Pastel Gradient

Wow. It feels great to be blogging again. My post real post was in February. Since then, I have been super busy working ridiculous hours at work. Despite not blogging, I still painted my nails every day.

It's Friday and it's Great Gradient Friday in one of my nail communities!!!! And it's the long weekend (it doesn't matter to me, I work 15 hours on Sundays).

So as of now, I am sure everyone has seen the amazing gradient tutorial The Nailasaurus has done. Well, The Swatchaholic did an amazing nail gradient using Illamasqua pastels. I had to try it. I had all colors minus Wink so I used Essie Lilacism.

Colors Used:

Illamasqua Blow

Illasmasqua Caress

Illasmasqua Nudge

Essie Lilacism

Can I just say that I loooove the colors?!? It's absolutely amazing! My nails didn't come out as perfect as The Swatchaholic but I'm happy with it. I do need to get a different sponge. I have been using a makeup sponge and it leaves parts of it on the nail. I might just try using a kitchen sponge!

 I have to get back into the swing of things again. My lightbox got destroyed and I need to clean up my nails a bit better. With that being said, I am so happy with blogging again. I love my blog layout. Thank you to Sarah from Chalkboard Nails who gave my blog a very much needed makeover. I love my new name. Everything has been just so exciting! 

So until tomorrow!

Xoxox

-Alexis

Deck The Halls with Boughs of Holly

Fa la la la la la la la la

Today is the 6th day of Christmas and I bring you Boughs of Holly!!! I'm going to be honest with you, my dear readers. When I first started this mani, I was sure it was going to be a fail. I prepped myself for a horrid outcome. And may I add, that I totally rocked it and didn't fail!

This is another of my pushpin manicures. I just can't seem to find a brush thin enough for my liking.

Base color: Essie Ballet Slippers (3 coats)

Black, white, red, green acrylic paint.

I am so happy with the way these came out!

Until tomorrow my lovelies!

xoxox

Oooh Bahama Mama!

Welcome to Day 10 of the 30 Days of Untrieds. I need to warn you that for the next few days, I will not be able to do any nail art. I will be in Canada and will not have internet access. Sorry my lovelies!!

Bahama Mama is a really rich deep plum. In some lights is almost looks like a gorgeous wine.

It's kind of a pain. It took three coats to make it not streaky.

And the cleanup still stained womp womp womp.

I do love this color! I unfortunately smudged my nails while I was moving around.

Check out the other bloggers joining me on the challenge:

Alyssa at Always Polished

Amber at The Polished Momma

Andrea at Addicted to the Allure of Beauty

Ashley at Follow the Yellow Polish Road

Caitlin at Something Creative

 Carly at Lacquered Lover

     Caroline at Good Lack, Nail!

Caroline at Shadow's Nail Art

Chelsea at Pretty and Polished

Ingie at Limited Addiction Nails

Jacki at Adventures in Acetone

Jamie at Nails Adored

Lindsey at Nailtopia

Nory at Fierce Makeup and Nails

Rachel at Cherry Glam Girl

Sarah at Lucky Lacquers

Shaina at Haute Lacquer

Taylor at nailedtothet

Thalie at Glazed Talons

Until tomorrow my lovelies!!!

xoxox

Braaaaaaaaaains Or Beauty?

It's getting harder and harder to choose what nail art to do as October breezes by. I have pages upon pages of ideas. October is such a fun month.

I live in Boston and we have been getting warm weather this October. Definitely something out of the ordinary for us. I'm not complaining though. But you can still smell Fall in the air.

For the past 7 years, each October I watch at least two horror movies a day. I have no idea how it got to be. But I am completely obsessed with horror/thriller/slasher films!! If you could see me now, I have a huge smile on my face.

Enough of that. Sheesh! Hahah

Base Color: OPI Alpine Snow

Black acrylic Paint

Zombie Face: OPI Gargantuan Green Grape

Rotting flesh: Essie Going Incognito

Brains: Orly Cotton Candy

Background: Piggy Polish I'll Get You My Pretty

Look at how cute they are! I want to squeeze them!!!

Do You Like Scary Movies?

Beware! Caution! The Horror!!!

This manicure is such a fail. Not kidding at all. But I tried. So I wanted to do Ghostface from Scream. I really don't know what went wrong. Maybe the fact that I am really sick and I feel like I am dying. Can we just blame it on that? hahaha

Base color: Essie- School of Hard Rocks

Piggy Polish- Nocture-Nail 

Black and white acrylic paint

I mean.. They are cute ( I think)

But sooo far from looking like the guy from Scream hahaha

Now that I am looking at them on my computer.. They kind of remind me of lost souls

Any tips on what I should have done?

Until tomorrow my pretties!!

xoxox

Which Witch?

