Summer!

Hello, hello, hello! Once again I am back and ready to bring on the nail fun. After posting about my nails for the parade, things just got really busy. It was my first time ever ending a school year as a teacher and it wore me out. I could barely stay awake long enough after work to eat let alone do my nails. And any polish I did put on my fingers didn't last long enough so I could take a picture. I'd always chip my polish off during the school day. Anyhow, like I mentioned, I'm back. I have the entire summer off (to job hunt) and so I'll be polishing with pretties again.

I did manage to do a quick and bright mani for the last day of school. I figured some bright colors would lift my mood. This year was my first time saying good-bye to a class that was mine. It made me pretty bummed because my students were awesome and I don't have the luxury of seeing them next year in school because I was only a long-term sub. Usually pink and orange will make me happy and so that is the color combo I used

I went with a polka dot design because a) they are easy to do, b) they are cute, and c) I would love to own a bathing suit like this. I used two coats of an Ulta orange as my base and mixed the orange with China Glaze Strawberry Fields. I used the mixed color for my polka dots. I'm sorry for the horrible picture, but I took it right before work and I did not have time but for a few fuzzy shots before heading out.

I really want to enjoy bright, fresh shades for this summer. I think this is a good start.

As always, hugs and love.

Karen

October Loving

Hello all! Can anyone believe that it is October already? Where did September go? Eh, I don't care anyway. I love, love, love October. It's one of my favorite months; especially in this God-forsaken state that I live in. I miss my autumns in NJ. You can take the girl out of Jersey, but you can't take the Jersey out of the girl.


In honor of my fall and October obsession (my students  made apple trees for a math project, and some how, some way, I am going to have them do a pumpkin project) I decided to create a mani with my new Ulta and Color Club colors. Voila!

I used Ulta's Not From Concentrate as the base color. I really enjoyed using this orange. It is darker in the bottle, but goes on pretty sheer. I used two coats of it because I found that 3 coats did not build well. It has a slight shimmer to it. The lightness of the color is what really draws me to it. It's that orange nod that I want for fall, but not overbearing or garish. I then used Color Club's Nothing But Truffle for the leaf stamp. I do not remember which plate I used from my BM plates. I bet I blocked it out because I was disappointed with the stamping. The stamps and me aren't getting along so well. I guess you could say the leaf detail has an antique-y, faded look to it. Works for me, because when I think fall- I think old colonial houses, pumpkin patches, and farms that need harvesting.




Until next time my friends!


Hugs and Love,
Karen

"Make it righteous."

Today has been an absolutely perfect Saturday. As my fellow polish addict friend said today, we did what was needed to "make it righteous." My awesome Saturday started off with a Pumpkin Spiced Latte and a polish swap with the amazing Emily. I cannot wait to try out all of the wonderful polishes she swapped me. Which one would you choose first? I sure as heck can't decide.

Emily's Polish

  

After sipping on coffee we decided to take a trip to Ulta. We couldn't ignore the call of Ulta because really, it was just across the street from Starbucks. I got a great deal with China Glaze. It was

"buy 2 China Glaze and get a Seche top coat or base coat free." I opted for the base coat, since I already have the top coat. Also, the current base coat I have by Orly (Bottom to Top) has been making my nails peel. I hope the base coat works. Ulta also had a great selection of their own polish on clearance so I managed to create my own fall collection. 

After experiencing such success at Ulta, Emily informed me that we could take a walk right next door to Bed, Bath and Beyond where they have a wonderful selection of Color Club and Sinful Colors. That's right- not only did I get a great haul at Ulta, but I got a great one from Bed, Bath and Beyond too! I think I'm on a polish high right now. 

Ulta and Bed, Bath and Beyond haul

My very own fall collection that I created with Ulta clearance polish

The only way this day got better was by going to the bridal salon to pick up my wedding dress. I think I am more in love with it now that it's in the color I wanted as opposed to the white version I tried on. I cannot believe that in a year I will be married. I better start thinking of ideas for wedding nails!

Hugs and love,

Karen