A2Z Series - H Is For 'Holographic'

Hi NaiLovelies!

Week eight of the A2Z challenge and it is now time for one of my favorite nail polish finishes.   The letter of the alphabet is H  and the prompt word is HOLOGRAPHIC. 

A2Z Series - G Is For 'Gold'

Hi NaiLovelies!

Wow, we've reached week seven already in the A2Z challenge .  This week the we're at G in the alphabet and the prompt word is GOLD 

Which happens to be my favorite colour!!!

A2Z Series - F Is For 'Fashion'

Hi NaiLovelies!

This week the A2Z challenge has reached the letter F in the alphabet and the prompt word for this week is Fashion.

Mini Manicures ~ OPI Gelcolor I Carol About You

Hi NaiLovelies!

I have a new OPI Gelcolor swatch  to show you today, this is I Carol About You from the Gwen Stefani Holiday 2014 collection.

All That Jazz Nail Lacquer Review

Hi NaiLovelies!

During my recent visit to Olympia Beauty I was very lucky to meet the gorgeous Jazz from the fabulous All That Jazz line of polishes.  We chatted about All That Jazz and I told her all about my blog and love of all things nails.  I was really pleased when Jazz offered me some great products to review....!

 So without further ado I am going to show you these beautiful polishes.....

A2Z Series - E Is For 'Elegant'

Hi NaiLovelies!

This week the A2Z challenge has reached the letter E in the alphabet and the prompt word for this week is Elegant.

Mini Manicures ~ IBD Just Gel Petal Imprint

Hi NaiLovelies!

It's me again and guess what!? I am back again this time with the last of my picks from the beautiful IBD Floral Metric collection.  This time I have a swatch of the gorgeous and much loved Petal Imprint to share with you today.

Mini Manicures ~ IBD Just Gel Polish Hippie Dippie

Hi NaiLovelies!

I'm back again with another swatch from the IBD Floral Metric collection.  This gorgeous blue is called Hippie Dippie and yep - it's another great polish from this outstanding collection!

Mini Manicures ~ IBD Just Gel Patchwork

Hi NaiLovelies!

I have another stunning polish to show you from the Floral Metric collection by IBD Just Gel Polish.  This pretty lavendar toned grey is Patchwork!

A2Z Series - D Is For 'Dark'

Hi NaiLovelies!

This week the A2Z challenge has reached the letter D in the alphabet and the prompt word for this week is Dark.

A2Z Series - C Is For 'Copycat'

Hi NaiLovelies!

Next up in the A2Z challenge we have reached the letter C in the alphabet and the prompt word for this week is Copycat.

Mini Manicures ~ IBD Just Gel Polish Banjos Make Her Dance

Hi NaiLovelies!

I have what I believe to be the 'star of the show' from the IBD Just Gel Polish Floral Metric collection.  This sparkling beauty is Banjos Make Her Dance, a fabulously shimmery glitter!

Mini Manicures ~ IBD Just Gel Polish Eye-Poppie

Hi NaiLovelies!

I have another stunning polish to show you from the Floral Metric collection by IBD Just Gel Polish.  This ravishing orange is Eye-Poppie and it is pretty eye-popping fabulous!

A2Z Series - B Is For 'Bold'

Hi NaiLovelies!

I'm back with the second installment of the A2Z challenge and this week the letter of the alphabet is B and the prompt is Bold.

Double Trouble

Hi NaiLovelies!

I have been playing in polish again!! This time I updated my Retro Rosette manicure with a spot of double stamping.  I love the effect of double stamping as it can make a very basic image look absolutely stunning and it is a relatively simple Advanced Stamping method.

A2Z Series - A Is For 'Angles'

Hi NaiLovelies!

I am super excited to be taking part in a fab nail bloggers A-Z challenge for the next 26 weeks!!!

Along with the company of such an awesome nail bloggers, I am looking forward to getting stuck into this new challenge and stretching my creativity whilst gaining some new artistic skills along the way....

Today is the first day of the alphabet challenge and the prompt for this week is Angles.

Mini Manicures ~ IBD Just Gel Polish Retro Rosette

Hi NaiLovelies!

You have probably noticed that nails are a lot shorter not to mention a completely different shape but it's business as usual so far as showcasing beautiful polishes goes.   I have the most amazing gel polish to show you today from IBD Just Gel Polish.

This stunning fuchsia shade is Retro Rosette and boy is it an absolute corker and a total tricky little trickster to capture correctly on camera!! 

Mini Manicures ~ OPI Gelcolor Kiss Me - Or Elf!

