A Skittlette of Fun!

Hello lovelies!

Long time no see ;)  I am finally all moved, the internet is once again hooked up and altho I just got home from a 12 hr work day... I promised you a blog post!  Haha it's a labor of love; honestly it just feels great to have some "me time" and I can't think of a better way to spend it...

 Colors Used: Painted Polish - Drunk on Holo, Daisy Nail Lacqcuer - White Diamond,

 KBShimmer - Eclipse, China Glaze - Son of a Peach

I... love... thiiiiiissss!!!  First off, I finally got around to using the Otte light that I got at a steal (thanks to Dani of From Polish, With Love who shared a sale Joanna's Fabric was having... thanks again girl!).  I understand now why everyone is gaga over these lamps/bulbs.  Wowza!

I have been dying to get some decent holo pics in my portfolio and there honestly isn't a better holo to play with than "Drunk on Holo" by Painted Polish.  I also tried "Eclipse" from KBShimmer for the first time and have fallen in love; it is going to be my new go to black for sure.  And the ever popular "Son of a Peach"... neon heaven is what it is *sigh*.

The fleur de lis is a decal from Make It Stick and I used chevron guides from Nail Vinyls.

I love everything about this mani.  I'm thinking I want to do an entire many of framed chevron nails... the ideas are bubbling!  Keep your eyes peeled for some Sunday Swatches tomorrow; indie cremes you won't want to miss ;)

Until next time!

Stef <3

* These product was purchased by me for review.  I received no payment or other compensation for the review of this product.  The opinions stated here are completely my own.  The contents of this review are based on my direct experience with this product.

Simply Charming

Hello dolls!

Today I have another simple mani to share with you.  It features another new-to-me indie, Bliss Polish (*disclaimer)...

 Colors Used: Bliss Polish - Charming, China Glaze - Metro Pollen-Tin

Charming is from the Bliss Polish Son's Of Anarchy Collection (one of my guilty pleasure shows!) and it's a white crelly with some gold flakes and shimmer mixed in.  Very subtle and oh so pretty!  I applies 2 coats over a white base to start...

 I then used a chevron guide that I bought over at Nail Vinyls to apply my yellow tips.  Side note... This is my new fave yellow, application was a dream!  I then took a large dotting tool and dotted away :)  Everything was top coated with my "mystery" top coat...

Kinda reminds me of sunny side up eggs :P

Happy hump day!

Until next time!

Stef <3


* This product was purchased by me for review.  I received no payment or other compensation for the review of this product.  The opinions stated here are completely my own.  The contents of this review are based on my direct experience with this product. 

Stairway to Princess Jess!

Hello lovelies!

I have a new-to-me indie to share with you today... Drip Drop Nail Paint!  I discovered this brand via Instagram and had to give it a try...

 Colors Used: Drip Drop Nail Paint - Princess Jess and Stairway to Heaven, Orly - Pointe Blanche, OPI - Love. Angel. Music. Baby.

I had seen swatches of Stairway to Heaven (a white crelly with pink and gold glitter) on IG and fell in love with it (I'm a sucker for white crellys!), so I went to Jessica's shop to purchase it.  While there I scrolled by Princess Jess (a pink creme with gold glitter) and immediately knew I had to pair them in a mani.... soooooo I bought them both lol.

The formula is great with both polishes!  2 coats of Stairway to Heaven over white on my middle finger and 2 coats of Princess Jess on my index and pinky.

 

 I decided a zig-zaggy accent would be most fitting for an accent nail.  I used guides from Nail Vinyls and brushed OPI's gold satin polish (from the Gwen Stefani Collection) over white.  Everything was top coated with a fast-drying topcoat I purchased at a nail supply store in a huge bottle (I have no idea what brand it is because there is just a label from the store on the front lol, but it's seriously the best topcoat I've ever used!)

Heaven... I'm in heaven!

I meant to post these earlier in the week, but I had to bring extra work home and so blogging was put on the back burner.  My photo vault is getting crowded; I really need to go on a blogging binge or something haha :)

Until next time!

Stef <3


* This product was purchased by me for review.  I received no payment or other compensation for the review of this product.  The opinions stated here are completely my own.  The contents of this review are based on my direct experience with this product

Playing with Nail Vinyls!

Good morning, dolls!

So remember last time when I said I had goodies to share with you?  Yea, this be one of  'em!  I've recently gotten swept up in the world of Instagram.  Lots of bloggers and indie makers utilize it to promote their product and work.  I've discovered sooo many fabulous indie's thru IG, including "Nail Vinyls" (*disclaimer)...

