Pinkginger's A Thing of Beauty

Color Club Slow Jam

noreply@blogger.com (Pink Ginger) — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 18:53:00 +0000

Slow Jam is a deep burgundy shimmer released in 2008 as a part of Color Club's Musique collection. I missed out on it the first time, but found it later as a set in Winners (the Canadian version of TJ Maxx) I'm far too picky to organize my stash by colour, but if I did I'd have at least 1 whole drawer devoted to this colour alone. I love red. I love all shades of red. And while I prefer the shimmery variety, I have plenty of red cremes too. I love Slow Jam because it's slightly more 'brown' than the other burgundy nail polish I have, and unlike a lot of lacquerheads, I love brown nail polish. (I'm a contrarian by nature)

3 coats lightbox

3 coats with flash (this brings out the red)

I love Color Club nail polish. It's good quality, it's affordable, the colours are interesting, and they come in square bottles that are easy to store. I wish they were more readily available here.

Happy Saturday!
Ginger-who bought myself 2 RBLs for my birthday. I enjoy disposable income!

Pink Wednesday: China Glaze Pink Underground

noreply@blogger.com (Pink Ginger) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 10:30:00 +0000

It's been far too long since I've done one of these! Actually, it's been far too long since I've posted 2 days in a row. Anyway,

today's mani is an 'oldie but goodie' by China Glaze. This shade is a part of Operation Color, the same collection that brought us the beloved (and discontinued) Secret ~~Peri-Wink-Le~~ Periwinkle.(I hate that spelling) I don't know why this colour didn't get as much love as SP, it's beautiful! It's a bubblegum pink with shimmer and it is unabashedly ladylike and girly. I love it so <3

3 coats indoors ambient light

I haven't been wearing a lot of pink of late because I'm really into neutrals. like, a lot. How much? Well, let me put it this way, I'm wearing taupe right now. Taupe! 600+ bottles of nailpolish and I wake up and say "I want my nails to blend in as much as possible."

What is happening to me?

*sigh*

Happy Wednesday Ladies!

Ginger-Not that I don't like taupe, I love it. I'm just surprised that I picked it for an occasion other than church, a wedding, or a funeral.

Decadent

noreply@blogger.com (Pink Ginger) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 22:30:00 +0000

This has got to be one of the best colours I've purchased this year. I used to be a real brand snob, buying OPI exclusively for 4 years straight just because I thought 'drugstore brand' was synonymous with 'low-quality'. Here's the thing; drugstore nail polish is actually quite good. I missed out on a lot of great colours because of my snooty ways and I'm glad I've broadened my horizons.

I bought Decadent by Revlon during the holidays (when I really should have been buying presents for other people). It's a rich violet shimmer that has a matching lip gloss. I didn't buy the lip gloss, but the nail polish is absolutely stunning!

3 coats lightbox

The formula is slippery, but good. This is a part of Revlon's Top Speed line so it dries in a good amount of time. Case in point, I once painted my nails on a lunch break and they were dry before it was over. That makes it a winner in my book :)

Happy Tuesday!

Ginger-who has to change which coat I wear a few times a week because the temperature fluctuates so much. Dear Weather, Either it's spring or it's winter. Make up your mind!

List Of The Week:Songs I Like

noreply@blogger.com (Pink Ginger) — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 20:37:00 +0000

It's that time again! This week's list is all about songs I like. That's it. I hope you like them too :)

1.Somebody That I Used To Know-Walk off the Earth

2.Amazing-Jem

3.Tighten Up-The Black Keys

4.Change The Sheets-Kathleen Edwards

5.Zambony-k-os

6.Blazing Arrow-Blackalicious

Happy Saturday!

Ginger-who is actually has enough prepared to post for an entire week. Progress!

Cleaning Out My Files: Nubar Wildlife

noreply@blogger.com (Pink Ginger) — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 00:43:00 +0000

Good Evening All!

Today I have yet another manicure from the "reject" pile. Much like my previous mani, I have no idea why I didn't like it. I'm still miffed about having to cut my nails off today, so seeing them at this length is a reminder that they still have the ability to grow.

Oh, and the colour is freakin' amazing!

Nubar Wildlife is one of the shining stars of their already fabulous Going Green collection. Every single colour is beautiful (and green!), but this shimmery olive-green with copper/pink flash was the universal favourite, along with Reclaim. I need to wear this one again :)

2 coats indoors under lamp.

Happy Friday!

Ginger-who somehow ended up with 14 RBL lacquers in 2 1/2 years. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Old School: OPI La Collection De France

noreply@blogger.com (Pink Ginger) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 20:12:00 +0000

As a devoted OPI fan, I've seen (and purchased) a lot of their collections over the years. Even though there are gems in all of them, some collections stand out as pretty close to perfect; La Collection De France (from Fall 2008) is one of the great ones.

