Spring Flames

Hey Y'all!!  TGIF!  So, who's excited for the weekend?  Anyone have fun plans?  Not much going on for us this weekend.  The teen has rehearsals for her ballet performance next weekend, so I'll just be playing chauffer and food getter.  And not just this weekend, but for the next 9 days.  That's the true job of a Dance Mom!

So, y'all know how much I love doing flames, so for today I have Spring Flames for you!

I Used:
Wet-n-Wild:  A Latte Love, a very light beige crème
OPI:  Lost My Bikini in Molokini, a pretty, violet crème
Nailtini:  Blue Magic, a bright cobalt blue crème
Orly:  Choreographed Chaos, a bright pastel pink with a blue shimmer
Liner Brush

First, please forgive the big chip on my index finger.  By the time the sun came out, I had worn this mani for several days and chipped it right before going to get sun photos.  To start this mani, paint one coat of your base color.  In this case I used Wet-n-Wild A Latte Love.  Once that has dried and only working on one finger at a time, paint a second, thick coat.  Then put stripes/drops of each color of your flame across your nail tip.

Then using a thin brush or toothpick, drag it through the colors towards your cuticle.  Wipe off your brush, and drag from your cuticle towards the tip.  Be sure to work on only one nail at a time because the polish needs to be very wet for this method.  And don't forget the top coat!

I hope you have a fun weekend!  Happy Polishing!!

Atlanta Nail Meet Up Holo Water Marble

Hey Y'all!!  I hope you had a great weekend.  We didn't do too much.  It was rainy.  I mean, really rainy.  We got a couple of inches of rain.  And while there was flooding issues in the area, we were good.  Thankfully.  And since it's the last weekend until Summer break that we didn't have much going on, we stayed home and vegged.


But last weekend (which if you follow me on facebook or instagram you already know), was our semi-annual Atlanta Nail Meet Up!  We started at lunch (Pho), talked, had giveaways and raffles, and then went shopping!!  But first, here's what I had on my nails, a Holographic Water Marble:

I Used:
OPI:  Do You Have This Color In Stockholm, an absolutely perfect shade of purple crème
Color Club:  Harp On It, a silver linear holographic polish
Color Club:  Beyond, a charcoal/black linear holographic polish

I had SO much fun!!  My buddy, Harri from Trailorhood Chic, was there.  It was her first time at this shopping place, so I took about 6 seconds to show her around before I went nuts myself.  In my defense, it was only my second time there.  I really wish I had video of Harri and I!  We were so excited that we literally kept running our buggies into each other.  Like 15 times!!  No surprise, but she and I spent the most.  Instead of bags, we got boxes!  But we live a long way from there and everyone else is pretty close.

Then we all met outside to take a "nail pic":

 

 

The orange and blue to my right (I have the watch on) are Harri's nails!  To see what she used, just click here!

And here is my haul:

There are some things hidden in the bag, but they are a surprise for a friend.  And there is one of my babies in the corner!  Count Damon hates to be left out of photos!

I love our meet ups!  Part of me wishes that we would get together more than just twice a year, but my wallet is thankful that we don't!

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

Red and Gold Sequin and Gradient Mani

Hey Y'all!!  Happy Hump Day!  How is your week going?  Mine is ok.  It's that time of year when I'm miserable...pollen.  Everywhere!  I can't stop sneezing.  And the worst part is that the pollen isn't even that bad yet :(  But at least I still have a post for you :)

So here is today's mani:

I Used:
OPI:  Over & Over A-Gwen, a red crème
OPI:  Love. Angel. Music. Baby., a satin gold metallic
Orly: Lavish Bash, a micro gold glitter with holographic bar glitter in a clear base
Red and Gold Sequins

To start this mani, I painted my thumb, pinky and ring finger with OPI Over & Over A-Gwen, a pretty, bright red crème.  Then I painted my index and middle fingers with OPI Love. Angel. Music. Baby., a satin finished gold metallic.  Once that was all dry, I used the brush that came with the polish to dab on Orly Lavish Bash to form the gradient.

To place the sequins, I used a dotting tool and Seche Vite top coat.  I just put a dot of the top coat on my nail where I wanted to place the sequin, then sunk the sequin down into the dot.  Try to get the sequin as flat to your nail as you can.  Otherwise, they will pop off pretty easily.  Then just top off everything with top coat!

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

Purple and Pink Glitter French Tip

Hey Y'all!!  TGIF!!  I would be excited for it being Friday, except it's really windy and cold today and it's supposed to be in the 20's tonight and tomorrow night.  What part of Spring doesn't Mother Nature understand??  I want my shorts back! 

