Tuesday, April 29, 2014

Twinsie Tuesday... Inspired By Your Hometown

Good morning everyone! I hope your week is going well. 

For today's Twinsie Tuesday post we were supposed to come up with a mani inspired by our hometown. 

This started off tricky for me because I'm from a very small town that isn't really known for anything. But I didn't actually grow up in town. I went to school there, but I grew up on a dairy farm out in the country. Then it hit me, cows!!!! 

My dad milked holstein cows for 35 years. We also had exotic animals, but I didn't know how I would incorporate any if those into a mani. 

This is what I came up with. 

I started with a base of OPI My Boyfriend Scales Walls then used a dotting tool and OPI Black Onyx for those spots I've seen all my life. 

I think they turned out pretty good! And this was the easiest pattern I've ever done, I might need to do this again. 

Be sure to check out the other Twinsies blogs!!! (linked below) 

Thanks for reading! 

~casey

Amanda at Amandalandish

Chelsea at Nailed Blog

Elizabeth at Did My Nails

Kelly at Tuxarina

Marisa at Polish Obsession

Rachel at Top Coat It

Róisín at Cuti-CLUE-les

Stephanie at A Little Polish

Traci at DrinkCitra



**The products in this post were purchased by me for my own personal use.***

Wednesday, April 23, 2014

Sorry for the lack of posts....

I just wanted to say that I'm sorry for my lack of posts lately. As most of you know I had surgery on April 11th. I also had surgery on December 11th. I think two that close together threw me for a loop. 

I'm healing and feel pretty much like myself, I'm just worn out. So blogging has taken a back seat. I have lots of swatches to share so I'm going to post them on Instagram. 

Hopefully in the next few weeks I can find my rhythm again. Thank you for sticking with me! 

~casey 

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Twinsie Tuesday... Matte & Gloss

**press sample**

Hi everyone! Happy Twinsie Tuesday! Sorry I'm a little late. Things have just been out of whack for me lately... 

For today's post the prompt was Matte & Gloss Combo. Lets get right to it.






For this mani I started with 2 coats of OPI Miss You-Niverse and topped it with HK Girl fast drying topcoat. After giving it 10-15 minutes to dry I applied a couple of Mermaid Scales Nail Shields from Love Angeline. I love these things! I'm still getting the hang of it, but they are such a nice alternative for nail art. Once I was sure I had it stuck down completely I topped with my NOPI Matte Topcoat and carefully removed the shield. Then on my pointer and pinkie I just put the Matte on half the nail for a little variety. 

What do you think? I love the look of Matte & Glossy together, and I'm glad I tried it out with a nail shield, I loved the outcome! 

Love Angeline Stuck On Love Nail Shields can be purchased on their website here. Be sure to check out all the awesome designs she's got!

Be sure to check out the other Twinsie's manicures for this weeks prompt, linked below! 

Thanks for reading!

~casey
Amanda at Amandalandish
Amber at Nails Like Lace
Chelsea at Nailed Blog
Elizabeth at Did My Nails
Kelly at Tuxarina
Marisa at Polish Obsession
Rachel at Top Coat It
Róisín at Cuti-CLUE-les
Stephanie at A Little Polish
Traci at DrinkCitra


**The Nail Shields in this post were provided to me in exchange for a fair and honest review. Please see my full disclosure policy for details.**

Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Twinsie Tuesday, Gifted Polish

Good morning fellow polish lovers! Happy Tuesday! I'm so happy to be back to almost normal... hopefully I'll be posting regularly very soon. I'm feeling better, just sleepy and a little sore from surgery, but much better. So today's post will be short. (And I actually mean it this time.:))

For my gifted polish choice I picked a handmade "franken" polish that the lovely Elena from ecklipsedbycolor made for me. This was one of 2 colors that she was sweet enough to make for me for Christmas. I'm sad that I haven't had a chance to try it until now! 




This polish is called First Frost. There is a cute label on the front with the name, but I didn't get a pic of it. For those of you that don't know, a Franken polish is a polish that is made by mixing other polishes, glitters, and pigments to get just what you want. I don't know how Elena does it, although I suspect there is some sort of magic involved. 

I treasure all 3 of these polishes, even though I haven't been able to wear them much. It's amazing to think about Elena sitting in her home concocting polishes together until she comes up with something that makes her think of me. And they're one of a kind! 

Be sure to follow Elena on Instagram to see all of her awesomeness! 


