Essence - #116 Gorgeous Bling Bling

Hey there!  Long time, no read!

I apologize for missing in action.  I will explain at the end of this post, but first I have a simple work mani to show you, a nice terracotta with gold flakies from Essence.  This one is called Gorgeous Bling Bling.... below is two easy coats.  I thought this was a nice polish, it stood out in a sea of reds, pinks and neutral nail polishes, yet, is tasteful/respectful.

I got my 8 ml bottle for $1.99 at Ulta.

My husband's mother passed away, in her home, and on her own terms on November 16th. I wasn't going to say anything but decided maybe I should since she let me do a post on her nails last year.  So we travelled down to Florida for her funeral and my husband and I stayed down there for Thanksgiving as well.  Needless to say, I was on the road for two and half days and had spotty internet along with a hectic schedule so... that is where I have been.  Although we are all saddened by her death she is in a better place. 

Well, that is it for now.  Thanks for stopping by.

Sinful Colors - Savage

Hey there!

I have a quick swatch to show you for this weekend.  Savage by Sinful Colors reminds of those polishes that have a rubber-matte like finish.  I didn't have any issues applying this, and the blue is quite bright.  I'm not sure if Sinful intended the finish to dry this way.  Maybe it does dry flat, because is leans neon and some neons dry flat.  Here it is two coats.

I did not add a top coat because I ended up adding an indie glitter on top, called Sea Monster by Priate Polish.  Click here for that post.

If you like mattes, a matte top coat would probably even out the paint. 

That's it for now.  Enjoy.

Reader Recommended Posts & Give Away Winner

Happy Tuesday Morning!!

The Giveaway is finally over and the winner is Christine L. from Steamy Nails!  Lucky!!!

If you didn't win, don't feel bad. I will have another big holiday giveaway coming up soon, with multiple prizes, so keep in touch!

Thank you to everyone who has participated.  I am more than pleased at the turn out and the links that were provided are very nice indeed.  I hope you find these links to be helpful and inspirational. I learned several new things by taking a look at them.  The first half, I sorted the topics by alphabetical order. Then the second half of the list is all nail art related, grouped by design. The very last link is how to make a light box for photographing nails or products.

Check them out and enjoy!

Clean Up Process
http://www.lacquerized.com/2010/02/clean-up-in-6-easy-steps.html

Recommended by Helena at Lacky Corner

http://nailpolishinmyeyes.blogspot.com/search/label/Cuticle%20Clean%20Up

Recommended by Toni Anne Berman

http://polishorperish.blogspot.com/2010/09/how-to-get-that-picture-perfect.html

Recommended by Manicurette

Cuticle Care

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9szl80dRnIs

Recommended by Steamy nails

http://loodieloodieloodie.blogspot.ca/search/label/Cuticle%20Care

Recommended by Jenn, Paperbacks and Polish

Cuticle Cream – Badger

http://nouveaucheap.blogspot.com/2012/07/my-new-holy-grail-cuticle-product.html

Recommended by Michele

Filing and Shaping Nails

http://loodieloodieloodie.blogspot.hk/search/label/Nail%20Files

Recommended by Elizabeth

Nail Care for Long and Healthy Nails

http://www.makeupveda.com/tutorials/item/134-nail-problems-?-here-are-some-tips-for-long-and-healthy-nails

Recommended by Lulu

Nail Polish Bubbles

http://thebeautydepartment.com/2012/04/avoiding-nail-polish-bubbles/

Recommended by Angelica Ng

Nail Polish Finishes by Type

http://www.lacquerized.com/2010/04/finish-it-up.html  

Recommended by Lacquer Tracker

Soybean based Nail Polish Remover

http://irelishnailpolish.blogspot.com.es/2012/10/soy-nail-polish-remover-by-karma.html