I can't say that I disliked a single shade in the entire collection, that's rare for me--especially when you take into account how fussy I am. I've decided to give you a second look--just to remind you of how great Le Collection De France truly was (and is).

You Don't Know Jacques

(taupe creme)

The undisputed king (queen?) of the collection. I have to admit, my first reaction upon seeing a murky taupe among all the reds and purples was "Ew". However, YDKJ has become one of my favourites, simply because it's so different from the average. I blame my initial negative reaction on my unwillingness to break from the norm. I'm glad I'm over it because this colour is great!

3 coats

Bastille My Heart

(burgundy shimmer)

This is another favourite. I wore it often and my bottle is almost gone. This one doesn't get as much attention as YDKJ and Parlez-Vous OPI (one of the 6 that I don't own), but it's beautiful in its own right.

it's deeper and less 'red' than it looks-2 coats

Yes...I Can-Can!

(eggplant shimmer)

I love vampy, dark shades for fall! (I may have mentioned this a couple hundred times before!) Yes I Can-Can is the second shade I purchased...and it's also on its last legs. (No pun intended)

3 coats

I'm Fondue Of You

(red-brown shimmer)

I love this one too. It's a typical 'fall' colour and it has a warmth to it that's oddly comforting. The name is cute as well.

3 coats

Eiffel For This Color!

(dark purple shimmer)

Another winner. This is one of the most chic colours of the collection. At the time, black-ish nail polish was huge, and Eiffel For this Colour is yet another addition to the almost-black purple family (along with nail polish juggernaut Lincoln Park After Dark)

3 coats

We'll Always Have Paris

(maroon creme)

This is the first shade that caught my eye. (What a shock :P) I bought it the day before I went on vacation that year, and subsequently wore it for the entire trip. I just love colours like this! (She said for the hundredth time)

3 coats

This is one of my favourite nail polish collections of all time. I loved every colour--even the ones I didn't pick up like Tickle My France-y and A Oui Bit Of Red. The formula was consistently great (even if Bastille My Heart stains. A lot) As a total lacquer-head I love originality, but I'm also comforted by the classics. Honestly, I think I'd be a little exhausted if every colour was a totally unique "must-buy".

I'd also be a little broke.

A little consistency is a good thing :)

Happy Monday!

Ginger-who is expecting things in the mail, but refuses to walk to the mail box because it is too cold outside.

China Glaze Midtown Magic

noreply@blogger.com (Pink Ginger) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 19:03:00 +0000

I wore this awhile ago but I was too self-conscious to publish the photos. Since they've been saved in my computer forever (and I can't remember why I didn't want you all to see these) I'm publishing them today.

I love Midtown Magic because it reminds me of a "jacked up on sparkle" version of one of my favourites, Side Saddle. It's the same plummy brown (or 'Puce' if you're fancy) only with larger, multi-coloured glitter. It's also really shiny. I love a shiny-without-topcoat polish :)

3 coats, open shade

direct sun

The Metro Collection was one of the few ChG fall collections that I didn't purchase in full. I liked all of the colours, but I only purchased the ones I *loved*. Midtown Magic is definitely a "vampy", so naturally, it's one of my must-haves from that line. Which ones did you guys pick up?

Happy Friday!
Ginger-who is spending the day relaxing and celebrating :)

List of The Week: Awesome Covers

noreply@blogger.com (Pink Ginger) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 01:06:00 +0000

I'm sure I've already listed most of these, but they really do bear repeating. As most of you know, I can be kind of snooty about certain things; if a book I like is made into film, I will always insist that the book is better. (Because they usually are) That said, I don't really like song covers that deviate too far from the original...yet, I love these. Sometimes all it takes to please me is a different spin on a classic (or a hearing the lyrics enunciated well enough for me to understand the song)

1. Single Ladies-The Heavyweights Brass Band (Beyonce) Let me just state for the record that I hate this song. But, I love this version. It's so jazzy and fun!

2. All Along The Watchtower-Jimi Hendrix (Bob Dylan) Confession time: For years I thought this song was written by Jimi Hendrix. When I heard Bob Dylan's version, I thought "Cool, he's covering Jimi Hendrix" uh...no. Jimi Hendrix covered Bob.

3. Orion- Rodrigo y Gabriela (Metallica)The first time I heard this song, I was like, "Daaaaang! this is amazing!" They did Metallica proud.

4.Smells Like Teen Spirit-Paul Anka (Nirvana) I swear I had no idea what this song was about until I heard this version. Honestly, I love them both. (I know, blasphemy. Get over it)

5.Billie Jean-Chris Cornell (Michael Jackson) I love Chris Cornell, so he could sing the first half of the phone book and I'd say, "That's brilliant!" but this is truly a great cover of a great pop song.

