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Monday, July 28, 2014

Zoya Naturel Deux: Part 1

Does it ever just hit you how old you are? This past Saturday I went to my little cousin's graduation party. She is the youngest cousin in my generation by 7 years, so basically the baby in the family just graduated high school. I graduated high school ten years ago myself, but I don't even know what's going on with any reunion nonsense. Who needs that when you can selectively keep in touch with people on facebook? Also, my husband and I will have met for the first time at college orientation 10 years ago this summer--remind me to tell you that story sometime. Anyway, all of this adds up to: I feel old. And I know I'm not. But sometimes I still can't believe I'm an adult. I buy my own toilet paper and save for retirement. Yawn.

But wait, some exciting news! Zoya's Naturel Deux Collection has arrived! Today I have the beautiful browns to show you. For my swatches I added some pink flower sticker decals I've had (I think they are Cinna? The original packaging was discarded in a Feng Shui fit) which I thought would make nice pink and brown combos. Still on the fence about that, but onward!

Zoya Spencer
Naturel Deux
Zoya Spencer is a lovely latte creme, Zoya describes it as a camel creme (like the vintage camel coats). I have two thick coats in my swatch with a nice thick coat of Zoya Armor (Zoya's topcoat). I have to admit I had some formula problems on this one, which I find totally out of character for Zoya. It did not want to self-level and was a little thick. I ended up doing thicker coats and a thick coat of TC, and it ended up alright though. Also, the color is lovely, but not so much on me (and this is me tan, people). I think this would make an excellent stamper for nail art though and I'd love to see this on darker skin tones!


Zoya Chanelle
Naturel Deux

Zoya Chanelle is a dreamy milk chocolate creme, Zoya suggests a toasted almond creme. I have shown two easy coats and Zoya Armor. This one does have that perfect Zoya formula, it applied like a dream and I had no issues whatsoever (I was a little scared after Spencer!). If this isn't the shade of a Hershey's Kiss I don't know what is. Plus I'm pretty sure Willy Wonka wore this shade on his toes, and I mean the Johnny Depp version of course.


Zoya Emilia
Naturel Deux

Zoya Emilia is a perfect dark chocolate creme, and on this color description Zoya and I agree. Now this is what I'm talkin' 'bout! I have shown two easy, buttery coats with Zoya Armor. If you've ever wanted to dip your nails in dark chocolate but were afraid of judgement behold: Zoya now has Lindor Truffles for your nails. The best part about this color is it how dark it is without looking black. Seriously, this is a must-have shade.

Will you be picking up any of these pretties? I must try some nail art with them soon! I will have the second half of the Naturel Deux Collection--The Neutrals--later this week so stay tuned. Is anyone else craving a mocha right now...

You can see the second half of the Naturel Deux Collection here.

Products:
Zoya

Have you loved your cuticles today?

Monday, July 21, 2014

Jindie Nails Recover-Me Collection

**Provided for honest review
**Purchased by me

I am so out of my swatching groove! I worked 6 days last week and I ended up being busy every day after work. Two nights my husband decided to "cook"--by taking us to a drive-in car show at an old-fashioned burger place and another night to the Italian Festival in Buffalo. He is such a good cook! We also agreed on cars we must own: a mustang (not only are they cool, they are my namesake!) and a Challenger.
Anyway, I'm happier with the length of my nails now. My pinky is still wonky from a nail tragedy a year ago, but we'll make it work. I'm not loving the angles in some of my photos but we'll make do with that, too. I feel like by my third swatch I had my mojo back ;-)

Don't forget to enter the giveaway I have going on now, you can read about the amazing prizes and enter the rafflecopter form by going to my blog post here.

I am so excited to share with you three shades from the Recover-Me Collection by Jindie Nails. Not only is this a beautiful collection, but it is all about addiction awareness. Addiction is a personal and professional issue to me, but I think Jen said it best:

"There are many people who have loved ones, husbands, wives, sisters, brothers, children with the disease of addiction.  It's a painful thing to experience whether it's affecting you, or someone you love.  This collection is dedicated to those on all sides of addiction: Those suffering from addiction themselves, anyone who's suffering watching a loved one go through this lonely disease and to all of the very special men and women who work in addictions specialty jobs, including nurses, doctors, social worker, rehab workers and especially police officers. We all appreciate the hard work you do for this never ending battle against this incurable disease. The police officers get the worst side of addiction.  One of my very best friends I grew up with was shot and killed by a crack dealer in the line of duty serving the city I grew up in on the S.W.A.T. Team...this one's for you David, love you...This collection is also for anyone else who deserves recognition for the hard work dealing with addiction.  We all appreciate the hard work you do for this never ending battle against this incurable disease."

