Last Post Here

I haven't updated in a long time, I know and I am sorry.

So many things have changed and are going to change still.

The original idea of this blog was to write about nail polish and painting my nails only, but I have so many other things that I want to write about that I didn't feel fit here. I have started a new blog at http://journaloftravelandadventures.blogspot.com/. There may be some nail polish posts there in the future, but it won't be the focus of the blog.

Part of the things that have changed in our lives is what is happening in our lives. After we can back from Greece I got sick, but we also made some life changing decisions and I just didn't get a chance to get back to this blog.

We decided in September to sell our house and move internationally. My husband graduates from UNR with his Master's in Philosophy in December and he is applying to doctorate programs right now. So, we have the possibility of moving to the UK, Australia, New Zealand or Singapore as soon as next July and as far as late 2014. I am including all of that in my new blog.

Thanks and I hope you stop by and comment at the new blog.

I'm back.

We just got home today after having a lot of fun at the beach.

Which, speaking of beaches. Next month we are going to Greece! Are there any polish brands that I should be on the lookout for?

I'm gonna be gone for a little while.

I am going on vacation and won't be back until the 18th, I don't have any updates scheduled, but I'll be writing when I get back.

See you all later

Sally Hansen: 840 Ice Queen swatch

This is a nice glittery top coat, lots of mini silver and hologram glitters and larger blue and light purple hexagonal glitters. I didn't have any trouble getting the glitters out, but it is two coats in the picture.





Today's book recommendation is Mutineer's Moon by David Weber. It is the first book in a three book series. David Weber tends to write military sci-fi, but good writing, not tedious. I think this series could have been longer than it was, and I really wish that there was a fourth book.

Finger Paints: Paper-Mâché swatch and comparison

Finger Paints: Paper-Mâché is an opaque, creme, white polish.



In comparison to Pure Ice: Super Star! I think Paper-Mâché has a duller finish, and that Super Star! is brighter.



Unfortunately I didn't get to get the comparison shot until after Super Star! chipped. If I get a chance later I will retake the picture, but right now I am far behind and still need to catch up. Pure Ice: Super Star! is on the left and Finger Paints: Paper-Mâché is on the right.







Today's book recommendation is Alanna: The First Adventure by Tamora Pierce. I first read this series in Junior High (before they all became Middle Schools, I'm old, I know.) Alanna trades places with her twin brother Thom, so she can become a knight, and he can become a mage. I still read this series, and others that Pierce has written over and over.

Week 20- Bows manicure

For my bows manicure I applied FingerPaints: Well-Cultured Pearl on my thumb, middle, and pinkie finger. I also used the polish to do a French tip on my pointer and ring finger. I used So Easy Stripe Rite in Silver Mettalic to line the ridge between nail and nail polish, and applied a top coat after. I used bow stickers next on the pointer and ring fingers. I don't know what was wrong with these stickers, since I have used this brand before, but they did not want to stick to the nails and kept curling on the edges. The ones in the picture are actually the second set that I applied to my nail, as you can see my pointer finger got a bit of a smudge.






The Iron King by Julie Kagawa (I almost always spell her last name wrong,) is another young adult/teen book (I read a lot of those.) While the beginning is typical, girl suddenly finds out she is party fairy, the plot and ending are not typical (I don't want to give it away.) There are currently four books in the series, with another book and a collection of novellas coming out. I got my sister-in-law hooked on this series, so I think that is a good recommendation.

Finger Paints: Well-Cultured Pearl swatch and comparison

FingerPaints: Well-Cultured Pearl is a pearl finish polish with a slight ivory tint.



In comparison Pure Ice: Platinum is slightly brighter and has a slight blue tint.



And here they are side-by-side, Pure Ice: Platinum on the left, and FingerPaints: Well-Cultured Pearl on the right.







Today's book recommendation is Cinder: Book One in the Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer. I linked to the hardcover edition, because that is all that is available now, I borrowed the book from the local library (if I remember I will go back and link to the paperback edition when it comes out.) The best way I could describe this book, without giving anything away, is a futuristic dystopian society mixed with the John Carter of Mars series (but replace Mars with the Moon) and Cinderella as the main character.

Finger Paints: Late Night Rendezvous (from the Summer in the City collection) swatch

Finger Paints: Late Night Rendez-Vous is a cross between teal and blue, with slight hints of gold. The formula was good and looked great.






Another book from my childhood. I think The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster would intrigue even the most reluctant reader. Who wouldn't want to know more about the Mathemagician, Princesses Rhyme and Reason, and Tock the dog who ticks?

