New Kids On the Block Party

Suddenly this week, I am ready for summer. I may not be ready for the heat in the days ahead, but I've got a craving for barbecues (if you have a grill, please invite me over), watermelon, and ice cream. I'm ready for long days, warm nights, and not wearing a single pair of socks. Best of all, I am ready for summer nails! Bring on the bright colors and bold designs.

"The crazier the better is what I say." -Gonzo

33 Day Challenge Day 23: Geometric

You may or may have not noticed that I've been shirking my 33 Day Challenge posts. I assure you that I haven't abandoned it completely. I just needed a break and wanted to do my giveaway, Halloween nails, birthday, etc. I would like to complete the ones I missed, but I'm not guaranteeing it. So to get back in the game I am joining in on today's current prompt- geometric.

You can see the diamonds sparkle a little better when it's slightly out of focus.

They say diamonds are a girl's best friend, but I don't know about that. I mean, I couldn't say because I don't have any. Chocolate, on the other, I'm sure about. Sorry to my human best friend, but chocolate is always by my side.

What I used:
Wet n' Wild Fergie Blue Eyed Soul- blue
OPI My Boyfriend Scales Walls- white
Sephora by OPI Meet Me at the Disco- holo glitter
Seche Vite top coat

Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure All Fired Up and Midnight Glitz

A few weeks back I found a BOGO coupon for Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure polishes. I was happy to find All Fired Up because I had been looking for that exact shade. Then I picked up Midnight Glitz because I loved the variety of glitters in the bottle. Ever since, I've been wanting to pair them up. Turns out they're not exactly a natural fit. But when I added a black polish under the glitter, it really made all the colors pop!

I applied two coats of All Fired Up, followed with top coat, and let it dry completely. I then placed pieces of striping tape, two side to side, lengthwise down each nail. I then cut Scotch tape into triangles and placed that on each tip. One nail at a time I applied one coat of black polish, globbed on Midnight Glitz, and carefully removed the tape. I let it dry for awhile before I finished with top coat.

If I could ever get my nails long enough, All Fired Up would be a perfect shade for Louboutin nails.

What I used:
Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure All Fired Up- red
Sephora by OPI What's a Tire Jack?- black
Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure Midnight Glitz- glitter topper
Seche Vite top coat

I love these colors together and will probably do another manicure or two with them together! What do you think? These nails make me want to pull out my leather jacket and swipe on some bright red lips.

33 Challenge Day 03: Tape Mani

I LOVE each and every one of these polishes. This features some polishes that have been patiently waiting to be used again. I've been trying to find a way to incorporate them into the 31 Day Challenge that I've been participating in. They just haven't found an opportunity to shine yet, so now it's time. I also welcome another chance to do a tape mani because I love the way they look!

I loved the golden shimmer in my water marble mani, so I tried to somewhat imitate that effect here.

One of my very most favoritest polishes is my OPI Wooden Shoe Like Too Know. It has the prettiest pink and gold micro shimmer in it.

I started off with two coats of Barry M Lychee and topped it with Seche Vite, so it could dry extra fast. Then I layed down all my striping tape pieces on each nail. Over the stripes I used three different polishes to make the colors swirl together a bit. I tried to get all the colors on quickly so they didn't start to dry at all before I removed the tape. On my ring finger I placed the striping tape in a "v" and painted the polish below and above it.

Mmm, chocolate and gold goodness.

What I used:
Barry M Lychee- nude
OPI Wood Shoe Like to Know-deep taupe brown
Ulta Chocolate Kisses- warm red-purple brown
Sephora by OPI I Only Shop Vintage- shimmery toffee-gold
Zoya Maria Louisa- amber gold flake
Seche Vite top coat

striping tape

I love that it's Fall and I can really utilize these colors. Not that there's a rule against using them the rest of the year, but they just fit so well right now!

31DC2013 12: Stripes

I have to say this is one of my favorites so far from the challenge. I love the look of stripes, especially the crisp ones you can achieve from striping tape. I have been waiting to try one of my new polishes, a england Ascalon. It is such a gorgeous silvery-purple holo. Or bet yet, a england describes it as, "Forged by magic and guided by our hero's sainted hand, the steely grey of his spire is alive with a swirling heart of lavender fire." Does that give you a better idea? I paired it with an old favorite, OPI Yes...I Can-Can, which is a vampy plum with a subtle shimmer. I think they compliment each other very well.

If this looks like it took a lot of patience, believe me, it did. I wouldn't say that that it's necessarily difficult, just a pain in the butt. It's still totally worth it because it turned out just how I wanted!

The art deco feel of this design brings me back my first trip to NYC. It was so cool finally visiting the iconic Empire State Building! Good times..

Even more photos..

What I used:
a england Ascalon
OPI Yes...I Can-Can!
Seche Vite top coat

I purchased my striping tape from Amazon. It costs practically nothing. My a england polishes have been purchased through Ninja Polish. I have three of their polishes, but I WANT THEM ALL. Or need, same thing.


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Retro Airline Stewardess

It was time for me to break out my striping tape again! I think the design with these colors resulted in a retro look, something associated with an airline. I can just picture a stewardess with her hair full of Aqua Net, wearing a scarf with this pattern.

I started with my thumb and loved how it turned out, but I still wanted a little variety. My husband suggested I change up the direction on each nail. I think it gives it a little more visual interest. It all went fairly swimmingly, until I applied the top coat. Then it streaked a little where some of the polish went on too thick. It was pretty hard getting the right amount of polish into those small spaces. I think next time I try something like this I will apply it with a nail art brush.

I think my thumb turned out the best. 

 As I was photographing this and feeling like I want to fly somewhere, I realized the photos needed some wings. This pin was my Grampie's who was a Major in the US Air Force. He served two tours in Vietnam, and a number of other conflicts. It was fun to work on this and think of him. Maybe I should do something Air Force themed in the future!

What I used:
Essie Bikini So Teeny- light blue
OPI Dating A Royal- navy blue
OPI Miami Beet- maroon

Does this make you want to fly somewhere?

Striping Mani

I finally got my striping tape in the mail yesterday! Dang China, why are you so far away? Seriously it took over three weeks to get here. I've been wanting to play with it for so long now. What to do, what to do? There are so many options but I started simple, since I have no experience with it yet. I went with Essie Mamba and DJ Play That Song.

I did two coats of Mamba and tried to do a thick coat of DJ Play That Song since I had to take off the tape while it was still wet. I guess I should have used more opaque colors? It ended up a little too thick. When I went to bed I thought my mani was dry enough, but when I woke up there were dents all over. Either I used too many coats or I should have stayed up longer. I still loved the color combo. I got a lot of compliments too. They must have not seen it up close. Also I used Seche Viche top coat and really noticed the shrinkage this time, all around the nail.

Right hand:

I was somewhat surprised that my right hand didn't turn out much worse than my left. So that either means that my left-handed skills are greatly improving, or it's sad that I can't even do much better with my right hand. Either way...

I am really looking forward to trying lots more color combinations. Yay! I have hope that my skills will improve each time.