Sunday, October 23, 2011

French tip with a twist!

I just wanted to share this nail look I did yesterday and am loving! It's a French tip with a twist - instead of your standard white French polish, I've used two different colours and alternated them :)


Hope you like it :)





The nail polishes I used were:
- L.A. Girl Metal polish in Millennium
- L.A. Girl Metal polish in Alkaline Blue

Sunday, October 16, 2011

Nail Stamping - Fail or Success?

First of all, I want to start with the fact that I had given up....You may ask on what, let me tell you - I had given up on my nail stamping image plates and all that goes with it!


Around May this year, I got hooked on Youtube videos and blogs that reviewed/gave tutorials/showed photos of anything to do with nail stamping. I thought it was fantastic, as my freehand drawing is not up to par with the professionals. The concept of the stamping is great, so I purchased a BUNCH of stuff related to nail stamping including:


- Set 1 of Bundle Monster image plates (21 image plates)
- Set 2 of Bundle Monster image plates (25 image plates)
- Several Konad image plates
- Stampers and scrapers
- Special Konad stamping polishes


Now I bought all this because I loved the concept of nail stamping. I was so excited when my packages arrived in the post!! I couldn't wait to get home and try it all! I took photos of everything (let me know if you'd like to see them!) and then tested out a few images...


Well, I wasn't impressed. The images weren't transferring from the stamp to my nail. If they did, it placed less than half on my nail, and the colour was faint. I watched Youtube tutorials and read blogs about how to fix the problem. One popular solution was to file the stamps down before use to help pick up the images...FAIL! It didn't work. I just used a standard nail file from the shops.


Over the past few months, I've been busy with wedding and honeymoon planning, so the nail stamping was put on the back burner...Now that time permits, I decided to try again last night. Without fail, the images still didn't transfer probably. 


My one last attempt was to use a white buffer block (purchased from eBay a couple of months ago) to file the stamp. I went through the steps again: polish on image, scrape, stamp image and place on nail....I nearly fell off my chair when it actually transferred to my nail with 100% colour - SUCCESS!!


Not completely believing my luck, I tested different images, different plates, different polishes and different scrapers and they all worked too!!!


Now I can't wait to play with my nail stamping tools and experiment with different looks! If you've had a similar experience, use my motto: if in doubt, eBay has the answers! 



Sunday, October 2, 2011

What I've Been Loving Lately...

10 Things I've Been Loving Lately!

Here are several things I've been loving lately! 
(in no particular order)...

1. Painting my nails & experimenting with nail art - during the first 6 months of the year, I wasn't painting my nails as much, as I was trying to prevent staining because I was going to have natural nails for my wedding - however, 2 weeks before the wedding, my nails starting breaking (argh!) and I had to get acrylics :( However, when on our honeymoon in Canada, I stocked up on polishes and here I am again - with time to paint my nails and try new things with my nail brushes and nail art! It must be working, because I'm getting quite a few compliments :)

2. Bargain shopping - Last weekend, we went to the Gold Coast for a weekend away with my family...the boys 'convinced' Mum and I to go to the shops - well, Mum and I found some great bargains together! I found some L.A. Girl Disco Brites polishes, a lip colour remover (for long wear lipsticks), coconut shampoo and conditioner (yum!) and 2 hair masks :)

3. Being an enabler (lol) - Since I've gotten into nail polish a couple of years ago, none of my friends share the same interests, and they don't really understand my obsession! However, in the past few months, my friends have been noticing the polish that I'm wearing and asking lots of questions! So far, I've 'enabled' three friends to start their own nail polish collection :) Love it!!

4. Vouchers & coupons - There a lots of sites floating around the internet with cheap vouchers/coupons for meals, body treatments, courses etc...and I've joined a couple! I've bought meal deals, manicure/pedicure and just yesterday, I had a massage, facial and eye treatments...it was amazing! Such a cheap way to relax :)

5. Swatching nail polishes - Since buying all my new polishes in Canada, I've had some swatching to do! So relaxing and I love seeing how the polishes look like out of the bottle! (I've even started a new swatching method with the round palettes)

6. Words with Friends - If you have an iPhone and haven't checked this out, it's great! It's like Scrabble but you play against your friends that have the same app!

