Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree

Hi guys!



In the spirit of the season,  I wanted to do one more Christmas mani.  This time it's the old Tannenbaum.  A few dots and rhinestones goes a long way.   I regret the absence of a tree in my home this year.   Never got around to it, and quite frankly,  my kids don't care.  A tree or not a tree - not a question.  The answer is a shrug.  So Christmas time in my home can be a bit lackluster. But that's okay, because it's in our hearts and that's what counts.



For the base color behind my trees,  I used a not-yet-released polish by LBD.  On my ring finger I did a gradient using two LBD colors,  Enticing Emerald,  and Shimmering Silver White.

Sorry about the lousy photos.  It was the best I could do without my camera.

Have a very merry Christmas
Ciao Bellas!

Red And White Snowflake Christmas Manicure

Hi friends!


I'm getting in the Christmas spirit this year.  We're decorating the house this weekend and after years of refusing to help out with decorations at work,  I rolled my sleeve up and pitched in.  What's gotten into me?  I don't know,  maybe the Grinch kindly gave Christmas back.  Now I just need to give to Toys for Tots and the Salvation Army Santa and I will have officially become Mrs Clause incarnate.  Just one last thing... Christmas shopping!  Lucky for me, I have Amazon Prime. I don't do the whole crowd scene.  The hard part is figuring out what to get my kids.  You would think that would be easy,  but my middle schooler can't think of anything but a League of Legend gift card. Then he wanted a $300 computer program before changing his mind and deciding he just wants a big birthday party this year and that would be his gift.  But he's getting a party anyway so I'm back to square one.

My teen is more decisive,  at least.  He wants one of those remote control flying things that cost enough to rent a private jet.  But I'm not complaining because at least I have a starting point to go on.  Of course since he's a teen he also wants cash, that's easy.  So, what do I do?

While I ponder over that,  let's talk about this manicure.  Snowflakes over a shimmery red jelly polish and a white glitter crelly accented ring finger.  This one bring Christmas home.  The polishes come in a set and can be found here.


Ciao bellas!

Frozen...No Really, I Feel Frozen!

Hi Ladies,
I don't know about the weather in your part of the world,  but here,  it's cold.  I'm not fond of cold weather, but it's that time of year where I dread my day ahead the moment I open my front door.  I think I must be allergic to cold weather and I should be able to work from home every day that doesn't reach 70 degrees Fahrenheit, (or 21 degrees Celsius).  I may take that up with my supervisor.  I won't lose by asking.

I figured maybe I could trick my mind into accepting the cold, so I did a wintry manicure.   It sort of reminds me of the movie Frozen.  I like Elsa ,  maybe I can handle the cold if I just let it go.

Ciao for now !

Polish,  Limpet Shell

Holiday Gift Box Preview

Hi friends,
Last week you got a peak at one of the polishes included in the 2016 holiday gift box by Little Black Dress Nail Lacquer.  Today you get to see the whole shebang!

The gift set includes one red jelly polish with gold glitters and flakes.  The second polish is a shimmery white crelly with red and green glitter.  The gift set also includes a 15ml cuticle oil, glass nail file, and a four-sided nail buffer.

The gift box will be available on December 1st in the Little Black Dress online store . Use the coupon code for ten percent off holiday gift boxes.  HOLIDAYGIFTBOX16 through January 5th.  The gift boxes are in limited supply.

Another coupon code is currently available in the shop for orders over $35

And here it is.

Ciao Bellas!

New Christmas Jelly By Little Black Dress Nail Lacquer

Hi friends,

I have an exciting new polish by LBD Nail Lacquer.  it's called Jelly Christmas and it will be available on December first. It will be released as part of a gift box set.


Jelly Christmas is a bright Christmas red jelly polish with gold flakes and glitters.  A few more Christmas polishes will also be available as gift box sets.   Check back here over the next few weeks for more sneak peaks.


Get your 10% coupon code now until January 1st.  Also be sure to take advantage of the Christmas gift box coupon.


Ciao Bellas!

Peacock Pretty

Hi Ladies,

Even though we're moving towards the winter season, I got this idea in my head to paint a peacock manicure (more specifically, stamp a peacock manicure).  I set out with a few peacock-like colors and had fun.  Perhaps a turkey mani would have been more appropriate, but at least I stayed in the foul family.

