It is with heavy heart that we are increasing the prices of our polishes starting on Jan 1, 2013. I know I have mentioned it before, but we can't put it off anymore. As you know when we started our line it was the beginning of the polish boom. Now with so many new lines out there, existing lines growing and many more new lines coming out every day, supplies are getting more and more expensive. As a small polish line our negotiating power is not what it is for much larger companies. Add to that, we feel very strongly about all our ingredients being sourced in the U.S. and made in the U.S. U.S. made supplies are always a little more expensive. Our costs have already gone up several months ago, but we have been holding off as long as we could. But now we are seeing an even higher spike for polishes with certain ingredients like glitter, or metallic flakes and our base and top coats. The more specialized the ingredient, the higher the cost. SO after much discussion and review, we have made the decision that our prices have to go up if we are to continue our brand. We pride ourselves on being an affordable luxury brand of polish and we hope to continue that. When we started we knew our price point should have been higher, but I really wanted to keep it at the $10 mark. So essentially we are going with the prices that we should have started with, which is still lower than where it is recommended to be, but hey, I am who I am, and I refuse to go higher. I will continue to push where I can.

Effective Jan 1, 2012 all nail lacquers will start at $12. There may be some that go up to $15 based on effect, but not if I can help it. At this point all will be $12. Our treatments will increase to $10. We will continue to offer price breaks for most new collections during a preview pricing week. We will still do occasional sales as we can as well. You know how much I love a good sale! We will navigate through this new increase together and adjust everything else like sales along the way, in a way that can make everyone happy.

We are also looking for distributors in the following areas: Canada, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, UK and Brazil. We hope that this could be an option for our international customers to buy our polishes more locally through other online stores or brick and mortar locations. As we add these options, we will announce it here and on our Facebook page.

And lastly we do have some Limited Edition colors that are running under 200 in availability. When they are gone, they will be gone for good. Those colors are: Seduction, Manipulative, Mind Control and Enigmatic.

I was thinking of doing one last sale before the year ends, but really the only thing we came up with is some amazing deals if the world does in fact end! ;) OK, OK, seriously though, I would love to have one more sale before the New Year, but time is a factor and I have a lot of personal obligations in the next week that will keep me fairly busy, so I'm not sure I can swing a sale just yet. But I think I will figure something out for you guys! Just think, if the world does end, then this whole post is baseless! But let's hope that's not the case!

Thank you all for sticking by us and joining the Cult and we hope you choose to stay with us in 2013! Plus you don't want to miss your chance to win a pair of 1 carat diamond earrings do you? Yup, you heard right, we have a spectacular surprise coming in Jan for Cult Nails 2nd Birthday! More news on that coming soon!

So I have been a bit MIA in the last few weeks. I've been rather busy at the office, and have had a few Culties come and visit, a few personal things going on and of course my recent trip to NYC. I am finally getting back on track, or at least I hope. I have a few product reviews I am working on that I am excited to bring you. I also am working on our biggest give away yet which will take place next month! So many behind the scene things going on, it has been crazy. I am going to be making some changes to the blog as well. I will post featuring different products I love, some fashion and of course nails, but it may not be in the same format as I have been doing it in the past. It's an ever evolving blog.

NYC was amazing. I was able to see my product at the Refinery 29 Tinseltown event! Afterglow and My Kind of Cool Aid were featured with Glossybox. Such an amazing thing! I have never been to a pop up shop event before. But I see news on them all over the internet all the time. NYC seems the place to be for pop up shops! But I have to say, it was a bit of a zoo. I wasn't sure what to expect or what I was expecting, but it was insane in there! I went a few times since of course my product was in the Glossybox and each time there was a crowd of people. So it seems the event was a success! I hope those who grabbed a Glossybox or one of our polishes, loves them and joins the Cult!

Other than that I had the opportunity to take on a meeting and meet up with a few of my favorite bloggers or people. All in all it was a great visit and I'm already looking forward to my next NYC trip. Here are a few pic highlights of my trip.

Can you see Afterglow in the box? I'm paired with some AMAZING products!

I absolutely loved Glossybox's set up! The boxes, the items, the table, everything was beautiful! They did an amazing job showcasing out product!

Refinery 29 Tinseltown Pop Up Store

Required Times Square photo

This might look like a crazy photo, but I have this completely irrational fear of escalators. I can't even believe I'm posting this! I mean I can ride on them no problem, I just have to let a few stairs pass me by so I can see the speed and then get on. Each time it is like the 1st time getting on one. I have this weird sensation that I am going to get stuck in the teeth of the stairs and not able to get off, or tumbling down and my hand getting sucked into the bottom. Totally irrational, I know! But when I saw this old wooden one, I had a tiny internal panic attack that I blew off by taking a photo and getting on that dang thing! LOL!

I have seen this photo online before and it was the very 1st thing I pinned on Pinterest. I know it's a Christmas thing, but just the word alone - BELIEVE any time of the year. It speaks to me. I see it and it is like YES! BELIEVE! So to finally see it in person and just to take a moment to take it in, and Believe. So take  moment and Believe in something, anything and will it to happen. Believe in peace on earth, Believe in eternal happiness, Believe in doing amazing at work or school, Believe that your dreams will come true, Believe in yourself, just Believe!

