Wednesday, March 31, 2010

I Got it Going On!

With all the amazing colors around me, the flowers blooming, the sky so blue, the leaves taking shape for the spring, you would think I would have some bright amazing spring color on. But nope - I am in a neutral nail kind of mood. So I started the week with Color Club Best Dressed List. This is a neutral brown with a pink base. I would have never guessed that the base was pink until it kept coming up in my pictures. But perhaps that is why I think it looks good on me?




But when I came home from work yesterday, an order from Transdesign was waiting for me with some new (to me) Color Clubs. I grabbed a few of their holographic colors. One of them is Love em' Leave em'. The base of this color is almost an exact match to Best Dressed List, just with a lot of holo goodness added to it. 




I wanted to play with my new polishes, but when I walked in the door, the family wanted to go to the beach. So after a long day at the office - we hit the beach. After an evening at the beach,  I didn't really want to play anymore, but I couldn't not play either. So I grabbed Love Em' Leave Em' and layered it over my existing Best Dressed List Mani. (This should be fun to remove!) This color is pretty opaque and probably doesn't need to be layered - but I did anyway.






 The first photo is the color accurate photo. The second photo shows the holo goodness of this color. I am LOVING this mani. I am still neutral and I would totally wear this in a neutral work environment - but it really has it going on! I can't wait to try my other Color Club Holo polishes now! 

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Some of my favorite pics and a purple comparison

This is a picture I took with my phone while on a walk with my family last night. This is at a park near our home. I just thought it was too good not to share.




My daughters totally get into doing their nails and my blog. I love when they make color suggestions for what I should show you guys. Here is a pic of my 12 year old daughters nails - she was attempting marbling her nails.


Here is a picture before the marbling that I took of our two hands together. I love this picture! Like mother, like daughter.


My 10 year old daughter wanted to paint my nails and take a picture so I could show it on my blog. Here she painted my nails using Zoya Reese. No clean up before taking the picture. I love this picture because it reminds me of her doing my nails and setting up the shot and taking the picture. Too cute. 

Finally a purple comparison. I keep seeing similarly colored purples in the new collections and it seems I am always drawn to them. Initially these 4 looked to be about the same color. These photos are more color accurate on the nails to what the colors look like in the bottles in these pics. 

L to R: China Glaze Grape Pop, Ulta Celebutante, Rescue Beauty Lounge Mismas & Sonia Kashuk Purple Rain


On my nails - same order as above:
Grape Pop is just a shade darker than Mismas. Celebutante & Purple Rain however are pretty similar.


Here is a side by side of Grape Pop(left) & Mismas(Right) since they are more similar to each other:
You can see that Grape Pop is not an exact dupe for Mismas, but it is definitely a cost effective alternative to get you the same effect.




Here is Celebutante(left) & Purple Rain(right) side by side since they seem to be an extremely close match:
These two are definitely a close match. Both are in about the same price range - so if you can only find one, you will be fine without the other one.


Here is a close up on each nail. This is something new I am thinking of adding to the blog. What do yu think?


Grape Pop

Celebutante



Mismas



Purple Rain



I hope you all enjoyed today's post.

Monday, March 29, 2010

Another Pet Peeve

I previously told you I had a lot of pet peeves. I wasn't kidding. I just don't understand people sometimes. It can't possibly be just me. So here is pet peeve # 678. Have you ever tried changing something to improve it and been hit with the comment of: "Why did we change that? We have always done it that way". Well just because you do something a certain way doesn't mean there isn't a better way or more efficient way or heck just a different way to do something. I mean if we always do things the way we have always done them; I wouldn't be typing this blog right now. There would be no computers, no internet, nothing! In order to evolve we must continue to change. This principal applies to everything in life whether personal or work related. I can't understand how people can get so caught up in doing things the way they always did them and just trying to block any kind of change or progress because it is different than what they are used to.

I know several people like this. For some it is just a fear of the unknown, but for some, they are good at doing what ever it is they do and if you change the way they have to do it, they may not be as good at it anymore. For some it may slow them down initially as they learn a new way to do something and they don't like that. For others it is just flat out refusal. Either way, these people are constantly blocking progress. I just don't understand this. Now granted I don't want to change just for the sake of change, but I want to continue to grow as a person individually and professionally. I love watching a company take a chance and have that chance pay off and have the opportunity to have been a part of that change. People like me thrive on change. Change means something better is coming, opportunity is around the corner, something exciting and new is heading my way. Change means I will learn something new and be able to add that to the vast majority of things I already know. I love change. Maybe this is why I change my polish so much? Where do you lie on the change scale? Are you afraid of it or do you thrive on it, or are you somewhere in the middle?

