Review: Zoya Rue and Winstonia XL Stamper

Since I have a birthday this week (Tuesday!) I was celebrating early this weekend with family and I got some new nail toys to play with so I thought I would give it a shot and write a review.



So I got a set of Winstonia plates (First Generation 20 plates), Bundle Monster plates (Holiday Collection) and an Winstonia XL Stamper.

Can I just say one thing first? Thank goodness for the internet, because I was having so much trouble trying to figure out how to stamp with the new stamper. Apparently you need a soft touch both picking it up off the plate and placing it on the nail. They key is a soft touch.



I had limited resources this weekend, and I hear the easiest way to use this stamper is to clean it with painters tape or a lint roller sheet. The white tip is made of a sticky silicone material, so if you clean it with a paper towel or with a cotton swab, it picks up any and all lint possible. So in the future I will try that.

So my results of my stamping job?



The base is Zoya Rue (more on that in a bit), and I used Winstonia plate 111 as the image. I also topped the whole thing off with a coat of Out the Door Northern Lights to give this mani a little sparkle.

So it took nearly two hours to perfect my technique, I finally understand how to use this stamper and I look forward to many more manis, getting better with my stamping each time I try it. As you can tell, I am not great at it yet, but I will keep trying for sure.



Now on to Zoya Rue. I did not think I was going to like this polish. I saw the swatches online before the collection was available to purchase and it was my favorite. Then I received the bottle and noticed how close it was to my skin tone and I thought for certain it was going to be too nude or boring, but it is just pink enough (without making my skin look awful) that I actually really liked it.

Application: Rue had a great formula and went on perfectly in two coats. Application of the stamper- have a light touch – including when scraping, picking up the image and transferring the image to the nail. The Wistonia plate I used (my first ever) worked well once I figured out how to get the image off the plate (it's all in the soft touch!).

Where to purchase: You can purchase Rue on Zoya's website for $9. The Bundle Monster plates can be purchased on their website, most bundles are around the $20 mark. They are also available on Amazon. The Winstonia stamper and plates are available on their website and on Amazon. The stamper is $6 and the plate sets are around $17.

What's next?: It's my birthday on Tuesday and now that I have plates with birthday images, I expect a fun and colorful birthday manicure!

Weekend getaway recap: Mike (my husband) and I traveled to Monterey Dunes with his mother and father to celebrate his Mom's and my birthdays. We had a fun time going around Monterey, seeing rainbows, enjoying the sunset and the beach and relaxing.



We were seeing rainbows all day yesterday as we were at Cannery Row and the old fisherman's Wharf in Monterey proper.






The sun came out and the weather was great for walking around.



The sunsets have been amazing!



And the presents before, above, and after! I made out like a bandit!





The birthday girls had a great weekend and later tonight we will be enjoying the Oscars!

Review and swatches I Love Nail Polish (ILNP) Siréne

Yesterday was a great day! Not only was it raining buckets (and believe me California needs it) I came home to some wonderful nail mail!




These are my very first polishes from the I Love Nail Polish (ILNP) brand, but they have been majorly hyped online in the various online nail communities I frequent.




I purchased, from left, Cygnus Loop Holo (after seeing some amazing swatches of it on Instagram), Siréne and Reminisce. Not knowing what full manicure to sport first, I did a quick and dirty swatch of the three and asked various online channels what they wanted to see.



After I took this photo, I made the craziest noise. Like, "WOW, I can't believe these colors are all THIS beautiful!!!" My husband was video chatting with a friend of his and they thought I was crazy! But seriously, aren't these colors absolutely amazing?!?! P.S. Sorry for the weird claw position my fingers are in, but I didn't want my previous manicure to ruin the beauty of the new swatches!

Choosing was difficult, all my online friends wanted to see different ones. Reminisce was definitely my favorite, but Siréne seemed to have the strongest shift (out of the new releases, Cygnus Loop was not new). So I went with Siréne, and I have a bunch of shots to share!




Above is my most perfect shot of Siréne. It looks best outdoors, not in direct sunlight. I was expecting it to be cloudy today because it was so stormy yesterdays and we are between storms in Northern California, but it was sunny this morning as well so I have some sun shots to show you as well.




In direct sunlight, the nails look teal, see above. But if you cast a tiny shadow or move your nails slightly they can shift to purple, see below.




