Mint chocolate chip marbled

I don't know about you guys but this summer I've been crazy for mint! Mint clothes, mint makeup, mint nail polish.... mint everything!!! 

Up until recently though I didn't have much for mint colored nail polish, a shame I know! So I went on the hunt for two specific colors, China Glaze For Audrey and China Glaze Too Yacht Too Handle. And can I say, best purchases I've ever made!! For today, my manicure showcases the gorgeousness that is China Glaze For Audrey. Ready to take a look?

I started off with a base of Essie Blanc on all of my nails. For the watermarble nails I used Essie Blanc, China Glaze For Audrey, and Wet n Wild Black Creme. For the gradient nails I used Essie Blanc and China Glaze For Audrey and I added a coat of Hard Candy Black Tie Optional on top. I topped everything off with Essie Good To Go and then added NYC Matte Me Crazy for a flat finish. 

I'm definitely loving the matte finish on these!! Although I wish I didn't smudge my marble on my middle finger :( *sigh* What can ya do though?! 

OH! And I've been getting pretty good at these 15 second Instagram video tutorials!! I have two for this particular design and they should be posted shortly so make sure you head over to my IG account and check them out!! ;) 

Thanks loves :) 

Freshly dotted with neon flair

This little blog has most definitely been missing out some dotted designs. That makes me so sad because dotted designs can be so refreshing! They can look sweet and simple or incredibly detailed but one thing stays the same: they are so easy to create!! 

So let's get on with these nails!!

I started with a base of Orly Gumdrop on all of my nails. I created the dots with some white acrylic paint, one of my dotting tools, and a toothpick. I sealed in the dots with Essie Good To Go and added a neon pink square stud to each nail from the Born Pretty Store (they can be purchased HERE). 

I really really loved this design, I tried to wear it for a long time but sadly the studs decided that they didn't want to stay on for more then a day T.T But I really enjoyed wearing this color combination, I never thought I would like these colors together but I was wrong, they are so fun and I think that they compliment each other quite well. 

What's your favorite unexpected color combination?

Thanks loves :) 

Never let anyone dull your sparkle!

Sparkles.

Does anything else really need to be said? I mean who doesn't love sparkly things?! I was really excited about this prompt because sparkle should literally be my middle name. I add sparkle whenever I can, why? Because sparkles make me smile and smiling is my favorite! ;)

So moving on with the prompt, I was surprised at how much I actually struggled with this one. It's not that I didn't have any ideas, I just didn't know which direction I wanted to go in. I actually had a different mani in mind but once I got half way through and messed it all up I decided that I should go for a simpler route. I really enjoy sparkly gradients so let's do that shall we?! 

I started off with a base of Orly Gumdrops. When that was dry I taped off around my nails and did a glitter gradient using Orly Sparkling Garbage and Orly Bubbly Bombshell. I added a rhinestone on top and finished up with two generous coats of Poshe top coat to give it a great shine. 

My favorite color is definitely SPARKLES! I stared at these nails for so long but unfortunately had to take them off shortly after they were finished... I didn't want to but there was so much glitter on there I knew if I let it dry I'd NEVER get it off lol! 

Take another look at the challenge picture to see what's coming up soon on the blog! 

Thanks lovelies :) 

So fresh, so clean!

I've decided that the new year is the time to take on some new challenges and make some changes. You know, new year, new me ;)

Among some of the changes and challenges I'm going to be doing I think it's about time for another nail polish challenge. I love doing challenges because it really gets my creative juices flowing, I find it especially helpful when I'm feeling decidedly uninspired. This challenge is pretty laid back which I'm excited about and it was created by @californails on instagram. The first day of the challenge was actually yesterday but hey, better late then never! 

Anyways the first challenge is fresh. Whenever I think of fresh I think of mint so I knew I wanted to incorporate it in my mani somehow. Other then that though I struggled coming up with an idea for this one and then it hit me, what's fresher then a old school white french manicure?! 

I started this design by painting the tips of my nails with OPI Alpine Snow. Then I cleaned up the smile line with a cleanup brush and some acetone. After everything was dry I layered two coats of OPI Bubble Bath and then I added three dots of Orly Gumdrop up the side of each nail. To finish the design up I added some Poshe for top coat to give it that super shiny look! 

Here's a picture of the challenge so you guys have an idea of what's coming up next! ;) 

So what do you think? Is it fresh enough?! What would you have done for this challenge, I really struggled with an idea so I'd love to hear your thoughts! And who knows... maybe I'll decide to recreate some! ;) 

Thanks darlings :) 

Mish Mash Challenge: Card or Board Game

Hello cupcakes!!

