30 Day Challenge: Tape Mani

Hey everybody! Today's theme is tape manicure and I just want to start off this post by saying, I LOVE how these came out! I started off my painting my navy blue base and then debated on which color to make the stars. I was originally planning on adding some sparkle and making the stars white but then I thought I should have fun with this design and add a pop of color. Naturally I couldn't decide whether to go with coral or lime green and thanks to my brother A.J, I decided on green.

30 Day Challenge: Texture Polish

Hey Hey Hey! Today's theme is texture polish and I only have three so narrowing it down was no issue haha. I went with Julie G in Sugar Plum Fairy, which was part of the 2013 Frosted Gum Drops Collection and can be bought on their website for $3.99. This was the only textured polish I had in my stash that I had yet to wear so I thought it would perfect to use so I can cross it off of my untried list.

Two Coats with No Top Coat

30 Day Challenge: Favorite Glitter

Thankfully picking a favorite glitter was not as hard as picking a favorite creme since I don't have nearly as many. I actually don't wear glitter very often because I don't like the hassle of taking it off. Even putting a glue base so I can peel it of later is too much work. Yes, I am in fact that lazy. That being said I chose Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure in Copper Penny. I have really been into copper toned polishes, including glitter but I've been holding off wearing it too much because I rather wait until fall when it is more appropriate for the season. BUTTTTTTTT since todays theme is favorite glitter I can throw that out the window.

Marc Jacobs - #154 Jungle {Limited Edition}

I just want to start by saying I'm in awe with the amount of money in products that are on my nails right now and I didn't buy a thing! I went on a trip to Sephora on Friday with some friends and I couldn't help painting my nails (pssh, of course). I started off my manicure with Julep's Oxygen Nail Treatment ($18), which apparently works best when used on its own, oops! Next I added a coat of Butter London's Nail Foundation Flawless Basecoat ($20), which is AMAZING! I used it once and I'm already in love. When I save some money up I'll be sure to get my hands on it because I need it! Of course I added some color and choose Marc Jacobs - Jungle ($18) since it looked so great on display. Also, it's limited edition and I didn't know if I would have the opportunity to try it again the next time I went. Last but not least I added Butter London's Hardware P.D. Topcoat ($20). This all totals to a whopping $76 dollars on the digits, woah!

Mish Mash Challenge - Blue

BLUE is such a pretty color and probably one of the most well liked. I know I could have went in about 1000 different directions with this, which may have been a lot more creative but I'm pinched for time here. I went with a mosaic print since it's something I've wanted to try for awhile now. I'm wondering if I should of went with different colors but either way I like the way these came out. If I had some more time I would have cleaned up the edges a bit more but I'll make sure to do that next time. 

Navy Blue Essie - Bobbing for Baubles

Light Blue Maybelline Color Show - Poolside

Turquoise Essie - Naughty Nautical 

Aqua Essie - Where's my Chauffeur 

Blue Brucci - JT's Ocean Blue

Pusheen Movember

I wanted to think of a really creative Movember design and for some reason the first thing that popped into my head was pusheen cat with a mustache, don't judge me! It may have to do with the face that I have been absolutely cat obsessed for the past couple of months. The whole point of movember is to raise awareness on health issues by the growing of mustaches and since I can't grow facial hair I decided to do my part through my nails.  

Pink Sinful Colors - Beautiful Girl

Red Essie - Leading Lady

Gray Brucci - Alexandra's "Hot" Gray

Black Wet n Wild Wild Shine - Black Creme

White  L.A. Colors Art Deco Nail Art Lacquer - White

Brown Sinful Colors - Nirvana

Mish Mash Challenge - Least Expensive Nail Polish

I have some nail polishes that are a dollar usually and some that I got for a dollar because they were on clearance. I spent more time then I probably should deciding which I would choose to use but I ended up deciding on the polish that was my favorite. I went to a Rite-Aid sometime during the end of summer and found so many nice nail polishes on sale including this Sally Hansen Sugar Coat Polish called Lick-O-Rich. I was ecstatic but unfortunately the reason they had so many things on clearance was because they were closing down and I was unable to make it for a second trip. The good news is I got a lot of discounted polish and that's always fun.

They had black on clearance for a $1 and usually retails for $5.49. This isn't necessarily the polish that was the biggest price difference but its the one I fell in love with and was so happy I got my hands on it, especially for a cheap price. I used two coats to reach this level of opacity and you can definitely feel its texture which is not as strong in other polishes. I found myself passing my nails across my face because I just loved the feeling and I will admit that that is incredibly weird but I just don't care! I was a bit worried that I'd make a mess with all the little grains in the bottle but was so happy when I found that it is as easy as applying any other polish. Definitely a great polish and gets Yeliza's stamp of approval.

Blood Splatter

It's HALLOWEEN and naturally I had to go with blood splatter because what's Halloween without it? Also it so happened to go with my costume quite nicely since I was a nurse. In school I was a regular run of the mill nurse but I ended up going to the Halloween parade with my coworkers and just threw on some jeans, opened up my nurse dress/jacket and became an off duty nurse haha. Either way the nails worked and although I had some criticisms from a guy friend of mine who loves making fun of my nails, I think they didn't come out to shabby.

White Wet n Wild Wild Shine - White 

Red Essie - Leading Lady 

Slime

I'm always in the Halloween spirit but my nails sure haven't been. I had so many ideas for Halloween nails but no time to execute them. I've been trying to keep up with the Mish Mash Challenge but unfortunately have not had the time to edit pictures and write posts yet. Since this is the day before Halloween I'm sure I'll only have two Halloween nail posts, which makes me feel terrible since I look forward to this time of year! :( Anyway, I'll try to make up for it with some fantabulous nails for the mish mash challenge

Green Sally Hansen - Perfect Pear-ing 

Black Wet n Wild Wild Shine - Black Creme

I went with slime nails since I got a wonderful green polish not that long ago and thought, why not? I originally planned on making the slime green with a black background but thought if I did it the opposite it would stand out more. I'm thinking I made the right choice haha.

Subtle Striped Half Moons

I actually really like this design but I do wish that it came out a bit cleaner, either way I'm proud of them. I kind of got a dated feeling from them but not in a bad way! It just made me think of a color scheme I'd find at my grandmother's house. The stripes would be the wallpaper and the raspberry would be the color of the dreadfully outdated couch, am I crazy for thinking that? Hmm...

 Nude Maybelline Color Show - Canary Cool

White Art Deco Nail Art Striper - White

Red Essie - Raspberry

Metallic Half Moon Manicure

I admit this isn't my best half moon manicure but I really love the color combination. I had just bought Essie Bahama Mama and thought how perfect it would look with gold, after debating with myself for a bit I thought I should do half moons since I haven't done them in awhile. I'm going to do another one soon enough so I can hopefully get the same sized half moons and with more vibrant colors!

Gold H&M - 70s Boho

Gold Fine Glitter Wet n Wild - Gold & the Beautiful

Deep Plum Essie - Bahama Mama

I know there is another technique for doing half moons but I just use reinforcers labels to get the job done. If you haven't done this manicure before I have a tip for you. Make sure your base color is dry before you put the reinforcement because if it isn't when you take it off the nail polish will just come right off! And another thing after you put the second color on, in my case Bahama Mama, take off the reinforcements right away pulling away from the edge of the curve at an angle to get the cleanest line. Once you finished all your nails wait until they dry and add top coat to seal your design and your nail art is done!

(please excuse the dry cuticles!)