What I've Been Up To

Hi guys!

I'm sorry I left you guys hanging and don't post as often anymore. Since I didn't do as well as I hoped last school year, I've been studying a lot... I still want to graduate in 3 years (this school year is my second year already) so that's added pressure. Lately, I've been isolating myself in the school library until the evening or late at night. On top of all this, I've been trying to get more sleep and stay healthy. Some of you guys are probably thinking that it's "just studying", but I'm trying to get in dental school (and graduate earlier than my program) and I have a lot of other people I have to compete with in my program (and from other schools as well). Sometimes, I think I'm lagging behind and/or can't match up to them... I hope you guys understand.

Since I had 3 exams on Friday, I decided to crash and take a break. I bought 50 clear swatch sticks from Amazon and I used most of them up (one I messed up on and another cracked) to swatch all the Fall colors in my collection. I have to buy more so I can swatch two more Fall colors and the Spring, Summer, and Winter colors. Honestly, I'm pretty disappointed in the quality of the swatch sticks. I had to file down the ends of the sticks and the nails and, with enough pressure, I could probably break them in two.  It was also pretty expensive (around $18 or so dollars). It doesn't help that I found a swatch stick with a cracked nail either. Though they did include some Doraemon fimo slices! The swatch sticks were sold by La Demoiselle and fulfilled by Amazon. Since I need more swatch sticks, I'll just wait until my friend (the one mentioned at the end of this post) orders from Born Pretty Store again. Their merchandise is cheap and appears to be of good quality. I'll let you guys know how they are.

Here is what I've been working on (the Fall colors are mostly done!):

(I care a lot about politics and the upcoming election, huh?)

Once I'm done with the Spring, Summer, and Winter colors, I'll do a whole post on what colors I chose for each season. :D

Last weekend, my roommate and I hosted a little nail polish/nail art party with a few of our friends. Three of my friends did their nails, but I only have pictures of one of them... But only because she photographed her own nails. She decided to do a Batman-and-Joker mani! I think it's pretty cool! :D

Left hand:

Color Club Almost Famous (not too sure though)

Essie Licorice

Right hand:

Essie Blanc

LA Colors Striper in Red

Maybelline Ice Queen

Sinful Colors Clementine

an Ulta green or Maybelline Go Go Green

My friend has a tumblr that you guys can check out here! She posts a lot of awesome nail art and Tom Hiddleston stuff, along with other things. (You've been warned! LOTS of Tom Hiddleston!) Enjoy! :D

Now, I'm going back to studying.

See you guys on the other side of the day!

Michelle

Zoya Yara

Zoya Yara

Yara is my first Zoya polish! :D She's an olive green with gold shimmer and is opaque in 2 coats. (As you all know, I'm a sucker for gold shimmer!) I am quite impressed with the formula: Zoya uses a vegan-friendly formula so I wasn't sure what to expect. Yara applied well, flowing nicely onto the nail. She dried shiny, quickly, and darker than the bottle color, which I'm fine with. I love all the olive greens! *a meme reference* I'm pretty sure I'm going to wear her quite a bit this fall and winter!

What was your first Zoya? If you don't have one yet, then which one would you purchase first? I'd love to know!

See you guys on the other side of the day!

Michelle

P.S. Off topic, but I scored 3 Butter Londons (4 if you include the top coat that's part of the package deal) for $16.88 (includes shipping and handling and tax)! Wallis, All Hail the Queen, and West End Wonderland are finally crossed off my wishlist!

Finger Paints Late Night Rendezvous

Well, look who's back! I've been gone for a while because of school, sleep, and eating. That's really all I've been doing... :( I really missed blogging! However, I don't think I can do posts semi-regularly anymore, and I'm not going to try because I don't like empty promises. Let's just enjoy the journey once again, shall we? :D Now, moving on...

