Water Zoya-Marbles

Hello, Fireflies!

Watermarbles are one of the hardest nail art techniques for me.  I really hated the mess and cleanup - even with tape or latex barriers, I was making a mess, and not getting the results I wanted.  Watermarble decals are a game changer for me!

I'm naked!

Hello, Fireflies!

April Fools! Except, I didn't fool you - I am naked - well, I'm wearing a Zoya Naked Manicure today!

14 Days of Valentines - Holo Hearts #‎14DaysofValentines‬

Hello, Fireflies!

I've joined a few other bloggers for a challenge that is bringing out the romantic girl in me.  I'm wearing my heart on my sleeve (and on my nails!) for the next two weeks to bring you (up to) 14 days of Valentines!

Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend

Hello, Fireflies!

Ready for some Sunday Stamping?  Today, I incorporate some bling into my nailart, because today's theme is, "Bling it up!"

Teal Tuesday - Glam

Hello, Fireflies!

For this holiday season, I've been focused mainly on light, glittery eyes and red lips for my looks.  It's still a fave, but I thought I'd show you a darker, smoky teal eye with a light lip that might be fun for a night out.

On Cloud 9 With Zoya's Mystery Shades!

 Hello, Fireflies!

I love surprises - but only good ones.  So, I was a little hesitant to order the new Zoya mystery minis.  The last time Zoya did this promotion, some of the colors had been released under some special collections, so they weren't NEW colors.  This time, Zoya promised never-before seen Zoya colors. 

Would I like?

Paint the Town Red and Gold

Hello, Fireflies!

Two posts today!  Come back later for the second installment of this months' Challenge Your Nail Art All Things Blue challenge.

But first, the last installment of this month's Nail Challenge Collaborative.  We've been doing copycat manis for the 3rd anniversary of the group, and I chose a simple, but elegant dotticure that looks holiday or special-event ready.

Satin Chevrons

Hello, Fireflies! Time for a little palate-cleansing nail art with Zoya Satins.

Anti-Valentines' Day

 Hello, Fireflies!

Even though I think Valentines' Day is a Hallmark Holiday, I'm not really *against* it.  I don't celebrate it, but I'm not a hater if you do.  I've never sent anyone some Haterade Black Roses before, but I thought they might be fun for an anti-Valentines look

NYE Nude Nails

Hello, Fireflies!

Happy NYE! Whether you're going out and partying, or bringing in the New Year with the TV, you can still have fabulous nails, right?  For me, the trend was nude, with a little (or a lot) of bling!  I reached into the vault to bring up some looks you might want to try to ring in your 2015.

MMMM... Pie! #ChallengeYourNailArt #FallingForNailArt

Hello, Fireflies!

Today's Challenge Your Nail Art prompt is for Fall Food.  Nothing says Fall to me more than baking!  It's too hot here in Florida to do a lot of baking in the summer, anyway, but the really good apples don't get ripe until the Fall.

So when I saw this nail art (original author unknown) for cherry pie, I thought, well, I'd rather have apple.

I started off with Revlon Orient Express, but it was too red, so I put a layer of OPI Glints Of Glinda over it, which gave it a milky, softened look that was more like what I wanted.

I used a short brush to daub Zoya Flynn in a cross-hatch pattern, like a lattice-top pie.  To give it more dimension (and golden-brown deliciousness,) I added little spots of Lacquerhead Polish Ashlyn, a dark brown holo.

Yeah, it still looks like a cherry pie, I guess.  Which is okay.  It's still pie, after all.

Bottle shot:  Revlon Orient Express, OPI Glints of Glinda, Zoya Flynn, and Lacquerhead Polish Ashlyn.

Will you be indulging in a little pie this week?  What's your fave?  It's so hard to decide, but a good peach pie is hard to beat!

Let's Go Camping - Roaring Campfire

Hello, Fireflies!

Two challenges today, and two posts! If you'd like to see my Adventures In Stamping stamping over stripes nailart, click HERE. 

