He Lost A Bet

Hi there!

Hunny Poo made a bet with one of his coworkers regarding the 49ers/Seahawks football game this past Sunday. If Hunny Poo's team lost, he had to wear the winning team's colors on his nails for a week... and vice versa with his coworker.

China Glaze - Man Hunt and Color Club - The Lime Starts Here.
Seattle Seahawks MANicure.

Needless to say, Hunny Poo lost. For the base of each green nail, I painted a coat of OPI's Alpine Snow... then I painted 2 coats of each polish to achieve what's pictured.

I think he made a pretty safe bet considering some of the other bets I've been made aware of. One of the guys has to wear a blue and green tutu for TWO WEEKS (until the Superbowl)!

Until next time...

Merry Christmas

Hi there!

This is my Christmas manicure...

My nails painted with China Glaze - Gaga for Green, Starboard, and Holly-Day.
Christmas tree water marble manicure.

I painted a base of Gaga for Green (lightest green) before water marbling with Gaga for Green, Starboard (medium green), and Holly-Day (darkest green). I added a coat of Seche Vite, and then applied pieces of star confetti as the tree toppers. I thought about adding decorations to the trees, but I quickly decided that I like them just the way they are.

Today is going to be great. While I'm a little bit saddened that there is a gigantic lack of snow where I am, vacationing with my extended family (almost) makes up for it. Nothing beats watching the little kiddos open their gifts on Christmas morning. Sometimes I think I should just give them empty boxes filled with tissue paper- that's all they seem to ever want, anyway ;-p 

What are your plans for today? Whether it's like any other day or something more hectic, I hope it's wonderful and filled with joy!

Until next time...

Christmas Lights

Hi there!

I painted these this morning...

My nails painted with OPI - Don't Mess With OPI.
Christmas lights manicure.

I painted 2 coats of Don't Mess With OPI as a base. Once that was dry, I used a black nail art pen from Sally Hansen. I used China Glaze's Happy Go Lucky (yellow), Gaga For Green (light green), and Hey Sailor (red) with a small dotting tool to make the lights. I also used Sinful Colors' Why Not (blue). I topped it all with a coat of OPI's top coat.

It's not the best job I could have painted- some of the colors smeared... so did the nail art pen :-/ But I like it. If I had this manicure to do over, I'd make all of my nails look more like my middle finger... its design is my favorite.

What are you wearing on your nails for the holidays?

Until next time...

BadAss Polish - Bling and Dusk

Hi there!

I wore each of these manicures featuring polishes from BadAss Polish's core line for a couple of days before photographing them...

Bling!:

My nails painted with BadAss Polish - Bling! over
China Glaze - Winter Berry and Holly-Day.

I painted 2 coats of red and green before applying 1 coat of Bling! It applied easily- it was a little bit thicker than I'm used to working with, but by no means was it difficult. The glitter placed very nicely, and I'm glad 1 coat does the trick :-) I topped it with a coat of OPI's top coat.

A closer look at the small gold glitter and medium silver glitter in a clear base...

BadAss Polish - Bling!

Dusk:

BadAss Polish - Dusk over Sally Hansen - Thinking of Blue.

I painted 1 coat of Thinking of Blue before applying 1 coat of Dusk. It applied just as nicely as the other glitters I've tried thus far from BadAss Polish. I topped it with a coat of OPI's top coat.

A closer look at the small blue and small gold glitter in a clear base...

BadAss Polish - Dusk.

Overall, I'm happy with the formulas and durability of BadAss Polish. They are glitters in my collection that I can honestly say I'll wear again. To see swatches of America's Team and Go Pack Go!, click here.

Will you be adding either of these polishes to your collection? I think Bling! is a great choice for holiday manicures... and Dusk is perfect for "galaxy" nails!

Until next time...

(Bling! and Dusk were kindly provided by BadAss Polish for me to play with)

13 Days Later

Hi there!

I've been a super busy bee, and I haven't paid too much attention to my hands over the past couple of weeks. In fact, I've only just removed my manicure from 13 days ago...

My nails painted with Color Club - Angel Kiss.

Above is what my manicure looked like when I first painted it.

I thought that since I wore Angel Kiss for so long, it might be nice to show how it wears...

My nails painted with Color Club - Angel Kiss.

I wore this manicure for 13 days. I didn't use a base coat or a top coat, and I didn't paint any touch-ups throughout the weeks. It wore pretty nicely if you ask me :-) I didn't even notice tip wear when I re-shaped my nails around day 10.

Now... it's time to go dress my nails! What polish are you wearing today?

Until next time...

Halo Hues and Nfu Oh

Hi there!

