Manicure 'Sam-mich'

This trend of creating a nail polish sandwich (we say 'sam-mich' in my house....because we're weird like that) is really cute. And I am enjoying the creativity that it beckons.

Go here and look at Nightly Nail's sammich. Durn cute, eh? Hey, she says 'sammich' too! But she's not weird; she's a friend.

And this one....ah, take a look at this one here. This is by Never Enough Nails.

I was at Ulta and spotted this polish by Revlon and 'sandwich' was the first thing that came to my mind.

Revlon's 'Starry Pink.' This is a dusty, light-pinkish lavender that has silver hexagon and micro-glitter.

I liked it because it looks like a 'cheater's' sammich...

I'm sorry...my cuticles need 911! And, can you see that I have, actually, put cuticle oil on them too? Sigh...

However, am I on track here with 'Starry Pink' looking like a polish sandwich. It was a pleasant surprise that it really did have some qualities of the sandwich manicure.

Granted, I am not a fan of dusty pink polishes. I think they look dirty on me. But this one, it almost gets by...

I wore it for a couple of days and it did start to grow on me. I have on two coats with Color Club's 'Vivid': Color Intensifying Top Coat. I used that hoping it would give some luminosity to 'Starry Pink.'

So, what do you think? Want some 'tater chips to go with that sammich? Here's the tidbit on me today; I am not a big sandwich fan at all. There are just a few sandwiches I like. And, this is one that seems to have won me over.

The Voice In My Head Makes Me Do Good Things

I have a voice talking to me in my head. It's only there when I'm out of my house, too. And then, only when I'm shopping.

Most of the time, I don't listen to it. It can be such a spoil sport. I'm out for fun! But the voice's favorite word is 'WAIT!' What??? Wait? Don't make me do something I don't wanna do. Stoopid, stoopid voice!

However, just lately...I have been listening to that voice. No longer is it a shy, timid voice. It's gotten...well, rather stern with me.

There you have it; my confession. Today I listened to the voice. The voice was all parental on me. I gave in and did what it told me to do; telling me it was for a 'good cause.' Ugh. Whatever.

 Here's what the voice wanted me to 'WAIT' on...

Yea. These are the new, Halloween Sally Hansen nail strips. And they're stinkin' cute too. I found these at Walgreens, a place were the voice RARELY wins. Hee heee heee!

Oh, I had that white and orange ghostie RIGHT IN MY HAND!! But, noooooo...the voice says 'WAIT!!' What in the hell am I to 'wait' for???? 'Wait for the Wet N Wild Halloween collection. You know you want all of those, don't you?'

Mmmmmmrrrrrrrr...I guess so. But I'm TIRED of waiting! And the voice said 'Didn't you just buy a nice, new camera too?' Wellllll.....OK. *kicks rocks*

Man, this saving crap sucks!

Look what else I found...

See that orange? It's shimmery!!!! So is the teal and the purple!!! 'Wait, Kimberly, wait!!'

Fine. I will wait. But if I don't find the Wet N Wild Halloween collection in ONE WEEK, this 40-something year old toddler is going to have a TANTRUM!!!

China Glaze's CG in the City With Skittles

I have been doing 'skittle' manicures lately to highlight several different looks that an overlay polish can create. I, recently, did a skittles mani and reviewed it here.

So, here I am, at it again. First is China Glaze's 'CG in the City'...

'CG in the City' (get it...CG = China Glaze) is a wholesome, sparkly confection. In a purple, translucent base, there is silver, iridescent and dark purple glitter...lots of it. I wanted the look of the polish in the bottle to be the same as on my nails.

I didn't get what I was looking for...

 After I did the pinky, with 3 coats of 'CG in the City' and didn't get the opaqueness I was looking for, I went looking for a way to give this polish more flavor.

That means SKITTLE TIME...

First is, China Glaze's 'Cyperspace'; Color Club's 'Give Me A Hint'; Cult Nail's 'My Kind of Kool-Aid'; Color Club's 'I Believe in Amor'; and Cosmetic Art's No Name Bright Pink.

Each one of these is gorgeous in it's own right...

China Glaze's 'Cyperspace'; Color Club's 'Give Me A Hint'; Cult Nail's 'My Kind of Kool-Aid.'

Color Club's 'I Believe in Amor'; and Cosmetic Art's No Name Bright Pink.

Here is what they each look like with one coat of 'CG in the City'...

From thumb to pinkie: Color Club's 'I Believe in Amor'; Cult Nails' 'My Kind of Kool-Aid'; Color Club's 'Give Me a Hint'; and 3 coats of China Glaze's 'CG in the City.'

