OPI Thanks A Windmillion

Hello! Today's post is a quickie featuring OPI Thanks a Windmillion. Read the full post on the new site: http://www.thoughtsofamidwesterngirliegirl.com/2012/03/21/opi-thanks-a-windmillion/

Julep Emma and Kelly

 Following up on the unboxing of my March Maven Box from Julep, I figured I should get some swatches up!

First up is Kelly. She's described as a blushed white creme, and one of the newest neutrals for Spring. Kelly has a peachy tone, which I found really pretty. The finish is like glass. Just pure shine. I really like this color. I'm not sure I've worn peach since 1990, but this one makes me want to.

 The March box also included Emma, a pretty seashell pink shimmer. It's a very delicate color, and would take an eternity to get completely opaque, I would imagine. I layered Emma over Kelly as something of an ombre to start.

 This combination was really pretty. So soft. If I were taking a vacation to the coast, I feel like this would be an excellent neutral to wear.

 I also layered Emma over OPI Thanks A Windmillion, which really brought out the pink shimmer. This was after about 3 days of Thanks a Windmillion, so kudos to OPI on the lack of chips, but please excuse the tip wear.

I'm really happy with the color selection this month. I almost requested a shelf pull to get a new flakie glitter, but I think I would have missed out.

Multiplication of thePolishes: How the Stash Has Grown...

So, here's the funny thing about being a beauty blogger: You accumulate a lot of stuff. I've always had a fairly well-stocked vanity, and I'm not quite at the level of having closets dedicated to my goodies, but I'm getting there fast. Case in point. My first post, the polish stash looked like this:

This was everything I had for nail supplies. Everything. All in two neat little boxes. The collection of polish alone now fills two boxes completely, and the third doesn't even come close to holding the removers, creams, decals, cotton swabs, etc. I use.

This is just the polish and a few nail-specific odds and ends. I didn't even go up to the bathroom to get the removers and magic potions. And this is after my sister raided my stash and took little pieces of the collections I wouldn't wear on a regular basis, and I gave some of the unused bottles out for stocking stuffers at Christmas. My goal is to keep everything at a manageable level so my boyfriend doesn't start refusing to come to the girl den that is my apartment. Neatly organized in three little scrapbook boxes...for now...

Gameday Nails - Week 3

Hey, kids!

Thus far, my Huskers have been victorious, despite a few blunders. This week, I had every intention of some awesome football-inspired nails, but then I started to play with my red and black polishes...and my mani ended up being more girlie than planned. It still works into the color scheme, so I'm keeping this one, and I think we'll pay homage to the hot girls of NU.

The Cheerleaders of NU

Nebraska's Scarlets

Aren't these ladies lovely? Okay, okay. I'll get to the nails.

Natural Light

This week's nails feature Red Velvet from Color Club as the base coat. Red Velvet is almost nail art on it's own. It's a sheer black base with red glitter. After about three coats, you end up with a gorgeous black that glows when the light finds it. I almost couldn't bear to stamp over it, but then I found a criss-cross pattern in my stamping plates, and used OPI's An Affair in Red Square to create what I think looks like fishnet stockings over this beauty. I was worried it would interfere with the red glitter in Red Velvet, but they seem to work really well together.

With Flash

Closeup of the Smaller Fishnet Pattern

 Sadly, 3 camera phones and my Nikon failed to capture how pretty this is. This is a perfect combo. It twinkles from a distance and glows up close. For your viewing pleasure, here are some shots of the Red Velvet by herself.

I feel like I need to put on a red dress and go out after the game...

My First Franken

If you haven't checked out my Facebook page (shame on you), I have created my very first Franken.
It seems like every time I buy a red polish, I'm disappointed. It's either too dark or too pink or something. So, I made myself a red in honor of my beloved Cornhuskers.

This one is a mix of an old Sally Hanson top coat, Rimmel Rapid Ruby, Sally Hanson Honeymoon Red, China Glaze Long Kiss, and OPI An Affair in Red Square. I have some awesomeness planned for this weekend, just in time for kickoff. Can't wait. So much football. :)

 Please excuse if the pictures aren't up to par. My Nikon insists that all reds and hot pinks are the same color, so these were taken with my phone. Yay, Thunderbolt!

Stamping Fun!

Hey, all! Sorry to be so sporadic with my posting, but I've been a busy girl. I was convinced to join a Fantasy Football league with some of my co-workers, so I've been learning all about NFL players and how this point system works. I'm taking a few chances. Hoping it pays off. Hopefully, this won't consume my entire life for the next 6 months...

The remaining bits of time I have left has been spent playing with my new toys. As some of you Twitterers saw, someone got some stamping plates and has been making a royal mess trying to learn to use them. Here are my best creations so far:

Painfully obvious I didn't use a base coat while I was doing this...