This will surely be a hodge-podge of a post...

Color Club - Angel Kiss, Blue Heaven, Harp On It,
Cloud Nine, Halo-Graphic, and Cherubic.

Each set of pictures will show a picture in natural light and a picture taken with a flash. I didn't use top coat or base coat with any of the manicures and/or swatches, and I painted 2 coats of every polish.

Angel Kiss...

My nails painted with Color Club - Angel Kiss.

My nails painted with Color Club - Angel Kiss.

The formula is a smidge thick... so if you're heavy handed when applying nail polish, be careful or your tips might get chunky. This is my second time wearing Angel Kiss, and I'm pleased. I know it's been a task in the past with keeping holographic polish from chipping, but I had absolutely no problems.

Nfu Oh 61, Color Club Worth the Risque, Harp On It, Blue Heaven, and Nfu Oh 65...

Nfu Oh - 61, Color Club - Worth the Risque,
Harp On It, Blue Heaven, and Nfu Oh - 65.

Thumb to pinky: My nails painted with Nfu Oh - 61,
Color Club - Worth the Risque, Harp On It, Blue Heaven, and Nfu Oh - 65.

Thumb to pinky: My nails painted with Nfu Oh - 61,
Color Club - Worth the Risque, Harp On It, Blue Heaven, and Nfu Oh - 65.

I paired the silvers and blues together because I have a hard time telling them apart- especially Harp On It and Blue Heaven. The formulas of the Halo Hues were the best, followed by Worth the Risque and both Nfu Oh polishes.

Nfu Oh 63, Color Club Halo-Graphic, Cloud Nine, Fashion Addict, and Nfu Oh 64...

Nfu Oh - 63, Color Club - Halo-Graphic,
Cloud Nine, Fashion Addict, and Nfu Oh - 64.

Thumb to pinky: Nfu Oh - 63, Color Club - Halo-Graphic,
Cloud Nine, Fashion Addict, and Nfu Oh - 64.

Thumb to pinky: Nfu Oh - 63, Color Club - Halo-Graphic,
Cloud Nine, Fashion Addict, and Nfu Oh - 64.

This set of colors is just as difficult to tell apart as the silvers and blues. The pinks and purples are so close in hue that they don't look different. The formulas of the Halo Hues were the best, followed by Fashion Addict and both Nfu Oh polishes.

Cherubic...

My nails painted with Color Club - Cherubic.

My nails painted with Color Club - Cherubic.

I wore Cherubic for 3 days before I changed my manicure. At the time of polish removal, there was no chipping, flaking, or peeling.

Overall, I prefer the Halo Hues polishes to both the other Color Club holographic polishes and the Nfu Oh polishes. The formulas were all much smoother and shinier... however, they smell worse. I noticed myself wanting to cough and sneeze each time I used a Halo Hues polish. The caps of the Halo Hues polishes aren't the best. Something about them makes them difficult to open- they don't seem as thick and as sturdy as the black-capped Color Club polishes. I kept thinking I was sure to crack them.

If you're simply looking at this post to see who won the Halo Hues giveaway... yes, yes... I'll get to it :-) The winners are JamieWillett and HaileeBeezy. I've emailed both ladies, and I'll update this portion of today's post if/when I hear back from them. Thank you to everyone who participated!

So, do you have any of the polishes pictured above? Which is your favorite? I'm still waiting on a red holographic polish to make its way into my life. Or, perhaps, an emerald green! How perfect would that be this time of year?

Until next time...

Ivanka's Apple

Hi there!

I imagined this looking differently...

My nails painted with Zoya - Apple and Ivanka.

I painted 2 coats of each polish to achieve what's pictured. Apple has flecks of green that are the same color as Ivanka (ring finger), and Ivanka has flecks of green that are the same color as Apple. I didn't think they'd blend together as much as they do. In person, my ring fingernail only looks slightly darker than the rest... and sometimes it doesn't even look like I'm wearing an accent nail at all.

How would you wear these colors together?

Until next time...

Blue and Green Granite

Hi there!

Hunny poo and I recently toured new homes where all of the counter tops were done in granite. I've always liked the look of granite- especially because no 2 pieces are the same. Anyway, that's what inspired this manicure...

My nails painted with Julep - Gunta and Popova.

I painted a base of white polish to make the colors stand out a bit more than they would without it. Then I blobbed dots of Gunta (blue) and Popova (green) onto the back of one of my stamping plates. With a pre-cut piece of cosmetic sponge, I dipped into the dots 1 at a time and randomly placed the sponge on my nails. When I was happy with the color, I continued with the next dot of polish. I started sponging before the white base polish was entirely dry, and I'm thinking that's the reason there seems to be a little more depth than if I had sponged on dry nails. It also pulled the white through to lighten the jewel-toned polishes :-)

My nails painted with Julep - Gunta and Popova.

