New Golden Dew Cuticle Oil and a Teal Holo Preview

Hi Ladies!

Is your summer going as smoothly as mine is?  I hope so.  It's been great so far.  My big teen is on vacation, due to come home today, and my little teen has been the perfect angel in his brother's absence.  I think there's a correlation there, but I dare comment on it.  Big brother away = little brother being a perfect little angel.  Hmmm...is this a precursor to how life will be when the oldest goes away to college?  If so, I'll help him get packed tonight.  Just kidding. 

Well, with my free time I've been busy making and testing polish, preparing to release a few more colors for the summer season.  Here's a little glimpse at a teal linear holo that's scheduled to come out in a small collection near the end of the summer.  I can't wait.

But that's not what this post is about today.  Nope, today I'm announcing the release of Golden Dew Cuticle Oil.  It's a fruity scented cuticle oil designed to nourish, and hydrate your nails and cuticles.  You can find it online here.  LBD also has a night time cuticle butter called Beauty Sleep Cuticle Treatment that will release in July.  The daytime oil and nighttime butter together will keep your nails nourished, pampered and in great condition to show off your pretty manicure. 

Until next time,

Ciao Bellas!

Golden Dew Cuticle Oil



Beauty Sleep Cuticle Treatment

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!

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

Getting A Little Personal

Hi friends,
Today's post has nothing to do with manicures or nail polish at all. In fact, if you want details about this manicure leave me a comment and I'll tell you anything you want to know.

Today I want to talk about my personal life, which I usually avoid doing online.  But, against my better judgment, I'm going to do it anyway.

I have really good friends who love me and my kids and want nothing less than the best for us. I love them too and sometimes wonder how I could make it without them. They simply want me to be happy and fulfilled. Of course, so do I. But sometimes their idea of happy and fulfilled and my idea of happy and fulfilled are not the same.

I feel content and satisfied with my life, but many of my well-meaning friends think that I can't possibly be happy until they find me a date. Ok, it's been almost 2 years since my husband passed, and they tell me it's time to get back out there and jump back into the dating pool and catch myself a fish.

But here's the thing, I'm doing great.  I don't want to jump in a pool, toss out a line and go fishing. A fish will not enhance my life. And quite frankly, my kids have already expressed their intent to kick any fish down the stairs.  I'm not making this up guys.

Well, that's not something they need to worry about.  I have them, my friends and family, and their friends too (since they're always around). Adding a fish to the pot would only make it boil over. And who wants to clean up smelly fish water?  Ok, enough with the fish analogies. Mohinder Suresh (my beta fish) wouldn't take too kindly to that).

Well-meaning friends say my boys won't be with me forever and I'll become lonely. But I have to laugh at that.  What I wouldn't give for my kids to be all grown up and living good, productive lives that don't include coming home every night to my house. Trust me, I already have plans for their rooms.

So, dear friends and loved ones, I am quite happy and fulfilled as I am. I don't have time to date anyway, and I like things just the way they are. Now, if you want to hook me up with concert tickets, great.  But if you want to hook me up with a date, I know a lovely young lady down the street that would give her right arm for one and I'll gladly give you her number. Your matchmaking efforts won't go to waste.


Please excuse (or ignore) my personal rant.  My next post will include nail polish talk. I promise.  Thanks for reading. 
Till next time,
Ciao Bellas!

New Collection by Little Black Dress Nail Lacquer is...Dazzling

Hi Ladies,
I have a terrific new collection to show you by Little Black Dress Nail Lacquer.  The collection is called Dazzlers, a collection of eight super glitter polishes. Perfect for the pretty princess in you. The polishes in the photo above are (from left to right),

Shimmering Silver White
Exciting Gold
Tantalizing Tangerine
Captivating Crimson
Smashing Grape
Alluring Azure
Tranquil Teal
Enticing Emerald

Try them out.
Ciao Bellas!

Hot Floral For Hot July

Hi friends,
It's July, (my birth month) and the heat has finally hit hard. Some days I think I'll melt before I make it to my car. Despite the heat, I'm at my uptown office (Starbucks) sipping a hot Venti dark roast in the middle of the day. I'm always relaxed when I come to my uptown office. It's where I do my best work. Too bad I can't do nail art here. Maybe I could talk to the manager... No, I'd have a better chance getting free coffee than setting up a table to polish my nails. Perhaps I'll go for the free coffee then.