Jindie Nails K.I.S.S.
Recover-Me Collection
K.I.S.S. is a pink crelly absolutely loaded with copper & bronze shimmer, multi-colored flakes, pink & gold shimmer, and some red hexes for good measure. So much awesome in this polish and yet applies like a dream. I have three thin coats with some gold rings and pink pearls from Born Pretty Store. It's a little over-the-top but looks Indian to me, which I love.

Jindie Nails Higher Flower
Recover-Me Collection
Next is Higher Flower, an ultra-neon pink with real silver and multi-colored flakes as well as holographic purple and silver microglitters. I have shown two easy coats (almost no clean-up!) along with a flower stud design inspired by The Lacquered Owl. This has a stain tendency, double up on base and paint carefully. Like most neons this is a pain to photograph accurately. In order to help you decide if you need it, ask yourself these questions: Do I like pink? Do I like neon? Do I like awesomely unique polishes from Jindie Nails? If you answered yes to any of these questions, better start stalking the next restock!

Jindie Nails Just Say Glow
Recover-Me Collection
I saved my favorite for last: Just Say Glow. I would like to start out by saying this is the second time I've worn this polish for multiple days. This is unheard of and I hope you understand how amazing this must be for this to happen. Just Say Glow is a a sheer rose-gold shimmer with copper and gold shimmer and glitter. I have two coats shown over two coats of OPI Don't Pretzel My Buttons. Paints on just like you see it. You can also wear it in three coats without undies and will have a little VNL. This is one of the most unique polishes in my stash and I cannot even begin to describe how beautiful this is in real life. Completely classy and gorgeous. This one is in stock still on the Jindie website, and I have no idea how. Snag yours before regret sets in! I already have a back-up bottle (I know, unheard of!).

You can purchase these polishes online at Jindie's shop. Make sure you follow her on your preferred social media platform for restock updates!

Products:
Jindie Nails

Have you loved your cuticles today?

Monday, July 14, 2014

A happy return with Laquerlicious Lady Liberty

I'm back! Finally. I thought I would be back in time for patriotic manis, however I cleaned like a maniac that weekend and ruined all my nails. I hate my nubs but I've decided that life must go on and nails must be polished! Bathroom still needs some finishing touches (seriously, husband, can we at least put the TP holder up?) but otherwise it is gorgeous. I promise I will post before and after pictures--sometime this month. Life has generally been too busy but I have gotten a lot done around the house during my blog break. And yet I missed sharing manis and talking about polish so much.

I also had joined a giveaway awhile back, make sure you check it out and enter here. You could win a $40 gift certificate to a polish e-tailer of your choice. Holy crap, I wish I could enter!

For my comeback mani I have Laquerlicious Lady Liberty. I don't count Laquerlicious as among my favorite brands (hey, to each his own) but when I saw this I knew it must be mine. I can never have enough blue-green aqua cremes, make it a lovely crelly with warm-toned metallic glitters and I am sold.

Lacquerlicious Lady Libery
I am embracing the nubs!

My mani shows two coats. I started with a first thinner coat and a thicker second coat, both with a light touch. I stuck on my studs then used two thick coats of KBShimmer Clearly On Top. Flawless formula, easy glitter distribution, and hardly any clean-up! I could wear this forever. I tried to do an awesome two-tone mani with a row of studs on my ring finger... but my nail would only fit 4 and a half studs which is not a real number in studs and it looked silly. Grow nails, grow! I mean look at that pinky, ugh. Lady Liberty is in stock now at Laquerlicious.

In regards to my nubs: I decided to make lemonade out of lemons and made a meme. I doubt I am the first to make this meme nor will I be the last haha!


Products: 

Have you loved your cuticles today?

Nail Polish Bloggers' Connection Giveaway!

I joined a giveaway with some girls from Nail Polish Bloggers' Connection before the sudden chaos that was to be the bathroom, so here it is! Also stay tuned for my comeback post :-D


Some of the lovely ladies involved with this giveaway are:
Lacquer Or Leave Her
Whisker's Musings
Lustrous Lacquer
Fixin' To Faff
Lauriestrodes Fun With Nails

We have three $40 gift certificates to the winners' online store of their choosing. My favorites are Color4Nails and Llarowe, but you can also choose Sally Magpie's, Harlow & Co, Mei Mei's Signatures... we are flexible here :-)

This giveaway runs *now* until noon Pacific Time on June 31st.

Thank you to Michelle of Lacquer Or Leave Her for organizing this awesome giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Have you loved your cuticles today?