Sharpie nail art!

If you're anything like me, you have all kinds of fancy nail tools.  You have the nail paint.  You have the pain brushes.  You have the dotting tools. Etc, etc, etc.  Well, what if I told you all you really needed was a sharpie?

Say whaaatttt?!

It's true.  And here is my creation using a simple metallic sharpie.

For this look I used:
Orly Nail Defense as the base coat
Sally Hansen's Pacific Blue for the color (2 coats)
A silver Sharpie for the design
Seche Vite for the top coat

It's that simple, ladies.  Just paint with a color and get your doodle on with the Sharpie.

Enjoy!

I'm back per the request of my bff

Yes, I've been MIA, but I promise it wasn't personal.  When the weather started getting nicer, this blog took a back seat to outdoor fun in the sun.  I've come back to post more nail art since I've taken a few pictures over the last several months.

I tend to have obsessions.  Nail art was definitely my obsession last winter, and still is when I have the time.  Right now I'm completely obsessed with going to the gym and drinking delicious chocolate peanut butter protein shakes.  I've also become obsessed with supplements.  Thank God my obsession kicks my butt into being a healthier person.  I hope this obsession doesn't go away and don't hate me for posting things about food, supplements, exercise, etc.  So stay tuned for more nail art and some new content.

Cheetah Nails :)

Hello everyone and happy Saturday!

Is your Saturday weather dreary like mine?  I don't mind the rain if it's short lived, but rainy/dreary for 2 days?  I'm over it.  This is the view from my window...

It is dark.  It is wet.  It is not nice.  I was sitting here thinking--what can I do to brighten my day?  Of course, as any sane person would do, I gave myself a neon pink and cheetah print mani.  What other option is there?!

First, I got all my supplies out.

I know what you're thinking...classy setup.

And the final product...

For these cheetah nails, I used:

Orly Nail Defense (base coat)
Finger Paints Paper Mache (I used this under the neon pink so the pink would show better)
Sinful Colors 24/7
Confetti Black Tie (for cheetah stamp)
m57 (stamping plate)
Seche Vite (top coat)

Ta-da!

xoxo
j

Seashore nails

Hey everyone!

I am leaving on vacation to St. Thomas next week.  Work has been crazy.  So I decided to paint my nails seashore-esque to remind me, every time I look at them, that vacation is so so close :)

Here we go!

You might be thinking...why so many pics? but I promised more pictures, didn't I?

For this nail art design, I used:

Orly Nail Defense (base coat)

Essie Mint Candy Apple

Essie Case Study

Some white nail art paint I got off Amazon.com

Seche Vite (top coat)

First, I put on my base coat and 2 coats of Mint Candy Apple.

Next, I dipped a dotting tool (bigger sized dot) into Case Study and did this weird, wavy french which I hope you see as a shore line.

Then, using my m27 plate and Case Study, I stamped this cute little sea horse on my accent nail.

Next, I took a pencil, dipped it into my white nail art paint, and dotted over top of the bubbles that were already stamped in Case Study.

Finally, 2 coats of Seche Vite.

Voila!

xoxo

j

Another Gradient Glitter Nail

Hello everyone!

I have done a gradient glitter nail before, and it may be my most viewed post yet.  On the gradient glitter nails below, I took an idea I saw on pinterest.  Of course, I can't find the pin now, but as soon as I do I'll post the link so you can see it.

Here we go!

The second picture isn't as clear as the first, but I wanted you to see the sparkle of the glitter.

For this look, I used:

Orly Nail Defense (base coat)
Sally Hansen Petal Pusher
Sally Hansen Grey Area (for tips, which I free handed)
Sally Hansen Gem Crush in Glitz Gal
Seche Vite (top coat)

I wasn't completely dissatisfied with the tips I free handed, but being the perfectionist I am, I wish I had taped them off and done it that way.  Oh well.  Lesson learned.

Enjoy!

xoxo
j

Tropical Nails

Happy Saturday, everyone!

Here is a nail art design I did last week.  I had just bought my plane ticket to St. Thomas and I was thinking tropical thoughts when I chose the colors.  This stamp design is one of my favorites too.  I've used it a couple time already.

For these tropical inspired nails, I used:

Orly Nail Defense (base coat)
Essie Mint Candy Apple
Sally Hansen Pacific Blue
BM20 (stamp)
Seche Vite (top coat)

Is there anything you'd like to see me post that I haven't?  Maybe you want more pictures, or a more in depth description of the process.  Let me know and I'll add it!