Coco is the ultimate 1 Directioner. I have never seen an obsession quite like it. She LOVES 1D! So when I saw there was a store dedicated to merchandise for this band only, I had to go in and do a little Christmas shopping!

Some of my favorite girls and I in Rockefeller Center! Judy from BeautyJudy, Courtney from Phyrra.net and Claudia from Chromatic Misadventures. Love these girls!

The tree at Rockefeller Center. You can't even imagine the crowds. Complete insanity!

Claudia took us to this pizza place that used to be a church. It's called John's Pizza. It's near Rockefeller Center and a must go to if you are in the area. The pizza was as great as the atmosphere! It is a converted church. So it is as close to pizza heaven as you are going to get!

We discovered Little Italy while we were there. OMG! Where has Little Italy been all my life!?!  I would live here if I could. I had to stop for dessert every night! OK so maybe I would need to live a few miles away so I could walk off the desserts I would constantly want to eat!

I'm sure by now, you all know my obsession with accessories and my love of Bauble Bar, so I had to go and pick up a few Baubles while I was there!

There were Santa's everywhere on Saturday. Aparently it was SantaCon 2012. Basically everyone gets totally smashed dressed as Santa. Sound fun? Um not really! You couldn't get in anywhere because so many young people getting trashed were everywhere. I never got into that whole get so trashed you can't walk or talk thing. I just don't get it, but it was a cool sight to see if nothing else.

I actually spent Saturday night Nowhere. Not a bad place to be to get away from all the crazy Santa's! This is in the East Village and it is a cool little bar. Love the atmosphere here.

I got to see another one of my favorite people, James Vincent while at Nowhere. Love this man!

I took Courtney to Ellen's Stardust Diner, which is a must see when you are doing the whole touristy thing. The wait staff is comprised of aspiring singers, broadway actors, actors and the like. They sing while they serve you. I tried to get a photo of Courtney with our waiter, but that girl does not put her phone down! That's what happens when two people who blog get together! LOL!

It was a cold and rainy day on Sunday, look how dark it was at 11AM!

Spent Sunday with Christine who is the daughter of the brand Jesse's Girl and an amazing person! I met her through Jesse's Girl, and not only am I in love with their makeup line, but I gained a friend! Win, Win! She is the sweetest girl, funny and introduced me to the world of Tokidoki Blind Boxes. uh oh!

With Claudia and Courtney. Look how tall I look! (I was only wearing 4 inch heels!)

What the heck is the CFDA and why are they collaborating with Target and Neiman Marcus? If you aren't obssesed with fashion, you may have no clue what the CFDA is, it is actually the Council of Fashion Designers of America. CFDA is an invitation only trade association for America's top designers. Typically when a store like Target works to produce a collaboration with a designer, they are working with a CFDA designer. For this collection, they would be working with 24 CFDA designers and the products would be higher end, mid priced items that would be geared to both the Target and Neiman Marcus customer.

The concept was great, and before I knew what the items would be, I was freaking out with excitement. I know it is just fashion, but I LOVE perusing runway collections, and high end fashion blogs to see clothes I can never afford. It may sound like torture to some, but for me, a wannabe fashionista, it is fun. So to see some of these designers collaborating with my favorite store (Target), I am all over it. I love Neiman's too, but I definitely am living the Target life!

Once the collection lookbook was released, I have to say I was disappointed that many of these fashion designers were designing items that had nothing to do with clothes. Most of the items were household accessory items.  Tory Burch lunchbox? Brian Atwood Sunglasses? Um no thanks! But then I learned this collection was never intended to be a Fashion Collaboration like they have done in the past, but more of a Holiday collection, which included a few clothing items suitable for holiday gatherings or gifting and accessory design items suitable for gifting (or for yourself). Of course right away I noticed the Robert Rodriguez lace dress, and knew it would be mine! There were many beautiful items in this collection, but none that I really NEEDED to make me spend that kind of money on. Then I went to the store! Oh why does it always go this way?

Here are some of the items I tried on from the clothing items and some of the other accessory items I am seriously lusting after. Actually let's start with the items I'm lusting after.

First are these three items from Altuzarra. I have to admit, I have no clue who Altuzarra is. But if his clothes is as divine as this set, I am probably better off not knowing! I saw this picture, and my first thought was, oh that's pretty. Then I looked and realized that the glasses, shaker and tray are all separate items and all quite pricey. $180 for all three pieces! WOW! They aren't THAT nice! Then I saw them in stores, each item is well made, and gorgeous and I really started wanting them, but still I just didn't feel the price is justified here. Then a little more research and it turns out the gold lattice design on the glasses and shaker are hand painted with 18K gold and the shaker lid is gold plated. I'm not sure about the tray it says golden plated. So either it is just plated in a gold color or it is a misprint. But the tray is mahogany. Now I get it! The more I see them online designed in people's homes, I get this weird pang of jealousy tinged with anger that they got what I wanted. So not becoming of me! But OMG, I want, I want, I want! I can just picture this on the buffet in my dining area. But to spend $180 on something that looks good and will never be used, just seems so impractical. I mean I suppose they "could" be used, but I would be so scared that someone would break it. So this stays on the lust list.

