Cowboy Up Mani using CH34

This mani took on a mind of its own at some point. I started with two coats of China Glaze Kalahari Kiss which is a yellow tan/khaki creme (pretty straight forward). It looked rustic to me so I sponged Deborah Lippmann No More Drama on it (a dark brown with shimmery gold/copper throughout). It reminded me of worn leather at this stage so then I stamped the horse rider image from the new Cheeky CH34 plate using China Glaze Delight. Delight is a great polish to stamp with, it's metallic and a brown copper bombshell of a polish. I topped it off with SV. Since I didn't take pictures of it before the stamping, I inset a close up so you can see the background. What do you think? Kind of a unique one for me and the blog.
The Cheeky plates aren't out yet but you can follow them and me on Facebook to know when they release.

Don't forget to enter my giveaway!

*cheeky plate sent for review*

China Glaze: Man Hunt & Kalahari Kiss + CH35

It's been a while since I've water marbled so I wanted to try out something new with it. I did close lines instead of a traditional pattern using Man Hunt and Kalahari Kiss from the China Glaze On Safari collection. These two polishes marbled great and I really love the color combo together. I was going to do something safari themed on it but it just reminded me of a bowling lane so I used the new Cheeky CH35 plate and stamped the bowling image. You can see this one is etched a bit deep but I'm assured it's only because it's pre-production plates. What do you think? I kinda like it, feels retro bowling to me. 

Dont' forget to check out my giveaway which includes the new Bundle Monster plates!

*cheeky plate provided for review*

Le Metier De Beaute: Indian Summer 2012 (Penny Lane and Wild Ginger)

First off, have you checked out my current giveaway?

I have two great summer shades for you today courtesy of Le Metier De Beaute!!

Shades:

·         Wild Ginger (middle/little fingers): Drench nails in the brighter-than-bright Wild Ginger Nail Lacquer to liven up a sleepy July afternoon.

·         Penny Lane (index/ring fingers): A bold burnt orange reminiscent of women sun bathing in Ibiza.

Both of these are 2 coats that were flawless coats. The new LMdB bottles are larger than the previous ones (11.3ml / .40 oz now). The things I love about these polishes are not only is LMdB quality lacquer but it has a great finish (I don't have top coats on these pics). 

Some key points about LMdB lacquers for those who may not be familiar with the brand:

Specifically formulated without formaldehyde, toluene, and dibutyl phthalate (DPB), Le Metier de Beaute Nail Lacquers provide long-lasting, chip resistant, protective color and shine. 

Fortified with strengthening proteins and hydrators, Le Metier de Beaute Nail Lacquers delivers rich, glossy, long-wearing color.

Benefits:

• Truly intense, multidimensional color.
• Resists chipping up to 14 days.
• Won't fade, dull or streak, even in strong sunlight.

These two shades are designed by Ken Downing and are exclusively available at Neiman Marcus, neimanmarcus.com and Bergdorf Goodman and retail for a well worth it $18. 

*products sent for review*

China Glaze: On Safari- press release

UNTAMED COLOUR AWAITS YOU

China Glaze® Introduces 12 New Crèmes and Glitters for Fall 2012

Bellacures!: A Salon Review by Brie

I have a treat for you today: I was offered a chance to go to Bellacure Salon in Pasadena, CA, but since I live in Nor Cal, not So Cal, my awesome sister in law was able to go and she wrote a review for you guys. So Cal ladies and gents listen up!

New to the quaint yet trendy Old Town Pasadena, near the corner of Fair Oaks and Colorado, is Bellacures, hip in its own right with a casual-sheik look, feel and general ambiance. "Casual-sheik?", you say: chandeliers and giant mirrors with concrete floors and comfy arm chairs. Believe it or not, it works. As does the mixed music compilation of French pop and the Rat Pack. The location may prove a drawback, off the main drags, facing an alley, but in that neighborhood, perhaps there is no such thing as a bad location. Time will tell.

