Beyond the Sun + Best Blog Award

Happy Friday!
Yes, I’m back. I needed to get another blogging fix as soon as I could. I wanted to share a mani I did a little while ago that was simple but still had some impact.



For this look I pulled out Color Club – Beyond & Zoya – Solange.
I stamped using Plate BM-315.

Beyond is awesome. So much freakin holo. I love how it came out a lighter navy once
I stamped over it even though on its own it is normally a much deeper colour.
Solange is gorgeous too. I can already tell that I`m going to love it on it`s own.

Below is a photo using a spot light. I wanted to show you just how much depth there is to Beyond.
Honestly, whoever named this polish was spot on. Beyond awesome.

In other news, I was also nominated for the Best Blog Award by The Polish Playground. This award is similar to the Liebster because it`s not really an award per say, it`s just a way of connecting to other blogs and bloggers. But because I`m bad I decided to break the rules. I chose to answer the questions but to not create new ones or tag anyone. I`m breaking the chain people! However, having said that, if you`re a new blogger and this particular list of questions peeks your interests than consider yourself nominated and feel free to pass on the award.

Best Blog Award

1. Do you have any siblings?
Yes, I have 2 older sisters but I also consider my boyfriend’s brother and his girlfriend my siblings too.

2. What's your guilty pleasure?
I love reality shows. My favourite would have to be the Real Housewives series. It’s nothing that stimulates the mind too much but it really helped me relax when I was in school and exhausted from a 12 page paper.

3. What's your zodiac sign?
I’m a Leo. Rawr. But I swear I’m one of the best Leos you’ll meet.
It’s the Virgo in my astrological makeup that makes me nicer.

4. What's your favorite color?
Purple

5. Your favorite genre of music to listen to?
It all depends on my mood.

6. What's your one favorite nail polish at the moment?
I can’t pick one! That’s cruel! Umm… Beyond – Colour Club & OPI – Kiss Me On My Tulips.

7. What was your first ever nail polish you bought?
I have no idea.

8. What colors do you have the most of in your collection?
I feel like I have a pretty decent assortment of colours but there’s lots of blue and purple.

9. What's your favourite nail polish finish to wear?
I love cremes.

10. What's your most expensive nail polish that you own?
I have a few piCture pOlishes and a pair of Enchanted Polishes.
I also have a Deborah Lipmann that retails around $20 but I got it on sale.

11. Do you prefer short or long nails?
Neither really but I lean towards longer nails. I usually keep mine at a medium-ish length.

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That`s all for now friends. Enjoy the rest of your day and I hope you have a great weekend! You will likely hear from me sometime on Sunday or Monday. Thank you again to The Polish Playground for the nomination!

D

7 Deadly Sins Challenge: Wrath

Hello there!
So I’m back from the dead, or as I like to call it “I-finally-got-my-laptop-back-from-that-place-that-repairs-them-praised-be-baby-Jesus”. My entire cooling system needed to be replaced. I understand why – I mean I’ve had my lap top for almost 4 years now – I just didn’t realize it would take so long. At first the man with the Russian accent said “okay, we’ll look at it and call you.” Then he called & said “So your cooling system needs replacing. We have to ship the part and it might take up to two weeks.” TWO FREAKIN WEEKS!! I wanted to cry. Luckily I only had to wait a week, but I still suffered from severe blogging withdrawal. And let me just say that using someone else’s lap top did not help. It just made me want mine more. Needless to say I was beyond happy when he called. This is what I sent a friend after I picked it up: “I finally got my laptop back (insert dancing emoticon) I was hugging it like it was my child that had been at camp for a week.”  Now you know my brain a little more.

Finally I get to blog. For my first day back I wanted to show you what I did for wrath for the Seven Deadly Sins Challenge. I choose to combine day 9 and 10 because I had my graduation that week (pssttt! upcoming mani) and I wouldn’t have time to do that many manicures in a week. So here are the prompts: “Day 9: Get mad trying, again, that technique you know it's going to be a fail” + “Day 10: Find something that blows your top and express it with your art!”

The technique that I chose to use was splatter. I’ve tried doing it on more than one occasion and it was just not happening, but I decided to give it another go (this was number 3 I’m pretty sure) because In Jeeb We Trust does the most amazing splatters and I just wanted to try and see if I could even manage to do one nail. Here they are:

To fulfill the day 10 aspect I had to think a little bit. I ended up using Translink (which is the name of the public transportation system where I live) as the thing that blows my top. Don’t get me wrong, I love being able to take a bus/skytrain anywhere in the city. I just wish that all the idiotic things that happen to me while I’m on the bus would stop. If you’ve ever taken public transit then you will understand. 



