Revlon Autumn Berry + China Glaze Fairy Dust

Funny story. I was totally planning on wearing OPI DS Extravagance when I did this mani. I am still waiting to wear it until a beautiful day comes along to show it off! What I ended up with was a newbie that I found on clearance for a buck! Revlon Autumn Berry is a lovely maroon with a gold shimmer. I can see where they got the name and it would be perfect for a fall mani. 

So I decided I would swatch it and see how I liked it. I love it a lot partly I think because it reminds me of China Glaze Loft-y Ambitions. So I took some pictures and was going to topcoat when I thought that I wanted something more than just a plain manicure. I grabbed none other than China Glaze Fairy Dust to top it off. Love this glitter by the way. :)

2 coats Autumn Berry. 1 coat Fairy Dust. Seche.

Just look at that gold shimmer! Yum. I liked Autumn Berry alone more than I expected. The pic is showing a tad more brown than in real life. The polish is slightly more red.

 Love it! I was able to get these babies to sparkle a little in the overcast weather! Now I took a picture of this manicure with the OPI DS Extravagance bottle to show how similar/different they are. [below] Extravagance is darker but there is a similarity there!

I hope you like!
xo Meg

Tag: 11 Ways to Get to Know Me!

So I was tagged by Ryan from Dream a Little Dream of Polish for this tag!

The Rules:
Each Person must post 11 things about themselves on their blog.
Answer the questions the tagger has set for you.
Add 11 questions you want the people you tag to answer.
Choose 11 people and Link them to your blog.
Tell them they have been tagged!
No tag backs and you legitimately have to tag.

11 Things about Megan!
I used to bite my nails. I know this may be hard for some of you to read but yes I used to bite my nails! Only until about a year ago when I started collecting polish did I stop and let them grow. Now they are all long and I couldn't imagine it any other way!

I am a dog lover. Absolutely love them with all my heart and it makes me sad that I am not allowed to have them where I currently live. As soon as we move though we are going to get a few!

I am engaged to Mykel, my rock, my love and mostly, my best friend. We grew up a town away from each other and not until a year ago did we meet (via Facebook lol) that we fell in love. We have so much fun together and I look forward to creating a life with him.

Coming off our engagement, I will soon be an Air Force Wife. I had never thought I would have that title in my whole life but it will be here before I know it! By this time next year we could be anywhere in the world. :)

I am a Business student. I attend community college at the moment and next spring I will be graduating with a degree. I plan to continue my education when Mykel and I get to where we are going.

I work in health care. Right after High school I got a job as a Nurse's Aid in a nursing home and only got done there a month ago. Its a hard transition from working there to being unemployed! Well not completely, I now work with the mentally handicapped in a home setting.

I am the oldest of three. I have a brother and sister that are in highschool. I <3 them both with all my heart.

One of my most favorite things to do with Mykel is to go motorcycling. We have a bike (sold mine this spring) that we go everywhere on when the weather permits. We fell in love on a bike and I fell in love with the sport as well.

I <3 grilled cheese. Don't ask me why I just do. Simple and its oh so yummy.

I drive a car thats almost as old as I am :) (I only have 3 years on it!) I love my old Honda and I am going to run it until she dies...then I'll fix it!

I am obsessed with glass bottles/jars. No idea where that came from but here is a small sample of my growing collection. :)

Answers to Ryan's Questions:
In the age of blogs, do you still subscribe to/read magazines?
Yes! I love and will not give up my Better Homes and Gardens Magazine that comes to me once a month! and I also like to read Travel Leisure at the laundry mat.


Are you a dog or cat person? or maybe another animal or no pets at all??
I love both but if I had to pick I would say dogs. They hold a special place in my heart and if it were up to me dogs would be allowed everywhere. :)

Do you like to travel? Where have you been? What's been your favorite locale?
Yes! love to travel, I hope to see the world! I have been all over the east coast. Disney World two times, South Carolina, Washington D.C. and Boston. My favorite is Disney World, I don't care how old you are it is so much fun!

Does you significant other (if you have one) support your love of polish/blogging?
Oh yea. He does although I think I drive him a little crazy sometimes ;)

What is your favorite movie?
Ummm. HARD QUESTION. Ratatouille. :)

Mac or PC?
MAC ALL THE WAY BABY! I had a PC all through high school and for graduation I got a Mac and still use it to this day. It runs like its brand new! I will never own anything else.

