tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-59847342425455130772024-03-13T13:01:43.139-07:00Gilded LilyGLITTER INTOXICATIONlilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10922267699825039101noreply@blogger.comBlogger36125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5984734242545513077.post-46194214315755944492010-09-27T21:02:00.000-07:002010-09-27T23:10:27.747-07:00N.Y.C. - Bryant Park<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoJfnWyU0gBf6WhYKhIRXvEK-tpnSsZga2MB51vlXuoWISYeMR2fpQWw7ll0w3ojwD6aPViUXYpz5HFPgYjwtFOfNCnL7aLFs4FwqCf-TTSCeg9Pc5cp8BuPb8MJR5gBKOqNE5QuWEYGlT/s1600/000_0002-1.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoJfnWyU0gBf6WhYKhIRXvEK-tpnSsZga2MB51vlXuoWISYeMR2fpQWw7ll0w3ojwD6aPViUXYpz5HFPgYjwtFOfNCnL7aLFs4FwqCf-TTSCeg9Pc5cp8BuPb8MJR5gBKOqNE5QuWEYGlT/s400/000_0002-1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521812372939473538" border="0" /></a>My mother gave this polish, which was really sweet of her - and it gave me a chance to try a color which, to be honest, I'd probably never have picked up on my own.<br /><br />Bryant Park is a cool-toned gold, leaning toward a taupey ashen bronze. I guess maybe you could call it a neutral gold, or a golden neutral, if such a thing exists. It looks slightly more gold-toned on the nail than it does in the bottle. It's an interesting color in its way and would probably look great on someone else, but I don't think it works well with my skin tone. I don't think I'll actually wear this one, and will probably swap or give it away, if I can find anybody who wants it.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuy-RmrtCHtj4odwxB_f9ICpR3gYf_Ss_rTUGrbTASYxc3UoGC_VFRnJSCPaYrg5EmXhPmgmAPi8xc-5wG9tWp1VHPH6bBpo5bswhZhp5gSCtiveDJjOY5P7fP1HK_zaCAgKGABygwtEDC/s1600/000_0001-3.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuy-RmrtCHtj4odwxB_f9ICpR3gYf_Ss_rTUGrbTASYxc3UoGC_VFRnJSCPaYrg5EmXhPmgmAPi8xc-5wG9tWp1VHPH6bBpo5bswhZhp5gSCtiveDJjOY5P7fP1HK_zaCAgKGABygwtEDC/s400/000_0001-3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521812367335481458" border="0" /></a>I usually don't have any problems with the quality or application or N.Y.C. polishes, and this one was fine it that regard as well. I can't report anything about how well it held up in terms of chipping and wear, since I removed it pretty quickly as I didn't care for the color. It was kind of brushstrokey, but I think that's definitely because it's rather frosty in finish. (Another reason, I suppose I didn't care for this polish as much: this color+frost = just "meh" for me.) To sum it all up, nice polish, interesting color, just not my cup of tea. :)<br /><br />The pics here came out fairly color-accurate (for once), despite being taken late in the afternoon of a rainy day, with less than great lighting. I used three coats plus base and topcoats.<br /><br />Thanks for looking! :)lilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10922267699825039101noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5984734242545513077.post-27795844514484576242010-09-23T21:10:00.000-07:002010-09-24T00:21:01.258-07:00Savvy Femme - Fairy Twinkle layered over Wet'n'Wild Black Creme<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6mloG2-MQngEj1sab8boMbJUfgphcMU-pq73Q-QGdySyTrKJZYWxT_BI8bdgpVgxZuWk8MlY1Cfp9j0dQWU39qUsTU-t5BS3alAFvNLosVY1qle2JAma79KAyMVEq8tYlOZRPwIVcqJcr/s1600/000_0006.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6mloG2-MQngEj1sab8boMbJUfgphcMU-pq73Q-QGdySyTrKJZYWxT_BI8bdgpVgxZuWk8MlY1Cfp9j0dQWU39qUsTU-t5BS3alAFvNLosVY1qle2JAma79KAyMVEq8tYlOZRPwIVcqJcr/s400/000_0006.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520328097821184258" border="0" /></a>Fairy Twinkle is a beautiful sheer pink polish with loads of gold glass-fleck shimmer. And when I say sheer, I do mean sheer! So I decided to layer it over black to see how it looked.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlkVc3fZmUQaMDNH4HpiefNyuf7XKflIT6Qv9joTWA5pEpoT9i63v-ABRFMcnRPIHkdYcVlPxX4x_Px5r6qUOr65XDua1x0Fet7msFGvuRxk006qj9-5Sqq2fWHxKf6Ba_lDs3IEWrcANE/s1600/000_0001-2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlkVc3fZmUQaMDNH4HpiefNyuf7XKflIT6Qv9joTWA5pEpoT9i63v-ABRFMcnRPIHkdYcVlPxX4x_Px5r6qUOr65XDua1x0Fet7msFGvuRxk006qj9-5Sqq2fWHxKf6Ba_lDs3IEWrcANE/s400/000_0001-2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520328091438383714" border="0" /></a>It came out a dusky, lavender/mauvey-pinky-gold (lol, I know, that's some description! Sorry, my brain's kind of short-circuited after a long day and being up late last with a mild though miserable case of food poisoning), extremely shimmery color. It didn't photograph all that well, so you can't really see too much of the pink, although it's noticeable on the nail itself.<br /><br />And I don't know what's up with the green-toned zombie hands I've been sporting in all my pics lately! I know Halloween's coming up, but...sheesh! :P I'm blaming my camera, since I'm pretty sure I haven't died recently (though I did kind of feel like I might at around 4:30 last night!).<br /><br />Anyway, no problems with applying this one, though it was a bit slow to dry and stayed kind of tacky to the touch for a while. Although it was also a wet and stormy night with high humidity, so that may have something to do with the drying issues. Pics show four coats, because I wanted lots of shimmery goodness, over black base coat and top coat.<br /><br />Braaaaaiiiinsss! Er...I mean...thanks for looking. ;) Hee hee, I love zombies...just wish I didn't look like one in my pics...lilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10922267699825039101noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5984734242545513077.post-68870926197027776872010-09-22T23:20:00.000-07:002010-09-22T23:22:22.276-07:00Wet'n'Wild Craze - The Gold & the Beautiful<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfXDM81T3ct2SUkWjvqiKUouGGgC5Ya7jJL8AZzazFD5o57ApXw5luiB7BZ2Ya5Ko5FugeYAW6kNibpFP9xH7bemt5GxLAu4CHxZqhrqEBrj4YyMg-7nq646732hsn439v0eJWaq18T7LS/s1600/000_0008-1.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfXDM81T3ct2SUkWjvqiKUouGGgC5Ya7jJL8AZzazFD5o57ApXw5luiB7BZ2Ya5Ko5FugeYAW6kNibpFP9xH7bemt5GxLAu4CHxZqhrqEBrj4YyMg-7nq646732hsn439v0eJWaq18T7LS/s400/000_0008-1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519943784453723042" border="0" /></a>A bright, yellow-toned gold polish with lots of shimmer. This is from the collection of new Craze colors that was out earlier this summer, where all the polishes had names derived from tv shows. It's a bit...more brassy in tone than most of the golds in my collection, and the shimmer is really pretty. I think it's a nice fall gold, especially for early in the season, like now. (I don't know what's gotten into me; I never used to care about the seasons when it came to my polishes, and now suddenly, I'm <span style="font-style: italic;">all about</span> the seasonal colors to the point where I actually kind of crave them. Must be some kind of phase I'm going through...Anyway, fall's my favorite season, and there are some gorgeous fall polish colors out there right now, so I'm just going to thoroughly enjoy my latest little obsession!)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeLOJx4hSCHXDxlLTcCf2X2BhyJEo1kX8bwAZbYDa7pZE1Iaq77URjJzROwFgDbrgoiGeYprKPhhMIBhhux4ORYs5ylVPq1bzMZ5M5mK9yYD_ieq_QwHYf7WTKChyphenhyphenR8-KzjehFVVqc1yoI/s1600/000_0011-2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeLOJx4hSCHXDxlLTcCf2X2BhyJEo1kX8bwAZbYDa7pZE1Iaq77URjJzROwFgDbrgoiGeYprKPhhMIBhhux4ORYs5ylVPq1bzMZ5M5mK9yYD_ieq_QwHYf7WTKChyphenhyphenR8-KzjehFVVqc1yoI/s400/000_0011-2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519943772069890194" border="0" /></a>This polish applied with no problems. Pics show three coats plus base and top coats.<br /><br />Thanks for looking, and happy fall polishing! :)lilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10922267699825039101noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5984734242545513077.post-60070725748733501522010-09-21T20:29:00.000-07:002010-09-22T00:27:44.123-07:00Claire's - Hollywood<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW06tem8L_gqS32-Yy0adnY4gH6M36dO_xLeSUvE8Z7r2tgWxLCNV1H_r7dkLj2nkQstUMpm0OShE7wI3QNxxTPiY98yIe9BgIGBiE62NXPHX5xih7VcB8YMrN-5PCDtMYUhn2FIVXOftY/s1600/000_0010-3.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW06tem8L_gqS32-Yy0adnY4gH6M36dO_xLeSUvE8Z7r2tgWxLCNV1H_r7dkLj2nkQstUMpm0OShE7wI3QNxxTPiY98yIe9BgIGBiE62NXPHX5xih7VcB8YMrN-5PCDtMYUhn2FIVXOftY/s400/000_0010-3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519576906676728466" border="0" /></a>First of all, I'm sorry for my unexplained lack of posting lately - I've been working a lot more than usual lately, and although I've still been polishing my nails regularly, it just hasn't been possible to find the time for taking photos, editing them, and blogging about it. Hopefully, things will be slowing down a bit now, and I'll be able to resume regular posts.<br /><br />Although, if they're all as lackluster as this one, that may or may not be a good thing! ;) This polish completely freaked out my camera and this picture does not do it any justice at all (though it was the best of the lot). Plus, I'll be the first to admit that this is a spectacularly lousy manicure. That's what I get for rushing it too much - polish flooding my cuticles.<br /><br />Despite what it looks like here, this is actually a very pretty polish: fine silver and holo glitter in a shimmery silver base. It's sparkly, but not overly flashy.<br /><br />It applied very smoothly and dried a bit rough, as glitters often do. I used an opaque white base coat and three coats of polish plus a top coat. It held up well on my nails without chipping or tip wear, and was a bit of a pain to remove (but I expect that of a glitter polish, so no biggie.)<br /><br />All in all, I think it's a good option for when you want a bit of sparkle, but nothing too in-your-face.<br /><br />Thanks for reading, and happy polishing!