Call Girl

If I was a call girl, I would probably wear a deep vampy red on my nails, but apparently Icing seems to think a bright Barbie pink is fit for the character.

Icing's Call Girl was found snuggly in the store's clearance rack. If I had known then that $2 would buy me this much of a smile, I would have cleaned out the rack.

This was my first Icing polish, but I will definitely be back. It was bright and opaque in two coats. It applied evenly and smoothly, and did not cause any messiness for me, which is hard... if a polish can stay under control in my wonky hands, then I am up for more ... much more.

The only problem was the shower together blue that wouldn't free itself from my nail bed edges. So, I decided to experiment to see what Orly Prima Gloss Gold, from Sally's clearance rack.

 

 

I like this a lot because based on how much I shake the bottle, I can make it more or less glittery. It's like a little dusting of pixie powder, but it maintains the color underneath and doesn't change it... awesome.

Don't forget to enter my giveaway!

Shower Together

So yesterday I tried Shower Together by China Glaze. It was a color I was very eager to get and just as impressed with in person. However, the formula was NO fun. It was a creme, but it was a creme that wouldn't spread itself out, and it needed four coats just to even itself out.

I loved it when it was finished though. Above it is shown with a top coat of Seche Vite and flash.

But I should've taken the formula as a sign, because it chipped off big time on a couple nails after an evening nap. So I took it off and moved on to the next color in my haul. I still love it, and I will still wear it, but it will take some practice for a novice like me.

Dream Catcher and Bargain Buys = Happy Day 4 Me

Today I went on a journey to use my little spending cash to buy as much happiness as I could.

First I put on my last bargain purchase: Nicole by OPI Dreamcatcher which I picked up for $3 at TJ Maxx.

The formula was really easy to apply and very buildable. I could have left it alone at two or three coats. The top two photos are with 4 coats though, but it wasn't too thick. Still, a hot shower caused some weirdness on the middle finger so I added a 5th coat and Seche Vite. It still doesn't feel too thick, and it is a beautiful color. I actually almost picked up CG Dreamsicle at Sally's on clearance for $1.99 but I thought it was too close.

Then, throughout the day I picked up the polishes below for a bargain, and one at regular price:

From Left: Orly Enchanted Forest and Prisma Gloss Gold for $1.99 for the pair at Sally;

Next stop was Icing's clearance racks where I picked up neons Lucky Luis and Call Girl for $2 each,

and the only one I paid the full $4.45 for was China Glaze Shower Together, because I was on a mission for blue and this one won out.

I also stopped by Ulta and found Essie Lollipop, Mint Candy Apple, OPI Ginger Bells, and tons of holiday awesomeness, but I resisted. I am still technically without job. Sally also had Emerald Sparkle on Sale for $1.99. So if you are out hunting, now's the time.

Not bad for one day and less than $10 total, and it worked to cheer me up. Two-week notice was supposed to end Thursday, but I got let go yesterday (still getting paid through Thursday) so I needed some cheering up. I wasn't upset about the situation, more so the douchiness of my (now former) boss:

Example:

When I had put in my two-week notice, he gave me a list of 15 stories to write before I left. Although it was way too many and some of the articles were pointless and/or stupid, I was making progress, but when he asked me to stay late to finish 5 of them Monday, I said no. I knew he was using me to get as much done as I could before leaving, and he's the one who pressured me into quitting anyway. So when I told him no, he said I had to stay late. I said I would get as much done before 5:00 as I could but I was going to leave on the dot, and I guess he couldn't stand the fact that I finally stood up for myself, because he asked for my keys right then. To top it off, he then asked me to stay until 5 anyway and finish as much as I could. I said no way and deleted my notes and left.

Yay for me!

Boo for sexist bosses!

Giveaway Swatches

 

Wondering what one of the colors in my giveaway looks like?

I finally got a chance to swatch my own bottle of Pink Twice, which is a lovely baby pink shade in the discontinued Sally Hansen Salon colors. It applies really well and is bottle color in 3 coats.  The finished product creates a nice sheen but the big draw is the delicate color. I think it is a nice alternative to the mannequin hands trend, which is starting to remind me of old lady pantyhose. Instead, this offers a color that's like skin with a soft candlelit blush.

