Happy New Years Eve! Last post of 2015 and I think it's a nice note for us to end on. This is a look at the five most visited posts over this past year. The posts themselves aren't all from 2015 (there are a few from 2014) but they're the ones that took off this year and I think it will be fun to look back at them. :)

Happy (almost) New Year! I don't have many year-end posts for this year, but I did put together a look at my favourite 10 mainstream/drugstore polishes from the past year. I think it's interesting to see that this gives a good look at the changes in my photography from the past year, too!

Check out my top 10 below and then let me know what you think! Are there any you think I missed? :)

This look didn't turn out quite like I expected but I've decided to share it with you as my contribution for this month's Hobby Polish Bloggers Linkup anyway. Two things I learned from this quasi-nail fail: trust your gut, and be selective with your colours! Argh. Haha.

It's here! (Well, actually it's been "here" for me for about a week - things just got in the way of my posting. Oops!) What's here, you ask? Essie Starry Starry Night!

This is the much-anticipated re-release of a shade from 1985 that has had the polish world all a-flutter since it was announced, and today I have swatches to share with you along with a giveaway for your very own bottle! Hooray!

As pictured on Julep

January already, oh my gosh. Well, time to get a move on with the new year I guess. Julep's starting our 2016 with a decent selection of items though nothing to write home about.

Oh hey, speaking of all of this - you may have noticed I've gotten lax in my Julep swatches these past few months. I actually have I think 4 or 5 months of boxes that I haven't shared with you yet because life got in the way... Is there interest in me going back to swatch and share those boxes? Or would you rather I just continued sharing future boxes? Let me know! :)

Hello loves! I have my first holiday look of the season to share with you today! I'm kind of behind on my winter/Christmas looks this year, but that's because I've been in a bit of a funk recently. I think I need to re-read my post on dealing with burnout to help myself move with motivation into the new year. Anyway, enough of my mini sob story. On to the look!

Ho ho ho! It's time for some Christmas spirit on this blog! :) Today I have a look at four of the shades released (well, re-released) in the Sinful Colors Holiday 2015 Glitz and Garlands Collection! I saw this pop up at my local PharmaPlus a couple weeks ago and grabbed up a few of the shades that drew my eye. Check my swatches under the cut and then let me know which you like best! :)

Everyone seemed to really like my last Nails on a Budget post featuring some Mariposa polishes from Dollarama so I decided to do another installment with some fun glitter crelly polishes I found a while ago! This time the brand is Kozmic Colours and I'll admit I had a nerdy Canadian rush of excitement to see they spelled colour with a 'u'! That combined with the fact that they were glitter crelly polishes (my second favourite type after matte) made me think I might end up pretty pleased with my $3 purchase...

The holidays are just around the corner and to help you figure out what to buy for those nail lovers in your life I'm here with my 2015 Nail Gift Guide! If you want you can check out my guide from 2014 first, and when you're done you can take a peek under the cut to see what I'm suggesting this year! Items are listed in price from lowest to highest, so you can choose what fits your budget. :)

Please note all prices are in CAD and rounded to the nearest dollar. 

Oh man, you guys. This is a design that seemed at first like a good idea but then failed when it came to the execution. I tried to get away from pastels and rainbows and this is what I got. :/ Ah well. Every failure is a chance to learn, and I've already decided how I'm going to give this look a second take! Check under the cut to hear more about it.

I have a slightly different post to share with you today, and I hope you like it! I'm a sucker for Lush products and there are never less than four bath bombs or bubble bars waiting for me to use at my apartment. I'm obsessed! There is just nothing better than a good bubble bath after a long day, in my opinion. :) So today we're taking a quick look at Lush's Dragon's Egg Bath Bomb!

Until I saw Give Me Space I was totally ready to pass over the OPI Starlight Collection. But then swatches started cropping up and when I saw this gorgeous glittery space blue I knew I needed to have it! (And from what I've heard that's been the consensus from a lot of bloggers and polish lovers!)

I've had a rough couple of months this year. It started with the passing of my cat, and just when I was getting back into shape mentally I lost my grandmother. I got two new cats (one in memory of my grandma because she loved the balls of fluff and claws) and then had to deal with repeated health issues with both of them. All of these things took a toll on me - mentally, physically and financially. It was no wonder that with the added pressure of trying to get blog posts out in time with a self-set schedule that I just ended up burning out.

