30 Day Challenge, Day 30: Something That Makes You Happy

Hi everyone! After a grueling 30 Day Challenge, the thing that makes me the most happy is something clean and fresh. I'm about nail-arted out. So for today's challenge, Something That Makes Me Happy, I went with a clean, nude holo. This probably wasn't really the point of this prompt, but at this point, I couldn't think of anything that would make me more happy for a mani.

a-England Her Rose Adiago is a pink-toned nude scattered holo. As usual, the a-England formula is impeccable, covering completely in 2 easy coats. The subtle, glowy holo adds some extra fun to this work-appropriate shade. It was the perfect palette cleanser after this 30 day adventure!

a-England polishes can be purchased from a-England's official website if you live in the UK as well as from several international e-tailers (see full list here).

Well that wraps up the 30 Day Challenge! Be sure to check out what the other ladies have in store for today! Thanks for following along!

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30 Day Challenge, Day 29: Inspired by a TV Show

Hi everyone! Today's prompt for the 30 Day Challenge was Inspired by a TV Show. I had a tough time choosing between The Big Bang Theory and Park and Recreation, but this mani by Canadian Nail Fanatic really inspired my Big Bang Theory mani (even though I do not have her awesome themed plates!). I just decided to make some super nerdy science nails tor my favorite Big Bang Theory nerds.

 For my mani, I started off with a base of Cult Nails Evil Queen (red) and OPI I Just Can't Cope-acabana (yellow). I stamped with Konad Black using Bundle Monster plates BM-408 and BM-415 as well as Cheeky XL Happy Nails and Top of the Class plates. I painted the atom with acrylic paints.

Almost done! Only one more day to go! Be sure to check out what the other girls are doing for today! Thanks for looking everyone!

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30 Day Challenge, Day 28: Inspired by a Video Game

Hi everyone! Today's 30 Day Challenge had to be Inspired by a Video Game. I've been a Mario freak ever since I got my original Nintendo back in the late '80s. I know that everyone is into the more advanced fighter games these days, but I am (and will always be) a Mario girl.

For today's mani, I started off with a base of Orly Snowcone and then painted on all of my cute Mario power-ups with polish and acrylic paints.

Be sure to check out what everyone else is doing today! Thanks for looking everyone!

An InLinkz Link-up

Dance Legend Danger Danger

Hi everyone! Today I have a polish from the Dance Legend Wow Prisms line called Danger Danger. It is a hot cherry red jelly base filled with holo shards. This polish is amazing! I wore it for date night with the hubs and he liked it (he really just likes red polish). The formula was great and completely opaque in 2 coats. A must have for red lovers!

Dance Legend polishes originate from Russia and you can order direct from their website (shipping took 2 months to get to me in the US from Russia, and I've heard that is about average). They are also available from Llarowe, Color4Nails, and Ninja Polish which all ship to the US and internationally. Thanks for looking everyone!

30 Day Challenge, Day 27: Inspired by a Photograph

Hi everyone! Today's prompt in the 30 Day Challenge was Inspired by a Photograph. I took to Pinterest to find some inspiration for this challenge and I looked at Nature pictures. I fully expected to find some sort of flowers or trees to be my inspiration, but there were so many beautiful pictures of different nebulae, that I was drawn in a completely different direction. The last time that I did Galaxy Nails was in my very first 30 Day Challenge, so I figured it was a great time to revisit them.

Check out these amazing pictures! How can you help but be inspired by all of these gorgeous colors?

 Eagle Nebula 

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Carina Nebula

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For this mani, I started off with a base of L.A. Girl Black Illusion. I randomly sponged on my nebulae with Sinful Wisp and then added the colored polishes in various places on the white. I also used a dotting tool to add a few larger "stars" in a few places and then finished off with a thin coat of China Glaze Fairy Dust.

Polishes Used (L-R): Illamasqua Elope, Elevation Polish Sarychev, Zoya Zsa Zsa, FingerPaints Pop Art Purple, China Glaze Fairy Dust, Sinful Shine Wisp, L.A. Girl Black Illusion 

Be sure to check out what the other ladies have going on for today's challenge! Thanks for looking everyone!

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30 Day Challenge, Day 26: Inspired by The '90s

Hi everyone! Today's prompt for the 30 Day Challenge was Inspired by the'90s. I decided to do a mani inspired by Treasure Trolls! Everyone in the '90s had at least one of these, even if it was a baby one that you could put on the end of your pencil. I actually had an idea to do this mani a few years ago, but I never did do it. I'm not sure how well I pulled off my inspiration, but I thought it was sort of cute.

