On Ogre of a Polish

I recently had a wonderful swap with a lady in Israel and she sent me an awesome, unique and wild bottle of polish. This this is so cool for so many reasons. First off, the color is a murky, lime, Shrek green. In fact, if it met the new release from OPI it would say "Whoa, whoa... Who the Shrek are you?"

Besides for the color being reminiscent of an ogre, the bottle totally is too. It has to be the ugliest bottle in my whole collection. It is not attractive in the least... and yet that is what makes me attracted to it! It is bizarrely tall, and big, and looks like a big oaf next to my other bottles. Observe:

It towers above my OPI and China Glaze bottles and even Orly which I find to be rather large.

Here it is in two coats. Nice, smooth, even formula. And I love the slime, pea green on. But there is more...

I added some Konad stamping with plate M70 and China Glaze - Awaken, a black chrome. LOVE IT!!

What do you think?
-Elaine
:c)

Pure Ice Swatches

I just love Wal Mart. Or hate it? Every time I am there I spend more than I would have normally assumed I would because I can get anything and everything there. Last week I went to get my fishing license and I needed a tube for by bike tire, so I waltz in there with my tire in hand to ensure I got the right tube. Then at the sporting goods counter I saw an ipod armband in the sale flyer that would be perfect for the BF so I went over to electronics to find it. Now I have an armband, a bike lock, a bike tire tube and MY BIKE TIRE... all in my hands. For some reason I didn't think I was going to need a shopping cart. This is getting ridiculous. And it doesn't stop there. I then go get a padded mailing envelope, a mother's day card and a pack of T-shirts. All still in my hands. NOW I go over to cosmetics. I get TWO bottles of NP remover, feminine products, and of course... I have to look at NP. My arms were filled to capacity and more, but I still somehow, someway, found room for two new Pure Ice shades: In The Mood, and one I have been wanting for a while, Purple Reign. And yes, I got this all to the register, without a shopping cart. *Whew*

This is Purple Reign. This is a medium, mauve-ish purple with a bronzy-gold shimmer. I love this shade and the formula was nice and smooth and pigmented. I got this on in two coats.

In The Mood - This one had to come along too. I love the soft, cornflower blue color. It is full of this white shimmer that is real light and airy looking, like Zoya - Ginessa. It looked like it'd be sheer. It is. This is 4 coats :c( but it looked interesting enough to deal with it. The look once you get it on is nice. I 'm thinking next time I will layer it over Orly - Snowcone in order to get it on in less coats.

These retail for $2 at Wal Mart. They have LOTS of different shades. I had to restrict myself to these two though... obviously...

What do you think?
-Elaine
:c)

Halfmoon on Fire

Hello again! I have a awesome mani for you today I have been dying to do for a while. I thought of it one day months ago. Don't know what took me so long but it's alright. It's here now. I just wish I had some sunlight to take some nice pics. It's really cloudy outside.

I started with an orange base. I had that on for a few days actually. Then I did my cut-in-half-re-enforcer trick to hide the bottom portion and painted the nail with China Glaze - Happy Go Lucky.

I was planning on stamping immediately so I put on a coat of Seche Vite to set that so I could stamp without smudging and used Konad plate M63 to stamp the "flames" if that is what they are, and aligned them with the curve of the halfmoon.

Photo Courtesy of Konad USA

I was very concerned about my alignment. I really didn't think that I would get it right because I am not the best at getting my stamps exactly where I want them, but this didn't turn out too bad! I really like it.

What do you think?
Elaine
:c)

China Glaze Fall Collection Preview

Hello! I am so excited to share the latest press release from China Glaze: Their Fall Collection, Vintage Vixen. This is why I just love China Glaze! I haven't even gotten through my summer shades and I am already ansty for the fall! They always keep us on our toes. I have been looking forward to this collection for some time after seeing the "rumor" promo pics. It looks like this is going to have some stunning shades. And how about the name, "Emerald Fitzgerald"?? That is just too cute! Here are the details from China Glaze and American International Industries:

CHINA GLAZE GOES RETRO GLAM FOR FALL 2010 COLLECTION

Sultry Fall Colors Entice The Fashionable Palette

Los Angeles, CA – (April 2010): For Fall 2010, the China Glaze Vintage Vixen Collection captures the vivid and saturated hues of the 1940’s with this seductively complex palette. These classic shades of the season recreate the timeless tableau of movie land mystique, perfect red pouts and steamy nights where swing was the scene!