Can I just say that I am super pumped that I'm actually getting this post up on time ;) I hope you are all having a wonderful Wednesday and maybe preparing for Thanksgiving tomorrow?? All I know is I'm SO ready to stuff my face with some turkey and all the fixings!! LOL!

Anyways on to the mish mash challenge! Today's theme is card or board game. I really wanted to do some Sorry nails but I was multitasking when I was doing these trying to figure out my Thanksgiving nails so I went with something a little easier: LIFE nails :) Now I've never actually played the game LIFE but the cover of the board game was super pretty and I instantly knew what I wanted to do.

I started this design with a gradient of Azature White and Orly Gumdrop on all of my nails besides my thumb. On my thumb I started with a base of Lime Crime Crema de Limon. All of the other details were painted on using acrylic paint. I used Poshe as a top coat and I was finished! 

I ended up really liking this design. It's simple and really colorful! And not that the game has anything to do with it, I like it too because I'm finally getting my life back in order and it's kind of a bright little happy message on my nails :) 

I hope you all have a wonderful day! I'm going to start working on my Thanksgiving nails shortly after I post this so look for some awesome nails on the blog tomorrow ;) And while you're here make sure you check out everyone else's card or board game nails!! 

See ya later loves! 

Mish Mash Challenge: Flowers

Hello loves!

I can't believe it's Wednesday already! I don't know about you guys but this week is just flying by! Anyways, it's time for another Mish Mash Challenge day. Today's theme is flowers and I have to say this is the first challenge that I'm not quite satisfied with. I had a super headache yesterday so they aren't as intensive as my other challenge days :( I suppose I should quit whining and just show you guys though right? LOL

I started with a base of Azature White. Then I freehanded the striped using Maybelline Color Show Green With Envy, totally mint not green -_- Then I painted the flowers... roses?... with pink and white acrylic paint and the leaves with green. I top coated and then it was done!

I really like the abstract feel to the flowers they were super easy to create, just two dots of paint and swirled together with a toothpick. Do they look enough like flowers? 

What do you think guys?
Make sure you check out everyone else's flower nails!

Mint Manis for Talia Joy

Good morning guys!

Or morning for me anyways.  

If you missed my post the other day I'll just recap a bit. Today is a special day in the nail community, on Tuesday, July 16th, we all lost a beautiful girl named Talia. Talia was an inspiration to the beauty community. She was a very special 13 year old girl who was battling two forms of cancer: neuroblastoma and preleukemia. Despite her challenges she put a smile on her face every day and brought beautiful makeup and nail tutorials to us all. She was truly the strongest girl I've ever had the honor to know and so very amazing at everything she did. 

Today, July 19th, the nail community has banded together to bring mint manis to honor miss Talia Joy. The last photo she posted on instagram was of a mint mani and the wonderful Nicole from Nail Polish Wars thought it would be great for all of us to show our mint manis for Talia. I think that's and absolutely amazing idea. So here's my mint mani for the beautiful little girl who was stronger then anyone. 

I started with a base of ORLY Gumdrop and did a glitter gradient using ORLY Sparkling Garbage on my thumb, pointer, middle, and pinky nails. I also put a little rhinestone at the base of each of those nails. On my ring I did two full coats of ORLY Sparkling Garbage and stamped over it with a little bow from BM-317 with L.A Colors striping polish in black. 

I really love how these came out, soft and sweet. 

For anyone wanting to participate today the hashtag is #mintmanisfortaliajoy. This is for Facebook, Tumblr, Instagram, etc. 

If anyone want to link their blogs up you can pick up the inlinkz code right HERE. But don't forget to add your name in the actual inlinkz! 

I can't wait to see everyone's love for Talia Joy and her friends and family. Rest in peace beautiful angel and make sure you show all those angels up there how to do their makeup and nails!

Thanks so much for reading guys. :) 

Mint Manis for Taila Joy on Friday

Hey guys,

Many of you have probably heard, but the beautiful and talented Talia Joy earned her angel wings yesterday July 16th. Talia was an extremely sweet thirteen year old girl battling two forms of cancer: neuroblastoma and preleukemia. But despite her challenges she chose to live life to the fullest and was always so sweet and kind. She was also one of the most talented nail and makeup artist I have ever had the pleasure to watch. I was so very sad to hear this news yesterday and I hope that her family can find peace though this difficult time. 

