FOTM: China Glaze Ahoy

Hi everyone.  Quick post.  Between the pool Thursday and the day from Hell at work Friday, I'm exhausted, and I don't feel great.  Ick.  

I'm showing you one of my summer favorites today: ChG Ahoy! I know you have all seen it a ton, and read about it a million times, so I'll just let the pictures do the talking.  You won't hear anything but love from me! 

I got my box of giveaway goodies from All Beauty, so I'll be putting that up on August 1st!  I'm so excited to be able to give you guys some fun stuff to show my appreciation!  I love reading all of your comments and emails everyday!!  Thanks again for everything! 

Thanks for looking! 

Listening to: Rolling in the Deep - Glee Cast Version (Rachel/Jesse)
Glee:The music, Volume 6, 2011

FOTM: Zoya Charla

Good morning dear readers!  I am so freaking excited.  As of now, I have 110 followers!  SO, welcome to all of my new followers!  I want to add, if you follow me email me your link.  I click on your GFC pictures, but sometimes it doesn't have a blog link listed so give it to me so I can follow back!  You are all some SERIOUSLY talented ladies and most of the time I feel like I shouldn't be getting any attention because so many of you are so much better!  

PLUS what does 110 followers mean?  A giveaway!  I'm not going to start it until next week because I'm waiting on one of the prizes, but as soon as I get it shit is ON!  This will be my first (and possibly last) sponsored giveaway.  I decided to do it this way because, well, I really didn't expect to have so many followers in the short amount of time that I've been blogging.  For the first month I didn't have a job so I wasn't able to pick much up.  I really want to do a 100 follower giveaway, and I'll try to do them randomly after this one.  I'm so excited, and I'm excited for you to see this prize!  Anyway, enough babbling. :)

Today's swatch is Zoya Charla.  I am in love with this little girl (have you not heard THAT enough out of me?  lol)  She is very similar to WnW Teal of Fortune, so I will be purging that one.  It's on my swap list now if you're interested.  

Sorry bout the icky dry hands :(

This polish is an amazing glass fleck duo chrome.  It is blue/teal with flashes of green that just make this polish something super special!

This is a beautiful polish and I am SO glad I took advantage of the promo and picked it up.  What is your favorite Zoya glitter?  

That's all for today.  I'm on my way to my God son's birthday party!  See you all soon.  Thanks for looking! 

Listening to: Help Yourself - Amy Winehouse
Frank, 2004
(RIP Amy)

FOTM: Orly Galaxy Girl

Hi everyone!  I have to work this morning, I'll be quick.

Like that gash I put in my pointer finger? 

Orly Galaxy Girl is a gorgeous glass fleck/duo chrome/metallic/foil-y polish.  I actually seemed to get the duo chrome effect captured, although I'm not sure you can see the fabulous green.  So, tell me, what polishes do you have that are like this one?  Love it?  Hate it?

Thanks for looking everyone! 

FOTM: Sally Hansen HD Spectrum

Hi everyone!  I hope your weekend is going well!  Or that you are at least staying cool.  I have to tell you right now, I am JEALOUS of all you out there that are getting the cool front next week!  Iowa is supposed to stay hotter than hell's asscrack.  A "cool down" for us today was going from 108 degrees to 99 degrees.  YAY! lol  I stay in the house.  I can't deal with it!  

Moving on to polish related things... Today my featured polish is Sally Hansen HD Spectrum.  I'm not sure what I think about this polish, so let's just look at it:

So far, you can see that it is sheer.  This is four coats.  It's best used as a layering polish, but CAN be built up.  You'll see in the next picture that without flash you can't really see VNL.

I lied.  You can see some VNL.  Not bad though.  The formula on this was sort of watery, and combine that with the stupid Sally Hansen brush I hate so much and this was a pita.  It is very pretty, but will either be given away, or used over black.  I'm also bummed that the purple duo chrome didn't show up any better.  Ugh.  So, I'll try it again, maybe a few times then I may get rid of it.  We'll see.  Pretty?  Yes.  Pain in the ass?  Yes.  

I thought I would add this too:

I also wanted to share this video.  I know it's an ad, but I just found it on stumble upon and, as an addict, it made me smile.  Enjoy! 

