Best of 2013

Overall, this year has been rather frustrating.  However, I have a lot of hope and bright prospects for the next year.  So to close out this year properly, I am posting about some of my more popular posts from the year.  These are listed from most popular to least popular.

1. Steampunk, Take 2

2. Two-toned

3. Royal Blue and Gold

4. Green Texture

5. French Sparkle

6. Mint Mojito

7. AnomalyCon 2013

8. Cloudy Skies

9. Pixie Dust

10. Beads and Jewels

I hope you all have a happy New Year!!

Chess

Merry Christmas 2013

I hope everyone is having a great holiday season, wherever you are.  We will be heading to his parent's house, then my grandparents' house, and finally to my parents' house, so we will be rather busy.  I wanted to get this posted early today so that I don't forget with everything else that is going on today.

I went for a non-traditional manicure this week.  I didn't want to do the typical red and green.  I have also been eyeing a very special polish from the Essie winter collection.  I received a coupon for Ulta, so I used that to get that special polish at a slightly better price.

Without further ado....

I started off with three coats of Sinful Colors Hot Spot on all my nails except my ring finger.  This is a nice metallic royal blue, that doesn't leave brush strokes.  On my ring finger, I used Essie On A Silver Platter.  This one is a gold glitter with a couple different kinds of blue holographic glitter in it. I used the Essie polish on the tips of the rest of my nails.

After it all dried, I used Diamond Dry on top of everything. This helped cover the glitter on my ring finger so it didn't feel so jagged, and helped to smooth out the rest of the nails some.  I had to layer on the glitter polish more on the tips so it would show better.

I hope you all love this one as much as I do, and you have a wonderful day today!

Until later,

Chess

Travel in Colour

I hope everyone is having a great day on the longest night of the year.  It is another cold day here, and I am welcoming the coming warmth.

This week I went with a relatively simple french manicure.  I started off with white tips in ORLY Pointe Blanche.  Then I put on a coat of China Glaze Travel in Colour.  This one has a pink shimmer to it.  The photo does not show the pink color of the shimmer well.  Try as I might to change the color in my photo editing software, the color just wouldn't show through.

I hope you like this one.  Sometimes it is nice to go with something a little more simple.

Until later,

Chess

Peach and Pastel Purple

This week I found some inspiration on pinterest for my mani.  You can see the original here.  The original was done with two pinks, based on the description, but the lighter one looks more purple to me.  So I decided to raid my stash and see if there were a couple of colors that would work well together.  I think my picks worked very well.

I started off with three coats of Essie To Buy Or Not To Buy.  I forgot how thin this polish is.  Once that dried, I sponged on the Essie color with Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Peachy Breeze.  Over the top of that, I used China Glaze Fairy Dust.  It is getting a little old and goopy, so I used Diamond Dry on top of that to smooth it all out.

I absolutely love this combination and how it turned out.

I am still trying to figure out what I am going to do this coming week.

What do you think?  Do you like this one?

Until later,

Chess

High on Hope

This week flew by.  The beginning of the week was a little rough at work, but by midweek, we had extremely cold weather and snow on the ground.  Things slowed down a bit, with more people staying home.

This week I decided to try some more stamping, and I really like what I came up with.  I started with three coats of ORLY High on Hope.  After that dried, I stamped on the image using plate Mash-39 and Konad special polish in black.  Finally, I topped it off with Diamond Dry.

I like the fish scale image, and during the week I thought of a couple other things I could have done.  I could have used a different color than the black special polish for the image, to make it look more natural.  Also, I would like to see what it looked like with a matte top coat.  The pink glitter in this polish might show through better with the matte top coat.

Let me know what you think!  Do you see any other possibilities for this one?

Merino Cool

Once again I felt no real urge to do much with my nails.  I had some good news at work, so hopefully things will begin to return to normal.  For so long I have been terribly stressed out, and I haven't felt normal.  I am ready for a change.

This week I wanted to try out a new color I picked up by Essie.  So this mani is two coats of Essie Merino Cool.  It is a fabulous color, a mix between grey and purple.  Absolutely perfect for fall or winter.

Until later,

Chess

Chic Reloaded

Last weekend I had a work meeting on Saturday, that left me dragging all week.  I had no real ambition this week, and really just wanted to sleep all day.  Consequently, I did not do much with my nails, either.  However, the polish I choose this week I think spoke for itself.  This is one of the only color I have found that has a true duochrome that one can see in most light.  A lot of others I have tried don't really show more than one color.

This is three coats of Essence Color and Go Chic Reloaded.  I found it for only a couple of dollars at Ulta.  The only downside is it tends to wear at the tips more than some polish does.  You can see it some in the picture, on my middle finger.

