Purple Lover's Dream!

I just love this mani so much, you guys!

This is one coat of KBShimmer's Happily Ever Aster over Sinful Colors Candy Coated.  You all know how much I adore KBShimmer polishes!  Isn't this beautiful?  I adore how much depth this glitter topper has - all of these glitters are laying flat on my nails!  Happily Ever Aster is a glitter topper from the Summer 2014 Collection.  "Periwinkle, light aqua blue, purple, lavender and white glitters swim in a clear base surrounded by tiny bits of holographic glitters for a sparkling top coat."

You can find Happily Ever Aster HERE on the KBShimmer site.

Pink Stars are Falling in Lines!

SAMPLES PROVIDED FOR REVIEW

Today I want to show you the cute nail art that was inspired by the series Under the Dome!  I recently received these adorable little pink star studs from The Born Pretty Store.  If you're not familiar with The Born Pretty Store you are missing out, my friend!  There is such an amazing amount of fun thing on this page I cannot even begin listing them all.  I have gotten several decals and other things from them.

These precious little neon pink stars came in a bag with 200 pieces!  You can find them in various colors right HERE.  The Born Pretty Store has even been so kind as to create a 10% off coupon code for my blog readers!!!  Just use code GAG10 at checkout!  COUPON CODE!

I created this design with Essie's I'm Addicted as the base and used a neon pink Kiss nail art pen to create the falling star lines.  I then used a thin layer of topcoat as adhesive and placed the stars where I wanted them to go.  Finish it off with top coat to keep the stars in place and voila!

Nail Stencils from Neverland Lacquers

SAMPLES PROVIDED FOR REVIEW

Hi, everyone!  Today I have some very cool nail stencil samples to show you by Neverland Lacquers.  You may know Neverland Lacquers as Pop Culture Cosmetics, but Denise is working on re-branding right now.  The Neverland Lacquers logo is just precious!

Denise sent me soooo many stencils to try out - I have not even had a chance to try them all yet!  These stencils are very well done, easy to use, and are a great tool for any level of nail art lover.

First up I used the Brackets stencils to create a cute, popping nail art design with NerdLacquer's The Selfish Green and Orly's Dazzle.  The Bracket design could be used so many different ways!  I wanted to show how easy it is to make something different and cute, so I carefully placed the stencils to create tips and a different play on the half-moon design on my accent nail.

Up next I wanted to do something a little more complicated and so I tried out the Lightning stencils.  These were a little more tricky but only because of the pointed edges that you have to peel just so or you will pull your polish a bit.  I absolutely adore the way this mani turned out and I got sooo many compliments!

And next up I wanted to try something that I haven't done before at all!  For this mani I used the Nested Diamonds stencils to create something sort of abstract!  This mani took a little more patience because I placed each diamond individually and then used tweezers to remove them so as not to ruin the design.  I loved the result and how well the stencils did!  The unfortunate smears of red that you can see were from my top coat dragging the red and had nothing to do with the stencils at all.

 

Last but not least I used the Waves stencils to create a summery neon version of a French tip mani.  This one was super easy to do and also got a ton of compliments.

 



So what do you think?  There are several more fantastic stencil designs available.  You can find all of these and also some really beautiful shades of polish on the Neverland Lacquers site.  There is a very user-friendly list on the left side of the site that will direct you to the stencils!  Thanks for letting me try out these beauties, Denise!  I cannot wait to try out the rest and also some of the polish!

Holographic Top Coat Comparison!

Oh yay!  Today I want to share my very first comparison post with you!!!

I really want a lime green holographic polish but I haven't gotten one yet, so I decided to try out my holo top coats in my first comparison post.  The common color here is China Glaze's I'm with the Lifeguard.  All of the colors I'm showing you today were purchased by me, excluding the Model City color, which I won in a giveaway.

