UA-26222132-1 Libby's Pink Vanity: August 2010

Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Sweetified Swoonicated Slobbery Swatching

Posted by Libby's Pink Vanity at 8/31/2010 03:29:00 PM 3 comments
It is just not fair.  Nope, not at all.  Photos just cannot capture the scrumpdelishiousness of Orly's Galaxy Girl.

The second one is indoor lighting and you can see some of the blue specklies in this purpleness.


I try to do posts of my manicures in the order I have done them.  I will make exceptions.  This was one that moved right to the head of the pack.  It was just that fabulousy!
Even outside in the sun, it is way WAY prettier in person.  And with Seche Clear and Vite on top, you'd think one could just dive right into a sea of awesomesauce.  Then just wallow in the turquoiseity of the blue speckles.
There is a hint of the blue micro-glitter peeking out in this shot.  So, do you think it's a bad thing to fall in love with your own nails?  I did use my right hand for these photos as my left middle finger is a recovering nub.  And I'm too stubborn to trim the other ones to match.

Just a reminder that I have a giveaway going on til September 4, Saturday.  Hop over to here and enter.  If you do, then you are alacrity in all ways.  (Now that's a REAL word!)



Saturday, August 28, 2010

Yes, It Is Time For A Giveaway!!!

Posted by Libby's Pink Vanity at 8/28/2010 08:17:00 PM 32 comments
Giveaways HAVE got to be one of the highlights of blogging.  I'm just about as excited to hold a giveaway as I am in winning one.  It's fun anticipation (sorry, no youtube song clip on that song...I hate it! :p )

One of the fun things I anticipate is the new fragrance releases by Bath and Body Works.  The newest one is 'Dark Kiss.'  Gosh, I wish we had  smellavision or scratch and sniff blogs.  heee hee!  However, B&BW is capitalizing on the vampire lovefest we have been enjoying. 

With that theme in mind, here is my next giveaway...
Yea, I bet you wish there was 'smellavision' now!!!  Or, maybe you already have had a chance to check this new one out.  It was supposed to be released on August 30, but I got wind that the company was going to put it out on Friday, yesterday.  I was there that morning before they sold out.

So while I was shopping for me, I was shopping for you, as well.  And, I was playing with my new photo box.  The bottles wouldn't stand up well in the box, as the bottom was curved.  Grrrr....So I just used the lights.  If you look closely, I think there is something else peaking out behind one of the bottles.

This giveaway is for a bottle of Bath and Body Works Triple Moisture Shower Cream and a bottle of Triple Moisture Body Cream.  Both in the new 'Dark Kiss' fragrance.  The fragrance is listed as 'a tempting blend of black raspberry, maribelle plum, amber, dark vanilla bean and sensual balsam.'  They must have concocted just the right formula because I don't even like raspberries.  Now, I have reason to!

Here's the mandatory guideline for the giveaway:
1) You must be a follower of my blog, so let me know how you are following, in a post, along with your email address.  1 Entry

Extra Entries:
2) Share this giveaway on your blog, with a link here, and put the link in the comments. 
1 Entry
3) Share this giveaway, with a link here, on your Facebook account.  1 Entry
4) Tweet this giveaway and let me know you did in a comment.  1 Entry
5) Extra, Extra point...tell me what movie I went to see on Friday, 8/27.  1 Entry

There's a chance for a total of 5 entries.  Giveaway entries will be accepted until September 4, Saturday, 10 PM EST. Everyone in the world can enter.  I'll use random.org to determine the winner.  Upon picking a winner, I'll email you with the happy news.

Any questions or comments, you can email me, always, at libbyspinkvanity(at)gmail.com
Did you notice the prizes are PINK!!!

Friday, August 27, 2010

I Found My Silver Lining

Posted by Libby's Pink Vanity at 8/27/2010 08:42:00 PM 4 comments
My first nail polish was a Sally Hansen's.  I'm sure it was one of my Mom's.  My Mom used to have the most glamorous and long nails.  Gosh, I wish my scanner would work on my printer because I'd love to show you a photo of my mom...her senior photo.  She's simply beautiful.  And I ended up looking like Dad!  No fair!!!