First up, the last of the Challenge Your Nail Art camping challenge - Campfires.

I started with Zoya Jesy, a jelly coral-leaning-orange with lots of glitter. Forgot to get a pix by itself. Eh, there's lots of swatches of it online, though.  The whole Zoya Bubbly collection is pretty cool, but this was the one I *had* to have.  Right away.

Then I stamped this cool fire with Wet 'n Wild Black Creme and the Mash 48 plate.  Times like this, I wish I had longer nail beds, because I had to chop the bottom of the fire off. How cool is that stamp?

I sponged a little Cirque Arcane Fire, because, fire.  Yeah.

I also painted in some 'logs' with Sally Hansen Salon Cinnamon, and used a white striper to detail it... and to also make marshmallows.  What other reason is there to build a campfire, if not to roast marshmallows?

I like them burnt.  OMG. Drool.

Bottle shot:  Zoya Jesy, Wet 'n Wild Black Creme, Sally Hansen Salon Cinnamon, Cirque Arcane Fire, and stripers in silver and white.

What's your favorite reason to have a campfire?

An InLinkz Link-up

Zoya Flower Teacup

Hello, Fireflies!

Time for another tea party!  This time, I'm making floral abstract cups with the Peter Som trio of polishes from Zoya.

I wanted to love Zoya Cole.  It's the perfect orange creamsicle color.  But the formula.. ay, Zoya.  you rarely fail me, but this pastel is a mess.

Zoya Edie is a gorgeous blue.  Slightly dusty, maybe a little lighter than a traditional denim color.  I can't get enough of these blues.

This pretty dusty light green is Zoya Alexa.  I feel like this mani is looking like a disservice to Edie and Alexa at this point.  Cole is just ruining it for everyone.  She's such a beatch.

Oh, if I were a poet, I would write an ode to topcoat.  How she smooths away our wrinkles, and blurs our imperfections.

Forget foundation, I'm going to start wearing Seche Vite on my face.  Think it would work? 

Bottle shot:  Zoya Cole, Edie, and Alexa.

Despite her flaws, why does Cole have to be so pretty?  I'll probably wear her again, like I'll try a staining blue just *one* more time, to see if I can make it work. 

Do you have a makeup product that you should just throw away, but you can't for some reason?

An InLinkz Link-up

Glitter Flakie-splosion!

Hello, Fireflies!

Time for another round of undies and glitters, but today I have some iridescent or flakie glitters.

Sigh.  My faves.  Something about those flecks of color-changing goodness.

First up, the metallic blue of OPI Seventh Inning Strrretch with Zoya Manhattan - which looks yellow, but is really full of sparks of color and changes the blue to a funky, flashy green.

Above The Curve Adriel is a pretty rose pink with a subtle holo, and becomes a juicy raspberry flakie pool with Sweet Color WO12.

Flakies over black is one of my favorite combos. Wet 'n Wild Black Creme isn't really necessary, though with CrowsToes Helheim - it has a black jelly base all its own. Love those subtle purple flakies.

Another black/flakie combo is Wet 'n Wild Black Creme with Dance Legend Anna Gorelova #12.  Reminds me of Finger Paints Twisted! Love the multicolored flakie rainbow goodness!

Are you a Flakie Fiend like me?  What's your favorite flakie?

Embracing My Geekness - Super Fast Flash

Hello, Fireflies!

You'll have to look quickly at today's nail art, because it'll move fast.. like in a Flash...

I started with my new fave tomato-red, OPI Over And Over A-Gwen.  I just picked up a backup bottle at Ulta's clearance sale for under $3!

I tried creating decals again, with my FUN 11 plate from Fab Ur Nails, but then I had to go and try and outline the Flash logo, and messed it up a little.  There just wasn't enough contrast between the yellow and white.

I knew I had to try Flash nail art today, though, because he's my husbands FAVORITE superhero of all time.  He has t-shirts, and action figures, and comics...

