Simple Snowflake

OPI "Ulta-mate Berry Beautiful"

You caught a glimpse of this manicure earlier in my cookie post. Here is a photo of a fresh manicure (sans tip wear). The red polish is OPI "Ulta-mate Berry Beautiful" which like I said, is from FOREVER ago. I really get annoyed when I read that nail polish only lasts a couple years. Hmph! This one has lived 3x that already and the formula is as good as the day I got it!

The "snowflake" I used is not actually a snowflake, but I like it so much more than the ones on Konad image plate M59. This is from M20. I stamped in Konad's white "special polish" and then applied a rhinestone to the center. Pretty, huh?

Do you have any black labelled OPIs? Did you find them somewhere or have you had them sitting around?

Friday, December 17, 2010

Chocolate Explosion (Cookies)

Non-Polish 25 comments

I don't bake. Anything. [...]

Except for cookies. I've always liked baking cookies.
Maybe because I LOVE cookies! I'm not a "cake" girl. I'm a "cookie" girl!

With Christmas just around the corner, I've kind of been obsessing about them... I'm always on the hunt for a good recipe. The bigger and softer, the better! Last week I tried a new chocolate chip recipe (which by the way, Charlie The Cat bit a hole through the plastic bag and chewed on some of the cookies!)... and here is one I stumbled upon online this week! Could anything be better than a cookie made with cookies (Oreos), candy bars, and chocolate chips? Nothing is coming to mind...

Mmmm! Still warm from the oven. Looking at these pictures is making my mouth water!

I found this recipe through Southern Living Online. HERE is the recipe!

Since this is a nail polish blog, I suppose I should add something to this post that is relevant... The polish I'm wearing is OPI "Ulta-mate Berry Beautiful". It's really old and really awesome! A one-coater, super glossy, and applies perfectly. If you ever find it, snatch it up. I've seen it on ebay for $20. I got it for Valentine's Day 5 or 6 years ago...

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

On the Naughty List: Charlie!

Non-Polish 30 comments

Those are Charlie's "crazy eyes", as we call them... his pupils get HUGE whenever he is thinking about doing something he shouldn't. I'm pretty sure Charlie made the Naughty List this year. Haha. Notice (bottom photo) how he moves in for a closer look! Charlie, you aren't foolin' anybody. The photo below was taken just before his attack on that poor ornament. At least it is still in one piece!... It's hard to be mad at Charlie. He's just so dang cute!

By the way, that's a real Christmas tree. It has been clear coated and sprinkled with "snow" and glitter. As you can imagine, Charlie can't keep himself away from it. He is perpetually covered in sparkles. I think he'll shimmer through February!

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

LA Splash Glitter - Precious Crystallina

Loose Glitter 15 comments

This is a manicure I did a while back... It's hard to tell from the photos but this is a (very) subtle gradient of OPI "Bubble Bath" and OPI "Funny Bunny". After the gradient dried, I applied a layer of topcoat and quickly sprinkled on some glitter. Afterwards, I used Seche Vite top coat to create a smooth final surface...

How to Apply Loose Glitter

This might not be the "right" way but it works for me! Work one nail at a time... Apply clear coat to a nail. Set your freshly painted nail next to the glitter container. Quickly dip a small, dry paintbrush into the powder. Then, while holding the brush over your nail, lightly tap it on the container to force the glitter off. It'll fall to your nail and create a natural dusting across the surface.

I bought this glitter from our local Walgreens. It cost $3.99 per container, or $7.00 for two. I got this one, "Precious Crystallina", and "Onyx" (charcoal). Fun!

Monday, December 13, 2010

Rhinestone Storage!

Tools/Storage 12 comments

Quick post today. Thought I'd share with you an alternative to those annoying spin wheels for storing little beads, rhinestones, or other nail embellishments! This is a plastic wheel that I found at a Michael's craft store. It has 8 compartments; each with its own snap lid! Best part... it only cost $1.99! I bought two :) Oh and by the way, CNN, I will NOT stop using emoticons. Did anybody else read that article from yesterday?

I wish the compartments weren't so deep, but I suppose that is nice for storing
items larger than itty bitty rhinestones!

Thursday, December 09, 2010

Half Moon With Liquid Palisade

Reviews 37 comments

Half Moon Manicure

I've seen the "half moon" manicure so many times online but I was never really THAT excited by it... until I saw it in black and white. Black-and-White is my thing! I wear a lot of zebra print... b/w stripes. I also love houndstooth... And just plain black OR white. They never go out of style. When I saw them together in this manicure, I just HAD to try it.

Liquid Palisade

This was also the perfect opportunity to try my sample of Liquid Palisade, which is a paint-on product that creates a seal for any surface you don't want polish! It's great for nail art, french manicures, or just to keep your cuticles clean during normal polishing! I'm especially excited about trying it for pedicures!

It's as easy as 1, 2, 3 . . . 4!

