Miss Professional Sation Nail Lacquer Swatch-A-Thon Post

Hello All! Now that I've gotten some tips on improving my photo quality, I've decided to write up my first swatch post! So, here's the deal. I won 4 bottles of Sation Nail Lacquer and a mini Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat from the Of Life And Lacquer blog giveaway. I'm super stoked for a few reasons. One of them being I have yet to try Seche Vite, and I really didn't feel like a true member of the nail community until I got my mini! Yay, now I belong! Another reason I was super stoked about winning this giveaway is I haven't tried Sation Nail Lacquer before either and I love trying out new polishes! Check it out...


 BYO Bottle from the Nailstock collection is a gorgeous, muted Raisin Plum color. It looks a bit on the brown side in certain light to me and I love it! Sation's formula is so easy to work with. It's just the right consistency and dries to a high-shine finish. I used a base coat and two coats of BYO Bottle for this swatch. NO top coat. Check out that shine! I'm really diggin' this polish :)

This is 3 Free-Dom, also from the Nailstock collection. I was totally speechless after applying 3 coats to achieve full opaqueness. OMG, I think this may be my favorite nude polish ever. Again, no top coat was used. I can't say enough how awesome the finish of Sation is! It's like there's a top coat built in. Amazing shine, I love that!

 


Next up is Stirring Silver from Sation's California Gleamin' collection. This one is really gorgeous too. It's a silver-blue cream with a very subtle blue-ish purple shimmer. You can see the shimmer in the bottle, but it doesn't really show up on the nails. Not that it's a problem, the color is gorgeous regardless. I really like this one, looks more blue than anything to me and I'm so into blues right now :) This swatch I used 2 coats of Stirring Silver and no top coat. As expected, it dried to a glossy, smooth shine.

My last Sation is Tardy Tart from the Class Of Sation collection. It's awesomeness in a bottle, no kidding. Purple is my favorite color! I own so many purple shades, but I really do think this one is my new go-to shade. Once again, I didn't use a top coat. The swatch below demonstrates the awesome pigment and shine using 2 coats of Tardy Tart. I love the names they come up with for these polishes! So cute :)

So, there you have it. My first swatch post. I've been wanting to put together a good swatch-a-thon post for you guys for a while now. I literally have hundreds of swatch photos on my pc, I just really don't want to show you guys cruddy photos. So with that said, I really must give a HUGE "Thank You" to the awesome Melissa of Claw of Cthulhu for the much needed photo advice, and for sharing the Nails by Kayla Shevonne blog post on light boxes & lighting with me. I also want to thank Cynthia of the Of Life and Lacquer blog for sending me these awesome polishes and that super sweet Seche Vite mini! I totally understand why she loves Sation Nail Lacquer so much. I've heard nothing but good things about Sation's 3-free formula and after trying 4 of them I must agree. The gorgeous collections, adorably silly names, and luxurious formula really does make Sation a must-have polish brand. At $5 a bottle, I believe they are well worth it. If you're interested in checking out Sation for yourself, you can visit their online shop here. You can also find them at TJ Maxx and Marshall's. Hopefully you have found my little post at least entertaining if not informative. So before I go I must ask...Will you try Sation Nail Lacquer? Do you already have some? And if so, do you love it? I'd love to hear your opinions. As always, constructive criticism and advice is welcome :)

Lace and Lacquers: LYNBDESIGNS: V-Day Indies Giveaway!

 If you haven't checked out Lace and Lacquers' blog, you need to get your touche over there and follow! She's one of my favorites bloggers, always posts awesome swatches and the manic-ure Mondays Giveaway posts are a must too! Right now she's got an awesome little indie giveaway going on with LynBDesigns "Not So Conversational Hearts" and "Kiss Kiss" being the prizes! How sweet is that? Perfect for V-Day! Check out those awesome swatches she did, follow her blog, and enter to win :) Click here to be directed to Lace and Lacquers blog now!

