october haul

I promised I would be better this month... Let's see if that happened.

The best thing I got this month?
OPI - DS Glamour (via swap with Taylor from Nailed to the T)

I got some delayed birthday gifts:
China Glaze - He's Going In Circles (from Laurie!)
Catrice - Khaki Perry (From Traci of the Trace Face Philes!)

I also bought some things from Traci:
Zoya - Bekka (That's close to my name!)
Color Club - Edie
Color Club - Jackie OH!
Color Club - Revvvolution

And won a polish from Traci!
Barry M - Limited Edition Pink

I got some things from Llarowe:
Glitter Gal - Orange Sparkle
Glitter Gal - Light As A Feather
Glitter Gal - Black
Glitter Gal - Silver
Glitter Gal - Marine Blue
a england - Tristam
a england - Excalibur

I got some things from Nail Polish Canada:
Soulstice Spa - Montreal
Soulstice Spa - Monterey
Soulstice Spa - Manchester

And here is the rest of the stuff I bought:
OPI - Rainbow Connection
OPI - Excuse Moi!
OPI - Gone Gonzo!
OPI - Gettin' Miss Piggy With It!
OPI - Fresh Frog of Bel Air
OPI - Divine Swine
China Glaze - Snow Globe
China Glaze - Twinkle Lights
OPI - Sanderella
Pumpkin Polish - Pink (glow in the dark)
Pumpkin Polish - Pink (black light)
Color Club - Pride Collection
Color Club - Back To Boho Collection "B"
China Glaze - It's Alive
China Glaze - Ghoulish Glow
China Glaze - Dorothy Who?
China Glaze - Ruby Pumps (micro mini) ($1.39!)
Revlon - Girly (sale! $1.37)
Revlon - Royal Cloak
OPI - Visions of Sugarplum
OPI - Lincoln Park At Midnight (sale! $5)
Kleancolor Techno High Mini Set (6 for $5!)
Kleancolor Candy Case Mini Set (6 for $5!)


As you can see, no, I didn't do good. Christmas collections and Color Club collections kill me.
36 polishes, 13 minis, and 2 Color Club sets.
It's really not too bad because I didn't pay for a lot of it and what I did pay for was mostly with professional prices. And it is way less than last month and the month before.

Oh well. I'll be better in November because the Christmas and Halloween collections are done and over with.

Nail Polish Blogger Challenge - Day 7

Hi guys! Look, I'm posting before 11:30 at night! What an accomplishment this week. Haha.

Today is day 7 of the challenge I'm currently doing. The last day!
I wanted to do something a little crazy just to go out with a bit of a bang, I guess!

Skittles it is!
(However I can't take credit for this design - I saw it on WAH Nails. If you're looking for some fun, trendy ideas, that's the place to start.)

Here's what I used:
Color Club - Peppermint Twist.
Sally Hansen Insta-Dri - Brisk Blue
Sally Hansen Insta-Dri - Whirlwind White
Wet N Wild - Black Creme

I used a mixture of brushes, dotting tools, and a nail art pen to create all the designs.

Why is it SO hard for me to take a focused picture of my right hand? Holding my big heavy camera is just sort of difficult with my left hand...

Putting a camera in your lap to take a photo ain't easy either. I manage.

I'm really pleased with this mani and now that the challenge is over, I can wear it for a few days!
I have a midterm on Thursday so I will probably be leaving this on until then.

Of course, check out the other ladies' posts today:

Caroline from Good Lack Nail

Leslie from Polish Art Addiction 

Inge from Polish Sis
Ulmiel from Did someone say nail polish?
Sidrah from beauteous blog
Sarah from Lucky Lacquers
Maestra from parokeets

Gejba from  parokeets 

 

I hope you guys enjoyed seeing this challenge all week! I'm glad it's over, though. Challenges can be stressful! How did I manage the 31 Day Challenge? I don't know!

Nail Polish Blogger Challenge - Day 6

Hi guys! Late night post again. I'm really bad at doing my manis in the daytime lately...

Before we get started I'm going to post my link for the Bundle Monster Facebook contest again! This is the last night of voting. Judging starts tomorrow! Help me get into the top 10 judging round by clicking here and voting for my design. Thanks!

For tonight's mani I wanted something cute and simple. I went for stamping and glitter!

