I love my discount websites!

Thanks to yardsellr.com I got more nail polish : ) Orly's Razzle, and Sally Hansen nail strips. I got both items for .32 cents, thanks to having photon$ : )
I did the nail strips first, and I liked them a whole lot better this time around, on my natural nails. But I decided it was time to overhaul my house, and like most polish items, the bleaching, dusting, etc... succeeded in ruining my mani, so I'll be trying to Razzle a little later today.
I have a kleancolor polish on it's way as well, which thanks to photon$ didn't cost me a dime. : )

That's all my "excitement" for the last few days... Still trying to kick this cold/flu thing.. I hate being sick when it's warm out...

Dollar Tree Finds!!

So, I went to the Dollar Tree today. I went there with the intention of buying party decorations and supplies  for my son's 6th birthday party next weekend, and I did. As I was walking toward the checkout I see hundreds of bottles of Sally Hansen, and L.A. Colors. Now I love my nail polish and most of the stuff that goes with it as much as any other blogger who takes time out of their day to write about nail polish, lol. The difference between some of them, and me is I WILL NOT spend a lot of money on my nail polish. For example, "Unicorn Pee"...it is hard to find and when you do, it's on ebay or a similar website. I've seen it sell for as much as $200! The lowest I've seen is $45, and I am just not willing to pay that. So, my nail therapy is on a budget, lol. But I found some really pretty colors. It was mostly reds, pinks, and grey/silvers. Most of which I had, but in my hunting I found some colors I didn't have. They're similar to colors I already own, but there's just enough difference that it warranted the dollar, lol.

I got... Sally Hansen Insta-dry in .. Teal-y Fast, Grape Escape, and quick brick.
I also got... Sally Hansen Diamond Strength in... Brilliant Bordeaux and clear (flawless)

My husband and kids don't quite understand my nail polish thing, I don't think anyone else in the family does for that matter, lol. I just find it so relaxing. I think it's safe to say I have an addiction. Do they have a 12 step program for polish-aholics? lol

the flu and more nail stuff

I'm sickly, and my youngest daughter is too. The last couple days have been spent taking care of her and myself, but that couldn't stop me from getting some orders in for some new nail polish which i am super stoked about. but first, in my very first blog I listed Hard Candy's Beetle as being another dupe for Orly's space cadet, a couple blogs later I retracted the statement. Trick of lighting and all that, so I wasn't 100% convinced. Then I got to looking at other nail blogs, and my original statement was proven!!

http://themanicuredmanatee.blogspot.com/2010/10/hard-candy-beetle.html

this is one of my favorite nail blogs to go to...sure hope she doesn't mind me posting the link. :)

I ordered a few things from one of my new favorite websites, www.yardsellr.com You earn "Photon$" and you can use those, just like money to purchase items. And because of those photon$, I am waiting for Orly's "Razzle", and some sally hansen salon effects nail strips. That I spent a whole $3 for all the items! I've only tried the strips once, and it was over fake nails when I used to wear them, and I wasn't that happy with the results. Hoping I'll like them better on natural nails. Anyone ever use them??? Are they as awesome as they seem like they could be??

That's pretty much it today, just waiting on the stuff to come in the mail so I can try em out :) For now, cold/flu night time meds and The Crow. :)

The past few days have been nuts! All kinds of news, good and bad for myself and my family. Got in my first car accident, and as I type this I'm seeing the pretty lights in my right eye which mean, migraine is comin. So this will be quick.
After my car accident (everyone is fine, including my ninja van), the cops, paramedics, and firefighters kept commenting on my nails, lol. Some even asked if I'd come to their stations so I could do their wives or daughters nails lol The Galaxy Nail seems to get attention no matter what colors you pick for it.
I had planned on talking about some more dupes that I found, but with the migraine approaching, it's time for Imitrex, and hiding under my blanket. Assuming all is well tomorrow, I'll post the dupes :) have a good day everyone!

my latest additions :)

Yesterday I found a gift card to a local salon/spa that I forgot I had. I got my usual OPI nail envy in original and got a free bottle of matte. I've never used matte base or top coat before, so we'll see how that goes. I also got CND (Creative nail design) Effects in sapphire sparkle, and let me tell you...I love it! Used as a top coat over black it does a flip flop effect between blue, pink, and purple. I love the "holo" look, or "flip flop" paint job look. I have since I was younger when I got my first bottle of nail polish, Sally Hansen's Burgundy Orchid nail prisms. which they never should've discontinued by the way, :).  I also got Hard Candy's Beetle, which isn't the dupe of Orly's space cadet that I thought it was. But still pretty none the less.
And thanks to Listia.com and yarsellr.com, I got China Glaze's smoke and ashes from the hunger games collection and Kleancolor's "salsa much". And because I earned credits on Listia and photon$ on yardsellr, I didn't pay a penny for either one! totally FREE! : ) It made me happy. That's my boring nail story for the last 2 days. : ) Have a good one everybody!

past mani's...at least what i have on my phone

"Abstract" w/ my Migi Nail Art Pens. Neon.

