tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-64680249471597947802020-01-09T17:59:11.970+08:00Did My NailsA nail polish blog featuring swatches, nail art, and tutorials.Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02848036443012972228noreply@blogger.comBlogger504125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6468024947159794780.post-65361896036307964692015-05-27T03:00:00.000+08:002015-05-27T03:00:03.712+08:00Amethyst Geode (or something kinda similar maybe)Thanks so much to everyone who visited and entered the Skinfood Giveaway, and congratulations to the winner, Samantha T! Sorry I've been a little out of commission the past week-and-change. Ever have one of those <s>weeks</s> YEARS? Details follow, for anyone interested--but first, some sponged nail art!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7nPwFPTCdpE/VWS3ccRuZOI/AAAAAAAAELM/hh0eRdMVhZw/s1600/sponged-nail-art-amethyst-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="sponged nail art" border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7nPwFPTCdpE/VWS3ccRuZOI/AAAAAAAAELM/hh0eRdMVhZw/s640/sponged-nail-art-amethyst-1.jpg" title="sponged nail art" width="556" /></a></div><br />You know how, in the movies, the well-meaning science guy will kind of chuckle at something and then laugh a little and then eight seconds later he's cackling like a maniac and throwing the switch? That was pretty much me with this manicure. I started off wearing <a href="http://www.didmynails.com/2015/05/orly-rock-solid.html" target="_blank">Orly Rock Solid</a> and decided to spend more time with it. There were vague notions of something semi-galaxy-like and some unrefined curiosity about neutrals vs. complimentary colours... I started sponging, the colours all started to blend and build, and the next thing I knew it was pitchforks and torches and villagers fleeing in terror.<br /><br />That's not to say I don't like it, though, because I genuinely do! It reminds me of modern art. Specifically it reminds me of those paintings of splotches and slapdashical swirls and you're all, "Please, I could have done that," and the teacher-slash-smartypants says, maybe so, but the point is that you didn't and she did? Well now I also did a modern art, and it looks like far away planets and trippy, swirly clouds, and maybe even a chunk of amethyst geode.*<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BrqKqF37ZnQ/VWS48zA8aiI/AAAAAAAAELY/0hunSFmpIIM/s1600/sponged-nail-art-amethyst-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="sponged nail art" border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BrqKqF37ZnQ/VWS48zA8aiI/AAAAAAAAELY/0hunSFmpIIM/s640/sponged-nail-art-amethyst-2.jpg" title="sponged nail art" width="556" /></a></div><br />I didn't remember to note every polish I used in sponging, but the main culprits are Wet n Wild Disturbia/Audace, <a href="http://www.didmynails.com/2014/07/barielle-lilac-jelly-bean.html" target="_blank">Barielle Lilac Jelly Bean</a>, OPI San Tan-tonio, and Sinful Colors Unicorn (yellow). Also white.<br /><br />* No modern artists should feel slighted by the writing of this post. I really do like those splotches and swirls. I gaze at them like they're static clouds to interpret, and I wonder at each moment of inspiration that chose to add this splash of bright red here or make that cluster of swirling lines look so much like a bird in flight. Then I see that other thing that looks like a naked dude and a snicker a little bit, and then I stop and wonder what actual grown-ups are doing tonight.<br /><br /><br />And now for those promised/threatened details! Okay. For the last ten days, I have been sick as hell, but that's really just the tip of the ridiculousness iceberg. Setting aside the craziness and the drama that spent this last year trying to pass itself off as my actual life... As I mentioned in the last post, Husband and I finally found ourselves in the same country at the same time for long enough to go enjoy an amazing weekend at Hong Kong Disneyland. I could feel myself starting to come down with something as we headed home on Sunday, but the minute we walk in and sat down, we find out we have about a month to find and move into a new apartment. Fly into action, contact agents, start seeing flats all over the island and beyond, <i>so much walking</i>... actually find an incredible place! YES! Slight panic over the rush to get moved, but it's exciting, right? Oh wait, that part where I am <i>sick as a dog</i>. Lose days and days to that phlegmatic abyss...but I'm finally feeling MUCH better and back on task! Which is good, because let's give a warm welcome to the fabulous news that Husband has to go out of town again...and he can't get back until <i>after</i> moving day.<br /><br />So that's where I've been this past week or so. If my posts lag a little over the next few weeks, you can find me sitting in the middle of my living room floor, riding out a full-blown panic attack in a fort made of sofa cushions.Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02848036443012972228noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6468024947159794780.post-83818081915741842152015-05-18T03:30:00.000+08:002015-05-18T03:30:00.409+08:00Pink Roses on GreeneryJust one day left to enter the <a href="http://www.didmynails.com/2015/05/blogversary-giveaway.html" target="_blank">Threeversary Giveaway</a>! <br /><br />Also, whoops! This post was totally supposed to be up hours ago (not that my 'meant to' schedule matters to anyone but me... ;p), but the day just went INSANE. After a fantastic weekend with Husband at Hong Kong Disneyland, I was all set to have a relaxing evening full of post prepping and movie watching, when an incoming text sent us into a flurry of activity that, in the space of maybe two minutes, swallowed pretty much the entirety of my next few weeks in one big gulp. Because what I definitely needed was a new challenge and a headache while I'm still getting back into the swing of posting again, right? Whatever. Anyway, <i>don't be shocked, but I made some flowers!</i><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9yWxuQ57e_A/VVjjxQnQWNI/AAAAAAAAEKw/-uvnrXO-0J0/s1600/floral-nail-art-pink-roses-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="nail art flowers" border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9yWxuQ57e_A/VVjjxQnQWNI/AAAAAAAAEKw/-uvnrXO-0J0/s640/floral-nail-art-pink-roses-1.jpg" title="floral nail art" width="640" /></a></div><br />The base for these is Skinfood BL002, Melon Milk, which is one of the polishes in the giveaway! Although why it's BL and not GR I have no idea because blue it is not. It's a bright, electric honeydew green that's definitely unique among my stash. The formula was pretty much what you'd expect from such a bright, lemony shade, so yeah, there was a little streaking and pulling on the first coat, but it flowed easily and wasn't too thick or too thin. Day-wear adorable in two coats, camera-ready in three. Only I skipped the swatch pics and went straight for the nail art.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8C0NvE9ikks/VVjmF1iBsmI/AAAAAAAAEK4/gk4Ih_zeBAA/s1600/floral-nail-art-pink-roses-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="floral nail art" border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8C0NvE9ikks/VVjmF1iBsmI/AAAAAAAAEK4/gk4Ih_zeBAA/s640/floral-nail-art-pink-roses-2.jpg" title="nail art flowers" width="548" /></a></div><br />The flowers are acrylic paints, gone swirly-like in an effort to show some highlights and shadows, but before I did those I was hoping to suggest a kinda textured, greenery-like background, so I hit Melon Milk with some saran wrap additions of <a href="http://www.didmynails.com/2013/03/orly-green-apple.html" target="_blank">Orly Green Apple</a>, Essie Pretty Edgy, and Essie Mojito Madness. And then I ran out of the apartment with only one hand top coated because I totally lost track of the time and was running late for my dinner date with Mabel--sorry again, Mabel! We had soft shell crab rolls and tonkatsu and Kirin beer, and it was all kinds of delicious.<br /><br />So that's what my last few days have been like. Hope y'all are having a good weekend -- last chance to enter that <a href="http://www.didmynails.com/2015/05/blogversary-giveaway.html" target="_blank">giveaway</a> before it's done!Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02848036443012972228noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6468024947159794780.post-12996960469676041972015-05-15T04:00:00.000+08:002015-05-15T05:35:46.590+08:00One-Stroke Flowers in GreyJust a few days left in the <a href="http://www.didmynails.com/2015/05/blogversary-giveaway.html" target="_blank">Threeversary Giveaway</a>! In the meantime here's a manicure from, oh...almost a year ago? This was right before I took off for my scheduled summer trip to the US that ended up being three months long; then the hiatus hit, and then my nails kept breaking, and there was that Super Bowl commercial with the dog in the rain, but I finally dusted off my pics of these one-stroke flower nails.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dhm708gdPYI/VVTzCXKdM0I/AAAAAAAAEKQ/vJPFDBWuwLE/s1600/nail-art-one-stroke-flowers_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="one-stroke flower nail art" border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dhm708gdPYI/VVTzCXKdM0I/AAAAAAAAEKQ/vJPFDBWuwLE/s640/nail-art-one-stroke-flowers_1.jpg" title="one-stroke flower nail art" width="542" /></a></div><br />Following hard on the heels of my <a href="http://www.didmynails.com/2014/07/twinsie-tuesday-one-stroke-flowers.html" target="_blank">first one-stroke flowers</a> on Twinsie Tuesday, I hit up YouTube for another tutorial and came across <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TlkN_eqMnKA" target="_blank">this design</a> by Cutenails. Of course, being nowhere near as steady-handed or practiced at this technique, looking at her tutorial again gives me the screaming insecurities, and I think I'd have done better to stick to one flower per nail or cut out the swooshes and dots. Whatever, though, one-stroke is fun! I'll probably do it again soon. Or soon-<i>ish</i>, depending on how long my nails take to grow a bit...