Review: Orly Angel Rain & Digital Glitter

Hey Y'all!!  TGIF!!!  So here in the USA it's Labor Day Weekend, which means a long weekend.  Here in Georgia there is a lot going on, sadly, none of which I'm going to.  I would love to go to Dragon Con, but crap it's expensive!!  There is also a book festival going on, but oh well.  Still not sure what we will do...

But in the meantime I have two of the polishes from Orly's Surreal Collection (I have two more for you later).  When I went to Ulta last week I couldn't resist picking up four out of the six.   First up is Angel Rain:

This is a beautiful light blue duochrome that shifts between light blue to lilac.  There are even hints of a pastel green in some light, but I couldn't get a picture of it :(  The pictures show three coats with top coat.  Even at three coats, there was still some visible nail line showing through.  But if you wanted to add a fourth coat, that would be fine, as the polish is on the thin side.  Despite the polish being a little thin I didn't have any problem with it running.  There was no balding and no streaking.  And unlike most frosty polishes, I didn't have a problem with visible brushstrokes.

I really love Angel Rain!  But just as a warning, the shift in this polish isn't very obvious, it's more of a subtle shift.  But it's still a very pretty polish!

Next up is Digital Glitter:

Digital Glitter is a very unique glitter!  It consist of micro pink/lilac glitter, really small red and purple/maroon glitter and small square silver holographic glitter in a clear base!  Whew!  It's actually really hard to see the separate glitters, what you see is just a whole bunch of glitter awesomeness!! 

Each nail shows the coats listed below with top coat:

I liked it better with three coats, but liked it with just one or two also.  The formula was great, I didn't have to fish for glitters.

The holo effect is subtle.  And despite all the fabulous glitter, this isn't a glitter bomb, it is more subtle, but more glittery than a matte. 

I really loved both of these polishes!  I love the dark look of the glitter, making it perfect to place over lighter colors.  Be sure to check these out!!  Next I will have the other two polishes I bought from this collection.  Until then, Happy Polishing!!!!

Mish Mash Challenge: Music

Hey Y'all!!!  Ok, so it's actually Thursday and I'm a day late on my Mish Mash Challenge...sorry!!  The now-a-teen was nice enough to share her cold with me and all I could do yesterday was sleep.  But better late than never, right??  This is going to be a quick post, so I can hopefully get the next post up today...Orly's newest collection (hint:  I'm loving them!!)

So this week's prompt was Music.  I had a lot of ideas, but due to the cold and incredible sleepiness, I went with something simple:

I Used:
Orly- Liquid Vinyl (black crème)
Sinful Color- Snow Me White (white crème)
Dotting Tool
Liner Brush

Although it wasn't my original plan, I do love my music note French mani.  I think it's cute.

I can't wait to see what all the other fabulous ladies have come up with.  Just click on the thumbnails below and it will take you to their posts...that's where I'm headed!! I hope y'all have a great day!!  Happy Polishing!!

And The Winners Are...

Hey Y'all!!!!  I'm so excited!!!  It's time to announce the winners of my One Year Blogiversary Giveaway!!!!  I SO wish I could give each and every one of you a prize!  Please know that I adore and appreciate each and every one of you!!  And if you didn't win today, remember I love doing giveaways!!  And now that you're here, I hope you enjoy my nail art, reviews and tips.

Ok, drumroll time!!!  And the winners are:

Prize #1:

Amy Starke

 

Prize #2

Tonya Simmons

 

Prize #3:

Stephanie Oblas

 

Prize #4:

Ashley Spaustat

 

Prize #5:

Samantha Port

 

Prize #6:

Sladana Susilovic

 

Prize #7:

Georgia Karantani

 

 

Ladies, emails have been sent to you.  You have 48 hours to respond to the email with your shipping address or I will have to choose another winner (please don't make me do that).

 

Congratulations!!!!  And Happy Polishing!!!!



NOTD: Holo Glitter Goodness

Hey Y'all!!  I hope y'all are having a great Friday.  I have to take the now-a-teen to the dentist, which for us is an adventure!  Long story.  But since we have to drive to the "big city", we are going to spend the day shopping!  I feel a trip to Ulta coming...