Indoors, softer light helps bring out the hues and shifts more, so I have a couple of shots to show you, including the last in my office under fluorescents.










Overall I was highly pleased with this purchase! Now onto the details!



Application: The polish was actually quite thin and a little patchy on the first coat, but it really started to show up well after two coats. I added a third to make sure the shift was amazing! All shots shown (with the exception of the quick and dirty swatches of all three polishes) are three coats with Essie On The Go top coat.

I have to say the shift in this polish is amazing and VERY easy to see. You don't need a black undercoat like you do with some other duo and multichromes. I was disappointed with my CrowsToes Indian Summer (one of my first duochromes) because the shift was so shy. Siréne is quite the opposite!

Where to purchase: I purchased these during ILNP's presale of their Spring Collection. Their website features all of their new spring polishes (including some pastel holos if that is your thing). You can purchase Siréne here for $12.50. The Spring Collection goes on sale March 7.

What do you think? Do you like this color shift? Do you want to see another manicure featuring one of the other ILNPs I purchased? What ILNP colors do you like the most?

Welcome to my redesign

So I've redesigned by blog. I'm totally nerdy and geeking out over polish stuff and thoughts I have and I think my friends and family on Facebook could care less, so I've decided to write a blog.

This blog will have a lot of nail updates, along with some other updates I feel like along the way (let's not forget I'm a writer too, I still plan on writing now and again). I'll review what I'm wearing, what's coming in the mail, what new collections I'm interested in, what works for me, what doesn't work for me. Tips when I have them.

Also I've begun stamping, which is an awesome way to update any manicure! More tips and excitement about that in upcoming posts.

So to begin, here is what I'm currently sporting on my nails. It's LA Girls 3D Effects Teal Dimension with a stamped on image from my Konad M64 plate.



This is one of my favorite finishes of nail polish. I first discovered it with Zoya colors Blaze, Aurora and Storm. It's a scattered fleck holo and it is gorgeous. It doesn't distort the original color (as the holo flecks are suspended in a jelly polish) and just gives a gorgeous glow and a hint of rainbow.

When I learned about the LA Girls 3D Effects polishes (less expensive versions of the Zoya colors), I knew I had to get a few. Teal is one of my favorite colors and this polish is quickly shooting up to the favorites category for me.

Application: The formula was good, but the polish felt a little thick or watery (I know those are opposite, but I don't know how to describe it) like too much came off of the brush with every stroke. The color made up for it though, it's worth the delicate application! It went on in two coats, I think I added a third for good measure.

Where to Purchase: You can purchase the LA Girls 3D Effects from cherryculture.com, where the polishes are on sale for $2.40 each (but I find their shipping costs outrageous) or from drugstore.com (which is where I got mine from) where they are $3.99 a piece but you can bundle it up with many more beauty items to get free shipping!

Looking ahead: It just started raining here in the first time in forever, and I need to sport something less holo blingy since there is no sun out. I'm trying to choose between Pretty Serious Galaxy Invader (a duo chrome) or Hits Moonbeam (a duo chrome sparkle). But if my nail mail comes today, that might change my plans completely!

Coming in the mail: I've got three new I Love Nail Polish multichrome colors coming my way (Siréne, Reminisce and Cygnus Loop Holo). I can't wait to get to the multichrome amazingness (my first ILNPs ever)!

European Secrets Rock Top Coat Review

So as I was browsing the internet recently, I came across someone spouting off about how amazing this long lasting top coat was – European Secrets Top Coat. They claimed it was similar to the CND Vinylux top coat (which wears incredibly great) but it doesn't lose it's shine like Vinylux does rather quickly.

So of course I go to my local Sally Beauty Supply to acquire this top coat and test it out.

The first challenge was finding a manicure that I would be happy with for up to a week! That's tough for me as I'm finding I want to redo my manicure more frequently as my polish collection grows!

This was directly after the top coat was dry enough to photograph. I found that this top coat was definitely shiny upon application but it did not dry easily. I found that my nails were very delicate to the touch for more than a day after application. I had to be careful not to bump my hands hard against any surfaces, because this did not dry Rock solid as it claims. Took I think at least 48 hours for it to feel not soft anymore. The top coat was definitely thinner than most forgiving top coats (Seche, etc.), so if you want to hide bumps, this is not the top coat to do it. I could feel the dots from my dotticure the entire time I wore this manicure.

Day 2:

Top coat stays glossy.