Today I have a hot floral design, well suited for summery flowers and sweltering heat. I used the reverse stamping technique. But if you're a regular reader, you knew that already, because you're familiar with my artistic handicap. I can barely draw a straight line, so flowers are out - abstract or otherwise. Im still trying to sign up for pre-K art classes, but the schools here are age biased and I haven't found one that will let me sign up. I'm a little older than 5 which seems to be one of the main requirements - silly rule I think. I'm not giving up though. I don't quit that easily!

Until next time,
Ciao for now.

To My Jackson/Caldwell Family

I'm jumping up and down, waving my hands frantically in the air, hoping my family will catch this post. AUNTIES, UNCLES, COUSINS, THIS IS FOR YOU.
It's been a long, long, long, looooong...long long time since I've seen you guys, (holding my head down in shame).  But, if all goes as planned, I'll see you soon.

My boys and I are traveling to my family reunion next month and I simply can't wait!  It's probably been more than 5 years since I've seen them (yeah, shame isn't it?), and soooo much changes in 5 years.  I'm looking forward to catching up and making plans to stay in touch. Hopefully, I can convince them to hold the next reunion closer my way (hint hint).

Today I chose to do an orange (our color this year) and green family tree design

We'll have a great time and then I'm going to write about it. You've been warned.
Ciao for now.

Family Reunion Orange

Beach Vacation: Under The Sea Manicure

Hi friends, it's been years since I had a vacation.  It was well overdue. So, last week, I caught some rays at the beach. Soooo relaxing.  The kids thought it was the best vacation ever. But it's been so long since we had one that they really don't have a solid reference point.

I wanted to wear a sea life manicure for my trip, so I used a pretty teal blue glitter flakie base color with multi-color stamping, reminiscent of ocean life under the sea. And here's the shocker: I wore this manicure for the entire week! I can't remember the last time I wore a manicure for an entire week. Great achievement.

My next mani is a summery gradient with a touch of sun.
Ciao for now!

O.P.I.-athon: Memorial Day Tribute: Going My Way Or Norway?

Going My Way Or Norway?

Good Memorial Day Morning O.P.I. lovers,
Our O.P.I.-athon will not break because of holiday festivities. No, instead we're honoring the men and women who served our country.  Pools open, and the kiddies are wrapping up the school year soon, but this is the day to remember those who served in the U.S Armed Forces. I live near an army base, and here, we do just that. Which leads us to my contribution to this holiday of observance.

Going My Way Or Norway? is the perfect mannequin hand match for me. I lucked up on it by accident and fell in love immediately.  It's the perfect neutral for showcasing a little patriotism. Did I overdo it a bit? Yup, I did, but if it''s not overdone, then it just wouldn't be me, would it?

Because this short series is to delve into the world of O.P.I., here's a little not-so-well known fact.  O.P.I. is sold in more than 75 countries around he globe. Not so hard to believe, but did you know that they fill about 150,000 nail lacquers each day, about 55 million bottles a year? I'll let you know how they do it when I start working there. They don't know it yet, but they're getting a new hire soon. I just need to put in my two week notice.  Then I'm off to sunny CA.

Until next tme, Ciao for now!

Earth Day 2016

Hi Friends,
Today's manicure is in celebration of our beautiful planet.  Let's be kind to Mother Earth, we need her.

Ciao for now.

Happy Tuesday - Floral Garden Escape

Good morning ladies,
Do you ever have those days when you see life through rose colored glasses, and all is right with the world? Today is one of those days for me. It's bright and sunny outside, the temperature is all but perfect (not too hot, not too cold), my kids are in school (whew), and I'm contentedly sitting on the platform waiting for my train.  I have my whole day before me and minimum obligations. Work, home, cook, study with my kiddie, and then a little me time. Honestly, today, I won't be painting my nails. I'll call and talk to family members who live far away (Hi Daddy!), and catch up on a little TV.  I watched Minority Report recently (the TV program, not the movie) and it seemed like a winner, so it might make my limited list of programs to watch.  Maybe it will inspire me to create interesting nail art.  I hope so.

Today's manicure happens to coincide with my mood. Happy.

Ciao for now!

