Glitter Gradient featuring Essie’s The Girls are Out.

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Oh wow, we were having some seriously warm weather last week–a full Summer flashback even though it’s now September. I felt like doing something a little brighter on my nails, so decided to go with a glitter gradient as not only are they fairly easy, they’re also quick (but totally gorgeous.)

 

The polishes I used for this manicure were:

  • Essie The Girls are Out.
  • Color Institute unnamed gold polish.
  • Color Institute unnamed gold glitter polish.
  • Quo by ORLY Gold Rush Sparkle.
  • Nutra Nail Quick Dry Top Coat.

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Check out the holo bar glitter in Quo by ORLY Gold Rush Sparkle! Holy Moly–it’s another one of the mini polishes the boyfriend got me last Christmas as part of the holiday pack, and I’m still discovering how pretty these polishes are! I’m not usually a fan of bar glitters, but in Gold Rush Sparkle they’re more of an accent than front and center so I definitely love.

 

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So what do you think of this glitter gradient?

Fall themed chevrons.

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Who doesn’t love a good fall nail polish? It’s officially September now, and there is no denying Fall it’s on its way–you can feel that little chill in the air, slowly creeping towards us. I can’t even complain. As much as I love Summer, I’ve been craving fall fashion–oversized sweaters, knit socks, layer after layer, and of course boots!

Today’s NOTD was my nod to fall fashion.

The polishes I used for this manicure were:

  • Essie Vested Interest (from the fall 2013 collection).
  • Stripe Rite Striping Polish in Pink.
  • Nutra Nail Quick Dry Top Coat with Green Tea.

 

First off, I absolutely love Vested Interest from last years Fall Collection from Essie which is this fabulous greenish grey. I scored a collection of four mini bottles last year from the collection at Winners, which all quickly became favorites. Vested Interest is just such a great color for fall. But I think adding my freehand chevrons with the pink just took these nails over the top. Both are dark, rich color so they compliment each other. (In my eyes at least). These are the perfect fall nails–all I need is to pair them with an oversized knit sweater, knee high socks, and a couple scarves.

 

 

 

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So what do you think of these nails? I’m really proud of how my chevrons turned out. I know a lot of people are rocking amazing chevron nails using those nail vinyls, but I’ve yet been able to invest in them. I don’t want to be out of the chevron loop though–thank goodness for Stripe Rite’s striping polish. I’m definitely going to need to take a trip to Sally’s and invest in some new ones–my black is on it’s last legs sadly and they just made freehand nail art so much easier!

Now it’s time to go spend my day off reorganizing my closet and drawers for Fall. Can you tell I’m excited?! I’m such a dork haha. =)

New polishes, and a perfect combo.

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This moon manicure was honestly just an excuse to wear multiple new polishes at once haha. On Payday I went out, and scored some new pretty beauties, and couldn’t wait to wear them!

The polishes used for this manicure were:

  • Essie The Girls are Out — found at the Dollarama of all places. For $3 how could I ever say no? (I also picked up Sunday Funday as well.)
  • Essence Color and Go Best Dressed — went to a Shoppers that wasn’t my usual shoppers and found the biggest collection of Essence polishes I’ve never seen before. As much as I wanted to buy them all, I went with this gorgeous purple with pink glass flecks. Sooooo pretty. I will have to do a full swatch post on this color because it’s so pretty.
  • Seche Vite Quick Dry Top Coat.

 

I realize this is not the first time I’ve rocked the pink and purple moon manicure, but The Girls are Out and Best Dressed just go so well together. I couldn’t stop staring at my nails all day, which is a little distracting when you’re supposed to be working. =)

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A Blast from the past with Saran Wrap Nails.

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Do you ever try a new nail art technique, really like it, and then just never try it again–instead falling back on them same old designs? No? Just me then….

Last Summer I tried out the saran wrap technique for nails, and really liked how it looked. Then completely forgot about that cool technique. The other day I was trying to think of something different I could do on my nails when it hit me! Saran Wrap Nails! I’d already painted my nails using Essie’s We’re in this Together. So I grab a dark pink (Bourjois Paris 2013 Bon Anniversaire), painted over the lighter pink, then dabbed with pieces of a plastic bag I had around. And tada! Pretty saran wrap nails. I applied top coat, then finished them off with some glitters from OPI’s I Snow You Love Me (which I’m actually obsessed with) and then applied Seche Vite to seal everything in. Quick and pretty nail art!

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Seriously, why have I not done saran wrap nails in over a year?! What a travesty!  It’s such a neat look!

Also, I’ll apologize for the poor lighting in my pictures–I took them out the back door of work, on a particularly cloudy day so the lighting ended up really funky.

Grey and Silver and all taped up.

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Finally! I’m feeling nail art again after a good short while of being uninspired. Does anyone else ever get like that? You want to paint your nails with something pretty, but every time you try you just hate everything? (I hope it’s not just me… I’ll feel silly!) Today’s nails were just me really, really wanting to do some nail taping, as I don’t often do it. I also really, really wanted to wear Cashmere Bathrobe by Essie, as I adore it for Fall and I don’t think I’ve worn it since last fall.

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The polishes I used for this manicure were:

  • Essie Cashmere Bathrobe.
  • Maybelline Color Show Lavender Luster.
  • Mariposa Striping Polish in Pink.
  • Seche Vite Quick Dry Top Coat.

As you can see, I managed to do semi straight taping. I think I’ve figured out it’s the tape I’ve been using that’s made me not want to do tape manicure. I have a roll of very thin painters tape, which I bought because I thought it would be perfect. Unfortunately, for some reason, it just doesn’t like sticking to my nails well enough and–because it’s green–I can’t see if I’ve made my lines straight enough. Oops. I think I’ll be switching back to just regular old scotch tape for manicures like this from now on.

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So what do you think of this manicure? I must say–I really, really like how it turned out. I’ve been feeling so blah nail art wise for a while, but now that I’ve broken out of that funk I’m hoping I can get back to playing with my polish as it makes me so happy. =)  Hopefully I’ll have a fun new manicure to share with you coming up.