Tada!

I didn't have a bottle of polish nearby when I took these pictures... So I used my new Strawberry Sorbet EOS as a replacement.

I'm really pleased with these even though they are so simple.

The base is Color Club - Peppermint Twist (which you know if you've been following this challenge.)
I stamped from Bundle Monster BM-221 using China Glaze - Millennium.
The glitter nail has a layer of OPI - Teenage Dream, OPI - Show It And Glow It, and OPI - Yule Love This Silver.

I hope you guys like this simple mani as much as I do!
And don't forget to check out the manis from the other challenge ladies:

Caroline from Good Lack Nail

Leslie from Polish Art Addiction 

Inge from Polish Sis
Ulmiel from Did someone say nail polish?
Sidrah from beauteous blog
Sarah from Lucky Lacquers
Maestra from parokeets

Gejba from  parokeets 

Just one more day left in this challenge! Any suggestions for my final design?

Nail Polish Blogger Challenge - Day 5

Hi guys! Just getting this post in before midnight, haha. I had a lazy day and only just did my mani for today.
But again, I made it super cute, so it was worth the wait!

Before we get started - the Bundle Monster Facebook nail art contest ends soon!
Click here to check out my entry and give me a vote if you like my design. You guys helped me win before and I know you can do it again! I totally appreciate it!

Now for the nails!
I've been waiting to do a splatter mani for a while now, but never took the time to do it until tonight.
I thought an all-pink splatter might be nice!

So here we go.

Pink overload! In a good way!

I'm so happy with how this turned out.

The base is, as you know if you've been following this challenge, Color Club Peppermint Twist.
I splattered using several different polishes:
China Glaze - Strawberry Fields
Nicole by OPI - You're An Angel
China Glaze - Light As Air
Wet N Wild - Tickled Pink
Barry M - Limited Edition Pink

To acheive the splattered look, I dipped a coffee stir stick into a drop of polish and quickly blew it over my nails. There are several tutorials for this on youtube - check it out!
It's super easy. No nail art skills required!

I'm so happy with the way this turned out and I'm not looking forward to changing this manicure tomorrow to keep up with the challenge! That's the problem with these challenges... Haha!

One of my lovely followers, Line, who I've been interacting with on my Facebook page suggested I do a pink manicure for breast cancer awareness this month.
I've been doing pink all week as you know - but today I decided to add a ribbon to really seal the deal!

I added the ribbon with China Glaze Urban-Night. I hope this breast cancer awareness mani hit the spot, Line!
Line has recently started her own blog too (it's contagious,) but it's in French so many of you may not understand. But you can all look at pictures! Check it out here.

And again, check out the other manis from the girls in the challenge this week!

Caroline from Good Lack Nail

Deniz from Emerald Sparkled 

Leslie from Polish Art Addiction 

Inge from Polish Sis
Ulmiel from Did someone say nail polish?
Sidrah from beauteous blog
Sarah from Lucky Lacquers
Maestra from parokeets

Gejba from  parokeets 

Nail Polish Blogger Challenge - Day 4

Good evening! I just did my nails for today so I'm posting them a bit late.

Here they are!
They're not the most well done but I really like them!

Ages ago, I saw a picture on tumblr of gray nails with a neon pink tip. It's been in my mind to do ever since, so today is the day!

It's not the neatest up close but from a distance it looks great! 
(And my ring looks great too - Walmart $7)

The pink is, again, Color Club Peppermint Twist. 
The gray is China Glaze Recycle.
And the black stripes which I did with a striper brush were done with Wet N Wild Black Creme. (My striper brush sucks...)

I did the thumb differently as an accent nail. I stamped the bow image from Konad m59 with Peppermint Twist but it didn't stamp opaque enough - so I used a detail brush to fill it in. It looks a bit messy but I actually sort of link the imperfect look of this nail.

How did I get the inspiration for my bow nail? A new adorable shirt I have...

I got it from Forever 21 and I am in love with it. Of course it needed a nail dedication.

I hope you guys liked this manicure! I wonder what I'll come up with for the next three days...

As always, check out the other posts from the challenge ladies today!

