Mermaid Inspired Nails

Well, its been about 2 years since I have been on here....

YIKES!!!

But just because I have not been on here doesn't mean that I have stopped doing my nails.
If you follow me on Facebook and Instagram you are fully aware of that.

But here is my latest creation that I put together just for y'all!
Enjoy!!


I started off by prepping and priming my nails with the "Sally Hansen Double Duty base and top coat".

Once they had dried, I used 3 coats of OPI's "Alpine Snow" in Matte.
I had to use 3 coats because as a matte polish they tend to be very streaky for me, and I wanted a nice opaque base.
But, since it was a matte formula, it doesn't take long to dry.

I then picked two colors that would blend nicely for a gradient.
I picked "Turquoise & Caicos" by Essie, and "Mint Sorbet" from the Sally Hansen Hard as Nails Xtreme Wear line to be applied with a makeup sponge applicator.

After three coats of this gradient affect I applied another clear coat to smooth out the colors.

Naturally my nails were a mess and needed to be cleaned up.

Once they were all cleaned up and dry, the fun began.

I took "Disco Nap" from the Color Club and used a toothpick to make "scales" on my nails.

It was easy to do in little connected "u" shapes throughout my nails.

Once they were done I added a final top coat to protect my design, and give it a smoothing shine.

And thats it!

I hope this inspires you to recreate this look.
I think it's super cute for the summer!

Sunshine Nails

Why hello there! Its been a while since I have been on here posting. But I promise I will won't take that long of an absence again.
While my posts may have stopped months back, I have not stopped painting my nails. My collection has expanded too! Any who, on to my current nails!

First I took off all my polish, filled and buffed my nails.
Then I put on a clear base coat. I am using Sally Hansen Hard as Nails Xtreme Wear.

 

I've had this for years! I love it! But like always, any clear nail polish will do.

After my nails have dried, I painted 2-3 coats of Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure in Buttercup.

I think that this is such a pretty yellow! Perfect for spring and summer.

Now it wouldn't be a complete without something special added to it. I thought of polka dots, but I was not happy with how they were looking. So instead, I picked my ring fingers to be different than the rest and made a simple design on them.
I have some nail strippers from Kiss. I used a white one and a silver one.

First I started with the white striper, and made 3 "swoops" on each sides of the nail from the outside going in and up.
Then I outlined it with the silver striper since I felt that it needed a bit more color.

Once they were dry, I put my clear coat of polish on top.

When my nails were 100% dry, I cleaned them up with polish remover and a q-tip.

And there you go!

Hoping that they bring sunshine to you on a rainy day ...
Jess <3

Do you know Jacques??

Another favorite nail polish of mine has once again found coverage on my nails.
OPI's "You Don't Know Jacques".

Before I owned this polish I probably had my local nail salon paint my toes this color at least 5 times in one year! Yes I am that much in love with the color.

So obviously when I saw it months ago at an Ulta store, obviously, I snagged a bottle :)

I feel like this is a great color for the fall. Granted I will wear this color all year round, but its one of those colors you know was created for the fall.

Some people say it reminds them of "mud". But I think of the North East during the fall, when it had just rained heavily the day before and the tree bark is so dark and deep. Thats what this reminds me of.

And little tidbits of these things, make the distance from NYC just a tad bit more tolerable.

With the feeling of fall on my nails......
Jess <3

Rave of Rubies!!!

If it was not for the fact that I have another color lined up ready to be worn I would repaint my nails this color AGAIN!!!!

Essie's "Wrapped in Rubies" is by far one of my favorite colors that I have come across on my nail addiction.

(Pardon the chip on the nail.... I never took a picture of this when I first painted them its been 5 days)

When you look at the bottle the only thing I thought was "oh its like a red rust.... it might be cool to try". I was so wrong! After I put on 2-3 coats my nails looked majestic!! Not rustic!!! My husband says that it is FSU red (Florida State University, obviously we are FSU fans), or garnet as he calls it, and that all I need is to get gold and I'll have FSU nails.

Well looking at the bottle you would think that you would have a gold hue to it, but I was wrong. It doesn't look like the red/gold color the bottle portrays.

