Argyle Style

A week or so ago, I got an email from Barielle about their new collection for fall- lovely browns, rusts, and golds. It took everything in my power not to buy them all. I even managed to talk myself out of even just getting a couple of them. However, I was not as successful when I was perusing my local Ulta a couple of days ago and happened to see the display of them, in all their autumn-colored glory. (when did Ulta start carrying Barielle colors? I knew they carried the treatments, but color? awesssome, I won't have to order!!) I got away with only getting two of them, with a coupon at that!! Anyway, polish colors made me think of old Grandpa socks- argyle style. (My buddy Jordan has a mini-obsession with argyle socks- he even has hot pink ones!)

I used Barielle Unraveled Rust as a base for all nails but the ring finger, where I used Barielle Aura Angora as a base. For the argyle design, I used the same two colors, and reversed them, with Sally Hansen Professional Lavender Cloud for the diagonal lines. I then topped everything off with 2 coats of Seche Vite top coat.

Well, that really socks.

On a side note, if you live in Las Vegas, you need to track down Slidin' Thru, the slider truck, it will change your life.

It's Matte-ning!

So I did a bunch of swatching today that I hope to get up on the Reviews site in the next couple of days, and the last polish that I swatched was Borghese Mediterraneo Sea. It seriously caught my eye when I was Ulta last and I'm SO glad that I decided (after much hemming and hawing) to get it. It's a Matte denim-colored base, with multi-colored glitter- much like if OPI Mad as a Hatter had a baby with a matte blue. (really descriptive, eh? Couldn't think of a matte blue off the top of my head) Today was crazzzzy. I decided this afternoon that I needed to get out of the house, so I went to the $1.50 theater here in Vegas and saw Knight & Day (don't judge me), and on my way out of the parking lot, some lady backed up into my car, with her bumper scraping down the entire side of my car past the middle of the passenger door. The irony? She had just gotten her nails done and was driving in a way as to not damage them. :-P I decided to make myself feel better, so I went to Arby's for dinner. lol Anyway, grumpy nail blogger = simple nails.

I used Borghese Merditerraneo Sea as a base, with China Glaze Millennium for the flowers, which I randomly painted on each nail. The glitter in Mediterraneo Sea makes a VERY textured nail surface, it's kind of interesting actually. I kind of want the other matte glitters from this collection because this one is so damn rad.

And as a bonus- a recent craft project (I posted this on Twitter yesterday, so you twitterers have seen it), my brand new slouchy hat. It is the very first hat I've ever made!! :)  (I love it)

Let's Go For a Dip!

A FUN DIP!! I love candy of all kinds, but I particularly love all that is sour, tart, and fruity. Lik-M-Aid Fun Dip definitely falls into that category. The sugary-rush of goodness that rolls over me when I eat it makes me happy. (it makes my dentist happy too!) Today's nail art is dedicated to this tooth-decaying delight!

I used OPI Alpine Snow Matte as a base, with China Glaze Flyin' High mixed with OPI Gargantuan Green Grape for the 'wet' sugar powder, OPI What's With the Cattitude? sponged over that, and a smattering of OPI Alpine Snow Matte sponged over that to help it look like powder. For the cherry sugar powder, I used the aptly named Orly Pixy Stix for the 'wet' sugar, and Orly Cotton Candy sponged over it, with a small amount of OPI Alpine Snow Matte sponged on top for a powdery look. For the grape sugar powder, I used Eyeko Lilac Polish for Lovely Nails as the 'wet' sugar base, then sponged Orly Lollipop over it, and a touch of OPI Alpine Snow Matte over it.

I had to break some Fun Dip out, it makes me a little... well, they say a picture is worth a thousand words right?

Zoya Wants to Spoon With You!

If you're anything like me, you've bought a polish, only to get it home to discover that you A. Have something exactly like it B. You hate it, or C. It just doesn't work with your skin tone...at all. :-O Zoya has come up with a solution for it, which I think is so simple, yet so brilliant...Zoya Color Spoons!