Ciao for now!

Lilac And Lavender Ombre Manicure

Greetings Lovely Ladies!

I'm loving the lilacs and lavenders lately.  Lastly, a little layer of floral stamping, leaves a lingering impression on this lightly holo ombre look.  I had to let loose with the L's because who can say 'lilac and lavender' without wanting to string a slew of L words after it?  Right?  Ok, it's out of my system now.

I'm doing a little (a lot) fall cleaning this week, in preparation for a visit from my Dad.  I don't mind my house being a bit out of sorts on an average day. Functional disorder is acceptable for me because we're a pretty busy family and I gave up any delusions of environmental perfection years ago. I have two boys so perfection doesn't exist anywhere in my world.  But when Dad and Mama D say they're coming to visit, my head explodes and I convulse into fits of panic because I know it's impossible to pull my house together enough to make them think that I run a tight ship and have it all together.  Nope, the truth comes out when they come to town. As much as I try to pretend, I don't have it all together, and most of the time I'm just floundering through each day trying to keep order and get the important things done in a reasonable amount of time.  I know they don't have crazy expectations and I'm sure they don't think my home sucks, (because it doesn't) but I have this thing about impressing them.  It's this unnecessary and unrealistic compulsion that I have to make them proud of me that I can't seem to put into perspective.  And it's just them.  Anybody else could come visit and I straighten up like everybody does before they have company.  But Dad and Mama D aren't just anybody. They're the two people in my life who I respect and look up to more than anybody else.  What they think matters.  And even though they are the most non-judgmental people on the planet, that somehow makes it even more important that I don't screw up.  It's a vicious cycle. 

To keep myself from driving myself crazy, I have to make a reality list of things to do and not do. I can include things like washing the dishes and scrubbing the floor and cross out retile the kitchen backsplash and add wainscoting around the walls.  I can add vacuum the carpet and take out the trash rather than repaint the walls, strip the paint off the furniture and re-stain the tables.  See how I have to keep things in perspective?  So, I will refrain from rushing out to buy new dishes, new curtains and new furniture and instead, settle for something more along the lines of picking up groceries and a jar of Dad's favorite instant coffee.

With reasonable expectations on myself, I can feel my blood pressure going down.  Ok, I can see where to start now.  Toss in a load of laundry, do the dishes, and vacuum.  Great start. Oh, I can't forget, Mohinder Suresh needs his fish bowl cleaned, and the plants could use a drink of water. 

I'm out of panic mode. Now I just have to stay sane and stick to the revised, realistic list.  Wish me lots of luck.

Ciao for now!

 

New Morgan Taylor Winter 2016 Collection: The Great Ice-Scape

Hello, Hello, Hello friends,


Today I'm excited to tell you about the latest Morgan Taylor Collection.  The Great Ice-Scape 2016 Winter Collection. So cute, and perfect for the cold winter season.  These colors are so well chosen for the theme, I think the collection is a definite winner.  The collection was inspired by the art of figure skating.

The colors from left to right are:  Hey, Twirl-friend!, N-ice Girls Rule, Flirt In A Skating Skirt, Figure 8's & Heartbreaks, Ice Queen Anyone?, and Lace 'Em Up.


The collection releases this month.
As always, if you pick up a few, let me know what you think.
Ciao for now!

A Non-political Manicure. Did You Vote Today?

Hi there friends!

If you're in the good old U.S. of A, and age 18 or above, I have a question for you.  Did you vote today? Or do you plan to vote before the polls close tonight?  I hope you do.  It's your right as an American citizen.  OK, so, all politics aside, let's get to today's manicure.  

I played with a few techniques for this one.  Stamping, reverse stamping, and double stamping.  And since I didn't use any glitter, holo, or shimmers, I added a charm on my ring finger for a little pizzazz.  I was going for a floral plaid blanket look.  So,  no straight lines.  

That's it for today,  now I'm off to my library to place my ballet.  Now, go vote.  

Ciao Bellas!

