While on my quest to try out Orly's different versions of the french manicure, I decided to stick with the classics today.

Here are the products I used, in the order I used them:

Base coat: Beauty Secrets Base Coat (been using this for awhile. Have to say, it's a really good base coat)
Base color: Essie Adore-A-Ball - To whiten my nails, I used a very sheer coat of this bad boy
Tip color: 2 coats of Orly French Tip Pointe Blanche
Top color: Essie Sugar Daddy - very sheer coat
Top coat: Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat

I really like this combination for a french tip. Adore-A-Ball really whitened my nail, and made it look really clean, and prefect. I free hand the manicure, I find it more fun doing it this way. I wish I shaped my ring finger first though. It always seems to grow a weird shape.

Ok, this will be on my nails for a few days, I worked too hard on it to let it go! Till next time, toodles!

So sad =(

I made a deal with my husband that I wouldn't buy any more nail polish until January. Why did I do that!!!!!!! Ugh. I'm holding out for Christmas, I made a list of what I want, so hopefully I get at least one, even a mini, to satisfy me.

I did this mainly so I wouldn't buy something that someone else has already bought for me. I don't like have 2 of something, it's pointless. Even the same color in different brands. No point. SO, I put myself on a buying freeze.

So so sad.

Mod Style Manicure

I got this idea from Orly's diagonal french manicure.

I took a stab at this, and tried out several color combinations before I actually went for the style. It's a really simple process. First, I applied a base coat, let that dry for 10 minutes. Then I applied two coats my base color, allowing 10 minutes after each coat. I actually went out for a few hours, and this allowed my nails to dry fully before tackling the second color with tape. It's extremely important to let that base color to sit for a while, and dry completely. If not, the tape will stick to that base color, and rip it right off.


Once your comfortable with the dry time, line up your strip of scotch tape, at whatever angle you want, with how ever much space you choose. Then, make sure the tape is completely on the nail, with no bubbles in the tape. I had issues with the bottom corner of the tape. It's easier if you line the bottom corner of the tape, with the bottom corner of the nail (I hope that makes sense).

When you're ready, go ahead and apply the top color. Try not to let the color sit too long before applying. If you do, they will bond with the tape, making the rest of the tip peel. It's best to peel off the tape right after you're done applying the tip color. This shouldn't mess up the color.

When your done, let it dry for a bit, and apply a base coat. You should end up with a design similar to this:

I paired OPI's Skull and Glossbones as my base color with OPI's I Vant To Be A-Lone Star as my tip color.

Toodles!!!

PS, remember when I said I would take a picture of Orly Oui before I took it off? Yeah... that didn't happen. I'll apply it again, and post pictures then. It's so pretty though!!!

Trip to Sally's

I talked my husband into making a trip to Sally Beauty Supply. I needed a new base coat, my Essie one was on it's last leg, and it was at that gummy stage. Time for a new bottle!!! I had my eyes on that huge bottle of Beauty Secrets base coat. 2.5 fl oz for $6? Yup, I'll take it. I hope it's actually good. I will say that the brush has the potential to intimidate some.

Seche Vite on the left, Beauty Secrets on the right.

I didn't have an issue using it, but those who are unsure of using their none dominant hand will have issues with it, for sure.

I also bought 5 nail polishes there, all (but one) from the different Christmas/winter collections:

China Glaze Let It Snow collection:

$7.99 for the box

Here is what was in the box:

China Glaze Poinsettia

China Glaze Twinkle Lights (Christmas in a bottle!!)

China Glaze Holly-Day

China Glaze Champagne Bubbles (not sure why it's crooked)

Orly Holiday Soireé collection:

Orly Oui

It even came with a little nail file!!! So cute. I'm applying this one today, so expect a review tomorrow.




This one is an oldy, but goody:

China Glaze Peachy Keen (2010 Up & Away collection)

OPI Ink.

