Sunday, January 5, 2014

Nailing The Book: Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson


Speak

Hey. There are some books where I really need to do my nails based on the outside, because the inside is soo depressing. Here is my review, if you want to check it out.  That is where I had a problem with Speak. If you have read this book, you know what I mean. So then I was left to make some art out of the front cover. I mean the front cover itself isn't bad.
But making nail art out of it? Well that was a little difficult. I knew right away that I was going to do a tree somewhere, but then I was fresh out of ideas. 

I ended up with a tree (maybe?), a gradient like the leaves and some good old glitter to come to the rescue.




I used Elf Desert Haze, L.A. Colors Black Velvet and Elf Smokin' Hot for the tree. I drew it with a nail art pen and dabbed on some red to brighten it up!
The glitter is Elf Gina Girl. Its so beautiful!
For the gradient I used Elf Smokin' and Elf Mod Mauve.
I topped all of them of with Seche Vite top coat!




 Thanks for reading and have a great day!

Friday, January 3, 2014

Christmas Nail Polish Haul

This is late. So late. Christmas was what, a week or two ago? I have had these gorgeous polishes just sitting in my blog folder on the computer, edited and everything, but then I had new years stuff, and 2014 stuff, so this came last. I went a little polish crazy with my Christmas money. I didn't get a lot of polishes, but I love most of them I got! My wallet was fighting with me because I wanted to buy the 3rd and 4th Mortal Instrument books, so polish got placed in second. But I adore most of the polishes I got!

X Formula Grandiose:

Grandiose is a shimmery duochrome that switches between a redish pink and orange. This is an incredible polish it shifts so well. Its one of those polishes where you see it in the bottle and it looks even better on the nails. The formula is great and it went on in two coats. As you can see, I took a ton of pictures of this one, in different lights. Here is two coats without top coat.







X Formula Infamous:

Infamous is another beautiful duochrome that shifts from bluish teal to purple. This polish is incredible! Like Grandiose, it shifts like nobody's business. It goes from teal to a bluish teal to purple. The formula is great and it goes on in 2 coats perfectly. Ready for more picture spam? Here is two coats without top coat.







Zoya Dhara:

Dhara is a shimmery orange textured polish. It is from the Zoya Pixie Dust 2013 collection. I got this one at Ulta for a sale price of 5 dollars. I gotta say that I love this one. This is the first Zoya polish I have tried and I'm super impressed! Here is two coats without top coat.




China Glaze Lightning Bolt:

Lightning Bolt is a creme white crackle polish. It was kind of lumpy when I first applied it, but then it smoothed out when it dried. I've never seen that with any other crackle polish, so I'm not sure if its just the bottle I just or if it just has a bad formula overall. Here is one coat over L.A. Colors Black Velvet.




Revlon Mistletoe:

Mistletoe is a shimmery black and blue and green polish. This is one of those colors where it is kind of hard to explain, so I'll just let you guys look at the pictures. But the formula was good. Here is two coats without top coat.




Revlon Meteor:

Dang. I probably just found on of my favorite all time polishes. Meteor is totally stunning. The formula is great as well! Here is two coats of 1 and one coat of 2 without top coat.





Sephora by OPI Happy Earth Day to Me:

Happy Earth Day to Me is an really gross shimmery greenish brown. Okay OPI, I see what you were trying to do here.. kind of. But I really really really dislike this color. Honestly? I think it looks like puke. I'm not sure what OPI was thinking with this one? Here is three coats without top coat.




Sephora by OPI Looks Like Rain, Dear:

Looks Like Rain, Dear is a top coat with gold and holographic glitter. This polish is pretty but the formula really isn't. I truly thought that this one would go on by itself, but after 4 coats I said no. I ended up putting it over black and then it looked thick. So I just took pictures and gave up. Here is one coat over L.A. Colors Black Velvet.




Sephora by OPI Lights, Glammer-a, Action!:

Lights, Glammer-a, Action is a clear top coat with small blue glitters and bigger silver glitters. This one didn't have any formula problems. I didn't think it was very unique though. I put it over L.A. Colors Black Velvet. Here is two coats over Black Velvet.




