Call Me On My Cell, Don't Yodel!

Hey Ladies! This will be a short and quick post. This polish has been waiting to be used for a long long time. Yup, I'm back to tackling my untried drawer before the move. This is Yodel Me On My Cell by OPI from their Swiss Collection in Fall of 2010. Such a catchy name! This is a greenish royal blue shimmer with blue micro-glitter. The micro-glitter really sparkles. Reminds me of the ocean off a tropical island. Super pretty. 2 coats for full coverage. Great application. No complaints. Simple and pretty. =)

Happy Polishing!

The Color of Royalty!

Hey Ladies!

I'm happy to say that I'm graduating law school today!!! I can't believe the day is finally here. It feels like I just started yesterday! The last 3 years have just flown by in the blink of an eye. I'm wearing Zoya's Crystal to graduation but I'm not posting it since I've posted it before (here). Instead, I'm showing you guys a polish I saw in my helmer while I was looking for a color to wear for graduation and just had to wear it again.

I wore this color a long time ago but never blogged about it (and have no idea why).  Another instant favorite of mine. This is Royal Navy by Orly. By far, the best royal blue EVER MADE in the history of nail polish! To me, this is such a unique color! Royal blues are usually thought of as being on the dark side of the blue scale. However, this color is insanely vibrant as hell. This color is also packed with beautiful green iridescent shimmer. Just look at all that shimmer sitting at the bottom of the bottle! And in the sun... *mind blown* AMAZING! There must be a little bit of neon in there... Seriously, we've never established a rating system on this blog but this polish would be #1 in the ranks if we had one! 2 coats for full coverage. You might think I'm crazy for saying that since there is some VNL in the pictures but I swear you don't see that in any other lighting. LOL! I must have a super-powered desk lamp... Perfect formula and application. You just can't say anything bad about this color. I'm in heaven... *stares at nails for hours*

Happy Polishing!

Peekaboo... I "Sea" a Born Pretty Store Review!

Hey Ladies!

I have another mani and a Born Pretty Store review for you today! The item I'm reviewing today is half of their Dried Flower Set. The set includes 12 different flowers in individual little plastic jar containers. The set I received included 2 different styles (6 of each) in various colors. Below are pictures of half of the set (one of the styles). The flowers are adorable and came in green, pink, blue, yellow, orange, and white. Each jar contained 5 flowers. These retail for $7.08 (but remember, I'm only showing you half of the set today).

I paired a yellow dried flower on my ring finger with 2 coats of I Sea You! by Catrice. I've always been a fan of the names Catrice gives their nail polishes. Always so cute and catchy. I love the play on words with this polish's name because it happens to remind me of the beaches here in Miami. I Sea You! is a dusty green turquoise creme. 2 coats (1 coat could've almost been enough). I applied a coat of Seche Vite topcoat and quickly placed the dried flower on the nail. I wanted it to stick to the topcoat while it was still wet so it could hold the flower down. I used a woodstick to place the flower. Simply wet the pointy end so that the flower sticks to it and then gently press the flower onto the nail. Don't press too hard or you'll end up squeezing out the polish underneath. Then I applied 2 more coats of Seche Vite to lock the flower in and to smooth out the texture of the nail. Make sure you cover the entire flower with topcoat or it can start to lift up.

This is the first time I've ever used a dried flower on my nails and I think it turned out alright. Any issues I had with these were due to my inexperience and in no way reflects on the quality. I would suggest not using the light colored flowers over dark polishes. They are a little thin/sheer so you can see some of the green polish through the yellow petal (you see it more on the first picture). Other than that, I had no problems with these dried flowers. I think they are super cute. Just remember to handle them gently because they are real dried flowers and very delicate. Again, the retail for $7.08 (remember I'm only featuring half of the set in this post) and Born Pretty Store is currently offering free shipping! So be sure to check them out here: Dried Flower Set!

Feel free to share any tips on how to better apply these flowers since I'm so new at this! Happy Polishing!

Don't Panic!

Hey Ladies!

This wasn't in my untried drawer but I saw it while reorganizing my helmer and really wanted to use it again. This is Purple Panic by China Glaze. The name of this polish always reminds me of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. Which reminds me that I let someone borrow that book years ago and I never got it back! I hate that! Anyways, I'd describe this color as an insanely bright neon fuchsia purple with a very slight blue iridescent shine. It's a neon so it dries matte within seconds. The color really pops as soon as you put topcoat over it. I forgot how bright this was until I stepped out into the sun. Good thing I accidentally filed my nails too short. I'd go blind if my nails were any longer. I applied 3 coats for full coverage. Downside was that the formula was watery. I can't remember if its always been that way or if its because this bottle is a little older. Except I thought polish got thicker as time passed... It wasn't a huge deal but I did try to stay away from the sides of my nails as much as possible. If the brush/polish touched the edge it would instantly run all the way up to the cuticle. That was slightly annoying.

Happy Polishing!

Born Pretty Store Review - Dotting Tool

Hey Ladies!

