Pampering? Me? Yes, please.

Yesterday, my sister and I went on our first little adventure of 2012:  to Tommie Salon in Philadelphia for massages. I had never had an actual masseuse so the experience was completely new. It was originally for Steph's birthday (which was back in October) but she waited for me to come home from school so we could go together. We both work as waitresses and who knew how much tension could form from carrying all those trays?! I think we'll have to make this a yearly ritual. It was so relaxing and I loved being pampered (what am I saying? Of course I love being pampered--that's why I do my nails all the time).


So anyway, nails for today are a swatch of Ulta Professionals' Cocktail Waitress. I thought it fit since...the massage definitely relieved a lot of stress that was knotting up my back muscles from being a waitress.


I can't say I'm in love with the application. The biggest problem with Ulta brushes, in my opinion of course, is that they're awkward to hold onto. You know what I'm saying? I'm sure you have that one polish that just feels awkward in your hand. That's what I'm talking about. The brush is a big rectangle and then the actual bristles are so tiny. The color was nice though. Applied pretty evenly and dried decently quickly. I'm sure this is a dupe for another color though. Hmm, perhaps I'll see if I have a dupe for it!

I really need to improve my photo taking abilities.

12 Things For 2012

Happy New Year's everyone! I hope everyone's 2011 has been filled with good times, good food, happy memories, and, most importantly...many manicures! Last year I worked on creating a list of things to do. Shall we reflect on that maybe?

11 Things for 2011

1. Save money. No idea what for though, I'm thinking my 21st birthday, a trip to Paris, a new TV, nail polishes. Check! I had a fantastic 21st birthday, gotten a new TV, and bought many new polishes. No trip to Paris but I'm working on it.
2. Continue to do well in my undergrad courses and be a strong law school applicant this fall (ohh that sounds really soon *grabs LSAT practice book and starts studying*). Check! I even have been accepted to TWO law schools already!
3. Get better at Black Ops. Ok don't laugh just yet-- I have a thirteen year old brother who plays nothing but that game and I never play it so then when I decide to go against him..he always kicks my butt! Just once I'd like to beat him! Working on it!
4. Plan/Have an amazing 21st birthday in an amazing location with my sister/family (She LOVES planning vacations and stuff and we're thinking Vegas/Miami/New Orleans/a cruise). AHHH SO EXCITING! Nope we didn't get to do anything overly fantastic but I did get to spend a night in AC with my boyfriend celebrating my 21st birthday. Vegas/New Orleans can wait.
5. Use EACH of my polishes for the base of a design. I'm working on it.
6. Swatch EACH of my polishes. Carrying this one over too.
7. Eat healthier and exercise more. Ok so I really enjoy being fit (I was a gymnast for thirteen years) and I really enjoy working out...I just don't anymore. And as far as eating goes...I eat like most people my age do--horribly. I hope to make yoga, working out, and eating healthier legit habits in 2011.  I think I did pretty well here. Too bad you're never done eating healthy and exercising. I'll keep working on it.
8. Dress better. Ok, not that I dress horribly but seriously I love the way my sister dresses. Of course, I've walked the "copycat younger sister" path basically all my adolescent life so I'd like to NOT do that now. She does dress really cute though. Check!
9. Keep my room organized for longer than 6 days. I feel like I have to organize it at least once a week to prevent all out havoc. Complete! I loooove organizing. My room looks incredible.
10. Watch all my movies at least once since, like my nail polish collection, my movie collection is a tad...enormous. Done!

And last but not least, my 11th To-Do: Finish everything I start, whatever it might be. Right now I'm looking at a cross-stitch project I started last Christmas that I've been working on the last week. That will be the first unfinished business to be completed! Nope, still haven't finished that cross-stitch project! Ha. I think I'll spend the next two weeks working on it.

12 Things for 2012

1. Go on a vacation. I'm talking about an actual vacation: a few days down the shore, a trip to Maine, camping, etc.

2. Use each of my polishes.

3. Swatch each of my polishes.

4. Move out of my parents house (if possible and practical to do so).

5. Finish that cross-stitch project.

6. Graduate from undergrad! (and start law school!!)

7. Run more. I started going for runs during the semester and I'd like to do that more. Maybe even run my first race (outside of my track days). A 5K perhaps?

8. Stretch more and become more flexible.

9. Complete some nifty crafts (for example: photo coasters like these)

10. Fix my radio in my car.

11. Buy a Nook Tablet or iPad or something similar. 

And the last and biggest thing I'd want to do: #12. RELAX. I get so worked up sometimes about things and I'd like to just chill out and roll with the punches more. Sometimes I can be really uptight. Let's work on that.

Happy New Year: Top 11 of 2011

Happy New Year everyone! Last year I did a post of my top favorite polishes for the year. I decided to go ahead and continue something similar for 2011: Top 11 Designs of 2011. Enjoy my post of reflections :)

Starting the list off with #11: "Inspired By: Victoria's Secret" manicure from August

#10:  My "Lost Your Marbles" water marbling manicure of February

#9: "100 Cherries on My Nails" mani from February.

#8: "Patchwork Perfect" pedicure from February

#7: "Anything Goes" manicure from June

#6: "TGIS weekend" zebra mani from May

#5: "Manic Monday" manicure from February

#4: "Black Flowered French" manicure from January.

#3: "Designer Week - Burberry Friday" manicure from January

#2: "Animal mania: I love zebra" manicure from November :) We all know my obsession with animal print!