In general I feel that burn-out is something that comes in cycles, like a lot of mental and emotional experiences. I've dealt with burn-out at work, burn-out with friends, and I've had brief bouts in the past dealing with blogging burn-out, though generally I'm able to pull myself out of them after a while. But this time was different. It hit me harder, longer, and more intensely than it ever has before. As mentioned earlier a big reason for this was probably my personal situation, but I've also been blogging for over 3 years now so that took it's own toll.

Why am I telling you all of this? Well, I thought it would be helpful for you to know the logic behind why I decided to put this post together. This is a run-down of what I have personally found helpful in coping with my burn-out, and what has helped me to get everything back on track and to re-discover my passion. :) And hopefully any of you who are dealing with burn-out as well will find this helpful!

It's time to clean out my beauty clutter, which means trying to work through some of the samples I've picked up over the past few months. I've decided to share my thoughts on them with you in the form of short and sweet reviews - there's nothing nails here (this time) but if you're interested in checking out a small handful of beauty products you may or may not be familiar with then take a look through the rest of the post. :) Maybe you'll see something you want to try yourself!

 

TheFabZilla: What's your favorite look for Fall? TheFabZilla shows her Bronze Eyes and Dark Berry Lips

Painted Ladies: Offering smooth, rich color, the Pür Epic Illusion Artist’s Blush & Contour Palette is worth a look!

Lola's Secret Beauty Blog: Hair Styling Tools Gift Guide with lots of treasures for the beauty product obsessed on your list!

Never Say Die Beauty: Allison owns more than 20 concealers. A little excessive you say? Here's why she has a well-developed concealer wardrobe.

Beauty by Miss L: Avon Magic Effects Molten Metallic nail polish in Gold is a perfect golden microglitter polish for this holiday season.

Color Me So Crazy: Looking for Some NEW Metals for Your Lids? Look No Further....

I Know all the Words: Stick it has a whole new meaning when you add Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Invisible Cover Stick Foundation to your makeup bag.

Be Happy And Buy Polish: Jessica reviewed 5 Madam Glam fall nail polishes, and they are definite winners!

Confessions of a Makeup Addict: Youngblood Cosmetics Holiday 2015 Eyeshadow Duos

ProcrastiNails: Ever been curious about dollar store beauty products? This week Katherine is taking a look at 6 surprisingly lovely polishes by Mariposa from Dollarama!

Crazy Beautiful Makeup: Chanel Holiday Vamp Attitude Rouge Noir Shadow Review

Makeup Obsessed Mom: Stacie is sharing some of the best makeup hacks this week.

Notes from My Dressing Table: Late to the party but loving the Too Faced Love Eye Shadow Palette, Erika is.

Inspirations and Celebrations: Enter To Win $200 of Deluxe Makeup, Beauty Products, and Fashion

Collective Beauty : Review and swatches of the BECCA Mineral Blush in Wild Honey

From My Vanity: Katie's sharing 5 easy ways that you can revamp and decorate your makeup vanity for fall!

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Happy Saturday! Today I have a quick look to share with you that was the outcome of playing around with one of my first Mundo de Unas polishes. My base is an unnamed white glitter crelly from Kozmic Colours and I used MdU Mint and BP-31 to finish the look. Check under the cut for more! 

One of my favourite things to do on a day off is to go to the dollar store to look through what kind of supplies they have for nail art. They usually also have a stash of Essie and NOPI polishes that I can look through, as well as a section of cheaper brand polishes packaged into sets that I've never really given much thought to. One of those brands is Mariposa and last week I decided "Why not, let's pick some up and give them a try!" Let me tell you, I was pleasantly surprised!

So today I'm sharing the first of two sets of 6 that I picked up - each set only costs $3! Amazing! Your nails can look gorgeous even if you're on a budget. :)

And I can promise - you're gonna wanna look at the macros of these polishes. They are stunning!

Happy Halloween everyone! I hope your night is spooky and fun and filled with candy. :) I didn't get a chance to put together any new Halloween looks this year because for some reason my mind decided it was going to bypass Halloween and move straight on to Christmas this year. But I wanted to acknowledge the day somehow, so I've decided to do a throwback post to some of my favourite Halloween-inspired looks from the past couple of years. :) Enjoy!