**18+ Only** My submission - Don't Be A Dick To Your Cervix Nail Art Contest

Hey Y'all! I've decided to try something new, something completely ridiculous. I'm entering the Don't be a Dick to your Cervix nail art contest. It's just a fun theme, I couldn't resist. It's the first contest I've entered, and I'm actually proud of myself for making vaginas on my finger nails. Wow, never thought I'd be sayin' that! I spent the better part of the evening working on them, I suck bad when it comes to making "nail art". I had to redo the damn things 3 times, but I'm happy with the final result. At one point I gave up & tried to paint wieners, but quickly decided vaginas are easier. I used cheap polish for this because I don't plan on having vaginas on my nails all day and I didn't want to waste good polish. I started with a nude LA Colors shade called "Whipped", I paid a whole $1 for it. To make the vulva, I used a thin nail art brush and pink polish that I mixed myself using a few shades. I just kept adding layers to build up something resembling a vulva. OMFG, I'm telling you people how I made va jay jays. Too damn funny! Ok, ok. So I let the layers dry just enough so they weren't sticky, took a toothpick and shaped the vulva. Then I used a cheap dark brownish Sinful Colors Polish called "Rich at Heart" to add a hairy bush with a lip brush. I added the tiniest bit of Rich at Heart to the inside of the vulva to give it more depth. Then I went back with the thin nail art brush and added a bit of  "Whipped" around the outside of the vulva and...BAM!

 

Bushy Beaver Nail Art!!!

So, I worked my a$s off on this little project. I had a blast doing it and I hope it gives you gals a good laugh. I can't very well end this post without asking...Are you entering the contest? Whatcha think of my entry? It's completely disgusting right? Ok, now that I have my photos taken and my post written I shall remove the va jay jays from my nails. I don't think it's a good look for me.

My First Review: All Natural LightUpGloss by Dle Cosmetics

Hello lovelies! Today I'm very excited to be bringing you my first ever review. I'm kinda embarrassed that I'm currently using my phone to take photos. Any advice on photographing with a crap camera would be most appreciated. I promise, once I get the hang of this blogging stuff I will get a decent camera, so please bare with me. Ok, so on to the review!

Today I'm reviewing Dle Cosmetics All Natural Light Up Gloss in Plump Plum. I actually won the lip gloss in a giveaway hosted by Moxie Reviews. Dle Cosmetics uses all natural ingredients and the formula is ah-mazing! You can visit their website and purchase their lip gloss for $8.95 by clicking here. But without further ado, here's my lame photos of the awesome Plump Plum shade I picked out...

I dislike a lot of lip gloss because they always seem to be so sticky, but this one is just right. It's not too sticky and it doesn't have a funky taste to it like a lot of other unflavored lip gloss does. There's quite a bit of pigmentation to it too. Currently, Dle only sells their lip gloss in 8 colors. Gorgeous as they are, I hope they will add more in the future because I'd like a little more variety to choose from.

I always tend to go for darker shades on my lips and eyes, and I must admit I really am impressed with this lip gloss. I'm a smoker, so my lip gloss tends to wear off quickly, but this stuff actually stayed put fairly well when I used it over a lip liner. And like I said earlier, since it doesn't have a funky flavor to it and it isn't overly sticky, I really like it :) What do you think?

Yeah, I know. Another horrible photo, but it shows you how Plump Plum looks over a burgundy colored lip liner in bright light. It's a little difficult to get photos in sunlight with all this crappy weather we keep having :(  Ok, so I do love Dle's formula and the pigmentation is awesome. I think it may be my new favorite. But what about the "light up" part? Well, it's a pretty cool idea if you like to apply your lip gloss in the dark. And, I'll admit the occasion may arise where I actually need to apply my lip gloss in the dark, weirder things have happened I suppose. But is it really necessary to have a light in the wand?

I think I could really do without the light, honestly. It's very bright, and tends to shine in your eyes when you go to apply it. I don't really make a habit of applying makeup in the dark, so there's really no sense in having it. Not for that reason anyway. I did however find it useful when I dropped the mailbox key under the car seat earlier today.

So, my verdict. Dle Light Up Lip Gloss is a really good product for $8.95. I will be making purchases from them in the future for sure. I hope to see them add more colors, and I could do without the light. But it is a cool idea that sets them apart from others. And I suppose it could come in handy if you happen to drop something under a car set or some other dark, cramped area. The light is actually bright enough to use for a mini flashlight. Neat! It took me a week to figure out a good use for the light, but I think I finally did! So, aside from my crappy photos what do you think? Will you give Dle a try? Lemme know in the comments!

