Double Challenge Post!

Not much to say... just 2 days' worth of manis:

Rainbow!!!!

Ombre!

Actually had to repaint this... I didn't put a top coat on, and tried to make dinner... bad idea... looks better now!

<3 Duckie

ANOTHER Haul... sheesh!

Just some Pictures... trying to get everything updated...

Went shopping with Rabbit and Panda on Saturday... went to Claire's and 5 Below.

BTW... Little Fingers got her EARS PIERCED!!!! SHE WAS SO GOOD! Didn't cry at ALL!!!!

Claire's polishes thanks to Rabbit!

3 for $5!

WOOT! Can't wait to use these!!!

<3 Duckie

Messed up Mani time! [Challenge Post]

On Sunday, I wanted to do something different. Here is the result:

Sally Hanson Mellow Yellow, and Hue

It's so bright! I love it. Now check out

1. My Index finger has been chopped ALL the way back
2. There is a dent in the middle finger because I was helping Panda file, and my nails were apparently not dry after 3 hours...

Turned out pretty nice though!

<3 Duckie

50th Post! Neat! [Challenge Post]

I'm kind of disappointed that this won't be a long post...

So... since I have to use all of stamps, and there were 5 "heart" type stamps left... I thought... why not do a Valentine's theme. No one will no how long I have had this mani on (well, except for YOU guys!)

Now for some horrible cell phone pictures (seriously... worst yet...)

Colors Used: Sally Hansen Shell we Dance, CQ No Name, Orly Ma Cherie, Finger Paints Watermelon Watercolor, Revlon Cupid, Nicole by OPI Love Your Life

Turned out pretty okay though! Also, notice my middle and ring finger are slightly shorter and more shaped? Yea... I never thought there would be a day that the words "My nails are too long" came out of my mouth...


<3 Duckie

Painting my nails... [Challenge Post]

So after V-Day, it was time to change the Darth Maul nails (Rabbit assumed I was going to leave them on forever...)

We were able to come home early on Wednesday, and I was able to get an early start on my nails... or I thought...

Mom: "Can you paint my nails tonight?"
Me: "Sure..." (At this point I was taking off the old polish... foil method. I was not messing with 3 layers of glitter and a crackle coat.)

5 minutes later, V-Dog gets home from school.

V-Dog: "Oh! Can you paint my nails tonight?! You said we could water marble!"
Me: "Yes... It just takes a while to do that... how about we do an accent nail of it?"

This is a good compromise for her (she only sulked a little!) and goes off to do her homework.

My nails are ready to paint!

Mom: "Okay, ready!"

...damn...

BUT, it turned out okay. Mom is into creams, and I had picked up 2 Nina Ultra Pro creams thinking of her.

So, after dinner was V-Dog's turn. Without even thinking, I started the process. Unfortunately, the water was too cold, and the colors weren't dotting well. I ended up heating up the water (one LOW) for about 5 minutes to get it to work. And work it did! 

Stupid blurry cell phone picture!

FINALLY! It was my turn. By this point it was 8:30, and I was tired. I picked out 2 colors that I didnt think would really go together, but, I didn't really care at that point either.

Sally Hansen Tender Mulberry, and Confetti Purple Pizzazz

 Surprisingly, it turned out pretty ok!

But, then I went to bed. I was reading, and notice a smudge. I looked closely at all of my nails, and all but my right thumb nail were messed up. I tried to unsmudge.  That was when I realized the nail polish was not dry at ALL on the base coat. I was able to push all of the polish down in one sheet.

This ended up being a nail fail. Thursday morning was spent removing the remainder of the polish, and applying a base coat, while waiting for Rabbit.

Sigh...

Anyone else have a big nail let down?

<3 Duckie

Sparkling CVS Haul - Thanks Mom!

It was time to pick up prescriptions again. Since I have started my polish hobby, I always look forward to my trips.

I happen to be with mom. And, thankfully at that. They are having a Sally Hanson buy one get one half off sale. They also have the Gem Crush collection. She drug me away before I could pick up ALL the colors. Ended up with Big Money, Lady Luck, and Showgirl Chic. Love them all. Can't get over the sparkle factor.

To round out my SH I picked up Hidden Treasure.

I also picked up a 75% off bottle of Milani Techno Red. Not as impressed with that one. I grabbed the last bottle of Wet n Wild How I Met your Magenta. I have been eyeing it up for a little, and saw it as a sign.

To make my day even better, mom bought these polishes for me! She is the best momma in the world!

<3 Duckie

My First, and LAST Ulta Haul...

So, I was super excited to find out there is an Ulta in my area! I found it last week, and after work yesterday, Rabbit and I made the journey. He wants me to let everyone know he did NOT want to go in.

So, we enter the store, and I am immediately overwhelmed. I have no idea which way to go, or what to do. I grabbed a bag/basket thing and started wandering.

I quickly found a Butter London display. My first instinct is is to look for clearance. Hmm... no clearance... okay... well, let's just see what they have... Hmmm... what is this? Disco Biscuit... pink... love it... glitter... cool... wait that glitter looks like Motley...

And that is the story of my first Butter London polish.

I do some more meandering. And find OPI mecca. Oh yea, and the new Holland collection came out yesterday. I got a mini collection with: I have a Herring Problem, Red lights ahead... Where?, Kiss me on the Tulips, and Pedal Faster Suzi! Totally love them. I also got a full size bottle of Vampsterdam.

Rabbit picked out OPI Significant Other Color and Diva of Geneva. I also picked up Super Bass Shatter, since I don't have a crackle in that color.

On the way to the cashier, I found they were having a buy one get one type sale for Sally Hanson. So I grabbed Plum's the Word and Gentle Blossom.

PHEW! How about some pictures!