6.I'm Not In Love-Olive (10CC) I've been a fan of this song since I was little. Olive's cover is just lovely.

7.Mad World-Gary Jules (Tears For Fears) This song is beautiful any way, but everything about this cover-the arrangement, the vocals, the instruments is perfect.

8.Nothing Compares 2 U-Sinead O'Connor (Prince) Prince is a tough act to follow on his worst day (not that he's had any) Sinead O'Connor does an excellent job. The single tear at the end of the video gets me every time.

9.Here Comes The Rain Again-Amanda Stott featuring Conjure One (The Eurythmics) I love this song. The end.

10. Rolling In The Deep-John Legend (Adele) A ridiculously amazing cover of an already awesome song.

That's all for now! I'll have something exciting (to me) tomorrow :) Happy Wednesday!

Ginger-who has big plans to sit down, eat popcorn and watch all my Wednesday night shows. My life is a party.

China Glaze Some Like It Haute

noreply@blogger.com (Pink Ginger) — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 20:30:00 +0000

I would wear glitter more often if it wasn't so high maintenance. Between soaking my hands in nail polish remover to get rid of it, or having it peel off in large sheets, glitter (for me) is a bit too much to handle.

On the other hand, some glitters are well worth the extra effort.

China Glaze Some Like It Haute is definitely one of the good guys.

My photos give it a more purple-grey hue, but it's actually a charcoal grey jelly with multi-sized, black, silver, and holographic glitter.

It is so pretty that I completely forgive it for chipping :P

3 coats,lightbox

indirect sun

This colour was released as a part of China Glaze's second winter collection, Eye Candy 3D Glitters. I only bought 2 of them because I'm currently in my "grey-and-purple" phase, but all of them are worth checking out.

Happy Monday!

Ginger-Who still isn't used to blogger's new dashboard. I do not like.

I Love This Colour, But...

noreply@blogger.com (Pink Ginger) — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 23:53:00 +0000

...It took 7 coats of nail polish to get it to look like this! The offending polish is one that I had high hopes for, Zoya Vegas Freeze. It looks so sparkly and opaque in bottle pictures, I was expecting the same thing in real life. Unfortunately, it just wasn't meant to be. If I had known at the time about Zoya's 5 point intensity scale, I would have seen that Vegas Freeze was close to the bottom (it's since been discontinued, but I think it was a 2).
On average I use 2-3 coats, 4 if the colour is really sheer--but 7 coats that's insane!

In spite of my initial disappointment in the opacity (or lack thereof), I love this colour. It's twinkly, sparkly, and beautiful and it looks amazing when layered over darker colours. Which is what I'll be using it for from now on.
Seven coats! Honestly, who has that kind of time?
Oh wait, I do.

Happy Saturday Ladies.
Ginger-who went to the mailbox to retrieve her latest haul...and realized that the mailbox was frozen shut. Oh the joys of living in Canada during the winter!

Rescue Beauty Lounge Locavore

noreply@blogger.com (Pink Ginger) — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 23:49:00 +0000

I wore this one a while ago, but I've been hesitant about showing the pictures to you. Why, you ask? Because they don't even come close to capturing the sparkly brilliance that is Locavore. I'll admit, I was one of many who balked at the $18 price tag--especially for nail polish. However, when Locavore sold out last year, I was kicking myself for not ever buying it. Thankfully, RBL decided to include it in one of their 'Bring It Back' fan votes, and I was one of the many people who specifically took the day off, so I wouldn't miss the pre-order (drastic, but it worked)

I am so glad I have it now. In spite of its eco-friendly namesake, Locavore is quite luxurious. It's a glitter for grown-ups with pieces of gold, silver, purple, green and blue glitter in a clear base. Don't let the clear base deter you though, I'm wearing just two coats in the photo, so it builds opacity quite nicely.

I hope to post more regularly this year than I did in 2011. At times blogging felt like an obligation rather than a hobby. Slowly but surely, I'm getting my blogging mojo back. I might even do some make up reviews in the future.
Stay tuned!
Have a great day!
Ginger-who has been enjoying 2012 immensely!

Ginger's 12 Manis Of Christmas: Part II

noreply@blogger.com (Pink Ginger) — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 00:05:00 +0000

Happy New Year!

I hope all of you had a wonderful holiday, and I wish you the best in 2012 :)

As promised, part 2 of my 12 Manicures of Christmas!

Day #7: This Ought To Kill The 'Bah, Humbug'

After spending the first couple of days vacillating between "I love the Holidays", and "I hate the Holidays", I decided to wear a bright colour to cheer me up again. Color Club's Untamed Luxury (from the fall 2010 collection of the same name) was turquoise/holo/iridescent glitter perfection.

