I'm Back and Zoya Wanderlust

Hi Dolls!!! So after a 2 1/2 month hiatus, I'm back:) I think every once and a while it is nice to take a break, and I have learned some important things from this break. For starters I definitely like recreating manis and putting my own twist on them. Secondly my nail art is for me, not for likes or follows or anything else and I think I forgot that somewhere along the way... and finally when you lose your voice in blogging don't try and push through take a break!  Now I don't know if I am back to stay or back for just a little while but for now I am here! Now onto the polish...

*press sample*

I have the Zoya Wanderlust summer 2017 Collection to show you! 12 gorgeous polishes to satisfy the wanderlust in us all!!! 

First up is Scout, a shimmery moss green with a definite yellowish tone.  

 Arbor is a cool toned olive green cream. Perfect camo green!!! 

 Sawyer is a soft orange cream, like a dreamcicle.

 Cora is a muted coral cream, a darker pinker version of Sawyer.

 Journey is a shimmery strawberry red with a slight hint of coral orange.

 Sonja is a muted dusty summer red, like a perfect summer flower.

 Mandy is a shimmery berry pink,  a perfect princess pink.

Winnie is a soft watermelon pink cream, almost like a bubblegum pink that leans just slightly more red.

 Byrdie is a muted fuchsia pink, a slightly darker version of  Winnie.

 Esty is a bright bubblegum pink with cool undertones, great for any skin tone!

 Lois is a bright violet purple, a perfect sunset purple!

 and the last in this collection is River. A bright shimmery medium cobalt blue. This one is slightly darker IRL.

All swatches are 2 coats except for the shimmers. All of the shimmers are thinner than the creams and needed 3 coats to get rid of the VNL (visable nail line).  As always Zoya's formula are right on point and I had no issues with cuticle pooling or staining.  This collection is available now at www.zoya.com for $10 per color.

🎔 Melissa

*Press Sample: Some of the products in this post were sent to me for review. I was not paid for my review of this product and all opinions are my own*

Neon Double Stamping and some thoughts on blogging

So it has been a while since I have posted. I just haven't been feeling up to blogging much lately. The world of blogging has changed so much since I started... It is way more about photo-shopping skills these days for both bloggers and makers. I used to look at 40 - 50 blogs per week, looking at new collections, swatches, nail art designs. Now I look at maybe 4 for swatches because I trust those bloggers not to photo-shop the polish (for color, effect, holo-ness). It is so disheartening. There are several other reasons too, but I am still painting and doing nail art all of the time! Here is a mani I did a couple of weeks ago. 

I did a base of white with a coat of Nina Pro Solar Flare, a highlighter yellow neon!!! I double-stamped black and holo using a clear jelly stamper and Ejiubas plate EJB-02. This mani turned out exactly as I wanted it to. But it did make me realize I need some new stamping plates!!!

🎔 Melissa

Zoya Charming Swatches and Review

TGIF!!! It has been one of those weeks that just seems to go on forever! So glad it is almost over and beautiful weather has been forecast for the whole weekend:) So to start your weekend off right I have the new Charming Collection from Zoya, and it is truly charming!  Six spring ready colors to brighten up your nails! 

*press sample*

First up is Millie, this can best be described as a dewy violet shimmer:) This beauty has almost a foil type quality to it. It is packed with gold and fuchsia shimmers. It reminds me of that perfect purple/pink that happens right at sunset!

 Tina is a perfect medium light amethyst purple creme! The perfect color for a tulip or any flower really!

 Abby is a light lavender creme that has a gorgeous blue undertone! I love the way Abby makes my pale skin look!

 Jordan is a soft blossom pink creme that I just LOVE!!!! This reminds me of one of my favorite pinks Kitridge, but this is more pastel!

 Amira is described as a soft dewy blue with a micro shimmer. This is a rainy day in a bottle! Packed with silver and gold micro flakes 

 Rounding out this collection is Lacey, the green version of Amira! A soft dewy green that reminds me of Tiana but with a sparkle!