Serenity And A Splash Of Orange

Hi Ladies, 

A little peace is not too much to ask for is it?  I don't think it is.  So grab it when you can. That's what I did with this manicure.  I used a serene blue polish by Little Black Dress called Serenity Pantone 2016, and added a marble accent on my ring finger using a few other colors by Little Black Dress.  

These are the polishes used for the accent nail. 

Ciao for now. 

I Said No No No: Polish By Little Black Dress

Hi Ladies,  I'm finally getting into the swing of things this school year.  Of course we're about a quarter in, but better late than never right?  In my desperate attempts to pull myself together,  I started wearing one manicure for two weeks at a time rather than my usual two manicures for one week.  And with no nail art!  Not a single stamp or rhinestone.   Not even glitter.  It's a travesty!   Although the world did not disintegrate, the cosmos was definitely unaligned.  Yeah, my head is still spinning.

What's been keeping me so busy, you ask?  Well, aside from my kids' usual extra-curricular activities, I've been wrapped up in senior year activities to get my oldest into college next year.  He's excited to go away and experience college life, and I'm excited to get another room. I might be more excited than he is.  The other thing that's taken up so much of my time is my latest nail polish collection.  It's called Back To Black, inspired by one of my favorite singers, Amy Winehouse.  This unadorned manicure showcases one of the polish sets from the collection.  For more pics and detail about the polish or the collection, visit the listing here.

Ciao Bellas!

Seche Vite, Still My All Time Must Have Top Coat

Hi Ladies,
You know by now, that I'm a diehard fan of Seche Vite Fast Dry Top Coat. I can't say enough great things about it. It's good for oily nails that chip easily (like mine).  It forms a solid coating that makes it more durable, and it makes your nails look like gels (I get that a lot). But most importantly for me, it dries super fast. This is important to me because I often paint my nails in the morning before I go to work and I really don't have time to wait for them to dry. After I shower and dress, I'll swipe on  two coats of polish, then top it off with one coat of Seche Vite. I don't have time to stop and wait so usually, I'm able to do my makeup and get out the door without damaging my fresh manicure. Of course I might have to ask one of my kids for help with my shoes, but that's it. And they're already used to seeing me drive with my fingers splayed out over the steering wheel, carefully maneuvering turns so I don't ding my manicure.

But, like all things in life, there's a down side. First, Seche Vite tends to pull back from the edge of  your nails after a day or two. This can be solved, for the most part, by being sure to wrap the tip of your nails with every coat of polish including the final coat of Seche Vite itself. The second issue really isn't an issue at all, but an asset.  In time, the formula tends to thicken in the bottle. This is actually a plus since a thicker coat helps you get that squishy gel effect.  Last, and probably the most important factor is that it contains toluene, which is what keeps the polish smooth and even when applied. Toluene is one of the 5 chemicals excluded from 5-free polishes, and there's much debate over it's harmful effects.


So, why do I still use Seche Vite? One of the conclusions about the harmful effects of the chemical toluene is that it's present in such small quantities in nail polish until it's not an issue. Also, much of the harmful effect in question deals with reproductive problems and birth defects, and I have no plans to have any more kids (two is enough for me).  Yes, there are other possible problems, but I don't think the amount of toluene in Seche Vite is enough to cause real harm.


All in all, the only thing that will deter me from using Seche Vite is if they stop making it. And then I'll try to sue to the company for taking away one of life's true essentials next to water, air and food.


Ciao for now!

Sneak Peak: Morgan Taylor 2016 Wrapped In Glamour Holiday Collection

Hi Ladies,
Today, I have another holiday collection for you to peruse. It's an 8 piece collection by Morgan Taylor called Wrapped in Glamour and it will be available at Sally's Beauty and Ulta in October.  I think the collection is perfect for the holidays, and it reminds me a little of O.P.I.s Breakfast at Tiffany's holiday collection in that the colors are classy and a bit on the sophisticated side. Yup, I think this one is a winner.  There's also a mini set that you can find at Sally's.

Ciao for now lovelies!

Sneak Peak: Back To Black Collection By Little Black Dress

Hi Ladies
I'm so glad to announce the latest collection by Little Black Dress Nail Lacquer.  It's called Back to Black, a collection of black based colors inspired by Amy Winehouse, and it will be available for sale mid October. Check the online shop www.etsy.com/shop/littleblackdressnail.  Let's take a look.

