Wednesday, November 28, 2012

12 Days of Christmas Nail Art Challenge - Day 1: Only Red & Green


Hi everyone! Just finished a nail art challenge and hopping into the next! Guess what today is? Today starts the 12 Days of Christmas Nail Art Challenge! Yay! A huge hug and thank you to Nicole at Dipped In Lacquer for setting this up. This challenge goes until Christmas Day. I could hardly contain my excitement when I heard about this challenge. Ever since I first got into nail art, I was dreaming up fun Christmas designs! So let's check out day one: only red and green!

 

This challenge was certainly as challenge! First off, I don't own a single green green polish! What kind of polish blogger am I?  I mean, sure, I have tons of mints and turquoise, but nothing that even slightly resembles Kermit the Frog green :( I ended up doing some quick thinking and using one of my Migi pens as the base color. Secondly, I just started my new job this week (yay!) and this challenge kind of snuck up on me. Was this done in a rush? Er...well...yes. Don't kill me!  PS. Ignore my insanely dry cuticles tonight. The weather plus constantly washing my hands at work (I'm a daycare teacher!) totally wrecked havoc on them. 

Polish used: Migi Pen in Green, China Glaze Prey Tell, Lynnderella Pretty Little Vampire and Above The Curve Kerbabbled!

Major fail alert: red + green = brown. I'm le idiot! Can you tell I just wasn't thinking? Anyway, I'm not completely disappointed with this. I love the matte green and with super shiny (and glitter packed) tips.


Who's excited for Christmas? *THIS GIRL!*

Check out these lovely ladies and their red and green nails:
Monday, November 26, 2012

Influenster: College VoxBox


Hi lovers! A little earlier in the month, I wrote a little blog post allllll about this site called Influenster after receiving my first ever box (BTW, still reviewing it but it should be up soon). Imagine my surprise when a few weeks after that, I received a second box! I had no idea you could review more than one at a time! Actually, I was super shocked because the second box that I received was a College VoxBox! - which is awesome, but I'm not in college... Still. I love free stuff and I love reviewing things. Whether this was a mix up on their end, I have no idea but naturally, I'm thrilled! 

Influenster College VoxBox 2012

These are the goodies inside! 

Impress Press-On Manicure in D030 Holla! - $5.99 for colors, $7.99 for patterns
I really, really, REALLY thought I was going to hate these. That's a great way to start off a review, Noelle. High five. But it's true. Ever since the great fake nail debacle of 2010 when I was cooking on a grill and one of my nails flew off onto the grill and sizzled, I've stayed clear away from these things. I was pleasantly surprised that A.) these fit my tiny little nails and B.) actually stayed on. I loved the lace print also. Each nail has an adhesive (think double-sided tape but stronger) already attached underneath the nail so you just find the nail closest to your size, take off the tape sealer and pop them on. It's that easy! 

Pentel EnerGel-X Campaign in Blue - $1.90 per pen
Honestly, this was just another pen to me. 

Energy Sheets - $5.95 per pack of 10 sheets
I've never heard of these before receiving the College VoxBox. Maybe if I was in college, I'd have heard of them. Either way, they're definitely different. You take a sheet and place it on your tongue and let it dissolve. Two sheets contain enough caffeine equal to one cup of coffee. I personally, didn't like the taste (super minty - and I usually love mint!) but they're definitely great to have on-the-go. This really is perfect for a college student who needs an extra kick. 

NYC New York Color Show Time Glitter Eyeliner Pencil - $2.49 per pencil
I was thrilled this was in the box! I love NYC New York Color but never tried this eyeliner pencil before. It was super smooth to work with. The glitter was not gritty on the eye like some others I have used.

Necco Tropical Wafers - $1.25 each, $24.00 per box and $37.50 per tub
I haven't had these in FOR-EV-ER. I think I was like, ten the last time I had Necco wafers. My mom used to be like, "Why do you like those!? They taste like Tums!" but I loved them. Now they've come out with Tropical Wafers with flavors like strawberry, lime, mango, coconut and passion fruit. My favorites were strawberry and lime!

