OPI Taylor Blue

Hey everybody!  

Hmmmm...I was TJ Maxxing the other day (you didn't know that was a verb, did you?) when I found a mysterious bottle of OPI there in the buckets o' polish.  I already had a heads up about said mysterious bottle when I had read a post in one of the Facebook polish groups that Taylor Blue, a polish that was created to be an exclusive charity polish for the Taylor's Gift Foundation for organ donor awareness and registrations, was spotted at TJ Maxx and Marshall's here and there.  Well, I have no idea how these bottles ended up at a discount retailer, as Taylor Blue was (and still is) sold on the charity's website, but I purchased one of the two bottles I saw.

Taylor Blue is a beautiful turquoise creme with, honestly, one of the most wonderful formulas I've ever encountered.  I have historically had trouble with cremes.  I'm not sure why they don't cooperate with me, but it sure is a pleasant surprise to get one like this!  Makes me feel way less untalented.

I've heard that differences in Taylor Blue and OPI Fly are practically imperceptible, but I don't have Fly and couldn't say yay or nay.  (That sounded almost like a Mother Goose line.)  I used two coats and see Mr. VaNeLi in the pics, but it's not out there in real life.

While I was on a roll feeling less untalented, I decided to do some stamping.  I used a giraffe pattern from MoYou London Pro XL 05 and stamped with OPI DS Radiance.  The color of Taylor Blue looks quite a bit greener is this photo than in real life.  The actual color is closer to the first photo.

If you're interested in purchasing Taylor Blue from the Taylor's Gift Foundation, it is available for $10.  Otherwise, there's no telling if or how this will turn up elsewhere. :/

As always, thank you for reading, and have a lovely day! 

Wet n Wild Chambray Showers and Ferris-Wheel Romance

Hey everybody!  I hope you're all having a lovely weekend.  Yesterday was beauty salon day...YAY!  My hair grows like a weed, so it's always a huge relief to go for my 6-week haircut.  And besides, I love getting my scalp scrubbed. :)

To continue with my drugstore bonanza shop fest from last weekend, today's post features 2 polishes from the Wet n Wild Wild Shine Summer Festival collection.  This collection was a summer 2014 limited edition. 

First up is Chambray Showers, a light blue creme reminiscent of Sleeping Beauty turquoise.

The formula on Chambray Showers was great.  I used 2 coats, and the wear time was really good.  I don't know where all those little spots you see in the pic came from.  I sure don't remember seeing polka-dotted showers in person. :/  And a word of warning:  Chambray Showers will stain a bit.

Another of the Summer Festival collection I chose was rather NOT me, but I really like the way it looked in the store, so I decided to give it a try.  I'm glad I did, because Ferris-Wheel Romance is a cool-toned apricot that doesn't have those annoying coral tendencies that irk me.

I've read other people describe this color as coral, but I wouldn't call it coral  It's too respectable to be called such a thing. :D  Ferris-Wheel Romance had another fantastic creme formula with great wear time as well.  

Ferris-Wheel Romance...what a name.  Mr. Sweets finds nothing romantic about a ferris wheel.  He is rather panicky during the duration of the ride and gets unnecessarily chatty to get his mind off the fact that he can see over the trees.

I found these LE Wild Shines at Walgreens during their Wet n Wild sale...so I paid a whopping $.69 each for them. :)  There is something a bit retro about these two colors.  Chambray Showers has that 1960's turquoise blue kitchen look.  I especially recommend Ferris-Wheel Romance for anybody who wants a true, non-yellow influenced apricot.  Oh, and they really are shiny. :)

Thanks for reading, and have a lovely day! <3

Mermaids Everywhere! Julie G Mermaid's Tale

Hey everybody!  I know we've talked about this before:  the abundance of polishes with "mermaid" in the name.  Just what's up with that?  My bud Yadi at Night Swatcher recently had Mermaid Week (so much nicer than Shark Week) on her blog, during which she featured several lovely mermaid-esque polishes, and we both observed how many mermaid polishes there are these days.  But I had decided some time ago that I want to own every polish out there with "mermaid" in the name...just because.  I don't know why...maybe to see if they all look different? :D

Enter today's polish:  Julie G Mermaid's Tale, not to be confused with...uh...Sally Hansen Mermaid's Tale! 

