A-Z Challenge - Inspired: Tonight, we gotta live for, we gotta live for, these days! + 500th POST!!!

So after a break I didn't forget to do the A-Z Challenge, I was just really tired yesterday and made an executive decision not to do my nails.

I've had quite the week. Remember how I said this year I was going to do more performing and whatnot? Well this week I did 2 shows and 1 audition :) And in an effort to motivate myself I have decided that for every show, or audition I do, I will have a chocolate from my tin of Quality Street chocolate. And that is the only time I can have those chocolates! Huzzah! Also this is Varnished Valkyrie's 500th post! Double Huzzah!

Back to nails! My inspiration today is my favourite boy band in the history of everything, Take That, and the outfits they wore when they performed their first single 'These Days' on the X Factor in November. As well as their logo, and the number III(Which is the name of their new album, because now there is only 3 of them). And you know what? While I do miss Jason and dynamic he brought to the group, TT3 is growing on me. It's a slightly different dynamic, but different doesn't have to be bad.

All I used for this manicure was Orly Liquid Vinyl and white acrylic paint.

 

Who here loves Take That? Or am I the only one here :(

Take That - These Days (X Factor performance 23... by ilabarlowed

Check out more fab A-Z Challenge manicures!

An InLinkz Link-up

Worst Collector Ever

So I have been collecting polish for almost three years now. I don't have a huge collection(by nail folk standards), but I do have way more than any other normal person. When I buy polish I am a bit picky about what I get. I could care less that x polish is super popular, if I don't absolutely love it I just can't buy it. I am a selective collector! Well I FINALLY decided that I needed to add a proper yellow and orange to my collection. Yes, you herd me correctly. In all my years of collection polish I have never actually bought a yellow or orange polish! I currently own two yellows(One was sent for review and is pretty much done, and the second I bought in a four pack because I wanted two of the other colours) and three oranges(Two were gifts and one was part of the four pack I just mentioned). So I decided what better time to loose my orange/yellow virginity. Because you are never too old(NO MATTER WHAT SOCIETY SAYS!)

First up I have Sinful Colors Pull Over, originally from their 2011 spring Tropical Ecstasy, but seen more recently in their Boldacious Collection. This is a taxi cab yellow. The formula was a bit runny, and this took me three coats. It's not the best formula, but it is ok. And because I mainly just want this in case I ever need a base for art I am ok with that.

Next up I have China Glaze Stoked to be Soaked, from their 2014 Stoked to be Soaked summer collection. When I picked this polish up the store I originally found it in was selling it for 20% off. Since I wasn't looking for a specific orange I decided I would wait to see if I found something cheaper. I then decided to check out a beauty supply store and just rummage through their sale bin. Lo and behold, what was looking right up at me with its toxic fume eyes, but this little guy. Not only that but it was 70% off! WEEEEEE! SALES!

What colours do you not on many of?

Happy Birthday To MeeeeeEEeeeeee!

Over the past few years I have grown to hate birthdays. I always used to wonder why people stopped thinking getting older was awesome. It was amazing going from 8 to 9. I assumed it would be like that forever. Turns out it's not that way. Anyways I have never been one for proper birthday manicures(Cupcakes, divulging my age, that stuff). Even if I was a fan of them I don't think I would do them. So here are some nails that have nothing to do with my birthday!

So today my manicure is sort of Take That related(LEAVE ME ALONE! IT'S MY BIRTHDAY AND I DO WHAT I WANT). It's actually Jason related, because as some of you may know he left Take That two days ago. And I'm all sorts of sad because he was my favourite member. Is this what 1996 feels like? Anyways this mani is a nod at his performance from Take That Presents The Circus Live. At one point he wears some dandy striped trousers while singing the song Wooden Boat. Part of the lyrics are:

We go from green to blue to gold to black.

Breathe deep, who knows how long this will last. 

Oooooooo and here is the performance! I suggest you watch it for you own health!

Now off to go drinking! I'll never say no to a Friday Birthday!