Yum yum yummmm! 

To learn more about Influenster, check out my blog post here! For those of you who received this box, do you love it? For those who haven't, what would you like to try from this box?

* This box was sent to me to review from Influenster but all opinions are 100% me, baby!
Friday, November 23, 2012

Model City Christmas Collection - Review & Swatches


Hi everyone! Today I have for you three polishes from Model City Polish's Christmas Collection! I just about died when I received these and couldn't wait to swatch and review these for you all! Let's get to it!
O Christmas Tree, With Your Nose So Bright and Baby, It's Cold Outside 

With Your Nose So Bright is a clear base inspired by Rudolph with various shades of brown and red hexes and black bars for antlers!

This is two coats over CG Kalarhi Kiss. This had such a smooth formula and I had no problems with getting the glitter out of the bottle. Perfection!

Baby, It's Cold Outside is a clear base with two kinds of blue holographic glitter, silver glitter and large holographic silver glitter.

This is two coats over CG Seaspray. Again, absolute perfection! Application was neither runny nor chunky. Just the perfect amount of glitter!

O Christmas Tree is a clear base with gold stars, matte green shards, silver bars and variously colored hexes.

My favorite! This is two coats over Essie Sand Tropez and Essie Butler Please. I just love everything about this. Again, no problems with application and get this: I didn't have to go fishing for stars! They just flowed right out. A++++++!

Overall: JAW. DROP. What an amazing collection! My favorite, for sure, was O Christmas Tree but all of these had amazing formulas and no application problems whatsoever. 

Where To Buy: Model City Polish / Price: $4 for minis and $8 for full size. 

Availability: These three polishes along with the rest of the Christmas collection are available! Special priced $5 bottles are also up! Make sure to "like" Model City Polish on FaceBook to be kept up-to-date!

Which polish is your favorite? 

* This product was sent to me for an honest review! You'll get the truth and nothing but the truth! :)
Friday, November 23, 2012

Thanksgiving Nail Art Challenge: Day 5 - Turkeys!


Howdy everyone! I hope all of you had a yummy Thanksgiving! I'm currently eating my mom's cheesy mashed potatoes for breakfast and can assure you we'll be eating "Thanksgiving" for at least a week straight! Anywho, today is the last day of the Thanksgiving Nail Art Challenge which means it's TURKEY day!
Naturally, I forgot to take a picture of the polishes I used again. Darnit! I used a random white polish for the base, China Glaze Prey Tell, China Glaze Kalarhi Kiss and Essie Chinchilly.

I think the turkey on my pinky may know what's served as a main dish on Thanksgiving!


Gobble gobble gobble gobble gobble (that's "turkey" for make to check out these ladies nails too!):

A recap of the Thanksgiving Nail Art Challenge:
 

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Thanksgiving Nail Art Challenge: Day 4 - Pies/Dessert


HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
It's Thanksgiving which means filling my tummy to the brim with turkey, mashed potatoes, corn and PIES. LOTS AND LOTS of pie. Pumpkin, blueberry, cherry - hmmm. Speaking of cherry pie... That reminds me of something I was supposed to show you guys but I can't remember what it was. Something about today being day four of the Thanksgiving Nail Art Challenge and that the theme is...


PIE! 

How cute are these nails? I'm in love. So in love I wore them longer then one day. *Pats self on back* My mom kept staring at my nails saying, "But - but - they look like cherry pie." Mission accomplished.

Polish used was China Glaze Kalarhi Kiss for the "crust" and China Glaze Prey Tell for the "cherry filling". I can't remember what I used for the "golden crust" parts. Sowee!

Andddd now I want some pie. 

