Patriotic Nails

I know, I know, I'm a day late!  I was on Pinterest last week looking for some inspiration for my toes and found this pin which I had seen before but somehow hadn't pinned.  At any rate, I used the inspiration for my toes.  I did some much simpler designs for my nails through the week and decided to match the toes for the weekend.  I really wanted to find the source of the image and give proper credit but even an image search was not helpful.  So just know these are not my original design and if you know who I should give credit to, let me know in the comments!

For these I used Sally Hansen Pacific Blue (original), OPI Over and Over A-Gwen, and Zoya Snow White.  The anchor is one of my own vinyl decals made smaller to fit the design and all topped with 

Glisten & Glow HK Girl topcoat.  These were really quite easy to do, so much so that I may use the design and use other colors...I'm thinking mint and navy with pale gray....

Custom Monogram Nails - with GIVEAWAY!!

If you follow me on Facebook you know I have had a new project in the works for a while. It has taken me a bit longer to get up and running than I initially planned but I am pleased to let you all know I have opened my own Etsy shop selling custom nail vinyls!  I am starting out with a few listings and will be adding more as time goes on so be sure to check in regularly and see what I have to offer!
I wanted to start with my favorites, the custom monograms.  For these, I started out using some of my single skinny chevrons

Then went back and added the monograms.  These are available in a variety of colors, shown here in mint.

To celebrate the grand opening of my store, I will be hosting a giveaway here on my blog as well as on some others down the line.  Check out the details below for how to enter, good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Zoya Tiana Swatch and Review

Tiana is from the new Spring collection by Zoya, Delight.  I restrained myself this time and didn't order the entire collection, though I may end up with the remaining 3 when all is said and done. Tiana is a gorgeous minty green cream shade perfect for a subtle nod to St. Patrick's Day without going all out or adding any art.  Simple, crisp and screams of spring!  Two simple coats, topped with HK Girl as usual.

St. Paddy's Day Dotticure

Kind of in love with how this one turned out.  This wasn't exactly what I had in my head when jotting down ideas but once I started this is what happened and I am pleased with the result. Base is Zoya Snow White with dots in Starbord from China Glaze and Zoya Jancyn.  These dotting tools are a great way to get starting with dotticures!

**This post contains affiliate links, this means if you order through these links, I may receive a portion of the sale at no additional cost to you. 

St. Patrick's Day French Manicure

Keeping with the St. Patrick's Day theme I wanted to do something quick and simple that anyone could do.  First up is a simple swatch of Zoya Shawn, a gorgeous olive green cream shade. This color does have a bit of a yellow undertone and was really hard to get the color right, second is more color accurate.

Next I used some tape to make a straight line across the top of each nail and painted the tips gold using Ziv also by Zoya, followed by Glisten and Glow H K Girl topcoat (seriously the BEST).

Zoya Veruschka for St. Patrick's Day

Ok folks, I have finally made some changes in my life that will (hopefully) let me get back to blogging.  I have a bunch of "untrieds" that need swatching but also a lot of ideas for nail art especially related to St. Patrick's Day, so that's what I'm going with first.  Some may (likely will) include polish that I haven't tried before and while they may not be "new" they have been sitting on my desk for some time just waiting..
First up is Zoya Veruschka used in this mani along with Snow White and Shawn, Bundle Monster holiday plate BM-H05 used for this look then I added NYC matte topcoat to the accent nail to give it a matte finish as well.  I must say, Veruschka went on very well, two easy coats, and dried fairly quickly and of course the color is gorgeous.

31 Day Challenge Day 10 - Gradient

Today's theme for the challenge is gradient nails.  Seems like white has been a trend in most looks this week and today is no exception.  This look started with a base of Zoya Purity then I created the gradient look with Zoya Jolene.

I've also been dying to try Lemonade Lemonade from Sassy Cats Lacquer since I got it a few weeks ago and this look was perfect for it.  This is one very easy "dab and place" coat topped with HK Girl topcoat as usual. 

31 Day Challenge - Day 6

If you follow me on Instagram you know that I'm trying to participate in another 31 Day Challenge.  Work has been absolutely crazy lately leaving me with little time for much of anything but I'm trying to get back to taking care of myself and doing some of the things I love.  Today's theme is "violet".
Base is Zoya Purity on index, middle and pinky fingers.  Then I added stripping tape to make a chevron look and topped with Zoya Mira.  On my thumb and ring finger is a base of Mira topped with Brilliance by Sassy Cats Lacquer and my beloved HK Girl topcoat.

Watermarble Wednesday: Navy, Yellow, and White

This weeks watermarble sort of happened by accident (well, the color combo anyway).  I had several colors sitting out on my table working on other design ideas and these sort of migrated together and I knew I had to try a marble with them.  It didn't turn out as "crisp" as I would like, but I still love the colors.

Zoya Sailor and Purity, Julep Catrina

Leave me a comment below with combos you would like to see used for next weeks watermarble!