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD4Wn28pOwIudOHeoe0g0EAhjjHyfR0yIdBvqTLOJ5AGewfneQhM_PTnJRELs8bOX14PSt2_UbrgIqntP1Mgrv8NYh8RNt0CSDGaqU3eT3KHzJR1ISqzwNVfM7yTo8-dmTlT7N9SbRskcu/s1600/000_0009-1.jpg"><br /></a>lilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10922267699825039101noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5984734242545513077.post-57796642113955673572010-09-10T03:31:00.000-07:002010-09-10T03:53:40.283-07:00Jordana Grape<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYNr837tzNpnZnJeoNfIWzZrfA4jb-i-DcMpwofYbTtQxCArC4KJqUTP2ABr6hLZ3axvPzq49SLXL3i5rL0NCcysvqEeSIFB5Z7-hTGL_8f9g7N-wcbhMNUnJOc0y_HfmaIgiLl4z1Ms1T/s1600/000_0018.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYNr837tzNpnZnJeoNfIWzZrfA4jb-i-DcMpwofYbTtQxCArC4KJqUTP2ABr6hLZ3axvPzq49SLXL3i5rL0NCcysvqEeSIFB5Z7-hTGL_8f9g7N-wcbhMNUnJOc0y_HfmaIgiLl4z1Ms1T/s400/000_0018.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5515233347355561410" border="0" /></a>First of all, I apologize for the quality of these pictures. I had a sick puppy dog to take care of today, and I didn't have a chance to take pictures of my nails until late in the day, and then I was too rushed to do a good job.<br /><br />Anyway, on to the polish...<br /><br />I like Jordana polishes, a a rule. They're decent quality, they have some nice colors, they apply well as a rule, and they're certainly budget-friendly: I've never paid over $1.50 for one.<br /><br />Grape is a medium-deep mauve creme. It does not lean purple at all, as the name "grape" might seem to imply, but is more pink-toned. I wasn't sure about this color initially, but I really do like it once it's on my nails. I think it's a nice shade for fall, not too bright, but not wishy-washy either.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxLqlBNNzAVzNErLhyphenhyphenabSQxreeIe_RMx_G0O8EC-VWApUTPDhk1sz58e_G5AD-O6FSMU2TaK2M2eJ88XRMQNDSXkhOe3vlwfBNv2eSzTrIXaSRFFc6ygG3Gu2qXxGdv3D4q-eTlUiP_vA_/s1600/000_0017.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxLqlBNNzAVzNErLhyphenhyphenabSQxreeIe_RMx_G0O8EC-VWApUTPDhk1sz58e_G5AD-O6FSMU2TaK2M2eJ88XRMQNDSXkhOe3vlwfBNv2eSzTrIXaSRFFc6ygG3Gu2qXxGdv3D4q-eTlUiP_vA_/s400/000_0017.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5515233338208704082" border="0" /></a>This is three coats (though two would have been fine) plus base and top coat.<br /><br /><br />Thanks very much for looking, and have a great weekend! :)lilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10922267699825039101noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5984734242545513077.post-72990841954407453182010-09-08T21:08:00.000-07:002010-09-08T23:33:27.699-07:00Ulta - After Hours<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbZUxqew1OEn4-DDis7nNZbIIQ3yuJToEo_MLun4i7PK7PyCxMJTo2sPXXRAjlpIrLDh0uYFLMXiTTnCJIKhf3ypgBtwmODO283AlMrcsdtStHBelgnmiRj1clUsgkK7QG0gOnhtWaSD9p/s1600/000_0008.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbZUxqew1OEn4-DDis7nNZbIIQ3yuJToEo_MLun4i7PK7PyCxMJTo2sPXXRAjlpIrLDh0uYFLMXiTTnCJIKhf3ypgBtwmODO283AlMrcsdtStHBelgnmiRj1clUsgkK7QG0gOnhtWaSD9p/s400/000_0008.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514761551346255778" border="0" /></a>After hours is part of Ulta's Glam Goth Collection mini polish set. It's a very deep purple polish with some purple shimmer that's more noticeable in the bottle than on the nail.<br /><br />Unfortunately, my camera doesn't like taking pictures of purple things, so the polish looks like a navy blue creme here, which it absolutely isn't. It's truly deepest purple, so purple that it almost looks black (but you can still tell it's purple in most lights, which I like. If I want a polish that looks indistinguishable from black, I'll just wear a black polish in the first place and not bother with a color. :-P) And it's not a creme; it definitely has a little more shimmer to it than shows up in the pictures.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbc65IRlOH2qbf5G7DSZCew3i2e6EOZOu_E2kt1EvP4xbHyFEakO_o9WQZfNQkiajgl8Nl3PG9EBcb6kS6clMyknWcoU1DeM2PO00a0ARZJcWv7K61Zu8EW0ED5k6Z2s_bi14E43-vzqy1/s1600/000_0009.jpg"><br /></a>Here it is with flash, showing a bit more of it's shimmery side (though it still looks way, <span style="font-style: italic;">way too blue, dang it!)</span>.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_dunvmLWd6gCabXwqnmsZUetC_DmHl5sgWe8_kRBQHIn0Nw_Fo_JaHCqzEgSLvdirAYzaI5QIwGd3FBXexZILbL7XQzE55ZKn7OXHRULE3s6ESn_u-KPKAa5Qs6x-1zop87F0CCQWavbh/s1600/000_0010-2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_dunvmLWd6gCabXwqnmsZUetC_DmHl5sgWe8_kRBQHIn0Nw_Fo_JaHCqzEgSLvdirAYzaI5QIwGd3FBXexZILbL7XQzE55ZKn7OXHRULE3s6ESn_u-KPKAa5Qs6x-1zop87F0CCQWavbh/s400/000_0010-2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514761539507570818" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg02e28pLioO4BIxknwR-V9FWQbcf7N4INIGJa3sWf1RelyMDh4FfnkAAqqiS9-1r6AGcVHaVDYLqyHUhjDVSVK4fnBB6pWZYs7GWEeQPWwvwuiNiLbGWRotFdxWfDyZz0lUNqVk4IKhYYj/s1600/000_0012.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg02e28pLioO4BIxknwR-V9FWQbcf7N4INIGJa3sWf1RelyMDh4FfnkAAqqiS9-1r6AGcVHaVDYLqyHUhjDVSVK4fnBB6pWZYs7GWEeQPWwvwuiNiLbGWRotFdxWfDyZz0lUNqVk4IKhYYj/s400/000_0012.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514761528886616834" border="0" /></a>It went on a little thick, but otherwise applied fairly nicely. I did have a bit of a tough time with the brush, though, but that was more of a "me" issue than a flaw in the brush itself: I have fairly small and narrow nails and it was a surprisingly wide and full brush for a mini bottle. For me, that combination of narrow nail + big brush + slightly gloopy formula = lots of clean-up to do. For those of you who prefer a wider brush, though, it may be perfect.<br /><br />All in all, it's a nice vampy color, but I don't know that I would necessarily want a full bottle of it, if it were available, simply because I have several other colors that are very similar already in my collection. And my collection is a bit overstocked with vampies and dark colors at the moment anyway; I'm trying to branch out a bit colorwise. (I really bought the set for Tainted Love and For Bitten, which seemed much more unique, and which I have yet to wear.) I'm still happy to have After Hours come along for the ride, though.<br /><br />Thanks for looking! :-)lilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10922267699825039101noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5984734242545513077.post-56749056554216079092010-09-06T23:30:00.000-07:002010-09-06T23:50:16.596-07:00China Glaze - For Audrey<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9pKgv4CMU7cZAHA_R5yaoUdJdhC3OcbyduzEsmOWYsOBhoy-vUlaFi2sVFFSObEO1z0RuOO7DAFEaOZfDoYCYk14lejKeOla5yOkXcAqnPXiOftv_vgc2PqtpcnXPxnx0y5Nq_XpjbXyo/s1600/000_0001.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9pKgv4CMU7cZAHA_R5yaoUdJdhC3OcbyduzEsmOWYsOBhoy-vUlaFi2sVFFSObEO1z0RuOO7DAFEaOZfDoYCYk14lejKeOla5yOkXcAqnPXiOftv_vgc2PqtpcnXPxnx0y5Nq_XpjbXyo/s400/000_0001.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514057145899753842" border="0" /></a>I know everyone has probably seen this lovely polish 4,593,789 times by now...but it's a recent a addition to my collection, and this is the first time I've worn it. I think I overlooked it due to my former aversion to cremes (which thankfully, I'm getting over now).<br /><br />For Audrey is a gorgeous, robin's egg/Tiffany blue creme polish. It applied like a dream, with minimal streakiness on the first coat, and absolutely none on the second. It was also perfectly opaque in two coats, and I think if I were a more skilled polisher, it might have been good to go in one! I think this dreamy blue polish is helping me over the last of my mild dislike of cremes, since part of my problem with them was how hard it can be with some cremes to get a non-streaky finish in less than four or five coats, particularly for someone with a noticeable lack of patience and steady hands, like myself. Now that I know a creme polish can apply this flawlessly even in my clumsy paws, I foresee a bright future full of beautiful cremes on my fingertips! :) Thanks, China Glaze!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAYX6L4lE2f07UDboqiv3CiqOkPoDyLH5qGfK7HG_iYG11KH3XvFwiwxH31s3_K1joeO8dHedhldvSWGWDOfYei0Dr_p7PkHitZR7G93Z5sJiq_JmYJUs6gb7ONUfeGYzgK-fuX11ZUGyJ/s1600/000_0003_00.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAYX6L4lE2f07UDboqiv3CiqOkPoDyLH5qGfK7HG_iYG11KH3XvFwiwxH31s3_K1joeO8dHedhldvSWGWDOfYei0Dr_p7PkHitZR7G93Z5sJiq_JmYJUs6gb7ONUfeGYzgK-fuX11ZUGyJ/s400/000_0003_00.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514057138762647506" border="0" /></a>All pics are two coats, plus base and top coat.<br /><br />Thanks for looking, and happy polishing! :)lilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10922267699825039101noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5984734242545513077.post-55044674949782078862010-09-03T00:37:00.000-07:002010-09-03T00:46:31.958-07:00Simple Pleasures Nail Polish - Unnamed<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizAbdsPIbMtlIeS_Vs0luSn43-mddgG0KI5PpT4h4XpQJeP22RBZboJDyKzzmE98oqdWmZtevpyktqBKJkLX0UbgpjbQWtTx3GYyInsAlIkF5EMMkry-Nhj2d0aUo7S4dA_KBP9aLQs8is/s1600/000_0003_08-1.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizAbdsPIbMtlIeS_Vs0luSn43-mddgG0KI5PpT4h4XpQJeP22RBZboJDyKzzmE98oqdWmZtevpyktqBKJkLX0UbgpjbQWtTx3GYyInsAlIkF5EMMkry-Nhj2d0aUo7S4dA_KBP9aLQs8is/s400/000_0003_08-1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512589875152208626" border="0" /></a><br />This is another polish from the Simple Pleasures set I found at Ross. It's a very pretty cantaloupe-colored creme, but it suffers from the same brush issues as the pink one I posted earlier. It's a shame; these would actually be quite lovely polishes if they only had better brushes. Oh, well - it's still a lovely, summery shade (and summer isn't entirely over quite yet!) and it was certainly well-priced!<br /><br />Thanks for looking, and have a great weekend! :)lilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10922267699825039101noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5984734242545513077.post-17030491149960193162010-09-01T23:28:00.000-07:002010-09-01T23:50:56.829-07:00Savvy Femme Couture - Orange You Happy<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp9E4f6RPxiPa3aT3kF2wr4NgZHI2fWEdGU2ceejRKgrInTUMiWnZKTxBr_Qcobt7M51v9XTTdLdW58YcVVGYdjPKOO6qT65CjxVI5tXBfNk4bFSFCuMeakOE266r5m9TNQxIEGQyi3Ay_/s1600/000_0001_14.