Neon(ish) Stars ⭐️

Happy Wednesday loves… I mean, I think it’s Wednesday. My days have been blurring into each other which has made it hard to keep things straight! I’m trying my best to keep to my posting schedule, but right now things are a wee bit hectic. & by wee bit, I mean life is all around insane. But just because I’m working 50+ hours a week doesn’t mean I don’t have time for pretty nails!

Who needs sleep anyways? That’s why they invented coffee!

Today’s nails were based on the fact I wanted pretty nails, with a pop of colour, that were relatively easy. I realized I hadn’t used my stamping plates in forever, so it felt like a good opportunity. Plus I love the look of a pop of colour over a neutral sheer base–@oliveandjune is always posting amazing inspiration on Instagram that I’m constantly saving, so I decided to try the look out. & I love it.

For this manicure, the polishes I used were:

  • Base Coat: Nailtek 2
  • Top Coat: Essie Speed Setter
  • Sally Hansen Miracle Gel In the Sheer
  • Sally Hansen Insta-dri Va-Va Violet
  • Born Pretty Store Image Plate BP-L006 (item #17924)
  • Born Pretty Store small clear jelly stamper
  • Edge Perfection Cuticle Barrier

I was in serious need of something bright & colourful to cheer myself (& my nails) up! Even with obsessive moisturizing, a ton of cuticle oil, & anything else moisturizing I can find, my hands have been hurting the last few weeks. The up & down temperature changes have been the main culprit I think, plus the fact that work is dry as heck. They’re not used to not being babied like they were! Plus paper cuts are seriously the devil. Still working on testing out my own hand pampering mask recipe, so once I find one I want to share I will make sure to post it! Also if you have any favourite hand treatments to share, let me know in the comments below!

What’s your favourite “cheer up” manicure to do when you’re feeling down? share it in the comments below!

SWATCH SUNDAY — Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Travel in Colour collection.

PR Sample — sent to me free for testing & review.

Happy Sunday lovelies! I know this week has been pretty quiet from me (60 hour work weeks will do that to a girl) but I have some beautiful & fun swatches to share with you today! Sally Hansen has recently come up with a new Miracle Gel Spring collection called Travel in Colour, “inspired by the vibrancy of California & the liveliness of Summer music festivals”. I thought with Coachella starting this weekend it was the perfect time to share these beautiful shades! Especially as I’m sitting in below freezing temperatures with two sweaters on, wishing I was wearing flower crowns & maxi dresses.

I’m all about the Spring vibes right now & anything to get me out of that post-Winter-but-it’s-not-quite-Spring-yet state of mind. I’ve been obsessively using this collection since I received it & it’s hands down my favourite Spring collection I’ve seen so far. There is a shade from every Spring moment you might have.

Continue reading “SWATCH SUNDAY — Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Travel in Colour collection.”

Vine Nail Art inspired by @ameliasaccount & @polishpeach

Happy Tuesday lovelies. Craving some serious greenery nails because Mother Nature decided to curse us with a whole ton of snow on Sunday… like 20cm of snow. So that’s fun! Just when it was starting to feel like Spring (for real) Mother Nature decided to ruin everything. That’s why I definitely needed something Spring-like on my nails.

I’ve done this design once before, & it’s originally inspired by @ameliasaccount who was inspired by @polishpeach. Instead of a white base, I decided to go with a brand new polish I recently picked up at Shoppers Drug Mart called Thyme is Money. It’s a beautiful pale green that’s part of the newly formulate Insta-Dri line & holy is it ever lovely!

For this manicure, the polishes I used were:

  • Base Coat: Nailtek 2
  • Top Coat: Essie Gel Setter
  • Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Thyme is Money
  • Sally Hansen I ❤️ Nail Art pen in green
  • Quo by ORLY Second Hand Jade
  • YSL Beauty Vert D’Orient
  • Sally Hansen I ❤️ Nail Art pen in black
  • Small detail brush from Bundle Monster

Seriously, I can’t even begin to describe how much I love the outcome of these. Definitely achieved a much more delicate design versus my first attempt at this manicure. & the green of the leaves pop so well against the pale base polish.