Week 19- Floral manicure

For my floral manicure I polished my thumb, middle finger, and pinkie in Pure Ice: Super Star! I polished my pointer and ring fingers in Pure Ice: Watermelon Ice.

I applied stickers on my pointer and ring fingers, they are the same stickers I used for my Easter manicure, seen here.



These products were bought with my own money for review by myself.




Clockwork Angel is actually the first book that I read by Cassandra Clare, but it is actually the first book in her second series. It is set in the same world as the Mortal Instruments, but in the Victorian era.

Finger Paints: Laugh My Art Off swatch

Finger Paints: Laugh My Art Off is a brilliant blue glitter in a transparent blue base. I love, love, love the color. Since the base is blue tinted, but rather clear, it did take me five coats to get it opaque.



I would definitely recommend this to anyone who loves blue glitter as I do as a must-have polish.

This product was bought with my own money for review by myself.




Today's book recommendation is The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making by Catherynne M. Valente. This is another book that started online. The story was cleaned up a little bit a published, first in hard cover and the in paperback. If you like fairytale-type stories I would recommend this. I think it combines the sweetness and innocence of Dorothy in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz with the zaniness of characters that Alice meets in Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.

Week 18- Cartoon Manicure (Sailor Moon)

I think this was the most time consuming manicure that I have done yet. For my manicure I did a cartoon from my childhood, Sailor Moon.

Sailor Moon

COSMIC MOON POWER!

On my thumb I put the Crescent Moon Wand and the Silver Crystal. The image is a bit blurry, sorry, there is a better one below.

The base color is FingerPaints: Watermelon Watercolor, then I drew the shape of the crescent and wand with the gold Stripe Rite, and over that I added the opalescent glitter Stripe Rite. And finally added the clear rhinestone.

Sailor Mercury

Mercury Bubbles Blast!

For my base color I used Finger Paints: Raspberry Taffy (from the Gumdrops and Lollipops collection.) Then I used the opalescent glitter Stripe Rite and drew tiny circles for the bubbles.

Sailor Mars

Mars Fire Ignite!

I used FingerPaints: Curator's Crimson for the base color, then with a very fine nail brush I added FingerPaints: MichelTangelo (you can't see it very well in this picture,) and I added Finger Paints: Lemon Sour (from the Gumdrops and Lollipops collection. Lastly I dabbed Jordana Pop Art 509 Golden Artist the the tip of my nail.

Sailor Venus

Venus Love Chain Encircle!

I actually placed Venus and Jupiter in the wrong order, but by the time I figured it out I didn't want to go back and do everything over.


For my base color I used Finger Paints: Lemon Sour (from the Gumdrops and Lollipops collection), I then used the gold glitter Stripe Rite and made a wide stripe down my nail. I used the gold Stripe Rite and made hearts, but the were hard to see so I outlined them with the white Stripe Rite.

image

Sailor Jupiter

Jupiter Thunder Crash!

For Jupiter I used FingerPaints: Go Van Gogh! as the base color. I used the gold Stripe Rite and a yellow rhinestone to make the lightening rod that comes from Jupiter's tiara, I used the white and opalescent glitter Stripe Rite to make the lightening.



And here is all of them completed


These products were bought with my own money for review by myself.






The book recommendation for today is Timeless (The Parasol Protectorate) by Gail Carriger. It is the last in this series, but if you love the books like I do don't despair. Ms. Carriger is writing two different serieses, I believe both are set in the same world.

Finger Paints: Art You Blue? swatch

I wasn't sure about Finger Paints: Art You Blue? when I picked it up, because I tend to like bright blues or sapphire blues.



The formula for this polish was nice and smooth, very easy to apply and dried fast. I had some nail growth before I took this picture so I applied another layer, but I got a few bubbles. Oops. I like the color a lot more than I expected to, I think it looks like suede (the leather type, not the nail polish texture type.)

This product was bought with my own money for review by myself.






Today's book recommendation is Heartless (The Parasol Protectorate), the fourth in the series by Gail Carriger. This series makes me want to wear a corset, too many layers and drink too much tea.

Finger Paints: Lemon Sour (Gumdrops and Lollipops collection) swatch

I have to say that this isn't a favorite of mine, the formula is very thin and leaves streaks.



This is five layers, there are bubbles, and I could see my nail near the nail bed where the polish didn't fully cover the nail. At the tips of my nail the polish quickly cracked. I don't like this polish and it separates in the bottle.

