NCC May Stamping: IT WORKED.

This will be a two part post. The first is just to squee over stamping that worked even though it looks terrible.

The second part will show the dress I was trying to match =3

First though, let's show the stamping! I started with Joe Cement and Essie Pure Pearlfection.

 And then I stamped using RA-108 and Essence Black is Back.

VICTORY.

Now leave me to my shame and go look at everyone else =P

Cuba 2013 #3: The beach of course!

Oh that beautiful freaking beach!

This was literally behind the resort (we were at Brisas del Caribe, by the way). So gorgeous <3

SO NAILS. Starting with that Julep Claire/Rainbow Honey Bubblebeam combination from yesterday, I frenched some white using acrylic paint. I made it quite thick because reasons ;D

Had enough of that? Good. Now some Zoya Godiva, because nothing else looks like sand like this one does, and now you know the reasons from previous :3

I ended up getting a couple good pics huh? Maybe. What do you think? Beachy enough? It's definitely a little thick on the tips but it seems to be drying down nicely.


Is anybody out there in a nice enough locale to have been to the beach yet?

Swatch: Rainbow Honey Bubblebeam

Phew! Sorry for the time between posts! I've been really stressed out lately and haven't felt much like doing anything. My stomach is still really unhappy about Cuba (I should probably go to a doctor) and I'm petrified of starting the job hunt because I'm afraid everyone will reject me and I'll have to resort to retail again. So of course the logical thing is to sit at home and hide in my blankets, obvs. To be fair, I started drafting up a cover letter today. I've lost my knack for it but it'll come back I'm sure. I just have to DO it.

Anyway, nails! I got my nail mail from Rainbow Honey this week (they're getting faster!) including two LE polishes that I splurged on full size (ugh, I'm never going to get through this whole thing), one of which is Bubblebeam! It's Pokemon inspired so I lusted like the sad fangirl that I am.

Enough of my blathering; I did two coats over Julep Claire.

Ugh, look at how beautifully bright that is!

If you want, check out Rainbow Honey on Facebook and their website! Tell 'em I sent you!

Cuba 2013 #2: Pirates!

(I warn you now, it's gonna be a long post.)

One of the things about the island is that the wildlife is fantastic especially considering tropics + island vs Canadian "temperate rainforest". We don't have neat little lizards and fantastic birds! The best thing I've seen flying around BC is a raven and that thing looks dangerous.

With that omen, I want to talk about a bird Branden and I saw when we were speeding around the ocean on our Catamaran tour. Ours was called the Antares and us and 60 people met a dolphin and snorkeled before being deposited on a white sand beach for lobster lunch and an hour in the blue.

Some scenery:

It was gorgeous, and none of these even includes that white sand beach. Anyway, we saw these birds soaring over the ocean, usually near shore but also between the islands we were going by (nearly open sea).

They had fantastically long wings that looked like seagulls we were used to but they were black as night. Their tails also forked when they were balancing to hover in the air. I never saw them on water, and only at a distance in the air. Anyway, I eventually managed to find them late one night online.

Source

The wings are longer than they look! Anybody know what it is?

Apparently it's the Magnificent Frigatebird! Fregata magnificens. They are considered pirates because they steal their meals from other birds along with skimming the surface for whatever floats near the surface.

I made my tribute in acrylic paint and this is my first time doing a design that spans all my nails. Positioning is HARD! I have a new appreciation for anyone who can pull this type of nail art off. I painted over Orly Viridian Vinyl and Glitzology My Viking Boyfriend.

I had so much trouble identifiying the Frigatebird because all the photos are of its fantastic mating display. They have an inflatable pouch on their neck that turns BRIGHT RED.

Image source: Wikipedia

Look at that sexy thang! For the record, I only saw them in flight, at sea.

I noticed the birds because I have a friend who loves them! I noticed these particular birds because they were incredibly graceful in the air, and their elongated wings and long forked tails were extremely aesthetically pleasing (I like long and skinny - you may have noticed by my boyfriend but it's also in cheetahs, greyhounds and thoroughbreds - things built for speed!).

Do you guys notice wildlife when you travel? What kind?


PS: Shoutouts to my daddy! It's his birthday <3

Swatch: Glitzology My Viking Boyfriend

:D I love Glitzology. My adventure in glitter this time started with a stamping fail. I started with Orly Viridian Vinyl and then tried to stamp Pure Ice Blue Midnight.

BAH. I TRIED HARD KATEE FROM A GIRL AND HER POLISH!! With two different polishes. I think the Vaseline made the Pure Ice fail. Anyway, I gave up, and with most of my fails, I covered it in glitter.

GLITTER. Better yet even, and I didn't even realize from looking at the bottle, there's holographic HEARTS in this mix! I love My Viking Boyfriend and apparently he loves me back ;)

Now I bet some of you think this looks familiar. It totally does, on the surface. Remember Koi Pond? From a distance, these are definitely similar, minus the orange. Go figure! Apparently I have certain colour combinations I fall back on haha.

Anyway, the next post is about Cuba again and might even be slightly educational! See you soon :D

Don't forget, Stacy of Glitzology lives on Facebook and Etsy - visit and tell her I sent you!

Swatch: Orly Viridian Vinyl

Hi everyone! This and the next post precede my next Cuba tribute so enjoy your freedom from my rambling while you can :)

I did two coats and holy moly, this has a fantastic formula! It also dried to a rubber finish, one of my only ones. It very strongly reminded me of Sinful Colors Rise and Shine (gifted to me by the wonderful Alyssa from Frugal Polish). It's a bit darker, and I got this mini  in a set from Kelly at Nails for the Sake of Sanity!

I apologize for the weird shiny bits. Ever since I came back from Cuban humidity, my fingers with eczema haven't really recovered which resulted in them being slathered in Vaseline at all opportunities.

Do you have any rubber finish polishes? What do you think?

PS: I avoided mother's day, don't feel bad and I hope you all had a good one <3

Cuba 2013 Nails #1

Ola! I am back from Cuba! Did you miss me? I had the greatest time and I think for a bit here my nails are going to be homage to the trip <3 I'm gonna start with the absolute best moment of the whole thing, summarized in one photo.

Yeah, we totally played with a dolphin. It was the best freaking thing ever. My face is so stupidly scrunchy with all the happy and I don't even care xP Her name was Nina! She was the CUTEST THING EVAR and only 10 years old =3

Start with the ocean! Essence I Love Bad Boys covered with Julep Melissa.

The ocean was totally this colour. Since I'm running out of topcoat, I used Essie Pure Pearlfection as one and it gave the ocean a nice calm sparkle.

I left this for a while and came back in the evening to pay my homage to Nina.

I used Billie Silver and covered it with China Glaze Make a Spectacle, which also turned out to be perfect <3

I wnat to make sure you guys get a look at my little dolphin, so excuse the quality in these next two...

<3333! Being kissed by Branden and Nina pretty much made my life x3

What do you guys think? It's simple but I like it ^^ What exotic locales have you vacationed in/on/around? <3