When Julep asked me to do a guest blog post for them, I thought, "heck yeah!" After I finished this manicure, however, I told myself I wouldn't be able to submit it because it wasn't unique... I was certain I had already done this combination in the past! Bummer. But then while I was folding laundry, it dawned on me why my manicure was so familiar... it's nearly the same colors as my favorite shirt (pictured first) that I've been wearing all summer! D'oh!

My nails painted with Julep - Gunta and Popova.

Click here if you'd like to see my guest post on Julep's facebook page. And click here if you'd like to become a Julep Maven. I've been a Maven for a year now, and I really like having nail polish delivered to me monthly. It's like a little treat to start the month off right.

What type of design might you try with these colors?

Until next time...

Pajama Pants

Hi there!

I matched my manicure to my pajama pants...

My nails painted with China Glaze - Gothic Lolita and Tree Hugger.

I painted 2 coats of each polish to achieve what's pictured. I wanted to paint my thumbs a medium pink color to match the stripes, but I didn't have access to a pink polish with a slight shimmer like Gothic Lolita and Tree Hugger have. I simply don't think it would have looked very good with a different finish.

If you were to paint your nails the color(s) of your favorite pajamas, what color(s) would they end up being?

Until next time...

Color Club Sponge

Hi there!

This is how short I chopped my nails after coming back from The Bahamas...

My nails painted with Color Club - The Lime Starts Here and Jackie Oh!

I painted 1 coat of OPI's Alpine Snow onto my nails and then painted The Lime Starts Here and Jackie Oh! onto a piece of sponge. When I sponged the polish onto my nails, they mixed to create an orange color. I like it!

I kept forgetting that The Lime Starts Here is a scented polish, and each time I raised my hands near my face was like a special surprise :-)

Do you frequently forget your polish is scented when you wear it?

Until next time...

Shatter The Scales For Audrey

Hi there!

I'm enjoying this combination...

My nails painted with China Glaze - For Audrey and OPI - Shatter the Scales.

I painted 2 coats of For Audrey, 1 coat of Shatter the Scales, and 1 coat of Seche Vite to achieve what's pictured. I wanted to wear Shatter the Scales without it looking "Christmas-y," and I think this works! For Audrey seems to bring out more teal than green from Shatter the Scales.

What would you wear/have you worn Shatter the Scales with?

Until next time...

Sally Hansen - Black Tie

Hi there!

I love this polish...

My nails painted with Sally Hansen - Black Tie.

I painted 2 coats to achieve what's pictured. It applied perfectly, and it's difficult to tell by the photograph... but it shimmers like crazy. It also shifts from dark green/black to purple. I was a bit weary of buying this shade when it first came out... but all of the hype got to me and I snatched one up before they were hard to find! I didn't think I'd enjoy the dark color... and I surely didn't expect the color to shift and shimmer so nicely. I'm glad I was wrong!

Until next time...

Neon Pink and Green Crackle

Hi there!

I haven't worn crackle/shatter polish in quite some time, so today is a good day for it...

My nails painted with Color Club - Jackie Oh! and Pure Ice - Shattered.

I painted 2 coats of Jackie Oh! before applying a coat of Shattered to achieve what's pictured. I added a coat of Seche Vite over the top. The crackle polish pulled some of the pink polish away from my cuticle... I'm not sure if it's because I didn't let the pink dry completely- although, I'm pretty sure I did :-/ Anyway, my camera had a tough time capturing just how bright this manicure is- it's much brighter in person!

Have you tried any of the Pure Ice Crackles? How do you like them?

Until next time...

China Glaze - Exotic Encounters

Hi there!

This is the first polish I decided to try from the On Safari collection...

My nails painted with China Glaze - Exotic Encounters.

I painted 2 coats to achieve what's pictured. In some lighting, it appears as a greyed teal... while in other lighting, it can appear emerald. Either way, I like it :-)

To see all of the On Safari collection, click here.

Will you be adding Exotic Encounters to your collection?

Until next time...

Neon Greens

Hi there!

If you're in the market for a neon polish and don't know where to start, I hope this next week helps you. I'll be posting comparisons along with my first impressions of the neons that I own.

Spoiled - Permission To Proceed, Sinful Colors - Irish Green,
Color Club - The Lime Starts Here, Color Club - What A Shock!,
and China Glaze - Kiwi Cool-Ada.

