Swatch: Catch the Bouquet

Hello, fabulous readers! I was in the library today sitting at one of the community computers finishing some work that has to be done before tomorrow and I leave for the Bon Jovi concert (PS. any ideas for Bon Jovi-esque nails fitting for a concert? I have absolutely none and it's tomorrow!) and the girl sitting at the computer next to me must have been working on a group project with her 5 friends. Well, all the sudden I hear a comment "Put your ring away" and her hand retract from the screen. She responded "I didn't even mean to do that..." and I looked closer at her hand....yes, I'm sure you guessed it....an engagement ring was proudly displayed on her left hand. Of course, with my being a girl and all I clocked the ring sneakily a couple times. It was so shiny. Then I was looking through the polishes I haven't swatched for you guys yet and I noticed Orly Catch the Bouquet. Fitting after such a story, no?

It was super annoying to catch with my camera (partially because my camera is horrendous and partially because I am horrendous at photography) but all in all I think you can get an idea of the color. As part of the Orly Classic collection this polish is exactly what I would expect...classic. A light pink shimmer with almost a hint of purple iridescent-ness going on. It is really pretty and makes me feel like watching the movie Pretty In Pink. Anyone else know of a polish they own that makes them want to watch a movie? I'm sure I'm not the only one.


Ok, time to go. I have to teach a Spanish class at the local public library tonight. And when I say "teach" I mean awkwardly stand in the corner hoping no one asks me a question. My Spanish isn't so good. I've only been studying it for 2 years. Wish me luck fellow polishers!


And, on a quick side note, wahooooooo 25 followers!! Wow! I thought I would never break 15 but....20?! WOW! Thank you thank you thank you! I love seeing people who share my interest obsession with nail polishes. Thank you to all of you for visiting my blog and deciding it was kick ass enough to follow :) This helps give me oomph to keep posting. You are all wonderful and thank you for reading :D

Have you lost your marbles?

Hey everyone, happy Friday to you all. I'm super excited to show you this design because, well, it's only the 3rd or 4th time I've done the water-marbling technique and....I think they turned out great! I went with these colors because I picked 4 polishes that I wanted to use in a design and then I decided to water-marble. How did they come out? Well, despite my thumb looking a little funky, they came out looking like this...

...of course that was after going through about 10 cotton balls to clean up the mess I made on my hands (no I don't use the tape method--I just let them get all gross and then acetone them to death) I used China Glaze First Mate (gift from my sister--thank you Steph!), China Glaze Paper Chasing, China Glaze Tree Hugger, Zoya Yummy, and...I think that's it :D

Swatch: I Pink I Can

Since I used this polish as the base for yesterday's design manicure I thought it would be decent to post swatches of it. I Pink I Can (IPIC) is a beautiful light pink shimmer polish. It was created as part of the fall 2010 Breast Awareness Collection. IPIC only needs 2 coats (seen in the pictures) and it dries super super super fast. 

 I really should apologize for the sad sorry shape of my cuticles in these pictures. 

I didn't realize...yikes!!

 

When was the last time you fingerpainted?

That's a valid question. I can't remember the last time I painted in general (well, other than my nails, haha) but I especially can't remember when I last fingerpainted. My guess would be somewhere around 1st grade or maybe even younger. Today's nails come after a swatch session that include Finger Paints "I Pink I Can" so that's where my fingerpainting idea comes into play. This pink turned out to be beautiful and I can't wait to post the swatch up for you guys to see. It's also my first Finger Paints polish so that could be why I'm so excited. Regardless, here are my fingers....painted. Ha, I think I'm so witty sometimes...

So, as I mentioned, Finger Paints I Pink I Can was the base for this manicure with Zoya Ki used for the stamp and tips. The pattern is from BundleMonster plate 16. Topped with Seche Vite, of course. Ah, time for dinner. Have a great night/day everybody!

