Tag: Konad

Of Life and Lacquer > Konad

Jessica Born 2 Pansy

Posted on by Cynthia

Can someone please explain to me the name of this nail polish? Born 2 Pansy? What am I missing here? Anyway, this polish is from Jessica’s Spring 2012 Collection and it’s a baby soft pink with a hint of lavender and some fine iridescent blue micro glitter. I liked this a lot more in the bottle than I did on my nails. I don’t really see the shimmer too much on my nails in regular light, but it could be that the sun has been MIA for the last week or so. I love how it looks pink, purple and kinda blue sometimes. The formula was ok. It is very sheer but buildable without any major issues. I had to apply 3 thick coats which I don’t like to do so a quick dry top coat like Seche Vite is a must. Ultimately, I do like this color but can’t see myself wearing too often.

 

Because I hadn’t done any konading in a few days, I decided to put a stamp on it. Single ladies, put a stamp on it! Cause if you liked it then you shoulda put a stamp on it. Ok, yeah…I think I’m delirious right now.

 

I liked it better without the konad on it, but it’s too late now.  Oh well, better luck next time.

PS. My nails are growing. Any bets on how much longer I can go without cutting them down to the nub?

Jessica Polishes

Posted on by Cynthia

My introduction to Jessica polishes came by way of the Peacock Queen Collection that was a dupe of Chanel’s Illusions d’Ombres. I really hadn’t heard much about this brand, but I’ve been pretty satisfied with the polishes I tried so far. My main gripe is that I don’t like the brush at all. I find it hard to work with. I am usually really good about following the curve of my cuticles on my nails with the polish, but the brush on Jessica polishes makes me do some jagged and awkward lines. This color is called Midnight Moonlight and it reminds me of OPI Yoga-ta Get This Blue.  I don’t think they are dupes but are quite similar.  Midnight Moonlight is a lot brighter, I think.

 

I really feel like I ruined this polish with the stamp. I don’t know what is up with my new Konad white polish because it feels thinner than my other special polish bottles and not as opaque. I really like this design. I got tons of compliments today when I went to the store with these nails. People were asking me where I got them done and they seemed shocked when I told them I did them myself. They thought they were stickers or something. I have a whole little speech about Konad because people are always confused when I say it’s a stamp. It would be funny if I could talk to those people again because I know some of them totally went looking for Konad stuff. I should start giving away little cards with my blog info so they can come and visit later on. lol

So I had started this post earlier in the day before a bomb got dropped in my lap. I am upset, stressed out and really pissed. I’m going to chill for a few minutes with my iced caramel coffee before I even attempt to explain what happened today. Please heed my warning if you decided to read my next personal post because it’s going to be a fucking doozy. If you’re offended by profanity, I apologize in advance.

 

Aquadelic Stars

Posted on by Cynthia

My nail polish guy picked up Aquadelic and asked me: “Why do you want this one? It’s like For Audrey and I know you have that one already.” Pffft! Ok, Mr. Nguyen, you do not know your nail polish as well as I thought you did. Aquadelic is NOT a For Audrey dupe. Aquadelic is definitely greener than For Audrey. Yeah, they’re “close” but are different enough that I gladly purchased it.

Aquadelic is one of the few colors from the Electropop Collection that I didn’t purchase right when the collection came out. At first, I had a hard time finding it in stock and then I just forgot about it. When I saw it today, I knew it had to me mine. Muawhahahahaha! I have to say that I found the formula to be a big pain in my big rear end. It dragged, created bald spots, felt goopy…everything I dread. I’m going to add a couple of drops of thinner and hopefully that will help for the next time I use this polish. I hate having to add thinner to a brand new bottle of polish but whatever; it is what it is.

 

I’ve been into stars a lot lately. Can ya tell?

Blue’s After My Heart

Posted on by Cynthia

There can never be enough blue nail polishes. How much better can it get than a creamy, vibrant and glossy blue?

OPI Dating A Royal is one of those colors that instantly grabs my attention. Who am I kidding? Most nail polishes call to me like vodka to an alcoholic. It’s pretty, right? This color is very similar to Essie Mesmerize but they are not exact dupes. The main difference is that Dating A Royal is so sheer; it needed three coats while Mesmerize is perfect in one coat. Since I am a Konad freak, you know what’s coming….

This is the first time I’ve used this stamp and I absolutely love it. What do you think?

 

TOMS & Essie

Posted on by Cynthia

A few weeks ago, I heard about a promotion on TOMS’ Facebook page. I don’t really recall entering it, but apparently I was entered to win a free Essie polish. Lo and behold, I received it yesterday!!! Wow! And I had just complained that I never with anything. If you don’t know anything about TOMS, here is the “About” info on their Facebook page:

In 2006, American traveler Blake Mycoskie befriended children in a village in Argentina and found they had no shoes to protect their feet. Wanting to help, he created TOMS, a company that would match every pair of shoes purchased with a pair of new shoes given to a child in need. One for One.

Five years later, TOMS realized this movement could serve other basic needs and launched TOMS Eyewear. With every pair purchased, TOMS will help give sight to a person in need. One for One. As more everyday choices have the power to impact the lives of those around the world, the TOMS movement will continue to grow and evolve.

The polish I received is a limited edition color named Barefoot in Blue. It is a sheer color but very buildable. I love it!

And here it is with a design from plate M73.

So thank you TOMS and Essie for the beautiful nail polish. Don’t forget to check out the details for the One Day Without Shoes Event on April 10, 2012.

