The Nail Challenge Collaborative Presents: Animals - Going to the Zoo to See Monkeys!

Have you ever had a mani that you planned out (made decals for it a week before!) and when you did all but the decal you were in love with how it was, right then and there? Just like that? That's me with today's animal prompt for the Nail Challenge Collaborative.

We're goin' to the zoo, zoo, zoo
How about you, you, you?
You can come too, too, too
We're goin' to the zoo, zoo, zoo

See all the monkeys, they're scritch-scritch scratchin'
Jumpin' around and scritch-scritch scratchin'
Hangin' by the long-tail
And we can stay all day

We're goin' to the zoo, zoo, zoo
How about you, you, you?
You can come too, too, too
We're goin' to the zoo, zoo, zoo

Read more: Peter, Paul & Mary - Going To The Zoo Lyrics | MetroLyrics

So, this is Barielle Panama Pina Colada. Have you ever seen a more beautiful yellow? This is two coats of lovely-ness. I created my dots using Wet N Wild Black Creme and stamped using Konad Black and Cheeky CH42. 

Perfection, at least in my mind. 

But then I had to add the decal, had to right? I mean it's an animal prompt but there is not animal truly depicted with my mani.

Here's the freaky monkey!

Ahhh! He is sucking my will to live! (memo to self, memo to self: remember pupils when making decals!) He's to big and too...creepy...err...ogre...what the heck...yikes! Bahahahahahaha!

So here's the mani with the monkey. Now you see why I used the monkey-less mani to start with. Wasn't going to scare people away from my blog! :) Oh and I used acrylics to create the soul-less monkey.

Don't forget to check out the other Day 2 Animal manis!

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The Digit-al Dozen Does Thankfulness: My Health

It's another month and another Digit-al Dozen theme with this month about being thankful. This theme turned out to be tricky. Some things that you are thankful are hard to incorporate into nail art, so you try to be specific, but then it gets to be little things. Well this week I did some grand non-tangible things and a few fun things that I am thankful for.

Today though, I am thankful for my health. All of it. As much I suffer with depression and anxiety I am still thankful for it. Because without going through what I have gone through I wouldn't be the person I am today (and no, I'm not talking about the panic-ridden person in bed, though that too! Hahaha!). I know that my depression has made me an old soul. I've always been mature for my age but dealing with depression since junior high has caused me to grow up a bit faster in a way. Almost 20 years dealing with a disease that is now only really getting any time in the spotlight and being allowed to not carry so much stigma.

There will always be people who say: "you can change things if you wanted to" (really!? really?), "if you just went to church more and prayed more" (right, because this is a punishment?), and "snap out of it" (if only!). But I would honestly happily keep depression and anxiety over what some others have. We always think we have it the worst, but if everyone's problems where put in a pile and we got to see all of them, pretty sure we'd want our own back. It has made me who I am. I know myself more deeply than some others know their selves. Do I ever wish I didn't have it? Sure, but if this is my struggle, then I'm perfectly fine with it.

I have met (also read that as "met") some amazing people who share my plight. Some I can visit with daily in person, buoying one another up. Others through Facebook groups and blogs where we reach across continents and oceans and soothe each other by listening and understanding. 

So yes, I am thankful for my health because it has made me a stronger person. I've been so far down and have come back that I know things can only get better. I thankful also for those who have offered me their hand as I have walked through the darkness, offering aid and support. With you there by my side (both physically and through words) I would not be here today. Thank you.

To show my thankfulness I chose to do the awareness ribbon. I used Barielle Autumn in Seoul as my base. I stamped using A England Dragon (I slay my own personal dragons each day!) and Bundle Monster BM321. I added Essie Matte About You to get it that hazy look of the fog that we wander through daily.

Here it is before the matte top coat. So shinny and happy. Which, under that fog of depression and anxiety there is happiness, even if for a moment.

        

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Don't forget to check out the other ladies and their thankful manis!

An InLinkz Link-up

Barielle Fall 2014: Jetsetter Review

Have a new collection from Barielle to show you today, this is the Jetsetter Collection and it is gorgeous! This collection "embraces the cool, crisp tones of this perfect time of year. The rich hues of the color palette let your fingers travel to many exciting spots and capture the essence of this wonderful time of year" (Barielle press release).

