30 Days of Untrieds - Day 2

Today is Day 2 of the 30 Days of Untrieds, and I'll be using another NYC Quick Dry nail polish, this time in "Chinatown".  There will be plenty of the NYC's being used - I bought them in a pack at Dollar Tree, 2 for $1. 

Before I post the pictures of my nails, I feel as though I should warn you.  They look terrible.  Typically, each time I do my nails, I'll do two layers of polish and no more. 

With this specific polish, I did at least three layers on each nail, and a few even ended up with four coats. 

I have no complaints about the brush or the color itself.  However, the formula/consistency of the polish had me incredibly frustrated.  It almost wanted to come out of the bottle 'gloopy', even though it's a brand new bottle.  It was ridiculously uneven when applied, leaving 'bald' spots on my nails.  The OCD portion of me was just not having that. 

The complaining out of the way, I do enjoy this polish.  It's a great color, that is either dark blue or dark purple, depending on how you look at it.  It dries almost like a matte polish, but it retains a bit of sheen.  For these nails, I did the accent finger in (yet another) NYC polish, shown below.



The Liebster Award

So, I've been meaning to do this for awhile now.  Sorry for the lateness.

Before I even post about the awards, I know the requirements for two of them are that we link to other blogs and/or new bloggers.  Sad truth: I don't follow that many blogs :(  *hangs head in shame*  So, I will be linking to blogs that come highly recommended :)

At the end of last month, I was given the Liebster Award by Lacey at Lace & Lacquers .   Thanks so much for acknowledging my blog. 

The Rules:
1. Put the link to who gave you the award.
2. Put the award on your post.
3. Choose 5 blogs with under 200 followers to receive the award.
4. Let them know you awarded them.

Here are the five great blogs that were recommended to me by another blogger that fit the criteria here.  They are in no particular order:
1 - Galactic Lacquer
2 - Jilltastic Nail Design
3 - Girlie and Glamorous
4 - Kat Hearts Nails
5 - Manicured Mamas

A few days after receiving the Liebster Award, I was given the Versatile Blogger award by Kelly at Peace, Love, Lacquer.

Nominate 15 fellow bloggers who are relatively new to blogging.

1. Let them know that you have nominated them.
2. Share 7 random facts about yourself.
3. Thank the blogger(s) who nominated you.
4. Add the Versatile Blogger Award picture to your blog post.

Here are the 15 newer bloggers that Kelly posted about - and who I am also recommending/awarding this to.

1 - Melinails

2 - Munchy's Nails

3 - Perfect Polish

4 - Pixel's Polish

5 - Polished Paradise

6 - Presh Polish

7 - Pretty In Paint

8 - Quite Polished

9 - Sweet Surcee

10 - The Beauty Lounge

11 - The Charm of Nail Polish

12 - Get Lacquered!

13 - MixedMama

14 - Mega Nailattude

15 - Lacquered Pamper

7 Random Facts About Me:
1. When doing pedicures for myself, I only have to do it on eight toes.  My two pinky toes have no nails due to repeated injuries.
2. I have absolutely no desire to have children.  My furbabies are in the form of my two cats - Scratcher is a 17 year old tabby cat, and Ally is a 4 year old tortie cat.
3.  I love the smell of chinese food, but will only eat General Tso's chicken. 
4. I'm allergic to the ingredients that they put in sugar-free gum. 
5. I'm named after my dad's exgirlfriend

30 Days of Untrieds - Day 1

I've decided to embark on a new challenge: 30 Days of Untrieds.

As I was going through my polish stash, I saw so many polishes that I don't think I've ever used.  I bought them, thinking that they were pretty and I would wear them soon.  I think I opened the bottle long enough to swatch it onto my nail wheels and that's as far as it went.

Today is Day 1 - and I'm starting off with NYC Quick Dry Nail Polish in "Fifth Avenue".

This polish is a nice, chocolate-y brown color - which enough of a shimmer that it could be used on its own.  However, as I have extremely pale skin, it came out looking not-quite-right for me.  Personally, if it is going to be used alone, I would recommend this to someone who has more of a tan.  To dress it up a bit, I added two layers of China Glaze "Fairy Dust".

Hunger Games - District 11 (Agriculture)

The first two pictures actually showing my hands only have one polish on them - China Glaze "Agro".  Agro is a really rich shade of green, but I felt like it was lacking something.  The last two pictures are of my left hand, where along with "Agro", I used another polish - China Glaze "White Cap". 

The pictures were taken today, after two full days of wear without a top coat.  It hasn't chipped much at all, which is kind of surprising (albeit a welcome surprise). 


