Holiday Nails - Candy Canes

Yay! First set of holiday nails... I should have at least four sets to post this month each holiday themed.   Nothing as fancy as other blogs but they still make me smile. 

Getting ready for fall!

Yay! I'm so ready for fall. I can't wait for the cool crisp days and crunchy leaves.  And the smell of Autumn in the air.  I'm ready for pumpkin pie and apple cider. Unfortunately, it's still 90 degrees here.    

So... in hopeful anticipation I've started the first autumn touches for my home and life.  I even changed my blog toward some fall colors.  I'm going to start making fall pillow cases and changing some small  details around the house in anticipation for the first frost.  I started by painting my nails. Nothing to special, but I like them.  

  

I'll add posts as I go... hopefully. 

Smooth & Perfect

So, I love Sally Hansen nail polishes and I decided to try a new color from their "Smooth and Perfect Color Care" line.  I tried the Whisper (05) color which is a soft lilac color.  Sally claims "This breakthrough nail color hides ridges and imperfections with a breathable porcelain-smooth finish. Enhanced with ginseng, camelia oil and lotus to promote stronger, healthier nails." However, I think Sally didn't deliver this time.  The color is great, even though I had to put FOUR coats on my nails before the color actually came through.  And the other problem, definitely not smooth as porcelain.    I have bubbles all over my nails, and that rarely happens.   (Nope, I'm not a nail polish shaker either.  I twirl my bottles to mix the color.)  Basically I'm a little disappointed.  I love the color and from a distance they look great, but up close they're a pretty mess.  The polish would not go on smooth, it bubbled and overall I'm just not impressed. :(

Nails on the cheap!

So, I am always seeing post about awesome manicures and most of the time the nail polish is either OPI or China Glaze. Which don't get me wrong their brands are awesome but at $8-$10 a bottle the costs add up pretty quickly.  If your looking for a cheaper brand with pretty awesome colors try out "Sinful Colors" ($2 at Walgreens)  I love them!  

Used alone they don't last for more than a day or two, but when your pair it with Sally Hansen Insta-Dri my manicure lasts all week (through typing, laundry and cleaning).  I love Sally Hansen Insta-Dri, not only does it dry your nails in about 2 minutes the top coat last through anything!  I use nail colors like Wet n' Wild ($1 at Walgreens) and then Sally Hansen Insta-Dri and I have an amazing manicure for at least a week.  

So, for a cute manicure for half the price, try out any brand (the cheaper the better) and top it off with Sally Hansen Insta-Dri for an easy, lazy approved manicure. 

*** Tip:  To check if your nails are dry touch two nails together, if they stick even a little bit, let them rest a bit longer (I learned this while stumbling one day and I wish I remembered the girl's name so I could give her all the praise and glory, but alas, I can't remember.) ***