So, Sally's Hansen has a looonngggg history.  And, fortunately, they have kept up with the times.  When the new limited collection of their Complete Salon Manicure came out and, after I snagged all the 'Hidden Treasures' I could find, I got this one next...




This is 'Silver Lining.'  Right off, the photos do not show a true, accurate representation of this polish.  In real life, the sparkles are rich and iridescent in a silver base.  It looks like it could be watery, but it wasn't.  Not quite.
Ah, that's a better photo!  But sadly, I only took one of it as my pedicure.  I have no reason why.  Maybe I just forgot. :/
I'll definitely swatch this one again as a manicure.  It's a new favorite even though it is a lighter color.

And, along with this look, I did a manicure.  Here's a polish that isn't quite so bad for a cheapy, nail supply polish...
This photo shows the orange shimmer in this polish.  It has, what I would label,  a bright coral base.
Not a photo rich blog this time.  I guess I didn't want any overkill on photos, this time.  Hmmmm....

So, I'll wrap up by saying that this brand is 'Cleopatra' and the name of this shimmery coral is 'Reconcilable Indifference.'  That's a fun play on words.  This polish wasn't a total wash-out like other cheapy, nail supply polishes.  It actually did OK with 2 coats.  It's a bit watery but came out to my liking.

And my Mom is still one of the most beautiful women I know.

Have you ever bought a cheap polish that you ended up loving?  Can you actually get the owner of a nail supply shop to sell to you, even without a nail license?

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Thank You for the 'Please Stand By' Moment

Posted by Libby's Pink Vanity at 8/26/2010 07:34:00 PM 5 comments
Are you old enough to remember when television stations would either lose their reception or would go off the air after midnight?  They would have this 'test pattern' on the screen or, if they were finished with the shows, play the National Anthem.  This was WAY before cable TV!

If I would have had a photo of that test pattern, I would have had it up on my blog for the past couple of days.  My comment section was messed up.  And all I wanted to do was change templates. :/

Thanks to fiverr.com I got the problem solved for...you guessed it....FIVE BUCKS!!!!

My hubs has been telling me about this site for months.  I like to 'fix' stuff myself, when I can.  But this comment thingy was over my head.  Does anyone really know HTML???  Obviously I don't.  But hey, why would I need to learn it when I can spend a fortune, of $5, to have someone else do the dirty work!!

A very special thank you to my dear followers who took the time to email me a heads up.   It's very sweet to know that there are some makeup sisters looking out for me. :)

Take it from Libby; when life gets you frazzled, NAP!

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Orchids Oil for Shine and Moisture

Posted by Libby's Pink Vanity at 8/24/2010 02:47:00 PM 4 comments
Overallbeauty has added a new product to their growing list of offerings.  The new haircare product is Orchids Oil by White Sands.

Orchids Oil is an oil that is all-around perfect for dry hair that also has frizz, fly aways and is in need of shine.   This clear oil has no artificial pigments or dyes in it.  It has more of a serum consistency rather than that of an oil.  With that, it allows for a smooth application into the hair.  A small drop or two, rubbed between the hands and massaged into the hair is all it takes.

My poor, dried out hair.  Since November, it has been through a lot.  Almost any process you can do to ones' hair, it has been through.  Even though I have lots of hair, it is thin.  And sadly, I was abusing it.  Orchids Oil has come to its rescue.  And my hair was in dire need of a life raft.
    (This photo reflects some of the items I received to review.  The other items do not come with Orchids Oil.)

First thing you know I did; smell it.  That was a pleasant surprise waiting to happen.  The fragrance is light and smells like lilacs.  Not only was I going to love having this fragrance in my hair but I also knew I would be using it as a perfume oil.  It smells that good.

