Pure Ice Tease

Here's a quickie NOTD, Pure Ice Tease, which was discontinued. A vibrant but sheer hot pink with a crazy blue shimmer. It is super sheer and this was three coats and could have used a fourth coat. Next time, I might layer it over a similar bright pink. After I wore it, someone in one of the nail polish groups I am in mentioned this looked similar to the base of Hare Atolla. I see some awesome layering combos with China Glaze Snowglobe in the future. What do you think of this discontinued color?

Pure Ice Tease

Pure Ice Tease

Pure Ice Tease

Pure Ice Tease

Pure Ice Tease with flash

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Birthday Penguins with Zoya Audrina and OPI 18K Gold Top Coats

My mom's birthday was a week ago and it was a milestone! So to celebrate, I decided I needed some gold on my nails. I saw a Christmas ornament at Pier One with a penguin in a gift, so I took inspiration from that and painted on some birthday penguins!

I started with Zoya Audrina which Zoya describes as a "very bright funky mix of medium pink and purple with a milky creme finish." I used two easy coats. It was bright but dark enough to allow the gold to pop. Then I did one coat of SOPI 18K top coat. Because I wanted more gold with larger flakes, I then used OPI The Man with the Golden Gun, which is especially amazing because a dear friend RAOK'ed (Random Act of Kindness) it to me when I couldn't find it! Thank you, polish fairy!

We threw my mom a surprise party and I insisted doing her nails that day. She chose Essie Wild Thing which was also topped with gold flakes. Again, you'll want to enlarge these to see the details.

Birthday Penguins Nail Art

Birthday Penguins Nail Art

Birthday Penguins Nail Art

Zoya Audrina with OPI The Man with the Golden Gun and SOPI 18K Top coat

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Red Dog Designs I Want A Hippopotamus for Christmas over OPI Suede Gradient

I have so many awesome manis. Lately I'm all about the gradient with a glitter top coat. Like this one here.

In September, I came across Suzi Skiis the Pyrenees Suede in CVS and decided why not?! Well, I wore it, fell in love, and decided I needed all the suedes from OPI. Well, as of today, I have my very last one in the mail on its way to me. Not bad to complete a collection from 2008, all discontinued, in less than 5 months. I am a happy girl.

I started with a base of OPI We'll Always Have Paris Suede, which Jen, from My Nail Polish Obsession found for me, and made me squeal with joy! She is really amazing at finding my lemmings. Then with Lincoln Park After Dark  Suede, I did a gradient on the tips. Now here's the stunner. I added one amazing coat of Red Dog Designs I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas.  Hippopotamus has gunmental, magenta, and holographic glitters. It's perfection. This was my number one choice from Red Dog's holiday collection (but Mele Kalikimaka is a close contender) but I couldn't figure out a base. This was perfect. Trust me, you want to enlarge these.

Red Dog Designs I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas

Red Dog Designs I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas

Red Dog Designs I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas

OPI We'll Always Have Paris Suede and Lincoln Park After Dark Suede Gradient

The OPI suedes are long discontinued, but Red Dog's shop is ready to open tonight, January 25th. Her glitters are absolutely amazing. See The Temptress here, Mele Kalikimaka here, Eight Crazy Nights here. Can you tell I love her polishes? I have way more to show you. Her shop opens TONIGHT! You can shop her store HERE. I personally have seven of her new ones I plan on getting, especially that Mardi Gras polish!

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Layla Soft Touch in Marshmallow Twinkle (01)

Today I have what I consider a palette cleanser. I really like suede finish polishes because I love how gorgeous they are with and without top coat. Here is one of the soft touch polishes by Layla, which I actually got at Ulta. Here's a tip: these polishes are $9.95 but Ulta accepts the $3.50 off coupon on them, so I did separate transactions to get the ones I wanted at a great price.

Layla Marshmallow Twinkle (01) is a gorgeous soft silver polish. It's not matte, it's not suede, it's soft. I used two coats initially. I have to mention, this did NOT want to dry on me. I'm not sure if it had to do with me doing my nails at midnight, or the weather, or whatever, but 2 hours later and it still dinged. So I added one more coat of polish, and then topped it with Seche Vite at 2am and went to sleep. The next morning I added one coat of Hard Candy matte top coat and it came out the same as Layla Marshmallow Twinkle alone.

I have three more to try so I'm hoping they dry on me because they are really gorgeous!

Layla Marshmallow Twinkle (01)

Layla Marshmallow Twinkle (01)

Layla Marshmallow Twinkle (01) WITH topcoat

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Crowstoes Her Goose Got Cooked Reverse Gradient

Talk about a HUGE lemming. When I first saw this Crowstoes polish, I knew I needed it and as soon as Mr. ehmkay nails squashed this lemming for me, I put it on. This was my first Crowstoes and I love it so! If you have not noticed, I have a severe weakness for rose gold and gold glitter, despite the fact that I truly dislike wearing yellow gold jewelry. 

I used Nicole by OPI Stuck in the Chimney, which I bought in a mini pack on clearance last holiday season. It's a gorgeous, two coater maroon shimmer.  I then dabbed with the brush a reverse gradient with Her Goose Got Cooked. I wish I didn't though. Turns out, I don't like reverse gradients. But I do love this polish. I can't wait to wear it again!

Crowstoes Her Goose Got Cooked Reverse Gradient

Crowstoes Her Goose Got Cooked Reverse Gradient

Crowstoes Her Goose Got Cooked Reverse Gradient

I found it difficult to capture an accurate picture of this glitter. It is blingy but also incredibly warm because of the color combination. Hopefully you see what I mean in the pictures below. 

Crowstoes Her Goose Got Cooked in lowlight. Very warm and the orange tones it down.

Crowstoes Her Goose Got Cooked with flash. Woah Momma.

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