Tip For Professional Looking Nails, Wrap Them!

Hey Y'all!!

Today I'm going to give you the biggest tip I have for making your nail polish last, and for giving you a finished, professional look to your nails.  And this is for  NATURAL and ACRYLIC nails.  This is also one of my biggest pet peeves....everyone, acrylic and natural nails should wrap their nails! 

So what does it mean to wrap your nails?  Simple!  After painting your nail, all your going to do is run the brush on the free edge of your nail:

There are two ways to do this.  The first is like in the above picture where you use the tip of the brush and basically paint the edge.  This is best for acrylic ladies, or ladies like me with acrylic over their natural nails.

The second way, which is best for those with natural nails, is to run the side of the brush along the free edge like this:

Either way that is easier is great, they both work!

And I promise that not only will your nails look more professional, the color will last longer and have less wear on the tips.  Also, if you've ever heard of shrinkage from nail polish, you won't experience it.  Wrapping your nails eliminates shrinkage.

And don't forget to wrap your top coat too!!


Also, if you want to make your mani last even longer, every other day or as you notice wear, paint a fresh, thin coat of your polish and add another coat of top coat.  Don't forget to wrap them again!!

I hope you enjoyed today's tips!  Happy Polishing!!

TIOT: Formula X Vaporize

Hey Y'all!!  I hope this gets posted today, we're in for some really rough weather today and tomorrow.  What fun, especially as this is the day we are out all day/  Plus the teen has company rehearsals tonight until late.  I was looking at the weather channel and yep, the worse weather is expected to be while we are out.  Fun....NOT!  Anyway, it's time for TIOT!

So for this Try It On Tuesday, I have Formula X Vaporize:

So, I fell in love with this the second I saw it.  I had to have it!  But I will say it started a debate (that's a nice word for argument) in my house, with me on one side and the Teen and Hubby on the other.  I think this is a gorgeous, glass fleck, shimmery white, while the other two said it was a light silver. 

What do y'all think?  White or silver?

Well, even if I can't tell what color it is, it's beautiful!  The formula was a dream.  It went on perfectly without streaking which is rare with this type and color of polish.  Pictures show two coats with top coat.

Formula X for Sephora can be found at Sephora stores or on their web site.  Vaporize was $12.50.

This is a new favorite of mine!  And I predict you're going to see a lot this summer!  Happy Polishing!!

Spring or Summer Daisy Pedicure

Hey Y'all!!  So as promised, I would give you the tutorials for the designs used in the May issue of Atlanta Parent.  I did three designs for the article, so here's tutorial number 1.  This was my favorite design, but they didn't use it.  Oh well.  These daisies will be perfect for Spring and Summer!

I Used:
Wet-n-Wild- Cursed (orange jelly)
Wet-n-Wild- Get Lucky (yellow crème)
Finger Paints- First Edition (dark neon purple)
White Rhinestones
Medium Dotting Tool (toothpick would be perfect here)

This is a quick and easy pedicure.  I started with three coats of Wet-n-Wild Cursed.    Drop a couple of drops of your polish(es) on a piece of paper to dip your dotting tool into.  Next I started making the flowers with a medium sized dotting tool.  Start with a small dot to show the center of your flower.  Then make five slightly larger dots around that dot.  A toothpick would work perfectly for this.  Be sure to leave a little space between your center dot and your petals for the rhinestone.

Next, apply your top coat.  Make sure to make it a pretty thick coat, and do only one nail at a time.  Before it dries (or move on to the next nail), drop your rhinestone in the middle of your flowers.  Then press them down very easily.  This will set the rhinestone down into the top coat and give you a very secure stone.  I wore this design for a long time without losing a stone.

Hope y'all enjoyed today's pedicure!!  Two more to go!  Happy Polishing!!

So Excited! I'm in Atlanta Parent's May Issue

Hi Y'all!!  Happy Monday!!  This is an exceptionally exciting Monday for me, because my first ever interview came out today!  It's in Atlanta Parent's May issue!!  Page 23!! 

