NOTD: Grasslands

Hey guys! I was playing ball with Bella Roo yesterday and my nail on my pointer finger sustained a critical break. She got really excited and tried to grab the ball out of my hand. It was was the perfect storm of puppy teeth, a tennis ball, and a 3 day old manicure... there was nothing I could do to save it. So, I ended up cutting back all my nails since there was such an extreme difference in the lengths... broke my heart. :o(

It's a wee nubbin!

Oh well, what can ya do? So anyways, I've seen several new takes on stamped zebra and tiger manicures in the past few days and I have to say, I'm a fan! I think my fave has to be this gorgeous number from That's So Fresh... I love the effect the layering created. So being inspired and with my conveniently shorter nails that make for easy stamping, I created my own version.






I used OPI Skull and Glossbones for my base color. Then I sponged on OPI San Tan-tonio, China Glaze Westside Warrior, and Orly Luxe in random spots. After that, I stamped on the zebra print using Essie Licorice with the Konad M57 plate. I started to use a white polish for my base but I wanted the look to be more earthy and fall-ish... I'm definitely glad I did!

Thanks for reading!
- Kim

NOTD: Crackalackin with Cynthia

Hey guys! I'm just doing a quick little post today. I tried out Zoya Cynthia from this fall's Smoke and Mirrors collection... it's a nice dark peacock blue. Think like Lincoln Park After Dark's blue-green cousin, if you will. And true to my worst-polish-blogger-ever form, I totally neglected to take pictures of what it looks like before I applied a coat of China Glaze Crackle in Platinum Pieces. Oh well... there are ton of blogs out there with swatches. Our dear friend Google should be able to help you find them. :o)





On a side note, I've been sick these past few days... not horribly ill but just under the weather and very, very uncomfortable. I have some sort of annoying sinus/respiratory thing and I can't seem to shake it... it's driving me nuts and I'm tired of the air I'm breathing feeling like it's hot and thick and has a flavor. You know what I'm talking about? Yeah, it's one of those kind of bugs and for some reason it makes me extra snarky and sassy. I haven't a clue as to what that's about but thanks for sticking with me and my absentee blogger issues the past couple of weeks. Hopefully, I'll be back on my A-game soon so as always...

Thanks for reading!
- Kim

NOTD: Pretty Purple Pansies

Hey guys! Before I get to the nails, I wanted get your thoughts on the new blog design. I was getting a little tired of the pale watercolor look I had going and wanted something a little bit edgier. I modeled it after my profile picture, lol. I think it's cute but I feel like it needs something else... hmmm.

Anyway, I came across this super simple tutorial by Nail Art Express and I was instantly inspired to do my own version. I love her nail art and if you aren't following her, you definitely should! She has some amazing ideas and is always willing to share what she knows.





For this mani, I used China Glaze VIII (the dark purple) and Sally Hansen Delphinium as my base colors, the flowers were done using China Glaze Spontaneous and VII, Sally Hansen Whirlwind White, and Zoya Gemma. The dots are the Whirlwind White and Essie Licorice. If I were to do this one again, I think I would make the outsides of the flowers the dark purple and the inside the light. But anywho, thanks for reading!

- Kim

NOTD: Bling Dynasty

Hey guys! Quick post today... I did a random design using Bundle Monster image plates BM-208 and BM-221. My base color is OPI Bling Dynasty and the stamps are done with China Glaze China Rouge, Orly Luxe, and Essie Licorice. It's very different than what I would typically wear but I think it's pretty none the less... I'll still probably end up taking it off tomorrow though, lol.






Thanks for reading!
- Kim

NOTD: A Little More Rosey

I liked my previous mani so much, I decided to do a similar one using girly pinks instead of blue. I used Sally Hansen Insta-Dri in Whirlwind White, Fuchsia Flare, Magenta Motion, and Chartreuse Chase with China Glaze Tree Hugger and Fairy Dust. (The Fairy Dust is a light coat over the the flowers but the camera doesn't capture it all that well. It looks super cute in person though!)

Pardon my cuticles... they're quite overdue for some TLC. Eek!





Thanks for reading!
- Kim

NOTD: Roses for the Yankees!

This mani wasn't originally intended for the NY Yankees but since, at the time of this post, they're up 17 to 7 in the seventh inning, I decided to say it's for my boys since OPI Russian Navy is the perfect Yankees blue. :oP

I started out with just the OPI which was way too plain for my taste. (You know I can't leave well enough alone.) So I added some white flowers using Sally Hansen Whirlwind White and my large dotting tool. Then, I free-handed the green leaves using China Glaze Tree Hugger and the silver details of the flowers with Sonja Kashuk Smoke and Mirrors. The camera doesn't capture the silver that well... it's a lot more visible IRL. Then I added the polka dots using my smaller dotting tool and free-handed the white moons using Orly Pointe Blanche.