Its like red berries in the fire! Thats how my mind thinks of it. When I think of a "ruby red" I think brighter red than this.

This seriously is a wonderful winter/holiday color! I love the color so much that when I painted my nails, I painted my toes the same color!! I have not done that since.... well.... HS maybe?? I don't count french mani/pedi's.
I've seen this color in my local CVS, so I highly recommend that you check it out next time you are in one!!

Typing with rubies on my fingers....

Jess <3

Prostate Cancer Awareness

Now this gives the saying "Bearded Lady" a whole new meaning!!!

My friend and I both saw this video on YouTube, about Mustache Nails.
Cutepolish Mustache Nails
I am normally not a fan of facial hair, but these were really fun and cute! So at a recent "Girls Night In" I painted her nails.

This is the first time that someone has let me paint their nails (since doing this blog). Needless to say I am tickled pink that she let me!

First, I put a clear base coat on her nails to protect them.
Then I painted her nails with two coats of Sally Hansen Hard as Nails Xtreme Wear in "03 Bamboo Shoot".

This is my FAVORITE color for a french manicure. I think I've gone through at least 2 bottles of this color. Sadly I have not seen any of them in stores, so I tend to be afraid to use it. haha!! Its like a prized possession for me.

Next, I put some of Essie's "Licorice" on a paper plate, and used the ends of my bobby pin to make two dots next to each other in the middle of her nail.

Then I used a tooth pick and made a small dot on either side of the nail. I filled in the space to make it nice and curved like handlebar mustache.

Once the nails were dry, I added a top coat to prolong the life of her nails.


In prostate cancer awareness women can proudly strut their mustaches......
Jess <3

P.S. for those wondering November is Prostate Cancer Awareness... or as men are calling it Beardvember.

Shopping Splurge November 6, 2011

Today we (my little family and I) went to KMart.  I was obviously on a nail polish mission (insert James Bond theme song).

First, I spotted this adorable thing! 

Granted I am not one to own my own tool set.... I want to but theres only room for one tool collector in this family. But I have so many ideas for this bad girl going through my mind.... Hubby said for me to use it for my nail polish. But I don't think theres enough room for my nail polishes. But maybe some makeup items. Or better yet my crocheting things and scrapbooking things. I can totally use this!! And for $13 I couldn't pass it up. Plus it is pink. Plus its really sturdy!

Then I went a little nail polish crazy. I bought three polishes from Essie, and one from Sally Hansen.

First color I picked up was Essie's "Little Brown Dress".

I've been wanting this color for a while. And surprisingly I don't have any brown colors. This is a nice deep, rich, chocolate brown. And with winter coming so close I can almost taste it, I can see this becoming a favorite really fast!

Second color was Essie's "Licorice". Another color that I have been wanting. Plus, this is my first BLACK color!!! If you read my last blog, I mentioned how I don't have a solid black color. And now I do!!! 

Third color is Essie's "Fiji". This color was referred to me by a friend. Plus, I've heard such good things about it. It really is a beautiful pink. And my motto is that you can never have enough pink in your life. So when in doubt, I pink it out!

My last color was from Sally Hansen Hard as Nails in "630 Tough Luck". 

I have never seen a Sally Hansen bottle like this. And I only paid about $1.99 for it!!!! So, I'm not sure if this is just at KMart, or just at my KMart. But if you've seen this let me know... I'll paint my nails this color soon and let you know how well it lasts. 

Here's a swatch of the colors.

Granted the "Little Brown Dress" looks black... but its so pretty in person!!!

ALSO! I picked these bad boys up for a $1.99!!! 

3 nail filers, and they are winter themed!!!! I'll admit, I'm a sucker for details like this. hahaha!!! 

Oh, and for those of you who are wondering....

Its been 9 DAYS since I put my nail strips on, and they still have not chipped or cracked!!!! Thats longer than any nail polish that I have or have had painted on my nails (not including wraps)!!! So the $10 investment to me was worth it. But I don't think, I'll be buying them like crazy.

dreaming of winter wonderland, while my feet are in the sand.....

Jess <3