But before I leave I have to show you the holo yumminess I'm wearing!  Thanks to the fabulous, awesome, gorgeous Liz at A-Mani-Maniac had an incredible giveaway and I won one of the prizes!!  It was 4 glitter minis from Color Club and they are gorgeous!!!  It was hard to decide which one to use first but I went with:

Sadly it didn't have a name on it (darn Color Club), but it was a lilac based scattered holographic glitter.  This is one coat over two coats of Ulta Ultra Violet Femme and one top coat.  The holo was so holo-ish that it made the violet look blue.  The bottle in this picture shows you the true color of the base:

Anyway, this Color Club is a B E A U T Y!!!!!  It went on perfectly, no issues, no bald spots, and tons of glitter in just one coat.

I just can't tell you how much I love this polish!!  And so thankful for the day of sun to show it off.  Especially since we've barely seen the sun in the last 2 months!

Thank you again to the wonderful Liz!!  If you haven't seen A-Mani-Maniac be sure to head over and give her some love.  I'm off for a day of shopping with my baby girl!  Happy Polishing!!

Review & Comparison: OPI Peace & Love & OPI and Elle Dancing Queen

Hey Y'all!!  A quick note, if you have entered my giveaway (and if you haven't shame on you, click on the giveaway tab above and enter), please click here to tell me which prize you prefer!  Thank you!!

I'm so excited to see all the new faces!!  Thank y'all for following me!  I really appreciate each and every one of you!  Now on to today's post because I'm so excited to show them to you.  Now this will show you how little I seem to get out, I had no idea that Elle made make up and no idea Kohl sold it!  But on a recent trip to Kohl's I found Elle Dancing Queen:

Elle Dancing Queen is a duochrome metallic.  For the most part it is silver but there is a subtle shift to lilac.  The pictures show two coats with top coat.  I thought this was gorgeous in the bottle and just had to have it despite the $10 price tag.  And it was wonderful, until I got it home and tried to swatch it.  These pictures show my second attempt at swatching Dancing Queen.  The formula on this polish was horrible.  It was thick and hard to control.  And no matter how much time I left in between coats, I didn't want to dry.  It was so easy to nick.  And if that wasn't enough, it was very streaky and showed brush marks.

This is one case of the pictures making the polish look better than in real life.

Now on to the good news!  On my recent trip to Ulta, they had the new San Francisco collection from OPI and I had to have Peace & Love & OPI ($9 at Ulta):

Peace & Love & OPI is a gorgeous duochrome of dark silver/pewter and purple and every shade in between the two.  The formula was fantastic, not too thin or too thick.  There was no streaking, balding or brush strokes visible.  And the color shifting was amazing!!  So obvious!  Want to know how much I loved this polish??  I wore it for FOUR days without nail art on it!!!!  Yep!  I rarely wear a polish for more than 24 hours and even more rarely wear it alone without some kind of nail art or glitter, but this polish was just too gorgeous on its own!

LOVE THIS!!!!

One More!

You have to see this polish in real life!  It has quickly become one of my all time favorites!!!  OPI Peace & Love & OPI is a must have!!

As for the Elle Dancing Queen, I don't know if I just got that one whacky bottle that wasn't right or if all of their polish is that bad, but at $10 a bottle I don't see myself trying it again.  Have y'all tried Elle?  What did you think of it?

I hope y'all have a fabulous day!!  Happy Polishing!!

Mish Mash Challenge: A Technique You've Never Tried: Fan Brush

Hi Y'all!  So, I spent all day yesterday running around and today I think the now-a-teen and I have colds.  I'm trying to figure out if it's because of the 900 continuous days of rain (ok, but we are over 60 days) or the three days of highs in the 60's (I live in Georgia for goodness sakes).  Either way it's a "it's raining and gray and yucky and we feel like crap so we're laying around the house all day" kind of day.