On my right hand I am wearing Mentality Holo over the CG lime green!  I wasn't in love with this top coat when I first used it because the holo isn't as strong as I would like it to be.  This is one coat and as you can see it is a little bit streaky but not so much so that it's horribly obvious.  The trouble with Holo is that if you add more than one coat it gets very silvery and takes away from the color underneath.  Overall it's really not too bad, although not my favorite.

On my left had I am wearing Model City Seize the Rainbow over the CG green!  This is also one coat and it was not streaky at all.  In fact, the formula for this was quite fantastic and it's super holographic in person.  I thought it was very interesting that I was in love with the Model City top coat in person but in my pics the holo isn't super strong, while in person the Mentality top coat was just the opposite to me and here it shows up quite beautifully in the pic!

 

Overall, I was pretty content with the way both hands turned out!  I am definitely going to need to get a true holographic lime green in my collection, but in the meantime this was a fun experiment!  In person the two top coats were pretty similar and I don't think anyone noticed at all that I was wearing two different manis for a few days.  Thanks for checking out my first comparison post!  What is your opinion of these two holographic top coats?

Reviewing The Vampire Diaries Collection by Paint Shop Polish

Hello, everyone!  Today I have a review of a couple of really cute glitter polishes from Paint Shop Polish to show you.  Candi Clemens is the talented creator of these lovely beauties and the owner of Paint Shop Polish.  Candi provided these glitter top coats to me for reviewing and your viewing pleasure!  It is a specialty of her store to create custom polishes - and she makes wonderful customs!  I will have to show you the one she made for me on another day!

These three glitter polishes are from Paint Shop Polish's Vampire Diaries collection. 

Up first is my favorite of the three: The Doppelgänger.  This polish was inspired by the Petrova Doppelgangers, Elena and Katherine, in The Vampire Diaries.  Purples, blacks, and whites in various sizes and shapes are what make this glitter polish an instant favorite for me.  The consistency of the formula and the amount of glitter are just perfect.  I paired The Doppelgänger over Ellagee's Frozen Concoction (a thermal) for a neat ombré and glitter effect in my favorite colors!  This is one coat of The Doppelgänger and HK Girl topcoat on top.

 

Up next is a fun polish called Hybrid!  This polish is inspired by Klaus and the hybrids from The Vampire Diaries.  I had a blast with Hybrid because it's full of tiny red skull and crossbones, and gold and black circles, and gold moon glitters that I didn't have to fish and fish for.  Gotta love it when you don't have to spend twenty minutes digging for glitter!  I thought I would be head over heels for the little skulls and was surprised to discover that I love the black circle glitter even more!  I paired this one over China Glaze's Gothic Lolita.  This is one coat with a little extra dabbing to place the bigger glitters.

 

Last but not least is Katherine, full of red, gold, and purple glitter with red skull and crossbones.  This polish was inspired by Katherine Pierce from The Vampire Diaries.  The skulls were much more challenging to grab from this one but the color combo is very pretty!  I love that I didn't have a glitter bomb but still had plenty of sparkle on my nails.  This is one coat of Katherine over LVX Cerulean.

 

You can find these available now along with some other beautiful, unique colors from Paint Shop Polish on Candi's etsy shop HERE!  Also, don't forget to check her out on Paint Shop Polish Facebook.  Keep an eye out for more Paint Shop Polish on my blog in the very near future!!!

Belated Valentine!

Hey, everyone!  So I know it's a few days late but I really loved my Valentine's Day mani and I wanted to share it!

I recently obtained my first Cadillacquer polish from a blog sale and I knew it was the perfect color for Valentine's Day.  Cadillacquer's We'll Meet Again has flawless coverage in two coats and is pumped up with red glitters and lots of holographic microglitter.  I haven't ever been much of a fan of red and pink together, but this.... perfection!

As you can see, I also created an adorable accent nail on each hand with Sinful Colors Snow Me White and some pink rose water decals from the Born Pretty Store.  I freakin' LOVE water decals.  I think the pink roses just pop right off my nail surrounded by that Cadillacquer pink!