I do wonder if a top coat would have changed the duochrome any, so there would be less tip wear.

Until later,

Chess

Custom Kicks

This week, I tried very hard to make my mani match a teal green shirt I own.  It is one of my favorites.  I came pretty close, though the pictures just don't do it justice.

I started with a couple layers of China Glaze Custom Kicks.  Then I added a layer of Icing Peak A Blue.  Custom Kicks is a green teal and Peak A Blue is a light blue with micro sparkles.  The color matched the shirt  almost exactly.

After that dried, I stamped on the lotus image using plate BM05 and Mash special polish in white.  I topped it off with the Diamond Dri.

Until later,

Chess

Another Favorite Color Combination

I am very glad it's Friday.  This week was rather frustrating again at work.  It seemed like the week would never end.  I have been trying to work on my novel for NaNoWriMo, but have been rather busy, so haven't been able to get far.  I am planning to work hard this weekend on it.

This week, I put two colors of polish together that I love.  Right now, I really love a blush pink color and I love pairing it with navy blue.  So that's what I did this week.

I started with a couple coats of OPI A Butterfly Moment.  When that dried, I used OPI Incognito in Sausalito for the tips.

It is relatively simple, but it's my favorite color combination right now.

I hope you like it,

Chess

Happy Halloween 2013

I hope everyone is having a wonderful time tonight, with whatever you are doing.  Trick-or-treating, staying in, watching scary movies, spending time with family.  I am watching some shows and probably will watch Hocus Pocus tonight, while my husband hands out candy to the little ones.

You may have seen my post on Facebook about this polish I chose this week.  I chose to try out L'Oreal The Queens Ambition.  I love the look of it.  The glitter helps lend the texture to the polish.  My only issue is that it is chipping quite a bit.  Usually I don't have that problem with polish on my acrylic nails.  I figure if I put a clear top coat over it, the mani would last longer, but then I would lose the fabulous texture.

Until later,

Chess

Lack of Creativity

This week I really just didn't feel creative.  I couldn't think of anything to do with my nails.  Earlier, I bought a few ORLY colors, and I wanted to play with one of the them this week,  but I didn't have any ideas.  So I have a swatch of this color for you today.  This one is ORLY Terra Mauve.  It is a great red with a pinkish hue.  The color really is fabulous, I just couldn't think of anything to do to it.

Also, to give you a little more to look at, I pulled out a mani I tried out a bit ago, but never posted.  I started witha few coats of Sinful Colors Ocean Side.  After that dried I used some glitter polish from Icing on my ring finger.  It came in a four pack, but there is no name on it.

I hope you like these,

Chess

Howl You Doin'

Lately, I haven't been feeling very creative.  I have been finding it hard to come up with new ideas and color combinations.  Luckily, this month China Glaze had a couple colors from the Halloween collection that I liked.  So this week, I used one of those.

I started with a couple coats of China Glaze VIII.  After that dried, I used tape to block off some of my nail near the cuticle, and used China Glaze Howl You Doin'.

I really love the different types of glitter in Howl You Doin' and it wasn't too hard to remove.  Usually I hate glitter polish, but this one was much easier to remove.

What do you think?  Any suggestions for another mani?

Chess

Leopard Print

This week, work went by fairly quickly.  I made a couple monetary decisions about bellydance and yoga that make me feel good about my future.  I'm excited about these opportunities next year.

Last week I saw this pin on pinterest, and knew I had a couple colors that I could use to recreate the look.  So that's what I set out to do.  To top it all off, the base color I used was given to me by a close friend, so it felt good to finally use it.

I started off with two coats of ORLY Rage.  After that dried, I stamped on the leopard print image using Konad plate m57 and Konad special polish in black. Then is used Sonia Kashuk Two Cent to place the darker dots on some of the leopard spots.  Finally, I used two coats of my Diamond Dry to smooth out the mani.

This one turned out beautifully, and everyone who has seen it in person has loved it.  It really did not take that much more time than any of the other manicures I have done before.

Until later,

Chess

Tongue & Chic

My co-worker has been on vacation in Florida all week, so it has been a little difficult keeping up with the workload.  However, I have taken on a new mantra at work.  I can only do so much, and the rest will have to wait until tomorrow.  It feels good.  I'm not as stressed as I usually am.

I decided to do something a little bit different for my mani this week.  I wanted to do a matte polish again.  So, I started with China Glaze Tongue & Chic.  Then I stamped on the peacock feather using Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Silver Sweep and plate VL 006 by Vivid Lacquer.  Then I used ORLY top coat to save the image, and ORLY Matte Top over all the nails.