The reporter, Dalia Faupel, was doing an article all about feet, and asked me about Spring and Summer trends and for a couple of pedicures for the article.

If you're in Atlanta, pick up a copy.  If you're not, just click here!!  Page 23!!

And, over the course of this week, I will have the tutorials for the three designs I did for the magazine article!

Thank you all so much for all the support you've given me!  Love you all!!  Happy Polishing!!

Review: Born Pretty Store 3D Floral Water Decals

Hey Y'all!!  How are you?  I feel like this week has been crazy!  My teen is in a ballet next weekend with her dance company, so there have been more rehearsals, plus it's the time of year when she has her testing, and that takes hours each day...away from home.  And the time of year I have to plan out her school year for next year.  And it's her first year in high school (shudder)....I'm exhausted already!  But I can sleep in four weeks!

For today, I have a review of Born Pretty Store water decals...3D Floral Water Decals:

And here is my design:

I'll list the polishes I used at the end of the post.

So when I picked these, they were shown on a white background so I thought they were clear roses with just the gold showing, so I was a bit disappointed they were white.  And, lol, I didn't even realize it until I removed them from the package...after I had painted my nails.  But that was my only disappointment with these decals.

They were actually really easy to use.  Just cut out which part of the design you want to use, I cut each flower out individually, dip in water, slide off the design and place on your nail.  Then just blot with a paper towel to remove the excess water and let dry.  Top with top coat.  That's it!  I do have one word of warning, be careful when removing the stickers/decals from the plastic.  It is very easy for them to fold over on themselves and they are very sticky.  I lost a couple that way, cause once they were stuck, they were stuck.  But only to themselves.  Once on the nail, as long as you didn't press them down, they could be moved.

My other suggestion is to order more than one packet of these.  I only have three designs left :(  And you can easily order more than one because they are only $2.22 each AND if you use my code: NE5J61 YOU GET 10% OFF, PLUS THEY HAVE FREE SHIPPING!!

Just CLICK HERE to order!

For the polishes I used:
Orly- Choreographed Chaos (light pink with blue shimmer
Sinful Colors- Boom Boom (bright pink crème)
China Glaze- Sexy Silhouette (magenta shimmer)

Have a fabulous day and Happy Polishing!!

Footprints At The Beach

Hey Y'all!

So, since my mind is on warmer weather, I came up with this mani I'm calling Footprints At The Beach:

I Used:
Orly- Coffee Break (light tan crème)
Color Club- Beyond (black linear holographic)
Mash Stamping Plate- Mash 75

First, have you ever gone through your polish stash and thought, "Where on earth did that polish come from? I've never even heard of it?"  No.  Just me?  Well, that's exactly what happened with Orly Coffee Break.  I've never heard of it and don't remember ever seeing it before.  I certainly don't remember buying it!  Did I get it as a gift?  I've never forgotten one before. Maybe I just have so many bottles of nail polish they've started reproducing on their own!

Anyway, I started with two coats of the teleported-into-my-house Orly Coffee Break.  Once that dried, I used Mash Stamping Plate 75 and stamped with Color Club Beyond, a black linear holo.

Ok, I did mess up one footprint.  That was me and not the plate, but I'm getting better.  I really love this!  Makes me long for the summer!

I hope you enjoyed today's mani!!  Happy Polishing!!

TIOT: Sinful Colors Get It on

Hey Y'all!!  It's Try It On Tuesday!!  And I have a fun one today, Sinful Colors Get It On:

I've had this one so long, I don't even remember when I got it. 

Get It On is a gorgeous fuchsia matte polish.  It is highly pigmented, bold formula that worked wonderfully.  Photos show two coats without top coat.  There was no streaking or balding.

And believe it or not (believe it!), no staining!  The formula worked wonderfully and wore really well!

I just love this color!!  And for $1.99, it's a steal! 

