Halloween nail art

Hello all! Can you believe that the month of October is nearing an end and we not only see the start of November this weekend but also the time change? Yikes. Where does the time go?

I have photos of my current mani, done up for Halloween.
Now, it's not perfect but I am proud of it since it's free-handed by ME. Seriously! I made webs and a spider. I can stamp, I can water marble... but ask me to free-hand anything on my nails and I usually laugh and walk away.

Also, I achieved chevrons! Did I free-hand those? Heck no. Nail decals, baby. It was my first time using them (they came in a gift with a nail polish order) and I want to order more!

 

Polishes used:

Zoya Raven

China Glaze Glistening Snow

OPI Do You Have This Color in Stock-Holm?

Nail decals from Nails Redesigned.

As you may have noticed, I didn't use orange in my Halloween mani. I don't like orange. I will use it for a Candy Corn inspired mani but I prefer purple and black around Halloween.

Have a safe and happy Halloween, everyone! 

And don't forget to change your clocks this Saturday night/Sunday morning and get your extra hour of sleep.

Last weekend, I met some nail ladies

What day is it? Let me check my calendar since all of my days run together...Oh yeah!
HAPPY HUMP DAY, everyone!

On Sunday, I met up with some other nail polish enthusiasts in downtown Chattanooga. I had never been to Urban Stack before (I typically avoid downtown) but I enjoyed the food and the atmosphere.

When meeting up with total strangers, the nerves start to surface a bit. What if we have nothing in common? What if we all just sit and stare at our plates? What if one of them is like my stalker and starts spending all of her time online trying to find out when I eat and pee?

I should have realized that we'd have plenty to talk about... we all love nail polish. Having at least one thing in common guarantees that the ice will be broken and you'll have something to chat about which will possibly bring up other things you'll have in common.

Our nail theme was falling leaves so we all did our own designs using that theme. 

This was mine:

Colors used in this mani are from Zoya and China Glaze.

Water marble: Zoya Darcy and Thandie with China Glaze Adventure Red-y.

Gradient: Same as the marble but add Zoya Louise for the stamping using BM04.

And here is a group shot, taken by our 

waitress (who also loves nails and polish):

And of course, if you have a meet-up consisting of nail ladies, 

you have to a shot of all the nails:

I had a blast and we are planning another meet up. Only 3 of us were local (around Chattanooga) while a few drove in from Knoxville, Nashville, and Birmingham! After food, we headed to shop (Of course we hit up the polish/make-up stores. Duh!)
We hit up Ulta, Sally's, and then a final stop at TJMAXX, concentrating on the polish. After that we all parted ways since the majority of the ladies had a long drive ahead (through a hell of a storm).

We all left fed, happy with our polish purchases, and a few new followers on Instagram. :)
Can't wait for the next one!


Have you ever had a meet-up with people you met online?

Blues and Purple Sparkle Dot Mani

Hello, all! Can you believe that Monday is the beginning of September? Where did August go?

I am still in the process of getting some pics on the blog that might show what I have been up to since we moved. Honestly, I have been putting it off since it requires me to edit and watermark a few pics and I'm having a hard time sitting still.

Last night, I spent too many minutes on Pinterest looking for Halloween decor ideas since we have a yard and a front porch that's perfect for decorating.
And that led to Thanksgiving ideas and my favorite.... CHRISTMAS DECOR.

But for now, I'll give you a new mani to look at.

Of all of the dot manicures that I have done, I do believe that this is the first time that I have dotted inside other dots. Why did it take me this long to do so? No clue.

 

Colors used:

Nails Inc. Baker Street

China Glaze That's Shore Bright

Zoya Blu

China Glaze Fairy Dust (to add some sparkle in the sun)

I'll do my best to get some more photos on the blog, especially of the new place (with a front door that is perfect for making a Frankenstein door for Halloween!).

Happy Labor Day!

I'm still here... and I'm seeing spots.

Hello, all!

It's been a long while, right?

I haven't sat down to write a post since before we left Minnesota. Whoops.

We did, in fact, move to Tennessee. I did, in fact, finally get everything packed. I did, in fact, have to unpack all of that crap. I did, in fact, feel like it was a never-ending task that would drive me to a padded cell.

For the first 2 weeks, we were living in a hotel until the moving truck arrived and until we could make the house livable (having beds to sleep on).

And then... we moved in. And it's been wonderful.

In the past few months, we have been busy. We had to unpack the entire house and set up a LOT of new furniture (you know how I love my IKEA).

In July, we had a great 4th with great weather and then we headed to our favorite retreat/vacation spot, Hilton Head.

I got to actually SEE my mom on her birthday this year which was the first time in over 6 years.

And for the last few weeks, I have been getting the lesson planning done to homeschool the kids again this year. (It was a lot simpler in MN, trust me.)

I've also been making a change to my appearance... working to lighten my hair little by little. (I am not a professional and would never attempt this myself.) My stylist and I talked about it and came up with a plan that is working nicely. If we tried going as light as the end goal at one time, it would damage my hair beyond belief. So we are taking it one root touch up at a time.

In between the busy stuff, I have been able to sneak in a manicure or two. Since I actually have a vanity now and a place to do manis, I was thrilled to try it out.

Over the next week or so, I will be getting some posts done with pics of the house and other stuff.

But for now, here's the first mani that I did in the new house:

Colors used:

China Glaze Splish Splash (blue)

China Glaze Purple Panic (pink)

China Glaze White on White

I will try to post the other mani pic that I have tomorrow.

Until then!

I'm willing Spring to hurry and up and come see me

Last year, I did a few manicures featuring snowflakes.
This year, I refused to even think about it.
I'm not going to be celebrating winter and all of the hell it's brought with it this year.

Nope.
Negative.
Not.Gonna.Happen.

So last night, far overdue for a new manicure, I decided to call on the Gods of Spring.
Upon looking at my nails, I realize they could be Easter nails and that's okay.
Easter is in spring. Spring is warmer than winter.
It's all good.

One of these days, I will use my camera and not my iPhone to take these pics. I may even get my lightbox back out. All in due time.

Colors used:

Pinky- Zoya Darcy

Ring- China Glaze Dance Baby

Middle- Sally Hanson Blue Me Away!

Pointer- OPI Hot Fun in the Summerlime

Thumb- OPI You're Such a Budapest

White dots are China Glaze White on White

Next week, look for a mani celebrating the holiday that revolves around pinching, drinking beer, and luck.