Here we go 'round the Mulberry bush

I started doing my nails with one of the new holos that I just got. First of all, it was too light. Then I tried layering it over a forest green and it became a streaky mess. I will have to figure out something else before I can show it to you. But I promise, it'll be worth the wait!

I realized I hadn't done a red recently. So I chose Rescue Beauty Lounge Bruised since I hadn't worn it before. Like all RBL polishes, the formula is incredible. Nice pigmentation, nice self leveling, awesomeness. The color to me is a shade of mauve or light maroon. It's a mix of red and purple with a hint of brown.

I'm gonna have to get back to you about whether I like this color or not. I'm still deciding. The first thing that came to mind was the nursery rhyme about the mulberry bush. It's exactly that color to me!

After wearing this Bruised for a day, I wanted to jazz it up. So I used Spa Ritual Pebble and Konad plate M4 for something different.  I have also decided I do like this color especially with it prettied up with a design.  This is a keeper for me!

I have gotten a lot of compliments on this design.  I really like it.  I have to say I'm getting pretty good at the stamping thing.  Still waiting for my Bundle Monster package.  Hurry up USPS!

The Subtle and the not so subtle

I thought before I changed my polish, I'd play some more with my new found love of nail stamping. The results came out so good I was shocked and pleased. So much so that I thought I would share it with you. Please ignore the tip wear- that's not part of the design!

The base is Essie Smooth Sailing. The first 4 pictures I used Essie Aruba Blue and Konad plate M21 for the subtle look. The last 4 pictures I used the Konad black polish with the same plate design. The not so subtle look.

I can't decide which look I like better! I am obviously starting to master this stamping stuff. The designs are almost lined up perfectly and all the lines are there. Score! I just ordered the Bundle Monster set of 25 plates and can't wait to create new funky things with that.

I also dug out my digital camera to use for my pictures. I think it takes better pictures and I can do more close up shots. I had thought I had ruined my camera by getting snowflakes in it that left waterspots on the pictures. I guess after a year of sitting, the water evaporated. Plus, this shows the real color of Smooth Sailing.

What do you think? Are the pictures better?

And are you subtle or not so much?

Pity Party Over-Now It's Smooth Sailing

Yes I had my own little pity party the other day. Don't you ever have days like that?? Maudlin and boohoo my life sucks kind of days? Well that's over for now.  I soothed my poor soul by ordering 7 new bottles of nail polish.  Holos, glitters and duochromes, oh my! That'll cure any blues right?!?

Speaking of blues, I have added to my Essie blue collection. So many pretty blues, so few nails to paint! Today I decided to show you Essie Smooth Sailing. This is a current collection color. You know I strive to be outside the mainstream but this color really caught my eye.

I call this color cornflower, periwinkle blue. It has fine silver shimmer. I could have stopped after one coat because there was such great coverage. But I went ahead and did my usual two coats. The pictures do not do it justice.  The pictures make it seem more a normal blue and this is far from normal.

The first 4 are in the sun, the last 2 are in normal light.  There is some difference, but I couldn't capture the cornflower blue in it's beauty.

This is such a different blue then I've seen lately.  I really love it. Don't you? On later posts I'll show you the other blues I got.

Wait til you see the cool colors I have on order.  You will flip out! I'm freakin' out with anticipation. Any guesses as to what color I do next??

Some Whine with my Cheese

I decided to overhaul my blog's look.  I am getting very sad that no one seems to like what I'm doing enough to sign up and be a follower.  Other blogs seem to take off like wildfire, while my little blog gets forgotten.  I can see that people are looking, just window shopping I suppose.  What is it about other blogs that make you guys sign up? What am I doing that is so different?

My friends tell me, be patient, it takes time. You're supposed to blog because you love it, not to get followers.  Yes I know this, but it's nice to have validation. Plus, I have never been a patient person!

I bought myself a couple of bookshelves to house my ever growing polish collection.  I thought I'd show you the before and after pictures.

Obviously the before

I don't have nearly the amount of polishes that others have, but I'm working on it! I'm not one to just buy random sets or colors. I only buy what I think I'll like and wear. I won't go out and buy a whole collection just to swatch for a blog. That's not for me.