Have a fabulous Tuesday!  Happy Polishing!!

Fuchsia Plastic Wrap

Hey Y'all!!  Happy Monday!  And yes, I've decided it's going to be a happy Monday.  After last week, ugh, this week started off much better.  We went to my cousins' house for Easter and had great food and great company!  What did y'all do this weekend

Today's mani is a fun, different finishes, plastic wrap manicure (I know, I'm a little plastic wrap happy lately): a Fuchsia Plastic Wrap:

I Used:
Sinful Colors- Get It On (dark fuchsia matte)
Cover Girl- Bombshell (fuchsia with silver shimmer)
China Glaze- Travel In Color (pale white with purple shimmer)
Plastic Wrap

To start there is not a top coat.  I wanted a variety of finishes, so even though it doesn't show well in photos, there is matte and shimmers.  I started with two coats of Sinful Colors Get It On, a fuchsia matte polish.

Next I balled up some plastic wrap and dipped into Cover Girl Bombshell, a fuchsia polish with a silver shimmer, and dabbed it on my nails.  Be sure to turn the plastic so you get a varied look on your nails.

Next, using a new ball of plastic, I did the same thing with the China Glaze Travel In Color, a pale white with a purple shimmer.  And again, no topcoat.  I'm so sad I couldn't get the different finishes to show better in the photos.  It looked amazing in real life!

Have a fabulous day and Happy Polishing!!

Rainbow Splatter

Hey Y'all!!  TGIF!!!  I don't think I've ever been more excited to see a week end!!  I've decided that Friday is the end of the week, cause I can't take anymore bad days!  The teen and I have a bunch of running around to do, so let me get to today's post!

I have a Rainbow Splatter for you:

I Used:
Sinful Colors- Snow Me White (white crème)
Orly- Grave Mistake (dark red crème) on pinky only
Sinful Colors- Feel The Vibe (bright orange crème) on pinky & ring fingers
Sinful Colors- Chick Chick (bright yellow crème) on ring & middle fingers
Sally Hansen- Kelp Out (green crème) on middle and index fingers
Sinful Colors- Jolt (bright blue crème) on index fingers & thumbs
Sinful Colors- Go Go Boots (purple crème) on thumbs only
Plastic Straws
Beauty Secrets Nail Polish Thinner

So splatter nails are not my favorite technique...by far!  Although I did change how I did it this time, it was still kind of hard and messy.  For this mani I started with two coats of Sinful Colors Snow Me White.  Once that dried, I put tape around my fingers to help with the clean up.  Then I put a few drops of polish on a paper plate and added about 4 drops of thinner to it.  For what polish was put on what finger, check the list above.

Then just dip the straw into the polish and blow.  Which is easier said than done, lol.  For me, only one out of every 15 blows worked.  I was finally getting the hang of it on the last nail, of course.  I will advise you put down a newspaper.  And blow gently.

I hope y'all enjoyed today's post!  Happy Polishing!!

Turquoise Plastic Wrap

Hey Y'all!!  How's your Thursday going?  Mine sucks!!  Hubby has food poisoning from something he ate at work.  At WORK!!  Not from my cooking!!!  But yucky and unfun day ahead.

So let me get right to the post!  Today I have Turquoise Plastic Wrap Nails for you:

I Used:
Summer Brights- No name (turquoise satin finish)
Orly- Love. Angel. Music. Baby. (gold satin finish)
Orly- 4 In The Morning (black satin finish)
Plastic Wrap

I started with two coats of Summer Brights, a no name satin finish turquoise.  Then, using balled up plastic wrap, I dabbed on first the black, then the gold.

And since I wanted everything to be nice and glossy, I did top it off with top coat.

Sorry for the short post, but I guess I should go take care of the sick hubby :(

Hope y'all have a great day!  Happy Polishing!!

