Ring-a-ding-ding 2013..On Sundays I Stamp!

Hello polished prisoners,

I hope everyone has been well and enjoying the holiday season.  It's that time of year everyone is all a-flutter with excitement for the new year.  Lol as I read that back I realized it sounded as though I wasn't and to be honest I'm not sure.  Twenty twelve was supposed to be my year of triumph yet the heavens rained endless mental and physical challenges on me throughout the year culminating in a personal coup d'etat of epic proportions.  Well I'm still alive and I'm grateful, but I am earnestly hoping for a more sedate year ahead.  Ahem anyway let's onto the art...

Today's challenge was anything New Years and celebratory related.  In my mind this immediately meant the use of holographics...lots and lots of them.  Thus I instantly reached for my Zoya Ornates and my Color Club Holo Hues. Mmmmm donuts ahem I meant holo's....

Mani-louge

Base/Top Coat: OPI Natural Nail Base Coat and Sally Hansen Diamond Flash Topcoat

Base colors: Zoya Storm and Blaze

Stamping polishes: Color Club, Blue Heaven, Harp On It, and Cold Metal (Foiled Collection), China Glaze Millenium & Passion , Essie Blue Rhapsody, and Konad Special Polish in White & Black

Stamping plates: Sugar Bubbles Special 01 and 02  

Accent: 2mm clear rhinestones 

Gorgeous - everything about this collection is so lovely way to go Zoya!

Holo-llejah!  Lol :)  Capturing holos is so maddeningly difficult but look at all that fire!

How do you ladies feel about the New Year - excited, fatigued, apathetic?  I'd love to know really and yes I'm still stuck like glue on these Sugar Bubbles plates.  They are so so good!  They and many other plates (ahem Apipila) did not get nearly enough love this holiday season luckily Christmas time comes again and again oh and for me also in July.  So here we are.  I plan to do a few more holiday mani's before wrapping it up for the year moving onto some different nail art and I still have that Sugar Bubbles review on the back burner.  I probably won't do any kind of summation of my must have's but who knows.  Lol I sound so noncommittal please forgive me my world is a bit in flux right now so I'm trying to wrap things up before insanity ensues oh and make it to the post office (ugh holiday hours)  >_< Thanks for reading as always and I'll see you next post!  Toodles

Making CrowsMas I Mean Christmas...

Hello polished prisoners,

I have been gone far too long I know it!  Life has been kicking my ass! Yup literally and figuratively I suddenly very poignantly understand the phrase "everything that matters just breaks in two".  Well I can only push forward the same as ever polishing my nails and hoping for the best.  Well striving for my best...so it's basically almost Christmas around these parts.  I wanted to do a 7 days of  CrowsToes Christmas but I'm thinking of doing something a more gurilla style to pay homage instead.  So let's start the show...

Mani-louge 

Base coat/topcoat: CND Stickey & Poshe Fast Drying Topcoat

Base color: OPI Big Apple Red and IMN Northern Lights in Silver

Glitter accents: CrowsToes Making Christmas

Stamping polishes: China Glaze Passion and Millennium and Konad Special White

Stamping plates: Sugar Bubbles Special 01 & Special 02

CrowsToes Making Christmas is a sinful mix of green, red, and silver microglitters.  It spreads like a mother..ahem it spreads awesomely ;) Let me tell you something.  I am in a lusty like relationship with my CrowsToes polishes.  People who complain about the formula or the density of these polishes have surely not let their beauty touch their souls, aside from which I have never had any such problems, but oh well maybe I'm biased by all the the brilliance.  Lauri is a freaking genius! There hasn't been a single polish that I've seen by her that hasn't sparked a covetous grinch like desire within me.  Also for the sake of full disclosure I purchased all of these polishes myself so I have zip to gain from singing their praises.

Sugar Bubbles.  Tamira why have you not mentioned this brand before? Eh cause its a new and happening Brazilian indie plate maker who recently stole all of my freaking heart.  Love at first stamp? You betcha.  I will throw a quick review together tomorrow of what I got from her so far but for now you can check my nail art supplies tab for the downlow.