Hi NaiLovelies!

I have a new OPI Gelcolor swatch  to show you today, this is Kiss Me - Or Elf! from the Gwen Stefani Holiday 2014 collection.

Four Seasons Blogger Collaboration - Spring Blossom

Hi NaiLovelies!

I hope you all had a fantastic weekend!   

I have a manicure with a difference to show you today.  I have collaborated with three fantastic UK bloggers to bring you four manicures to represent each of the four seasons of the year.

I was lucky to get ‘spring’ as my prompt for this manicure.  I really think I lucked out with this one because apart from summer, spring is most definitely one of my favorite times of the year!

Mini Manicures ~ Dance Legend Slippery When Wet

Hi NaiLovelies!

I have a stunning polish to show you today.  This beauty is Slippery When Wet from Dance Legends Wow Prism collection!

Mini Manicures ~ IBD Midnight Martinis

Hi NaiLovelies!

Today I have a swatch of a gorgeous gel polish called Midnight Martinis from IBD Just Gel Polish to show you.  I can't believe this has sat untried in my stash for so long.....I mean, who would do a crazy thing like that, just look at it!!!  

Cafe Cuccio Colour Veneer ~ Swatches and Review

Hi NaiLovelies!

During a recent trip to London I attended Olympia Beauty and purchased five gel polishes from the eight piece Cafe Cuccio collection.

Today I have a review and swatches of my picks from the collection! 

Back To Black....!

Hi NaiLovelies!

Negative space stamping is fast becoming a favourite of mine.  If I am honest I would be quite happy to work my way through all of my stamping polishes and come up with purely negative space stamped nails!  I love the simplicity of the process and the often striking end results...!

Mini Manicures ~ Smitten Polish Seasonal Lattes

Hi NaiLovelies!

Today I have a swatch of the absolutely gorgeous Seasonal Lattes by Smitten Polish.  This polish instantly caught my eye when I saw the line up from the new 2014 fall collection, so I just had to add it to my indie collection as soon as I could get my hands on it.  Would be rude not to!

Nailympia At Olympia Beauty 2014

Hi NaiLovelies!

So this week I have a somewhat different post for you.  Now that I am qualified in the trade, last weekend I had the opportunity to attend Nailympia at Olympia Beauty in London.  This was  the first ever trade show I have attended for nails and beauty and I was super excited.

Mini Manicures ~ Morgan Taylor Get Sporty With It

Hi NaiLovelies!

Today I have a swatch of Get Sporty With It from the Morgan Taylor Casual Cool collection.  These are such a great collection of polishes and I continue to be impressed by the brand!!!

Olympia Beauty ~ Lace Skittle Manicure

Hi NaiLovelies!

Last weekend I had the opportunity to go along to the 10th anniversary exhibition of Olympia Beauty in London.  I created this lace effect soak off gel manicure the day I traveled to London as I really wanted my nails to look their best for the event.

Henna Inspired Manicure

Hi NaiLovelies!

I am just popping in quickly to show you the manicure I created using the lovely New School Nude  by Morgan Taylor as the base for this henna inspired mani.

Mini Manicures ~ Morgan Taylor New School Nude

Hi NaiLovelies!

Today I have a swatch of New School Nude from the Morgan Taylor Casual Cool collection.  I have all but one of these polishes and so far I am super impressed!!!

Mini Manicures ~ Black Cat Lacquer Poison Apple

Hi NaiLovelies!

I have another swatch of a fantastic indie polish to show you, this time from a new untried brand for me called Black Cat Lacquer.  This beautiful polish is called Poison Apple.

Mini Manicures ~ Colors By Llarowe Young Turks

Hi NaiLovelies!

I have a corker of an indie holographic polish to show you today, this is the uber stunning Young Turks from Colors by Llarowe!

Mini Manicures ~ OPI How Great Is Your Dane?

Hi NaiLovelies!

Next up I have another pick from the OPI Nordic Collection, this time I am wearing How Great Is Your Dane?

Mini Manicures ~ OPI With A Great Finnish

Hi NaiLovelies!

I have another swatch from the new OPI collection.  This pretty polish is OPI With A Nice Finnish.

Mini Manicures ~ My Dogsled Is A Hybrid

Hi NaiLovelies!

I have another swatch from the new OPI autumn collection.  This pretty green is My Dogsled Is A Hybrid.

Mini Manicures ~ OPI Going My Way Or Norway?

Hi NaiLovelies!

I have a swatch of one of the new polishes from the OPI Nordic collection.  This is Going My Way Or Norway?