Yeah I know, long time no see... but it was all for a good reason! I'm OFFICIALLY done with law school FOREVER! I started studying for my final exams in April and finished all my exams last week. It was a few rough weeks. I barely had my nails in blog worthy condition. If they were painted for whatever reason (I did have a wedding to go to) they would be chipped and left that way for days and days! It was a shameful time for my nails. The day after my last final exam I jumped on a plane and went for a last minute trip to St. Louis! It was a much needed vacation! I did paint my nails while there but then I spent 3 days gardening and yeah... my nails didn't last very long. I got my last grade back today and am happy to say that I'm officially graduating. Graduation is next Friday and I can't wait for that moment!

I hate it when bloggers (especially the ones I love to follow) disappear for weeks/months without word and I hate that I've done that a few times myself. But I have to acknowledge that sometimes things in life are more important and your hobbies have to take a backseat. I've spent this week organizing myself and getting mentally ready to start studying for the state bar exam. With that said, there is a chance that I'll sporadically disappear during the next 2-3 months of my life. I have the intention of painting my nails and blogging but I don't fully know what to expect. They say that studying for the bar exam will be like a full time job. So we'll see what happens. Studying will be my priority from now until the end of July. And then after I take the bar exam I move to St. Louis so that will be another potential disruption from my blogging. But lets think positive! LOL!

Review

So I received an email from the Born Pretty Store and was able to pick some items for review. One of the items I picked was the Pink Marbleized 2-way Dotting Pens. I've been dying to get my hands on a real dotting tool. The few times I've put dots on my nails have either been with a stamp or with a pencil tip. These retail at $4.74 for the set of 5. You can't beat that price. These pens are 2-way so you get a dotting tip on each end, which gives you 10 different dotting tips. All the tips are different sizes (some of the sizes are so close that they look like the same size). 

So I tried these bad boys out over 2 coats of China Glaze's Sea Spray from the Anchors Away collection. Sea Spray is a pale grayish blue creme. I then dotted using China Glaze's Rodeo Fanatic from the Rodeo Diva collection. Rodeo Fanatic is like a blackened blue shimmer. So gorgeous! I used the 2nd largest dotting tip for the dots.

I was very pleased with these! I just have to practice and perfect my dotting skills. I highly recommend these dotting pens. You get a great variety of sizes for a minimal amount out of pocket ($4.74). Again, you can't beat that! I've seen dotting tools at beauty stores where they charged more for 1 dotting pen than you are charged here for all 5. I'm not a pink type of girl but the pink marbleized design is super cute! They also have another pattern design but its not as cute as these! These dotting pens are a decent size so you feel like you are holding a regular pen or pencil. Easy to have a good grip. I think everyone should have this in their nail art kit. It doesn't matter if you're starting off and experimenting with nail art (like me, beyond stamping) or an expert at nail art. These are a must!

So be sure to check out these and other great nail art tools at Born Pretty Store.

China Glaze's Summer Neons Collection

Heat Up Your Summer with China Glaze® Summer Collection

Los Angeles, CA – (March 2012):  The sun has nothing on you this summer!  Rival its brightness and heat with China Glaze® Summer 2012 collection, Summer Neons.  Featuring 12 new sizzling shades perfect for surf, sand and nightlife, the all new hot hues in China Glaze®Summer Neons include:

·         Pink Plumeria: Light pink with gold shimmer

·         Under the Boardwalk: Fluorescent raspberry

·         Splish Splash: Bright sky blue shimmer

·         Love’s A Beach: Sizzling hot pink

·         Hang-Ten Toes: Bubblegum neon with iridescent purple shimmer

·         Beach Cruise-r: Glimmering fuchsia grape

·         Orange You Hot?: Bright orange with attention-grabbing gold glimmer

·         Surfin’ For Boys: Glistening bright coral

·         Flirty Tankini: Shimmery strawberry smoothie pink

·         Ride the Waves: Dark ocean blue

·         I’m With the Lifeguard: Glimmering lime green

·         Sun-Kissed: Hot highlighter yellow

Also available 8-piece box collection featuring Under The Boardwalk, Ride The Waves, I’m With The Lifeguard, Sun-Kissed, Orange You Hot?, Surfin’ For Boys, Flirty Tankini and Pink Plumeria.

China Glaze® Summer Neons will be available as open stock colors and 12-piece counter display.  Individual polishes retail for $7 MSRP and the 8-piece box set retails for $56.  China Glaze® Summer Neons will be available at fine salons and beauty supply stores nationwide in June 2012.

China Glaze is free of DBP, toluene, and added formaldehyde. China Glaze nail lacquers are available through salons and professional beauty supply stores nationwide. For more information, visit: www.chinaglaze.com.

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Loves A Beach

Hang-Ten Toes

Beach Cruise-r

Under The Boardwalk

Ride The Waves

Splish Splash

I'm With The Lifeguard

Sun-Kissed

Orange You Hot?

Surfin' For Boys

Flirty Tankini

Pink Plumeria