Wearing this made me feel feminine, light and airy. I hope whoever wins it will love it just the same.

If you haven't entered yet... please do.

New Layout

****Breaking News ****
 Comment form is fixed now-- let the contest comments re-commence (sorry)

I've tried a few things during the past few days as far as layouts on the blog, to see what best describes me and makes me happiest when I visit the blogosphere, and I've decided on this new look. I hope you like it. It's a little out there, and a lot different than the calm, pale oranges of before, but I hope it helps to stand out.

It certainly does make me happy when I see it. Ha! Sassy, colorful, sexy, and a little naughty but a lot of confidence and attitude to go along with it. I think we will have to come up with a name for the girl to my left. She is so awesome! If I wasn't stuck in corporate America (which I still will be after I start a new job) I would totally look like this.

Giveaway ..... Tempted?

Do these look tempting to you? If so, you have a chance to win them!

In honor of my new beginnings, I am having my first giveaway!

Prize includes: Sally Hansen Pink Twice, Forsythia and Sheer Pressure

Rules:

*Must Be a Follower

*Must leave a comment with your e-mail address on this post, and tell me what you like or would change about this blog.

* A winner will be picked randomly

* Contest goes for two weeks (in honor of my two-week notice). It ends at 8 p.m. EST Saturday Feb. 6

Messy Nail Swag

I didn't have time or the will to properly swatch a lot in the last week. But, I did get some good swag of a lot of messy nails I wore in this time. Take a peek. If you dare. (it's pretty scary)

OPI Teal the cows come home

Zoya Savita

Sally Hansen Mellow Yellow Smiley Face Mani

Back to Nails, Back to Reality

However do you want it; However do you need it? Ugh!
(Does anyone else remember that song?)

Anywayz, I finally have some swatches to share. Today I tried Meet for Drinks a $OPI I won on a giveaway from Manicure Mammas.

The color was gorgeous and application was great, but I couldn't leave well enough alone, and made it Meet for Drinks in the City, with a top coat of Cover Girl City Lights. I think I have an unhealthy addiction to this holo glitter.

The result was a sparkling wine color that I learned to love throughout the day, but I should have kept on the MFD alone, because it really was a vampy beautiful burgandy.

Top with flash, above without.

So... what do you think of the bubbly?

Egypt Eyes

I was in a HUGE Rush this morning, but I still managed to create this Egyptian eye look with my new Urban Decay Get Baked palette.

I used the Flipside shade above the eyeliner and then Baked all the way up.

I also used Urban Decay Zero and Skyscraper mascara, as well as primer potion in the original color. The photos were taken six hours after application, so I think it held up well to another day in the office I no longer belong to.

What do you think?

Job Interview Nails and Clothes

I couldn't stand to go safe today, so this is what I wore. The color is spicy scarlet from Sally Hansen Salon line (the old ones)

The color came off like a mix between flourescent orange and a red. It kind of looks like a brand new traffic cone, but at the same time looked really fashion-forward with a teal turtleneck and gray khaki jumper dress.

Sorry

Sorry for not posting recently. I will have tons of swatches and a giveaway to share soon. I've just been working hard to secure a job before the next two weeks are up!

More later,

MB

Starting Over

Sometimes you just need to start over, so I told my job peace today, well two weeks from now, but I am still much happier.

Colors used on nails: Azalea (Sally Hansen salon) and Tangy (Zoya). All other nails are Azalea.
On eyes: Badgal Plum lash mascara, bourbon eyeliner, and sage eyeshadow

Nude Nails on the Cheap

So... I don't know quite how I feel about this trend, but I thought I would try it out thanks to a $2 CVS coupon for my birthday. Basically for free then, I picked up Wet N' Wild Mega Last in #209.

Pretty much nothing can match my skin in nail polish form because I am translucent in complexion, and basically pink see-through, but this came pretty close, and I am betting would work for any of you who are looking for a budget-friendly way to try out if this is for you... like I did.

