MERRY CHRISTMAS!

I hope everyone is having a fun Christmas! This is going to be a very short post because IT'S CHRISTMAS!

This manicure is just something simple I did with mostly acrylic paint. The only thing that is not paint are the studs(duh), and the red polish(Drool worthy, OPI Smitten With Mittens), and the white polish(a franken of a bunch of white polishes).

Hope you enjoy the manicure! Also, tell me what Santa brought you!

Christmas *cough* Pudding *cough* Nails......... *cough*

Uggggghhhhhh, so I felt myself coming down with a cold last week, and I did everything in my power to fight it off. Medicine, sleep, fluids, the works! And guess what? It worked! Sort of. I ended up with a very mild cold, followed by a monster cough that has left me feeling winded, and as if Freddy Krueger has been playing my throat like a mandolin. I need some tea and honey.

But you know one thing I don't need. Christmas Pudding. I find it gross, but it is something that pops into my head when I think of Christmas. So here it is on my nails. I used Milani's Chocolate sprinkles for the brown and paint for the rest.

CHRISTMAS!!!

Today I have my first post in December(I know, I know, its been a while). Today I have some Christmas nail wraps from Lady Queen.

First of all these were not made out of polish, which is fine with me. Application was easy and the same as most nail wraps. Remove clear plastic from over the design, then peel the design off from the backing, stick it on your nail, file the edges and then top coat it (These nails don't all fit me so I do have to trim them[I do it before I even take the clear plastic off], but that's ok because I have yet to meet a brand where I don't have to trim at least half the wraps).

Overall I liked the wraps, they were easy to apply, they lasted 4 days before I took them off and didn't show much signs of any wear, and they were probably the easiest wraps I have ever removed. They come off in seconds and don't leave any sticky residue.

That being said there are a few things I don't like about it. First, on the website you can't really enlarge the photo enough to see what the designs on all the fingers look like so you are taking quite the risk. And the second thing was the design. I personally didn't love it, it just felt a little to clip art-y for me.

Even with those negatives I would recommend these to people. Especially those who are new to nail wraps. You can find them here for $2.11 USD. They are inexpensive enough that if you mess them up you wont feel like you have really wasted all that much. And on top of that you can also add Varnished Valkyrie's 15% discount code 'LAKS15' to add some saving.

Ps. I hope everyone has been having a great holiday season so far!
Pps. Sorry about the cuticles :(

Colour me unimpressed

Today I just have a simple swatch for you. It's something I have owned for years and have worn before, but have never swatched. This is Milani Chocolate Sprinkles, which came out way back in 2012 and was a CVS exclusive.

Chocolate sprinkles is a rich dark chocolate brown, with golden shimmer and flashes of green and pink. And application was 3 coats(but you could get away with 2) and the formula is super easy to work with. Now don't get me wrong this is a nice polish, but it just doesn't do anything for me. I think I fell for the polish because it photographs so well(I would love it if it looked like my photo). I never even saw it in person before receiving it, I just asked my mother to pick it up when she was in the States. When I finally put it on my nails it all just kind of fell flat. It's so much more lively in photographs.

It's rare that I hate a polish, so even ones I don't love get used up. A polish like this would fall under the "I have no idea what polish to wear" and the "I need something nice, and non offensive" polish.

Any polish(or makeup in general) you fell for that then left you unimpressed?

Best. Polish. Ever!

Now my last review was sadly on the negative side(but I do plan on trying it out again w/o a watermarble. Today's post is going to be the polar opposite. I don't think I have ever said this is the first paragraph of a review but, buy this. Buy this now. I'm going to be honest with you I haven't been loving nail polish recently. Well I have been, but I haven't been into getting anything new. I feel like most polishes don't excite me. I look back on old collections and think "Why don't you make unique stuff like this anymore?" Well I think I may have just found the first polish in a while that made me swoon.

This is a thermal polish by VCND Bluesky in #09 from Born Pretty Store. It starts off as a vibrant purple polish, filled with various sizes of glitter. Then when the temperature gets warmer it turns to a beautiful sky blue, and back to the purple when the temperature is cold again. Application was super easy and I used 3 coats. Although I did notice it was a bit patchy when the polish was blue, but it wasn't a huge deal. In real life I rarely had the nails looking both colours at once, it was mostly purple until I washed my hands or warmed them up, but it would always go back to purple soon after. Although a few times it would stay on blue for a while and then slowly go back to purple. But I'm fine with this and with my permafrost hands I didn't expect it to stay the warm colour. I'm sure it varies from person to person.

So in conclusion, everyone buy a bottle of this asap. Each colour is so bold and beautiful, and the change is super dramatic. It is currently on sale at the Born Pretty store for $5.99 AND we have a 10% discount code (EAL91) AND shipping is free. EVERYONE WINS! And if you don't like this colour they have MORE! I don't think I have ever flat out said to buy something on this blog, so I must mean business... Buy it.