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp9E4f6RPxiPa3aT3kF2wr4NgZHI2fWEdGU2ceejRKgrInTUMiWnZKTxBr_Qcobt7M51v9XTTdLdW58YcVVGYdjPKOO6qT65CjxVI5tXBfNk4bFSFCuMeakOE266r5m9TNQxIEGQyi3Ay_/s400/000_0001_14.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512201367625142258" border="0" /></a>As a matter of fact, I am happy with this orange polish. Very happy. In fact, I just LOVE this polish. Which is quite unusual, since orange is usually just one of those colors for me. I like it just fine in theory, I admire it on others, but on my own hands it just does nothing for me. But this...is just bright and cheerful and makes me feel happy. For some reason, I just feel playful and uplifted with this on my fingertips...Ok, I'm probably going overboard here - it's just nail polish! - but I really, really like this color, lol! I actually got a compliment from a stranger today on this polish, which <span style="font-style: italic;">never</span> happens when I wear orange!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfxfM_RDSrclBPh6oz43Q68IuwQjVGFG1COuv-p59vsxjtco_wrXaWDemUcQD4COCCvZoW1uCF8pGRodEUe4cRAeFnpLDCSjaxVPOVNdpxW6mynn63QjHW_mWlc0a-KVYu-CueNdlZfDV5/s1600/000_0008_05.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfxfM_RDSrclBPh6oz43Q68IuwQjVGFG1COuv-p59vsxjtco_wrXaWDemUcQD4COCCvZoW1uCF8pGRodEUe4cRAeFnpLDCSjaxVPOVNdpxW6mynn63QjHW_mWlc0a-KVYu-CueNdlZfDV5/s400/000_0008_05.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512201362937438354" border="0" /></a>I was a little hesitant about trying another Savvy polish, after the difficult time I had with Prince Ala Charm, but I needn't have worried. It went on with no problems and was opaque in two coats, although I did three as usual. I also used a white base, just in case, but I don't think it needed it. It did chip a little at the tip of my second nail. I'm just a teensy tad of a wee bit compulsive about my polishes, and normally I would have known no rest until I whisked it all off of there and put fresh, new, unchipped polish on; but I liked this color so much I didn't even really care.<br /><br />Here it is with flash, showing off it's pretty glowy-ness:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPMCDiiZCZl1Bv7yY48CSNv-MoSP222L_d4LJp3Ygkk_Bh3NGKK_Tbx0XEEwjhyphenhyphend3rQ3Sng-C1L7t0exCKzvfZZxDVUcPwUOvodRejBu6BxhTrzEDnLAgGG0RAZsT16EGBs7WgCxGdSexP/s1600/000_0006_12-1.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPMCDiiZCZl1Bv7yY48CSNv-MoSP222L_d4LJp3Ygkk_Bh3NGKK_Tbx0XEEwjhyphenhyphend3rQ3Sng-C1L7t0exCKzvfZZxDVUcPwUOvodRejBu6BxhTrzEDnLAgGG0RAZsT16EGBs7WgCxGdSexP/s400/000_0006_12-1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512201345585254674" border="0" /></a>I will definitely be wearing this pretty orange polish again soon!<br /><br />P.S. - I have a confession to make: I am actually getting jut a little bit tired of dark colors right now. Oh, it's not permanent! You can't actually take the goth out of a girl like me! ;-) I just feel like it's time for a short break from my beloved vampies, so I can appreciate them again with renewed enthusiasm later. Hope you're all enjoying the start of September!lilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10922267699825039101noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5984734242545513077.post-58584916856526467882010-09-01T02:12:00.000-07:002010-09-01T03:38:13.230-07:00Revlon -Slipper<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGuuUJhMN3gDecGgBozLu2yNbQeUe6Z_TeUshUPHs7Iq8X87qRq3zPxrQ7W0n82JbfPH-XhrjdjfI1YEaTfKFl1JGlNL3NSuKFkHQCtZ8rOli5gOm8G5BFuugZ3ub0eGLymQDBFc78OdxO/s1600/000_0001_13.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGuuUJhMN3gDecGgBozLu2yNbQeUe6Z_TeUshUPHs7Iq8X87qRq3zPxrQ7W0n82JbfPH-XhrjdjfI1YEaTfKFl1JGlNL3NSuKFkHQCtZ8rOli5gOm8G5BFuugZ3ub0eGLymQDBFc78OdxO/s400/000_0001_13.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511886385638379074" border="0" /></a>I'm still getting back into the routine of blogging, and I've got a lot of other things going on in my life right now, including a potential change of careers and job-hunting, so my time online is kind of limited. I do want to get back to posting regularly, though, so here's my manicure of the day: one of Revlon's new topcoats, Slipper, layered over black:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2_nNlykwXPO2YZjtwqXPEYZymFLp45xxgvj9raE03m8lLOvi67fl3MrfGfOgZg2bsY4vooDOLDABScQV0C2ED7B7vcH04lsN13ZmSN24HH0kJgg6F1pocWvM6O5qM0uQwVcPHEE9HM07E/s1600/000_0004_14-1.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2_nNlykwXPO2YZjtwqXPEYZymFLp45xxgvj9raE03m8lLOvi67fl3MrfGfOgZg2bsY4vooDOLDABScQV0C2ED7B7vcH04lsN13ZmSN24HH0kJgg6F1pocWvM6O5qM0uQwVcPHEE9HM07E/s400/000_0004_14-1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511886378932047010" border="0" /></a>Slipper is red and silver glitter with sparser silver holo hex-shaped glitter in a clear base. Very pretty. It's meant to to be layered over a corresponding Revlon red creme, but I only got the topcoat since the solid-color polishes just didn't look that appealing to me.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCMihQlMQhP_nAfbAFlIkVxp6fpUBnPFS7wHeOwwOQ3oD0oWiSC_lYwt0fKUzu1BDFnspS_0FWNT9rVSN8P_gsceOHh6d3sg-aPfQCI-DzuTBOxnEg21DT3PEvzS4tuStMjAmNIbZjStYN/s1600/000_0002_09.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCMihQlMQhP_nAfbAFlIkVxp6fpUBnPFS7wHeOwwOQ3oD0oWiSC_lYwt0fKUzu1BDFnspS_0FWNT9rVSN8P_gsceOHh6d3sg-aPfQCI-DzuTBOxnEg21DT3PEvzS4tuStMjAmNIbZjStYN/s400/000_0002_09.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511886371909560514" border="0" /></a>It applied nicely, and didn't dry nearly as rough-textured as some glitters can, probably because the glitter is a bit more sparsely distributed. I think it's quite pretty. I really wanted to get a good close-up of this manicure, so you could see the different shapes and sizes of the glitter clearly, but, as usual, the glitter freaked out my camera.<br /><br />Pics show three coats plus base and top coat.lilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10922267699825039101noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5984734242545513077.post-37434624396749476632010-08-25T23:45:00.000-07:002010-08-26T00:36:08.035-07:00Not Dead Yet - And Savvy Femme Couture- Prince Ala Charm<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW7IsIU3LRGqZwGzM2YVZkOk6jCGkdhKFmvHEgGr6yDa9yVDduMjei9IEMBqvy21OKfcaTJDpKOvs1TJaeqvoqjRZqeTVrejxcpcD34DkSEym5XlTiBxBKV9IMVpOtUmSsHHi3i3WuZPPj/s1600/000_0001_12.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW7IsIU3LRGqZwGzM2YVZkOk6jCGkdhKFmvHEgGr6yDa9yVDduMjei9IEMBqvy21OKfcaTJDpKOvs1TJaeqvoqjRZqeTVrejxcpcD34DkSEym5XlTiBxBKV9IMVpOtUmSsHHi3i3WuZPPj/s400/000_0001_12.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509610501318717858" border="0" /></a>Sorry for my abrupt disappearance over the past week or so; I haven't given up and abandoned my blog, despite how it may look. I've been having some pretty serious trouble with my internet connection, which, combined with some camera difficulties (mainly caused by me being a bit of an idiot noob about digital cameras) knocked me out of commission for a while as far as posting or commenting goes.<br /><br />But...I'm back...and I have a beauty of a polish to show you all today. Well, a hidden beauty. Let me explain...<br /><br />When I saw Prince Ala Charm tucked into a display at Sally's earlier this summer, it was love at first sight - or at least strong like at first sight. Such a pretty, shimmery, glistening blue. I have a weakness for blue...and shimmer. Done deal. I brought it home and tucked it into my untried stash.<br /><br />And dug it out yesterday and tried it on. And promptly fell right out of love. My prince was a frog! Even though it doesn't look it in the bottle, it's sheer. Extremely, extremely sheer. Seven-desperate-coats-and-still-not-bottle-color-or-opaque sheer. Not at all pretty, just very washed-out looking. So, determined to make this doomed relationship work somehow (yeah, I have relationship drama with my polishes; I <span style="font-style: italic;">said</span> I had a passion for nail polish, and I meant it! ;) I tried layering it over white. No dice. It was a little less sheer, but still disappointingly blah and watery-looking.<br /><br />I was about to give up and resign it to my small never-to-be-worn-again polish box, when I figured: Well, why not see how it looks over black? And this is what happened:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguuG2eNEYQnosONMrvVlaYbmlW1cvAdDMDSu6dYpWw3HUFSwERcZ2v9GzBQIs6bzLG8Ot0FmHRqwxCzHB3MzOPwAWeGo1mYq69JKGMuQ7sebFP1-v2Gz5qX5S5tZt-hwOxLx4RT6dboJZ2/s1600/000_0003_09.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguuG2eNEYQnosONMrvVlaYbmlW1cvAdDMDSu6dYpWw3HUFSwERcZ2v9GzBQIs6bzLG8Ot0FmHRqwxCzHB3MzOPwAWeGo1mYq69JKGMuQ7sebFP1-v2Gz5qX5S5tZt-hwOxLx4RT6dboJZ2/s400/000_0003_09.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509610492078137394" border="0" /></a>With the kiss of a layer of black polish, my frog turned back into a prince - a gorgeous, shimmering, almost glass-flecked looking blue prince! It reminds me of the color of a blue morpho butterfly's wings (which I meant to add a picture of for comparison, but I forgot, and now I don't think my internet connection will hold up long enough to add it in.) Here it is with flash, since there was no sun to be found today:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYbzJGd-bWayTFaagQRUU-PwzydjN0BHyvV99-BCz2mvuNPFQZO_xBfaGgEcrnNVYKFijz3XYhZjmqXv59emGv7B3GB2dLmo89UGCUnYj3yHNn0_7tCk-2YksVeIq_0CXx5VDx01w8QT5Y/s1600/000_0004_15.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYbzJGd-bWayTFaagQRUU-PwzydjN0BHyvV99-BCz2mvuNPFQZO_xBfaGgEcrnNVYKFijz3XYhZjmqXv59emGv7B3GB2dLmo89UGCUnYj3yHNn0_7tCk-2YksVeIq_0CXx5VDx01w8QT5Y/s400/000_0004_15.