Multicolored Water Marble

Hey Y'all!!  Happy Hump Day!!  I'm so happy this week is half over!  I've had so many computer issues...it was driving me nuts!  I know, first world problems, but it's so frustrating when things don't work!!  Like, suddenly, all my pictures on my blog are missing (Monday's problems)!  But it's going to be a better rest of the week, right?  Just lie to me and say yes!

Anyway, as you may know (and if you don't, shame on you), my blogging buddies and I have entered a contest at Preen.me under the name Polish Mavens!  Just CLICK HERE to see, share and like our entries!!  Pretty please!!  So this week's theme is multicolored and here is my first entry:

I Used:
China Glaze- White On White (white crème)
Sinful Colors- Chick Chick (bright yellow crème)
Sinful Colors- Energetic Red (bright red orange crème)
Sinful Colors- Jolt (bright blue crème)
Sally Hansen Triple Shine- Kelp Out (bright green crème)

If you want to see my water marble tutorial, just click here.

Please excuse the dry hands.  I was out in the cold and wind all day and this was the only chance of getting a picture in the "sun".  I know it's not sunny, but this was as close to sun as I was getting.

If you want to vote for our manicures, just go to our page and like and share our photos!  You can also go to instagram and like our photos, that will count as a vote too!

Thanks so much Y'all!!  And Happy Polishing!!

Purple Camouflage

Hey Y'all!!  Happy Monday!!  I know, that's an oxymoron.  Especially since the next 6 weeks are going to be incredibly busy for me and the teen!  And the rain and cold are back.  I'm so sick of the cold I can't even begin to tell you how sick I am of it.  Have I mentioned I live in the South?  But, I can't complain too much.  At least we haven't had any Spring snow like y'all in the north.

For today's mani, I have a Purple Camo.  Why purple?  Where on earth could this be helpful?  In my house!!  I love purple so much that if you wore purple camo any where in my house, you would disappear!

I Used:
Orly- Flawless Flush (pale lilac with silver shimmer)
Rimmel- Wild Orchid (lilac/orchid crème)
China Glaze- Urban Night (dark purple crème)
Orly- Wild Wisteria (dark purple crème)
Dotting Tools

Since I've already done a full tutorial (Click here to see tutorial), I'll skip that part.  I used Orly Flawless Flush as the base.  Then, in order, I used Rimmel Wild Orchid, China Glaze Urban Night and Orly Wild Wisteria.

 

I hope y'all enjoyed today's mani!! 

And be sure to follow me on Instagram (by clicking here)!!!  If you like my pictures on Instagram, it will count as a vote.  So does sharing!!  And if my friends and I win...it's a big prize...I will have to have a giveaway as a thank you!!  So please help!  Thank you so much Y'all!!

Happy Polishing!!

Pink Dot Gradient

Hey Y'all!!  TGIF!!!  I hope y'all have had a great week!  Have you entered the Coupons.com Givaway yet??

So I have another Spring mani for you, a Pink Dot Gradient:

I Used:
OPI- Taupe-Less Beach (light taupe crème)
China Glaze- Wish On A Starfish (light pink with gold shimmer textured polish)
OPI- Hey Baby (bright pink crème)
OPI- Flashbulb Fuchsia (bright fuchsia with silver shimmer)
Dotting Tools

I started with two coats of OPI Taupe-less Beach.  Then using a couple of different sized dotting tools, start making the dots.

Starting at the cuticle, your going to make a "C" shape with the dots.  The polishes I used, from lightest to darkest, are China Glaze Wish On A Starfish, OPI Hey Baby, and OPI Flashbulb Fuchsia.

Have a fabulous Friday!!  Happy Polishing!!