Argyle!!!

SO doing a whole mani of snowflakes as soon as winter comes.

Bought an entire set of plates for this flower. Worth every cent.

Love the color combo. The stamping needs some work.

Look how messy that Argyle is! Must clean this up. Argyle manis will prevail.

The snowflakes are the only things I didn't screw up royally on the first try. Apparently, sheer glitter polish is good. Mental note. These were the good designs. You have no idea how much Remove+ I went through. REALLY glad I got a fresh bottle with my last order...

Polish used:
Thumb: OPI - An Affair in Red Square over Orly - Visible Violet
Index: Essie - Carry On over Essie - Lady Like
Middle: Color Club - Alter Ego, Zoya - Jules and Art Club \/Color Club - Get the Blues over China Glaze - Chinchilla Vanilla
Ring: Art Club/Color Club - Black, Art Club/Color Club - White Satin and Essie - Power Clutch over Zoya - Dove
Pinky: Zoya - Cynthia over Essie - Chinchilly
(Yes, I have multiple polishes that reference Chinchillas. Not entirely a coincidence. Long Story.)

Fall 2011...So Much Pretty...

As a new beauty blogger and nail polish junkie, I feel it's my duty to preview the fall collections I'm starting to see. I will preface this by saying I do not own any of this polish (yet) and have not had the opportunity to view these in person. All I'm giving today are my thoughts and excitement level (and pictures).

First up: OPI Touring America

Top Row (Left to  Right): Uh Oh Roll Down the Window, Honk If You Love OPI, A-Taupe the Space Needle, French Quarter for Your Thoughts, Get in the Espresso Lane, Road House Blues
Bottom Row (Left to Right): Suzi Takes the Wheel, I Brake for Manicures, Are We There Yet?, Color to Dine For, I Eat Mainly Lobster, My Address is Hollywood

I really don't want to judge harshly, but I don't feel like there's a color here I don't already own. Maybe in person these colors have some unique qualities, but if that's the case, OPI needs to work on their photography. I've always had mixed feelings about OPI. I never look at an OPI display and feel like a kid in a candy store, and this collections is a perfect example of why. They may have the greatest formulas in the world, but how are we ever going to know that if they can't entice us to buy the product?

Next, we have China Glaze's Metro Collection

Uptown Collection (Left to Right): CG in the City, Urban Night, Traffic Jam, City Siren, Brownstone, Street Chic

Downtown Collection (Left to Right): Skyscraper, Concrete Catwalk, Westside Warrior, Trendsetter, Loft-y Ambitions, Midtown Magic

I like pretty every color in this collection. The pinks, purples and reds aren't dramatically different from anyting I already own, but that doesn't mean I don't want them. I think the only color I wouldn't wear is Trendsetter, and not because I don't like it. Bright yellow and my skin are not the greatest combination in the world. CG in the City and Concrete Catwalk are the most intriguing to me so far.

Moving along, we have Color Club's Back to Boho.

I am really digging this collection. Combined, you get the Boho-chic aesthetic, but individually, the colors don't scream "I spend all my days watching 'That 70's Show' and smoking weed." Voodoo You Do, Blue-topia and Rad Nomad are my favorites based on these pictures. I also loves that this collection has a wide range of colors. They're not all bold or dark or pale or anything but pretty.

Essie's Brand New Bag Collection is next. I've seen two sets of pictures, neither of them from Essie's website, so I'm not sure which is more accurate. I'm posting both sets. 

Top Row (Left to Right): Case Study, Carry On, Glamour Purse
Bottom Row (Left to Right): Very Structured, Lady Like, Power Clutch

I haven't decided if I like the dark or light version better. Either way, I know Carry On and Power Clutch look awesome. Lady Like looks like it would be lovely on me, too. Knowing Essie, the formula is great no matter what.

**Update 7/28/11: Neither picture is 100% accurate, but the darker picture of the Brand New Bag collection is closer to the real thing, based on the bottles I found at CVS.**

This brings me to the grand finale: Zoya's Smoke & Mirrors Collection.

Top Row (Left to Right): Jana, Petra, Dree, Cynthia, Codie, Anja
Bottom Row (Left to Right): Jem, Neeka, Yara, Tao, Marina, Numue

I could sum these up in 7 words: I WANT THEM. I WANT THEM ALL. Now that I have that little outburst out of my system, I love, love, LOVE these colors. Like Color Club, Zoya is bringing us a range of lights and darks, not one of them could pass for something already in my collection and they work as a great transition from summer's brights to the traditionally muted colors of fall. I keep trying to pick a favorite, but I change my mind as soon as I look at the pictures again. Perhaps if Zoya sent me the set to try on, I may be able to make a decision...

All in all, I am loving what's in store for fall. If you think of something I missed, or you want to sent me stuff to post about, just let me know.