Last Cheap Nail Polish Review [#4]

So I finally got a chance to review the last of my cheap nail polishes from Target. Here is Revlon's Scandalous.  I can't remember how much it was but it was under $5. I decided to pair it with Essie's Play Date.

Scandalous is a black nail polish with medium and small specks of red violet/purple glitter.  The ratio of glitter to polish is perfect; Just enough to really showcase the polish. And Play Date is such a nice light purple. Great for the summer.

I did two coats of Play Date first and then I decided to have a little fun with Scandalous. 

I coated my pinky twice with Scandalous. Then I decided to do some fun nail art with it. 

I topped it with Seche Vite, which made it rock solid. Though it was fun and pretty, I decided to take it off after a day.  I didn't think it was completely appropriate for work. My job is fun and they wouldn't have minded but I try to keep my manicure's simple at work.  Also with the work I do, they tend to chip quickly anyway.

Point is...

I really like Scandalous. It's a great combination of colors and the glitter is very pretty. Plus it was an inexpensive nail polish.  I can't wait to use it on it's own.

What do you think of the combo? Would you buy Scandalous? Happy Polishing!

Julep August Golden Mystery Box

Hello my readers and fellow bloggers.  I've been busy at work and haven't had too much time to sit and write lately. But today I was "blessed" with an upset digestive system. So as I sip on some iced Sakura Allure green tea from Teavana to help nurse it, I figured I'd write some reviews.  There was a recent Julep Secret Store sale and I decided to splurge and purchase the Golden Mystery Box.

I got Version 3!

It's all wrapped and packed nicely.

Everything is pretty!

1. Julep Everyday SPF Hand Creme (SPF 30)  - $28.00 Regular / $12.99 SaleThe most complete solution for beautiful hands. vitamin E hydrates skin and strengthens nails, while built-in SPF protects your hands from UVA and UVB sun damage and the related signs of aging such as fine lines and sun spots.
   
   I'm looking forward to using this hand cream.  I tend to have dry skin and this will be great to use during all season, especially winter. The packaging is very simple and modern with the black and white colors.  It's unscented and goes on smooth. You have to rub it in really well to get the suncreen feel off your hands or it will seem greasy. After you rub it in, your hands feel soft and smooth with a nice healthy sheen on your skin.
   
2. Oxygen Nail Treatment - $18.00 Regular / $14.40 Maven                           Complete nail care and make-up all in one bottle. Made with a patented Hexanal formulation, nails are restructured to a stronger, thicker, and smoother condition in just one stroke. Advanced plant stem cell complex provides anti-aging benefits, while ground-breaking oxygen technology forms a nonocclusive film on the nail, proving resistant to water penetration and improving the permeability to oxygen. Results are nails that are structurally stronger, and less prone to breakage and splitting.
   
   I'm really happy this came in the box. The nails on my toes tend to be brittle and chip easily. This creamy, translucent pink goes on very smooth. It dries quick and makes my nails look shiny and healthy. I hope they get stronger. :cross your fingers:
   
   
3. Julep Nail Polish: $10 - $25 (Some only come in sets, hence the higher price)
   I love the colors I got. They all would be ones I'd pick for myself. I already have Bunny and Drew from other purchases but they will go nice as a gift.
   
• Bunny - Crisp white linen with fine gold shimmer
• Layne - Sheer french pink
• Sheryl - Sheer butterscotch shimmer with a hint of golden bronze
• Drew - Fabulous fuchsia crème.
  
  
4. Dolle's Salt Water Taffy - < $1. World Famous from Ocean City, Maryland.
   I love salt water taffy! I got Lime, Chocolate and Strawberry. I will have to try them when my body is feeling better.
   
   
5. Belina Hair Ties - 3 ties (Unsure of price. They are not available on their website)
   I got black, tan, and bronze shimmery ties. Kind of sad because my hair is currently short so I can't tie my hair up, unless I do pigtails. I'll have to try them when my hair grows out more.

Point is...

I love this month's Golden Mystery Box! With the amount of stuff that came in it for the price of $30, I think it was well worth it.  I have so much nail polish to catch up on. I hope to use these colors soon. And I'll keep you posted on how the nail treatment is going!

