Christmas Day

Okay, I know. I'm terrible. I haven't posted in forever. I have a good excuse, though - it's impossible to take pictures of my manis in natural light when I'm at work during all daylight hours!

I did manage to snag a picture of my Christmas Day manicure, though, and I was quite excited about it. Here it is, in all it's ridiculous glory (as always, click for larger images):


China Glaze Emerald Sparkle, Ruby Pumps, and MilleniumKonad Plate M63

Fun, no? We were doing a super casual Christmas celebration with friends, and everyone got a kick out of the themed manicure. I got the idea from Temptalia, but added the silver just for a bit of extra kapow.

Today, however, I was ready to move on. And since I have other untrieds in China Glaze's Wizard of Ooh Ahz collection, I decided to go with Dorothy Who?

China Glaze Calypso Blue with Dorothy Who?

You have GOT to view the larger version of that one. It's gorgeous! Dorothy Who? was leaving me with VNL even after several coats, so I layered another favorite blue (Calypso Blue) underneath it. I am completely in love with the result!

Next up: What to do for a New Year's Eve mani?? Ack, so many choices!

I'm in New Orleans!

After years of wanting to visit New Orleans, I'm finally here! Will be gone until Sunday, so no new posts until at least then. Sorry!

A Failed Attempt

I tried Zoya Freja for the first time and adored it. My goal was to do a subtle design on top of it that wouldn't distract from it too badly. Unfortunately, I went too subtle and you can barely even see the design.




Zoya Freja, China Glaze Joy, Plate M60

I love that design, it definitely ranks as one of my favorites. However, China Glaze Emotion or Poetic would have been a better choice than Joy for the design. Oh well, I'll know for next time!

Trying something new

I decided to try something new here. My goal was for it too look like the fairy was floating on a field of flowers. I'm not quite sure how I feel about the outcome.




Orly Goth, China Glaze Awaken, China Glaze OMG, Plate M35

What are your thoughts?

Winter Nail Art Contest!

Just passing this on in case anyone wants to enter. Doubt I'll do it, since my nail art abilities are pretty limited.

http://nailartworld.blogspot.com/2009/10/winter-nail-art-contest.html

I'm kind of motivated to try a winter mani tonight now, though. Will probably waste a lot of brain power today pondering how to paint my nails instead of focusing on work like I should, but it's hardly like that's a first!

What Was I Thinking?

I'm starting a new category called, "What Was I Thinking?"

The drunken konadicure from a few weeks ago definitely deserves this label, as does this one:



Wet 'n Wild Rustic, Konad Special Polish in Black, Plate M57

I was hanging out with some friends, and I let one of them pick my mani. This was the result.

It's not that it's hideously ugly, but it's definitely fairly tacky. I think the base color is so pretty that overall it winds up being forgivable. My friend's fiance said it reminded him of a prostitute, though, which I think kind of says it all!

A Tale of Three Konadicures

This time I decided to forgo poetry and go with honesty. :0P

I think I've mentioned this before, but I specifically bought plate M74 because of how much I loved one of the designs.

However, I've had a lot of trouble getting it to work for me.

Here is attempt number one. Clearly it needs two polishes that contrast more than these two do.




China Glaze Calypso Blue, China Glaze Adore, Plate M74

Attempt number two was just boring as hell. I hated this color combo, even though separately both of these colors are gorgeous. Also, I had thought that flipping the design on the ring finger would be cool looking, and in theory it probably would be... but in practice I hated it. Finally, I decided that I don't like a metallic finish with this design. Creme polishes only with this one from now on.




Orly Prince Charming, China Glaze Magical, Plate M74

So, with those lessons learned under my belt, I went a different direction the next time around. This is what I'm wearing right now:




Orly Poison Apple, Konad Special Polish in Black, Plate M74

I also love the reverse double stamp that I did on the thumb:




Cute, no?

A Tale of Two Konadicures

I guess this is actually a tale of three konadicures, but that would be far less poetic, no?

The design in question is the checkered pattern on plate M64.

The first time I tried using it was a disaster. Alignment was completely off. I wound up removing it right away.



China Glaze Magical, Orly Country Club Khaki, Plate M64

Second try was a bit better, but Color Club Revvvolution wasn't the best choice here. I should have gone for something with better contrast. Alignment is still pretty awful, though, and I smudged the heck out of the design on my ring finger.



Zoya Pinta, Color Club Revvvolution, Plate M64

Finally, the other day, I did this. Have to say, I kinda loved it.



China Glaze Let's Do It In 3-D, Konad Special Polish in Black, Plate M64

I got compliments everywhere I went all week. It was pretty awesome. :0)

The Matte Trend

I'm not really feeling the matte trend. I tried one matte konadicure and wasn't really in love with it. Here it is:





Essie Angora Cardi, China Glaze Awaken, Plate M64

Yeah... not really my thing. What can I say. I dig shine.

More Flowers...

This is another of my favorite images. Strangely, this is the only picture I have of it. I'll be trying to remedy that over the weekend, for sure.






China Glaze Calypso Blue, China Glaze Adore, Plate M74

Ooooh, flowers...

I love flowers. Stands to reason, since this used to be a gardening blog. The images with floral prints are always my favorites.

This manicure was one of my more "out there" ones. It didn't stay on for long, I'm afraid. It was just a little too much for me. Next time I'll use tones that don't contrast quite as much.






China Glaze Bermuda Breakaway, Konad Special Polish in Pastel Green, Plate M73

Isn't the floral design so pretty and delicate, though? I just adore it.