Kiss Me Kate: "a creamy beige/pink". This is a gorgeous polish. I love it! It's perfect for me and creates mannequin hands! This is one fabulous coat! Perfection!

Autumn in Seoul: "a deep, copper shimmer". Oooh! This is such a warm cozy perfect brown polish that screams fall! It is beautiful! It is a bit streaky and needed two coats to be completely opaque. I can't wait to use this this season!

Irish Eyes: "a creamy, moss green". What a stunner! I have a lot of greens in my collection but I really love this color! This is one coat! The formula was perfect! Such a calming color!

Rain in Spain: "a creamy, light periwinkle". This is a beautiful color, a bright crisp color. It is a bit more purple in real life. The formula on this one was a bit thicker than the others, this is one coat, but you can see the different thicknesses on my nails as it didn't really level out for me. I'm sure two coats would make it better.

Gondola Ride: "a creamy, sage green". A celery green! Yay! I love it! but this color was kind of sheer, this is three coats. But it's worth it, so pretty!

Midnight in Paris: "a creamy, midnight blue/purple". Rarely do blues really speak to me, but this one is stunning! I did a little gasp as I wore this. It's so deep and mysterious and beautiful! This is two coats.

I created a dotticure using the Jetsetter Collection. I really love how dotticures allow you to use so many colors. And all these colors are beautiful together! I really like this collection. I had a few issues with some of the formulas but none too bad as to never use again. Barielle, you've done it again! Fabulous job!

All of Barielle polishes contain no formaldehyde, toluene, dibutyl-phthalate, camphor, or formaldehyde-resin. They are 0.45 fl oz (13.3ml) and are suggested retail at $8.00. You can find them at Barielle.com

You can find out more about Barielle's products by visiting:

Their Online Store

Twitter
Facebook

Make sure you sign up for their emails for upcoming specials!

So which of these were your favorite?

The Digit-al Dozen Does Floral Week: Wallpaper Flowers

Day four of Floral Week and we have some pointillism/abstract flowers based on a wallpaper design by Jane Bridges found here. I was drawn to the colors and the flow of this pattern.

I used Barielle My City Apartment as my base and acrylic paints for the flowers. Above is before I added a matte top coat. I had a lot of fun with these dots! I think this is the most dots I've ever done in a mani! You really need to check out the original print, it's gorgeous!

This is with Essie Matte About You, look how it made the grey dots turn a khaki color. I like the matte of it but not the color change. Oh well! :)

Don't forget to check out the other floral manis today!

An InLinkz Link-up

The Digit-al Dozen Does Floral Week: Stationary Flowers

Day three of Floral Week and I bring you another floral pattern I found on Print & Pattern. This is based on some stationary found in a British Department store called John Lewis.

This is my attempt of creating more detail in my nail art. I had a lot of fun creating this mani even though it's not perfect. :)

I used Wet n Wild Black Creme as my base. For the flowers I used: Barielle My City Apartment, OPI My Boyfriend Scales Walls, China Glaze Def Defying, BarryM Grapefruit, BarryM Pomegranate, and OPI Mermaid's Tears. I used Essie Matte About You to finish off the look.

Don't forget to check out the other floral manis the ladies created!

An InLinkz Link-up

Barielle Me Couture Dotticure!

I created a dotticure using five of the polishes from the new fall collection of Barielle that I reviewed yesterday. I really loved how it turned out! I used Taupe Notch as my base with (starting at my cuticle) Moda Bleu, Boho Chic, Soho at Night, and Berry Posh.

 

I added the Barielle Top Coat and the camera decided to hate it. It was really pretty in person but there is so much light glare because of the super shiny top coat that you can of lose the effect of the dotticure. Should have tried it matte. But it was still gorgeous in person!

Barielle Fall 2014: Me Couture Review

 

 Barielle's Me Couture Collection for Fall 2014 embraces the high fashion colors for this rich season of the year. A sophisticated palette combination of retro and intense shades totally compliments current styles and trends" (Barielle Press Release).