OH! I forgot about my Seche Restore! It was the whole reason I went!

This baby (Significant Other Color) The picture doesn't do it justice. This may be my favorite color EVER...

Now, you ask why this is my "LAST" trip? Because the people there were pretentious, and it showed. They made me feel like I was not welcome in their store, and that I was below them. Plus, I could have bought all of this for cheaper online. And, No clearance?! WTF?! 

I love these colors, and am super stoked to be able to use them. 

Have any of you been to an Ulta? What are your feelings? Did you have a similar experience? Or a completely opposite experience?

 <3 Duckie

Leopard? Cheetah? SPOTS! [Challenge Post]

So, I keep learning and trying new things. Today's new lesson was cheetah! Or leopard! Well.. spots!


First up we have V-Dog with a classic coloring:

Reowr

Next, I decided to do something funky. I chose Orange!

See the Matte top coat on my ring finger? Yea... me either. Hehe!

Colors used: Art Club Black and Psychedelic Dream for spots, Warpaint Beauty Matte topcoat, and Sally Hansen "Sunrise, Sunset" as my base color.

 

 

 

So, I learned that it is pretty simple to do this, but you DO need the correct size brush. The one I used was small, but not small enough. I wasn't adventurous enough to "create" my own, or even snip a little off the brush I have...  but, I think it turned out pretty well for my first attempt.

Have you guys tried the leopard print? How did it turn out?!

<3 Duckie

STAMP ALL THE THINGS! [Challenge Post]

OMG! I FINALLY GOT THE HANG OF STAMPING!
This is very subtle, but I love it! See for yourself:

Base color is Sally Hansen Precious Pearl, Stamping colors are SH Gold Chrome and Pink Chrome (both "Pens")

Added a little gem for "flare"!

Not too bad for my first attempt right? What do you think? Have you tried stamping?

<3 Duckie

My sister has better nails than me!

So, Kathulhu wanted to try water marbling...

This is why the most important step of water marbling is TAPING YOUR NAILS!

I have no idea what colors I used... Finger Paints, Savvy, Milani, Sally Girl, Sally Hansen (Remembering the bottles)

Turned out phenomenal!

By the time we were done with her nails, I was exhausted! So I whipped this up:

3 different colored dots: No name Teal (smells like Tropical Fruit!), NYC Empire State Blue (cant really see it) and the little ones are NYC Skin Tight Denim. Base color is Sally Hanson Turquoise Chrome (One of those "pens")

While I do REALLY like my mani, I love Kathulhu's. I am FINALLY getting the hang of water marbling!

<3 Duckie

She is taking over my blog!

More V-Dog:

She told me today that everyone checks out her nails when she goes to school to look at the new design. People ask how much she has to pay to get them done. She, of course, is smug and says "Oh, just, NOTHING!"

She tells everyone her aunt does her nails and they ask if I am a professional. This... this makes me sit up a little straighter, and puff out my chest a little. Yea... I'm the coolest aunt in the world!

Below are V-Dog's nails for the next few days. I used my Orly Nail Armor as the base coat, after buffing her nails. Hopefully that will help them not peel right off. Cross your fingers everyone!

Sally Hansen "Wined Up" With Stripe Rite in Gold

Her own design. Should have cleaned up her nails BEFORE taking the picture...

<3 Duckie

"Kathulhu's" CrAzY nAiLs!

Not really.
I asked my sister what she wanted me to call her on "the interwebs"... she came up with Kathulhu. Like chtulhu.

Okay...

Anyway, she was at my house Friday when I got home with my latest haul, and asked about getting her nails repainted.

Sure!

We went tOtAlLy CrAzY this time! Not really...

We did a funky french with Orly Crawford's Wine for the tip, and some sparkly lines. We are getting there. Soon enough her nails will be mine to paint as I please. <---- SISTER DON'T READ THAT PART!

<3 Duckie

Hypnotic Purple [Challenge Post]

 FINALLY! Something I love! 

This mani was done on Thursday night, with a budding migraine, and I was just trying to get it done, so I could go to bed.

Turns out, I do some of my best work under pressure!

, SH Xtreme Wear in Virtual Violet, Snowman purple/blue glitter, WW Fast Dry in Buffy the Violet Slayer

This is actually a taped mani. If you look closely at my middle finger, you can see the subtle difference from bottom to top. The Virtual Violet didn't show as much as I was hoping, but the end result blew me away.

Blurry to show the sparkly goodness

 I am so happy with the result of this mani. It is another one that I just keep looking at. I actually got several compliments, and was proud to say "I did it myself!"


Too bad it is coming off today... more on that in the next post.

<3 Duckie

P.S. My Mom wants this done to her nails!

Trying to be simple [Challenge Post]

Another "blah" mani...

Because I have been striking out with my polish choices, I thought I would try just a simple one color manicure the other night (this post has been sitting for a few days...)

But because I couldn't leave well enough alone, I added some nail stickers. Well, that was dumb...

Revlon Cotton Candy and my first attempt at nail stickers

Good News: Revlon Cotton Candy really did smell like Cotton Candy! And I liked the color too.

<3 Duckie

V-Dog's nails

Another guest appearance by V-Dog, best pre-teen in the world:

After doing this mani on her, I thought it would be a great idea for a St. Patrick's day mani. I'll have to keep that in mind...

She was being a smarty pants when I tried to get a picture...

SH Complete Salon Manicure Grass Slipper, Shades of the Season Green Glitter, SH Xtreme Wear In the Spotlight

Close up to show the sparklies

I need your help ladies: Her polish never stays on longer than a day on her index fingers. Is it just a kid thing? Or should I be doing something? We always make sure her nails are oil free (wash, then a swipe of polish remover) so I am not sure what the issue is. Any suggestions?

<3 Duckie