Have a great rest of the weekend! 

Thanks for looking! 

Listening to: Make You Mine - 2am Club

Pretty Little Liars soundtrack, 2011

FOTM: OPI Ink

Don't forget my poll!  Only a few days left to vote for next month's featured finish! 

Hi everyone!  You may have noticed new tabs in my navigation bar.  I finally organized my stash!  I've decided that I'm going to get super serious about this.  It's a pita to try to find colors when they aren't organized!  I didn't really mind until I started doing my nails every day though.  I'll also be ordering nail plates so I can have swatches of all my colors to look at.  I think that makes things so much easier.  Not enough polishes look the same in the bottle!  I've also put up my swap/wish lists.  I want to do some swapping with people!  I don't have many I want to get rid of, but I'd be happy to do some custom purchases for swaps (if I can find the stuff... this area sucks for polishes!). 

Anyway, today is one of the polishes I've wanted for AGES!  I saw the first swatch ever when it came out (I don't even remember when!) and HAD to have it!  I give you: OPI Ink!  

Ink is a dark, shimmery, flecky, duochrome-y beautiful purple.  It is opaque in three coats, possibly two if you use thick coats or are more careful than I am.  I didn't notice any running, and had pretty great control of it.  You can actually tell in the pictures since I didn't do clean-up on there.  There are only a few spots where the brush slipped because it's too wide.  I didn't have staining and it was easy to remove.  LOVE! 

Can almost catch the blue duochrome on a few of these nails...

This polish is actually a little bit more duochrome irl.  Yes, there is some there!  It goes from dark purple to dark blue.  I love it.  Everything about it.  I am so glad I finally picked it up!  What do you think?  That's all I've got for today. Thanks for looking!

Listening to: Loser Like Me - Glee Cast
Glee: The Music, Volume 5, 2011

FOTM: OPI The One That Got Away

Hi everyone!  Sorry I'm a little late today.  Most of the time I write my posts the day before so they'll post early early.  I forgot to do that last night! And please don't think I sleep until noon everyday... I don't.  Far from it.  I was actually awake at 4am with severe "girl" pain so I had to take a Darvocet and it put me to sleep.   BUT I feel better now and I'm ready to write! 

Today, my glass fleck pick is The One That Got Away.  I LOVE this color.  I was going to buy it from a salon and they only had one bottle so they tried to sell me something else.  Uh NO!  I finally had to order it.  They were the only salon anywhere close that still had that collection and I guess they didn't want to sell it.  Now I have it and am SO happy I ordered it!  

The One That Got Away is a gorgeous dark raspberry jelly(ish) with fuchsia flecks in it.  I'm not sure if you can see from these pictures, but they are there!  Formula was ok.  It was a little runny so I had some cuticle flooding, which you can see.  Overall it was bad though! 

Overall, I am VERY happy with this polish!  I can see it being a go-to for going out or fall/winter manis.  I'm so glad I ordered it! (Did I say that already!?)

On another note, I used to be a barista and am ashamed that I forgot the ratios for cold brew coffee.  I finally found it and made some last night.  If you guys drink a lot of cold coffee drinks, I really recommend doing this!  It'll save you tons of money and it is essentially the same thing that's used in coffee shops.  Difference being the kind of roast you use which can be your personal preference.  Ok.  I'm done now. I just wanted to share because I'm sure some of you are coffee addicts like me :)  Thanks for looking everyone!


Listening to: Dead in the Water - Hawthorne Heights
If Only You Were Lonely, 2006

FOTM: Wet N Wild Teal of Fortune

Hi everyone!  How's your weekend going?  

I love that I decided to do these finish features.  I can take swatch photos all at once (which is turning out to be a necessity.. no sun in Iowa this summer!) and load the pictures so they'll be waiting for me as a draft.  Turns out, this is a GREAT idea because I've kind of been super busy lately!  Yesterday I went to the water park with my friend and her two kids and had an AMAZING time.  I haven't been swimming in years.  Which is kind of bad because I forgot all of the breathing techniques that used to be second nature to me.  Sad face.  But I had a blast!  I was even a big girl and went on the drop slide.  BIG step for me.  I HATE heights and falling!  lol  It was amazing.  I am so tired and so burnt and didn't have time to repaint my nails after the chlorine destroyed them.... so this is why I'm thankful that I started this post weeks ago :)  Does anyone have any tips for swimming and keeping nail polish on?  By the end of the day every nail had popped off, and even my pedicure (which usually lasts MONTHS if I let it) was chipped!  HELP! 

