Orly

The One With the Pumpkin Mani I Meant to Post a Week Ago

9:00:00 AM


Good morning polished world!  How are you all doing this week?  I did some MAJOR Christmas decorating this weekend.  Not only did I decorate four 7 foot trees at work, I came home and put a crud ton of lights on my house.  I'm not going to lie, I'm still quite exhausted from it.  Since I knew I was going to be doing all this decorating, I had swatch on my nails so I wouldn't be upset if they chipped.

With all this decorating, I literally forgot to post today's pumpkin manicure.  Yup, that's right, this post was supposed to go up around Thanksgiving and I completely forgot.  Of course I didn't realize this until I came to the blog last evening to post a different manicure and saw the pumpkin draft just sitting there.

Since November isn't over, then it's still perfect timing for me to post this!  Fall is just ending, and winter is coming.  That means Christmas and snow manicures are coming soon!!!

Let's take a look at the pumpkins first.


Colors Used:
  • Zoya - Alma
  • Sally Hansen - Champagne Supernova
  • ORLY - Liquid Vinyl
Isn't it cute?  I actually did this manicure to match a dress I wore to the Harvest Dinner at work.  I was so fall festive that evening.  The orange was a perfect Fall orange where I didn't feel like the manicure had a Halloween vibe.  Seriously, Zoya Alma is gorgeous.  Two coats and full coverage, and I was scared it was going to take more because of the jelly formula.  It built up quite nicely.



Really was thrilled with this design. First time I attempted this design of a pumpkin and was pleased with the final look.

What do you think?  Like this design?  Fan of Alma by Zoya?

Until next time, <3.

Flowers

The One With the Fall Floral Manicure That I Forgot to Post for Thanksgiving

9:00:00 AM


Good morning polished world!  How are you all doing today?  I forgot to get this post up on the blog for Thanksgiving.  Life got in the way, and then I tried to post it on Black Friday, but then my shopping got in the way.  Yes, that's right, I kind of shopped til I dropped, which is something I never do on Black Friday.  I blame the whole invention of the internet because I did 90% of my shopping online.  Oh well, this is why I have a job, right?  To spend all the money!

One thing I am proud about is that I didn't purchase a single polish.  Crazy, right? It's mainly because I'm really working hard at going through all my untried polishes.  For today's post I used Cashmere Crisis from the ORLY New Neutral collection . It was the perfect accent color to my Thanksgiving/Fall manicure!

Let's take a look!


Colors Used:
  • ORLY - Cashmere Crisis
  • INM - Acai
  • Pure Ice - Studette
Cute, right?  I did a design similar to this a few years ago (maybe it was last year), but this year I'm so much more impressed with this years version!  I really can see how I've grown with my nail art with the little sunflower and the leave.  Look at that blending!



Cashmere Crisis was a gorgeous neutral polish which applied perfectly in two coats.  I love it because it's a darker neutral polish which I feel my collection is severely lacking.  I really didn't think I was going to like the ORLY fall collection, but I've been plesantly surprised.

What do you think?  Like this look?  Fan of that glitter gradient?

Until next time, <3.


Flowers

The One With the Pure Ice Floral Manicure

9:00:00 AM


It's Sunday, and I'm alive!  I wanted to have this post up yesterday but starting Friday night I started to feel sick.  Then, Saturday I was unable to move.  Horrible migraine, awful nausea, couldn't sit up for more than five minutes.  I really thought I was going to have a stroke or aneurysm.  So, as you can imagine, I stayed in bed all day until about 8pm when I felt somewhat normal.  Then of course, I was wide awake at midnight because I had slept most of the day.

So far though, I'm feeling human and hoping it stays.  I feel like my head is teetering on the edge of normal and migraine.  No clue what I have, but I'm hoping this all goes away before Thursday because I want to eat stuffing and be happy.  Nothing is worse than being sick on Thanksgiving, trust me, I'll never forget the Thanksgiving I had the flu and couldn't eat.  Saddest day of my life.