Liquid Palisade works exactly like it is said to work. It's so easy too! There's virtually no learning curve... you just need to get used to painting with the brush (I hope you have a steady hand!). Believe it or not, this was my first attempt at it. Seriously. E-A-S-Y. Follow the four easy steps described below (Paint, paint, paint, and peel)! You simply paint it on where you don't want polish to be, cover your nail with the desired color, and then peel the Liquid Palisade off. The idea is absolutely genius. I only wish I had thought of it first :)

How To Use Liquid Palisade

*See diagram below*

1) Paint your nails with your base color and allow to dry completely.
2) Draw a design onto your nails with Liquid Palisade (I went over my design twice so the Liquid Palisade was thick and would be easier to pull off. Also, make sure to apply extra Liquid Palisade off of your nail so you can later grab it with tweezers!). Let the Liquid Palisade dry for a couple of minutes and then...
3) Paint over Liquid Palisade with your next color. (Use a one-coat polish because you have to remove Liquid Palisade when polish is still wet).
4) IMMEDIATELY start to remove the Liquid Palisade (I suggest using tweezers so you won't accidentally touch the wet polish and because Liquid Palisade tends to fling up at you since it's stretchy!).
P.S. Only "polish-and-peel" 1 finger at a time. You don't want it (for example: the black polish) to dry before you take off the Liquid Palisade or you might pull up some of your polish.

Liquid Palisade was sent to me for review :) You can see more about it HERE.

Friday, December 03, 2010

Essie "Turquoise And Caicos" Plus Glitter

Essie, Nfu Oh 23 comments

What It Is

Nfu Oh's "GS01" (a Glitter Series polish) over Essie's "Turquoise & Caicos" (from the 2010 Resort Collection). GS01 is an almost pastel, multi-colored glitter. "Turquoise & Caicos" is a semi-sheer polish that can build [eventually] into an opaque finish.

Application

Loved the color of "T&C" but its application was a pain in the butt! Runny and sheer. Bad combo. I tried thicker layers to get better coverage but the polish ended up flooding my cuticles and causing bubbles. I was able to mask them with the glitter though :)

I know I show you Nfu Oh "GS01" ALL THE TIME but I love it! The glitters are small and not in-your-face... so, so pretty! Have I convinced you that you need some Nfu Oh's yet? :) I've seemed to convince myself that I need another one! You can check out my other Nfu Oh's by clicking HERE or visiting my "Inventory (Nfu Oh)" link on my navigation bar above!

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Lollipop And Pink Polka Dots

Konad Nail Art 41 comments

Everything You'll Need:

Light Pink-	OPI "Mod About You"	3 coats
White-	OPI "Alpine Snow"	3 coats
Dark Pink-	Zoya "Kiki"	2 coats
Image Plates-	Konad M79	(Polka Dots)
Image Plates-	Konad M14	(Lollipop)
Rhinestones-	Aurore Boreale (Swarovski)	5MM
Rhinestones-	Clear (Swarovski)	9SS
Stamping Polish-	Konad "Psyche Pink"	Over white/light pink
Stamping Polish-	Konad "White"	Over dark pink
Top Coat-	Konad & Seche Vite

I saw this idea of a nail-art table at Lacquer Boudoir Blog. Genius, right? :)

Inspiration

Lately, I've been obsessed with Japanese / Kawaii nail art. I love all of the embellishments (rhinestones, pearls, 3D acrylic accents, etc) and the fact that each nail is its own design but still, no doubt, belongs to the set! This is NOT my attempt at it. It's just me heading more towards that direction. I've also really been inspired by Emerald Sparkled Blog's skittle manicures. Check it out and you'll understand why!

Make It Happen

I waste A LOT of time trying to decide what I'm going to do to my nails. I'm very indecisive. My thought process is a mess: "If this nail is light pink, that nail should be dark... but where is the white nail going to go? I don't want any patterns; it has to look random. Blah-blah-blah". This time I decided to start at the drawing board. I used Adobe Illustrator to create my plan of action! Below is a simple, colored illustration of my nails:

Do you pronounce it "Polka dots" or "Poka dots"?

Saturday, November 27, 2010

OPI (Swiss) - Diva of Geneva

OPI 26 comments

OPI "Diva Of Geneva"

What It Is

A deep magenta shimmer. My favorite thing about this polish is how it reflects light. The edges of my nails are very dark, while the centers seem to glow. This is a perfect shade for Fall. Part of OPI's (Fall/Winter 2010) Swiss collection!

Application

"Diva of Geneva" took only 2 coats to become fully opaque. I remembered to wrap my tips early so it didn't need an extra layer! :) Another thing to note: This polish applies darker than it appears in the bottle, which looks kind of light & dusty.

If you are thinking this is a dupe for OPI "Queen of West Web-erly", it's not. They are very similar but "Diva of Geneva"s color is much more saturated.

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Zoya (Wicked) - Edyta

Zoya 26 comments

Zoya "Edyta"

What It Is

Zoya describes this polish as "a complete mixture of gold, olive, blue-green, and smokey grey with a sparkling metallic finish". That explanation is dead on... From Zoya's Wicked collection (Fall 2010).