The first half of the after

The remaining after

Originally, this bookcase was built to be one tall 5 foot thing.  I put it together like that, arranged all my polishes, and proceeded to watch Checkers bat them around all night long while I tried to sleep. Not gonna happen! So I broke it apart and rigged it to be two small cases that fit on top of my desk where I do my blog.  How appropo! To have my polish right in front of me gives me ideas and incentives to continue blogging.

I also wanted to show you my Zoya Suvi mani with it's chips and tip wear. I also practiced my Konad skills to show you. Some are crooked, some are smeared. This happened when I added top coat. Is that supposed to happen? Can I get some helpful tips to make it better?

Now that my polishes are all neat and tidy, I bought 4 more bottles today.  Holos.  Can't wait to get and try those!

Don't worry, I won't stop blogging.  I actually do enjoy putting my thoughts out there.  I realize I'm wordier than others, but that's me in real life.  If I'm the only one who reads this, I'll still be a happily obsessed polisher.

Do you like my new look? I think it's groovy.

Apathetic and pathetic- it's gonna be a long week Suvi-

Woke up this morning to pouring rain.  I love rain, but knew that traffic was gonna suck.  I work an hour away from where I live.  Why is it that people forget how to drive when it rains? Anyway, I was running late to begin with and wouldn't you know it, there were cars in the ditch on both sides of the road.  Then traffic came to a standstill. Great-it's 0745 and I need to be in my clinic at 0800 and I'm still 30 miles away.  Not gonna make it am I? Can it get any worse? Yes it can! I finally get to the hospital and the road I need to take is blocked by firetrucks.  I had to take the long way around to get to the parking deck.

Now for 6 years, I have parked in the same spot in the deck.  It's MY spot! Lately, some honey in a BMW has been taking my place.  Damn her!! I have been making an extra effort to get to work early to beat her to my spot. This morning I knew that she would be in my spot since I was half an hour late.  My Monday was getting off to a bad start.  Imagine my surprise when I turned the corner on lower level 3 and saw my spot waiting for me! Had I schooled her enough that she has given up my spot?? All I know is that little thing like getting my parking space after a crap morning just made my day!

What does this have to do with nail polish you say?? Abso-freakin'-lutely nothing!  I put on Zoya Suvi yesterday and I just can't come up with anything witty to say.  I'm not even sure I like this color.  It's an emerald green shimmer, but it just seems murky to me.

You know I normally like green polish, but just not sure about this one.  It has chipped and I already have tip wear and I haven't done anything but sleep yet. There are even dent marks.  I really don't ever have good luck with Zoya polish.  Is it just me or do you guys have problems with Zoya as well? The formula is runny and the brush is too stiff and drags the polish right back off. Of course, I do love Zoya Gemma, it is one of my absolute favorite greens of all time.  I am willing to put up with the bad formula for that.  But not so sure about Suvi.

You decide-

Any thoughts on my obsession with my parking spot? Does anyone else have a mania like that? Am I alone in my thoughts about people driving in the rain? Please tell me I'm not alone in my craziness!

What about Suvi? Is it a do or a don't?

It's a Walkoff People

It's Sunday, it's Father's Day, and my dad is asleep in the lazyboy. Perfect time for nail polish and my blog. The anticipation has been killing me! "Butt" there won't be any underwear removal a' la Zoolander.

In this corner, wearing the signature interlocking Cs, weighing in at 13ml is Chanel Khaki Brun.

In the other corner, looking nervous, weighing in at 12ml is Rescue Beauty Lounge No More War.

These were polished without base or top coat.  The Chanel did turn out to be more brown and the RBL has a more yellow base to it.  They are in the same color family, but clearly, they are different colors.

On the left is the Chanel, the right RBL.  I know the picture doesn't do it justice. You'll just have to trust me on this one.  Thought it'd be a fun way to do the pictures though!  These colors are different, but awesome in their own way.  I'd be happy to let my fingers do the walking with either color!  I love them both.

Also wanted to post a random pic of my first attempt at Konad'ing.  Not too shabby eh? Lot more practice needed, lot more designs to try.

Uh oh, Dad's awake, time to get the Hallmark card out, it's too early for beer.  As Dad would say, "it's not beer thirty yet."

To all the fathers out there-Happy Father's Day!

I love you Dad!