Starry Night

Posted on by Cynthia

I’ve worn this color at least 4 times recently so I can definitely say that it’s one of my favorites. It’s just such a beautiful blue/green/teal with gold microshimmer. I am loving it.

 

This is the only picture that sorta came out of the star Konad pattern that I stamped over Custom Kicks. After I took pictures of the base color, the sun completely disappeared. So annoying. This is actually two different designs from plate M3 that I combined. (Get this plate Vienna!)

I’m not too wordy right now. I think I’m hungry but don’t know what I want to eat for dinner. I think I’ll make myself a tuna melt…that sounds yummy.

 

Ho-hum

Posted on by Cynthia

I’ve been feeling kinda blah lately. Nothing is really wrong, I’ve just been dealing with the vivid dreams side-effect of my meds. It’s really hard to get a good night’s sleep because I wake up so many dang times during the night freaking out about my stupid dreams.The last time I talked to my doctors about this, they suggested that I try to “take control of my dreams.” WTF. If I could do that, of course I would do it. Anyway…I hope this goes away soon because my dreams are centered around all my insecurities which really sucks.

Today I went to my nail supply place and picked up a couple of China Glaze glitters which I am loving because one is super bright orange and the other is super bright green. LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE! I also bought some fake eyelashes because I want to try wearing them. My lashes are so yucky and I hate wearing mascara. Let’s see how long this fake lash thing lasts. I also found out that my nail place carries Konad stuff. Great…more crap to waste money on. I ended up getting two new plates for $5.00 each. I usually buy my plates on amazon.com, but I noticed that the prices have gone up about $1-$1.50 per plate!!!! I used to be able to get them for $2.50-$3 (plus s&h) so now they are a better deal at $5. I’ve done my nails a couple of times since my last post but I wasn’t feeling like posting much.

Today I did my nails with OPI’s Romeo and Joliet. I like it but it’s not one of my favorites.

I used one of my new plates for this cute star pattern. Overall, I like the contrast.

She Wore Blue Velvet

Posted on by Cynthia

 

Ok, so I know that this color isn’t really blue but more of a purple with some blue in it. However, I kept thinking of the song “Blue Velvet” while I was doing my nails. I also thought of Isabella Rossellini in all her masochistic glory in the movie of the same name. Like tangents much?

First Class Ticket is a purple shimmer dream. It doesn’t look very blue in real life and is definitely one of those dark vampy colors. In the sun, it really shines. There is some pink and blue shimmer hidden in that dark purple base. Oooohhhh so pretty!

 

And with a stamp. Tada!

 

Now I have to go buy a present for the baby shower I’m going to tomorrow. I don’t think my nails are baby shower appropriate so I’ll probably change them tomorrow. 🙁

Suzi Says Whaaaaaaat?

Posted on by Cynthia

I know I’m not the only one who thinks the whole Suzi thing in OPI polish names is kinda lame. Maybe if I was Artistic Director of a nail polish company, I’d name polishes after myself too! But in all honesty, how awesome does her job sound?

Today I was messing around with a bunch of colors. I have all of my polishes on an excel spreadsheet and wanted to start marking those that I have already swatched. I should have done this from the beginning, but I didn’t think I was going to really keep blogging about nails for long. I am the queen of starting stuff and then just giving up. That is one of the things I really hate about myself so I am glad that I’m still totally excited about doing it. I’d have to say that I am really loving the interactions with other bloggers so thanks to all the wonderful ladies who constantly visit my blog and most importantly, comment! Sometimes I look at my stats and see that a couple hundred people have visited my blog but not many comment. I wonder if I’m not engaging enough or if maybe they just didn’t like my swatches. Now I am just coming to the realization that a very small minority comment and that’s fine with me. I’m not doing this because I want validation; I just think it’s fun and as long as it continues to be fun, I will keep doing it.

I ended up painting my nails with Suzi Says Feng Shui from the Spring 2010 Hong Kong Collection. Why?! Why?????!!!!!!!!!! Why are there so many gorgeous colors out there? It’s blue, smokey and a creme. What else could I ask for?

 

Here is the color with a houndstooth pattern stamp from Konad plate M63. I hate it when my stamping looks sloppy, but I was in a rush because I was cooking dinner! Who said doing your nails and cooking at the same time would be a good idea?

 

I kinda really love the way this looks. Now I’m starting to plan my manicure for Saturday. I have to go to a baby shower on Saturday, but I will also be going to see The Hunger Games afterwards with my best friend. FUDGE! I can’t go to a baby shower with crazy dark nails and I can’t go to see The Hunger Games with pastel baby shower nails. What to do…what to do!? Any ideas will be happily welcomed.

Emerald Konadicure

Posted on by Cynthia

Emerald Fitzgerald. How awesome is that name? I know I’m not the only one who thought of the cover of The Great Gatsby? What an iconic cover, right? I remember the first time I read The Great Gatsby, I was struck by how much Jay Gatsby idealized Daisy despite her being a vacuous specimen. Beautiful, yes, but so empty of real humanity. Anyway….back to nail polish.

Emerald Fitzgerald is part of the Vintage Vixen Collection from Fall 2010. I’ve seen this polish photograph kind of blue, but I don’t really see it in person; it’s actually a deep and shimmery emerald green and maybe the tiniest hint of blue. Really tiny. The formula was perfect and only needed two coats.

And here is the polka dot stamp from Konad plate M79.

If you are a green polish lover, this is a must. Let me know what you think.