What do you think of the products from this box? Have you tried any of them? Is Dolle's salt water taffy that good? 

For She's a Jolly Good Fellow, Which Nobody Can Deny!

I recently went to a retirement party for an amazing woman. She's worked for 37 years as a music teacher.  She has influenced so many people around her and inspired many to go for their dreams.  She's truly extraordinary!

As a present from her family and friends, I was asked to help create an amazing poster with different characters and objects to represent her 37 years.

My best friend Chris and I had about two and half days to complete this piece. It was short noticed because her daughter wanted these different images to be represented on a cake but it wasn't doable.

She suggested a hidden objects picture, like those found in the Highlights Magazine. 

Don't you miss these?

I tried to solve it. I don't know if I got all of them.

When I first heard this, I was freaking out in my head. I've been asked to do a hidden objects picture for a friend, but I learned that it is very complicated to come up with places to "hide" objects.  It would have taken at least a week or more to really figure out the whole picture and the placement of objects.

So they finally came up with the idea of a Character poster. The ones where the artist draws every single one of their characters into a poster.

After a lot of research, googling, re-tracing and drawing, we came up with this...

Disclaimer: All characters, logos and objects are owned, copyrighted,
trademarked and registered to their respective owners. 

Point is...
She loved it! And we were happy with the results, especially for such a short amount of time to pull something together. It was a great party with lots of laughter and smiles

Here's a picture of it at the retirement party. 

Also a picture of the cake that they got made with some objects with special meanings.

Nail Polish Collection

I have finally finished! I know you've all been waiting to see my nail polish collection. It isn't as massive as some of the ones I've seen, :cough: Kat from Thoughts At 1AM :cough:. I've been working on documenting my collection with pictures and a list of my stash. 

Here are pictures of my ever growing collection.

I've been storing my nail polish in these bins but because my collection is expanding, I will need to find another way to store my polish. Everyone sees to be using a Helmer from Ikea. This might something I will have to invest in as well. And it will go this vanity idea online.

Here is my I Love Nail Polish collection:

Here is my Rainbow Honey collection:

What do you think? I went a little crazy with Rainbow Honey. I have a lot to try out!

Here is a link to my whole entire list - Nail Polish Collection

Happy Polishing!

Neon - Nail Polish Review [#4]

Happy August! 

Just got through a big event at work and though we have more upcoming events that we have to plan and prepare for, I'm just super excited for the end of this month. I will be leaving for Vermont on August 24. I can't wait! :3

Anyway, I recently went to Target and I couldn't help but check out their Essie nail polish.  They had a few of the collections display and this one nail polish caught my eye. Bouncer, It's Me from their 2013 Neon Collection.

It's recommended to use a white base coat under their neon colors. I have Essie's Poppy-Razzi Neon Collection from last year. I have used a base of Essie's Blanc with them and without. I preferred it without the white base because it was time consuming and heavy feeling to paint a white base and then the neon plus a top coat. Also, it still looked neon without the white.

I figured I'd try and review Bouncer, It's Me with and without a white base coat to see what it looks like. The nail polish is very translucent. I put two coats of Blanc and two coats of Bouncer, It's Me on my left hand. I did a base coat and three coats of Bouncer, It's Me on my right hand. 

Do you see the difference?

Please don't mind the messy fingers. Didn't get a chance to them up.

It dries quickly and in a matte coat. My right hand is more of a deep, dark blue. My left hand had some streakiness. I could have done three coats but I was lazy and didn't bother. I like both version of them.  I put on a top coat of Essie's Good To Go. My left hand really pops in natural lighting but with the flash, both hands look the same.

With the flash on. They look very similar with only a subtle difference in hue.

At my office. You can see how the white base makes my left hand nails this bright blue.

After about a week, they've all chipped and cracked under the top coat. And I'm ready for the next manicure.

Point is...
If you use any of Essie's Neon Collection and have more patience than me, the white base coat really does bring out the bright color in the nail polish. Lighter neon colors can work well without a white base, but I'd stick to the white base with the darker neon colors. 

Happy Polishing!