I have been dying to try Strange Beautiful nail polishes, but with all my money going to Cult Nails, I just haven't been able to. I love how the colors range from basic to unusual and the fact that they are all cremes. I admit, my favorite type of polish is a creme polish! The horror - I know! But it's true. If it is smooth and shiny and a brilliant color, I am in love!

Anyway when I saw this polish up for swap at our recent blogger meetup, I acted all cool, but was really drooling inside! I couldn't wait to try it!!! The down side is that I am extremely particular about the storage of my polish and don't like it stored sideways or upside down. So how do I store this? Yikes! It still bugs me!

Strange Beautiful Cheap foundation and Verdigris

Thank you so much to everyone who voted! I do have to say I had to disqualify some votes. Not everyone followed the rules. What can you do? I wanted to make it as fair as possible, which is why I made the rules. Sorry girls. Anyway, there were over 300 votes! WOW! That is awesome. I am so impressed by all the participation. So do you want to know who the winner is?

Entry number 5 - Leslie's Kermit Shawl Manicure! Leslie received a whopping 94 votes! WAY to go Leslie! I will be emailing you about your winnings!

This polish is a sheer milky white with a subtle blue/grey tone to it with mainly pink and blue hexagonal glitter. There are some other glitter colors in there too , but not much. I couldn't seem to get this one to apply evenly. I think if I put a milky base coat and was more careful with my application, it would have come out better. I was also disappointed that the glitter didn't seem to want to come out of the bottle. I was in a bit of a hurry. I ended up just taking it off and wearing something else, since I didn't have time to mess with this one. I wonder how Deborah Lippmann's compares application wise?

So much for the no buying gifts this year! Kat's friend's mom, Panther is a local artist. She started "dabbling" into jewelry making last year and it is taking off. Her inspiration is sunken treasures. So each piece has an inspired sunken treasure look. When I saw Panther's artwork back in November, I practically begged John to buy me a piece. I was instantly in love! You all know I love accessories as much as I love polish! But at $200 for a bracelet, it was out of the question. :( I was so bummed. Later I found out that Pirates of the Caribbean asked her to send some pieces in for review for the next movie. Dang, now I was totally jealous that Hollywood was going to take her pieces and that $200 bracelet would become a $500 bracelet and I would NEVER get one.

So when John gave me this huge  box...

Taken with the Instagram app

I tweeted a very nondescript sentence about making a decision recently, and have actually received a few emails from some concerned followers asking if everything was OK. So I am breaking my own rule about not talking about work and I am going to fill you all in.

First I have to say I am very fortunate. There are a lot of people out there struggling to find a job right now and my decision was based on choosing between two jobs. So this is in no way meant to sound like a complaint, just a walk through making a difficult decision. Maybe it'll help one of you out in a similar situation - who knows.

I have a great job with a great company who knows I am trying to build my own brand - Cult Nails. They are very supportive of me and what I am trying to do. But another company came along and started courting me. I was not looking for another job, this job found me. But because it is always nice to be wanted, I met with the company. The offer they presented was a great opportunity for my career and an increase in pay and an opportunity for an even bigger increase in the immediate future. Starting Cult Nails has tied up a lot of our money, the kids activities cost a lot of money ($1,000 this week alone!*faints*). So I started to consider this other job. Even though I am happy where I'm at, the job and the money this other one offered... how could I not consider it. I then started comparing the obvious things like benefits. Where I am at is better, but I was thinking again financially and resume building wise, this would be the right decision.

I decided I needed to take the new job. I was sick over it. Then I started thinking of some of the not so obvious things. While the money would be great, I still make a decent living. I can still afford to follow my dream of making Cult Nails a reality. I can still let me kids participate in school activities where the parents are now shouldering the expense due to budget cuts in the schools. Maybe my kids can't participate in the multiple activities like other kids seem to do, but they can still participate. When my kids want new clothes or shoes, I can go buy it. We are doing pretty alright. We are very fortunate.