Since Orchids Oil can be used on both dry and wet hair, I was eager to try it out.  When I poured a couple of drops into my hand, I was careful in tipping the bottle because I knew it was an oil.  However, it came out as a serum and didn't pour out overly fast.  It's not thick like honey though.  Very easy to dispense.  My only wish about this product is that it had a stopper so you could dispense just one or two drops without fear of pouring too much out.

It only took one drop smoothed along the top of my head to see that Orchids Oil isn't heavy,as long as you use just a tad in getting those fly away hairs under control.  Even though I have dry hair, I'm still prone to frizz in this Florida heat.  And because dry hair doesn't have much shine, this gave it a healthy shimmer without flattening my hair into a greasy mess.

Next, I used it on wet hair after a shower.  Now Orchids Oil really became my new BFF.  My hair drank it in.  Made it instantly soft.  And, even though it sounds cliche, it was more manageable.  Orchids Oil not only helps with detangling (and my hair rivals the wiring behind my computer) but helps protect it from thermal stress and damage.  That means that the blow dryer is not quite the nemesis it was before on my hair.

As I, uh hem, get older, my perfectly balanced skin is starting to get drier.  One of the banes of that is it makes the skin more likely to get wrinkles.  Horrors!!!  Who wants wrinkles??  Put some moisturizer on the skin and it will keep you glowing for a long time.  Saves you money on botox too.  I replaced my regular night cream with Orchids Oil.  With a light application, my skin absorbed the oil without a heavy, oily feel.  Just plain soft.

Orchids Oil comes in a cobalt blue bottle, known to keep UV rays from breaking down the oil.  This bottle is .34 fluid ounces.  Of course, a little will last you a long time.  And a real bonus, Orchids Oil is just $5 for this size!!  The full size, 3 oz, at $15, is still an amazing value.  Personally, I am amazed that something of this high quality can be so affordable.  Makes it way easier to tell you that I will continue to use this product, my new BFF.

This product was given to me by Overallbeauty to use and review.  This review is my honest and personal opinion.

Sunday, August 22, 2010

A Giveaway is on the Way

Posted by Libby's Pink Vanity at 8/22/2010 10:18:00 PM 6 comments
Ooohhhh...I just spent way more time futzing around my blog just now.  I really, really want to know what YOU write!  So comment section HAD to be in place.  I hope it's working now.

Ugh!  I mustn't eat hub's brownies!!!!!!

Now that I have collected myself, I wish to make an announcement:
I will be setting up a giveaway next week. 
I'm formulating a theme to make it fun too, because FREE stuff is fun!!!

Dude, Where's My Decade?

Posted by Libby's Pink Vanity at 8/22/2010 08:16:00 PM 2 comments
There are some colors that just scream to be a 'toes' color.  Or, at least, my toes scream for particular colors.  Purple is one of them. 

Purple is Pink's cousin.  First removed.  My hubs often has flashbacks to the '60's and will just start singing 'Purple Haze.'  Then he fancies off to singing 'Sunshine Superman.'  Yea, he's a dude of the '60's.  You know love beads, early Beatles, Woodstock...you get the picture.

Anyhoo, if I had been trippin' back in the '60's, I bet I would have worn purple flowers in my hair.  But, alas, I started kindergarten instead.  I did like to color with my purple crayon!  Now that I'm all grown up, I still color with purple...
My purple of choice for my toes: Milani's 3D Holographic in 'Hi Res.'  Super glittery.  Totally fun.  It took 3 good coats for this to get funky on my toes.  So if you think you want some purple glitter but not one that will knock your sandals right off you feet, this one is rad.

The solitaire of the polish is pretty smack on as far as the color.  And as you can see, it's still light in shade after 3 coats.  That's OK with me.  I like the softness of this super glittery purple.
Milani has some very cool colors in their Holographic 3D collection.  Or, maybe I should say they are 'groovy.'  There will always be room on the Pink Vanity for Cousin Purple.