Day #8: I Want To Wear A Non-"Christmas" Green

Zoya Dree is definitely not a Christmas green. It's a warm olive creme, and it was a dream to wear (2 coats was enough to cover) I love the Smoke and Mirrors collection :)

Day #9: Isn't Wild Orchid A Group?

It was a group. Fergie was a member. They had one hit when I was in high school and then they faded into obscurity forever. Color Club's Wild Orchid, on the other hand, has staying power. It's a medium blue-tinged grey with multi-coloured shimmer. It is so beautiful! It's a fall shade, yet it works just as well in winter.

2 coats

Day #10: More Blue!!!

I was inspired to wear this after watching an episode of Keeping Up With The Kardashians (shut up) One of the sisters (you know...the dark-haired one whose name begins with 'K') was wearing blue nail polish. I decided that I would do the same because apparently, I'm a lemming. I chose OPI's Dating A Royal (I believe this is a spring/summer pick from the Mod Brights collection, but I could be wrong) A royal blue jelly/creme. This one was a hit :)

3 coats

Day #11: I Want To Wear Something Expensive

If you had told me in 2008 that I'd ever spend $18 dollars on nail polish that wasn't OPI, I would have asked you what you were smoking. Fast forward to 2011 and I'm a devoted ReBeL. I don't have every shade (I like to have money for other things) but I did shell out to buy Scrangie--one of my favourite purples of all time. I've already blogged about it, but it really is a beautiful and unique take on purple. I love it and it made me feel like a classy dame :)
2 coats

Day # 12 I'm Done!

On the 12th day I wore NOTHING!!! Well, not nothing. I wore clothes and make up but had naked nails. I figured, after wearing nail polish for 11 days straight, my nails needed a break. For New Year's Eve my nails were completely bare. My first mani of 2012 was RBL Catherine.

Happy Monday!!!
Ginger-who spent New Year's Day with family and friends. What a wonderful way to begin :)

Ginger's 12 Manis Of Christmas: Part I

noreply@blogger.com (Pink Ginger) — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 23:33:00 +0000

Hello All!

I hope you had a wonderful Christmas/Holiday and wish you a prosperous New Year :)

In spite of the lack of nail-related content on this blog, I have been wearing nail polish--and enjoying it all month. Rather than doing 12 separate posts featuring my Christmas manis, I've decided to do two. Part 1 is for the first 6 days, and part 2 is the last 6.

Day #1: Yay! It's Christmas!!!!

I wanted to do something fun and festive for the first day, so I painted 2 coats of China Glaze Sugar Plums (a plummy shimmer with holographic glitter) and painted the tips with 1 coat of China Glaze Twinkle Lights ( a clear base with gold,green,red, and some silver holo glitter) I liked this look a lot.

Day #2: I Hate Christmas!

I think I was really pissed off on day 2 and all I wanted to wear was brown. I have no recollection as to why, but surprisingly, it worked. The brown I chose was 3 coats of OPI Get In the Espresso-Lane! from their Touring America collection (a greenish-brown creme) Oddly enough, I liked this mani a lot.

Day #3: To Heck With Winter! I'm Wearing Blue!

I got kind of bored with seeing so much red and green, so I opted for Revlon Colorstay nail enamel in Blue Slate (a slate blue creme) This was another hit. Everyone else was wearing variations of the traditional holiday mani, and I was rocking blue :) I dare to be different.

...that is until Day #4: I Want My Nails To Look Like Christmas Trees!

Day 4 is my favourite <3 I achieved this beautifully obnoxious manicure by wearing 3 coats of OPI Here Today, Aragon Tomorrow and 1 coat of China Glaze Party Hearty.

Day#5: Why, Yes I Am Trying To Draw Attention To My Hands.
OPI Designer-De-Better, a champagne-gold foil with pink and copper flecks. Blindingly shiny and beautiful. I loved this mani.

Day #6: Nope, I'm Over It...Again.

I just did not want to bother on this day. I had loads of stamping designs and stickers in mind, but between my long holiday hours, early wake up time, and lack of sleep, I had zero interest in making an effort.
Hence, the always classy, ever safe, burgundy creme/jelly; OPI All A-Bordeaux The Sled. To be fair, this is from a Holiday collection, (and one of my favourites) but it is also kind of basic. No worries though, it's still gorgeous and I wore it the longest.

Hopefully, I'll have Part 2 for you tomorrow :)
Have a great evening!
Ginger-who had an awesome Christmas with my amazing family <3

List Of The Week: Songs I Have On Repeat

noreply@blogger.com (Pink Ginger) — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 23:07:00 +0000

1. Constant Surprises-Little Dragon This song is an unexpected treat. I heard it once, became obsessed with finding it and immediately added it to my playlist. I've been listening to it ever since.

2. Come Here Boy-Imogen Heap I love this artist! This song is from waay back in 1998, but it brings back some great memories of my teen years.