This is, as I said, two coats of We'll Meet Again over my usual Orly base with one coat of HK Girl on top.  What do you think?  Isn't it sweet!?  Perfect for Valentine's Day!

If you need some Cadillacquer of your own Llarowe.com provides this brand in the US at this LINK.  Here is the link to the main Cadillacquer Shop.

Polish Addict Nail Color, Part II

Provided for Review

Hi, everyone! 

Before we get started I have a quick request.  I received a comment on my last post that my page is hard to read, but she did not give me any specifics as to what the problem is.  When I am on my PC and my iPhone the layout and colors seem fine to me.  I would love to correct this issue if necessary but I need you all to tell me where the problem is. Thanks sooooo much! :)

Thanks for your patience while waiting for this post.  This one is pic heavy :D

Today I am going to show you two more amazing polishes from PANC - but unlike the first two these are HOLOGRAPHIC!  Woo!  Who doesn't love holographic polish?!

First up is Unicorn 2.2, a gorgeous silvery-lavender beauty.  This shimmering, glitter-filled holo polish catches the sun in so many various ways and is still just stunning in regular lighting.  The combination of sparkle in this baby impresses me; I just adore unique polish.  It's sure to please everyone with its lavender base, lavender flakies, and iridescent glitter.  I wore it alone in three coats and was very impressed with the formula.

 

 

 

Up next is a lovely shade called Alter Ego.  Alter Ego is not only beautiful and holographic but it is also a thermal polish!  The PANC store site says this is a "holo thermal that is a light amber when warm and turns darker when cold.  (An Ultra Thermal-Dust which changes from one color to another instead of transparent at temperatures of 86F and warmer. [...])"  I absolutely loved this color when I put it on and wore it for a week.  The neutral amber-brown was just perfect for the cool weather we are having!  I wore two coats of Alter Ego for perfectly full coverage.

 



 

Here is the LINK to the holographic polish section of PANC, and here is the LINK to get to the main shop page.  Don't you just LOVE these holographics?!  They are very strongly holo in all light sources and the formula is just perfect.

Polish Addict Nail Color Review, Part I

Provided for Review

Good evening!

Tonight I want to show you two of four amazing colors sent to me for review by the creative Laura Sanchez!  Laura is the brilliant mind behind the Polish Addict Nail Color line, along with PANC co-owner, Crystal Fernandez.

I have chatted often with Laura lately and she is the sweetest lady!  I have always admired her unique glitter polishes and I was thrilled when she contacted me to do a review.

First up is a really sweet color that my daughter was head over heels for.  Pretty Zombie is a pink crelly packed full of different sizes and shapes and types of glitter!  This polish was inspired by Rob Zombie and his wife, and has something interesting on every brush swipe.  I found stars, hearts, hexies, neons, mattes, metallics... and the best part of all is that it glows in the dark!  I found that the pink base was a bit sheer for me but with three coats it became opaque.  I want to try this one over pink undies and see if I can make the glitter a touch less overwhelming on my tiny nails.  I put this on over my Orly base and used two coats of HK Girl top coat over it.  The top coat did not take away from the glow in the dark effect at all!

 

Up next is another super fun glitter polish that I'm sure you have heard of!  If you read Nail It! magazine then you have probably seen the Indie Spotlight interview in which Laura says one of her favorites from her polish line is Blurred Lines Glow in the Dark polish!  When I put on Blurred Lines I really was super excited to have such a gorgeous piece in my collection and it became one of my all-time favorites, too.  We all know I love my glitter-filled white crème bases--especially when they are unique to my stash!  Blurred Lines is a white crelly with holo dust that glows in the dark with a mix of black, blue, pink, and white glitters.  Oh my gosh it is pretty!  I love that I found so many different glitters in the formula without it being as many different types as Pretty Zombie.  This is three coats of Blurred Lines in all its magnificence!  This is also over my Orly base with two coats of HK Girl on top.  I want to go put it right back on my nails now...........