Now you'll have to excuse me.  My hippie dippy hubs says his brownies are done.

What color do your toes scream for?  How about purple glitter; got room for it on your vanity?  Do you like brownies?

Saturday, August 21, 2010

Pretty in Pixel Blue

Posted by Libby's Pink Vanity at 8/21/2010 09:28:00 PM 2 comments
The trend of lots of glitter, shimmer and sparkles has me reeling.  I love it!!!

I was shopped with my sister and I asked her if she remembered when we used to make fun of older women trying to look younger.  They would have a young sense of style, they would wear their makeup a bit heavy and more than likely, they would be wearing something shiny or glittery.  My sis gave me a suspicious side-ways look and said "Yeeesss?"  I broke down and cried "I'm one of them!!!!"  To which she exclaimed "Well, I am too!"  I felt better.  Instantly.  Because she's a grandmother and I am not.  Baaahaaahaaa!

Yes.  I will always pick on my younger sister.  She's come to expect it.

I expected to fall for any nail polish hawking a 'High-Def' look.  But I didn't expect Sally Hansen to have so many in their 'High-Definition' collection. 

Here is one I picked, Pixel Pretty....

Shiny as all get-out.  I mean, I can see the sun reflecting off this polish.  It is a little bit watery, so this manicure (why did I have to retype that word twice because I kept typing 'manure'??) needed 3 coats.  I have the regular 2 coats of Seche Clear with the Seche Vite topping it all.
In the sunny window you can see some brush streaks as well as some VNL.  And this is two days of wear so there shows some tip wear.   However, I do love this Pixel Pretty.
So, if you are out and about and you happen to run across a 'mature' woman sporting a 'younger' style, just remember: Karma can come back and get you too.  And watch out for the Freudian slips, as well.

Do you think when you get 'older' that you will dress and style any way you damn well please?  Are you refusing to look like someone's grandma?  Does wearing blue make you happy?

Thursday, August 19, 2010

A Day At The Office With a Mermaid

Posted by Libby's Pink Vanity at 8/19/2010 08:08:00 PM 4 comments
Whilst nail polish blogging is fun, it quickly turns into an addiction.  Or, maybe it's an obsession.  Workout DVDs have been my addiction for almost 8 years.  Even though I started using them back in the '80's, I leaped off with it in full bravado exactly one day after getting married.  And I have/had a lot of fun jumping on various fitness band wagons.

As I had blogged here, American Apparel is all new to me.  But not anymore!  They sell 1 bottle for $6, 3 bottles for $15.  Yes, you are right; it made better sense to get the 3/$15!!  Surprise.




Nope. I could NOT leave well-enough alone.  First of all, I used American Apparel's 'Office.'  Not sure why they chose 'Office' as the name.  Looks more like kitchenware from 1950's era.  It's a creme polish that doesn't have a lot of shine on its own.  It's sort of turquoise, sort of blue-ish green.  I know I don't have anything like this in my stock, though.  It is much greener than China Glaze's 'For Audrey.'  I just got that one and will soon swatch it.  But even with the two next to each other, there is no duplicate.

Then I started to play with this mani.  I tried out my China Glaze Matte.  Now it looks like some vinyl covering on a bar stool from my hometown drug store!  I wanted to jazz it up so I whipped out the 'makes every polish better' Sally Hansen's 'Hidden Treasure.'  Ah, that put some piss in the pizazz!

Hidden Treasure with Office (just for kicks, a Hidden Treasure in my Office would be finding that the stapler works on the first try) reminds me of a mermaid.

Gosh, I've trimmed my nails since I did this manicure.  I miss them too.  Stupid broken nail!!!  I sure wish my fingernails could be has hard as my biceps. ;)

Got some polish that you have to pizazz?  Do you agree that Hidden Treasure makes a lot of so-so colors better, and good colors great!?

