Guest Post

Today I am guest posting for lisas nail obsession.

Go check out her post HERE with all the details :)

TTFN!

XOXO Mandy

BadAss Polish: Chocolate Covered Cherry {Review}

Sooooo, I have some good news for you today, but you will have to wait until after my review of this awesome polish from BadAss Polish.  Today I have Chocolate Covered Cherry.  It's very similar to Dusk, which you can check out HERE, except this one is a chocolate brown version and well, it's got some red holo glitters in it!  This polish is so versatile there are so many ways to wear it and depending on the light, you get different effects all through out the day.  I ended up taking pictures with 3 different light sources.  There is THAT much of a difference.  And all are beautiful and sparkly!

When I swatched CCC, I couldn't decide what I wanted to use for my base, so I went with 2 colors and did an accent nail :)  I used Wet N Wild Ebony Hates Chris and for the accent (ring finger) and Sinful Colors Mercury Rising.  Just one coat of CCC, a coat of Seche Vite and I was good to go.  I loved my mani and was excited to go outside and take some pics, but when I stepped out into the sun light, my nails were all kinds of holo-y & sparkly, it was so cool!  I have a couple photos from each light source I wanna share with you, so get prepared from a bunch of pretty pictures :)

 See what I mean?  Lots of different effects.  This beauty will be available for sale on Wednesday March 20th in their SHOP :)  Ok, so I told you there was some good news.  Amy, the creator, has a giveaway going on right now on her FB Page.  You can win this beauty before it's even available for sale.  All you have to do is go to her FB Page, like her page and share the ***FLASH GIVEAWAY*** status she has pinned to the top.  Easy right?!?!  You should go like her page any way to keep up to date on new polishes and release dates.  She has 4 more coming in the near future.  

The week is almost over, YAY!  I have a busy weekend planned for my son's 4th Birthday :)  See you here tomorrow to see my simple and cute St. Patrick's Day mani

XOXO  Mandy

Let it Snow!: Ugly Christmas Sweater

Thursday is the typical day of the week that we share our challenge mani's from the Let it Snow! Challenge.  I am gonna try real hard to keep on that schedule.

This weeks theme is Ugly Christmas Sweater, should be pretty easy, right?  Except I didn't want to have an ugly manicure.  I do wear my mani's for a few days before I change it.  Unless I have had some horrible chipping.  

In general, all Christmas sweaters are ugly to me.  No offense if you wear them.  They are just not for me.  Coming up with a design was kind of hard.  There are so many possibilities!  Lots of super ugly sweaters and some not so bad.  I went with a not so bad design.  Remember, I am wearing this for a few days.  

I have been on a red kick so that is where we start.  I chose Sinful Colors Ruby Ruby as my base, I know, been using that one a lot lately, but it's right there in front of me :)  And to make my ugly sweater a cute mani, I added some snowflakes :)

I used my Konad M59 plate and Konad Special Polish in White.  There are 2 snowflake designs on this plate, so I randomly placed them on my nails.

I topped with a coat of Seche Vite and voila!  A cute Ugly Christmas Sweater mani.  My nails are so smooth and shiny, I can't stop rubbing them.  What do you think?

Here is a recap of the products I used:

Base Coat: Rejuvacote

Base Color:  Sinful Colors Ruby Ruby

Stamping Plate:  Konad M59

Stamping Polish:  Konad Special White

Top Coat:  Seche Vite

There you have it, my Ugly Christmas Sweater mani.  Please check out the other girls doing this challenge with me :)

Let it Snow!: Inspired by a holiday movie, song or carol

Yay for Thursday, cause that means it's almost Friday!  It's challenge mani day, yay!  I am in a really good  mood this morning.  I got up early, took a shower, did my hair and makeup and then went to my son's school assembly where he was awarded student of the month.  I am one proud mama!  And, I feel all pretty cause I got fully dressed today.  Not an every day occurrence as a stay at home mom LOL

OK, this weeks Let it Snow! challenge is a mani inspired by a movie, song or carol.  I am not gonna lie, I don't watch Christmas movies, listen to Christmas music or have anything to do with caroling.  I am not a Grinch,  I love the holidays, I am just not into the movies and music.  I am weird, I know.  That being said, I chose to do my mani based on a cartoon I used to watch as a kid.  I can't remember the name, but it was about frosty the snowman.  All the kids trying to get him to the north pole so he doesn't melt, cute movie. 