Caroline from Good Lack Nail

Deniz from Emerald Sparkled 

Leslie from Polish Art Addiction 

Inge from Polish Sis
Ulmiel from Did someone say nail polish?
Sidrah from beauteous blog
Sarah from Lucky Lacquers
Maestra from parokeets

Gejba from  parokeets 

Nail Polish Blogger Challenge - Day 3

Hi everyone! Time for day three of the challenge - and this one is cute overload. I'll get right to it.

Hearts!!
I've been wanting to do another polka-heart mani for a long time - you might remember the first one I did ages ago which you can see here. It's been one of my most popular posts since I posted it!
(Coincidentally it was featured yesterday on Babble.com's 25 Fun & Flirty Nail Trends to Try! Good timing then, for me to post another!)

Of course - the base is Color Club Peppermint Twist for the challenge.

I did the hearts freehand with a white 2-way nail art pen. Surprisingly it didn't take all that long to draw all the hearts!

I thought they sort of matched my Hello Kitty calendar... So here's a pic!
And while we're on the subject of HK...

Look at this great new Hello Kitty stamping plate I got!
I got this baby on eBay from this listing. The seller has quite a few adorable plates! And at a decent price. I might have to buy another one or two! (Especially the one with the bows... And Transformer logos...)

As always, don't forget to check out the posts today by the other lovely ladies in the challenge!

Caroline from Good Lack Nail

Deniz from Emerald Sparkled 

Leslie from Polish Art Addiction 

Inge from Polish Sis
Ulmiel from Did someone say nail polish?
Sidrah from beauteous blog
Sarah from Lucky Lacquers
Maestra from parokeets

Gejba from  parokeets 

Nail Polish Blogger Challenge - Day 2

Hello and welcome to Day 2 of the Nail Polish Bloggers Challenge!

Today begins the real challenge - creating six different manicures using the same polish.

For my first attempt I decided to use a new plate I got which I have been wanting for a long time!

This is an Essence Stampy Plate. I mentioned back in September that I had been trying to get my hands on this plate without success! Not long after, it was reader to the rescue!
A lovely girl named Steffi emailed me telling me she had bought the plate for me. How sweet is that?!
Thank you so much, Steffi! I appreciate your generosity very much! Seriously, you're great.
(Especially when I get to have checkered nails now!!!)

Ah! Pink checkered nails! My dream!

I've done this before using a Sharpie and sometimes tape but it is just too time consuming and not perfect enough for my liking.
But this plate... Perfection!
(Okay maybe I could have been a bit neater but this was my first time using the plate.)

Full of awesome. I have such a "thing" for checkered stuff.

Checkered shoes... (5 pairs...)

Checkered walls...

As you know, my base color is Color Club Peppermint Twist.
I stamped from the Essence plate using Wet N Wild Black Creme.

I hope you guys enjoyed these nails!
Do any of you have a thing for checkered stuff like I do?

And again, check out the other bloggers involved for more great pink posts!

Caroline from Good Lack Nail

Deniz from Emerald Sparkled 

Leslie from Polish Art Addiction 

Inge from Polish Sis
Ulmiel from Did someone say nail polish?
Sidrah from beauteous blog
Sarah from Lucky Lacquers
Maestra from parokeets

Gejba from  parokeets 

Nail Polish Blogger Challenge - Day 1

Hi everyone! You may know this already from seeing other posts - today I am starting a week-long nail blogger challenge with 9 other lovely ladies from around the world!

A few months ago I was asked by my friend Caroline of Good Lack Nail if I would be interested in participating in this challenge she thought up, and of course I said yes.

So what is the point of this challenge?
Well, we all had to choose one polish to use in a different manicure for all 7 days of the challenge!

We decided to use pink as the theme!

What color did I choose? My favorite pink, of course!

Color Club - Peppermint Twist
Are you surprised I chose a Color Club? Didn't think so...

This is a lovely polish which I have previously posted about here.

As I said then, this almost covers in one coat, and the formula is just lovely! Very easy to work with, no clean up needed.

I find this shade of pink to be perfect for my skin tone, and also vibrant enough to not look like just another boring pink!

Looks good up close.

Looks good from afar.

Looks good in this artsy photo.

Looks good next to my pink octopus guitar... Wait, where was I going with this?

With a stash as big as mine, it's hard to choose favorites, but this one wins hands down (nails down?) in the pink creme section.

