✯  PR Sample Mentioned ✯

Philly Loves Lacquer recently listed some limited edition polishes in her online shop, that she made for various craft fairs in the area. I had to purchase The Porch! (In reference to The Porch at 30th Street). I have a huge weakness for aqua polishes. The Porch is a bright cream turquoise scattered holographic polish, with gold shimmer. 

The formula was a bit sheer so I did 4 thin coats. You could probably stop at 3 coats though in real life. My lights are bright when I take photos. Four coats worked for me, so I didn't have any visible nail line showing. I used Seche Vite topcoat. I wish the sun had been out the day I swatched this, I wanted to get some holographic sun shots for you all! (Another time maybe.) The color is so divine though... *drools*

✯ Press Release ✯

Inspired by the classic wools, textured brocades and metallic accents of the season, Zoya's new ENTICE & IGNITE collections create a palette of lush, deep color including wines, browns, navies and grays.

I've been wanting to write this article for awhile. To share my own tips and hints, and useful links that I've accumulated since I started this blog back in 2008. These may be helpful to an already established blog, or a newbie.

Okay, so you want to start a blog. Or maybe you already have one. What platform is best? For me personally, Blogger is best. It's extremely customize-able, and already integrated with a lot of Google's web tools. Wordpress is more limited in design. Tumblr is best if you like blogging photos, more than writing. (Most of these links and tips will be for the Blogger platform, but WordPress users may find them helpful too).

This is going to be a very in-depth article, so please see more after the jump below! 

I've been wanting to attempt leadlight stamping for awhile. Leadlight stamping is a technique that was created by Julia from Messy Mansion. (Yes she makes those awesome stamping plates!) Leadlighting is basically just filling in a stamped design with sheer jelly polishes for a colorful artistic effect.

So for my first ever leadlight design I used Winstonia Store W216.I started with OPI Alpine Snow, stamped with Konad black, and then filled in the blank spots with my mini set of OPI Sheer Tints. I didn't use any special brushes. And of course a little China Glaze Fairy Dust! (Can never have enough of that!) I also used Seche Vite topcoat. I really like how colorful these turned out! I can't wait to try some other designs with this technique. My husband said they could hypnotize you! :-p

Edited to add: Speaking of honest blogging! I forgot to mention, the aqua OPI Sheer Tint- STAINS your skin. So be careful when using it. 

I thought I would share with you all, some of my favorite indie shops to buy nail polish from. These are shops I have own two or more nail polishes from, who I would purchase from again, and also have fabulous customer service.

Indie polishes are more unique, because of the fact they are made in such small batches. There's often limited editions. There's better quality control, and better quality over ingredients used in products, compared to a larger company. Plus you are supporting an independent small businesses when you purchase an indie polish!

1. ILNP Boutique

Really unique duo chromes, and vibrant holographics. Birefringence is my #1 favorite nail polish hands down from this shop. I always get plenty of compliments when I wear it. Also Barbra is a sweetheart and interacts often with her fans. Their customer service is awesome too, I once checked out with the wrong polish and they corrected it right away for me.

















2. Painted Polish

Lexi's Drunk on Holo is another one of my all time favorite polishes. I've used it in countless manicures. Lot's of unique crelly and jelly polishes, and blinged out glitter polish. Lexi's packaging is always adorable too, little custom bags for the polish with her logo, she sometimes throws in nail decals or nail studs. She's also really interactive with her fans on Facebook and Instagram.


















3. Indigo Bananas

Andrea comes up with the most unique finishes. Her duo chromes always have a soft finish to them. Her flakie jellies are out of this world (and I need to buy them!) Gorgeous holographics, and her cuticle balm is the bomb. I'm actually really addicted to her cuticle balms, and I like that she carries it in full size and mini's (as well as her polishes). She often tucks some interesting foreign Japanese, Chinese candies into your packages which is a fun touch!

















4. Ellagee Polish

Whoo! Any lady that thinks of putting dolphin glitter, or penguin glitter into polish is freaking amazing! And Laura definitely is. She has really unique glitter jelly polishes, and holographics, and she recently stocked her shop with mini nail polish bottles keychains that you can fill with different custom charms! (Need!) My two favorite polishes from her are Life is de Bubbles and Dolphins of the Caribbean!

















5. KB Shimmer

I recently got addicted to KB Shimmer last year. The fact that she also sells homemade soaps, scrubs, lotions, etc doesn't help. I am addicted to homemade soaps. One of my favorites is her relaxation soap, which has a nice musky scent like a man's really nice cologne, but light enough that it can be unisex. I also love the sugar scrub in that scent, and Lilac! The lilac sugar scrub is amazing! And don't get me started on the cuticle oil pens! Last time I made sure to buy two of the lemongrass cuticle pens. Her customer service is also fantastic, I was accidentally sent the wrong item once, and they responded the same day and mailed the correct item out. Her polishes are gorgeous too, love the crellies, and holo's!

















6. Ice Polish

Erin has fantastic holographic polishes, with a great formula too. I just recently tried her polish, and I love it! Especially Jafar (berry holo), and Maleficent which is a gorgeous duo chrome.












7. Nire's Desire

Another Erin- and if you didn't notice her store's name is 'Erin' flipped backwards. ;-) Nire's Desire has some really gorgeous cream shimmers, and duo chromes, and holographics. I own Anam Cara and Jezebel. They are one coaters and have a really unique shimmer to them.













So those are some of my favorite indies! What are some of your favorites? I'd love to hear in the comments!

✯ PR Sample ✯

✯ PR Sample ✯

I'm up late on this Saturday evening because I suddenly had the inspiration to do some nail art, with some of the colors from the Zoya Naturel Deux Collection!

I used Emilia, Spencer, Aubrey, and Madeline for this cloud design. (I was inspired by this cloud tutorial). It kind of reminds me Neapolitan ice cream, or creamy chocolate covered candies. Mmmm. I absolutely love how these turned out! The colors in the Naturel Deux collection really compliment each other. What do you think? :-)

I've listed some more products in my de-stash store on storenvy! There are currently 12 products in stock. Various nail polishes, one eye shadow compact, and a mystery bag of nail polish valued at $50.00, for $25.00! (USA shipping only!) 10% off with code: TNM10

Editing to add: Please no, APO, FPO, or P.O. Boxes either. I cannot ship to them. Thank you! 

I cut down my nails this week (the tips were peeling a bit), so it's going to take them 1-2 weeks to get back to normal length. Also my skin and cuticles have been really dry from the last three collections I swatched... damn you pure acetone! I'm taking a little break while I give my swatching hand some TLC! :-)

So instead... I decided to give you guys a little macro spam! (My pinky says hi!)

✯ PR Sample ✯

Today I have the Zoya Naturel Deux Collection. This collection is meant as a palette cleanser as we transition from summer into fall. The Naturel Deux Collection is darker than the first collection. (Click here to see last years Naturel Collection). All of the colors in this collection go on smoothly and evenly in two coats. I used Seche Vite topcoat on all the swatches below.