A Horror Hockey Mask

Hello, Fireflies!

When I was younger, I *loved* Halloween creep-fest scary movies.  Some characters have endured as Halloween holiday icons - Freddy Krueger, Chucky...

and Jason!  This nail art was inspired by a Nail-101 tutorial, and I think it's easy and impactful - and everyone will know what it is!

Bottle shot:  Sally Hansen White Tip (mixed with Revlon Spirit) and Wet 'n Wild Black Creme.

Can't you just hear the roar of the chainsaw by just looking at these nails? What horror movie icon immediately comes to mind when you think of Halloween movies?

Happy Halloween!

An InLinkz Link-up

I've Come To Suck Your Blood, uh, Nail Polish!

Hello, Fireflies!

There are some vampires we love, some we hate, and some we love to hate.  This villainous nail art was inspired by this tutorial, and they are so cute! They're not sparkly, either, though a little glitter could change that!

I painted all my nails with my Sally Hansen/Revlon white mix, and then added the black details with a striper.  The eyes were multiple dots, and then, there has to be some blood, right?

My husband has been playing all the LEGO movie games, and maybe that's influenced me, because I kinda think these guys look like little LEGO vampires! Can't you just imagine them with little LEGO capes and "U"-shaped hands, running after some hapless LEGO victim?

Bottle shot:  Sally Hansen/Revlon white, Wet 'n Wild Black Creme, and Revlon Cherries In The Snow.

Who is your favorite famous vampire?

An InLinkz Link-up

Jack O'Lanterns

Hello, Fireflies!

I got a little ambitious with my nail art today.  Every now and again, I think I can do something... well, let's just say that I need a little more practice with this one!

I was inspired by these awesome Jack O'Lanterns from Kayla Shevonne.  I started with a sparkly black background.  I love KB Shimmer Stark Raven Mad.  It's the blackest black holo ever.

I started painting the faces in with white, and then used yellow, yellow-orange, and then pumpkin orange to fill in the white.

They look like Clown O'Lanterns. LOL.

Bottle shot:  KB Shimmer Stark Raven Mad, Orly Hook Up, China Glaze Metro Pollen-tin, Urban Decay Bang, and a white striper.

Ok, maybe next year, I'll go as a Clown O'Lantern.  Start a trend!

An InLinkz Link-up

Witches' Hats

Hello, Fireflies!

Welcome to another challenge from the Challenge Your Nail Art group!  This month, it's all about the spooky and scary... and cute.  I like cute Halloween.

Today's prompt was to use the classic orange and black colors of the season.  I was inspired by this nailart I found on Pinterest (and again, couldn't find the originator of the art.  Bah.)

I used a couple of Indies to make the background - Polish Addict Jellyfish and Cuttin' Edge Pug Ugly with a little more Jellyfish dabbed on top.

Then, I used my black striper to make the hats, added a stripe of Urban Decay Bang, and stuck on a little jewel for flair.  Witches' be blingin'.

Bottle shot:  Polish Addict Jellyfish, Cuttin Edge Pug Ugly, Urban Decay Bang, and my black striper.

My husband was ever so amused that I was painting pointy witches' hats with a pointy striper.  Isn't that adorable?

An InLinkz Link-up

Gratiae Exfoliating Salt Body Scrub (Apple, Green Tea and Ginger) #gratiae

Hello, Fireflies!

It's becoming a ritual with me that on my pampering Sundays, I use a luxurious body product during my shower.  When this salt scrub from GRATiAE arrived, I knew it would be one of those Sunday indulgences!

First of all, can we just admire the packaging?  Even the box (not pictured) had their branding on it, and they included tissue paper and a small nylon bag with their brand.  Even the protective foil has their stamp on it.  The tub itself is plastic, but it doesn't feel cheap.  And, truthfully, when I'm in the shower, I'm a little scared of the glass jars, especially when my hands are slippery.

Here's where GRATiAE's Body Scrub (Apple, Green Tea & Ginger) is different for me.  When you open the jar, the salt scrub isn't suspended in liquid or emulsified into a paste.  It's largely loose clumps of crystals.  The scrub has a very light, fresh scent, more reminiscent of apple than the tea or ginger - but it's not a fake sweet apple scent - it's more of a real, true, fresh apple.

You're supposed to wet the crystals in your hands, and then scrub in circular motions to increase circulation.  This worked perfectly fine, though clumsy me did manage to drop bits of salt everywhere.  I did also try mixing it with shower gel and a bath oil, both of which gave me good results... but... the smell of the product I mixed it with overpowered the really subtle scent of the salt scrub.  So, if you're like me and you like that soft apple scent, just wet the salt in your hands with water.

I know a lot of folks don't feel like they're really getting a scrub on unless you can feel the exfoliant on your skin.  The crystals are firm, but not jagged, so you get a scrub you can feel, but it's not painful. After rinsing off, my skin feels soft and smooth; not overly moisturized or oily, because the scrub is fairly dry. The scent left on my skin is so subtle, I had to lift my arm right to my nose to detect it.

If you like a scrubby, fresh, shower indulgence, GRATiAE Exfoliating Body Scrub (Apple, Green Tea & Ginger) might be for you!  You can find more information about GRATiAE on their website, and they're also on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google+.

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Stamped Scary Skulls

Hello, Fireflies!

Today's Adventures In Stamping challenge is to get ready for Halloween with something spooky or scary!  I saw this stamp from Cisi & Sisi 11 plate, and I knew I had to try it.

