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Monday, September 30, 2013

Grey and Purple

Remember when I asked you guys for ideas on grey nail polish and you sent me some great ideas and I bought them all?  Well the next two posts at least will have grey elements to them.

I've also realized that I am addicted to studs.  I can't get enough.  So that will be rampant for a minute on here as well.  Just sayin.....

Before we get to it, a story as always.

Have you guys updated your Apple products to iOS7?  If you haven't, stop what you're doing and do so. Wait, finish reading my blog first and then go do the update.

It has got to be the coolest update in a loooooooong time. I love Apple products.  I wish I could afford an Apple computer, but way too expensive for me.  I've been waiting for this software upgrade because I knew that there would be a new iPhone released.  I've been due for an upgrade since about May or so.  The iPhone 5S was released for ordering on Friday the 20th.  You bet I was at the AT&T store to order one up for me.  I'm told it will take 2-3 weeks for me to actually get it.  I've been waiting this long, I can wait a couple more weeks.

My favorite thing so far about the OS7?  The way the safari stores the pages you have open.  Before, you had to scroll left to right to see what you had open and what you didn't.  Now when you pull it up, it's like an accordion file.  Front to back so you can see the titles of the pages you have open.  How I love this!!  I'm also loving the way you close the apps by swishing them up.  Oh Apple, how I love you so.

What is your favorite part?

I am also experimenting with new hand poses.  I need you guys to tell me which ones you like and which ones you don't.  If there's one that someone out there does that you'd like me to do, tell me.  The different poses will be with the finished mani.

OK now back to the greyness.  Here is your silly bottle shot.


In back we have OPI You're Such A Budapest, Bettina Purple and OPI Vant To Bite My Neck?  Yes these are supposed to be purple IRL.  In front are my new BB Couture Grey Matter and Briquette.  This is my first time ever trying BB Couture. How very exciting!

I started with Grey Matter and an accent of Briquette.  Both of these have lovely shimmer through them. Here are the starting shots.

Sun

Ott Lite
I think these are so pretty!  Next I added tape and painted the area white.


I then removed the tape and did some clean up.

Sun
 Then I did an ombre of purple dots.


Sun
Lastly I added a purple stud at the tip of the triangle.  Here are the results. Remember, tell me which pose you like.

Ott Lite

Sun

Sun

Sun
Now these poses are not conducive to my close up and macro shots.  Do you guys like those or not?  I know what pose I'm partial to, but I want your unbiased opinion.

OK now go upgrade your Apple stuff!

Until next time people.  Any thoughts out there?


Saturday, September 28, 2013

A Tale of Many Files

I have always been a simple girl when it comes to nail implements.  I've been using drugstore nail files for years now.  Didn't really think you could do any better.  Boy was I wrong.

I had bought myself a glass OPI nail file and I must say I am now a total glass file convert.  I'm not sure I can explain why I like them better except to say glass files seem to leave less sharp edges and you don't need several files of different grits to shape your nails.

The day before I was getting ready for my vacation, I had filed my nails and was washing my OPI file when I snapped it in half!  Oh the horror!!!  I was so mad at myself.  I guess I thought they were stronger and would be harder to break.  Maybe it's just the OPI, I don't know.  I'm not going to test out the other files I'm about to show you!!!!

I received a gorgeous set of nail files and other implements from Design Glassware by Mont Bleu.  This online store is in the Czech Republic.  When I got home from vacation, my package had arrived.  They asked me to do a review for them.  Here is the return label.


Oh how excited I was to see this.  Imagine my surprise when I opened the package and saw this........


I assumed I'd be getting ONE file to review.  Instead I now have a gorgeous set of implements and I can't possibly go back to anything else!!  See how they are color coordinated as well?  Swooooooooon....

I received three files in differing sizes.


These are black handled that gradients to clear with clear crystals in the handle. These feel hefty in the hand. The "grit" is on both sides and feels different and better than the other glass files of lesser quality.  These file like a dream. I can't possibly think of anything more decadent that a deluxe set of nail files.  I feel like a millionaire when I use these!

Let me show you what else I got.



This is a set of green tweezers with clear crystals and a compact mirror with green and clear crystals.  I'm definitely feeling quite like a spoiled woman using all these fancy tools.  I also got a pair of stud earrings that I forgot to take a picture of.

I am telling you, please hurry to their website and try out their beautiful, yet well made glass files and other gorgeous things!!

Let me show you what I compared these Mont Bleu files to.

This is a set of 5 Cheeky files I got from Amazon.


These are pretty, just not the same category of pretty right?  These are not as hefty, weighty as the Mont Bleu files.  I'd probably throw these in a purse or something because if they broke, it's not like you're breaking your GOOD files right? These do have grit on both sides, but the grit isn't as fine and not as nice as the Mont Bleu ones.

Here is a cheap one I bought from Sally's.


This one is the lightest of them all.  It's definitely worth spending the extra to get good quality files to not tear up your nails.  This only has grit on one side of the file.  That's part of the cheapness of this file.  I carry this in my work bag.