Recommended by Criminal Nails

Nail Art tutorial

http://nailside.blogspot.nl/2012/09/tutorial-vertical-lightning-bolt.html

Recommended by Cait

http://www.thebudgetfashionista.com/archive/bow-nail-manicure/

Recommended by Lulu

http://www.lucysstash.com/2012/06/ladybirdladybug-manicure-with-tutorial.html

Recommended by Aylin Leto

Galaxy Nails

http://pinterest.com/pin/86131411593719354/

Recommended by Calli

Nail Art Gradient

http://manicuriously.blogspot.com/2012/05/ombre-with-fizzy-pop.html

Recommended by Abby

http://www.thenailasaurus.com/2012/04/gradient-nails-picture-tutorial.html

Recommended by Sharon

Glitter Gradient

http://pshiiit.com/2011/11/05/video-tuto-pshiiit-se-degrade-avec-essie-et-opi/

Recommended by Ruth

Make your Glitter Mani Super Smooth

http://idrinknailpolish.blogspot.com/2011/10/tip-tuesday.html

Recommended by Drastic Actions

Epic Comparison of all Indie Black and White Glitter As of 05/12

http://www.chalkboardnails.com/2012/05/ultimate-black-and-white-glitter.html

Recommended by the Sneakerette

Water Marbling FAQ: Filtered vs. Tap Water, Room Temp. vs. Cold

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZFJubfWGWg&list=SP4B6CE9EFF85ED1C1&index=16&feature=plpp_video

Recommended by Funkiichicka

What Works Best for Stamping
http://www.ooohshinies.com/2011/09/how-to-mix-and-match-for-stamping.html

Recommended by Alison G

How to Make a Light Box for Photography

http://www.chalkboardnails.com/2012/03/intermediate-nail-photography-lightbox.html

Recommended by Tami McTaggart

Pirate Polish - Sea Monster

Hello out there!!!

Tonight I have another indie glitter to show you, from Pirate Polish called Sea Monster.  Sea Monster is an aqua glitter with some holographic square glitter and matching jumbo hex glitters.  Maybe the jumbo glitters are the monsters in the sea of aqua glitter, which could represent all the plastic trash swirling around in the real ocean.. maybe? 

Well to me, looks like crushed crystals.  It's really pretty, very sparkly, I never once thought of monsters or swirling trash, or seaweed or what ever the heck else is in the sea.... anyhow.  I wore this over three different polishes, so hang on, this is going to be a pic heavy post, and I'll keep the text to a minimum. 

One coat over Sinful Colors Savage

One coat over one of my frankens...

I tried a glitter gradient here, over one of my frankens, I'll post later.

Bottle shot here.

Over a lavender, Sugar Plum Fairy by Funky Fingers.

Artsy photo, I thought the lighting was interesting here. 
Also over Sugar Plum Fairy, click two posts back for a swatch.

Do you like???  I do!!!

The jumbo glitters stick out, but they all do.  Just slap a thick, thick coat of top coat over it and it will be fine.

Pirate Polish is made by the very talented Lacquer Tracker, she has a blog and and etsy store.  Check it out here.  Oh, and her Christmas glitters are out now.

Thanks for stopping by!

Ruffian Gone Wrong

Hey Guys!

I really love this color combo, but need to find another way to wear it.  Rose gold with Tiffany blue.... I tried to do a ruffian with Anise's Wildcat and China Glaze's For Audrey.  Maybe Wildcat wasn't thick enough?  I don't know....

Below is one coat of Wildcat.

I wasn't impressed with Wildcat's formula, it was actually kind of sticky and I kept pulling the paint off with my brush... goes on like a pastel.  One stroke and leave it alone, can't go back over painted areas or else it just pulls off and clumps.  Anyone tried anything from Anise?  They're available at DSW shoe warehouse for $6 a bottle, but they are always BOGO 1/2 off.  This is my first bottle from them. 



You MUST CLICK ON THE VIDEO, before you leave, it is only 3 seconds long!

NO H8 - Funky Fingers - Sugar Plum Fairy

Wow, I did, three posts in the span of 36 hours!  I don't want to miss out on supporting No H8. Luckily I have the day off from work to join in!  Here is a nice lavender with gold shimmer from Funky Fingers, the same company as Color Club.  There should be a Color Club dupe to Sugar Plum Fairy.  Two coats.

In this photo, the gold shimmer is more apparent.