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

My Life According to Google

Posted by Libby's Pink Vanity at 8/17/2010 08:53:00 PM 5 comments
A game, using Google, has been creating some fun in blog world.  I learned about it from Kitschy Suburbia.  Megan owns this blog and it is one of my favorites.  She has an eclectic blog, so I never know what will be up next.  And when I read her post where she played this game, I laughed so hard I really think I pulled something!!!

Type in the following, and choose from the first description found...Be honest, don't just pick one out to be funny! :)

1: Type in "(name) needs" in the Google search:
Kimberly needs to continue to sit in the waiting area.
Yea, that's the story of my life, right there!

2: Type in "(name) looks like" in the Google search:
Kimberly looks like $h!+.
Well, thanks a lot!

3: Type in "(name) hates" in Google search:
Kimberly hates Bush so intensely for the US president's less-than-Hamlet-like psychology, for his inability to wrestle with life's more complex moral ambiguity.
Definitely written by a long-winded journalist.
But, what was funny was that the next one would have been from another Kimberly on another blog and what SHE hated! :)

4: Type in "(name) goes" OR "(name) has gone" in Google search:
Kimberly goes back on.
I guess I was 'off' before.

5: Type in "(name) loves" in Google search:
Kimberly loves you and will meet you in your sleep and dreams.
Sounds a bit like stalking...or, a bad threat.

6: Type in "(name) eats" in Google search:
Kimberly eats almost an entire red velvet cake, and washes it down with milk.
Ratted out!!!

7: Type in "(name) has" in Google search:
Kimberly has been diagnosed with a liver disease, a condition not taken lightly.
Good heavens!!

8: Type in "(name) works" in Google search:
Kimberly works in oil.
At one time, I did oil paint.

9: Type in "(name) lives" in Google search:
Kimberly lives in the Memphis, TN area, is blissfully married and has three awesome kids.
I did live in Memphis, but not married.  And I don't have kids, must less AWESOME kids.

10: Type in "(name) died" in Google search:
Kimberly died of exposure and hypothermia.
That's what I get for wishing to live in a cooler part of the country. :/

11: Type in "(name) does" in Google search:
Kimberly, does my outfit make my 'fro look big?
Do you want it to look big?

12: Type in "(name) will" in Google search:
Kimberly will run through their top-ten database maintenance recommendations with lots of tips and tricks along the way.
I hope I know what I'm doing.

13: Type in "(name) is" in Google search:
Kimberly is blind.
That's why I had Lasiks. 8)

Naw.  I don't have anything even remotely as funny as Megan's.  You have to just go read hers.

And, this photo came up under 'Kimberly loves', but I promise, this is NOT me...
 



 Nor is this one me...





Sunday, August 15, 2010

Pink as Cotton Candy from Coney Island

Posted by Libby's Pink Vanity at 8/15/2010 01:52:00 PM 8 comments
Before I started nail blogging, I never knew about a lot of the different brands out there.  My scope was very narrow; just those at drugstores and Sally's and the OPI polishes I saw at the nail salon.

With immersing myself into nail blogging world, it opened up a completely new dimension for me.  One of my first outings into 'new to me' polish was American Apparel.  After reading a few reviews and swatches of this brand, I quickly Googled to see if there was an American Apparel store in my city.  Woot!  There was!  Woot!  They were at an outlet mall!  Triple Woot!  It was a mall I had clients in!!!  Since I make my own work schedule, you bet I changed it to go to the outlet mall that following week.

