Marble Roses

Good morning lovelies. I am feeling like a new woman! I didn't get a full night of uninterrupted sleep (my baby usually sleeps through the night), but it was 100x better than than the night before! Baby girl is doing much better today. Thank you everyone for your well wishes!

Bewitching Water Marble Featuring PiCture POlish Imperial

It's about time I did some kind of nail art, specifically Halloween related nail art. The great thing about this mani is that it's not obviously Halloween so it looks good any time of year! I've worn Imperial on it's own before (swatched here), and I am still as in love with it as I was before.

Sprinkles Water Marble

Hello lovelies! I recently posted this Confetti Water Marble mani and I loved it so much I decided to create a second one. I am even more in love with the results of my second version! The color combo makes me so happy. Something about the bright, fun colors make my mind think of a Fifties sock hop. Not sure why, but there you have it. It's a true party on my nails!

Southwestern Wedding Anniversary Nails

Last Saturday my husband and I celebrated our 11th wedding anniversary! Each year I give myself a nice pat on the back for making it this far. Yay for us!

Last year's anniversary nails were more soft and romantic. This year I went with colorful and graphic. Our wedding colors were blue and orange. It's one of my favorite combinations because I love blue, and I love bright colors!

OMD2 Challenge Day 7- Holographic

I don't have a huge stash of holographic polishes (I will someday..), but what I have I love. China Glaze I'm Not Lion had been on my wishlist for quite some time. I was so stoked when I finally got it! Today's Holographic prompt was a perfect opportunity to show it off again.

Acid Washed Hearts Snippet

Hello ladies! I used these two polishes, OPI Don't Bossa Nova Me Around and love, charlotte xo (neon peach) together in my New Kids On the Block Party nails and loooved the combination. I've been itching to try them together again and this is what I came up with. It was super simple and easy, and I love the finished result. Enjoy!

Mint and Chocolate Interlocking Dotticure

Happy Friday ladies! Today I have a fabulous manicure that I've been wanting to try for ages! I don't know what was holding me back, but I finally got my motivation after seeing this mani on All Lacquered Up. I loved it so much, I just couldn't wait any more!

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

My Bikini Is Not Quite So Teeny

Greetings! Random question today: How many of you lovely ladies feel the pressure to get ready for "bikini season"? I would say that in years past I have felt the pressure and the anxiety in the months leading up to summer, to whip myself into shape. I've at least put some effort into it, like eating a salad or two. This year I just feel like, "What's the point?" It's not so much about giving up, because I still like to be in shape. The fact of the matter is that I'm currently out of shape, and although I have plans (somewhere in the future) to rectify that, I'm not too concerned right now.

Seaweed In a Blue Lagoon Gradient

Happy Monday everyone! I hope you're all having a great start to your week. I've been a little really stressed out about singing a solo this Thursday at a church event. I love singing, that's why I'm in the choir, but I'm no soloist. So why did I agree to this? I don't know. Because I love to do things that terrify me and make we want to puke just thinking about it? Hmm.. actually, I do. YOLO!

I've said this before, but thank goodness for nail polish to take my mind off of everything else! This color combo is especially bright and calming. It brings me to tropical islands and crystal clear waters. Places I've never been to, but I've seen pictures! Okay, I have been to Hawaii, but I don't remember the water looking like this.

After the gradient, I was originally just going to stamp the lighter color. My husband was watching me (creeper) and asked what I was planning on. I explained the plan and he suggested I stamp the royal blue over the lighter one. I tried it out on one finger and I loved it! Double gradient, whoa! Good job, babe. :)

What I used:
Sinful Colors Endless Blue- royal blue
Love, Charlotte XO by Color Club mint/turquoise shade
Cici and Sisi stamping plate 05
Seche Vite top coat

If you're feeling stressed out with finals, kids, work, performing things you have no business doing, you can put this mani as your computer wallpaper and stare into while listening to a sound machine with ocean waves. I bet that will help.