So with out further ado, here is my snowman mani:

Base Coat:  Rejuvacote

Base Color: Sinful Colors Ruby Ruby

Glitter:  China Glaze Fairy Dust

Stamping Plate:  Bundle Monster BM 318

Stamping Polish:  Konad Special White

Snow:  Sinful Colors Snow Me White (applied with a sponge & dotting tool)

Top Coat:  Seche Vite

I hope you are have an awesome day, and don't forget to visit the other girls participating in the Let it Snow! challenge :)

Nail Art Contest: Stamping Skills

The weekend is over, Thanksgiving is now behind us.  But there is still a ton of food in my fridge.  We will be eating Thanksgiving dinner for a week, LOL.  But now that the long week of no school is over, I can get back to some regular posting.  At least I hope so.  Before we left for the weekend I saw a nail art contest I wanted to enter.  It is based on stamping so it's right up my alley :)  I have wanted to do a few in the past, but never found the time to create the nail art and enter.  

I did a design a while back and although I wished it had turned out a little a better, I get compliments on that design a lot.  It was even picked out of my older photos by a fellow blogger as one of her favorites to share on her FB page.  So I decided it was time to re-do this one and make it a little better.

Here is the old design:

I didn't change much, just did added the glitter before stamping and added some fun rhinestones on my accent nail.  Here is the new one:

I think a couple slight improvements made a big difference.  I even like the length and shape of my nails better now than when I first started blogging back in March, which is when I originally did this mani.

Products used:

Base Coat:  Rejuvacote

Base Color:  Sinful Colors Snow Me White

Glitter:  China Glaze Fairy Dust

Stamping Plate:  Konad M57

Stamping Polish:  Konad Special Black

There are lots of great entries in this contest, wish me luck!

The deadline to enter is today, but if you are interested, go HERE

Hope you all enjoyed your Thanksgiving and aren't too bummed to go back to work today, if you indeed did go back to work today LOL

Guest Blogger Friday: Lace & Lacquers: Halloween Inspired Saran Wrap Nail Art

Sooooo, I had put Guest Blogger Friday on hold because I was doing a Halloween nail art challenge that posted every Friday, Weeelllll, you can see how well that turned out.  I am such a slacker :(
Lacey graciously agreed to guest post for me.  She went with a Halloween theme since it's October.  I thought I better share before Halloween passes us by.  ENJOY!!!

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Hey guys! It's Lacey from Lace & Lacquers! I was asked a few months ago by Mandy to do a guest post for her in October, how nice of her to think of me! I figured since it is October, a good old fashion Halloween manicure was perfect for this post :]

Here's what we'll be creating today:

One fun, Halloween looking manicure and for those who like gore - I got a manicure for you, too! After the jump I'll show you more pictures, tools I used and a short tutorial how to recreate this look.

Go Pink Wednesday

As I am sure most of you know, October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  I joined a group called "Go Pink Wednesday" where we will be wearing and sharing pink mani's every Wednesday in October to raise awareness.  I know, it's Thursday, but I just joined the group yesterday so I am starting today.  Better late than never, right?

I personally have not be touched by breast cancer, but that does not mean that I am not in favor of a quick cure.  Where you are a survivor, know a survivor or have never dealt with the disease, I encourage you to either donate to a cause or do as I am and try to raise as much awareness as you can.  

On to the pretty part.  I don't own hardly any pinks.  But I did have 2 that go great together.  I wanted some thing fun and up beat.  I went with a pink base, a glitter coat and of course some pink stamping!  Here is the final look

Base Coat:  Rejuvacote

Base Color:  Sally Hansen Insta Dri Presto Pink (1 coat)

Glitter:  Sinful Colors Smoking Hot (2 coats)

Stamping Plate:  Konad M57

Stamping Polish:  Sally Hansen Insta Dri Flashy Fuchsia

Top Coat:  Seche Vite

I am loving how the zebra print pops over the glitter.  I used a coat of sech vite over the glitter before stamping.  Mostly to help it dry.  It was taking FOREVER!  I think that coat of sech vite is what is making the stamping pop like it is.  Either way, I am super happy with how this turned out.  I can't stop staring at my cute pink nails :)

I will be back next Wednesday with another pink mani for you, Happy Thursday!

This Is Halloween: Horror Movie

I joined a Halloween nail are challenge, YAY!!  There is a scheduled mani every Friday for the month of October.  So Guest Blogger Friday will be on hold while I am doing this challenge.

The first one is Horror Movies.  I don't watch a lot of horror movies.  I don't like or dislike them, they are just not on the top of my list.  I would rather watch a comedy and laugh my ass off than watch people be butchered and scared to death.  So when thinking of this challenge, I didn't pick a specific movie.  I haven't seen a horror film in a very long time.  But, there is always some body getting hacked up, ground up or chewed up, EW!  So I went with a blood drip mani.  All sorts of blood in a horror movie, right?

Base Coat:  Rejuvacote

Base Color:  Sinful Colors Snow Me White (2 coats)

Blood:  Sally Hansen Insta Dri  Wined Up (applied with a dotting tool)

Top Coat:  Seche Vite

There you have it, my bloody mani, what do you think?  