Step out with these multi-faceted jewel tones, rich reds, titillating taupes and smoldering sands. This collection deliverers a high octane 40’s era glamour with a sophisticated edge! The 12 colors in this collection include:

• Riveter Rouge – Deep red shimmer
• Foxy – Burgundy frost with shimmer
• Goin’ My Way – Brown frost with copper shimmer
• Classic Camel – Khaki crème with gold micro glitter
• Swing Baby – Taupe frost with silver micro glitter
• Ingrid – “Greige” crème with copper micro glitter
• Hey Doll – Rose frost with shimmer
• Bogie – Plum frost with shimmer
• First Class Ticket – Deep purple frost with shimmer
• Midnight Mission – Navy blue frost with silver micro glitter
• Emerald Fitzgerald – Turquoise green frost with shimmer
• Jitterbug – Grey chrome with silver micro glitter

The China Glaze Vintage Vixen collection starts shipping June 6^th internationally and July 6^th, 2010 domestically. All 12 colors will be available as open stock, in 6 piece box collections, a 12 piece counter display and a 36 piece rack. China Glaze is free of DBP, toluene, and added formaldehyde.

China Glaze colors may change from season to season, but our longwearing formula continues to provide consumers with the highest quality nail lacquers. Designed with the professional in mind, our 220-strand brush is great for ease of application. Best of all, our non-thickening formula provides perfectly even coverage. China Glaze nail lacquers are available through salons and professional beauty supply stores nationwide. For more information, visit: www.chinaglaze.com and follow China Glaze on Twitter: http://twitter.com/ChinaGlaze China Glaze is a division of American International Industries.

Lainey's Pad

That doesn't work that great, huh?!! XD
I was thinking about "Lily's Pad", the green shade from Piggy Polish. Once I get one name stuck in my head for a franken or mani it is hard to change it so that is what I am going with!

I wanted to play with the lily pad and flower stamp on Konad plate M66. I decided to go with a blue base for the water and then wanted the pads randomly strewn across my nails with one nail having the water lily on it. Everything went according to plan, except for the fact that I streaked the lily pads when I put on top coat! Argh! **No more Konad for you Diamont!!**

I used Diamond Cosmetics - Tranquility for the base. This mani is ONE COAT of Tranquility, by the way. Amazing formula. Then I stamped the pads and flower with Konad special polish in green and white.

And I took my "pond" on a trip fishing with my dad. Here they are on the creek.

And here they are with my catch! My first catch of the year! A 10 inch brown trout! Yay! Sorry if you are not a fan but I am a fisherwoman. I would never hunt animals, however. EVER. But fishing is awesome. Oooh. That just made me think of a awesome pic I have from a couple years ago:

This is a different kind of "striper" than I usually show you. This is a striped bass I caught on the Hudson. It was 25 pounds! Krazee!!!!

So, what do you think of my pond?!
-Elaine
:c)

Pretty Mint Mani

Hello! Here's a little something cute I did. This is Essie - Mint Candy Apple and I decided to "cute-ify" it. I added the bursts with Konad plate M5 and white polish, then added the bright blue rhinestone over one of them and then a little silver glitter with LA Colors Art Deco - Silver Glitter. I wanted to do it to all the nails, but decided to do it to just the ring finger first and see how it looked before doing anymore because I was afraid if I did it to all of them then it would be too much. I think this looks just right!

What do you think?
:c)
-Elaine

I Made It!

Hi everyone! Thank you so much for your patience while I am adjusting to my new home. Actually, it is my old home. My family is in New York, and I am back! It was a long drive from Chicago, but I made it with boyfriend and puppy safe and sound, and surprisingly, I didn't break even one bottle of nail polish! Whew. I have however destroyed my nails, but I am trying not to dwell. How about some of my recent manicures to get us back in the swing?