On the right thumb, I have Cosmetic Arts' No Name Bright Pink...

As gritty as these may look, after one top coat of China Glaze's 'Fast Forward Top Coat,' this wasn't really all that bumpy. I think if I would have put on a coat of Seche Vite, maybe even, two coats, it would have been really smooth. However, I don't mind gritty polish. Just as long as it doesn't snag my clothes or peel off like some large glitter will do.

Take one more look and I'll tell you what my favorites are..

The middle finger has Cult Nails' 'My Kind of Kool-Aid' applied. It gives the look lots of depth. The iridescent and silver glitter show up quite well. This is my second favorite pairing.

On the index finger, I used China Glaze's 'Cyberspace.' It is a very glittery polish on its own. As a purply-beige, it polishes opaque and, the glitter is more subdue than the 'CG in the City.' Putting them together creates a dusty lavender with a lot of glitter inside. The balancing act of the purple 'CG in the City' and the purplish-beige in 'Cyberspace' softens the overall shade. This is my favorite combo.

Tell me which combo you like or, do you think you'd wear 'CG in the City' alone?

Sunday's A to Z About Me

Today's A to Z post is on my blogger friend, Erika, owner of Ice Queen's Nail Parlour. Do you want to see nail swatches that take your breath away? Would you like to really see how a polish looks with photos that are crisp and true to life? Or, like me, all the above and inspired to boot? Then the Ice Queen's Nail Parlour is a blog you must check out.

Here is the Ice Queen's A to Z About Me:
 

The A-Z of me.

A. Age:

46 I am older than most of the polish/beauty bloggers out there. 

I don't know if that is a good thing, or not. lol

B. Bed size:

Duh! Queen, of course! :D

C. Chore you hate:

Washing dishes by hand. Seriously. I hate washing dishes. Dishes was "my job" growing up. And I grew up in a big family. I would rather do just about any other household chore; tons of laundry, scrub toilets, polish furniture, mop floors for hours than wash a single frakking dish. As far as I am concerned, modern progress peaked with the invention of the dishwasher! lol

D. Day:

Monday. My guys go back to work and I have my house back. 

E. Essential start to your day:

Coffee! 

F. Favorite color: 

Blue. But I also adore pink and love red, as well. 

G. Gold or Silver:

I am a gold girl. I know that wearing gold isn't "cool" or trendy, but 

then... I am not cool or trendy, so... :D

H. Height:

5'7"

I. Instruments: 

None. I played the clarinet for a while in Jr. High but if I picked one up, 

now I seriously doubt I could get it to produce anything close to music. 

J. Job title:

Mad housewife.

K. Kids: 

One grown son.

L. Live: 

In Prescott, The Podunk Armpit Capital of Arizona. 

(If you surmised from the former that I don't like it here, you would be right. ;))

M. Mom’s name:

Letitia

N. Nicknames: 

Ice Queen, Shermie, Khardo, Old Crow, Bitch.

O. Overnight hospital stays: 

Two. Once when I had my son and once when I had surgery.

P. Pet peeve: 

Rude people. Seriously! When did it become a cardinal sin to 

practice simple, good manners?

Q. Quote from a movie: 

"I'm surrounded by idiots!" ~~ Scar in The Lion King

R. Right or left handed: 

Right handed. Very right handed. But, getting serious about polish has helped to 

improve the dexterity in my left hand. 

S. Siblings: 

I am the second eldest of seven. Told you I grew up in a big family. 

T. Time you wake up: 

Fairly early. Usually six-ish. Sometimes I let myself sleep in until eight or so. 

U. Underwear: 

Yes. 

V. Vegetables you dislike: 

Eggplant, Cooked spinach (love the stuff raw, tho) Brussels sprouts, 

certain beans, okra (slime! *shudder*). 

W. What makes you run late: 

Nothing! I am so prompt that is is sickening. If someone else 

causes me to be late, they get it. Both barrels. 

X. X-Rays you've had: 

Chest, elbow, wrist, spine, skull.

Y. Yummy food you make: . 

Bwahahahahahahahahaha!!!

 Oh, this question was serious? Really? I am a lousy cook. Really. Lousy. Cook. And I have little love for the activity. I can turn out a decent, nourishing meal, if pressed but I would hardly call what comes out of my kitchen "yummy".

Z. Zoo:

Never been to one. I went to Lion Country Safari when I was a kid (yeah, I am that old! lol) and Sea World a couple of times, back in the 70's. But I have never been to a zoo.

The Ice Queen not only has nail swatches, she will share press releases and product reviews as well. Grab yourself a refreshing drink and step into Erika's Parlour for a fresh look at polish reviews and more.

