Deborah Lippmann: Girls Just Want to Have Fun

Oh my goodness, I am absolutely loving this look. Let me start by saying that I'm really not one to wear corals... they tend to make my skin look kind of oogy. On other people coral looks amazing, but on me? Meh.

So I had a massive problem once I had Deborah Lippmann's Girls Just Want to Have Fun in my hands. It is such a gorgeous coral and I wanted to wear it! Something about this color just absolutely won my heart- it's pigmented, it's bright, it's all the wonderful things about a hot summer day without all the ickiness of actual humidity and frizzy hair! I kicked some ideas around in my head, trying to figure out what I could do to make this color wearable for me.

Before long, it hit me. This was dying to become a Hawaiian print! I've been stashing adorable little floral nail stickers away here and there in my nail art box, always wanting to wear them but never knowing how to do it without looking silly. I'm not sure I managed with this look, but I don't care... I love it too much. The beauty is that even if you're all thumbs, you can do this look too!!

The most important part of this look for me was variety. I used four different sheets of floral stickers in colors that worked together, hoping to make a playful mishmash of pattern that worked together as a fabric, almost. It's not as good as it could be, but every time I see my nails, I giggle a bit to myself!

It really is as easy as picking the stickers off their little sheet and placing them onto your nail wherever you like! Rather than try and keep all the stickers complete, I cut some in half and some in thirds so that the pattern seemed to continue past my nails. I used a pair of nail scissors to cut the stickers and a pair of tweezers to place them gently. After that, a couple of Seche Vite pulled everything together, giving it a coherent look.

However, it still needed something else... something fun, something silly. A quick dig through my nail art box gave me just the thing- Love My Nails Dazzling, a super-fine glitter that made the whole design pop! One more coat of Seche Vite finished it off, and now my nails are perfect for a Louisiana Luau, complete with ice cold beer and a pretty flower in my hair! Now... to find that luau... ;)

Let me know if you try this look. I've love to see photos! This could work with any bright base color, too- yellow, pink, orange, even lavender would be gorgeous! Relax, have fun with it, and remember it's only nail polish!

Til next time!

Polish and stickers were provided by the manufacturers for consideration.

See my disclosure statement for more information.

15% Off Crazy Rumors Vegan Lip Balm!!

Wow- I just heard about this and I'm LOVING it! Do you know about Crazy Rumors lip balm? I didn't either, but now I'm really tempted to try!

See, while I love the idea of lip balms, I don't actually love most of them. They've got so much artificial gunk in them and they make my lips feel funny. Add in the fact that so many of them are mint-flavored (which I absolutely HATE!) and you can tell I end up with pretty chapped lips a lot of the time.

Enter Crazy Rumors. Everything in their lip balms is organic and vegan! No petroleum products, no names a mile long I can't pronounce. They're made from stuff like organic shea butter, jojoba oil, and extra virgin olive oil! Add in a list of flavors that is to die for and I am in utter heaven!

The best part? You can now get your own for 15% off! Just enter the code FRESH at checkout on the Crazy Rumors website and the discount will be applied! Sweet!!

I just love a good sale!

See my disclosure statement for more information.

A Quick Update, and a Look at My Other Half's Work

Wow. I seriously thought I'd have my video look at the various full-nail sticker/appliques up by now, but man, video editing is hard! It's getting there, though, and I'm really excited. I think you guys are going to like this one. I know I'm happy with it already!

However, since I've been either sick or getting ready to take the kid to camp, I thought I'd give you a glimpse at what my other half does. (OMG, 1300 miles by car in 2 days... man, we're insane!) We leave Saturday, so posts may be a bit more sparse than usual around here. Don't worry though, I'll be back! But til then, I have such cute things to show you!

See, I'm not the only artist in the family. My husband actually has his master's degree in it! His day job is teaching, and then we both have lots of fun working on various other artsy-type things in our spare time. One thing we work on together is MazeParty.com. If you have kids, you guys will definitely want to check this one out! It's a site filled with free activity pages for kids, and you don't even need to register! There are mazes and coloring pages so far, and we're adding to it all the time. So if your kids bug you this summer with, "I'm Bored," head over to Maze Party and give them something fun to do!