3. Pearl's Dream-Bat For Lashes I discovered Bat For Lashes via LastFM. I'm definitely a fan, and this is my favourite song by her.

4. Holly-Sleigh Bells I love the guitar riffs. That is all

5. The Dance-Charlotte Martin This song is amazing. I love Charlotte Martin's voice, as well as her use of drums.

6. Perfection-Oh Land Just a groovy, mellow, song.

7. If I Had A Heart-Fever Ray My brother is obsessed with Breaking Bad. I've only seen one episode, and this song was playing in one really disturbing scene. It's kind of tribal-sounding. I like it a lot.

8. Pyramid Song-Radiohead I love this song forever.

9. Beautiful Love-The Afters Dreamy.

10.Look At Me Now (Chris Brown, Busta Rhymes, 'Lil Wayne)-Cover by @KarminMusic Let me state, for the record that I do not like Chris Brown. I never have. My favourite part of this song features Busta Rhymes; the cadence of his flow is perfect. This is an amazing cover.

This is one of many posts I have scheduled for this evening. I hope you like spam :P

Happy Christmas Eve!
Ginger-who is so excited for tomorrow!

Off Topic:I Am Disappointment In You're Grammar

noreply@blogger.com (Pink Ginger) — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 04:23:00 +0000

I love writing. I've loved writing since I was 3 years old. Sure, I couldn't technically write at the time, but I think everyone appreciated the books of scribbles and drawings I gave them. (They better have--it's hard to write in crayon) In my opinion,the one thing that sucks the fun and creativity out of writing is the strict adherence to grammar and punctuation rules. I'll be the first to admit the rules are there for a reason; I can't place words and punctuation wherever I feel like putting them because the true meaning will be lost. But let's be honest, no one likes a grammar snob. (actually that's not entirely true; other grammar snobs like grammar snobs)

Because this is a hobby beauty blog (and not the great Canadian novel) I'm a little lax when it comes to grammar and syntax. I write how I speak, so as long as I don't make any egregious errors (i.e. I hate spelling mistakes) I'm good. As a means to prove I'm an easy-going "I'm-OK-If-You're-OK" blogger, here's a list of grammar/writing rules, courtesy of speechwriter William Safire:

Remember to never split an infinitive.
A preposition is something never to end a sentence with.
The passive voice should never be used.
Avoid run-on sentences they are hard to read.
Don't use no double negatives.
Use the semicolon properly, always use it where it is appropriate; and never where it isn't.
Reserve the apostrophe for its proper use and omit it when it is not needed
Do not put statements in the negative form.
Verbs have to agree with their subjects.
No sentence fragments.
Proofread carefully to see if you words out.
Avoid commas, that are not necessary.
If you reread your work, you can find a lot on rereading a great deal of repetition can be avoided by rereading and editing.
A writer must not shift your point of view.
Eschew dialect, irregardless.
And don't start a sentence with a conjunction.
Don't overuse exclamation marks!!!
Place pronouns as close as possible, especially in long sentences, as of 10 or more words, to their antecedents.
Hyphenate between sy-llables and avoid un-necessary hyphens.
Write all adverbial forms correct.
Don't use contractions in formal writing.
Writing carefully, dangling participles must be avoided.
It is incumbent on us to avoid archaisms.
If any word is improper at the end of a sentence, a linking verb is.
Steer clear of incorrect forms of verbs that have snuck into the language.
Take the bull by the hand and avoid mixing metaphors.
Avoid trendy locutions that sound flaky.
Never, ever use repetitive redundancies.
Everyone should be careful to use a singular pronoun with singular nouns in writing.
If I've told you once, I've told you a thousand times, resist hyperbole.
Also, avoid awkward or affected alliteration.
Don't string too many prepositional phrases together unless you are walking through the valley of the shadow of death.
Always pick on the correct idiom.
"Avoid overuse of 'quotation"marks.""'
The adverb always follows the verb.
Last but not least, avoid cliches like the plague; They're old hat; seek viable alternatives.

Stick to these rules and you'll be fine ;)

Have an Awesome Day!

Ginger-who is exceedingly glad that Christmas is almost over!

Avon Violetta Sparkle

noreply@blogger.com (Pink Ginger) — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 01:42:00 +0000

I'm still miffed that I missed out on Golden Twilight, so I made sure I got my hands on both of Avon's 2011 Holiday lacquers before they were snapped up. Man, am I glad I made that decision! Violetta Sparkle embodies everything I love about nail polish; it's beautiful, it's sparkly, and it's vampy. I adore it!

It's a lovely violet with pink and gold glass flecks--a great shade for the holidays. At first glance it reminded me a bit of OPI DS Mystery, but it's lighter and more discernibly purple.