7. Hanging with Friends - Same concept as Words with Friends, however, it's Hangman :)

8. Finding new polish blogs - Lately, I've been reading so many polish blogs!! I've found some great ones, that update frequently (it motivates me to write more blogs!). I love looking at all the pictures and there is so much inspiration for me to try new things :) It's amazing to see the talent some people have :)

9. Splurging on pretty shoes - Now, I've never been a 'shoe girl' - I'd rather buy polishes or books, however my sister-in-law, bought new, expensive heels and they were so pretty! (Now who is the enabler! Lol) I splurged and bought a few pairs of gorgeous heels :) One pair of bright blue suede heels, a pair of light emerald heels and a pair of stone/beige wedges!! Beautiful!

10. TV shows - It's that time of year again! All of my favourite TV shows are back on air! Also, I've gotten hooked on the Kardashian show + spinoffs! Silly I know, but oh so funny! Lol.

I'd love to hear your comments and let me know what you've been loving lately!!

Any requests for blog topics, I'd love to hear too!

Saturday, September 10, 2011

Nail Love: Spots, Spots, Spots...

I've been loving wearing polish lately, and changing it up with my dotting tools! I've been getting lots of compliments, as well as requests from friends about colours and such that they'd like to see...here is the first look I did on Monday:



For the above look, I used:
- love & beauty in Teal (from Forever 21)
- Wet n Wild in Black Creme
- Wet n Wild in French White Creme


Everyone at work loved this and I had a request to do orange and yellow nails...Now, I don't actually have an orange polish, so I used a coral instead. This is what I created:



For the above look, I used:
- Piggy Polish in Coral Reef
- OPI  in Fiercely Fiona
- L.A Colors Art Deco in Black

I hope you guys like these two looks...if you have any requests with colours you'd like to see, let me know!!

Thursday, August 18, 2011

Got to love puppies!!

Instead of a beauty related post, this is an animal/pet related post :) Hope you animal lovers like it!


Now I'm a pet lover, no doubt about it...I grew up with cats, a dog, birds, guinea pigs and fish! I always have pets, no matter what :) I have a big heart, especially where animals are concerned!


My husband and I were on our way home when I saw a sign for a pet store that made me squeal and made my husband jump! The sign read 'Keeshond puppies'...Now, if you don't know what a Keeshond looks like, then you're in for a surprise...they are the cutest little things! Now, I might be biased as the puppy dog I had growing up was a Keeshond and he was the best dog ever :D I knew I had to see the Keeshond puppy when I saw the sign...so in we went :) Here's a photo of me cuddling the cutie!


Isn't he adorable?!


I thought I might add a few photos of my puppy dog, Kobi :) Super cutie from puppy to adult, don't you think!?








 Hope you guys liked this blog - love to hear from you :)

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Long time, no read!

It has been LONG overdue for a blog post and I'm here to say, here I am!


What have I been up to since my last post....
- working full-time 
- planning my wedding (every weekend - hence the lack of posts),
- organising the honeymoon,
- the wedding day arrived (June 18th),
- the honeymoon arrived (June 22nd - 6 wonderful weeks in Canada!) and,
- we got home a week-and-a-half ago, and time has been hectic since seeing family and friends, the wedding photographer, working, unpacking and organising everything I bought!


Which brings us to today! I'll leave you with a couple photos to look at....
I used nail polish strips to create this look!
Milani '3D Holographic' polish in 'Hi-Tech'

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Hello Hello!

Well it scares me to even look at the date of my last blog entry...and as it is the same with my Youtube channel, I've been extremely busy and neglected both my blog and my videos! It seems that time is flying by and not giving me a chance to blog or film! But as luck has it, I have a spare 5 minutes tonight to write a quick blog entry!


I've been busy planning my wedding, working and more of the same! Every weekend it seems I'm out and about, and only home with enough time to do the cleaning and washing...does anyone else feel this?!


I had the chance to read 'The Hunger Games' series by Suzanne Collins. This series was recommended several times to me and after reading the blurb on the book, I was skeptical...but nevertheless, I purchased the books. Let me say, I finished the books in about four days (if only I didn't have to work, sleep or eat, I could've done it in two!)...This series is amazing! The books are so easy to read, I had trouble putting the books down! I'd love to hear if you've read these too :)


I finally cracked and purchased LOTS of books from www.bookdepository.co.uk. It's been a long time coming, but I was actually quite happy with the service and delivery time. 


