Happy New Year!

What a crazy year. Seriously, ups, downs, middles, late nights, early mornings, great people. I truly have loads to be thankful for as this year comes to a close. I have wonderful friends and loved ones, I'm employed, and I've become friends with all of YOU! You all have been such a huge part of making this year what it has been, and for that, I'm eternally grateful! You helped me reached my goal of 365 days, and helped me make the decision to keep going. You've understood and been patient when there are days (or multiple days) since I got the second job where I really just don't have the time to create a nail design and post it. You've emailed me ideas, you've offered both praise and criticism, and most of all, you've changed my life.

As we embark upon this new year ahead of us, I will do my best to continue to make this blog a place for inspiration and laughs, and make it a place you still like to visit.

My blog resolution is to make more time to respond to emails and posts (I DO read them all!!) and make sure I get swatching and reviews done in a timely manner.

And, now to the nails...

I used Orly Luxe as a base, with Color Club Sultry Diva over it. For the New Year Baby and Old Man Time, I used American Apparel Mannequin for the skin, American Apparel Hassid to outline, and MAC Vestral White for the white on the robes, sashes, and diaper. For Old Man Time's beard, I added a touch of American Apparel Hassid to the white to paint the beard, and for the scythe I used American Apparel Raccoon for the handle, and China Glaze Millennium for the blade. Topped it all off with 2 coats of Seche Vite.

So... Happy New Year! May 2011 be the best so far, but not the best to come.

TheFaceShop Swatches Part 1

Hey all !

As it's listed at the side, I purchase most of my nail polishes from The Face Shop cause it's cheap and the quality is good for its price. Thought I'd do a swatch here so that you can see how the colour really turns out to be and it's easier also to decide on the colour you want should you decide to do your nails with me. (: Credits to the websites I got the pictures from. Those are not my nails and not painted by me. Just a guideline for you to see how the colour's like. I may not be able to get pictures of all the colours, but I'll just put up whatever I can find first and update the rest on a later post. Enjoy! (:

PP408

Pastel-like purple



BL602

Pastel-like blue

BL606

BL605

The other polishes that I have are PK101(pastel pink), YL701(pastel yellow), BR801 (pastel beige), GR503(pastel green), PK103( light shimmery pink), PK108 (mid pinkish colour), BL607 (christmasy dark blue with shimmers), GL111 (shimmery gold), RD301 (shocking red), RD303 (dark red), PP402 (pinkish purplish), RD301 Lovely me series (orangey red)

The. Irresistable Snowman

Lucy came over to get her toes done just before Chrismas. After looking through my designs, she selected the snowman design. She went for an express pedi + sponging effect + snowman nail art. Looks irresistably cute!

Another night, I just couldn't decide......

Today was a VERY long day. I didn't get much time at home tonight to do a mani, and the little time I had, I just couldn't decided what to do. I actually had another mani started and just quit in the middle, because I wasn't feeling it, lol. My brother, sister in-law and my niece and nephew are in town and I'm just soooo happy I get to spend time with them. It's fairly rare, since we don't live near one another. So my lack of time, and creativity is 100% worth it!!  Anyways, sorry for the babbling, here is what I settled on. I used OPI La Paz-itively Matte, Claires 14 Karats and Sinfuls Black on Black.

OPI La Paz-itively Hot Matte, all alone

Then with Claire's 14 Karats for the Konad

I decided to add a coat of SV, so bye bye matte!

And, of course, black tips.



So I really hope you guys don't mind all my pictures, I just can never pick 1 or 2, and like to show you guys how my mani evolves, and not just the finished product. Please, though, let me know if I include too many pics, I mean after all, this blog is for you!! Thanks, XOXO

It's a TWO-fer!

Hey all!! Two things for you today…

I know I've been kinda M.I.A. lately, I promise I'll be back! Been working from 8 am - 11 pm every day, which means i don't usually get home till 11:45-midnight. After this week and the holidays are over, my life should be ever so slightly less chaotic, so I'll be back to posting more regularly!

Also, there is a CROWN Brush sale on Hautelook today! I have a couple of their brushes that I purchased at the International Beauty Show this year, and I love them! :)

The sale includes several different types of brush sets, travel, professional, synthetic, non-synthetic, as well as a few different eyeshadow and lip palettes!

It's a great way to start a brush collection if you're starting out!

Check out the sale HERE!

My very 1st Illamasqua!!!!!!

I am VERY excited to say, I finally own a Illamasqua, lol, and a color I've wanted for a while, Baptiste. As soon as I got home from work, I slapped it on for my mani, and was instantly loving it. 
Let's be honest here, I really can't remember a time, that I actually wore a mani, with no type of nail art done to it, so of course I Konaded over it :P I used China Glaze Harmony for the design.

Here is Baptiste alone, 2 coats and a coat of SV

and all done :P *wonders if black tips would look good*

Konad using the most AMAZING jelly blue!

Once in a while I will place an order with cherryculture.com, for some NYX polishes. Well, every time I'm on their site, I would see Ink Heart, what appeared to be a semi bright blue jelly, and every time I would pass on it. When I made my last order, I decided to just grab it. I mean for the price, it couldn't hurt. Last week my order arrived, and when I saw Ink Heart in person, I was in awe! I couldn't wait  to try it, and it ended up being the first one I used. All I can say is WOW! This was only 2 coats and the application was perfect! I love the fact that it isn't too bright nor to dark, that it appears black. Then I decided to try China Glaze 2NITE for a Konad design on it.

Here is the final mani :P

Here it is all alone, with just 2 coats and a coat of SV

Then the final design

How about a Polka Dot Funky French......

So once again I was just playing around. I didn't end up wearing this, but enjoyed it for the 5 minutes it was on, lol. OPI No Room For The Blues, is a blue that I love. The application is just perfect! For this I did 2 coats of the OPI, then added black tips (shocker), and used a Sally Hansen nail art pen in white to do the polka dots on the tips.

Here is 2 coats of the OPI No Room for the Blues

Then with just the plain black tips :)

Now for the final mani

Bridal nails with floral lace.

And yeah this is one set of bridal nails that I absolutely adore! Classic. Clean. Something different from the usual french and not over the top with crystals and all. Love.

Natural pink gel colour used, floral lace embedded.

Side view! Loving the glossy and smooth surface.

Bridal nails with floral lace.

And yeah this is one set of bridal nails that I absolutely adore! Classic. Clean. Something different from the usual french and not over the top with crystals and all. Love.

Natural pink gel colour used, floral lace embedded.

Side view! Loving the glossy and smooth surface.

More disco ball love!

Clear glittery tips with colourful disco balls and stars embedded! Added pastel blue and green ribbons. ;D

This is lovely~ Disco balls in pastel shades with star dust glitter on the tips. Loving this soft look!

More disco ball love!

Clear glittery tips with colourful disco balls and stars embedded! Added pastel blue and green ribbons. ;D

This is lovely~ Disco balls in pastel shades with star dust glitter on the tips. Loving this soft look!

Merry Christmas!!

So today is Christmas! CHRISTMAS! The time where families can get together and eat and just enjoy each other. I was lucky enough to get to spend this Christmas with my family, and though I leave in the morning, I miss them and the dogs already. On the bright side, though my trip was extremely short, I got to go to Yesterdog, which is amaaaaazing. The picture for today's nails is a iPhone pic, which will be replaced by a real picture when I'm actually at MY computer and have access to my files, etc.

I hope all of you had a great day, whether you celebrate Christmas or not...and for those of you that DO celebrate Christmas- MERRY CHRISTMAS!!! :-D