Sephora by OPI Beam Me Up, Hottie!:

Beam Me Up, Hottie is a clear top coat with some medium holographic silver glitters. First may I say, what is up with this name? *Giggles at how stupid it it* Second, the polish has like no glitters. When you look at the bottle, you will be like "Awee! Look at all that glitter" but no. Really I was lucky to get 2 or 3 on the brush. So I had to do some major digging. I guess its okay if you like subtle. The formula was good though, I'll give it that. Here is two coats *and lots of fishing* over NYC French Tip White.





Thanks for reading! I am super unimpressed with Sephora by OPI. I don't know if its just these polishes, but I did get four... What do you think? Let me know in the comments below! Have a great day!

Wednesday, January 1, 2014

Top 10 Books I Read in 2013

Hey everyone and a special welcome to my new Facebook likes! I got up and above100 likes to 115 yesterday thanks to the amazing blogger from Polish Luv! It made my New Year all right! Speaking of, I hope you all had a great 2013 and have an even better 2014!

I'm doing my first book post today! It's not a review but my top 10 books that I read in 2013! There were so many great ones! I had a super hard time just picking 10 but I managed. My favorites series' of 2013 (and of all time) are Vampire Academy and Bloodlines by Richelle Mead. She has an amazingly beautiful way to draw people into her books! I made myself only pick 2 books from each series or my list would be full of just her books.


The Fiery Heart (Bloodlines, #4) 

This series captured my eye right away. I love all the charcters and the beautiful world that Mead makes. This is my favorite series of all time but this is my favorite book in the series. It was so suspenseful and filled with lots of romance (Which I love, as you will find out). Mead out did herself with this novel, in my opinion. 

2. Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead (Vampire Academy #1)

Vampire Academy (Vampire Academy, #1)

Okay, try not to judge this book by its cover. Yes, it does have vampires but its not the main story line at all. This series is my second favorite of all time. It has lots of action, forbidden romance, and drama (which is kind of my thing). You should make time to read this one for sure!


The Indigo Spell (Bloodlines, #3) 

I'm not really sure what I can do to give this series enough justice. I'm trying for no spoilers here so I'll try to explain why I love this one so much without spoilers. Someone's romance gets serious and that same person stands up for what she believes in. I know, bad choice of words. 

4. Last Sacrifice by Richelle Mead (Vampire Academy #6)

Last Sacrifice (Vampire Academy, #6)

This is the last book in the Vampire Academy series, and let me tell you, its intense. This is probably the best of the series. 

5. City of Bones by Cassandra Clare (Mortal Instruments #1)

City of Bones (The Mortal Instruments, #1)

I think that I was totally out of whack, when decided that City of Bones would be 5th. I guess it makes some sense because this is my 3rd favorite series this year. City of Bones brings originality and bravery into a novel so much, it literally made me want to be braver myself. You know how they say that a novel can change your life? Well this is one of them for me. 


 This Song Will Save Your Life

This is one of those books that I can really, truly understand. Elise has never been "popular" and she goes on a mission to try to become popular. She has a break down at school and went home to kill herself but she never did and ended up calling someone. She ends up being a DJ for a club and it changes her life. The part that I can relate to so much is that music part of this book. Elise uses music like a handicap to get her threw hard times, just like I do. This is true and very well written.


The Perks of Being a Wallflower 

 “So, this is my life. And I want you to know that I am both happy and sad and I'm still trying to figure out how that could be.”
This book, holy crap. It's amazing. Original and completely beautiful and sad. Charlie is freshman and has a hard time in school. Then he meets Sam and Patrick and everything changes. This is an original take on a tragic teen story.


Speak

This is probably one of the most sad and well thought out books I have read. I feel for Melinda, I really do. This book probably almost beats my "I want to punch this character" record. Like no joke, I got so mad at a lot of characters but I still loved it.


Beautiful Creatures (Caster Chronicles, #1) 

This is a twist on the classic paranormal genre. It was unique, beautiful, and very southern. Southern? Yes southern. They all talk in an accent and everybody knows everything about everyone in this town. I like how the main character is a guy for once. This book is unforgettable.


Willow 

This book is full of grief, sadness, and weirdly enough happiness. Willow "killed" her parents 7 months ago when she was driving in a car. Her parents had been to drunk to drive and now she lives with her brother. She is heart-broken until she meets Guy. Yes, he name is really Guy. But anyways, this book  is amazing in its own way.

And those are my favorite books that I read this 2013! Thanks for reading and have a great day!
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