Dots.... and a smudge

Okay, I thought I was being so smart.   This morning I did my nail art while I sat at Dunkin Donuts, because it is one of those places where no one bothers me.  I have a little mobile nail kit I keep in my bag stocked with many of my art tools, and I add a few bottles of polish.

Once I finished my art, then added my quick dry coat I still had plenty of time to allow my nails to completely dry.

I was halfway pleased with my final result, so when I looked down at my nails after lunch and noticed a smudge on my left hand ring finger, I was not real happy.

Sigh.

I have a real love of pink, black and white.  I also will add grey.   Today's manicure is made up of Nina Ultra Pro in Burst My Bubble, OPI in My Boyfriend Scales Walls and China Glaze in Liquid Leather.

Here is my next manicure.... something different.  At least a little different, I am feeling 'dotted' out.  And no more pink and black.  Until next time.

Stay tuned!!  

Elizabeth

More Pixie Dust love... sigh...

I feel an itch to get on Amazon and order all the new Pixie Dust Fall 2013 colors.

Here is Nyx. My usual base coat, two coats of Nyx and one coat of Seche Vite.  I almost applied a third coat, but I really like the way this looks with just two.  I might add a third tonight or tomorrow.

And here is a an odd fact, Pixie Dust wears like a dream.  It never chips, and I beat the hell out of my nails.  Between work (where I am typing, filing, 10-keying, opening boxes) and everything I do at home (cooking, cleaning, keeping up with my six year old who gets into everything) this polish stays true.  And it dries sooo quickly.

It is funny, because I used to never even think about purchasing textured polishes, but I am digging this Pixie Dust.  I feel an Amazon order coming on...  I would really like a good pink Pixie Dust (yes, I know it is September, but I am not a strict follower of season rules of nail polish).

I am off to surf Amazon!!

What a pretty blue!!

Oh, pardon moi... this is not blue, but 'Blu.'

Zoya's Blu is a odd little duck of a blue.  It is a opaque blue, which I would describe as 'chalky.'  I don't know if that is a word, but that is what comes to mind as I was applying this lovely color to my digits this morning.

I painted two coats, applied over my base coat and of course followed by Seche Vite.  If you ever apply this polish, word of warning... the first coat appears to be a little uneven (which happens when a light colored polish is true opaque polish).  But by the second coat it evens out and appears oh so lovely.

This is a super color and must go into regular rotation.  All by itself, it is a very sharp manicure.  This blue color could work with so many other colors... black, white, lilac, silver, mint green, baby pink, soft yellow.  This list could go on and on...

I feel some nail art coming on, stay tuned for tomorrow.   I need to add something to this manicure, but what?  Dots?  Flowers?

Happy polishing!!

Water Marbling...

I have an odd relationship with water marbling.  There are some evenings when everything goes perfectly... the polish expands across the cup of room temperature water as I add rings of color.  The collection of polish looks beautiful and I effortlessly create unique manicures with little effort.

This was not one of those instances.

It took a more than few tries to successfully complete this manicure, but finally I was pleased (not overly pleased, but pleased none the less).

What do you think?

I have done worse, I have done better.   But, I love these colors together.

Zoya Pixie Dust Love

Okay... I am loving the new Zoya Pixie Dust line.  It is amazing.  I purchased Tomoko from Amazon a few days ago and I have been itching to get this on my digits.  It was worth the wait...

It goes on like buttah... Smooth as silk.  I did three coats (two looked so good I had to go for three).  I started with my base coat - Nailtek Hydration Therapy III for Dry Brittle Nails, then three coats of Tomoko Pixie Dust followed by the tried and true Seche Vite.

What do you think?  I will have to try Nyx next time.

If anyone has any good advice for helping with dry and brittle nails, dear God above let me know!!  I have crazy hard nails, but they peel and break.  And when my nails break, they mean it, breaking all the way down to the quick.  I have been using Mango Oil for my cuticles, and it has been helping a bit, but I could use some additional care.  Suggestions, comments and/or tips would be greatly appreciated!!

Can you wear white after Labor Day? My nails do!!

Fall in metro Atlanta, is not really Fall at all.

Before my family moved to metro Atlanta, when I was a wee girl of 6 and 7, we lived in Massachusetts.   Now, that is a state that a true, blue Fall.   School starts the weekend after Labor Day, and you really need a light weight jacket before the end of the month.   You spend the first week of September putting away your tank tops and shorts so there is room for your new fall wardrobe.

I have spent most of my life here in Georgia, and in high school we used to tell ourselves by Halloween, it will finally be a little cooler.  I won't need a lightweight jacket until November so I will be still be wearing my summer wardrobe for many more weeks.   And while everyone who lives here knows this, and understands it, our retail community is already selling Halloween costumes and some places are even putting up freakin' Christmas crap.

Which brings me to my white manicure.... of course like all fashion forward divas I will wear my white shoes whenever I feel like it.  Unlike those days of ole' when white shoes were put away after Labor Day weekend and did not see the light of day until Memorial Day; now you can wear those white ballet flats whenever the mood strikes you.

I love this polish... My Boyfriend Scales Walls by OPI.  It is a beautiful white with a touch a gray and not only is a lovely polish by itself, this is a great base color.

Okay... so I am a married lady with a fabulous husband, a fulltime son, and a _________ retail job (insert your own adjective....the one I would prefer to use is one of the seven words you are not supposed to say in polite company).

Between being a wife, a mom, a daughter, a sister and an employee, there is not much time for me.   Except, at the end of the night when my boys are asleep and my ipod is charged... out comes the nail box.

Sometimes I may just give myself a simple manicure and swipe on a few coats of a baby pink and call it a night.   But sometimes I feel the need to be creative.   And doing fun nails is something I enjoy.  And my husband has not said anything yet... but I fear he may not be as excited as I am when the new Zoya Pixie Dust colors were released.   I figured even if not one single soul reads my little blog, at least I feel as if I am sharing my love and daily thrills of being a 'wanna-be-nail-diva.'

SO... let's get started....

Thanks! 

Eliza