For some reason, the matte top coat didn't work for all the nails, and I decided to take pictures so you could see it.  Some of it wears off anyway throughout the week, but two of my nails just wouldn't take the matte top coat.

Despite the issues with the top coat, I really like this mani.  I love the color and the way the silver contrasts it.

Until later,

Chess

Beads and Jewels

I'm glad this week is over.  It was slightly shortened from my time off over the long weekend we spent working on our main bathroom.  It looks so much better now, but I would love to have more time off still.  It didn't feel like time off because we were so busy the whole time.  I am very proud of what we managed to accomplish though.

This week, I wanted to go with something blue, and I had just received my new plates and special polish, so I figured I would use some of that, as well.  I started off with a couple coats of OPI I Saw...U Saw...Warsaw.  Then I stamped on the image using Konda plate m62 and Mash special polish in white.


I think I like the Konad special polish better than the Mash polish.  It wanted to dry a little too quickly, much like the issues I was having with regular nail polish.  However, the Konad special polish in white is harder to find, and more expensive.  So I will try a few more times before truly deciding.

I hope you like it.  Please let me know what you think below.

Until later,
Chess

Winner of the 3000 page view giveaway.

Thank you everyone for participating in my giveaway.  It ended in the middle of the night last night and I picked a winner this morning.  I have contacted the winner so that I can get the two bottles of polish to her as soon as I can.

Keep coming back her to view my newest manicure and you never know when I might do another giveaway!

Until later,

Chess

When Stars Collide

This week has been busy.  I took a couple days off from work for my anniversary and we have been remodeling our bathroom...ourselves!  Consequently, my manicure is looking rather sad.  At least I will be changing it tomorrow, and I won't feel so rough.  Also, I hit 3000 page views on the blog, and 30 followers on Facebook.  I know it doesn't sound like a lot, but it means a lot to me.  So please go check out my giveaway.

This week I decided to use another of the China Glaze holographic collection.  I wanted to try something a little different and see if it was possible to keep the holographic effect.  I used China Glaze Get Outta My Space for the base.  Then I used it and China Glaze When Stars Collide to sponge on the gradient. I had a problem with balding some on the tips when I sponged on the gradient, so I would suggest adding more polish on the tips.

Unfortunately, the holographic effect did not show up well, but I think it might work with foils.  I tend to have problems with brush strokes showing and sponging it on would probably remove that problem.

I hope you like this one.  I got many complements this week on it.  Also, please remember to check out my giveaway and try for two bottles of OPI polish.

Until later,
Chess

3000 page view giveaway

I now have over 3000 page views on my blog.  Thank you so much!!!  And to treat you all, I am doing a giveaway of two bottles of OPI nail polish.  To celebrate this achievement and the fact that it is Talk Like a Pirate Day, the two bottles are Mermaid's Tears and Steady As She Rose, from the Pirates of the Caribbean collection.   Good Luck everyone!


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Vines

This week the weather changed significantly.  Instead of hot and dry, it rained so much there was a lot of flooding around here.  We were lucky enough to not have to deal with that.

Last night I went to this great presentation on Impermanence by one of the Drepung Gomang Monks, from Tibet.  It gave me a lot to think about, and maybe another reason to finally do the yoga teacher training that I've been talking about for so long.

This week I wanted to use a green polish, so I went through my pile that I haven't used yet.  I also wanted something that had a more fall tone.  I used one of the more recent China Glaze holos.  After about 3 coats of OMG a UFO, I stamped on the image using China Glaze  Liquid Leather and plate Mash-43.  I decided to do a reverse status nail, so I placed the image on all my nails except the ring finger.

I hope you like this one.  Please let me know what you think!

Until later,

Chess

Hocus Pocus

I'm grateful for the shortened week after the holiday.  It was all I could do to get out of bed these last four days.  I've lost a lot of my motivation lately.  I'm ready to have a job using my degree, so I will feel more useful.  So once again, I picked a title, and nail color, that is more fitting.  I could use a little hocus pocus in my life right now.

This week I have another double post, so to speak.  First, I want to show you a swatch, then my actual mani I had this week.

The swatch is of a lovely purple polish by Ulta.  It is Cocktails Anyone?  I love the color, but I really didn't  like the formula.  It was more thick and left a very patchy layer, rather than the smooth applications I'm used to from other brands.  It is very similar to China Glaze Urban-Night and the China Glaze polish has a much better formula.

For this week's mani, I used a very similar color.  I used three coats of Sonia Kashuk Hocus Pocus.  It was a little thin, but after three coats, it was fairly even.  After it dried I stamped on the image using Konad special polish in Navy blue and plate RA-109.  The image is a little difficult to see, and I think maybe a gray would be even better with the base color.  I may have to try that at a later date.

