4th of July

The One With the Patriotic Dry Brush Manicure

9:00:00 AM


Good morning polished world!  How are you all doing on this lovely Friday??  Can you believe Friday is already here?  This week went by super fast, the weather is super weird, and I have had a migraine for the last day and a half.  I'm hoping I get some relief today, but with the weather still being funky I doubt it.  I'm hoping that it gets nicer by the Fourth of July so I can go watch some fireworks!

Today's manicure is one of two Fourth of July designs that I will be bringing you.  Who knows, if I feel better, maybe I can muster up three designs, you never know.  I'm kind of liking today's though so I don't think I'll be taking it off until I really have to.

Let's take a look!


Colors Used:
  • Sally Hansen - Tidal Wave
  • Sally Hansen - Red My Lips
  • Sally Hansen - White
  • INM - Northern Lights
Fun, right?  Kind of like a dry brush kind of turned tie dye looking?  Maybe I'm the only one who see's it that way, but I think it's fun regardless.  Super easy look to re-create also.  I started off with a base coat of a white polish.  You must make sure that your base is completely dried before moving on to the dry brushing.  Otherwise your brush will get caught on the base and then you'll get gouges or drag marks.

When my base was dry, I went through first with my red polish and created the lines.  I let that dry a little and then went through and filled in the gaps with the blue.  Both Red My Lips and Tidal Wave are the perfect patriotic colors.  I think I've used them the past few years now.

Once the dry brush design was completely dried, I went through and added a top coat of INM Northern Lights.  I wanted a little bit of sparkle because in my mind that was the stars on the flag.  Or the glisten of a firework.  Honestly, I just love this top coat and thought it would work super well with this look.

What do you think?  Something you might give a go for the Fourth??

Until next time, <3.

Color Club

The One With the Color Club Dot Manicure

9:00:00 AM


Good morning polished world!  How are you all doing today?  It's Tuesday and I'm already looking forward to Friday.  Work is busy, life is busy, my car got hit in the parking lot.  It's always something.  I just need a break...maybe a nice weekend at a spa somewhere.  Amanda tells me I should go visit her, and I have to agree.

Today I'm sharing a simple manicure I did last week at about midnight when my nails were all bashed and gross looking and needed something because I had to work in the morning.  Sometimes it's nice to go ultra simple like this though.  It is a good refresher, especially when they're done using my favorite colors.

Let's take a look!


Colors Used:
  • Color Club - Pucci-licious
  • Color Club - Blue Ming
  • Serendipity Polish - Holo-Day Lights
Isn't it lovely??  Purple, mint, silver holo, dots??  What more could you want in a manicure??  Pucci-licious is one of my favorite purple polishes of all time.  I purchased it a few years ago from HBBeauty Bar and am so happy I did.  I really need to grab a back up bottle before the company discontinues it.  It's always my luck that my favorites are discontinued.  Happens that way with food too at the grocery store...



Blue-Ming is another one of my favorites from Color Club.  I bet that this is a dupe of my new love Orly Vintage.  I'll have to compare them side by side in the near future.  I just love colors in this family though, which you already know.  Two coats, pure lovely mint neon-ness.

Both colors look amazing next to Serendipity Polish Holo-Day Lights.  If you love holo glitters, then you need to purchase this beauty.  It's so dense on it's own, but I always put it over a plain silver base or something like Mirrorball.  I do that because I don't want to use the whole bottle and have no back ups.  I'm crazy like that.

What do you think?  Like this design?  Love the color combo??

Until next time, <3.

Gradient Mani

The One With the Serendipity Polish Splatter Gradient Manicure

9:00:00 AM


Good morning polished world!  Happy Friday to you all!!!!  I need to learn to pre-publish my posts because now that my photos are edited, I forget to actually publish the dang post.  Sigh.  I'm hoping I get better at this when work slows down.  We are going through some renovations and it's been kind of hectic.  So, so hectic.  I cannot wait to catch up on sleep this weekend.