As for the services, ahhh...starting with the polish selection: a large collection of OPI and Essi, with a few China Glaze options; Gelish for gels. I partook of special offerings: the Awesome Threesome manicure and Awesome Threesome pedicure. The Awesome Threesome pedicure is well worth the $65 price tag and includes a sea salt scrub, clay mask and paraffin dip in addition to polish and typical pedicure fare. For a splurge on a pedi, I'm happy to recommend this service. An item to note: we've become accustomed to the spa jets and massaging chairs typical of so many salons. Not so at Bellacures. Comfy arm chairs with throw pillows and water tubs for feet are apparently all that's required because I did not miss the jets or chair massage in the least. 

That same $65 price tag for the Awesome Threesome manicure did seem a bit steep. The gel manicure, paraffin dip and additional massage time were all amazing and truly an awesome threesome when grouped but didn't seem to be quite the same value as the Awesome Threesome pedi. Both sets of services included lots of attention to detail and experience. 

So, would I go back? Already planning my next trip with mom and sis!

To find out more about Bellacures you can visit their website HERE. Other links: Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest.

*services provided courtesy of salon*

Giveaway: 1500 Followers!- open int'l til 7/20

Hi Monkeys!! Thanks for your continued support, I have thrown together a giveaway with two winners for you! Here's what's up for grabs:
Prize 1- Orly: Glowstick, Skinny Dip, Melt Your Popsicle. China Glaze: Kiwi Cool-Ada, Purple Panic (neon). Bundle Monster 3 plates, Seche Vite Top Coat.
Prize 2- Limited Edition OPI Minnie Mouse Collection, OPI Just Spotted the Lizard, Seche Vite Top Coat, your choice of a set of Jamberry Nail Shields (provided by consultant).
Rules and stuff: All entries are subject to verification, if you cheat, you're disqualified and someone else will be chosen at random.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Cheeky: CH 46- space mani

So this is a quick mani I stamped over my Glitter Gal Soft Lady Beetle the other day... I went for the space theme using the new Cheeky plates: CH 46. I used three images from the plate: the moon and stars (LOVE this one!), space ships and a single large space ship (super cute!). I stamped using Milani White On The Spot (great alternative for more expensive Konad polish). I think I killed this one with too many top coats though because it later chipped then peeled. It may also have been from doing dishes and having my hands in water; we'll blame it on that.... no more dish washing :) haha. This plate didn't give me any problems how some of the non-finalized images are etched too deep etc, this one came out fine and it was super cool having the color shifting under the space images, overall, I really enjoyed this mani for the 12ish hours I had it on.

*Cheeky plate provided for review*

Monkey See Monkey Do Monday: Multi-Colored Louis Vuitton Nails!

Oh Rin, how you are so awesome! My Monkey See Monkey Do Monday mani comes courtesy of Rin from Rin's Nail Files... her mani was amazing! I started with a white Milani base, then added Sally Hansen Diamond over it which is like a flecky shiny top coat (holding in in the picture). I used Bettina: Peppermint, Cotton Candy and Indigo. The Fun2 plate is such an awesome plate but I want this design to be smaller and closer together like the Lilac plate that Rin used. It would make for a multi colored stamping much easier to see all the colors.  It's a cute mani overall and I think it would have looked fab just stamped with Peppermint.

Check out everyone else's MSMD manis!

Stamping Sunday!: Goth! (BM 325 &314)

Welcome to another addition of Stamping Sundays! This week's theme was Goth. I sorta.. did a spin on it. I first used OPI Strawberry Margarita (I'm obsessed with this color) then sponged Zoya Dove over it to make it a little less "Barbie" and more "Coraline". I grabbed my go to black for stamping: Milani Black Magic. My new Bundle Monster plates arrived today so I played with BM 325 for the skull and vine tips and BM 314 for the devil heart bat image. I used Stripe Rite stripers in silver and a holo dark silver (see below for blurred picture). Over all I really love how the base turned out but as far as the stamping images... UGH! I HATE the fact that they images face the base of my nail instead of the tip.. It makes no sense to me. I also found the tips really large and thick and I prefer a thinner french tip. but seriously... they're upside down and this alone will keep me from using the tips for their intended direction.

*Stripe Rite provided by PR*