In any case, I used Translink’s colours so that the theme would be meet. Recently the buses were somewhat updated. Example. So the colours I went with were grey, yellow, dark blue, black, & a bit of white.
(If you'd like to know any of the names of the polishes just comment below.)




So there you go! First post back and I’ve already bombarded you with text.
It’s just because I missed you, I swear. Remember to check out the other ladies!

D

P.S. In case you noticed that I skipped day 8: not only was the theme sloth but the prompt said “only if you want”. I didn’t want. So I skipped it and embraced my slothy side.

Thandie

 

“When those you love die, the best you can do is honor their spirit for as long as you live. You make a commitment that you're going to take whatever lesson that person or animal was trying to teach you, and you make it true in your own life... it's a positive way to keep their spirit alive in the world, by keeping it alive in yourself.”
― Patrick Swayze

Thinking of you ciocia.


Zoya – Thandie + Northern Lights Silver Holographic Top Coat

D

7 Deadly Sins Challenge: Day 7 (Tutorial)

Hello! 
I have yet another Deadly Sins Challenge post to share with all of you.
Today’s prompt was:
“Don't try too hard but explain everyone how to do something really easy... (Tutorial)”.
Now I’ve never done a tutorial so this was definitely new waters for me. So I decided to keep it simple (after all, this week’s over all theme is Sloth). I used 2 tools (but you could get away with one if you get creative) & 3 polishes (but if you want to keep it simple and slothy you really only need 2). 

Here's the finished look:


& here's how to get them:



For my look I wanted to use different colours than the typical target board.

I used Zoya – Neely for my base.
Then I used Essie – School of Hard Rocks & Essie – Blanc for the target.




What do you think? Will you give this look a shot? (Pun intended).
If you did want to make it more complex you could add more circles or vary the colours.
Let me know if you do end up trying this out!
Remember to check out the other ladies participating in the challenge.
I’ll see you again in a few days.

D
P.S. I actually liked making this tutorial so you might just see another one come up again soon...

Mother’s Day Mani 2013

Hey friends!
So yesterday was Mother’s Day and of course I have some themed nails to show you.
But I actually wanted to do something a little different for this post.
Instead of making it all about me I’m making it (mostly) about my mama.

Normally I paint my mom’s nails whenever she asks me to, but it’s usually kept to just a couple coats of whichever one of my polishes she’s been eyeing (aka no nail art). This year I decided that part of my gift to her was to not only paint her nails but to make it a little more special. I asked her to choose colours – she asked for purple and yellow. Then she specifically asked for flowers before I could even mention options. So I obliged but I kicked it up a couple notches just to give it that extra your-daughter-is-obviously-awesome-and-loves-you-very-much glow.

So here they are (& many thanks to my lovely model):

I used Sally Hansen Insta Dri – Raspberry Race (why don’t we pronounce the “p” in that?) as my base. For the yellow/orange flowers I used Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear – Mellow Yellow & Wet n’ Wild Wild Shine – Sunny Side Up. For the pink flowers I used Sally Hansen Insta Dri – Fuchsia Flare & OPI – Kiss Me On My Tulips. At the center of each flower I dabbed Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure – Golden Rule. (Can you tell I love Sally Hansen polishes?)

So what do you think? Let me know below.

Of course the most important person in all this is my mama.
Thankfully she was really happy with them. While I painted we drank tea and watched 1952’s The Snows of Kilimanjaro staring Gregory Peck, Susan Hayward, & Ava Gardner.
I love watching old movies with my mum. I get swept up in the music and the dramatic acting.
I wish people still swooned in movies.
(I also wish I was always surrounded by soft lighting and that my lipstick was always impeccable. A girl can dream.)

Well that’s all for now everyone! Next up will likely be my attempt at a tutorial as I have to do one for the 7 Deadly Sins Challenge. We’ll see how that one goes…

D

7 Deadly Sins Challenge: Day 6

Happy Friday!
I have yet another Deadly Sins Post for you all. I’m very surprised that I’ve been able to keep up with all these.
I for sure thought I’d get lost in the manicure madness.
In any case, we’re onto the second day of Greed & the prompt was:
“Remember, More is More... Don't hold yourself back!”
So I went for it: I did a gradient, I stamped, and I used glitter. And here’s the result:

I used Sally Hansen Insta-Dri in Jade Jump and Mint Sprint (at least I think it’s Mint Sprint. I lost the little sticker with the name & after searching the internet everything that came up Mint Sprint matches my bottle) for the gradient.

