OPI - Stranger Tides

Hey guys!

I have an older polish to show you that I have been really enjoying this season.  Stranger Tides, a sage green from OPI, Pirates of the Caribbean, Spring 2011.  I love how soft and calm this color is.

Above is two coats, with top coat.  The formula is a bit thin, but workable. I just made sure the first coat was more on the dry side before applying the second coat.

I suffered a really bad nail break on my left hand, which is my more photogenic hand.  So you'll be seeing my right hand for a few more posts while my nail grows back out. *sighs*

Well, have a peaceful and relaxing weekend!

Z: Zoya America

This is the last post of the ABC challenge!! I am so sad this challenge has come to an end. Thank you ladies for letting me be a part of this!

Well, for Z, I chose Zoya, and for another special occasion today is Independence Day, here in the U.S.  America is Zoya's classic cherry red.  It has been such a long time since I have worn simple, plain, red nails.

Two coats with top coat.

That is it for today.  I hope we get together soon for another nail challenge.

Y: Yellow, Bananarama Love, L'Oreal

Hey guys!

For letter "Y", I chose a color I don't wear very often.  I can't say I don't like yellow, I just find it a bit hard to wear.  I used to say that about green, but now, I stick my foot in my mouth. I wear green polish quite often.

L'Oreal has released a few jelly polishes, or they call it "Gellies" for this summer. Here is one of them, Bananarama Love, from Miss Candy collection.

This is three coats, with INM out the door top coat.  Formula was sheer, but really smooth and even. Easy to apply.

So weird looking, but the color is growing on me.

What do you think?

Quick Questionnaire

Caitlin over at The Perfectly Polish Life, nominated me for another Leibster.  I'm always flatter to receive any kind of recognition.  Since this is my fifth one, I'm just going to keep it simple and answer her questions.

1. Favorite nail polish?

Oh this is a hard question…. Revlon Royal #730 from their top speed line, or Orly’s green with envy.  I included photos at the end.  My Revlon Royal photo has been pinned some 48 times!

2. Favorite current fashion trend?

I like bib necklaces. I wish I could wear them more often. I work in a hospital and getting dressed up too much is really frowned upon.

3. Beauty product you can't live without?

I have to say a couple of things, moisturizer and SPF of some kind. I've always slathered on the sunscreen. I have some age spots, but I think I would have a lot more if I did not cover up. The second thing is hair dye. I’m graying and it’s not pretty. I went two months without dying my hair a few weeks ago, and my husband says that whenever I dye my hair it’s like someone removed all the dust off of me.

4. A destination you hope to travel to?

Right now, I am looking to retire in France. I don’t know if I can make this possible, but that’s my mind set right now. Better food, cheaper, better quality health care than here in the U.S. I want to retire by age 55, which is considered early, and a lofty goal at that. If not hopefully, by age 63, but if social security keeps moving the retirement age up…which is very likely…… I don’t know if I can wait that long. Healthcare is changing; we are undergoing major transformations right now. So who knows where we will be in 20 years.

5. Favorite store?

Right now it is amazon.com I haven’t had much time to shop in stores, or look at anything leisurely lately so amazon is great because it has almost everything! Plus the one-click buy is way too convenient.

6. Which color of nail polish do you have the most of?

Blues and teals.

7. Favorite nail polish brand?
China Glaze

8. Favorite quote?

“Small minds talk about people, mediocre minds talk about events, and great minds talk about ideas”. I don’t know who said that.

9. Favorite food?

I guess, overall, it is Italian food. Really easy to make and satisfying. I love caprese salad with a simple garlicky bread or pasta.

10. Favorite type of nail art?

Easy, free handed ones.

11. Most hated nail art trend?

Hate is a strong word, but I still cannot convince myself to buy any of those sand, textured polishes….

Want to read more?  Just click the tag questionnaire under labels.

Don't forget to stop by and check out Caitlin's blog!

W: Whirled Away and Re-fresh Mint, China Glaze

Well. I had some ambitious plans to do a water marble mani for W, but that failed at that. So here was my back up, a glitter, from the Cirque du Soleil collection.

Whirled Away, China Glaze.

Re-fresh Mint, China Glaze.


Below is my failed attempt at water marbling.  I had tape all the way around my finger, but I had it on so long I got tired of it and took it off.  Now I know why everyone tapes the sides of their fingers.  Anyhow. I spent an hour trying to get a suitable marble pattern in the water.

My problem was the polish kept setting too quickly.  I don't know if it was the polish or I was just not working fast enough..... I watched a bunch of videos, and tried a bunch of different polishes, no luck. I also used room temperature tap water, then tried room temperature filtered water.  It did not seem to make a difference.  I had to give up.  I may try again later.

I have new found respect for ladies that can water marble!

The base color is Orly's After Party in case you are wondering.  Sinful colors Savage is the marbling color I really wanted to work with.

Well that is it for today.

V: V-french with OPI Skull and Glossbones

Hey there!

Quick post... we are on V for the ABC challenge and I did a simple V tipped french, some call this a chevron french as well.  This is OPI Skull and Glossbones as a main color with China Glaze Call of the Wild for the tips.

I love grey and brown together, it's what I wear when I get tired of black.

I did this free handed but you can easily use tape if you want.  I did a tutorial on v-tipped french manicures a while back with tape.  Click here to see the tutorial.

Don't forget to check out the other lovely ladies in the challenge!

U: Urban Utopia, Maybelline

Just in the nick of time... two hours before closing.

I apologize for the total lack of creativity for letter "U".  I stopped by the drugstore on the way home from work looking for a U nail polish to buy especially for this week, or last week I should say.  This was the only bottle I that started with U.  Urban Utopia from this year's Maybelline spring collection.  This is two coats and I did not have any issues with the formula.  A beautiful medium teal....

So  that is it for now, on to letter V in a few days....

See you!

Go see the other wonderful ladies in this challenge!