So here we are Making Christmas with Crowstoes.  I love everything about this mani but all good things must end as I have so much more to show you.  CrowsToes polishes can be purchased at either Llarowe or Overall Beauty, and Sugar Bubble can be found here.  Thanks for reading and toodles!

Candy Cane Lane...feat Essie She's Pampered

Hiya lacquer ladies,

Yesterday when I went to my job everything was so festively decorated with candy canes, wreaths, and poinsettias everywhere!  I was even given a poinsettia though it's on its deathbed from not being watered over the weekend.  Hopefully I'll be able to revive it any and all tips and tricks for working with a dessicated plant will  be appreciated ;)  Anyhoo I saw all the little candy canes everywhere and thought...water marble please!

Yum I love the mixed candy canes...

Mani-louge

Base: Confetti Wedding White

Marble: Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear Going Green & Essie She's Pampered, Out the Door Top Coat

Accent Nail: Essie Beyond Cozy

Does anyone else really love the wintergreen mix candy canes?  I love them to death! I don't like peppermint ones though at least not candy canes I love barrel mints though :)  So thoughts - totally Christmasy right? And so the holiday manicures continues...Thanks so much for reading and see you next post!  Toodles...

Syrup Nails feat Hit Polish Noel

Who's got a case of the Mondays polished prisoners?

Lol! Not me in particular but I have another holiday styled mani today that may lift your spirits! I actually plan to do nothing but winter/x-mas/holiday mani's for the entire month :) This is my favorite season so I am really excited and I also have a lot of great plates and polishes and no time for excuses so I need to bust them out! There may also be some double post days as I really rev it up for the holidays - yay!

Mani-louge

Base color: Chameleon Polish Calypso

Syrup: Colorama Gota

Glitter topper: Hit Polish Noel

Has anyone else tried syrup nails before? This was my first time trying them out and I really like the overall effect - almost like an instant made gradient! This came out super pretty and it was so easy this is why I freaking love glitter toppers. Instant art no muss no fuss ;). Hit polish can be found here on Esty. As a cool bonus my order came with a free magnet :). Hehe.  Thanks for reading and see you next post!  Toodles...

Snowstorm Ahead...On Sundays I Stamp!

Happy Sunday fellow prisoners,

Is it just me or are the days going by faster? Not a bad thing but it means things can sneak up on you. But this is a season for that though...carols, shopping, upping your OCD meds, you know the usual... ;); Lol well today I have another entry for my Adventures in Stamping challenge. This weeks' theme is Winter Themed. I wanted to do a play on this challenge but I lost the sun and wifi. Honestly I've been holding back on doing something blue and sparkly for a while now but today I got an odd feeling of wanting to capture something different.

Ugh smudge town :( 

Mani-louge

Base color: Zoya Paloma jellied with Elevation Polish Froze To Death

Accent: China Glaze Fairy Dust and Confetti Ice Ice Baby

Stamping polishes: Konad Light Blue & White, Color Club Luminescent and Blue Heaven

Stamping plates: Bunny Nails HD05

I'm actually not very happy with how this mani turned out.    I wasn't at home and missing some tools so it didn't turn out quite how I'd envisioned it but its pretty in its own way. So thoughts? Berry was a odd color to do a snow storm over, but I love the unconventional effect it created. I think I'll have to give this another go later in the month :) Thanks for reading and see you next post! Toodles...

Elevated: Emily de Molly Flutterby Garden

Happy Saturday polished prisoners!

I hope you had a great week and some fun plans for the weekend!  I myself will be cleaning and resting ;)  I'm back with more Elevation Polish's Mt Yu in a reincarnated form.  Honestly I had to ask myself how one might improve upon something that is already damn near perfect?  Well perhaps with a little gradient nail art and the addition of another polish from a maker that gives me chills every time I see her brand mentioned?  Oh Hayley of Emily de Molly I've waited months for your polishes to arrive to my grasping greedy paws via seamail from the land down under, and I've spent even more time fantasizing and drooling over the possibilities of playing with your beautiful creations.  Yeah I know I sound like a sick puppy but hey whatever floats your boat right?  Enter Flutterby Garden...