Hopefully this video works!

*Product sent for honest review

Blerg.

Maybe it's me, maybe it was the product, but this manicure was frustrating.

Today I have the liquid latex tape from Born Pretty Store. If you don't know what that is it's liquid latex that you place around your nails to make clean up easier. The first thing I noticed about this product was the smell. It smelt EXACTLY like lemon Pine-Sol which was a bit unsettling because I couldn't find an ingredients list on the bottle or the website.

ETA: When they read my post they immediately sent me a list of ingredients :) The only thing in it that is potentially "harmful" is the latex if you have an allergy.

  Applying it was easy, but unlike some other brands specifically meant for nails that change colour as they dry, this one looks exactly the same from the minute you put it on till the minute it dries.

For the review I did the most annoying manicure to clean up. The watermarble. Now I've actually tried this 3 time. The first time I did it with the watermarble and I only ended up using it on 2 fingers because removal was such a pain. It pretty much just came off in small pieces, slowly. The second time I did a thicker coat on a few fingers w.o even doing a manicure, just to play with it, and removal was fine and for the most part peeled off in one piece. So when I did this manicure I took note and did a thicker coat. It again was a pain to get off despite the fact that I did a thick coat. It would have taken me less time to take off the polish from around my fingers with a cotton swab. On the bright side I did love my manicure in the end.

Honestly I wasn't a fan of this product, but maybe I did something wrong. Maybe I'll give it another go because it seems to work for the other people on their site and it worked fine when there was no polish on it. It would be fab if I could get this to work. If you would like to give this a try you can find it here currently on sale for $2.99 USD. In addition you can use our 10% discount code 'EAL91'

Have you used this? Did it work for you?

Ps. This manicure was inspired by what's left of the boys of Take That and one of their outfits from their recent III tour.  I used Joe Fresh polish in Bloom, Sinful Colors Amazon and Sally Hansen Pacific Blue(Old version) and topped with China Glaze Fairy Dust.

:D

 

*Product sent for honest review

Jord Wood Watches: We've had this date with each other from the beginning

Loooooong story short. I was originally contacted By Jord back in early September to review one of their wood watches and a by mid September everything had been worked out and my watch was shipped.

*Cut to 3 weeks later*

No watch. Now the first few weeks I actually wasn't worried. Mainly because it was being shipped by USPS and they had been iffy in the past when it came to being quick and keeping up to date with their tracking. But then I realised it probably wasn't gonna make it when I finally checked my local postal service tracking and they had no record(aka it never made it into the country). After 3 weeks I gave up hope, and when the people from Jord asked if I liked the watch I told them what I just told you. Luckily about a week after that, they got in contact with me and told me they were shipping another watch to me. I really appreciated this because I realise that this isn't some inexpensive pack of nail stickers they are resending. That watch got to me less than a week later. So here it is, finally in the wood, my Jord Wood Watch.

I decided to go with the Zebrawood & Maple from the Feildcrest series. I actually really liked the Dark Sandalwood, but decided against it because it felt like it would blend in with my skin. In the end I am glad I chose the one I chose. I like it even more now that I have it in person, it just has so much dimension to it. Trying it out has kind of been a chore, and not because of the watch itself. I own one other watch, and I never wear it. I'm just not used to wearing watches, it's weird to me. So I would forget to wear it a lot. Also when I did wear it I had a tendency not to actually use it. Almost every single time I needed to check what time it was I would seek out my phone without even thinking. But again that's a me thing.

Like I said before the watch I got was made of Zebrawood and Maple. You can find all the details on the types of wood they use on their site. Everything from the source, to the texture, to the height of the tree. When you order they tell you how to measure you wrist so you get the perfect fit. I ended up getting my friend to measure my wrist with measuring tape, and when the watch came I had no problems with the fit. When I saw the watch for the first time I was a bit worried about the size of the watch face. I have skinny twig like arms, and the last thing I wanted was to look like I was wearing some sort of clown watch. Luckily for me, it wasn't too big. It is on the bigger side, but not big in a bad way.

Double sided clasp. The side with the name on it is already clipped down. And the other side, when closed will meet the side with the same. Making the metal clasp invisible.

With the watch you get a cleaning cloth, extra wooden links as well as a warranty card and they all come in a nifty wooden box. And they advise you to take care of the watch by using Lemon or orange oil extract.  And to avoid placing it in extremely hot, cold, and excessively dry/humid environments. And while the watch isn't water proof, it is splash proof. So if you get a bit or rain or water from the sink on it, that's ok, but you probably shouldn't go diving with it on.

