I've decided to start featuring nail polish Instagram accounts every Sunday. There's so many neat accounts on IG that really deserve to be featured. And while some of these ladies do have blogs too, it's their Instagram I want to give a shoutout! :-)

Today's IG feature is @aaaabril! Lovely swatches, cats and life. Check out her Instagram & give it a follow!

I got a new case for my Samsung Galaxy SIII. Aqua & Chevron's! I ordered it online on Amazon.com from a store called Heartstore. The only thing I didn't realize was that it ships from China, so it took two long weeks to get here. But it was cheap & it's pretty cute. (They have plenty of similar chevron ones for different phones).

Since I also own a Chevron stamp plate from Messy Mansion. I thought I would do matching nails! I used China Glaze For Audrey & white Konad stamp polish, with my MM12 plate, and Seche Vite topcoat. :-)


 

I was so excited I was able to grab an Enchanted Polish during the February pre-order! I have to admit though, I was a bit nervous because it was a mystery color and EP is not cheap. Luckily February 2014 turned out to be a very pretty mauve berry colored holographic polish.


This is my very 1st Enchanted Polish so I don't know if this is the norm for them, but I found the formula very thick. So thick that when I would try to swipe it on my nail it would drag and clump before it reached my nail tip. I ended up getting so frustrated I added thinner to my bottle so it would apply better. It's a stunning color but if all EP formulas are like that, I don't think I want to pay $15 a bottle for them...

My husband & I first started dating 10 years ago today! Yes... on April Fool's Day... lol! 04/01/2004. I can't believe it's been a decade already.... absolutely crazy...

I've cataloged our relationship over the years on my blog so check out: Our Time Line.

And, since I'm feeling nostalgic today, here's a preview of our Mahal Mix Tape. (Song preview links on Amazon).

P.S. I'm a bit incapacitated this week... I somehow strained/sprained my middle finger using the touch pad on my laptop while editing photos... it's extremely painful and my knuckle is all swollen. Never had this happen. :-( I still have quite a few photo's I need to edit, but I don't have many blog posts scheduled. Blah... but don't worry, there will be another nail polish post up on Thursday... Enchanted Polish... so stay tuned! :-)

✯ Press Release ✯

I've decided to start featuring nail polish Instagram accounts every Sunday. There's so many neat accounts on IG that really deserve to be featured. And while some of these ladies do have blogs too, it's their Instagram I want to give a shoutout! :-)

Today's IG feature is Jessica from @lalalovenailart. She has some of the prettiest swatches and nail art. Check out her Instagram & give her a follow!

✯ PR Sample ✯ 

Today I'm excited to share four new colors from Above The Curve's Spring 2014 collection: Power to the Polish Peeps! There are 7 colors total in the new spring collection.


Twin Peeps: is a pale pink crelly full of different glitters. I spotted stars, moons, butterflies. I used 3 coats for the photos below, and a topcoat is a must to smooth out the glitters nicely. I used Seche Vite. The glitters came out nicely, though I did place a few on the last coat.



Peeps, Love, & Happiness: One of my favorites! Pretty sky blue crelly, with a mix of different glitters. I spotted butterflies and flowers in this one. It applied the same as Twin Peeps. 3 coats, plus 1 coat of Seche Vite.



Have Your Peeps Call My Peeps: gorgeous pink coral cream with holographic shimmer. It's such a pretty color and the formula goes on perfectly. But, while it's a stunner... it's also a stainer. :-( (Please note: this is mentioned in the store!)




I did a test on my non swatching hand. On my pinky I only used HYPCMP. On my ring finger I used two coats of Orly base coat + polish. I left them on overnight. In the morning when I removed the polish- both nails were stained. :-( What's funny is, I think the nail that had the base coat looks more stained, than the nail without anything.


So... when swatching this color, I took extra precaution. I did 1 coat of OPI Nail Envy, 1 coat of L.A. Girl Marine Base Coat, 1 coat of Out The Door Topcoat- BEFORE I applied 2 coats of the polish. This triple threat combo DID protect me from staining, while I swatched the polish. If staining isn't a huge deal for you, then you'll be fine. But for a nail blogger staining is something we dread. :-\


Peepers Creepers: is a lovely spring green color with scattered holographic shimmer. Formula went on nicely, I used 3 coats, plus Seche Vite topcoat.

Emile passed away late Tuesday night, while I was asleep. He had been struck with a lot of health ailments in his old age. In January he either had a respiratory infection or pneumonia. He also had seizures during that illness. He was so ill we had to feed him with an oral syringe every few hours, but he ended up recovering fully.

Then he recently lost the use of his back legs, which happens with a lot of older male rats. (Degenerative osteoarthritis). We had moved him to a smaller "hospital" cage, where he could pull himself up to drink & eat from the bowls easier. He was so frail before he passed away and he had stopped wanting to eat or drink the day before he passed away, so I knew he was going to pass away soon...

We brought Emile home with Remy in December of 2012. Emile was a really laid back boy, and always happy. He loved to be pet and scratched and would occasionally cuddle up next to me. He developed an obsession for carrots in his old age, he loved eating raw carrots. (Most of my other pet rats hate carrots, lol). Last summer he ended up losing a finger during a fight with Teddy. His nicknames were "Emilio", and "Stinky Nacho".



And he was silly... like this time he got his head stuck in the M&M's wrapper. :-p

I recently ordered some more Indigo Bananas! 


This is Great Scott. I think it may have jumped to my favorite Indigo Bananas yet. It's a gorgeous blue glass fleck with gold.... and it also glows in the dark! This is three coats, plus Seche Vite Topcoat.



I also picked up Pure Imagination. It has blue, green, orange, gold, purple shifting micro glitters. I layered two coats over black polish here, plus topcoat.