So, for today, I have a Purple and Pink Glitter French Tip/Block Mani:

I Used:
OPI:  Lost My Bikini in Molokini, a medium purple cream
Butter London:  Rosie Lee, a bright micro pink glitter in a clear base
Salon Perfect:  Razzle Dazzle, a purple and holographic micro glitter in a purple jelly base
Scotch Tape

I started with two coats of OPI Lost My Bikini in Molokini, a pretty, highly pigmented purple crème.  Once that had dried completely, I placed scotch tape across the nail diagonally and painted the color closest to the tip.

Then I placed the tape a little further down the nail and painted the next color.  Be sure to only put tape on the outside edge, not over the glitter.  Otherwise, you will lift the glitter.  And don't worry about going over into the other glitter, it really won't show.  You just need the clean edge on the outside.

I love how this turned out.  It feels so Spring-like to me.  I hope you enjoyed it too!

Happy Polishing!!

Water Marble Wednesday

Hey Y'all!!  Happy Hump Day!  I hope y'all are all doing good.  The teen and I are feeling ugghh today  For the last week, the teen and I have been fighting off a cold and today, I think the cold has won :(  Summer colds are the worst.

But I do have a new post for you today!  I've called it Water Marble Wednesday, just because I couldn't think of another title, lol.  But here it is:

I Used:
Orly- Neon Heat (bright pink/fuchsia neon)
OPI- Amazon, Amazoff (dark teal crème)

I hope y'all enjoyed today's post!  The teen and I are off to try to get some rest and take a bunch of vitamins...we can only be sick today, lol.

Happy Polishing!!

RedThumb2Stop & Neon Dry Brush

Hey Y'all!!  Wow!  I've missed y'all!  I had a crappy week, in first-world terms  We had a bad storm come through and lightening hit our house...again!  They say lightening won't strike the same place twice, but "they" lie.  This is the second time it's hit our house and the second time it took out our tv and internet.  Our poor tv can't take another hit.  Finally everything is working again...and now I'm sick.  Ugh, fun.

So today's post was supposed to be up last week.  It was supposed to be part of the #RedThumb2Stop campaign.  A quick recap:  the #RedThumb2Stop campaign is to remind us all to not text and drive.  So here is my Neon Dry Brush mani with red thumbs:

I Used:
Sinful Colors- Snow Me White (white crème)
OPI- Innie Minnie Mighty Bow (red shimmer)
Zoya- Charisma (neon purple)
Finger Paints- Pink Perspective (super bright pink neon)
Nina Ultra Pro- Blue Blaze (bright blue neon)

I love the dry brush technique.  It's super easy to do and doesn't require any tools.  I started this look with two coats of Sinful Colors Snow Me White.  Once that was dry, I started layering on the neon.  All you do is use the brush that comes with the polish.  Just wipe off as much of the polish as possible (using the neck of the bottle to scrape off the polish).  The brush may even look like there isn't anything on it, but trust me, there's plenty.  Then just randomly wipe the brush across your nails.  I started with Nina Ultra Pro Blue Blaze, then Zoya Charisma and finally, Finger Paints Pink Perspective.

Once you get the look you want, top with top coat.

I hope you enjoy today's post!  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!!

My "I Don't Care If It's Still Winter I Want Spring" Nail Art

Hey Y'all!!  Happy Monday!  Did you have a great weekend?  I had a pretty good one.  The weather yesterday was gorgeous! 72 degrees.  Ahhhh...a hint of Spring.   Sadly, just a hint.  Today's weather STINKS!!  Cold, windy, rain, temperature of 50.  This makes me so sad.  So I'm rebelling!!  I've had it with Winter!  I don't care what the calendar says, I'm starting Spring!  Today! 

So here's my "I Don't Care If It's Winter, I Want Spring" nail design:

Left Hand

Right Hand

I Used:
Zoya- Darcy (bright yellow crème)
Lakme- Aqua Blast (bright blue crème)
OPI- Flashbulb Fuschia (bright fuchsia shimmer)
LA Colors- Palm Tree (green crème)
China Glaze- Liquid Leather (black crème)
Orly- Monster Mash (green holographic medium glitters and small green holographic bar glitters in light green jelly base)
Large Dotting Tool
Very Fine Detail Brush

Now for the tutorial :)  To start, paint your nails yellow and blue.

I used Zoya Darcy in my index and pinky fingers, and Lakme Aqua Blast on the rest.  Then, using OPI Flashbulb Fuchsia and a large dotting tool (the biggest. a pen would work great), make large blobs and teardrop shapes:

These do not need to be perfect.  In fact, perfect would look odd.  For the rose buds, use a green polish, and make leaves covering the lower part of the bud.  Then a straight line for the stem.  On the bud, use black polish to outline the bud and add one curved line from the tip to the bottom to outline one of the petals.