Today I'm sharing with you a fun gradient splatter manicure.  I've done this design a few times with different colors, and it's always a favorite of mine.  Something about the different gradients and the different color splatters on each nail.  I don't know, it's super eye catching and looks like it took forever to do, but really it's quite simple and not as horrible of a clean up as you might think.

Let's take a look.


Colors Used:
  • ORLY - White Tips (I sadly don't own the Serendipity White....what am I thinking?)
  • Serendipity Polish -  Building My Empire
  • Serendipity Polish - Vacation Vibes
Isn't it awesome!?  To get the look, I first painted the base coats on all my nails.  For my index, middle, and ring finger, I painted a white base, and the pinkie and thumb I painted a base of Vacation Vibes.  Once dried, I then taped around my cuticles using painters tape.  That for me is the longest step.  I don't have any latex/glue barriers and I'm okay with that.  I think that they honestly take more time to put on and then let dry than using tape.  And, when I did use a glue barrier, I had 100% more clean up than when I used the tape.

Anyways, once my nails were taped, I created the gradients with make up sponges.  While my nails were still taped, I then did splatter.  I use one of those coffee stirrers that are like mini straws.  Drip some polish on a paper plate, dunk one end into the polish, then blow through the straw and bam, splatter.  Kind of messy, but mostly all goes on the tape.

Remove the tape, clean up any residual (which is VERY Minimal) and then add your top coat.  Done, and done!

What do you think?  Like this look?  Something you'd try??

Until next time, <3.


OPI

The One With the Cracked Stone Looking Manicure

9:00:00 AM


Good morning polished world!  How are you all doing today?  I apologize for not posting yesterday, but I have some awesome news....I finally edited the photos in all 7 posts that need to be posted, soooo I should have consistant posting for the next two weeks.  Hopefully.  All I have to do now is just write all the posts.  I feel like that is the easier part.  Maybe it isn't because as I'm writing this, I just went and watched YouTube videos for 20 minutes.

Anyways, today's manicure is inspired by this cracked stone look by NBNailArt on Instagram.  I fell in love with this design as soon as I saw it.  Bianka used a stamp to get her look, but I figured it would be something that I could freehand with some acrylics and a small nail art brush.

Let's take a look.


Colors Used:
  • OPI - My Boyfriend Scales Walls
  • Zoya - Maria Luisa
  • Acrylic
Isn't it a neat looking manicure?  It is one of those where I couldn't stop looking at my nails.  I think I did a decent job re-creating the design without the stamp.  At first I thought that the black lines looked a bit like tree branches, so I started to give them more of a jagged look to represent the cracks.



Maria Luisa is one of my favorite polishes which I always forget that I own.  One coat and and you get this gorgeous gold foil looking flecks all on the nail.  Over the white, I did just did one coat and as you can see, it's pretty dense.  This polish always separates on me, but with one shake it's back to normal.  I think it's just because the flecks are heavier than the base?  I don't know the logistics of polish.

What do you think?  Like this look?  Something you'd try??

Until next time, <3.

Dot Mani

The One With the ORLY Gradient and Daisies

9:00:00 AM


Good morning polished world!!  How are you all doing today??  It's Friday, so you know I'm having a great day.  Work has been so busy due to numerous renovations, so my mind is just spinning constantly.  The other night I woke up at 2am and was planning out things that needed to be done for the next day at work.  I'm probably going to develop an ulcer or something, but in the end the building is going to look nice so I guess it's going to be worth it.

Warmer, summer weather is finally here, so that means I'm going to be gravitating towards my neon polishes all the time.  As I've said in the past few posts featuring ORLY neon polishes, I'm absolutely obsessed with them.  They have such great formulas and are bright and eye catching.  Just what you want from a neon.

Let's take a look at today's fun, bright, flower-rific manicure....


Colors Used:
  • ORLY - Put the Top Down
  • ORLY - See You Soon
  • ORLY - Liquid Vinyl
  • ORLY - White Tips
  • INM - Northern Lights
Isn't this gradient gorgeous??  I love the pink, purple, to blue look.  It's one of my favorites and go to gradients.  Probably because it's also easy to achieve by using only two polishes.  On the make up sponge, I paint a swatch of pink, then overlap it with some blue and sponge away.  The blue blends with the pink creating the gorgeous purple color.