I started off with Milani Black Swift, which is quickly becoming a favorite black.  It's one-coat shiny awesomeness.

I love how gold and silver look stamped over black, so I alternated Essie No Place Like Chrome and Maybelline Bold Gold.

I couldn't fit more than one skull per finger, so I tried to get one clear part of the stamp on each finger. That upturned profile skull on the middle finger gave me so much trouble! It must have known, somehow, what finger it was on.

Bottle shot:  Milani Black Swift, Maybelline Bold Gold, and Essie No Place Like Chrome.

Are you getting out the black polish for a Halloween mani?  What's your favorite black?

I see you, kitteh

Hello, Fireflies!

Today's nail art came about because someone asked in a nail group if anyone could do this cat tutorial.  I tried.  It was hard.  I think a lot of the cats kinda look like the rabbit mask from Donny Darko.

I found this cat eye nail art from Kayla Shevonne, and I thought it would go well with the cats, and make this more Halloween-y!  I think they're my fave part of the mani. I like how the dot of Joss Desert Sunset glitter makes the eyes shine!

 Bottle shot:  Orly Hook Up, Joss Desert Sunset, and Wet 'n Wild Black Creme.

Ever go as a cat for Halloween?  My husband and I went as Rottweilers once.  Someone asked if we were aliens. 

Beauty Bloggers of Central Florida Wear Pink!

Hello, Fireflies!

This month, the Beauty Bloggers of Central Florida decided to think Pink! So, we all did some kind of look with pink.  I have a head to tips pink extravaganza to share!

I don't have a full picture of the dress I wore, but the dress is black with a fuchsia top that is has a sort of starburst pattern. I based the majority of my look today off that fun pink!

I know that not everyone was able to get the Lorac Mega Pro eyeshadow palette, but if you wanted it, I hope you got it! I really like Lorac shadows.  I used a few of the mulberry-type shades to create this look.

I had also just gotten the It Cosmetics new QVC collection, so I'm wearing their new Hello mascara with the melted fiber technology.  I don't get crazy long lashes with it, but that's fine with me.  If my lashes are too long, they touch my glasses, which makes me cray-cray.  I'm also wearing the It Cosmetics Black/Brown gel liner and I'm in love.  Really great liner, and the color matches my eyes.

Perfect ensemble to pair with a bright pink lip!  I picked up the new colors from the ELF matte lipstick line, and they are all fabulous.  This is ELF Fuchsia.

This nail look turned out a little more neon than expected, but I still liked it.  I started out with China Glaze Strike a Rose, which was so bright! Layering Wing Dust Feel The Burn over it gave it a little bit of a neon coral feel. 

I used Dashika Big SdP-D to make the stamp.  I like how they include reverse images of the same pattern!

I like stamping over glitter and seeing the little flashes peek through.  I wish my stamping had come out a little clearer, though.  I used Cult Nails Nevermore to stamp, and sometimes it works, and sometimes it doesn't.

Bottle shot:  China Glaze Strike A Rose, WingDust Feel The Burn, and Cult Nails Nevermore.

I'm also wearing the new It Cosmetics Celebration Illumination Foundation in Light, and the ombre' pink blush.  I'm a fan!

Need a pick-me-up? Try hot pink! How do you rock pink?

Monsters In Love - Frankenstein's Monster and Bride

Hello, Fireflies!

If you saw yesterday's patchwork mani, and with today's Frankenstein's Monster and Bride mani, you might sense a theme - that Halloween monsters are known for being stitched badly!  Was no one proud of their craftsmanship?

Today's mani is inspired by this Pinterest roundup post - they couldn't identify the original artist, and neither can I, but if you can point me in the right direction, I'll be happy to give credit!

I decided to add the hearts because they are monsters in lurve.  Look how they have goo-goo eyes for each other... You could break out this design for an alternative Valentines' Day mani!

Bottle shot:  Sally Hansen White Tip mixed with Revlon Spirit, Finger Paints Go Van Gogh!, Revlon Cherries In The Snow, Wet 'n Wild Black Creme, and stripers in black and white.

Is there a romantic side to your Halloween?  My husband and I like to do couples' costumes!  One year, we were stereotypical tourists, another year we were 'Old and Retired' Han Solo and Princess Leia..

The Nightmare Before Christmas - Jack and Sally

Hello, Fireflies!

For my last NCC Stripes challenge of the month, I wanted to incorporate stripes and one of the most popular Halloween traditions - watching The Nightmare Before Christmas.

This mani was inspired by one I saw on Pinterest, but I cheated and used a 3-D charm for Jack's face.

I painted all but my middle finger with Revlon Spirit, and then used a black striper to freehand the black stripes.  The middle finger was painted with Milani Black Swift, and then the charm was applied.

Bottle shot:  Revlon Spirit, Milani Black Swift, and a black striper.

What's Jack without his girl?

 This was inspired by a mani done by The Nailasaurus, but it reminded me of Sally.

I started off with a white base to make sure that the colors were bright.  Then, I used striping tape to mark off the different sections.  Even thought it would be nice to paint one color at a time, it dries too quickly for that - and dry polish gets pulled off with the striping tape.  So, do one nail at a time.  I painted over the white lines with black polish and made the stitches, too.

Bottle shot:  Revlon Spirit, Nails Inc Bond St., Wet 'n Wild Pleasure Pier, Urban Decay Bang, Finger Paints Go Van Gogh!, and a black striper.

Wouldn't it be neat to have one hand done like Jack, and the other like Sally?