All of my photos are using the dreaded 'three-finger-method' because I have an ugly scab directly underneath the cuticle on my index finger, and I thought I'd spare you the grossness of seeing it enlarged.

indoors no flash 2 coats

with flash

I love holiday-themed nail polish! While I haven't purchased from every collection, I do love the look of a festive manicure--in any colour. Violetta Sparkle is available for purchase through Avon's website, or through your friendly neighbourhood Avon representative.

Happy Shopping!

Ginger-I'm going to employ the K.I.S.S. method when it comes to Christmas preparations. Because of all the stress I ended up with the flu on Christmas Day last year. There will not be a repeat.

Blue Wednesday

noreply@blogger.com (Pink Ginger) — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 20:56:00 +0000

I know, it's supposed to be Pink Wednesday but I haven't worn pink nail polish in 2 weeks so this is what you're getting instead. Yay Blue!

Today's blue is part of the ubiquitous and inexpensive Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear line. Ocean View is cerulean blue shimmer/frost. This photo makes it look kind of metallic, but it isn't. It's frosty enough to still be considered a frost, but it has enough shimmer to make it tolerable for me. I don't like frosts ~~at all~~ much, and I rarely every buy them, but this is pretty. Plus, it was inexpensive ($2.99 CAN). The formula was standard; not great, but not horrible. All in all, a good buy.

3 coats indoors, no flash (excuse my dry hands)

I've been wearing a lot of blue, grey, and green nail polish lately--with the occasional purple or red--just to mix things up. I guess I'm becoming a bit more 'safe' in my colour choices these days. Ugh. That needs to change.

Happy Wednesday!

Ginger-I'm wearing a bright pink tomorrow to get back to my rebellious "Colour-seasons-be-damned!" ways.

Product Review:Misikko Hana Professional Flat Iron

noreply@blogger.com (Pink Ginger) — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 00:05:00 +0000

I recently received a HANA Professional Flat Iron to review, and I must say I'm impressed. This is the second time I've tested one of their products (read my review of their Best Blow Dryer) and I haven't had any problems yet.

From their website: "Dedicated to high ceramic content and top of the line components, Hana's pursuit of high tech styling without hype led to the Hana Professional Flat Iron. Advanced-Fusion Molding delivers glass-smooth ceramic-tourmaline plates while accelerated negative ion output repairs hair follicles, sealing in natural oils for a conditioned, sleek, salon shine that lasts all day.
With professional features like damp-to-dry styling, floating plates that self-adjust to different textures, and adjustable temperature, the Hana Professional Hair Straightener is engineered to deliver luxury at a down to earth price".

The Hana Professional Flat Iron (in commemorative tin box) with extras

the Hana Professional Flat Iron with silicone mat

Some of the features include:

Advanced Tourmaline Ceramic Plates for Acceleration and Maximum Frizz-Free, Conditioning Shine
Ceramic is naturally hygienic, protects color and retards fading
Floating 1" plates auto-adjust to glide over any hair texture
Curved Plate Edges For Versatile Styling-Curl,Flip, or Straighten!
Adjustable Temperature Dial-5 Settings from 140 degrees to 450 degrees F for all hair types
Flash Heats in Seconds with instant compensation for heat loss
Ergonomic Handle Design for No-Slip Grip
Smooth Grooves Keep Hair Separate and Snag-Free
Tangle-Free Salon Quality Cord swivels 360 degrees; Convenient Hanging Loop
Energy Efficient at 38 watts
Independent On/Off
Includes Luxe Heat Proof Storage Pouch, Heat-Proof Silicone Mat, and Special Edition Tin Case
2 Year Warranty

I typically use a flat iron after washing and drying my hair. My hair is naturally curly but permed straight. If I allow it to air-dry it becomes frizzy. Blow-drying it decreases the frizz significantly, but flat-ironing it knocks it out completely. I made sure my hair was nice and frizzy for this demo. The first thing I noticed while using the Hana Professional Straightener is how quickly it reached full heat--it seemed like a few seconds. Another selling point is how smoothly it glided across my hair. I'm used to a lot of tugging while straightening my hair and I was pleasantly surprised because I didn't have any of that. I also liked the texture of my hair after straightening. There was no frizz to speak of and my hair was silky and shiny.

Before straightening

After Straightening

Quite a difference!

I don't have anything negative to say about this flat-iron. It was lightweight and easy to use, it worked well, and it straightened my hair perfectly. The only issue I have with this flat iron is the cost; Regular price $204.99. I could see that being a problem for someone who doesn't have $200 extra dollars lying around. Fortunately, the Hana Professional is on sale for a reasonable $119.98--on the other hand, if you don't mind splurging on a quality product, I highly recommend the Hana Professional Flat Iron.

It is available to purchase here along with some great products by CHI.

Happy Tuesday!

