She's Like The Wind

Besides rockin' that song Karaoke for our beloved and belated Patrick Swayze, it has been crazy windy here in MN the past few days. Watching the leaves blow wildly outside today was my inspiration for this post.

I used a base coat polish of China Glaze Secret Peri-wink-le. The wind consists of Sexy In The City, Bahamian Escape, DV8, Dorothy Who?, White On White, So Easy Stripe Rite Hot Blue, Orly Royal Navy. I used on coat of Seche Vite to seal the deal.

Vodka Bar

In preparation for celebrating my brother's birthday at the vodka bar, I thought I would ready my nails for the occasion.  Every year we go to a great little vodka bar for his birthday here in the Twin Cities: St. Petersburg Vodka Bar and Restaurant.  I love their coffee infused vodka in a White Russian.  Soooo good.  Cheers!  Happy Birthday!  And bottoms up!

The base color for this manicure was China Glaze Classic Camel.  Seche Vite was used to finish the look and in the manicure all white: White on White, Black: Liquid Leather.

Stoli: Salsa, Luxe, Mirror Mirror

Espresso Martini: Heaven, Evening Seduction, Awaken

Cocktail Napkin: Chinchilli

Bloody Mary: Salsa with Japanese Koi layered over, Awaken, So Easy Stripe Rite Hot Green

Vodka Gimlet: Suvi, So Easy Stripe Rite Hot Green, Heaven, Awaken

Classic Martini: Heaven, Entourage, Japanese Koi, Awaken

Vodka Flights: Sexy Silhouette, Japanese Koi, Solar Power, Breakin', Pixie Dust, Secret Peri-wink-le, Awaken, OMG, Heaven, Evening Seduction, Ingrid, OMG

White Russian: Heaven, Evening Seduction, Ingrid, OMG

The Princess and The Pea

I am absolutely in love with this new color from the Orly Cosmic FX collection.  I was almost tempted to just leave it a single color because it didn't need anything extra, but then I thought the gemstone highlight was the perfect touch.  Unfortunately the gemstones only lasted a day, so I replaced them with gold, painted dots (but don't have a pic).   I was able to capture to a pretty decent degree the awesomeness of this polish, so enjoy!

I used It's Not Rocket Science.  Seche Vite was used for the top coat. 

*Unfortunately this is a fall release for Orly and they do not have any official links to this collection since it is not technically released yet.  If I remember, I'll try to add links as they become available.

Drive-by Butterflies

I've been seeing a ton of Monarchs here in MN.  So pretty.  In homage and because I got new clay decals from Sally's, here you go!

I used Essie Steel-ing The Scene.  So Easy Stripe Rite in Hot Blue and decals from Art Club Blue Denim.  Seche Vite was used for the top coat.

Pretty Pretty!

I had this manicure on last weekend and didn't have the time to post it.  Since I also posted about Orly's Cosmic FX polishes in a mani below, this seemed fitting to add.  I'm doing the best I can to show you how this polish looks different depending on the light (click to enlage, as always).  It was and is very pretty.

I first painted two coats of China Glaze VII and followed with two coats of Space Cadet.  I used Millennium with Konad Plate m60 for the design.  I used on coat of Seche Vite on top.

Oil Slick

I'm on a subtle marbling kick, I guess.  But this time I went in a different direction--hard to miss, bold.  This is by far the hardest manicure I have tried to photograph to date.  Neither of these pictures seem to do the manicure justice, but they were the best of the bunch.  It might be because I used two new colors in the new Orly Cosmic FX collection.  It isn't listed on their website yet since it's a fall collection, but it's out in stores here in the US now.  I found them at Ulta.  Here is a good review of the collection.  Bottom line they are prismatic, glitter/mineral polishes that are multi-tonal and therefore hard to capture on camera. In real life, it really does resemble the iridescence of an oil slick.

I first coated a base color in black, China Glaze Liquid Leather.  Then I used Space Cadet and Galaxy Girl for the marble.  Seche Vite was used for the top coat.

On The DL

I majorly broke two nails this weekend sporting a mani I haven't posted yet.  So I cut them all down to the nubs and am starting from scratch.  I decided to do a nude manicure since I didn't want to completely make them stand out, but I can't just do totally boring, so I marbled.  I think it turned out nice--it's subtle (as seen in the full hand shot) but interesting.

I used Wet n Wild Rock Solid Nail Lacquer in Pink Sapphire as a base color (two coats).  I polished with the same color plus OPI Skinny Dip'n In Lake Michigan and Essie Chinchilly for the other marble colors.  I used one coat of Seche Vite to top.

Copycat: Hot Off The Presses!

I like to be inspired by other's art or nail art, not copy exactly.  But when Orly gave me permission to try a look that seemed so cool and fun, I couldn't pass up the opportunity to plagiarize.  I, of course, didn't do it totally like Orly, but it's 98% their design.  The idea and how to can be found here.  It really was a lot of fun to do.  You have to be alright with the fact that the print is backwards, but if you can find some interesting prints and icons from the paper, the final look is so interesting.

I don't have Orly colors, so my substitutes are as follows: China Glaze White On White red tips layered with Salsa on bottom Ruby Pumps on top.  I used So Easy Stripe Rite Black Glitter  to line the tip color.  I used two coats of Seche Vite for shine!  Save and Print!!!!

*Edit* I did not purchase the "Clean Prep" product from Orly, I used rubbing alcohol for the transferring of the newspaper print.

Blue and Gold

I was out of town and caught up in work the past few days, so I have to catch you up on a few manicures you've missed. I apparently am on a blue and gold kick (mostly because of the new "foil" polish I picked up last week that I keep wanting to use). So here you go:

Blue Moon:

All Laced Up:

Blue Moon:

Base coat blue is China Glaze Sexy In The City, the gold accent is Orly Luxe. I used Seche Vite, one coat on top.

All Laced Up:

Base coat China Glaze Frostbite and Bundle Monster Plate BM11 with Luxe again for lace detail. Seche Vite to coat.