Cozy Skittlette NOTD

Hey friends! Hope you all are doing well and enjoying the holiday season! The last week of November was a hectic blur of food, family, travels and working toward my writing goal of 50k words. I am pleased to say that I accomplished my goal, ending the month with 50,017 words written of my story. I'm not finished with the rough draft, but I am won't be pressed for time as much as I had been. So that means i will be able to post more on the blog!

In fact, I have a nice skittlette to share today. It has been a while since I did something like this and I forgot how much I love doing them.

Mint Green and Gold Saran Wrap Skittlette NOTD

Hi friends! So I meant to post this last week, I even had all the pictures edited! But I didn't and then I forgot about until Monday when I was figuring out my post schedule for the week, I realized that it never happened. Oops! Anyway, I have been in a serious skittlette mood as of late and I was craving something that would be perfect for summer! I went with one of my favorite color combos, mint green and gold, added a little bling and a nice textural element and viola!

LOOK Proud Memorial Day Nail Art

Hey all, happy Memorial Day weekend to all my US friends! Today's post is a bit different than the NOTD/nail art posts I normally publish. A couple of weeks back, I posted a swatch review of a new drugstore brand called LOOK Nail Color (read the original post here) and had a very unpleasant experience with the brand. After my review, LOOK contacted me stating they had inadvertently sent me "hand poured" samples which they use for promotional photos and that they would be sending me "production quality" samples as well with no expectation of an additional review.

I did do a comparison swatch between the two set and attempted the original nail art design I was planning for the first post with the new samples and in all honesty, these are much, much better. If I had gotten the "production quality" samples, my review would have been very different! The formulas on all three are so much easier to work with and apply a lot better. I am a bit annoyed by the "hand poured" discrepancy but I am impressed that LOOK took the time to reach out to me and correct their mistake.

So! Now that I got all that out of the way, I can show you my original design that I had planned the first time around!

Black & Mint Green Stamped Floral Skittlet

Hey guys and gals! It's has been waaaay too long since I have done any stamping. File it under the category of "Life is a total drain on anything fun" along with the ridiculously long break from nail art I took. But sometimes all it takes is really great materials to kick inspiration in gear. After I swatched the Ellagee Grey Scale collection, (read that review, here!) I was sure that Ebony, the black polish in the set, would make an awesome stamping polish. And I have been wearing Mint Succulent from Fair Maiden Polish for a few days, so.... Well you can see where I'm going with this right?!

Nail Strip Water Decals from Born Pretty

Heeeeeeyyyyy you guys! So if you follow my FB page, you may have seen a little notice I posted  about 2 weeks ago saying that the video card on my laptop had crashed and I wouldn't be able to post while it was getting fixed. I finally got it back Monday and have been trying to catch up on editing photos and putting together posts.

Today I have some more Born Pretty goodies. I love nail strips in any form. They are such a great way to add a little something extra to a basic mani. These strips from Born Pretty are a different sort than any I have tried. Instead of being a peel and stick strip, they are water decal strips!

Please Note: Products shown were provided by the company/creator for review purposes.

Tiny Golden Triangle Charms from Born Pretty

Hey guys and gals! Sorry about the lack of posts lately. The little was sick with a head cold last week and I, naturally, quickly caught it! We are both feeling loads better (except for a cough that won't go away) and I felt good enough to do something with my nails, woohoo!

Today I have some fun little nail charms from Born Pretty. I love the tiny sized charms, they are perfect for adding a little something extra to a simple mani.

Please Note: Products shown were provided by the creator/company for review purposes.

Twinsie Tuesday: Inspired By Your Shoes

Hi y’all! How is your week going? Since it is Tuesday, I have this week’s Twinsie post. We are doing manis inspired by our shoes. I am not a shoe person to be honest. I would live in flip flops if I could, lol! But since it is winter, I have stored them in favor of some very sensible, comfy canvas flats from target. I am pretty sure this mani is way more fashionable than they are, lol!