Zoya Color Spoons are the newest way to shop for polish online with no risk! In their words:

'This is same Zoya color that comes in the bottle poured into small nail shaped wells to create a tester color spoon - you can see every subtle detail of the color and hold it up to your nail to see exactly how it will look.'

The spoons cost 50¢ each, and ship free, but the best part? Every cent you spend on the spoons goes towards a future purchase on Zoya.com, so you really are getting all of the awesome, with none of the cost.



Here’s how it works...

Simply visit www.zoya.com, select a color(s) to try, click on the coordinating Zoya Color Spoon option in the product ordering area to add the color spoon to your shopping cart. Order as many as you would like. After your order has been approved and processed, zoya.com will ship your selected color spoons out for you to try and email you a confirmation along with your spoon value code (code will also be available under the “my account” section of www.zoya.com so you never have to worry about losing it).

I'm Gassy

Or Gas MASKY at least. :-D Chris, the 'lovely dude' (<--he liked being called that the other day on the blog) who I speak of on occasion here on the blog, turns a whopping 40 years old today. Seriously ancient. (just him, this doesn't apply to any other 40+ year olds) In honor of his getting older, I decided to paint the logo that he paints on EVERYYYYYTHING, his gas mask. :-D

I used OPI Here Today, Aragon Tomorrow as a base, with L.A Colors Striper in White (I didn't use the brush, just the polish). Topped everything off with Essie Matte About You.

On another note, my silicone nub finally fell off my f key, so now I have to press really hard. lol

Making a Splash

Since yesterday's nails were so, well...GREY, I thought today I'd make some colorful ones!! I tried a technique of using a crumpled paper towel to apply the colors other than the base color. I I think (if you squint) it looks sort of like the shadow on the bottom of a pool of the ripples on the surface of the water. Perfect for a day like today, which was absolutely gorgeous. (uncharacteristic for a Vegas summer- it never even hit 90°!)

I used Essie Turquoise & Caicos as a base, with Essie Mint Candy Apple, Essie Bone Chilling White, and Orly Bailamos sponged over it. I also used Orly Bailamos for the 'moon', then edged it with aqua colored crystals. Topped everything off with 2 coats of Seche Vite top coat.

Tonight was the last night of bowling league *sad face*, but here is a picture of my team- we took 10th place (out of 18). GO TEAM (Our name was 'I Can't Believe It's Not Gutter') Gotta love that not just one, but TWO of my other bowling buddies chose ME to give bunny ears. What kind of crap is that?! :-P

Team 'I Can't Believe It's Not Gutter' (Alicia, Bill, Joanna, and Me)

Grey Matters

Recently, I was putting polishes away in my Helmer cabinets, and noticed how many greys I have. I don't know, there is something about greys that I really love, and today, I thought that I'd do a monochromatic nail design utilizing a few of them.

I used butter LONDON Billy No Mates as a base, with Sally Hansen Professional Lavender Cloud for the white stripe, Orly Mirror, Mirror for the miedium grey stripe, Essence Pointbreak for the darker grey stripe, and American Apparel Hassid for the thin black stripe. I topped it all off with 2 coats of Seche Vite top coat.

I was recently asked if I ever use a base coat, and the answer to that is YES! I always have. I guess I just never list it because it changes between a few. I have used Nubar, Essie, Seche, Seche Ridge-filling, Seche Natural, Barielle, and I think that might be it. Since I don't wear polish long enough to worry about chipping and tip wear, I don't feel right recommending a basecoat that might or might not be good, because I don't fully test their limits. I feel OK with mentioning the Seche Vite top coat because it makes my project possible, if I didn't have it, I would 99% of the time post pictures of lumpy smudged and dented nails. :-D Hope this answers any questions or concerns. :) If not, let me know, I'd be happy to answer you!

And the cross-stitch project I was working on a couple of weeks ago, I finally got back around to finishing the stitching. :) I got the pattern from Skull-a-Day–Day 258, it was designed by Noah Scalin.