Looking into the decision even further, I work for a company where we had to take pay cuts in 2009. When we turned things around and had a good 2010, our CEO not only gave us our salaries back, but the salaries we lost in 2009! What CEO does that? NONE! Mine did - for everyone affected! When an employee is ill or needs to be out to care for family, our team bands together and our CEO & VP's are the first on the list to donate their leave to cover the employee so the employee doesn't go without their pay. When I have a kid who falls off a skate board and I need to take off to bring her to the doctor, I can go with no hesitation or worry about my job. This is what truly makes the company I work for great. I couldn't think of leaving these people or this team. The people are work with are amazing, hardworking individuals. I turned the other job down. I instantly felt better. Staying where I am at is exactly where I want to be. To know this - to REALLY KNOW that I am choosing to stay where I am because I love it here, now that is refreshing! I finally realize what Juan has been telling me for years, it's not about the money, having a job you are happy at means more. And you know what, he's right! The quality of life my company can offer me, means more than the money and title the other one could have! There's no looking back, just moving forward with this company!

So that was my big decision this week. But I had another decision I needed to make thrown in the middle of all that. My nails were getting WAY to long. I loved the pointy shape, but that shape needed that length. And they are growing so fast right now. I was having trouble typing and texting. I was poking everything in sight. I was missing the shorter nails that I could wear wilder colors with. I mean I could have worn them, but they were REALLY standing out! So I decided to chop them off! Want to see my new nails?

I am so amazed by everyone's skills and submissions for this contest! You guys are friggin' awesome at Nail Art.

I can't possibly pick the winner - so here is the deal - you all get to vote instead! I'll post the submission's and you can tell me who you think should be the winner! The winner will receive the entire A Day at the Races collection! So let's get to it - here are the submissions (in no particular order).


Entry 1: Vanessa submitted this silver and black accented mani.

Entry 2: Kimberly who made a manicure based on Lady Gaga's love of lace and blood.

 Entry 3: Suiling from http://hihigurly.blogspot.com/ submitted a Poker Face inspired manicure

Entry 4: Kelly submitted a Bad Romance inspired manicure and included a photo of the scene of inspiraton

Entry 5: Leslie from http://polishartaddiction.blogspot.com/ Inspired by the Kermit shawl Gaga wore on a german TV interview. (Little Maria fact - I have a cousin named Kermit.Yup I really do!)

Entry 6: Orlica from http://lakieroholiczka.blogspot.com/ submitted a manicure inspired by the outfits Lady Gaga has worn

Entry 7: Lightning Girl submitted some funky lightning bolts for her Lady Gaga manicure.  Base: WnW black creme topped with WnW Prancer, then topped with 1 coat of Lippmann Ruby Red Slippers. Lightning bolts: BB Couture Blind Love and Butter London Rosie Lee

We found out last night that our collection is still at the filling facility. They are backed up with the big demand in the polish world with keeping up with orders and are running a little behind. We are told that the collection should be sent out this week and are waiting on more information as to the exact date. I was not excited to hear about the delay, but I wanted to let you all know where it stands. As soon as I have more information I will let you know. At least the delay will only delay everything by about a week at most. I apologize if this causes anyone who pre-ordered any issues. Feel free to email me if you have any concerns regarding your order or the delay.

I have also been receiving some questions on the pre-order. We ran the pre-order through April 15th only. Well actually since I got sick, John was stuck being mom and dad and Cult Nails all on his own and didn't take it down from the sight until the 17th. I posted initially that it would only run until the 15th, but there were a few days added in. The reason we cut it off a week before we anticipated was so that we could get everything ready. Shipping labels, envelopes, boxes etc... The goal is that once the polishes arrive everything will be ready and we will get everything packaged and sent out the same day we receive it. Both Juan and I are taking the 22nd off in anticipation of receiving the order. (Which also just so happens to be our 16th wedding anniversary - yes we got married when we were mere children! ha!) but now that there is a delay it looks like I may have to take another day off in the coming week instead. We are still planning on taking the 22nd off and just enjoying the day at the beach or something equally cheap for our anniversary. Not the way I intended the day - but at least it's still a day off work.