I had purchased "Agro" before I had even read The Hunger Games series.  I fell in love with these books, and find myself crazily attached to the characters.  I'm definitely Team Katniss/Peeta - even after the final book.  I'm trying not to spoil it for those of you who haven't read them - but what team are you? Feel free to leave me a comment, so we can share our crazy fangirl-ishness  ;)





Also: I know I've been nominated/awarded a couple of awards.  I keep forgetting to nominate my selections - I'll try to do that in the next couple of days :)   I haven't forgotten - and really appreciate those of you who nominated/awarded them to me :)

Girly Girl Nail Art Challenge - Day 8

Day 8: Girls Just Wanna Have Fun

Sad day - I forgot to take pictures of the manicure I used for day 8 :(   

Luckily, I've done this type of nail art before and took pics, so it's not a complete wash.

When I did it for Day 8, I didn't use as many dots so it came out much 'cleaner' looking.  I used Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, and Blue on every nail - I managed to fit purple on one or two.


and thus was Day 8.  Next time I try to conform to a schedule, I would like one of you to remind me not to do it. 

Totally kidding there.  I think we all know I'll probably be participating in another challenge in just a few days, LOL

Check out these other awesome bloggers who are/were participating in the Girly Girl Nail Art Challenge:

Robin, Erin, and Anna - Polished Cousins
Ashley - Follow the Yellow Polish Road
Jodi - Captivating Claws
Danielle - Rock N Polish
Elly - Polishable
Olivia - Unprofessional Nails
Kate - This Charming Kate
Bethany - A Plethora of Nails
Lizzy - The Do It Yourself Lady
Eugenia - Talon-ted
Johanna - Neues vom Kellerkind
Amanda - Nox Nails
Ashley - Smashley Sparkles
Sarah - See Sarah Swatch
Emily - The Lacquerologist
Jess - LuvMyLacquer
Tressa - O' Natur Nail
ChiChi - I'm just me...ChiChi
CR - Color Me Silly
Amanda - Berry Polished
Bonny - Over Stuffed
Taylor - REJOICE!
Jess - Nearly Natural Nails



Girly Girl Nail Art Challenge - Day 7

Day 7: Sugar, Spice, and Everything Nice

No excuses, just pic spam from Day 7 of Girly Girl Nail Art Challenge.

The solid red color is China Glaze "Long Kiss" and the red glitter is China Glaze "Ruby Pumps".  Base coat used was a Rimmel base coat and the top coat was Seche Vite.

This is before I had cleaned them up, but you get the point.  Red, to me at least, signifies 'spicy' when used to describe ones personality.



Check out these other awesome bloggers who are/were participating in the Girly Girl Nail Art Challenge:

Robin, Erin, and Anna - Polished Cousins
Ashley - Follow the Yellow Polish Road
Jodi - Captivating Claws
Danielle - Rock N Polish
Elly - Polishable
Olivia - Unprofessional Nails
Kate - This Charming Kate
Bethany - A Plethora of Nails
Lizzy - The Do It Yourself Lady
Eugenia - Talon-ted
Johanna - Neues vom Kellerkind
Amanda - Nox Nails
Ashley - Smashley Sparkles
Sarah - See Sarah Swatch
Emily - The Lacquerologist
Jess - LuvMyLacquer
Tressa - O' Natur Nail
ChiChi - I'm just me...ChiChi
CR - Color Me Silly
Amanda - Berry Polished
Bonny - Over Stuffed
Taylor - REJOICE!
Jess - Nearly Natural Nails

Polish Haul

Alright, it's official - I suck at life.

Or, at the very least, updating the blog. 

I've been meaning to post the pics from my Sally Beauty Supply haul since Monday, but circumstances were (and still partially are) out my control.  I started training for my first job ever as a cashier on Tuesday, trained again Wednesday night and might actually get to work the register either Thursday or Friday.

Anyway, enough complaining on my end.  Without further ado, I give you picture spam ;)

Finger Paints lables: Cerulean Seascape, Art of Theft, and Laugh My Art Off



From China Glaze's Hunger Games collection: Stone Cold (District 2, Masonry) and Agro (District 11, Agriculture)

China Glaze: Long Kiss and Ruby Pumps

China Glaze: Reggae to Riches and White Cap

I just happened to end up at Sally's during a sale: Buy two bottles, get one of equal or lesser value for free. 

Guys, there's something you should know about me.  I'm a bargain shopper.  I don't mind paying full price for something, but I have a ridiculously difficult time passing up a good deal.

I got these nine bottles, plus a bottle of Seche Vite top coat, for roughly $43.  It seems like a lot to me, as I'm used to pay no more than $3-$4 per bottle.  But for ten bottles, totally worth it.