I was poking around in Publix (southern grocery store), and I found some OPI nail polish. I normally don't look closely at the regular line. I'm usually more drawn to the collections, for some odd reason. I picked up OPI Ink., and I loved the different colors in it. I bought that, and Essie Cute as a Button (which is on my toes) (at Target, they're in the same plaza here). It's my first coral since starting over! Other than Too Too Hot, and Meet Me At Sunset, which I don't consider corals for some reason.

So, today I'm wearing OPI Ink. Not a shocker, considering it's in the title.

Easy application, it's opaque, just a really really great color. Not to mention the price was to die for: $7.89!!!! It's normally $8.50. So much cheaper!!!!

I also went to Disney again on Saturday, and I picked up OPI Sparrow Me The Drama. If you're interested, they have Silver Shatter, Planks A Lot, Sparrow Me The Drama, and Mermaid's Tears from the Pirates of the Caribbean collection. So far I am only missing Stranger Tides, and I'm keeping my eyes open for it. I would like to have the whole collection, but Stranger Tides is my least favorite.

Manacure Tip #1

Use the restroom BEFORE you (or the manicurist) applies the nail polish. Very important. I'm sure you can guess why.

OPI Mermaid's Tears

This was probably the easiest application I've dealt with in a while.

There really isn't much to say about this nail polish that I didn't say in yesterdays.

I really really like it =)

I do want to say that I can't wait until I get a macro converter for my camera. I let it slip I wanted one to the in-laws, and now they're getting one for me for Christmas. No lie, I was just talking about the camera, and said I wish I had the macro converter, they looked it up, and wrote it down. I am happy, but so impatient!!!

There are some changes to the blog, new background (like that's a surprise), new pages to explain stuff, and so on.

Ok, toodles!!!

OPI - Mermaid's Tears: Check!

Oh my goshness, finding this nail polish has been one heck of an annoying ride. I have only seen the Pirates of the Caribbean, I kid you not, twice in my life. The first time was in Ulta, it was the same time I was on a hunt for Mint Candy Apple (found it at Ulta), and there was the collection, but no Mermaid's Tears. That was the last time I saw it at Ulta. So, I look online, Ulta.com, and I got this message:

What the freaking crap!!!! So I look further and further, Target used to have them online, no more. I look at the beauty supply stores online, and nothing. Did OPI stop allowing companies to sell them online? I don't know... I think they got snobbish, but oh well.

In one of my previous posts I said that I got Skull & Glossbones, Planks A Lot, and Steady As She Rose (part of the POTC collection) in Indiana, at Trade Secret. Why did I not get Mermaid's Tears? Because it wasn't there, and there wasn't even a slot for them. So, unhappy me has yet to see this color in person, let alone find it to buy.

On Friday we go to Disney. We start off in EPCOT, and then head to Magic Kingdom, and after eating at Pecos Bill, I took a left (cause everyone knows their way around the park *rolls eyes at self*) and led my hubby to the Pirates of the Caribbean ride. When it was done, there's this area which has a lot of POTC merchandise, and I keep an eye out for the collection... you never know!! No nail polish. We keep on walking, go on a few rides, blah blah blah, and we go into a few stores after riding the train back to Mainstreet USA. We skipped them when we first got into the park, I wanted food. So,we went into one of the shops in the middle (do they even have names? I never paid attention). I look at the purses, shocked at the prices, then realize it's Dooney & Bourke. I look more at the jewelry, and I just froze.

You see it right? In the upper right hand corner?????? EEK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yes, I bought it, I wont even draw out the buying process, and explain it in detail. The price wasn't even jacked up, it was the normal $8.50. Yay Disney!!!!

 Right now, I am applying Mermaid's Tears, and my first impression is that it applies perfectly, it's opaque as all get out, and I am even more in love than I was when I saw it online!!! ♥ I will probably post pictures later when I'm done.

On my nails in the reflection of the picture is OPI What's With the Cattitude? I meant to post pictures of it before I took it off, but it looked green in the picture, and that is not how it is at all, it's a true blue color.

Gosh... I can't even going to Disney without buying nail polish.... =) Toodles!!!