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509610490139973922" border="0" /></a>And here, again with flash and deliberately blurred so youo can get an idea of the beautiful depth and shimmer:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_eZnFpQs3XYG-6grxID6jwyil8_-_SNNA0i1tEiGdSaIH-qCBWoKKMRBJ07Q4rGLRcMDdfGjvRgWY4pEyFt7fk8_Uy9TAGcyIL17qBowSggDt3sYqLtOnUREBxLRBl8ycV7UJ697s1C3c/s1600/000_0005_12.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_eZnFpQs3XYG-6grxID6jwyil8_-_SNNA0i1tEiGdSaIH-qCBWoKKMRBJ07Q4rGLRcMDdfGjvRgWY4pEyFt7fk8_Uy9TAGcyIL17qBowSggDt3sYqLtOnUREBxLRBl8ycV7UJ697s1C3c/s400/000_0005_12.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509610482530595330" border="0" /></a>So my fairy-tale romance with Prince Ala Charm had a happy ending after all; I just have to remember the next time I want to wear it, to layer it over black or another darker color. It's practically pointless on its own. All pics are three coats layered over Wet'n'Wild black polish plus top coat.<br /><br />So glad to be back to blogging again; I've really missed it, and all the beautiful blogs I read regularly.lilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10922267699825039101noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5984734242545513077.post-3223592936459872862010-08-12T20:27:00.000-07:002010-08-13T00:00:06.966-07:00Mystery Polish Number Three<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoptNwKrdbhcWjslcAAd7A8gZaT60JpUH6S-hE78b3X360dHd2r0uSl0Wmdww5XZPLZTXhpdZpTnGZuf5hDpR-6BJLy2MIr1f3akrnaU_DBIkAcqqIhnVWhvx5JbmIhox1NNB4IsGzFypq/s1600/000_0004_14.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoptNwKrdbhcWjslcAAd7A8gZaT60JpUH6S-hE78b3X360dHd2r0uSl0Wmdww5XZPLZTXhpdZpTnGZuf5hDpR-6BJLy2MIr1f3akrnaU_DBIkAcqqIhnVWhvx5JbmIhox1NNB4IsGzFypq/s400/000_0004_14.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504736311715587746" border="0" /></a>The next of the unnamed, unidentified-brand dollar store polishes.<br /><br />Metallic magenta shimmer, butter-smooth application, dried in a flash, opaque in one coat (!!)...what's not to like? Nothing!...if you're me, that is. I thought this one was really pretty.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJUxFiHYCeAl11RfTM83tr6gzQ0asDimFoguyjzAMoERML8sPN6KPkfRf9zZJxNCstGMgWxxby9mUGmJrRUABZvcQyJJuKbAFAa1HljWPcN5oT-hfmPymcB4XUsbygPJZYxHJtZbQKnUpC/s1600/000_0006_12.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJUxFiHYCeAl11RfTM83tr6gzQ0asDimFoguyjzAMoERML8sPN6KPkfRf9zZJxNCstGMgWxxby9mUGmJrRUABZvcQyJJuKbAFAa1HljWPcN5oT-hfmPymcB4XUsbygPJZYxHJtZbQKnUpC/s400/000_0006_12.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504736304853376786" border="0" /></a>Here it is with flash:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhCtF03SoDZBKO5lqSHUFBzsKw347pVxAiNL2nVQUUjh6w1GSCccZazSEXOLRXKhfS-SPuMXcDA5RXWI-AdiXGObpVDD-AUufrmSUv1Dnw5oBoZTiHFLHPaLmoxYNCSwO-AkHTa_CCOrqj/s1600/000_0003_08.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhCtF03SoDZBKO5lqSHUFBzsKw347pVxAiNL2nVQUUjh6w1GSCccZazSEXOLRXKhfS-SPuMXcDA5RXWI-AdiXGObpVDD-AUufrmSUv1Dnw5oBoZTiHFLHPaLmoxYNCSwO-AkHTa_CCOrqj/s400/000_0003_08.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504736296309167666" border="0" /></a>I would have loved to have gotten a picture of this one in the sun, to really show off its shine, sparkle, and glow, but it was a dreary, drizzly here, so flash it is:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixpgUzG3_ckyI8B6KRviB9j53OUN4-s8ePg3QS4eBsgHe3ESP8nFoKTdGfGpzqowYSXtDr12EaeU9jUaDVWXTwhbtNGTL0RE1JLh6y5NAJ_xxzF2xryMiA0neCjFXiIjWRemLomhoqp4yy/s1600/000_0001_11.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixpgUzG3_ckyI8B6KRviB9j53OUN4-s8ePg3QS4eBsgHe3ESP8nFoKTdGfGpzqowYSXtDr12EaeU9jUaDVWXTwhbtNGTL0RE1JLh6y5NAJ_xxzF2xryMiA0neCjFXiIjWRemLomhoqp4yy/s400/000_0001_11.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504736295427584162" border="0" /></a>And one more for good measure:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlGTpxnSUU3bzk6GER473jjbdL172wfcHCH2iuQRjbqoLsNxaqsK3_MUNALOgC8lU6PuXojzfvNjYZjtEJyyOLjhGm3u8bWe1hSYbxnHtOyhPyXA76kCiREg2PMCeZ0PZg_9tOHGc8ZKN3/s1600/000_0007_03.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlGTpxnSUU3bzk6GER473jjbdL172wfcHCH2iuQRjbqoLsNxaqsK3_MUNALOgC8lU6PuXojzfvNjYZjtEJyyOLjhGm3u8bWe1hSYbxnHtOyhPyXA76kCiREg2PMCeZ0PZg_9tOHGc8ZKN3/s400/000_0007_03.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504736285315692386" border="0" /></a>I'm really impressed with the quality of these polishes, especially for a brand that I still can't identify or find any information about.<br /><br />I must apologize for the awful pictures; the batteries in my camera were dying. All pics are two coats (though, really, one would have been just fine with this polish) plus base and top coat.<br /><br />Hope you all have a wonderful weekend! :)lilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10922267699825039101noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5984734242545513077.post-39508437825553997982010-08-11T19:48:00.000-07:002010-08-11T22:00:12.382-07:00CQ - Vintage Gray<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd48dknBrMWY8tTaLtX-0XgZR7STCSVQhr6Y6usnETGvi0h_lfUYI9oKW3QUsanmKOoCinxDvlj1-o-rC1llx8Kwe-mv7AthO1Jpl9xWZzq5WSBjBtc345VKqitMiPXpsxsLbajwVFk3kP/s1600/000_0002_08.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd48dknBrMWY8tTaLtX-0XgZR7STCSVQhr6Y6usnETGvi0h_lfUYI9oKW3QUsanmKOoCinxDvlj1-o-rC1llx8Kwe-mv7AthO1Jpl9xWZzq5WSBjBtc345VKqitMiPXpsxsLbajwVFk3kP/s400/000_0002_08.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504351997085825762" border="0" /></a>This looks very gray in the pictures, but is actually more of a "greige" creme in real life. Greiges and taupes really don't usually appeal to me that much, but I like this one because it does lean more toward a mouse-y gray in some lights. The first pic is closest to being color-accurate of any I took, although indoors the polish definitely takes on a more taupe/putty shade.<br /><br />Here it is outdoors with flash:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7J_VwEza_U1kEkYdf84oyg9nGatQUebjmDF09xPacNPNF1Nzf9os_O6qlPU2SRGcVRPIDS7_C7EcUe3Dm-MNjGX3kU4IsVg0t_U95EqNTbdU4rw6ML-thyphenhyphenC4QOrLYHR5MS8uk1_xJhsZF/s1600/000_0005_11.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7J_VwEza_U1kEkYdf84oyg9nGatQUebjmDF09xPacNPNF1Nzf9os_O6qlPU2SRGcVRPIDS7_C7EcUe3Dm-MNjGX3kU4IsVg0t_U95EqNTbdU4rw6ML-thyphenhyphenC4QOrLYHR5MS8uk1_xJhsZF/s400/000_0005_11.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504351992256286082" border="0" /></a>And in shade, no flash, looking very gray:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUd846WTeLrCGeOzlJR1E4mTUwIOMsa6cIr5QcedRtKuB-mxnBrLoE7JwtLeMnZEh1IK9GHQ1aWkmrBKPVXThVXBnV3MBjuy8wazAzTx9qqmI1-n-jpUGgTjB-Cskbkk1UccRk-WBjZrN3/s1600/000_0004_13.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUd846WTeLrCGeOzlJR1E4mTUwIOMsa6cIr5QcedRtKuB-mxnBrLoE7JwtLeMnZEh1IK9GHQ1aWkmrBKPVXThVXBnV3MBjuy8wazAzTx9qqmI1-n-jpUGgTjB-Cskbkk1UccRk-WBjZrN3/s400/000_0004_13.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504351989419963490" border="0" /></a>It went on smoothly, but there was a little bit of minor bubbling on a few nails, which you can see in the pictures on my index finger; it was another scorching day here and I think the heat may have had something to do with the bubbling problem. Pics are three coats plus base and top coat.<br /><br />Even with my nails being as short as they've been lately, I still somehow manged to break one of them yesterday, in such a way that I couldn't fix the break without it still being obvious and making all the nails on one hand look uneven. So - I took a nail-clipper to all ten of them and -chop! Off with their heads! My poor nails...they're almost as short now as they were when I used to bite them years ago. Good thing they grow back - in time!lilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10922267699825039101noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5984734242545513077.post-48463780866983035452010-08-11T00:30:00.000-07:002010-08-11T01:06:59.915-07:00Pure Ice - Super Star<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3-kvduQVIiq-LTYAQTxq6ZehC4kIFm5Aa0bRn7GeNdrdgTOBT9_e66UoINVANlk3K0-oi2xIhTYoii1N7gT8eyHZH5KGSylf9xYP7NbKEGqkJCFnmYpvGvBYpuCAY7GzQ4Vhm5cj-BD1n/s1600/000_0002_07.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3-kvduQVIiq-LTYAQTxq6ZehC4kIFm5Aa0bRn7GeNdrdgTOBT9_e66UoINVANlk3K0-oi2xIhTYoii1N7gT8eyHZH5KGSylf9xYP7NbKEGqkJCFnmYpvGvBYpuCAY7GzQ4Vhm5cj-BD1n/s400/000_0002_07.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504059408264421810" border="0" /></a>I've always liked Pure Ice polishes; they're good quality, have a nice color selection, and at $2.00 each at Walmart, they're certainly inexpensive. This one is no exception.<br /><br />Super Star is red with tiny multi-colored glitter. On the nail, it's subtly fiery and very pretty, especially in sunlight:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioJWWUTggCLfn9I6600Y4LOM0Su39JDPSU36XNQCLTfUu7_NWdbosjtPg1BqIso8XU_QdWs0-U76386Hrr7wmxNUZdLy9hriEZeMrcFntJr4_Bgysc10NW5isxKHRZnmV_FV9Q6KXxlFug/s1600/000_0003_06.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioJWWUTggCLfn9I6600Y4LOM0Su39JDPSU36XNQCLTfUu7_NWdbosjtPg1BqIso8XU_QdWs0-U76386Hrr7wmxNUZdLy9hriEZeMrcFntJr4_Bgysc10NW5isxKHRZnmV_FV9Q6KXxlFug/s400/000_0003_06.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504059397286627490" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWj17F9MCAYxDGnqLDs9inIJIjQnOINB_mqelDjt54mYpWeFpmYesMUt8_2KZMmfRzTytJ33kagT4cFGTSP4P0SUMHmD5iZBIEp3ZrSwDEmaNRNWFXnDq78t2qpiPN1k2k7KB11Gris7WA/s1600/000_0004_12.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWj17F9MCAYxDGnqLDs9inIJIjQnOINB_mqelDjt54mYpWeFpmYesMUt8_2KZMmfRzTytJ33kagT4cFGTSP4P0SUMHmD5iZBIEp3ZrSwDEmaNRNWFXnDq78t2qpiPN1k2k7KB11Gris7WA/s400/000_0004_12.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504059394168147282" border="0" /></a>Indoors or in the shade, the red looks a little darker and the glitter is a bit more subdued, but still noticeable:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhazgOZMYmzB01TGb65QotzDn_Q9f9-Z77yLbzvwmo_jx5kaFYcZdjfPwL0dwaza2YnmxGFmnCAWH-pkZ-6Us_sYJcmnV-GDcSqyBxHc6GictZ-nZBQt4JzeBwufUGYys-L5jtdaCqBk_ji/s1600/000_0006_11.