Category: Fall

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Glam Nails Challenge August—Raspberry

Good Morning loves! & happy Wednesday!

Hope everyone’s week is off to a not too bad start — the weather here on the East Coast is sticky & hot, which doesn’t help my PSL-craving-Autumn-loving heart. But even if I can’t wear knee high socks & boots, & scarves yet… at least I can wear some Fall colours on my nails. Which pairs perfectly with today’s prompt for GlamNailsChallengeAugust: Raspberries!

For this manicure, the polishes I used were:

  • Base Coat: Essie First Base
  • Top Coat: Essie Speed Setter
  • Sally Hansen Insta-dri Zip Wine
  • Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear With The Beet
  • Sally Hansen Insta-dri Cinna-Snap
  • Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure Blush Around The World
  • Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear Daycream
  • YSL Beauty Vert D’Orient
  • Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Wet My Thistle
  • NailStuff.ca Dotting Tool Trio
  • NailStuff.ca 7mm detail brush

Okay, so I’ll just address it: I know my raspberries look a bit more like grapes, than raspberries but I don’t care haha. The girls at work told me it was because I went with such a dark shade (Sally Hansen Zip Wine) but I just had to wear this shade because it’s so pretty! I’ve been on a bit of a Fall polish polish buying splurge lately.

Either way, I do think this look is cute! I went with accent nails because it kind of reminds me of floral from away. So it’s a win in my books — even if some people thought it was grapes haha.

What do you think about this raspberry design? Can you believe we only have one prompt left after this? August has just sped by so quickly. But I’m definitely looking forward to September, & all things Fall related.

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SWATCH SUNDAY — Sinful Colors Rebel Rose

Hello lovelies & happy Sunday!

Another week is over, so let’s start a new week with a little more brightness. We’re almost to the end of August — if you can believe it — so I suppose I should keep the Summer vibes going a little bit longer.

Last week I was visiting my local Walmart, on the search for nail polish to cheer myself up, & decided to pick up a few—okay, six—Sinful Colors shades to cheer up my blahs. Walmart sells their Sinful polishes 3 for $6, which is a pretty awesome deal. Plus they have a bunch of new collection shades which always gets me excited. I picked up 4 of their scented shades, which I’m going to swatch & shade soon, but I thought for this week I would share this bright fuchsia shade: Rebel Rose.

2 coats + Essie Gel Setter Top Coat

I was initially draw to this polish because of the bright fuchsia shade, but what sold me on it was this beautiful underlying blue/purple shimmer. I also really like that this a great end of Summer/early days of Fall shade. It works with complimentary brighter shades, like a turquoise blue, or something a bit darker, like navy purple or deep purple, depending on what you’re trying to invoke.

The formula was really nice & easy to work with, & applied very smoothly. I did need two pretty evenly applied coats of polish to cover the nail — I noticed when I applied too thinly, it looked a little patchy. Over all, for a very affordable polish, it’s great! Easy to apply, dried pretty quickly (especially with quick dry top coat) & had a great opacity & finish. I’ve always been a fan of Sinful Colors, for these reasons, & I’m happy to add another pretty polish to my stash.

What do you think about Sinful Colors Rebel Rose? Are you loving this shimmery fuchsia as much as I am? What is your favourite affordable polish line? Let me know down in the comments below!

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Remembrance Day Poppies

Hello lovelies. Hope everyone is having a good week so far. We’re officially half way to the weekend! Today in Canada though, it’s Remembrance Day which a solemn day where we stop to remember those who have served in the military & sacrificed their own lives during War.

This year is strange because most of the Remembrance Day ceremonies that we would attend are now, understandably, being presented online because of COVID precautions. This is also the first Remembrance Day without my grandfather, who was a veteran. So I really wanted to do something special to mark the day, & I decided to recreate a poppy design I did a few years back.

For this manicure, the polishes I used were:

  • Base Coat: Sally Hansen Hard As Nails
  • Top Coat: Essie Gel Setter
  • Essence Miracle Stone
  • Sally Hansen CSM Warm Regards
  • Sally Hansen CSM Red My Lips
  • Sally Hansen CSM Red Over Heels
  • Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Get Mod
  • Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Blacky-O
  • NailStuff.ca Dotting Tool Trio (COFFEE10 saves you 10%!)

I like this design because it’s subtle, respectful & not too in your face. The poppy can be such a controversial item to wear (& where you decide to wear it) so I didn’t want to paint a nail art look that could offend anyone. Coming from a strongly military family, I’ve always made sure to stop & acknowledge the day, & pay my respects to those whose sacrifices ensured my freedoms.

What do you think of this look? Do you honour Remembrance Day in your part of the world? Let me know in the comments below.

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Dainty Matte Freehand Tribal Print

Hello lovelies & happy Monday! Hope everyone is having a lovely start to their week. We’re almost mid-way through November, which is crazy, & I’m going through a bit of a nail art lull.

The other night I decided to play around with some freehanding, & came up with this fun, dainty tribal print look! I also pulled out my matte top coat, because it’s been so long since I used it! I feel like it really finished this look off perfectly!

For this manicure, the polishes I used were:

  • Base Coat: Sally Hansen Hard As Nails
  • Top Coat: Essie Gel Setter
  • Matte Top Coat: Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Matte Top Coat
  • Orly Decades of Dysfunction
  • Quo by Orly Breatheable Aloe, Goodbye!
  • Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure Ruby Do
  • Color Club Art Club Pink Pastel
  • NailStuff.ca 4mm Micro Detail Brush (COFFEE10 saves you 10%!)

Honestly, this was just one of those kind of designs where I sit down unsure of what I’m going to do, & just stay playing with lines. Originally I had wanted to do a sweater kind of pattern, but it took on a life of its own, & I love love love how they came together. Plus it gave me a chance to practice my line work, which I haven’t done in a while. The end result was something dainty & beautiful, that I’m kind of in love with. & super proud that I managed to make both hands match!

Also check it out — all the snow is gone. In fact, the weather has been downright balmy the last few days. From snow to almost 20 degree days! It’s so crazy. Guess putting my coconut nog in my coffee was a little premature!

What do you think about this design? What are you wearing on your nails for November? Let me know in the comments below!

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FASHION FRIDAY — OOTD: Knits & Layers

Ardene sleeveless burgundy turtleneck sweater (similar sweater here.) Ardene long sleeve burgundy sweater (similar sweater here). Ardene knit leggings (here.) Nine West Knee High Boots. Black Knit Beanie from Dollarama.

Hello lovelies & happy Friday!

It’s been a long, long while since my last Fashion Friday post, & the weather has certainly shifted since my last OOTD post. We’ve gone from light Fall breezes to full on snowstorms, which means my fashion choices have transformed as well.

& how would I describe my fashion style for the current Autumn weather? It’s all about layers!

This look is definitely one I’ve been repeating, featuring different the different sweaters in my closet. I’m all about the layers, & keeping warm, so I’ve been piling knits on top of knits from head to toe. & for some odd reason, late Fall/Winter is the only time where I actually reach for leggings. But don’t worry—I’ve got an extra pair of tights on underneath, because I am always way too cold.

& my current favourite accessory right now, aside from these Nine West Knee High Booties I’ve own since University? The beanie! Not going to lie, Mary Kate & Ashley are once again inspiring my fashion choices with their flawless New Yorker style. But, to be honest, when aren’t they?

So what do you think about this look? I’d say oversized sweaters, leggings, & excessive layers are definitely my Fall uniform. What about you? What are your current style staples? Let me know in the comments below!