Bold Abstract Stamp

Hello, Fireflies!

I don't know what's going on with the AIS group these days - seems there are fewer official Sunday Stamping challenges going on.  I still love having Sunday Stamping, though, so for now I'll just keep sharing with you what I've done on my own.  This week, I've gone simple and bold with a black-on-nude bold pattern.

Studly Punk

Hello, Fireflies!

I've gotten a little sidetracked this month, and fell behind on my Punk/Rock & Roll challenge.  I went for the ultimate classic punk nail art first, and now I'm moving on to the next most stereotypic punk accessory - the pointy metal stud.

What's Punker Than Punk?

Hello, Fireflies!

Welcome to another month of The Nail Challenge Collaborative!  This month's theme is 'Punk & Rock" and I have, what I think, is THE quintessential Punk nailart for you.

Chic Chevron Funky French

Hello, Fireflies!

Happy 'Back to the Future' day! I don't have any BTTF polishes, but I'm going to celebrate in today's post by diving into the vault for some older pictures that meet this month's "Funky French" challenge.  The polish I used as the base for this look was inspired by a movie made in the 70's, but it's coming back in a few months in a new way!

Flowers of Unusual Colors

Hello Fireflies!

Today's Sunday Stamping Challenge is to create flowers in colors not normally found in nature, or, as I hear it in my head, "Flowers of Unusual Color" said in the same manner as "Rodents of Unusual Size" or RUSses.  If you don't know what I'm talking about, you need to watch one of the best movies EVER, The Princess Bride.

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

Sunday Stamping - Broken Heart

Hello, Fireflies!

Today's Adventures in Stamping challenge was to use pink and black.  I've been gearing up to do some Valentines' Day manis, and thought this might be a great opportunity to do a 'broken heart' one with these colors.

Grungy Candy Striper Stamping

Hello, Fireflies!

Today's AIS challenge is 'negative space'.  Mine's more of a 'fail space'.

Never Boring Nude NYE Nails

 Hello, Fireflies!

Today's AIS challenge is New Years' Nails.  I didn't have much time to prepare these, since I was traveling all day from visiting my family for Christmas, so I started with what I already had on - Azature Diamond Opal. 

Dotty McDotterson Dress

Hello, Fireflies!

I've been remiss in the Dots theme of this month's Nail Challenge Collaborative.  To make up for it, my nails today are VERY.LARGE.DOTS.

There's Nothing More Beautiful Than A Great Smile! #TartarScraperkit

Product provided for review.  All opinions are my own.

Hello, Fireflies!

I always say that the best makeup is your smile, and taking care of your teeth can help you feel good about it!  Now, I'm not a dentist, and I don't play one on TV, but I think this Dental Tartar Scraper and Remover Set By Majestic Bombay can really help make your teeth look and feel their best!

OMG Nail Strips!

Product provided for review.  All opinions are my own.

Hello, Fireflies!

You could say that nail art is my first love in the beautysphere.  I started blogging because I wanted to share my nails, and talk polish, and polish-related accessories (points if you heard that in Hank Hill's voice.) 

That being said, when I was approached by OMG Nail Strips to check out their decals, I wasn't on board right away.  I mean, isn't that cheating?

Dress Dotticure

Hello, Fireflies!

Two posts today! I needed a little nail art in my life, so I wanted to show you this dotticure I did to match a dress.  I've used this dress as an inspiration for a stamped nail look before, too.  It's one of my fave dresses.

"Art Nouveau" Stamping

 Hello, Fireflies!

Today's Sunday Stamping challenge is Art Nouveau.  Guess we're getting fancy all up in here.  I had to Google it. 

Color me Fall #ChallengeYourNailArt #FallingForNailArt

Hello, Fireflies!

Today's Challenge Your Nail Art prompt is for Fall Colors.  I did this mani for a nail group I'm in, for a Fall Glitter look, and thought it would work for today's challenge, too.  I love the gold and red together, with a stripe of black.

I laid down a base color of Wet 'n Wild Pot of Gold, and then added Candy Lacquer Big MacIntosh to the bottom 2/3rd of the nail. 

Swish of red and black striper, popped on a red rhinestone, and Bob's your uncle, and Fanny's your aunt.

Bottle shot:  Wet 'n Wild Pot of Gold, Candy Lacquer Big Macintosh, and nail art stripers in red and black.

What are your favorite Fall colors?

My Nail Art is getting...Thinner

Hello, Fireflies!

When I was in high school, I LOVED everything Stephen King.  Read all of his books, multiple times.  I still have this paperback from when I was a kid:

I patterned my very simple nail art after the cover.  I used Wet 'n Wild Black Creme, and then free-handed a hand print on my thumb with OPI Over and Over A-Gwen.

