The Nail Junkie Grape/Banana/Orange Jelly Shimmer

Ok before I get into these fabulous Nail Junkie polishes I have to say, I FINALLY got my UP house finished!

How gorgeous is that? My artist is so good with the fine lines (he also did my Harry Potter tattoo). I can't wait to get started on the next part although I'm so going to have to curtail my polish buying first since this is going to be the big one. The one that ties it all together. There'll be a few more smaller ones once I get the big one done to really cement the scene but this is going to be the one that turns it from some random cartoony tattoos on my leg (you can't see it but there's a dancing hippo from Fantasia too) into the dream scene I've been envisioning for the last 3 years. Anyway, enough about my ink, let's talk polish. Originally I was going to just get 4 of Aleta's Summer collection but the second my order came and I put on Orange Jelly Shimmer I decided fuck it, I need them all and got the last two. First I wore Orange Jelly Shimmer with my Cult Nails Feelin' Froggy/Dollish Polish Hero of Time Mani. It was one of those hoh shit, fucked up the mani at work moments and I happened to have Orange Jelly Shimmer with me so I took off the nails that were messed up and put this beaut on instead. I'm pretty sure that all the colours go with orange even if most people won't admit it.

Next I decided on Banana Jelly Shimmer because I'm such a whore for yellows.

So gorgeous! I think this was 3 or 4 coats and applied super smooth. But I'd also recently gotten dotting tools and saw Chalkboard Nails Gradient Dotticure and decided I wanted to try to replicate it. Used a-England Ascalon and Zoya Lolly for the dots and kinda failed in the Gradient department since I was just all around to heavy on the dotting but I still like how it turned out.

And finally we have Grape Jelly Shimmer. I had to *sniff* nubbinize after 4th of July weekend due to all the drunken shenanigans breaking a couple nails and this is the first mani I did after cutting down (I think...) First it was Grape Jelly Shimmer alone and then I decided to do a light gradient with CrowsToes Cheshire as an accent.

But I loved the combo so much I had to do the whole hand with Cheshire. Primarily as the gradient but did one finger full glitter. Those purples just go so well together! But I think it's the gold hexes that really make Cheshire. I miss my long nails for glitter gradients, good thing they grow fast!

Essie Action + Essie Camera Gradient + Alta Costura Vernis Brightside

Eeek so it's my birthday tomorrow and it looks like this is going to be my birthday mani since I'm far too lazy to change it out and I actually really like it. Ok the right hand is still Essie Camera (with a little something extra) but the left has totally changed. It's a shame I don't have any real birthday plans but eh, it's not like 25 is an important one or anything. Pretty sure those stop after 21 until you hit like 50 or something. Going into the city today for dinner with sister and cousin which should be fun. I'm hoping we hit up Revolution since their beer is fabulous but I haven't been to the brewpub yet. Went to the Two Brothers Hop Juice Fest yesterday with some friends which was also fabulous so I guess it's not a total waste of a birthday weekend... ANYWAY, mani! Right hand; still Essie Camera on the base, added Alta Costura Vernis Brightside accents (is it still an accent when it's 3/5 fingers? Oh well)

Then on the left hand I took off that fail gradient and put on Essie Action which I'm in love with. It's weird, I think VNL is growing on me, maybe it's 'cause my nails are longer?

This is probably the most colour accurate pic I have, some of the next ones will show it as all glowy and awesome and it can look like that in the bright sun but this is definitely how it looks most of the time. Anyway, decided to try out the sponge gradient again and it turned out much better this time! It's really subtle since Camera is a jelly but I love the effect, it looks like a sunset on my nails!

And then of course I had to add Brightside because it's sooooo pretty!

And now I'm just going to bombard you with some pics of both hands together because, well, I really like how they look with each other. I really need to get a tripod so I can take these pics easier. This was a nightmare trying to get the camera to focus on both hands.

Deborah Lippman Fashion + Nail-Venturous Orange You Unique

My biggest regret with this mani is that I didn't properly take off my previous mani before putting it on although to be fair, I really thought I was going to grab a vampy and we know those hide all flaws. You can see that acid green poking through, don't worry, we'll get to her later.

Fashion was a gift from a lovely lady and I love it so much. I never ever thought I'd love nudes but after the disaster that was my first one (Zoya Pandora, lovely and pink toned and so so so wrong for me) I became determined to find one that worked for me and along the way I just started collecting them.

But of course, I'm me. And I just can't leave well enough alone so I hunted around my untrieds for something to do a quick accent with and saw Orange You Unique from my NinjaPolish order sitting there begging to be tried.

Guys, let me tell you about Nail-Venturous. She created this gorgeously unique np called Floam (yes, like that weird stuff you saw commercials for on Nick in the mid 90s) and it totally hit it big and now she has an etsy shop as well as polishes on Ninja Polish one of which is the orange/blue version of Floam, Orange You Unique. I went a little crazy at her shop debut and now have 5 more coming to me (including Floam! Which was already sold out by the time I placed my Ninja order)

Humm, anyway, put it on one finger. Left it for a day.

And then decided I needed it on alternating fingers. Because that's how I roll.

Essie Case Study + NerdLacquer Regeneration

I cannot believe how long it took me to get around to wearing Case Study. I picked it up back in November because I got all of the Fall 2011 collection except Lady Like since I wasn't a pink fan back then (it's grown on me in the interim although I doubt it'll ever be a goto colour). So regretting waiting so long to wear this beauty.

The formula was a dream, perfect 2 coat creme and the colour is so great. I can't believe there was a point in my NP obsession where I didn't love browns.


When I originally put on Essie Case Study it was with the intention of putting NerdLacquer Exterminate on top but the day I was planning on putting it on I found out a friend of mine had passed away and decided instead to put on Regeneration as a small tribute to her because she loved orange and Doctor Who and of course, because life can begin again. Turns out it was an amazing choice because Case Study really makes Regeneration shine.





I really love this colour and it's so going on my list as something to order in fullsize once my funds allow for it. You gotta love when The Doctor Regenerates.