31 Day Challenge: Day 14: Flowers!

I am really happy with the way this mani turned out! I’m not a flowery person but this, I will definitely do again. I’m thinking it would be a super cute pedi.

This challenge is fun because it gives me an opportunity to play with a bunch of untried polishes. The base for this mani is Zoya Parker (one of three nudes I bought during the Earth Day promotion), the flowers are CG Riveting, Nicole by OPI Kourt is Red-y for a Pedi (a new fave!) and dots are CG Turned up Turquoise.

My new favorite top coat: Color Club. Not sure exactly what it is, but it came with my Take Wing Collection. It is SUPER SHINY and dries really fast.

I’ve been playing around with hand poses etc, I think I prefer the pictures without the nail polish bottles. I always felt like I would squeeze onto it for dear life. I think I’ll be bottle-less for the time being.

The other girls did flower last Monday, but go see what they have for today!

Kelsie at Kelsie's Nail Files

Stephanie at A Little Polish

Amanda at Nox Nails

Jess at Nearly Natural Nails

Thanks for coming by!

-Erin-

Monkey See, Monkey Do Monday!

Small confession – I had seen this photo on someone’s Facebook foreverrrrr ago and I fell in love with it then. I looked for the perfect mint green polish, I ordered one from Avon, they sent an ugly light blue instead…then I couldn’t find the photo again so I couldn’t quite remember what it looked like. Guess my excitement when I saw it on Pinterest! This mani is what first drew me into nail art, really. I mean, I always liked to paint my nails, and ‘sometimes’ I played around with my stamping plates, but this picture is IT. I mean, look how cute!

Here is a side by side. The original was uploaded by ‘user’ and the watermark links to here.

Well. I think I did a pretty good job! I could work on my dotting tool skills. Her dots are super crisp and opaque looking. I just bought Spoiled Correction Tape so maybe that will improve. I also used Nicole by Opi Follow Me On Glitter for the striping. I also like how the original mani has more of a swoopy French effect.

The base is China Glaze Refresh-Mint or something like that. I have another confession – I don’t really like China Glaze polish. While I LOVE their colors, the formula just doesn’t do it for me and the brushes are always ragged. Every crème color I have chips after one day of wear. I don’t get it. Has anyone else experienced this and can you fix it? Unfortunately this cute mani had to come off after one day.

I hope you like it! Thanks for reading!

XOXO

Erin
Check out other MSMD manis on these awesome blogs! Let me know if you participated and are not on the list!

Laurie http://dressedupdigits.blogspot.ca/

Missy http://gnarlygnails.blogspot.ca/

Carrie http://lesamowen.blogspot.ca/

Cristina http://theclockwisenailpolish.blogspot.pt/

Nievys http://maquiclubgirl.blogspot.ca/

Ashley http://followtheyellowpolishroad.blogspot.ca/

Kristin http://manicuredmonkey.blogspot.ca/

Emily http://macabremanicures.blogspot.ca/

Nayade http://www.toxicvanity.com/

Erin http://www.erinsbeautybumbles.blogspot.ca/

Debbie http://thecrumpet.blogspot.co.uk/

Melissa http://www.misadventuresofawannabemartha.com/

Kristin http://geekyowl.blogspot.ca/

Angi http://www.angelinaswelt.blogspot.de/

Julie http://ofknitandnails.blogspot.ca/

Kerrie http://pishposhandpolish.blogspot.co.uk/

Jewli http://www.fanningthefumes.blogspot.ca/ 

Alyssa http://www.fancyphalanges.blogspot.ca/ 

Jen http://jenspaintedtips.blogspot.ca/ 

Zoya Apple: A Tragedy

Well, here it is. The most gorgeous color I own, RUINED. Yep. This is the 2nd attempt at doing some sort of stamping/nail art on Zoya Apple, and both times I hated it. I wanted to try again after the first FAIL (which I may show you sometime soon) and had just bought China Glaze Liquid Crystal. Guys this was so awful. Plus, you can see on my ring finger where the glitter TOOK OFF part of the base coat after I seriously messed up the stamping.
But the Zoya Apple is great. This color really stands out all on its own so the extras just ruin it. (…covers my eyes while you look at this disaster…)

Do you see what I mean? I did not want to do this mani again, because I do not want to waste all of my Zoya Apple on ugly manis! So I left it as it was, and removed it immediately (OH and didn’t clean up either or do anything to my cuticles. I was too depressed.) I used Pure Ice Silver Mercedes to stamp the lizards, and the glitter is China Glaze Liquid Crystal. I had just bought the CG and was dying to use it.

Meh. 
Oh, and I just realized that my lizards have no heads. WTH.

Thanks for reading!

XOXO

Erin

I love Sally!

Hi kids! I just did a new tape/stripe mani and pedi, but I'm unable to get good pictures, so I will just share with you my recent purchases:

I went to Sally's on Saturday and this is what I chose:

China Glaze | Diva Bride

China Glaze | Sun Worshipper

China Glaze | Pool Party

Finger Paints | Tiffany Imposter

China Glaze | Turned Up Turquoise

I have been on the prowl for the perfect nude. Every time I pick one out, it is either too pink, too white, too brown, too peachy. CG Diva Bride may be my new go-to. I used it tonight and so far I think it looks gorgeous. We will see what it looks like tomorrow.


I have been wanting a minty-blue for a while now (ever since I ordered one from Avon and they sent me a discontinued light blue instead! It wasn't worth the hassle of returning for $2.99). I haven't tried out Tiffany Imposter yet but I have a few interesting ideas for nail art/stamping to go with it. BTW, Tiffany Imposter is Sally's color of the week (or maybe month?) and you get a free China Glaze base coat. OF COURSE, they were out when I was there, so I could have gotten a rain check but I live too far away to drive all that way for a base coat. ALSO, China Glaze colors were on sale 2 for $10.


And of course I bought THREE neons! I'm not a huge fan of neons because 1) they are usually matte, which I don't care for in a neon polish because I think it should be loud and shiny, and 2) they require a base color and lots of color coats. But for some reason I could not resist these. Probably because it is so warm here and bright colors look kickin' with a tan.


I have a fresh new mani and pedi to share but my little camera takes horrid pics at night so I will wait until daylight tomorrow. It didn't turn out quite like I wanted, and I had to coat some Sally Hanson Disco Ball on it to save it, but I think it will still look awesome.


There may be a trip to Sephora tomorrow afternoon, depending on how my interview goes...wish me luck!

Thanks for reading!

XOXO

Erin