Did you know Austrailia's seasons are reversed from the US? While we are hunkering down for winter they are idling in the land of spring and honey and this polish is perfect for that season.  Flutterby Garden is packed with green, lime. lavender and pink hexes along with pink squares, tiny bar glitters and silver holo butterflies.  Isn't this description incendiary?  My nails feel springtime pretty lol if a tad out of season.  I will say however I could care less when my nails look this pretty.  I love how Mt Yu and OPI's Pedal Faster Suzi blended for this gradient as well.

The ever morphing Mt. Yu shifting colors again.

What do you ladies think about rocking mani's "out of season" - yay or nay?  In any case if you are interested in Emily de Molly her polishes can be purchased by US consumers at Llarowe or Shoppe Eclecticco.  Elevation polishes can be purchased here.  Thanks so much for reading and see you next post! Toodles!

Lemming Landed: Elevation Polish Mt Yu

Hey polished prisoners,

So long time no post eh? I promise I haven't been languishing.   I inadvertently sliced off a quarter inch of the medial aspect of my left thumb last Friday - translation mandolins are the devil :(  I couldn't bear to have nail polish remover anywhere near it. While I have been recovering my Elevation Polishes have been calling my name. I wanted to break out a polish I've been crushing on for ages - Mt Yu. Plus let's face it Lulu is a genius at creating instant lemmings/lustings that drive me wild ;)

Mt Yu is a light creme mint green polish with an extremely subtle shimmer. It's actually a reincarnation of Yusan a polish that released right before my naturalization into the Elevation nation. I was a latecomer but I'm totally dedicated to Lulu and her lovely creations now! I have to say this plush is fabulous - opaque in three thin coats or two thick depending on your preferences.This next picture demonstrates how etheral this polish really is as sometimes it takes on the appearance of seeming almost white when in fact it's a very pale green.

Ugh I am so in love with this polish! It was restocked only for the month of November as part of the Kickin It Ole School Collection, but there is still stock left if you click on the link above. Want to know more about Lulu, her inspiration, and Elevation polish in general? Check out her blog here or her store here.  Restocks happen on the 7th of every month.   Beware you will be addicted by the very 1st restock!!!  On a side note I did something amazing with this mani later so you'll have to check  back to see what I came up with.  Thanks for reading and see you next post!  Toodles...

Thanksgiving KBShimmer Style

Happy Thanksgiving polished prisoners!

Is the stuffing flowing, gravy sensational, and turkey flavorful or are you partaking in the local football game and fun with friends? Lol hopefully you aren't like my good friends on call with only half a shift and bed to look forward to rather than the comforts of good eats! My favorite thing about T day besides the food? Fall weather perfect for frolicking outside oh and of course the nail art ;)

Mani-louge

Base and topcoat: CND Stickey and Poshe Fast Drying Top Coat

Base color: OPI Somoan Sand and Orly Satin Inspiration

Accents: KBShimmer Quantum Leaf

Stamping polishes: Nars King Kong, China Glaze Passion, Color Club Hot Like Lava and Ho Ho Holly, and Konad Special Polish in Red and Yellow

Stamping plates: Bunny Nails HD 06

I had so much fun creating this mani! Mainly for two reasons - my KBShimmer Quantum Leaf polish and Bunny Nails HD plates. Quantum Leaf is like fall in a nail polish in a bottle all golden and red and oranges with yellow deliciousness crammed in for good measure.  If you don't have this polish you should!  No excuses it's just brilliant! Get them here and stalk her upcoming creations on Facebook.  Now onto the other amazing part of this mani -  Bunny Nails, girl you are killing me.  Shall I say it again? Bunny Nails girl you are KILLING ME!!! Her plates are awesome awesome awesome and the recently released HD holiday series are breath taking.  Prepare to see more of her stuff around here plus a review on these plates.  If you want to order from her go to her blog here or her ecrater store. 