<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XsGInjg54Yg/VVT2bZ5IQ_I/AAAAAAAAEKc/_5FHmd0hu6Y/s1600/nail-art-one-stroke-flowers_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="one-stroke flower nail art" border="0" height="556" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XsGInjg54Yg/VVT2bZ5IQ_I/AAAAAAAAEKc/_5FHmd0hu6Y/s640/nail-art-one-stroke-flowers_2.jpg" title="one-stroke flower nail art" width="640" /></a></div><br />The base polish for these is Color Club Silver Lake, a fantastic, pale grey shade that I totally need to pull out again. Its formula didn't exactly wow me, though. The first coat was kinda chalky and streaky, but the second coat was better and would probably be well sufficient for people with steadier hands than mine. I needed a 3rd coat to even things out...which I didn't apply very evenly, so it got kinda thick, but that last part's on me.<br /><br />BTW, have I mentioned the <a href="http://www.didmynails.com/2015/05/blogversary-giveaway.html" target="_blank">Threeversary Giveaway</a>?Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02848036443012972228noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6468024947159794780.post-24895892410800418762015-05-13T09:30:00.000+08:002015-05-13T09:43:14.379+08:00Orly Rock SolidSo that middle nail broke again because of course it did. My own fault, really, for allowing myself to decide that, yes, I did kinda like the new nail shape after all, and the length looked pretty good with it too. Because from the moment that thought was loose in my brain, the clock was ticking. Sure enough, before the sun had started to set I was snarling obscenities and cursing my traitorous brain for entertaining such a poisonous notion. I don't know what it is, but "happy with my nails" is a kiss of death. It's like when I travel, and the question isn't whether I'll break a nail but when the first one will go. And it's not like I'm using my nails to pry things open or anything; I break them doing super-coordinated stuff like turning around too quickly and jamming my hand into a wall, nails-first.<br /><br />Anyway! I have a bunch of spring and summer brights to wear, but with my new shorties I wanted to wear something just a little bit darker. I was also thinking about a little sparkle, to cheer me up, so I dove into the Big Box o' Untrieds and came out with a polish whose turn was long overdue, Orly Rock Solid.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-V-vBQik3PSE/VVKf2Fh3DWI/AAAAAAAAEJw/B95uQEyaOtc/s1600/orly-rock-solid-swatch_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Orly Rock Solid swatch" border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-V-vBQik3PSE/VVKf2Fh3DWI/AAAAAAAAEJw/B95uQEyaOtc/s640/orly-rock-solid-swatch_1.jpg" title="Orly Rock Solid swatch" width="576" /></a></div><br />Turned out Orly Rock Solid was a fun polish and just right for my mood. From the 2011 Mineral FX Collection, it's nicely named, with a shimmering, granite-like finish, and the little dots of holographic glitter give it a gorgeous flare without overpowering the grey.<br /><br />The formula was good, just what I expected from an Orly foil/shimmer finish. A little thin on the first coat, which wasn't any cause for concern because I knew it'd build (I gave it a total of three, which is my usual). Rock Solid does dry to a slightly gritty texture which isn't bothersome, but a nice coat of SV smoothed things out and gave the bits of glitter and (I think) glass fleck a little extra shine.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bJO6x2uCNhM/VVKjq77vm5I/AAAAAAAAEJ8/KPSi36TOqz8/s1600/orly-rock-solid-swatch_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Orly Rock Solid swatch" border="0" height="576" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bJO6x2uCNhM/VVKjq77vm5I/AAAAAAAAEJ8/KPSi36TOqz8/s640/orly-rock-solid-swatch_2.jpg" title="Orly Rock Solid swatch" width="640" /></a></div><br />I definitely picked the right polish for my mood after that break, and honestly, now that my nails are all filed again and re-shaped, they're actually kinda...<br /><br />No! No, I can't risk even <i>thinking</i> it, much less typing it out. Change of topic, change of topic, um... Hey, how about that <a href="http://www.didmynails.com/2015/05/blogversary-giveaway.html" target="_blank">giveaway</a>!Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02848036443012972228noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6468024947159794780.post-27779114622625595662015-05-11T01:30:00.000+08:002015-05-11T01:30:00.773+08:00Saran & Flower CompositeAnd the milestones keep on coming! This is the 500th post at Did My Nails, and just like the three-year mark a few days back, I can hardly believe it. I'd have guessed maybe 200? 250? But the numbers don't lie, so <i>five hundred</i> it is! <br /><br />I wanted to do something fun to mark the occasion, but I'm already mid-<a href="http://www.didmynails.com/2015/05/blogversary-giveaway.html" target="_blank">giveaway</a> (adorable Skinfood swag in pastel brights and yes, it's international). Then I realized it's been forty billion years or so since I did a new layout for DMN, so... new layout for DMN! And to go with, a composite manicure in corresponding colours..<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pH5aygW0Rts/VU-DkTeAVVI/AAAAAAAAEJE/xPKZMFIsSW8/s1600/saran-flower-nail-art-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="saran wrap composite manicure" border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pH5aygW0Rts/VU-DkTeAVVI/AAAAAAAAEJE/xPKZMFIsSW8/s640/saran-flower-nail-art-1.jpg" title="saran wrap composite manicure" width="578" /></a></div><br />With extra time for a do-over I'd have gone with black on that index nail, but I've been working like crazy over the past few days, both in graphics and coding for the new website digs as well as in Office, helping fine-tooth-comb a contract that represents just an obscene amount of planning and negotiating and late-night calls and herding cats. Plus I had to play boatloads of Disney Tsum Tsum. I mean, a girl's gotta have her priorities.<br /><br />So the white is Sinful Colors Snow Me White, which I think I have about 4 bottles of now (I keep picking it up when I'm in the States because it's so cheap). The middle finger is a base of Zoya Dove, with saran wrap daubs of the white, China Glaze Immortal, Wet n Wild Ebony Hates Chris, and more Zoya Dove. I got it really swirled and layered this time by just going to town on it, one colour after another, and I love how textured and detailed it looks! <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--ZXhprY7F_c/VU-GI_5zTMI/AAAAAAAAEJQ/sX3QTd3ytbM/s1600/saran-flower-nail-art-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="saran wrap composite manicure" border="0" height="554" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--ZXhprY7F_c/VU-GI_5zTMI/AAAAAAAAEJQ/sX3QTd3ytbM/s640/saran-flower-nail-art-2.jpg" title="saran wrap composite manicure" width="640" /></a></div><br />The acrylic paint flowers are sitting on top of Sation Shock Me Twice Pink, a fantastic, pink neon with an electric shimmer. That polish is, in turn, sitting on top of a coat of OPI Did You Ear About Van Gogh? to help it build. I tried it over white first, but there were streaks and sadness. The pale beige, which is very near my own skin colour, was a better foundation for it.<br /><br />I've been sporting these nails for a couple of days now, wearing a lot of black and grey, and the splash of hot pink really pops! And hey, speaking of graceful segues? Don't forget to enter that <a href="http://www.didmynails.com/2015/05/blogversary-giveaway.html" target="_blank">giveaway</a>!<br /><br />(Now to sit back and wait to find out what part of my template I've managed to fry completely...)Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02848036443012972228noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6468024947159794780.post-90713975542080512712015-05-06T22:30:00.000+08:002015-05-06T22:30:01.439+08:00China Glaze Lotus BeginI had no idea how out of it I'd really been until I saw this pretty, new polish, assumed it was from this year's spring or summer collection, and then found out it was released an entire year ago. Whatever, though, it's brand new to me--and what's more, it's a purple that I couldn't resist! Most of the purples I wear are either because they're my grandmother's favourites or because <a href="http://www.amandalandish.com/" target="_blank">Amanda</a> dared me to, but this sweet shade literally made me do that dramatic little gasp you do when you see something and just gotta, gotta have it. All kinds of squishy love for China Glaze Lotus Begin.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Lj4uWGtxhi8/VUocwnOMGPI/AAAAAAAAEDI/HpABFYAGgxE/s1600/china-glaze-lotus-begin-swatch-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="China Glaze Lotus Begin swatch" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Lj4uWGtxhi8/VUocwnOMGPI/AAAAAAAAEDI/HpABFYAGgxE/s1600/china-glaze-lotus-begin-swatch-1.jpg" height="640" title="China Glaze Lotus Begin swatch" width="616" /></a></div><br />From the Spring 2014 City Flourish Collection, China Glaze Lotus Begin is a pale purple that rides the line between pastel and pop. As I described it to <a href="http://rachttlg.com/" target="_blank">Rach</a> a couple hours ago (because I enjoy being a polish enabler): pastel soft, hint of grey, teeniest smidge of cornflower, and yet it's still cheerfully bright. It's magic!<br /><br />The formula was slightly less magical. Not problematic, just not quite China Glaze's usual standard. The first coat was a little patchy, and there was some light pulling on the 2nd. Let it all dry, added third coat, and the coverage was great. Generous top coat definitely helped it level a little better too.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eq9K1JBNgYc/VUoij6BzzeI/AAAAAAAAEDY/TSw5SGm1Gjw/s1600/china-glaze-lotus-begin-swatch-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="China Glaze Lotus Begin swatch" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eq9K1JBNgYc/VUoij6BzzeI/AAAAAAAAEDY/TSw5SGm1Gjw/s1600/china-glaze-lotus-begin-swatch-2.jpg" height="570" title="China Glaze Lotus Begin swatch" width="640" /></a></div><br />I happen to have a very high-arching c-curve to my pinky nail, and if a polish has any issues at all with leveling that's where I'll see it first. And it doesn't take much--a lot of otherwise lovely polishes just can't make that sharp turn at the drop-off. Lotus Begin did leave behind a bump here or there, but especially with top coating it's nothing noticeable at a normal viewing distance. And it's certainly nothing that'll stop me swooning over this incredible colour. Or painting flowers all over its face to wear again tomorrow. It really is a perfect shade for spring and summer sun!<br /><br />Psst... Don't forget to enter the <a href="http://www.didmynails.com/2015/05/blogversary-giveaway.html" target="_blank">Thirdversary Giveaway</a>!Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02848036443012972228noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6468024947159794780.post-5382843629406149152015-05-04T21:00:00.000+08:002015-05-04T21:00:05.052+08:00Even More Cherry Blossom Nail ArtBeside the Skinfood polish <a href="http://www.didmynails.com/2015/05/blogversary-giveaway.html" target="_blank">giveaway</a> (which all the cool kids are totally entering and stuff!), I also celebrated DMN's thirdversary by flashing back to <a href="http://www.didmynails.com/2012/05/cherry-blossom-nails.html" target="_blank">my first ever post</a>, which basically went, "No idea what doing yet, me have cherry blossom nail art, which button push make blog go now?" Augh, I was such a bundle of nerves! I actually have some of those jitters again, just coming back after such a long, weird time away. I really wanted to do something new and awesome for my first manicure back, but it just felt kinda right, going back to the beginning.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-clSPQHMhXe0/VUdWXrocwbI/AAAAAAAAD_0/FfQNVExvKB4/s1600/cherry-blossom-nail-art-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="cherry blossom nail art" border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-clSPQHMhXe0/VUdWXrocwbI/AAAAAAAAD_0/FfQNVExvKB4/s640/cherry-blossom-nail-art-1.jpg" title="cherry blossom nail art" width="616" /></a></div><br />I've done a kablillion sakura manicures in a bunch of different ways in the last three years, but since I was doing a real revisit I wanted to stick close to the same style as then. The base is, once again, China Glaze For Audrey. I did put the China Glaze Fairy Dust glitter under the flowers this time, which I did with the same Orly black striper, my same old dotting tools, and the same Revlon Colorstay Passionate Pink. I had to use a different white this time--Sinful Colors Snow Me White, which I also mixed with the Passionate Pink to add some little light pink bits.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6GqkQcpQWAo/VUdZWFiOWdI/AAAAAAAAEAA/03ngoTxCQFw/s1600/cherry%2Bblossom-nail-art-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="cherry blossom nail art" border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6GqkQcpQWAo/VUdZWFiOWdI/AAAAAAAAEAA/03ngoTxCQFw/s640/cherry%2Bblossom-nail-art-2.jpg" title="cherry blossom nail art" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />These nails always make me so happy! Of course it helps that For Audrey is my favourite fave of all time. Also I think Fairy Dust might literally be particulate magic.<br /><br />I'm still getting used to the new nail shape. I miss my nice, squared nail tips, but a catastrophic break of pain-inducing proportions necessitated the change (it also necessitated some truly vehement swearing and a lot of very dramatic shaking my fists at the sky). I'm seeing a lot more rounded tips again, though, so who knows--maybe these'll grow on me?Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02848036443012972228noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6468024947159794780.post-83800436945595722122015-05-02T21:30:00.000+08:002015-05-05T03:08:24.799+08:00Blogversary GiveawayDun Dun DUN... I'm baaaaack!<br /><br />Six months? Seriously, <i>six whole months?!</i> Wow. One hand, the time totally raced. Other hand, an eternity. Real life went so ridiculously bad, and I will never be able to repay my family and friends for all the love and support. And now? Life is good again! Super, super good!<br /><br />For a while there I was going whole weeks without thinking or caring about the state of my nails, but it's time to kick off this blog again! Because my nails are <i>finally</i> growing back (stress, packing, unpacking, travel, more stress, even more unpacking...), the bug has bitten me again, and today marks three years since I first started Did My Nails. So, to celebrate this threeversary and the end of my hiatus, I'm throwin' a giveaway!<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AyCdFZG0wcs/VUS-A59RcwI/AAAAAAAAD-4/yajUJ2V5FpQ/s1600/giveaway-didmynails.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AyCdFZG0wcs/VUS-A59RcwI/AAAAAAAAD-4/yajUJ2V5FpQ/s1600/giveaway-didmynails.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />I wanted the prize to be something fun, maybe something most readers/followers couldn't buy at home, which led me to these pretty polishes by Korean cosmetics brand Skinfood. I've been ubercrushing on those little 8ml milk bottles for years, and the shades are so on right now, like a big tray of sweet, colourful macarons! I couldn't resist adding a couple of the (10ml) Vita shades too, including one of my all-time faves, BL514, and yes, the names are exactly that descriptive.<br /><br />So! Two 10ml. cremes, seven 8ml. milk cutie pies, and because why not, a matte/satin black and white glitter. This giveaway is absolutely open internationally (but please remember that I have no power over your country's mail sorters and carriers). I originally planned to be all slick with entries for Pinterest and Twitter and blah blah blah, but I decided to keep this one nice and simple. I need your first name and email address because I gotta email the winner. Extra entry if you follow DMN via GFC and/or Bloglovin'. Easy peasy.<br /><br /><br /><a class="rcptr" data-raflid="bf97e65c5" data-template="" data-theme="classic" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/bf97e65c5/" id="rcwidget_0bmrbte7" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a><script src="//widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js"></script><br /><br />This giveaway will be open until the 20th, after which I will email the randomly chosen winner. S/he will have 48 hours to respond or another winner will be chosen. Do not take giveaway internally. Check with your doctor before beginning this or any other exercise program. In your grocer's freezer.<br /><br /><br />Before I sign off, I also want to say an extra huge thank you to Delphi, <a href="http://cuti-clue-les.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Róisín</a>, and <a href="http://www.amandalandish.com/" target="_blank">Amanda</a> for reaching out while I was incommunicado--it really meant a lot, you guys! ♥Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02848036443012972228noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6468024947159794780.post-32294994794764558662014-11-04T22:09:00.000+08:002014-11-04T22:09:40.834+08:00Twinsie Tuesday: MinimalistThis week's TT theme is "minimalist." My manicure is so utterly minimalist as to be non-existent. Unfortunately real life has taken a hard turn this week, and it may be a little while before I'm able to post regularly again. I hate to go on an official hiatus, but it's going to take some time for me to find enough balance to resume regular blogging.<br /><br />I don't wish to sound over-dramatic; I'm going to be okay. I just need to devote my energies to real life for a little while. I'll be back just as soon as I can! And in the meantime, please visit my fellow Twinsies and check out their (I'm sure, awesomely) minimalist manicures...<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-c2z-LtPYpNk/UTX5wRvv4TI/AAAAAAAAAgs/b734WHTKAPM/s1600/Gemini.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-c2z-LtPYpNk/UTX5wRvv4TI/AAAAAAAAAgs/b734WHTKAPM/s1600/Gemini.jpg" height="286" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br />Alaina at <a href="http://www.thelittlecanvas.com/" target="_blank">The Little Canvas</a><br />Amanda at <a href="http://www.amandalandish.com/" target="_blank">Amandalandish</a><br />Amber at <a href="http://www.nailslikelace.com/" target="_blank">Nails Like Lace</a><br />Anna at <a href="http://www.goingtotheshowing.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Going to the Showing</a><br />Bridget at <a href="http://painted-nail.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">A Painted Nail</a><br />Casey at <a href="http://www.caseylanelovespolish.com/" target="_blank">Casey Lane Loves Polish</a><br />Chelsea at <a href="http://www.nailedblog.com/" target="_blank">Nailed Blog</a><br />ChiChi at <a href="http://www.beautystarr1009.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">I'm Just Me...ChiChi</a><br />Cordia at <a href="http://www.seriouslyswatched.com/" target="_blank">Seriously Swatched</a><br />Elizabeth at Did My Nails<br />Erin at <a href="http://paintthosepiggies.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Paint Those Piggies</a><br />Jessica at <a href="http://bluevelvetlacquer.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Blue Velvet Lacquer</a><br />Kelly at <a href="http://www.tuxarina.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Tuxarina</a><br />Lakeisha at <a href="http://www.refinedandpolished.com/" target="_blank">Refined & Polished</a><br />Lisa at <a href="http://thepolishplayground.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">The Polish Playground</a><br />Marisa at <a href="http://polish-obsession.com/" target="_blank">Polish Obsession</a><br />Róisín at <a href="http://www.cuti-clue-les.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Cuti-CLUE-les</a><br />Stephanie at <a href="http://alittlepolish.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">A Little Polish</a><br />Tiffany at <a href="http://www.polishedtoprecision.com/" target="_blank">Polished to Precision</a>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02848036443012972228noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6468024947159794780.post-62352472264989582982014-11-01T20:00:00.000+08:002014-11-01T20:00:08.238+08:00Halloween Nail ArtI really had hoped to share my Halloween nail art on actual Halloween, but I ended up doing a much more intricate design than originally planned and ran out of time to put the post together. Crossing fingers you'll agree it's better late than never, though, because here are my Halloween ghosts...<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fadvx6QBBc0/VFS4o-55LHI/AAAAAAAAD9k/yERUmH_9OHM/s1600/halloween-nail-art-ghosts-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Halloween nail art ghosts" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fadvx6QBBc0/VFS4o-55LHI/AAAAAAAAD9k/yERUmH_9OHM/s1600/halloween-nail-art-ghosts-1.jpg" height="640" title="Halloween nail art ghosts" width="576" /></a></div><br />I mentioned I'd planned a much simpler look for Halloween, but that was before I saw <a href="http://www.morenailpolish.com/2012/10/ghosts-this-is-halloween-nail-art.html" target="_blank">these stunning transfers</a> done by More Nail Polish (I almost hate for you to look at hers, though--the image she reproduced looks so amazing, and I love her temporary tattoo paper technique). Working freehand, I'd say my ghosts were kind of a Monet (<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112697/" target="_blank">Clueless</a>, 1995). Up close they're all stroke-y and messy, but at arm's length they really did look all floaty and wispy and spooky and awesome!