Migi Nail Art Pens. Baby Shower design.

My first attempt at galaxy nails...blah!

My 2nd attempt at galaxy nails

My 3rd attempt at galaxy nails. Discovered I like the look better without the white base.

My "go to" when I can't decide. Black base w/ Sally Hansen HD colors "Laser" top coat

Boredom after surgery. Wet n' Wild "I red a good book" with Art Deco "plaid" and Confetti "Ice Ice Baby" topcoat.

Happy Belated Mommy's day to all you moms and single dads!

I had a good day! Gifts and cards made for me by my children. Hubz made dinner, and I did another version of my beloved "galaxy nails"! There are so many different combinations you can use to make galaxy or "nebula" nails. Yesterday I went with purple/pink/blue for the colors.
For my base color I used  Sally Hansen  SALON nail lacquer   "Navy Baby"
For the base of the nebula, China Glaze Pelican Gray
On the outside of the nebula for a starry effect I used Sally Hansen's Xtreme wear Deep Blue Sea
For the highlighted/center of the nebula I used L.A. Colors Shocker
Then for high lights and pigment I used Sally Hansen Insta-Dry Grape Going! and NYC Purple Pizzazz Frost.
I used Sally Hansen Xtreme wear Twinkle, Twinkle. And for even more "stars" I used China Glaze's Fairy Dust.
Topped it off with Northern Lights silver top coat. For good measure I also added Sinful Colors quick dry.
With all the colors, the only complaint I have ever had with galaxy nails is sometimes they take a while to dry completely. Forgive the pic quality. : )

My first blog

In recent months I have developed quite an addiction to nail polish. It started with just layering different colors for different effects. Then I discovered water marbling, and galaxy nails. Since then I have accumulated many different colors, and have done a lot of experimenting with nail art. I call it Nail therapy. While trying to explain it to my husband, I said, "it's like fishing is for you. It relaxes me. The only thing that relaxes me more is reading."

For my first post, I'm going to list some color dupes that I've found. I don't have any pictures right now, but I'm working on it. :) So, here it goes...

   Hard Candy's Beetle is a Dupe for Orly's Space Cadet.

Sinful colors has several dupes. A lot of OPI dupes.

   Rich in heart is a dupe for Sephora's "I'm with Brad"
   Hottie is a dupe for OPI Last Friday Night
   Stella is close to a dupe for Essie's Mochaccino
   Aqua Bilder is a dupe for Sephora's Mermaid
   Green Ocean appears to be a dupe for ZOYA's green & possibly the blue flake top coats.
   Easy Going is a dupe for OPI sweetheart
   Boom Boom is a dupe for OPI don't know...beets me
   Bali Mist is a dupe for OPI significant other color
   Cloud 9 is a dupe for OPI totally tangerine
   Thimble Berry for OPI Modern girl
   Open Seas is a dupe for mermaid tears
   See you Soon is a dupe for Nicole's Too Rich For You

Wet n' Wild has a few dupes, so far I've found 2 in my own collection

  Gray's Anatomy is a dupe for OPI not like the movies and a Deborah Lippman color
   Sunny side up, although it dries a little lighter, seems to be a dupe for Zoya's Arizona

Milani has a few dupes, I only have one in my collection though.

      Milana Garnet Gems is a dupe for China Glaze's LuBu Heels. The only difference I could see was that China Glaze's color dries a bit darker, but that can be fixed with another coat. :)

LA Girl and Love & Beauty polishes are owned by the same company. Love & Beauty can be found at Forever 21 as well as a few other stores, but the majority of their colors can be found in the LA Girl line, and LA Girl is cheaper.

That's all for now. Hopefully I can get some pictures posted soon to show the comparisons. Thought this would be a good first try at my introduction to blogging. :)