Nail Art: Bumble Bees

Wearing that yellow polish made me think of, well, Tweety bird, but I figured baby steps with the nail art. So I went with the other thing yellow makes me think of - bees!

I googled the term for a few ideas and found a cute tutorial that I used at Swatch and Learn - Bees Nails.

I added some freehanded bumble bees with my Migi Art Pen in Black and a few Milani rhinestones.

Swatch: L'Oreal Tweet Me

I went to go see The Hunger Games yesterday - it was awesome! Now I really need to read the books. Although that likely won't happen until after I move in June. My hubby and I then went out for sushi and I tried fried green tea ice cream for the first time! I mean, really, how can you take ice cream and make it worse for you? Deep fry it, of course!

On a side note, when I was at the store the other day, I was looking at nail polish (surprise, I know!) and I saw a fun shimmery yellow nail polish on display. Yellow isn't normally my thing, but I don't have many (now that is surprising) and so I thought, why not?

Here's a quick look at the colors in their new Trend Setter Collection ...

Thank you Google! Image from www.makeupandbeautyblog.com

Nail Art: Hubby's Nails

I think my husband gets jealous with all the time I spend on my nails. I do sit with him and I grunt in response every now and then, but that wasn't enough apparently.

He wanted me to do some art work on his nails ...

Week 13: Ruffian Mani

I'm back with Week 13 of the 52 Week Challenge! This week is a Ruffian, which isn't too complicated, but I put a lot of work into picking color combinations. If you follow me on twitter, I posted a pic of a nail wheel with some combinations ... I went through about 12 color combinations and this was the winner!

Ruffian Manicure

Haul + Mail

I got some packages in the mail recently - my Zoya polishes from their recent promo and a few polishes I ordered and I went shopping yesterday looking for the new Wet N Wild glitter polishes which I didn't find (anyone know when those are to be released?) and I grabbed some other polishes I really didn't need, but it feels so strange to walk out of a store without at least ONE polish ... Right? Or am I the only one? Please don't say I'm the only one...

First up we have Jessica's Iridescent Eye from the Peacock Queen Collection that I purchased from Ninja Polish for $6/bottle. It was cheaper than buying from any other e-tailer and shipping was quick. It's a Chanel Peridot dupe (see Scrangie's comparison).

Jessica Iridescent

Next up is my Zoya order from their recent promo (Buy 3, Get 3 Free). I seem to really like purple ...

Faye - Mimi - Savita - Dannii - Phoebe - Jules

Wait, Zoya Faye looks kinda familiar to a polish I recently bought ...

Dangit! I always do that. They aren't dupes, but definitely in the same neighborhood. Blah. I seem to have a weakness for this color. Oh well. They're both pretty...

And my drugstore haul! I wasn't too bad. I did have a giftcard to CVS so I used that, so I was nice!

My only Essie ... Nothing really caught my eye in their display, but this one was sitting by itself by the cash register, and when I picked it up, it had the prettiest shimmer! So soft and feminine. I tried to capture the shimmer, but the photo is pretty washed out.

Essie Peek-A-Boo

A single Maybelline that looked pretty - apparently coral is in this season. So I thought I'd fall victim to a trend!

Maybelline Tulip Tango

Some Milani from the new Beach themed spring collection... Sorry for the blurry photo, I didn't realize it until I loaded the pictures, and I'm too lazy to go back and get another one. =)

Beach Front - Sail Away

Some Sally Hansen VitaSurge products, one to strengthen my nails and one cuticle gel. I hadn't heard of these until I saw Sarah @ Chalkboard Nails cuticle care post and I thought it was interesting that it dried clear and matte, so it can be used before clicking pictures for swatches! They were BOGO, so I grabbed two different products!

Sinful Colors new Sheer Shimmer Collection. They remind me of Cinderella with the beautiful shimmer ...

Sweet Dreams - Flutter - Morning Star

And some Spoiled polishes that caught my eye. I actually had like ten of these in my hands, but I put a lot of them back because I had similar polishes or I knew I'd never actually wear them.

Cougar Attack - Shrimp on the Barbie - Club Rat

And here are my dilemma products! I have been grabbing Revlon Whimsical and Sinful Colors Cinderella whenever I see them, and I'm up to EIGHT Revlon Whimsical and SEVEN Sinful Colors Cinderella. I'm not sure if I should do a short blog sale or do a giveaway ... What do you guys think?

Whew! Lots of new polishes! And I'm not sure what to do with all those Whimsicals and Cinderellas ...