Julie G Mermaid's Tale is a really lovely blue-green glass fleck with a heavy gold shimmer.  It's similar to Barielle Jillian's Jammin' in that it's super-shimmery and looks transparent in pics, but not in person.

I used 2 coats of Mermaid's Tale, but I'm not sure even 3 would have made a difference in the photos.  It's just that kind of polish. :)  But it shimmers like nobody's business!  Check out that sparkling bottle! :D

I love Julie G polishes.  They are a great quality with a good formula and sell for a very agreeable $3.99.  Mermaid's Tale has the feel of fairy tales and fantasy with an enchanting sparkle that just won't quit.

So...what do you think of the plethora of "mermaid" polishes?  I mean, why not "minotaur" or "giant squid" polishes, huh? :P  Julie G polishes can be purchased at Rite Aid or on their website.

Thanks for stopping by, and have a lovely day! <3

Summer 2012 - a Zoya Odyssey: Zuza and Kimber

Hey everybody!  Well, it's the last week of wearing my summer dresses to the office.  Labor Day is Monday, and I'm a purist. :)  We've seen a lot of great polish this summer, but lately I've been thinking about last year when the Zoya Surf collection came out, and everybody fell in love with a girl named Zuza...and to a lesser extent, her little sister Kimber.

Who couldn't help but drool over Zuza?  A perfect light turquoise with gold AND silver shimmer?  Enough said.  Just gaze upon her glory...

I should add that Zuza has the lucky distinction of being the polish I've worn for the longest time, at 7 days straight.  Two coats provide shimmery, mistake-proof coverage.

Zoya Kimber is another beauty from the Surf collection.  Kimber is described as medium magenta pink, but on me, it looks pinkish-red with a tiny hint of coral.  I've never been able to really give it an accurate color description.  Isn't it weird how that happens?  You read a color description, and it's just nothing like you see on your fingers?  Kimber's still lovely, even though I have no idea what color it REALLY is. :D

Kimber is a very spotlight-grabbing polish, so if you wake up one day and your face is broken out or your hair just won't fix right, don't wear Kimber because you just might get unwanted attention.  I warned you.

Kimber has a beautiful gold shimmer and a fantastic application.  I used two coats for photos.  Uncommonly pretty.

The Zoya Surf collection was the first ever polish collection that I bought in its entirety.  I loved every one in that bunch!  Ahhhh...2012 was an excellent year for foils. :)

Did you get any of the Surf collection from summer 2012?  I wish all trips down memory lane were this colorfully awesome!

Have a lovely evening, and thanks for stopping by! :)

Keeping Cool with the Tawdry Terrier Dog Days of Summer (Pic Heavy)

Hey everybody!  I am excited for today's post because it features a brand new indie company called Tawdry Terrier.  Mother and daughter team Donna and Kimberley have created a lovely new collection called Dog Days of Summer.  You may notice a very canine theme going on here...many of you are probably familiar with Kimberley's blog TikiBarbie and have seen her photos of her adorable West Highland White terriers.  Gotta love a fellow dog lover! :D  I have three polishes from the collection, all very different and each one a stunner. :) 

First up we have Fort Barkerdale.  And look!!  Puppy bottles! :D

 

Fort Barkerdale is described by Tawdry Terrier as "a golden sand metallic glass fleck polish with a mix of golden sand, turquoise, and pink glitter inspired by the seashells that wash up on the wet sand as the tide goes out."  This is a gorgeous polish that was very difficult to photograph due to the insane iridescence!  I used 2 coats for full coverage, and for some reason, the pics show it looking patchy in spots, but it wasn't like that at all in real life.  It looks exactly like the wrappers on Ferrero Rocher chocolate hazelnut balls.  Seriously.  This polish absolutely glows.

I used 2 coats of Fort Barkerdale for the look of gleaming, magical sand.  It practically applied itself and I had no cleanup.