 So with these beautiful cremes I just had to see if they watermarbled!!! And boy do they!!!

I Love this collection but I do have my favs. Can you guess what they are???  All swatches are 2 coats with a top coat! I am always impressed with the formula and super impressed with the formula on the pastels as they aren't streaky at all! These beauties are available now at www.zoya.com:)

🎔 Melissa

*Press Sample: Some of the products in this post were sent to me for review. I was not paid for my review of this product and all opinions are my own*

Metallic Double Stamp

Happy Monday Loves!!! I always love the time change that come with Daylight savings, I don't however love getting my kiddos to adjust to the new bed time schedule... Just imagine trying to explain to a 2 year old why they have to go to sleep while it is still light out!!! For my Monday Mani I did a little double stamping! Thankfully this mani turned out perfect, considering I usually mess up stamping and this mani gave me double the chance:) 

For my base I used a classic white creme. I love a simple white mani, it is cleansing like fresh falling snow! I stamped on Essie Nothing Else Metals and Penny Talk, gorgeous Lavender and Copper metallic foils. I used plate BM-319 from Bundle Monster:) I just love how shiny this mani came out! It is shiny but not blingy, and while all girls love some bling, sometimes it is nice to just have shiny:) 

🎔 Melissa

Blurple Smoosh

Hi Dolls! So a few weeks ago I saw a Instagram nail tutorial by @nail_muse and just had to try it!!!  For my base I used China Glaze Bizarre Blurple. My accent color was a plain white creme.  I painted a small square on my silicon mat in my base color, put a drop of my accent color, and then another drop of my base. I then took my clear stamper and smooshed it down once. I painted a coat of SV on the square, and then after it dried used it as a decal:) 

This is definitely a little tricky to get the hang of and super easy to smudge (as you can see on the corner of my nail). However it is very pretty and has a ton of possibilities! I am excited to try multiple colors and color combos!!!

🎔 Melissa

Turquoise and Gray:)

Happy Tuesday Dolls!!!! Oh am I ready for spring!!!! So ready for all the germs and viruses to disappear!  So I figured I would brighten up my nails!!! I did a smoosh mani using China Glaze Out Like a Light (a dark gray creme) and Too Yacht Too Handle (a neon turquoise creme)! There are several different ways to do a mani like this.  I find the easiest way for me, is to use a squishy stamper, it gives me more control! But you can use saran wrap or plastic baggies, what ever you have lying around.

Simple, easy and stunning!!!! Super happy with this beauty:) Now I really wanted to stamp a silver design over this, but I couldn't decide on a design so I just left it alone... But I may stamp next time!

🎔 Melissa

Blue Kisses:)

Happy Valentine's Day Dolls!!!!  This is by far one of the most over-rated holidays to me, either you need to go above and beyond to show your love for your SO... or you get the reminder that you are alone:( And even though I am very happily married, I think that flowers or candy on a random day mean more. But that is just me, and I have a lot of friends that LOVE this holiday and relish in all things Valentine:)  So this one is for the lovers of all things Valentine🎔🎔🎔

 The base for this is Barry M Gelly in Blueberry. I stamped on Sinful Colors Pink (neon from a couple of years ago) and China Glaze That's Shore Bright. The kiss designs are from Bundle Monster Plate BM-303 and Cheeky Plate CH29:) I followed it all up with a matte top coat by Butter London!

I hope you have a fantastic Valentines Day no matter your relationship status!!! You all deserve to be pampered and loved on everyday of the year!!!

🎔 Melissa

X's and O's

Hi Dolls!!! So for today's nails I did another Valentine's mani:) I went a little nontraditional with this. I used a black base with Hits Mari Moon Multigirl Dreamer on top! This polish is a gorgeous blue to red multichrome! I freehanded on X's and O's in silver for that V-day love:)

Easy peasy, Hugs and Kisses!!! Simple but festive, and that color shift is WOW!!!!

🎔 Melissa