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BZcXRri7nf0/VFS7vMPwwsI/AAAAAAAAD9w/DgCe6wotjAk/s1600/halloween-nail-art-ghosts-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Halloween nail art ghosts" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BZcXRri7nf0/VFS7vMPwwsI/AAAAAAAAD9w/DgCe6wotjAk/s1600/halloween-nail-art-ghosts-2.jpg" height="640" title="Halloween nail art ghosts" width="640" /></a></div><br />I started with a couple coats of <a href="http://www.didmynails.com/2013/07/crowstoes-spring-this-pt-ii.html" target="_blank">CrowsToes Season of the Witch</a> layered over Orly Liquid Vinyl (black). The ghosts and wisps obscure SotW's fantastic duo shift, but I figured that would happen--I just couldn't resist the name/holiday combo.<br /><br />Over the polish I used acrylic paint in approximately 50 shades of grey (give or take 43 shades). I tried to get them all watery and blendy but was only partially successful at that. I finally hit the point where it felt like it was time to leave it alone, rather than gunge it up by doing too much. All in all, I don't know if they were a total success, but they were by no means a failure either. They were definitely super fun to paint, and I really enjoyed stretching myself a little and trying something new!Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02848036443012972228noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6468024947159794780.post-52206278969491847522014-10-30T21:00:00.000+08:002014-10-30T21:00:10.817+08:00Zoya DharaYou know that feeling you get when you spot <i>the</i> perfect polish for the mood you're in? Yesterday that was me and Zoya Dhara. I wasn't feeling like more nail art yet, but I still wanted my nails to be at least Halloween-adjacent...and then right there on the table was exactly what I wanted. I didn't even have to go looking for it!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AjFN_OcS2fo/VFIoJAVe3DI/AAAAAAAAD9I/b2a1vB5tFyY/s1600/zoya-dhara-swatch-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Zoya Dhara swatch" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AjFN_OcS2fo/VFIoJAVe3DI/AAAAAAAAD9I/b2a1vB5tFyY/s1600/zoya-dhara-swatch-1.jpg" height="640" title="Zoya Dhara swatch" width="556" /></a></div><br />Zoya Dhara was part of the Fall 2013 Pixie Dust Collection. Richly orange with gorgeous yellow-golden highlights, this semi-matte, textured polish is a bright, cheerful choice for Halloween or any other time you care to pick. I think it might especially suit skin tones that are darker or more olive-toned than mine, but I had the exact same reaction to Dhara that I've had to every single Pixie Dust I've tried. It goes something like, "Hmm, well I always do like these Pixies, so let me just try this OH MY GLOB I LOOK AMAZING." Seriously, it hits me every. single. time. The amount of fabulousness in these polishes is just ridiculous.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OvkU8NtMyZo/VFIsJoT5CdI/AAAAAAAAD9U/ZJCSf9X7M_M/s1600/zoya-dhara-swatch-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Zoya Dhara swatch" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OvkU8NtMyZo/VFIsJoT5CdI/AAAAAAAAD9U/ZJCSf9X7M_M/s1600/zoya-dhara-swatch-2.jpg" height="554" title="Zoya Dhara swatch" width="640" /></a></div><br />On top of the fabulous there's also a fantastic formula. Dhara looked great in two coats, but I'm wearing three because sometimes I just can't stop myself. And speaking of not stopping myself, when I was typing up that previous paragraph I remembered that I have a couple more Pixie Dusts in the Big Box o' Untrieds, and the thought made me so happy I literally did a gleeful little wiggly dance in my chair. <i>And</i> the next Pixie Dust collection is coming out soon! My nails and I are downright giddy.Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02848036443012972228noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6468024947159794780.post-59377231303229060482014-10-28T21:00:00.000+08:002014-10-28T21:00:01.770+08:00Twinsie Tuesday: HalloweenToday's TT theme is Halloween! For a holiday I love so much it seems to take me ages to get into the spirit these days, but I'm going to chalk that up to living somewhere that's still, like, 83F/27C outside at the end of October. I'm happy to see, though, that every year Hong Kong seems to be getting a little bit more and more into the swing of the holiday. There's still a long way to go (if I get two trick-or-treaters at my door this year it'll be a huge upswing!), but with actual costumes and decorations and candies in the stores now, Halloween just might catch on here yet!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uwoFM3Ekt_8/VE-GDbfEtxI/AAAAAAAAD8s/jshHwv5rp04/s1600/halloween-nail-art-spiderweb-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="spiderweb nail art" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uwoFM3Ekt_8/VE-GDbfEtxI/AAAAAAAAD8s/jshHwv5rp04/s1600/halloween-nail-art-spiderweb-1.jpg" height="640" title="Halloween nail art" width="556" /></a></div><br />I decided I finally wanted to try some spiderwebs for today's Halloween nail art, drawing inspiration from a knockout design over at <a href="http://lindseyrivait.com/lacquer/2012/10/halloween-nail-art-challenge-spider-web" target="_blank">Lindsey's Lacquer</a>. I started with a base of Sinful Colors Black On Black and added a (purposefully) patchy coat of <a href="http://www.didmynails.com/2012/10/china-glaze-ick-bod-y.html" target="_blank">China Glaze Ick-A-Bod-Y</a>. Next, I sponged a little white around tips or base, then switched to acrylic paint.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jF0H9N0Iuvs/VE-IcoZa56I/AAAAAAAAD84/TRYVutG-sOo/s1600/halloween-nail-art-spiderweb-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Halloween nail art" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jF0H9N0Iuvs/VE-IcoZa56I/AAAAAAAAD84/TRYVutG-sOo/s1600/halloween-nail-art-spiderweb-2.jpg" height="640" title="spiderweb nail art" width="640" /></a></div><br />The ring finger got a little spider, and the others got grey spiderwebs on top of the sponged-on white. Then I decided to add some attempted highlights and shadow to the webs, pretty much obliterating the white underneath (oops), but I like how they turned out. Thanks, Lindsey, for the adorable idea!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Please swing by some of the other Twinsie Tuesday blogs for more Halloween-themed nails! <br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-c2z-LtPYpNk/UTX5wRvv4TI/AAAAAAAAAgs/b734WHTKAPM/s1600/Gemini.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-c2z-LtPYpNk/UTX5wRvv4TI/AAAAAAAAAgs/b734WHTKAPM/s1600/Gemini.jpg" height="286" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br />Alaina at <a href="http://www.thelittlecanvas.com/" target="_blank">The Little Canvas</a><br />Amanda at <a href="http://www.amandalandish.com/" target="_blank">Amandalandish</a><br />Amber at <a href="http://www.nailslikelace.com/" target="_blank">Nails Like Lace</a><br />Anna at <a href="http://www.goingtotheshowing.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Going to the Showing</a><br />Bridget at <a href="http://painted-nail.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">A Painted Nail</a><br />Casey at <a href="http://www.caseylanelovespolish.com/" target="_blank">Casey Lane Loves Polish</a><br />Chelsea at <a href="http://www.nailedblog.com/" target="_blank">Nailed Blog</a><br />ChiChi at <a href="http://www.beautystarr1009.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">I'm Just Me...ChiChi</a><br />Cordia at <a href="http://www.seriouslyswatched.com/" target="_blank">Seriously Swatched</a><br />Elizabeth at Did My Nails<br />Erin at <a href="http://paintthosepiggies.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Paint Those Piggies</a><br />Jessica at <a href="http://bluevelvetlacquer.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Blue Velvet Lacquer</a><br />Kelly at <a href="http://www.tuxarina.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Tuxarina</a><br />Lakeisha at <a href="http://www.refinedandpolished.com/" target="_blank">Refined & Polished</a><br />Lisa at <a href="http://thepolishplayground.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">The Polish Playground</a><br />Marisa at <a href="http://polish-obsession.com/" target="_blank">Polish Obsession</a><br />Róisín at <a href="http://www.cuti-clue-les.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Cuti-CLUE-les</a><br />Stephanie at <a href="http://alittlepolish.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">A Little Polish</a><br />Tiffany at <a href="http://www.polishedtoprecision.com/" target="_blank">Polished to Precision</a>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02848036443012972228noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6468024947159794780.post-66899596065274313632014-10-26T23:30:00.000+08:002014-10-26T23:30:00.586+08:00Zoya AnakaStill pulling from my summer swatching stash (with only a couple more left...), this is Zoya Anaka, from the fall 2009 collection.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QbrwLq8tQzk/VEzKw0wyBpI/AAAAAAAAD8Q/NI8Xv1sYBy4/s1600/zoya-anaka-swatch-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Zoya Anaka swatch" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QbrwLq8tQzk/VEzKw0wyBpI/AAAAAAAAD8Q/NI8Xv1sYBy4/s1600/zoya-anaka-swatch-1.jpg" height="640" title="Zoya Anaka swatch" width="556" /></a></div><br />Zoya Anaka is a hot fuchsia with mini flecks of (camera-shy) gold and an iridescent blue sheen. I didn't note when I swatched it how many coats I applied, but I'm confident this was three. What I did note was that the first coat was so thin and runny, really patchy, that I might not have continued if it wasn't already showing hints of fabulousness.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-k-qILzGrQK4/VEzMC3Fo8vI/AAAAAAAAD8c/yPhvLyk_H5k/s1600/zoya-anaka-swatch-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Zoya Anaka swatch" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-k-qILzGrQK4/VEzMC3Fo8vI/AAAAAAAAD8c/yPhvLyk_H5k/s1600/zoya-anaka-swatch-2.jpg" height="556" title="Zoya Anaka swatch" width="640" /></a></div><br />Anaka isn't a creme, and it's not a jelly either, so much as it's just thin. But with that alluring, blue sheen and the little glints of gold to capture the light, it builds into a truly beautiful shimmer.Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02848036443012972228noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6468024947159794780.post-43022665218615436332014-10-24T21:00:00.000+08:002014-10-24T21:00:01.875+08:00OPI DS ClassicAnother swatch from before my long (and wonderful!) summer voyage, I wore this with the intention of using it for the <a href="http://www.didmynails.com/2014/08/twinsie-tuesday-classic.html" target="_blank">Twinsie Tuesday "Classic"</a> theme. Actually, first I was thinking how hard it is to get any more classic than a bright, rich red, and that's exactly what I was going to do. And then I thought, "Hey, you know what else is classic? OPI DS Classic." It says so right there in the name. So I took this holo beauty out for the day, snapped some pictures...and then I didn't get home when I was supposed to. Still, better extremely late than never!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2uIfCrto4Pk/VEopodGfqPI/AAAAAAAAD70/RR_BYa2Ij38/s1600/opi-ds-classic-swatch-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="OPI DS Classic swatch" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2uIfCrto4Pk/VEopodGfqPI/AAAAAAAAD70/RR_BYa2Ij38/s1600/opi-ds-classic-swatch-1.jpg" height="640" title="OPI DS Classic swatch" width="616" /></a></div><br />OPI DS Classic is...well, it's also classic DS, one of those beauties that made you feel like the Designer Series releases really were worth a little more than the average polish. A gorgeous, scattered holo, it's a beige-y neutral with a hint of caramel. Not intensely pigmented, but it's buttery smooth for a very easy three coats.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NNSjec-_ex8/VEouVRXDvYI/AAAAAAAAD8A/RKNG-d4mx18/s1600/opi-ds-classic-swatch-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="OPI DS Classic swatch" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NNSjec-_ex8/VEouVRXDvYI/AAAAAAAAD8A/RKNG-d4mx18/s1600/opi-ds-classic-swatch-2.jpg" height="554" title="OPI DS Classic swatch" width="640" /></a></div><br />I know OPI has been trying some new things for their more recent DS collections, and I think that's pretty cool. I sure would love it if they revisited these holos, though--they really were onto something amazing here.Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02848036443012972228noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6468024947159794780.post-58154887958746572422014-10-23T21:00:00.000+08:002014-10-23T21:00:04.139+08:00Orly Sparkling GarbageWorn back before this summer's Stateside odyssey, I'd hadn't heard about Orly Sparkling Garbage before I ran into it at the shop, but it was teal, and it was a glitter. Basically, sold. And then I saw that it was called Sparkling Garbage, and I swooned and flew into the sun. Twice in love already, and I hadn't even gotten it home yet!<br /><br />I did dab a little Sparkling Garbage on <a href="http://www.didmynails.com/2013/07/twinsie-tuesday-international-edition.html" target="_blank">these koi nails</a>, but this was the first time I finally wore it on its own...so to speak. This is two coats, layered over <a href="http://www.didmynails.com/2014/06/orly-pretty-ugly.html" target="_blank">Orly Pretty Ugly</a>, its sister polish from the same Summer 2013 Mash Up Collection.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HonvLzekoBU/VEjXJbX_05I/AAAAAAAAD7c/DURZ5htIWXw/s1600/orly-sparkling-garbage-swatch-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Orly Sparkling Garbage swatch" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HonvLzekoBU/VEjXJbX_05I/AAAAAAAAD7c/DURZ5htIWXw/s1600/orly-sparkling-garbage-swatch-1.jpg" height="640" title="Orly Sparkling Garbage swatch" width="576" /></a></div><br />The combination of these two was...y'all I was tongue tied. I kept looking at my nails and shaking my head in disbelief at the sheer amount of awesome. I'm actually entertaining foofy words like "ethereal" and "effervescent". There is so much holographic sparkle in this glitter, and Pretty Ugly is just about <i>the</i> perfect base for it. The two may even have dovetailed into some kind of "greater than the sum of its parts" action where the scattered holo on top of the iridescent shimmer has turned into a 3-Dimensional Vortex of Wonder, and yes, I'm basically blithering in awe.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xHUXC8wMWZE/VEjXy8psLdI/AAAAAAAAD7k/epvoRXfm59E/s1600/orly-sparkling-garbage-swatch-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Orly Sparkling Garbage swatch" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xHUXC8wMWZE/VEjXy8psLdI/AAAAAAAAD7k/epvoRXfm59E/s1600/orly-sparkling-garbage-swatch-2.jpg" height="556" title="Orly Sparkling Garbage swatch" width="640" /></a></div><br />I'm also cursing the way it's so. freaking. hard. to capture things like "ethereal sparkle" on camera. The first time I put my hand into my light box and saw Sparkling Garbage all lit up, I literally shouted, <i>"Are you kidding me?!"</i><br /><br />It is a fairy princess ocean of sparkle, and I love it.Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02848036443012972228noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6468024947159794780.post-72372777176265336622014-10-21T21:00:00.000+08:002014-10-21T21:00:03.965+08:00Twinsie Tuesday: Odd InspirationsI'm baaaaack! Three and a half months away from home, and I can't even begin to describe how much I missed it. And after three and a half months with family, I can't even begin to describe how much I miss them now. Conflicted, yes! But wow, I'd forgotten how much I love the sight of my pretty, red Helmers and the intimidatingly large Big Box o' Untried Polishes. Before I could dive back into the swing of things, though--jet lag! Or as it was this week, Revenge of The Son of the Queen of All Jet Lag.<br /><br />Fortunately, where internal clocks and daily schedules failed, I had Twinsie Tuesday to get me up and posting today, and I can't wait to see what everyone did for this theme: Odd Inspirations! I actually have a whole bunch of pics on my iPhone, shots of people's shirts and purses and scarves and whatever else I spot that I want to remember to try later on my nails. Today's manicure came from one of those; it was inspired by... actually, let me show you the mani first.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wyVhDBt_Ed0/VEZJrsbNtXI/AAAAAAAAD64/7AImBkTGGUc/s1600/swirled-rose-nail-art-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="rose nail art" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wyVhDBt_Ed0/VEZJrsbNtXI/AAAAAAAAD64/7AImBkTGGUc/s1600/swirled-rose-nail-art-1.jpg" height="640" title="rose nail art" width="593" /></a></div><br />I've done tons of roses and other flower nails, but I thought this swirly method could be really cute. It looks so Laura Ashley at arm's length, and it's super easy to do (I've already added a tutorial for these to that always-growing To Do list). The idea came from...<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ggNL_S82_tE/VEZLGWsPknI/AAAAAAAAD7E/tf1NBwC2kHw/s1600/bath-mat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ggNL_S82_tE/VEZLGWsPknI/AAAAAAAAD7E/tf1NBwC2kHw/s1600/bath-mat.jpg" height="456" width="640" /></a></div><br />...from a bath mat I saw at the department store downstairs. I loved the stylized, graphic design and thought it would be pretty much adorbs. So, Sinful Colors Snow Me White, acrylic paints, and blammo, swirly little flowers. Love 'em!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uJDYjmjBKzw/VEZMPu0qdnI/AAAAAAAAD7M/z1oY2eaeaeQ/s1600/swirled-rose-nail-art-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="rose nail art" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uJDYjmjBKzw/VEZMPu0qdnI/AAAAAAAAD7M/z1oY2eaeaeQ/s1600/swirled-rose-nail-art-2.jpg" height="594" title="rose nail art" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /> For more "odd inspiration" manicures, please swing by some of the other Twinsie Tuesday blogs!<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-c2z-LtPYpNk/UTX5wRvv4TI/AAAAAAAAAgs/b734WHTKAPM/s1600/Gemini.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-c2z-LtPYpNk/UTX5wRvv4TI/AAAAAAAAAgs/b734WHTKAPM/s1600/Gemini.jpg" height="285" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br />Alaina at <a href="http://www.thelittlecanvas.com/" target="_blank">The Little Canvas</a><br />Amanda at <a href="http://www.amandalandish.com/" target="_blank">Amandalandish</a><br />Amber at <a href="http://www.nailslikelace.com/" target="_blank">Nails Like Lace</a><br />Anna at <a href="http://www.goingtotheshowing.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Going to the Showing</a><br />Bridget at <a href="http://painted-nail.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">A Painted Nail</a><br />Casey at <a href="http://www.caseylanelovespolish.com/" target="_blank">Casey Lane Loves Polish</a><br />Chelsea at <a href="http://www.nailedblog.com/" target="_blank">Nailed Blog</a><br />ChiChi at <a href="http://www.beautystarr1009.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">I'm Just Me...ChiChi</a><br />Cordia at <a href="http://www.seriouslyswatched.com/" target="_blank">Seriously Swatched</a><br />Elizabeth at Did My Nails<br />Erin at <a href="http://paintthosepiggies.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Paint Those Piggies</a><br />Jessica at <a href="http://bluevelvetlacquer.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Blue Velvet Lacquer</a><br />Kelly at <a href="http://www.tuxarina.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Tuxarina</a><br />Lakeisha at <a href="http://www.refinedandpolished.com/" target="_blank">Refined & Polished</a><br />Lisa at <a href="http://thepolishplayground.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">The Polish Playground</a><br />Marisa at <a href="http://polish-obsession.com/" target="_blank">Polish Obsession</a><br />Róisín at <a href="http://www.cuti-clue-les.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Cuti-CLUE-les</a><br />Stephanie at <a href="http://alittlepolish.