For the roses, using black nail polish, start in the center of the blob and make a little c.  Then make varying sizes of shaky c's going all the way to the outside edge.  On the very edge, make sure you don't completely fill in the line....leave some of the blob showing.

Then on your yellow nails, use your glitter polish to make a gradient.  Start 3/4 of the way down your nail and paint towards your tip.  Then 1/2 way and then 3/4 of the way.  Don't forget the top coat to save your hard work!

Join me in fighting Winter!!  If we all decide that we've had enough, I just know it will go away.  It has to!  Join the fight!!!!

And Happy Polishing!!

Brazil Water Marble

Hey Y'all!!  TGIF!!  So do you have any big plans for the weekend?  Let me live vicariously through you.  Do you have any small plans?  As for me and mine, the teen has dance class and rehearsals all day Saturday, and I hope, on Sunday to get some blog posts ready.  I have so much to share.

For today, I have a water marble using the two polishes from the OPI Brazil collection I reviewed yesterday, Taupe-Less Beach and Black Cherry Chutney.  I kind of did it two different ways.  On the left hand, I made the lines thinner:

And on the right a little wider:

Which do y'all prefer?

I really like both.  And I really love these two colors together.  You may be seeing this color combination a lot :)

For my Water Marble tutorial, Click here!!

I hope y'all enjoyed today's post!  If there's something you would like to see, or would like a tutorial for, leave me a comment and I'll see what I can do!

Have a fabulous Friday!  And Happy Polishing!!

Review OPI Taupe-Less Beach & Black Cherry Chutney

Hey Y'all!!  Happy Thursday!  Yay, it's almost the weekend!  And with the weekend here, comes warm weather.  Well, warmer than it has been at least.  I know I've said it a hundred times, but I'm so sick of the cold!!  But I have a lot to tell you about today, so let's get to it.

I don't know about y'all, but I was looking so forward to the Brazil Collection from OPI.  When I think of Brazil, I guess my mind goes to Carnival, and bright colors with lots of glitter.  So that's what I was expecting from this collection.  Yeah, not so much.  While there are yellows, oranges and corals, they are muted.  And the only glitters are four liquid sand minis.  While I love the OPI liquid sands, I'm not a fan of the minis...I have pretty long nails and can only get one manicure out of those tiny bottles.  They're more like micro minis.  And, I haven't found them yet anyway :(

So there were really only two that caught my eye, Taupe-Less Beach and Black Cherry Chutney.

Taupe-Less Beach is a soft, medium taupe crème.  The pictures show two coats without top coat.

The formula was fabulous, complete coverage in two coats, although for some reason this color took a little longer to dry than the other, but not a long time.  The color is gorgeous!  For me, it's the perfect taupe shade since it is a darker shade.    And I think this would look great with pretty much all skin tones.  I'm so happy I picked this one up!

The second color I picked up is Black Cherry Chutney:

Black Cherry Chutney is a deep, deep burgundy with a burgundy shimmer.  Pictures show two coats with top coat.  Even though the color is gorgeous inside, it comes alive in the sunlight and really shows the depth of this polish:

I can't begin to tell you how much I love this polish!!!  The formula was great!  In two coats the coverage was perfect and opaque.  This is just so darn pretty!

I bought these at Sally's Beauty Supply, and being a member, they cost me $7.99 each.

What do y'all think of the OPI Brazil collection?  Have you bought any?

I hope y'all enjoy the rest of your day, and thank you so much for checking out today's post!  Happy Polishing!!

TIOT: OPI DS Extravagance

Hey Y'all!!  It's Try It On Tuesday!  Ok, so I stink and am a day behind.  I'm having an off couple of weeks, long story.  But hopefully it all will be over this week.  Fingers crossed.  Anyway, how about Way to Wear It Wednesday??  At least I'm getting to share this fabulous polish with you, even if it is a day late.  So for WTWIW (lol), I have OPI DS Extravagance:

OPI DS Extravagance is a dark berry colored polish with scattered micro holographic glitter.  And it's gorgeous!!

Pictures show two coats with top coat.  The formula was perfect,  nice even coverage, no balding or streaking.  Of course, so far, I've never met an OPI that didn't have great formula.

I LOVE this polish!!  And I received so many compliments on it!  I hope you are having a wonderful Tuesday, uh, Wednesday!  Don't forget to enter my GIVEAWAY!!  Happy Polishing!!