 Colors Used: Zoya - Blaze, China Glaze - Glistening Snow

I purchased a few different designs of vinyls to try and at $3/sheet of 100... it's a steal! 

I started with 2 coats each of Blaze (cranberry holo yumminess!) and Glistening Snow.  Because these vinyls are essentially removable stickers, I needed to wait for the polish to completely dry.  So I slap on a coat of OPI Rapi-Dri top coat, some cuticle oil and lotion.  Then I headed off to bed...

I woke up in the morning, all excited to try out my new design and... well, the stickers wouldn't stick :(  I was so devestated!  I've heard nothing but fabulous things about this product.  Then I had a thought.  What if the vinyls don't like my top coat?  I quickly went over my accent nail with a little bit of remover until I could feel the grit of the glitter and then tried the vinyls again.  Success!!  Lol.

Lastly I applied some holo hex glitter that I had sitting around and re-topcoated :)

 I win!  :P

I am really pleased with the way that this turned out, I just love chevron designs!  I definitely recommend giving Nail Vinyls a try :)

Until next time!

Stef <3

* This product was purchased by me for review.  I received no payment or other compensation for the review of this product.  The opinions stated here are completely my own.  The contents of this review are based on my direct experience with this product.

I Liked It So I Put A Bow On it

Good morning, dolls!

I have a quick post for you today.  It features a new-to-me beauty,  It's just creamy coral goodness lol...

 Colors Used: Color Club - In Theory, Sinful Colors Nail Art - Time Off, Daisy Nail Lacquer - White Diamond

In Theory is from Color Club's Fiesta Collection.  I picked up the set at Ross over a month ago along with the Kaleidoscope Collection and yea... it's taking me a cool minute to get thru them all ;)

 

I applied 2 coats both of In Theory and White Diamond.  I then free-handed the bow using my Sinful Colors striper and then filling it in with a nail art brush.  The chevrons are actually stickers I got in a mystery box from Julep.  I think it was just a one time thing that they did and I don't think they will be offering it for sale :\  If I hear differently, I will let you all know...

Not the perfect bow but I'll take it haha.

Wishing you all well...

Until next time!

Stef <3

Something Old & Something(s) New

Hello, dolls!

It's almost the weekend, get excited!!  The mani I have to share with you today is one that I did late Monday night.  I was super sleepy, but felt deserving of a pampering haha.  I pulled out an "untried" and used it with some new polishes that I bought in a recent haul...

 Colors Used: Daisy Nail Lacquer - White Diamond, Savina - Blue For You, Sally Hansen - Mermaid's Tale

Can you tell which one is the SH?  Even tho navy blues are usually saved for Fall and Winter, I decided to rock it anyway.  I've had Mermaid's Tale since the begining of Spring and never tried it.  Which is a shame because it's so dang pretty!

 

 white Diamond and Blue For You are new buys.  I like white diamond because it's thick and opaque.  2 thin coats and it was good to go :)  Blue For You is interesting.  In these photos it leans towards blue, while on my phone's camera it looks very green.  In person... I'd say it looks like mint and turquoise had a gorgeous baby.  There is a down side *sigh*.  Like most Savina's that I've tried/own, this beauty is super streaky. I was a little surprised during application because it looks so thick and opaque on the brush (it was the deciding factor when I purchased it).  I did 3 thin-ish coats.

I used my handy dandy striping brush for the design on my ring finger (Julep mystery polish was used for the navy blue)...

Clean-up isn't great but I really liked the way these photographed!  Wandering what happened to my thumb shot?  I forgot that I hadn't photographed this mani and started my removal process lol.  Would have been a shame not to have gotten these ;)

I hope you all are having a fantabulous week!

Until next time!

Stef <3

Che-Che-Chevron!

Hello, hello!

It's almost the weekend and I am ecstatic!!  I have been working hard this week preparing for summer camp.  I'm super sleepy and very achy, but it's definitely been a labor of love :)  This little blurb, however, has nothing to do with today's manicure lol...

 Colors Used: Julep - Tina, Sally Hansen - Petal Pusher, Love & Beauty - Disco Glitter, Jamberry - Summer Chevron

I wanted to try out another Jamberry Nail Shield (find more info here), but shockingly could not find any polishes in my collection that matched the wrap precisely :(  I tried to stay in the color palette's family...

 2 coats for Tina (lavendar) and then I layered Petal Pusher and Disco Glitter to create a jelly sandwich look.  I loved how the holo glitter peeked thru ;)

Overall, a mani success!