I can't be the only one who knows the painful feeling that comes with spending the day doing your thing, planning for later in the day when you will sit down to swatch some new polishes... Only to realise you've broken off one of your nails during your travels. I hate when this happens and usually it means I need to file everything down to nubs and wait for them all to grow out. But not this time, I decided. This time I was going to try applying a single artificial nail to my nub, using the Nailene Designer Collection Artificial Full Cover Nails that I picked up at Shoppers on the way home. How did it work out for me? Check below to see!

Today I have a short and sweet review to share with you for Laneige's Water Bank Gel Cream. I know this isn't strictly nails-related and so may put some of you off, but honestly this cream is just as good for your hands as it is for your face! So both beauty lovers and nail lovers can check this review out. :)

Hey lovelies! Remember when all the indie brands were releasing their leopard glitter toppers? I can't even begin to tell you how much I loved the look of them - especially KBShimmer's Spot Sign. Ahhh. But alas I don't really do indie polishes so I just thought about these glitter toppers... A LOT. So imagine my delight when I was at Clarie's and saw they have their very own leopard glitter top coat. Oh my gosh you guys! I was shopping with a friend and I'm pretty sure I talked her ear off over how excited I was. :)

So this is the polish I'm choosing to share with you today, as I work back into the groove of blogging after coming out of an (unplanned) hiatus. Did my dream polish hold up to my expectations once I applied it? Read below to find out!

Exciting post to share with you today - I'm taking a look at some new nail vinyls by Glam My Mani from NailPolishCanada.com! I put two bright and colourful looks together to share with you using these vinyls, so check under the cut for a closer look as well as more info about the vinyls themselves!

This week I have a guest post up for the lovely Jessica at Be Happy and Buy Polish! Her and her fam recently welcomed a lovely new bundle of joy and when I heard she was looking for some guest posts to make more time for herself I jumped at the chance.

I used a bunch of shades from Essie to create this look featuring sea turtles and jellyfish, and if you want to see more you can head over to the full post to check it out!

TheFabZilla: What's your preferred way of defining brows? Check out if Hourglass Arch Brow Sculpting Pencil is right up your alley

Lola's Secret Beauty Blog: The Tom Ford Beauty Fall Color 2015 Master Class, with Todd Davidson at Neiman Marcus Beverly Hills, offered the perfect step-by-step tutorial to achieve the ultimate modern monochromatic look! Learn how to replicate the look yourself!

Painted Ladies: The Butter London ShadowClutch offers six stylishly smooth and buttery eyeshadows. They are so pigmented!

Be Happy And Buy Polish: Need a beautiful glowing nail polish in your life? Check out CrowsToes Ingrounded!

Beauty on the Bayou: PORES NO MORE….StriVectin Advanced Retinol Pore Refiner and GIVEAWAY!

Beauty by Miss L: What's in my LookFantastic Beauty Box September 2015 box?

Color Me So Crazy: See What's a Must in MY Gym Bag and What it Has to do With Beauty!

I Know all the Words: PMS is rough. Treat Yo' Self with with to survive in style

Never Say Die Beauty: Holiday collections are starting to be introduced. Never Say Die Beauty is showing off one of the unique & adorable shadow palette as well as gorgeous lip & eye crayons from Mirabella Beauty's Jewel Thief Collection for Holiday 2015

ProcrastiNails: Always wanted to try extensions but never knew where to start? Katherine has you covered with a look at the Irresistible Me premium line of clip-in hair extensions!

From My Vanity: Katie is sharing press-on nails that look like you went to the salon to get them done!

Makeup Obsessed Mom: Do you have large pores? Always searching for a product to shrink them? See if this Dr Brandt product did the trick for Stacie.

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I think one thing a lot of girls (or people in general!) wish they had was the ability to flip between long and short hair on a whim. For me when I have long hair I wish for the cute and simple ease of a good pixie cut or bob, and when I have that short hair I wish for nothing but long and gorgeous locks to twist up or braid off! Extensions are something I've thought about for a few years now, but always hemmed and hawed because of the expense. Did I really want to invest in something like that? Good extensions aren't cheap!

Well, my decision was made for me when the lovely people at Irresistible Me reached out and asked if I wanted to try their clip-in extensions... Hell yeah I did!

My first twinsie nail art design! What an exciting day! You might have seen these on instagram last week when I first did them with the lovely Ash from Glitter Perfection xo. We are both (in theory - I've fallen a bit behind) doing the 30 Days of Colour Challenge and decided to collaborate for Day 12: Jewel Tone. We did some emerald jewel nails to take the prompt as literally as possible, and I'm super pleased with how they turned out!