Sinful Colors Cinderella

Cinderell-y, Cinderell-y
Night and day it's Cinderell-y

I love that song. I like the chubby mouse, he reminds me of me! =) So I know you've probably heard of this polish, and you've probably seen it a bazillion times, and you're probably tired of seeing it. But what's one more right?

Sinful Colors Cinderella is a gorgeous light blue with golden pink shimmer - just like her dress! I tried to get some good shots showing the shimmer ...

It goes on a little sheer, but three coats gave good opacity. Maybe a little visible nail line, but not that you can see from an arm's length away. Dry time was the usual for Sinful Colors, so not bad. It lasted for five days before I got bored and started messing with it, so it gets a double thumbs up in my book for longevity!

Sinful Colors Cinderella, three coats

Milani 3D Holographic Nail Polish in 3D, Cyberspace, & Hi-Res

Wee! Last of my swatches from the vault. I'm throwing the rest of my Milani 3D Holographic swatches into this post!

Hope you guys enjoy all these pictures of sparkly goodness!

You can see the entire collection swatches here!

Milani 3D is a beautiful yellow gold scattered holo that is gorgeous!! Just look ...

Milani 3D

L'Oreal Infallible Eyeshadow Swatches + Review

I spotted a display of new eyeshadows - L'Oreal Infallible Eyeshadows. I snatched up two of them. Of course, they're neutral colors. I'm such a monotonous girl. I really need to spice up my eyeshadow life...

These eyeshadows come in a little pan with a screw top lid and a small plastic piece that acts to pat down the eyeshadow so it doesn't crumble or fall apart. The consistency feels slightly... squishy. Have you tried the Buxom Stay There Eyeshadows? They're almost spongy. Great color pay off, minimal fall out, and good staying power.

Giveaway Winner!

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Congratulations to Aik! I've sent an email and awaiting a reply. Thanks to you all! I do have a 400 & 500 Follower Giveaway and a 600 Follower Giveaway going at the moment (whew!) - more opportunities to get some new pretty polishes!!

Essie Merino Cool

Wow, I'm coming to an end of all my old swatches! I happened along this one, forgetting I had even done it. Oopsy! Oh well, here it is for ya!

It seems appropriate for today - it's dark and rainy today. No complaints here though. I love the rain. It makes me wanna snuggle with a big fluffy comforter and read a book...

Essie Merino Cool is a dusty gray/purple creme. Two coats is all that is needed, formula was great! It wore for two days before giving me trouble - and it played nice with Seche Vite - no pulling at the tips! It's a nice flattering color that is neutral enough for work, which is a win in my book.

Essie Merino Cool - two coats, Seche Vite topcoat - one coat 

New Nail Polish Remover

I think I must live under a rock. I was going through my Google Reader the other day and was reading a post by Sarah at Chalkboard Nails and she mentioned something about a glycerin+acetone mix to remove her polish.

Whazzat you ask?

Well, a lot of people swear by Zoya Remove+ Polish Remover, which apparently is basically acetone + glycerin + fragrance + color. Loodie Loodie Loodie has a great post explaining how to make your own (much cheaper!) and has a neat video to show you what it looks like when you mix it, which I've included below.

Week 12: Skittle Mani

Squeeeeee! Welcome all you newcomers! So excited to have ya'll!

OK, I had to get that out of the way.

I'm not sure what I think of this week's mani... I had a hard time finding polishes that I thought went together, and then once I thought I had a cool line up, I'm not so sure now. Whatev. It is what it is! I've done this kind of mani before just to swatch things quickly, and I once wore one out a few months ago that was totally cool. I must have deleted those pictures. I was going to share them, but I can't find 'em. It was a neon mani though - I used Color Club Glittery Envy, Color Club Ultra Violet, Color Club Space Case, and then a random white and orange that I put the Color Club Starry Temptress topcoat over - it was awesome!

Anyhow, this time I tried using shimmery/metallic shades that I thought made a cool gradient. I'm not sure if it's a hit or a miss...

Week 12: Skittle Mani

Week 11: St. Patrick's Day Mani

Me: I don't have any green to wear today!
Hubby: Uh, are you serious?
Me: Yes! How is this possible...
(Hubby starts grabbing polishes from my stash and puts them on the counter)

Hubby: o_O

Me: Oh.

iFail + Color Club Alter Ego

Sooooooo yeah. I suck. I admit it. I was trying to do all greens this week, and I had a fun post scheduled for today with green eye shadow, but I could never get a good look, so I pulled the post back. But I don't have anything else for today. So you get a regular work color. I sowwie. I've decided to call my epic mishap iFail. Catchy, eh?