Born Pretty 3D Metallic Nail Stickers

Hey y'all, hope your week is going well! It has been pretty uneventful here, but I am not complaining, lol!

Today I have another Born Pretty review for you guys! Along with the rhinestones and the neon loose glitter, I also received a sheet of 3D metallic stickers.

Please Note: Products shown were provided by the company/creator for review purposes.

3D Metallic Nail Stickers

Rainbow Gradient Glitter Placement with Born Pretty Neon Circle Glitter

Hey all! Hope you guys are having a great week! It has been super hectic around here with school stuff and the Mr.'s job change (his last day at the old place was yesterday, eep!) and I am trying to muddle my way through, haha! But I am managing to find a few moments to blog and catch up on social media. Though I am not as active as I wish I were. So thanks to you all who don't give up on me if I don't have the time to be around as much!

Today I have more goodies from Born Pretty. This time around, I went a little more complex and used a glitter pot full of neon circle glitter! 

Please Note: Products shown were provided by the company/creator for review purposes.

Born Pretty Neon Circle Glitter Pot

Rhinestone Ruffian with Born Pretty Iridescent Rhinestones

Hey guys and gals! I am on a roll! I have posts lined up all week long. Even when I am in the groove and manage to blog on a regular basis, that never happens. So today I have some more goodies from the Born Pretty store that I got to play around with.

Please Note: Products shown were provided by the company/creator for review purposes.

Born Pretty Colorful Rhinestone Wheel

Studded Skittelette with Born Pretty Studs

Hey all! Today I have the last of three Born Pretty review posts for you all (you can read the first two here and here). For this post I have some pastel neon studs to review. I chose these because I love all things that fall into this color palette!

Please Note: Products shown were provided by the company/creator for review purposes.

Embellished Gradient with Born Pretty Water Decals

Hey everyone! Happy Thursday afternoon! Sorry for the late posting, I totally forgot about today's post and never had it written up. Oops! 

Today, I have the second of three Born Pretty product reviews for you all. If you missed the first one from last Thursday you can read it here. For this week's post I am reviewing some water decals!

Please Note: Products shown were provided by the company/creator for review purposes.

Flirty French with Born Pretty 3D Floral Stickers

Hey everyone! Today I have a fun nail art post with some Born Pretty goodies! This is the first of three posts featuring different nail art embellishments that I was sent to review for you guys. First up are some 3D floral stickers!

Please Note: Products shown were provided by the company/creator for review purposes.

The package contains one sheet of 30 floral stickers in three sizes. Directions for use are printed on the back. Since the flowers look so delicate, I decided to go with something fun and girlie.

Used:

O.P.I. - Glints Of Glinda

RBL - Coquette

Chevron vinyl nail stickers

Born Pretty 3D floral stickers

The floral stickers were very easy to apply. After I painted my nails, I simply peeled off a sticker from the sheet using tweezers and placed it on my nail. I used my current go-to top coat, KB Shimmer COT to seal the stickers. They also come off easily with nail polish remover too.

The stickers are fun and super easy to use. There are five different designs to choose from: bows, flowers, and assorted filigree. It is a simple way to embellish your nails without a lot of hassle. And you can get as creative as you want with them!

I have a 10% discount code to go along with all the Born Pretty stuff I will be reviewing over the next couple of weeks. So when you see something you like, be sure to use the code GETG10 at checkout!

Please Note: Products shown were provided by the company/creator for review purposes. All opinions are my own. For more info, please read my disclaimer. 

Born Pretty 3D floral stickers and other nail art related products are available on line. 3D stickers retail for $2.19 a sheet. Prices vary by item. 

Twinsie Tuesday: Summer Lovin'

Hey y'all! Today is kind of a special post. I have been invited to join the Twinsie Tuesday nail art group! I have so many feels right now! The group is comprised of enormously talented ladies that I have been inspired by since I first started nail art. So each Tuesday, I will be participating in the nail art prompts with the rest of the group. Today is my first post as part of the group, and I hope I do my fellow TT ladies proud!