I stamped using A England – Saint George & plate BM 301. Then I used a brush and applied Top Shop – Razzmatazz in between some of the lines.

What do you think friends? Let me know in the comments section.
Remember to check out the other ladies manicures too!
Next up: Mother’s day mani. See you soon!

D

7 Deadly Sins Challenge: Day 5

Hello!
Welcome to day 5 of the Deadly Sins Challenge. We’ve moved on from gluttony and now we’re onto greed. Today’s prompt was “Go wild and use your most expensive and precious polish”. I’ve had an idea about what I was going to do for this one for a little while now. Here it is:

For this look I used Deborah Lippmann – Amazing Grace
& piCture pOlish – O`Hara

I was so happy when I ordered Amazing Grace because it was the first DL polish I have ever purchased. But I`m so sad. It was streaky, watery, and really hard to work with. Thankfully I bought it on sale so I didn't pay retail price because I would have felt even more ripped off. I don`t understand how you can make twenty dollar polish and not have it be amazing (and then choose to call it amazing grace).

That`s all for now friends. Let me know what you think of these and make sure
to check out the other ladies greedy manicures.
I will see you again in a few days.

D

7 Deadly Sins Challenge: Day 4 & Liebster Part Deux

Do you like Pina Coladas?

Personally I prefer Bellini's over Pina Coladas but I couldn’t help but think of dear old Jimmy Buffet as I was doing this manicure. Why? Well let me explain: Today I’ve got the second part of Gluttony & the prompt was “Skip your diet and paint something that makes your stomach growl!!”. Now I was having a hard time thinking of what to do so I reached out to In Jeeb We Trust and she suggested I try cocktails. Then an idea sparked! Here it is:

I used Color Club – Cosmic Fate for my base.
Then I mixed China Glaze – Mimosa’s Before Mani’s
& Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear – Mellow Yellow to make the peachy colour.
I added accents of Elizabeth Grant Beautiful Colours in Red to represent the syrup.
I used Essie – Licorice for the detailing & I topped it all off with a super cute strawberry decal. Voila!

So what you think? Do you like my mini Bellinis?
Let me know below but first check out Liebster Part Deux.

Liebster Part Deux.

So remember how I did the Liebster tag last blog post?
In Jeeb We Trust was also nominated so she had to create questions as well.
And I loved her questions. So I’m totally answering them.
  

1. Do you remember your dreams? And if so, are they usually positive or negative?

I do remember them most days and I’d say they’re more on the positive side. But I do remember this one time where I had a vivid horrific dream where someone was trying to kill me and I woke up crying. Worst part: I had nightmares for the next two nights after that. Just imagine having someone try to kill you three nights in a row. 

2. If you could time travel, what era would you like to visit most?

I’m torn on this one. I’m going to have to go with the 70’s. I love big hair. I love the clothes. I love to dance and the music during that era had such a rhythmic quality to it.
Plus I love Saturday Night Fever and every time I watch it I picture myself doing the shimmy with young John Travolta while a Bee Gee’s song plays in the background.  

3. Are there any hobbies or crafts you are interested in taking up?

I think my hobby jar is rather full right now.. but I’d love to venture at some point into taking outfit of the day posts.

4. Name one thing you hated as a child that you now enjoy.

Dresses. I was always running around and dresses just didn’t afford me the same comfort as pants or shorts.

5. What was the first album you ever bought?

Spice Girls – Spice World. I can still listen to that album today and sing my little heart out. SPICE UP YOUR LIFE!

6. What's your favourite ride at an amusement park?

Roller coasters!! I love love love roller coasters. I get such an adrenaline rush.
There’s also this ride at a local amusement park called the Drop Zone where they suspend you up in the air (in a harness of course) and then you drop and fly through the air. LOVE IT. If you want a buddy to take to the amusement park take me! I will go on anything. Only thing I won’t do is the haunted house. But that’s a story for another time.

7. Who is your favourite artist?

I don’t really think I have one favourite. But I love Charlie Mackesy. I have 2 poster’s featuring his art on the door to my room (Antonia & Girl) . Check out his website and you’ll get the vibe. I really want Girl on Gold. I wish I had the money to get that painting.  