The wonderful Nicole from Nail Polish Wars mentioned that the last photo Talia posted on her instagram was 4 days ago and it was of a mint green cream mani. (the polish was POP Nailglam Mint Magic.) She came up with the idea that a bunch of us should ban together and post our own mint manis this coming Friday for Talia. I think this is a great idea! 

The hashtag for the mint manis will be #mintmanisfortaliajoy

If you want to participate with everyone and link your blog up through inlinkz head over to her page HERE and she has the inlinkz code posted there. 

Sending many thoughts, prayers, and hugs to Talia's family and friends through this sad and tragic time. And many thanks to Nicole for coming up with a great way to honor Talia Joy's memory. 

Thanks so much guys. I can't wait to see everyone's mint manis on Friday. :) 

Give me some Sparkling Garbage stripes

Hey guys!

For once you guys are actually getting to see my current nails! I just did these and love them so much that I just couldn't wait to show you all. A few days ago I headed to my local Sally's to pick of some more nail files... you know I couldn't resist perusing the polish area though and I came upon an absolutely stunning polish from Orly. So I grabbed it to find out what it was a literally laughed out loud at the name... Sparkling Garbage. I mean could it get any more perfect then that? LOVE it! Seriously thinking about heading back and grabbing a few back up bottles because I see myself using this one a lot ;) 

Anyways I finally got a chance to try it out today and boy, it didn't disappoint! I only used it as an accent here but I see a full Sparkling Garbage mani in the very near future! I started with a base of OPI My Boyfriend Scales Walls on my pointer, middle, and pinky nails, seriously my favorite greyish white! Then I used some striping tape and painted Orly Gumdrop on top of MBSW. On my ring and thumb I had a base of Orly Gumdrop and did two coats of Orly Sparkling Garbage over that. Check these babies out! 

Look at that bottle shot! Yummy!

And here's a super blurred shot to show you all the gorgeousness that is Sparkling Garbage.

This. Is. Perfection. Haha you all must think I'm way crazy by now but I just can't get enough of this polish! Beautiful with an awesome name to boot!

What do you guys think? Do you love the sparkle?!

Faded dotted gradient

Good morning!

Ugh it's Monday isn't it -_- Welp might as well just jump right in right? Work is being kind of bleh for me lately but hopefully this funk will end soon ;) 

Anyways I took to Twitter last night for some more nailspiration and the lovely Inky from Inky Whiskers Musings let me know that my blog has been seriously lacking in the dotticure area ;) LOL And I couldn't agree more! I actually did two dotticure designs last night and this one just happened to be one of them! I've been wanting to try a faded dotted gradient thingy for a while and definitely digging the results... take a look! :) 

Colors used:

- Maybelline Color Show Green With Envy

- Black Acrylic Paint

I just think this is so cool! I was afraid while I was doing it because I didn't think it would actually look like a gradient but I think it actually does.. Score for having something actually turn out like it looked in my head! LOL

The look was really easy to create. I just painted my nails with my base color, then I used a large and medium dotting tool for the bigger dots and a toothpick for the smaller dots at the top. All I did was place the dots at random getting smaller as I got closer to my cuticle. See easy peasy! :) 

Oh and if you haven't visited Miss Inky's page then you totally have to! She is SO sweet and her nails are always fab! So go show her some love!! :) 

So what do you guys think?

Thanks for reading :)  

My very first ikat!!

Good morning everyone!! 

Well we've made it over the hump and are on our way to the weekend hoorah!! I hope you guys are having a great week I know I can't wait for mine to be over so I can play with some more polish! If only I didn't have to work I could play all day *sigh* Oh well! 

I'm really excited to show you guys my mani today. I've been wanting to try the ikat design for a long time now but always put it on the back burner because I thought it would be too difficult and time consuming. But just a few days ago I was talking with the lovely Emily from Very Emily who does an absolutely fantastic ikat design among other amazing things (Seriously check her blog out she's super awesome!!! :)) and she was kind enough to send me a tutorial on how she does her ikat design. Her tutorial was so simple it made doing these nails a breeze! I can't wait to experiment with other colors to see how well they go together in this design! So take a look at my very first ikat design wooooo!!! :) 

Colors used:
- Sinful Colors Mint Apple
- Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Snappy Sorbet
- Kiss Nail Art Striper in Black

My striper polish was almost gone while I was doing these nails so unfortunately it got pretty goopey about half-way through these but I don't think you can really tell ;) I'm so proud of the way these came out and they were so much easier then I thought they were going to be!

So what do you guys think?

Thanks for reading guys and don't forget to check out Emily's blog at Very Emily I can assure you you won't be disappointed!! :)