Enjoy!

xoxo
j

How to follow me--Instructions for my sister

Hi sister!  Here's how to follow my blog.  See that icon at the top right of this post that says Join this site?  It looks like this:

Click Join this site and follow the instructions.

I hope to see you following me soon!

Heart nails take 2!

Hello everyone!

Wow, these hearts turned out so much better.  Don't you think?

For this look, I used:

Orly Nail Defense (base coat)
Sally Hansen Grey Area
OPI Tutti Frutti Tonga
BM02 (stamping plate)
Seche Vite (top coat)

Having the stamping plate for the heart outline was a major help.  Once I stamped the outline, I just used my brush to fill the heart with OPI Tutti Frutti Tonga.

Enjoy!

xoxo
j

Not ambidextrous

Hello everyone!

While attempting to free hand painted hearts on my nail, I only reinforced my firm belief that I am not ambidextrous.   My left hand turned out pretty good.  My right hand...not so much.  It was so terrible that not only did I not photograph it, but I immediately removed the Valentine's Day mani.  See the bottom of this post for a common sense solution that I didn't think of until after the fact.

(sorry the pics are such poor quality!)

For this look, I used:

Orly Nail Defense (base coat)
OPI Tutti Frutti Tonga
Black acrylic nail paint
Seche Vite (top coat)

If they all turned out as good as my thumb, I would have been so proud....
I realized after the fact that it would have been much closer to perfection if I had used a heart stamp from a stamping plate and then just colored it in.

Enjoy!

xoxo
j

P.S.  Can I get some followers?  I'm at a total of 0!

Peachy Nails!

Hey everyone.  Do you have spring fever?  I know I do.  I'm ready for the winter weather to go back to where it came from so I can enjoy being outside.  This nice peach mani is my attempt to inject a little spring into the winter.

For this look, I used:

Orly Nail Defense (base coat)
Essie Tart Deco
Orly French Tip
BM20 (for stamp)
Seche Vite (top coat)

I hope everyone is staying warm!

xoxo
j

More Valentine's Day Nails

Hello again!

I wanted to try something new for Valentine's nail art, and here's what I came up with.

The polishes I used to create this look were:

Orly Nail Defense (base coat)
Sally Hansen Wet Cement
Essie Angora Cardi
Seche Vite (top coat)

I free handed the tips and tried my best to paint the little hearts on with a paint brush.

Enjoy!

xoxo
j

Work Wear

Happy Tuesday!

A couple of weeks ago I did a post entitled "Saturday Style."  I liked my own concept, but realized 2 major issues with my outfit.  1. My collared shirt was too bulky to be under that sweater, and 2. that sweater was too tight to wear.  So I went out and bought 2 new pieces to take their place.  Both are from Old Navy so they are a decent price.  My next problem to tackle is new pants to wear this cute top pairing with.

Striped Blue Shirt--Old Navy--sold here $17.50
Kelly Green Pullover--Old Navy--sold here $24.94
Black Pants--Target-- no link available

Much better!  What do you guys think?

Enjoy!
xoxo
j

Monday Style

Hi everyone!  I hope you all had a nice Monday.  They're such a drag, aren't they?

Well, to keep up with my attempt at style, I have today's look.

Do you like my artistic way of covering my badge?  I'm so clever!

I know it's nothing spectacular, but it's better than what I would have worn, trust me.  And I also realize these pictures aren't really showing the detail they should.  I'm looking into getting a new camera so bear with me :)

Blouse-Marshalls $12.00.
Sweater vest-Marshalls $14.99.
Pants-Target $I don't remember.
Shoes-Famous Footwear or Rack Room.  One of those places. $I don't remember this either.

Enjoy!

xoxo
j

Valentine's Day Nails

Hi everyone!

I know Valentine's day is still 2 weeks away, but I'm ready for some Valentine's nail art.  I just got my dotting tools in the mail, and I wanted to use them right away. They can be purchased here if you are interested.

Here is the dotting tool pack.  I used the dotting tool on the far right for this simple look.

 Simple and Valentine's inspired.  For this look I used:
Orly Nail Defense (base coat)
Essie Jag-u-are (2 coats)
Orly French Tip
and Seche Vite (top coat)

Enjoy!
xoxo
j

Saturday Style

Hi everyone!

