Generally Not Reccomended

Usually, I don't wear yellow, even though I love it. I have an olive complexion and it tends to be a very difficult color for me to wear. My one and only yellow polish is generally relegated to nail art, like for flower centers or stars. For some reason, though, yellow and pink is a color combination that makes me extremely happy:

Two coats of Sally Hansen Insta-Dri "Lightening." Accents in Sally Girl pink.

I love my taping manicures, but this one didn't come out as neat as I would like. Still, no time to re-do it. It's off to work for me!

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As a follow up to my last post, I have begun this, for those who are interested. Also, please don't forget about my blog sale. If you see something you like, make me an offer!

Peppermint Sticks

Just another quickie for the holidays.

Colors used:
Pure Ice "Siren"
Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure "Ivory Skull"
I just cut up pieces of scotch tape for the stripes. :)

Blessed Yule and Happy Solstice! I hope everyone is enjoying the "end of the world."

Urk.

I have been a lazy, lazy blogger this week, wearing the same chipped manicure for the past three or four days. I've been either too tired, too busy, or some combination for the two to put together a decent mani. I know the design I want to do next, but I also know that there's a bit of time that will have to be invested in it and I just haven't had it to spare. So in the mean time, here is a quick and easy one I did last week that I got a ton of compliments on:

Colors used:
Sally Hansen Insta-Dri "Lightening"
Maybelline Color Show "Porcelain Party"
Claire's Nail Art Pen in black

This was super simple to do. I used tape to mask of the white area after doing the yellow base, and freehanded the rest. It was very attention getting and everyone loved it. I wore it to a car show to the delight of all.

Happy Monday and hopefully on Wednesday I'll be back with something a little newer.

Two Tone Dots

Still fighting with the peelies, so here's one from the vault. Hopefully I'll have this under control soon and can get back to my regularly scheduled nail art!

I love tape manicures. They're so easy, but the results are pretty impressive.

I did this one for a family reunion back at the beginning of August. I realized halfway there, though, that I'd forgotten to take pictures of it! So I whipped out my camera and took photos in the driveway once I arrived.

Something I've started doing (because I'm impatient) is laying down my base color, then putting Seche Vite over top, then adding my details and a second layer of topcoat. The result can add dimension to some designs, and also helps the manicure last longer. This one held up really well, even after tubing (for the uninitiated, this is when you attach a special inner tube to the back of a boat and hold on for dear life while the driver tries to dump you in the water. Great fun!).

I put down Sally Hansen Insta-Dri "Just in Lime" first, then taped off half my nail and used "Blue By" on the other half. The next morning, I used a toothpick to add the dots. Super simple, but I got soooo many compliments--especially since it matched my swimsuit. And my cousin wants me to do her nails now (she's 12).

Summer Fun: Favorite Beach Memory

Woops. I almost forgot about this post. That's what I get for writing it in advance and not adding pictures right away.

Well, that, and some really crappy pictures...

When I was seven, we went down to Florida to visit my great aunt and uncle. This was the first time I remember leaving the state (I went to Canada a few years before and apparently made friends with everyone on the train by virtue of being an adorable three year old who didn't scream or cry once in twelve hours, but I don't remember it). It was the first time I saw the ocean, the first time I went to Disney, and the first time I missed school for vacation.

I wish I could share the photo that this manicure is based on, but I don't have a copy.

We drove from Ohio to Florida, and stopped at Daytona Beach on the way for lunch. We got Subway (which back then was a real treat; they weren't all that common and were considered "expensive" fast food, according to my parents) and ate on the beach. I made a sand castle. My mom snapped a picture and in it, I'm wearing a two piece swimsuit covered in neon stripes and flowers. I was very proud of that swimsuit (I think it was my first two-piece suit, and I felt very grown up).

I have yet to find another suit that looks as good on me.

Of course, my body has changed a little since then. I'm not sure if it's an improvement sometimes (like when it comes to swimsuit and jeans shopping).

Colors used: Maybelline "Porceline Party" for a base; China Glaze " Celtic Sun"; Color Zone neon pink and purple.

I think that neon polishes have joined the ranks of classic red lips, smokey eyeshadow, and string bikinis: They're all things that I love...on other people. While I might hang on to the purple, I think that the pink and yellow will be joining the Giveaway stash I've been putting together (yes, I am planning a giveaway. But not until my followers passes the single digits. I'd like to have more than two people enter, unlike the last time I tried to have a giveaway on my blog).

What's your take on neon? Yay or nay?

Summer Fun: Fruit

This probably isn't the cleverest or most unique fruity manicure out there. In fact, I fully expect there to be at least half a dozen others.

But is there a more iconic summer fruit than watermelon?

Colors used:
Sally Hansen Hard as Nails Xtreme Wear "Fucshia Power"*
Sally Hansen Insta-Dri "Just in Lime"
Brash "Green Machine"
Pop Beauty "Black"

*If you're going to do any taping techniques over an Xtreme Wear color, make sure that you've got a really good base coat underneath, make sure all layers are dry, and use a top coat between the base and the details, because it will peel off very easily.