Anyways, today's nail art is a Fall feeling floral using some Pure Ice polishes that I forgot I owned.  Amanda got me these a few years ago and I've used the one but the others have kind of gone by the wayside.  I need to make an un-tried bin and go through all those.....

Let's take a look!


Colors Used:
  • Pure Ice - Teal Appeal
  • Pure Ice - Studette 
  • OPI - Pale To the Chief
Teal Appeal doesn't look teal to me, but more of a dark blue.  I guess there is a bit of a teal hue to it, but I don't know, I see more blue.  Maybe I'm color blind.  Here nor there, it's a gorgeous polish which covers completely in two coats.  It's a perfect Fall color.



Paired with Studette, this manicure really came together.  I never noticed how this gold glitter has flecks of red in it as well.  To me, a perfect Fall gold glitter because of that red.  Kind of mad with myself that I haven't used it yet before today.

What do you think?  Fan of this floral?  Own either of these polishes?

I need to add more Pure Ice polishes to my collection.  They are a great quality for a low price!

Until next time, <3.

Dot Mani

The One With the Fall Tree Manicure That I Dislike

9:00:00 AM


YUP!  You read the title of this post correctly.  I dislike today's manicure!  Happy Wednesday polished world!  How are you all doing today??  Fall has come and gone where I am.  Seriously, one day the leaves were green, the next they were changing, then we had some weird snow/rain/wind combo and all the leaves fell.  Not that I'm complaining, but I really would have liked one of those sunny, beautiful Fall days where I could walk around admiring the colors.  Oh well.

Anyways, back to my nail art that I dislike.  This idea looked SOOOOO good on other bloggers.  I was so excited to re-create it, then it turned out like this.  Crappy.  Not at all what I planned.  It just wasn't at all how I pictured it.

So, without further adieu, let's take a look....


Colors Used:
  • ORLY - Snuggle Up
Only good thing about this manicure - the base color.  That color is ORLY - Snuggle Up from The New Neutral collection for Fall 2018.  Perfect nude polish which covered completely in two coats.  We all know that OPI has some of my favorite nude polishes, but ORLY is really banging down that door and about to replace them as the favorite.



I guess the manicure isn't that bad, but I don't know, I don't think they looked like trees or falling leaves.  I just feel the other bloggers did justice to this manicure, and it was a disasticure for me.

What do you think?  Love or hate?

 I think I should have used a different brown for the base of the trees.  Meh.

Until next time, <3.

Flowers

The One With the Re-Creation of the Fall Dot Flower Manicure

9:00:00 AM


Hey all and Happy Saturday!  Guys, I am exhausted.  The past few weeks I've been working like crazy.  Yesterday I left work at 4pm, and I cannot remember when the last time was that I left work at 4pm.  Especially on a Friday.  Literally each Friday I have a plan to leave at 3:30pm or 4:00pm, but something always occurs and I'm there until 5:30pm or beyond.  I love my job, but I'm counting down the hours until my three days off that I have coming up.  If you know me, you know that I haven't taken a personal day that wasn't related to illness in over a year or two.

Anyways, despite my crazy schedule, I still am finding time to paint my nails.  My creativity though is lacking as I tend to just re-create old designs, which is exactly what I did with today's manicure.  It's a re-creation of a fall dot flower that I typically do near Thanksgiving.  I decided to do it earlier so I can force myself to think of something else to do for Thanksgiving itself.

Let's take a look!


Colors Used:
  • ORLY - Seize the Clay
  • ORLY - Snuggle Up
  • ORLY - Bling
I'm really loving The New Neutral Collection for Fall 2018 by ORLY.  Seize the Clay is a gorgeous red clay cream that is truly a perfect fall color.  Two coats and I had full coverage.  Easy to apply to thanks to that lovely pro-wide brush they have.  I can't tell you how happy I am that more brands are coming out with the pro-wide brush.

Snuggle Up is a perfect fall nude cream also.  Two coats just like Seize the Clay.  I think this might be my go-to nude polish now.  And you know how much I love my OPI Nude polishes, so this is speaking volumes that I've found a new love.



