Retinol Revive #Valentia

Press Sample. All opinions are my own.

Hello, Fireflies!

Does the word, 'Retinol' strike fear into your heart?  Do you immediately think of the harsh, doctor-prescribed formulas of yore that made your skin turn red and peel off before finally healing?  Skincare science has advanced, thank goodness, and now you can get the skin-clearing benefits of Retin-A, but in a non-prescription form of Retinol.  It takes longer, but is so much gentler, and it's become a staple, not only in my skincare, but that of my husband, as well.

Twisty Black and Orange Stamping

Hello, Fireflies!

It's been awhile since I've posted a stamping nailart.. and while I'm working on one today, I figured I'd pull one up from the vault in the meantime. It was meant to be a bright, summer orange mani that I posted in a Facebook group sometime back, but it's giving me October Halloween vibes today!

Not Greasy, Just Shine!

Press Sample.  All opinions are my own.

Hello, Fireflies!

Some days I want a matte look, some days dewy, but never do I want my oily skin to look greasy or shiny.  I do, however, want to SHINE, with my new brightening face oil from Amalie Beauty.

Stamping From The Vault

Hello, Fireflies!

I'm not sure if the Adventures In Stamping group is ever going to get back to the Sunday Challenge.  I'm ever hopeful, but I decided that I didn't want to give up my Stamping Sundays any longer.

Fun and Funky 4th with #ColourPop and #Milani

Hello, Fireflies!

I don't know how it got started for me, but last year, I decided to wear a fun red, white, and blue-themed makeup and nails look for my friend's 4th of July party, and this year, I decided to do it again.

Natural Pain Relief with Oils #PhytopiaUSA #PainAway

Press Sample. All opinions are my own.

Hello, Fireflies!

I may be young at heart, but there's no doubt that this body is getting old.  After 40, my body decided that it didn't need a good reason to be in pain anymore - maybe, I just sneezed and torqued something.  Or I slept on it wrong.  Or, sometimes, it may be that I didn't *do* anything to it, it just hurts. I don't like the idea of taking pills all the time, so I look to other remedies, and I have found one in Phytopia!

Old School Gaming

Hello, Fireflies!

This month's NCC Challenge theme is Video Games.  I'm not a hard-core gamer, but I married one!  We bonded over dates playing pinball and arcade games way back in the day.

Leafy T-shirt

Hello, Fireflies!

I didn't get all four of the challenge posts done this month.  Bad blogger.  And, today's nailart is one I really liked a lot, but I don't know what I was thinking when I tried documenting it.  No polish names, no stamping plate name...  just some pretty pictures for you to enjoy!

I Mus-stash it You A Question #StashIt

Press Sample.  All opinions are my own.

Hello, Fireflies!

I've been traveling lately.  Usually, when I travel, I like lots of pockets and things for all my toiletries - everything all sorted out into different places.  But this time, I decided to try something different, and I really liked it!

Floral Nails, Stamped and Framed

Hello, Fireflies!

Remember last week, when I did a square glitter nail look to match a dress?  Today, I have a stamped glitter look I created to match the same dress!

It's hard to tell, but the stamp is supposed to be the outline of roses.

It just looks like a stained-glass window, though, with all that glittery goodness!

I like how the polish abstractly creates flower patterns, like the less defined flowers on the dress.

I used my generic white polish as a base, Deborah Lippmann Cosmic Love glitter, and a black striper to frame the mani.  I don't remember what polish I used to stamp, but most likely Finger Paints Black Expressionism.

Which interpretation do you like better? Stamped over glitter, or square glitter over coral?

An InLinkz Link-up

Mother's Day Flowers

Hello, Fireflies!

I'm not a mother myself, and this year, my mom is very ill.  I'll be visiting her today.  She is a master at gardening, with a vast knowledge of how to grow almost anything.  She loves flowers and plants, and I remember growing up with huge flower gardens, and the best home-grown tomatoes on the planet.

Colorless Stained Glass

Hello, Fireflies!

Today's Stamping Sunday is a stamp that reminds me of stained glass, but over a colorless backdrop.

Hyko, hyko un-de! #HYKOBauanaNaturals

Press Sample.  All opinions are my own.

Hello, Fireflies!

In this serum from Bauana Naturals, Hyaluronic and Kojic Acid gets shortened to Hyko!(TM) and it makes me think of that great Mardi Gras song, Iko Iko.

Was my skin as lifted as my spirits after listening to this catchy song? Maybe!

Purple, Sparkly and Swirled

Hello, Fireflies!

Still no official theme for today's Sunday Stamping challenge.  So, I'm doing my own thing.

Sparkly Cupcakes

Hello, Fireflies!

Time for the 3rd installment of this month's NCC challenge of Candy & Sweets.  I'm back with another stamping decal that looks good enough to eat to wear on your nails?

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.

Shimmer, Shimmer, Cocoa Brown #cocoabrowntan

Press Samples.  All opinions are my own.

Hello, Fireflies!

When I was young, I really wanted a tan, but I would always burn and then peel.  I would occasionally try a self-tanner, but would be disappointed with the orange glow, and hated that fake tan scent.  Resolved then to stay pasty forever, I had totally accepted and began to love my translucent self.  When I first started getting offers to try tanning products for the blog, I was reluctant to try them, being Pale and Proud.  I'm glad I relented, though, because I've found some really great, natural-looking, nice-smelling products to let me change up my look anytime I feel like having a little shimmer or glow!

Fields of Sparkly Flowers

Hello, Fireflies!

There's no official challenge for today's Sunday Stamping, so I just picked one that I did recently that I liked!  Can't go wrong with glitter and flowers, in my book.

Chocolate-Dipped! #NaturalBeautyGoddess

Press Sample.  All opinions are my own.

Hello, Fireflies!

Yesterday, I rubbed coffee all over my body.  Today, I'm doing it with chocolate.  Well, cocoa butter.  Smells like chocolate, though.

Use that Cuppa For A Good Scrubba #CoffeeScrub

Press Sample.  All opinions are my own.

Hello, Fireflies!

I suppose I'm a bit of a caffeine addict.  Perks me up, makes me more focused, gives me a little energy.. and now, it works on my skin, too!