I started off with a base of OPI Taupe-less Beach. I used several China Glaze neons to make the "hair" using a striping brush. Then I placed glitters from Glam Polish Star Candy for the belly button jewels. It is a very loose interpretation of Treasure Trolls, but also very easy (and I like easy). 

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L-R: China Glaze I'm With the Lifeguard, China Glaze Love's a Beach, China Glaze Towel Boy Toy, China Glaze Sun-Kissed, China Glaze Surfin' For Boys, Glam Polish Star Candy

Be sure to check out what everyone else is up to for today's challenge! Thanks for looking everyone!

An InLinkz Link-up

30 Day Challenge, Day 25: Inspired by a Villain

Hi everyone! Today's mani for the 30 Day Challenge had to be Inspired by a Villain. I know that most Batman fans really hate the Batman movies that Joel Schumacher directed because they were so over the top and silly, but I still adored Jim Carrey's portrayal of The Riddler in Batman Forever. My husband and I have actually discussed at length who could possibly play the role of The Riddler if Christopher Nolan decided to bring the character into his movies, and we couldn't come up with anyone who could do the role justice. So for this mani, I decided to pay homage to The Riddler.

For my mani, I started off with a base of China Glaze Four Leaf Clover (which is much greener in real life...the neonish pigments in it make it look bluer in pictures). Then, because I don't have a nail art pen (YET!), I used a black Sharpie to draw on the question marks. This was, in fact, a terrible idea because topcoat made this a streaky mess. Thank goodness I took pictures first. I will be purchasing a black and white nail art pen soon.

 

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Be sure to check out what the other ladies have done for their Villain manis! Thanks for looking everyone!

An InLinkz Link-up

Contrary Polish Darling Wildflower from May's A Box, Indied

Hi everyone! Today I have a gorgeous polish from Contrary Polish to share with you. Contrary Polish Darling Wildflower is an exclusive to May's A Box, Indied which goes on sale today at Llarowe at 12 PM MDT and again at 7 PM MDT. This month's theme is "The Deadly and the Beautiful" and all of the polishes/products celebrate nature's flora. Other makers included in this month's box include CrowsToes, Hare Polish, Black Cat Lacquer, and Glisten & Glow (cuticle oil).

Darling Wildflower is a purple jelly with orange and red shimmery flakes. The shimmer is very apparent on the nail and just stunning! The jelly finish is sheer, but buildable. In real life, 3 thin coats was perfect for me, but I thought that 4 coats looked better in pictures and gave a more accurate representation of what the polish looks like in real life (one of the hazards of photographing jellies, I have found.) One of the things that I love about Contrary's jellies is that they dry quickly between coats, and you should definitely let the coats dry a bit to avoid dragging. I'm a purple shimmer lover, and this one is just gorgeous!! I adore this combination of colors.

 

A Box, Indied is available from Llarowe for $50 each. The polishes and products that are included in each month's box are exclusive to that box and will not be available individually. You can sign up to receive a box each month or you can purchase the boxes individually when they are released. Follow Llarowe's Facebook page for announcements of exact dates and times of releases (the box for the next month is usually released around the end of the previous month.) She will also give previews of the products and makers that will be in the box (there is a rotation of makers that are included, it isn't always the same). Thanks for looking everyone!

*This polish was provided as a gift from the maker*

CANVAS Lacquer Mother of Dragons and Hand of the King

Hi everyone! Today I have a few swatches from a new to me Indie maker called CANVAS Lacquer. They are based in Canada and they just opened up their Etsy Shop back in March. The polishes I have today are from their Ice & Fire Collection. This collection is, of course, inspired by Game of Thrones. There are seven polishes in this collection, and I have two to show you today.

Mother of Dragons has a murky green jelly base filled with green, wine, green holo, and iridescent glitter with fine gold shimmer throughout. This polish very complex and beautiful. The formula is on the thicker side, but spreads easily and the glitters disperse evenly on the nail. This was 2 coats plus topcoat. I just used 1 coat of topcoat with it, and it was very smooth. A very interesting and unique polish which I thought was super cool.

Hand of the King is a red-leaning purple holo with a jelly base. Formula was smooth and easy for this one, and it was fully opaque at two coats. I used my regular topcoat with it and I didn't notice any dulling of the holo effect. As I said, this one has a more scattered holo effect and it really comes to life in the sun. A lovely polish for all of you purple lovers out there.

