Beach time!

No, I am not longing for summer already!  I mean winter is barely off the ground here.  I wanted something summery for my trip this weekend though.  I am headed off to New Jersey tomorrow to see my sister and her kids.  I am helping move them to Florida.  It is going to be a very long drive with 2 kids, 2 cats, 2 dogs and my mother.  So, I wanted my "happy place" to be my nails so that I can look down at them and think of nothing but warm weather and the beach. 

Once again, I have turned to MixedMama for inspiration.  She never lets me down.  :)  I must confess though that I searched "beach nails" on Pinterest first.  I had several candidates, but MixedMama's Tropical Sunset Nails won my vote! 

Here is what I used for mine (same as MixedMama):

• base coat = mellow yellow by Sally Hansen
• gradient is mellow yellow, hot tamale (Pure Ice), lavender creme (Wet n Wild)
• stamp(s) = BM-309
• I used several colors for the stamping
• black out (Pure Ice)
• french kiss (Pure Ice)
• turned up turquoise (China Glaze)
• savage (Sinful Colors)
• top coat = seche vite

Here is how it turned out.  Very summery (in my opinion)!  It reminds me of a popsicle I used to beg my mom for money to buy when I was a kid.  I think it was called a "torpedo pop" or something like that.

My favorite nail is my thumb on my right hand.  It is hard to get with the camera but here is what I was able to shoot:

And one more just because I think it is so pretty to look at!

Thanks for visiting!
Brandy

Pure Ice Haul

So, Nouveau Cheap posted on her blog (here) that Pure Ice is going to discontinue some of their shades.  Not wanting to miss out, I went to my local Walmart to see what I could grab.  I did pretty well!  I think there are only 5 that I am missing.  :)  I am only going to post pictures of these - you can check out my collection on the other tab up top.

I am in love with these!  I can't wait to try a couple of these for stamping and maybe some gradient work! 

Thanks for visiting!
Brandy

11/26/12 Nail Mail

Monday's nail mail is all about OPI!  Yay! 

Here is the first package:

Vanilla-zuela, Miso Happy with this Color, Suzi Sells Sushi by the Seashore

 The 2nd package today (super big treat for me!):

How do you like that tissue paper in the background?  Nice huh?  Let me break this down better for you.

 

I'm a Princess, You're Not!, Strawberry Margarita, Nutcracker Sweet, Azure for Sure

 

 

 

Princesses Rule!, Aphrodite's Pink Nightie, Significant Other Color, Go on Green!

 

 

 

As always, these are so gorgeous and I am thrilled with my ebay buy!  I only have one complaint: Princesses Rule! has a detached brush...the bristles are floating around in there.  Bummer - I guess I will just have to use a different brush for this one. 

 

Thanks for visiting!

Brandy

 

Ode to MixedMama's Classy Nude & Black

I have said before that I don't have a lot of creativity.  I take large inspiration from other nail artists to come up with my looks.  With that being said, MixedMama is one of my favorite blog writers.  I love her nail art and I definitely try to emulate what she does.  This is my version of her "classy nude and black" post.  You can see/read it here. 

I used OPI's play the peonies as my base polish and stamped using Pure Ice's black out on BM11.  Follwed by a coat of Seche Vite. I hope I do her a little bit of justice with this copy cat design.  :)

Thanks for visiting!
Brandy

Sally's Beauty Supply Haul

I had a coupon to use at Sally's so I hit it up for a mini haul.  I spent only $20.  Here is what I got:

• Giant bottle of acetone
• Nail wheels
• Finger Paints polish (Holiday 2012 collection)
• Elves Bells
• Sparkle Top Coat
• Santa's Magic
• Merry Mistletoe
• Free clutch with purchase of polish

See my new Ottlite in the background?  Yeah, I love that!  I got that from Michael's on Thanksgiving for only $18.00!  Originally $60!  Sweet deal!  I love to justify spending money.

Thanks for visting!
Brandy

11/23/12 Nail Mail

Today's nail mail is all about some Zoya!  The first one is a beautiful set from the Bibhu Mohapatra collection.  It came in a luxurious black velvet box too!  I love the simple things.  Anyway, it contained Rekha, Zeenat & Parveen.

Next up is a little bit of purple heaven!  There were 12 bottles in this package...one is a dupe and two are dupes of something I already have.  Who cares!  I still love them. From left to right: Adina, Lotus, Tru, Nimue & Neeka.  Dupes = swap opportunities!

Also in this package are some lovely neutrals.  And, as a bonus, a Matte Velvet!  From left to right: Lolly, Gaia, Skye, Pasha, Harley & Brizia.

I just love them...now I need to swatch them so I am officially caught up!

Thanks for visiting!
Brandy

Swatch time...

Swatching is so time consuming when I fall behind!  It takes a long time to get myself organized and things in order.  The actual swatching doesn't take too much time though.  Here is some of what I am working on.  I am practically caught up but I needed more wheels - I will get those soon.

Thanks for visiting!
Brandy

11/21/12 Nail Mail

A little bit of nail mail to start off my Thanksgiving holiday!  Today I got a bottle of OPI's Last Friday Night  and Zoya Katherine, Paloma, Frida.  The Zoyas are lovely Jelly colors.

 

Thanks for visiting!
Brandy

11/19/12 Nail Mail

I love nail mail!  Today's special is some Orly and Zoya with a little Seche thrown in. 

• Zoya Tallulah
• Seche Recondition ("adds flexibility to fragile nails")
• Seche Natural (matte finish)
• Orly Mysterious Curse



The Orly mysterious curse is from the Dark Shadows collection and is just beautiful!  It is a duochrome that is purple then blue!  So, so pretty.

I can't wait to try them out!

Thanks for visiting!

Brandy







Walgreens Haul

Nouveou Cheap had posted on her blog that Walgreens had once again put their Sally Hansen polishes on clearance.  I can't refuse a deal so I hit it up!  Here is what I got!  I am not going to list out all of their names (unless someone asks me to), but you can see some pictures.  Who doesn't love pictures?

Thanks for visiting,
Brandy