Another Morgan Taylor Sneak Peak: Street Beat

Hi there ladies,
Does Morgan Taylor sell electronics now? Umm...looks that way. The new Morgan Taylor Street Beat Collection comes complete with a free wireless speaker. Well, that's new. The idea here is to rock out to music while polishing your nails with graffiti inspired polishes, maybe??? Ok, so maybe I'm not getting it, but the idea is cute anyway.  The collection includes six colors that are presumably inspired by street graffiti. I don't believe that many or any of the colors remind me of street graffiti, but like I said, the concept is...cute. So, let me see if I get this.  You have a selection of street graffiti inspired colors, the wireless mini speaker, representing a boom box (the 80's?) and there you have it - Street Beats.  Ok, I'm going to stop analyzing this. I think I'm over thinking this. I gotta let it go.

So, here are the not so graffiti colors.
Tag, You're It - a bright hot pink
Street Cred-ible - a yellow/orange cream
Cou-tour The Streets - lavender
B-Girl Style - bubble-gum-ish pink
Hip Hot Coral - a shimmery coral
Give Me A Break-Dance - a green teal

Umm...I'm really trying to work with this concept here, but a few of the names are cringe-worthy. The colors seem very pretty, but as for naming them, O.P.I. they are not!  But, it's about the polish, not the name, right? All in all, the collection is nice for the summer. If you have other ideas about the creative concept for this collection, please clue me in. Give me a better perspective here. Maybe I'm just missing my camera, and I'm just not able to be more subjective. Help me out here ladies.  Till next time, Ciao for now.

Peach And Teal Yin Yang

Hello friends,
Great day today. I'm in a peachy mood, so I went for peach mani with my beloved glitter.  I had to free-hand the yin yang thingy. I think those remedial kindergarten art classes are paying off. I advanced to squiggly lines pretty fast.

Ciao for now!

Canadian Maple Leaves Manicure

Hello friends.

Today I have a winter warm manicure for those who are in colder climates right now. Copper, green, purple and gold maple leaves stamped over a burgundy base.  The base color here is called Mommy Kissing Santa by China Glaze, from the 2010 'Tis The Season to Be Naughty or nice Winter/Holiday collection.

Till next time,
Ciao for now.

Getting in the Mood for Holiday Cheer

Hi Friends,
I'm sooo excited! No, it's not a new polish or collection, not a new nail product, art stencils or cuticle oil.  So don't get too excited. It's just that a brand new Starbucks opened right across the street! You all know how much I love that wonderfully addictive brew. Yes, I'm a Starbucks junkie. So, I'm here soaking in the new environment, listening to live jazz Christmas music. Ohh boy, I'm feelin' the holiday cheer. Don't be jealous, Starbucks coffee +live music, what's not to be jealous of?

Since it's time to get into the spirit, I did a little holiday mani. Christmas green and snowflakes. How holiday-ish is that?

Ciao bellas!

In Honor of Those Who Served in the US Armed Forces

Hello friends,
Today's manicure is for Veteran's Day to honor those who served in the U.S. Armed Forces. Originally Armistice Day, Veteran's Day was renamed in 1954. These men and women laid their lives on the line for our country, and they should, indeed, be honored.

I decided on camouflage because I've never attempted it before.  For a first try, I think it turned out pretty good. What do you think?

Ciao for now.

A Green/Gold Antique Fall Gradient

Hi friends,
Today I have a gradient in green/gold, that's similar to the earth-tone one from yesterday. I used the same center to edge technique with three colors. Again, I added a little stamp on the middle nail. Does this look antiquey (not really a word) to you?


Here's what I used.

Calypso by Sinful Colors, She-She by Dermelect,
Just Spotted the Lizzard by OPI, Forest by MdU

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I'm considering doing this technique using blue, orange or purple. Which would you like to see?

Ciao for now.

31 Day Challenge: Day 23 Inspired by a movie

#31dc2015 Inspired by a Movie: The Maze Runner

Hi there friends, I had to decide whether to use this manicure for the Inspired by a movie or Inspired by a book challenge because this was both, and I liked both equally. The Maze Runner by James Dashner.

I used an earthy golden color base for the background to capture the woodsy outdoor scenery in the movie. Obviously, I chose a maze design for the tall foliage covered maze that the boys ran through, and the map they created and added to day after day. On my ring finger I stamped green leaves.

Here's what I used.

Konad Green
Konad Black Gold
Hunter by Zoya
Seared Bronze by Cover Girl

Next up is Nails inspired by a book.
Ciao for now.