But I do have my challenge post for you!  Today is week 3 of the Mish Mash Challenge!!  And this week we have to use a nail art technique we've never tried.  I was surprised that there are actually quite a few I've never attempted, but I finally went with using a fan brush:

I Used:
Sinful Colors- Sail La Vie (light blue crème)
Essie- Dive Bar (a deep aqua shimmer)
Color Club- No name on bottle (very light blue shimmer)
Fan Brush
100% Acetone

Ok, I've seen this technique used all over the nail blogging world, and they make it look so easy.  I wouldn't call this an epic fail, but it certainly didn't turn out how I hoped.  I used Sinful Colors Sail La Vie as the base and then used the fan brush to brush on Essie Dive Bar and the no named Color Club.

I would totally have loved this if I hadn't seen other bloggers fan techniques.  Somehow they were able to get much finer lines than I was.  And I really tried.  I guess my brush bristles just wanted to clump together.  :(

And I filed my nails down quite a bit.  I don't know why, I just did.  Kind of regretting that, lol.

Oh well.  I will have a tutorial for y'all when I figure out why my lines were so fat (or if you know, please share!).  Meanwhile, please join me in checking out the other wonderful ladies in this challenge to see their fab techniques!!  Happy Polishing!!

TIOT: OPI DS Mystery

Hey Y'all!!!  I hope y'all are having a great day.  Mine has been good and yuck.  Good just because and now for the bad.  Though I homeschool the now-a-teen, one day a week she goes to a co-op, kind of like a private school for homeschoolers.  So does my best friend's kids.  So today was the first day of school and I took my 8th grade daughter and the bestie's 7th grade son (whom I have known since he was 2 months old).  So as we get out of the van I tell them, "Love you both.  Have  a great first day."  A look of horror comes over their faces (I talked to them in public AND said the L word), seriously.  They couldn't have looked more horrified if I had stripped naked and done the hokey pokey!!!  So, with my feelings now crushed, I tell them, "You better run or I'm going to give you both kisses at the door and I'm wearing lip stick!"   Didn't know they could run that fast!

OK, on to my nails!  It's Try It On Tuesday, sponsored by the fabulous Sassy Paints, and I have OPI DS Mystery for you:

DS Mystery is a dark purple crelly (part crème, part jelly) with gold micro glitter.  I know I say this a lot, but pictures don't do this justice.  It is gorgeous on!!

The formula was great.  It was just the right consistency, not too thin, not too thick.  It definitely needs two coats, the first one is a bit streaky.  Pictures show two coats with top coat.  I can't begin to tell you how much I love this polish!  You will definitely see it again!!  Be sure to check out Sassy Paint's facebook page to see every one's nails!  Happy Polishing!!

My Giveaway!!

Hi Y'all!!!  I am so thrilled so many of you have entered my One Year Blogiversary Giveaway!!!  (<------and if you haven't click there!)  And I have tried countless times, with the help of a fabulous blogger friend, to fix my comments on my giveaway page...and I give up!!  I can't seem to keep the rafflecopter and the comments on the page at the same time!

So here's what I've come up with, Please comment on this post with your preference of prize.  Remember that prizes 1 through 5 are for US only and prizes 6 and 7 are for International entries.

And thank you again for all the new follows!!!  Love you all!!!

Glitter Waterfall

Hey Y'all.  I have a quick post for you today.  Mainly because I have to find my pants before rushing the now-a-teen to dance.  Why have I lost my pants?  Because it's been in the 90's forever, until today.  Today is 68 degrees!!!  WTH??  All I can find are shorts. 

Anyway, I decided to try a new technique, waterfall.  Typically, waterfalls are all in the same color family, like 4 shades of blue, and are all one length.  I did mine a little differently, cause let's face it, glitter makes everything better!

I Used:
Wet-n-Wild- Who is Ultra Violet (bright purple cream)
Orly- Bubbly Bombshell (micro fuchsia glitter in purple base)
Orly- Angel Eyes (micro blue and small silver holographic glitters in light blue base)
Finger Paints- Purple Palette (micro purple glitter in dark purple base)
Medium Liner Brush

I wish there was sun so I could show you all the sparkle!

I started with two coats of Wet-n-Wild Who Is Ultra Violet from their new Pop Collection.  Then I used a liner brush to make the lines.  All a liner brush is, is a thin long bristled brush.  In this case, it was about an inch long.  I really suggest buying one (like at Michael's) because then you don't have to buy all those separate nail art polishes, you can make any polish you own into nail art.  Anyway, I used the liner brush to make the lines.  I started at the tip and swept down my nail lifting as I went.   tried to make every line a different length.