The formula was so so, I ended up having to apply 3-4 coats to even out bubbles and such, but for the most part, it was smooth and controllable. The color came pretty close to the nude nail trends, but had a little sheen to it also, which I liked.

What do you think of the trend? Is it for you?

Frosted Cupcake Mani

Today, I am a quarter-century old. To celebrate, I added two more coats of city lights on top of my Orly Gorgeous+ City Lights Barbie Mani. I am calling it frosted cupcake mani.


Over the weekend I also had my first day out with my "lil sister" and we of course painted nails before the bridal convention. She did the pink sparkle the night before so we kind of matched, but she said she fell asleep before the other hand, so I let her look through my stash, and she chose Greenwitch Village. How cute is the combo for a 10-year-old?

Put on a Happy Face

So today is the bridal convention, and I need to go regardless of how I feel. I think this makeup look worked wonders.

-Some Kinda Gorgeous foundation faker
-Sugar Rush Blush also from Benefit
-Estee Lauder lash primer
-Estee Lauder mascara in black
-Estee Lauder eyeliner pencil in smudge grey
-Estee Lauder eyeshadow (ivory box highlighter and sugar cube for majority)
-Urban Decay Primer Potion
-Avon Eye Brightener

Nails: Orly Gorgeous, Cover Girl City Lights

What do you think? I love it.

Happy Nails

How is this?

It is one of my new Orlys "Gorgeous" Three Coats with a Coat of Cover Girl City Lights and a top coat of Orly in a Snap.

They make me happy, how about you?


To me they look like Barbie nails and are exactly what I needed.

*Sigh*

Nails don't relieve the drama, but they sure do create a nice diversion, don't they?

Killing Depression Part One

I attempted these nails today to break this green streak of nails and blue streak of depression. I tried to cheer myself up a little with this bright neon purple, but by the end of the day it has almost all chipped away.


The color is Flying Dragon from China Glaze, covered with Seche Vita, but now it looks like ripped wallpaper on my nails.

The application went well, easily controlled, and it feels very light on my nails compared to what I have been wearing, which I didn't realize was heavy.

It does need the top coat because the neon comes out matter than matter, and not as bright without it. However the Seche Vita peeled off this morning, followed by the flying dragon quickly chipping behind.

Now I am stock with one ok hand and one that looks embarrassing.


I will try another shade tonight once I get home from my birthday dinner.

Would this cheer you up?

Depression

Enough with the green... what color would you wear if you were uber-depressed?

Warning: More Green

Fair warning on this one...either I don't like it or I'm not in the mood for it, so it is coming off. Therefore, I didn't clean up.

Still, I wanted to share it with you in case you are a fan or want to see what I mean by gloopy. I feel like this is a little more blue but looks kind of like Veruschka with a glossy finish. It looks like blue spruce not as green as it photographs.

It also reminds be of BF's 1998 Grand Prix---that blue green 90s color. I feel like I could make it work. It is a nice color, but I'm just not feeling it.

The formula reminds me a lot of Tangy, a little goopy, a little sloppy, and messier than the Zoyas I have liked so far.

Meanwhile, Level 1 snow emergency outside. Nothing left to do but nails!

Irene

All right, so Irene started the day as my second favorite to Envy, but as the day went on, I loved it more and more and I think I can confidently say they are now tied. I wouldn't put one over the other, because it would be like apples and oranges, or in this case Ireland vs. magic. You cannot choose one over the other.


Everytime I looked down at this I was reminded of Ireland. I thought first that it was like chic army green, which I would still say could be true, but the more I loved it, the more I wondered why, and then poof! Ireland. Irene. Ireland. Aaah! I get it.

Its a beautiful/satin metallic kelly green golor that would look great with Notre Dame green uniforms.


The application was smooth. It cleaned up well, and I am definitely putting this in the favorites pile.


Verdicts so far:

Envy=yes

Tangy= no

Irene= yes. Definitely a St. Patty's green.

What do you think