Now it is obvious why bullying should not be tolerated, and the person that started this mess should understand why people start blogs and why people read them.  Part of it is getting away from picture perfect magazines and to see how real women, in real life, wear and interpret fashion and what not.  Everyone has a special talent that they bring to the table, and if the "clean up or die" group can look past messy cuticles then maybe they might be able to see where someone's strengths are.  AND hey if you can't stand to look at messy cuticles then just click off.

The main reason why I support No H8 is because we should move towards a kinder world and it starts with being kind to each other, tolerating differences, and embracing diversity.  When we keep moving forward and evolving, culture changes for the better.  Bullying used to be though of as a rite of passage, wearing eyeglasses was not attractive, and smoking indoors was the norm... Not anymore.  It is amazing where we can go when we have an open mind and do the right thing.  Even when the right thing is not popular.  Luckily anti-bullying is popular.

Speaking of cruelty, Color Club and Funky Fingers is one of the few nail polish companies endorsed by leapingbunny.org - an organization that endorses cruelty free cosmetics.  Some people will say we "need" to test on animals, or we will end up testing on humans.  Well we do/did test on humans and we were barbaric with that too, just look at the Tuskegee trials in Alabama back in the 60's and 70's, and that is not an isolated incident.   If we (us nail polish consumers.. consumers in general) don't start to demand that cruel practices stop, it will continue.  The manufactures will not find other methods of testing if we don't demand that they stop the cruelty. The market will meet the demands of customers or go out of business.  Cruelty free for a kinder world for humans, animals and the eco-system.  No more bullying, human to human kindness will hopefully translate to human to animal kindness and human to eco-system kindness.  That's the message we need to send.

I first heard about No H8 here.

Bloggers Against Hate and Bullying!

