Wedding Anniversary Mani

It was our 21st wedding anniversary yesterday and this mani popped up on pin-interest the night before and I knew it was perfect. The original is by thedailypolish.com.

I used Opi - Mod about You and China Glaze - Re-fresh mint. I love how they look together! 

The little hearts were made with a dotting tool.

 Below is us 21 years ago :)

Have a great weekend!

Chevron nails

I decided to have a go at Chevron nails and I'm pleased with how they turned out. I used Opi - Do you Lilac It? as the base, Nubar - Lavender for the tips and Essie - Beyond Cozy for the Chevron.

Beyond Cozy is stunning, it's a mix of gold and silver and looks great on it's own or in any nail art mix. The chevron turned out trickier than I thought as I though the chevron guides I'd purchased would make it a breeze. Unfortunately they didn't stick well and caused bleeding so I ended up using good old scotch tape.

I really like this look and am slowly getting through some of my untrieds. However of course Zoya and Opi have released new gorgeous collections and with a new love of Nubar - I have quite a few parcels on their way to me :).

Thank God it's Friday! - Hope you all have a fabulous weekend!

Heart of Gold

 I'm sure you're sick of hearing it but Lime Crime is awesome! This is the last colour I have to share, there is a yellow but I just don't like yellow. This gorgeous orange is called peaches <3 cream. I striped the middle finger using tape and peaches <3 cream over Milky Ways. The heart is also tape which has been punched with a heart craft puncher using Zoya Ziv.

It was a difficult colour to photograph and the top photo is the closest to the right colour. These Lime Crime polishes just pop on your fingers.

This is the gorgeous necklace my hubby bought me for Christmas. I adore it so had to add it in with the heart of gold :)

I live in a state badly affected by bush fires at the moment. Whilst they are a fair way away from us, we have friends in some of the affected areas, please send rain and cool weather prayers or thoughts to give our firemen a chance to get on top of these fires. 

Overkill Fail

Well I told you I thought I would end up adding to Trout Pout and I did, very poorly :(. I'm sharing as I think in sharing the manis that go wrong we can learn as much as from the ones that go well. 

I started by sponging Zoya Ziv on the tips and I should have left it there as it looked great. However I decided to sponge China Glaze I'm not Lion on top and I couldn't stop there so I added individual pieces of gold glitter. As you can see it just didn't work, but at least I know that less is more applies to manis at times too.

Trout Pout - Butter London

This colour has been a lemming on my list for a little while. I finally found one on ebay for a reasonable price mid December and have been dying to try it out. It didn't disappoint and it is every bit as beautiful as I thought it would be! It's a slight chameleon of a nail polish (as the photos will show) and looks almost pink in some lighting, it is more orange than pink but I love that it's both colours at different times.

Out of direct sun and it leans more towards pink.

Inside and it's definitely orange again.

I just love it and love how it looks on my hands, I think it's one of those polishes that would flatter all skin types. Application was good, slightly more work than Lime Crime but coverage is great in just two coats. It's a great fun summer colour, now I'm just trying to decide whether to add to it or just let it be awesome on it's own. Chances are I'll add to it :) so check back in a day or so :D

Lime Crime Lavendairy and Zoya Gilty

Once again Lime Crime has stolen my heart and this gorgeous pastel purple called Lavendairy was an ease to use. These colours are beautifully pigmented and are unique to anything else I own.

I ummed and aahed over the latest real gold topcoats. In some photos they looked like yellow splotches so I wasn't sure I'd like them. I gave in and bought Zoya Gilty as Zoya is one of my favourite brands and has never let me down. I'm so pleased I did as in real life this gold top coat is spectacular! I am in love and could quite happily wear a colour and one coat of Gilty for months.The gold changes colours in different lights and sparkles on my fingertips. It was an ease to apply with just a small amount of moving pieces around with the brush. This mani is actually already 4 days old and there is no sign of wear. I have changed top coat and base coat so don't know whether to credit Lime Crime, Zoya or HK Girl for the long lasting wear. One tip since I have been wrapping my tips with every coat I am having far less tip wear problems!

Above is taken in direct sunlight

Sigh the gold is gorgeous and if you haven't liked it in photos, take a chance as I promise it looks so much better in real life!

Have a happy Monday!

New Year's Eve - last holiday challenge

Happy New Year!!

This is my last challenge in the winter holiday challenge, I've really enjoyed it and hope to find another challenge soon. I love how this mani looks and yes I'm still swooning over Lime Crime. This gorgeous almost neon green is Pastelchio and as with all Lime Crime polishes it was a dream to apply. It is such a gorgeous colour with the right pop to be in a New Year's Eve mani.

For my accent finer I used one coat Silver Sweep by Sally Hansen and then two coats of Milani Jewel FX in silver. I had to work the glitter around to cover the nail but I love how one accent finger looks. I'm not even going to think about removal yet :)

I had a quiet New Year's Eve as I'm still not feeling great but it was nice to see in the new year with my loved ones. 2012 hasn't been the kindest year in my little family so I am looking forward to all 2013 can bring. I added the photo with the quote up the top, it's my favourite and fitting to remember as we enter a new year. I hope the new year holds only good things for you and your loved ones.