Application

This particular polish probably has the best formula out of all my Zoyas. I just barely needed 2 coats. It went on super smoothly and dried much faster than I expected. I give it an (A+), Zoya!

*UPDATE: Upon removal, I discovered that this polish does indeed stain (like so many commenters had mentioned). I had only minor staining on a couple fingers because I used a base coat (OPI Original Nail Envy). If you use this polish, be sure to put down a thick layer of base coat or your nails may be blue for a while...

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Essie (Fall 2010) - Sew Psyched

Essie 21 comments

Essie "Sew Psyched"

What It Is

Described on Essieshop.com as "A cashmere-soft sage pewter". In my terms: gray-green polish with a miniscule amount of shimmer. Part of the Fall 2010 collection.

Application

Application was a breeze. This was 2 coats. I'm really enjoying my Essie collection (small but growing!). Can't wait for more of their collections in the future!

How do you feel about this color? My mom said "yuck!" when she saw it but I love it!

Monday, November 15, 2010

Essie (Winter 2010) - Smokin Hot

Essie 29 comments

Essie "Smokin' Hot"

What It Is

Described online as a "stone-cold fox gray". What the heck does that mean?! It's dark gray with a purple undertone. Why do they have to get all fancy with their wording. No one understands that stuff! Part of
Essie's Winter 2010 collection.

Application

If I remember correctly, this is 2 coats of "Smokin' Hot". Application was smooth and the polish's consistency was perfect. I'm not sure of the wear because I've only just swatched this color... If it's anything like "Going Incognito", then it's a keeper!

Do you like the new symbol I designed? No, that's not a logo... it's just an edited copyright watermark for images. I was tired of the long, distracting name that I had plastered across all of my pictures. This simple symbol says "Hey! Property of the Polish Hoarder"! :)

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Essie (Winter 2010) - Going Incognito

Essie 16 comments

Essie "Going Incognito"

What It Is

A deep bluish-green creme; think of OPI's "Jade Is The New Black" but a touch darker! It's a perfect shade for fall and winter. Part of Essie's Winter 2010 collection.

Application/Wear

Pictured is 3 coats of "Going Incognito". This polish applied very smoothly and had decent wear! I wore it for 3 whole days with only a little tip wear.

I purchased this product from Von Maur (my favorite department store ever). Who knew they'd start carrying Essie nail polish!?... And that's why Von Maur is my favorite!

Thursday, November 11, 2010

China Glaze - Mrs Claus

China Glaze 9 comments

China Glaze "Mrs. Claus"

What It Is

A warm-toned, pink jelly polish with (as far as I could tell) a combination of silver and pink glitter. The glitter is all one size, which I'd consider to be "regular". From China Glaze's 'Tis The Season (to be naughty AND nice) Holiday 2010 collection.

Application

The application of this polish was not as awesome as its color. My bottle was a bit thick and dried too fast! I had to redo my thumbnail because I took too long and it got lumpy. So work fast! This is 3 coats. It ended up looking pretty nice. Don't you agree? :)

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

China Glaze - Party Hearty (Layering)

China Glaze 39 comments

China Glaze "Party Hearty"

What It Is

A magnificiant combination of glitter! This is the most festive holiday glitter I've ever seen and I'm LOVING it! I believe there are 3 sizes of glitter floating around in this polish: large hexagonal red glitter, regular sized green glitter, and very small gold and silver glitter! ~~I will try to add a closeup of this polish soon! How could I forget!?~~ Check! ...Part of China Glaze's 'Tis The Season (to be naughty AND nice) Holiday 2010 collection.

Ways To Wear It

This past weekend, I went on a swatchathon to be able to show you fun examples (including non-traditional combos) of ways to layer this polish! Hope you enjoy them! This took a lot longer than I thought and I went through a TON of cotton balls :)

P.S.

All swatches shown are 2 coats of polish and 1 coat of glitter, unless otherwise noted. Base colors are listed below the pictures.

Nfu Oh #70

Essie "Going Incognito"

China Glaze "Ruby Pumps"

OPI "Pink-ing Of You"

Layered UNDER OPI "Funny Bunny"

And on top of OPI "Funny Bunny"

Nfu Oh #154

Gold: OPI "I Get A Kick Out Of Gold"... Silver: Nfu Oh #67

So... what do you think? Which one is your favorite combination?

Tuesday, November 09, 2010

OPI "Ulta-mate Berry Beautiful"

How to Apply Loose Glitter

Half Moon Manicure

Liquid Palisade

It's as easy as 1, 2, 3 . . . 4!

How To Use Liquid Palisade

What It Is

Application

Inspiration

Make It Happen

OPI "Diva Of Geneva"

What It Is

Application

Zoya "Edyta"

What It Is

Application

Essie "Sew Psyched"

What It Is

Application

Essie "Smokin' Hot"

What It Is

Application

Essie "Going Incognito"

What It Is

Application/Wear

China Glaze "Mrs. Claus"

What It Is

Application

China Glaze "Party Hearty"

What It Is

Ways To Wear It

P.S.

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