Floral Shorties

Hello loves & happy Wednesday!

& Happy last day of May!

I swear, you’re in the right place. I just decided to switch things up a bit. I’ve been humming & hawing on Instagram for a while about going to square nails, & I finally decided to take the plunge–just in time for a new month! I know, crazy. But it’s been about 2 years since the last time I rocked some squares, so I thought why not try them out again for a while.

They’re pretty short right now, but that’s okay. I’m excited to grow them out to a nice square shape. & in the meantime, we’ll rock some fun shortie nail art. Naturally, the first manicure I did on my new short squares is floral! I mean, were you expecting anything else.

The polishes I used for this manicure are: 

  • Base Coat: Londontown KUR Nail Hardener & Base Coat 
  • Top Coat: Seche Vive Fast Dry Top
  • Franken white shade (I mixed a few whites I own with a little black to grey it)
  • OPI Is That A Spear in Your Pocket
  • OPI Living On The Bula-vard 
  • OPI Two Timing The Zones 
  • OPI Do You Have This Color in Stock-holm? 
  • OPI Getting Nadi on My Honeymoon 
  • OPI Koala Berry
  • OPI Who You CallinBossy?
  • OPI Gelato On My Mind
  • OPI Check Out The Old Geysirs
  • NailStuff.ca Dotting Tool Trio
  • NailStuff.ca 4mm Micro Detail Brush

Obviously, I had to use my garden for a backdrop as it’s been thriving with these Summer-y temperatures. This floral is pretty simple — although it used a ton of different polishes — but I think it turned out beautiful & I’m really in love with the final look. I went with a white base, even though I’ve been iffy on wearing white lately thanks to the VPR drama & Scandoval, but I think this white base looks so pretty with the floral over top.

What do you think about this floral look & my return to square nails? This was the nail shape I had when I first started my blog, so I always return to it, even though I do love round nails as well. Sometimes, you just need a change, you know?

Let me know what you think & what nail art you’d like to see next! I have one manicure coming on Friday that I did earlier in the month for a nail art collab, but I’m excited to start Summer off with these new square shorties.


Happy Wednesday ♥︎

SWATCH SUNDAY — Pure Ice Cookies ‘N Cream

Hello lovelies & happy Sunday! The first Sunday of April at that — can you believe it? I mean, I feel like I’m always saying this, but I can’t get over how quickly this year is passing. I’m happy that we’re that much closer to Summer dress weather, but wow… this year is already 1/4 over! That is crazy.

Today I’m going old school though, with a polish from deep in my stash. I’ve been living for speckled nail looks lately, so obviously that means pulling out some from deep in the past. You might remember, a few years ago, the brand Pure Ice released a collection of speckled nail polishes that I think were based on nail polishes. Naturally, I bought three at the time. I don’t often pull them out, with the exception of this time of year because I feel like they’re absolutely perfect for Easter nails.

2 coats, no top coat.

As the name implies, Cookies ‘N Cream is a white base with multisized hex glitters that gives the impression of cookies & cream ice cream.

I applied 2 coats of polish for my application — a thinner first coat, followed by a thicker second coat which gave exactly the opacity I was hoping for. The base is thin enough that the black glitters show through perfectly, giving you the multi layered effect. It also dried down quickly. which left a semi textured in some places, thanks to the layered glitters, but this could easily be fixed with a thick coat of glossy top coat.

I really, really love the different sized glitters in this polish ( & its sister shades I own Boysenberry & Orange Sorbet) versus a speckled polish like Deborah Lippmann Polka Dots & Moonbeams. & it really does look like ice cream, which just makes me think of Summer, & I can’t wait for Summer days.

It also kind of makes me wish I had scooped up all 6 shades in the collection back in 2015 because every time I wear one I realize just how much I freaking love speckled nail polish, & this trend needs to make a comeback!

What do you think about Pure Ice Cookies ‘N Cream? Do you love these speckled polishes as much as I do? Are there any nail polishes you’re hoping the Easter Bunny brings you next weekend? Let me know down in the comments below!

Negative Space & Pastel Abstract Stripes

Good morning loves! I hope everyone is having a great start to their Thursday so far. Mine is involving coffee, so that’s always a good start. Plus I have the whole day off to do my laundry & fold it, & put it away — so I’m pumped.