Simple Stripes

This is a super simple mani, but I LOVE the way it turned out!  Super girly looking!  I started with two coats of Zoya Lara and waited until it was completely dry.  Then I added a single piece of striping tape across the tip of each nail and two on the thumbnail and painted over it with one coat of Zoya Auora, removed the tape and added a topcoat (HK Girl from Glisten and Glow is my current favorite!).

I did a look similar to this a back in March 2013 with Zoya Storm and Orly Miss Conduct but added stamping.  If you are interested in that look, you can find it here

Water marble Wednesday

If you follow me on Instagram, you know I have been doing a lot of water marble looks lately.  This one was created using just two colors, Zoya Purity and Jancyn.  Looks a bit like a creamsicle, don't ya think?

If you have suggestions for future water marble colors or other looks you would like to see, leave me a comment below!

Zoya Blu Swatch and Review

This is not a new polish to me but for some reason I don't think I have reviewed it on here.  If you are looking for a pastel, baby blue polish, you NEED this one!  The color is beautiful but the formula is perfection!  Not at all streaky, unusual in and of itself for a pastel shade, but this one is seriously perfect. Two coats and it is perfectly opaque and simply gorgeous.  I always get compliments when I wear this shade.

Coral and Silver

Here are just two of the beauties I picked up from the Zoya Earth Day sale, Maya is a gorgeous coral shade, this one is pretty sheer, three coats for it to be opaque but so worth it!  I have worn this shade at least 3 times since I got it and it is currently on my toes as well!  I used one of the new Magical Pixie Dust polishes in Cosmo for the accent nails (two thin coats).  This is a bit more textured than the regular Pixie Dust finish with larger pieces of glitter but oh so gorgeous, especially in the sun!

Light It Up Blue

A bit late in the day but here nonetheless.  For those of you who don't know today is World Autism Awareness Day.  Chances are many of you know someone who is affected by this disorder as it is a rapidly increasing diagnosis around the globe.  For more info, check here.  As part of Autism Awareness Month here is my "Light it up Blue" mani.

Zoya Blu and Sailor Hard Candy Pop Star
Stamping Plate Bundle Monster BM319

If you guys have suggestions for color combos or other ideas you would like to see me try, leave them in the comments or find me on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram

Mardi Gras Nails

My computer is being super slow tonight so this is going to be a quick post since I have to get up far earlier than I want to...
A few different techniques used here for this years Mardi Gras nails.  What do you guys think? Do you do "theme" nails or opt for a more "traditional" look?

Black and White Damask Nails

**This post contains affiliate links which means if you click those links and make any purchases, I may receive a small percentage at no extra cost to you.**

I am in love with the classy look of damask print.  I have small touches of it allover my "office".  When I ordered the Pueen plates a while back, I didn't even realize this was one of the images!  

Base Color: Zoya Purity
Stamp Color: Zoya Black Swan
Image Plate: Pueen 44

What do you think of this look? Any other color combo suggestions??

What? A new post? FINALLY!

It has been another crazy period around here!  Job is keeping me busier than I would like in the evenings so I haven't had much time to do my nails...though somehow I keep acquiring polish...not sure how that is happening.... And on top of that my computer has a virus (which I'm currently trying to get rid of) so everything takes an insane amount of time and frustration!
Anyway, thanks to a "small" winter storm here in the midwest, I don't have to work today! So for the first time in weeks I retreated to my hideout for some swatching.
More than a year ago, I came across this post by The Polished Perfectionist and fell in love with a england She Walks in Beauty and promptly ordered it.  I have worn it a couple of times but I don't think I ever posted pics here.  This week I was cruising the makeup aisles at Walmart and came across Maybelline Gilded Rose  and immediately  picked it up thinking it looked very close to a dupe.
Swatched today over Zoya Neely and if there is a difference, it is very slight.
a england is on the index and pinky fingers, Maybelline on the middle two.

List of where to buy a england  polish based on country can be found here on their website, Maybelline can be found at most drug stores and mass retailers.  

Let it Snow

This is the last mani I did right before vacation, please ignore the super-dry hands!

Base pink is Essie Figi, accent base is Essence Grey-t to be here. Stamped with Zoya Kimber and Carly.

Pink and Gray

Sorry for the long absence again guys, work has been insane!  This mani is one I did back when the challenge first started for today's theme and like an idiot I forgot to write down what I used.  The base color is Zoya Kelly and the accent nail is Whimsical Ideas by Pam Eloise but I can't remember which pink I used!  

33 Day Challenge- Day 18 - 2 Patterns

For today's theme, I did a "double accent nail".  My middle and ring fingers started with a base of Zoya Kristen, then I added some striping tape and painted on Sally Hansen Black Heart and a topcoat.  For all the rest, I used a base of Essie Raise Awareness and once dry stamped with Black Heart and Pueen plate 26.