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">A Little Polish</a><br />Tiffany at <a href="http://www.polishedtoprecision.com/" target="_blank">Polished to Precision</a>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02848036443012972228noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6468024947159794780.post-43564762209894056022014-10-14T21:00:00.000+08:002014-10-14T21:00:00.911+08:00Twinsie Tuesday: I've Been Meaning To...Another fun theme for this week's Twinsie Tuesday posts! The assignment was finally to do something off that ever-growing list of manicures and techniques we keep meaning to try but hadn't gotten to yet, and for me, that's a saran wrap mani. A specific saran wrap manicure, that is--I've done plenty of them before and always, always love 'em, but I kept meaning to try a different method.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wyWZ7G5EvwU/VDsqgFRpk_I/AAAAAAAAD6g/v8HCgyiWhPI/s1600/saran-wrap-manicure-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="saran wrap manicure" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wyWZ7G5EvwU/VDsqgFRpk_I/AAAAAAAAD6g/v8HCgyiWhPI/s1600/saran-wrap-manicure-1.jpg" height="616" title="saran wrap manicure" width="640" /></a></div><br />I usually use an additive technique for my saran wrap manicures, dabbing bits of polish onto my nails with the wadded up film. This time, though, I used the reductive method. After laying down a base of Sally Hansen Grease Lightening (omigosh, it's such a great aubergine/eggplant shade, but I seriously can't with that name >_<), I worked a finger at a time, adding a coat of butter LONDON The Full Monty, pressing the mashed up cling wrap against the wet nail, and then removing it to pull away the bits of polish that were grabbed by the plastic.<br /><br />I've loved the other method so much that I wasn't sure I'd take to this one as well, but I'm super happy with the results! I still plan to use the other when I want to work with three or more colours, but this is officially my new two-colour technique.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nIqpUWSua6Y/VDstg7jSjPI/AAAAAAAAD6o/qvWBUhRTOkA/s1600/saran-wrap-manicure-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="saran wrap manicure" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nIqpUWSua6Y/VDstg7jSjPI/AAAAAAAAD6o/qvWBUhRTOkA/s1600/saran-wrap-manicure-2.jpg" height="552" title="saran wrap manicure" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />I can hardly believe it, but when this post goes up, I'll be on my way home! I don't have the words for how much I've enjoyed this summer, and it breaks my heart to go, but I'm so ready to be home again too. So sad, so excited, so not looking forward to that flight, so eager to sleep in my own bed again... You name it; I'm feeling it. Thank you so much to my family, for a really amazing summer, and huge thanks to everyone who kept up with me while I've been on the road. I really am looking forward to catching up with everybody again!<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-c2z-LtPYpNk/UTX5wRvv4TI/AAAAAAAAAgs/b734WHTKAPM/s1600/Gemini.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-c2z-LtPYpNk/UTX5wRvv4TI/AAAAAAAAAgs/b734WHTKAPM/s1600/Gemini.jpg" height="286" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br />Alaina at <a href="http://www.thelittlecanvas.com/" target="_blank">The Little Canvas</a><br />Amanda at <a href="http://www.amandalandish.com/" target="_blank">Amandalandish</a><br />Amber at <a href="http://www.nailslikelace.com/" target="_blank">Nails Like Lace</a><br />Anna at <a href="http://www.goingtotheshowing.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Going to the Showing</a><br />Bridget at <a href="http://painted-nail.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">A Painted Nail</a><br />Casey at <a href="http://www.caseylanelovespolish.com/" target="_blank">Casey Lane Loves Polish</a><br />Chelsea at <a href="http://www.nailedblog.com/" target="_blank">Nailed Blog</a><br />ChiChi at <a href="http://www.beautystarr1009.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">I'm Just Me...ChiChi</a><br />Cordia at <a href="http://www.seriouslyswatched.com/" target="_blank">Seriously Swatched</a><br />Elizabeth at Did My Nails<br />Erin at <a href="http://paintthosepiggies.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Paint Those Piggies</a><br />Jessica at <a href="http://bluevelvetlacquer.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Blue Velvet Lacquer</a><br />Kelly at <a href="http://www.tuxarina.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Tuxarina</a><br />Lakeisha at <a href="http://www.refinedandpolished.com/" target="_blank">Refined & Polished</a><br />Lisa at <a href="http://thepolishplayground.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">The Polish Playground</a><br />Marisa at <a href="http://polish-obsession.com/" target="_blank">Polish Obsession</a><br />Róisín at <a href="http://www.cuti-clue-les.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Cuti-CLUE-les</a><br />Stephanie at <a href="http://alittlepolish.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">A Little Polish</a><br />Tiffany at <a href="http://www.polishedtoprecision.com/" target="_blank">Polished to Precision</a><br />Traci at <a href="http://www.drinkcitra.com/" target="_blank">Drink Citra</a><br /><br />Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02848036443012972228noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6468024947159794780.post-85271940337671414542014-10-07T21:00:00.000+08:002014-10-07T21:00:09.246+08:00Twinsie Tuesday: Polish RouletteI always enjoy the TT "polish roulette" prompt; the idea is to grab two polishes at random and make 'em work together, which leads to all kinds of fun manicures among the group. Well, I didn't have much of a stash to choose among, but I shut my eyes, fished around, and came up with OPI Espresso Your Style! and SpaRitual Smoke 'N Mirrors.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-47dBOOtXaz8/VDNaxVlKsBI/AAAAAAAAD6E/B8Vr0nIO0RM/s1600/brushstroke-manicure-sparitual.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="brushstroke manicure" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-47dBOOtXaz8/VDNaxVlKsBI/AAAAAAAAD6E/B8Vr0nIO0RM/s1600/brushstroke-manicure-sparitual.jpg" height="640" title="brushstroke manicure" width="640" /></a></div><br />I decided to do a brushstroke manicure with these two polishes, adding some Sally Hansen Satin Glam Go Gold (which awesomely chose not to photograph well in this bright sunlight) to bridge the gap between the two shades. I'd thought at first I'd really lucked out, getting some complimentary neutrals in grey and brown, but they had the oddest effect on each other--with so much red in the brown OPI, it made the SpaRitual grey look almost blue...which in turn pulled out some blue in the OPI to tint that brown towards burgundy. I mean, it almost matches the aubergine on the SpaRitual label, but dig that red-brown bottle shade...<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oW0TSHfKN6A/VDNcmvQ5WxI/AAAAAAAAD6Q/qR0c3Yo78lw/s1600/brushstroke-manicure-opi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="brushstroke manicure" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oW0TSHfKN6A/VDNcmvQ5WxI/AAAAAAAAD6Q/qR0c3Yo78lw/s1600/brushstroke-manicure-opi.jpg" height="546" title="brushstroke manicure" width="640" /></a></div><br />Fortunately the camera-shy gold was, IRL, just what this cool-leaning pairing needed for some balance. The end result looked really fab at arm's length, too. In fact, I hadn't done it on purpose, but it almost matched my parents' marble coffee table perfectly! (Coffee table not pictured because I'm a dingus.)<br /><br />I can hardly believe it, but after next week's post I should be on my way home! I'm going to miss my grandparents like crazy (and thank you again so much, Grandfather, for letting me borrow your laptop again tonight!), but it'll be good to be home after so long away--and good to catch up with y'all again too!<br /><br />In the meantime, please swing by some of the other Twinsie Tuesday blogs for more Polish Roulette!<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-c2z-LtPYpNk/UTX5wRvv4TI/AAAAAAAAAgs/b734WHTKAPM/s1600/Gemini.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-c2z-LtPYpNk/UTX5wRvv4TI/AAAAAAAAAgs/b734WHTKAPM/s1600/Gemini.jpg" height="286" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br />Alaina at <a href="http://www.thelittlecanvas.com/" target="_blank">The Little Canvas</a><br />Amanda at <a href="http://www.amandalandish.com/" target="_blank">Amandalandish</a><br />Amber at <a href="http://www.nailslikelace.com/" target="_blank">Nails Like Lace</a><br />Anna at <a href="http://www.goingtotheshowing.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Going to the Showing</a><br />Bridget at <a href="http://painted-nail.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">A Painted Nail</a><br />Casey at <a href="http://www.caseylanelovespolish.com/" target="_blank">Casey Lane Loves Polish</a><br />Chelsea at <a href="http://www.nailedblog.com/" target="_blank">Nailed Blog</a><br />ChiChi at <a href="http://www.beautystarr1009.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">I'm Just Me...ChiChi</a><br />Cordia at <a href="http://www.seriouslyswatched.com/" target="_blank">Seriously Swatched</a><br />Elizabeth at Did My Nails<br />Erin at <a href="http://paintthosepiggies.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Paint Those Piggies</a><br />Jessica at <a href="http://bluevelvetlacquer.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Blue Velvet Lacquer</a><br />Kelly at <a href="http://www.tuxarina.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Tuxarina</a><br />Lakeisha at <a href="http://www.refinedandpolished.com/" target="_blank">Refined & Polished</a><br />Lisa at <a href="http://thepolishplayground.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">The Polish Playground</a><br />Marisa at <a href="http://polish-obsession.com/" target="_blank">Polish Obsession</a><br />Róisín at <a href="http://www.cuti-clue-les.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Cuti-CLUE-les</a><br />Stephanie at <a href="http://alittlepolish.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">A Little Polish</a><br />Tiffany at <a href="http://www.polishedtoprecision.com/" target="_blank">Polished to Precision</a><br />Traci at <a href="http://www.drinkcitra.com/" target="_blank">Drink Citra</a><br /><br />Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02848036443012972228noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6468024947159794780.post-59569647153113581302014-09-30T21:00:00.000+08:002014-09-30T21:00:02.430+08:00Twinsie Tuesday: Biggest SplurgeAnd I'm back again! I don't know if I've ever gone a whole week between posts before, but after months of being out of pocket I think it's going to be better for me to stick with Tuesdays until I'm home again. But fingers crossed, that should only be a couple more weeks!