Altuzarra: Set of 4 Old Fashioned Glasses - $49.99, Shaker - $49.99, and Tray $79.99

Jason Wu Ornaments. The details on the gold top and bottom are beyond. And these are rather substantial feeling as well. They are so pretty. But at $49.99 for all three, this is definitely a gift item. This is for that friend who you know absolutely loves the holidays, and would cherish these ornaments. Or this would be perfect if you know someone having a holiday wedding. Talk about a keepsake gift that can be passed down! But it is just too much of an extravagance to buy for yourself. Well for me anyway. But soo pretty, I'll keep lusting unless someone deems me worthy.

Jason Wu Ornaments - $49.99 for the set of three

Tracy Reese dessert plates $29.99 for the set of 4. I am seriously having trouble with the logic here. 4 glasses with 18K gold trim = $49.99, 3 ornaments = $49.99 and 4 plates with 18K gold trim are $29.99? Really? I had no desire for these until I saw them in use. These are SOO nice! I would need two sets of these, but they completely clash with my table setting and I already have dessert plates, so there is really no place for these. Not to mention they are sold out at my Target, so no point in even thinking of it. But if you are in the market, check these out, they are selling out fast, but if you can score them, go for it!

There are other items as well, (more than 50 in total), but beyond those, above, I really had no desire for anything besides the lace dress. But since I know, and you know that I would be reviewing the clothing items here, I grabbed a few items to try on. There are more clothing items, but I really had no desire to try them on like I normally would. I was still getting over my sinusy eye situation and was exhausted, so my goal was to go get the lace dress and get out of Target and come home and go back to bed.

Items I grabbed to try on.

The first item I tried on was the Faux Fur vest created by Skaist Taylor. At this point I had no clue who Skaist Taylor is, turns out they are the creators of Juicy Couture with a new line. I am not the faux (or real) fur wearing person. I love how it looks on others, but on me, well it just doesn't fit my style. I thought I would be posting a funny, snarky comment with this picture. Then I fell in love! OMG I fell hard too! I didn't want to take it off! This was coming home with me! Yikes am I really spending $79.99 on a vest at Target? Yup, yup I am! Merry Christmas to me! (What is up with my claw looking hand taking pictures?)

Skaist Taylor Faux Fur Vest - $79.99

This is the Rag and Bone mens sweater. There have been rumblings that women were going to go crazy over this cozy sweater. This was soo comfy, I can totally see why ladies are clamoring for it. Instantly you want to wrap yourself in this and sit by a fire. Not something I was planning on buying, just wanted to try it on. There is also a boys version that is $20 cheaper.

Rag and Bone Sweater - $69.99

 Lela Rose dress. I was feeling meh about this dress since I saw it in the lookbook. It just isn't something I would wear. But it was beautiful, so I wanted to try it on. Well I was right, this dress is meh! Well on me anyway. I think this will look better on a taller woman. I am way to short to pull this off. I also don't like the bulk the middle knot causes. Then there is the seam directly under the bust, with a belt inches below that. It just seemed awkward to me. It is also way too long for me. I'm 5'3" and this is easily a foot too long. I've seen pictures on taller women and it looks much better on them! If you see this on the model on the Target website, it comes above her knees! How the hell tall is that model? That is such a misrepresentation unless that model is over 6'3"!

Lela Rose Dress - $99.99

Robert Rodriguez Lace Dress. The dress I went for! LOVE! It is exactly what I thought it would be! I heard it ran small, so I grabbed it in a 4 and it was just a little too big. So I went back out and grabbed a 2. I was too lazy to take my jeans off this go round. The 2 is on the left in the picture below and the 4 is on the right. the downside is that there is a zipper issue with this dress. There is so much material between all the dress layers, lace and waist ribbon that in that one spot all that material on either side of the zipper pulls it to the sides making it hard to impossible to zip. You need to try several different dresses to find one with a good zipper. I am also hearing there is sizing discrepancy with this piece, one size 2 can fit perfectly and the next be too small or too big. So you may need to grab a few to try on if you really want this dress. This is so dressy and definitely needs a special occasion. But it is classic and definitely showcases Robert Rodriguez's design esthetic. He actually has another dress with an almost identical top in his black label line and does several other lace pieces. I love that it has his influence in the design of this dress. I am planning on a perfect occasion for this dress, or at least the cruise we are going on in January for Nakizzle's Quinceañera. If I wasn't already married to Juan, I would marry him in this dress!

Robert Rodriguez Lace Dress - $99.99

Robert Rodriguez Ruffle Shirt - $79.99

 While I was having fun in the fitting room, Juan decided to try on the Rag and Bone sweater and he loved it. And I thought he looked quite sexy in it too, he had to have it! He was tired and not wanting to pose, but I made him! :)