Once again, I am sick. I have a sinus infection again. I really want to stab my left eye. Despite feeling like I am dying (I maybe exaggerating), I did my nails. I'm going to be honest.. I forgot to moisturize my cuticles.. Please don't hate me for it! Hahaha

Base Color: Kleancolor Purple

Black, white, sea glass acrylic paint, 

Hair: Essie School of Hard Rock

Buckle: Sally Hansen Lightening

Piggy Polish- Nocture-Nail

They all glow in the dark!!!

My boyfriend said he doesn't really see how they are witches.

He is more used to the pointy hat and such.

I will be doing that as well. 

What do you think about this mani?

I am headed up to New Hampshire for a day or apple cider and the world's largest arcade..

I hope everyone has a great weekend!!

Until tomorrow!!

xoxox

Day 30: Inspired by a Tutorial

Hi everyone!!
Today is the last day of the 30 day nail polish challenge and it's been a lot of fun. Today is supposed to be inspired by a tutorial. I couldn't find any particular ones that I wanted to do so I copied a look The Daily Nail did. Click HERE to check out her look.

What I used:

OPI- Alpine Snow

Petites- Vintage Gray

Red, White, Black acrylic paint

What I used:

Essie- Borrowed and Blue

Essie- Lapiz of Luxury

Essie- Going Incognito

China Glaze- Classic Camel

Sally Hansen- Lightening

Pinky and thumb are Mr. Window

Ring and pointer are The Flowers

Middle is a very very evil looking Chairy hahah

I hope everyone enjoyed the 30 days Nail Polish Challenge. 

I am hoping to to a Halloween themed mani each day in October.

Let's see how that goes!!

Til later my pretties!!

xoxox

Day 28: Inspired by a Flag

Hey all!!
This was one of the challenges that I was most excited about. It's a no brainer. Since I am Puerto Rican, I did the Puerto Rican Flag!! This was a lot of fun doing! I had a smile one the entire time!

OPI- Alpine Snow

Essie- Mesmerized

Red and White Acrylic Paint

I hope everyone is well!!

Until tomorrow my pretties!!!!

xoxox

Day 27: Inspired by Artwork

I couldn't pick just one piece of artwork. One of my favorite artists is Joan Miro who is a surrealist. I have a print of Harlequin's Carnival hanging in my room.

He was a huge inspiration of mine in high school. All of my art mimicked his. 

It is so chaotic and colorful. I would spend hours upon hours just studying his work.

Base color: Essie- Ballet Slipers

Black, Red, White, Yellow Acrylic paint

So readers, I ask you, who is your favorite artist!?

xoxox

Day 14: Flowers

I managed to get myself out of bed to do Day 14 of the 30 day nail challenge. I wanted to do some freehand nail art, but to be quite honest, I was feeling like hell. Despite me not feeling up to doing my nails, I must say that I am really happy the way my nails turned out. I really really hate getting sick because when I do, it takes forever for it to go away. I'm trying to stay positive. I've been using my neti pot like crazy, which relives a lot of the sinus pressure.

Base Color-

 Essie: Ballet Slippers

Ring finger-

Image Plate: Konad m65

Stamp Color: Sally Hansen Teal-y Fast

Thumb, Pointer, Middle, Pink Fingers-

Image Plate: Konad M82

Stamp Color: Sally Hansen Emerald Express

I feel so delicate with my nails like this!

Hopefully I feel better tomorrow!

Until next time my pretties!

Xoxox

Day 9: Rainbow Nails

Day 9 of the 30 day nail challenge is rainbow nails. I decided to kick it up a notch!

I did rainbow nails inspired by my Lisa Frank folder!

Colors used:

Color Club: Age of Aquarius 

Manic Panic: Electrical Lizard

China Glaze: Yellow Polka Dot Bikini

China Glaze: Sun Worshiper

Essie: Take a Powder Pink

Konad Image Plate: M57

Stamp color: Konad Black

So I am kind of nervous about Day 10 because I have never done gradient nails! Eep!!

Essie: Smooth Sailing

Sorry I haven't updated in a bit. Some events occurred last week that was the icing on the cake for me. I quit my job and have been rather stressed. But I will be posting more frequently until I find a job. Enough personal nonsense.

Smooth Sailing is a periwinkle blue with silver flaky microglitter

This color is part of the limited edition Summer 2011 collection, Color Me Brazilliant

I used two coats. It has a perfect consistency

.

Urgh look at that color combination!

*Drools*

I added China Glaze Broken Hearted on top of Essie Smooth Sailiing.

Gosh, so pretty!! 

I wore this mani all day.

Does anyone run out of mani ideas?

Whenever I run out of ideas, I throw crackle/shatter on top and WHAM! BAM!

Instant "creative" manicure.

But I really did like this color combination!

Essie: Topless and Barefoot

Topless and Barefoot is a beige, peach creme color. I am really loving nudes at the moment so this is perfect.

I was rather hesitant, thinking that it would look horrid against my complexion but  it  looks great.

This color would look amazing on all skin tones. The formula is not runny nor is it thick. The application was great; no brush strokes. But I must admit, I hate Essie polish brushes. They are super tiny!!!

Anyways, this retails for around $8.