Here's what I ended up with...
Here is 'Coney Island.'  It does look like pink cotton candy!!  Please, please forgive the skill of my manicures.  I am practicing and want to get better at it.  I have lots of blogs I follow who inspire me to step up.
Coney Island is a semi-matte lacquer.  I'm surprised that the brush isn't of better quality.  But since I have usually purchased polishes that have this skinny brush, I'm rather used to it.  The quality of the polish, however, was a WOW to me.  It went on very creamy.  It became opaque with just one coat.  It dried fairly quick too.
Here's the sunny window shot.  I used one coat of base, 2 coats of color, 2 coats of Seche Clear and then a final coat of Seche Vite.  It's that Seche Vite that put the shine into it.
With the sunny outdoors shot, I see my terrible attempt at the cuticle space.  In my defense, this was one of my early attempts of a manicure for my blog.  Someday I hope to look back at these early blog postings and say 'Wow, that's terrible. I'm sooooo glad I do better now!'  But for now I'll just say 'Wow, that's terrible.'  In an attempt to divert your attention, the color in the photo represents the color in real life, if not just a tad darker.

American Apparel has their polishes at $6 or, 3 for $15.  They don't have a TON of different colors.  However, my first attempt in purchasing some left me with leaving without a purchase.  I was overwhelmed by which three I would get.  Since then I have purchased 7 different colors.  And here's pink because, well, pink IS appropriate here, don't you think?

Saturday, August 14, 2010

Tagged! 4 Things

Posted by Libby's Pink Vanity at 8/14/2010 05:28:00 PM 0 comments
This is a tag game that I swiped from Kellie at Also Known As... She mentioned she wasn't officially tagged on it but wanted to share.  I'm doing the same thing.  I totally recommend following Kellie's blog.  This girl knows her stuff.  Now I know she's truly smart as well. :)

4 things in my bag/purse
*coupons, mostly for makeup
*Too Faced Girls Dig Pearls lipgloss
*Pink Paisley Embossed Leather Billfold
*Breath Spray

4 things found in my office desk drawer (I office out of my own home)
*checkbook
*wallet-sized wedding photo
*cuticle clippers
*chapstick

4 favorite things in my room (I count my office room as 'my room')
*floor fan
*wood filing cabinet with unused nail polishes sitting on top
*cork pegboard, LARGE!
*dumbbells, from 3# up to 35#

4 things I’ve always wanted to do
*see the Louvre
*do a triathlon
*having a get-together with my long-time besties from online
*play the piano

4 things I’m currently into
*nail and makeup blogging
*home-made cooked meals
*tweeting
*Netflix movies

4 things I bet you didn't know about me (alright, I'm spilling!)
*I don't have any kids
*I was a hypnotherapist for 5 years
*I had 4.5 hours of reconstructive surgery on my face after a near-fatal car accident
*I thought I was a Pisces for 35 years, then found out I'm actually an Aries

4 songs I can't get out of my head
*A song I made up about Michael Jackson
*Jive Talkin' by the BeeJees (heard it this week at the nail salon)
*Candy by One eskimO
*Iron Man by Black Sabbath

Rules:
Once tagged, you must link the person who tagged you, tag 4 others, let the bloggers know they have been tagged, give 4 answers to each question asked.

I tag:
*Candy Coated Tips
*Do Not Refreeze
* Makeup Your Jangsara
*Pink Sith

All blogs that help me stretch my creativity because they are so creative.

Friday, August 13, 2010

Sweet Friends Award

Posted by Libby's Pink Vanity at 8/13/2010 09:54:00 PM 6 comments
Here is the cute Sweet Friends award I got from Steph at Imperfectly Painted.  Steph lives in the same city as I do and we are going to get together soon.  However, I already know she's a sweetheart.  And she has a spot-on blog too.  Check it out.




The Rules:
1. Post who gave you this award
2. State 10 things you like
3. Give this award to 10 other bloggers and notify them with a comment



10 Things I Like:
1-The Smell of My Kittehs; Yes, They Do Smell Good
2-Starbucks Chai Tea
3-Open Windows at Night
4-Buttered Popcorn at the Movies
5-Snuggling Up with An Afghan My Mom Made Me
6-Cute Skull and Crossbones with a Pink Bow
7-Scary Movies
8-Someone to Go With Me to Scary Movies
9-Flowers
10-Waking Up After A Good Night's Sleep


Tagged:
A Polish Problem
All You Desire
Also Known As...
Babbling Brooke
Body and Soul
Do Not Refreeze
Parokeets
Painted Lady Fingers
Candy Coated Tips
Deez Nailz


Each of these blogs have inspired me and have made me feel welcome in joining blog world.  Thanks, bunches, ladies! :D

Thursday, August 12, 2010

Bad Boy Blues

Posted by Libby's Pink Vanity at 8/12/2010 06:51:00 PM 5 comments
In my last post here, I mentioned my dear high school boyfriend.  Today, I'm going to talk about the 'bad boys.'

