butter London HRH

Hey - I'm completely ecstatic because I got a stateside friend to let me use her address to ship my Coterie order! They are a cosmetic sale company that had the most amazing deal - three butter London polishes (you got to choose from 6) and either a Matte Finish top coat or a Hardwear top coat for $36. But wait, if you used the promo code, you got $25 off. So essentially, when I factor in shipping to me, I'm getting all that for $20. Considering that if I was going to buy one from Canada it would be $17, I couldn't pass that up. So I'm getting Knackered, Bluey and West End Wonderland with a Matte top coat! Unfortunately that sale is over, but I think that they will have more awesome sales in the future. I just hope they decide on international shipping.

In honour of my butter London high today, I decided to wear HRH - a pretty purple with a blue flash.

I actually got this as a swap extra - can you imagine that? I was super excited to open that package!

It applied like a dream - this is three coats. It was hard to get an accurate colour at night, which is when I usually paint my nails and they look the best.

I'd love to see how this compares to Zoya Suri. It's on my list of polishes to get so maybe I'll do a comparison post when I have both.

 

Erica's Challenge Day 10 - Recreate Your Favourite

Well, here we are! The last day of the challenge :( 
It's bittersweet, because now I can swatch polishes again. However it's nice to participate in a community where we have something in common. Like a decent clip of nail enthusiasts, this hobby has gotten me through some tough times, and because I'm a shy person, I haven't gotten involved like I could have. But this experience has created friends for me, and I'm truly blessed to have met the people involved.
Partly Cloud with a Chance of Lacquer did a braided mani for the favourite season day, and I've been itching to try it ever since. I used A-England St. George on my nails, then did the braided accent of St. George, Princess Sabra and Tristam. I think I actually nailed it!

I love love LOVE these colours together...A-England is so unique! I even think my photos are getting better too! Win-win! I know I've stepped up the game on my clean up - it's still not great but it's getting there.

Erica's Challenge Day 9 - French Tip Variation

Aloha polish people! Today I'm showing you my two favourite polishes from probably my favourite indie maker of all time. Enchanted Polish has awesome holos and multichromes so fabulous it would give you a polishgasm. I ordered Ocean Potion and Awesomeness from Harlow and Co. before they were discontinued. There is no way I will ever part with them.
For my variation on the French Tip I attempted a chevron design. I hate how it turned out. The lines aren't as crisp as I would like. I can only get better right?

My pinkie is a total blob. This was the better hand, my right hand is a disaster.
Tomorrow is the last day of the challenge. I'm rather bummed about it - it was motivating to participate with others. Erica says she'll do more, and I'll be the first to sign up!

Erica's Challenge Day 8 - Galaxy Nails!

I was super worried about trying this for the first time. Since my gradient fail I was worried about sponging again. I'd never tried galaxy nails because it looked so intimidating! For my first attempt, I think it's not bad. I get the feeling my stars look kind of weird, but maybe that's just me?

I started with two coats of Zoya Ibiza. It's my go to navy blue. Then I sponged (in this order) China Glaze Bahamian Escape, Zoye Fei Fei, and Zoya Laney. I'm actually glad I used Fei Fei - it is hard to see since my photos are lame, but it adds awesome multi-colour sparkle to my galaxy. I then added the dots with Sally Hansen's White On. Not satisfied with the amount of polishes used (eye roll) I added a top coat of China Glaze Fairy Dust.
Also, I just realized I've never address my top/base coats....ever. Those who were(n't) wondering, I used Essie All in One base coat and Essie Good to Go top coat.
Two more days! Then I'll have to think for myself.....

Erica's Challenge Day 7 - Flowers

Ugh, today has been one of those really awful days. I'm sick, and I had to do a presentation at school which turned into a hot mess pretty quickly. So to cheer my up, I did my nails naturally.
I've never been able to find them, but Sally Hansen has nail appliques that are called Morning Glory. They are a white background with purple flowers on them. Since I've never seen them in Canada, I made my own version for today. I started with a base of Essie Blanc, then stamped the flowers from BM 205 with Color Club Wild at Heart.

Also....both my thumbnails are jacked up right now. They keep spitting and tearing in weird spots. That's why I've been using my right hand lately, but that nail destructed this morning. Now, my left hand looks better.
I don't use white as a background often, but I love how this turned out and I plan on recreating it and wearing it longer when this challenge is said and done!

Erica's Challenge Day 6 - Polka Dots!