What is your favorite place to shop?
H&M for clothes. I love their style and affordability.

What nail polish brand would you choose over all others?
China Glaze. They were the first brand I really started collecting.

What is one beauty product you can't live without?
The only thing I wear like everyday is eyeliner. So I guess I need it. lol

What could you not live without?
Chapstick. Plain ol' original chapstick brand chapstick. I have it in my pocket at all times 24/7 I have done this for as long as I can remember. And yes I go through a lot of it! ha ha about 20 a year.

What is your favorite purple polish?
Oh boy. I'll have to go through the stash for this one..China Glaze Grape Pop. Its my go to purple creme that I layer a lot of effects polishes over. Its a lovely color on its own as well.

My questions for you:
What polish trend is your favorite for 2012?

Where is your favorite place that you have ever been? Where do you want to travel?

What is your go to base and top coat?

Do you have siblings? If so, how many and are they older/younger?

Do you live in the same place you grew up?

What is on pause on your ipod right now?

Are you reading anything right now? What is it or what is your favorite book?

What is your favorite nail polish?

What is your favorite nail polish effect? (Magnetic, flakie, water marble etc.)

Dare I ask...How many untrieds do you have?

What are your plans for this summer?

Tag! Your it!
Amanda at The Nail Polish Enthusiast
Thalie at Glazed Talons
Bridget at Polish and Makeup and Cars Oh My!
Caitlin at Caitlin's Creative Corner
Anonymous at Passion For Polish
Anonymous at Nutty over Nails
Mich and Jayo at The Polish Well
Alaina at The Little Canvas
Ave at Polish Pixelle
Lindsay at Polish and Diamonds
Sheila at Pointless Cafe

I hope all of you ladies have as much fun as I did! I can't wait to read your posts!
xo Meg

China Glaze Unplugged Layering

Today I did some layering! I really like the thought of a brown polish with a blue shimmer. So I started with China Glaze Unplugged and layered ever so thinly, or I tried, with 10 Professional Birthday Suit. It's a shear shimmer of blue/green. I like it, but it didn't turn out as subtle as I had hoped. Either way it looks nice and so I thought I would share with you :)

2 coats Unplugged. 1 coat Birthday Suit. Seche.

Unplugged by itself. I love the shimmer. One of my favorite polishes.

 

What do you think about these polishes together? Any layering recommendations?

xo Meg

Zoya Ivanka

Today I have a classic for you, Zoya Ivanka. This is one of those polishes that is unmistakable, that when you see a swatch you just smile and say, 'yup thats Ivanka.' I know this polish makes me wonder why I don't go snooping in the bottom drawer more often. Its a beautiful green glass fleck that has a gold glare. Its bright and loud and everything you would want in a green polish.

2 coats Ivanka. Seche.

Just look at that sparkle. Don't you love it?

xo Meg

Giveaway Post: GnarlyGnails 100 Follower CND Effects

GnarlyGnails reached 100 followers and is having a stunning giveaway of 3 CND Effects polishes! You can go to her blog and enter here.

I hope you all check out her Gnarly blog ;)

xo Meg

Classic V-French Manicure with Glitter

This post is different, a classic french. Something I think I have worn only a handful of times in my life. I have to admit, I DID NOT like his mani. As a matter of fact, I removed it about ten minutes after I got pics. I think since I have gotten majorly obsessive about lacquer, I have lost my eye for the traditional white tip. I added the glitter thinking it would help and it did, just not enough for me to wear it. However I am posting it because some of you may like it.

French tip was done with a white creme striper. Glitter is WNW Wild Shine Hallucinate.

Do you wear a classic french? If not, what is your go to?

xo Meg

OPI Don't Touch My Tutu! with Pirouette my Whistle - Ballet 'Softshades'

I have a treat for you all today. :) I have gotten my hands on two polishes from the OPI New York City Ballet Soft Shades Collection. This collection consists of 5 shear polishes and a glitter. 

I have to say before the other day I didn't really give this collection a second look. I don't have much access to OPI and where I can buy them, they are overpriced. But of course, I saw swatch after swatch and it wasn't until I saw this very combo that I fell in love! I can't get over how much depth this has and yet be so subtle and delicate. Don't Touch my Tutu! is a white jelly/shear that applies nice and smooth. It builds up nicely, as you can see, with four coats my smile line is almost invisible. The glitter, Pirouette my Whistle is white hexagon glitter in a clear base with very small silver glitter. Love this combo. Hope you do to!