<br /><br />This Tuesday, the theme is our biggest splurge, which was easy for me--I've only splurged on one polish this trip, Estee Lauder Chaos...<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-y-6Oqjzanf4/VCn89xNMmbI/AAAAAAAAD5k/ucJRQKDn3mE/s1600/estee-lauder-chaos-swatch-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Estee Lauder Chaos swatch" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-y-6Oqjzanf4/VCn89xNMmbI/AAAAAAAAD5k/ucJRQKDn3mE/s1600/estee-lauder-chaos-swatch-1.jpg" height="640" title="Estee Lauder Chaos swatch" width="538" /></a></div><br />Estee Lauder Chaos is a gunmetal grey with gold and blue-grey flakes and a sparkling, multi-coloured micro-shimmer. That shimmer is easier to see in the bottle and in lower lights; in sunlight it's pewter with those little highlights of blue and gold.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-20J5SWVHpMU/VCn-AKcXsbI/AAAAAAAAD5s/DRRP0oIz-tE/s1600/estee-lauder-chaos.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-20J5SWVHpMU/VCn-AKcXsbI/AAAAAAAAD5s/DRRP0oIz-tE/s1600/estee-lauder-chaos.jpg" height="400" width="316" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">off-colour pic, but dat micro-shimmer!</td></tr></tbody></table>I quite like the final effect of this Chaos, but I have to say I wasn't thrilled with the formula. It was very easy to control and flowed beautifully, but half my nails needed four coats to reach opacity (and in all honesty could have taken a fifth), which was troublesome, given its slow drying time. For the price, that's too many coats and too much time, but I really am smitten with that lovely shimmer.<br /><br />I should be back to regular posting in just a couple of weeks, but in the meantime, please visit my fellow Twinsies to see more splurges--and please come back to see me next Twinsie Tuesday!<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-c2z-LtPYpNk/UTX5wRvv4TI/AAAAAAAAAgs/b734WHTKAPM/s1600/Gemini.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-c2z-LtPYpNk/UTX5wRvv4TI/AAAAAAAAAgs/b734WHTKAPM/s1600/Gemini.jpg" height="286" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br />Alaina at <a href="http://www.thelittlecanvas.com/" target="_blank">The Little Canvas</a><br />Amanda at <a href="http://www.amandalandish.com/" target="_blank">Amandalandish</a><br />Amber at <a href="http://www.nailslikelace.com/" target="_blank">Nails Like Lace</a><br />Anna at <a href="http://www.goingtotheshowing.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Going to the Showing</a><br />Bridget at <a href="http://painted-nail.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">A Painted Nail</a><br />Casey at <a href="http://www.caseylanelovespolish.com/" target="_blank">Casey Lane Loves Polish</a><br />Chelsea at <a href="http://www.nailedblog.com/" target="_blank">Nailed Blog</a><br />ChiChi at <a href="http://www.beautystarr1009.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">I'm Just Me...ChiChi</a><br />Cordia at <a href="http://www.seriouslyswatched.com/" target="_blank">Seriously Swatched</a><br />Elizabeth at Did My Nails<br />Erin at <a href="http://paintthosepiggies.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Paint Those Piggies</a><br />Jessica at <a href="http://bluevelvetlacquer.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Blue Velvet Lacquer</a><br />Kelly at <a href="http://www.tuxarina.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Tuxarina</a><br />Lakeisha at <a href="http://www.refinedandpolished.com/" target="_blank">Refined & Polished</a><br />Lisa at <a href="http://thepolishplayground.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">The Polish Playground</a><br />Marisa at <a href="http://polish-obsession.com/" target="_blank">Polish Obsession</a><br />Róisín at <a href="http://www.cuti-clue-les.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Cuti-CLUE-les</a><br />Stephanie at <a href="http://alittlepolish.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">A Little Polish</a><br />Tiffany at <a href="http://www.polishedtoprecision.com/" target="_blank">Polished to Precision</a><br />Traci at <a href="http://www.drinkcitra.com/" target="_blank">Drink Citra</a><br /><br />Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02848036443012972228noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6468024947159794780.post-56682726556810435772014-09-23T21:00:00.000+08:002014-09-23T21:00:02.394+08:00Twinsie Tuesday: NeutralsNote to self: Next time you're on an extended road trip with a limited polish supply, check the upcoming TT themes before you go and use all your new neutrals already! Yep, our theme this week is "neutral," and while I toyed with painting my nails like the Swiss flag, I decided to stick with a more autumnal look...<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oaFAKPSwDqc/VCCp3cDX7wI/AAAAAAAAD5U/2kg4OAbpRxQ/s1600/dotted-nail-art.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="dotted nail art" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oaFAKPSwDqc/VCCp3cDX7wI/AAAAAAAAD5U/2kg4OAbpRxQ/s1600/dotted-nail-art.jpg" height="640" title="dotted nail art" width="542" /></a></div><br />Smitten as I still am with <a href="http://www.didmynails.com/2014/09/pure-ice-shore-bet.html" target="_blank">Pure Ice Shore Bet</a>, I pressed it into service again, this time as a base for some dotted "mosaic" nail art, in expanding circles of Sinful Colors Wisp (white) and OPI Espresso Your Style! (brown). These dots are a fun, simple design to do, even if all those teeny dots do take a little while. The effect at arm's length is awesome, and the colours are great for fall!<br /><br />Speaking of fall colours, I'm betting some of my fellow Twinsies are gonna show off some of this fall's new neutrals today, and I'm already jealous! I'm hoping to make that road trip to Ulta again this week and see what's come in since I was up there in July. Fingers crossed!<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-c2z-LtPYpNk/UTX5wRvv4TI/AAAAAAAAAgs/b734WHTKAPM/s1600/Gemini.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-c2z-LtPYpNk/UTX5wRvv4TI/AAAAAAAAAgs/b734WHTKAPM/s1600/Gemini.jpg" height="286" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br />Alaina at <a href="http://www.thelittlecanvas.com/" target="_blank">The Little Canvas</a><br />Amanda at <a href="http://www.amandalandish.com/" target="_blank">Amandalandish</a><br />Amber at <a href="http://www.nailslikelace.com/" target="_blank">Nails Like Lace</a><br />Anna at <a href="http://www.goingtotheshowing.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Going to the Showing</a><br />Bridget at <a href="http://painted-nail.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">A Painted Nail</a><br />Casey at <a href="http://www.caseylanelovespolish.com/" target="_blank">Casey Lane Loves Polish</a><br />Chelsea at <a href="http://www.nailedblog.com/" target="_blank">Nailed Blog</a><br />ChiChi at <a href="http://www.beautystarr1009.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">I'm Just Me...ChiChi</a><br />Cordia at <a href="http://www.seriouslyswatched.com/" target="_blank">Seriously Swatched</a><br />Elizabeth at Did My Nails<br />Erin at <a href="http://paintthosepiggies.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Paint Those Piggies</a><br />Jessica at <a href="http://bluevelvetlacquer.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Blue Velvet Lacquer</a><br />Kelly at <a href="http://www.tuxarina.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Tuxarina</a><br />Lakeisha at <a href="http://www.refinedandpolished.com/" target="_blank">Refined & Polished</a><br />Lisa at <a href="http://thepolishplayground.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">The Polish Playground</a><br />Marisa at <a href="http://polish-obsession.com/" target="_blank">Polish Obsession</a><br />Róisín at <a href="http://www.cuti-clue-les.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Cuti-CLUE-les</a><br />Stephanie at <a href="http://alittlepolish.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">A Little Polish</a><br />Tiffany at <a href="http://www.polishedtoprecision.com/" target="_blank">Polished to Precision</a><br />Traci at <a href="http://www.drinkcitra.com/" target="_blank">Drink Citra</a><br /><br />Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02848036443012972228noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6468024947159794780.post-17656934284412155532014-09-20T21:00:00.000+08:002014-09-20T21:00:02.292+08:00Khaki and Splatter PaintMy friend Liz recently put down some new floor that's beige with black-and-white speckles, so I told her I'd do my nails to match it. And then I did my nails to match it! True story!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y_Xq5uPR4og/VBzY-pD-tdI/AAAAAAAAD44/mY2fl8mt4BI/s1600/my-jay-claires-splatter-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="NOPI My Jay or the Highway!" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y_Xq5uPR4og/VBzY-pD-tdI/AAAAAAAAD44/mY2fl8mt4BI/s1600/my-jay-claires-splatter-1.jpg" height="640" title="NOPI My Jay or the Highway!" width="566" /></a></div><br />My base is the gorgeously greige NOPI My Jay or the Highway! (exclamation point included in the name at no extra charge). It is another one of those putty/taupe neutrals I absolutely love, even more grey than my usual faves, and while the Modern Family Collection isn't the most recent, it's a fantastic shade for fall.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-E2kVtpAqUr4/VBzb7xNOUfI/AAAAAAAAD5E/1Ro-gSYcIuU/s1600/my-jay-claires-splatter-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Claire's Splatter Paint swatch" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-E2kVtpAqUr4/VBzb7xNOUfI/AAAAAAAAD5E/1Ro-gSYcIuU/s1600/my-jay-claires-splatter-2.jpg" height="536" title="Claire's Splatter Paint swatch" width="640" /></a></div><br />The matte, black and white glitter on top is Claire's Splatter Paint. It has multiple sizes of the black and white, along with some small, black bars. I'm not usually that high on bar glitter, but from just a little bit away these really blend in to add to the "splatter" effect. Coverage was good too; this is just one coat, plus a little extra dabbing, no trouble at all. If you've been wanting one of the indie black and whites, definitely check out Claire's Splatter paint. It looks like Liz's new floor!Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02848036443012972228noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6468024947159794780.post-55767586776405447912014-09-18T21:00:00.000+08:002014-09-18T21:00:09.311+08:00China Glaze Boundary of MemoryChina Glaze Boundary of Memory took me on a little emotional journey. I saw it in the bottle and had to have it. Then I did the first coat and was kind of bleh. And then I finished it all up and was right back in love.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UTUwzKpBrnU/VBooB3Ceg-I/AAAAAAAAD4c/NVxKybXXQP4/s1600/china-glaze-boundary-memory-swatch-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="China Glaze Boundary of Memory swatch" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UTUwzKpBrnU/VBooB3Ceg-I/AAAAAAAAD4c/NVxKybXXQP4/s1600/china-glaze-boundary-memory-swatch-1.jpg" height="640" title="China Glaze Boundary of Memory swatch" width="554" /></a></div><br />Boundary of Memory, from the China Glaze The Giver Collection, is a full-coverage glitter. It consists of teeny, brassy gold, pale pewter, and gunmetal black micro-glitters in a jelly-like base, and I don't know how it does it, but it's at once dazzling and understated. I mean, understated for a glitter, of course. The gold really catches the light, even in plain, room lighting (and so much better than I was able to catch here, but I was glad to have a nice, sunny day for pics).<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xBkQLf_zeC0/VBop1-VeIxI/AAAAAAAAD4o/aPRzxekltcY/s1600/china-glaze-boundary-memory-swatch-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="China Glaze Boundary of Memory swatch" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xBkQLf_zeC0/VBop1-VeIxI/AAAAAAAAD4o/aPRzxekltcY/s1600/china-glaze-boundary-memory-swatch-2.jpg" height="524" title="China Glaze Boundary of Memory swatch" width="640" /></a></div><br />The formula was just a little fussy, thick enough that it needed a little extra patience, but it was well worth that bit of fuss. It was opaque enough at two coats, but I had a feeling three would look even better, which is what I'm wearing here. And bonus for a micro-glitter, the jelly base dried smooth enough that one coat of top coat was all it needed.<br /><br />Wishing the rich, gold highlights really came across here--Saints and Steelers fans, y'all need this one!Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02848036443012972228noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6468024947159794780.post-76325984340361628912014-09-16T21:00:00.000+08:002014-09-16T21:00:01.432+08:00Twinsie Tuesday: Accent NailMy TT post last week had a last-minute accent nail addition, but this week it's the whole group's theme. No surprise, I went flowers!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iFw8Z-pLyO0/VBeSEzN_TOI/AAAAAAAAD4E/xWRROyoPM1A/s1600/accent-nail-flowers-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="accent nail art" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iFw8Z-pLyO0/VBeSEzN_TOI/AAAAAAAAD4E/xWRROyoPM1A/s1600/accent-nail-flowers-1.jpg" height="640" title="accent nail art" width="570" /></a></div><br />My main polish for these nails was China Glaze Seeing Red, from the recent The Giver collection. I didn't actually think it was that different-looking in the bottle, but on the nail it dried to a very warm, autumnal red with lots of orangey-brown, and I love it!<br /><br />My ring fingers and left thumb got OPI You're So Vain-illa, and over some brown acrylic paint branches, I dotted Seeing Red flowers with little Sinful Colors Wisp (white) centers.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LSIgUEtEXE4/VBeTWZhYZ2I/AAAAAAAAD4M/S7KudkCl0eI/s1600/accent-nail-flowers-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="accent nail art" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LSIgUEtEXE4/VBeTWZhYZ2I/AAAAAAAAD4M/S7KudkCl0eI/s1600/accent-nail-flowers-2.jpg" height="544" title="accent nail art" width="640" /></a></div><br />I really enjoyed these, and they've got to be the teeniest little dots I've ever managed (at least on purpose... ;p). I will admit, though, that it's getting hard, keeping up posting while I'm still out of town. Chipped nails, iPhone pics, grabbing daylight, wah wah wah, and I don't mean to complain and moan--I just know I'm not posting my best pictures right now, and it's kinda frustrating.<br /><br />Bleh, that's enough of that already. Please check out some of the other TT blogs for more accent nails!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-c2z-LtPYpNk/UTX5wRvv4TI/AAAAAAAAAgs/b734WHTKAPM/s1600/Gemini.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-c2z-LtPYpNk/UTX5wRvv4TI/AAAAAAAAAgs/b734WHTKAPM/s1600/Gemini.jpg" height="286" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br />Alaina at <a href="http://www.thelittlecanvas.com/" target="_blank">The Little Canvas</a><br />Amanda at <a href="http://www.amandalandish.com/" target="_blank">Amandalandish</a><br />Amber at <a href="http://www.nailslikelace.com/" target="_blank">Nails Like Lace</a><br />Anna at <a href="http://www.goingtotheshowing.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Going to the Showing</a><br />Bridget at <a href="http://painted-nail.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">A Painted Nail</a><br />Casey at <a href="http://www.caseylanelovespolish.com/" target="_blank">Casey Lane Loves Polish</a><br />Chelsea at <a href="http://www.nailedblog.com/" target="_blank">Nailed Blog</a><br />ChiChi at <a href="http://www.beautystarr1009.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">I'm Just Me...ChiChi</a><br />Cordia at <a href="http://www.seriouslyswatched.com/" target="_blank">Seriously Swatched</a><br />Elizabeth at Did My Nails<br />Erin at <a href="http://paintthosepiggies.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Paint Those Piggies</a><br />Jessica at <a href="http://bluevelvetlacquer.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Blue Velvet Lacquer</a><br />Kelly at <a href="http://www.tuxarina.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Tuxarina</a><br />Lakeisha at <a href="http://www.refinedandpolished.com/" target="_blank">Refined & Polished</a><br />Lisa at <a href="http://thepolishplayground.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">The Polish Playground</a><br />Marisa at <a href="http://polish-obsession.com/" target="_blank">Polish Obsession</a><br />Róisín at <a href="http://www.cuti-clue-les.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Cuti-CLUE-les</a><br />Stephanie at <a href="http://alittlepolish.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">A Little Polish</a><br />Tiffany at <a href="http://www.polishedtoprecision.com/" target="_blank">Polished to Precision</a><br />Traci at <a href="http://www.drinkcitra.com/" target="_blank">Drink Citra</a><br /><br />Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02848036443012972228noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6468024947159794780.post-16483990342107167492014-09-14T21:00:00.000+08:002014-09-14T21:00:01.977+08:00OPI Thank Glogg It's FridayOPI Thank Glogg It's Friday is fantastic. In the bottle it didn't really do much for me, but I'm so glad I picked it up anyway. It's like candied apples made from mixed berries and wine. It's a beautiful colour and a subtle shimmer, and yeah, I'm fawning. My heart hearts it.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5NwkWyHN4gU/VBOUZr-uPkI/AAAAAAAAD3s/KirLowMk3BE/s1600/thank-glogg-friday-swatch-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="OPI Thank Glogg It's Friday swatch" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5NwkWyHN4gU/VBOUZr-uPkI/AAAAAAAAD3s/KirLowMk3BE/s1600/thank-glogg-friday-swatch-1.jpg" height="640" title="OPI Thank Glogg It's Friday swatch" width="510" /></a></div><br />This is three coats of OPI Thank Glogg It's Friday. The formula, not surprisingly for OPI, was smooth. Easy to spread and to control. It has a shimmer that really comes out in the sunlight, and in dimmer light, it contributes to a beautiful "candy apple" sheen.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bl6n_4ron3E/VBOXve7XM6I/AAAAAAAAD30/whBRvaHmsgU/s1600/thank-glogg-friday-swatch-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="OPI Thank Glogg It's Friday swatch" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bl6n_4ron3E/VBOXve7XM6I/AAAAAAAAD30/whBRvaHmsgU/s1600/thank-glogg-friday-swatch-2.jpg" height="586" title="OPI Thank Glogg It's Friday swatch" width="640" /></a></div><br />Usually after about a day and a half of wearing a certain polish I start feeling like it's time for a change. I've been wearing OPI Thank Glogg It's Friday for about four days now and haven't felt that way at all. If you're on the fence at all about this one, I say go for it!Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02848036443012972228noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6468024947159794780.post-81802528926025777772014-09-12T21:00:00.000+08:002014-09-12T21:00:01.409+08:00Pure Ice Kissy KissPure Ice Kissy Kiss is a gorgeously dusty cornflower/periwinkle blue crelly that I picked up on a whim, then fell totally in love with...<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O-dgj8IkeZ4/VBD1BjfzV5I/AAAAAAAAD3U/_lozS6z1bj4/s1600/pure-ice-kissy-kiss-swatch-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Pure Ice Kissy Kiss swatch" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O-dgj8IkeZ4/VBD1BjfzV5I/AAAAAAAAD3U/_lozS6z1bj4/s1600/pure-ice-kissy-kiss-swatch-1.jpg" height="640" title="Pure Ice Kissy Kiss swatch" width="520" /></a></div><br />The first coat seemed a little thin, but then, I wasn't aware at first that it was a crelly (and it's on the jelly side of crelly at that). It was very easy to control, though, and built up nicely, leveling well with no pulling or streaks.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_9a33wxIoKg/VBD1vfVGbqI/AAAAAAAAD3c/UP9V3K2Kx3E/s1600/pure-ice-kissy-kiss-swatch-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Pure Ice Kissy Kiss swatch" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_9a33wxIoKg/VBD1vfVGbqI/AAAAAAAAD3c/UP9V3K2Kx3E/s1600/pure-ice-kissy-kiss-swatch-2.jpg" height="532" title="Pure Ice Kissy Kiss swatch" width="640" /></a></div><br />While I did three coats of Kissy Kiss for the camera, two was probably well sufficient for daily wear. This shade of blue might lobster me a bit...or a lot...but I flat out do not care. It's beautiful, and I heart it to little bits.Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02848036443012972228noreply@blogger.com2