Speaking of pet peeves though, why can't a company who makes the decision to sell polish take the time to name it? Heck, number it, I don't care, just give me something to call the color! I know these places are just buying polish from a manufacturer and putting their brand on it, but come on, at least name it!

This brings me to the polish of the day. I have another Charlotte Russe unnamed polish to show you. This one is a light pinky copper color. It is similar to the copper color from Orly - but maybe just a shade or two lighter. This is a pretty cool color. I can totally see wearing this one for a night out on the town. Since Charlotte Russe is too lazy to name it, I will name it for them: Copper Comet. It is flashy like a comet in the sky. Ok so I am no good at the name game, maybe that is why they don't name their polishes. What would you name this color?




Sunday, March 28, 2010

I'm allergic to Cherries

I may be allergic to the real thing, but that didn't stop me from wanting RBL Cherry Love! I have been wanting this one for a while. I always put it in my cart when I buy RBL, then take it out, because there is always time to buy a red. Finally I decided I just had to have this color. 

Well I just have to say I am glad this is not the first polish I received from RBL. If so I would have never bought another bottle again. I think I got a bad bottle because of the over 25 RBL's I own, this is THE ONLY ONE that has been bad. It was thick and goopey and it took 3 coats! It was just terrible! I put it on and took it off three times before finally getting it decent enough. I was so frustrated. This is SOOOO not typical of RBL! I was shocked. Unfortunately I threw away the box, so I don't know if I can exchange it for a new Cherry Love.  I may just try a bit of thinner in the bottle instead. I am undecided, what do you think? 

Regardless of the quality of this bottle, the color is still AMAZING and worth showing. I can't imagine not having this color now.

Saturday, March 27, 2010

Yay The Weekend is Finally Here!!!

So do you all have plans for the weekend? Not sure what we plan on doing. Perhaps hanging around and doing things around the house? My daughter wants to go shopping in Orlando, but since I was just there last week, I'm not sure I want to go back just yet. I guess we will have to wait and see.

Today's manicure is American Apparel Dynasty. Now this says Spring to me!




Hope you all have a great weekend!

P.S. What do you all think about the subtle page changes? I will be making a few more changes in the coming months. Hope you like them!

Friday, March 26, 2010

Charlotte Russe Bubble Gum Dreams

It doesn't happen often, but I really just have nothing to say today. Have you ever had those days where you don't feel like talking? Today is kind of one of those days. Maybe because the day is just getting started? Or maybe because it is Friday and I still haven't had my cup of coffee yet and have an entire day of work ahead of me before the weekend begins? Or maybe it's because I can't stop staring at my manicure!


I grabbed this bottle at Charlotte Russe along with two other polishes. Unfortunately they don't name their polishes, but I will call this Bubble Gum Dreams. It is like stars in a pink sky! This is a bubble gum pink with rainbow sparkles throughout! 






I can't wait to show you the other ones I got. I am loving them. 

Thursday, March 25, 2010

What's Up Doc - Can We Rock?

We spent last night listening to some oldies on the Ipod last night. (By oldies I mean 90's music- ha!) And now I have What's up Doc - Can we Rock? stuck in my head. What makes it worse - We never played this song! So um, WTF?

But here I am in my head singing:

...cause I'm dip-dip-divin', so socializin'
Clean out your ears, yes, and open up your eyes and
I kick like Bruce Lee and Jean Claude Van Damme
So dunna nana nana nana nana nana, Batman!
I hip-hop, hop-hop
Don't-don't, stop-stop
I'm harder than a Flinstone and much bigger than a Chub Rock
Our types of lyrical styles? yes the Schnickens can pick 'em
I burp, stick 'em, ha ha ha, stick 'em

What's up doc - can we rock?
What's up doc - can we rock?
What's up doc - can we rock?
What's up doc - can we rock?

I can't believe I used to like this song? What the heck is he even saying here! No wonder his rap career went down the toilet! But seriously - What's up doc - can we rock? (Is it stuck in your head yet?) Oh you were to cool or smart or young and have no clue what the song is you say?





So is it stuck in your head yet? What's up doc can we rock?


Ok, ok - I will stop now with one of my favorite lame 90's rap song that no one else probably ever even heard of. But you know what - I still like this song.


It isn't my fault - this polish has me Trance! I blame Ginger & Liz. This is Trance:




Is that enough pictures of one color for you? I actually had 3 more pictures on here and removed them - thinking OK this is just getting to be a bit much! But I am just loving this color - All I can say is: What's up doc - can we rock? 

Alright - I get it - so ABC - ya ! Bye! (Can we rock?) 

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

I was Tagged - 10 Things That Make Me Happy

I was tagged by Hannah over at annah Bananas ramblings
10 things that make me happy

These are in no particular order - just written as they come to me.