This product was bought with my own money for review by myself.


Today's book recommendation is The Neverending Story by Michael Ende. I loved the movie so much when I was growing up. The book is so great. I am recommending the hardcover instead of the paperback, because in the hardcover the different parts are printed in green and red ink which can make it less confusing.

Week 17- Earth Appreciation manicure

I am so far behind on the weekly challenges that it is sad. But I will try to catch up.

Here are the colors I used:


Finger Paints: Paper Mâché and Be a Pal-ette, with So Easy's Stripe Right in Gold Glitter, gold/yellow and green glitter. (I have never found a proper name or number for the Stripe Rite products.)

On my first attempt I tried to leave my nails white and paint a recycle symbol on my ring finger, but that did not work out. So I did this little flower with the sun:


Here you can see all the nails:


I think if I did it again I would have done the sky blue with clouds, it looks a bit weird other wise.

These products were bought with my own money for review by myself.








The book recommendation for today is Blameless (The Parasol Protectorate) by Gail Carriger, the third book in the series. I can't say enough about this series. I love it.

China Glaze: Dorothy Who? (from the Wizard of Ooh Ahz collection) swatch

I have previously swatched China Glaze: Ruby Pumps, which is also from the Wizard of Ooh Ahz collection. Ruby Pumps is such a great red glitter that I wanted to try this great blue glitter Dorothy Who?


I think the shine on Dorothy Who? is brilliant. I had no trouble with application, but like all glitter polishes during removal there is a period that makes your finger tips look like you dipped them in a glitter bomb. (Sorry about the nail growth, this was taken during my sick time.)

You can see my swatches of China Glaze: Ruby Pumps here and here.

This product were bought with my own money for review by myself.




I read that Cassandra Clare started as a fanficiton writer, makes the books more intriguing to me and I need to see how brilliantly she writes.

Finger Paints: Blue Raspberry Taffy from the Gumdrops and Lollipops collection swatch

I was going to try and post as I go, but that isn't working out for me. So, now I am going to schedule the posts, because that away I can do a bunch of posts in one sitting and get through my backlog of swatches. I also need to catch up with the challenge of the week.

Here is Blue Raspberry Taffy (from the Finger Paints: Gumdrops and Lollipops Collection.)


It is a nice bright blue creme. If you use this polish I strongly suggest that you use a base coat, even if it is just a layer of top coat, because the polish will stain your finger nail.

I think I have used up my being sick for the year, and will hopefully not get sick for the rest of the year.


This product were bought with my own money for review by myself.


This is my current book suggestion. I love this series, this is the second book of the series, and I am rereading this book right now.

Update

I haven't abandoned you guys, I've just been sick. I am mostly recovered. I have been taking pictures I just need some time to write up the posts, which hopefully I will have some done by Monday.

China Glaze: Luxe and Lush swatch

From District 1 of the Hunger Games comes Luxe and Lush. In the bottle there appears to be a soft, blue-purple with a slight gold, but it appears very differently on the nail. I think on the nail it is more orange and green with a sharp hint of gold.


Luxe and Lushover Sally Girl Mini Nail Polish:Poser. You can see Poser by itself here.


Luxe and Lushover FingerPaints: Where Art Renoir?


Luxe and Lushover China Glaze: Smoke and Ashes

These products were bought with my own money for review by myself.




This is the second book in the Hunger Games series. I haven't read it yet, because I am waiting for it to come out in paperback, but since I plan on reading it I figured that I would go ahead and recommend it. Plus it goes with the nail polish today.

Week 16- Dotticure manicure

When I was searching on how to do this manicure I saw a lot of manicures that were obviously not dotticure (crackle, gradients, French tips, half-moons and splatter.) I went with what seemed most obvious (and hopefully the right one.)

I used the same colors from the last manicure challenge.

From left to right: FingerPaints Lemon Sour(from the Gumdrops and Lollipops Collection), Blue Raspberry Taffy (also from the Gumdrops and Lollipops Collection), Pea-Body, and FingerPaints: Watermelon Watercolor.

I painted my nails and then started shifting the colors over one nail.

I think I placed the yellow and green too closely together, and you can see the huge tear in my thumb nail. I could not find my dotting tool, so I just used the nail polish brushes and a straight pin.

I'll read everyone's comments and blogs when I get home!

These products were bought with my own money for review by myself.


I love the The Parasol Protectorate series by Gail Carriger. If you like vampires, werewolves and the Victorian Era, then you will probably like this series too.