The collection includes 3 singles and 2 sets. The sets are dark based colors with coordinating holographic toppers. Here are the names.



I said no no no
I won't go go go
You know I'm no good
No greater love
No heart so true
What kind of *ery is this?
I told you I was trouble




I said no no no and I won't go go go set (available here)


The first set has a dark teal cream base color (not quite black) and a gray tone holographic topper. The dark cream, I said no no ,  applies smoothly and is opaque in two coats. The topper, I won't go go go , is a gray tone holographic polish.  Applied over the dark teal, the duo creates a midnight teal holo.

I told you I was trouble

This is a deep blue flakie polish that has flecks of green and blue.



No greater love and No love so true

This dark rosy set has a dark shimmery rose base color and a holographic pink topper.  The topper can be worn solo and is opaque in two or more coats.

 

You know I'm no good is a shimmering purple/blue polish that applies opaque in 2 coats.

What kind of *ery is this? (Available here)
This one might be my favorite.  It's a shimmering green/gold that sparkles and shines

If you simply can't wait for these to go on sale,  send an email to [email protected] for a special pre-release purchase.
Ciao Bellas!

A Midnight Design For Midnight Polish

Hi ladies,
I have to admit, I've been in a dark mood lately.  I want to say that I chose this manicure design because the color of the polish reminds me of a midnight sky, but truthfully, it reminds me of a charming little nighttime children's book by Adam Mansbach called Go The * To Sleep. Yes,  it's a children's book,  but not one you want to read to your child (although I've read it to mine... several times. My teenager, relax ) .  If you haven't read it, and want a laugh, get a copy.

What were we talking about?  Right, the nail polish. This polish is a newly released polish set by Little Black Dress Nail Lacquer.  The set includes a dark teal base color (appears black) and a holographic topper. More polishes in this collection will be available next week.

Ciao for now.

Sneak Peak: Orly Sunset Strip Holiday 2016 Collection

Hi ladies,
Orly went semi-nontraditional for their holiday collection this year. We're still seeing the typical red, green, and silver which is fine.  But they're of the standard variety. This collection has 6 colors including a red, green, silver, pink, purple, and blue.  I'm not giving a lot of description here because only a few colors appeal to me. But take a look for yourself.


The collection is due to come out right about....now.
Ciao Bellas!

Sneak Peak: China Glaze 2016 Seas And Greetings Holiday Collection

Hi cuties,
I am so happy to see that some polish companies are doing something a little different this year for the holidays. Who would have thought of a holiday beach theme collection? China Glaze, that's who.  I think I love the collection simply because its not typical. Who can resist names like Sand in my mistletoes, Let's Shellebrate, Eat Pink Be Merry, Partridge In A Palm Tree, Tis The Sea Sun, Good Tideings  and Twinkle twinkle little starfish. Kudos to you CG.


The collection of 12 polishes releases some time in October, and you'll be able to find them at my favorite beauty shop, Ulta. There's also several mini sets.
Ciao for now!

Photo downloaded from Pinterest

O.P.I. 2016 Holiday Collection Breakfast At Tiffany's - Not Just Polish! There's More

Hi ladies,

I have exciting news about the latest holiday collection by O.P. I.  It's called Breakfast At Tiffany's and you can probably guess what and who inspired it.  Audrey Hepburn and the all time classic Breakfast At Tiffany's.

Like the holiday collection by China Glaze, this one doesn't scream CHRISTMAS or NEW YEARS. Instead, it includes a more sedate and classy selection of colors. I like that they've pulled away from the traditional Christmas colors.  

And wait,  there's more.  A set of lotions!  Has  O.P.I. don't this before?  Not sure,  but I don't think so. Six scented lotions that I'd love to try.  At least two of them can be purchased in singles. I don't know if the lotions are sold in stores yet, but they at least ships to the UK.

The polishes come in an array of mini sets, duos and trios. There's even an On The Go Kit that includes one nail polish, a cuticle oil, hand and nail cream,  and an acetone free polish remover wipe. O.P.I. might have outdone themselves this time.

Ciao for now.