1. My daughters. They make me happy even when they make me mad.
2. My Husband, unless he's being an ass - so he makes me happy 99% of the time. :)
3. My Jeep. I have never had such fondness for a car before - but my Jeep makes me very happy!
4. The show Glee. It is on Hiatus right now, but will be back next month. I can't wait! I love watching them sing on that show.
5. My niece & nephew - who I have yet to meet! I have two brothers who have met the most amazing women in the last few years and were smart enough to settle down with them. My niece and nephew are still babies and I can't wait to meet them when I go home for my brother's wedding to one of these amazing woman this summer.
6. Shopping! I don't care if it is for me, the girls or the house - it all makes me happy. I love fashion almost as  much as I love doing nails.
7. The thought of starting a career in the nails industry. I toss this idea back and forth and wonder how I can combine my business knowledge and passion of doing nails. I am comtemplating going to school for nails so one day I can have my own germ free, quality, yet affordable salon. The thought of it makes me happy!
8. Which leads to # 8 - Doing my nails! I can have the worst day and just lose myself in doing my nails. It really can lift me out of a funk and make me happy. It's new and shiny and can either reflect my mood or the mood I want to have.
9. Good friends. I am picky when choosing those I let into the "inner circle" of my life, so having my good friends makes me happy. It is so great to know that there are such amazing people out there that listen to me talk about nails or clothes and even go shopping with me when the reality is it would be the last thing they would want to be doing, but they do it because they care for me. I would do anything for these girls in return. Too bad that because of the military, most of us no longer live close to each other.
10. This blog and my followers. I went back and forth regarding starting the blog. I kept worrying about what would my family think of me putting myself and passion for nails out there. Finally I stopped worrying about that (A psychic gave me the push - long story) and here I am. I have the most supportive followers and every day when I read your comments, it makes me so happy to know that there is someone who is reading all my ramblings and enjoys the hard work I am putting in to this. I hope my blog makes you all as happy as it makes me. (Or at least happy for a minute each day while you are reading it!)
I TAG THE FOLLOWING BLOGGERS

Rebecca at Nails etc.
Tierny at Tier’s Thoughts
Anstah at Nailstah
If you haven’t seen these blogs - you should check them out!

And what is a post without a NOTD photo? Today I'm wearing China Glaze Grape Pop. I have been seeing this one everywhere and I kept telling myself - I need this color. I was right! This is such a rich opaque but bright purple creme. It is awesome!


This picture is taken using a  natural sunlight lamp since the sun was not out.

This was taken using the flash so you could see the amazingness of this purple.

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Nail Space Help & More

Now that Juan is back from CO, it is time to get back to working on things in the home. I sectioned off a piece of our bedroom for my "nail station" and it really needs some help. I feel like I need one of those TV design shows to come show me how to create this space. I haven't put the curtains up in the bedroom yet, but I may be changing the bedding out, so until I find new bedding, I don't want to put the curtains up. But there is a big window in the bedroom which I would love to keep my desk near since it let's in the light and I don't have to get up to go outside for swatch pics, because so much sun comes in this window it is like I am outside. I also like the desk because I can have it up against the wall but turn it towards the TV when I want to swatch. 


Here is the nail area in all my swatching madness. Everything comes out. That box on the right is my untrieds, blog idea polishes or comparison polishes. Talk about a lot to get through! The big white square you see in the back in a natural light that mimics the sun, if I am swatching in the evening, then this is my sun. I also use this to get accurate color swatches. 

This is my nail storage area. I can't believe when I bought these I couldn't imagine needing more than two of these cubes! I used two drawers and the bottom was my supplies. Not anymore! All those polishes on top need a home!!! The ULTA bag has future give-away items and some packing materials. Wouldn't you like to see inside that bag!

Once I am done swatching it is time to put everything away. So this is the after - still an eyesore if you ask me!

So I am thinking of looking for a Lingerie chest in a dark brown color. (we might be refinishing our bedroom furniture with a dark stain soon, so this will match). Then I want to get a new desk. Any ideas? I need some help on this one. Do you have a nail area? What does yours look like?


Check out the manatee near my house!


I also wanted to share some crappy cell phone pictures of the manatees in the canal by my house. Our old place was right on the river. If you looked out the kids bedroom windows you could see the ocean, if you were in our bedroom you were on the river. We are still on the barrier island, but in a bigger expanse of land. We are less than 1/2 a mile from the river and the ocean now and we can't see it when we go outside. That is really the only downside to where we live now. Anyway a lot of homes in the area are built on canals. The manatees come to give birth in the canals because the water stays warmer during cold winter months and their newborns are more protected. Because this has been a colder than normal winter, there had to be at least 50 manatee there when I went on a walk with the girls the other day and I took these pictures. Look at them all!

Here is a close up of one. It is so cool to see this! They are huge, so it is so much more impressive in person.