CANVAS Lacquer is available from creators Alana and Lan's Etsy Shop. Follow their blog and Twitter for new brand info and to see more swatches. They currently have the Ice & Fire Collection as well as a Limited Edition Pantone Color of the Year Duo in their shop, but I've seen some photos of some new things that they have in the works! Thanks for looking everyone!

*Press samples sent for my honest review*

30 Day Challenge, Day 24: Inspired By Your Favorite Children's Book

Hi everyone! Today's 30 Day Challenge mani had to be Inspired by Your Favorite Children's Book. I was a big reader when I was a kid, so I have a lot of favorites (I almost went with Where the Wild Things Are) but this book is one that I have a lot of fond memories of. Put Me in the Zoo is about a leopard named Spot (that looks decidedly more like a giant Great Dane to me) who can do all sort of tricks with his spots and he wants to be a part of the zoo. It is determined, in the end, that he is better suited for the circus. My mom actually has a quite adorable video of me reading this book to her on an old VHS tape. 

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For my mani, I started off with a base of Revlon Colorstay Buttercup and then added multicolored dots to mimic Spot the leopard. The problem I had with this mani was that I had to change dot colors between each dot, so my polish "puddles" that I was dipping my dotting tool in kept drying up and getting goopy and stringy. You can actually see where some of the red got stringy on my middle nail, but for some reason in pictures it looks like a hair or something. I promise it is not a hair, it is nail polish! You couldn't even see this in person, but in pictures it was glaring. 

Colors Used (L-R): Zoya Sooki, OPI A Roll in the Hague, Revlon Colorstay Buttercup, Illamasqua Elope, Essie Butler Please, and Amerian Apparel African Violet

Be sure to check out what the other ladies have going on for the challenge today! Thanks for looking everyone!

An InLinkz Link-up

30 Day Challenge, Day 23: Inspired by a CD Cover

Hi everyone! Today for the 30 Day Challenge, our mani had to be Inspired by a CD Cover. I could have done something recent, but this challenge prompt made me think back to my very first CDs. When I got my first CD player sometime in the mid-'90s, there were a few CDs that were at the top of my list. The Backstreet Boys, Mariah Carey, N'Sync, Matchbox 20, and the Spice Girls were all among the first CDs that I owned. But there was that one CD that I wanted that my mom would not let me have due to the "parental advisory". Alanis Morissette's Jagged Little Pill was one of the quintessential albums of the '90s. Angsty teenage girls everywhere listened to this emotionally charged album and felt that Alanis had captured all of their feelings in music (even though the themes of the songs were waaaaay beyond their years). I still love this album today, although I was never allowed to officially "own it". I may have sneakily made a mix-tape that was unlabeled at some point...and then of course once iPods came around, all of the MP3s were downloaded and I still have them on there. 

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So for my mani, I started off with a base of OPI My Boyfriend Scales Walls. I then used a fan brush to create random patterns with various jellies in a gradient across my nails to mimic the colors and textures on the front of the album. It was meant to be very organic looking, and it was very easy to do since it was free-form.

Colors Used:
Zoya Zsa Zsa (red)
Elevation Polish Sarychev (Orange)
China Glaze You Drive Me Coconuts (Pink)
Wet n Wild Teal Slowly and See (Blue)
American Apparel Pacific Beach (Light Teal)
Nails Inc Warwick Way (Dark Teal)
New York Summer Hot Green (Green)
China Glaze Creative Fantasy (purple)

Be sure to check out what everyone else did for the challenge! Thanks for looking everyone!

An InLinkz Link-up

30 Day Challenge Day 22: Match Your Nails To Your Drink

Hi everyone! Today's 30 Day Challenge prompt was to match our nails to our drink. I decided on a Sonic Cherry Limeade. My husband likes to stop and bring me one as a treat sometimes. Also, the more cherries...the better. If I ever get one without cherries, I'm not a happy camper. So for the mani, I started out with a base of China Glaze Sugar High. I then painted on the cherries and lime slices with acrylic paint.

 

Be sure to check out what the other ladies have in store for today! Thanks for looking!

An InLinkz Link-up

30 Day Challenge, Day 21: Weather Insipired

Hi everyone! Today's 30 Day Challenge prompt was Weather Inspired. For my mani, I used a base of Colors by Llarowe House of Blues and then stamped with Darling Diva Polish Diamond using Bundle Monster plate BM312. For the accent nail, I used acrylic paints to freehand an umbrella. It is pretty wonky looking, but you get the picture. :) I topped it with a little bit of Darling Diva Polish's Dreamy holographic topcoat. 

Be sure to check out what the other ladies are up to in the challenge! Thanks for looking everyone!

An InLinkz Link-up