Kurosuke Soot Nails Did

Who doesn't love the Kurosuke Soot Balls from Totoro and Spirited Away? THEY'RE SO CUTE!

I recently re-watched some of Miyazaki's films and was kinda of mad at myself for not ever doing homage to his characters in nail art form! So basically look for more of these designs to come LOL. One of my favorite characters from Studio Ghibli are the Soot - I even have a plush one that rattles when you pull a string!

So for the base I used China Glaze Recycle, then for the black balls - Orly Matte Vinyl. To get the "fuzzy" edges I used a fan brush and dipped it in polish to sweep on the polish. For the white eyes I used a nail art pen.

Remembering Bali Nails Did

 It will be 5 years in May since Ben and I had our honeymoon in Bali and I miss it so much! I'd love to go back one day soon. When we were there seeing a performance of Balanese dancers at the end we had the opportunity to buy a plate with our image on it that they made in all of 2 minutes for about $2 so we couldn't pass it up. Its actually quite a nice keepsake.

So I thought that I would use it as some inspiration for my next manicure!

For the base I used Orly Royal Navy which by the way I always have a longing for to wear as is its just that nice! Then painted on some white flowers with a nail art pen, topping that off with some nail art pen in gold sparkle. Then I used OPI Thrill in Brazil with a small art brush for the red and a touch of China Glaze Light as Air from the Up and Away collection.

Tim Burton Nails Did

Wooh. So I took a bit of a break there but more on that later. For one of my Christmas presents Ben got me tickets to the new Tim Burton exhibit that is at the Bell Lightbox here in Toronto. It's actually here until April but with the baby on the way we thought it would be best to try to go see it before having to haul around a newborn. I was only able to get a picture of the front of the exhibit since cameras were prohibited on the inside but let me tell you it was awesome! The same exhibit is in NYC right now so if you can't make it to Toronto you have another option. It's the perfect exhibit for the Burton lover - there is so much going on in that guy's mind its incredible! Did you know he used to work for Disney as a concept artist and nearly all of his concept art was rejected? But then if you've seen the Adventures of Stainboy you can pretty much figure out why.

So I decided to do some Tim Burton themed nails to go along with my experience! I used a combination of all of the following: Orly Matte Vinyl, China Glaze White on White, OPI Thrill in Brazil and nail art pens in white, black and red.

Holiday Bling Nails Did

with flash

Whooh what a crazy week! I've been off on maternity leave now since last Thursday and I know I'm supposed to use this time to rest up before the baby comes but really I've been on the go EVERY DAY! But I did find some time last night to do my nails. I wanted to do something not so typically "Christmas" so I did a sort of winter wonderland feel. Please forgive my lack of watermark (please don't steal my pics, they're crappy anyway LOL) since I'm working on my new macbook and don't have Photoshop set up yet :(

without flash

I used Orly Rage with some snowflake rhinestones and little blue and silver beads that I picked up for really cheap on Ebay! Slapped it all on with nail glue (hate that stuff) and Sally Hansen's  Top Coat. Does anyone know of a topcoat or technique that won't dull your rhinestones??


Hope you all have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and safe Holiday!! All the best leading up to the new year and beyond! And please send me some blessings to get this baby out - its due on Thursday!!!

Dark Night Nails Did

I hope everyone had a Happy Halloween! This week I actually sported another variant of a mani I did last year called "Ouch Scars" only this time on my natural nails, so I didn't make a post about that. However I did sit down and actually DO my nails for the first time in what feels like forever! These are my Dark Night nails, complete with moon, dark sky and even some bats! They're kinda halloweeny...but also not :)

For the base I used China Glaze Coconut Kiss and then sponged on Orly Russian Navy in kind of a diagonal pattern. Then I used a white nail art pen to do the moon and shaded it a bit with a silver nail art pen to give it some depth. Lastly for the bats I used a black nail art pen. I actually really love how the gradient looks. And its kinda nice to sit down and do some actual nail art for once in a long time! I missed it...but I also miss having energy!!

Thought I'd share my costume with you. I made myself a Jack-o-Lantern shirt complete with a cap I made outta felt! Can't believe I only have 8 more weeks to go! Get this baby out!

Matrix Jellyfish Nails Did

So there is just something about this desktop that I love. I have a bad habit of constantly changing my background on my work laptop from my standard boring company one and this is the latest I'm toting (click to enlarge). It reminds me of the sea and the matrix all in one. So I decided to put it on my nails!

For the base I used China Glaze Sexy in the City. Then for the dark blue mountain in the background I used Sexy in the City mixed with some Orly Royal Navy. The darker mountain is China Glaze Liquid Leather. For the jellyfish I used a dab of Color Club Take Me to Your Chateau with a white nail art pen. The red dot is also a nail art pen. I think its cute and fits well with the pool party my work is throwing tomorrow.

