Game Day!

Hi Everyone!! It's game day here in Packer country and while this would normally be a day full of fun it's also the 15th anniversary of the Sept 11 attacks. It's a somber day mixed in with the fun.  But this is also how the world works. For every day of joy is someone's day of sorrow.  I wanted to support my team today but also show my patriotism and reflect on the sorrow on 9/11

I used Zoya Song and Giovanni for my blue and green and OPI Wocka Wocka for my red. Some Dashica SdP and FUN stamping along with my custom Packer plate with Mundo White and Yellow

Not sure if anyone is watching the Packer Jaguars game is pretty intense!  My sister and brother in law are in Florida for the game I'm sure they are having a great time

Sort of missing my square nails today so you could see all of the Go Pack Go down at the tip but I'll live with it LOL!

Thanks for stopping by!  Hope you all have a great day!

Family Fun Day!

Hi Everyone! Happy Saturday!  Today is my mom's birthday so we'll be getting together later to have some dinner and play some games.  It's a bit challenging celebrating my mom's birthday because on my mom's 18th birthday her mother died.  I never met my Grandma Shaw but I know she was deeply loved by my mother and her death especially on her birthday was a crushing blow.

My mom's sister, Lynette, or as we love to call her Aunt Net, came down from Menomonee Falls last night and is spending the weekend with her.  Trust me when these two gals get together there is a lot of jaw jacking and definitely some fun times.  

Before the get together I'm going over to my sister's house and we are doing a DIY spa day along with my niece.  These are the times I love!  My family hardly ever asks me to do their nails but today we are doing pedi's for sure and maybe even a mani will get snuck in.

I've been kind of lacking in the nail art department lately.  Not really sure why.  I never not have my nails painted but sometimes I don't have any art on them or sometimes I have the same art on them for almost a week *GASP* 

I have been very dedicated to losing weight so I am walking quite a bit these days and that walking may just get in the way of me wanting to sit down and paint my nails and then do some stamping.  I'm also reading a lot more than I used to which makes me INSANELY happy but it seems like more and more little things are taking over my nail art life.  I'm hoping to find that perfect balance out there that's for sure!

This is a mani I did the other day because I just needed something fun and quick.  Gradient stamping always seems to do the trick when you want something that looks like it was complex when really it isn't

My base is the pretty Pahlish Divination from the Bespoke line, I am a huge of pastel polishes with the chrome flakies in them.  I wish someone would do them in every single pastel color imaginable!

I did some gradient stamping with Mundo de Unas Pastel Blue, Holland Blue and Purple with FUN 15

I like doing just a couple of accent nails over a non cream base so you can see both the art and then the beauty of the base color on it's own

And I'm not going to lie it's quicker so then I have more time to walk and read LOL!

Thanks for stopping by!  I hope you all have a fantastic day!

On behalf of a grateful Nation

My thoughts are always somber on Memorial Day.  Men and women who I did not know and who did not know me gave up their lives so that I might continue to live in a free country.  We say we celebrate this day but do you really celebrate a day dedicated to the men and women who died in active duty during war?  Should you celebrate a day such as this? I am honored and humbled and grateful.  Today I show my appreciation in a way I know I can expressing it through my nail art

My red is not true in this picture as I always have trouble capturing red with my camera. My non accent nails are painted with Louboutin Rouge. My accent nails are done with sharpies and black Mundo for the stamping

I used mostly MM38 for the stamping but also pulled pieces of tips off of trees on BP-L011 as well as MM38.  It was a labor of love LOL

I found a picture online and that's what inspired me to do this mani.  I love the unconventional look to this very patriotic mani.  

To those of you who lost a loved one while serving for the United States of America my heart is with you today.  I am sorry for your loss, I am grateful for the sacrifice and I will never forget.

The Digit-al Dozen Does Whimsy--Faery Field

Hi Everyone!  I'm behind on my Digit-al Dozen week because my mom took a bad fall on Thursday so we had to do the whole ER thing and "watch closely for the next 48 hours" thing.  She fell in the garage while she was trying to put on her golf shoes.  Instead of sitting down and leaning over to put them on and tie them she tried to put her foot up on a chair and do it.  While she couldn't easily pick her foot back up and she lost her balance.  She has a severely bruised tail bone and she also hit her head.  Lucky for us nothing at all was broken.  But it was quite scary.  Now we all have to try to stop giggling when she tells us her coxis is bruised.