Let's celebrate the first full day of autumn with new nails, stinky polish, and a dusting of sadness :'(

You guys know I love Take That right? If you don't, get out now. Well today my Favourite member Jason Orange left the group. Now I know most of you are rolling your eyes, and that's fine. We all have out things that we like and others don't really understand. And let's be real, if you are a nail polish addict you probably know exactly how that feels. Anyways Boybands as a whole, but especially Take That, is my thing. They can come out with the worst album and I will still stand by them(face palming the whole time, but still). So while I am addend by Jason leaving I wish him and the rest of the band well as they move forward as a trio. I look forward to seeing what new stuff they make me throw my money at.

To make matters even worse(One hell of a first world problem day) I decided to wear Revlons Autumn Spice. First let me say that the formula was fantastic at just 2 easy coats. The colour is amazing! It's a chocolate brown, with golden brown flecks and I'm pretty sure there's also so pink flecks in there as well. Now as you know this is from their line of scented polishes. I was a bit iffy about getting it at first because of that, but I decided to just go for it as the colour was beautiful and it was a sale. It honestly smells like baby powder with a bit of spice. I can't tell you a specific spice as I'm not a spice connoisseur. It just really bothered me to the point where I started to feel a bit queasy. It was almost as bad as the "fresh" smelling feminine pads I accidentally bought.

 FLASH*Ah-Ha*(Only way I could really show off that sparkle)

First world problems aside, I did get a new macbook the other day. And I broke my iPhone5(battery expanded) and Apple replaced it for free! AND I have new nails! So not all is bad in the world!

Ps. Here are some videos of Jason you should all watch:

NK - Vibrant Orange: Since It Is October...

Now I'm not a huge fan of oranges unless it's Jason (as they make me look like I have loads of children).  But I will wear it when I think the occasion is appropriate.  So Halloween,  I don't have scurvy's day, Jason Orange's Birthday etc.  And since Halloween is this month I can use it for a whole month and not feel as bad!

I actually got this for free from my aunt as she had 2 bottles.  It's Nicka K Vibrant Orange.  It's a shimmery, tangerine orange.  This was 3 coats but I'm picky.  You could get away with 2. I'm not sure where to get this brand.  The only bottles I have I was given for free.  But I have seen it twice at random beauty shops in NYC and in Brooklyn. I don't remember exactly how much they cost but they were inexpensive.

I actually like this enough that I'll probably wear it alone at some point this October!  It's so glow-y!

What are your feeling on all things orange?

Ps. Can you tell I cut my nails?

Ripping Out My Wisdom One Tooth At A Time

So I'm getting all four of my wisdom teeth pulled today!  Huzzah!  While I'm not looking forward to the next few days I'm excited because, if it means no more constant pain I'm all in!

Anyways I couldn't decided what I wanted to do so both my hands are worlds apart (and I don't care). 

I guess my right hand is Halloween/teeth themed.  Each finger was originally going to be a bloody mouth.  But after I did the splatter I decided to leave it as it is.  They still kinda look like individual bloody teeth right?  It also doubles as general murder blood splatter. Double duty nails!  Also after I did the blood splatter (which as you guessed is a tad messy) I looked at my thumb and there was a smiley face on it.  Cool, or creepy?

 

Next up on my left hand I have my Take That nails.  Each nail represents a different song in some shape or form(Lyrics, music videos, tours). The songs are (T-P) Fun Times, Blurred Vision, Crossing, Innuendo, Higher Than Me. I really liked this mani so I had to post three photos of it.  Well that's sort of a lie.  I think the nails are ok.  The reason I posted it three times was for the surprise giveaway so you can see some of the nails better.  First off all the song titles I listed aren't real. I made them up.  If someone can tell me the real songs in the comment section you'll get your choice of any polish off ninja polish dot com. This is open internationally for the most part.  You know minus places that have rules against shipping polish.  Finally it closes at eleven fifty nine eastern standard time on Thursday night.

So I'll see you guys in a couple days!  Wish me luck!

Look at my children!

