Darling Diva Polish: Sara - from the White Witch Collection

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Today I have a gorgeous holo polish to show you from Darling Diva's White Witch Collection called Sara.

Darling Diva Polish

Sara

The White Witch Collection is made up of 12 gorgeous new linear holos and I have a few to show you over the next week. These were inspired by a certain TV show (I'm guessing American Horror Story: Coven) with a certain guest star (Stevie Nicks perhaps? since, well the name of the polish, duh!) This is Sara and she's just lovely!

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Weekend Bits and Bobs: March 30, 2014 - Lipsticks, Eye Shadows, Nail Problems and CANDY

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I picked up a few cheapie eye shadow singles and a couple of lipsticks and yes, even a few cheapie polishes!

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Nails: Long vs Short - Pros and Cons

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Long Nails vs Short Nails

Pros and Cons

Nail length is a personal preference. Duh. But there are pros and cons I look at when deciding how to keep mine and I would imagine you guys can think of a lot more than I can.

So what prompted this? You may have seen my shorties since I broke one last week. Well Honey, that ain't nuthin'!

This is what I did today working on the engine of the boat and yes, IT HURTS and I'm being a big ol' whiny baby about it! (But only with mah nail peeps.)

Yep. My middle finger on my swatching hand. Of course. The odd angle is so I didn't offend half of the readers around the world. LOL!

So we've all had this happen. It's really not the end of the world or anything and around non-polish people, I'm stoic as they come. "Aw, it's just a nail. No biggie." No need to perpetuate that stereotype of the vacuous female who's only concerned with trivial, superficial things. WE all know that being upset over a broken nail does not equal that, of course. I can debate the merits of Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn's work with the best of them and tell you why I think Ilia Kazan was one of the best directors of all time. But you know some people. So outside, "stiff upper lip" and inside, "crap, crap, crap, crap on a cracker!!!"

So while trying to look on the bright side I came up with a few things that are positive about super,super, to-the-quick short nails. And of course, some cons.

Short Nails - Pros

• Less polish used, less remover, etc.
• I get "cleaning fever" when I have shorties - goodness knows my house could do with me having shorties all the time in that case!
• Typing on the iPhone is easier
• No VNL (visible nail line) to contend with for sheer polishes
• Easier to get product out of little pots - like cuticle balm, wrinkle cream, etc.

Cons

• Clean up. I have none with longer nails but it's hard as heck not to get polish all over your fingers when they're short
• Can't get the backs on earrings, work clasps on necklaces
• Can't open soda cans
• Can't work buttons
• Not as much room for nail art
• Easier to wash my curly hair with long nails since I used them in place of a comb, which would just get stuck

For me, these are too long. Not because they look too long in real life - at arm's length, but in photos for the blog they look like ridiculous talons.

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These are borderline - just barely right - almost too long...

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These, for me, are too short. They are too short for me any time I can see my hyponychium.

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And these are what work best for me in real life and on the blog...

And they're still long enough for nail art...

What are your pros and cons? How long do you wear your nails? And if you're a nail blogger, does that change anything?

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Dance Legend WOW Prism: Poison #27

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Dance Legend

WOW Prism

Poison #27

I'm back with another one of Dance Legend's WOW Prisms! This time, it's a forest green called Poison #27.
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$weetcheeks Polish: Vous Êtes Mon Soleil

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$weetcheeks Polish

Vous Êtes Mon Soleil

Tonight I have a very special polish to show you from $weetcheeks Polish called Vous Êtes Mon Soleil. You French speakers will know what it means right away and from what I recall from my high school French it means You are my Sun. So I guessed it references the song You Are My Sunshine. And I was right!

The inspiration behind this lovely polish is the maker's mother. Here's what the maker has to say about it: "This one has a lot of sentimental value to me, as it is made in honor of my mom. She used to sing this song to me when I was young. I love her tons and she is the strongest woman I know, especially now. My mom never wears polish any more but she is rocking this right now!"

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The Lacquer Legion - LUCKY: Celtic/Gaelic Manicure

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I'm excited to be participating in the Lacquer Legion challenges, put together by Chalkboard Nails,  Rebecca Likes Nails, The Nailasaurus, and Work/Play/Polish. This month, the theme is LUCKY. If you want to participate, you can like The Lacquer Legion on Facebook and hashtag your posts on all social media with #LLlucky. Each month there will be a different theme and hashtag.

The Gaelic word for luck or lucky is Sealbh and having Scottish and Irish heritage I've always been drawn to celtic, gaelic, basically anything Scottish or Irish and I feel very lucky to have been able to visit these places. I only hope I'm lucky enough to be able to move there someday. Retire there maybe?

As far as "luck" goes, I've always believed we make our own luck. Sure there is a right place, right time aspect to life but working hard, preparing, etc. certainly make one able to take advantage of those "lucky opportunities." But your heritage? Yeah, not a lot of control there - just lucky!