As always, which you can't really see here, I added a top coat of INM Northern Lights over the top of the gradient.  I love that little micro holo top coat.  It really helps blend the gradient together, while adding a little something with the sparkle.

Of course, since I'm in a daisy/dot flower mode, you know I had to add some daisies on top.  It looked a little naked so I went through and added dots throughout as well.

What do you think?  Like this look?  Been obsessed with ORLY polishes like I have been lately??

Until next time, <3.



Gradient Mani

The One With the OPI Tape Manicure

9:00:00 AM


Hello polished world!  It's a Tuesday, yes I know,  I failed at doing a Monday, Wednesday, and Friday post this week.  I have a good excuse though....work is super busy.  Okay, it's not the greatest excuse, but my mind was kind of pre-occupied with a renovation that we are doing that I forgot about the blog.  And then I went into work and one of the kitties that we have needs to be put down.  So you know, it's all around a busy, mind filled time.

Today I'm sharing a fun tape gradient manicure that I did a few weeks ago.  I don't know what it is, but I love when I have blue nails.  I always end up starring at them and honestly, I can't explain it, I just can't ever stop looking at them.  This manicure was no exception.

Let's take a look!


Colors Used:
  • OPI - My Pal Joey
  • OPI - I Believe in Manicures
OPI makes such wonderful blue polishes.  Every time they have a blue in their collection, I run out and grab it because I have yet to have a bad one.  I really didn't need I Believe in Manicures since I have about 10 different blues in that light pastel shade, but since it was an OPI one, I told myself I needed it.  I'm honestly kicking myself that I didn't grab another bottle because it really is quite gorgeous.  On it's own it covers in two coats.  I was a little nervous that it wasn't going to sponge or show up well on top of My Pal Joey, but it did a great job.  No problems, easy peasy, pretty mani.



My Pal Joey is one of my all time favorite blue polishes.  I do have back ups of this pretty, yet I still don't wear it because I don't think that two bottles is enough.  It's a great pedicure polish in the summer with a holo top coat. Covers perfectly in two coats.  And dries super fast so I was able to do this fun tape design.

You know, the fun tape design that took me forever to do.  A lot of bloggers are now using nail vinyl stencils which you just place this design over the nail, but I don't own any of those so I had to go the old fashioned route....nail art tape.  That's right, each line was done using a strand of tape.  My OCD needed them to be perfect, and I think I did a pretty dang good job.

What do you think?  Like this manicure?  Think I should do it with other colors??

Until next time, <3.

Orly

The One With the 90s-ish Nail Art

9:00:00 AM

Nothing to Disclose

Happy Friday polished world!  How are you all doing today?  Look at me, actually keeping to this Monday, Wednesday, and Friday posting schedule.  Do we think it will last more than a week??  I'm going to say yes....I'm an optimist after all.

Today's design is inspired by this abstract design that I saw on Nail It! magazine's Instagram page.  The manicure by monanneevernis is a lot more subtle and less bright than mine is.  Just wait until you see how amazingly bright this new ORLY polish is.  It's going to be my go to pedicure polish this year!

Let's take a look!


Colors Used:
  • ORLY - No Regrets
  • ORLY - White Tips
  • ORLY - Mirrorball
  • ORLY - Glowstick
  • ORLY - Vintage
  • ORLY - Liquid Vinyl
Guys, do you see No Regrets???  This polish is from the Coastal Crush collection for Summer 2017.  Two coats and full coverage.  It's somewhere in between a red and pink polish.  So unique to my collection and honestly a must have for any neon polish lover.  I didn't think that I was going to like this one when I first saw it, but it's beyond amazing.

I am happy that I accented this manicure with Mirrorball.  The holo really picked up all the colors on the ring finger, while bringing some subtleness to a bright fun design.  

What do you think?  Like this design?  Does it remind you of the 90s also?  I feel like it has a Saved by the Bell vibe to it....

Until next time, <3.