Well here we are another fun holiday mani down.  Thoughts, ideas, gushing compliments ;) ? Stay tuned for some upcoming things on this blog including the seven days of Crowstoes Christmas featuring the new holiday collection polishes! I'm excited about this one! Ok I'm off to enjoy some macaroni and cheese and Cajun style turkey (yeah my family is awesome) and after I've glutted myself I will be watching the Redskins tear the Dallas Cowboys apart  - ugh I wish I had tickets to this game!  Thanks so much for reading and happy Thanksgiving to all my readers where ever you may be.  Oh and before I forget today I am most most thankful for the gift of life something that I was so close to losing only a scant 4 months ago!  I have a lot to be appreciative for this year! Thanks again and see you next post :)

Charm Your Nails Instant Gratification Glitter Gradient

Hey polished prisoners,

Did you know I have an obsession with black white mix combo polishes and it's many variations?   It's to the point that even when something looks extremely similar to something I already own I still want its delicious doppelganger.  So believe me when I say when I found a black, white, purple, and more purple combo it was "buy it now" at first site.  I'm talking about Charm Your Nails Instant Gratification which is pretty much exactly how I described it above - black, white, purple, purple, love.  Hehe.  I wanted to make a gradient and work this polish into it so that's exactly what I did ;)

Matte heaven right?  So freaking pretty!

I chose Orly Satin Hues Satin Reflection as the base.  It's a delicious matte silvery white polish that lives in my dreams and is unbelievably decadent.  I almost used this one for my AIS something matte challenge on Sunday and so I needed to use it once it was out floating around my field of vision.  By the by I'm stalking the Satin Hues and I really need the others to complete my collection if you have a source do let me know!  Anyhoo I created a gradient over this using Orly Velvet Rope and Essie Nothing Else Metals.  Finally, I put a coat of Instant Gratification on top for the final effect.

So good right? Someone please help me find the rest of these especially Gala!!!

Loving all the little squares in various shapes and colors!

More notes on Instant Gratification: This polish is dense and requires a very delicate hand otherwise you will overwhelm your base.  Using the dab method or removing most of the polish from the brush before running it over your nails is advised.  On the plus you won't have to dig for glitters they are readily available.  I'm loving this polish!  It's beautiful and oddly complex for the simple color mix :)  So thoughts? Love it or leave it?  Interested in owing it? Find Charm Your Nails here.  Thank you for reading and see you next post!  Toodles...

Stormy Weather

Hello polished prisoners,

Happy Monday my lovely ladies!  I hope you had a great weekend and are looking forward to the upcoming holidays. I am but I also have quite a bit of work coming up so things are gonna be hectic.  Well it is the holidays so I expect that.  In any event did you know a storm is coming?  Lightening strikes, moonlit sprinkles, and sunshowers ahead so beware and tuck all friable parts out of sight!

Mani-louge

Base: China Glaze Pelican Gray & Sinful Colors Cinderella

Sponging: OPI I Have A Herring Problem, Sinful Colors In the Mist, Darling Diva Polish Space Beetle, China Glaze Haunting, and Wet N' Wild Black Creme; Barielle Slate of Affairs, and Zoya Feifei

Stamping polishes: Konad Special Polish in Yellow, White, and Pastel Blue, China Glaze Millenium

Stamping Plates: Konad UK Charming Nails Plate Q1, Konad M79, Bunny Nails BuNa 01, BM01, and SH08

One of my favorite instagramers Storms and Stars was having a little contest with the theme storms and stars ;)  Initially, I had so many ideas but I loved the concept of starry showers and lightening the most and decided to go with that theme.  This one was actually another mani that was quite a bit of work but for several reasons including base complexity, stamp placement, and overall effect.  I've been told now for the umteenth time that I'm OCD and today I'd finally have to agree.  I will admit I couldn't settle well on this one and it took me a while to figure out what I wanted, but I love the final picture.

What do you ladies think?  One thing that bugged me is that I realized I don't have any plates with an image of the sun except for my BM01 plate and I have a lot of plates!  I would think the sun would be a common kind of image to put on a plate but for some reason it's not prevalent at least not in my collection.  Maybe I should buy more plates ;) ;)  Lol trust me when I say that's not it at all!  I already have too many and more coming.  I need to finish my stamping catalog one of these days and get that page up so you all can check it out.  In any event thank you so much for reading stay tuned for more fun!  Toodles...

Wallpaperings...On Sundays I Stamp!