Today's prompt is Summer Lovin'. Aside from the immediate Grease reference (what can I say - huuuuge musicals dork!), I thought of a sunset on a beach.

Used:

KB Shimmer - In Bare Form

(Accent)

O.P.I. - MBSW (as a base for gradient)

O.P.I. - Hey Baby

O.P.I. - Where Did Suzi's Man-Go

O.P.I. - I Just Can't Cope-Acabana

Born Pretty heart stud

Make up Sponge

I really love how the gradient turned out. O.P.I.'s blend so well and I kinda want to use them all the time now! Plus the nude/neon or bright combo so fun for summer mani's. 

So I hope you guys liked my first Twinsie Tuesday post, and please be sure check out the rest of the blog posts from the group!

Alaina at The Little Canvas

Amanda at Amandalandish

Amber at Nails Like Lace
Anna at Going to the Showing
Bridget at A Painted Nail

Casey at CaseyLane Loves Polish

Chelsea at Nailed Blog

ChiChi at I'm Just Me...ChiChi

Cordia at Seriously Swatched

Elizabeth at Did My Nails

Erin at Paint Those Piggies

Jessica at Blue Velvet Lacquer

Kelly at Tuxarina

Lakeisha at Refined and Polished

Marisa at Polish Obsession

Róisín at Cuti-CLUE-les

Stephanie at A Little Polish

Tiffany at Polished To Precision

Valentine's Day Nails - Two Ways

Hey guys and gals! Happy Friday, and Happy Valentine's Day! I hope you all have a day filled with love and joy. And pretty nails. Cause that's the most important thing, right? Just kidding...sorta...

So, remember when I said I had no clue what I was doing for Valentine's Day? Well, I guess my brain had some sort of crazy inspiration, because I came up with two designs! Yep, I'm feeling pretty awesome right now. I also tried to go a little different with my designs, and add my personal style to them as well, instead of sticking with more traditional looks.

Used:

Takko Lacquer - Spirited Away

O.P.I. - Black Onyx (for stamping)

MoYou London Scholar Collection - Plate #05

Born Pretty Studs

So I may have ordered the MoYou London scholar plate just so I could do this mani. I love the little doodle heart and the studs, and the gorgeous Takkito. Perfection. It almost broke my heart to take it off.

Used:

O.P.I. - LAMB

O.P.I. - MVIB

Zoya - Neely

Zoya - Louise

Born Pretty Studs

Dotting Tool

This is probably my favorite color combination. I mean, how perfect is mint green and gold together?! The inspiration for the most awesome heart shaped leopard print is from MajicBeenz on Instagram. Which I love, even though I am not really a fan of leopard print (but yet this is the second post in a month...). Also studs. Heart shaped studs no less!

Well, that's all for today friends! I am off to bake some cupcakes with the girlie and then an actual date with the Mr.! Hope you all have a fabulous day of love and get to celebrate it with whoever you love!

Wavy Accents Nail Of The Day

Hi friends! Hope you guys are having a great Friday! How's that polar vortex treating you?! The weather has been nuts here! Needless to say, Texans are not well equipped dealing with crazy winter weather, and I am staying home with my girlie today, in front of a nice warm fire!

So, like most you of I'm sure, my inspiration for nail art comes from some very talented ladies. This NOTD is no exception. Sammie from The Nailasaurus is pretty amazing, and I have already given a few of her designs a go. My current fav, is the wavy gradient sort of look that she recently did. I gave it my spin, and picked out a color palette that I am loving so much right now. And I added studs. Because studs.