I hope y'all enjoyed today's post!  Have a fabulous day and Happy Polishing!!

 





Mish Mash Challenge: Metallic

Hi Y'all!!  It's Wednesday!!  We're half way to the weekend!  I can't wait!  I don't have any plans, but I'm just ready for some rest.  Today I have to trudge to the grocery store.  And since I live so far out in the country and it's a million degrees, I have to haul an ice chest so the food doesn't melt.  Obviously this isn't a quick run to the store.  Oh well.  For some reason the people in this family think they should eat everyday...more than once!

Another great thing about Wednesday means it's time for another Mish Mash Challenge  This week's theme is Metallic!

I Used:
OPI- I Knead Sour-Dough (copper shimmer)
Julep- Sheryl (pinkish gold shimmer)
Orly- Liquid Vinyl (black crème)
Small and Large Dotting tools

So I went with Leopard spots.  I love doing leopard spots, especially in metallics.  I started with two coats of OPI I Knead Sour-Dough.  I love this polish.  Then using a large dotting tool (a bobby pin or a ball point pen would also work), I drew irregular shapes:

Then using Orly Liquid Vinyl:

Then fill in the some of the empty spaces with black, irregular shaped dots.  Top with top coat and you're done!

Hope y'all enjoyed today's tutorial.  And remember, the more irregular or shaky your lines and dots are, the more natural it will look.  Be sure to check out all the other wonderful ladies and their fabulous designs!!  Happy Polishing!!

TIOT: I Knead Sour -Dough by OPI

Hey Y'all!! I hope everyone had a great Monday!  I'm already ready for the weekend!  I guess that means it's going to be a long week...

But on to happy things.  It's time for Try It On Tuesday sponsored by the wonderful Sassy Paints.  So for this TIOT, I have OPI I Knead Sour-Dough, from the new San Francisco collection.

Isn't it purty????  I Knead Sour-Dough is a dark brown/copper shimmer that is just gorgeous.  It looks like old pennies, or bronze statues on the nail.  And in the sun, it just comes alive:

I LOVE this polish!  It is just beautiful on the nail...nothing plain or boring about it!  It went on perfectly in two coats.  There wasn't any balding or streaking.  I bought this at Ulta for $9.00.  Worth every penny!  Especially the older pennies with that fabulous patina!

I hope you enjoyed today's post!  Be sure to go to Sassy Paints facebook page to see all the TIOT manicures and for how you can join the challenge!  Happy Polishing!!

Glitter French Tip

Hi Y'all!!  Happy Monday!!  Ugh, I know Monday.  But it's a whole new week, bright and fresh with a clean slate.  That's good, right?

And I wanted a bright start to the week, so here is my glitter French tip:

I Used:
Nina Ultra Pro- Pearly Brights (neon pink with blue shimmer)
Heart 2 Art- #33041 (blue diamond shaped holographic glitter)
Seche Vite Top Coat
Orangewood Stick

I bought a few of those Heart 2 Art packages at Walmart (because I loved the glitter) and was dying to try them  I used the diamond shaped blue holographic glitter from package #33014 (I already removed the blue glitter when I took the package):

I started with two coats of Nina Ultra Pro Pearly Brights (click here for review)  When that dried, it was time to start placing the glitter. I started with using the orangewood stick (toothpick would work perfectly) to place the Seche Vite top coat where I wanted the glitter, and using the same stick, I picked up the glitter individually and placed it on the nail.  My pinky shows the glitter applied that way:

Pretty, neat, orderly...pain in the tush to do.  I got bored with doing it that way very quickly.  So then I painted the top coat where I wanted the glitter, and dipped my finger into the glitter.  Then using a soft, clean brush, I brushed the excess glitter away.  Not as neat, but it goes way faster and I still like the results.  Y'all can do it either way you like :)  Just be sure to tap down the glitter to avoid having any of it stick up.

