Well, Look What the Cat Dragged In...

So, um... it's looks like I've been on a bit of an unintentional hiatus. First and foremost, I'd like to apologize to my followers for my disappearing act. My bad! Also, thank you guys for the messages encouraging me to come and continue blogging. That meant a lot to me!

So what happened, you may ask? Honestly, it wasn't any one thing particular but a combination of several. I work a full time job with required overtime (blessed to be busy!) and then my company reorganized and things got weird. I had to focus more on my job during the change but we're good and settled now so I can relax a wee bit. Then, as some of you guys may know, I'm getting married in 6 weeks from now so I've been busy wedding planning! That's been a whole other issue which would likely take several blog posts to explain the insanity that has become my wedding.

And then there's the lamest explanation of all: I suffer from what my fiance calls "Craft ADD"... I essentially go through phases. I'll sew for a while and get bored. So I'll start drawing and painting again until I get burned out on that. Then I'll make jewelry or read books or bake cupcakes everyday until I'm sick of those things. After months of painting my nails every few days, I was bored with it and ready to do something else. It's odd and I don't know why I'm like that but I am what I am.

As far as painting my nails goes, I've been getting gel manicures from the nail salon every two weeks. No fuss, no muss! So, I don't really know if I'll be getting back into blogging about polish specifically and I don't want to make any promises I may not be able to keep.

So that's the gist of things... I just wanted to let you guys know I'm okay and apologize for leaving you hanging! Until next time...

Kim

NOTD: Pumpkin Spice

Ahhh... October! I love the fall! It is my absolute favorite season... crunchy leaves, the crispness in the air, pumpkin flavored everything, the World Series, boots and sweaters. What is there not to love about this time of year? So, with that being said, here is my first official Halloween inspired manicure. My base cost is OPI Black Onyx with one coat of Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear in Pumpkin Spice on top. Good ol' black and orange!






Thanks for reading!
- Kim

NOTD: Grasslands

Hey guys! I was playing ball with Bella Roo yesterday and my nail on my pointer finger sustained a critical break. She got really excited and tried to grab the ball out of my hand. It was was the perfect storm of puppy teeth, a tennis ball, and a 3 day old manicure... there was nothing I could do to save it. So, I ended up cutting back all my nails since there was such an extreme difference in the lengths... broke my heart. :o(

It's a wee nubbin!

Oh well, what can ya do? So anyways, I've seen several new takes on stamped zebra and tiger manicures in the past few days and I have to say, I'm a fan! I think my fave has to be this gorgeous number from That's So Fresh... I love the effect the layering created. So being inspired and with my conveniently shorter nails that make for easy stamping, I created my own version.






I used OPI Skull and Glossbones for my base color. Then I sponged on OPI San Tan-tonio, China Glaze Westside Warrior, and Orly Luxe in random spots. After that, I stamped on the zebra print using Essie Licorice with the Konad M57 plate. I started to use a white polish for my base but I wanted the look to be more earthy and fall-ish... I'm definitely glad I did!

Thanks for reading!
- Kim

NOTD: Licorice Disco Ball

Hey guys! After I made Puttin' on the Glitz, I officially caught the franken bug... I just could not wait to make another one! Sooo, I'd like to introduce you to Licorice Disco Ball: a black jelly polish with a holographic glitter. So shiny!






For Licorice Disco Ball, I actually started out with a half-full bottle of Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Clearly Quick top coat as my base. I added OPI Black Onyx bit by bit until I got the black jelly polish to depth I wanted... if I had to guess, I would estimate it was about 1/2 a teaspoon. Then I added a dash of Fantasy Makers Confetti glitter in Glitz and shook it all up. And voila... it's a Licorice Disco Ball!

At one coat, it's transparent enough to use as a layering polish and at two I could still see my nail line but it still looked okay. I used three out of personal preference for a nice opaque look. I like this one better than my previous franken. I used a lot less glitter so the finish is much smoother which is nice... it only took 1 thick coat of seche vite to smooth out the surface.

So what do you guys think? Have you caught the franken bug yet?

Thanks for reading!
- Kim

NOTD: Third Place, Nailed It!

Hey guys! A did a super simple and quick manicure using Sally Hansen Intsa-Dri Bronze Ablaze and Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear in Set the Stage glitter on my ring fingers. I was going to call this post Bronze Age but my brother suggested the much wittier title of Third Place Nails... as in the bronze Olympic medal. He's just so smart. :)





Bronze Ablaze is a part of Sally Hansen's Fall 2011 release and is supposed to be available for a limited time only. I love all of the Insta-Dri polishes but I really, really love this color! It's absolutely perfect for fall without being too plain... if you look really closely, you can see a subtle orange and green shimmer. Gorgeous! I think I may pick-up an extra bottle since it's only going to be around for a little bit.

So, what's your go to fall color? I'd love to know in the comments below!

Thanks for Reading!
-Kim

NOTD: Falling for Leopard

Hey guys! Super quick post since I have to be up for work in just a couple of hours. (eek!) I used OPI Mermaid Tears and San Tan-tonio as my base colors and then the designs were completed using Essie Little Black Dress with the leopard Bundle Monster plate and then I added gold Stripe Rite for the final touch. Easy peasy and ready for fall. ♥




Thanks for reading!
- Kim

NOTD: Puttin' on the Glitz!

Hey guys! Today I'm bringing you a Nails + Whatnot first... I finally did it! I made my very first franken polish. For those that may not know what that is, I'll briefly explain. A franken is when you mix colors or add something like glitter to existing polishes to create an entirely new color. So basically, you're mashing parts and pieces together a la Dr. Frankenstein. Pretty simple, right?

Well, I stopped in at my local Kmart today in search of the Deborah Lippmann Ruby Red Slippers Dupe. Unfortunately, they didn't have it but they did have this little bottle of Fantasy Makers cosmetic glitter in Glitz in the Halloween display. Since it was only $2.99, I snatched it up figuring I'd figure out something fun to do with it later. It didn't take me long to find inspiration...

Ooooh, rainbow glitter goodness!

Back at home, I was scavenging through my drawer of misfit polishes (you know the ones you just don't like the way they look or they have weird formulas? Yeah, those.) and I came across a bottle of Wet-N-Wild Gray's Anatomy. Gorgeous in the bottle and kind of blah on the nails... I didn't like how transparent it was and it's not the strongest duochrome out there but I digress. I knew it would be given new life as the perfect base for my glitter!

This is some math I can get into!

I mixed roughly 1/8 teaspoon of the glitter and about half the bottle of the Gray's into an empty old Seche Vite bottle. Then I shook the bejeezus out of it to mix it all up and create this awesome holo polish. I think it came out great and there's more sparkle than you can shake a stick at!



I love it. A lot. The only thing I could find wrong with my formula is that the glitter makes it a top coat killer. I have on a thick coat of Seche Vite on top and it's still got a bit of a texture poking thru. I think a second coat of Seche will fix that but I haven't tried it so I'm not positive. But here it is on the nails:

Shimmer

Shine

Sparkle

Glitz!

And oh mah gah, is it just me, or does it look like Christmas lights when blurred? Also, I need a catchy name... "Puttin' on the Glitz" was the best I could come up with, lol. What do you guys think I should call it and have you tried making your own franken polishes? Tell me in the comments below!

Thanks for reading!
- Kim