I hope everyone has an amazing holiday! This Thanksgiving (along with every single day) I'm thankful for my family and my boyfriend and their never-ending support for anything I ever do, my *new* job, my health, my blog and YOU ALL! You really all have no idea how thankful I am to have all of you! ♥ ♥ Thank you all SO SO SO much for reading my blog. 

Don't fill up too quick - check these ladies and their sweet nails first!




Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Thanksgiving Nail Art Challenge: Day 3 - Orange/Brown


Hi my little sugar muffins! Today is day tres (three) for the Thanksgiving Nail Art Challenge! The theme today is orange/brown which is simple enough but I really wanted to jazz this one up!


I USED: China Glaze Riveting, Essie Moccachino, Essie Chinchilly and Essie Sand Tropez!

Using one thin coat of Essie Sand Tropez as the base, I took a thin nail art brush and just made brush strokes on the tips using the various orange and brown polishes. Easy peasy, right?

They look a little reminiscent of feathers which is perfect for Thanksgiving!


Make sure to check out the other ladies participating in this nail art challenge:


Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Movember: Mustache & Tuxedo Nails!


Hi lovers! Tonight I have a really special mani for a really special cause. For those who don't know, November is also called Movember to raise awareness for men's health, specifically prostate cancer and testicular cancer. In the spirit of this, I decided to join in with the lovely Melissa (from Missy's Manicures) and create some fun "manly" nail art to show my support! xx


Did you know...?
  • Prostate cancer is one of the most controversial cancers in both diagnosis and treatment.
  • This is the second most common cancer that affects men after lung cancer.
  • The risk of developing prostate cancer increases after the age of 50 years. Majority of prostate cancer are diagnosed in men over 65 years.
  • There are over 2 million American men currently living with prostate cancer.
  • Charles B. Huggins in 1941 was awarded a Nobel prize for understanding that prostate cancer was dependent on testosterone for its growth and spread and this could be reversed by giving estrogens, the so called ‘Chemical Castration’.
  • Prostate Specific Antigen - a marker to diagnose prostate cancer was first used in forensic investigation to determine if a stain on the undergarment was due to semen or not.
  • The use of ‘robotics in surgery’ is most commonly deployed for removing a malignant prostate cancer from the pelvis.
  • Prostate cancer is a relatively slow-growing cancer. For all stages of the cancer the average 5-year survival rate is 98% and the 10-year survival rate is 84%. Remember - Most people die with this cancer and not of it.



Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Thanksgiving Nail Art Challenge: Day 2 - Charlie Brown!


Hi everyone! Today is day two of the Thanksgiving Nail Art Challenge which means Charlie Brown nails! I've actually never watched A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving - can you believe it? I feel like it's a classic. Needless to say, I DVR'd it to watch on Thursday.


Eek! I forgot to take a picture of the polishes I used. Oopsies! I used Essie Sand Tropez for the base on my thumb and pinky. butterLONDON Cheeky Chops for my middle finger base and various Migi Nail Art pens for the details. 

These nails took two takes to do. The first was HOR-RIB-LE! But I'm pretty proud of this one. I think my favorite nail is Woodstock! Which one is your favorite?

As always, check out these ladies Charlie Brown nails!
Monday, November 19, 2012

Thanksgiving Nail Art Challenge: Day 1 - Leaves!


Who's ready for some Thanksgiving nail art!? WOOOOHOOO! I know I am! The lovely Kim at College Polished put together this Thanksgiving challenge and I couldn't be more excited to join in. I just bought nail art brushes and was itching to try them out. Today is leaves which would seem simple enough except I had already done them in the last nail art challenge so I needed to change them up! Let's see what I came up with!


I USED: China Glaze Roguish Red, China Glaze Lemon Fizz and Essie Sand Tropez

 
TA-DA! I went for an abstract leaf print this time and I surprisingly really like this! I'm usually my worst critic but I'm a fan this time :)





Make sure to check out these lovely ladies and their leafy nails:

the latest on the 'gram.