I hope you guys enjoyed my first post for this challenge! Stay tuned all week for 6 more great looks featuring this polish. 

While you're sitting at your computers waiting for my next post (you're doing that, right?) check out the posts from the other bloggers in the challenge!
Here are all their links for your viewing pleasure.

Caroline from Good Lack Nail

Deniz from Emerald Sparkled 

Leslie from Polish Art Addiction 

Inge from Polish Sis
Ulmiel from Did someone say nail polish?
Sidrah from beauteous blog
Sarah from Lucky Lacquers
Maestra from parokeets

Gejba from  parokeets 

See you tomorrow!

vote for me in the Bundle Monster Halloween contest!

Hi guys! Remember a few months ago when all your support helped me win the second set of Bundle Monster plates?
Well, BM is at it again and they are having another contest!

This time the theme is Halloween and there are three prizes up for grabs - $100, $50, and $25 gift cards for their online store.
I would love to win!

(click to enlarge)

Here's the nails I submitted. Aren't they spooky?
I used a few different BM plates, and the gradient was done with China Glaze Cross Iron 360 which is part of the new Halloween collection (this one in particular is a re-release and is only available at Sally Beauty.)

Click HERE to go directly to my entry and vote!
I believe you must have Facebook to be able to vote.

There are some other great entries so check them all out and vote for the ones you like!
And if I win the big prize... I'll buy some plates for a giveaway!

a-england - Tristam

Hi guys! I have a great fall polish to show you today.

If you've been reading my blog for a while, you know I don't usually love dark colors. But this one is a winner for sure!

a-england - Tristam.
This is a gorgeous deep blue subtle holo that covers great in just 2 coats.

I would describe it as a deep denim blue. It looked great with my dark blue jeans! Haha.

I wore this polish for 4 days (with Seche Vite) without a single chip!

The holo is subtle... But it is in there. Sometimes it is better to have a holographic polish that is not in-your-face but still has that special rainbow effect.

a-england also has a deep purple polish just like this one called Lady of the Lake... And now I think I need that one too!

You may be thinking, "Rebecca, where did you get this great polish from England?"
The answer is llarowe!
A lovely lady named Leah Ann runs the store, and she is providing polishaholics everywhere with international brands! You can get Glitter Gal, Ozotic, piCture pOlish, HITS, and of course, a-england! The majority of the things in the store are holo. Holo lovers rejoice!
(Have you seen the HITS holos from Brazil? Oh my!)

Most of the brands she sells are very expensive to bring in from their respective countries, so let's all thank Leah Ann for being awesome!

You can purchase this polish here for $12.00.

China Glaze - Drinkin' My Blues Away

Today we have the final color from my recent eBay China Glaze spree. I told myself I wasn't going to buy this one, and just concentrate on the other 3. (All the auctions were ending within 2 minutes of each other. Torture!)
So I was not planning on getting it... But I opened the tab when there was only 11 seconds left in the auction and no one had bid so without thinking I snatched it up!!
...Oops.
Oh well, this color is gorgeous and I'm happy I bought it, even if I didn't really mean to. Haha!

China Glaze - Drinkin' My Blues Away.
This is 3 coats of blue jelly glass-flecked shimmery goodness.

It really looks watery and pretty, and the shimmer even flashes some pink and purple!

This impulse-buy was a good purchase.

That ends my little series on older China Glaze pretties! Maybe some day I will have a few more for you.

China Glaze - Shaken Not Stirred

Are you guys ready to see another great older polish from China Glaze?
I'm ready.

China Glaze - Shaken Not Stirred.
This one is actually a year older than the last two I have shown you, but I got this one for cheaper!
This is from the 2005 Martini Pedicure collection, and at some point, I want to get a few more from the collection! (Okay, maybe just Martini Pedicure itself. I just noticed that the person I bought all these from on eBay has that one but he has it listed for more than I would like to spend...)

Anyway, Shaken Not Stirred is another of these oldie China Glaze polishes with the gorgeous shimmer.

You might be thinking, "Doesn't this one look like No Way Jose?"
Well, yes. Sort of. You probably don't need both.

As you can see, Shaken Not Stirred is a bit more pink than No Way Jose.
But they are both very pretty and I am happy to have both!

Just one more post in my set of oldie ChG! The last one is different from the others. Look out for it tomorrow!