Spring Flowers

Hey Y'all!!  I'm so happy that we finally are having some Spring weather during our Spring Break.  And sad, because the week is almost over and then it's crazy busy until the end of May.  I'm already tired just thinking of it!  But to celebrate the gorgeous weather, I have some Spring Flowers for you:

I Used:
Sally Hansen Triple Shine- Dive In (light blue crème)
China Glaze- White On White (white crème)
Sally Hansen Triple Shine- Kelp Out (bright green crème)
Sally Hansen Triple Shine- Vanity Flare (medium purple crème)
OPI- Hey Baby (bright pink crème)
Zoya- Darcy (bright yellow crème)
Liner Brush
Plastic Wrap
Dotting Tool

This is a fun and easy mani, it just requires a few steps (but not a lot of time).  I started off with two coats of Sally Hansen Triple Shine Dive In, a pretty light blue crème.  It looked like the sky to me.  When that was dry, I balled up some plastic wrap and dipped it in China Glaze White on White.  Then just dabbed it on my nails for clouds.

I used a liner brush to make the grass.  Just start at your free edge and sweep up.

Then use a dotting tool, pen or toothpick to make the flowers.  Then just top everything off with top coat!

Hope y'all enjoyed today's mani!  What's your favorite part of Spring Break?  For me, the warmer weather and longer days!  Ok, the un-fun part of being a grown up...I'm off to the grocery store.

Happy Polishing!!

Spring Leopard & Gradient

Hey Y'all!!  So the teen is on Spring Break this week, and so far it's been warm & beautiful and cold  wet...typical Georgia Spring I guess.  And sadly, we don't have any plans, saving money for her summer dance camps.  Do any of y'all have big plans for Spring Break?

But it is giving me time to do a bunch of nail art for y'all!  And today I have Spring Leopard print and Gradient:

I Used:
Sally Hansen Triple Shine- Bait Me (pale gray/silver with silver shimmer)
Sally Hansen Triple Shine- Blow Bubbles (light pink shimmer)
Sally Hansen Triple Shine- Flame On (magenta shimmer)
Make Up Sponges
Dotting Tools

Since I've told y'all a lot, how to do gradients and leopard spots, I'll just tell you what colors I used where.

I painted my ring finger and thumb with the middle color, Blow Bubbles, and the rest of my nails with Bait Me, the pale shimmery grayish, white-ish silver.  Ok, I'm not sure what color it is, but it's a beauty.  The Blow Bubbles took three coats and the Bait Me took two.

The leopard spots were made using Flame On and the lines around them were made with Bait Me.  The order of the gradient, from the cuticle to the tip, is Bait Me, Blow Bubbles and Flame On.

Also, I have a favor to ask!  My friends (Over The Topcoat, Sunshine Nails and Sassy Paints) and I have entered a contest being held by Preen.me and we would SO appreciate it if you would vote for us!!  Just click here!!  We're the Polish Mavens! Thank y'all!!!!

Have a fabulous Spring Break and I'll see y'all tomorrow!  Happy Polishing!!

Review: Wet-n-Wild Street Art Collection, Part 2

Hey Y'all!!  I have part two of the incredible Wet-n-Wild Street Art Collection!  So let's get right to it.  Just a reminder these were all bought by me.

Too Hot For You



Too Hot For You is a bright, almost neon, red with a silver shimmer.  Photos show three coats with top coat.

It was a little streaky, but three thin coats made it look perfect.  And that silver shimmer, yummy.  It gave the red an almost frosty look.

Such a pretty red for Spring!

Here Comes Trouble

Here Comes Trouble is a light blue crème, almost a crelly.  Pictures show three coats with top coat.

I did use three thin coats because there was a little balding and streaking, but it looked great after the third.  And...no staining!

Love it!

 

Deception

Deception is a gorgeous, (but is there such a thing as an ugly purple? NO!!  Hush, every purple is gorgeous, but this one is fan-tab-u-lous!), bright, almost neon purple jelly.

Pictures show three coats with top coat.  Even though this is a jelly, three coats did a great job making it opaque.  No issues with this color, it worked perfectly.

Of course I love this color!!

 

If you missed Part 1, just click here!

 

All of these polishes can be found for just $0.99!!  So get them all and play!

 

Hope y'all enjoyed the review!  Happy Polishing!!