So for this manicure I used a base of Color Club Look, Don't Tusk with stamping on the index, ring and pinkie fingers in a celtic knot design with Illamasqua Smash - and a striping brush around the cuticle area with Smash. Not gonna lie - it's because I am really REALLY bad at stamping, so the "ruffian" was just to cover up the gaps. On the middle and thumb, I used a striper brush and acrylic paint for the shamrock, 4-leaf clover and words.

I've always loved the saying "If you're lucky enough to be Irish, you're lucky enough." 

Be sure and type in "#LLlucky" on all social media to check out all the other Lacquer Legion manis!

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GOT Polish? Golden Oldie Thursday: Yellow/Peach Toothpick Manicure

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I have a serious problem in that I am always looking for that NEW polish fix when I have so many lovely polishes languishing in the drawer...polish I love enough to save them from purges or the donation box. And yet I don't wear them!

So when Debbie over at The Crumpet put together the GOT Polish Challenge, I was all for it! GOT stands for Golden Oldie Thursday - we pull out a polish that's a year old or older that we haven't worn either in a year or ever. This Thursday is Yellow/Peach so I pulled out Dior Mango from November 2012 and Nails Inc. Sumner Place that I don't think I've ever worn.

For this mani, I used Dior Mango as a base and then when it was dry, I put a stripe of Mango down both sides of the nail with a stripe of Nails Inc. Sumner Place down the middle and drug the toothpick back and forth starting at the cuticle and continuing to the top while wet. You can see my tutorial for a toothpick mani here in Nail IT Magazine using three colors. Super quick and easy and pretty much fool-proof.

Be sure and check out all the other great GOT Polish manicures in the links below!

If you want to  join in the fun, you can find out the details here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/purplecrumpetfairy/

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Hot Chick Physics: Spring Line 2014

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Today I have 5 of the 6 new polishes in Hot Chick Physics' Spring Line for 2014 to show you!

Hot Chick Physics

Spring 2014

The only one I don't have for you right now is the yellow, but from what I can tell, it's a cool-toned bright lemon yellow.

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Literary Lacquers Leaping Greenly: April Indie-Go Box

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The theme for April's Indie-Go Box is Earth Day and what better way to celebrate Spring and Earth Day than with a gorgeous Spring green linear holo from Literary Lacquers?

Literary Lacquers

Leaping Greenly

For those of you familiar with E.E. Cummings, you'll get the inspiration right away, but if you're not, here is E.E. Cummings himself reading his poem "i thank You God for this most amazing."

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Darling Diva Polish: If Anyone Falls - Swatches and Review

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Tonight I have a gorgeous holo polish to show you from Darling Diva's White Witch Collection called If Anyone Falls!

Darling Diva Polish

If Anyone Falls

The White Witch Collection is made up of 12 gorgeous new linear holos and I have a few to show you over the next week. These were inspired by a certain TV show (I'm guessing American Horror Story: Coven) with a certain guest star (Stevie Nicks perhaps? since, well the name of the polish, duh!)  Up first is If Anyone Falls.

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Color Club Safari Garden Collection for Spring 2014

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Color Club 

Safari Garden Collection

Spring 2014

Well I asked on Facebook and Instagram if you preferred to see polishes on my new shorties since my break or if you wanted me to wait until they grew out a little and 100% of you who answered said NUBS! So here they are! Today I'll be showing you Color Club's new Safari Garden Collection for Spring 2014!

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John Russo Beauty Beverly Hills: Little Fagie - Swatches and Review

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John Russo Beauty - Beverly Hills

Litte Fagie

For those of you who don't know, John Russo is one of the top celebrity and fashion photographers in the world. He's fairly new on the nail polish scene though and tonight I have one of his new Spring polishes to show you called Little Fagie.

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Weekend Bits and Bobs: March 23, 2014 - A Surprise Custom, My Hyponychium is Showing and GIVEAWAY REMINDERS

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Happy Spring! Yes, the first weekend of Spring. *sigh of relief* I know we haven't even really HAD winter here compared to some of you, but it's been enough for me. Over it.

Another busy and totally unexciting week around here, although I did get a couple of lovely, awesome surprises!

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Jindie Nails: Just Say Glow and Midnight Dancer - Swatches and Review

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Happy Saturday! 

Today I have a couple of new polishes from Jindie Nails to show you. An Exclusive for Rainbow Connection, a UK-based e-tailer, called Midnight Dancer and another polish in the Recover Me Collection called Just Say Glow

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Easter/Spring Argyle Nail Art with Glitter Gal Swatches and Review

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Easter/Spring Argyle Nail Art

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GOT Polish? Golden Oldie Thursday: Ruffle Mani

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I have a serious problem in that I am always looking for that NEW polish fix when I have so many lovely polishes languishing in the drawer...polish I love enough to save them from purges or the donation box. And yet I don't wear them!