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhazgOZMYmzB01TGb65QotzDn_Q9f9-Z77yLbzvwmo_jx5kaFYcZdjfPwL0dwaza2YnmxGFmnCAWH-pkZ-6Us_sYJcmnV-GDcSqyBxHc6GictZ-nZBQt4JzeBwufUGYys-L5jtdaCqBk_ji/s400/000_0006_11.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504059389936984610" border="0" /></a>Application had no problems, as I've come to expect from the Pure Ice brand, and it dried fairly quickly. It did look just slightly more dull than I liked after it dried completely, but that was remedied by a clear topcoat, which brought out all the shine and sparkle.<br /><br />All pics are three coats of polish, plus base and top coat, and are pre-clean-up, unfortunately. When I see how beautifully some bloggers polish their nails, it makes me a little ashamed of my sloppy paint jobs, especially in pre-clean-up pics. I've been polishing my nails almost daily since I was fourteen, so it isn't lack of practice...maybe my hands shake a bit, or maybe I just don't have a talent for it. I dunno...I do my best. :) I've wondered sometimes if I'm actually good enough at it to blog, but then I remember that I'm doing this to share my love of the polish itself, not to show off my polishing skills, or lack thereof. So I continue to take pictures of my nails less than perfectly polished, and admire and enjoy the skill and precision of those who are more talented at it than I am. :)lilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10922267699825039101noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5984734242545513077.post-80667103714414399042010-08-09T21:55:00.000-07:002010-08-09T22:48:08.239-07:00Confetti - Masqeurade Ball<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdVWoi0RHGM8hGEn5YN91j4hZzW2bVsyN_hRiq9-lW77jX7MViAaITXFPE10h-a0zFZCFvRWw3_QxVYbo0XIMRTtHe-9_qLtiPLdFbpTRvfqkel69RxBw6mTt-TFjZNNvtaK4mZCE4nmLh/s1600/000_0004_11.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdVWoi0RHGM8hGEn5YN91j4hZzW2bVsyN_hRiq9-lW77jX7MViAaITXFPE10h-a0zFZCFvRWw3_QxVYbo0XIMRTtHe-9_qLtiPLdFbpTRvfqkel69RxBw6mTt-TFjZNNvtaK4mZCE4nmLh/s400/000_0004_11.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503645426337903650" border="0" /></a>Another of my beloved vampies. :) This one is tiny red glitter sparkles in a black base. I had a hard time getting the red sparkles to show up in the pics, but they're definitely noticeable on the nail; I love that this polish is truly dark, yet doesn't really look black even in indoor light. The beautiful blackened red shimmer/sparkle is still evident.<br /><br />Here it is with flash:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirA9e8hGPebKFj9ECh7NmNrmBmxRTUn13lQ8M57WY7SBl443MFLu7G75ymAhAtB0aCjmMZU82LMzYQk_2kw0qG7WvWwHQ5h_MWz5b-yumb0LQfbPysOTz2WMUnZmowSI6EZP-rJQGrcacI/s1600/000_0008_04.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirA9e8hGPebKFj9ECh7NmNrmBmxRTUn13lQ8M57WY7SBl443MFLu7G75ymAhAtB0aCjmMZU82LMzYQk_2kw0qG7WvWwHQ5h_MWz5b-yumb0LQfbPysOTz2WMUnZmowSI6EZP-rJQGrcacI/s400/000_0008_04.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503645421851962818" border="0" /></a>Pics are three coats plus base and top coat.<br /><br />I happened upon a full rack of Confetti polishes at CVS a few weeks ago, and picked up this one and a few other colors that looked promising. This is one of the first ones I've actually worn, and I must say I'm pretty impressed with this brand so far, especially for the price of $1.99. It went on with no application problems and wore well, lasting three days with no chips, dents or tip-wear before I got bored with the color and changed it. The quality, at least judging from this color, seems at least comparable to Sinful Colors, another drugstore brand with a similar price point. The color selection was nice; even if there didn't seem to be anything drop-dead stunningly different, there was a good selection of colors and some very pretty ones at that.<br /><br />One thing to be aware of with this brand, though (and if you've seen any reviews of the brand on other nail blogs you'll probably already know this, but I guess it may still bear repeating): Check the brush before you buy! Some of the bottles had really wonky brushes, too long for the bottle and bent over at the tip, that could probably make application quite tricky.<br /><br />If you're careful about making sure the bottle you buy has a functional brush, it's a very nice polish at a very good price.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjahs4CpY7lzy3AKTnJUDHVnvLNw9LH1i6nZChclc16wJpNZYAAGJ130qKMLlbJW9uH3BmXlKqEbaUCT6ilKIyaBOLlBpvD7JpnNGM6ppRGtYT076j1maCprKo74nSAsdnHACucJscPKsVT/s1600/000_0011_01.jpg"><br /></a>lilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10922267699825039101noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5984734242545513077.post-78816144555419232242010-08-05T20:33:00.000-07:002010-08-06T03:23:17.375-07:00L.A. Colors - Lollipop<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHJ9SyKpj0ej8MFsE7h-dDPTglw4UjnKshOgJrJ5uCSHrGCb4e2WMz8atnhsfkqy-UOQ2BhSrXDR8V1NJJW5DY5PYzu2zF48_No5le7sh-Yrje0gMnpoe1EGdCJSt56n8nqJezfn5neXPC/s1600/000_0002_06.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHJ9SyKpj0ej8MFsE7h-dDPTglw4UjnKshOgJrJ5uCSHrGCb4e2WMz8atnhsfkqy-UOQ2BhSrXDR8V1NJJW5DY5PYzu2zF48_No5le7sh-Yrje0gMnpoe1EGdCJSt56n8nqJezfn5neXPC/s400/000_0002_06.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502140803529352882" border="0" /></a>I have two batches of L.A. Colors polishes: one batch that I got at the Dollar Tree, which doesn't have a name label on the bottom of the bottle, and one batch <span style="font-style: italic;">not</span> from the dollar tree, which do have labels. This is from the latter, labeled group.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2JhXFdtR8zd372Mqk-puDT8o_HQKUVmJZYfqr0c2h9JIWBPntaeq_8H8tPwpL6TdZil67zXBMnFZdyUsdtteWtSexcJR4t5HW2DJgepE6LEBSUcoMXjGWoyO1-fdD6lqT8ZRB-2BnTKYu/s1600/000_0005_10.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2JhXFdtR8zd372Mqk-puDT8o_HQKUVmJZYfqr0c2h9JIWBPntaeq_8H8tPwpL6TdZil67zXBMnFZdyUsdtteWtSexcJR4t5HW2DJgepE6LEBSUcoMXjGWoyO1-fdD6lqT8ZRB-2BnTKYu/s400/000_0005_10.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502140797722097554" border="0" /></a>Lollipop is a pretty, bright pink with a subtle bluish flash in some lights. It went on with no issues. It might have been a bit sheer on its own, but I layered it over a white polish because I just <span style="font-style: italic;">do not like</span> sheer or even slightly sheer polishes on my nails. (On some people's nails sheer polishes are gorgeous; on mine - not so much. :/) So every time I have even the slightest suspicion that a polish is going to be sheer I use an opaque basecoat under it.<br /><br />Here it is in shade, showing a hint of its slightly bluey/lavender side:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGXwMOIl0jwE-mwL2XdZfXW_D0L2BfWXsscImaw4bjPJyq3p0y6vhwgxUFujXmO8zDt-rdIC42M6TWFxgS_SOTLhTB2eqpc1ZFfhT7tVSnjh_53yNVhQyF9H6mgzjE_kA2cXwoH9phI6wJ/s1600/000_0001_10.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGXwMOIl0jwE-mwL2XdZfXW_D0L2BfWXsscImaw4bjPJyq3p0y6vhwgxUFujXmO8zDt-rdIC42M6TWFxgS_SOTLhTB2eqpc1ZFfhT7tVSnjh_53yNVhQyF9H6mgzjE_kA2cXwoH9phI6wJ/s400/000_0001_10.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502140789580596450" border="0" /></a>In sunlight:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdmbScboI4EPXpieVrcjd6I9lfvHPudJluhEp9FmT-2NwuxFEINNMdAXI1Tgmzd1I8ZVFOFsB_XsYuJLGpyzuEIXBdg8dNgM80wY6Q1_5ehIiefh2DJdtF9wTbwfj6KElLHrTcFRC4RY9Y/s1600/000_0003_05.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdmbScboI4EPXpieVrcjd6I9lfvHPudJluhEp9FmT-2NwuxFEINNMdAXI1Tgmzd1I8ZVFOFsB_XsYuJLGpyzuEIXBdg8dNgM80wY6Q1_5ehIiefh2DJdtF9wTbwfj6KElLHrTcFRC4RY9Y/s400/000_0003_05.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502140783417982626" border="0" /></a>Pics are three coats, base coat, and top coat. I think it's a pretty, cheerful pink for summertime. (Which, by the way, I can't believe is going by so fast! Has this summer just flown by for anyone else? I noticed this afternoon that the leaves on the huge maple tree in front of the house are starting to get that slightly dusty, drooping look that they always have toward the end of the summer, as if the tree is getting a little tired of holding up the weight of its own foliage and is starting to look forward to the time when it can let its leaves drop, one by one...) I hope you'll all be able to enjoy this late-summer weekend to its fullest!lilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10922267699825039101noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5984734242545513077.post-48322420516214863982010-08-04T20:05:00.000-07:002010-08-04T23:26:45.938-07:00Color Club - Sexy Siren<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBgdD-gV5Dsuuty2B7rew8uuaYhjMQQrVzc4PeWdfJjsOIsTszJQAB9xowLJ4SG2h8aAev8JtMlvrIv9-lBiJcrjYInps8IPzOuJ6QU57aspEh3F-EApKQMG6lTfplImnoeL9w3KuNbPbx/s1600/000_0004_10.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBgdD-gV5Dsuuty2B7rew8uuaYhjMQQrVzc4PeWdfJjsOIsTszJQAB9xowLJ4SG2h8aAev8JtMlvrIv9-lBiJcrjYInps8IPzOuJ6QU57aspEh3F-EApKQMG6lTfplImnoeL9w3KuNbPbx/s400/000_0004_10.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501764456990958162" border="0" /></a>My camera really doesn't seem to handle glitter well. Either that, or I just haven't figured out how to take really good pictures yet. That's entirely possible - it's a new camera (it was a birthday present from my very sweet boyfriend about a month ago) and I'm still not always sure if I'm using the right settings, etc...Anyway, these pictures didn't come out entirely accurate as to color. This polish is actually much less turquoise than it looks here. Weirdly enough, the bottle in the first photo is fairly color accurate. (<span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Why</span> will it show the right color in the bottle but not on my nails in the <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">very same picture</span>??)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO_7ZWELGSlM0Se86wzGmFgdhIp8kLpZW6nFWQ2_nfECriwe75aw08T6vz-Gv0cIEUusNPzYF3vMRK7qMsLowIVqwNY-w6bkDL7JgsS9YgrDWCK0f6asfGTekjKU8WMCppReLdMzu_GHbx/s1600/000_0001_09.