I love me some spotted nail goodness. For someone who loves dots so much, you'd be surprised to know that I don't own a dotting tool...I'm an embarrassment to a nail art challenge. Don't worry, I will rectify this problem.
I really wanted to wear Zoya Myrta, which I just got half price! This completed my Surf collection! My OCD makes me very keen on finishing collections.
Something that stuck with me from childhood is that orange and blue go together, a la complementary colours. So I decided to Konad stamp polka dots using A-England Tristam. Unfortunately, I anticipated Tristam to be more opaque, but I still think it looks acceptable.

Sorry...my pinkie looks all kinds of jacked up. It looks fine in real life I swear.
Tomorrow's challenge is flowers, and I'm probably going to have to stamp....again. I am truly an abomination!

Erica's Nail Challenge Day 5 - Gradient Fail

So, I tried for honestly 1.5 hours to get a gradient that didn't look like a hot mess. I failed, so I submitted the blue gradient I did in June. 
Tomorrow will be a greater success I'm sure

Erica's Challenge Day Four - Saran Wrap

Quick post today - Saran wrap was the texture of choice today in the Erica's Nails challenge (those of you just joining us, her blog is in my blogroll -->
I went for a subtle look - I didn't want extreme marble city on my nails. I started with Zoya Quinn, a deep berry red, and used China Glaze's Swing Baby over top. I then dabbed the excess Swing Baby off, which left me with this.

It's interesting to look at I must say. It reminds me of velvet for some reason. It also appears I need to invest in some other method of clean up - I use q-tips right now and it's not looking so hot. Any suggestions?

In other EXCITING news, I saw the first promo pics of the Holiday Zoya Collection. It's called Ornate, and it has 6 sparkle-tastic shades!

I think I need Blaze and Aurora....and Logan and Ziv...or maybe all of them. Better start saving those pennies now!

Erica's Challenge Day 3 - Favourite Season

Hey y'all! Are you impressed I haven't missed a day yet? I know I am. Today's theme was seasons. I flipping love the fall - the colours, the weather, back to school. It doesn't help that I have a (late) fall birthday either.
Alas, the stamping plates I have do not have leaves! I was very upset because that was my plan. So I used the colour that to me is Fall in a bottle - Deutsch You Want Me Baby from OPI's Germany Collection. To spice things up I did an accent nail using Zoya Elisa as underwear and China Glaze Electrify.

I'm so glad I decided to grab this OPI - I hummed and hawed about it many times, until I saw it on sale at Winners. It's also currently on my toes :)

Erica's Challenge Day 2 - Favourite Animal

Now I've been excited for this since I read the challenge list. Why you ask? Because it's not animal print per se, it's your favourite animal. My favourite animal is clearly my cat - so I used his 'colour palette' as inspiration for these nails.

My baby, Indiana Dingus Jones, is completely black. That made for super boring nails - but his collar is a silver glitter extravaganza. So I used NOPI Razzle Dazzler for my black base (the name of that polish is deceiving, no?) and stamped using BM 316 and Zoya Trixie. I realized after I uploaded my pictures that my cleanup was atrocious, so I'm sorry for the people reading this that had to scratch their eyes out after looking at this.

These nails actually got the seal of approval from the boyfriend, so all in all I'm impressed. Now, I must include a bonus photo of my fur-baby! Here he is after adventuring up the fridge and claiming the top of the cupboards for all kitteh kind.

Erica's Nail Challenge - Day 1

Here it goes! Day one - my favourite colour. I love purple - my phone is purple, my notebooks are purple, my pencil case is purple. If my boyfriend would let me paint my car purple, I would. So naturally, I purpled the heck out of my nails. Now I know this is a nail art challenge, but I am completely art-tarded. So until I need to art, I will not. I will stamp! I used Zoya Mimi and NOPI Light my Candle.

As you can see, I've used Mimi a fair bit in the year that I've had her. The only polish I've used more is Zoya Dannii. Here is the most colour accurate photo I could get today of Mimi on her own.

She's so pretty! I used my old camera today because I lacked batteries for the new one.
Then I stamped using BM 314 and Light my Candle.

It's not my best, but it will do I suppose. I'm super excited for tomorrow so I'm impatient I guess. I'm also mad I couldn't get a colour accurate photo....grrr. Maybe on day 10 I'll revisit purple.

Quick Update!

Hey guys....I'm going to start blogging again I promise! I've been schooling and moving and not really painting my nails much. That will change! I got a new camera, new polishes to show you and I'm starting hardcore on Saturday with a new nail challenge!

I'm participating in Erica from Erica's Nails and More's 10 day nail art challenge! I figured it's a good way to get going again. It also has lots of tutorials I'd like to try, like galaxy nails!

I also got my first Catrice polishes and plan on doing a Catrice week once the challenge is done. Thanks for being patient!