I just wanted to take a second to let you all know how amazingly wonderful all of your commenting is :)  It really does brighten my day when I get to read them all!  You all are an amazing support system and I adore you!!

 My next post will be a continuation of the Step Into Summer Challenge.  Definitely worth checkin' out...

Until next time!

Stef <3

Chevron/Fishtail Mani, First Attempt!

Hello hello hello!  Happy Tuesday everybody :)

In my last post I talked about this mani that I saw from Sarah at Chalkboard Nails.  I had tried this swooping-v technique on a few previous mani's and when I saw that she layered it with different colors I was even more thrilled!  (Again I will say that Sarah's blog is well worth checking out if you haven't already).

So I took this idea of layering the swooped-v's and combined it with some colors that I saw on this maxi dress at Target (side note: I tried the dress on and the bodice doesn't fit my bosoms, otherwise it would have come home with me instantly!)...

 Colors Used: E.L.F. - Coral Dream, Julep - Robin, Love & Beauty - Purple

I love love love this combination of colors and I want to wear this mani all the time!  I did 2 coats of the Coral Dream (which I really think should be named Peach Dream because it barely passes as a coral) and then 1 coat of Robin and Purple.  I topped it off with Julep's Fast Dry Topcoat and I was good to go.  I did this mani on Saturday, so I sadly had to remove it for church on Sunday (hence why Sunday's nails were a chevron/fishtail frenchie... it all come full circle lol).  I was a little bummed but I definitely plan on doing this again in the near future.  If you're interested in achieving this look it really is fairly easy.  Sarah has a video tutorial that shows you step by step how to do it and she adds some great tips as well :)

One last pic...

So what do you think?  Will you try this out?

Until next time!

Stef <3

Church Mani: Chevron/Fishtail Frenchie

Good afternoon, all!  A quick Sunday post before I run off to my practically-nephews' 2 yrs old birthday extravaganza.  One of my very best friends gave birth to 2 amazing little boys 2 years ago and I can't wait to celebrate with her and the cuties :)

For today, I did a design that combined a technique that I'd been playing with for awhile and a design I saw from Sarah at Chalkboard Nails (If you're not familiar with her blog, please check it out!  She's phenomenal!).  I don't know Sarah personally but I really do admire her work.  Here's what I did...

 Colors Used: Confetti - Lonesome Dove, O.P.I. - My Boyfriend Scales Walls

I actually did this mani last night after taking off my first attempt at the chevron/fishtail mani (which turned out REALLY well and I'll be sharing it with you tomorrow lol).  2 coats of each color and then polka dots (if you follow me regularly, you know how much I love polka dots!).  Lastly, I topped it off with Juleps Fast Dry Topcoat because I wanted to climb into bed quick like.  Please forgive my poor, beat-up cuticles :(  I have not had time to properly manicure them in a while and during the second service at church this morning, I got a little bored an started picking at them.  They're not holding up so well so I shall be putting Neosporin on them and hopefully that will help. 

So there you have it!  I hope you all have/have had a very happy and blessed Sunday :)

Until next time!

Stef <3

Orange and Purple? Not So Much!

Good 'morrow dears!  How did we fair this weekend, hmmm?

I am pooped.  Exhausted!  I need a weekend from my weekend.  It was crazy, hectic, stressful and incredibly fun!  I went to the Renaissance Faire this for a friends birthday and that was an eye opener to say the least.  I didn't dress-up in costume or take on the personality of a character.  I was a normy in normy clothes, saying normy things... it was fun :D  Enough rambling about my weekend, let's talk nails!

For today's mani I decided to play with two polishes that I hauled in over the weekend (the entire hauls I will be putting up tomorrow... maybe!).  I used Essie - Bazooka (neon orange) and Urban Outfitters - Bandeau (royal purple)...

Holding up the 2 bottles next to each other I thought, "Oh, these will look awesome together!".  But by the time I got to my ring finger, I did not like the color combo at all!  I took this design off about 5 mins after I took these pics.  Looking at them now, they don't seem terribly awful but the color combo is just so odd!  

I don't know what I was thinking but I thought I should share it anyway hahaha :)  I have some blogs for the week already formulated in my head so there should be something new to look at everyday.  My honey and I are car shopping (desperately at this point), so if I do miss a day , that is most likely the reason why... such is life!

So what do you guys think of this mani/color combo?  I think it may be a tad too wacky lol.

Until next time!

Stef <3