After leaving the clutches of my parents, I let all hell break loose.  I partied, I drank and I hung out with 'bad boys.'  It wasn't because I really liked them.  I think it was just to be defiant.  Not one of those bad boys liked me for who I was.  They were not interested in cultivating a relationship.  In case you wonder, I saw the light and got away from that.  It is all out of my system, thankfully.

Yet, there are some things that you want to try out, you want to experiment with.  And experimenting with nail polish is a 'safe' hobby.  Albeit, not for my wallet!  This is Nina's Ultra Pro 'Babi Blue.'

I don't feel 'Babi Blue' is coming through for me.  This is 3 coats and still VNL.  Gosh, and it looked so inviting and fun in the bottle.  But when I took Babi Blue home, it just...um....didn't perform.  And I don't even know how to pronounce 'Babi'....Bay-bee???  Bah-bye???  Ah!  I like Bah-bye; that fits!!!


Nina's polishes are almost always watery.  It can take 3 or more coats to get opaque.  Maybe that's the premise of this brand; to be sheer.  And yesterday I was at Sally's, where I got this one, and I alllllmost bought another Nina's but in green.  I remembered this experience and passed.  I felt burnt by the first encounter.




Eeeeeee!  This is a shallow relationship, indeed!  Let's see if I can clean this up.
I went looking for a not so white cream and I found it.  This is Avon's Nailwear 'Salma's Hope.'  This came from an Avon collection for Breast Cancer Awareness.  I put it on first and then topped it off with Babi Blue...


Hey, that Nina's was on clearance = cheap!  All the warning signs were there!  And Selma's Hope didn't have much hope on this mani.  With 2 coats of Selma's Hope and 2 coats of Babi Blue, I decided that this relationship was requiring too much work.
The only thing I didn't think of was to put some 'Hidden Treasure' on this.  That might have been a saving grace.  But I had broken off the relationship before I thought of that.  This mani was quickly replaced with a better one.

It seemed to be fun at the time, but it was dangerous to hang out with bad guys.  And no matter what anyone told me, I was going to do what I wanted.  Maybe television has influenced us too much.  We see a nice woman meeting a bad boy and changing him into a sweetie, next thing they are living happily ever after.  In retrospect, I know that this very, very rarely happens.  Bad boys are bad news. 

Happily, bad manicures and colors can be fixed and remedied in one day!

Have you had to break up with a nail polish?  No saving grace for it?  They go into the franken stock, don't they?

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Autumn's Allure And A High School Boyfriend

Posted by Libby's Pink Vanity at 8/11/2010 08:18:00 PM 6 comments
It is still wickedly hot here in Central Florida.  Not one iota of a glimpse that Fall is on its way.  This used to be the time of year when we would head back to school.  Even though I wasn't happy about going back, I did love getting finished in May.

Fall is full of wistful memories of going to high school football games.  My boyfriend played on the team our senior year.  I still remember seeing him on the field.  And even though we were not dating anymore, I felt a sense of pride and delight seeing my sweet boyfriend suited up.

Even back then I was drawn to autumn and fall colors.  This polish would definitely have won me over...

 This is Finger Paints "Autumn Allure", from their 2010 fall collection.