In a less sunlit area:

Finger Paints Late Night Rendezvous

Late Night Rendezvous is a mermaid-esque blue shimmer that flashes green. I used 3 coats here because it was a little patchy, but it can be passable in 2 coats. It had a really nice formula and dried quickly. Late Night Rendezvous was shiny and reflective, almost metallic-looking. Though it looks rough in the photographs, it was actually smooth to touch. The shimmer particles are just somewhat larger than normal. I took several photos of Late Night Rendezvous, attempting to show its beauty and the green flash, but I couldn't capture it. You have to see it in real life in order to see its full glory!

See you guys on the other side of the day! So so happy to be back!

Michelle

P.S. Loving the current length of my nails. I think I'll keep them this long from now on.

Versatile Blogger and Liebster Awards - Again! :D

 

Hi everyone! I was recently nominated for the Versatile Blogger and Liebster Awards again by Caroline Jewel of Caroline's Nails! Thank you so much! :D Caroline Jewel is relatively new at blogging. She primarily swatches and reviews nail polish, but there are also beauty product reviews and makeup looks here and there. Check her blog out!

7 Facts for the Versatile Blogger Award:

1. I have been a huge fan of Animal Crossing ever since it came out for Game Cube. (Does anyone still remember that console? It was back in the early 2000's when it debuted.) I have Animal Crossing for Game Cube, Nintendo DS, and Wii! It steals my heart every time and I honestly don't know why! Maybe it's the appeal of creating your own world and leading your own life without having any responsibilities...

2. My nickname is Boss. (Yeah, I'm cool like that... Did I say this fact already???)

3. I found out about Korean and Japanese music in 5th grade and have been listening to it ever since. (I do listen to English music -and some Spanish music- if you're wondering.)

4. I'm going to start my second (and, hopefully, second to last year) year of college soon! (Throughout the summer, I really wanted to see my college friends, but now, I just want to stay at home with my parents. ;__; )

5. I have over 100 CDs of Korean and Japanese music.

6. I love manga and anime. I'm trying to get back into that world.

7.  My favorite literary pieces are Las Ataduras (The Bonds That Tie) by Carmen Martín Gaite and San Manuel Bueno, el mártir (Saint Manuel Bueno, the martyr) by Miguel de Unamuno. Both are Spanish works. I think El Burlador de Sevilla by Tirso de Molina is really funny. (Love the servant's name, Catalinón. *giggles* )

11 Questions for the Liebster Award:

1. Why did you start your blog?

I started my blog because many of the big time bloggers don't really review drugstore polishes (Sally Hansen, for instance) while some swatches of brands like Love & Beauty are really hard to find or nonexistent. I wanted to provide a one-stop blog for both drugstore and salon (such as OPI) polishes. Once I get my hands on some indie polishes, I will swatch them as well! :D

2. Do you ever feel like you won't get more followers? Do you ever lose hope and think 

that blogging was a bad idea? Why?

At times, I do. Many polish blogs are popping up nowadays. What makes my blog truly unique? I don't post everyday while other bloggers do. As such, they get followers more quickly than I do. However, I can't write posts for the sake of posting everyday. I just try to be honest with myself and remind myself that I'm doing this because I think it's fun.

3. What keeps you motivated to keep blogging?

Definitely trying to find a swatch of a polish, but end up finding absolutely nothing!

4. What is your favorite brand of polish?

For drugstore polishes, Sally Hansen. For "brand" name polishes, OPI. I am always impressed with the quality of their polishes.

5. What is your favorite nail art trend?

Right now, I'm really loving the block/stripe gradient trend!

6. How do you wear your nails most of the time? Long, short, medium? Plain color? Crazy art? Stamping? I want to know!

A lot of the time, my nails aren't polished at all. As for nail art, it really depends on my mood and if I'm willing to spend time doing it. I like short-medium length nails because I can do labs without them being cumbersome and they still protect the skin that is attached to my nails so it doesn't feel sore.

