Aye yai yai... Essie ~ Olé Caliente!

Hola mi Amigas!!!  I'd like to give you a proper introduction to my go to "red" for the Summer... I have quite a few reds, but nothing quite as striking as Essie's Olé Caliente! (there is no exclamation point at the end of the name - I just feel like it needs it).  This is my current mani & was one of the 3 colors I chose to wear while on our family vacation to Mexico - how appropriate no? :)  Olé Caliente isn't a true red persay, it definitely has a bit of orange to it.  I suppose it's almost like the brightness of tangerine with red pushing itself to the forefront.  It's bright, cheerful, sexy ~ CALIENTE!!!  Say it like Puss in Boots would... These pictures were taken under indoor lighting; I know, I know, you're saying "Athena, you really need to get out more often", you're right, but with Summer looking like it's here to stay, the fact I'm home by 7 & the fact I HATE THE HEAT, sunlight pics will be hard to come by - but I will make it a priority to run out right after work to start getting those pics for ya! 

This picture details the hint of orange in it

Here's the red of Olé Caliente - LOVE IT

Tip wear close up (pretty damn good!)

My clean up is getting good :)

Olé Caliente is opaque in 2 coats, but I like to do at least 3 coats of everything.  This is topped off with good 'ol Poshe.  The pictures are actually Day 3 of wear which is amazing if you ask me!  I have started to wrap my tips as detailed by the lovely, the talented & awe inspiring ~ The Polished Perfectionist.  Her polishing techniques are flawless, be sure to check out her entire blog.  It's amazing how many more days of wear you get using her "Wrap Your Tips" technique.  I type all.day., soak my hands in soapy water while bathing my Baby, diaper changes, etc. & pretty much abuse my nails on a daily basis LOL & this has really helped.  I highly recommend it!  I also recommend The Polished Perfectionist's clean up technique detailed here. If memory serves me correctly, I believe I picked this pretty up at CVS for $8.00.  This was from Essie Spring 2012 Collection.  Hope you liked this sizzling shade... Ciao for now!

Pretty in Purple - Butter London ~ No More Waity, Katie

Good Evening!  Hope all is well in your neck of the woods... my neck of the woods has been disgustingly hot, hot, hot.  I'm really not a fan of the Summer. Even when you're naked you're hot - at least when you're cold you can make yourself warm.  Having to take the subway to & from work does not help my tolerance level for heat.  Yuck!  But ya gotta love NY!  Anywho, this is a quick swatch of Butter London's ~ No More Waity, Katie.  Apologies for not being able to clean up some of my fingers, this was done before a mad dash to pack my bags & pick up my Son from daycare.  But there's always time for a little swatch right? :) 

Indoor Lighting

Indoor Lighting - closer look

Pretty Color - messy finger

This was done with 4 coats of No More Waity, Katie, over a Seche Base coat, topped with 1 coat of Gelous & 1 coat of Poshe.  NMWK is a really beautiful color, it's a grey lavender, with some beautiful light lavender glitter suspended in it.  I didn't have any issues with glitter moving as I applied the coats (AWESOME), they went on very smoothly & evenly & dried fairly quickly.  I used 4 coats to get to the opacity I desired.  I'm really drawn to Purples & this is certainly a shade of purple I had not possessed - until now... MUAHAHAHAHAHAAAA!!!  I scooped this Little Miss up at Ulta for $14.00 as part of my "Mini-Haul" a week or 2 ago & I'm so glad to call it mine.

Layla - Holographic Effect Nail Polish ~ Flash Black ~

Hello Darling Dears!  Hope your Memorial Day weekend was wonderful!  Mine was full of running around, family time & plenty of BBQ.  :) Now, onto the post!


Today I have a few pics of the gorgeous, lovely, breathtaking, awe inducing Layla Holographic Effect Nail Polish in Flash Black!!!!  Aaaahhh!!!  Cannot tell you how excited I was to get my hot little hands on it!!!  I had gotten my other two (Mercury Twilight & Ultra Violet) from Ave You for $15.50 ea. & was so in lurve when I got them!  Sheck 'em out...

Indoor Lighting - weather's been crappy...

And lots of rain = RAINBOWS!!!! C'MON!!!  LOOK AT IT!!!