Used:

O.P.I. - MVIB

Revlon - Urban

O.P.I. - Funky Dunky

Bettina - Wild Orchid

Born Pretty Studs

I'm pretty sure this is one of my all time favorite designs I have ever ever done. It just looks so frickin perfect! It just makes me super happy looking at them. And naturally, I am thinking of how many ways I can replicate this and what colors would look awesome. I definitely think a citrus toned designs would be bananas!

On a side note, Wild Orchid is the only Bettina I have and I really love it. Bettina isn't sold any where near me, and I am a sad polish addict. I know there is a lady who does wholesale orders (I found the contact info a long time ago, but have since lost it). But I am wondering what colors would be good to put on a wishlist? Do you guys have any Bettina? Any favs that I absolutely need?

Have a great weekend, and try to freeze!

Studded Roses

Hey y'all! Hope you all are having a great week! My apologies for the lack of posts, I have been so busy getting my kiddo ready for school that I haven't had a lot of extra time. But now that she is gone most of the day, I will be able to play more often!

Today, I have another mani inspired by Marta of Chit Chat Nails. She is a master at skittle manis and I find myself looking to her blog more and more for inspiration. You should really check it out, if you haven't yet!

Used:

Julep - Julianne

Essence - Modern Romance

China Glaze - Mimosa's Before Mani's

O.P.I. - MBSW

Born Pretty Square Studs

Nail art brushes

Dotting tools

I love the vintage feel this has. Normally, I can't wear blues like this, gives me lobster hands. But I do so love the dusty blue/greys so much! The roses give it just enough warmth to even out with my skin. And of course the studs, cause studs make everything better!

 

Hope you all have a great day!

Stamping Sunday: Mixed Media stamping

Hello guys and gals! Since it' Sunday and I had some free time, I figured I would do a little stamping. I haven't really messed around with my stamp plates lately and I miss them!

 

Please Note: Post contains affiliated links.

 

 

Used:

 

China Glaze: Mimosa's Before Mani's

China Glaze: Keep Calm, Paint On

Essie: Good As Gold

 

Bundle Monster Plate : BM 224

Born Pretty Studs

 

I am so in love with this color palette! Like I mentioned in my review of RBL Liberty, minty green polishes are a close second for my favorite color this year, behind coral. So why not use them together?! I love the idea of using stamping along with other design elements for a mani, so I added some awesome circle studs from Born Pretty.

 

Hope you all have a relaxing Sunday! Until next time!

Please Note: Post contains affiliated links. Clicking the link will take you to the Born Pretty website where you can purchase studs of your own. I will receive a portion of the profits, which will feed my polish addiction.

Born Pretty studs and nail art accessories are available on line. Prices vary by product.

Mint Mani For Talia Joy

When I first started my blog (almost a year ago, eep!) and joined the community of beauty bloggers, I was completely blown away. As a whole, this community, is amazing, supportive and beyond generous. We share in each others triumphs and struggles. Sure there are catty moments and people, but overall everyone who blogs or v-logs on YouTube is pretty rad, in my opinion.

 

Recently we lost a beautiful soul, and her presence will be sorely missed.

 

 

Used:

 

China Glaze - Keep Calm, Paint On

 

Born Pretty Studs

 

At the end of the day, it's not about the nail polish or the artwork. It's about coming together as a community, to honor the memory of Talia. She represented the best of us with her courage and strength and bright spirit. Shine on little one.

Nail Of The Day: 'Merica Nails

Heeeyyyyyy! Happy 4th of July guys! I'm sure everyone's blog readers are full of festive nails, so let's add one more!

 

 

 

Used:

 

Takko Lacquer - Va Va Voom

Zoya Pixie Dust - Liberty

 

Born Pretty Stud

 

Of course I had to go overboard with the sparkles! Holo and Pixie Dust in one mani, plus studs. I think I have created the polish-obsessed trifecta. Plus, they kinda remind me of Wonder Woman. Can't get any more awesome than that!

 

Hope all of my fellow 'mericans have a fantastic 4th. Be sure to grab a cold drink and watch some fireworks tonight!