Ginger-Who is so done with Christmas shopping! Now I want presents for me.

OPI French Quarter For Your Thoughts and A Special Guest Swatch

noreply@blogger.com (Pink Ginger) — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 19:28:00 +0000

Happy Saturday!

I thought I'd go through my backlog of swatches and find one of my favourite colours from this fall. Yes, I know it's grey, and grey is everywhere, but this is one of the few true greys I've seen. Don't get me wrong, I love a good purple-grey, green-grey, blue-grey, or taupe grey, but I'm glad to see a straight-up grey creme. Nice one OPI!

2 coats indoors no flash

My guest swatch is courtesy of my darling niece, Nuni. A few weeks ago we were all hanging out in the kitchen when she said, "Look at my nail polish!" When I told her it was pretty she asked me to take a picture of her manicure, she even came up with her own hand pose! My niece is beyond adorable <3

A lovely unidentified silvery shimmer

Well, that's all folks!

I hope you have a great Saturday, and I will see you again soon.

Hugs,

Ginger-who is no longer a fan of Top Model or X Factor.

List Of The Week:Fix Up,Look Sharp

noreply@blogger.com (Pink Ginger) — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 10:57:00 +0000

I haven't done one of these in a while, so, in the spirit of Holiday partying, a playlist dedicated to making yourself look nice and the things you use to do it. If you hate rap, you might want to give this one a miss. Apparently, rappers are notoriously obsessed with how they look :P

Have an awesome day!
Ginger-who is off to work--and loves it!

1. Pro Nails-Kid Sister

2. Lipgloss-Lil' Mama

3. Whip My Hair-Willow Smith

4. Fancy-Drake feat. Swizz Beatz and T.I.

5. Freakum Dress-Beyonce

6. Jimmy Choo-Shyne feat. Ashanti

7. Louboutins-Jennifer Lopez

8. Labels or Love-Fergie

9. So Fresh,So Clean-Outkast

10.Fix Up, Look Sharp-Dizzee Rascal

Cheap Thrills

noreply@blogger.com (Pink Ginger) — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 21:07:00 +0000

...And by "cheap" I mean inexpensive, not low quality. (I don't 'do' low quality) Anyway, I thought I'd do something a little different and post my list of great beauty products you can buy for very little cash. Not everyone can afford (or wants) to buy high-end brands, but I highly recommend the occasional splurge to treat yo' self.
OK, enough babble, On with the list!

1.Wet 'N' Wild Color Icon Eye Shadow (between $3.99-$4.99)- I love these! Whether you purchase the Trios, the Pallettes or the Singles, the product is excellent quality for the price.

2. Eos Lip Balm ($3.99-$6.99)-I am a lip balm/lip gloss hoarder. The first time I laid eyes on the adorable egg-shaped packaging, I knew I had to have one. Thankfully, the quality is great as well.

3. Maybelline Great Lash ($5.49+)-An old beloved classic. Great Lash is still one of the best mascaras available--and one of the least expensive.

4.Cetaphil Cleanser ($9.49+)-My skin is both dry and sensitive and I am extra-careful about what I put on my face (I'm so prone to allergic reactions). Cetaphil is gentle enough to use every day and perfect for my dry skin.

5.Bath and Body Works Liplicious Lip Gloss ($7.50)-They smell good, they 'taste' good, and they make
your lips shine without that goopy, sticky, icky feeling and there are a lot of flavours to choose from.

6. Olay Vanilla Indulgence Ultra Moisture Body Wash ($7.99+) I love vanilla! This body wash is moisturizing and it smells delicious. It's the only thing I buy now.

That's my list so far, but I'm always adding more! What are your drugstore picks?

Ginger-who is a huge fan of Parks and Rec. Hence the link :P

C-C-Courage

noreply@blogger.com (Pink Ginger) — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 22:40:00 +0000

I used to be really shy. Like, painfully shy. I was constantly terrified of saying and doing the wrong thing, so I wouldn't say or do anything. I tried my hardest to be as agreeable and diplomatic as possible because I didn't want anyone to hate me. That changed when I overheard two acquaintances talking about me. They were saying that I was too nice and all of my attempts at amiability and politeness came across as fake. I decided abandon my people-pleasing ways because, they we're right; it was fake. I was just too intimidated to notice. It took a lot of courage for me to be my true self and it was one of the most rewarding decisions I've ever made.

A few months later I heard one of them saying, "I don't know what happened to her, she used to be so nice. Now she's so outspoken and assertive, you never know what she's going to say!"

Well. I guess you can't please everyone.

So don't ever feel pressured to try.

In honour of me rediscovering my long-dormant courageous side, I'm wearing a re-release of an old China Glaze classic from the Wizard Of Ooh Ahz collection.

