The Nail Files - Manicures of days past, part 1

Until two weeks ago, I haven't really kept up with these weekly nail shows. But I've been taking pictures with every intent to post them each week. It just doesn't happen.

Since I'm keeping it simple the next couple weeks to give my nails a break. Thanks to staining from one polish and peeling off my vacation gel manicure, my nails are a bit of a wreck right now! But I have plenty to share with you. So for the next couple weeks, maybe three, I'll be bringing you...

cue the dramatic music
Manicures of Days Past

To start of this lovely look back, I give you the gel manicure I did  BEFORE vacation. In the past, as you may or may not know, I've had issues with gel staying put longer than a week. That, along with the fact that I'm rough on my nails and can't keep a regular manicure, is why I started doing my own nails and creating such a large stash of polish.

But this gel mani last the full two weeks! I was so happy about that!

Here's the progression:

Post Manicure

One week in.

Either a week and a half or two weeks in. 

I was very excited about the amount of time this stayed put. It really restored my faith in the Gel Mani, which is why I did one for vacation (which didn't last as long because I went to a different salon for it...booo).

So there you have the first installment of Manicure of Days Past!

Now, come link with the rest of us polish addicts and show us those mani/pedis!

Cheers, loves!

The Nail Files - NailsInc London Tinsel Town Collection

This past weekend I went shopping in Palm Desert with one of my dear friends. We went to Ulta.

That was a mistake!! However, I was surprisingly good, considering all the lovely things I really wanted to spend my money on!

I did buy this beauty combo, though:

Here's the Link, cause according to the ULTA website, it's an online only thing. It was the only one in the store, so maybe someone returned it (though it didn't look opened) or they got one for display purposes. Either way...I snatched it up!

And here's what I did with it:

One coat of Kensington High Street is on all nails but my ring finger. Mayfair is the base on the ring finger nail. And Carnival is the glitter. It's a clear base with large gold and pink flakes and smaller holographic specks. And it is a pain in the bootay to apply. I kind of had to manipulate the larger flakes to get it to look remotely close to what I thought it should look like. And then a clear top coat so "seal" it in...some. I still managed to smudge it a bit, but it's held in place so far.

My only complaint is the glitter polish. But that will take some working with to get used to manipulating the flakes the way I want them. Other than that, I love all these colors and the coverage. The one coat of Kensington High Street is a little splotchy in the right light, so maybe two coats next time. But I am really enjoying this look and will probably do it again.

As always, I've linked up:



Come show off your polished looks with the rest of us!

Happy Friday!!

The Nail Files - Dots on White

Look at me, trying to get back into the swing of things...again. And I actually did my nails for the first time in about two weeks, so I figured I should brag/show off.




I went perusing Pinterest the other day and came across some great inspiration. I think that's what got into me...that and I was tired of plain, boring, no-polish nails.

Here's my inspiration (link):

I realized, when I went to grab this picture and the link that I have a couple variations of this nail art, including one with a black base and brighter colors for the dots. However, the other variations have the dots towards the top of the nails. I liked this look for the dots being at the bottom.

But I didn't want pale colors, since it is September and time for all things Fall and Fall colors related.

So here's my take (not really fall colors, but still more season appropriate, I think):

Please excuse the smudge on my middle finger...I tried a new top coat and my dots may not have been completely dry. 

These are my colors:  Pure Ice - Superstar, Julep - Charlotte, Finger Paints - Sketch Me, Finger Paints - Masterpiece of Minimalism, and Julep - Beverly (ignore the white in the backgroud...it didn't get used).

Over all, I really like this. I think I could have done more dots up one of the sides on a few nails. But that would be the only change I'd make.

So what's on your nails this week/weekend? Come share with the rest of us over at The Nail Files!

Happy Friday!

The Nail Files

I have not been ambitious to try anything new on my nails lately, regarding nail art and getting all crazy with the colors. Even my 4th of July mani was seriously lacking:  Red, White, and Blue...but one color on each nail. Blah....

However, I redeemed myself (in my eyes) with my pedicure (which could by why I didn't go crazy on my finger nails...I'd already gone crazy on the toes):

I don't remember the names of the colors, but the red and blue are both by Finger Paints. The white is a one of my nail art polishes. And the "Stars" are stickers I've had FOREVER and decided to use instead of attempting actual stars.

And this week, I tried a new polish I've had for a bit: 

It's part of the Carrie Underwood Collection for Nicole by OPI. This one is called Southern Charm. What you're seeing is two coats. It's a little thin, but may look better with something over top. I'm definitely not a fan of it solo. I'll have to play around with it some more before I figure out if I like enough or not.

Well, that's all for this week. Once again, I'm joining in with the fun of



Come show off your nails with the rest of us!

Happy Friday!

The Nail Files - Disney Inspired

It's been a while since I've done some nail art. But knowing we'd be going to Disneyland this past weekend, I took the opportunity on Saturday to get in the spirit.

Behold:

You can't really see it in this picture, but that's another "hidden mickey" on my thumb. For those that don't know, the hidden mickey is three circles in the formation of the head and ears of Mickey Mouse. They're all over the parks, in places you may or may not think to look. For example, if you ride Pirates of the Caribbean in Disneyland in California, when you get to the end there is armor hanging on the wall to your right. One of the chest pieces has the Mickey head and ears silhouette in the center. That's a Hidden Mickey.