Happy Sunday polished prisoners,

I hope your weekends have been going well and the Thanksgiving plans are flowing.  I've been having a pleasant weekend myself - good weather, good company, good food, and good news.  So who am I to complain?  I know several of the ladies over in the AIS group were excited for today's challenge which is simply matte i.e. some aspect of our manicure must include matte polish or topcoat.  Hmm I was on a fench about this because while I do love matte polishes and Essie's deliciously awesome matte topcoat no inspiration was forthcoming.  So I decided to return to one of my old loves - nudes and wallpaper.  I think this one was a winning combo...

Mani-louge

Base & Topcoats: CND Stickey, Poshe Fast Drying Topcoat, and Essie Matte About You

Base color: OPI Berlin There Done That

Glitter accent: Lynnderella Change

Stamping polishes: China Glaze Passion and Konad Special Polish in Black

Stamping plate: Dashica XL SdP 3

I left two nails shiny and the rest matte notice how cG Passion stays bold nube or matte. One more reason to love this polish ;)

Let's do a quick rundown shall we?  First, I am loving everything about OPI's Germany Collection. These colors are rich and Berlin There Done That was opaque in ONE COAT!! You all know how friggin excited I get whenever I run across one coaters because it makes nail art so much easier it also means this elegant lady probably stamps beautifully.  So win all around :)  Second, I haven't touched my Lynns in a while.  Honestly I wasn't sure what I was going to do with them, but I bought them and truth be told I love them.  So change made and appearance and it's gorgeous both matte and glossy!  Third and final, I love the Dashica plates and recently I unbelievably won the Like and Share giveaway from Shirley.  So I had to pull out my Dashica plates, the first plates I've ever purchased internationally, in anticipation of my set to come!

So here we are - it's Sunday, the weathers relatively fine, I've got gorgeous wallpaper nails though I may be biased, and things are relatively good in my world.  I'm wishing all my readers a happy Sunday and let me say thanks to everyone for sticking with my tiny and slow little blog.  I'm really enjoying my nail art these days.  Toodles...

Gray Matter Abstracted...

Hey lacquerista ladies,

Having seen the yumminess of Pound of Glitters' Gray Matter I knew I had to create a little magic on top of such an amazing polish!  I think I might slightly be getting over my phobia of stamping over glitters and it's really for the best.  I should have listened to NailsIT about this long ago.  Oh well.  I did find however, that stamping over a polish like this requires a bit of pickness about the colors for stamping since this polish was overwhelmed really easily when I tried it with darker colors,

Lord look at the depth on this!  Love it!

Mani-louge

Base color: Pound of Glitter Gray Matter

Stamping Polish: China Glaze TTYL and Color Club Cold Metal

Stamping plate: Konad M63 & M64

Fire! The subtle way TTYL is peaking out is awesome :)

So thoughts?  I absolutely adore the way this came out, but I may be a bit biased ;)  I ultimately chose to layer a holographic polish over this holographic glitter and then use a foil to contrast.  For those of you that don't know the Foiled Collection by Color Club are some of my most reached for bottles when it comes to stamping along with the China Glaze OMG Collection.   Amusingly these two Konad plates were my first real stamping plates.  I fell in love with the patterns and had to have them thus began my obsession.  So my love affair with stamping and holographics continues.  Speaking of holographics those who follow my Instagram might know a little about what's up my sleeve next ;)  Thanks for reading and see you next post!  Toodles...

Gray Matter or Grey Matters...???

Hiya polished prisoners,

It's another foray into my endless box of untrieds! Today I have a polish for you that filled my lacquer loving soul with pure incendiary lust from the moment I set eyes on it.  It was everything I ever dreamed of - the beauty of a medium grey tone combined with pink, green, blue, and silver hex glitters with holographic and multi-colored micro glitter, and lord even more brilliant it's named after one of physiology's greatest wonders - the brain (yeah I'm a geek I know).  Holy moly ladies and gents I almost fell off my chair!  I immediately started stalking the polish makers shop waiting for a restock and then eagerly scooped it up.  Man I'm hyping it up aren't I?  Hehe.  I'm referring to none other than Pound of Glitters Gray Matter or what I like to call lust in a bottle.