I don't think I'll do very much swimming, but at least my nails are in the mood!

In The Navy Nails Did

So I'm in total love with this shirt that I obtained from a clothing swap held by my friend. Mostly because it covers my baby bump, its super cute, and it was FREE!! You can never beat free...unless someone paid you to wear it...I guess that would beat it.

Anyway, my friend Mel also went to Lake Placid and brought me back Orly Royal Navy! I was excited to try it so I paired that as a base with some red and white nail art pens and used my dotting tool with China Glaze 2030 for the "buttons". I think it looks super cute with my shirt!!

By the way - if you haven't already you have ONE more day to enter my Eyeko Polish Giveaway! DO IT.

Gaga Nails Did + Guest Mani

I. Am. So. Tired. I went to the Lady Gaga concert last night though and it was totally worth it. Didn't get home till 1am and am currently head down on my desk but its all good. It was an awesome concert with some awesome company wearing some pretty fantabulous outfits! I love Gaga. She's like candy to me - you know its not necessarily good for you but you gotta have its sugary pop goodness anyway! So, obviously, I did my nails to commemorate the event. I sort of based it off the picture of her getting out of the pool all black and silver and shiny.

Left Hand

Right Hand

I used China Glaze Liquid leather for the black and Platinum Silver for the silver (obviously lol). Then I used a bunch of grey, black and diamond rhinestones bought from the craft store! Most of the rhinestones ended up getting stuck in my hair and a couple on my back when I woke up this morning but its all good.

Here are some pics from the concert...yes I was THAT high up! Click to enlarge.

I also bring you a quick guest mani! This is Teresa's lovely hand (I know shes gonna hate this picture - no you DO NOT have man hands). She was going on a hot date so we did something quick to match her dress. The base is OPI's Purple-opolis with a coat of Orly Fantasea and a Bundle Monster design stamped in China Glaze 2030. It came out cute and simple. Apologies for the lack of cleanup we were in a rush :). Also if you're a jewelery lover, check out Teresa's BuonaBam website where she does super reasonably priced handmade jewelery!

If you haven't already, make sure you enter my 300+ followers giveaway for a chance to win a $60 gift certificate!!!

Koi Nails Did

So my french mani lasted about a day - which is another reason why I'm not a fan of them! They chip soooooo easily!!! So I thought I'd do something a little bit fresh using my friend Nikki's idea of Koi fish. I used Orly Snowcone as a base with a bunch of nail art pens in white, black, orange, red, dark green, and light green. See - two mani's in two days, I must be back in the swing of things :D

My left hand

And as a rare treat, my RIGHT hand! It actually came out pretty well :)

Mmm Sprinkles Nails Did

Hi everyone!!!

I'm back from Cuba and I must say...I'm sick. I'm also pretty exhausted since my flight was delayed and I didn't get in until 3:45am on Tuesday morning and I had to be at work for 9am. Boo.

FYI - if you have an illegal passport, please do not board my plane and then when its announced that you're on board, lock yourself in the bathroom. It just makes me angry.

Anyway, because I'm wicked tired (and caught a cold to go along with it...awesome) I decided to do something simple. So here are my icing and sprinkles on chocolate donut nails! Reminds me of Homer :)

I used Rimmel Torrid for the brown base and then outlined the layer of icing with China Glaze White on White first so that the Finger Paints Up & Coming Artist pink would stand out. Then I freehanded the sprinkles in China Glaze Solar Power and Orly Snowcone.

And now I'm off to bed! Why is it that I always seem to need a vacation from my vacations? lol.

And with that I leave you with some pics from my vacation! Hope everyone had a fantastic week!

Palm-tastic Nails Did

One more day till I go to Cuba! Man, I'm beginning to think I should have spread out my vacations a bit more :S LOL.

So my friend Suzanne is getting married in August and this is her little hurrah before she's committed for life! I can't believe this girl has been to only Toronto, Niagara Falls, and Portugal. Deprived right? That's what I'm saying. Hopefully this trip will lay the travel bug in my girl and she'll push for the soon to be hubby to take her places more exciting than Niagara's Lundy's Lane!! Its gonna be Suzanne, my friend Jenn and myself for a whole week of Varadero-debauchery

To get more into the mood (I really don't get excited until I'm on the plane) I thought I'd give my nails a bit of island flavour!

I used Nubar LLC for the base, Orly Snowcone for the water, and China Glaze Lemon Fizz and Solar Power for the sand. Then for the palm trees I used Rimmel Torrid for the trunks, and two green nail art pens for the leaves.

