picking up the rest.
Today I want to show you the palest of the collection, Pure Porcelain.   Now you know I'm not a huge fan of pastels and honestly this polish with just the barest touch of pink qualifies but I must say I really...Like really, really, like this color.  There's something else to it though and I think that's why.  It's a certain earthiness to the pink that keeps it from being all bubblegum and cutesy.  Maybe a hint of taupe or greige?  I don't know, but it's there and it works for me.

The reviews that I've read have a common thread of "thickness" when it comes to the consistency of the polish, but on this bottle at least I did not encounter that problem.  I was very pleased with how well it flowed on and for most of my nails only two, average coats were needed.  Honestly if no one were to inspect your nails close up and you just needed a quick lick of color you could probably get away with one thick coat and a quick dry top.

This might not be a pink for all people though.  I noticed that it made my fingers a bit more ruddy than usual and perhaps due to the contrast between my skin and such a pale shade, gave my cuticles a slightly dark/dirty appearance under certain light.  I still really like it though, this is probably going to be my go to polish for military duty but I like it enough to have worn it a couple of times just because. 

Thanks for stopping by and reading.  Until next time, take care.

 

Quirius Autumn Bronze

 This is the third of my top three favorite polishes that I just got from QRS.  Autumn Bronze is just that, a lovely warm Bronze.

It may seem silly but this polish makes me want to wear a 40's fall, tweed suit and do my hair in pin curls.   

 I love the shimmer.  This is two/three coats and it went on like a dream.

 

 Yes, it's more suited for fall then spring/summer (hey, the name says it all) but I'm glad that I got it.  This is for sure on my recommend list.  

Thanks for popping by and reading.   Until next time, take care!

Worth Repeating - China Glaze Ingrid

Welcome to my first installment of Worth Repeating, an ongoing series where I will highlight lovely polishes that had their time in the spotlight but have faded to the background as new collections and colors have arrived.  These are always going to be polishes that you can still easily get your hands on and will always be under $12(USD).

First in our line up is China Glaze's Ingrid.  This was part of the Vintage Vixen Collection and released mid 2010.  This was labeled as Greige, the in-color of the season. 

What fascinated everyone and I'm sure you'll see why is the glorious gold shimmer that glowed from the rich and creamy depths of this polish. 

With an easy application and clean up this color charmed in two to three coats with a gorgeous slick finish.

Well worth adding to your collection this is a rather neutral color that seemed to suite most people.

Hope you found this useful.  If you have suggestions, don't hesitate to leave a comment, I'd love to hear from you.  Until next time, take care!

 

Quirius Kiwi Fruit

So after over a year of unemployment I'm finally back to work.  I found a part time position at my local quilt shop (another of my many hobbies.) and started there this week.  I did the most adorable mani the night before, complete with flowers and lady bugs, but didn't get pictures.  I figured working with fabric couldn't do much damage and  I'd just snap a pic after I got off...  How wrong I was, my nails were totally thrashed, I had to cut off two that day another three went today. :(  But on the happy side, I now have more money for polish!!  YAY!  Since my other mani bit the dust, you get another of my QRS colors, Kiwi Fruit.

I love this color, it borders on neon and makes me think of spring, warm sun and mixed drinks with little umbrellas.  I think this will be a great pool side polish because the darker the complexion the more neon it will appear.  I'm just starting to build up my summer tan so it's not too powerful but it will certainly bling up the darker I get.  (I do understand that tanning is not for everyone, I understand the risks, I'm just a sun worshiper.)

It's just this side shy of being yellow with the tiniest hint of green but a bit far off of actual kiwi green. 

You can probably tell I had a bit of an issue with application.  It was a bit thick and wanted to be on the streaky side.  I think a few drops of thinner would take care of this though so I'll try that next time.  Also please disregard the cat hair that managed to embed it's self on my middle finger and I somehow missed...Ah the joys of pet ownership. 

This is three coats with touch ups.

This is just a plain ol' happy color to me.  I look at these and I can't help but smile.  Happy happy! Do you have a happy color?

Thanks so much for stopping by.  Until next time have a fantabulous one!