A more recent purchase (in the last couple of days!) has been making me want to share this with someone...and none of my 'real-life' friends understand my nail polish/nail art and overall nail obsession, but I finally caved and purchased both sets of the Bundle Monster nail stamping image plates! Very excited! I also ordered some Konad polishes :D I can't to receive my things!! I'd love to hear if you've got and wish you had these!!


On the other note, if you have any requests of what you'd like to see in my blog entries, let me know :) I don't have a lot of time, but I'd love to keep up on my blog...I haven't been wearing polish regularly at the moment (I don't want to run the risk of staining my nails yellow before my wedding!), but I'm open to ideas...


Hope you're all well! I'd love to hear what you've been up to!!

Sunday, March 6, 2011

Small Book Haul!

Small Book Haul!

It's book time!! I've bought some books lately and I thought I'd share them with you...

These two are a new series that has been recommended to me a bit. I saw them in Target and thought I'd buy them :)


 These next three are all books that are apart of a series...

'Sookie Stackhouse' series

'Undead' series

'House of Night' series
 This book is from an author that I've previously read and loved her work...


This is from the 'Little Black Dress' brand...


These two books were a set, Two for One...


I'd love to hear what you're thoughts are, if you've read any of them!

Sunday, February 20, 2011

Nail Love: Black Crackle French Tip!

I know it's been awhile since I've posted on my blog. Life has gotten very busy, but time is slowing down a little bit...


I wanted to share this look with you that I loved!! I thought it was awesome myself! I had lots of compliments on it too...




To create this look, I used:


- OPI Teal the Cows Come Home


- BYS Black Crackle


- L.A. Colors Art Deco in Silver Glitter


- plus a basecoat and topcoat!


Since I've been MIA for a little, I'd love to hear any blogs you'd love to see :)

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

10 Things I've Been Loving in January!

Here are several things I've been loving in January! 
(in no particular order)...

1. Candles - loving my vanilla scented candles from Ikea!

2. Nail art - I love experimenting with different nail art, especially my rhinestones.

3. Books - I've finished reading the 'House of Night' series...very different and unique, but good.

4. Friends - I've got some great friends that have been very supportive and caring, but have been there for me 100% :)

5. Dotting tools - I think using my dotting tools to create different manicures looks cute :)

6. Wedding planning - I love planning my wedding! There are so many things to do, yet, it seems to happen so quickly!

7. Photos - I've realised the importance of photos this month. They hold so many memories, and can bring laughter and happiness :)

8. iPhone - the thing I love the most about my iPhone, is the ability to take photos at any time!  

9. Painting my nails - I find it so relaxing. I love the look of polished nails :)

10. Scrapbooking - I haven't had time to scrapbook for a long time, but I've decided to get back into it..I forgot how fun it can be!

Comment and let me know what you've been loving this January!!




Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Nail Love: Dots and Rhinestones!!

Yesterday, I removed my nail polish. Now I know that doesn't sound too exciting...but the thing that amazed me was the length of time that the nail polish stayed on AND looked good! Minimal chipping - hardly noticeable at all! It feels like I haven't worn a nail polish that has that sort of 'staying power' in a long time.... 


Here's a photo of my nail polish look that stayed on for FIVE days (and I believe it could've stayed on longer - except I wanted a change!!)



I've had so many compliments on this look! It's simple to do, and looks fantastic!  The nail polish I used for the base was Sinful Colors Mint Apple, while the nail polishes I used for the dots were Sephora by OPI Teal We Meet Again and Avon Mystic!

Another look I just created involved my dotting tool AND rhinestones this time! I've been wanting to use my nail tools and nail art in different ways...This is what I came up with!


This picture is BEFORE I added rhinestones...

With rhinestones for more jazz!

In sunlight!


That nail polish that I used for the accent finger and french tips was OPI Ogre-The-Top Blue, the glitter polish was Sinful Colors Suede Shoes and the dots are OPI Fiercely Fiona and OPI Yoga-ta Get This Blue! I also chose blue and yellow rhinestones to place over the dots on my accent finger - these are completely optional!

I did start with only three rhinestones on my accent finger...but I felt it looked lopsided, so I just continued to place them on until the whole nail was covered! 

I hope you like these looks!

Saturday, January 1, 2011

Nail Polish Swatches!

If you liked my swatches from my Cherry Culture Haul, check out my nail polish swatch video!!