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Criss Cross Freehand Pattern

Hello lovelies & happy Wednesday. It’s definitely a very, very chilly Wednesday here on the East Coast, & I don’t think I’m quite ready for it! I’m naturally a person who is always cold, so when the weather shifts, there is not enough layers or tea in the world to keep me warm!

But even if I’m cold, I still have cute nails to show off! I picked up a couple nail art stripers on clearance at Lawton’s a while ago, but hadn’t really played with them, so I decided to play around with some line work. I originally intended to do a kind of x-pattern look, which so of shifted as I was doing it. I’m not sure what to call this kind of pattern, but I absolutely love it. & it’s a look that even looks good on nubby nails like mine!

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
  • Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure Clean Slate
  • Color Club Art Club Pink Pastel

Oh man, I think this pattern turned out so neat! It actually wasn’t super difficult to do either; I started with painting an X on my nails, then when it each triangle section to repeat the same pattern over & over so you would get this interlocking/woven effect. It sounds complicated, but it really wasn’t. Just required a bit of a steady hand, & a little concentration, but the end result is totally worth it!

Also yes I’m totally obsessed with using my matte top coat again. I saw that Sally Hansen has a new Miracle Gel matte top coat, so I’m going to see if I can pick some up the next time I’m out. I also think I’m due for another “battle of the matte top coats”, so maybe I’ll have to add it to the mix!

What do you think about this look? Is this something you could see yourself rocking?

Also now that we’re hitting mid-November I was thinking of starting to post the occasional Winter/maybe Christmas look? Do you want to see that, or do you think it’s too soon?

Let me know down in the comments below!

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Pink Stamped Reindeer Nails

Hello lovelies & happy Monday!

Hope everyone is well caffeinated. Today I’m starting off the beginning of this week with some fun stamped sweater nails. It’s been quite a while since I last pulled out my stamper, & this time of year always makes me want to use it more often.

Today’s stamping plate combo is one I’ve used before, but I love the sweater print with the reindeer head. I also pulled a polish shade from deep, deep in my stash (definitely pre 2009) but it still applies like a dream! You’ve got to love that.

For this manicure, the polishes I used were:

  • Base Coat: Sally Hansen Hard As Nails
  • Top Coat: Essie Gel Setter
  • NYC Color Lexington Lilac
  • Revlon Iconic
  • Starrily Vantablack
  • Born Pretty Store Stamping plate BP-L032 (item #23268)
  • Born Pretty Store Stamping plate BP-L018 (item #19373)
  • NailStuff.ca Clear Stamper (COFFEE10 saves you 10% site wide!)

I had totally forgotten about this pretty polish. I picked it up years & years ago, I think at Zellars (for my fellow Canadians, who remembers Zellars?!) & probably only wore it once or twice. I also really like this untraditional sweater colour scheme. Sometimes, even this time of year, I just really feel these pale muted colours.

Also be prepared to see this stamped reindeer head over the next couple months, because it’s one of my favourites!

What do you think about this stamped design? Do you love this colour scheme as much as I do? Let me know in the comments below!

Have a happy Monday!

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SWATCH SUNDAY — Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Hue There?

Hello lovelies & happy Sunday! I hope you’re excited for some fun & festive nail polish!

I don’t know about you, but once the middle of November hits, I tend to start thinking holiday nail polish — & holiday nail polish for me usually means glitter! Earlier in the week, I was out at Shoppers with the hubby, & happened across a display for new Sally Hansen shades. One side had Complete Salon Manicure shades, & the other had some fun new Miracle Gel shades, including some glitter toppers & new shades (plus new matte & glossy top coats!)

While I definitely would have loved one of everything, I decided to stick to one shade & couldn’t pass up this beautiful holographic glitterbomb called Hue There?

Continue reading “SWATCH SUNDAY — Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Hue There?”
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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!