1.	Amandalandish	84.	Ambibugs nails	167.	Gelic' nail art
2.	DeltaCephei.nl	85.	The Beauty Delicacy	168.	Nail Polish Goddess
3.	Cakepie	86.	Taneja's Bride	169.	Nails for the Sake of Sanity
4.	I Relish Nail Polish	87.	Lozlosa (Lisa Chakan)	170.	JenerallySpeaking
5.	Southern Sass and Sparkle	88.	The Ides of Polish	171.	Thoughts of Beauty
6.	Epitome of Feminine Allure	89.	Older Ladies Like Color Too	172.	Mimi Manicures
7.	Harajuku Girl FL Beauty	90.	My Beauty Dish	173.	iHeartPrettyPolish
8.	Claudia @ Nailingthis.com	91.	Crystaliciousss	174.	gl0ssy
9.	Beauty Info Zone	92.	esstur	175.	Nailed
10.	Peace Love and Glitter	93.	Dema Pixie	176.	Esmaltoterapia
11.	Leona Carolina	94.	Paperbacks and Polish	177.	Mimi's Mani's
12.	Cosmetics Aficionado	95.	LinvanT	178.	College Polished
13.	Pinked Polish	96.	PishPosh and Polish	179.	9ml Universe
14.	Fox Claws	97.	VWolfe	180.	osiris and loki paint their nails
15.	Nory from Fierce Makeup and Nails	98.	Packer Lacquer	181.	Nailspt
16.	Ishah x Beauty	99.	Supermaxxx	182.	Polished Peripherals
17.	Captivating Claws	100.	Sonya Parks	183.	Pink & Polished Nails
18.	Polish Ninja	101.	Imperfectly Painted	184.	Grape Fizz Nails
19.	ChiChi	102.	polish insomniac	185.	fashionpolish
20.	MakeUpMom123	103.	Karine's Vernis Club	186.	Yasmin
21.	Nailing it by mystie	104.	PrettyKittyClaws	187.	Kara (Never Gonna Give You Up)
22.	Meredith Anne	105.	embellished nails	188.	Lissa's Polish Addiction
23.	shortwidenails	106.	Its' All About the Polish	189.	polish cart
24.	Posh Nail Art	107.	Jen's Wonderland	190.	Elfleidy's Stuff
25.	Nailant	108.	Every Sensory	191.	Elena AiokaIemanja
26.	Lacquer Buzz	109.	Nothing But Nail Polish	192.	Partly Cloudy With a Chance of Lacquer
27.	llarowe.com	110.	StyleInspire.nl	193.	Mandy @ Chameleon Stampede
28.	Nails by Carol	111.	Hand-y Feats and Other Treats	194.	The Polished Bookworm
29.	Never Mind Suzi	112.	Go Polish Yourself	195.	Lit From Within (Nidia)
30.	Gatita's nail art	113.	Lydia's Nails	196.	Nailified
31.	Angel	114.	Menina	197.	Swatched Nails
32.	Kimpelling Beauty	115.	Pamela H	198.	dania
33.	Belessa	116.	Omg! Polish 'Em!	199.	Kimberly Williams
34.	Natasje.nl	117.	The Crumpet	200.	Life In Color!
35.	Marlevi	118.	Oooh, Shinies!	201.	Crystal's Crazy Combos
36.	Inky Whiskers	119.	The Sweet Escape	202.	Follow the Yellow Polish Road
37.	Nails by Ms. Lizard	120.	Lisa Nail Polish Creations	203.	3 Girls, 3 Mines and 3 Shades of Despair
38.	TheFabZilla	121.	The Lacquerologist	204.	Cuticle Pusher
39.	Lacquer Or Leave Her!	122.	Polished Grad	205.	Gorgeois
40.	Polarbelle	123.	Polish Etc.	206.	Patricia Knetzer
41.	nailsandstuff-shannara	124.	Abominable Attempts At Pretty Nails	207.	Chickettes
42.	Melanie's Fancies	125.	Polly Polish	208.	Janet Planet Nails
43.	Beauty by Miss L	126.	Lifes Little Blessings	209.	Sarah's Minnie Studio
44.	Neverland Nail Blog	127.	♥ KT world Music ~ Life ~ Beauty	210.	Patty Greenberg
45.	Lacky Corner	128.	NAIL ME	211.	MandysSecrets Part 2.. NO H8 FOTD
46.	Jen of Sweet Tips Nails	129.	Horcrux Nails	212.	Nailed It
47.	JennaFroggy	130.	Bunny Nails	213.	Men and Nail Polish
48.	GoingtotheShowing	131.	MandysSecrets	214.	Fab.Lush.Luxe
49.	Nailart-Addictions	132.	Lucy's Stash	215.	Tara's Nail Art & Polish
50.	Art Evolve	133.	ManicuredSlayer	216.	play polish :)
51.	Confessions of a Sarcastic Mom	134.	The Blahg	217.	Donner's Nails
52.	Moxie Reviews	135.	Polish Insomnia	218.	Nail FREAK
53.	Lacquered Lover	136.	The Daily Lacquerista	219.	Pamper with Polish
54.	The MakeUp Diary	137.	Sirantha's Nails	220.	Hooked On Polish
55.	Superficially Colorful	138.	a teachers secret nailblog	221.	Glamfiend
56.	A Ginger's Nail...	139.	Polish Pauper	222.	Lauryn Lofgren
57.	Beyond Beauty Lounge	140.	JanMLoves	223.	datyorkLOVES
58.	Beauty by Arielle	141.	Jennie	224.	Shenailigans!
59.	Lacquer Dreams	142.	Nailphotos by Lani	225.	MsPrickle
60.	MixedMama	143.	Nails done by a blimbo	226.	Didoline's Nails
61.	Nails Adored	144.	The Nail Adventure	227.	Kas at Varnished Valkyrie
62.	Red polish or bad polish	145.	NailsLikeLace	228.	femketje
63.	Sonya Parks	146.	Once Bitten Nails	229.	+10 Kapow
64.	SoFlaJo	147.	Just for fun	230.	Addicted To The Allure Of Beauty
65.	Andra Williams	148.	Nail Polish Wars	231.	baroqe fool
66.	Amber Did It!	149.	Jazz at Glitter Infatuation	232.	shine eye
67.	Kristina Masten	150.	The Colours in my World	233.	Mie Louise Joergensen
68.	Rebecca Likes Nails	151.	Nails N Stuff	234.	George from Varnished Valkyrie
69.	...And Then There Was Polish	152.	Ooooo Shiny!	235.	pippi 101 dingen in 1001 dagen
70.	EntirelyNails	153.	Nail Loopy	236.	Seriously Swatched
71.	Rin's Nail Files	154.	Sonoma Nail Art	237.	Lisanne blogt
72.	Spellbinding Nails	155.	nail crazy	238.	netballnails
73.	Sincerely Stephanie	156.	Danielle at Totally Nailed	239.	Lacquer Lockdown
74.	lovenailpolish for NO H8	157.	Annie	240.	http://www.zitzjvnoqg.com/
75.	Très Beau Glamour	158.	Natalia	241.	http://www.qqowaenybp.com/
76.	Beauty and Fashion Tech	159.	Oh! Look at my Nails	242.	http://www.zpjugpcunp.com/
77.	Myfashionality	160.	Cel	243.	http://www.gasuhrxrmw.com/
78.	MommyLovesNailPolish	161.	Saving the World One Nail at a Time	244.	http://www.udcfqjjgia.com/
79.	Painted Pixies	162.	Enigmatic Rambles	245.	http://www.megjussfcy.com/
80.	Erica's Nails and More	163.	ChrissyAi	246.	http://www.nmncfttgfw.com/
81.	NailpolishHeaven	164.	Glitter Me This	247.	http://www.drrrafcifs.com/
82.	Nail Craze with Dayze	165.	See Jodi Polish
83.	Makeup Chic, Literary Geek	166.	pretty tough nails

