Springtime Mix & Match!

Revlon Empower, Love & Beauty Sky Blue, Sally Hansen Lightening with Sally Hansen Disco Ball Sinful Colors Snow Me White

Here in Maine, we've been experiencing a streak of days with temperatures above 50º F, so it feels (kind of) like spring! To celebrate, I wanted to do something bright and fun on my fingernails! I didn't do anything new, but a nice mix & match always does the trick for me. My only rule was that I needed to use colors that I haven't tried before. I'm so in love with the Sky Blue; it's light and cutesy, but it is opaque in two coats, which is wonderful!

I really like the color combination, and the subtle coat of glitter. The effect'll be awesome once I get some sun on these bad boys!

A+ for Effort

Love & Beauty Lavender with Revlon Empower and Wet 'N Wild En Voyage

So. Today was a rough day in the nail department. I got real inspired by this tutorial, and decided to attempt my first water marble since 2010. It was so bad, I wish I could have taken pictures, but everything was covered in nail polish-watery goop. I couldn't get the polish to spread for the life of me! I may or may not be traumatized. I'll just have to practice, and try out some tricks to get it to work. 

So after that was all cleaned up, I got to practice my gradients, which I suck at. And lo and behold, they didn't come out horribly! Even though I was going for a smoother gradient (like my pinkie nail), I really like the harsher transitions. It's nice. But cleanup was/is a mess. I still can't get all of the polish off of my cuticles. I'm not even mad, though. After spending hours on my nails, I just decided not to sweat it, and let them be.

I Splurged in Sephora. Whoops.

Nails Inc., Haymarket and Sephora Conceited

It was my first time in Times Square, and we were waiting on the rest of our group by the subway station... which just happened to be by Sephora. I decided to treat myself. I fell in love with these two colors, and told myself not to look at the price. The colors are so springy (even though a big snowstorm is headed to Maine as I type). And I expected them to be good quality because of the price, but wow. The application was so smooth, no streaks or bubbles. I'm such a fan, I couldn't bear to put any nail art over this mani.

ASB Nails!

Nicole by OPI's A Phil's Paradise with Revlon Empower and Essie Devil's Advocate
For the first week of my spring break this year, I took a trip with 11 other Bowdoin students to New York City to participate in an Alternative Spring Break (ASB) trip. We volunteered as teaching assistants in an elementary school in the Bronx, and did a week long service project in Harlem. I had such an amazing time, and I made so many new friends. It's hard to put into words just how blessed I feel to have gone to NYC.
I did the nails above on the first night, thinking I'd do something fun and simple (and quick) to reflect my optimism and excitement for the week. I had just bought Empower and Devil's Advocate the day before in a Rite Aid sale, and I really wanted to use them. So I just went for it with my dotting tool, and it ended up as leopard print. Not even mad, though. I got many compliments from my second graders and other kids at the school, so it worked out. :)  

China Glaze I Herd That with Sinful Colors Snow Me White

 I did these gold nails for my friend Tori on our last night in NYC, after a long day of volunteering and sightseeing. Since St. Patrick's Day was right around the corner, she wanted something eye-catching and sparkly. I forgot my green polish, but I Herd That seemed to do the trick. Add in a mix and match (my fave), and we were good to go!

Crazy Blue Sponging

Base: Wet 'N Wild I Need A Refresh-mint. With Sally Hansen Blue Me Away! and NYC Skin-Tight Denim

V-gaps with Color Club Striper in Midnight Blue

I had a job interview yesterday, so I decided to something really cool with my nails, since part of my duties would be to lead a nail painting workshop. If they're actually cool, that's up for debate. Plus, I only had about an hour to execute this. So, I essentially painted my nails a blue-green base, and went to town, sponging on (with makeup sponges like these) a deep teal and navy blue. The shades sort of mixed and blended, and I think they looked pretty cool on their own. But, in my infinite wisdom, I decided to paint some v-gaps a la last week's mani with a striper in yet another shade of blue.

I have grown to love them in the last two days, but I must admit I was unsure about them at first. I think with a bit more time and patience, I could redo this mani properly. But it's midterm week, and they'll have to do for now. :)