xx Emiline xx

Heavenly Pastels

You know how sometimes you do a beautiful manicure that you really like, but you still only wear it for one day, because you have something else you want to try? That happens a lot for me. Occasionally though, I create a manicure that I just can't bear to take off, and find myself staring at it constantly. This was one such occasion. I timed it perfectly too. On day two of this mani I worked at a ticket booth for the Scrapbook USA Expo where I sold hundreds of tickets, and applied just as many wristbands. It was pretty much the best possible situation for tons of people to see my nails and compliment me on them. Hey, I'm not shy about it. I love praise. Why else would I publish my photos for the whole world to see? ;)

A close up of all the cloudy, cotton candy-y, sparkly goodness.

I started with a base color of Essie Bikini So Teeny (one of my faves!) on each nail. For my middle and ring fingers I applied one coat of Love & Beauty Mint Confetti glitter, and finished off with Seche Vite top coat. For my thumb, index, and pinky, I alternately sponged Bikini So Teeny, a mint shade, and white polish over the base color. I repeated the sponging until I had the desired effect. I topped those nails off with Out The Door Northern Lights, a fast-drying top coat with a beautiful holo sparkle!

What I used:
Essie Bikini So Teeny- periwinkle blue
(Forever 21) Love & Beauty Mint Confetti- glitter
Love, Charlotte XO (no name mint shade)
Sephora by OPI White Hot- white
Out the Door Northern Lights top coat- holographic glitter


I loved the simplicity and wear-ability of this mani. What visions does it conjure up for you? Tell me what you think in the comments, and have a fabulous day!

Love, Charlotte XO by Color Club From Charlotte Russe Swatches and Review

Today I have swatches of four polishes that I found the other day at Charlotte Russe. I don't usually shop at that store but I decided to stop in, curious if they sold any nail polish. I was excited to find that they had a good selection (maybe 20 different shades?), and a few that I really wanted to try. They were being sold 2 for $6.00, or $3.50 each, so I ended up with four. 

I was really pleased with the formulas. The application was easier than I expected, and each had good pigmentation. It only required two coats for each creme shade, with decent opacity in just one coat. 

Unfortunately none of the polishes had names! Hello! Isn't that the second best thing about a nail polish, beside a great color?

This shade I am calling a lime-mint. It's bright, like double-mint gum. See, that could be its name right there. My camera hates most greens, especially if they have any amount of blue, so these first two swatches didn't photograph well. I had to darken the photos because the green is so bright (but not neon) that the color got washed out. The polish almost looks matte here, but it's not.

This is two coats, good formula and easy application. Plus top coat.

This next polish I will call a turquoise-mint. Isn't it a beautiful Easter-y shade? Again, this shade made my camera angry so I had to make it a little darker. No, I'm not wearing self-tanner here. :)

Two coats, good formula and application. Plus top coat.

This polish is a dark purple-grey, which I love. It's such a pretty shade, I could wear it year-round.

I may have been able to pull off one coat with this if I was generous enough with the polish, but I did two regular coats here to get perfect coverage. Good formula, easy application. Plus top coat.

Lastly, I have a neon-pink hex and white bar glitter. This fun and funky glitter is a good addition to my small glitter collection. The biggest sized glitter is so big that it didn't lay completely flat, but at least it wasn't curling. One thing that can be difficult with glitters is that they can be too "wet". I felt this one had too much clear polish, which affects both application and drying time.

This is "one" coat, meaning I dabbed it all on trying to get good glitter placement. Average formula, and had to put more effort into application. Of course, I used top coat.

I am so happy about my finds! Honestly I didn't have high hopes, but thought it would be worth the experiment. Now that they have exceeded my expectations, I will be going back for a few more that I had my eye on.

What do you think of these? Will you be purchasing any? *As of this posting I'm not finding this line of polish on their website. Hopefully they will put them up eventually, for those of you who are not near a store location.*

Let me know your thoughts in the comments!