This is Taupe Notch, "a creamy, dark taupe".  Yes! That's all I can say. This is a gorgeous beautiful polish with a fabulous formula! This is two coats without a top coat. I could have gotten away with just one coat. 

See! Just look at this color! Stunning! I love it!

This is Berry Posh, "a creamy, deep fuchsia". Barielle and their pinks are always gorgeous! This is two coats no top coat. The first coat was a bit sheer, so a second coat is needed.

I had no issues with the formula on this one. Just beautiful!

This is Moda Bleu, "a creamy, dark navy/blue". This is a really deep blue an almost blurple color. Look at the shine on this one too! This is two coats and no top coat! 

I did have some slight issues with the formula on this one. Moda Bleu seems to be a bit thicker than the others and had a lot of drag marks with my first coat. But the second coat evens it all out.

This is Soho at Night, "a creamy, grape purple". I almost put this as a dusty grape purple. Beautiful, two coats and no top coat.

This one acted a little like Moda Blue in that the formula of Soho at Night is a bit thicker and definetely needs two coats to even out.

Here we have Boho Chic, "a creamy, deep sea green". I love this color. Almost has a hint of teal to it, gorgeous! Two coats and no top coat and super shiny!

No issues with this formula, gorgeous and fabulous!

This is Vintage Gown, "a creamy, rust with a hint of pink". This is a really pretty color, two coats and no top coat.

This photo shows the more true color. There is shimmer in the bottle but it didn't really show up on my nails. But the formula was still fabulous!

All of Barielle polishes contain no formaldehyde, toluene, dibutyl-phthalate, camphor, or formaldehyde-resin. They are 0.45 fl oz (13.3ml) and are suggested retail at $8.00. You can find them at Barielle.com

You can find out more about Barielle's products by visiting:

Their Online Store

Twitter
Facebook

Make sure you sign up for their emails for upcoming specials!

So which of these were your favorite?

The Digit-al Dozen Does The Terrific Twos - Free Choice with a Theme of Two or Pairs!

Last day of our Terrific Twos theme and today is a free choice, as long as it deals with twos or pairs. So what did I do? Well? What time is it?

Yep! Peanut Butter Jelly Time!

Peanut Butter and Jelly, they're a pair right? :) I used OPI You Don't Know Jacques Matte (two coats) as my base or for crust of the bread. I then spread on Barielle My Tan Blazer and Nails Inc Buckingham Palace.

Hope you had fun this week celebrating with us our 2nd Anniversary! Don't forget our terrific 2nd Anniversary Giveaway! 51 Prizes!

Don't forget to check out the ladies and see what they did with their free choice!

An InLinkz Link-up

The Digit-al Dozen Does Summer: The Sun is a Mass of Incandescent Gas

"The sun is a mass of incandescent gas, a gigantic nuclear furnace, where hydrogen is built into helium and a temperature of a millions of degrees." - They Might Be Giants, Why Does the Sun Shine?

Today is day two of The Digit-al Dozen Does Summer and I decided to create the sun! Yes! Me! I have created the sun!

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See? It's the sun! Complete with solar flares!

Here is how the sun looks before it was matte-i-fied! I started with two coats of OPI The Thrill of Brazil. I then used Wet n Wild to create the nothingness that is space (two coats). I added SpaRitual Invention to the OPI to give it some sizzle! I used the OPI to also create the solar flares with SpaRitual over top. I then dabbed some Barielle Fire Me Up over the red to warm it up some more and added some more SpaRitual Invention. I used Milani White on the Spot and Barielle Cream 'N Sugar to create the hot spots on the sun (also added some SpaRitual over them too. I used Poshe Top Coat to seal it all up.

I liked it but I knew something was missing.

Enter Essie Matte About You. Now I love it! The sun is perfect for summer! Especially in Arizona, bleh! Too hot!

I hope everyone has a little earworm now! Muwahahahaahaha! I love this song!

Don't forget to check out what the other ladies are doing for summer!

An InLinkz Link-up

 

Also check out this amazing group: Inspire Me Nails. This current challenge is Inspired by Weird and Wonderful Nature.

An InLinkz Link-up