Friday, January 24, 2014

Don't Pop My Bubble

Hey loves! :)  How has your day been so far? I have your daily nail art fix for you as promised.  Take a look:




My baby has been loving playing outside on the grass while I blow bubbles for her to chase around.  They inspired me, and voila.  The base polish is L.A. Girl Color Pop in Cornflower which was a super surprise love for me.  I mean, blue, so obviously awesome, but I didn't know the formula would be great.  Here it is at two coats:


Hope you enjoyed this look and make your day fabulous!!

Song of the Day: Of Monsters and Men- Mountain Song
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0gEVaniPOmU
*this link is provided for its audio content only*

Over and out.

Thursday, January 23, 2014

10 Most-Loved Red Polishes

This should have gone in the title because I need to get it out of the way- but these are my top 10 most-loved, budget-friendly red polishes.  You won't find any high end polishes here peeps.  I'm bringing you polishes for the frugal lady.  That being said, I hope you like red polish, because that's what we're gonna talk about today.  Actually, red isn't my favorite shade to wear on my nails, or my second favorite, or third...but sometimes you really just gotta have a red nail.  If you don't particularly gravitate towards red polish, maybe this post will give you that itch to try a new red.  Here's the video on my channel where you can watch live application of each of these babies:




On to the photos, here are the ten lovely ladies I'm spotlighting today, all at two coats:

We'll kick things off with this great classic red, Rimmel London Stiletto Red.  This little lady applies like a dream, has a wider brush for easy application and you'll find yourself reaching for her on the regular.



Sally Hansen Salon Nail Lacquer Wine Not? is up next to represent for our deeper, sexy reds.  This polish has been in my pocket for a lot of years now cuz I can't give her up, she's that gorgeous- and this is without top coat, peeps!


Color Club Mamba is another classic red, a little spicy and just as gorgeous as the rest.  This applies nicely and this is another cost-efficient brand if you find it at places like Marshalls and Ross.  Pick it up, you'll be glad you did.


Nicole by OPI Sealed With a Kris has a little deeper tone, and applies nice and easily.  In real life, it actually comes off a little deeper than in this picture.  This shade is really attractive on, and says "I mean business."


Julep Myrtle has a creamy goodness formula.  I only give that moniker to polishes that ride that fine line between cream and jelly polishes that is perfection.  It's squishy, but not sheer on two coats.  Lovely!  Another really great classic red.


Avon Supernova was a really special polish for me this year and unlike any other in my polish family.  I love the scattered silver holo so much and the formula is fab.  I really love unique shades and this one was really fun.


Julie G Sunset Kiss is so divine.  My favorite thing about it is how much it shines and almost glows.  It has tons of gold shimmer, applies like a dream and is a really great classic.


Sinful Colors Beau Brique is representing for the odd balls reds.  I loved how funky this shade is and how unexpected it is on the nail.  Easy and smooth to apply in two coats.  Another winner!


China Glaze Infra-Red is from their holographic line and I love this strawberry red way to wear a holographic polish.  This is your almost-pink red.  Love it.  If you like holographics and also like to wear traditional shades, this one's for you.


Sparitual Impression is the caboose of the reds today.  This polish is just.....plain.....love.  It applies flawlessly, is the perfect shade of red, and is practically soothing to look at.  My very favorite of the bunch.  Just a great classic, need to have in your arsenal, red.

I hope you enjoyed this roundup of great polishes today.  Make sure you subscribe to my youtube channel where I put out tutorials and reviews every week.  I'll see you back tomorrow with some nail art!  XOXO

Song of the Day: Givers- In My Eyes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KAcI8V7HUy8
*this link is provided for its audio content only*

Over and out

Wednesday, January 22, 2014

Weekly Wrap-Up: 1/22/2014

Happy Wednesday and welcome to my 400th blog post, Whew!  Family and Friends we miss you!  I hope this glimpse at what we've been up to will bring us back a little closer together.  What a great week.  The kids are all happy and healthy and that's all we really need, right?  Let's get right to the photo roll:

 We saw a lot of very typical things happening at our house this week, such as Bear at the computer.



Bug enjoying his favorite culinary creation.


Miss Bee scoring some "noonels" too.


Heading to the park is the week's favorite treat.

We love having a back yard and we're out there as much as we can be.


Per usual, missy Bee is in the most photos because she's home with me all day.


Bubble bath's are always highly requested, especially after painting.

And lastly, I was lucky to get this shot of my two youngest after falling asleep together.  They usually hype each other up and so they rarely have moments like this.


There you have it, short and sweet.  Nothing out of the usual here; this is our life and we're happy to have it :)

Hope you're having a great day!

Song of the Day: Freelance Whales- First Floor Generator
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISnM1Kw1khI
*this link is provided for its audio content only*

Over and out.

Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Tangling Quare Tutorial Tuesday

Well hello there :)  It's Tuesday, so I have a video tutorial for you today.  I did some tangling on my nails and I show you how to create the pattern Quare, designed by Beth Snoderly.  You can just watch it here and below I will have pictures of the finished product.







Patterns are so fun to paint and make great nail art.  If you give this one a try, let me know how it turns out for you.  Have you tried tangling yet?  My gal Karen got me into it and I just knew it'd be perfect for nail art. The base polish I used in this manicure is Sparitual Kindness.  Here it is at two coats:


That's it for today!  I'll see you back tomorrow :)

Song of the Day: Zedd ft Foxes- Clarity
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IxxstCcJlsc
*this link is provided for its audio content only*

Over and out.