Toetally Tuesday #11 - Patchwork Perfect

Following some inspiration through one of Chloe's patchwork manicures I decided to try the technique on my toesies. Feast your eyes of a perfectly patchworked pedicure:

I don't know why my phone kept taking blurry pictures but this was the best one I got. So frustrating. I really need a new digital camera. Anyway, I used China Glaze Awaken, OPI Ali's Big Break, and China Glaze White On White for the patchwork. Not too bad but not as perfect as Chloe's. I'll keep working!

Manic Monday

Hello everyone! This weekend is shaping up to be a breeze. I'm already finished all the work I need to have done for up to Thursday, I'll probably send a lot of time swatching hopefully. I also took a practice LSAT on Sunday, hooray. Here are my nails of today:

I used Zoya Robyn (which is absolutely gorgeous!) as the base for my thumb, index, middle, and pinkie fingers and Color Club Art Club in white for the design. On my ring finger I have Orly White Out with Zoya Robyn as the stamped design. The stamp is BundleMonster plate 21

Swatch: Shawn

This post is a swatch post of Zoya Shawn. I originally saw this polish on Rachel's (of Rachel's Nails) blog and I decided I just had to have it. I think it's the perfect shade of green and I didn't have one like it yet so, of course, when the 3Free promo happened with Zoya's Facebook Shawn was immediately topping of my list. Here's Zoya Shawn.


Shawn is from the Zoya Fall 2010 Wicked Collection. It's a dark olive/mossy green with a creme finish. I'm finding out that creme finish is my absolute favorite of all nail polish finish options. I love the way it dries, so shiny without a topcoat. These pictures are done sans top coat in fact. 

                                              

100 Cherries on my nails, 100 cherries indeed!

Thank god it’s Friday! Since I have no classes on Fridays I spent a good chunk of the last couple hours swatching like a fiend. I can’t wait to post everything for you guys! Oh and by the way, this post is the 100^th post here on NikkisNailFiles! J 1-0-0! Wow, that sounds like so many posts. I’d like to take a quick second just to thank everybody who has started reading, following, or just happened to land on my blog by chance. You guys are the reason I haven’t quit so here’s to many more posts here on NikkisNailFiles. Anyway, I meant to swatch more today but I had an idea during one of the swatches and when I was finished trying the design I thought they looked so good I had to post them up right now. I stopped swatching and left my nails like this:

Don’t they look awesome? Don’t tell me they look bad it’ll crush me. I was so excited when the gradient didn’t come out looking like poop and then I decided to stamp a little something to complete the design. The three polishes I used for the gradient are (1) Zoya Nikki, (2) Zoya Dawn, and (3) Zoya Quinn. Yep, three of my 12 new polishes! Then for the stamp I used China Glaze Let’s Groove and BM plate 21. Topped everything off with Seche Vite.

Swiper No Swiping!

Any Dora the Explorer fans out there? I wish I could say I had a little sister who watched the show but...nope, I had a little brother who--I guess--watched the show. I know I've seen it and I feel like I'm too old that it wouldn't have been a show I watched as a kid. I was of the Sailor Moon and Barney variety. Oh yes! But no Sesame Street. I know, I know, everyone tells me I missed out. Anyway, swipe these nails:

These nails are Sally Hansen HD Resolution and China Glaze Liquid Leather.

Don't Be Cross

Today's manicure is inspired by...I have no idea. I just painted them last night while doing my toes and then decided not to make today a swatch post but another design post (if you're not new to this blog you know I usually do designs rather than swatches--but I'm working on the swatches so they do come up, too). Today is a debate in one of my courses: Intelligence and Creativity. So yeah, we're all going to be listening to is IQ fixed or malleable? I'm kind of interested really :) This design kind of fits because it's two crossing lines--like the two teams of the debate. Yeah, yeah, that! ...or not.

I used China Glaze Coconut Kiss as the base and Essence Silver Surfer for the design.