Meanwhile - I've been watching this new show that I can't get enough of! Its called The United States of Tara. I think its on Showcase but I don't get that channel so I watch it all online. Its like Sybil, but on TV!

Check it out:

Hope you all have a fantastic week! I'll see you when I get back!!!

Spring is in the Air Nails Did

I can't even begin to tell you how lazy I was tonight. It took a WHOLE lot of effort to even take off my kimono nails LOL. I just had a really tiring/drama filled day at work. Man, TV peeps can be so dramatic!

Anyway, I thought I'd do something a bit cheery to lift my spirits a bit and try out some Konad layering. Now, I have discovered that in order to do wicked awesome Konad layering you obviously have to have more than 5 Konad plates :S BUT I'm workin with what I got :D

So I started off with Orly Snowcone as the base and used a nail art pen in white topped off with Sally Hansen Disco Ball for the clouds. Then with trusty Konad plate M51 and M66 I layered grass with Zoya Veruschka, Nubar Green Tea and OPI Jade is the New Black. Then I freehanded some little ladybugs with black and red nail art pens.

They make me kinda happy! And also kinda sleepy!!

Okay now I figure I'll do at least one more mani until I'm whisked off to Cuba!! I'm such a jet-setter lolz. I'm still torn on what to do for that...any suggestions??

Nail Challenge Tag - Memoirs of a Geisha Spring Nails Did

Lacquermanic came up with this great idea to do a challenge tag and I'm honored to be the first participant!

Here are the rules:

1) Make a swatch, tightly connected to a favourite film, book, music or painting. No rules what so ever. You describe what film/book etc. is, and why it means so much to you.

2) At the end of the post, you challenge another nail blogger. Let her know that she’s challenged, and leave the opportunity to turn down the challenge or accept it.

Pretty simple right!?

Okay, so I chose one of my favorite books AND movies - Memoirs of a Geisha.

I cant tell you how much I love the cinematic value of this movie. The scenes and costumes are breathtaking as are the backdrop of Japan that it's set against. I remember being in Gion in Kyoto and all I could think of was this movie and how it must have been in its prime back before WWII. I even used the main theme of the movie as my walking down the aisle music! Even though the story line is a bit creepy - HOW old is the Chairman??? Sayuri is like..9. Its one of those movies that I can watch over and over and always find something new in it.

So I did Sayuri's spring kimono (or...close to it LOL). It turned out looking a bit like Easter but I like it!

I used China Glaze White on White for the base and then layered For Audrey on top, leaving a "V" shape. Then I took Orly Snowcone (my new fav sky blue) and with a small brush drew the fabric lines.

The Obi is made of Joe Fresh Coral, OPI's Curry Up Don't be Late, and China Glaze 2030. I also used dots of a pink nail art pen and Orly Fantasea.

So to continue the tag I challenge:

Scandalous 

from Scandalously Polished

Do you accept? :D

New Joe Fresh Nail Polishes!

I've been tweeting for the past month about the upcoming Joe Fresh Nail Polishes that are set to be released Apr. 12th according to @JoeFreshStyle's tweets:

"RT @sarah_rogers Just got a Joe Fresh manicure. The spring colours are so adorable you won't be able to resist. In Superstores April 12."

So, I just so happened to be at a Superstore today and behold! There they were...obviously a couple days early considering there were quite a few colours missing.

I picked up "Butter" which is a creme yellow and "Coral" which is a pinky orange in the bottle, but goes on a MUCH brighter pink on the fingers. Almost neon.

They have a new price too - $4 each, which is a complete steal. They have this lovely dark teal colour that was sold out which I'm DEFINITELY going back for.


Here are swatches of my two new colours, both taken in daylight and sun.

Here is Butter:

Coral:

And this is my total haul for the day!! From left to right:

Joe Fresh Butter
Joe Fresh Coral
Orly Fantasea
Orly Snowcone
Finger Paints Up & Coming Artist

Silver and Gold Nails Did

Hey everyone, something easy today!

I have feel feeling MEGA tired and have been passing out routinely at around 9-10pm (I'm hella lame).  I was in a two day conference on women in leadership which has taken more outta me than I thought. But it was great being around so many bright and influential women in my industry especially on International Women's Day.

Anyway, I thought I'd just do something really simple. I wanted to retry what seems to be the now iconic Ruffian manicure from CND Fashion Week but again with a twist of course ;)

So I did every other finger with either China Glaze Platinum Silver and 2030.

Then I free handed the bottom black with Orly Matte Vinyl. Then I went back over that with a dotting tool. LOL wouldnt it have been impressive if I freehanded those open circles!? But I didnt. hahahah!

So I have some big ideas coming up (time permitting of course) as well as a new giveaway as soon as I hit good old 125!!! So excited for that!

I Hope everyone is having a lovely week!