Latest Haul!

I have been waiting ages for my haul to arrive.  We have been having postal strikes here in Ol' Blighty so everything is delayed at the mo.  I have quite a few new additions but I will start with these three.  The first two are from Paul and Joe.  Now I have to be completely honest and say that the selection of colours are not that inspiring.  They're good if you need to have a "subtle" day, you know, if you need to go to work or an interview .... that sort of thing. However I did buy them purely for the cute bottle!  I love this vintage chic style!  So I purchased a gold one (no 27) and a corally-pink one (no. 15).  Both these are very sheer and both needed 4 coats would you believe!  And even then there was slight VNL!

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The gold one has silver glitter in it.  Not quite Chanel Gold fiction but it's still quite pretty.

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I liked the coral one more than I thought I would.  This would make a good base for a Konad!  The formula is easy to work with and application is smooth but sheer.  What I also liked about these polishes are the smell.  Now I don't know if these are officially scented but when these dried they smelled like Cerruti 1881.  Gorgeous!
The next addition is Ciate Paint Pot - Shaken Not Stirred.  This is an iridescent purply pink colour which needed three coats.

Again I think this would make a good base for a Konad.  I'm still on the fence on this one! Do I like the colour or do I not like the colour?!?

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Maybe I should add some glitter?!  The bottle's pretty cute though!

MAC - Lucky Number

I went out the other day and I picked up MAC's Christmas releases.  This one is Lucky Number.  At first glance it looks like a pink shimmer.  Now I wouldn't go out especially to buy a pink nail polish but I thought 'why not? I'll give it a go!'  And well I was completely surprised.  I put this on two days ago and I still have it on.  I loooooooooove it!  It's not a shimmer at all, instead it is a dusky pink chrome!!! It is so pretty.  However...... be warned, this is not the easiest polishes to put on.  In fact it took me a couple of attempts to suss out this little baby!  It is a thick and sticky formula and you need to use the brush lightly because it will streak.  In fact my application still looks a little streaky.  I also recommend you use a ridge filler such as Barielle Camouflage to cover any dips or bumps in your nail as this little monkey will pick up any nail flaw (my nails are full of them!)  My pictures of Lucky Number do not show how pretty this colour is but trust me it is gorgeous!  Plus my pictures highlight all my application flaws!!! Grrrrrrrrrrrrr!

MAC Baby Goth Girl

I am so sorry for not posting, I had a manic day yesterday.  I took my Brownie pack to Legoland yesterday and now I am completely shattered. Anyway I have bought some new polishes recently so I will find some time to swatch my new babies!  So first up is MAC's Baby Goth Girl.  I was so surprised to find it as I had been having some trouble tracking it down.  Of course I purchased it immediately.  This is a beautiful dark, vampy winey colour (Gee I am so technical!) It also has some glitter in it as well.

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I do love these colours but I especially love the glitter in it.  I've had BGG on for 2 days now and I can tell you that I am fade and chip free.  However, I will be taking it off now to do another swatch!

 With Flash

Anyway I hope you are all well. I do enjoy reading all your posts.

x

I've Been Tagged!

I was tagged by the gorgeous Heather at Lambchop Mobile and I can tell you that I am totally chuffed to bits.  It means so much to me since I am a newbie and all!  So thank you Heather, I am completely honoured. x  So now I have to share 7 facts about me.  OK here goes:

1.  I was brought up in Hong Kong.  When I was 5 months old my family moved over there for my Dad's job.  Although Mum and I evenutally came back to the UK, my Dad is still over there.  Having my childhood over there totally rocked!

2.  One of my guilty pleasures is 80s movies especially ones directed by John Hughes.  We're talking Pretty in Pink, The Breakfast Club, Sixteen Candles etc.  Movies that I love that aren't John Hughes are  Labyrinth and Back to the Future!

3. I am a huge I Love Lucy fan.

4. I was born with a small stump on both my hands which doctors said would have grown into a sixth finger (aahhhhhhhh she's a witch! A witch!!!) I did have them removed but how cool would that have been for swatching nail polish!!

5. I hate gardening.  I get the whole watching something you've planted flourish and grow, but I have no patience and want to see the fruits of my labour immediately.  I get absolutely no enjoyment from gardening.  I kill plants. Plus it ruins my manicure!

6. When I'm down, I dance.  Seriously, even if I'm standing in a queue for something, I will have a little shuffle.  If I'm at home however, I will put my music on and DANCE!!!!! It always helps.