8. Name a movie you've watched a million times and never get sick of.

The Wedding Singer. If you’ve never watched it don’t watch with me unless you don’t mind me basically quoting the entire movie. 

9. When you were in kindergarten, what did you want to be when you grew up?

A teacher like my mama.

10. Name a celebrity that irritates you.

Carly Rae Jepsen. That song, you know, Call Me Maybe? Yeah… I won’t be calling you.

11. What's your favourite kind of candy?

I have a sweet tooth so this is difficult. Hmmm….Fuzzy peaches. 

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So there it is! I’ll see you again in a few days for my next mani. I’ll be moving onto greed next for the 7 deadly sins challenge and I have an oh so special design planned. Fingers crossed that it works out!
& Remember to check out the other ladies!

Now I’m going to go get a beverage after all that.

D

Liebster Award

Hello again friends.
So I was nominated by The Polish Playground for a Liebster Award. At first I was all, “An award??!! Sweet. I hope there’s cash involved.” After looking into it I’m sad to say I haven’t won any giant trophies or received any cash (so no, I won’t take you out for dinner with my winnings). But it’s still a really cool concept though because it allows bloggers who are just starting out to build connections and it also allows their followers to get to know them a little more.

Upon receiving this award one needs to do the following:

1. Write up 11 random facts about yourself.
2. Answer 11 questions from the person who nominated you.
3. Create 11 new questions for your nominees.
4. Nominate 11 other bloggers who have under 200 followers.

So let’s get going!

11 Random Facts:
1.  My dog’s a great liar. (Learn more about her below.)
2. I love beef jerky. That stuff is beyond delicious.
3. I can make my tongue look like a three leaf clover.
4. I am awesome at “winging” my eyeliner.
5. I love Bruce Willis Movies.
6. If you asked me what genre of music I like I couldn’t tell you. I listen to whatever moves either my body or my soul.
7. When I was little I was the blonde girl with blue eyes. 
8. I love Dragon ball.
9. I like to watch video games but I don’t really like to play.
10. I can’t paint my nails unless I’m watching/listening to something. 
11. I feel naked if I’m not wearing a watch.

Questions From The Polish Playground:

1. What are some of the first blogs you started following?

Hmm… The PolishAholic, A Fashion Love Affair, A Bowl Full of Lemons, Dulce Candy, and 5 inch and up are some of the first ones. 
    
2. What made you start a blog?

I wanted a place to be able to write and express myself. So cheesy I know. But it really started as a whim and it’s snowballed into a passion.

3. Who inspires you in life?

That’s a hard one. There’s lots of different people I admire for different reasons. I admire my now departed granny because she had such a kind heart; I admire my parents for taking a leap and emigrating; I admire Sophie Kinsella because her books always make me laugh. I also admire people I don’t really know. People who face hard times and get through it. Teachers who actually educate. Musicians who sing about more than lipstick and kissing boys.

4. Do you own any pets?

I have a female German Shepherd. I received her as a present when I was 7 years old and she’s been with us ever since. She’s a bitchy old lady but I love her so. Whenever I’m sick she hangs out with me and she’ll come into my room and check in on how I’m doing. & I mentioned in the facts that she’s a liar. Case in point: If she’s already gone out with one of my parents, she’ll go to someone else in the room (right after!) and pretend like she hasn’t gone out. She’s quite a personality. Recently she’s also started doing weird normal dog things she never use to do like eating dirt, digging in the yard, and not barking at everyone. 

5. Fondest childhood memory?

Geez. I can’t think of one particular one that would be my fondest but there was this one time I met Jessica Alba that was pretty cool. They were filming Dark Angel right by house so a couple friends and I waited in front of the lot for a few hours and then she came and talked to us for a bit. She also let us touch the fake scar she had on which at the time was freakin amazing.

Now that I’m thinking about this I have to say most of my fond memories are with my friends just running around our neighbourhood. We’d do everything together. We’d go climb onto part of an outdoor garage. We’d gather change to get 5 cent candies and slurpees at the local 7 11. We would be outside basically all day in the summer just riding our bikes/scooters or running around in our imaginary worlds. There was this one time my friend crashed into a wall (she was fine but it was pretty funny). Another time we were riding sleds down our alley way in the snow and had a freakin awesome time and our neighbours hated us for that one because we made the alley all slick and ice-y (we won’t mention that a car almost hit us at one point..). 