 Then there's my husband's redbubble site. This is where he puts his adorable designs for tee shirts, stickers, and more! I've been dying to get my own Monkey Power tee shirt, just because it's so darned cute.

 And sometimes, he'll put up something he made especially for me, like the Shy Bug illustration that works so well both as a tee shirt and as a sticker. So if you're looking for adorable tees or gifts, definitely stop by his redbubble!

Unfortunately, I've still got a LOT of editing to do on the video I'm working on, so I'm going to go bury myself in my video editor and my books. However, next time I've got an adorable Hawaiian-inspired look using the latest Deborah Lippmann polish and some adorable KISS nail decals! If you can put on a sticker, you can do this look!

Til next time!

I love monkeys, they're so adorable!

See my disclosure statement for more information.

Thank you, and updated videos for Glitter Gal 3D Purple

This is just a quick message tonight to address a couple of things that have been on my mind. First off- to those of you who threw a few bucks in the camp fund, I thank you. To those of you who haven't, but continue to read and support this blog? Thank you as well... You all bring me more joy than you realize.

Second, I had a mini breakthrough while digging through AfterEffects this morning. And this afternoon. And... well, tonight, too. What can I say, I really want to up the content quality around here! So, I'm including the videos I shot for Glitter Gal 3D Purple Holographic polish.  That first video sort of accidentally got deleted, and I'm still not sure how, but as a result I was able to upload a better version of it! Also, I shot a VERY short video of the bottle, so you can truly see how holographic this beauty is.









In short? If you like holographic polishes, you're going to love Glitter Gal. Til next time!

Glitter Gal Polish was provided by the manufacturer for consideration.

See my disclosure statement for more information.

I hate needing help.

I hate to ask this, and if it were for me I wouldn't. But you know, sometimes you do what you can for your kids, and I can't think of any other way to accomplish this.

My son has type 1 diabetes and has been attending Camp Sweeney for the past 6 years. This will be his seventh (and we think last) year to attend, and it's something he looks forward to every year. For three weeks out of the year, he can be like everyone else: checking blood sugars isn't something people stare at, and no one questions the many shots he takes daily. He's made friends at Camp Sweeney that have honestly changed his life, and I will do anything I can to get him there.

Unfortunately, my husband is underemployed at the moment, and the money we'd hoped to be set aside for camp this year ended up spent on doctor visits and medications and heaven knows what else. I'm disabled and haven't been able to work in years. The money's just not there, and this year they've raised the costs significantly.

See, Kiddo has been attending on a scholarship, and that hasn't changed. The problem is that there's a deposit to pay as well as the cost to get him there and back. We live in South Louisiana, and camp is in Northern Texas. The deposit has changed this year from $100 to $500, and the fact of the matter is that we just don't have the money to get there. I don't know how we're going to make it happen in the short time we've got left.


In the meantime, I'm going to swallow my pride and put up a paypal link. I just don't know what else to do. If you have a few bucks to toss in, I will be eternally in your debt.

I'm going to be posting a blog sale with the polishes I have, as well as the barrettes and jewelry I've made over the past few years. I have nothing else to sell, but I'm willing to sell whatever I can. It's going to take time, though, time I don't have thanks to being so late and being disabled. Even posting blogs has been too much for me lately. It will be going up soon, though...

Thank you for reading.

Deborah Lippmann's Lara's Theme = LOVE!

Let's be honest here... I've never worn a fluorescent polish. I know, it's strange, but I've never had one I thought would look good on me. I did win a couple of fluorescent yellows a while back, but...  let's just say they're still in my untrieds box.

Then I got Lara's Theme. It doesn't hurt that I've really been enjoying orange as a color lately, or that this particular orange is almost fluorescent, but not quite. It probably helped that it also looked like it just might look decent with my skin tone.