 

 

 

For all your glow in the dark polish cravings here is a LINK specifically to the Glow in the Dark section of the Polish Addict Nail Color shop!  This LINK is to the Big Cartel shop home page.

 

You have got to see these beauties!!!  I need to go get my hands on Unicorn Galaxy GITD right this second, you guys.  So pretty!

 

Laura and Crystal also have a fantastic selection of other types of polish including holographic, thermal, and even an extremely popular Mystery Box subscription!  Be sure you go check out the PANC Facebook, too.  If you want to see that interview in Nail It! magazine you can find the link HERE.

 

Here is a little tidbit from the PANC site regarding the GITD polishes in case you are wondering about the glow: "A Photo-luminescent Powder that when charges with natural or artificial light will absorb photons, then re-radiates them and gives a glow. Sunlight and UV black light provide the best effect for a charge."

 

Thanks for dropping by - and come back to see some amazing holographics from PANC that will knock your socks off!!!

Upcoming Blogiversary!

Woo hoo!  As you may already know At Peace with Polish began on March 1, 2013.  I cannot believe it has already been almost a year!!!  I am currently putting together a big ol' Indie Giveaway for my First Blogiversary as a thank you to all of you lovely readers.

If you are interested in being a part of the giveaway feel free to fill out this Google Doc and let me know!  I adore you all and cannot wait to show you what's in store!  Party!!!!

My First Scofflaw Nail Varnishes!

Hi, everyone!  So tonight I want to show you my first two Scofflaw Nail Varnishes!  I can't believe I waited so long to buy from this Indie brand.  These two colors are unique and stunning, each one was opaque in two coats, and the formula is impeccable.  These two polishes were purchased by me.

 

Before we get started I must ask you to excuse my incredibly random watermark on these pictures.  Unfortunately my program is not working properly and while the watermark was in the right place on the program, apparently it did not translate correctly when I saved the pic.... however the heck that works.... :(

 

Moving on!!!!

 

First up from Scofflaw is "Drop Dead Fred" and it is officially one of my new favorite polishes!  I just couldn't stop staring at it while I wore it.  Couldn't.  Stop.  And who would want to!?  "It's a vivid lime green with butterscotch shimmer highlights. It boasts glitters in metallic butterscotch and various sizes of holographic blue," says the Scofflaw site.  What a freakin' masterpiece.  I am obsessed with the shimmer, the colors, the formula..........  Just dreamy, you guys.  You have to get this one!!!  (As you can probably see, this is the last swatch set I watermarked with that program....)

 

 

Next is "Your Cat Ain't Cute," a vibrant coral creme polish full of delicate gold, matte neon coral, and various sizes of metallic brown glitters.  My camera barely does this polish justice!  I don't think that the coral color suits my skin as well as I'd like, but nonetheless I am obsessed with this beautiful glitter polish.  I think that this second photo is very true to the actual color of the polish you're getting.  Also - check out the new watermark!  Ooooh ahhhh!

 

You can find these and other amazing colors online at the Scofflaw Nail Varnish shop!  There will be a restock on February 8th!  You can subscribe for email alerts and follow along on Facebook, too.

New Year's Day Giveaway Winner!

Yay! Thank you all for entering my giveaway!

There were 17 of you darling ladies, and I recognized many names who have followed my blog and become friends from the beginning!  I am also so pleased to say there were a few new friends, too!  I can't wait for you all to see what's coming up in March for my One Year Blogiversary!!!!

I didn't make it to my goal of 200 followers on FB or the Blog, but that's ok!  I am grateful for everyone here and for everyone who allows me to review their amaaaazing polish.

And, without further delay:

Congrats to Vicki S.!!!! Woooooo! You won my giveaway and I will be emailing you soon!

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I'm with the Lifeguard - Topless and Barefoot!

Hahaha, I know, I know.  I just couldn't help myself.  But the art mani I put together today was made with Essie Topless and Barefoot and China Glaze I'm with the Lifeguard!