Day 4:

Some minor tip wear begins to show, manicure still holding up nicely.

Day 6:

The manicure is definitely ready for removal as the top coat has begun to crack and really look old. The manicure is still shiny though!

Overall, I feel like this top coat really did last a long time and retained its shine throughout. You have to be very gentle with your nails the first 36-48 hours you wear it (more exposure to sun really does help), and that alone makes it somewhat difficult to use. But if you are willing to go through that and you want your manicure to last a decent amount of time, I suggest you give this a try.

In comparison with the CND Vinylux, I still feel like that is a more solid, thicker and forgiving long-lasting top coat, but the fact that it doesn't retain it's shine really bugs me. I've tried using CND Vinylux, letting it dry and then topping it with a shinier top coat, which makes it last but the shinier top coat does eventually peel off. Maybe next time I'll try the Vinylux top coat, let it dry and the next day I'll apply a coat of Rock Top Coat.

Have you tried Rock Top Coat? What are your experiences with it? Know of any other long-lasting top coats worth checking out?

What does a hero look like to a five year old?

I often scour the web for writing prompts that inspire a topic for me to free write about. Usually I am looking for some sort of prompt that will spur a fiction story out of me, but that is not the case today. I aim for the fiction usually because I find it more challenging for me to write.

I write non-fiction every day in my day job, so writing about myself seems just like a bit of overkill sometimes. I hope you all don’t get bored with my rambling, if you do, I’d stop reading now if I were you.

Anyway, on to the prompt: When you were five years old, who was your hero? What do you think of that person today?

When I was 5? I don’t know I think that is a bit young. I remember being told that when I was young I said I wanted to be a park, because, fun all the time, yes! Or you know, the French fry guy at McDonald’s, because, yum!

But when I think back to the posters on my wall of well-known figures, the first I can think of is of Jim Abbott, a Major League Baseball pitcher who was born with one hand. He played on the California Angels from 1989-1992, which would put me at about 7-10 years old.

I was so inspired about how he didn’t let his disability kill his dream, and he was a successful pitcher despite having only one hand. He was an inspiration and so amazing to watch as he pitched the ball with one hand and then quickly put the glove on that hand after the ball left his mound.

My takeaway? Since I was a young girl people who struggle and overcome their adversities to become successful have always fascinated me.

Now I didn’t follow Jim Abbott through the rest of his baseball career, so I can’t comment on what I think of him specifically, but I can say that I am still inspired by people with disabilities.

Each year, in our humble little Kiwanis Club of Los Altos, we put on the Kiwanis Special Games, which is a day that celebrates disabled Santa Clara County students’ abilities. Seeing the smiles on the athletes’ faces as they participate in events specifically tailored to showcase and celebrate their abilities is a magical experience.

The Kiwanis Special Games is one of the events that I volunteer my time toward that I am most proud of.

In the same way, I hope to continue to be inspired by challenges and not see them as roadblocks. I am challenged by the concept of writing fiction. Sure I might be able to start a story, but I have yet to find a way to truly finish one.

I continue to work toward bettering myself as a writer. Writing about things I enjoy in every day life (nails, random beauty products), and challenge my concept of writing by reading lots of different type of fiction stories. Browsing writing prompts and seeking inspiration in all sorts of places.

Having Phenylketonuria, which I’ve written about before, also challenges me. Sure that makes having a baby rather difficult, but I will overcome those challenges and pray that it is a process that I can handle with ease.

At the end of the day we all face challenges, some small, some large, some permanent, some not. It’s how we face those challenges that really define who we are as a person. Sometimes we do it with grace, other times we complain all the way through. Either way, I hope I face my future challenges in a way worthy of respect and admiration, just as I felt about Jim Abbott all those years ago.

Question of the day: Who was your childhood hero? What do you think of them now?

Happiness of the day: The right song coming on the radio at just the right time, especially while driving. Makes everything better. 

Healthy nails = proper moisture

Proper moisture and cuticle care is the way to gain healthful looking nails and I have been rather random about all the different products I have been trying to achieve the optimal moisture.

Today I am featuring two products that I use as an intensive overnight treatment because the formulas are so thick, you don't want to put this on and then go browsing on your tablet (the product will transfer right to your screen).



First off, this is the BEST moisturizer I have found. I have tried countless drugstore and specialty store brands. None is as long lasting or nourishing as this lotion. I put this on before I go to bed and I can still feel it in the morning 8 hours later!