(Cannot add links: Registration/trial expired)

China Glaze - Jolly Holly

Hey there lovely ladies!!!

Another quicky, but beautiful swatch to show you today.  This is Jolly Holly from last year's China Glaze's Holiday Collection.  Two coats with Revlon's Quick Dry top coat.

Isn't it a gorgeous blackened, shimmery, green?  Must HAVE!

If you missed the blue version of this click to yesterday's post, here.

OPI - Unfor-Greta-bly Blue

Post Election nails!

I decided to wear blue to mark the occasion of President Obama being re-elected.  So here is OPI's Unfor-Greta-bly Blue, from the Germany Collection... a royal blue with blackened shimmer, along the same lines as Germanicure and Oktoberfest.  The formula is a little thin, but builds nicely, and dried uber smooth.  I did three coats.  The top coat is Out the Door.

Under florescent light.

Under halogen light.

A very nice, fall, wintery blue to have in a collection.

That's it for now!

GIVEAWAY! One Year Anniversary!

Hey everyone!

I'm hosting a small giveaway to celebrate my one year anniversary, which is November 7th!  I certainly have grown quite a bit in a year.  I've met some wonderful people, improved my photography skills and have stopped biting my nails... I think permanently, because I don't have the urge anymore.   So far, I am not bored; none in the least.  I am still excited to read other bloggers' posts and I am constantly amazed at the talent and creativity out there.  So what I'm trying to say is, that you can still count on me to continue to post nail and nail polish related content through 2013.

I've amassed 92 wonderful followers in a year and this is my first giveaway.  Seeing as I don't have many followers and about 300 hits a day, there's a better chance than most,  that if you enter this giveaway, you'll win.

Rules First:

This giveaway is open internationally, but I can not ship to Mexico, Central America, South America, Russia, the Middle East and Africa.  I know... I'm very sorry, (insurance reasons).

Requirements:

You must be a GFC follower, or follow via Bloglovin.

You must leave a link in the comments section to a nail related blog post or you tube video that you have found helpful.  It can be a how-to, nail and hand care, product review, etc.  Please also include what the post or video is about.

Dates:
Starts now.  Ends November 12, 2013, eastern standard time, midnight.  I will announce the winner on Tuesday morning.

Prize:

OPI DS Magic, OPI DS Opulence, Badger Shea Butter Cuticle Care Balm (USDA organic!), 2 Revlon Crystal Files.

Good LUCK!

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