Anyway, these are the polishes I used:

Sally Hansen's All Fired Up on all nails, Maybelline's Onyx Rush as the dots and Hidden Mickeys, and Orly's Shine On Crazy Diamond on all nails.

Those of you that have been around my nail posts know I have an issue with polish sticking to my nails. Well, I think I've discovered the problem...I think the Julep Polish formulas are too thick, especially when added with a top coat. This manicure lasted until this morning, when I started peeling it off in the shower because it snagged in my hair (yah, weird). But here's a shot from Wednesday evening:

A big chip on my index tip, but nothing else major. And no sign of peeling. And I didn't do a top coat here. I've had the same result last week when I had an OPI polish on with no top coat (and it was two coats of polish).

As much as it pains me to say, I think the Julep polish has to go (gasp...that hurt!!). I am, however, going to wait till the May polish comes out...it being my birth month and all. And I have jules to use.

Unless, of course, you lovely ladies have another suggestion to keep the polish from peeling (and I am using a base coat, for those who don't know). I just like my manicure to last longer than two days!

Oh, and like always, I'm linking up this week:


Come check out what everyone else did this week and show off your own manicure!

Happy Friday!!

The Nail Files - On A Silver Platter

As you may (or may not) have seen here, I got some lovely polishes for Christmas. I've tried out two of the three, but had yet to try Essie's On A Silver Platter.

I was intending to do it over another color since it has a clear base, but hadn't decided which one yet. Yesterday morning, on a whim, I tried a layer on my thumb just to see what it looked like without a base color.

Uh...AMAZING!!

I ended up just going for it with out a base color!

 This is angled so you can see the gold micro-glitter coverage at certain angles/light.

 This gives a better idea of the clear base, but the holographic/iridescence of some of the other glitters in there. Even the blue flakes have a bit of a holographic shine to them in certain light.

I did two coats to try to "even out" the blue glitter. But I really didn't need to.

I think I have a navy blue that this will be AMAZE-BALLS over, so stay tuned for that test run!

And, as always, I'm linking up:



Head over and check out some of the other great manicures and show some love!  :)

Happy Friday!

The Nail Files, week 49

It's been a while since I've joined in the weekly show of nails and their lovely colors. Not for lack of color, but for lack of posting on my part. But I thought I'd jump back in this week because I think I have a new favorite (again)!!

I have been receiving my monthly Julep Maven box for the last three months. And while October and November were pretty cool (hello crackle I never thought I'd like and matte finish), the add-on I ordered with December's box really blew me away.

Here is my original December, Classic With a Twist box:

 The little black bag and metal object is a ring that I can create by painting the back of the clear stone with a polish color and then pressing it in the form. Pics later, cause I totally made that yesterday!  :)

And here it is with my add-ons:

And here is my favorite, on my nails:

It's called Julia. It's a light purple with a gold shimmer in certain lights and at certain angles. You can kind of see the gold flecks in this angle and in the bottle (I couldn't get a good picture to really convey the shimmer effect). This will definitely be one I get some good use out of!

So what's your mani look like this week? Come join up with Tara and Vicki for the weekly show off!

PS...this is my 200th blog post!  YAAA ME! 

PSS...if you're interested in becoming a Julep Maven, use this link to check out their website!

Hugs...

Nail Files - Week 19

I am so happy it's Friday!  I spent all day Wednesday thinking it was Thursday and all day Thursday thinking it was Friday...even though I had the revelation on Wednesday after noon that I was not a day ahead as I'd have preferred.  My brain is just all out of whack this week.

Anyway...

On to the color I've been sporting since Tuesday.  For those of you that come here often (as in, every Friday from Tara or Vicki), you may have noticed I've mentioned Julep a couple times in the past.  In April I signed up and am now a Julep Maven (as we're called).  Every month I have the option to purchase that month's box in my "signature" style, which was determined thanks to a quiz you take when you enroll.  I am, according to Julep, "Classic with a Twist".  My first box was great (see here and here for the colors I got). Mavens get to preview their boxes online before ordering, and see what the other "styles" are getting that month.  Well, let's just say I was less than pleased with my May box...but the "Bombshell" box looked pretty nifty.  So I ordered that one.

The colors are Sarah & Fina. There's also a little tote (that has Julep Nailpolish pouches), a foot scratcher-thingy, and some pedicure lotion (which I have yet to try).  Sarah is pink and glittery and is on the transparent side.  It would probably be good with a couple coats or over another color that is similar.  The Fina is slightly metallic, and what I went with after having the hubby choose from a swatch of colors on my nails (the black is a China Glaze I bought last month and haven't worn yet)

He chose the "blue", so that's what I did:

Over all, I like the color.  It's definitely a spring/summer color.  The only issue I had, and I wasn't the only one this month, was the brush was a little wonky.  But apparently a lot of colors in the May boxes had that issue.  I just had to email them and let them know and they are, supposedly, working on getting a new one out to me (the Sarah brush was fine). 

I also ordered the Cinco de Mayo mystery box last week (same price).  It came two days ago: 

Mini "Facial for hands", glass nail file, and four colors!  The dark color is kind of a shiny navy blue, and I can't wait to try it!!  The pink has some sparkle to it and looks to be good for a work week.  The orange/peach looks fun for the summer.  And the tan I'm not so sure about.  It might make for a good base under a glitter.  I'll keep you posted on that one.

If you're interested in becoming a Maven, check out this link (which will also let them know I sent ya):  Maven.

Hugs...