Then we have ORLY Bling which is accenting the whole manicure and tying it all together.  One of my favorite polishes which is a pain in the butt to remove.  It's beyond gorgeous and so worth the hassle.  ORLY needs to re-release this beauty.  I haven't been to Sally Beauty in a while so who knows, maybe it's part of their core collection.  Maybe I'll make a trip this weekend to Sally Beauty and check.  I do want that Grinch Green Glitter from China Glaze and I believe that's in stock now.....

What do you think?  Fan of this manicure?  Love this ORLY collection?

Until next time, <3.

Flowers

The One With the NCLA Roses

9:00:00 AM


Good morning polished world!  How are you all doing on this fine Tuesday morning?  It's going to be 64 degrees here with high winds.  So you know, have to have that fear that the power is going to go out.  Usually these November wind storms are good because they take the remainder of the leaves off the trees, but since it was 80 degrees in October, the leaves aren't even fully turned yet.  It's such a weird year.

Now that Halloween is over, I'm back to posting regular nail art.  You know, before I start posting Fall/Thanksgiving nails.  And before you know it, we will be at Christmas manicures!  Guys, I've bought so many Christmas dresses this year.  I feel like such a nerd.

Anyways, today's design is one I'm on the fence about.  Love the red, love the gold, but not sure if I love my roses.

Let's take a look!


Colors Used:
  • NCLA - I'm With the Band
  • I can't remember the gold......oops
Sorry guys, I literally can't remember what gold polishes I used.  I believe they were the gold foil Serendipity Polish topped with the gold glitter by the same brand.  I'm not going to lie, I did this design at the end of August and it got stuck in my drafts until now.  I really need to write the colors down when I edit the photos and make the post.



Really loving the NCLA polish.  Not sure when I got this polish as I've never bought a NCLA. I'm thinking that I was gifted it by Amanda awhile ago.  Beautiful color, great coverage, awkward bottle shape.  Seriously had the toughest time photographing this.  I have to say though, this bottle is easier to pose with compared to a Sally Hansen Insta Dri.  Those are THE WORST.

What do you think?  Like this rose design?  Fan of the NCLA polish?

Until next time, <3.

Monthly Mani Favs

The One With October's #MonthlyManiFavs

9:00:00 AM

Good morning polished world!  Welcome to November.  Rainy, foggy November.  If you follow me on Instagram, you probably saw my foggy morning yesterday which I posted to my story.  It was so creepily cool.  Now I need to hope for a warm weekend so I can put my Christmas lights up!  Don't worry, I just put them on the trees and bushes, I don't actually turn them on until after Thanksgiving.

Since it's the first post of the new month, that means it's time to share my Monthly Mani Favs for October!  Nice little mixture of Fall and Halloween designs.  October is such a weird month because it's still warm, it's Fall, and there's Halloween.  Therefore I usually end up having a smorgasbord of different looking manicures.  Kind of proud of myself that this year I kind of had similarly themed ones for the whole month.

Let's take a look at the favorites! 


  • The One With ORLY Olive You Kelly and Sunflowers - Absolutely love ORLY's Olive You Kelly.  Talk about a perfect green for Fall!  Then with the sunflowers on top, this truly is the perfect Summer to Fall transition manicure.
  • The One With the Spooky Spider Web Manicure - Serendipity Polish holo + creepy fog look + spider webs = perfect Halloween manicure.  Really love this different twist to a design I do almost yearly.
  • The One With Ghosts and Googly Eyes - Love this manicure!  It was such a cute Halloween design.  Kind of sad I found a dress that would match it too late in the season and was unable to order it in time.  Hopefully they'll have something cute like it for next year!
  • The One With the Fall Leaves - AHHH guys!  This is my favorite manicure!  First time I was able to master the leaf manicure which I have been attempting each year since this blog started.  This is one of my proudest accomplishments since I started this blog and really showed me how much I've grown as a nail artist.
What do you think?  Fan of any of these designs?  Would you have picked something different?

Until next time, <3.