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?

Chocolate Explosion (Cookies)

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...

On the Naughty List: Charlie!

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!

LA Splash Glitter - Precious Crystallina

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!

Rhinestone Storage!

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!

Half Moon With Liquid Palisade

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.