Enough of that.  Here are some pictures of this gorgeous beauty!

Very similar to Zoya Charla. Don't you think??

haha I have such ugly VNL!  lol

I'm in love with this polish (I bet you've never heard me say that! LOL).  I'm not really sure how to describe it.  It's a darker teal with goldish and blueish type specks in it.  If I'm not clear, and it doesn't appear that I am, it looks like Zoya Charla.  I'm not sure if they are exact dupes, but they are VERY close.  I'll have to do a comparison sometime.  Downfall of this polish?  Besides being sheer, like all jellies, it STAINED.  I was afraid to swatch it!  I had swatched on my thumb when I bought it and my cuticles were blue for a week.  So bad!  Ugh.  I hate when great polishes are ruined by staining.  Boo.

Anyway, any tips you have about pools and nails?  Anything you want to see in the coming weeks?  I love hearing from you guys!  Thanks so much for looking! 

Listening to: Animal (Glee Version) - Neon Trees (Glee Cast)
Habits, 2010

FOTM: FingerPaints Magenta Mood

Hey everyone!  I am writing this super late because of a last minute birthday road-trip, getting lost, not finding a hotel and... well... getting lost.  I'm not gonna say much.  I'm tired.  :)

This is FingerPaints Magenta Mood.  It is a gorgeous raspberry red with red, fuchsia and gold (maybe?) flecks in it.  Pretty! 

So that's really all I have tonight.  Isn't she pretty?  I'll talk to you all soon!  Thanks for reading! 

Listening to: Nothing.  It's too late for music.  Going to sleep.  :)

FOTM: China Glaze Endurance

Hi everyone! Starting off, I'm going to warn you that the next two or three weeks won't be super exciting.  I'm really going to try to get my posts scheduled up for awhile so I can use Nail Envy properly... So if I don't do anything worth looking at, it's because I'm only wearing it for a day or less.  Sorry in advance!  

Next.  I didn't get my Birchbox today!  It's sitting in Des Moines. I'm so annoyed.  I'm not blaming them, I'm really not... I just hate waiting for things!  The way they ship things, to me anyway, is they use Streamlite then switch to USPS to deliver to the final destination.  Well, USPS has had my package since Friday.  SO annoying.  ANYWAY!  lol :)

Today I have China Glaze Endurance.  This polish was from the 2010 Fight Like a Woman collection.  The collection I was told multiple times would be coming to my Sally's that never did.  The collection I had to order.  I didn't really mind since it was a Breast Cancer purchase, but I did mind since I ended up spending close to $100 on other stuff ;) I don't know where I used to get money.  All I did was babysit! lol  

The formula on this is typical glass fleck/jelly.  Sheer.  Very sheer.  In the pictures below you can see VNL and staining and this was three coats.  It isn't so bad in the sun but you can still see it.

I love blogger so much.  I had this whole part typed out and it got eaten.  Grrr... It might have also been my hand hitting the mouse on my Mac, but I can't be sure so I'll blame technology lol  Let's see if I can remember what I had written:

These pictures aren't really color accurate.  IRL the base is a deeper raspberry color with fuchsia and silver flecks.  It isn't too far off, but the color really is darker.  

Besides the formula being watery, sheer, crappy all-around, I recommend this color.  It is really pretty, would probably be great for some kind of layering and just makes me feel good.  

I guess I have nothing else to say.  I'm annoyed about half my post disappearing!  lol  Hope you all are having a good day!  Don't forget to vote on my poll!  Thanks for reading! :) 

Listening to: Beautiful Mess - Miranda Cosgrove
Sparks Fly, 2010

FOTM: China Glaze Blue Iguana

Hi everyone.  I don't have much to say today.  I've been saying that a lot, but I mean it today.  It's hot and humid and my allergies are KILLING me.  So, I'll just let you look at these pictures :) 

This is China Glaze Blue Iguana.  Pretty, isn't it?

