Category: Holiday

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SWATCH SUNDAY — ACO by Ardene Love Potion No.82

Hello lovelies & happy Sunday! We’re officially a full week into February now, & a week away from Valentine’s Day. Here in Halifax were also anxiously awaiting not one, but two big Winter storms this week. Which kind of sucks, after a couple days of beautiful almost Spring like weather! I was really looking forward to maybe pulling out a few of my dresses.

But let’s not dwell on that, & instead concentrate on the important things—like today’s Swatch Sunday pick: Ardene Love Potion No.82! I’m still feeling all the pink love, so naturally I had to dig deep into my stash to find something perfect for Valentine’s Day, but with a twist. & I think this oldie shade was the perfect pick!

Two coats + Essie Good To Go

For those who don’t know, Ardene is a Canadian clothing store that used to be more of an accessory story, & sold a ton of fun nail polish. Having used to work for the company, that meant I got first peeks at all the polish, which is why I own so many. This particular shade entered in my stash pre-2014. For a lesser expensive brand, I actually think a lot of the shades they used to introduce were really funky & different, with lots of glittery shades—like this! & considering they used to sell for $3.99 a bottle, or 3/$10, that’s a pretty good deal.

As with most glittery shades like this, the formula is cruelly, which allows you to see the layers of glitters. However, two coats does coat the nail well, showing off the multi coloured, multi sized & multi shaped glitters which I’m very happy about! No visible nail line peaking out.

This is definitely a fun shade for Valentine’s Day, especially with a name like Love Potion No.82. But it could also be a fun shade for Summer, or just when you’re feeling funky. I did add some top coat (Essie Good to Go) to smooth things out a bit because the layers of glitters can be a bit bumpy. I also think that a little matte top coat would also look incredible over this polish.

This is definitely one I think I need to wear more often!

What do you think about this old school Ardene shade? Do you think Love Potion No.82 is a fun Valentine’s Day shade? What is your favourite pink glitter bomb polish? Let me know in the comments below!

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Freehand Hearts 💗

Hello lovelies & happy Tuesday! I hope everyone has had a lovely start to their week so far. I had yesterday off so I spent the day watching season 2 of Vanderpump Rules & dealing with organizing an excessive amount of clothing I’ve been neglecting for the last few weeks.

I also have been thinking & planning for some Valentine’s Day nail art looks! So I figured why not start now—after all, January doesn’t call for much nail art inspo.

For this manicure, the polishes I used were:

  • Base Coat: Sally Hansen Hard As Nails
  • Top Coat: Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Shiny Top Coat
  • Londontown USA Opal
  • L’Oréal Vintage Vinyl
  • Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Get Mod
  • Sally Hansen Good Kind Pure Peony Origins
  • Starrily Vantablack
  • NailStuff.ca 4mm Micro Detail Brush (COFFEE10 saves you 10%!)
  • NailStuff.ca Dotting Tool Trio

This is the first time I’ve attempted freehanded hearts in a long, long time & I’m so beyond happy with how they turned out! I used a base of Londontown Opal as it was such a beautiful shade, perfect for a romantic design like this. I had this idea in my head, & I am really really happy with how it turned out! This would totally be a cute Valentine’s Day look for anyone who doesn’t want to go over the top with pink! You get a little bit of pink, but the grey, & white & black really keeps it from being too over the top girlie (I think.) But you could definitely do a variety of colour combinations.

What do you think about this heart design? Have you already started to think about potential Valentine’s Day designs? Let me know what you think down in the comments, & what nail art looks your planning for February! 💗

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#GlamNailsChallengeDec — New Years Celebration

Hello lovelies & happy Wednesday! We’ve officially made it — the last day of #GlamNailsChallengeDec! Can you believe it? That means we’re just a few days away from 2020 being the past, & hopefully 2021 will hold exciting things.

But first we need some New Years Eve nails! Today’s prompt is New Years Celebration, & I was inspired my fireworks! Who doesn’t love setting off fireworks on New Years Eve — my dad always used to set off a grand show during our yearly celebrations, & they make me so happy! I can’t wait until my kids are a bit older, & we can set a few fireworks off in our backyard at midnight. In the meantime, I’ll celebrate with my firework inspired waterfall look.