When I saw "Autumn Allure" from this collection at Sally's, I wasn't as smitten with it as I thought I would be.  In fact, I almost bought all of them but this one.  Then the OCD in me felt I had to have the complete selection.  I gave Autumn Allure a chance, unlike I did for my high school sweetie.
The sunny window sheds some light on the subject but, it sort of washes it out.  This is quite dark in the bottle and that didn't seem to translate onto the nail.  In the bottle it's a dusty, way dark mauve that has a silver shimmer to it.  On nails, it's just a medium tone mauve.  Maybe like a light raisin color.

That poor damaged ring finger.  It is, though, coming around now.  This photo taken outdoors, is quite true to how it presented in real life.  It has a bit of spice to it, so it has some personality.
And besides having some rough cuticles, I ended up liking Autumn Allure quite a bit.  It did need two coats and I have Seche on top.  If you have ever tried Finger Paints, this one applies well and is the standard quality of Finger Paints.

And with that, I am happy I got this color.  It ended up being one I liked quite well.  I'm glad I gave it a chance.  And, that's quite unlike what I did for my high school boyfriend.  He was a sweet boyfriend, I just didn't know how to be a sweet girlfriend.  Hmmmm...wistful memories from Autumn's past.

Have you seen these new fall Finger Paints?  Would you give a polish a second chance?  Ever find a polish, hesitate to get it, got it and glad you did?  Do you miss the days of high school football and sweet boyfriends?

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Swept Away By Brushes

Posted by Libby's Pink Vanity at 8/10/2010 06:55:00 PM 8 comments
For kicks and to earn a few bucks, I take online surveys.  Sometimes I can get a pretty nice award.  There's one in particular that likes my reviews and comments.  Probably because I give more than a 'It's nice.'  So, I got a couple of Amazon gift certificates and found what I wanted in a heartbeat....
It's a bundle of joy!  It's a toy for playing makeup!
It's so nice and tidy in this leather bag.  Yet it's weighty.
Ta da!!!  Tons of makeup brushes!!  Yippeee!  I can toss out those stupid, cheapy brushes that come with shadows and as that something 'extra' the companies throw in to make it look like a better 'value.'

There is quite an education to be had here in nail/makeup blog land.  I'm happy to say that I'm glad to be learning more about it.  There are quite a few blogs I fancy and they are leading me to temptation a better understanding of the beauty industry.  One of the things I learned is that Konad isn't the only game in town.  When I read about Monster Bundles, I didn't even think twice before pressing the confirm button on Paypal.



However, what I discovered on my own was that this same company sells a sweet package of makeup brushes.

Look here.  The same folks that brought you more stamping plates than you know what to do with, brings you, now, more brushes than you know what to do with!  34 different brushes!  REAL BRUSHES!!  I wish I had a friend who wastes spends her money on MAC brushes so we could compare.  I'd like to know which of my brushes match MAC numbers. Alas, I'll just have to wait on that.  However, I did NOT wait, too long, before snatching some of these out and putting them to use.

But first, I had to take a photo of the lovely set all tucked away in their pockets.  Nestled in line...with...cat slobbers??!!!!!!!!!
OK, looks like Sebastian wants to play with MY new toy.  But wait, there's more....

Libby stepped away from her vanity to come see what her brother was fawning over.  Are they gaga for the smell of leather?!!

Sebastian actually pawed one out and they both were checking it out.  Probably to see if it was still alive.  Shortly after this photo, I picked up the brushes.  MINE!!!

After a couple of days laying the pouch out across my vanity, my husband finally asked if I planned on hogging up the vanity with this 'thing.'  Hmmm...I thought I already was hogging the vanity.  Never mind.  I did explain that as I used each one I was transferring it into my own brush holder...on the vanity.

To wrap this up, I love, love these brushes.  They are made well, the handles are long, the bristles are firmly tuffed into the barrel.  And the kicker...It was $32; two $15 gift coupons and the whole thing cost me $7 including postage.  Sweet!

Am I the only one that drools over new brushes?  I'm thinking not if you are reading this blog. ;)
 

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