Check under the cut for a better look and also a shot of what Ash put together!

The lovely ladies in the Canadian Beauty Bloggers network have teamed up with Bio Seaweed Gel to share a look at their Summer 2016 Unity All-in-One Colour Collection Uptown Lights! This collection is based around fun and vibrant Canadian cities and includes a range of shades from brights to neutrals to neons.

I have two shades to show you along with a look at Bio Seaweed Gel's No-Wipe Top Coat, a tutorial of how to use your Bio Seaweed Gel polishes (without an LED light!) and some simple and fun summer nail art. Let's get right into it!

Lola's Secret Beauty Blog: Barneys New York LOVE YOURSELF Bag Event is going on now through September 13, and you won't want to miss out on their amazing gift bag and Step-up Gifts. Get all of the details from LSBB!

Painted Ladies: Find out how you can customize your eyeshadow options and get a 20% coupon code to ittsē.

TheFabZilla: Are you eyeing Tom Ford Beauty Fall 2015 Lip Color Collection? I have So Vain, Forbidden Pink and Lilac Nymph!

george&bear: Clare sorts the good from the bad with six of the best cleansers for your morning shower.

Be Happy And Buy Polish: A fun and hot manicure by Jessica this week!

Color Me So Crazy: I have Bunnies for my NCC Monthly Challenge and They are Super CUTE!!

From My Vanity: Check out a fun way to organize and store your beauty samples so you'll remember to actually use them!

Notes from My Dressing Table: Erika shares her love for Too Faced La Creme Color Drenched Lip Cream in Nude Beach.

Never Say Die Beauty: Allison is showing off the limited edition Milani rose embossed powder blush in the gorgeous Awakening Rose shade that's perfect for fall.

ProcrastiNails: Katherine is giving one of her favourite nail art looks an encore with this recreation of an ikat mani from 2013!

Confessions of a Makeup Addict: Colourpop Haul & Swatches.

I Know all the Words: Newness from Clarins forFall 2015 including the new and improved Jolie Rouge!

Beauty by Miss L: Need a good neutral eyeshadow palette for everyday use? Why not try Cargo Cosmetics The Essentials Eye palette.

AdviceSisters Beauty, Fashion & Lifestyle : Alison of the Advice Sisters reviews 2 newbies from NARS

Makeup Obsessed Mom: You don't have to spend a lot to get good products. See Stacie's picks for 10 under $10.

Collective Beauty : Achieve a flawless airbrush finish with Luminess Air!

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I've been wanting to start doing posts like this for a while now - taking a look from previous years and updating it with new polishes, new camera, and my new lighting. :)

I didn't know what to call this type of post so shout-out to Lisa who suggested calling it an "encore!" mani when I asked in a group. I was just going to call it a recreation, but I like that idea so much more!

This look also works as my fill for Day 7: Blue for the 30 Days of Colour Challenge.

Enough talking, let's get to the nails!

Today for Day 4 of the 30 Days of Colour Challenge I have the gorgeous green duochrome Barry M Arabian from the Aquarium Collection! My lovely father got me my very first set of Barry M polishes when he was in Europe this summer and I'm happy to be able to finally show one of them off! Woo woo!

Only two days in and I'm already a day behind! Darn! Ah well, sometimes that's just how the cookie crumbles. :)

I have some quick swatches for you for my Day 2: Yellow fill for the 30 Days of Colour Challenge. I decided to go with the lovely and buttery China Glaze Metro Pollen-Tin from the 2014 City Flourish Collection!


In real life this polish is closer to what shows on the nail, not what shows in the bottle - it has a slight orange undertone to it which makes it more unique imo! It also dried slightly matte so for these pictures I did add a layer of top coat.

I don't have a lot of yellow polishes in my collection but one thing I do find is that almost all of the yellows I do have (including this one) apply a bit patchy. Isn't that weird! It doesn't show as much on the nail here but this was a bit of a pain to apply. Even with three coats it didn't fully cover all the spots. The colour is buttery and lovely but the application is not. :( Ah well, at least I can enjoy the colour!

I also once heard this polish described as "nacho cheese" but I think it's more "buttery yellow" (and I like how that sounds better)... What do you think? Nachos, butter, or should we all just stop referring to polishes with food names, period? Hahah.