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO_7ZWELGSlM0Se86wzGmFgdhIp8kLpZW6nFWQ2_nfECriwe75aw08T6vz-Gv0cIEUusNPzYF3vMRK7qMsLowIVqwNY-w6bkDL7JgsS9YgrDWCK0f6asfGTekjKU8WMCppReLdMzu_GHbx/s400/000_0001_09.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501764447700954802" border="0" /></a>Sexy Siren is part of the fall 2008 Color Club Glitter Vixen collection, all of which I coveted at the time, but never got around to actually buying. So when I spotted a lone bottle of Sexy Siren on a dusty shelf at the back of one of the local beauty supply stores, I pounced.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgianh1DyoWig2Uj4djFw7KbQuyTeu9biC3hw91FilXyceHRlOi3cEM8oD8rOtNVvjo7PQElujU_mTzM_9vH3DkBlCvf6ZuSTpQGKBD4qHvqdU4b0xhfnrN26PYc1oYJMhqG96BBZH7e3xC/s1600/000_0006_09.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgianh1DyoWig2Uj4djFw7KbQuyTeu9biC3hw91FilXyceHRlOi3cEM8oD8rOtNVvjo7PQElujU_mTzM_9vH3DkBlCvf6ZuSTpQGKBD4qHvqdU4b0xhfnrN26PYc1oYJMhqG96BBZH7e3xC/s400/000_0006_09.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501764442368626162" border="0" /></a>It's a very pretty medium blue glitter in a clear base. It went on very smoothly, and would have been opaque in three coats, but I used four, since I never quite know when to quit when there's glitter involved. My mind goes blank, except for the single thought: "MOAR GLITTER!" as I gleefully glop on coat after coat...Yes, I have issues. ;) It dried pretty rough to the touch, as so many glitter polishes do, but a top coat helped smooth it out.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVy-58K4NsbEAm8eVCFQtZ50761_sw9GoJdNf5pqrc_0gMX1V1LZcg4dKlVN9vMHhh-U8rs6_WX1x_SFATOX1n_TAGCU2cG9dQpfPHceFcu3AowFXikawRJkRl8-rEInvTLJuB2i37_fIO/s1600/000_0007_02.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVy-58K4NsbEAm8eVCFQtZ50761_sw9GoJdNf5pqrc_0gMX1V1LZcg4dKlVN9vMHhh-U8rs6_WX1x_SFATOX1n_TAGCU2cG9dQpfPHceFcu3AowFXikawRJkRl8-rEInvTLJuB2i37_fIO/s400/000_0007_02.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501764434945911490" border="0" /></a>I layered the polish over black for added opacity and to make the color of the glitter "pop" a little more. All pics are four coats plus base and top coat.<br /><br />Here it is with flash: (There was no sun when I was taking these pics, more's the pity; it was another cloudy afternoon.)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWY3bvK8dAymaj3hC32RZbSITQgXfzetwoVzAkmDSIkdIj9GBkwQ6IujuvIfoM7z1jyVnhl1KqLDvnVtODJCkGvJmlCQ5tFpbdV4Si4y_dzxUoDyDJE-bYMxljn6dXkJ45gyz2uTqxDtr9/s1600/000_0005_09.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWY3bvK8dAymaj3hC32RZbSITQgXfzetwoVzAkmDSIkdIj9GBkwQ6IujuvIfoM7z1jyVnhl1KqLDvnVtODJCkGvJmlCQ5tFpbdV4Si4y_dzxUoDyDJE-bYMxljn6dXkJ45gyz2uTqxDtr9/s400/000_0005_09.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501764426868235410" border="0" /></a>I may just have to try to hunt up the rest of the Color Club glitter polishes at some point.lilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10922267699825039101noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5984734242545513077.post-62735756063884174892010-08-03T19:01:00.000-07:002010-08-03T23:23:56.525-07:00Simple Pleasures Nail Polish - Unnamed<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj45IoUTdQqgNDktFa9vN1oR3LfjA83oviZafgru4sd8kdiV31tYT9xdiLkEkFS3l1eJ_daxz2r8tydgxVokEcoxt8WU9T12Y9cg9ulkzydLGgRYTqgZR5RQgvNn1pX0lo6mHd7vOWDPE6i/s1600/000_0006_08.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj45IoUTdQqgNDktFa9vN1oR3LfjA83oviZafgru4sd8kdiV31tYT9xdiLkEkFS3l1eJ_daxz2r8tydgxVokEcoxt8WU9T12Y9cg9ulkzydLGgRYTqgZR5RQgvNn1pX0lo6mHd7vOWDPE6i/s400/000_0006_08.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501379739197801778" border="0" /></a>This polish was one of a set that I found at Ross a few week ago. I bought it because I thought the colors were pretty (they are mostly pinks and corals, which I don't have that many of, and they're all cremes, in which my collection is also a bit lacking. I didn't use to care for cremes very much, but these days I find myself kind of drawn to them.) They were also a really good price - I think they were $4.99 for a set of six colors, plus a clear polish.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicbvFAefcfaQVYLSXd_sTTr4bC99dCAxHiiG22z57TjrvkoLjEV4_LuzuaclE7v8ACbSlauggbvCVIwXkN9FuifzTtEQqqtQR_kuhinSYG-kGlsTchAdNs3ZJMk_xGv6NbLZdRv5eshMwU/s1600/000_0005_08.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicbvFAefcfaQVYLSXd_sTTr4bC99dCAxHiiG22z57TjrvkoLjEV4_LuzuaclE7v8ACbSlauggbvCVIwXkN9FuifzTtEQqqtQR_kuhinSYG-kGlsTchAdNs3ZJMk_xGv6NbLZdRv5eshMwU/s400/000_0005_08.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501379728642712754" border="0" /></a>This is the first one of the set that I've tried and I must say I'm kind of torn about them. On the one hand, I really like the color and finish of this polish. It's a beautiful medium-pink creme, almost bubblegum or Barbie-like but a little more sophisticated (or so I like to think, anyway. Feel free to disillusion me.) It also works fairly well with my skintone, which usually does heinous and unappealing things when combined with the color pink...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinWsmlhGBVI7Y2kgd-eRDkuV2jHLoF5ReGeIC_2sePcD4zKFP_haweS48H9wOfZOsJIANXnBQ40Or84Zo-iPrzvfKXYA_vX3pShoA5E14QLOeSjzaE4b-VRnyp_6YTkokoSC-BDguaw1yB/s1600/000_0004_09.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinWsmlhGBVI7Y2kgd-eRDkuV2jHLoF5ReGeIC_2sePcD4zKFP_haweS48H9wOfZOsJIANXnBQ40Or84Zo-iPrzvfKXYA_vX3pShoA5E14QLOeSjzaE4b-VRnyp_6YTkokoSC-BDguaw1yB/s400/000_0004_09.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501379724188860402" border="0" /></a>That being said, though, there is one problem with this polish - the application, and that is entirely due to the brush. The brush is...well...pretty atrocious. Imagine going outside, selecting a nice-sized twig from a nearby tree, chewing on the end of the twig until it's all frayed and bristly and then trying to use it to polish your nails. That's kind of what using this brush was like. It's so coarse, stiff, and unruly that it made the polish streaky (which I don't think it would have been with a different brush), caused tons of cuticle drag, and took off whole strips of color when applying a second coat.<br /><br />With careful handling and some patience, I managed to get a nice, smooth, even finish with this polish in three coats...and then, after all that effort, I went and put a big, noticeable ding in the polish on my second finger! Arrgh! I seem to be smooshing up every manicure I do lately...<br /><br />Pics are three coats plus base and top coat.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiqDUygoR85yxhK4tJ1x_w4G-sadrsbjxI5NvaD0l7DbQB7JFSaj2bdO30OG7eU2zaPgp-564BoVIKh321yKtxygujknrqVFUiX4jOeMcVL4tDhR81Gqk3h1A4CXhoZ755py7hs13k12ar/s1600/000_0003_04.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiqDUygoR85yxhK4tJ1x_w4G-sadrsbjxI5NvaD0l7DbQB7JFSaj2bdO30OG7eU2zaPgp-564BoVIKh321yKtxygujknrqVFUiX4jOeMcVL4tDhR81Gqk3h1A4CXhoZ755py7hs13k12ar/s400/000_0003_04.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501379716821763714" border="0" /></a>If you're willing to work with the not-so-great brush, it's a really nice creme polish for not a lot of money. I'm looking forward to trying out the others in the set, and if I see another set from Simple Pleasures with different colors, I will be very tempted to get it.lilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10922267699825039101noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5984734242545513077.post-40092426699315212142010-08-03T02:48:00.000-07:002010-08-03T03:10:04.757-07:00I'm open to suggestions...What do you think of the new background? I'm not sure if the pale text on the darker background is a bit hard on the eyes...<br /><br />And, while I'm at it, if anyone has any other suggestions for things they'd like to see on this blog, or anything I could do differently to make this blog a more enjoyable experience for you as a reader, please do feel free to speak up! :) I'd love to hear from you.<br /><br />And welcome to each of my new followers, and <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">thank you</span>! :) I'd blog about polish just for the sheer fun of it (and because I'm pretty much hopelessly obsessed and need an outlet for my babbling) , even if nobody read my blog, but knowing that you all liked my blog enough to want to follow it makes the whole blogging experience about a zillion times more fun...Everything's more fun when you get to share it with somebody... I'll do my best to keep this quiet little corner of the polish-blogging world enjoyable for you!lilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10922267699825039101noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5984734242545513077.post-59944344582403463502010-08-02T21:49:00.000-07:002010-08-03T01:09:35.261-07:00Mystery Polish Number Two<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBGod6CzbkmLOb5cJmVegtAcSO9YBUchUDPF0jF8sku4KCnI-B573nXPNOIAjvZGebHmM5-q0wfKczf7s2nGa0AhcAQfD928u6iQLssL27CgOnSTMk5PGik7_H8k9KTPlnCJlhe0WRZYA7/s1600/000_0005_07.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBGod6CzbkmLOb5cJmVegtAcSO9YBUchUDPF0jF8sku4KCnI-B573nXPNOIAjvZGebHmM5-q0wfKczf7s2nGa0AhcAQfD928u6iQLssL27CgOnSTMk5PGik7_H8k9KTPlnCJlhe0WRZYA7/s400/000_0005_07.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501046869347477314" border="0" /></a>Here is the manicure I wore this weekend. It's the same "mystery" brand as the red polish I posted a while back and was found in the same dollar store.<br /><br />This one is a very frosty medium pink shade. It went on with no issues and lasted almost three days before the first chip appeared.<br /><br />The smudge on the thumb nail is entirely my fault, not the polish...I managed to bash my hand against the edge of my desk while the polish was drying.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY4xEor91Z6hVq3_cjZIZmyiIozGo-xrfo4rkjSqjZ4yo8NdcsPGc4qnMKUF2whBJhKNe_NdWNIA49sLla0n8ByrY9REJGmVFK0ZWXPg108C5xrBoO5jJvelydmtM4796pBIYaeUDokVuL/s1600/000_0001_08.