Whimsical Winter Scene!

Almost three weeks ago Marta of Chit Chat Nails announced a nail art contest that she is hosting with a stamping plate maker Pueen. I was instantly intrigued because it features two of my favorite things, stamping and holiday nail art. I rarely enter contests, partly for lack of time, but largely because I disagree with the 'judging' process. Marta's contest, however, has actual judges which makes the process about talent rather than popularity. For me that makes the contest a challenge and I love challenges...

I've been thinking about what I want to create for the contest for the past couple of weeks and have been coming up blank. I knew I wouldn't be entering the contest unless it was something I was really proud of, so that I wouldn't kick myself later and think "I could have done better". That way loosing would mean someone created nail art that is better or more creative than mine, not because I didn't give it my best shot. Also, win or loose, I had a blast creating this manicure and at the end of the day that is what really matters to me...

Basket Weave

Hi Lovelies! Today I'm going to show you my feeble attempt at a free hand basket weave pattern. I was inspired by a seemingly simple tutorial by @yagala on Instagram. She made it look so easy that I thew my inhibitions to the wind and decided to try it out. Now although her manicure is gorgeous from any distance, mine is best viewed from far, far away. In other words, back away from your computer now or you might get scared. Yes, that means you too! Take your coffee cup and back away, then come back and tell me what you think of this...

31DC2013 Day 31 - Honor Nails You Love

Today is the final day of the 31 Day Nail Challenge. The challenge for today is to honor nail you love. I chose to create a manicure inspired by Christina of Let Them Have Polish. It was a while back that she posted a photo of her thumb nail on Instagram with this design. It reminded me of bubble chocolate and I knew that I would have to recreate it some day...

31DC2013 Day 28 - Inspired by a Flag

Hi Lovelies! Today I'm forging ahead to Day 28 of the 31 Day Nail Challenge. The theme for today is a manicure inspired by a flag. I had a tough time deciding on a design for this one mainly because I was pretty set against recreating a country flag. I started racking my brain for other creative flag ideas and I was coming up blank. It wasn't until I saw the Messy Mansion stamping plate innocently hanging out on my table waving it's little pirate flag that inspiration hit!

31DC2013 Day 27 - Inspired by Artwork

Hi Lovelies! Up next in the 31 Day Nail Challenge is Day 27, Inspired by Artwork. I'm always drawn to Asian inspired art featuring bamboo so after a quick search online (this is literally the 3rd image that comes up in Google when I search for "bamboo art"), I knew what I wanted to do.

Zoya Naturel Deux (2) Collection Swatches and Review

Happy Friday Everyone! Today I am excited to finally share with you my swatches of the Zoya Nautrel Deux (2) collection. This collection is a follow-up to the popular Naturel collection which came out early this year. Although the Deux collection has been available for a few months now, the Fall colors just begged me to delay swatching until the weather started to turn. I think now is the perfect time to show these beauties off to you...

Drops of Chocolate with Messy Mansion...

Hi Everyone! Today I would like to show you a manicure that I created using one of the Nicole by OPI shades from the collaboration with Dove Chocolate. I paired it with a stamping pattern that reminds me of drops or splashes. While I would normally think to do this in bluish tones resembling water, for some reason drops of chocolate sounded rather delicious...

Dove Chocolate and Nicole by OPI - Discover Your Dark Side...

I hope you have all entered the Nicole by OPI and Dove Chocolate Sweepstakes already, but if not than go do it now! What are you waiting for? Along with yummy Dove Chocolate, you can win two lacquers inspired by it. Today I would like to show you swatches of the beauties that are up for grabs in the sweepstakes. These were sent to me for review along with delicious Dove Chocolate. I'm not even going to tell you how many I already ate, but resisting them has been futile. Surrounded by chocolate, I swear for a moment I imagined these were chocolate scented...

OPI Mariah Carey Holiday 2013 - Part 2

Hi Everyone! Today I would like to show you the remainder of the OPI Mariah Carey Holiday collection. You can see my swatches of the 1st half here and the liquid sand shades here. As a whole, this collection is really beautiful and gives us some gorgeous shades in a variety of finishes. Take a look at the swatches and let me know which are your favorites...

Coffee Time!

I would like to show you this yummy coffee manicure that I wore a while ago, but didn't get a chance to post about until now. I'm hoping this coffee manicure will perk me up since I've been really tired lately...

Purse Inspired...

I broke a few nails and so I am down to shorties right now and not feeling too artsy, but that finally gives me the chance to show you a manicure that I did a while back and didn't get a chance to post. This was inspired by a photo of a purse that I somehow stumbled across online...

(source for purse image)

Barielle Sophisticated Lady Collection Swatches and Review

Today I would like to show you swatches of the Barielle Sophisticated Lady collection. This is the second of the Fall collections by Barielle. Although both of the collections contain the creamy brown named In Good Taste, that is where the similarities end. The first collection, Nude&Naughty, contains soft neutral shades while this one is darker and moodier....

Barielle Nude & Naughty Collection Swatches and Review

Today I would like to share with you the new Barielle Nude & Naughty collection released this Fall. The collection features five beautiful neutral shades...

Tawdry Terrier Autumn in the Barkshires Select Shades...

Today I would like to show you a swatches of a few shades from the Tawdry Terrier Autumn in the Barkshires Fall collection. Tawdry Terrier is a new indie polish brand which launched this Summer and I'm very excited to get the chance to try them out. Tawdry Terrier lacquers are handmade, Big5Free and cruelty free...

Dazzle Dry Glam Nuvo Swatches and Review

Today I would like to show you swatches of the new Dazzle Dry Glam Nuvo Fall collection. I was very impressed the first time that I tried the Dazzle Dry system earlier this Summer and I continue to be blown away by it. The colors are gorgeous, the polishes are super fast trying, they are toxin free and vegan. I really couldn't ask for more...

OPI San Francisco Swatches and Review (part 2)

Today I would like to show you the remainder of the OPI San Francisco collection. This half of the collection includes the warmer hues of the brown and red family. Similarly to the first half, it includes both creams and shimmery shades...

OPI San Francisco Swatches and Review (part 1)

Today I would like to show you the first half of the OPI San Francisco collection. This half contains the blues and grays for the collection plus a tan thrown in for good measure. It has everything from cream to shimmer to foil and even duochrome. A little bit of everything to tempt you...

OPI San Francisco Liquid Sand

I have started to play around and swatch the OPI San Francisco collection released for this Fall. Today, I would like to show you the three Liquid Sand shades which are part of the collection. As you might know I'm a big fan of the textured trend, but up until this point I have only used sparkle loaded, glittery textured shades. Leave it to OPI to get me to try and love something new...

Zoya Cashmeres Collection Swatches and Review

I am so not ready, but it is time to show you some beautiful Fall collections. Starting today with the Zoya Cashmeres collection. It contains six cream shades that are perfect for the upcoming season. Did I mention I'm not ready for Fall yet? I've already showed you my nail art with a few of these and trust me, you'll be seeing more of them...

Messy Mansion Feathers...

Today I'm excited to show you a manicure that I created with the new birds plate from Messy Mansion. I was lucky enough to be given the opportunity to review three Messy Mansion stamping plates and I plan to show each of them separately, one manicure at a time. Starting out with the bird plate, I was immediately drawn to the feather pattern and knew that I had to pair it with a real feather...