Check out all of the other fills for today's theme, and I'll see you later today (or maybe tomorrow morning, more likely) with my next fill!

Kicking off another month of the 30 Days of Colour Challenge is the lovely Zoya Pepper! This is for my fill for Day 1: Red and I adore this shade. It's the perfect burnt pepper red to transition into fall with. :)

Hello lovely readers, I hope life is treating you well! I have an exciting giveaway to share with you today sponsored by Design Glassware by Mont Bleu! They are one of my favourite suppliers of crystal nail files and I personally own 4 of these babies in various colours and sizes. I've reviewed them before here!

Today I'm sharing a giveaway that will give you the chance to win one of two crystal nail files with a pink-white gradient base, decorated with hand-placed SWAROVSKI® ELEMENTS crystals. All nail files by Design Glassware by Mont Bleu are made from Czech tempered glass and are very hygienic, and each comes in it's own velvet pouch.


Prize
One (1) of two Czech tempered glass crystal nail files decorated with SWAROVSKI® ELEMENTS crystals from Design Glassware by Mont Bleu

Eligibility
Open to anyone 18+ or with parental permission


a Rafflecopter giveaway



Good luck! :)

September is here and our group decided this would be a good month to do another full month of our 30 Days of Colour Challenge! The idea is to swatch 30 polishes in 30 days to work through some of those untrieds, but people are also welcome to do nail art if that's more their style! Lots of fun prompts this month so I can't wait to see what everyone puts together.


Details 

- Challenge starts September 1st and everyone is welcome to participate! All link-ups are open until the end of the month so it's okay if you need to play catch-up!

- We'll be using the hashtag #30DaysofColourChallenge across social media (yes there is a "u" - I'm Canadian!) 

- This is a casual challenge so you can take part in as many or as few fills as you want.   

- Feel free to grab the graphics above or below to use in your posts or to share across social media - the more the merrier!  

Instagram Graphic




InLinkz

1    Red: http://new.inlinkz.com/luscript.php?id=558605
2    Yellow: http://new.inlinkz.com/luscript.php?id=558606
3    Pink: http://new.inlinkz.com/luscript.php?id=558607
4    Green: http://new.inlinkz.com/luscript.php?id=558622
5    Purple: http://new.inlinkz.com/luscript.php?id=558624
6    Orange: http://new.inlinkz.com/luscript.php?id=558628
7    Blue: http://new.inlinkz.com/luscript.php?id=558629
8    Turquoise: http://new.inlinkz.com/luscript.php?id=558630
9    Magenta: http://new.inlinkz.com/luscript.php?id=558631
10  Indigo: http://new.inlinkz.com/luscript.php?id=558632
11  Orchid: http://new.inlinkz.com/luscript.php?id=558633
12  Jewel Tone: http://new.inlinkz.com/luscript.php?id=558634
13  Vampy: http://new.inlinkz.com/luscript.php?id=558635
14  Holo: http://new.inlinkz.com/luscript.php?id=558636
15  Glitter: http://new.inlinkz.com/luscript.php?id=558637
16  Chrome: http://new.inlinkz.com/luscript.php?id=558638
17  Neon: http://new.inlinkz.com/luscript.php?id=558639
18  Shimmer: http://new.inlinkz.com/luscript.php?id=558640
19  Jelly: http://new.inlinkz.com/luscript.php?id=558641
20  Nude: http://new.inlinkz.com/luscript.php?id=558642
21  Matte: http://new.inlinkz.com/luscript.php?id=558643
22  Fall Colour: http://new.inlinkz.com/luscript.php?id=558644
23  Winter Colour: http://new.inlinkz.com/luscript.php?id=558645
24  Spring Colour: http://new.inlinkz.com/luscript.php?id=558647
25  Summer Colour: http://new.inlinkz.com/luscript.php?id=558648
26  Colour of your shirt: http://new.inlinkz.com/luscript.php?id=558649
27  Colour of your eyes: http://new.inlinkz.com/luscript.php?id=558650
28  Colour of your socks: http://new.inlinkz.com/luscript.php?id=558651
29  Your Favourite Colour: http://new.inlinkz.com/luscript.php?id=558652
30  Swatchers Choice: http://new.inlinkz.com/luscript.php?id=558653

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Participants



And as with all nail challenges it's always the more the merrier, so if you are interested in taking part please do! And stop by the Facebook group to say hello! :)

I was playing around with the Essie Silk Watercolours and ended up feeling like a parrot! In the best way possible! Aren't you in love with how these turned out? Ahhh!