So when Debbie over at The Crumpet put together the GOT Polish Challenge, I was all for it! GOT stands for Golden Oldie Thursday - we pull out a polish that's a year old or older that we haven't worn either in a year or ever. This Thursday is Ruffle Mani!

For this one I used Zoya Dove and Zoya Toni and for the second photo I layered an Elevation Sample holo topper over it.

Ruffles manis are NOT my favorite thing in the world. So I sort of cheated and just did an accent nail. But just because I'm a stubborn, red-headed smart alec, I did my own version of a Ruffle Mani that you may have seen on my Facebook page or on Instagram. *giggle*

Hey, if you want a certain thing, be a leeeeetle more specific next time!

For this one I used Dior Electric Blue, Milani Rapid Cherry and Elevation Polishes for the chip (crisp) in Mount Ventoux and Streetside NYC.

Be sure and check out all the other great GOT Polish manicures in the links below!

If you want to  join in the fun, you can find out the details here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/purplecrumpetfairy/

♥

An InLinkz Link-up

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DIY Nail Polish Storage Rack

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Good morning! Today I have a quick post to show you guys the polish rack I've been working on that you may have seen "in progress" on my Instagram or FB page.

My disclosure is that I am not a carpenter. I'm fairly handy though and this was really easy - providing you have the tools handy.

DIY Nail Polish Storage Rack

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The Nail Junkie: Boy and Girl

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The Nail Junkie

Boy and Girl

Tonight I have two polishes from The Nail Junkie to show you - Boy and Girl. These are shimmer effect top coats and part of the trio called The S-e-x Collection.

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Easter Basket Weave Nail Art

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Now that St. Patrick's Day is over, I feel comfortable posting Easter-themed nail art! I sort of resent seeing St. Patrick's Day get skipped all the time, so I'm just stubborn enough not to want to post Easter stuff until after. Today's mani could have passed muster though really because it's just Spring-themed. But still...

Easter Basket Weave

If you follow me on Instagram, you've seen these already (@pointlesscafe) but without the "Happy Easter."

With these, I just really wanted to show that "nail art" doesn't have to be intimidating. For the longest time, I was scared to death of it because it never looks perfect enough in photos. But the beauty of it is it doesn't have to be perfect! At arm's length, these looked AWESOME! Close-up, cropped photos show every detail, which is great for swatches, but they show every flaw so I shied away from nail art because of it and there was no need!

These are just free-handed, random stripes in Spring shades. I didn't get out the striping tape, which I'm convinced has conspired to take me down, or anything difficult. And they're still just cute as they can be.

For this mani, I used Elevation Polish Mount Ventoux (yellow), Jordana Love Bug (berry), Milani Vivid Violet and Power Periwinkle and Zoya Shelby (pink) and Mira (purple). Nothing planned out, just random stripes with a striping brush.

As you can see in the close-up shots, it's certainly not perfect and I think that's part of the fun of it. If you look closely, I liked them so much and they were so easy that I did them twice and wore the heck out of them. There are two different versions in the photos. The first and 3rd pics were just an afterthought before I removed the mani I was wearing. The 2nd photo was later when I decided to wear it again so I used one base color to make it easier.

What do you think? Do you think this is something you would try?

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Dance Legend WOW Prism: Strutter #23 - Swatches and Review

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DANCE LEGEND

WOW PRISM

Strutter #23

I'm back with another one of Dance Legend's WOW Prisms! This time, it's a bright green called Strutter #23.

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KBShimmer - Magic Trio

*Gift - Not For Review

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Okay, so what I'm going to show you isn't technically called "Magic Trio." I just called them that myself. I decided to do a true test on 3 products and the results astounded me.

Now some of you know this and some of you don't, but I really don't use base coats and treatments. I rarely file my nails. When they need cutting, I use a big ol' pair of scissors. If I have to file, I use one of those 4-in-1 buffer blocks and cringe the entire time.

When I got these, I thought how sweet it was and wanted to try them, but figured I'd never really get around to them. Other than the top coat that is. It's one of my favorite top coats.

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Happy St. Patrick's Day!

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Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Just a quick St. Paddy's Day mani for you this morning...

I used 3 Elevation Polishes for a quick and easy skittlette: I Got the Axe on the index and ring, Wuyi Mountain on the thumb, middle and pinkie and the glitter is Finding Nemo. I drew quick shamrocks using a striping brush and acrylic paint.

Twinks wanted in on the fun...

She's a serial photobomber...tip of the day: if you don't want blurry pics, put the dogs outside first.

I give you a lick Mommy?

Hope everyone has a safe and happy St. Paddy's Day!

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