Just to bring the rainbow detail home ::swoon::

 Seriously, how gorgeous?!  This is such a beautiful holo.  It's like a charcoal color - not complete black.  Filled to the rim with every color you can imagine! ROY G (minus the B)IV ~ Red, orange, yellow, green, indigo & violet <3 Looks great indoors & unbelievable in sunlight!  With this baby on you can't help but constantly look at your nails.  The application on this was pretty tricky... I used Seche Base Coat followed by 4 thin coats, with minimal brushstrokes to prevent balding.  Wear on it was pretty good; 3 days with NO top coat.  I heard Gelous will help protect from wear, but I didn't try it with this swatch.  Perhaps with my other 2.  I picked this up at Ulta for $15.50 & it was one of the last ones on display!!!  Woohoo!!!  If I could wear holo every day I really think I would... I'll post the other 2 soon.  Ta ta!

Finger Paints Magnetic Polish ~ Hipnotic

Hello there :)  Today I have a quick post about Finger Paints Magnetic Polish ~ Hipnotic.  I know, I know, magnetic polish?  Aren't those soooo last year?? They may be, but I still love 'em!  I was able to scoop this up when Sally Beauty had their Buy 2 Get 1 Free special in April (LUCKY ME!!).  

Indoor Lighting

Please don't mind the messy ring work ;) This is pre-clean up...

I believe the retail price on this was $6.99.  Inexpensive?  Yes, but I saw no difference in application or magnet intensity between this or my 2 London Inc. Magnetic Polishes.  I applied a thin coat, let it dry & then applied a fairly thick (but not too) 2nd coat & immediately applied the magnet - 1 nail at a time.  And topped it off with good ol' Seche Vite.  I like this color.  It's sort of like a metallic-y cranberry.  I LOVE how these magnetic polishes actually look like they're moving when you move your nails... produces an optical illusion... Oooooo... and the wear on it was pretty good as well.  I'd recommend for sure - although, I believe these were limited edition.  But I'm sure you could still find them somewhere.  You like???

My Very 1st Haul ::tear::

Hello Lovely Ladies hope all is well with you... I'm baaaaaaaaaaaack... so sorry to have left for almost a month - sheesh - sorry about that.  Took some time out for a family vacation & busy getting back into the groove of things :) ACK!!!  Big news for me --> The lovely Laura over at Polish All the Nails actually featured me, little old just getting my blog started me as a guest poster for her blog.  She is the expert at hand placed glitter, blows me away.  I aspire to have her patience & come up with designs 1/2 as pretty as hers :) She decided to take some time off to spend with her family & asked for guest bloggers.  I volunteered, she said yup & the rest is history <3 Here is the actual link to my post Check it out!! Thanks again for the chance to guest blog for you Laura!! NOW... TO THE HAUL!!!

At least I *think* it constitutes as a haul?  I bought 8 bottles of nail polish in 6 days - haul yes?  Here are the deets:

• Essie ~ Pink-a-Boo
• Essie ~ Turquoise & Caicos
• Butter London ~ Disco Biscuit
• Butter London ~ No More Waity, Katie
• Layla Holographic Effect ~ Coral Glam
• Layla Holographic ~ Flash Black
• China Glaze ~ Flip Flop Fantasy
• China Glaze Crackle Glitter ~ Glam-more

Phew... I did some damage & am so happy - unfortch can't say the same thing about my Husband.  LOL, I have worn only 2 of the 8 so far.  First up to review is - Essie Pink-a-Boo!!  Did I scare ya?  If my "Boo" didn't, then my hang nail is sure to do so.  LMAO Please bear with me.  I swear I push back & remove cuticles (1st time ever this past weekend) & I cut hang nails (although I hate calling them that!) But, there it is, in all of it's ugly glory on my middle finger :( Sorry... just disregard...

This was tough for me to photograph, I was never much of a macro user on my camera & now I'm being forced to figure it out.

According to Essie Pink-a-Boo is:  A sheer pink w/ glittery sparkle.  Could have used a little more of a description, whatevs.  It is very sheer, but after 4 coats this is the opacity I was able to achieve.  I like it.  It's a pale, soft, pretty pink with very fine micro blue glitter.  There are other flashes of color as well, red, gold & purple.  But as I said, these pictures do it no justice.  I got compliments on it, but unless you see it up close you can't see the effect all to well :( Still, I'll be sure to use it again.  This is part of Essie's 2012 Resort Collection ~ I got this pretty lady at Ulta for $8.00.  These pictures are 4 coats of Pink-a-Boo & 1 coat of Poshe. 

Full Bottle Shot (Sunlight)

3 Fingers to show off more of the glitter (Indoors)

This is also the 1st time I've used the clean up method all the talented girls use - dipping a slanted brush in acetone & gently swiping to create a smooth line & clean up any imperfections.  Evidently I am not talented LMAO, I guess practice makes perfect!  I'll be back soon to swatch another part of my haul tomorrow!  'Til next time!!!