Happy New Year!

I don't have anything special going on this year for New Year's Eve. We're not really party people (like going out), and with a one year old it's not so easy to have people over that late or to go to someone else's house. My husband is working until 9pm today as well. I think when he gets home, I'll make a ginormous batch of stove top popcorn and we'll watch some Doctor Who (I'm all caught up; he's on Series 5 still).

Anyway! I still did some simple New Year's Eve nails just for fun :)

Colors used: Barry M Gold Foil and Pure Ice Black Crackle

Barry M Blueberry

My mother-in-law went to visit my sister-in-law (her daughter) in Ireland in September. She picked up 3 Barry M polishes for me, one being a back up Gold Foil. Another was Barry M Blueberry, part of the Gelly line (I also have Pomegrante that I got in swap).

Blueberry is a sorta cornflower blue with hints of purple in it. To me, it reads more purple in the bottle than it does ok the nail. I needed two coats for this mani.

I finished it off with some rhinestones, and layered O.P.I. Crown Me Already with Barry M Silver Glitter.

Apple Mani and the Orchard

We had a family trip to the apple orchard today so I did some nails to match! I used Glitter Gal Light As A Feather as the base.

And here's a photo collage of my little guy there!

Essence Date in the Moonlight

I went to a wedding at the beginning of the month and wanted to do a simple but elegant mani for the occasion.  I decided to wear a blue striped summer dress and chose to use Essence Date in the Moonlight which I picked up a bit ago.

Date in the Moonlight is a super dark navy blue with brighter blue shimmer.  It's part of the Color and Go collection so the fast dry aspect appealed to me.  It went on wonderfully in two coats. 

It chipped really easily though :( I did this mani two days before the wedding, and it completely peeled off the day before so I had to redo it. It didn't peel off that time, but I had a few chips before the ceremony was even over.

I added some silver glitter on the tips using Barry M Silver Glitter and rhinestones on the moon.

This last picture is taken in direct sunlight and really shows off the brighter blue shimmer.

Minimalist Christmas Trees

I've been seeking a lot of inspiration for my manis lately rather than coming up with my own designs. Though I am giving credit where credit is due and changing things up a little bit so I don't feel so bad.

Today's mani is inspired by this mani over at Taupe is the New Black.

I decided to use bright colors, though I'm not sure if I really like my choices.  My base coat is Pure Ice Peony. I needed 2-3 coats for what you see here. I free handed the trees using Cult Nails Feelin' Froggy. There a bit sloppy, and I should have used tape instead. Feelin' Froggy is not a one coater so that meant I had to go over the trees a few times too. I should have picked a more opaque polish to do my art with.

Next I added on yellow/gold rhinestones on the top as stars and different colored rhinestones on each nail for ornaments (from pinkie to index: light blue, bright blue, silver, and purple).

OPI Live and Let Die

Hello, readers! Today you have a post from yours truly.

I did this manicure on the Friday before Tristan was born so I actually wore this when I had him!

For the base, I did 2 coats of OPI Live and Let Die.

There's some great gold flecks in Live and Let Die that my camera refused to pick up. Lucy's Stash has some good pictures of the flecks over at her blog.

Next I decided to have some fun and play around with my nail art tools.  I added on some rhinestones and striping tape. I really love the look that I came up with.

Stamping Sunday: Plate ending in 3

I decided to add on to my Nerd Lacquer All of Time and Space. I saw this cute little ladybug on BM 113 and thought it would be perfect to add to the sort of grassy feel of All of Time and Space.

I also added some rhinestones to my middle and thumb lady bugs as well as some flower decals.

I really liked this look as soon as I was done, but then I didn't like it 2 hours later and took it off. Looking at the pictures again, I do like it! I'm fickle sometimes!

Stamping Sunday: Only Blue

Over at Adventures in Stamping, we chose Only Blue as our theme for Stamping Sunday.

I'm kinda excited about how this turned about. I tried a new stamping technique than what I was doing before. This time I pressed the stamper onto the plate and rolled the image onto the nail instead of rolling onto the plate and on the nail. It worked so much better!!!

The base coat is 2 coats of Revlon Blue Lagoon.  I love this color but have such a hard time with its dry time, even when using Seche Vite.

Next I stamped using Bundle Monster 206 and Sinful Colors Why Not. My Sinful Colors is thick now so it works great for stamping.

Finally I added some blue rhinestones. I'm not sure I like them though. I wish I would have used the light blue ones or none at all.

What do you think? Better with the rhinestones or without?

24 Days of Christmas Challenge, Day 15: Presents

I really like how this one came out! I choose non-traditional Christmas colors to have some fun!

I used a different base coat for each but forgot to take a picture of my thumb. I used Pure Ice Siren (red), Sinful Colors Why Not (blue and it stained!!!), Sally Hansen Green with Envy, and Pure Ice Peony.  The white is using Rimmel French White Nail Tip Liner -- I went a bit thick on the red one : ( 

Then I added rhinestones to each present. I really like how this one turned out.

Here's some others who are also participating in the challenge:

Paint That Nail

Obsessed With Glitter

Nails and Stuff

Red Hair and Black Nail Polish

Base Coat Top Coat

KK Nails

Me, Myself, and Nail Polish

My Polish Stash

Finger Painted

Polish, and Makeup, and Cars, Oh my!

My Wet Nails

24 Days of Christmas Challenge, Day 5: Snowman Face

Just a quick post today.

Colors used:

Finger Paints Paper Mache (3) -- white

Wet n Wild Black Creme

Wet n Wild Sunny Side Up (nose)

L.A. Colors Art Deco 24K Glitter

Here's some others who are also participating:

Paint That Nail

Obsessed With Glitter

Nails and Stuff

Red Hair and Black Nail Polish

Base Coat Top Coat

KK Nails

Me, Myself, and Nail Polish

My Polish Stash

Finger Painted

Polish, and Makeup, and Cars, Oh my!

My Wet Nails