#1: "Colorful Leopard" manicure from July

Totally Tuesday - Awesome Argyle

Hey polished pretties! Finally, a new To(e)tally Tuesday coming your way! I know it's been a long while since I showed my pedis some love but I have a new design that I wanted to share. My mom used to love argyle socks and yes, I would make fun of her. I can't really say my feelings have changed too much but I have found out argyle does make a nice nail design. It's a tad messy but it was my first attempt so..I think it's alright.

Animal Mania: I love zebra.

I am totally unique just like my fellow 20somethings when it comes to obsessing over animal print. In particular, my favorite animal print 100% has to be zebra. I know people love leopard, cheetah, giraffe, etc. as well but I love the monochromatic-ness of the zebra pattern. The black and white is clean and simple yet still fun and unique. I mean, they do say "no zebra shares the same stripes" right? So, anyway, I am so excited to share this manicure with you all. I think it's one of my absolute favorites of all my designs and I really think they came out well! Check them out:

I used Orly White Out for the base (quite a few coats, too) and then Orly Liquid Vinyl for the stripes. As my boyfriend said when I sent him a picture, "They looked spot - er, stripe on." :)


And now to convince you all how zebra obsessed I am. My roommate always jokes with me when she sees a girl with anything zebra. An umbrella, rain boots, you name it, she says I would go steal it if that would be acceptable. Sad thing is, I would totally consider taking down someone wearing really cute zebra rain boots or rocking a zebra book bag. Let's take a look at the evidence.


Exhibit A: My really fantastic (and completely useful!) zebra duct duck tape. I even used this duct tape to give a little pizzazz to my apartment light switch.

Exhibit B: My super duper Nicole Miller zebra print wallet. Yes, this excited me for TWO reasons:  (1) it was zebra and (2) the designer and I share the name "Nicole". See? No question, I HAD to have it! 

And last but not least, Exhibit C: my entire bed. From pillows to sheets (including a body pillow), everything is zebra.

See? So yeah, wayyy obsessive over zebra right now. What are your thoughts on animal print? Anyone else into animal as much as me?

Stripes for Audrey

Hello everyone,

Today's post is a real simple nail design with one of my favorite polishes. I LOVE China Glaze polishes in general but I especially love their For Audrey polish. It's just a gorgeous color and, up until this past year, I hadn't seen very many polishes similar to it. I added a few stripes to add a bit of pizzazz to the manicure. Take a look!

As I said I used China Glaze For Audrey as the base on all the nails. Then, I added stripes in either Kiss Brush-On Nail Art Paint (in black) or Color Club Art Club (in white). And of course I topped everything off with Seche Vite!

Also, a little bit of personal news: today I am celebrating my 1.5 year "anniversary" with my fabulous boyfriend. He visited me at school this weekend and surprised me 18 roses!! It was perfect, 18 roses for the 18 months we've been together. Aww *tear* :D

Swatch: Sassy Satchel

This semester has been absolute chaos so far. Between the independent (and required) research for my B.A. in Psych degree (one of two I have to complete), law school applications, and all my other classes AND trying to find time to eat, I am totally wiped out and it's only October. Ugh! Luckily, my applications are on their way to a close and I will be applying November 15th to all my law schools. I am so proud. As for classes, I guess I have to stick them out until December. I know you are all concerned but yes, I have been keeping my digits done throughout all this. I just haven't had a spare moment to actually sit down, take pictures, upload them on my computer, and create a witty post for all of you :( Hopefully I am back, at least a little bit, to posting. I've missed it. I haven't even had time to read my favorite nailblogs!! Ugh! Ok, well for today we're going to start off simple: Essie Sassy Satchel.


Sassy Satchel is a gorgeous (and very stubborn) color to capture. The website says it's a "shimmery dark chocolate" but I definitely think it's more burgundy. Application was average (I put 2-3 coats on usually). The color MIGHT be similar to something I already have but we'll see when I use that polish. Drying/Hardening was a tad slow but I did put 3 thick coats on. Seche Vite helped quicken it right up. Wear was also average. Overall, this polish gets an 8.3.


To the swatch pics!

Does anybody own this color? How do you like it?

Inspired by: Victoria's Secret

Hey everyone! I'm in a serious shopping mood right now and this past weekend I went out with the boyfriend and found a whole bunch of great stuff. I'm really in the clothes mood but there are a couple of amazing stores I think of every time I'm thinking of going shopping. This post was inspired by one of them: Victoria's Secret! Everyone knows the two-toned VS shopping bags that you get when you drop some money into the hands of VS sales associates. They look a little (or a lot) like this:

One of my favorite totes, bought by the bf :)

And the VS-inspired digits:

I used Finger Paints I Pink I Can for the lighter pink and Zoya Dawn for the darker. How do you like?

Hey sweetHEART!

Aw, these nails make me think of my boyfriend :) Who needs to come home from school so I can see him! Anyway, I used Zoya Robyn for the base and then kiss brush-on nail art paint in black (only it didn't really stamp well so it came out...grayish-blue instead) in Bundle Monster plate 202. 

One Year of Nikki's Nail Files

Hello everyone! Nikki's Nail Files is officially 1 YEAR OLD today!! August 10th, 2010 I sat down at my computer and put together my first post (a polka dot tip mani you can check out here). I'm so happy with what this blog has become and all the interest it has gotten from all you fabulous bloggers and polish-aholics! Thank you so much for visiting and commenting and sharing my obsession with me! Here's to many more posts!