I spent some time this Saturday doing nothing but lazing around and reading and creating this mani.  Like most in our group I googled "whimsy" because again what the hell is whimy and this picture actually came up and I really thought it was cool.  I knew I had the perfect base for it so I attempted it and hoped for the best!

For my base I used a group custom polish from Darling Diva called Fricken Swallow which is a lovely blurple type jellie full of flakies.  I layered it over OPI Road House Blues

I stamped using the VL019 plate from friend Arlene snagged for me so this is the 2nd time I've used this plate for Whimsy week but still haven't used it for the sole reason I wanted it LOLOL

Lots and lots of teeny dotting too which I was not a huge fan of

You can see the flakies nicely here don't you think?

And now the big reveal!  This is a picture of the picture I found when googling "Whimsy" it's titled mystical magical flowers.  

I think this totally looks like a faery field at night.

What do you think?  How did I do?  I'm sorry I was late but man oh man I think it was sort of worth it!

An InLinkz Link-up

The Digit-al Dozen Does Whimsy--Owls!

Hi Everyone!  Oh thank goodness we are halfway through this Whimsy week!  It's really a struggle for me I tell ya.  I had a couple of good friends looking out for me when the Vivid Lacquer plate I need for 1 mani was available for sale in a FB group and even though I was far from home my sweet friends Arlene and Tara were all over that post so I wouldn't miss it.  Arlene snagged it for me and had them ship it to me.  I wanted it for an entirely different reason but the more I looked at it the more  this idea came to me.  Instead of some cherry blossoms on tree branches I thought about how it would look to put a bunch of cute owls in the tree and this is what I came up with

I used the cooky tree branches from VL019 and then I did a whole lotta owl decals from BP54 

I think it's pretty cute, hopefully it's also Whimsical

My base is my fave blue ever Paint Box Polish's Won't The Muggles See Us? and I stamped with a lot of various Mundo colors

What do you think???? 

An InLinkz Link-up

The Digit-al Dozen Does Gradient--Yellow And Blue Make Green!

Hi Everyone!  I am posting this late today and I am so dang tired!  One of my chinchillas was up at 3 freaking am this morning rearranging his cage.  I don't know what his deal is but dude thinks he's some of sort of Feng Shui Master and does this a few times a month. I should have just taken him out and put him in the little cage aka jail but nope I kept hoping hushing him and scolding him was going to work but NOPE.  So I basically had about 4 hours of sleep last night. I am dragging my butt right now like nobodies business.

Luckily I was able to get a mani done last night to post today AND it turned out great!  I'm pretty sure I am going to bed and the ripe old time of 6pm tonight though so tomorrow's isn't going to be done until way late lol

For today I decided to do gradient stamping. I'd like to say I just mixed good old Mundo Yellow and Turquoise on the stamping plate and it made green but no I used Avocado which I just adore and DRK B for today's mani. My stamping is over the base of OPI DS Fantasy another polish I just adore

I love this line effect don't you?

This is a great image for showing off some gradient stamping but also allowing the base color to show through

I've got my mani station all set up now too and added two desk lamps and I am much happier with my pictures.  I might decrease my bulb wattage though as it might be a smidge too bright

I think this type of image is totally "me" unlike yesterday's dainty--lacey stamping

My girls have been totally nailing it this week!  Vic's animal print was spot on and you know you have to see some animal print from her but everything she does is awesome. Carmina and Cathy both have been showing off some flawless gradients with bright colors--I just love them!  Ashley is killing it with her faux water marble and she is NAILING the stamping which trust me is big for her.  Michaela did a fabulous mermaid mani as did Amber--I mean really Amber is kicking ass this week with ideas and colors.  Jacki's been doing AHmazing stuff with drugstore polish!  Yes you heard me drugstore polish which means it's available to anyone and everyone and look at what you can do with it!!! Rose Lynn and Marisa both doing some super cool stuff with such bright colors. Amanda is coming up with some cool double stamping. Shelly is nailing with some radials and watermarble AND video to boot and Tammy and Serene are just my long time stamping heroes I mean really everything they do I adore.  This group is full of special women who are just lovely inside and out

An InLinkz Link-up

Better Late Than Never!