Jord Watches= Splash proof iPhone= Not splash proof

Overall I really do like this watch and I think it goes really well with a lot of my fall/winter outfits. I also like wearing it on stage and at auditions.While it is functional it is also a beautiful fashion accessory, that isn't in your face, but is still an attractive addition to any outfit.

Outfit I wore on stage. One Fashion by Vero Moda, H&M shorts paired with black tights and my Zebrawood & Maple wood watch. Not shown: Steve Madden combat boots(They have studs on the back)

If you would like to get your wrist in this watch, you can head over here, where they retail for $120 USD. And if that's not the watch for you, they have plenty of other options. They have different woods, different styles(for men and woman) and they all range in price from $120-$295 USD.

Ps. I may do same nails at some point. Didn't want to bog up the post.

Watches Made From 100% Natural Wood by JORD

Rest! (And something else everyone NEEDS)

So I have been exercising guys, and today is my rest day. I have actually been trying for the past few weeks. Even my diet

*And that is where I left the post for almost 2 days*

When I started writing this I had just come home from a show where I hit the back of my head on the floor. I realised after writing one line, this post wasn't going to happen, the laptop backlighting was making my head throb even more. Don't worry I'm ok now despite being a bit behind now with some reviews.  So lets pick up where I left off.

Even my diet has changed for the better. And it's been great because I have actually been sticking to it for WEEKS now. Probably for over a month. And I know that might not seem like much, but for someone who hasn't exercised in probably 8 years this is a big deal. My first goal is to get my high school body back, which I think is feasible. I weigh about the same as I did then, but back then I had more muscles as I was athletic. I want my mini 6 pack back, and I want it better than it was before. Maybe I'll do fitness posts! But not today. Today is nails!

I have for you striping tape from The Born Pretty Store. But not just striping tape, striping tape that comes is different sizes! 1mm(which is stander), 2mm and 3mm. Can I just say I love these. First, the larger sizes are super east to handle, also it is sooooooooo nice to have options. 1mm is just so thin, and that can be great depending on what you are doing, but if you want anything larger you have to start cutting up bigger pieces of tape, which can be a pain. Or you have to double or triple up on the tape, which takes more time and is prone to mishap.

I think everyone should check this out. Striping tape is a great option for any level nail enthusiast and I think the larger tapes are must haves for any nail art lover. You can get a pack of three in either gold or silver over here on sale for $1.99 USD (Normally $3.28). And you can use out 10% discount code EAL91!

 

The order of use is 3mm, 2mm and 1mm in all three of the previous images.

*In case you want to know more about the other aspects of the manicure the base is Beyond The Nail's Winter Wonderland with Mattese Elite's Revolution sponged on top. And then the brown I used earlier was OPI's Over The Taupe. The full manicure was inspired by a mani I saw but I can't for the life of me remember who did it. So if you know please tell me :(

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!! I found Shaun!

While I wish today's mani had been a bit more creative I still like it. I had some cool original ideas, but I just didn't have the time to do them. On the bright side they can transcend holidays!

Even though this are simple I still of course had to stick to the Halloween Theme. This was the perfect day to use my Born Pretty Store Halloween Stickers. I was a bit iffy about them at first because imo nail stickers can be hit and miss. In this case it was a hit! The stickers were easy to take off the paper and easy to place(using tweezers). I will admit I did try placing them with my fingers at first, but it's hard since they are so tiny. I ended up losing a small bat(But Shaun[He has a name now] has since been located on my elbow!) They lay down flat, and even though the sticker extends past the actual image since it is clear it blends in perfectly. You can even have the stickers overlap and the few clear mm don't affect the image under it. When you are done just cover it with top coat and you're ready to go!

If you would like to try some of these, head over here on Born Pretty Store's website where you can find them on sale for $0.99 USD each. You can never be too early for Halloween! And you can use our 10% discount code (EAL91) AND they have free shipping!

So what are you guys dressing up for Halloween? I'm going as Kanye West.

*Products sent for honest review

Laneige Water Bank Gel Cream The Movie...Wait no. The Review.

I have been waiting weeks to do this review. 'Why?' you might ask. Because it's cream review. It's one of those things that I think you have to wait for a while(if you can) before you review them. I don't think it's an accurate review when you use them once. Now on to the review.

Today I have for you Water Bank Gel Cream from the Korean Brand Laneige. I received a full size pot for review from influenster.com. I was super excited that I was chosen to review this as it's the first time I have received anything from Influenster, and it was something I knew I would put to good use.

