Green Thing feat CrowsToes I Make The Path and Leo Dreams of Spring

Hey polished prisoners,

Happy Saturday!  I hope everyone had a good week.  It's been hectic on my end but fun! I am a very blessed lady.    I have to keep this in mind when times get tough or I feel like things are spinning out of hand.   Well living the dream and dreaming the dream are certainly two different things lol!  I would be wise to remember that.  Nevertheless I am still blessed.  Blessed in the friends I have and the gifts I have been given.  One friend in particular Lauri of CrowsToes I have been very blessed to make.  I've learned a lot from her sense of humor, and strength and dedication to working hard for herself and her family.  She's a bit of a role model on top of being an amazing soul!  In any case I told her about some types of polishes I was dreaming of and the lovely lady whipped them up for me!  Totally unexpected and totally amazing!  One of which is featured here.

The Leo Dreams of Spring...lol I named it.  It's supposed to be a polish based around my birthday month August.  It features bits of green to represent the peridot birthstone, purples for royalty, and gold cause I likes to bling bling  in a clear base ;)  When I first saw this I just stared at it and stared at it.  Shall I embarrass myself a bit and tell you a secret? I keep my CTs right on a shelf by my bed. They are my absolute favorite brand of polish and the only ones I treat this way (weirdo). Eh but you have to do what makes you happy.  I paired TLDOS with I Make The Path (this is probably undoubtedly one of my favorite CT colors of all time!) for this mani.

Mani-logue (in order of layering)

Base color:  Essie Mojito

Gradient:  Orly Satin Hues Satin Hope

Subtle sheen:  Lilacquer Selkie

Glitter:  CrowsToes I Make The Path and The Leo Dreams of Spring

Stamping polish:  Konad Special Polish in Black

Stamping plate:  Dash 3

So basically this mani is a feast of my favorites!  Y'all know I don't have anything but hype to say when it comes to my Essie's.  Mojito in particular from last spring was like crack to me.  Orly's Satin Hues will always have my undying love and I believe I have finally got them all I'm not even close to getting all of them but I'm still stalking like a mofo.    Lilacquer is a new brand on the blog, but I have adored this brand from the start because of the initial Japanese themed collection - did you know that a Selkie is a mythical sea creature in Japan? Yeah reading way to much manga.  And of course I love my Dashica plates.  The plate I'm using today is from the Dash set I won in the recent like and share FB contest.  I was thrilled and will talk more about these plates later.  And clearly I have already gushed above about CT's.    I know some ladies think that CTs are on the thicker spectrum of things, but I've never had a problem with them nor have I had to thin them down.  Personally I feel handing all polishes, particularly glitters, require a certain lightness of hand in order to not overwhelm your base color unless that's your goal.

 In any case I hope you enjoyed my little mani! You can find CrowsToes in all of their feathered glory either at Llarowe or Overall Beauty.  Lilacquer can also be found on Etsy and finally Dashica plates can be found here.  Happy polishing lacqueristas!

Sinful Colors Sugar Rush Collection Watermarble

Hey lovely ladies,

Long time no polish!  Things have been busy and tight and so I haven't had a lot of time for posting even though I have created lots of mani's between here and there in the January deadzone so I have lots to share.  If you are ever feeling like you are craving what I'm creating feel free to check me out on Instagram as I tend to post there with updates almost daily-ish.  I'm just going to hop right into it today!  The Sinful Colors Sugar Rush Collection released late last week and I snatched them up instantly.  While they are normally $1.99 These polishes are on sale this week for $1 so find your nearest Walgreens and scoop them up.  The collection of eight yummy polishes in a perfect for spring pastel range, and because I am a glutton for all things spring I decided to take them all and create some water marble magic!

Mani-logue

Base Coat/Topcoat: CND Stickey and Poshe Fast Drying Topcoat

Base: Confetti Wedding White

Marble: Sinful Colors Cotton Candy, Unicorn, Candy Coated, Sugar Rush, Sweet Nothing, Orange Creme, Sugar N Spice, and Sweet Tooth

I put down Confetti Wedding White and the base and then created the marble over top so that the colors came out a little bit more vibrantly.  If you follow me on instagram you might have seen my post as I was starting the process. I really love how this came out!  Today I was told it looked like I had dipped my hands in Creamsicles :)  I take that as a huge compliment as I am a big fan of Creamsicles the sugar free kind in the summer!