The other cool thing about glass files? They're washable!  Regular paper files are not. The paper files last only so long and you have to keep buying more.  Glass files never lose their grit and you can wash them to keep them clean.  I love that!

For those of you, convinced that paper files are for you, I have the latest Tweezerman products for you as well!


This is a seriously neon file with a matching mini tweezer.  These are perfect for having in your car or purse where you're not careful as you would need to be with a glass file.

There you have it.  A tale of many files.  My preference has definitely been shifted to glass files.  I feel they do a much better job than regular files.  I am totally in love with these Mont Bleu glass files and the rest of their gorgeousness.  Please make sure you go and check them out!  You won't regret it!  There are all sorts of different colors and sizes and different crystals.  There's something for everyone on their site.

Thank you again to Mont Bleu for their generosity in sending me so many gorgeous implements to call my own.  Your generosity is amazing!

What files do you use?

Until next time people.  Any thoughts out there?

Thursday, September 26, 2013

Driving home nails

Since I showed you my driving to vacation nails, I thought I'd show you my driving home nails.  These are nothing fancy as I didn't have the time or patience since it was my last day to spend with the family.

While I was up there, I bought a Pandora-like bracelet.  You know the ones. You buy beads as you go along making up the bracelet any way you like.  Mine happens to be Fenton Art Glass. These beads are hand painted!!! They are so tiny, I just can't imagine being able to paint something that small.  But then I think, I paint my nails! That's small too!

I started with three beads.  One my mom picked out, called Navajo.  One with a loon on it for our camp in Canada and one with all the colors of brown that I love.  The bracelet holds about 15 beads.  I'd been thinking about buying this for awhile now, but never really did the price comparison or really researched it at all.  I love it and have not taken it off since I got it!  Part of the reason is, it's a beeyotch to get on by yourself!!!

Here I am holding the bracelet with the simple Fall mani I did.



I simply used OPI A Piers to be Tan and Deutsch You Want Me Baby.  I love these two colors together. Just a simple homage to Fall.  The leaves were just starting to turn in New York while I was there.  Isn't my bracelet pretty?

Remember my post on my friend who's afraid of sunflowers?  Well, I saw my dad's garden and just had to stand in the middle of that garden and snap a photo for my friend.  He got me back by sending me a picture of him wearing a sunflower tie! HEHEHEH!  Here are the gorgeous sunflowers my dad grew.


So that concludes my last vacation post.  It always seems to take forever to arrive and then it's gone in the blink of an eye.

I have already been back to work as you read this.  The first day back is always painful.  I had been off for 12 days!  The vacation must have relaxed and calmed me because I didn't flip off one car on my way too and from work that day.  I can't say that for the next day, but you know-can't change a tiger's stripes as they say!

I do know my cats are so happy to have me home.  They have been glued to me since I got home!

Until next time people.  Any thoughts out there?


Tuesday, September 24, 2013

My Niece's nails part two-

We will now be bringing you the other mani we did together.  This one luckily lasted more than one hour!

Here is what hers looked like once I was done.


This was done with OPI Can't Find My Czechbook and In the Cable Car Pool Lane.  I then added dots and tried to make flowers. Fail there!  Before I did the dots, I did add a layer of glitter, you just can't see it in this picture.  On her thumbs, I stamped Snoopy.  It was another time consuming but very cool looking mani!

Mine once again, was a serious horror story.  Here is a look at that.



This may have been less painful had the sun been out.  I started with OPI Peace Love and OPI. In some light it seemed blue, others purple, others green.  This picture does not do it justice.  I did my funky and some dots using Zoya Hunter and added some studs.  YUCK seriously.

Here are our hands together.


Hers is definitely better for both manis!!!!  After we had done these, I noticed a family of deer in the yard. Two bucks, two mommas and a baby.  I cut up a bunch of apples and we went out and fed only one of the mommas.  The rest were too skittish.  Look at the face on her though.  How cute is this? Doesn't it just make you want to hug her?  Of course, you can't do that, but around where my parent's live, the deer are pretty tame and eat right from your hand.


Her nose was almost on my camera when I took this. Here is the rest of the family.


How cool is this??  I just love feeding the deer. It's one of my joys in life.

I hope you have liked this segment of my niece's nails.  Hopefully I will be able to go home for Christmas and she and I will do holiday ones!

I also did her toes-just didn't take a picture of it!

Until next time people.  Any thoughts out there?


Sunday, September 22, 2013

My Niece's nails part one-

We interrupt this post to tell you that I was just hearing some weird knocking noises outside my window.  I ignored it at first, but then realized it sounded like a woodpecker pecking my house.  I rushed outside, and there he was, pecking a hole in my siding!  I scared him off, he went around the corner and started in again!  WTF people???  I live in the woods!! There are plenty of trees around, trust me!  Dude decides to peck on my house.  Ah the fun of living in the woods.

Some sad news as well.  Cujo the spider is gone.  I'm not sure if I squished him before I left on vacation, but he is no longer living outside my kitchen window.  Part of me is sad, but not really THAT sad!!

OK back to today's topic.  

While I was on vacation, I told you I'd be doing my niece's nails.  This is the first of two posts that will feature our nails together.  Now since I was on vacation, I had limited nail polish-(only 24!) and I didn't bother with the steps and the bottle shot.  

