Sally Hansen HD: LCD

I really tried to capture the blue flash in this one, but I couldn't get it.  This is 4 coats Sally Hansen LCD, from the HD line, with 2 coats Seche Vite.  Application was pretty good, but this is very sheer.  I still had VNL after 4 coats.  But it went on smooth and is very very pretty.  I liked the blue flash it had, made it seem like it wanted to be purple.  Not sure why I couldn't get it to show.  The one shot has a hint of it, but it was hiding.  I also drew on some flowers with Essence Nail Art striper in Silver Surfer.  Overall, I liked this mani.

Also, I feel like my life is falling apart.  So many things have gone wrong lately.  I am afraid to do anything just because it might go wrong too.  I hate feeling depressed.  I've been there before and it sucks big time.  I am really hoping that things will start looking up.  I need happiness in my life.  Someday... I hope... it will come.

Lilac and flowers

I am going through some stuff.  Some pretty major stuff.  I really don't know what to do or how to feel or when it's going to end.  Some days are better than others.  And I guess I know it will eventually get better because it always does.  But at the moment, I don't see a light at the end of this tunnel and frankly I don't know if I want to.  I'm depressed and numb at the same time.  But I have to distract myself and keep going.  So I'm trying to keep going.  Sorry in advance...

Anyway, I went to Ulta this past weekend because I had to get out of the house and I had a coupon for two free "salon" polishes... basically the Essie, OPI, China Glaze, etc... So I picked up two of those and a few other things.  I got the new Essie minis for their new collection.  They look super cute, so look out for them.  I also picked up the Essence stampy set because I am wanting Konad, but haven't gotten it yet.

This is 3 coats of Essence No More Drama from the Colour & Go collection.  Then I stamped with OPI Dim Sum Plum on just the ring and thumb.  You can tell I started with this ring finger.  Fail-ish... but not too terrible.  I really like this one actually.  I think it's nice and spring-like.  Something to look at to brighten my mood a little.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!!  I am not really celebrating much this year as I'm leaving in the morning on vacation.  Just a few drinks, I'll be fine, right?  I'll find out in the morning, haha.

I read a few reviews of the little Essence polishes they brought to the US via Ulta.  None were good concerning quality.  I didn't have my hopes set high.  And I wasn't impressed either.  I used Essence Check me Out as a base.  This is 3 coats and some glops to fill in bald spots, lol.  I still had VNL so I used China Glaze Watermelon Rind to add a french tip.  Then to make it more festive, I added a 4 leaf clover on the ring finger with OPI Jade is the New Black.  Topped it all off with 2 coats of TC.

I will say, on a side note, I actually used Poshe for this mani.  I've read that a lot of people like it and some say it's just as good if not better than Seche Vite (my HG).  I'll be honest, I never tried Poshe before this mani.  However, I did this mani on Sunday.  By Monday, I had small chips in the corners of two nails which I was able to fill in with some extra Watermelon Rind without drawing too much attention to it.  I added a third coat of Poshe on after the touch-up.  By Tuesday night I had to fix two fairly large chips on two nails and a couple more small chips.  Touched up and added a forth coat of Poshe.  I thankfully made it through work today without chipping, just slight tip-wear.  However, at some point since I got home a few hours ago, I've chipped off a large chunk of the left thumb.  I can usually make a mani last a week with Seche, so I have to say I'm extremely disappointed.  And I am blaming Poshe although I've never used the Essence polish either.  I suppose it's possible that the Essence just didn't want to stay on.  I won't complete banish the Poshe just yet, but I'm putting Seche on my vacay mani so I don't have to worry!

New Haul!

I need to rant for a sec...

So, I was going to this salon to get my hair cut and paying an arm and a leg each time.  I found out a co-worker of my mother's was also going to this salon, but left for a new place and totally loves it.  She told me I could save probably 60% and that the stylist was amazing.  Now, granted... this woman gets cut and color where I only get a cut.  However, she straight up lied.  I go to this new salon and it's set up like a chain place, but I don't think it is one.  There's no one at the front desk... when the phone rings or someone walks in the door, one of the stylists have to stop and go tend to them.  The girl puts me right into the shampoo chair without even asking me anything about my hair or what I want.  I'm used to having a "consultation" before a first-time cut so that they know what your hair is like and how it's cut when you come in.  She washes it and puts me in the salon chair and THEN asks me what I want.  I give her an overview of what I am willing to do to my hair (little to nothing) and the kind of cut I currently have.  She asks me where my part is and I tell her.  As she's cutting, she proceeds to part it the wrong way, so I point that out and she fixes it.  I have side-swoop bangs and when she goes to cut them, she pulls them the wrong way.  I tell her and she says, "Oh, right."  It's been months since my last cut and they had grown almost to my chin and she only cuts them to my mouth.  I tell her they need to be shorter and she asks where to.  I told her to cut them to eye level so when they are dry, they'll sit at eyebrow level.  So she cuts them to the bottom of my nose!  I gave up at this point.  She blows my hair out straight and gives it absolutely NO body what-so-ever and blows the bangs out the wrong way.  When she's done, she asks if it looks ok.  I tell her it's fine.  I pay my cheap bill and leave.  When I get to the car, I have a million tiny hairs on my face along with the frown.  I actually contemplated going to my regular salon which is only a few minutes away and telling them to fix it.  I decided not to because I felt guilty for not just going to them in the first place.

ANYWAY... I felt so down after all that so I decided to go to Ulta and pick up a few polishes to make myself feel better!!  I went a little over-board.  Hah.  On to the pics!

I remembered seeing Borghese Stellare Notte, a dark rainbow shimmer like an oil-slick, on someone else's blog and saw the same color.  I picked up it and Plumaggio Purple, a dark purple with pinkish shimmer.

I got Orly Luxe, a gold foil, and Cotton Candy, a baby pink cream.  I have a weakness for pink, so I couldn't help it.  And the gold foil - I mean, come on!

I loved my OPI DS Classic mani so much that I had to get a couple more from this line.  I picked up DS Opulence and DS Coronation.

My goal for the trip was to come out with a nice green for a possible St. Patty's mani.  I found these 3 greens.  The first is essence 18 Check Me Out, a Euro brand, which just recently debuted in Ulta in USA.  They only have the colour & go line, which I hear isn't the greatest, but at $0.99, I couldn't help it anyway.  The second is Ulta Limelight, which to me looks like a grass green.  The last is a brand I've never heard of, LA Splash Golden Seahorse.  This polish looks like China Glaze Audrey with gold glitter!!  This brand had only a few polishes, but it was a small display in general.  There were various make up goodies and I think I may have to get some in the future.

Much to my surprise, I got a free gift!  An OPI Spring Chic mini pack.

OPI Ink, Rosy Future and a Top Coat.  I love the minis.  Really, I love anything mini-sized.  They are super cute just because they are small.

WOW!  That was a lot of pics.  And a lot of polish, haha.  I'm not really one to do swatches just for myself... so if you want to see any of these alone, let me know.  I'm more of a swatch-of-opportunity, lol.  Like I need something on my nails for a couple days and so I throw something on.  But if you ask, I will do it!  ;)