This is without any topcoat so I would have a matte finish:




I prefer the shiny look so I went back and added a top coat of Seche Vite:




So, which do you prefer? With or without the shine?

Thanks for reading!
- Kim

NOTD: Bold Color Crackle

Hey guys! Just a quick post today... Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Lightning with China Glaze Broken Hearted crackle on top. (Does this make anyone else think of lava or is that just me?)





Thanks for reading!
- Kim

NOTD: Multi-Colored Blooms

Hey guys! I was feeling a bit uninspired last night when I went to do my nails so I decided to wait until today. I still didn't have an idea of what I wanted to do so I got dressed and that's when I had a 'eureka' moment. I have this top from Old Navy that I just adore so I decided to do my nail design based on the fabric.

This the top that inspired me. You can get it at Old Navy for $13.00 now.

There are couple things I would have changed about how I did these but overall, I like the look. I used OPI Skull and Glossbones for my base. Then for the flowers, I used Zoya Gemma and Jules, Orly Pointe Blache, China Glaze Solar Power, and OPI Chop-sticking to my Story. I like that it's so colorful yet neutral at the same time. I hope you guys liked this mani too and until next time...

Thanks for reading!
- Kim

NOTD: Doing Just Peachy

Hey guys! Just a quick post today... I did these nails using China Glaze Peachy Keen for my base. Then I did the flowers and polka dots using China Glaze For Audrey and Tree Hugger and Orly Pointe Blanche.





Thanks for Reading!
- Kim

NOTD: Dandelion Puffs

A little while back, I came across an adorable dandelion manicure on tumblr and I finally got around to doing my own version. (The original is by MaD Manis... check them out!)





I used China Glaze For Audrey, Kiss Nail Artist Black, and Sinful Colors Nail Art White. It was very simple and literally took me less than 20 minutes from base coat to top coat. Awesome!~

Thanks for reading!
- Kim

NOTD: Tarnished Gold

Just a quick post today. I took the gel tips off so I'm back to my natural nails... yay! For this one, I was inspired by one of the necklaces my mom and dad gave me last week for my birthday. It is so pretty... I already wore it once and I got a ton of compliments on it. (It's also budget friendly! You can find it at Wal-Mart.)

But back to the nails. I used Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Brisk Blue and China Glaze Crackle in Tarnished Gold. Love it!~






Thanks for reading!
- Kim

NOTD: Cracking Up (+ Swatches!)

Hey guys! If any of of you guys are on Twitter, you should definitely follow @ChinaGlaze if you aren't already. The reason I say this, is because I am now in possession of their six new metallic crackles... I won them in a random sample giveaway through Twitter last week! (Woot!) Lots of companies are doing giveaways and discounts via Twitter and FB these days and that's one bandwagon I'm glad to be on, lol. I initially thought by winning a "sample" it would be one, singular bottle. Imagine my surprise when I opened my mailbox and found this:


Now, that's a pretty big box for one little polish and then it was heavy... I had got all SIX of them! I was stoked to say the least... so enough chit chat and on to the polishes!


There are six shades, from left to right: Cracked Medallion, Oxidized Aqua, Haute Metal, Platinum Pieces, Tarnished Gold, and Latticed Lilac. I really like all of them, especially on darker base colors. Here are some swatches of each color on black, white, and some random color choices I made. I picked the colors based on the color family of each crackle... orange and copper, gray and silver, teal and aqua, et cetra. I figured it something a little different than the standard quot.

I also tried out painting the strokes of the crackles in different directions to see how much difference it made. I filmed the process and I'm contemplating posting the video but I'm, uh, how to put it... a little bashful and self-conscious about my voice/accent. I'll just say that if I grow a pair, I'll share it. lol


I really had a lot of fun playing around with these so I decided to take my water decals off and switch to one of the crackles. I went with the Platinum Pieces over Essence Movie Star which is a nice, deep gray. I love the whole look of this! ♥



I also shortened my gel tips. I left them on to protect my natural nails while they grow out but the length had to go. I seriously thought I was used to the long nails but a load of laundry and a sink full of dishes later, I realized that was a negative, lol.


Another thing I like about this mani, is that it matches my outfit perfectly today... metallic belt, metallic cardigan, metallic nails... (I like to be matchy-matchy, I don't care what the fashion-experts say! ;o)

So much shiny!

So thanks for reading and until next time!
- Kim