I actually don't have any yet. And I don't plan on concocting any in the near future.  But most of the time when I wear orange nail polish that's the first thought that pops into my head.  "Look at my children. My gaggle of children. My plethora of children.  Children everywhere!"  But that might just be me.

Annnnyyyyywwwaaayyyssss. I wanted to do something a bit brighter than my usual dark colours.  And I was having a hard time picking out a colour.  Later on I was on on Tumblr when I realized that tomorrow (well today now) was (is) Jason Orange's birthday! FYI he's in Take That.  He's my new favourite member.  Howard was usurped. That's when I remembered I had Orly's Holla mini(from the Hot Shots collection).  And I thouht "If there's ever going to be a day I wear orange, today is the day!".

I used 4 coats of this.  Granted the first was goopy and bubbled.  So I added thinner and made it too thin. I'm sure if I got it to the perfect consistency it wold be a 2 coater.  The colour isn't half bad.

So here I am sitting before you.  Orange nails.  I also jazzed it up with my new bottle of Cover Brand's Sticks N Stones*.  Which BTW was goopy as sin. But nothing thinner won't fix.  I should also mention I'm not a fan of bar glitter (looks like hair) but I do love this.  It's not overdone.

TL;DR I wore an orange mani even though I don't like orange on me.  I wore it because it was Jason Orange's birthday.  That's the only Orange I would like on me. Ba dum chhhhhhhhhhhh.

 Holla with Sticks N' Stones

 Happy Birthday Jason Orange... Did you see what I did there?

 Holla on its own.

*Well the polish that was in the bottle.  I would look stupid wearing just the bottle.

Take That Part 2

This post was inevitable.  And in case you didn't know I have a mild love for Take That.

I got my inspiration from Take That Presents:  The Circus Live.

This is my right hand.  I'm surprised by how much I like it. 

 

My right hand is based on the Clown Medley.  At first I did colourful french manis in the colours of their hats.  But it didn't look all that interesting to be honest.  So I did it again and used the colours of their hats but used dots instead.  And my thumb is their jacket/pants. The horizontal lines look kind of shaky.  I find they are much harder to do than vertical for some reason.

 

Mark, Jason, Gary, Howard :D, (Robbie had yet to rejoin the band at this point).  Now you can fill out the Take That question in our giveaway!

If you want to know what colours I use feel free to ask.  I would put them but I don't remember all of the right now.

So I'm going to go now.  I had too much to drink last night.  But I'll leave you with the the Clown Medley, and a BIG yay for all our new followers.  Almost 200! Anyhoo...I sleep now.

Take That Inspired Nails

So I'm not sure if you've figured this out yet but I sort of like boy/man bands.  Especially Howard Donald of Take That.  Anyhoo I've been wanting to do this mani for a while now and I noticed this competition going on over at More Nail Polish.  And even though I know I probably wont win I figured I might as well do this now.

I began with Nailene's French Manicure polish as a base.  And I let it dry completely. I like using it as normal polish because it's such a pigmented nude and it goes on like a dream.

Next I knew when I did music nails I wanted to have actual music on them.  Now I've seen music nails before but most of them consist of like 3 lines and random notes.  Which I get is cute but the music nerd in me could not do that.  I needed the whole staff, the treble clef, the key signature, the whole party.

I actually did this a few times.  At first I tried a striping pen.  But unless you have really long nails or can do uber skinny lines it's super difficult. Next I contemplated using some string of sorts, but that proved tricky as hell to get it exactly how you wanted it.

Finally I found something that worked. A rollerball pen. Now here's where the matte comes in. I mattified my nails so they were easier to draw on.  Then with Rembrandt's guiding hand I freehanded the whole thing.  When I was done I finished it with a coat of topcoat.

In case you didn't know I used their classic song "Back For Good". If you haven't heard it before I suggest you go listen to it.

Close up of the treble clef and key signature.

What I used

The only thing that kind of irks me about this manicure is it's missing rests :/ Oh well I will be doing this again for sure!... Both musical manis and Take That manis :D