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY4xEor91Z6hVq3_cjZIZmyiIozGo-xrfo4rkjSqjZ4yo8NdcsPGc4qnMKUF2whBJhKNe_NdWNIA49sLla0n8ByrY9REJGmVFK0ZWXPg108C5xrBoO5jJvelydmtM4796pBIYaeUDokVuL/s400/000_0001_08.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501046860320966242" border="0" /></a>Here it is in full sun:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvrf978PLMVwflb_s_JhfPlSUSw4uYnziNEaR5-9fnVm6ozL2qc3WxC6-WpL3GyG6_AnttPwUalLQcobbHN7AdYfiqGPqx48HZhR5gMdwNUI4RoQjEFkrxgP_5XXARkErbysEW9hPDiG-K/s1600/000_0004_08.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvrf978PLMVwflb_s_JhfPlSUSw4uYnziNEaR5-9fnVm6ozL2qc3WxC6-WpL3GyG6_AnttPwUalLQcobbHN7AdYfiqGPqx48HZhR5gMdwNUI4RoQjEFkrxgP_5XXARkErbysEW9hPDiG-K/s400/000_0004_08.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501046856098980706" border="0" /></a>I think it's a pretty color; I'm just not really into frosts these days. Something about that frosty finish just doesn't appeal to me... If you don't mind frosts, though, or if you actually like them, this is quite a nice one.<br /><br />I still wish I knew what brand this polish actually is...lilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10922267699825039101noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5984734242545513077.post-52776125213480184172010-07-29T21:03:00.000-07:002010-07-30T02:04:30.730-07:00L'Oreal Shocking Green<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwfcgAfETb0JRtKvhwQWtHvPDX5_YabuQxqSm86Gey8xoZXvtuFH9UWEh-KtHx0jnniK-T9rICJPea7u7PiugUtkJ_RAr4r8f7Y8yaJD_CWRhVvj6m3lV89K1mt_ImWXTxgzVDAaMTvgpK/s1600/000_0004_07.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwfcgAfETb0JRtKvhwQWtHvPDX5_YabuQxqSm86Gey8xoZXvtuFH9UWEh-KtHx0jnniK-T9rICJPea7u7PiugUtkJ_RAr4r8f7Y8yaJD_CWRhVvj6m3lV89K1mt_ImWXTxgzVDAaMTvgpK/s400/000_0004_07.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499550340094647314" border="0" /></a>Short post tonight - it's been a hectic day and I'm a bit worn out!<br /><br />Shocking Green is...well, green, obviously. (My descriptive skills are falling a bit short here.) A medium yellow-toned green to be exact, with some gold/orange/green shimmer in it which didn't really show up well in the pictures. It look a bit greener in the first pic than it actually is; the next two are more color-accurate.<br /><br />Here it is in sunlight:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilCmg6eksv9drxjaFY1U6QFwsaRPv5WqE3dbKGXhCB0C4-TS4Io6zwCu4m3YF4FXdKmGHtxFgXrqxYlIpxdtT9JbWFhT0bNHTq7_Zh2pdGA9pTmM4LUBqfMb2VANMFJptFm12a7Suw8g16/s1600/000_0001_07.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilCmg6eksv9drxjaFY1U6QFwsaRPv5WqE3dbKGXhCB0C4-TS4Io6zwCu4m3YF4FXdKmGHtxFgXrqxYlIpxdtT9JbWFhT0bNHTq7_Zh2pdGA9pTmM4LUBqfMb2VANMFJptFm12a7Suw8g16/s400/000_0001_07.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499550334903939314" border="0" /></a>Oh, goodness, that is one ugly-bug of a polish shot! Please excuse the hard-scrabble-looking dirt background - I was late taking the pics today and had to follow the evening sunlight into a bare corner of the garden...That's where I tried to plant some sunflowers that failed spectacularly, and now it looks as if someone had salted the earth and nothing will ever grow there again. :( Anyway, where was I? Oh...back to the polish, with flash this time:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRo77EETLjXn5sEpY_Ayh1moI3DrLVTg8P35uWa0xARxYwpL0vgs3InNJywDlRuEq2XYNNAedC2IRl_dS5LqIfkfut5sWjjBB7HRDbRhpYozan4JYN5BAZAhpy_vj6NczY56OspwLBf7jo/s1600/000_0006_06.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRo77EETLjXn5sEpY_Ayh1moI3DrLVTg8P35uWa0xARxYwpL0vgs3InNJywDlRuEq2XYNNAedC2IRl_dS5LqIfkfut5sWjjBB7HRDbRhpYozan4JYN5BAZAhpy_vj6NczY56OspwLBf7jo/s400/000_0006_06.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499550327009636946" border="0" /></a>When I stopped at the beauty supply store today to pick up some polish thinner, still wearing this polish, the cashier asked me, "Is that 'Who the Shrek Are You' on your nails?" I don't have OPI's Who the Shrek Are You in my collection to compare it with, but judging from the swatches I've seen online, maybe it might be close...though I don't think the "Shrek" polish has shimmer in it, does it?<br /><br />Pics are two coats, plus base and top coats.<br /><br />Do enjoy the weekend, everyone! :)lilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10922267699825039101noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5984734242545513077.post-37307984353752344472010-07-28T19:18:00.000-07:002010-07-28T23:29:07.145-07:00Maybelline Express Finish 50 Second Nail Color - Scene Steeler<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijALsByiaXgdMOgy_wJILgJOQXwFND-9eQs1SmUIT6Mh0jqmhr00jDo03A_QGXZYUtSNaRyjVI6duSDcQ8nMtV8E1wviDz16xpvB675p0Wq_LoAUVXqfk-v9OYVbsUF1n1LqR4OKqaVGe7/s1600/000_0004_06.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijALsByiaXgdMOgy_wJILgJOQXwFND-9eQs1SmUIT6Mh0jqmhr00jDo03A_QGXZYUtSNaRyjVI6duSDcQ8nMtV8E1wviDz16xpvB675p0Wq_LoAUVXqfk-v9OYVbsUF1n1LqR4OKqaVGe7/s400/000_0004_06.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499154152124962706" border="0" /></a>A very dark steely gray polish, with a silvery shimmer. I like this; I'm very fond of the darker, more vampy colors, and I think this one makes my nails look like black pearls.<br /><br />It went on quite nicely, dried very quickly, and wore well (as well as anything ever does for me - I'm really hard on my nails most of the time.) Pics are three coats, plus base and top coat.<br /><br />Here it is in the sun: (hmmm...looking at this picture I can see that i filed the nail on my third finger really unevenly - dang!)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbwmpzeZ2ZEKcHzRJRkaYqtD5A62YKP06AbJ5MbrQyE8k8fWhaeFG3aW8PlgP_uQxXQBfjm5P1CFLM3Pz6_eGWzMmy0DZY2HtQg49V22peiKiziY_TeRh2LgLehbGio3sv23ZZQZF_PTPX/s1600/000_0001_06.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbwmpzeZ2ZEKcHzRJRkaYqtD5A62YKP06AbJ5MbrQyE8k8fWhaeFG3aW8PlgP_uQxXQBfjm5P1CFLM3Pz6_eGWzMmy0DZY2HtQg49V22peiKiziY_TeRh2LgLehbGio3sv23ZZQZF_PTPX/s400/000_0001_06.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499154146287759778" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp521Us0GfnxgCUEPSQBNcy5vxZaPpaF7YjyDveG7Vz86q9-dNeT_vI1EubkyMkmpqWhynt1xGvBcW3a5W_o_nhiUh4fXlLZNJuGwm62Rk-s4pCJ_pwFGdQSfgPtq3kS8SGKjxvylrqBkt/s1600/000_0002_04.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp521Us0GfnxgCUEPSQBNcy5vxZaPpaF7YjyDveG7Vz86q9-dNeT_vI1EubkyMkmpqWhynt1xGvBcW3a5W_o_nhiUh4fXlLZNJuGwm62Rk-s4pCJ_pwFGdQSfgPtq3kS8SGKjxvylrqBkt/s400/000_0002_04.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499154138808124114" border="0" /></a>And in shade:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCbRnAOkt30dHRqP2HG3f5DmxxxYM1-myn3xbh2-vodrnUb2hXmyV-ZahWYqBbeVQS076g559004YPWqGXWPt7sPFkpaRs4krvPdGXyW1lKHH6qQ0oQJlIf45XQ57U8vn7k0HBZyCgoxuV/s1600/000_0006_05.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCbRnAOkt30dHRqP2HG3f5DmxxxYM1-myn3xbh2-vodrnUb2hXmyV-ZahWYqBbeVQS076g559004YPWqGXWPt7sPFkpaRs4krvPdGXyW1lKHH6qQ0oQJlIf45XQ57U8vn7k0HBZyCgoxuV/s400/000_0006_05.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499154133274216098" border="0" /></a>Incidentally, I stopped by Rite-Aid this evening, and since I can never pass by any nail polish displays without stopping to take a look, I had a quick glance. They had a Sinful Colors Shanghai Nights Display, but they were all out of Bamboo, which is the only one of that collection I was really interested in...Lol, I guess everybody else was, too! I did spot a nearly full Sinful Colors Colors of Darkness display tucked away on a bottom shelf. All of those colors looked verrrry vampy, and I am verrry interested in at least a few of them. (Which means watch this space for swatches...;)<br /><br />Vampy, dark, and brooding colors (yay! ;D) seem to be quite the trend in Rite-Aid at the moment; I also happened upon a Wet'n'Wild Color Icon Insomnia display, which was all about dark, vampy reds, blues, and purples and glitters in black jelly bases. I am currently quite intrigued by most (ok, all) of them as we speak...There are only two of each color in the display and they seemed to be going fast.<br /><br />I did notice one thing about the Wet'n'Wild Insomnia collection, though - one of the colors, Prowler, a purple glitter in a dark jelly base, looks to me like an exact dupe of Night Prowl, one of the polishes in the regular Wet'n'Wild display. Since I already bought Night Prowl in the 0.43 bottle for ninety-nine cents, I don't think I'm going to be in a big hurry to pay $1.99 for 0.29 oz of Prowler... Just sayin'... All the other colors in the display, though, looked new and different.lilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10922267699825039101noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5984734242545513077.post-72927821527160676992010-07-28T00:18:00.001-07:002010-07-28T00:48:02.700-07:00Claire's Ocean Breeze<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb4F9aeBNB_Wt1G6DtR2l63SbwBnJoNZba1hOlQPRTYEdc1XB3uYn5NU906vuYDp_gSM5B0FHIsVPmPOO7TLb-Cl5C7KJJpPKaJkqb945uoQmTCiXgckBFOPNZX7FX4jS9I8oOsEmWprOn/s1600/000_0008_02.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb4F9aeBNB_Wt1G6DtR2l63SbwBnJoNZba1hOlQPRTYEdc1XB3uYn5NU906vuYDp_gSM5B0FHIsVPmPOO7TLb-Cl5C7KJJpPKaJkqb945uoQmTCiXgckBFOPNZX7FX4jS9I8oOsEmWprOn/s400/000_0008_02.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498797450651014402" border="0" /></a>Blue skies and butterflies...<br /><br />I admit, I bought this polish purely out of curiosity. I had never tried a layered polish before, and I wondered how it would come out on the nail. It was also part of the ten-for-ten-dollar polish sale I lucked into a while back at Claire's, so for a dollar I figured I'd give it a try.<br /><br />Well, it came out blue. I'm not sure why; as a sticker on the top of the cap instructed, I did<span style="font-style: italic;"> not</span> shake it, and I tried to be careful to dip the brush all the way down into the bottle to try to pick up some of the layered colors. It still came out blue.