For this manicure, the polishes I used were:

  • Base Coat: Sally Hansen Hard As Nails
  • Top Coat: Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Shiny Top Coat
  • China Glaze New Year, New Boo
  • Essie Mosiac On Down
  • Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Buffalo Nickel
  • Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Five Golden Blings
  • Starrily Space Debris
  • NailStuff.ca 16mm Striper Brush (COFFEE10 saves you 10% on your purchase!)

Does that not totally look like cascading fireworks?! I love the waterfall look, & I haven’t done one in a while. I thought the combination of gold & silver over the navy blue would be the perfect New Years combination. & I got a ton of compliments on this look when I wore it to work, so I feel like I was successful!

This is probably one of my favourite New Years Eve looks I’ve ever done.

& with that, we’re officially done with #GlamNailsChallengeDec — which prompt was your favourite? Do you enjoy these challenges? Let me know in the comments below!

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Christmas Eve Ornament Nails

Hello lovelies & Merry Christmas Eve! Hope everyone is having a not too stressful start to their Christmas (or December 24th, for those who don’t celebrate.)

Today I have one final pre Christmas look to share with you — some Christmas ornament nails. This is actually a recreation/new take on a design I did five years ago. I thought a new version would be a fun design!

For this manicure, the polishes I used were:

  • Base Coat: Sally Hansen Hard As Nails
  • Top Coat: Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Shiny Top Coat
  • Sally Hansen Good Kind Pure Almond Tan
  • Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Five Golden Blings
  • Icing Emerald City
  • Essie Off Tropic
  • Random icky green (haha)
  • Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Can’t Beet Royalty
  • Starrily Diamond Rain
  • Zoya Ray
  • Starrily Vantablack
  • Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Get Mod
  • NailStuff.ca 4mm Micro Detail Brush (COFFEE10 saves you 10%!)
  • NailStuff.ca Dotting Tool Trio

I’m actually obsessed with these. They turned out so perfect—-better than I had even imagined! I really wanted to do some kind of ornament design, & these just turned out so cute. I also didn’t have a ton of time to do my nails, & all the painting was (relatively) quick! Also I’m super proud of my teeny tiny little designs on the ornaments themselves, mostly because I was stumped on what designs to even put!

It’s the perfect Christmas Eve design, especially for the hours of wrapping I have to do tonight after the kids go to bed! Haha.

I hope everyone has the most lovely next couple days filled. I know this year is so much different than Christmas past, & so many people are away from the people they love most, but I’m sending love to all, & wishing no matter your situation, your days are filled with peace.

Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays lovelies! 💗🎄

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Christmas-y Glitter Gradient 🎄❄️

Hello lovelies & happy Tuesday! I know, I’m switching this thing up by posting on a Tuesday. I decided this week that I’m doing to (try) & post a Christmas design every day leading up to Christmas Eve! I just have so many design ideas I want to share!

Today is a simple but effect look — a glitter gradient. Glitter gradients are definitely one of the best I-have-no-time-to-do-nail-art-but-I-want-fancy-nails designs but they take virtually not extra time to do. This one especially doesn’t require any tools at all—I just dabbed the glitter on using the nail polish bottle brush.

For this manicure, the polishes I used were:

  • Base Coat: Sally Hansen Hard As Nails
  • Top Coat: Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Glossy Top Coat
  • Icing Emerald City
  • Icing Santa Baby

How cute is that glitter on top of the green of Icing Emerald City? This is one of my favourite Christmas glitters of all time (I shared swatches of it last year), & I’ve done some version of this glitter gradient every year, with different base colours, because it works so well.

Also the polish is scented like candy canes when dry, even 5 years after I bought it, which I think is so much fun! The glitter also has a variety of different shaped glitters, which I really like, because it gives good dimension to the gradient so that it pops on the nail! In fact, I had a lot of people comment on my nails at work, which always brings a smile to my face!

What do you think of this glitter gradient? Are you a fan of this type of easy nail art design? What holiday design/polish are you currently wearing? I’d love to know, so please share down in the comments below!