Time is Precious

Hello All. I know I haven't made much progress on my blog, I don't have just tons of time to devote to it. Today I need to express myself a bit though, and I figure this is as good a place as any. That's what a personal blog is for, right? I lost my dad yesterday. Well, let me reword that...I found out I lost my dad yesterday. My little brother found him yesterday, I don't know for sure exactly what day he died. But I do know he was all alone, and that's really hard to swallow. I haven't seen my dad in 9, almost 10 months. In fact, March 5, 2012 was the last time I saw or spoke to my dad, and we didn't part on the greatest terms. I'll have to live with that the rest of my life. I can't really say for sure what I'm feeling or thinking right now, it's just too much at once. There's 3 feelings stirring around predominately enough for me to distinguish what they are...

  Denial, I keep thinking maybe it's not really true. Maybe he just fell down and knocked himself out, maybe my brother just thought he was dead. Maybe dad will wake up, they will keep him in the hospital a few days and he'll be fine.
 Overwhelming despair, I know he's gone and I wont ever have the chance to see or talk to him again. No matter how much I want to think it's not true, I know it is. I'm trying really hard to handle this, I don't think I'm doing a very good job. I can't eat, I can't sleep, I can't think about anything else. I've got work piled up on me and I don't give 2 shits about it. All I care about right now is the fact my dad is gone.
 Guilt, I really wish I would've made more of an effort to talk to him the past few months. I honestly only tried to call him 2 times, and I didn't let it ring more than 4 times each time I tried. Then I just quit trying. I've been feeling bad for a long time. I just really didn't know what to say over the phone, so I sent him an email a few months back. I found out later that he never got it, he got rid of his computer. I really thought I had more time, had I know this would happen I would've kept calling. I honestly didn't think that March 5 would be the last time I would ever speak to my dad. He would've been 54 January 14, I planned on calling him that day. I am such an idiot. I'm a horrible person and I deserve to feel guilty the rest of my life.Yeah, this is all on me. I was so afraid something would happen to him, I should've been there.

  This is the most significant loss I've experienced. I'm devastated, broken I guess is the best way I can describe myself right now. I've lost a lot of my relatives in recent years. When I think about my family 10 years ago, most of those people are gone now. So really the only thing I can say for sure is that Time is Precious. Don't ever take the people you love for granted. Life is so fragile, you never know when you hug someone whether or not it will be for the last time. The song at the beginning of this post, Leather and Lace, was one of my dad's favorite songs. He loved Stevie Nicks. I guess this is helping me, writing about my feelings and all. I don't know really, I just feel pretty inconsolable right now and I don't really know how to deal with it. A small part of me wants to crack open a Loko and a pint of Brandy, because that's what my dad liked to do. Another part of me wants to find things to occupy myself with but I can't concentrate on anything except the fact that my dad is gone forever. An even bigger part of me wants to go curl up on the bed and stay there. I just really don't know what to do, I think I need some kind of guidance here on this one. I wasn't prepared for this. What do I do? How am I suppose to function? I feel paralyzed, I feel lost. I guess it will get easier with time, I just don't know how I'm suppose to go back to being normal.

Do You Love To Review New Products? You Gotta Try Smiley360.com!

 Hey Guys! We all love getting free stuff, right? Well, that was a loaded question now that I think about it, lol.
But, I've got something I'd like to share with my fellow frugal follies! Earlier this month I signed up with Smiley360, and unlike some of the other programs I've signed up for, these guys REALLY do send you free products to try at home! When you sign up, complete your profile 100% so they can start sending you invitations to try products that you are interested in. Today, I'm excited to have successfully accepted my first "mission"! Yay! My "mission" is to try out the new Campbell's Kettle soup. I get one of the soups (flavor of my choice), a digital coupon for me, a pair of "comfy socks", and 10 $2 off coupons to hand out to friends and family! When I try the soup, I'm suppose to write a review and post a photo of myself in my "comfy socks" relaxing :) Sounds funny, I know. But I am really excited! I will be writing my review to post on the Smiley360 website, and I'm also going to post it here. This will be good practice for me, don't you think? I'd love to be able to write many informative reviews on my blog, but since I've never done it before I figure Smiley360 will benefit me tremendously :) I hope some of you will think about signing up too! Click here to check it out!

Chic Profile Birthday International Giveaway

Check out Chicprofile.com, subscribe to enter her awesome Birthday Giveaway! Contest is open internationally, and it ends in LESS THAN 24 HOURS - so head on over and enter now by clicking on the image below!

Nails by Ms. Lizard: 1-Yr Blogiversary Giveaway

 Ms. Lizard has an AWESOME giveaway to celebrate her 1 year Blogiversary! She's offering awesome prizes  like a Sephora gift card, Deborah Lipman, and more! Please click the link below to be directed to the Nails by Ms. Lizard blog, enter the giveaway, and check out the site!