Hi Everyone!  I've been sort of slacking in posting my mani's lately UG. I will try to work harder to get that done.  I'm a pretty big procrastinator and sometimes that works to my advantage.  I bought Girly Bits Jiminy Christmas several months ago with the sole purpose of using it in a St Patrick's Day mani but then I never used it!  UG it is SO gorgeous too.  A really pretty bright kelly green micro holo glitter. It would have been awesome for St Patrick's Day LOL.  Well St Patrick's Day is long over but I hauled it out and put it on and did some really simple stamping with Marianne's XXL3 and Mundo de Unas Avocado

Taking pics inside without the sun doesn't really do this cool polish justice

Isn't the name adorable????? I love it!

This could almost be a dragon mani!

I think out of all the Mundos Avocado is my favorite.  It's such a cool green.  Plus who doesn't love avocados???

I love finishes like these, I'm all about the sparkle!

I loved this mani so much I even thought about wearing it a couple more days but we are going to the Shedd Aquarium on Saturday so I had to do some kind of under water scene LOL.

What do you think?  Isn't amazing how simple stamping can be so cool sometimes??

That's for stopping by!! Hope you all have a great day!

The Digit-al Dozen Does Spring--Happy St Patrick's Day!

Hi Everyone!!!! Happy St Patrick's Day!!!!!!  I don't even feel bad about posting a St Patrick's Day mani in the middle of a Digit-al Dozen week because St Patrick's Day is ALWAYS March 17th and March is definitely Spring woot!

I'm just going to be short and sweet.  My base is the mega gorgeous Pahlish Emerald Cedars. I stamped with BM411, GoGo Only St Happy and MM04

Stamping with Mundo Avocado but my Celtic shamrock is Avocado, Lime and White gradiented on the plate

No one can pinch me at all today as I'll be wearing this AND my green lipstick!

Look at those hidden flakies in Emerald Cedars!!

OH OH PHOTO BOMB!!!!

I'm going to try to snag him and get his gold!

Happy St Patrick's Day!!! I hope you all find some gold at the end of the rainbow

An InLinkz Link-up

The Digit-al Dozen Does Spring--Pastel Chevrons

Hi Everyone!  Well did you all survive Daylight Savings Time?  I thought I was going to be super tired but I wasn't at all.  I think a lot had to do with the fact I had the delish Cinnamon Dolce coffee from Starbucks at work yesterday.  There are a few of us who like flavored coffee so we have quite the variety going on there.  I'm hoping tomorrow we can try the Dark Chocolate Truffle I bought.

Since I survived Daylight Savings Time I'm happy to report I had time to do my day 2 mani last night LOL.  I decided to go with some pastel chevrons.

I started with a base of Girly Bits Love Your Elf which is pink nude with shimmer.  Sadly the shimmer didn't really pic up with my camera.  I used several Mundos for the stamping Peach, Mexican Pink, Velvet, Sky Blue and Lime. Chevron plate good old FUN 5

I used to say I didn't love pastels but honestly I really love them.  I think I love Fall and Spring best for nail polish colors

So glad to be able to stamp the wavy chevron because UG tape mani's or vinyls nope just cant not do them

You might be able to see a little bit of the shimmer in this shot

Not leaving well enough alone I added some Bunny Ears

Meh not sure if this makes it a cuter mani or not

So day 1 was refreshing!  Not everyone did flowers woot!  Let's see how day 2 goes!

An InLinkz Link-up

Irish Plaid

Hi Everyone!  Happy Monday!  I decided to try my hand at a plaid stamped mani for the first time.  It didn't turn out as I had planned but I don't think it's too bad for my first time at bat.  The plus in this whole thing is I used NYX Hunter Green for the first time and I've owned it for 5 years LOL!

So here's my Irish Plaid mani kicking off some nice Celtic mani's leading up to St Patrick's Day

I had a pattern I was trying to follow and I didn't quite nail it so it disappointed me.

I used Marianne's n114 for my plaid and had some issues with what I felt should have been placed first so I had to wing it

I feel like the Celtic design shamrock on Messy Mansion MM04 saved the day!

I used Mundo Mustard, Black and White for my stamping--as always nice and crisp and easy to work with

No matter how much I try and no matter how much I love a squishy stamper I can't get straight lines when using it.  Luckily no one ever looks that closely at my nails to see they aren't exactly straight lines

So what do you think?  Does it look Irish enough???