Orly's Fall Color with 'Rock the World'

I'm gaga over the Fall collections this year. Rich cremes, velvety shimmers and gorgeous glitters. I'm happy but broke. I'm looking good but looking for more work to pay for these pretties.  Ah, I'm not going to complain. Enjoy these with me.

Orly's Mineral FX is one hot Fall collection. I grabbed 'em up! Let me show you why...

Check out 'Rock the World'. Oh, yea!

Velvety, shimmery burgundy purple. I have on three coats here with one topcoat of Nailene's 'Miracle Maker.'

I don't know if anyone else is calling this a duochrome but if I can see burgundy one way and then copper another way...that's my description of a duochrome. This copper flash is what 'Rock the World' does in the shade.

 Now look back at it in the direct sunlight. Back to burgundy.

A closer look and you can see the copper/antique gold micro-glitter in this. And there is a LOT.

I got mine at Ulta, but you can also find this at some Sally's.

I will admit, this did 'Rock the World' for me. I love it. This is one that could be revisited for the Christmas holiday as well, making it more worthwhile to purchase.

Would you like to add this to your Fall wish list?

Hypnotizing Skittles

Almost everyone likes Skittles. Even if they don't, they do know what they are.

In nail blog land, skittles means putting different color polishes on each of your nails. It also can mean using the same polish as an overlay and different base coats or, vice versa.

This time, I'm going to show you different base coats to showcase Cult Nail's 'Hypnotize Me' as an overlay.

'Hypnotize Me' is a jelly polish with a light, translucent green base. Then it is loaded up with a ton of green and turquoise glitter.

Here's the line up of the base polishes I tried out with 'Hypnotize Me'...

First, is 'Hypnotize Me'; Sally Hansen's Nailgrowth Miracle 'Gentle Blossom'; Sally Hansen's Xtreme Wear 'Black Out'; Cosmetic Arts no name Baby Blue; and last, Artmatic's #37 white creme.

Here is a closer look at each of these...

This is 'Hypnotize Me' alone on my thumb. This is 2 coats, no top coat.

And, here are the skittles...

From top to bottom: Cosmetic Art's 'Baby Blue'; Artmatic #037; SH's 'Black Out'; and SH's 'Gentle Blossom.' Each base is 2 coats and 2 coats following with 'Hypnotize Me.' Looking at these, I bet you thought I'd go with the 'Black Out.'

Well, I was until I looked at this shade and changed my mind...

This is 'Vintage Velvet' from Finger Paint's new Fall collection.

Pretty wicked together. Reminds me of the ocean. I have 2 coats of 'Vintage Velvet' and 2 coats of 'Hypnotize Me.' I don't have on any top coat. 'Hypnotize Me' is shiny enough without one.

Cult Nails can be purchased from their website. Finger Paints are found at Sally's. It might seem odd, but I enjoyed wearing my skittles for the day.

I like the grape flavored Skittles. Which one do you like? How are you going to wear your 'Hypnotize Me'?

A Day Just For Me: Bargain Hunting & Highlights

Ahhh....I'm not only caught up with my work, I'm ahead. So, what does this allot for me today? Uhmmm...shopping! For bargains, of course.

While at Target today, getting household necessities, I found this in the clearance rack...

This cuff bracelet was originally $14.99. From there it went to $10.45, then $7.48 and finally, I picked it up for $3.74.

It's light-weight and I think I can wear it with many different looks. $3.74!! I score!!

This item is from a new Matrix line called 'Total Results.' I got this at Great Clips where I get my hair trimmed. (Did you know they have an app where you can schedule an appointment for yourself?) Kevin, the manager, does a great (get it?) job on trimming and styling my hair. Last week when I got a trim, I saw this...

'Instacure' is a leave-in conditioner. This is the first item I have found in the new 'Total Results' line. I got mini trial sizes of 4 other products at the Orlando Premiere back in June. I fell in love with them and thus, have been jonesing to get my hands on full size bottles. The two I'm really looking forward to treating my locks to are 'Silk Wonder' and 'Miracle Treat 12.'

I am highlighting my hair today. Yes, by myself. I can't believe I am. It's only been this year that I have found the courage to try it. First, I had to re-blonde the roots. Here is the results of that...

And, hopefully, my highlights will look just as good and I'll share that look next.

If you, by chance, notice my nails, I have a skittles and mani using Cult Nail's 'Hypnotize Me'. That will be tomorrow's blog. Look for another 'teaser' on this company soon. :)

Does anyone remember when we used to call it 'frosting' your hair?