Here is a close up of a manatee that came right up to us in the water last year. These mammals are not afraid of people. They are ugly yet cute. They can be between 10 - 15 feet long and over 1500 pounds, so it is a bit scary when you see this massive black shadow coming at you slowly in the water - but really they are harmless. 


OK - let's get back on the nail track with a manicure. Since the sun is shining bright, how about a bright polish for the day. Today's manicure is Essence Sundancer. This is almost the same yellow of a school bus - but I am loving it! It feels so bright and cheery! Things are definitely looking up!




Monday, March 22, 2010

Dazzle Dry Review

Not to long ago I was researching what makes a nail polish both vegan friendly and environmentally friendly. I try to be environmentally conscious, so it was just a matter of time before I started thinking of whether nail polish could be environmentally friendly. I know there are a lot of polish lines that are Vegan friendly, but I wanted more information. I contacted Dazzle Dry for some information.  They sent me some information on the company and some product for review.


According to the documents they sent me, their polish is not just 3 free, but also nitrocellulose free and an added UV protective screening. They claim their top coat drying time is 75% faster than their competitors. This I had to see. I can't imagine something faster than Seche Vite or Nubar Diamont. I couldn't wait to try this one out!


Dazzle Dry sent me This three piece nail system which retails for $28.00. 

Here is what you find inside the box. Nail Prep, which prepares your nail bed for perfect polish adhesion. As an added bonus, it strengthens your natural nails with calcium, vitamin B5 & hydrolyzed protein, The next item in the kit is the base coat. This is formulated specifically for natural nails so that your polish lasts longer. The last item in the kit is the Top Coat. Dazzle Dry claims that this top coat is non yellowing, will stay so shiny you will not need touch ups and will dry so fast that they dare you to dig into your purse 5 minutes after applying the polish. Really? You'll have to read below to see if it worked! (you know I had to try!)


Dazzle Dry also sent me three polishes from their new Spring line. These colors are all neutrals. These polishes retail for $9 per bottle.
From Left to Right: Misty Moon, Touch of Love & Fascination.


Now on to the manicures....


First up I tried Misty Moon. This is a white with just a touch of color. It looks like perhaps there is a little brown in it to give it that misty look. I have been looking for a white that won't look like white out on my fingers, I think I may have found it! I have to say I tried the Dazzle Dry polishes without the prep & base coat and because it dries so fast, application was a bit difficult. I then tried again with the whole system and it was much easier to apply. But even with the learning curve in using this polish, it was completely opaque in 2 coats. Another amazing thing I found was that this polish seemed to level itself out. It had almost a rubber look & texture to it.  These shots are pre-cleanup and without a top coat. I love, love, love Misty Moon. This is a white I think I can pull off! My kids love this white too, two of them have already grabbed this system and used this color with it.



Here it is with the top coat. Beautiful!

Next up was Touch of Love.  I have to admit, I am not a pale pink kind of person. They are always so sheer and take 3 or 4 coats to be opaque and well they just don't look good on me. So I wasn't really looking forward to trying this one. Well I have to say this one was totally opaque in two coats as well. The lighting is reflecting weird making it look a bit sheer in the second photo, but it really was completely opaque. But this color just isn't me. This is definitely for a pale princess.

Before removing this color I ran my hand pretty hard across my daughters shirt nail side down. (Hey I didn't want to risk ruining my own shirt!) It was about 3 minutes after putting on the top coat. These pictures are AFTER I did that! Of course I immediately grabbed my purse and rummaged through it and again these pictures are AFTER I did that. Dazzle Dry truly is the fastest drying top coat I have ever used in my life! This stuff in unbelievable!

The last one I tried was Fascination. This reminded me of RBL Grunge (my all time favorite polish). Side by side I would have to say they are really close. Fascination may have just a hint more pink in it. I will have to do a comparison on these soon. I saved this one for last since Grunge is my all time favorite, I figured I could wear this one for a week and see the results. Of course I loved this color, but how did it wear?

Well unfortunately I forgot to take pictures 5 days later when I changed my polish - but it wore perfectly. It looked like I had just applied it! 


Overall I love the Prep Kit and the polishes. What I didn't like was the polishes were not as easy to apply without the prep kit. I don't want to have to use a kit for my polish. However, even though the application was different without the kit, the end result was just as good. Dazzle Dry has a small color collection, but even though it is small it is varied. They have blue, green and brightly colored polishes. I thank Dazzle Dry for sending me these polishes and can't wait to buy some others I want to try. 

I really want to try the prep kit with non Dazzle Dry polishes. I would love to see if I can wear this top coat especially with other polishes! How great would that be? I will have to try that soon and let you all know.



*These products were provided to me by VB Cosmetics for review. This did not effect the outcome of my review. I will always be honest about my feelings about a product regardless of how I acquired it.

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