I don't know about you guys, but I've put myself on a budget this year and I'm really trying to stick to it.  So instead of going out and buying new clothes, I have decided to just create new looks with what I already have. Normally, I have a very plain style.  Maybe once and awhile I'll go out on a limb and do something crazy!  Like wear sequins (I know, I know.  Very daring move). But mostly you can find me wearing jeans and a t-shirt.  Or  jeans, tank and cardigan since I'm obsessed with cardigans.

So this is what I'm wearing today.  I'm not wearing makeup in the pic (don't judge me please!)  If I'm able to find somewhere to get a better pic today, I'll post that.  See below pic for clothing info.

These shoes are really awesome and comfy, which is why I had to have them and didn't mind spending the money on them.  Here's a close up.

Dress shirt--Kohls $17.99
Sweater--Target.  It's from last year so I'm not sure how much it cost.
Cords--Old Navy $19.50
Report Shoes--Off Broadway Shoes $55.93 (yay for clearance!)

Hopefully, I'll continue to be more creative with my outfits and continue to post them for ideas and inspiration.  Also, I can assure you that all of the pieces I wear are affordable, or else I wouldn't own them :)

Enjoy!
xoxo
j

Mood changing nails!

Hello everyone!

The week I bought some mood changing polish that I was dying to use.  I also broke down and bought the Seche Vite top coat that everyone raves about (for good reason!).  In addition to that, I bought enough polish so my current stock no longer fits into a shoe box.  It's over flowing...

It's close enough to Valentine's day, so I decided to throw something festive into this mani.

For this mood polish mani, I used:

Orly Nail Defense (base coat)
Icing's Mood Swing in Calm/Energized (2 coats)
Seche Vite (top coat after the mood polish)
Sally Hansen's nail pen in Red Chrome (for the stamping)
Konad m3 stamp plate for the hearts
BM02 stamp plate for the lips
and another coat of Seche Vite

Enjoy!
xoxo
j

Funky Giraffe

Hey guys.  

So I've kind of gone a little crazy with buying nail polish this week.  I wanted to try a color I haven't used before so I ended up doing this funky take on a giraffe print.

For this mani, I used:

Orly Nail Defense base coat
OPI in Tuttu Frutti Tonga (2 coats)
Sally Hansen Hard as Nails in Grey Area
BM 10
Essie to dry for

What I will say about this mani is that the OPI color was very hard to work with.  It was really thick and that made it take awhile to dry.  Kind of a pain.

Enjoy!
xoxo
j

Blue Swirl Mani

Welcome!

This week I did a blue swirl mani after finding a nice gray polish and bright blue polish at the store.

Here is what it looks like.  Love it.

For this mani, I used:

Orly Nail Defense base coat

Sally Hansen Hard as Nails in Wet Cement (2 coats)

Sally Hansen Hard as Nails in  Pacific Blue (for stamp design)

BM19 image plate

Essie to dry for top coat

I've had this mani for several days and there is only 2 small chips.  I really like the Sally Hansen Hard as Nails polish.  It stays put and it's also great for stamping.

Enjoy!

xoxo

j

Houndstooth nails

Hello. My manis have been so plain lately. This time I decided to go with something not so plain. I love the outcome.

For this mani I used:
Orly Nail Defense (top coat)
Wet 'n Wild French White Creme
Confetti Black Tie
BM19 (stamp)
Essie To Dry For (top coat)


Enjoy!
xoxo
j

Peacock-esque nails

After my low key snow mani, I wanted something a little more funky. Looking back on it, I think I would have put a design on top of this design, but hey, there's always next time.

For this mani, I used:
Orly Nail Defense (base coat)
Wet 'n Wild Caribbean Frost
Confetti Black Tie
and Essie To Dry For (top coat)

I just love french tips. I find myself putting them on almost every mani I give myself!
Enjoy!!
xoxo
j

I'm baaaAAAAAck...

I know it's been a few weeks since I've shown my face, but I had weird home internet problems.
For New Years, I went snowboarding. I was thinking snow when I came up with this idea. This is not the cleanest manicure, but it's all I have in terms of pictures of it. So...please don't hate on me.

For this manicure, I used:
Orly Strengthening & Repairing Basecoat
Orly French Tip (white)
Orly Shine (silver)
BM21 for the stamp
Essie To Dry For topcoat

Simple and classy, just how I like it!
Enjoy!

xoxo
j