Bright blue with even brighter blue glass flecks.  Good formula, three coats.  Maybe could use four. <3

I'm so glad I bought this color.  I originally wasn't going to.  It's gorgeous :)

I stubbed my toe so my mani is chipped.  Back to the drawing board with that!  Darnit.  

So that's it.  :)  Thanks for looking guys! 

Listening to: Andy, You're a Star - The Killers
Hot Fuss, 2004

FOTM: China Glaze 108 Degrees

Hi everyone!  Happy Thursday!  This week has gone really fast, hasn't it?  I have something I'm wanting to show you tomorrow, but I don't know if I'm going to or not.  Soon though! Don't get too excited, I'm not giving anything away, I don't have a brand new never before seen product or anything, just a polish I'm excited about :)  So, maybe you'll see that.  

Today though, I have ChG 108 Degrees.   I am seriously in love with this polish.  It had a decent formula, although it required (at least) three coats.  Like most glass fleck polishes.  It didn't drag, it wasn't streaky, nothing like that.  Besides it being sheer, it was otherwise perfect.

The flash on this picture actually worked for me.  It shows the blue AND pink flecks that are in the polish.  Some of the other polishes in this series may look like there is blue in them, but it's only the flash.  It was a little annoying.  You'll see what I mean in later posts. 

Here it is outside.  Again, both pink (fuchsia?) and blue flakies.  It's so pretty!  Great polish for summer!  

Just a reminder, my new poll is up, go vote! 

That's all I have today.  Thanks for looking! 

Listening to: Smile (Charlie Chaplin) - Glee Cast Version
Glee: The Music, Volume 2, 2009

FOTM: Sinful Colors Daddy's Girl

UPDATE: I found the original post about the varying formulas HERE. Go check it out and decide for yourself :) 

Hi everyone!  How was your holiday weekend?  Mine was......... boring.  lol  All of my friends were in other places, and it was hotter than hell here so I stayed home and watched the Casey Anthony trial.  That's all I'll say about it because if you get me started I probably won't quit! 

Last night, I reached 50 followers!  I'm in shock :)  I do want to thank everyone, but I'm not going to have a giveaway right now.  I'm going to wait longer and make it awesome!  Thanks so much everyone!  Welcome new followers :) 

Today, I'm showing you the *new* formula for Sinful Colors Daddy's Girl.  When I bought this I had no idea that there were two versions of this polish.  I guess this is the new, prettier one?  I've never seen the old version.  This one is a dark purple jelly with golden flecks in it.  I think there are some pinkish ones in there too.  If you enlarge the second picture it actually shows them better (flash does come in handy sometimes!).  

I am in love with this polish!  It had been an untried before I swatched it for today, but I can see it becoming a favorite soon.  I love purples and pinks, but I get bored really quickly with creams and such. This has flecks that shimmer like crazy!  Those babies don't quit.  I was stunned when I was taking these pictures!  If I wear it again soon I'll see if I can get some different angles.  My camera has been acting really funny lately (which sucks because I just got it in October!) and I can't get clear pictures without the flash on.  You'll probably be able to tell in this series that most of them are with flash.  I'm afraid some of the colors are a little washed out from it.  I apologize in advance.  :(  That being said, I think that's all for today!  

Thanks for looking! 

Listening to: Simple - Katy Perry
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants: Music from the Motion Picture, 2007

FOTM: First July post :) Mystery Sinful Colors

Hey everyone!  Happy July!  Today I have the first finish of the month post for July.  Can you guess which finish won?  Glass flecks!  Okay.  I'm lame.  On to the polish!

The first polish this month is a gorgeous magentaish polish with blue and pink shimmer.  The pictures I took show it a little more pink than it is, it's actually a little more berry colored.  This is three coats.

Outside, flash
Pointer finger most accurate

Inside, flash

I had a lot of trouble getting a good picture, but I guess these will do.  You can see all the pretty glass in it :)  I could tell you the name of this polish, but it made it to my house without a name sticker.  Sorry!  

That's all for this short little post.  Will be putting up a new poll for next month in the next day or two.  Thanks for looking!






Listening to: Hurry Up and Choose - MoZella
Belle Isle, 2010