6. Sun, rain, or snow?

Out of the 3 I’d have to say sun. I like being able to go out in a cute dress to enjoy a scenic walk with my boyfriend. The sun makes me happier. Plus it makes my holographic polishes look sooooooooo good. 

7. How much nail polish do you own in your collection?

Shoot let me count….  110.

8. What's your biggest nail polish lemming right now?

I’m dying for the new Zoya Pixie Dusts & I’m really wanting to see the new A England collection.

9. What's your top 5 favorite nail polish colors?

Right now I’d have to say (in no particular order):

A England – St. George
Zoya – Godiva
Sation – Love at First Lavender
China Glaze – Sunday Funday
Color Club – Cosmic Fate

10. Does anyone else you know in real life have a nail polish addiction like you?

Oh yes. My fellow fire sign In Jeeb We Trust does. Our boyfriends are brothers so we’ve become real close. When I started taking my blog in the “nail art” direction she joined me in my love for polish and we haven’t looked back since. The last 6 months has been all about polish for us (and our wallets). 

11. What one item will you always recommend everyone to try?

Deodorant. For some reason not everyone has been introduced to this concept.

Questions For Those I Tagged:
1. Do you consider yourself an introvert or an extrovert? Why?
2. Do you dance when you’re alone?
3. Favourite article of clothing and why.
4. Do you have a favourite photo of yourself? If so, Describe it.
5. Can you speak any other languages? If you don’t, what language would you like to learn to speak?
6. Name a board/card/puzzle game you excel at.
7. What’s your favourite feature about yourself and why? It can be a physical characteristic or a personality characteristic.
8. Name something you’re afraid of.
9. What’s an outfit/hairstyle you regret having done?
10. Do you have a favourite song? Name it and describe why it’s your favourite.
11. What’s your guilty pleasure?

Bloggers I Nominate:
Now this section is all messed up because I could NOT find 11 people who hadn’t done this yet. Argh. So I got 5. (I swear I tried!)

Abnormal Nail Behaviour
In Jeeb We Trust* (*note: we decided to do each other’s questions so technically it’s a tag back BUT we’re rebels so we’re breaking that rule.)
Guilty As Charged
Noxie Nails
Style Your Bee

So there you go! If you like any of the questions please feel free to comment below (or post in your own blog) and answer some of them. See you soon!

D

7 Deadly Sins Challenge: Day 3

Hey everyone!
So here’s another round of the Seven Deadly Sins Challenge. We’ve moved on from lust and now we’re onto gluttony. Today’s prompt was to “delight yourself with a Sugar Spun manicure”. I’ve never done a Sugar Spun before so this was definitely something new for me to try. Here’s what I came up with :

I used Pretty & Polished – Speckled and Freckled as my base
& OPI – I Saw, You Saw, We Saw Warsaw to do the sugar spun.


  

This was definitely a lot trickier to do than I though it would be. But I think I figured out how to do it properly so next time around it’ll definitely be easier to do. What do you think? Let me know! & remember to check out the other fabulous ladies!

D

7 Deadly Sins Challenge: Day 2

Hello, hello!
Hope you all are doing well. Welcome to day 2 of the 7 Deadly Sins Challenge.
Today’s prompt was to, “let your body talk and feel free to do whatever you want”.
So I decided to do what I wanted – which was to keep it simple.

For my main colour I used OPI – Kiss Me On My Tulips. 
& then I used Color Club – Miss Bliss on my ring finger to add a bit of shine.
I stamped using plate BM 323 with Kiss Me On My Tulips onto Miss Bliss.



I’m quite pleased with these. They don’t scream out LUST but I feel like the colours and the addition of the flowers gives it some punch. It’s like the girly side of lust.
Like that girl that wears her hair in pigtails but she’s also wearing a push up bra.

Let me know what you think!
& make sure to check out the other lovely ladies participating!
Next up: gluttony. I feel like a pig already.

D

P.S. I’m finding it very hard not to mention the name of the OPI polish.
So I’m going to sort of avoid it but all I wanted to say was…wait! Now you’re thinking about it!
Geezzz !  I feel like this whole plan backfired..I shouldn’t have even added this end note.
On the flip side, at least you look worse than I do.
Get your mind out of the gutter! I’m very disappointed.
(But also slightly happy because it’s not just me. So basically that makes us friends.)