Holiday Tartan 🧣🎄

Hello lovelies & happy Monday! A chill-y Monday here on the East Coast. I am so not a winter girlie, that is for sure! But, I do love Winter nail art, so I guess it’s a Catch 22.

Today’s nail art look screams holiday vibes. If there is one thing you can count on in the cooler months, it is that I will be rocking some plaid/tartan nails. & these ones are inspired by my family tartan that I grew up wearing every Christmas without fail.

The polishes I used for this manicure are: 

  • Base Coat: NailStuff Essentials Base Coat *
  • Top Coat: Nail Stuff Essentials Quick Dry Top Coat *
  • Essie Gel Couture Rock The Runway *
  • Essie Bourdeaux *
  • Essie Off Tropic *
  • Essie Feel The Hype *
  • Essie Blanc
  • Essie Leggy Legend
  • Quo by Orly Striper Black
  • Nailstuff.ca Mermaid Tail 11mm liner brush

I’m not going to lie, I am so freaking proud of how this plaid turned out! Sometimes when I attempt a plaid, it turns out unintentionally chaotic, but this one turned out so close to the actual tartan that I almost cried. Okay, maybe that’s a smidge dramatic — but I was very very happy! & proud.

What do you think about my holiday tartan nails? Did you grow up wearing some specific during the holidays? Let me know all your thoughts down in the comments below! I’d love to hear all about your Christmas fashion traditions.

Happy Monday!

🖤

Dainty Red Dotticure ♥️

Good morning lovelies, happy Tuesday & happy July! We’re officially 1/2 way through the year, & that just seems insane to me. It’s officially Summer vacation for my kids, which means the free time to myself I have (when they’re not asleep) becomes much more limited!

So simple nail art becomes a bit more necessary. But simple does not need to mean boring, & I feel like today’s look is anything but boring!

The polishes I used for this manicure are: 

  • Base Coat: Essie Here to Stay
  • Top Coat: Essie Gel Setter
  • Essie She’s Pampered
  • Sally Hansen I ♥️ Nail Art pen in pink
  • Color Club Top Shelf
  • NailStuff.ca Dotting Tool Trio (tiniest size)

This beautiful polish is another thrift store score that I was not expecting, but I quite love. It looks much more pink in the bottle, but on my nail it’s giving all the way red. But I’ll never say no to a red nail polish — that is well established by now.

I added some pink polka dots over my base shade, with a colour sparkly ones just for fun! I think this look turned out chic & classic, but it’s also fun. From far away you get red nails, but up close you get the full fun look. & I love a nail art design like that! Polka dots were one of the first designs I ever taught myself, & they remain one of my favourites.

What do you think about this chic dainty dotticure? Are you a fan of a subtle look like this? Let me know what you think in the comments below & please — PLEASE — let me know any nail art looks you’d like to see me attempt!

🖤

Vibrant Floral Shorties 🌱🌸

Hello lovelies & happy Thursday! We have another rainy one today, which is quite disappointing. But you know what can turn a lame, rainy day around? Cute floral nails!

The polishes I used for this manicure are: 

  • Base Coat: Essie Here to Stay
  • Top Coat: Essie Gel Setter
  • Essie Viva Antigua!
  • Essie Swoon in the Lagoon
  • Essie Muchi Muchi *gifted
  • Essie Play Date
  • Essie Willow in the Wind *gifted
  • Essie Off Tropic
  • Nailstuff.ca Mermaid Tail 7mm liner brush *gifted

Yep! We’re back to some shorties again. At this point, it’s inevitable! I work in retail, & retail is rough on your nails! But I do kind of like these rounded shorties. & you know I am always going to love when I paint floral on my nails.

What do you think about this pretty floral? Let me know all your thoughts down in the comments below.

Happy Thursday 🖤

Rainbow Paint Splatter (Using Acrylic Paint 🎨)

Good morning lovelies & happy Thursday! How is everyone’s week going so far? I hope it’s been filled with beautiful days.

Today I’m sharing a super easy design that was totally inspired by my daughter. I asked her how I should paint my nails, & she told me rainbow 🌈. I haven’t played with my acrylic paints in a while so I decided to use them for a splatter-y effect, & I think it turned out pretty cool!

The polishes I used for this manicure are: 

  • Base Coat: China Glaze Calcium Gel Fortifer
  • Top Coat: Seche Vive
  • OPI I Cannoli Wear OPI
  • Acrylic Paint
  • Paint brush
  • Water

These nails were kind of an experiment because I wasn’t sure initially what I was going to create. I ended up applying drops of acrylic paint on my nails, then using the water to make it spread out a bit. My ring & pinky finger probably turned out my favourite of the 5 on this hand, but I definitely know what I’ll do next time to get the look I want.

These were super easy though, & because I was using acrylic paint vs nail polish I could easy erase any mistakes & start over. My only tip is make sure the acrylic paint is dry before applying top coat, otherwise you’ll end up with some smearing & transferring which kind of mucks up the final look a bit (like on my middle finger). Over all though, such a fun quick look to do.

What do you think of this rainbow paint splatter design? Do you love this quick & easy look? Let me know all your thoughts down in the comments below.

Pretty Floral Shorties 🌿🌸

Hello darlings, happy Friday!

I know what you’re thinking — two blog posts in a row? You girl was feeling productive after feeling not so productive in the beginning of the week, so we’re going to roll with it. Today I have another short nail design to share with you, & yes — it’s more floral. Let’s be honest, I’m (most likely) going to be sharing something floral related at least once a week going forward as it’s a nail art comfort zone for me. So I hope you won’t get tired of them too quickly!

The polishes I used for this manicure are: 

  • Base Coat: China Glaze Calcium Gel Fortifer
  • Top Coat: Seche Vive
  • Sally Hansen InstaDri Luxe Finish Lavish Lilac
  • Sally Hansen InstaDri Cotton Candy
  • OPI Nature Strong Emflowered
  • Sally Hansen Good. Kind. Pure. Peony Origins
  • Sally Hansen Good. Kind. Pure Eco-Rose
  • Sally Hansen Good Kind Pure Blue Moonstone
  • Essie In the Cab-Ana
  • Sally Hansen Miracle Gel How You Bluein’
  • Essie Willow in the Wind
  • Nailtural Keep Palm, Swim On
  • NailStuff.ca Dotting Tool Trio
    Nailstuff.ca Mermaid Tail 7mm liner brush

Okay, seriously, how pretty did this floral turn out?

I know, I know — I say that every single time I create a floral design, but that’s because I’m still amazed after all this time when my nails turn out so pretty! I mean, sometimes when I’m going into them I’m not entirely sure they’re going to work out — & there have definitely been times when they didn’t!–so I get so happy when I end up with a beautiful design that I’m happy with.

What do you think of this floral design? Do you like pretty floral looks like this? As I mentioned, I foresee this being a design I repeat at least weekly going forward for the next little while. Even when I’m not inspired to necessarily do my nails, I’m always inspired to create a pretty floral!