There are a bunch of us doing the challenge, be sure to check out the rest of the gals :)

Oh, only one day left for my Giveaway, EEEEK!!!

Fall into Autumn: Football Nails

Happy Saturday!  Today I am sharing a challenge mani from Fall into Autumn.  This weeks theme is Football Nails.  I am not a sports fan, neither is my husband.  But, his family is from Pittsburgh, so by default, we are Steelers fans.  Now, I can't do crazy nail art so I decided to go with a color scheme.  Gold and Black for the Steelers.  Honestly, I waited until last minute to do this mani, so it isn't super exciting.  I used a gold base, a gold version of fairy dust (had to make it sparkly and girly) and then a black striper.  Super Simple!

Base:  Elmer's Glue (more info HERE)

Base Color:  Sally Hansen Gilty Pleasure

Glitter:  China Glaze Golden Enchantment

Striper:  Sinful Colors Black

Top Coat:  Seche Vite

So, what do you think of my football nails?  Is it football-y?  LOL

Teal Tuesday: Something Sweet

It's that time of the week again!  

This week's theme is a fun one and gave me the excuse to do the cupcake mani again :)  You can see my first attempt HERE I love this design and I will prob do it any chance I get LOL

Here is my Teal Cupcake Mani

Base Coat:  Rejuvacote

Base Color:  China Glaze For Audrey (1 coat)

Glitter Stripes:  L.A. Colors Glitter Striper, no name (3 coats)

Frosting:  Sinful Colors Snow Me White

Sprinkles:  China Glaze For Audrey (dotting tool)

Heart Toppers:  Sinful Colors Let's Talk (applied with a dotting tool)

Top Coat:  Seche Vite

I need more practice on my little hearts.  They were the worst part.  I hate that they are not all centered, but that is my OCD.  I am enjoying my cute teal cupcakes!

Fall into Autumn: School Spirit

This weeks Fall into Autumn Challenge is School Spirit.  I take that to mean any school you are attending, attended or even your kids' school.  I have been out of school for a long time.  This year my oldest, 5, started kindergarten, so I am doing his school colors.  They are the Knights with the colors of Blue and Red. I have been wanting to try a few different techniques/polishes so this is a combination mani.  I went with a red base using Sinful Colors Hot Hot Heat from the new metallic line, it's a nice one coater :)  I have had the Finger Paints Flakies for a while now and have to even swatched them!  So flakies for this mani too.  I did 2 coats of Motley over my red base.  I let that dry over night.  It was getting late and taking too long to dry.  I was tired, so I carefully went to bed.  Today I got out my striping tape (new for me) and tried a simple design.  It didn't take too long to do and then applied a single coat of Sinful Colors Midnight Blue.  A nice one coater there too.  Next, I took off the striping tape.  It isn't as clean and crisp as I had hoped, but I think it's pretty good for my first try.  Added a coat of Seche Vite and done :)  What do you think?

Base Coat:  Rejuvacote

Base Color:  Sinful Colors:  Hot Hot Heat (1 coat)

Flakie:  Finger Paints Motley (2 coats)

Top Color: Sinful Colors Midnight Blue (1 coat)

Top Coat:  Seche Vite

I will def keep practicing with my striping tape, happy Wednesday <3

Fall into Autumn: Apples

I have another Fall Challenge Mani for you today.  Number 2 is apples.  I had a hard time deciding what to do.  A lot of gals did a similar design, which is what I was planning in doing as well.  In the end, I decided it didn't matter if all our mani's looked similar.  Great minds think a like, right!?!?! So, here are my apples :)

Base Coat:  Rejuvacote

Red Apples:  Sally Hansen Extreme Wear Red Carpet

Green Apple:  Sally Hansen Extreme Wear Ivy League

Stems:  Sinful Colors Mercury Rising (applied with  a dotting tool)

Leaves:  Sally Hansen Extreme Wear Green With Envy (applied with an art brush)

Top Coat Seche Vite

These are fun to wear, I am enjoying them.  I wish they had turned out just a little bit better, next time!!  Have you tried an apple mani?

Fall into Autumn: Back to School

The Summer Challenge has morphed into an Autumn Challenge,  YAY!!  Here is a list of what we will be doing

When I think of back to school, I think of school supplies, like most people.  So when quit a few gals went that route, I wanted to try some thing different.  I had no idea what I was going to do, until I saw a mani from a FB page that I love.  The Girlie Tomboy has a great plaid technique and I thought it would be perfect.  You know, for school uniforms! Seemed easy enough.  I was really happy with my design until I got to the end.  Mine is no where near as good as hers, but you can get the idea.  I will have to try this a few more times to see where I land.  Here is my Back to School mani

Base Coat:  Rejuvactoe

Base Color:  Sinful Colors Midnight Blue

Glitter:  NYC Starry Silver Glitter

Stripes:  Sinful Colors Striper in black

Top Coat:  Seche Vite

Looking back, my base was prob too dark.  When I tried to do some silver or white lines, it just looked so out of place.  So I had to go over them with the black.  It's a technique in progress LOL  I will definitely be trying this again.