It's a simply done tape mani that turned out to be one of my new favorites.  Please forgive my dry cuticles; the weather changing back and forth here is rough on them.  Both of these colors were on my wish list for so long and I haven't done much with either of them until now.  I used two coats of Essie T&B then taped off areas for China Glaze IWTL.  I absolutely adore it and it was so easy to do!

How do you like this fresh neon pop on a nice nude in all this wintery stuff? :)

Also, don't forget about my Giveaway!!!  I have a lovely set of rose water decals up for grabs.  If I can get 200 followers I will add a second prize winner! Check it out HERE!

Flashback Friday!

Last summer right after I found out I was pregnant with E we took C to visit Moody Gardens in Galveston for the first time!  If you have thought about going but haven't yet then you really need to plan for it!  All three of us had a fantastic time!

Anyway, as you know I used to have more time to do nail art!  A favorite of mine has always been the toucan that Kayla Shevonne did a couple years ago. You can see the link here: http://www.kaylashevonne.com/2012/06/tropical-toucan-nail-art.html?m=1

It. Is. Amazing. And I had to try it, but I wanted to add my own spin and do something different on the other hand!

Now before I show you these guys please excuse my broken nail on one hand. :(  I think the art is still pretty good for an amateur!

 

Yay!  What do you think?  I used about a dozen colors in this so I'm not sure which they are but.... It's one of my favorite nail art manis!!!

Thanks for stopping by! :)

Born Pretty Store Water Decal Review and a Giveaway!

HAPPY NEW YEAR, my darlings!!!

Firstly, I want to wish you all a fantastic 2014 and the best of luck in all your goals!  I wish I could give something to each of you wonderful readers, but for now I want to share some really cool water decals with one lucky winner.

I fell head over heels for these rose decals when I saw a gorgeous neutral, but mixed colors mani done by a popular blogger who linked her blog page to the shop (where I realized that there are some freakin' awesome water decals at The Born Pretty Store).  I have a little problem, though: I cannot remember which blogger posted the mani that inspired mine and I would really like to give credit!  So if you know or it was your gorgeous digits, please inform me!!  Thanks! ;)

Here is a pretty self-explanatory pic of things you will need for the water decal application!  I used cool water.  The decals were crazy easy to use and the instructions on the package were very basic and anyone can do this!

The process was so easy that my daughter was able to help me out.  There is no rush like with stamping and you are able to move the decals around if you don't quite get the placement on target the first time or two.  I love that each rose is a little different and that the color was opaque enough on the flower so that the polish wouldn't show through and ruin the effect.  Use your favorite top coat over the mani, clean it up around the edges as usual, and voila!

Isn't this cute!?  And so much fun.  It's actually one of my favorite manis and I plan to duplicate it again in the future.  And now you can try out some Born Pretty water decals, too!  Just enter in the Rafflecopter below (after you read the rules, please)!


RULES:
Giveaway is for ONE (1) package of water decals purchased by me from the online Born Pretty Store.  Prize is NOT the same set of decals shown in the above blog post and is brand new in the original packaging.  There will be ONE (1) winner.  Giveaway will end one (1) week from the start date, January 1, 2014, on January 8, 2014.  If I reach 200 blog followers before the giveaway ends I will add a surprise prize for a second winner!  Thanks!  :)

1. US entries only, please.
2. Must be 18 or have parent permission to enter the giveaway and provide information to me.
3. Must be a Blog reader and Facebook follower.
4. Extra entries for other social media outlets are optional.
5. Prize will be mailed out in time-appropriate manner and postage paid by me.
6. I am not responsible for item once it has been dropped at the post office - but I do wish it the best of luck getting to you!
7. Tracking will be provided on any prizes that are boxed.  If prize item is in an envelope tracking is used if available and if I choose to use it.
8. I reserve the right to and will disqualify anyone who does not follow the rules.  Please let's all be fair to each other!
9. Sharing blog post and giveaway will allow for an extra entry--and I thank you!!!
10. Have fun!  Thanks for reading my blog! xo

 

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