From what I understand the old version of C-C-Courage is a sheer frost with silver glitter. The re-tread is more of a shimmer/frost hybrid. (Eyes Like Sapphires has a similar look and texture) It's really beautiful though. Plus, it's purple. You cannot go wrong with purple.

2 coats,indoors no flash, lightbox

Thank you for allowing me to share with you (like you had a choice :P)

I hope you have a great week :)

Ginger-who has so much to do...and so little time!

China Glaze Tinsel Town

noreply@blogger.com (Pink Ginger) — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 22:56:00 +0000

I hate tinsel. It's probably my least favourite Christmas decoration because it's so messy. Every tree I've decorated with tinsel always looks as though it was attacked by a mob of angry fairies. Not to mention the amount of mess it causes--I clearly remember finding bits of tinsel well into February. I prefer tinsel-free trees, thank you. I'll just settle for wearing blingy tinsel polish on my nails

Tinsel Town is a bit of a deviation from the norm; most holiday-themed silver polishes are light, and more blue-toned. This is a black/charcoal grey jelly with multi-sized silver glitter. It's definitely an oddball pick for the season but I like it a lot. The formula is pretty stellar too, this is just 2 coats and I wore it for 4 straight days with no chipping or tip-wear.

indoors,no flash, in lightbox

I also purchased Blue Years Eve and Twinkle Lights from this collection, but I'm apprehensive about buying the reds because I have TOO MANY!

I'll probably be getting them anyway :P

Happy Saturday!

Ginger-who is reorganizing her nail polish by colour instead of brand. Fun!

A Good Man Is Hard To Find:A Spam-Story Featuring BB Couture For Men

noreply@blogger.com (Pink Ginger) — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 22:42:00 +0000

When you're a single girl, finding a good man can seem like mission impossible.

In met a guy that I thought was nice and relaxed. As it turns out, he was nice and relaxed...because HE NEVER DID ANYTHING! In other words, he was a Lazy Bum.

My friend is currently dating a man who is handsome, but Egotistical

...and really Selfish. (No thanks)

I enjoy pampering myself on occasion, but I know a guy who puts the "I" in Indulgent. (Seriously, he spends more time primping than I do!)

Sometimes you meet someone who fills you with Desire. (Mostly fueled by copious amounts of alcohol consumed during "Ladies Night" in da club)

Don't fall for it, it's a trap. I'm not saying that physical attraction isn't important, but there are more pressing things to consider. For example, if the thought of you spending time with people other than him makes him Enraged,

run, don't walk to the nearest exit. And don't look back.

Another deal-breaker is Jealousy.

I can't and I won't deal with it. If you don't trust me, you shouldn't be with me.
People have been pressuring me to "settle-down" for years. I have no problem with being married, but it's the "settle" part that bugs me. I'd rather be happy all by myself, than miserable and coupled.
So if you happen to be single, don't dwell on not having a man (or woman). Be content where you are, because when you think about it, being single is fun!

The End

Featuring:
BB Couture For Men Sinfully Polished Collection
Lazy Bum-Rosy Brown with clear and black glitter particles
Egotistical-Royal Purple shimmer
Selfish-Chestnut Brown with gold shimmer and red glitter
Indulgent-Dusty Red-Violet Shimmer
Desire-Brick Red with gold shimmer and red glitter
Enraged-Blue metallic with violet and green shimmer
Jealousy-Purple-Taupe with pink shimmer and iridescent glitter (Favourite!)

Happy Monday!

Ginger-who only has a few more Christmas gifts to buy...AND I'M DONE! Thank God I started early :)

Seven Deadly Sins Week: Greed

noreply@blogger.com (Pink Ginger) — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 23:54:00 +0000

Greed: grēd: the wanting of more than one's share; extreme or excessive desire.

Friedrich Engels was quoted as saying, "From the first day to this, sheer greed was the driving spirit of civilization."

Gordon Gekko said that "Greed is good."

OK, so the second guy wasn't a real person, but his sentiments are sadly still believed by some. One of the best examples I can think of is the show Extreme Couponing. My friends love it, but I have a hard time watching people stockpiling food, toiletries, and other household items--just because they had a coupon. I know it's smart shopping, it's economically frugal, and some of the people give a lot of what they buy to charity, but seriously, who needs 40 bottles of shampoo?

Greed is not good. If you don't believe me, just ask anyone who's lost a job because of the economic downturn. ( FYI-Greed is to blame for this mess.)

I never would have pegged this genteel pink-mauve to represent Greed. It's almost delicate. It's the type of colour you wear to church, or a tea party, or a wedding. I'm about to sound like a broken record, but the formula was perfect. 2 coats cover the nail nicely.

Pardon the tipwear, this was on my nails for a few days :P

So what do you think of Greed? What do you think of this series in general? Isn't this the longest week ever?