Whatever the reason, I tried this the same day I got it. That's downright unheard of for me. Usually I'll wait a bit, or work through some more untrieds first, but this one absolutely called my name. What can I say, it's gorgeous!!

However, even though this polish is absolutely juicy-looking, it was a bit of a pain to work with. I'm assuming this is because it's a fluorescent (ok, how many times will I type the word fluorescent in this post?), but still I was swearing a bit by the time I was done. I think a good coat of Seche Vite would have helped loads, but I was out at the time.

Lara's Theme was very streaky for me, which is a first for Deborah Lippmann polishes. Normally they go on like butter, but this one was grumpy. Still, it was tolerable after two coats, so I don't think it's worth much complaining!

It's funny to me, because while I wore this (for either four or five days, I don't quite remember!) I would find myself looking for things to compare it to. I think I found several good comparisons! It's the orange of traffic cones, of hunters' caps, of traffic workers' vests. In shot, this baby is VISIBLE!

After a few days, though, I got bored as I normally do. I decided to pull out my China Glaze crackle polishes...

... but that's a story for next time! Til then, you'll have to be content with this video!




Til next time!

Lara's Theme was provided by the manufacturer for consideration.

See my disclosure statement for more information.

My Top Five Favorite Bloggers

Thanks to Trop50 for sponsoring my writing about fabulous bloggers. This year Trop50 is granting 50 Fabulous Wishes. Click here to enter for a chance to win $1,000 to celebrate a friend with a refreshing attitude about looking and feeling fabulous!

After blogging for almost a year, I've been given the opportunity to write about my favorite blogs: the ones that inspire me, the ones that make me laugh. They aren't all beauty/nail blogs because I've got a wide range of interests! These are the bloggers that excite me, that make me want to read. These are the bloggers I want to grow up to be like!

To start with, I had to include Melissa at The Daily Nail. Don't get me wrong, I could have filled out my top 20 favorite nail blogs and still have plenty left to write about. But The Daily Nail stands out for several reasons. First, she does absolutely incredible nail art that never fails to blow my mind. She also manages to photograph her nail art to make it look absolutely gorgeous. Trust me, I never realized how hard it can be to get great pictures of your nails!

She's got more than just pretty photos, though. The Daily Nail is filled with wonderful creativity and writing that moves me in many ways. I've laughed, I've wept. Melissa is a sweet, charming lady and this shines through in her writing. She definitely deserves to be listed in this top five!

Next comes Dooce, a snarky chick from Utah who has been blogging about her life for ten years. In fact, she was one of the first people to demonstrate how dangerous blogging can be to your professional life: in 2002 she was fired from her job because of things she'd written on her blog! It's ok, though... she's lived through that to find a soul mate, two children, and two of the cutest dogs I've ever seen!

What does she write about, you ask? To be honest, she writes about just about everything, from her post-partum depression to dog farts, her obsession with chickens and all the joys of being a mom. The best part is that she does it with style and panache, and she manages to be real enough that I feel like if I were to meet her, I'd feel as if I already knew her. She's genuine, and I like that. She's also a total smartass, and I really like that!

Then there's Allie, who writes Hyperbole and a Half. I'm not quite sure how to explain this blog. Allie writes about the things in her life that affect her somehow, either frightening her, making her laugh, making her angry, or simply making her look foolish. She also illustrates her posts with a style that is truly her own. At first glance it seems child-like and simple, but once you watch her blog for a while you begin to see there's more to it than random scribbling.

The main thing I would say about Hyperbole and a Half is do not read it while you're eating or drinking anything. If you do, you will wind out with whatever is in your mouth coming out your nose while you laugh hysterically. I've laughed until I cried reading her blog, and I've actually laughed until I passed out. Coming from me, that's the highest praise! Also, it's not terribly safe for work, because she does sometimes use words that aren't appropriate for kids or office mates. However, if you are in a place you can read words like that, then I highly recommend you read these entries as a way of getting to know Allie's blog:

• The Alot is Better Than You at Everything: Grammar nerds, unite! This one is so much fun!
• The Party: My husband and I still make references to "rounning around the parp."
• And finally, This is Why I'll Never be an Adult. Sadly, this is so me.