Have you ever owned a polish you couldn't bare to open?  I stared at this polish for the last 4 months, never swatching it just drooling over the bottle and giggling to myself (yeah creepy).  Today I finally let it out to play and I'm so glad I did!  For the record gray is one of my favorite shades of polish of all time.  I want to own all the gray polishes in a manner which I know is completely insane.  If it's holo I want it and if its a jelly why isn't it already in my stash?  Well this one is just phenomenal!  This is three thin coats but I probably could have done it in two however I wanted the glitter placement on the nails "just so".  I didn't have to do any real fishing for the glitter either.  It came out of the bottle perfectly on the brush and the finish itself was very smooth despite the glitter.  This one is a 10/10 for me.

Check out all that microglitter and holo goodness!

Alas if you are looking for Gray Matter, you may be in the words of my mama, be SOL (interpret as you will).  Pound of Glitter has closed her shop for now so I don't have a source for her though you may still be able to reach her via email if you search for Pound of Glitter under Etsy.  Please stay tuned for my nail art with this polish after I wipe up all my drool.  Thanks so much for reading and see you next post! Toodles...

My Boy Toy Did It...On Sundays I Stamp!

Hiya polished prisoners,

Another sweet sweet Sunday is upon us and lord I'm tired!  This has been a week that never ends just one thing after another.  I'm very much looking forward to the holidays when I can get a bit of breathing room.  In any event it's Sunday and around these parts though inconsistent it means it's time for an Adventure in Stamping.  This weeks theme is what my nails would look like if my boyfriend/hubby did it.  Let me tell you now I am a single lady, but luckily I have a crap ton of guy friends who can come to the rescue (yeah I'm one of those girls).  So this one was sort of picked out/idea given to me by my little friend Ian.  He's six years old, enjoys painting, digging up dirt to build bug houses, playing with dinosaurs, and teasing me mercilessly.  He also likes playing with my nails.  He's my little old man and a great kid and this mani incorporating many of the things he loves is for him!

Mani-louge

Base & Topcoat: CND Stickey and Poshe Fast Drying Top Coat

Base Color: Girly Bit's Banana Hammock and Confetti Wedding White

Splatters: Essie Leading Lady, Pahlish End of Days, OPI Big Apple Red, Orly Lemon Sorbet, Sally Hansen Pat on Black, and Confetti Blue

Stamping Plates: Vivid Lacquer 002 and Apipila 02

Stamping Polish: No Name Green Striper and Konad Special Polish in Black & Purple

So this is my first time using polishes by Girly Bits.  I had been lusting after them for quite some time got a few a while ago but never got around to using them.  Well let's face it my untrieds pile is massive so it's hardly surprising.  I will say Banana Hammock more than lived up to the reputation of Pam's polishes.  I love the freaking blue sheen on top of this yellow! So gorgeous and added an extra depth to the nail art,  I can't wait to try my others.

So what do you think?  Cute eh?  I couldn't create something super messy because it would have driven me crazy but I think I captured the essence of Ian pretty well and what he'd like to see on my nails.  I'm not a huge fan of bugs and the like but I love dino's and froggies and such especially when it's just a pretty stamp hehe.  I'll have to show him tomorrow and see what he thinks.  Anyway thanks so much for reading and I'll see you next post! Toodles...

Why H8 Is Never GR8...

Hello polished prisoners,


Today or rather yesterday was a special day for the nail polish community.  In an effort to eradicate negativity and hatred in our very big and yet oh so small community women everywhere were donning their purple polishes and just saying no to h8.  I couldn't agree more so here I am.    I had the unfortunate or fortunate fate, depending on how you look at it, to be a bullied kid.  Ah the days when I was chubby, buck toothed, four-eyed, unfashionable, poor, and unpopular.  I didn't have a friend on my side (not counting my brothers), and so all the way from 5th grade of elementary school up until mid-way through high school I was very much alone.  The bus rides home were torture.  I'd be teased mercilessly, rocks would be thrown at me, and I can even remember one occasion where I was knocked down into a huge puddle of mud and my mother had to come to school to bring me a change of clothes.  Those days were so horrible and something that plagued me for years, but I was blessed to have a mother who always believed in me and encouraged me to be myself.  Despite all of the ugly things that happened my confidence in myself never shrank and I was able to stand up and continue standing up and say, "Damnit! I am who I am and you can either take it or leave it! I won't bow or bend for the sake of approval from anyone."  I owe my mother a lot.  She helped me become the woman I am today and never once let me feel like I was anything other than special when others told me I was everything but.