7. What is your favorite manicure that you've ever done? Post a picture or link!

Unfortunately, I don't have one. Whenever I paint my nails, I usually leave them plain. I really need to play with my nail art tools!

8. With nails, beauty, and blogging out of the way, what are your other hobbies or pastimes?

Recently, I've become addicted to Animal Crossing: Wild World for Nintendo DS again. ;___; (Why did this have to happen 2 weeks before college starts again?!) I also like sleeping, listening to K-pop and J-pop (Korean and Japanese music, respectively), and drawing. I really miss drawing!

9. What is your favorite song?

This is really tough, but it has to be 검은 행복 (Black Happiness) by T (also known as Yoon Mi Rae). T is a rapper and singer in South Korea, and is half African American and half Korean. However, she was born and raised in the U.S. This song is about how she was bullied because she was mixed, how people treated her mother, her guilt, and how music saved her. She, her husband (also a fellow rapper), and their really young son also got really racist backlash from some South Koreans. (Despite their advancement, South Korea is still pretty conservative.) I urge you to listen to 검은 행복 and follow along with the English subtitles. 

10. Who is your favorite band/artist?

T. Hamasaki Ayumi and Kalafina are close runner-ups though!

11. What are your top 5 favorite blogs?

Scrangie, Vampy Varnish, Let Them Have Polish!, Burkatron (DIY projects, FOTD, and nail art!), and Dr. Frankenpolish (which is now pretty much defunct). 

Aaaaand... Sorry for the lack of posts recently. As I've mentioned, I'm studying for the DAT (Dental Admission Test) that I have to take during my winter break and packing for college. All my nail polish is packed up and I don't want to mess with it.

See you guys on the other side of the day!

Michelle

My Polish Collection - Picture Heavy

A couple of my friends wanted me to post up pictures of my collection, so here there are! I actually organize my collection by brand and then color, but for these pictures I organized it by color for some fun!

Nudes

OPI Samoan Sand

Sally Hansen Without a Stitch

Pinks, Roses, & Pink-leaning Corals

Sinful Colors Easy Going

Nicole by OPI Kim-pletely in Love

Sinful Colors Glass Pink

Revlon Starry Pink

Essence Enchanted Fairy

Love & Beauty Pink

Claire's Candy Shop

Cult Nails Untamed

Color Club Poptastic

Color Club Warhol

Sinful Colors Cream Pink

Sally Girl Pink It Up

Sinful Colors Island Coral

Sinful Colors Timbleberry

Revlon Really Rosy

Love & Beauty Rose/Gold

Reds

Sally Hansen Cha-Ching!

China Glaze Moulin Rouge

Cult Nails Annalicious

Sinful Colors Ruby Ruby

Julep Rose

China Glaze Ruby Pumps

Wet n Wild Burgundy Frost

Revlon Vixen

Oranges

Ulta Oh!

Essence What Do U Think?

China Glaze Dreamsicle

Sinful Colors Citrine

Color Club Wham! Pow!

Yellows

Sally Hansen Yellow Kitty

Color Club Almost Famous

China Glaze Trendsetter

Golds

Sally Hansen Big Money

Essence Gold Rush

Sally Hansen Golden-I

Greens

Sinful Colors Seaweed

Sally Hansen Creamy Olive

L'Oreal Safari Chic

Ulta Army of 1

Sally Girl TTFN

Sinful Colors Mint Apple

Julep Daphne

China Glaze Re-fresh Mint

Essence Lime Up!

Sinful Colors Innocent

Color Club Twiggie

Cult Nails Deal With It

Sinful Colors Exotic Green

Love & Beauty Green (Creme)

Confetti My Favorite Martian

Color Club Artsy Crafty

Ulta Envy

Nicole by OPI Khloe Had a Little Lam-lam

CQ Golden Green

China Glaze Glittering Garland

Revlon Mistletoe

Color Club Voodoo You Do

Blues

Revlon Whimsical

Essie Turquoise & Caicos

China Glaze For Audrey

Julep Robin

Sinful Colors Rise and Shine

Essence You Belong to Me

Sinful Colors Cinderella

Ulta Mint Condition

Sally Hansen Blue Me Away!