The product is described as 'A cooling, non-oily gel cream that immerses skin in moisture for 24 hours,' and is recommended for normal to combination skin. It comes in a sleek, 1.6 oz blue glass pot, and it is part of a 4-part system. The consistency of the cream is like a gel and a cream had a baby. It has a light scent to it that is a bit perfume-y(It smells exactly like a Lancôme night cream I own). It doesn't bother me, but those with sensitive noses may not love it as much. When you rub it into your skin it does feel really refreshing, while making your skin look healthy. And bonus points because it doesn't make you look greasy, as it absorbs quickly. It also plays nicely under primer and makeup. The pot also comes with a spatula, but I wasn't a fan of that. I always wash my hands thoroughly before sticking my fingers in and I found with the spatula I was less thorough with the cleaning. But that's just me.

Right after rubbing it into my skin. You would never know I had JUST put cream on.

I have been using this for around three weeks, 1-2 times a day and the pot is just past half way done(I'm sure it would be more had I been using it twice a day, every day) And while I can say I like it, I can't say I love it. Don't get me wrong, it's a good cream, but for $42 CND, the size, and the time it takes to go through the product, I don't think it's worth it. If you do buy it I don't think it's a bad investment because like I said before it's a great product, but I've used other things that are more than half the price that are just as good.

If you would like to give this a go, check it out over at sephora.ca or head over to your local Sephora, and pick one up for $42 CND.

*I received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes.

Short post!

These nails were inspired by swaafie! I used Sinful Colors Hey, You!, China Glazes Stoked to be Soaked as a base. Then CG Spontaneous tipped with Zoya's Carter for the lines. Black is acrylic paint. Boo.

A photo posted by @swaafie on Oct 17, 2015 at 8:07am PDT

It's Alive!

I've actually posted this before, but I'm nuts, so I'm gonna post it again. Actually it's too amazing not to share again. This is China Glaze's I'm Alive, from their 2011 Halloween collection! It's a murky green, filled with small glitter and micro glitter. It's one of my favourite Halloween polishes ever. What's one of yours? Sorry this post is super short, busy few days and I am beat. And a plain manicure is better than nothing :P

There Will Be Stud

Today I have the final item from Lady Queen I received to review. It's pretty much an assortment of studs. You have a wide variety of shapes, everything from your classic squares, circles and triangles, to stars and hearts.

This is a great set, you get loads of different designs, and you also get a good amount of each. Application was easy, I just used a dotting tool and dipped it in clear polish(although I think I want one of those placement pencils for nail art because sometimes you can see the clear polish on the studs). The studs held firm and didn't give me any problems. My only issue was because I used so many studs that were clustered together, but not touching, topcoat was a bit iffy. It was hard to go over the whole thing without using a super thick coat. But that would have happened had I used any studs the way I did here.

Overall I think these are fantastic, and  can't wait to see what else I can do with these designs! If you also would like to give these a go, head on over to Lady Queen where you can grab them for $4.58 USD. And you can also add Varnished Valkyrie's 15% discount code 'LAKS15' to add some saving on top of that!

Oh and If you were wondering what the base was it's Rimmel London's Salon Pro in Yes Sir! A beautiful dusty olive polish that applies like butter(2 easy coats).

*Product sent for honest review.

With Her Head Tucked Underneath Her Arm

Anyone who knows anything about me knows I love my boy bands, and I love history. There's a few areas of history that interest me, my two biggest being WWII and the Tudor era. I don't know why, but those two areas fascinate me. I have even considered going back to school and studying History last year, and went as far as applying. I only applied to one school(One of the University of London's Colleges), and I got in, but in the end I realised it wasn't for me. At least at the moment, never say never.

So today I have something to honour one of the things I love the most. History. Now I wasn't going to do a WWII manicure, because honestly there is nothing you can do that is ok. So I went with Anne Boleyn. When the people at Lady Queen asked me to choose a few things to review I knew instantly when I saw the crowns that I wanted... no needed, to do something Tudor related.

So the crowns come in a pack of around 50, and if you go to the page that the crowns are on, you can see that you also have the option of other designs(Stars, frames, etc.). The first thing I should tell you is, they are gold, a pale gold, but gold none the less. In my photo they are leaning less gold then they do in real life. They are kind of hard to lie flat because they are quite stiff, but they hold well when stuck to the nail and then topped with top coat. They aren't that big, so even with the edges off the nail I didn't find it a bother. But this would be one of those things I have to slap on after getting ready to go out if I'm doing my hair. Things that are flat on my nails have a tendency to fall off when washing my hair. This wouldn't stand a chance.

Overall I liked these a lot. Easy to apply, they stay on despite not laying flat on the nail, and they are super pretty. These can be used in so many different designs!  If you would like to give this a go head on over here, where you can get them for $4.75 USD, and on top of that shipping is free AND you can use Varnished Valkyrie's 15% discount code 'LAKS15'.

Ps. The B is from Anne's necklace, and the dripping blood is from...well if you don't know her story, I don't want to give away any spoilers :P

 

*Product sent for honest review.