The Nail Files - Manicures of Days Past, Part 2

This week's manicure comes to you from way back in November!

See...I told you I've been taking pictures but just not posting!!

Julep's Shari with a Bonnie on top

Seeing these makes me think I'll have to revisit this combination again. I really like it! And it would be a great spring color!

Thanks for joining in on the trip down memory lane!

Come link up with the rest of us:

And have a wonderful Friday!!

Black and Gold

Let's back time up a few weeks!

Here is a manicure I did at the beginning of October:

You're looking at Maybelline's Onyx Rush and Essie's As Gold as It Gets

I originally was going to do the gold on just an accent nail. But I loved the combo so much I did it on all 10 digits!

As always, I'm linking with the rest of us nail-polish-aholics:



Come show what your nails look (or looked) like this week (or earlier this month, if you're a slacker like me).

Happy Friday!!

A not so Halloween-ish Manicure

Despite my disappointment with the Julep Mystery Box in September, I am still addicted to them. So I ordered the October box when it came time, as well as a couple add-ons. And I was not disappointed.

However, I do not have a picture of what I got. I did use two of those colors for the manicure, though.

Anyway...

Once again I took inspiration from Pinterest (Link):

And this is what I came up with:

And here are the colors I used (sorry for the bad lighting):

My base is one of my new Julep colors:  Dana (a white with a blue shimmer, that can't really be seen in this picture). The darker stripe is also a Julep color from October: Ledi (a black with a bit of a black shimmer...that cannot be seen in the manicure). I have three other colors in stripes, though you can really only see two:  Ulta - Glam Session, OPI - Brand New Skates, and Kiss Silver nail art.

Now, here's the fun part. I did this mani on Wednesday morning. I am now two full days in and we are still holding strong to the nails!! (if you've been around here long enough, you know that is a big deal for my nails) I even did dishes yesterday!!  HOORAY!!!  I changed up my bottom/top coat and so far so good.

Well, that's it for me this week. I'm back-logged in nail pictures, so I may actually have nail posts the next two weeks! They'll be older manicures, but at least I'll be posting.

And, as always, linking up with the lovely Jennie Shaw and the rest of the lovelies for:


Head on over and show off your digits!

Happy Friday!

The Nail Files - Braided Manicure

Once again, I'm finally putting my Pinterest "Nails" board to good use!! Here is this week's inspiration:

I put my own twist on it, thanks to another pin with navy and silver colors that inspired me this week in my color choice.

I really love how this turned out. It looks a lot better than I thought it would - note to self:  never try to determiner what the finished product will look like when the in-progress is a mess and a half!

Here are the colors I used:

Pure Ice - Superstar, Julep - Missy, and Finger Paints - Artist's Sapphire

As always, I'm linking up to show off my "handy" work!  :)


Come show off your mani/pedi with the rest of us.

And - 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 - Valentine's Day edition

Because I found myself sitting at my desk on Saturday morning waiting in a virtual waiting room to buy tickets for Comic-Con in San Diego this year, I have two Valentine's Manicures to bring you today.

This is from Saturday and lasted till about Tuesday night.  Two coats of Julep's Helen with Missy hearts and dots. I know it's kind of hard to tell from the shiny of the silver, but they are hearts on the middle finger. I even had a hard time and I did the design!

Then, while on the phone with my parents yesterday, I did this one:

Two coats of Ulta's Total Eclips on all nails. One coat and multiple dabs of Nicole by OPI's Haley Good Lookin (from the Modern Family collection).  **Edit made to name of glitter polish after realizing from another link up poster that I had the wrong collection/color for Nicole by OPI...sorry for misinformation to those who saw it before the edit!**

If you know me in real life, I am not a pink, frilly kind of girl. In fact, there are no pick shirts in my closet. But for some reason, I find I have a lot of pink polishes.

And, since my husband doesn't come home from Idaho until tomorrow, I just couldn't do a full on "love" theme for the weekend.

Enough about my nails, what do yours look like this weekend?

And show some love to my fellow Manicure enthusiasts:




Happy Valentine's Day!!

The Nail Files - Shiny Simplicity

Due to the amount of packing I'm supposed to be doing, I've kept my nails simple since last week (hence, no post last week).

But I got my Julep box on Saturday and had to share the goods!!