Oh wait, I got off track, as I was saying - so that is why the pre-sale is gone. We did not sell out just yet. But we are getting really close - which is exciting! We still have My Kind of Cool Aid, Living Water and Quench, so it is amazing to me that this second collection is going faster! Depending on the color we have anywhere from 175 - 200 of each color left! AMAZING!!! We are almost reaching the point where the next collection will be completely funded from the sales of this collection! WOW! That would be amazing to not have to put more "personal" money into the next collection! I can't imagine that day! Maybe one day I'll even start making money off this business and be able to work for just me? Can you imagine that? I can't wait for that day to come!!! So exciting! You guys are really helping make my dreams a reality! I hope you are all enjoying the ride as much as I am!

OK enough with this long post with no pictures! Yuck! Look back in a few hours for the Lady Gaga inspired manicures!

Just a quick post asking for your vote! I submitted a design for the Bundle Monster contest. You can vote every day and for more than one design. I am voting for all my fav designs and girls. I would love everyone's vote too! It only takes a second - just click on the link below and like my photo! Easy! Thanks!

By now you all know that I went to see Lady Gaga with some friends on Friday night. We had an awesome time. Although some things went a little hangover after the concert, but we won't be talking about that! I spent the rest of the weekend recovering and before I knew it, it was late Sunday night and a new work week was about to begin. So needless to say I didn't get some of my blog goals done this weekend. :(

I received some great entries for the Lady Gaga inspired nails contest - but since I gave everyone until Sunday to send them in, so since I am writing this on Sunday night, I will post those pictures here tomorrow! That gives any last minute entries a chance to get in too! Lucky you if your a procrastinator!

In the meantime here are some pictures from Friday night

Of course I had to show my nails first. Except it took a few tries before I was satisfied. I took some silver powder with holo glitter to make a polish. I then faded it down and in gradient style just made the silver more intense on the free edge of the nail. I then added some bling. This was so holo glitter filled - unfortunately the camera seems to dull that.


 Then I remembered the shoes I planned on wearing are gold glitter shoes. Darn it! So I did the same with gold holo glitter. I actually liked this look better. I can't begin to describe how extreme the rainbow was on these. Not in a holo polish kind of way - but with each piece being it's own holo gloriousness! I had to use acetone to remove the silver, so please excuse the really dry looking hands! yuck!
 Then I put m hands up to my shoes and realized this was way to gold for the shoes.

Since they were too gold, I layered a thin layer of silver over the gold and now I think I got them perfect! This blurry shot shoes some of the glitter goodness!

PERFECT! Oh and check out the shoes! I LOVE them!
 This is the only picture I have of my whole outfit! Boo! But it was a black romper if anyone cares. Here I am with my guys. They are all gay, sorry girls.
 Check out these Little Monsters! Wow they really got into it! (my friend Ana sucks at taking pictures - all the ones she took came out blurry! Ha!)

This is at the Sky Bar at the Amway arena in Orlando
 Here I am with my girl Ana - the bad photographer, but one of my best friends! I love her, she is one of the nicest people I know. Just look at that smile! LOVE HER!

Ali & Me mean muggin' - Ana told me to showcase my Gaga nails for the pic. HA!
 Another view of the Sky Bar. Too bad this bar is in the arena and you can only go there during an event and you have to have tickets to the event to go here. It was a pretty cool bar.

Here we are posing with another Little Monster. There were so many - I tried to get pics of them all. Unfortunately some didn't come out.

Loved these guys! They were sitting right in front of us. Loving the Madonna influence!

Of course I had to try to get a picture of Lady Gaga's nails! No our seats were not this good, I took this off the monitor there so I could try to get a good shot. But we did have pretty good seats none the less. Her nails were seriously long!

After the concert we hit this bar called Mr Sisters in Orlando. It is an old car garage converted into a bar.

I had to take this picture to show you the craziness that is this bar. There are guys and girls dancing on the bar in their underwear. I haven't been to a gay bar in many years, but this one takes the cake. I'm not a huge fan of strippers, so thankfully this was more club than dancers. Actually after the first few minutes, I didn't even notice the dancers anymore.

I have over 200 pictures from Friday night and a few videos of the concert, so it was tough to pick just a few. Hope you all liked the pics, and look for the Lady Gaga inspired contest pics to be posted tomorrow.