Also please be sure to check out the other Twinsie's blogs below for more gifted polishes!!!!

Thanks for reading!

~casey

Amanda at Amandalandish
Amber at Nails Like Lace
Chelsea at Nailed Blog
Elizabeth at Did My Nails
Kelly at Tuxarina
Marisa at Polish Obsession
Rachel at Top Coat It
Róisín at Cuti-CLUE-les
Stephanie at A Little Polish
Traci at DrinkCitra


Tuesday, April 8, 2014

Twinsie Tuesday: Favorite Glitter Topper

**press sample**

Good morning friends! How is everyone doing? Hopefully things are going well in your part of the world. Things are good here. We are prepping for me to have a minor surgery on Friday, shouldn't be a big deal... but I'm a planner so of course I've been working on things like laundry and worrying about making sure we have food for the weekend. ;) 

AND I've been working on manicures. I got tons of swatching done this weekend, and hopefully I can get some posts queued up for your reading pleasure. Thanks for sticking with me everyone! 

So for today's Twinsie Tuesday post we are supposed to showcase our favorite glitter topper. Man was this a challenge. So much of a challenge that I gave up picking one favorite, and opted for a favorite for this season. I'm an indie swatcher, and I love my indies. And some of them make the most amazing glitter toppers. Heather over at Loaded Lacquer is one that has sent me the most I think, and every one of them is amazing. So I opted for a springy/Eastery glitter topper she has called Fluffy Macaroons. 




For this mani I added 2 coats of Fluffy Macaroons over 1 coat of OPI Don't Bossa Nova Me Around and sealed it in with a thick topcoat. 

Do you see why I picked this glitter for spring? It's screams Easter to me! I love it so much, but I haven't tried a Loaded Lacquer topper that I didn't love. Even the ones that aren't really my style were great, you should check her out. 

Loaded Lacquer polish can be purchased through her website here. Her shop is temporarily closed but should be opening up in another week or two. 

What do you all think? This mani got me kind of excited for spring colors, hopefully I can do some spring nail art soon! 

Be sure to check out the other Twinsie's blogs linked below to see their favorite glitter toppers too! 

Until next time.

~casey
Amanda at Amandalandish
Amber at Nails Like Lace
Chelsea at Nailed Blog
Elizabeth at Did My Nails
Kelly at Tuxarina
Marisa at Polish Obsession
Rachel at Top Coat It
Róisín at Cuti-CLUE-les
Stephanie at A Little Polish
Traci at DrinkCitra



**The Loaded Lacquer in this post was provided to me in exchange for a fair and honest review. Please see my disclosure policy for more details.**

Tuesday, April 1, 2014

Twinsie Tuesday: Inspired by your purse, backpack, handbag...

Good morning everyone! Happy Tuesday! That means Twinsie Tuesday!

For this mani I decided to match my Tyler Rodan Kingston Crossbody bag in Daffodil with OPI Just Can't Copa Cabana. The Kingston Crossbody is pretty much the only purse I carry... I have it in 4 colors (this sunny yellow, orange, pewter, and cobalt blue). It is seriously the most perfect size and shape ever. It's my perfect bag, and I'm hoping to add a few more colors to my collection. (specifically pink and red... and green... and any other color I can find... lol)



The formula and application on this color are pretty ok, for a yellow. First of all, it's nearly impossible for me to ever capture a yellow polish accurately. My skin is as fair as fair can be, and it always looks tan or lobstery. The application was a bit streaky, but it's yellow so that's a given. For this mani it took 3 coats to even everything out, then I topped it with Glisten & Glow HK Girl topcoat. Honestly? I hate yellow polish. Its fine on some people, but on me I hate it. I wore this for a day and it ruined the day. Well, ruined might be a bit dramatic... but it's kind of like a bad hair day, ya know? But it's a bad nail day. :) 

Here is the bag that it matches. This picture is more color accurate. 



I can't wait to see what the other twinsies post! Links to their blogs below, go check them out! 

Thanks for reading! 

~casey

**The products in this post were purchased by me for my own personal use.**


Amanda at Amandalandish
Amber at Nails Like Lace
Chelsea at Nailed Blog
Elizabeth at Did My Nails
Kelly at Tuxarina
Marisa at Polish Obsession
Rachel at Top Coat It
Róisín at Cuti-CLUE-les
Stephanie at A Little Polish
Traci at DrinkCitra