Zoya Pippa has become my go-to nail art yellow.  It's the perfect primary-color yellow.  I need another bottle!  I also used Revlon Spirit, Wet 'n Wild Black Creme, and a little Maybelline Bold Gold for the nail Art.

Did you see it? One more look! I free-hand drew the Flash lettering by painting them first with Black Creme, and then again with white and yellow.  Kinda wish I'd found a yellow glitter to wear on my ring finger!

Bottle shot:  OPI Over And Over A-Gwen, Revlon Spirit, Zoya Pippa, and Maybelline Bold Gold.  (Not pictured: Wet 'n Wild Black Creme.)

My favorite superhero is Wolverine.  I did a quick nail art for Wolverine's Movie (using the same colors! ha!) already.  Do you have a favorite superhero?

An InLinkz Link-up

This Sunday Stamping is both A Comedy And A Tragedy

Hello, Fireflies!

I was going for a light/dark - comedy/tragedy theme today, and I think I succeeded, but not in the way I had hoped!

I started out with Wet 'n Wild Black Creme, and then free-handed a diagonal tip with Zoya Cosmo.

Cosmo is a textured Pixie Dust, one of the super-chunky varieties.  I had to lay it on fairly thickly to block out the black underneath, but it evened out okay with some topcoat.  Plus, now look at the holo glitters!

Today's Adventures In Stamping challenge was to use a plate that ended in 2, so I picked this comedy/tragedy stamp from Shany02, and stamped with Revlon Spirit and more Wet 'n Wild Black Creme.

It's comedic that I thought I could do a two-toned stamp.

It's tragic that I messed up that beautiful light/dark thing I had going on.

Bottle shot:  Wet 'n Wild Black Creme, Zoya Cosmo, and Revlon Spirit.

I seem to have lost my stamping mojo! I got a Magic Eraser and cleaned my stamper, so maybe next time it'll work better.  The masks are cute, though, right?

Movie Date!

Hello, Fireflies!

I love movies, but I'm old.  And when I say that I'm old, I mean I am the stereotypical old person who gets mad at children running in the aisles, I get grumpy when people are using their cell phones in any capacity, and I don't like to share my space with a lot of noisy people.

So, when the new X-men movie opened, and hubby and I went to an early matinee and had very little company, I was *thrilled*.  But it also meant that I had to get ready in a hurry!

But I HAD to do X-men nails! Totally quick and dirty.  Even the one Wolverine face didn't stamp fully, but it kinda looks like he's cackling evilly, so it's okay.  I used Zoya Pippa, OPI Over and Over A-Gwen, and Finger Paints Black Expressionism with Fab Ur Nails Fun 11 plate for the stamping.

Hubby wore a Marvel-themed t-shirt, which earned him knowing nods from the other geeks in the audience.  I showed my nails to the girl selling tickets.  She acted impressed, but I don't think she really got it, ya know?  

Bottle shot:  Zoya Pippa, OPI Over and Over A-Gwen, and Finger Paints Black Expressionism.

 I thought I'd also show you the makeup look I did for our date.  I've been sporting the Cover FX SPF 30 primer and BB Gel, of course.  Still loving the light coverage and satin finish.  I think I have on my Jordana Color Tint Blush Stick in Coral Touch, and my Hourglass Ambient Dim Light finishing powder, too.

Boy, howdy, am I having trouble taking good pictures of my makeup.  It's harder than it looks! I'm either too yellow or too washed out.  

I did my eyes with the Stila 10-pan eyeshadow palette with 14k (bright gold shimmer) on my inner lid, copper (copper shimmer) on the outer lid, and jade (shimmery jade green) in the crease.  I've been practicing with my ELF brow kit, and I also tried a little cat eye with my new fave liquid liner - Physicians Formula. 

Hubby got me into the X-Men franchise, oh, 20 years ago? and Wolverine has always been my fave, so I was glad to wear him on my nails!  Did you ever do a theme mani, makeup, or fashion for a movie?

Also shared on The Nail Files and the Nail Files Pinterest Board. Click through for more nail art!