Today I’m sharing a recent manicure I did in the hopes of summoning Spring. Real Spring, not the fake “oops-just-kidding-it’s-still-Winter” Spring we get teased with around the end of March. I know, it’s January, & we’ve barely even had Winter…. but I’m over it. So how about some pastel?

The polishes I used for this manicure are: 

  • Base Coat: Essie Hard To Resist Glow & Shine 
  • Top Coat: Seche Vite Fast Dry Top Coat
  • Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear Royal Hue
  • Essie Mint Candy Apple
  • Color Club Art Club Striper Pink Pastel
  • Color Club Art Club Striper Passion Flower

First off, let me acknowledge that my cuticles are looking rough. I’m trying my best to keep up with my nail art regime, but the last couple months have had some struggles, & the weather has been full of extremes, & it’s taking me a while to get my nail health back to where it was. But I’m going to save that for another post, because I know you’re all here for the nail art today!

This look was really easy to do, mostly because it takes zero skill. You just need to draw the initial swoop, & then use your other colours to trace the same lines. It sounds more complicated than it is, but I swear it’s really easy. Which is why I love this kind of look so much. I decided to go with a negative space base, because I’ve been struggling with using my bottle of Seche Vita & I wanted to avoid the weird shrinkage at my cuticle line.

What do you think about this nail art look? I know it’s probably a smidge too early for Spring nails, but you know what? Yesterday it was like 11 degrees (Celsius) & that is Spring weather. I could have worn a dress with only one pair of tights it was so warm. So I guess these nails are kind of fitting.

What do you think about this manicure? Let me know down in the comments below!

♥︎

Glam Nails Challenge December — Candy Cane

Good morning lovelies & happy Monday! & happy 6 days until Christmas Day! I worked a very busy weekend, & the Christmas shopping rush is real. Now if only it would actually feel like Christmas was on its way. Currently, they’re calling for 10 degrees (Celsius) & thunder & lightning on Christmas Eve.

So festive.

You know what is festive though? My nails for the next Glam Nails Challenge prompt, which is Candy Cane. I was really excited for this prompt, because I had this idea of doing a Candy Cane French Manicure. This idea has been floating around in my head for a while, & I was so excited my nails were finally long enough I could!

The polishes I used for this manicure are: 

  • Base Coat: Essie Hard To Resist Glow & Shine 
  • Top Coat: Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Anti-chip Top Coat
  • Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Ski Bunny
  • Sally Hansen MG Red It Twice
  • French Tip Guides
  • NailStuff.ca Mermaid Tail Nail Brush Trio (11mm Liner Brush)

I know I say this almost every time, but how cute are these?! I got some many compliments on this design at work! It’s super simple, but just the right amount of festive. Which fits with retail style because I’ve been all about the Christmas Sweaters, fuzzy socks, & any head band that feels a little Christmas-y. After a long time in retail, I’ve accumulated quite the Christmas work wardrobe.

Also this was the last manicure I managed to do before a very tragic break on my middle finger nail. You can kind of see there was a little spot in it that I had previously hit. It wasn’t a break or a crack, but it was enough that I hit it off my fridge door & now I’m back to big time shorties.

Are you following along with Glam Nails Challenge December on Instagram? Are you enjoying the manicures that you’ve seen so far? We have a few more prompts to go… 3 I think? That’s crazy!

& I hope you’re ready for some super short nail looks! Because that’s what we have coming up for the remainder of the month.

Have an awesome rest of your Monday!

SWATCH SUNDAY— Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Unicorn Top Coat (& Easy Glazed Donut Nails)

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Hello lovelies & happy Sunday!

I hope everyone is having a lovely weekend so far. It’s been very, very humid here in Halifax. Like — remember that episode of Friends when Monica is in the Bahamas & her hair just keeps getting bigger & bigger: that’s me right now. Haha.

Today I’m sharing something really fun that was recently sent to me from Sally Hansen. They always send the best PR packages, so they sent out some glazed donuts & the means to recreate the Hailey Beiber glazed donut nails — their new Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Unicorn Top Coat.

Continue reading “SWATCH SUNDAY— Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Unicorn Top Coat (& Easy Glazed Donut Nails)”