<br /><br />It is, however, a very lovely blue, a color that makes me think of cloudless summer skies. Here it is in the shade:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLLkgNTzUlENH7qQwGX-yOCbeV_WFVXuk4x9cmWFx2jzAz-3CLeHTt1obG_-WteC7auSI_8HmgKNX-1M3G_GuNvwXKHpz-BkA47PwPDfNTe50nm_qAUYaZ32bh7yHAVOvREGYbBOnC3W8R/s1600/000_0004_05.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLLkgNTzUlENH7qQwGX-yOCbeV_WFVXuk4x9cmWFx2jzAz-3CLeHTt1obG_-WteC7auSI_8HmgKNX-1M3G_GuNvwXKHpz-BkA47PwPDfNTe50nm_qAUYaZ32bh7yHAVOvREGYbBOnC3W8R/s400/000_0004_05.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498797447290269874" border="0" /></a>And in the sunlight:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWaNyt513hNcQN6bDSMZNf5ByO7qnojQv5c5Vv8c8ytydNQXRjqmqG1nEWPBMO9dE5oPLgN2eB1cM5sFB2nLSsCdp57eGyJck1JJvWqTjMUCvswCQKYFpiqfc_pm7pf5lpO7ODVTz7NJAo/s1600/000_0007_01.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWaNyt513hNcQN6bDSMZNf5ByO7qnojQv5c5Vv8c8ytydNQXRjqmqG1nEWPBMO9dE5oPLgN2eB1cM5sFB2nLSsCdp57eGyJck1JJvWqTjMUCvswCQKYFpiqfc_pm7pf5lpO7ODVTz7NJAo/s400/000_0007_01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498797443039934898" border="0" /></a>Although the polish seemed a little thick (I'm guessing maybe it has to be to maintain the layered effect in the bottle instead of all mixing together) it went on very smoothly, dried in a perfectly reasonable amount of time, and was completely opaque in two coats. (The fact that it's flooded onto my cuticles in the pics is entirely the fault of my shaky hands, not any flaw in the polish consistency itself.) The wear is good, as I've found it to be with all of the Claire's polishes I've tried so far - no chipping, smudging, dinging, or tip-wear after two days.<br /><br />Before I took the pictures, I decided to fancy it up a bit with some pink and white butterfly and flower nail art stickers on the middle finger (which is usually where things go horribly, tragically wrong for me because I'm apparently sticker-challenged and always end up with the darn things stuck firmly somewhere I don't want them, and then ruin my manicure trying to pry them off and re-stick them. That's why I only did one nail on each hand; it turned out pretty well this time and figured I'd best not push my luck!)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4lvvVu3Av-ODlPnkua4XZZOPBjfDZ_JoYecFKHbVEdFU4TxVz1ZPnz09qs6XDvwrhLHTwZONbEwJq6ZqEGXZe9n9f_48u9i8hyEXXEeez6pxtfUTFdO92QUc9ITN_8SxxF3GnIuYgSeGK/s1600/000_0009_01.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4lvvVu3Av-ODlPnkua4XZZOPBjfDZ_JoYecFKHbVEdFU4TxVz1ZPnz09qs6XDvwrhLHTwZONbEwJq6ZqEGXZe9n9f_48u9i8hyEXXEeez6pxtfUTFdO92QUc9ITN_8SxxF3GnIuYgSeGK/s400/000_0009_01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498797430316870290" border="0" /></a>I absolutely <span style="font-style: italic;">love</span> this shade of blue! :)<br /><br />I wonder, though, is there a trick to applying layered polishes that I just don't know? Has anybody else tried them and gotten a multi-colored effect?lilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10922267699825039101noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5984734242545513077.post-13312320952351153622010-07-26T20:50:00.000-07:002010-07-26T23:53:38.542-07:00Ooops!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZr7xQ4yMafPxhl6PGMAOX3r775cMNeKja5cHnXBu6n5ZdGJf931Yzm8Ozd98hWAUZpz6-ahFnqS1J2-FNpC2-dzmjqNiOgh4E5V9FnbtzmCsrJTvonaIWQ7CC3rJsc78QhbvopTGl31Ji/s1600/000_0002_03.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZr7xQ4yMafPxhl6PGMAOX3r775cMNeKja5cHnXBu6n5ZdGJf931Yzm8Ozd98hWAUZpz6-ahFnqS1J2-FNpC2-dzmjqNiOgh4E5V9FnbtzmCsrJTvonaIWQ7CC3rJsc78QhbvopTGl31Ji/s400/000_0002_03.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498457591717895314" border="0" /></a>While trying to figure out my camera issues, I accidentally deleted all the pics of this weekend's manicure (yeah, I'm a real whizbang with stuff like digital cameras sometimes! ;-P), so I'll have to redo and re-photograph that one later. Sorry, guys...Please bear with me - the camera is fairly new and I'm still learning how to use it.<br /><br />And I'm in mourning for my nails, which did not survive an encounter with the hood release lever of my car on Sunday night. So, thanks to my car's need to have oil put into it, I'm going to have to try to rock a set of nubbins for a while.<br /><br />In the meantime, though, here's another post about me messing around with glitter! :D<br /><br />I'm calling this franken "Tarnished". I wanted a gothier glitter that would be dark yet still sparkly, but not the more usual silver, pink, red, or purple glitter in a black base, etc...So I started off by mixing a pewter-colored glitter into a clear base. Then I added a bit of silver glitter, a touch of dusky lavender glitter, a sprinkle of black glitter, and just a hint of iridescent glitter for extra sparkle and to light up the darkness a little, and this I what I ended up with. Here it is in full sun, doing it's sparkly thing:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg9HBpZTmbSSY6tGjn-SPB2r2iw2mjvgTui-2WR6kO971BCBWz-QjgoXkeC-KbFJpBK3_TMHy7WU2VvFkhidUGCZ2xkwxVMrzkfirwCC94krc_c-SRRJTbfiFkD9LMyP3L8D6ly-eIWeyx/s1600/000_0001_05.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg9HBpZTmbSSY6tGjn-SPB2r2iw2mjvgTui-2WR6kO971BCBWz-QjgoXkeC-KbFJpBK3_TMHy7WU2VvFkhidUGCZ2xkwxVMrzkfirwCC94krc_c-SRRJTbfiFkD9LMyP3L8D6ly-eIWeyx/s400/000_0001_05.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498457589489349218" border="0" /></a>And in the shade, still sparkling away:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXaVoSLKK-SQXdhl9VIgvbHh0TMedBiZAItjwf5PxXGUqwMFLe1AgymW5NPWTIhI5RK4agJp2cE4DcCiwnGougYNb22AJaV1fnFn57I3nU9pekTQ4fGAKIQd5G1Mz7gxkssbclX-2wiWdt/s1600/000_0005_06.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXaVoSLKK-SQXdhl9VIgvbHh0TMedBiZAItjwf5PxXGUqwMFLe1AgymW5NPWTIhI5RK4agJp2cE4DcCiwnGougYNb22AJaV1fnFn57I3nU9pekTQ4fGAKIQd5G1Mz7gxkssbclX-2wiWdt/s400/000_0005_06.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498457578250877634" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfJZ1wRo8Qhr8vLq9WeWJ9Loy4XyCXlt1-MxTtfBFidtqD7clljoh1kNXLklpjIUDHntJS4Rjnr-bsiqYIFiRIfUiw4pAvxcssP4Vag7A25wQgAbWmk971xmE-HYdwJownwmzEAMH7Z1K4/s1600/000_0003_02.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfJZ1wRo8Qhr8vLq9WeWJ9Loy4XyCXlt1-MxTtfBFidtqD7clljoh1kNXLklpjIUDHntJS4Rjnr-bsiqYIFiRIfUiw4pAvxcssP4Vag7A25wQgAbWmk971xmE-HYdwJownwmzEAMH7Z1K4/s400/000_0003_02.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498457572275705010" border="0" /></a>I love glitter! Have I ever mentioned that? ;)<br /><br />Now, I'm off to re-read my camera's instruction manual so that I can provide you with a post about an actual polish next time, instead of a post about me dumping a half-ton of glitter into a bottle of clear polish and going, "Oooooohhh, sparklyyy :D!!!!"<br />Hope everyone's week started off well!lilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10922267699825039101noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5984734242545513077.post-51764264744752117842010-07-23T01:56:00.000-07:002010-07-23T02:54:00.842-07:00Maybelline Express Finish 50 Second Nail color - Summer Sunset<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqoVmdlajE_fNYndy7YSyFNlsrkWjdKPsQF-NSqSDzfTGuhBXq3I5L0oxvPkTRA7aCyOChxhdT0r_ZMX7zXuKAA1PLG_DOOdJCbtdWAkrknX8iChxk5QMWMCLw2TFE_2doZg7k8es368gC/s1600/000_0005_05.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqoVmdlajE_fNYndy7YSyFNlsrkWjdKPsQF-NSqSDzfTGuhBXq3I5L0oxvPkTRA7aCyOChxhdT0r_ZMX7zXuKAA1PLG_DOOdJCbtdWAkrknX8iChxk5QMWMCLw2TFE_2doZg7k8es368gC/s400/000_0005_05.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497024576782076498" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi484v-pqPBerJCcY05P7cZBXct0Znga7rihX4fo05crUCUk8SLNOnl0dAXFwYpz2O24bLC3DrAFhRb3huNLhca8hjGcei-muT5shyJnc6OoG7iBsIBvixvsbc4OY9QedzBhiFNEgvWYcbR/s1600/000_0006_04.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi484v-pqPBerJCcY05P7cZBXct0Znga7rihX4fo05crUCUk8SLNOnl0dAXFwYpz2O24bLC3DrAFhRb3huNLhca8hjGcei-muT5shyJnc6OoG7iBsIBvixvsbc4OY9QedzBhiFNEgvWYcbR/s400/000_0006_04.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497024569772510194" border="0" /></a>I'm experiencing technical difficulties at the moment. I can't get my camera to transfer pictures to my computer properly. I did manage to upload two of the five I had of this polish, although they're hardly the best of the lot...I'll be working on fixing the issue.<br /><br />Anyway, here's a polish that was much, much prettier in the bottle than it is on my nails. When I spotted this one in the store, it was a gorgeous coral pink color with an almost glass-fleck golden shimmer; the perfect summer color, I thought. Since I adore glass-fleck polishes, I snapped it right up - only to find that the drool-worthy gold shimmer didn't show up nearly as much on my nails. Disappointing. :(<br /><br />I figured it was going to be somewhat sheer, so I used a white base coat. And sure enough - the pics show four coats plus top coat, but looking at my nails in the sunlight, I could still see some streakiness. It really could have used another coat. Now, I'm impressed if a polish is opaque and matches bottle-color in two coats, I'm not really phased by doing three coats, I can even tolerate a four-coater for the sake of a great color...but five is really pushing it, in my opinion. <span style="font-style: italic;">Sigh...</span>I realize I may be biased here; I'm just not a fan of sheer polishes.<br /><br />So...this wasn't a <span style="font-style: italic;">bad</span> polish, by any means. It's still a rather pretty color, and it did dry quickly, although I didn't time it to see whether it dried in fifty seconds (Am I just imagining things, or did they change that? Didn't it used to be "sixty seconds"?). It just wasn't what I was expecting or hoping it would be, and was too sheer for my personal taste. Oh well...at least the polish I replaced it with for this weekend turned out to be a beauty - I'll have pics of that one up on Monday, once I've straightened out my camera issues.<br /><br />I hope everyone has a terrific weekend. See you at the beginning of next week! :)lilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10922267699825039101noreply@blogger.com4