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: Bling Dynasty

Hey guys! Quick post today... I did a random design using Bundle Monster image plates BM-208 and BM-221. My base color is OPI Bling Dynasty and the stamps are done with China Glaze China Rouge, Orly Luxe, and Essie Licorice. It's very different than what I would typically wear but I think it's pretty none the less... I'll still probably end up taking it off tomorrow though, lol.






Thanks for reading!
- Kim

NOTD: Roses and Baby's Breath

Hey guys! Just a super-quick post today... I did a 5 dot flower manicure using OPI Mermaid's Tears, Jade is the New Black, Koala Beary, and Italian Love Affair and Orly Terra Mauve and Pointe Blanche. (The Koala Beary and Italian Love Affair were mixed together to make a lighter fuchsia color for the accents on the flowers.)





Thanks for reading!
- Kim

NOTD: Gold Leaf

Keeping up with my current flower obsession, I did a metallic version of my five-dot flower manicure using Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear Gunmetal, Sonia Kashuk Smoke & Mirrors, and Orly Luxe over Essie Licorice. I added a little gemstone on my pinkie nails for a little bit of interest.






As an aside, I'm also working on a little tutorial for the flowers which I hope to have up tomorrow. It's so easy and way quicker than a lot of other flower techniques I've seen on line and I promise, anyone can do it! The metallic look isn't the best example for these but if you look at my last two posts, you can probably see the details better. Anywho, thanks for reading!

- Kim

NOTD: Roses for the Yankees!

This mani wasn't originally intended for the NY Yankees but since, at the time of this post, they're up 17 to 7 in the seventh inning, I decided to say it's for my boys since OPI Russian Navy is the perfect Yankees blue. :oP

I started out with just the OPI which was way too plain for my taste. (You know I can't leave well enough alone.) So I added some white flowers using Sally Hansen Whirlwind White and my large dotting tool. Then, I free-handed the green leaves using China Glaze Tree Hugger and the silver details of the flowers with Sonja Kashuk Smoke and Mirrors. The camera doesn't capture the silver that well... it's a lot more visible IRL. Then I added the polka dots using my smaller dotting tool and free-handed the white moons using Orly Pointe Blanche.

This is without any topcoat so I would have a matte finish:




I prefer the shiny look so I went back and added a top coat of Seche Vite:




So, which do you prefer? With or without the shine?

Thanks for reading!
- Kim

NOTD: Multi-Colored Blooms

Hey guys! I was feeling a bit uninspired last night when I went to do my nails so I decided to wait until today. I still didn't have an idea of what I wanted to do so I got dressed and that's when I had a 'eureka' moment. I have this top from Old Navy that I just adore so I decided to do my nail design based on the fabric.

This the top that inspired me. You can get it at Old Navy for $13.00 now.

There are couple things I would have changed about how I did these but overall, I like the look. I used OPI Skull and Glossbones for my base. Then for the flowers, I used Zoya Gemma and Jules, Orly Pointe Blache, China Glaze Solar Power, and OPI Chop-sticking to my Story. I like that it's so colorful yet neutral at the same time. I hope you guys liked this mani too and until next time...

Thanks for reading!
- Kim

NOTD: Doing Just Peachy

Hey guys! Just a quick post today... I did these nails using China Glaze Peachy Keen for my base. Then I did the flowers and polka dots using China Glaze For Audrey and Tree Hugger and Orly Pointe Blanche.





Thanks for Reading!
- Kim

NOTD: Black Mesh

Just a super quick manicure today... Orly Luxe with China Glaze Black Mesh Crackle. :o)







Thanks for reading!
- Kim

NOTD: Well, That's Different

I know I've vented here before about how hard it is for me to grow my nails out. They're thin, I'm violent on my hands... it just turns out bad. And as of late, my 'peelies' have been out of control. I've tried ridge fillers, hardeners, treatments, etc... all to no avail.

Well, I was venting about this to a friend and she suggested I get acrylics but I've never been a fan them. Most of the girls I know that have them done at salons, have these THICK square nails and that just isn't my style. Then she suggested I try gel tips instead since they look more natural. So I threw caution to the wind and decided to give them a whirl. I couldn't see spending the money to have it done at a salon so I picked up a box of Cosmar Quik Nails at CVS. The kit was only $9.99 and seemed simple enough since it's a brush on system. I also figured if I really didn't like them, I wouldn't have too much money invested in them.