I opted for my usual, Classic with a Twist and got Greta, a pink shimmer, and Octavia, a royal/navy blue creme.  As a special plus to everyone (I think), I also got a glitter polish called Love.  Gold glitter with pink flecks in a clear base. But, like my Essie's On A Silver Platter, it could easily be worn without a base color and have good coverage.

Here's what they look like (sorry for bad lighting):

One coat of Greta with one coat of Love on ring finger.

One coat of Octavia with one coat of Essie's On a Silver Platter on the ring finger.

I considered leaving my nails this way though the week...pink on one finger and blue on the other. Until I remembered I'd be with my in-laws for the Super Bowl and the last thing I needed were questions on if I was preggers or not and when (I get enough of that as it is...I don't want to rattle the cage of the beast). So I opted for Greta with Love until it peeled enough throughout the week for me to just remove it all together.

My nails have been plain since. I think they needed a break...but it won't last long, knowing me.

Happy Friday, everyone!

And, as always, come show off your manicures (and pedicures) with the rest of us polish junkies!!

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

One again, I'm linking up with the gals for:




This past week I kept my nails fairly simple:

I don't remember the names, but both are Julep colors. (I think the black glitter is Beatrix from a previous Bombshell box...the white is one I've had for about a year). The glitter is a clear base with black, gold, and iridescent flecks (that are hard to see in these pictures). This was my weekend through Monday mani.

Right now I'm sporting one of my Christmas colors:

Essie's Mochachino (forgive the chipped tips...this mani has been on since Wednesday morning). The picture doesn't do it full justice as there's a hint of shimmer to this color that really sets it off nicely. It may be one of my new favorites (I know, I say that a lot).

I'm feeling a little adventurous for my next mani, so hopefully I'll have some cute nail art for you next week.

Until then...happy Friday, lovelies!

The Nail Files, a little late

This seems to be the only thing I have time to post lately. There's really not a good reason for it...it's just the way life is right now. I'm looking forward to things calming down...eventually!

On to this week's (and more) polish adventures!

If you follow me on instagram, you may have already seen this:

Essie's Set in Stones over two coats of Essie's Smokin' Hot. It was my mani for most of this week. I think I applied on Tuesday night, just in time for Christmas day. It's not a full hot mess now, but it's chipped it's way to {almost} oblivion now. Which is fine...I'm ready for a change now.

I got some great colors in my stocking this year, too:

Essie's Mochacino (not sure if you can see, but it has a hint of shine in there), Sinful Color's Ice Dream, and Essie's On a Silver Platter.

Ice Dream may appear in the mani I do for New Year's. I love the blue mixed with silver. I just need to find a base!

Well, dolls, I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday week and you got what you wished for.

Until next year (I just love saying that!)...

Nail Files - Why I don't pay for manicures anymore

As you may, or may not, know...I got my Julep Maven box earlier this week. I was very excited about my colors and decided that would be the look I was sporting all week.

I decided to go with Lena. (This picture is a little more blue than what the color actually is). Lena is a teal colored creme with a very light gold shimmer.

Again, this picture is a little too blue tinted, but just below the cap you can see a hint of that gold shimmer (it looks like a sun glare, but I promise it's the shimmer).

Unfortunately, that shimmer doesn't translate to the nail...at all! Which is okay, honestly. I wasn't looking for a shimmer when I chose to use this color for the week.

Right hand (yes, there are chips...especially the index finger)

Left hand.

Honestly, I love the color. The formula (aka, polish) was a little thicker than usual, but it went on smooth and covered fine.

My biggest issues is this:

See that index finger? That happened somewhere between the end of day one and the middle of day two of wear. I painted my nails Monday evening. That gapping chip was in place before Tuesday evening. And it's been that way since. I just didn't feel like trying to fix it. And I didn't have to be anywhere that required a perfect manicure, so I wasn't worried about it.

I'm just annoyed that it happened. This is why I don't pay for manicures anymore (unless it's a gel mani or acrylic). Regular polish, with or without a top coat, just doesn't seem to last longer than a day. I tend to be rough on my hands - washing dishes, cooking, opening boxes on trips, carting luggage around when I travel, etc. So it's just not worth it, to me. I just wish the polish would last a little longer than 24 hours...that's all I ask.

Anyway. I'm linking up with Tara and Vicki for:



Happy Friday, y'all!!