7.  When I was 7 months pregnant, I went to a New Year's Party at my hubby's work. At the time he worked at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane in Covent Garden.  It was during the time when The Witches of Eastwick was playing and when Ian McShane played Darryl. (Ian McShane has also been in Deadwood and voiced Mr Bobinsky in Coraline).  At the party Ian McShane came up to me and put his hand on my big belly and started talking to me about my pending arrival! I tell Abi that Mr. Bobinsky tickled her toes whilst she was in my tum!

Now I have to tag 7 people - I hope it's ok to tag people who have already been tagged.

1. Lambchop Mobile

2. Kelliegonzo

3. Evil Angel

4. Gilded Angel

5. The Diva's Polish

6. Gladys - Nail Fanatic

7. KONADomania

x

Latest Haul

Ok I am better now!  I have signed myself up to do the other exam. To hell with it, I've come this far why give up now? I'm sorry for moaning!!  Anyway I went out and bought new polishes which I will share with you in my next post.  I want to show you my haul that I received yesterday.  I realised that I don't have nearly enough sparkles in my collection and considering that the Holiday season will soon be upon us, I thought I should supplement my collection! So from left to right in the above picture: China Glaze - Glam, OPI - Glitter Ball, China Glaze - Pom Pom, Color Club - Snow Queen.  I will swatch these. I'm very excited about Glitter Ball.  For my NOTD I used Color Club - Snow Queen.  When I first put this on I did think 'Oh no not another Chanel Rouge Noir wannabe' but I must say that it's a little more purply than winey.  Very dark and gorgeous.  I did find the formula a little tacky to work with but I got there in the end.  My mani didn't stop there though.  I was desperate to use some glitter so I put a coat of China Glaze's Pom Pom on.  It is a pink sparkle with some fine glitter and slightly bigger bits.  It looks gorgeous I have to say.  The glitter cheered me up! (Glitter usually does!)

I like a bit of sparkle every now and then!

At a crossroad ..... AGAIN!

There I was all happy and smug as I had worked out what I wanted to do with my life when 'smack' it all comes tumbling around me.
I am in my final year at University, studying for my degree in Education.  After which I planned to go on to do my Teacher's Qualification and go into Primary School Teaching.  That was the plan.
I have been so focused and have been doing really well.  I'm heading towards a First Degree in case you were wondering!  It has been one of the hardest things I have ever done.  For two and a half years I have stressed over my work, panicked because I don't understand something, stayed up to 5.00 in the morning to finish an essay and I have worried and felt guilty over feeling like I am not spending enough time with my daughter.
Now I am on the verge of applying for my Teacher's Qualification when now I am being told that the qualifications that I have aren't enough.  The experience I have is not enough.  I need more.  I had checked all this out when I started this course and my exam results were enough.  Now everything has changed.  Plus now I don't have enough "days" in a school.  When I told them that I run Brownies which I started FROM SCRATCH..... that counts for nothing.  I am devastated because not only do I now have to do yet another exam (I've already started studying for one) I have to join schemes and work in a school again.  Do they not understand that I don't have time for all this?  My husband has said to take a year off to focus on the 2 exams I need to re-do then go on to do my teacher's qualification.  I said that I can't do another year.  It's too much.  I want to get back into work.  I want to start my career.  I have put myself thousands of pounds in debt for what?  I am exhausted.  Instead of being encouraged and supported for changing my life and wanting to put back into the community I come across yet more barriers and hurdles.  I am so frustrated.
Well there's only one thing for it.  I'm going out to buy nail polish!
x

NOTD - Butter London "Muggins" and Konad

I think I have just about recovered from the Halloween party.  I've been made to take off my purple wig as well.  Not a happy bunny! That wig rocked! So yesterday I was giving myself a day off (although I had work for university to do!) and did this Konad.  I used Butter London "Muggins" as the base.  I used the swirl print off IP no. 51 using Special Polish in black.  I am also off my "No Buy" scheme so of course I was on the internet all day Sunday and yesterday! I've ordered some more Konad plates which I am really excited about!  I've also ordered some glitter polishes from OPI and something from Color Club.  I'll give it a few more days before I order some more.  I think I might be back on the "No Buy" scheme before I know it.  Oh well.....it's totally worth it! x  BTW I have loved seeing all your Halloween  costumes and nail designs.  You all looked fabulous. x