I didn't take pictures of the process since I didn't really know what I was doing yet. (I was busy making sure I followed the directions.) It was actually pretty simple... it was literally as easy as putting on stick-on nails.

Now on to my paint job! While I was at CVS, I checked out the polishes of course. To my surprise, they had the Essie french collection on clearence for 50% off. I picked up the last two bottles they had: Sand Tropez and French Affair. I also got a bottle of Mink Muffs since I needed a good light brown. I wanted to do cherry blossom nails again so I used the last two polishes plus OPI Mermaid's Tears and Orly Terra Mauve.





I'm trying to get used the length... I feel awkward and my delete key is getting worn out! Overall, I like them but I don't know how long I'll try keep them. I just have a feeling one of these nails will meet a terrible fate in a desk drawer or cabinet door...

Thanks for reading,
- Kim

NOTD: Hey There, Cupcake!

When I got done with this manicure I realized that I sometimes forget that I'm almost 28 years old, lol. That's okay though since I'm just a kid at heart. I really do love cutesy designs and this one is definitely cute! I'm interested to see what the ladies at the office have to say about this one tomorrow! ;o)


I've seen a ton of cupcake nail designs online but my version is inspired by the adorable Georgina at Cupcake's Clothes. (You can see her version here.) She also has an online store called Dolly Mixx where she sells sets of false nails painted with her different designs. I'm eying the Strawberry Fields set currently. ♥


I used quite a few polishes on this one... it's so colorful and that makes me happy. :o) I used the following colors:

China Glaze Solar Power & Spontaneous; Orly Blue Collar; Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear Mint Sorbet; and Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Rapid Red, Pink Blink, Fuchsia Flare, & Whirlwind White.


Thanks for reading!
- Kim

NOTD: Rosebud (the flower, not the sled)

I tried out Orly Sapphire Silk today for the first time. Overall, it's a nice color... a muted blue with teal undertones. The name doesn't quite match the color though. I expect "sapphire" to be more of a Kate Middleton blue, not this country teal-blue shade. But I digress...


I do like how this polish looks on. It's neutral enough to be office friendly but still has a little but of fun to it. Since it was so plain, I decided to try my hand at the swirled flowers I've been seeing all over the polish blogs. I wish I could credit a particular person but I've seen so many variations of this, I can't recall who actually did theirs using the same method. (Comment and let me know if you do!)


To make my rosebuds, I used a paint brush to dot on a spot of Sally Hansen Pink Blink and China Glaze Fifth Avenue side by side. I used the same brush to swirl the two colors together in a circle. I think this might be easier to do with acrylic paint but I really don't know since I've never tried it on nails before. To finish my flowers, I added little green petals using a paint brush and China Glaze Tree Hugger. I topped it off with SecheVite and there you have it... a cute flower mani. :o)

NOTD: Wild Thing, I Think I Love Ya!

I love my Konad M57 plate but I have neglected to use it for a while. I decided to break her back out tonight for yet another leopard mani. I've only used wild colors with this plate so far sooo I thought I'd try something new and keep it neutral. :o)


I just kind of winged it and I really like out this turned out. I ended up using a bunch of different polishes... more than I expected. I started with my usual Seche Clear base coat followed by a coat of Essie Jazz. I topped that with China Glaze Cyberspace. (I did this since the Cyberspace takes at least a good 3 coats to get any kind of coverage.) Then I used OPI Black Onyx with the Konad stamp since it doesn't come out super dark.


Now this is where I had to get creative. I planned on using Orly Prince Charming for the accent color but it was too plain Jane brown. I needed something leaning more towards yellow or orange but I didn't have the color I needed. I have this tiny bottle of Sally Girl orange polish... I looked all over the bottle but I couldn't find a name. It's just a bright orange with mild shimmer. I made a 50/50 mix of the two to get that orangy-brown and I just used a regular detail brush to paint spots throughout the leopard print. I also find that the Bundle Monster plates make great "mixing trays"... just flip 'em over and mix away and when you're all finished, just wipe it clean with a cotton ball and some polish remover.

So that was all I did... I also just realized I used 5 different brands of polish, 6 if you count the top coat. I'm not sure if that's a good thing or bad, lol. Anyway, I think I'll wear my nails like this for a day or two and when I start rough up the tips, I'll go back and do a wild color french tip. I'm thinking hot pink or lime... oh yeah!