Color Club Chelsea Girl

Sally Hansen Fairy Teal

Revlon Cloud

China Glaze Purple Rain

Essie Barefoot in Blue

Essence A Lovely Secret

Revlon Royal Cloak

Revlon Royal

Sally Hansen Thinking of Blue

Essence Just Rock It!

Color Club Blue-topia

Essence Choose Me!

Sinful Colors Nail Junkie

Sinful Colors Love Nails

Sinful Colors Aqua

Finger Paints Late Night Rendezvous

Purples

Sally Hansen Lavender Cloud

Essence Dress for a Moment

Essie Lilacism

Jesse's Girl Confetti

Color Club Pucci-licious

Wet n Wild On a Trip

Wet n Wild Buffy the Violet Slayer

Sinful Colors Amethyst

Revlon Plum Night

Wet n Wild Through the Grapevine

Sally Hansen Lady Luck

Wet n Wild Hannah Pinktana

Sally Hansen Be-Jeweled

Revlon Naughty

China Glaze Visible Shivers

Cult Nails Spontaneous

Orly Fowl Play

Silvers

Sally Hansen Celeb City

Grays

NYC New York Color Sidewalkers

China Glaze Concrete Catwalk

Whites

Julep Kate

Nicole by OPI It's All About the Glam

China Glaze White Ice

Sally Hansen White On

Blacks

Cult Nails I Got Distracted

Orly Androgynie

Revlon Facets of Fuchsia

Claire's Galaxy

Wet n Wild Blackmail

Ulta Little Black Dress

Revlon Black Star

Sally Hansen Black Out

Browns & Taupes

L'Oreal Walk on the Beach

Rescue Beauty Lounge Jane

Essence Irreplaceable

Confetti Moonstruck

Orly Prince Charming

Color Club Nouveau Vintage

OPI My Private Jet (New Version)

Essence Date with the Night

Color Club Rebel Spirit

Duo/multichromes

Sally Hansen Resolution

Wet n Wild Gray's Anatomy

Orly Space Cadet

Crackles

China Glaze Black Mesh

China Glaze Lightning Bolt

OPI Silver Shatter

Glitters

NYC New York Color Gramercy Glitz

Confetti Pink Confetti

Sinful Colors Pinky Glitter

Color Club Fame and Fortune

Julep America the Beautiful

Julep O Canada!

OPI Pirouette My Whistle

Color Club Platinum Record

Sinful Colors Pearl Harbor

Sinful Colors Opal Glitter

Essie Shine of the Times

Love & Beauty Green (Glitter)

Sinful Colors Call You Later

Love & Beauty Turquoise

Milani Gems

Ulta Piñata-Yada-Yada

Color Club Wish Upon a Rockstar

Wet n Wild Party of Five Glitters

Julep Mila

Color Club Backstage Pass

Color Club It's a Hit

Color Club Take the Stage

Milani Gold

Frankens

Crushed Fairy Wings

Strawberry Glaze

Poisoned Apple

Dragon Scales

The Black Forest

King of Monarchs

Nail Art Pens

Migi Nail Art Pens

Clear, Base, & Top Coats

NYC New York Color Top Coat

Color Club Clear Coat

Sally Hansen Hard as Nails Strengthener Clear

Finally finished! :D Let me know if you guys want any comparisons and/or swatches of a certain color! It will take me a while to get to them, though, because I've already started packing up for college. I leave in two weeks! (Can you guys believe I'm already in my second year of college?!) Time really flies (or, more correctly, is simply relative... Great, my inner nerd is coming out. -_- )

See you guys on the other side of the day!

Michelle