 Nails by Ms. Lizard: 1-Yr Blogiversary Giveaway

I Feel Polished!: Just Because Julep Giveaway *ends 12/19*

 Only one day left to enter I Feel Polished Just Because Giveaway! 2 lucky winners each get a bottle of Julep nail polish and a pot of glitter :) Please click the link below to enter!

*Giveaway* Dysphoria Nails: Studio M Blue Funk and Revlon Popular giveaway

 Check out Dysphoria Nails blog and enter to win a bottle of Revlon's Popular and Studio M's Blue Funk! Click the image below to be directed to the blog and enter now. Giveaway ends Jan 1.

The Nail Junkie: OFFICIAL RELEASE AND GIVEAWAY: My Holiday Polish Line

The Nail Junkie has released their new Holiday collection! 4 gorgeous colors - Poinsettia, Snowflake, Holly, and Gold Bell. One lucky winner will receive the entire line. Click the link below to be directed to The Nail Junkie blog and enter now!


The Nail Junkie: OFFICIAL RELEASE AND GIVEAWAY

*Giveaway* Lacquered Lover's LAQA & Co Chubs and Greedy Guts Giveaway

 10 lucky winners will get LAQA & Co's Chubs and Greedy Guts polish! Open to US residents only, giveaway ends 12/20/2012. Please click the image below to be directed to Lacquered Lover's blog and enter this giveaway.

*Giveaway* KLK and Sassy Paints present: "The Indie Polish Guide To Surviving The Mayan Apocalypse Giveaway"

Kimberly's Lacquer Korner and Sassy Paints are having a fun giveaway with prizes from A-England, Polish TBH, and Twenty Seven Polish! The giveaway ends January 1, 2013.  Follow both blogs and enter the giveaway by clicking the image below.

*Giveaway* Holly and Polish is having a giveaway!

Holly and Polish is having an AWESOME giveaway! One lucky winner will get the ENTIRE China Glaze Cirque du Soleil Worls Away Collection!!! I want this sooo bad, and I know most polish people do so click the link below to check out the Holly and Polish blog and enter now!


 Holly and Polish: A Nail Polish and Beauty Blog: China Glaze Cirque du Soleil Worlds Away Collection

*Giveaway* Glitter Obsession: Barielle Giveaway

Check out the Glitter Obsession blog and enter to win 1 of 2 Barielle Nail Polish 5pc sets! Click the image below to enter now . Hurry, giveaway ends 12/22!

*Giveaway* Valentine Kisses Mega Holiday Giveaway

Valentine Kisses is having a HUGE giveaway! There's a grand prize and 3 runners up. The grand prize contains items valued at over $400, wooo! Click the image below to be directed to Valentine Kisses blog and enter now. Hurry, giveaway ends December 25!

*Giveaway* Kell's DIY Nails: Kell's 12 Days of Christmas Giveaway !

 One lucky winner gets all 12 days of prizes! Nail Polish, and lots of other goodies are being offered. To see the prizes, please click here. Hurry & head over to her blog, follow, and enter now! Giveaway ends at 12am PST.

 Kell's DIY Nails: Kell's 12 Days of Christmas Giveaway - Day 12!!!

Of Life And Lacquer 6 Winner Giveaway!!!

Head over to Of Life And Lacquer, follow her blog and enter her awesome giveaway! Lot's of great prizes (OPI, China Glaze, and Jessica to name a few!) Giveaway ends in 10 days so hurry!

*Giveaway* Mandy's Polish: Birthday Giveaway!! Plus Birthday Club Fun

 3 winners will get awesome nail polish & goodies! The Spiderman Collection from OPI (mini set), China Glaze Vertical Rush, and Revlon Whimsical are just a few of the great prizes offered. Check out Mandy's Polish blog, follow her, and enter her giveaway now!

Mandy's Polish: Birthday Giveaway!! Plus Birthday Club Fun: It's my birthday, it's my birthday, it's my birthday!! 

*Giveaway* Hello Miss Niki: Essie Holiday Giveaway!!!

 Like Essie nail polish? Check out this great giveaway and enter to win the FULL Essie Winter 2012 Collection + more goodies. Click the link below to head over to Miss Niki's blog and enter now. Hurry, ends 12/15!

Hello Miss Niki: Essie Holiday Giveaway!!!