Memory lane via nail polish

If someone where to ever fall in love with a nail polish, it would be me. I'm not one to go towards the higher brands, I admit, I am picky when it comes to nail polish. There are several brands I'll go to, but most of the drugstore I wont touch if I was paid (ok, maybe a little poke). Call me a nail polish snob if you will, but I do have my limits.

I was reading a blog, an I saw Rescue Nail Polish in Pepto Pink, and I decided to poke around, and see what else they had. OMG!!! I saw Pizzicato and Poco a Poco and they just spoke to me. I played the violin from 6th grade until I graduated. I first saw the expression poco a poco in middle school, and I loved the meaning; "little by little". I've only actually seen it on sheet music once. Then pizzicato is, of course, plucking the string. There was a song that we played that the English translation was "Raindrops". I actually got off my lazy butt, and looked through my sheet music to find the name of the song, it's called "Amadare", and it's by Japanese composer Keiko Yamada. Parts of the song are supposed to sound like raindrops, that's where the pizzicato comes in.

Point of all this is to simply say: I love the colors, I love the names, and I will get these two colors no matter what.

NOTDs: Nail of the Days

I meant to make a post of Skull & Glossbones before I took it off, but that didn't happen, but I did take a picture of it!

OPI Skull & Glossbones

I really wanted a neutral color, and this sandy color is what I was looking for. It's the perfect neutral color for my skin tone (which is pale, very pale). It goes on quite opaque, and is really easy to apply. This color is from the Pirates of the Caribbean collection. This collection has disappeared from my local Ulta, and I am quite sad. I was so happy when I found it in Indianapolis!!!

OPI Steady As She Rose

Currently I am wearing the above color. It's a really greyish purplish pinkish color. I am so wonderful at describing colors. It is so pretty, and I like it. Nothing else to say, other than this is also from the Pirates of the Caribbean collection.

OPI Planks A Lot

Toes look so weird... Especially mine. This is why I didn't have french tipped toes on my wedding day. My toe nails are so tiny!! I blame my weird toe shape. My husband calls them sausage toes. >_< Gee, thanks. Anywho, I really like to put bolder, brighter, and sometimes darker colors on my toes. I  usually only paint my toenails once every 1-2 weeks, and I don't even bother to put a bast coat or top coat on anything but the big one. Not much room to work with, as you can clearly tell. As for the color, I really like it!!! I want to try it on my fingernails, but I will wait after I try out the rest of the nail polish I bought in Indianapolis.

Home, and a great find

My trip to Indianapolis is over. What was I doing there, you may ask.

Oh nothing, just a little bit of this:

While I was there, we decided to go downtown, and go into a mall. We were almost ready to leave, when I see a "spend $25, get one free OPI nail polish" or something like that. Guess what I did! Yup, I was sucked in by the deal, and had no idea how good it actually was! I ended up getting this much:

From left to right: OPI: Planks A Lot, Dulce De Leche, Skull & Glossbones, Steady As She Rose, Essie Adore-A-Ball. My mom gave me money to get her one too, which is why the total was more.

I walked into Trade Secret wanting only two colors; Planks A Lot, and I was torn between Skull & Glossbones and Steady As She Rose. I haven't seen the Pirates of the Caribbean collection for a few months, and was happy that they had it there, but sad that there was no Mermaid Tears. I pick up SASR, and walk over to the table where they had stuff for sale. I found Tweezerman Brow Gell, and a box of mini nail files for $2 each, AND Adore-A-Ball for $1. Oh my goodness!! I keep looking, and there are the other two colors I waned, SASR and S&G for 50% off each. I put the original SASR back, and picked up these two lovelies and took my happy little butt to the counter. The sales lady then tells me that I can get a free OPI nail polish!!! I was so overwhelmed, so I went for the pretty redish, greyish, pink; Dulce De Leche. Oh was I happy!

I was so excited for Adore-A-Ball. It's what this blog is named after, and a color I've been wanting, but haven't actually gotten around to actually buying. Now it's mine =).