Ultimately I think this collection is worth getting!  It's cheap, the quality of the polishes are excellent,  the colors are effortless, and while there are a few reformulations mainly Unicorn the polishes glide on with ease so its totally worth picking up the newer formulas.  The standouts here IMO are Orange Cream and Candy Coated both are really pretty colors and unique to things I've been seeing so far for the upcoming season.  Anyoo thanks for reading and I'll see you next post I promise it won't be long! Toodles...

NOT An Ugly Sweater: Zoya Ziv and Wednesday feat Nailz Craze

Hiya polished prisoners,

Happy 2013! It's my first post of the New Year and I thought I'd start off with my favorite color family - blue greens.  I coveted Zoya Wednesday for so long you would think something was wrong with me.  I kept looking but never buying and then when they did the Zoya Box promotions I took my chance to snatch it up.  Then of course its warmed my tray of wonders until today.  I also have the privilege of being friends with one of the kindest and most sincere women I know Vicky of Boombastic Nails who sent me Zoya Ziv as part of a Christmas package.  Thanks you hunny bunny!  So together Ziv and Wednesday decided to create some magic ;)

Mani-louge

Base coat/Top Coat: CND Stickey and Poshe Fast Drying Topcoat

Base color: Zoya Wednesday

Gradient: Zoya Ziv

Stamping polish: Konad Special Polish in White & Black

Stamping Plate: Nailz Craze NC03

Seriously this manicure was effortless - well almost.  I will admit I found the formula on
Wednesday to be borderline for me. A bit too thick for my liking and yet not quite so thick that I couldn't manage.  Ziv was flawless flawless flawless.  Literally the perfect gold shimmer polish.  The Nailz Craze plate I used is the newest "Russian" plate it has little dolls and sweaters etc and is very cute.  I will say though the bottom portion of the sweater patten did not pick up as well as I would have liked even using a Konad Special polish so that was a little disappointing, but otherwise I love everything about this image and the plate as well.  One thing I will say about Nailz Craze is she always always has images that are the perfect oversize size.  Long nails or short she will have you covered!

So thoughts?  Not bad for the start of the New Year eh?  I'm looking forward to trying out my other Zoya polishes and I also happened to have seen swatches of the new spring line and bottle shots of their new Pixie Dust textured matte polishes.  They look brilliant!  Anyhoo thanks for reading and see you next post!  Toodles...

Ring-a-ding-ding 2013..On Sundays I Stamp!

Hello polished prisoners,

I hope everyone has been well and enjoying the holiday season.  It's that time of year everyone is all a-flutter with excitement for the new year.  Lol as I read that back I realized it sounded as though I wasn't and to be honest I'm not sure.  Twenty twelve was supposed to be my year of triumph yet the heavens rained endless mental and physical challenges on me throughout the year culminating in a personal coup d'etat of epic proportions.  Well I'm still alive and I'm grateful, but I am earnestly hoping for a more sedate year ahead.  Ahem anyway let's onto the art...

Today's challenge was anything New Years and celebratory related.  In my mind this immediately meant the use of holographics...lots and lots of them.  Thus I instantly reached for my Zoya Ornates and my Color Club Holo Hues. Mmmmm donuts ahem I meant holo's....

Mani-louge

Base/Top Coat: OPI Natural Nail Base Coat and Sally Hansen Diamond Flash Topcoat

Base colors: Zoya Storm and Blaze

Stamping polishes: Color Club, Blue Heaven, Harp On It, and Cold Metal (Foiled Collection), China Glaze Millenium & Passion , Essie Blue Rhapsody, and Konad Special Polish in White & Black

Stamping plates: Sugar Bubbles Special 01 and 02  

Accent: 2mm clear rhinestones 

Gorgeous - everything about this collection is so lovely way to go Zoya!

Holo-llejah!  Lol :)  Capturing holos is so maddeningly difficult but look at all that fire!