BM317, BM311, Essie Nothing Else Metals, Essie Play Date & Boxershorts, Butter London Knackered, Konad Special Polish in Pastel Purple and Purple

Bullying is ugly and a behavior driven by mob and crowd mentality.  Better to be the one accepted in a group tearing someone else down than be the one being torn eh?  Wrong!  It takes one person to open their mouth and stand up for what is right and possibly change the scope of someone's world.  I cannot abide the seemingly strong picking on the weak or disadvantaged nor the tearing down of someone else's esteem to build up my own.  I don't want to be involved in a community that does such things and I'm glad to see bloggers stepping up and taking an active role in making this community a more positive place.  And here I am to do my part as well - purple polish and claws up!  For all the Jake's, Tom's, Mr. G's, and Sandra's out there this is for you!  Always always be proud of who you are and let your actions toward others be the measure of your own virtue.  My last name may not be Lannister but Hear me Roar!

You can find other bloggers who participated in the No H8 movement HERE  as well as resources to anti-bullying sites and support.  Thank you so much for reading and I'll see everyone next post!

Essie Wicked & Leading Lady

Hiyah polished prisoners,

Long time no swatch eh? Between that hussy Sandy and my job I've been neglecting my poor nails.  They have been crying out for a manicure, some nail art, something... Luckily, I was strolling by the polish aisle and some sweet Essie's from the holiday collection called out to me.   I decided to combine them to give a bit of pre-holiday cheer, and get back into the swing of things.

Essie's Wicked is described by the Essie website as a deep and dark creamy sinister red and I agree.  Dark, decadent, and so damn luscious.  Well I do adore vampy colors especially when they are so rich. Wicked is a must have if you love colors like this!  It's perfectly opaque in 2 coats and self leveling.  Now onto Essie's Leading Lady described as a supreme deep red glitter according to the Essie website.  I sponged Leading Lady over Wicked to create a glitter gradient and I really like  how this turned out.

So thoughts? If you are interested in picking up either of these check the links below or swing by your nearest Target, CVS, or Walgreens or at various online shops.  The links below are to the Essie website.  Thanks for reading and see you next post!  Toodles...

Halloween 2012: Devils Ahead...

Hello polished prisoners,

Mwhahaha another Halloween installment here!  It's been a bit dead these days I apologize for it its a combination of wi-fi loss, my own icky cold, and now a hurricane (Sandy) hitting DC.  Seriously it's crazy! Everything has been ripped off of the shelves and the schools are closed even the metro shut down!  Well its great for polishing up my nails so here we are.  This is another Bundle Monster one.  I've been wanting to use this plate since I got them but held off until now.

Mani-louge

Base/Topcoat: CND Stickey & Poshe

Thumb, middle, & ring: Sephora Pantone Universe Tangerine Tango Creme & CrowsToes Hell Hath No Fury (find it here or here)

Index & Pinkie: Sinful Colors Cloud 9 & Sephora Pantone Universe Tangerine Tango Glitter

Detailing: Wet N' Wild Black Creme

Stamping polish: Konad Special Polish in Black Pearl

Stamping Plate: Bundle Monster BM305

So let's talk about a few things here - CrowsToes Halloween collection is seriously giving me chills!  HHNF - first of all did any of you see Rosanne in She-Devil that late 80's movie?  Oh lawd I think about it every time I see devils.  So funny!  HHNF is so perfect and just the right combo of purple and orange-red yumminess for this mani.  I also have to say thank you to Lauri who sent them to me as a ROAK.  Seriously YOU rock lady!  Kindness has always been my weak point and this lady has continued to maintain her kindness and grace even when her family has been going through such difficult times.  She is a treasure and her polishes make me drool!  My friends in the blog-o-sphere can attest to that! But hey when you're working it you're working it and Lauri is always fierce!

Sephora's Pantone Universe 2012 - I've had these for a while and I have no idea why I never used them they've just been hanging out.  Opaque in three coats for the creme and drying to a near squishy like jelly finish. What's not to love?  I'm not sure of the availability of these anymore but the determined lacquerista should be able to make it happen if she wants them.