The other day I was looking for something to wear that was work appropriate. I seem to be working through all my beige and brown colors. So I was looking for something new and different. I grabbed a polish that seemed to be a dark purple brown with some shimmer and I thought it may be neutral enough that no one will say anything at work.

Color Club Alter Ego is part of the Alter Ego Collection. This collection is awesome! I have quite a few of them, and I am thinking about picking up the rest just because the ones I have are freaking cool!

Color Club Alter Ego is a shimmery deep purple brown that shimmers beautifully in the light. I almost want to call it metallic. What do you think?

Color Club Alter Ego

And that gap at the tip isn't tipwear, it's pull from Seche Vite. These two polishes didn't like each other...

Color Club Alter Ego

Color Club Alter Ego

I ADORE this color! It was neutral enough to wear to work but it was fun and feminine and super shiny! I need to wear this again. =)

Sally Hansen Limestone

Sally Hansen Limestone is a creme, lime green. Get it? Limestone. So clever. It's streaky as all get out, and even with three coats had some bald spots that wouldn't be covered. Other than the crazy formula (maybe I got a bad bottle? SH is usually really good) it dried nicely, opaque where it covered, and otherwise, is a neat bright green.

Sally Hansen Limestone, three coats

China Glaze Glittering Garland + Favor

OK, so I have a favor to ask of ya'll out there! I've been working on linking the posts to the list of polishes on my Polish Stash page. Then I thought, hey what about a little picture with it? I've done a couple, but I'm not sure if it'll be worth the time to load when it's all done... So can you take a quick look and tell me what you think? It's taking awhile to do, but if it's worth it, I don't mind; but if it sucks and ya'll hate it or think it'll take too long to load, then I'd rather cut my losses now ... Anyway, I'd sure appreciate it!

Continuing on with our green theme ... Here's another one! I know we've seen this polish a thousand times, especially during the Christmas holidays, but it really is a gorgeous green, and since I'm kinda going theme here...

China Glaze Glittering Garland is a beautiful deep, forest green with green and gold shimmer that has beautiful depth. Beautifully opaque in two coats, but I'm a compulsive three-coater, so that's what you see here.

China Glaze Glittering Garland, three coats, no topcoat

Nail Mail + Haul!

Weee! I'm so excited! I was out of town for vacation visiting family and of course I stalked the local stores for new polishes. Whew. I found a lot of goodies. I also received a swap package from the awesome Theodora at Red Hair and Black Nail Polish (love her!).

First, my swap package! Look at this haul! I totally lucked out!!

Essie Armed and Ready + As Gold As It Gets

I know these polishes have been huge - the fugly green, army green, dirty olive, etc. I got into polish either during or after this craze, so I really don't have many. I saw this one and it looked interesting...

Essie Armed and Ready is an army green with a soft golden shimmer. It's actually a nice color - neutral without being boring with a hint of femininity.

Essie Armed and Ready, three coats

Milani 3D Holographic Nail Polish in Hi-Tech

Mmmm, thinking about St. Patrick's Day makes me want to drink green beer. 

Kidding.

Anyhow, now that I've gotten everyone off topic and slightly nauseous, let's look at a pretty green holo! You may have seen a my swatches of the collection here, but now we'll focus on the light green holo!

Milani Hi-Tech, three coats, sunlight

Sally Hansen Bride to Be

Last post before I'm done with vacation. Boo. I don't wanna go back to work Monday! Well, technically I don't have to. I have a month to focus on a big exam so the next 4 weeks are "self-study." I put it in quotes because I have a hard time focusing without external pressures...

Anywho, Sally Hansen Bride to Be is one of the new Sally Hansen Diamond Strength colors that are all bridal related. It's a strange color, but it interested me enough to pick it up. It's a grey with a touch of green, or sage green with a touch of grey and some shimmer mixed in! It's a pretty color. I think. I keep going back and forth.

Sally Hansen, Bride to Be, three coats, artificial light

Comparison: China Glaze Cha Cha Cha vs Sally Hansen Tough Luck

Since being on vacation, I've been checking out a few new blogs and I came across this interesting idea: Travelling Polish! Essentially a polish will be purchased by the creator o the polish relay, Lacquer Man (off an idea by Carrie) and it will travel amongst nail polish bloggers who will wear it, take a picture and include a postcard of their city with it as they pass it to the next person. Kind of like Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants ... You can click on the link to see if it's something you'd be interested in. I signed up! It sounds neat.