It's been about a week since I last fawned over this years' mainstream jelly offerings, and that's too long! It's time to remind myself (and all of you) about how amazinggg these polishes are! Today I'm looking specifically at the Essie Silk Watercolours (though you all know my love of the OPI Color Paints too). 

Happy Thursday everyone. :) I hope you're ready to take a look back at some looks from August 2014 with me!

Super quick and simple post to share with you today! These are the nails I wore earlier this summer as a bridesmaid for my lovely friend Natalie's wedding. My dress was a deep plum and I wanted something simple and elegant that would match well (and that wouldn't take long to do, as I may have done my nails a few hours before I went to sleep the night before).

To get this look I painted on two coats of my favourite neutral Julep Florence and then stuck some clear crystal rhinestones and sealed everything with two coats of top coat. Simple and fabulous!


The wedding was amazing and my friend Natalie was a beautiful bride. I really appreciated being able to share her special day. Having great nails was just a bonus. :)

What kind of look do you like to wear for a wedding? Neutrals or something bold?

Thanks for visiting! xx

Check out these links from the lovely ladies in the BBC to get your beauty fix for the week. :)

• Be Happy And Buy Polish: Need a sparkly manicure for these end of summer days? Don't miss this Verity + CrowsToes nail polish combo from Jessica!
  
• TheFabZilla: Another week, another jewel-toned eye look. Check out TheFabZilla's Amethyst Eyes
  
• Lola's Secret Beauty Blog: Nude lip gloss junkies, you haven't lived until you have tried the delectable Clarins Eclat Minute Instant Light Natural Lip Protector in Nude Shimmer! It's GORGEOUS!
  
• Painted Ladies: Who doesn't love a good matte liquid lipstick? Sheila has comparisons from Anastasia Beverly Hills, Ofra, ColourPop, L.A. Girl, and more!
  
• Beauty on the Bayou: A MASCARA THAT DOES IT ALL – Stila HUGE Extreme Lash Mascara
  
• I Know all the Words: Re-think foundation with the new Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Invisible Cover Foundation
  
• AdviceSisters Beauty, Fashion & Lifestyle : What do Britney Spears, Taylor Swift and Jennifer Anniston all have in common?
  
• ProcrastiNails: If you're looking to add some extra color to your life you will definitely want to check out Katherine's swatches of the OPI Color Paints Collection!
  
• Beauty by Miss L: The Body Shop Pomegranate Softening Cream Cleanser and Firming & Refreshing Eye Roll-On are promised to address the signs of ageing and help the skin feel firmer and softer.
  
• Makeup Obsessed Mom: Does this new eye shadow palette live up to it's name? See Stacie's review of the Delectables Palette.
  
• Color Me So Crazy: Some of MY Summer Time Faves ALL in ONE Post!!
  
• Never Say Die Beauty: Allison is sporting groomed brows from the new Mirabella Beauty Borrowed from the Boys Brow Collection
  
• From My Vanity: Katie shared a review and lip swatches of 3 Too Faced Melted Liquid Lipstick colors that were added to their collection recently!
  
• Notes from My Dressing Table: Pithy and to the point reviews on lots of goodies in one post! Erika's Skin Care Sample Extravaganza!
  
• Confessions of a Makeup Addict : Fall Beauty Wishlist
  
• Collective Beauty : Review and swatches of Makeup Geek Eyeshadows!
  
  
  
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As pictured on Julep

September is just around the corner and I am so not ready! But it doesn't matter because Julep has their lineup for September ready and it's time to pick selections for my Julep Maven box! Let's take a look at the options and then I'd love to hear what you'd order if you were me. :)

Hello lovelies! I put together a guest post for the wonderful Sarah at Workaday Beauty this week for the Canadian Beauty Bloggers monthly link-up with the theme "Worth the Splurge!"

Check it out for my thoughts on the mainstream real gold and silver top coats that have come out in the past few years and see if I feel they're really Worth the Splurge! :)

I've been sitting on this collection since it came out and I can't believe I haven't shared swatches with you yet! I've been using these gorgeously pigmented jellies for nail art all over the place and have loved the whole collection since the moment I first used it so there's really no excuse for my delay. I find nail art posts so much more fun to put together than swatch posts which is probably part of the issue... Do you feel that way too (those of you who blog) or is it just me? Hmm...