So thoughts, comments, mindless adoration? Lol kidding!  I'm having fun with these Halloween mani's.  I wish I had been able to do more curse the luck!  Oh well there is always next year ;)  Let me also take this time to say thank you thank you thank you to everyone who voted for me in the Bundle Monster Contest!!!  I didn't make it into the top 15 but it was really fun creating the look.  Also for those that didn't know it I won that inaugural entry for Leah Anne's new website and blog LLarrowe! Woot! Thank you for those too who always encourage me and give me the faith to continue on!  Perhaps they really do like me??? **Gazes into the distance with a faint look of surprise** Okay enough sillies.  See you next post and thanks for reading!

Hope Springs Eternal

Hey polished prisoners,

It's official! I'm living in hell or something equivalent as I am once again without Internet. Why? Because my landlord left the window open and the modem upstairs fried. Lovely so once again I'm back to using my cellphone blogger app to save the day. Please forgive my less than polished posts until this gets fixed (no pun intended). Anyway onward to today's art...

Mani-louge
Base: Essie Blanc and Wet n' Wild Tickled Pink
Gradient: Essie Blanc and Wet n' Wild Tickled Pink and OPI Pink Flamenco
Glitter Topper: Elevation Polish Froze To Death
Stamping polish: Color Club Hot Like Lava
Stamping plate: BM321

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month so I couldn't let it slip by without doing a mani in dedication. When I think about cancer I don't have too many close ties to this one though I could tell you in a heartbeat how we use mammograms to diagnose and identify suspicious breast architecture. Personally I feel every day of every month should be dedicated to some form of health awareness, but I also have a great deal of faith in the medical system and the science behind it. Well I sort of have to nevertheless faith is a powerful thing. So here's a bit for all the ladies, families, and friends struggling under the burden of this disease. May their hearts be lighter and their fears less fearsome in the days to come. Thanks for reading and see you next post!

Llarowe Style: Under Da Sea..

Hello polished prisoners,

So why am I posting up marine/ocean oriented nail art in the heart of Halloween season? Well Llarowe, a small business that specializes in selling all manner of nail polishes lemmings including many highly coveted indie brands, is launching a blog! The kicker here is the inaugural post is going to be a guest post from whomever creates a manicure featuring products carried by Llarowe.  Pretty great huh? I created this mani in the hopes that I might be chosen :) Now let's get onto the art...

Mani-Logue

Base: OPI Natural Nail Base Coat

Index, Thumb, & Ring: OPI What's With The

Catitude?, Sally Hansen X-treme Wear Blue Me Away, Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Freeze!, A-England Avalon, Layla Hologram Effect 05 Jade Groove, CrowsToes Tangled Web & I Make The Path

Middle & Pinkie: Essie Navigate Her, Revlon Posh, Spoiled Deeper Dive, China Glaze Blue Iguana, Layla Hologram Effect 07 Ocean Rush,

Dollish Polish Slippery When Wet & Go Luigi!

Stamping Polishes: Konad Special Polish in Pastel Purple, White, Purple, and Pastel Blue, Essie As Good As Gold, and China Glaze Millenium

Accents: LA Colors Gold Glitter, Essie Blanc, Orly It's Not Rocket Science

Stamping plate: LeaLac LLC5

Look at all the holo goodness from CrowsToes and Dollish Polish.

Leah Anne the lady behind this company is such a sweetheart! We've shared a mutual health burden that led us to some shared sympathy and laughter. Honestly, I'm uber excited to see both her blog and new website!  Anyhoo, I created this mani using one of the adorable 10 small stamping plates offered by LeaLac a subsidiary of Llarowe and several polishes i.e. CrowsToes, Dollish Polish and A-England, also carried by Llarowe (click links above to view). I chose this plate because it's probably one of the most unique plates I've seen of the many I own, and it's been calling out for a good mani for a bit now.  And after this mani yeah um I need ALL the plates now!

In case you were wondering what my mani looked like prior to stamping ;)

I could seriously eat this little octopus up! So freaking cute!!!

So what do you think? Another insane mani-logue huh? Hehe I must be channeling a mad person lol! But the results are worth it don't you think? Okie dokie that's it for now. Thanks so much for reading and I'll see you next post! Toodles...