Monday, January 20, 2014

Button Up

Hello there!  I have a playful and fun manicure today that is very colorful and kookie, just the way I like it. You know that great little tupperware of random buttons your mom has, where it seems like each little button tells its own story?  That's what this manicure is inspired by.   Here's the look:



I know this nail art is pretty random, but I love rocking the unexpected on my nails.  Truly, that little tupperware of buttons is art in its own way.  Each piece with its own shape and texture and together they make a beautiful rainbow.

The base polish I used for this very colorful manicure is a Bellatrix polish(an unheard-of brand to me) that I found in a gift set in Walgreens this holiday season.  It was a no-namer, so I'm calling it Emerald.  Here it is at two coats:


I hope you enjoyed this look, and thanks for stopping by.  I'll see you again tomorrow and have a fabulous rest of your day!

Song of the Day: Gotye- State of the Art
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xWIKQMBBTtk
*this link is provided for its audio content only*

Over and out.

Sunday, January 19, 2014

Bump in the Night Goes Bump

Hiya!  I have a quick NOTD for you.  I just loved this black textured polish in China Glaze Monsters Ball collection, Bump in the Night.  After it was on I wanted to give it some more interest, so I just added a simple dotticure.  Here's the finished look:



Black and Neon Green, it did just the trick.  This one was really lovely on the nail and would make a great accent nail, or a mix-n-match mani.

Here is Bump in the Night on its own at two coats:


Have a fabulous day!  I'll see you back tomorrow :)

Song of the Day: Bombay Bicycle Club- Shuffle
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oDuif301F-8
*this link is provided for its audio content only*

Over and out

Saturday, January 18, 2014

Saturday Swatchfest: 1/18/2014

It's Saturday, Saturday, time to swatch on Saturday.  Let's get into it.  Here are ten random swatches for us to take a look at and I'll tell you my review of them:

NYC Madison Avenue is a really flattering, cool-toned red that I think is a really great basic to have in your arsenal.  It's a bit of a crelly which I think looks fabulous and you can pick this little bottle up for a couple bucks at the drug store.  This is two coats.  Love it.  A



 
Sinful Colors Soul Mate is a peachy pink and I think it really is lovely.  This is two coats and it was easy and creamy to apply.  I think I found mine at Walgreens or Rite Aid for just under a couple bucks.  A




Julep Lynn was really hum-drum for me.  A frosty neutral peach beige, and it wasn't very flattering on and kind of a mess to apply.  I'd say pass on this one unless neutrals are totally your thing and you just want to try everyone's formula on them.  C+




Nicole by OPI Others Pale by Kimparison was in a bargain bin at Kmart or something and this is three coats to reach this level of opacity.  I have to say it is rather nice though.  Of course, having to do a third coat makes it officially high maintenance for me, but I think it's a really lovely shade.  It sort of looks like a great linen, and it's soft and peaceful.  A




Amour Frayed Denim is one of a bunch of great colors Amour released in Spring, and each color was so interesting, but honestly the formula on all of these meant a bit of work, which is always a bummer.  I wanted to pick up their Summer and Fall collections because of the interesting colors, but I just couldn't because I didn't want to have to mess with a gunky formula again.  It's a shame.  You're looking at two coats.  This is a great cool blue-toned mint though :)  I give it a B.




Orly Teal Unreal is a really gorgeous blue-teal and this is two coats.  I actually didn't love this on me as much as I loved it in the bottle, but maybe it will look great on you.  Formula was fine.  I always worry about shades like this that they're going to be major stainers, but I removed it soon after so I'm not sure on whether it will stain upon application.  I picked this up at Sally Beauty and I think it is still their current display.  A-




Princessa is another bargain brand that plays to tweens more than adults I would say.  This is Neon Purple and I picked up a set of neons from them to see what their formula was like and I have to say, I was impressed.  For a teeny-bopper brand, these colors pack a punch, as exemplified by this shade, and look at that shimmer too!  This is two coats, not over white.  Great for the price.  A




Avon Bare Necessity is I think the first shade I every picked up from this brand and I've had this lady a long time(you can see the cap is busted).  It's your basic nude crelly, and honestly I used to love this one a lot more, but I think I've found nudes I like much better since, so I'd say this one's only so-so.  B




Color Club Savoy Nights is a multi-sized silver glitter in a pale blue jelly base.  I had really high hopes for this shade but It kinda falls flat on the nail- is that possible for a glitter??  Oh boy, I just don't like the looks of this over white.  Maybe I need to try it over a light blue, but it was goopy and messy and it just didn't give me the look I was hoping for.  Bummer.  B-




Sinful Colors Ruby Mine is my A+ color of the week because she is soo soo pretty and I just stared at her all day.  I almost included this baby in my top 13 of 2013 but I already had two textures.  I really like Sinful Colors' take on the textured polish and the bonus in this one is all that gold shimmer with the tutti frutti red of this polish.  I looooove it.

That's it- which was your favorite? What were you rockin on your nails this week?  I hope you're having a great day and I'll see you back tomorrow.  I'm going to go see the Hobbit with my little side-kick now :) Later, babes!

Song of the Day: Imagine Dragons- Demons
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mWRsgZuwf_8
*this link is provided for its audio content only*

Over and out