Happy New Year!

So the Mayans were wrong (there was a few issues with the December prediction anyhow - leap years anyone?). We are now in 2013! Which means break out the bubbly, throw the confetti, and count down to an awesome year. As a nail blogger I am totally stoked to see what ends up trending, how major brands handle seasons and holidays (traditional or non-traditionally with their color choices), and what 2013 holds for finishes.

Base color is NYC Skin Tight Denim (such a pretty cheapie) with a variety of toppers. Writing and outlines done with Migi Nail Art pen in white. Fireworks stamping is done with colors from the Color Club Foiled set. Thumb topper is Essie As Gold as it Gets, ring finger topper is Essence Circus Confetti (see what I did there ;), and pinky is Essie Pure Pearlfection. The "champagne" is Julep Sienna.

I think the big thing this coming year is going to be playing with finishes. We're seeing more collections releasing the bumpy textures (Liquid Sand by OPI and Pixie Dust by Zoya - one has to wonder if China Glaze is planning to climb aboard). I wonder how this trend will translate into drugstore brands...This is by no means a new trend (look up Pebble Beach by Cherimoya) but it's finally catching.

As for my New Year's resolutions I decided to talk to Hubby so he and I could work together this coming year. I used to be hugely passionate for reading and haven't gotten to read hardly at all this past year. So books (one a month - and we've started a Sci-Fi reading club - expect inspired by manicures for these), health (not weight-loss but work out goals - I've agreed to help teach a running class so themed 5k's are in this blogger's future including the Dirty Dash - Hubby is doing it too!!!) and family outings topped our list. It's going to be a super fun year!

As for this blog. I am hoping to buy a lightbox for the coming dreary months and get some better photos happening when nice, natural light isn't available. I'm hoping to start writing some tutorials, bring Hubby's Picks  to a regular feature again, and to host another nail art contest. I foresee some more reviews in my future but I refuse to let those become the main attraction. Other than that more nail art fun coming!

So there you go! What are your resolutions for the coming year? Are you excited for what 2013 holds?

*I photoshopped out a hangnail on one of my nails - I stay away from photoshopping normally but I do understand you are interested in my nail art and not my nail owies*

Happy 4th of July...and Hubby's Picks!

This manicure actually looked a little different in my head. Not to say it's bad...it's just not what I had imagined and you know how that can be:

Thumb and pinky are based with the Snowman glitter in fine red glitter and topped with Love & Beauty multicolored glitter (thank you guys for being original with your naming conventions). The pointer is a base of NYC Skintight Denim and stamped with my fave white for stamping: Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear White On, and the two middle fingers are a base of Sally Hansen White On and striped using tape with Julep January.

So we're on tough times here which is kind of hard sometimes. But I made a million cupcakes for that baby shower so I have tons frozen. You know, sometimes you just need a cupcake:

Ironically all I have is Easter themed sprinkles so yeah...so shimmery and pretty and so Easter like! I make amazing buttercream frosting from scratch and this is my absolute favorite. Lemon buttercream! It, literally, melts in your mouth while exploding on your tongue with the most amazing zest. Mmmmmm - may I recommend it? Heaven <3

Now the moment you've been waiting for *drumroll please* Hubby's Picks!

 Ugh....this time I am stumped because I had gotten that Sally Hansen Maximum Growth in a surprise box I bought on clearance for like 5 bucks and it is UGLY. I had it hidden in a box and he found it! He would >.< It's called Trust Mauve. So from left to right we have: Wet N' Wild Blue Wants to be a Billionaire, Wet N' Wild Ready to Pounce, Sally Hansen Trust Mauve, and Zoya Kotori. Both of those blues are SHEER. Wish me the best with this one cause I'm going to need it BIG time!

Blue on blue and Monday Minicure

I have GOT to get better about my Monday manicures. This week's challenge over at PAA on Facebook is blue on blue. Also I got distracted by cracked.com....that's random but how random are different textures in a duo tone manicure with different blues? Ok not that random....anyhow.....

Starting from the base up we have Julep Jaime, Sally Girl Blue Glitter, NYC Skin Tight Denim, and then China Glaze Crackle Oxidized Aqua. I did a top coat over the glitter and then top coat over the whole thing at the end so this ended up pretty thick.

  I love the effect! The Sally Girl is my first of this polish type and I totally love it!

 Such a wonderful manicure but the thickness of it was quite a bit. The differences of textures and all the blues made my hubby happy who thought it was amazing! Now onto the cute part of this post.

The other day my daughter announce she was big enough to do her own nails - when asked at the dinner table what the best part of her day was she said, without hesitation, the part where she got to do her nails. Such happiness!!!

Look at how carefully she brushes off the excess polish and how neatly she paints!!! So much cuteness - my hubby says I've created a monster. Welcome monster to the nailaholic ranks - where we chase lemmings and dusty hunt to feed our passion ;)