NAILS | Merry Christmas! #CBBxManiMonday

Press samples 

This is going to be short and sweet as I have been working the last nine days straight and today - Christmas Day is my first day off since Dec.15th! I woke up feeling pretty tired around 8am, but the kitties were hungry so I forced myself to get up and make an Nescafe coffee. I vacuumed, had some breakfast and then started to fall asleep at the computer around 10:30am so took nap #1 for about 30 minutes and felt better. I've just been listening to Tati on YouTube most of the day, doing some Pixyls and catching up on rest and life. 

NAILS | Bi-Colour Fall #CBBxManiMonday

I am a ball of nerves today as my kitty Hugo heads in for dental surgery. I know this type of thing is fairly routine, but I always feel so badly bringing my cats to the vet in general and then having him need to go under and deal with the post-op pain just makes me feel so sorry for him. He just needs one tooth extracted as I noticed last year that it was red and bleeding in the gum area, but he also needs a cleaning. He only just turned 7 so he's a young guy and will probably be fine, but still I can't help worrying! 

Bio Sculpture "Ornamented Arch" sent as press sample

NAILS | Vampy Gradient Stripes

Yes, yes I know. I should be doing Halloween manicures now that we are halfway through the month and I promise you those are coming, but let's enjoy Fall for a little bit shall we? I have had this manicure sketched out in bullet journal since AUGUST, but as I can only manage two manicures a week this is the pace I seem to be at with work and all.

This is the first Fall collection I am diving into and it is the CND Vinylux Nightspell Collection which is very characteristically Fall with some shades and also has some chrome finishes which are trending this season. I am not a huge fan of chrome polishes because of the tendency for streakiness, but with certain shades I will make an exception!

NAILS | Purple Split Screen #ManiMonday

Wow, looking through my nail posts I do a lot of stuff with striping tape for two reasons: one, it makes me look like I've got my life together and two, it's such a quick and pretty way to put together a nail design! Today I am relishing in the CND Creative Play Sunset Bash collection and thinking of more ways to play with the shades in this collection because if you haven't seen swatches already, the shades are summer appropriate, but not neon bright. I actually find the collection quite sophisticated and wearable for any season.

NAILS | Black and White

I always feel like I need a pick me up in the middle of the week regardless of whether I'm working a "true week" of Monday to Friday or something more random. I think I am happiest when I am able to have two new manis a week since I tend to get bored quite quickly by Thursday and let's face it, there are too many polishes out there waiting for a home on my nails!

Today's is inspired by @flowidity108 again and is deceivingly simple looking. I have been dying to do a black and white manicure and this is the first of two designs that have been on my nail art bucket list!

NAILS | Striping Tape Burberry Nail Art #CBBNov

I am a definite romantic when it comes to nail art challenges because I think that I can do it all. I'm obviously crazy, but I couldn't resist when the CBB decided to have a little fun this month for a beauty challenge with themes that can be achieved either through nail art or makeup. Today's theme is "Plaid" which immediately brought to mind a manicure that I have ALWAYS wanted to try - "Burberry Nails"!  

NAILS | Divided by Pink with Formula X and Patrick Starrr #ManiMonday

I can never have enough pink nail polish which is why February's #ColorCurators had me in pig squeals with Patrick Starrr's bright shades of PINK! There are three collaboration shades, two of which I am using today for today's striping tape manicure!

NAILS | "Living in the Green" with the *NEW* Essence Cosmetics Gel Nail Polishes

I have always been a fan of the quality of Essence Cosmetics nail polishes considering the "hefty" price tag of $2 per bottle! I've never had a single qualm regarding the formula so I couldn't imagine how much better it could really get! How wrong I was! Essence has just stepped up their nail game by reformulating their polishes to give extra shine and durability with the new Gel Nail Polishes! The shine was apparent within the first coat and a part of me felt tempted to go wild and NOT even bother with a top coat because the nail polish finish was just so damn shiny.