Flowers

The One With ILNP Music Box and Little Cherry Blossoms

9:00:00 AM


Good morning polished world!  How are you all doing today?  So I'm going to attempt to do a Monday, Wednesday, and Friday posting schedule.  We will see how long that lasts for.  I'm going to try though since I have enough posts for an eternity.  Okay, maybe it's only about 8 posts.

A good portion of those manicures that I have to share with you are all done using some ORLY polishes.  Reason being I have so many new ORLYs, they're neons, and you know how much I love neon polishes.  You also know how much I love my mint polishes, so it's no surprise that to break up the neons, I grabbed my bottle of ILNP Music Box.

Let's take a look.


Colors Used:
  • ILNP - Music Box
  • Acrylics
I love the simplicity of this design and I think it looks lovely on top of Music Box.  Something about that subtle holo with the dainty little flowers on top.  It reminds me of some sort of oriental design you would see on an antique tea cup or something.  I was debating on doing the design on all of my nails, but I'm happy that I just did a little accent.  I think it would have been too busy otherwise.

Music Box covers completely in two coats.  It's one of my favorite ILNP polishes, and that says a lot because all of Barbara's polishes are gorgeous.  I need to get my hands on those new jellies that just were released.  And on the Spring collection.....sigh if only I had a never ending supply of money to buy all of the polishes.

What do you think?  Think it has an oriental flare to it?  Maybe I'm just crazy.

Until next time, <3.


Dot Mani

The One With the Black and White ORLY Daisy Manicure

9:00:00 AM


Starting June off right, you know with a post other than my three day monthly mani fav for May.  Sigh.  I meant to post this yesterday but I didn't feel well and spent most of the day in bed.  By most of the day, I mean I laid in bed, caught up on The Flash, and baked cookies.  So when 11pm rolled around I was wide awake.

Today I'm sharing with you a simple black and white daisy manicure inspired by Sensationails4U on Instagram.  I saw the post on the Nail It! feed on Facebook and fell in love.  Flowers and dots = a true Little Canvas manicure.

Let's take a look....


Colors Used:
  • ORLY - White Tips
  • ORLY - Liquid Vinyl
You know, a manicure using my favorite white and black polish.  Okay, I do like the Serendipity Polish black because it covers in one coat, but Liquid Vinyl holds a special place in my heart.  I found it years ago and never turned back.  You can get coverage in once coat, but I always use two.  Same goes for White Tips.  You can get away with one coat, but I always use two.

What do you think?  Like this look?

Until next time, <3.


Monthly Mani Favs

The One With #MonthlyManiFavs for May....A Few Days Late

9:00:00 AM

Good morning polished world!  I truly apologize for not posting my Monthly Mani Favs for May yesterday.  I really meant to, I had the intention, but the night got away from me and well I fell asleep.  Speaking of sleep, I cannot wait to sleep in today.  Sure, it's going to be gorgeous outside, but it's Saturday, my one day to sleep in.  I won't let it pass by.

Anyways, let's take a look at my favorite manicures for May!


  • The One With the Yellow Flowers and Morgan Taylor - I love the color combination of this design.  I didn't think I would when I was picking the colors out, but once the manicure was finished I truly was in love.  I'm starting to like yellow polishes.  After years of avoiding them, I'm trying to figure out why because I think they look pretty dang decent with my skin tone.
  • The One With The Summery ORLY Dry Brush Mani - I used some of my favorite ORLY neons and created this fun dry brush manicure.  Most of my dry brush designs are more intense so to speak.  I usually don't have this few brush strokes.  The less the best for this design because you can truly see the colors here.
  • The One With the OPI Dot Gradient - LOVE this color combination.  I saw the design on Pinterest and wasn't really sure that I would like it on my own nails, but I was pleasantly surprised.  I'll have to do this again....maybe for a pedicure?!
  • The One With the Dot and Rose Manicure - Another design using some Morgan Taylor polishes.  You know me and my love for florals and dots, so of course this manicure would make the list.  I love the color combination.
What do you think?  Any of these your favorite?  Think I should have selected something else??

Until next time, <3.