The lotion is Gold Bond Ultimate Skin Therapy Lotion Healing with Aloe formula and can be found in most drugstores. It comes in a 14 oz. bottle with a pump or a 5 oz. tube. I see the larger bottle in the $8-10 range. Great price and a good reminder that even the nicest brands can be outdone by drugstore brands.



The second product I'm not completely sold on yet but so many people online rave about it. I'm trying to use it regularly to see what all the hype is about. Lemony Flutter is from LUSH, a company I have just begun trying but am finding to really like some of their all-natural, cruelty-free products.

First off, this product doesn't have the greatest smell, but it is mild (at least to me, it is repulsive to some people online). It's not quite the lemon or citrus scent you expect considering the name, but it is more of a lemon petroleum jelly type smell. It's too mild for me to really be bothered by it. For me, the product is just so thick, after applying you can't touch anything for a long time because it takes a long while for the thick shea butter formula to sink into the skin.



To apply I use my index finger to swipe up some of thick formula (some people use a brush to apply, might try that later) and rub it along my cuticles and the skin around my nails to keep them soft and moisturized. It basically leaves a greasy white cream along edges of my nails and doesn't soak in for a long time. I follow that application with the application of the lotion above, probably waiting 10-15 minutes before hitting the sheets to let everything soak in.

Anyway, so far so good. I like the way my hands look and feel after applying this the night before. This morning my nails of the day (new mani) look like this:



Nails feature Zoya Dove with a glitter gradient tips of OPI Servin' Up Sparkle. Inspired via a Pintrest mani.

And before I leave, I'll share this little deal currently going on from one of my favorite nail polish brands. Zoya, a wonderful natural nail polish company, is holding their Three-Free promotion they do at the beginning of every year. For a $12 processing and shipping fee, you get three of their colors. Spend $25 or more, and shipping is free. Before I went on my no-buy, I got six colors for $27.

If you want to check out some quality polish and don't want to spend a fortune yet, this is just the thing to get your feet wet (or nails in this case). Zoya just increased their polish prices from $8 a bottle to $9 this year, so this is a good time to stock up because deals like this don't happen often (usually only around Christmas and the start of the New Year).

Happiness of the day: Smelling a fresh rain shower when I stepped out of the house today.

YouTube of the moment: The Secret Life of a Polish Addict. Now I'm not totally this bad, but I admit there are definitely some truths to this video.

Happy New Year! Resolutions time...

Hi everyone, Happy New Year. Time to make some resolutions, ones worth keeping.

While many people this time of year make health/fitness related resolutions, I've decided to make a different type of resolution.

I want to be in a positive state of mind, "no I'm so tired, I can't handle work, blah blah blah" attitude. I am so lucky to be where I am in my career and while the day to day can be cumbersome, I'm going to make it my goal to enjoy myself and find happiness in the little things every day.

I also want to make it a goal to write more, creatively so. I want to use online prompts and really work on the craft of storytelling. I sit so paralyzed that I can't write a good fiction story, that I need to dive head first and actually try. If I start, maybe I can actually accomplish something. These stories might be something I share here in my blog, or I may just write for my own pleasure (in a notebook or something).

Also, and I always say this, I want to blog more. Since I have become such a nail fanatic and am getting into some makeup stuff, I thought I'd start there giving my two cents on some recent purchases.

So to kick it off, here are my nails of the moment:

Essie Bahama Mama. I got this with Kohl's cash and am very happy with the color and the application. My nails are shorter due to a break on my thumb nail.

Yesterday I reorganized my nail polish collection by color. I know, I really don't need ANYMORE nail polish. So a new goal is to try not to buy nail polish again until at least March (my birthday month where I might get some deals or free gifts). I have approximately 185 polishes, and near 40 untried. And more coming in the mail (BAD TRACI!!!!). 

Happiness of the day: It's Monday and I was gifted some great Earl Grey Tea this morning from Peet's courtesy of the kind copy editor in our office. It has given me the appropriate pep in my step to keep a smile in my face. 

Song of the moment: Lorde's Team. Seriously I did not know this was Lorde and was scanning the local radio playlists trying to find this song and I finally realized it was Lorde. Duh. I'm silly, but still really jamming on this song. 

Question of the day: What are your New Year's resolutions? What is the likelihood you'll keep them?