Then I used to coats of Seche Vite as top coat.  Pictures don't do the glitter justice.  It's a gorgeous glitter!  Sadly there wasn't any sun to capture all the sparkly goodness, but trust me, it's there.  The Heart 2 Art packages are $2.49 each and can be found at Walmart.  Hope y'all enjoyed today's mani!  I'll see you tomorrow for Try It On Tuesday!!  Happy Polishing!!

Neon Blue & Purple Gradient

TGIF Y'all!!!!  How happy are you that it's Friday?  I'm thrilled!  So I spent all day today figuring out and ordering the now-a-teen's curriculum for this coming year.  But it's finally done!  Tomorrow she has dance class then we're off to get her new pointe shoes  That's yucky because they cost like $89 a pair and only last until her foot grows or 2 months  But the Yay part is that 1 1/2 hour trip to the store means a trip to Ulta for me!!!  Yay!!  And I think we all desperately need a day of rest on Sunday.

So here is my mani for the weekend:

I Used:
Sinful Colors- White on White (white crème)
Sinful Colors- Endless Blue (bright blue crème)
Sinful Colors- Dream On (neon purple crème)
Make Up Sponges

To start this mani, I painted two coats of White on White  I almost always use a white base for bright colors and neons to make the colors pop.  But if you wanted a more muted, subdued look, skip this step. 

Then, use a make up sponge for the gradient.  I just use the cheap ones from a dollar store.  I do run them under water to plump them up.  I don't know why, but this makes the gradient blend better.  Just run the sponge under water and squeeze out the excess.  Then using the brush that came with your polish, paint stripes on the make up sponge in the order you want them to appear.  I painted a strip of Dream On in between two stripes of Endless Blue:

Then just dab your nails with the sponge.  As you so this, your hand will naturally move a little making the blending perfect.  I did need to go over the nails twice to get the color I wanted.

I hope y'all enjoyed today's design.  And I hope you have a fabulous weekend!  Happy Polishing!!

Review: China Glaze Fall 2013 Collection, Part II

Hi Y'all!!  I am so excited!  Laptop is fixed!  Countess Delilah is forgiven!  And I'm now, excitedly, ready to show you Part II of the China Glaze Fall Collection for 2013, Autumn Nights!  So I'm going to get right to it, Strike Up A Cosmo!  All photos show two coats with top coat, except for two, which is stated below.  

To see the first half of the collection, click here.

Don't Make Me Wine

Don't Make Me Wine is a gorgeous, wine/burgundy colored shimmer.  Although to me it looks more like a frost.  Whatever finish it is, it's beautiful  The formula was perfect  This could easily be a one coat polish.

 

Tongue & Chic

Tongue & Chic is a dark, rich highly pigmented green.  This is just stunning!!  Formula was perfect on it and again it could easily be a one coat polish.

 

Red-Y & Willing

First, these pictures show ONE COAT with top coat.  Red-Y &Willing is a fantastic, rich, classy dark red shimmer/frost.  I can not tell you how much I love this color  And it will be perfect for the holidays.  I think this may be my favorite of the whole collection!

 

 

 

 

Scandalous Shenanigans

Scandalous Shenanigans is a gorgeous, deep, dark blue that will be perfect for Fall and Winter.  Formula was wonderful.  Pictures show ONE COAT with top coat.  The one and only negative about this polish is that when I was removing it, it temporarily died my cuticles blue (you'll see it in one of the shimmers below).  Although within an hour or two of washing my hands it did go away.  Besides this polish is too pretty to let that stop me.

 

 

Strike Up A Cosmo

Strike Up A Cosmo is a beautiful, light pink shimmer that is almost a glass fleck it is so reflective.  The formula was wonderful, but I would recommend two coats just because I think it increases the sparkle.  Isn't it pretty?  (P.S.  You can see how Scandalous Shenanigans dyed my fingers, but it was gone within a couple of hours) 

 

 

Goldie But Goodie

Goldie But Goodie is an incredible, glittery, sparkly gold that will be perfect in the Fall and Winter!  It's just perfection!  The formula was perfect, pictures show two coats with top coat.

 

So how much do y'all love this new collection??  I'm in love!!!  And I love the fact that they will work great in the Winter too!  I hope y'all enjoy the post, I loved bringing them to you  Don't forget to enter my International Giveaway!!  (on the tab at the top of the page)  Happy Polishing!!!