You'll have to just forgive me those indiscretions.

Let's start with the nails I did for her first.  She picked out the colors and the design. All I did was do what she wanted.  She's definitely going to be a nail girl when she gets older.  She just turned 7 and already loves going to the salon and getting mani pedis.  

Here is the mani I did for her.



Now for this I used the set of pastels from Lime Crime.  I started with a base color, then added a half of another color.  I added dots and a heart stud.  This literally fell off in one hour!  I spent three hours doing them and it lasted an hour!  My fault totally.  I forgot she had been playing with PlayDoh and I didn't clean her nails with remover first.  Such a bummer!  This came out way better than mine.

Once I had done hers, I ran out of patience and ideas for mine.  Here's what mine looked like.




For mine, I used colors from the new Zoya Cashmere collection.  Then I cut up a random nail polish strip and added a couple of studs.  I am not loving this at all. Just saying........

Here are our two hands together.


I always love doing my niece's nails and we have so much fun picking out what to do and what colors to use.

Stay tuned for the next installation of my niece's nails!

Until next time people. Any thoughts out there?


Wednesday, September 18, 2013

Caboodles-Past and Present

I have something a little different for you today.  My mom and I have been using Caboodles cases for years and I decided to do a post showing the differences throughout the years.  There is one case that I don't know the year it was bought.  I have to find out and will edit this post when I do!

Here is a picture of all the different Caboodles my mom and I have.


Pretty cool eh?

Let's start with the oldest one, which is mine.  I bought this back in 1995 and use it twice a week every week since then.  It travels with me wherever I go.  Here is my Caboodles case.


Here's what it looks like open.


I love it.  It's nice and sturdy and has held up all these years!

Next up, is one of my mom's. Her first one is from 2004.  Here is a picture.


Here is what it looks like open.


See the difference?  Mine doesn't have a mirror and mine opens out to the side. These two are very similar in size and looks on the outside.  It's the inside that's had the changes.

The next one, is the one I'm not sure of the date.  It's my mom's other Caboodles case.


Here's what it looks like open.


Now this one is much bigger than the first two I showed you.  This has much more space and shelves.  I kind of want this for myself!  Don't tell my mom though!!

Lastly, is the newest Caboodles.  I got this specifically for my vacation this year.  It's the 2013 Gilded Nail Valet.  Here is a picture.


I got the teal one, but this does come in pink.  I called Caboodles and ordered direct, but they are supposed to be found in Target and Walmart. Just not in mine! HAHA!

This has a mirror and holders for brushes in the lid and a pull out shelf with space for 24 polish in the bottom!!!! I was worried when I first saw this holder, that it wouldn't hold all the weird polish bottle shapes, but it really does! I tried with OPI, RBL, Lime Crime, all shapes work with this!

Here are the pictures.




The first picture shows the pull out shelf in front.  You know I told you I'd be doing my niece's nails-well, I couldn't decide what colors to bring, so I ordered up this case so I could bring more polish!!  You can see how I've used this.  I do love it. It's so awesome for toting around your polish and the supplies that goes with it.

Oh and you can order a name plate, which of course I have done.  It just hasn't arrived yet!  So I'll have a personalized nail polish case!!!  How cool is that???

So that has been a little random trip down Caboodles lane.  I hope you enjoyed this!  Do you own a Caboodles?

Stay tuned, next post will be with my niece's nails!!!

Until next time people.  Any thoughts out there?



Monday, September 16, 2013

My Traveling Mani

This is going to be a quick post today my peeps. I'm still on vacation and would rather be enjoying the fam rather than at my computer typing posts!

The day before I was to leave for my trip, I had to decide on a simple but awesome mani for the road.  I had to pack and do all those things so I didn't have a lot of time to spend.  I came up with a simple design and I think it's very cool. A warning though, I have serious nubs because I broke a nail plus I was headed fishing which trust me has made my nails even worse! You shall see that soon enough.

I still think nubs can be gorgeous when done right!

Anywho, here is your silly bottle shot for today.


This is OPI Lincoln Park After Midnight, a little different than the After Dark version and Enchanted Polish I'm Kind of a Big Deal.  I'm typing that from memory so if that name is wrong, let me know and I'll correct it.

I started with a full mani with Big Deal.  This is a stunning pinky purple holo and I love it.  Here are the starting shots.

Sun

Ott Lite

Indoor Sun

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Indoor Sun
Next I added some tape.  Here is that step.


I then filled in the triangles with the OPI.  Here is that step.


I told you I was doing simple!  Next I removed the tape and did some clean up.  Here is that step.


Now in my mind, I was trying to make bows. My taping didn't quite make bows, so I took my biggest dotting tool, added a dot in the middle then a stud.  Here are the results.

Sun

Indoor Sun

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Indoor Sun

Indoor Sun

Close Up

Macro
Oh how I love this holo!  I also love how these two colors go together so well!  This was the mani that traveled with me the nine hours it took to drive to my parent's house.

I need to work on my taping to avoid these gaps in the future.

Until next time people.  Any thoughts out there?