OK, so I've cleared out my vault of swatches that aren't green, so now I'm preparing everyone for St. Patrick's Day. Every year I get pinched for not wearing green, when I really am, just not where it's easily seen. I'll have on green earrings, or green eyeshadow, or green underwear ... Maybe I should wear green more prominently? Underwear on top of my clothes, perhaps? I hate getting pinched.

Anywho, I have a green comparison for you to start things off! Here are two more polishes I was concerned were the same (because I have a handful that are dupes and I feel like such a dip) - China Glaze Cha Cha Cha and Sally Hansen Tough Luck.

KONY 2012

I heard about this awareness video going viral on the Today show this morning and was perusing my Google Reader and saw a fellow blogger had posted it. I just finished watching it. It's powerful. It's terrifying. And it's true.

I feel this message needs to be shared, and that's why I'm posting about it. Honestly, I didn't know the name Kony until today, but that doesn't mean what he does should go unknown.

I like the part where he says something to the effect of "A bunch of littles can make a big," and it's true. One person can do a little, and the sum of a group can truly make a difference. Even if it's local - donating, volunteering, helping. Anything. For whatever cause you choose. Just choose something. 

Make it important to you and that will make it important to others. 

Especially the ones you are helping.

Ludurana Spam!

Hope you guys aren't overwhelmed with the swatches yet! I have some pretty ones for you today!

Ludurana Marvilhosa is a beautiful strongly holo light pink that goes on perfectly. Three coats here or swatching but really only needed two for opacity. Absolutely gorgeous!

Ludurana Maravilhosa, three coats, sunlight

Sally Hansen Spam!

Weee! More picture spam!

Sally Hansen Aisle Be There is one of the new Diamond Strength polishes. It's a clear polish with a fine pink shimmer. Very delicate and pretty. Makes an excellent topcoat.

Sally Hansen Aisle Be There 

Revlon Spam!

More picture spam!

Revlon Sheer Pearl is a gorgeous sheer (obviously, heh) shimmery off white. It reminds me of the inside of a seashell.

Revlon Sheer Pearl

Glitter Gal spam! + Vacation

My vacation starts today! Wahoo! I'm having a "stay-cation" where I'm staying at home and visiting family. No far away places this time. If I'm slow in commenting, I'm sorry! I'm here, just trying to relax a bit. I've scheduled posts so my blog won't be lonely!

Today is picture spam of Glitter Gal polishes!! I'm trying to catch up on swatch posting so I'm grouping some of them together.

Glitter Gal Suede is a light chocolate brown with a beautiful linear holo. In the shade, it's a nice neutral, work friendly brown, but in the sunlight - hello gorgeous! It wasn't super holographic for me, but I liked it anyway!

Glitter Gal Suede, two coats, sunlight

Hits Speciallita No Olimpo Ares

No 52 Week mani today. I will have it later this week - since I'm out of town and unable to do nails right now, I'm saving it for later since I don't want to do a rush job and post something for the sake of having it on time. Sorry!

But I have a red holo. Are you not mad at me anymore? Good!

Hits Speciallita is a (now) well known Brazilian polish company that has taken over the international market with holographic polishes (although I hear they have other polishes too, like flakies!). Hits Speciallita No Olimpo collection is a beautiful collection of usual and unusual holographic polishes, all named after Greek gods.

Hits Speciallita No Olimpo Ares is a gorgeous, cherry red polish with strong linear holo. In the shade, it's a true red with fine shimmer, but in the sun - holy moly batman! Sheer gorgeousness.

Below is a swatch with three coats (to get opacity) in sunlight.

Hits Speciallita Ares

OPI Sparrow Me The Drama

I was out of town and at the local grocery store they sell a handful of OPI. I got a handful, literally. They had some mini On Stranger Tides polishes, so I grabbed the three colors they had. One of them was this color!

OPI Sparrow Me The Drama is a medium dusty pink creme. It was a bit thin, and it took all three coats and I think it was still a bit uneven. I was surprised I liked it so much, I didn't think it would be very flattering.

OPI Sparrow Me The Drama

Real Colors Regal Eyes in Buff

It's been awhile since I posted something other than nail polish, so here ya be! I snagged this baby while at Sally's the other day because I am on the search for a perfect shimmery taupe eyeshadow.

Real Colors Regal Eyes in Buff is a pretty shimmery golden brown. Standard packaging. Not much to say about it.

Color Club Ultraviolet + Giveaway Preview

I've got a goody for you today! Color Club's Ultraviolet, which I liken to Urban Decay's Ransom eyeliner. Purple with a blue flash. It has more of a blue shimmer in the light, but either way, it's a rockin' polish!

Color Club Ultra Violet