4 coats Don't Touch my Tutu! 1 coat Pirouette my Whistle. Seche.

This is 4 coats of Don't Touch my Tutu by itself. Love how subtle this soft white is.

More Pics than normal again...can you tell I'm excited?! Do you have any of the soft shades?
xo Meg  -  I'm thinkin wedding mani? ;)

FingerPaints Flecked over Revlon Royal

Yet again the infamous FingerPaints flakies make an appearance. I had always adored flakies from afar until this polish right here. Flecked is a wonderful blue/green flakie that I have found the look good under many undies other than the traditional black.

I have another post layering Flecked over purple here and over black here. I just can't get enough of this polish! I thought if it looked so good over purple then it would look amazing over blue. So Royal to the rescue! Turned out great! I think I like Flecked over Revlon Royal the best yet. What do you think?

I'd love to hear your thoughts ;)

xo Meg

China Glaze Avalanche

I know I know, Think SPRING! but this polish is seriously needing some attention. I really love metallic finishes and I have NO idea why this one has been collecting dust. I only came to wear it by accident though, I was strapped for time and so I reached into a drawer and picked a polish at complete random. I don't even think I was looking! Sure enough this beauty ended up on my nails.

I have heard and read many things about this polish's formula. YES it is streaky. YES I love it and YES its worth wearing. I don't mind the streaks perhaps because I love the shade so much. I tell you one thing, this polish has made me want to invest in some more metallics.

2 coats Avalanche. Seche.

Ahh, I just love looking at it don't you? Any one have any suggestions for some metallics like this one?
xo Meg

Katniss, Girl on Fire..

Eeeek! The premeire of The Hunger Games is tomorrow night! I can't wait! I was so excited when I found out they were having a midnight showing at my local theatre and I went and got tickets right away! I think I can speak for a lot of people when I say I am counting literally the minutes until midnight tomorrow!

It's only fitting that I have a manicure to suit the occasion..so here they are. I am not one for much nail art these days so my nails are 'Katniss, girl on fire' nails. 1 <3 them and I hope you do to!

2 coats China Glaze Crimson. 2 coats Milani Gold Glitz. Seche.

Enjoy the movie everyone! I know I will <---<<<
xo Meg

Hard Candy Beetle

I just don't even know what to say about this polish but YUM! As you may know I am on a no buy, so this polish was a treat from my man which I couldn't be happier about! I seriously fell in love with this polish in the bottle.

This is my first Hard Candy polish and I have to say I was impressed. The formula was great and it had wonderful coverage. With polishes like this I like to layer, therefore the pics below display one coat of Beetle over black creme. I am comfortable labeling this polish a duochrome however the longer I wore it, the more I could see hints of a green and an orange outside the obvious pink/gold transition. Either way this polish is lovely.

1 coat black creme. 1 coat Beetle. Seche.

More pics than I normally post but I wanted to flaunt the wondrous beauty :0.

xo Meg

Borghese Euro Green

Ok, I caved. I am supposed to be on a no buy. But you know how you go to the store anyway 'Just to look?' Well thats what I did and ended up with this polish. It was 75% off though! I get some credit for being a bargain shopper!

This color is, I think, one of those ugly pretty colors. It is like a brown/olive green with a golden shimmer. I like it, as I am one to attract the odd shades.

2 coats Euro Green.

Short and sweet today. Hope you like!

Xo Meg

Jordana Electric Blue

Today I have a Jordana polish for you. I think this is the first of this brand that I have posted or worn! I have had this polish a while. It was one of the one's I bought back when I was first starting to collect polish. You could say it's from the 'vault.' Anyway, Electric Blue is a nice pearly light blue that is brilliant in the bottle. However I didn't understand why Jordana named it 'Electric' blue to begin with. I have to say these pics do it NO justice. I put it on and it was more opaque than I expected for one, but It lit up my nails like well Electricity! It was so bright that I immediately realized why they named it what they did.

2 coats Electric Blue. Seche.

You can see in the pics what looks like tip wear. It's not, the mani was fresh when I took pics but I think it did this because it was a shear polish...not sure. I don't wear light colors enough to know.

I always loved darker polish on my fair skin but I was really liking this shade on my nails. I was staring more than normal!
xo Meg