I'm pretty proud of how the handprint came out.  It was my first one.

What do you think?  Does it look like the cover to you?

Do you still read books from the same authors that you read when you were a kid?  I don't really read Stephen King anymore, but I loved Richard Peck as a kid, and I still go back and read his stuff.

My First Leadlight

Hello, Fireflies!

Ready for another post of 'Nidia Tries Something New and It Goes Sideways As Expected'?  Good! Here we go... my first lead-light technique!

Ageless Derma Oil Free Purifying Facial Cleanser Gel #agelessderma

Product provided for review.  All opinions are my own.

Hello, Fireflies!

How do you clean your face?  I never knew there were so many choices, but I'm having fun picking textures, scents, and systems that work for me - and may work for you. 

I Adore You, Too, Teadora!

Products provided for review.  All opinions are my own.

Hello, Fireflies!

I am all about the bold lippie.  Mattes, stains, creams, brights, vamps, you name it.  Most of these, I have to remove with makeup remover.  And then, there's the drying weather.

Let's not forget the smooching, either.

My lips are in need of some rehabbing, and when I got to try Teadora's Nourishing Lip Butter, I was excited.

But, but, it's a pot.  I don't *do* lip stuff in pots.  Or, shall we say, I didn't.  I will for this stuff.  It's the most unique lip stuff I've come across.  It's almost the texture of a shea butter - hard, and a little gritty in the tub.

But if you rub your finger over it, it melts and then you can apply it to your lips.  For more exfoliation, scrape a little bit of the balm out, and you'll get a more gritty texture that melts away after a few minutes.

I've been using this for weeks now, and I've barely made a dent in the tub.  For $15, it's a bargain!

The products at Teadora are made with their proprietary Elixirs - Rainforest Youth, Hydration, and Restoration, each containing ingredients to target a specific purpose.  What's also important is what their products DON'T have - no parabens, synthetic fragrances, silicone, gluten, Phlalates, sulfates, harsh chemicals, or animal products.  Their products are 100% vegan, and they do no animal testing.

Not only does the lip balm feel great, taste amazing, and is made from great ingredients, Teadora is committed to doing business in a socially responsible way, by using ingredients that are fair trade sourced, sustainably harvested, carbon reduction focused, recyclable and biodegradable.  They are also involved in efforts to help preserve the Amazonian Rainforests.

Teadora Lip Butters come in two versions - Rainforest at Dawn, and Rainforest at Dusk.  The Dawn Lip Butter is in a flavor they call Laranja, and is a light, sweet orange.  It is DELICIOUS.  Totally addictive.  Dusk's flavor is called Acai-Acu, and is a berry-chocolate blend.  Yum.

As always, you know I'm loving something if I'm inspired to do nail art!  I based this on their logo - in color on my middle finger, and the black and gold version on my thumb.  To do this nail art, I used Milani Black Swift, Sally Hansen/Revlon white, Sephora X Enriched, A Rhyming Dictionary Polish Show and Tell, China Glaze Metro Pollin-tin, and Urban Decay Bang.

If you'd like more information about Teadora, which means, "I adore you" in Portuguese, or to purchase any of their butters, oils, cleansers, or other skin care products, you can find them on their website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube.

How are you taking care of your lips?

Sad Monsters

 Hello, Fireflies!

This month's NCC prompt is books.  I used to read a lot.  All the time.  You know what killed it for me?  College.  I actually read textbooks and articles, and somehow, through 4 years of undergraduate, and some years of graduate work, I no longer read for fun.

So, I was fumbling around for this first mani.  Not sure if I should go back to the many bookshelves we have and find an old book of mine, or one of my husband's many books.

I was wearing this polish, Lacquerhead Polish Ashlyn, a deep brown, bordering on plum holo.  And, I thought to myself, Self, I should do something based on this polish.

And, so I did.  I found this book cover art for Sad Monsters, and decided to give it a try.

First, I stamped with Maybelline Bold Gold and Dashika Big SdP-A, and tried to hi-light with a yellow nail art pen.

Then I drew in the eyes, mouth, and teeth of the sad monster on my ring finger.

He's a sad, sad monster.

Bottle shot:  Lacquerhead Polish Ashlyn, Maybelline Bold Gold, and nail art stripers in black and white. I used a yellow nail art pen, too, but I guess it didn't want to be photographed?  Not sure how I missed that..

When you're looking for inspiration, where do you look first?  Pinterest?  Google? Your workspace? Nature?

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