Life's too short-No More War

I tell you-I had a VERY hard time taking off that Aruba Blue polish from the other day.  I was enjoying it SO much that I almost left it on for more pure enjoyment. But then I thought you guys would be so sad without my bright happy posts (HAHA) that life just wouldn't be the same. So for you I got out the polish remover.

Today I picked Rescue Beauty Lounge No More War.  Yes I know I do alot of RBL, but I just love them and have a few!  This polish is so dreamy, it's an olive khaki green drab with yellow undertones.  I wear this color often.

As I was polishing, I realized that this color seems an awful lot like Chanel Khaki Brun which I posted here.  I think the Chanel has more brown in it, where as the RBL is more olive, but I didn't have time to do a comparison. Stay tuned-it's on my to do list this weekend.  We will have an official dupe off between Chanel Khaki Brun and RBL No More War.  I'm tingling with anticipation.

Yes I am very weird and little things get me excited. On to the pictures.  In a couple of them, you will see Checkers, my beloved baby rubbing her head on me while I was taking them.  I decided they were cute so I left them in. I'm a cat person, what can I say?

My parents are coming for a visit this weekend, so not sure when the dupe off will actually be posted. Am thinking Sunday if they don't wear me out.  We have big house projects planned.  Staining, painting, shopping.  I'm tired already! I also figured out that blogger added reaction buttons to the posts.  So if you're too busy to leave a comment, feel free to click a button.

Go ahead, make my day.

No, really it will make my day.  I'm that easy!

This blue cured my blues

Remember the other day when I left Target (tar zhay) without the Essie I was eyeing? I'd thought I already had a blue like that. I got home and realized I didn't and ordered it online. I just got it and had to try it.

I'm talking about Essie Aruba Blue. Was I under a rock when this came out? How did I miss such a gorgeous royal blue shimmer blue? This blue makes my nails look like jewels. I can't stop staring.

I had originally picked this color to represent the blues I was feeling, but suddenly my mood was lifted by the sheer force of a pretty nail polish. I am someone who picks colors and music based on my mood. It helps me express myself. Do you guys do that too?

The first three pictures are taken in the sun, and the last two are taken in regular light so you can see the difference.  Isn't it amazing?

I've just bought my first Konad starter kit. Brooke at Getcha Nails Did had such an awesome design the other day that I thought I'd try it out. I can't wait to get it in the mail! I'm excited!

The more I look at this color, the more enamored I become. This has become one of my all time favorite blues. Have you ever had a polish completely change your mood? If so, what color did it to you?

I'm now Jaded and Over the Top

I went to Ulta the other day. What, I needed some more nail polish. Really, you ask?!?  Did you forget your Ulta points expire the end of June? Well dammit, I was gonna get my $4 off! I was perusing the aisles and got a couple of Essie, a China Glaze and then saw that Ulta has their own polish brand. Now I don't normally hang at Ulta, I had seen their brand in the mailings I get, but never paid much attention.

Then I saw Jaded. This polish couldn't decide whether it was a holo or a duochrome. In the bottle, you see shimmers of green, blue, purple. I was all ready to ask you to help me decide what to label it in my post. Then I polished my nails.

Total disappointment.

The first layer was pretty cool, looked like what was in the bottle except so sheer I got worried I'd have to do tons of coats. The next layer made it opaque but the mystery was gone. I was left with a shimmer metallic green the color of American money. Not necessarily a bad thing, but wasn't what I saw in the bottle. Gone was the dream of a new holo, the dream of a new duochrome and I was left with this.

While I'm not exactly hating this, it wasn't what I thought. So I enjoyed this color for a few hours then decided to switch it up a little and try another Funky French. I grabbed my new Essie Over the Top. This color is a deep dark shimmer gunmetal gray and thought it'd go well with the green of the Jaded.

I must say, I did way better this time with the scotch tape. I'm not as embarrassed to show this off. I think the 2 colors play well together. I'm happy with this one.

Overall, this is a pretty cool look.  I'm still not sure that it's for me.  I think I'm still a one color girl at heart, but am inclined to mix it up for you my fans. The Ulta polish is not one I think I will buy again.  The polish is runny, not self leveling, I have serious brush marks.  Sometimes, buying cheap ends up being just that.

Cheap.