Well, swatches eventually I did and swatches you will now see! This is the full OPI Color Paints Collection and I'm excited to hear what you think of it!

Hello everyone!

My name is Miranda, from Miranda Loves and I would first like to thank Katherine for hosting me for this month's guest post theme "Worth the Splurge". A lot of things are worth the splurge to me, and I found it quite difficult to narrow it down. The one thing I left out was skincare because there's just WAY too much for me to talk about that I might as well save it for an actual skincare post.

So here goes :)

1) A quality perfume that you know you will always wear. There's nothing worse than buying a perfume, that you are only able to wear once in a while because it's either too strong, too overwhelming or just not day-appropriate. I came across Jo Malone fragrances 3 years ago when I was in Tokyo at a department store, they had a beautiful cream and black marble counter and space, that you could smell and see a mile away. The fragrances were subtle yet unique. It's not something you smell and immediately think, oh! That's D&G Light Blue. After a thorough consultation, I picked up English Pear and Freesia and have worn it every day since. One spray is all you need, and it'll last you a day. It's truly beautiful. Every time I smell it now, it takes me back to my amazing getaway in Asian for a month 3 years back :)

Hello lovelies! Today we're looking at some bright stamping I ended up with while playing around with my nails the other day. Don't you just love those days, when you're just playing with various nail art tools and happen to end up with a look you love? Sometimes those days feel few and far between! Ah well. :)

This design is from one of the many MoYou London plates I own but have yet to use - I didn't even notice it looked like a flower until it was on the nail, if you can believe it!

I feel at this point in looking back I was at a high point in my blogging... I was posting fairly regularly, I had a 30 day challenge coming up in September (that I would go on to complete!), I liked my lighting and my pictures, and I was really involved in a variety of nail art challenges.

Hmm... I guess if I'm trying to look at positives now compared to then (for progress reasons) I would say that my macro pictures are better now (they were non-existent then!) and my straight-on pictures are much more clear. So there are pros and cons to both time periods. :)

Check under the cut for a closer look!

You know how sometimes you buy things and they come in and you're excited, and then you put them away and completely forget about them for the next month or so? That was the unfortunate fate of the last mystery package I bought from Julep. Oops!

I came across this particular box again recently and decided - "Hey, mystery packages are fun! Let's do an unboxing so everyone can see what I got!" The box in question is one I picked up a few good months ago when Julep had a sale on. The deal was 10 mystery polishes for $20 and I couldn't resist. Check under the cut to see what polishes I got and how many were duplicates for me!

Hello lovelies! I have some links to share with you from this past week from the wonderful bloggers in the BBC.

• TheFabZilla: This week, Thefabzilla shares her experience with Foreo Luna Cleansing & Anti-Aging Device.
  
• I Know all the Words: Ch-Ch-Ch-Chia! Seed that is with THEFACESHOP Chia Seed Collection.
  
• Beauty by Miss L: Simple Minions nail art tutorial.
  
• ProcrastiNails: Gorgeous weather calls for gorgeous cuticles, and Katherine has found a cuticle oil you will love!
  
• Painted Ladies: For skin that's soothed and perfectly primed for makeup, consider Touché Cosmetics Supercharged Moisturizer & Primer.
  
• Color Me So Crazy: Check out my CRAZY Hair and Some Tips on How to Calm it Down!
  
• Never Say Die Beauty: Turn matte foundation into dewy or hydrate skin on the go! Allison tried out the luxuriousTatcha Luminous Mist Spray.
  
• Chameleon Stampede: Mandy is wondering where Smashbox Primer Water has been all her life!
  
• Be Happy And Buy Polish: Unsure about how to use those OPI Color Paints? Jessica has you covered with a layered manicure!
  
• Notes from My Dressing Table: Soap & Glory helps Erika get seriously soft skin.
  
• Confessions of a Makeup Addict: Top 10 Beauty Products under $10.
  
• Makeup Obsessed Mom: Stacie is loving these multi-tasking and easy to use products to get her nude makeup looks.
  
• Lola's Secret Beauty Blog: Back to School Beauty Aisle Drugstore Top Picks that you won't want to miss!.
  
• Beauty on the Bayou: OIL FREE SUN PROTECTION FOR SKIN – OleHenriksen Protect the Truth SPF 50+.
  
  
  
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