I spent my Sunday off from work out shopping for new plants to fill our house with & I’m just loving the look of fresh greenery in every room. We’re trying to find the perfect hanging plant/vines for in the living room, but in the mean time at least I can enjoy them on my nails.

Here’s hoping that these nails inspired Mother Nature to get her act together. After all, nobody wants to deal with shoving the driveway when they would much rather be basking in the mildly pleasant Spring sunshine. Here’s hoping the snow will be melted in a few short days, & I can go back to wearing flats & the occasional Spring dress.

What do you think of my version of the vine design? Have you tried this shade from Sally Hansen yet? Let me know all your thoughts in the comments below!

Pink & Purple Spring Floral

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Happy Friday Lovelies! Today is my last dedicated post for floral week… at least for now! I’ve been so about Spring this week & the weather the last couple days has flipped to be somewhat agreeable & sunny & only slightly chilly. I’ve even been able to wear a few of my dresses! I mean, with tights & boots… but it still counts! It just means we’re that much closer to the days where I can wear nothing but my pretty Spring dresses.

Today’s design is another floral featuring pink & purple. This design also turned out a little tropical to me which I’m really loving. I’m still trying to practice creating other flowers than roses–I’ve been doing roses so long they’re kind of easy for me, but other flowers aren’t as easy. Hopefully with practice, it’ll be just as simple. I dream of creating florals as beautiful as my floral idols @just1nail & @polishpeach. They just make it look so easy.

For this manicure, the polishes that I used were:

  • Base Coat: Quo by ORLY Breathable Kiss Me, I’m Kind
  • Top Coat: Seche Vive
  • Essence As Long As You Love Me 
  • Icing Pink A Boo
  • Sinful Colours Amethyst
  • Essie Play Date
  • Sally Hansen I ♥ Nail Art Pen in Green
  • Essie Off Tropic
  • Sally Hansen I ♥ Nail Art Pen in Turquoise
  • Essie Strut You Stuff
  • Small & Large dotting tool from Bundle Monster
  • Small detail brush from Bundle Monster

 

This time of year is such a hard time for nail art inspiration which is why I think I love painting flowers. It gives me something to look forward to! Also it’s an excuse to pull out those Spring-y nail polish shades that have been sitting in my Melmer drawers all Winter, missing me. I’ve been dying over all the new Spring collections being released (especially China Glaze’s Chic Physique collection) so I can’t wait to treat myself with a few new shades… or you know, the whole collection if I happen to stumble across it at Winners.

So that’s it for floral week, although I already have a few more floral designs ready to show you in the next little while! Like I said, I just can’t get enough. I definitely had fun dedicating this whole week to my love for floral, & I can definitely see myself doing it again!

 

What do you think of this design? Have you enjoyed this entirely floral themed week? Would you like to see me do more of these themed posts? Let me know your thoughts below!

Matte Neon Moon Manicure 🌙

Happy Friday lovelies! Today I’m blasting you with a little neon to cheer up the Winter blues. It’s currently -11 degrees here in Halifax, so I need anything I can get that feels even a little Spring-like. Also this colour combination might actually be perfect. 💜

For this manicure, the polishes I used were:

  • Base Coat: Nailtek 2
  • Top Coat: Seche Vive
  • Matte Top Coat: Butter London
  • Quo by ORLY Culture Classic
  • Color Club Pucci-licious
  • White Paper White Reinforcement stickers.

I’m so one of those people who can only stand Winter until Christmas is over, & then I want Spring already. If I didn’t love Halifax so much, I would move somewhere where it was warm all year & I could drive to the snow. Instead, I guess neon nails to cheer myself is in order! (& all the hot drinks I can handle to keep myself from freezing)

I guess I should probably start planning my Valentine’s Day designs soon! I missed out on a lot of Valentine’s designs last year, you know with having a baby haha, so I want to make up with it this year!

What do you think of this design? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!