This one I had on last weekend. It is Sally Hansen - Pacific Blue with CND - Jade Sparkle on top from their Effects line. It 's a duochrome gold/green shimmer. I liked this so much but it chipped almost instantly. Too bad. I never find things so chippy. I wonder if it was the Sally Hansen or the CND...

This is the amazing China Glaze - Four Leaf Clover + Hard Candy - Sugar Daddy + Sinful Colors - Call You Later painted as a gradient. This was on for the whole packing and drive portion of my move and I couldn't wait to change it. It was pretty and all but after so long and after all the moving chipped it up real good, it had to get it the heck off!

And this is what I did when I got here. I needed to relax after all the madness so I put on Rescue Beauty Lounge - Dead Calm. So fitting. Then to spice it up I add NYX - Sapphire, a awesome holo, silver glitter top coat.

Hard Candy - Lava. Needs no introduction. And no need to layer anything over it either. Hott.

Zoya Swatch SPAM

Hello Everyone!

I must apologize for my absence. As you know I am in the process of packing and moving which has forced me to be a bit thin in my posts. But today may make up for it. I have swatched ALL of my Zoya nail polish to help guide you in your choices if you are doing the polish swap for Earth Day.

I started working on swatching all of them a while ago when Zoya had a promo to get two free polishes with any order over $10. How nice is that!? Well, they frequently do nice things like that and when they do, it prompts us (myself included) to scramble to find swatches so we can get ideas of what to order. And now with the exchange in full swing it is happening again! Well, I decided to give you a place to find a truckload of swatches of Zoya shades. Right here! I have included swatches of Zoya nail polish, from shimmers and glitters to mattes and cremes, in red and pink to blue and green and white and purple and everything in between! Here you are, my friends:

Astra - One of my most favorite shades ever. Pink and red glitter in a pink base. This is 3 coats.

Astra Close Up

Nova - Pink glitter in a magenta base. This is three coats.

Nova Close Up

Luna - Silver glitter in a shimmery silver base. This is three coats.

Luna Close Up

Savita - Matte purple that glows! This is 2 coats

Posh - Another fave. This is beautiful and this swatch is ONE COAT. matte shade

Dovima - 2 coats. matte shade

Loredana - This is 2 coats. matte shade

Eva - bright coralish pink. 2 coats

Dita - Punchy bright pink red creme. Dupey to China Glaze - Heli-Yum

Isla - Gorgeous blackened red shimmer. Must have. 2 coats

Moxie - Magenta creme. Very pretty. 2 coats

Jacy - Dark red-purple, magenta with hidden purple shimmer. This is 3 coats

Fergie - Purplish pink, or pinkish purple? Don't know but I love it. This is 2 coats

Malia - Hot. This may have been 3 coats, but I am not totally sure! No, I think its two but I though about doing 3 and decided not to

Pinta - This is one or two coats. I can't remember for sure but it is very rich and pigmented and can get on in one coat. Not only is it gorgeous alone, but it makes a great base to layer over; more interesting than a black creme, in my opinion.

Ki - Purple silver green duochrome - 2 coats

Adina - Wow. This turned out to be so much prettier than I thought it would be. I was afraid it'd be frosty and unflattering. I was wrong! This is 2 coats.

Kotori - Holy Moly! Get this!

Tallulah - Very bright blue shimmer. This is 2 coats

Jo - Periwinkle shimmer. I love this. Some nails have 2 coats and some have 3 to touch up and bald spots.

Envy - Super dark green. Looks black in most lights. This is 2 coats.

Midori - Light green with lots of green shimmer. Apparently close to a discontinued favorite from China Glaze: Moonpool

Goldie - Very yellow, very bold and bright, gold. 2 coats

Richelle - Copperish gold shimmer. 2 coats

Sienna - Wow. This is 3 coats

Maria - 2 coats

Gaia - This is 4 coats and still streaky but I have seen others rock it well at three. It may just have been me this day. I love it though any way and plan to layer it over white next time.

Ginessa - Shimmery white metallic. This is 2 coats

Gabrielle - This is three coats. Soooo shimmery! I has a bit of VNL after three coats but it still looks good. Can always layer it. This will be awesome for summer.