Next we have Preppy Puppy...ahhhhh, it's SO CUTE!!

Preppy Puppy is described as "a hot pink glass fleck nail polish with a mix of pink, white, and lime green glitter inspired by Lilly Pulitzer's classic summer combination of hot pink and lime green."  I just love this glitter combo...the green is very different and really makes it pop.  And  I'm quite certain my very fashionable brother-in-law has some argyle socks in these colors.

Preppy Puppy is a bit like a jelly and applies well.  I used 3 coats for the photos.

And last, we have Moondoggie.  This was actually a very generous gift to me from the Tawdry Terrier ladies because I was their very first customer!  YAY me! :D  And...UGH!!  Look at this!  It's crazy beautiful!!

 
Moondoggie is described as "a cerulean blue glass fleck nail polish with a mix of turquoise glitter inspired by the glints of sunlight reflecting off ocean waves."  I know all the whippersnappers out there have no idea who THE Moondoggie was, but he was the drool-inducing surfer character in the 1960's Gidget movies. :)  And talk about drool-inducing!

Moondoggie is the really complex one of the lot.  The formula is very similar to Julie G Frosted Gumdrops polishes, like a glitter pavé paste with good application and no cleanup.  It was a little thick but still easy to work with.  In person, Moondoggie looks like the fantasy ocean waves from a Disney movie...you almost expect Ariel to pop up waving around her latest dinglehopper.  In real life, the color leans more turquoise, and the glitter sparkles abundantly.  The following blurred bottle shot gives you an idea...

My package arrived beautifully wrapped...and each polish was individually boxed and wrapped in color-coordinating tissue!  I love attention to detail. :)

Tawdry Terrier polishes are 5-free and not tested on animals.  And to celebrate the opening of their Etsy shop, Tawdry Terrier is currently having a giveaway of their complete Dog Days of Summer collection!  Be sure to check them out! :)

Nicolo is staying cool during these dog days of summer by enjoying a frozen yogurt treat...or is he just eyeing my  polish?? ;)

Thanks for stopping by, and have a lovely evening! :)

Am I Dreaming? Pipe Dream Polish Pink Elephants and Lemonade

Hey everybody!  I hope you all have been doing well.  I've been out of town for a few days, but I'm back now.  I've got a really adorable polish to show you today by a relatively new indie label called Pipe Dream Polish.  Creator April has made some very interesting and beautiful polishes, and this one just stood out immediately to me:  Pink Elephants and Lemonade. :)

Pipe Dream Polish Pink Elephants and Lemonade

Isn't this polish pretty?  It's described as "medium and small hot pink and deep yellow matte glitters in a dusty turquoise crelly base."  I have to admit, I bought this because I was so curious as to how it would look in person.  It's an unusual look that works.

Pipe Dream Polish Pink Elephants and Lemonade

Pink Elephants and Lemonade's name is taken from a Madonna song called Dear Jessie.  I have no idea what that song is...you mean Madonna made something after Material Girl?? :P  Personally, it brings to mind the song from Dumbo called Pink Elephants on Parade...you remember, the creepy sequence where it looked like Dumbo and Timothy Mouse were completely toasted?

Pink Elephants and Lemonade applied like a dream.  And not a pipe dream either...a real dream! :)  I used 3 coats for the photos, but you could use 2 if you so desired.  And there was ZERO cleanup.  I so love that in a polish...

He's almost pink!! :)

You can purchase Pink Elephants and Lemonade and other Pipe Dream Polish creations on Etsy.  Check them out...April has some really pretty things on sale right now! :)

I wanted to feature this sweet and fun polish because I want to show you why I haven't posted for a week...I've been adjusting to life with my new babies!  Meet Angelo and Nicolo...

I've made no secret about being brokenhearted over the death of my dog Sebastian.  One of the reasons I started my blog was to take my mind off losing him.  These little brothers came at just the right time.  I traveled to North Carolina over the weekend to pick them up...and they really are as sweet as they look. ;)

Thanks for stopping by, and have a lovely evening!