Speaking of words you wouldn't want your children or your boss to find you reading, Jenny The Bloggess is another absolutely hysterical blogger that I absolutely adore. I'm not quite sure how to describe her either, really. She's saucy, sarcastic, and has a strange side that is... well... really interesting! For example, her site has an unofficial mascot named James Garfield.  She had this to say when trying to describe it on a post around Christmas last year:

Quick note for anyone who hasn’t been here forever. James Garfield is what I named the giant, tattered, taxidermied head of a wild boar that I made my husband buy at an estate sale last year because James Garfield looked SO D@#N HAPPY. Then every time Victor would walk in my office he’d huff that he couldn’t believe I’d spent $90 on James Garfield so I decided to make back the money to get Victor to shut up so I offered on my blog to make homemade Christmas Cards with James Garfield’s face on them saying things like “OH IT JUST GOT ALL KINDS OF MOTHER*#@%$N’ FESTIVE IN HERE, Y’ALL” for $10 each. I made back the $90 and made so much extra that I got carpal tunnel and was able to donate a few hundred dollars to a fellow blogger recovering from a stroke. She wasn’t doing well at the time but now she’s kicking as much ass as you can from a wheelchair (which is a s#*tload, apparently). Probably due to the James Garfield cards if I had to give my professional medical opinion.

Not only is she crazy, but she's also got a warm heart (although she'll never admit it!). Over Christmas of last year, she managed to raise over $42,000 in toys, food, car seats, gift cards, and more. The best part? It was almost accidental, starting with her own wish to simply give back with the bit of cash she could spare and snowballing into more and more people joining in the spirit of Christmas to help others put a bit of magic into their kids hearts.

So you've got holiday miracles, hysterical laughter, and a style of writing that just draws you in? Come on, what more could you ask for?! I love reading her blog and seeing how she writes about her world and experiences. You might love her too!


You may have noticed that I read a variety of bloggers with a variety of styles. I also love Neil Gaiman's blog. I started out by reading his novels- he's an amazing writer of fantasy and... well, weird stuff. (If you get the chance be sure and read American Gods, as well as Good Omens, which he co-wrote with Terry Pratchett. Great stuff, those!) I love his voice, and his novels draw me into another world, one filled with mystery and drama... worlds I can't wait to explore, and often don't want to leave.

However, his blog is just as good! Instead of writing about the weird, his blog is simply writings about his life: his kids, his dogs, the bees he's been cultivating for the past few years. He writes about visiting the Dr. Who set and feeling like an excited kid because he got to be inside the Tardis! He's warm and inviting, and often very funny. He's the sort of guy I'd like to sit down and buy a beer so we could just talk about the world.


And finally, I know this is more than five, but I absolutely couldn't leave out my favorite kitty blog! I've followed Maru for ages now, and whenever I'm sad or anxious I click over to Maru's blog and find myself feeling better! Maru is a sweet Scottish Fold kitty who lives in Japan and his owner clearly dotes on him.

Maru is also famous! You may have seen him in videos of Maru sliding into boxes, Maru jumping in and out of boxes, and Maru wearing boxes or bags as fashion. He really loves boxes!

Whew! This was one heck of a blog! I hope you've enjoyed reading it as much as I've enjoyed writing it, and I really hope you find a new blog to love because of it! Leave a comment below sharing some of your favorite blogs with me, I'd love to find more blogs to love!

Til next time!

Don't forget to enter the 50 Fabulous Wishes contest for a chance to win $1,000 to celebrate a friend with a refreshing attitude about looking and feeling fabulous. I was selected for this Tropicana Trop50 sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective, which endorses Blog With Integrity, as I do. I received compensation to use and facilitate my post.