I hope you like this combination.  Let me know what you think in the comments, or on Facebook.

Until later,

Chess

Druzy Rocks

I have always been fascinated with stones, rocks, geodes, and crystals.  One of my newest obsessions is jewelry with druzy stones or rocks instead of gems such as diamonds.  They are unique and more special. They are made up of a bunch of tiny crystals on a surface.

This week I wanted to use one of the new OPI San Francisco collection, and after using it, it reminded me so much of a druzy rock.

For this, I used two coats of OPI Alcatraz...Rocks.  I was very interested in it when I saw the swatches, but these picture do not do it justice.  I have very few specific polishes that I would recommend to anyone, but this is one.  If you are able to get it, make sure you do.
 I don't think you will be disappointed.

There is a bit of tip wear, and it is mostly noticeable because the tip gets a little more shiny.  It loses the texture some and becomes more like a cream or glitter polish.  Even in the second picture, which is after a week on, it isn't all that noticeable.

I hope you love this one as much as I do.

Until later,

Chess

End of Summer

I always love the fall colors, how deep they are.  With the OPI collection that just came out, I really wanted to use any of those colors this week, but I decided to try one more summer mani.

So this week I started with a few coats of Icing Moroccan Spice.  After that dried, I stamped on the flowers with Konda special polish in white and plate Mash-43.

It is really simple, but to me, it is the epitome of summer.  Bright pink with hibiscus flowers.

I hope you like it.  If so, please follow me on here, Facebook, Twitter or Pinterest.

Until later,

Chess

Make a wish

I have been struggling with my fears and dreams lately.  I've been trying to figure out what I want to be when I grow up, so to speak.  I have had many thoughts about becoming a yoga instructor and a belly dance instructor.  I have a Bachelor's in Chemistry and a Master's in Forensic Science.  I am paying off my student loans, but on a small income.  I would love to be able to actually use either or both of my degrees.  I feel trapped where I am and am trying extremely hard to keep my composure most days.  So this weeks mani is fitting.  I am making a wish and putting my heart out there that I can find my way soon.

I started off with a coat of e.l.f Mint Cream.  Then put a thin coat of OPI Sit Under the Apple Tree.  The OPI polish was too yellow, but I didn't want the mint color either.  In the end, adding the layer of OPI on top of the e.l.f. polish made for a perfect combination.

After all that was done, I stamped on all the different dandelion seed images using China Glaze Liquid Leather and Vivid Lacquer plate VL 006.  Finally, I used my Seche Vite top coat.  I still like the Diamond Dry the best, so I guess I will continue using that one, at least when I have stamped images.

I hope you like this one as much as I did.  I had many complements this week on this mani.

Until later,
Chess

Swirls

I love doing my nails, and it is a great way to let my creativity flow, but I always feel like my blog titles are lacking.  Do any of you feel that way?

This week has been better than the last few.  On top of the work being easier, we have been getting a lot of rain.  Everyone tells me that with how much I love the rain, I should be living on the east coast.

This week I decided to go with a teal color.  The photo does not do this color justice, even playing with the color in my photo editing software.  I started with a couple coats of China Glaze Flyin' High.  Then I stamped on the image using plate m64 and Konad special polish in a navy blue color.

One my left hand, the one in the picture, I used China Glaze Fast Forward Top Coat.  On my right hand, I used ORLY Sealon Topcoat.  They both made the special polish bleed, which was why I started using the Diamond Dry.  It doesn't cause the bleeding like so many other top coats do.  I couldn't finish this with the China Glaze top coat because of the smell.  Most nail polish has a distinct smell that I am quite use to now.  This top coat had a terrible smell to it, so bad that I was nauseated.  I will never use it again.  The next mani I do, I will try out the Seche Vite that so many people have raved about.

Do you have any other suggestions for top coats?

Until later,

Chess

Something More Simple

This week I decided to go more conservative.  I had wanted to do french tips again for some time.  So that's what I did this week.  I started off with a coat of ORLY Bare Rose to make my nails look a little more pink.  Then I used ORLY Pointe Blanche for the tips.  After that dried, I used China Glaze Fairy Dust over the top.  With that, there was no need to use a top coat.

Since this was such a simple mani this week, I have added a little something extra for your eyes.  It is merely a swatch, as I wasn't terribly happy with the color on my nails.  It is three coats of OPI Austin-tatious Turquoise.  It is extremely thin and I could still see my nail under the polish.  It also had more of a yellow tint to it than the picture shows, and yellow does not look good on me.  I might try putting a blue or green color under this one at a later date and see if it improves any.

Until later,

Chess