Thanks for taking the time to have a look see :)

Cupcake Nails

My niece's birthday was this last July.  I can't believe it has taken me this long to share my mani from her party.  I was asked to make her cake, YAY!!  She was having an Ariel party and wanted an Ariel head.  Sure thing niece!!  I was excited to make this cake.  But she was kind of a pain in the ass.  I had never used the Ariel pan before so I was learning as I go.  I have done character cakes before.  Sadly, the indentations for the lines on this particular pan didn't match up to the picture.  So I had to wing it a little bit.  I think it came out pretty good.  I am not too happy with the eyes, but that is where there were some discrepancies with the pan lines and the picture.  

I decided it would be really fun to have some fun birthday party nails.  Normally, I make cupcakes for parties.  Since I wasn't doing any for my niece, I decided cupcake nails were a must! 

These were super simple to do.  I did a pink french tip and then added the green stripes with a nail art brush.  Using a dotting tool I created the "frosting" with white then added the green "sprinkles" and pink heart "topper".  Cute and simple.  I am really happy with how these turned out.  I will definitely be doing this design again :)

Base Coat:  Rejuvacote

Pink:  Sally Hansen Extreme Wear Very Cherry

Green:  Sally Hansen Extreme Wear Green With Envy

White:  Sinful Colors Snow Me White

Top Coat:  Seche Vite

I really wish I had shared these earlier.  I hope you enjoy my cupcake nails and my Ariel cake :)
More of my baking creations can be seen on my FB page:  Mandy's Custom Desserts

Lazy Days of Summer: Thirst Quencher

So, I am really behind on my Summer challenges.  But I am going to try real hard to catch up so I can do the Fall Challenge.  This is #9, Thirst Quencher.  I don't know about you, but I seriously love water.  I know a lot of people who hate to drink water and I just don't understand.  On a normal day, that is all I drink.  However, once in a while I love me some lemonade or other citrus-y drink.  So instead of trying to do a mani about water, which prob would have been just plain blue nails, I decided to go for the citrus mani.  This is a fun design and I was lucky enough to have a friend over who wanted to help.  So she did my gradient.  Lucky me!!  Here is the final design

Base Coat:  Rejuvacote

Base Color:  Sinful Colors Snow Me White

Gradient:  Color Club Sparkle and Soar, Daisy Does it and Fly With Me

Stamping Plate:  Bundle Monster BM308

Stamping Polish:  Konad Special White

Top Coat:  Seche Vite

This was a fun mani to do, especially because I got to spend the day with my friend and do my nails :)

Guest Blogger Friday: A Little Polish

Happy Friday!  Today's guest blogger is Stephanie from A Little Polish.  I love her blog, her mani's, her style, everything!  She has some great designs and I am happy she agreed to post for me :)

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Hey Ladies, this is Stephanie from A Little Polish. I was so excited with Mandy asked me to do a guest post for her. I love her blog, and she has great nails, art, stamping, blogging, etc.. the list goes on and on!

For this mani I decided to do something freehand so I went simple with some leopard print accents. I'm calling it "Mint Chip Leopard" in my mind.

For this mani I started off with two coats of Finger Paints "Pistachio" and layered OPI "Pirouette My Whistle" over top. For my accent nails I used Sinful Colors "Snow Me White" and Kiss Nail Art Striper in Black. My leopard print isn't the best in the scheme of all bloggers out there, but one thing that I like about this print is that anyone can do it if they try and with all animal prints, and everything in nature, there is no right or wrong and everything is unique :)

Do you ever do animal print manis? What is your favorite?

Thanks again to Mandy for having me guest post on her blog. Hope you enjoyed seeing my Mint Chip Leopard Mani!

Lazy Days of Summer: Dotting Tool Summer Fun

Trying to get back on track after a few weeks of almost non existence is kind of hard.  I have been in a funk for a little bit and hoping that posting will get me back on track.  I decided to start with a challenge mani.  I am pretty behind compared to the other girls.  A lot are just zipping through :)

I am on number 7, Dotting Tool Summer Fun.  Seeing how I was in a funk when I did this, I decided to keep it simple.  Here is my cute summer flower mani

Base Coat:  Rejuvacote

Base Color:  Zoya Sarah

Flowers:  Sinful Colors Snow Me White, Sally Hansen Extreme Wear Green w/ Envy

and China Glaze Happy Go Lucky

Top Coat:  Seche Vite

I loved wearing this design, so cute, simple and of course, red!