Mini Manicures ~ OPI Stir Fried Eggplant

Hi NaiLovelies!

I have a swatch of my OPI Stir Fried Eggplant manicure to share with you today.

Mini Manicures ~ OPI Stainless Steel

Hi NaiLovelies!

I have another mini manicure to show you today featuring a swatch of a renamed polish called Stainless Steel from OPI.

Mini Manicures ~ OPI Blue Chips

Hi NaiLovelies!

I have the first swatch of my new series called Mini Manicures.  This stunner is called Blue Chips and its by OPI.

Simply Into My NAILS ~ Mini Manicures

Hi NaiLovelies!

In recent weeks I have taken to painting my nails a lot! In particular, I have really been enjoying the versatility of layering my soak off gel manicures with regular polish, stamping and sometimes changing my mani anywhere between once or twice in a day.    

Over & Over A Gwen by OPI

Hi NaiLovelies!

I have a swatch of a sumptuous red to show you today.  This is Over & Over A Gwen from the Gwen Stefani collection.

Negative Space Lace Decals

Hi NaiLovelies!

After wearing the Ahead of the Game manicure for a couple of days, I decided to try my hand at a spot of negative space stamping....for the first time.

Ahead Of The Game by Morgan Taylor

Hi NaiLovelies!

I have a swatch of a nail polish brand which is new on my radar, yet easily available at my local beauty supply store.  This pretty polish is Ahead of the Game and it is from the Casual Cool Collection by Morgan Taylor.

Hey, I Pink It's Summer!

Hi NaiLovelies!

 

I updated my OPI La Paz-Atively Hot manicure with some gorgeous summer inspired decals.  I thought it would be a great idea to make  a video tutorial over on my YouTube channel of how I created this manicure.

 

 

La Paz-Atively Hot by OPI

Hi NaiLovelies!

After showing you two of the new OPI Coke collection, I have an oldie but goodie to quickly share with you today.  This beauty is La Paz-Atively Hot and forms part of OPI's core collection.

Green On The Runway by OPI

Hi NaiLovelies!

I have another polish from the OPI Coca Cola Collection to share with you today.  This is Green On The Runway and man oh man it’s a corker!!

Sorry I’m Fizzy Today by OPI

 
Hi NaiLovelies!

I am so excited because I have such a pretty OPI polish from the new Coca Cola Collection to share with you.  This is Sorry I’m Fizzy Today and I love absolutely everything about it!

Miss Piggy's Big Number by OPI

Hi NaiLovelies!

I have a swatch of another fantastic polish to show you.  Today I am wearing Miss Piggy's Big Number which is from the 2014 Muppet's Most Wanted collection.

OPI Gelcolor I Just Can’t Cope-Acabana

Hi NaiLovelies!

I’m back again and this time I have a gorgeous swatch of OPI Gelcolor, I Just Can’t Cope-Acabana to share with you.  What better colour to end on as this is the last of my picks (for now!) from the OPI Brazil collection as yellow features in the flag of Brazil, this years host of the 2014 FIFA World Cup which kicks off tonight.

Soak Off & Manicure & Acrygel Oh My!!!

Hi NaiLovelies!

So, on Thursday/Friday of last week I totally fell out of lovewith my nails…. We had been ambling along quite nicely and then ‘BAM’ out of the blue, we came to a screeching halt in our relationship!  Things were looking dicey for a moment and let’s just say, it was time to shape up or ship out!

My nails had grown out quite a lot since their last shape up less than weeks prior and the quick growth spurt meant that I had very quickly grown to dislike the shape.  This was compounded by the fact that my sidewalls were starting to look a little raggedy with a few hang nails thrown into the mix!  

It is amazing what high definition fully zoomed in pictures of your nails enable you to see and subsequently pick fault with.

As I am not a huge fan of the sound or the sensation of filing, I toyed with the idea of cutting down my nails to neaten them up and change to squovals.  However, I have learned my lesson following my last ‘big chop’ down to nubbins after suffering months of peeling as a result of opting for clippers due to my reluctance to file down the length.  I decided to sit down (camera in hand, this post contains two videos!) and sort out my nails properly – after all I now have both the knowledge and the tools to tend to my nails properly since I attended the Manicure & Spa Manicure course last month.

Big Bossy Butterfly

 Hi NaiLovelies!

I've dragged out my stamping plates and blown the dust off of them to create this manicure for a stamping challenge with a theme of 'butterflies'.  I absolutely love butterflies so I couldn't let the opportunity pass me by as it meant I could give my new MoYou plate its first outing, a plate a knew I had to have as soon as I set eyes on it.....