My nails painted with Spoiled - Permission To Proceed,
Sinful Colors - Irish Green, Color Club - The Lime Starts Here,
Color Club - What A Shock!, and China Glaze - Kiwi Cool-Ada.

Each nail is painted with a base of white and 2 coats of green. The picture was taken with my cell phone, so it isn't wonderful... but it's much more color accurate with neons than my regular camera.

In order from my favorite to my least favorite:

1. Color Club - The Lime Starts Here (middle finger)... The formula is great. That, combined with the unique color, makes it my number 1. The lime smell is also kind of fun :-)

2. Sinful Colors - Irish Green (index finger)... This was almost number 1. The only reason it isn't is because I think The Lime Starts Here is a bit more unique in color.

3. China Glaze - Kiwi Cool-Ada (pinky finger)... I like the formula, but I dislike the matte finish.

4. Color Club - What A Shock! (ring finger)... This isn't number 4 because of anything wrong. It has a faint blue shimmer in it, and that's just not what I think of when I think of a neon polish.

5. Spoiled - Permission To Proceed (thumb)... This is number 5 because I used 2 coats. I like it much better with 1 coat (seen here). This polish has more of a jelly finish than the others, and I dislike the brush.

That's it for the greens. Which one is your favorite?

Until next time...

China Glaze - Gaga For Green

Hi there!

This is a great green...

My nails painted with China Glaze - Gaga For Green.

I painted 2 coats to achieve what's pictured. It applied like a dream, and I'm really happy with how smooth and shiny it is. I didn't use a base coat, ridge filler, or topcoat... yet it looks like I did :-)

It's a nice choice for spring/summer. What are some of your favorite polishes to wear in the warmer months of the year?

Until next time...

Happy Green Day

Hi there!

I've been out of town meeting/visiting my new baby nephew. He's the cutest little thing I ever did meet! Anyhow, this is a water marble I did before I left town...

My nails water marbled with Julep - Leah and Emilie.

I painted my nails with 2 coats of Leah, then marbled with Leah and Emilie. I had some difficulty with this design because just as I was about to do my thumb nail, the heater in my house turned on and changed the room temperature quite a bit. It looks a bit blobby mid-nail, but I really don't mind it. Just keep in mind, room and water temperature matter when water marbling. I've found it works best with a room temperature of about 67-68°F and room temperature filtered water.

This design is also featured on Julep's blog if you'd like to check it out.

Whether you celebrate or not, I hope you have a happy St. Patrick's Day! Stay safe!

Until next time...

China Glaze - Magnetix Collection

Hi there!

I've had these sitting around for a while and finally figured I should play with them- so here's a look at China Glaze's Magnetix collection...

China Glaze - Pull Me Close, Cling On, Instant Chemistry,
Drawn To You, Attraction, and You Move Me.
Magnetix Collection.

This collection consists of 6 darker, jewel toned polishes...

My nails painted with China Glaze - Pull Me Close.
Magnetix Collection.

My nails painted with China Glaze - Cling On.
Magnetix Collection.

My nails painted with China Glaze - Instant Chemistry.
Magnetix Collection.

My nails painted with China Glaze - Drawn To You.
Magnetix Collection.

My nails painted with China Glaze - Attraction.
Magnetix Collection.

My nails painted with China Glaze - You Move Me.
Magnetix Collection.

I painted 1 thick coat of each polish to achieve what's pictured- with the exception of Cling On and You Move Me. They are thinner formulas, so they needed a thin base and a thick coat to achieve what's pictured.

The magnet takes some trial and error to get used to. My favorite (and easiest to use) is the diagonal striped magnet. My least favorite side of the magnet is, by far, the starburst. As you can tell by my subpar pictures, it was much more difficult to line up on my nail. Oh well :-)

Are any of the polishes in this collection a must have for you?

Until next time...

Maybelline - Khaki Fringe

Hi there!

Today I'm wearing a polish I picked up at my local dollar store...

My nails painted with Maybelline - Khaki Fringe.

I painted 2 coats to achieve what's pictured, and it applied just as I expected it would. Gold, green, orange, and yellow shimmer in the sunlight...

Maybelline - Khaki Fringe.

Until next time...

Ugly Manicure Monday - 04

Hi there!

This ugly manicure comes courtesy of an anonymous reader...

Zoya - Charla, Orly - Fresh, and Nubar - White Polka Dot.

She first painted an attempted half moon with 2 coats of Charla (blue), then 2 coats of Fresh on the rest of the nail. She said it was plain and ugly, so she hoped the addition of glitter would help. It didn't :-)

Thanks, "you know who you are!"

If you have an ugly manicure, I'd love to feature it! Email me with what polish you used and what you intended your manicure to look like :-)

Until next time...