How do you ladies feel about the New Year - excited, fatigued, apathetic?  I'd love to know really and yes I'm still stuck like glue on these Sugar Bubbles plates.  They are so so good!  They and many other plates (ahem Apipila) did not get nearly enough love this holiday season luckily Christmas time comes again and again oh and for me also in July.  So here we are.  I plan to do a few more holiday mani's before wrapping it up for the year moving onto some different nail art and I still have that Sugar Bubbles review on the back burner.  I probably won't do any kind of summation of my must have's but who knows.  Lol I sound so noncommittal please forgive me my world is a bit in flux right now so I'm trying to wrap things up before insanity ensues oh and make it to the post office (ugh holiday hours)  >_< Thanks for reading as always and I'll see you next post!  Toodles

Making CrowsMas I Mean Christmas...

Hello polished prisoners,

I have been gone far too long I know it!  Life has been kicking my ass! Yup literally and figuratively I suddenly very poignantly understand the phrase "everything that matters just breaks in two".  Well I can only push forward the same as ever polishing my nails and hoping for the best.  Well striving for my best...so it's basically almost Christmas around these parts.  I wanted to do a 7 days of  CrowsToes Christmas but I'm thinking of doing something a more gurilla style to pay homage instead.  So let's start the show...

Mani-louge 

Base coat/topcoat: CND Stickey & Poshe Fast Drying Topcoat

Base color: OPI Big Apple Red and IMN Northern Lights in Silver

Glitter accents: CrowsToes Making Christmas

Stamping polishes: China Glaze Passion and Millennium and Konad Special White

Stamping plates: Sugar Bubbles Special 01 & Special 02

CrowsToes Making Christmas is a sinful mix of green, red, and silver microglitters.  It spreads like a mother..ahem it spreads awesomely ;) Let me tell you something.  I am in a lusty like relationship with my CrowsToes polishes.  People who complain about the formula or the density of these polishes have surely not let their beauty touch their souls, aside from which I have never had any such problems, but oh well maybe I'm biased by all the the brilliance.  Lauri is a freaking genius! There hasn't been a single polish that I've seen by her that hasn't sparked a covetous grinch like desire within me.  Also for the sake of full disclosure I purchased all of these polishes myself so I have zip to gain from singing their praises.

Sugar Bubbles.  Tamira why have you not mentioned this brand before? Eh cause its a new and happening Brazilian indie plate maker who recently stole all of my freaking heart.  Love at first stamp? You betcha.  I will throw a quick review together tomorrow of what I got from her so far but for now you can check my nail art supplies tab for the downlow.

So here we are Making Christmas with Crowstoes.  I love everything about this mani but all good things must end as I have so much more to show you.  CrowsToes polishes can be purchased at either Llarowe or Overall Beauty, and Sugar Bubble can be found here.  Thanks for reading and toodles!

Candy Cane Lane...feat Essie She's Pampered

Hiya lacquer ladies,

Yesterday when I went to my job everything was so festively decorated with candy canes, wreaths, and poinsettias everywhere!  I was even given a poinsettia though it's on its deathbed from not being watered over the weekend.  Hopefully I'll be able to revive it any and all tips and tricks for working with a dessicated plant will  be appreciated ;)  Anyhoo I saw all the little candy canes everywhere and thought...water marble please!

Yum I love the mixed candy canes...

Mani-louge

Base: Confetti Wedding White

Marble: Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear Going Green & Essie She's Pampered, Out the Door Top Coat

Accent Nail: Essie Beyond Cozy

Does anyone else really love the wintergreen mix candy canes?  I love them to death! I don't like peppermint ones though at least not candy canes I love barrel mints though :)  So thoughts - totally Christmasy right? And so the holiday manicures continues...Thanks so much for reading and see you next post!  Toodles...

Syrup Nails feat Hit Polish Noel

Who's got a case of the Mondays polished prisoners?

Lol! Not me in particular but I have another holiday styled mani today that may lift your spirits! I actually plan to do nothing but winter/x-mas/holiday mani's for the entire month :) This is my favorite season so I am really excited and I also have a lot of great plates and polishes and no time for excuses so I need to bust them out! There may also be some double post days as I really rev it up for the holidays - yay!

Mani-louge

Base color: Chameleon Polish Calypso

Syrup: Colorama Gota

Glitter topper: Hit Polish Noel

Has anyone else tried syrup nails before? This was my first time trying them out and I really like the overall effect - almost like an instant made gradient! This came out super pretty and it was so easy this is why I freaking love glitter toppers. Instant art no muss no fuss ;). Hit polish can be found here on Esty. As a cool bonus my order came with a free magnet :). Hehe.  Thanks for reading and see you next post!  Toodles...