Favorite Fall Nail Polishes

I think I've expressed my love for fall about a bajillion times already and it's only September 8th. Living in Michigan we really get to experience the four seasons. The only debate is how long these seasons last. Winter basically lasts about 8 months and that then leaves us with 4 months to squeeze in three other seasons. {LAMEE!} If Michigan actually had four seasons spanning three months each, I would probably never complain about the weather or living here. No, I probably would. but that's not the point.

Moving on! I've mentioned in my at home manicure post that 99.9% of the time I am doing my own manicures and that I rarely get them done in a salon. With fall steadily approaching, I can't help but get excited to bust out my favorite plums, deep forest greens and cozy gray nail polishes! While it is still transitioning from summer into fall I try to not just bolt to the black and still keep it fun. Here are four of my favorite fall nail polishes at the moment. Remember though, these will get even deeper and darker once the cold really sets in. And when the holiday's start, my nails get real festive! If you like seeing nail post, I do tend to upload these to my Instagram. I also just made a short video on my YouTube channel that you can see the colors on my actual nails. AND if that wasn't enough and you are in a DIY mood, I have my DIY nail polish rack posted as well! 

My last request, leave me a comment of some new colors to check out! I'm always on the hunt for new fall/winter colors! 

Perfect At Home Manicure

"Let me guess, you need to take a picture of that manicure, don't you?'

This is a common thing that is said in my house, mainly, or solely said by Jerek. 

The answer is sometimes always yes. 

'Yes, I need to take a picture so move out of my good lighting!'

If you stalk my Instagram you might get get tired of my nails gracing your little square feed but I will be the first to tell you that I don't get sick of taking the pictures! When you're good at something you want to show it off and well I'm damn good at painting my own nails mmmkk! Back in June when I posted my DIY Nail Polish Rack I talked about how there is a perfect way to do a mani at home without spending the big bucks. Over the past few years I have perfected the at home manicure along with gathering the best tools to do so. {Yes there is such thing as a perfect top coat.} I figured it was time to share my secrets!

    {Don't mind my cuticles, I did them after}             

Now I know that I did not go to beauty school so I'm not claiming I'm the jam but after working in a salon and paying manicurist far too much money over the years, I've learned a thing or two. I only get professional manicures about once maybe twice a year. This is usually when I'm getting a pedicure, they are rubbing my calf's and I'm half asleep not paying attention that I don't think twice when they ask if I want a manicure as well. I am usually slash always disappointed after because they chip within 2-3 days after getting them done. With that being said, let me introduce you to the tools that will help you get your nails ready for polish.

1.Cuticle Nipper- easy to use but takes practice with your opposite hand. Use with the remover and you will have heavenly nail beds!

2. Seche Vite Restore- drop a few drops in your top or base coat when they are getting clumpy and it's like you bought a whole new bottle! I could not live with out this thing! Last F-O-R-E-V-E-R too!

3. Gelous Nail Gel- want gel nails without going to the salon or buying a cheap UV light at home, BUY THIS STUFF MEOW! I promise, you will NOT be disappointed! I use in-between my two coats of color and this stuff works! It gives you the thickness of gel nails without having to use a light!

4. Seche Vite Base Coat- best base coat around. I've tried at least 15 different ones raining in price and this is the jam folks. It clings to your nail and your nail polish clings to it!

5. Cuticle Remover- I've never tried any other brand because I never thought I could do my own cuticle. After buying this and the nipper (mentioned above) I now feel confident in myself to clean up my cuticles. This stuff softens and safely removes them. A must in my book.

6. Seche Vite Top Coat- If you are a mom, a student, a person who works, who breathes and who is alive you NEED THIS top coat. It is a game changer! It dries within 45 seconds and leaves a beautiful shiny finish. I'm on my third bottle of this! TIP: once you get about half way through with this it starts to get sticky. I normally would toss a top coat when this happens, but with owning the Seche Vite Restore, I pop a couple drops of that in, shake it up and its like new! AMAZEBALLS!!!

One other item I recommend having on hand is coconut oil. That shit can be used for everything! It's great on the bottoms of your feet, your hands and cuticles as well. Trader Joe's has a big tub of it for like $6. I lather that stuff on the ends of my hair, my feet and my hands all at once sometimes!

Now that I've told you all the tools I use, I've decided what better way to encourage at home mani's and growing your nail polish collection than with a giveaway! Since this is my birthday month (July 8th) I wanted to share something that I enjoy doing. The giveaway will be open for one week and will include the following items below. The colors chosen are ones I wear a lot through out the year. {can you tell I like Sally Hanson.}

|Four polishes|

{COLORS: Prelude to a kiss, Pucker Up, Pacific Blue, Jade Jump}

|Seche Vita top coat|

|Medium grade nail file|

All information is below for more than one way to enter 

and the winner will be picked & notified on Wednesday the 23rd!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

DIY|| Nail Polish Rack

I've been told that I have a few too many nail polishes. I've been asked why do I have so many, what's the point. I've been asked how the hell can you do your nails so good. Well I'm here to show and tell you how it's all possible!

{Yes, that's a sketched photo of Mary Kate & Ashley! Shout out to my Anne who drew it for me!!!}

After posting my half bath makeover I realized a ton of people liked that post so I figured I'd show you something that's really important to have in every household; a nail polish rack  DUHHH!

So believe it or not, I've actually gotten rid of a lot before we moved and while unpacking. I have no shame in my game, I love me some nail varnish! Compared to some girls I watch on Youtube or follow on Instagram, this aint shit! {IE: Carly Cristman or MissJenFabulous}

Here's the lowdown:

Where are your shelves from?  These are actually bamboo kitchen utensil holders from Bed Bath & Beyond. (size 6x12)

How many nail polish does it fit? Depending on the size of the bottles it holds about 11 per shelf.

How much did it cost? $8.99-20%=$7.19 x 5=$35.95 + $3.99 (paint)=$39.94.

Why not acrylic holders? I'm anal about order so if i get more {which I will} I will only have to buy another shelf . If I had an acrylic shelf and got a few more bottles, I'd have to buy another acrylic holder and it would only be 2% full. This would then force me to buy 50 more polishes and drive me nuts! Plus I love DIY stuff!

How did you do it? First, go through your polishes and ditch the ones that don't make the cut. Figure out how many shelves you will need, remember about 11 per shelf. Gather up all your 20% off coupons for each item at BBB! Buy as many as you need and bring those suckers home. Spray paint the shelves the color of your choice, I didn't even use a whole can for all 5. Then have your assistant {insert Jerek} drill them to the wall, and use a level! Next color coordinate your little heart out! Step back, smile, and stare in amazement! 

**SIDENOTE: 3mm heavy duty sticky tape will NOT work! You MUST drill/nail to the wall. I may or may not have tried this and had the shelves fall & loose a few soldiers nail polishes in the process! {Yes, I cried, okay!}

So there you have it! I pretty much have a full service nail salon at my house. I've gotten so good at painting my nails over the years that I get a manicure MAYBE 3 times a year {just to freshen up my cuticles.} I will have a whole other post on the best base & top coat, ridge fillers, nail hardeners & dry drops! I do store my other nail items {file, clippers, buffer, remover, etc} in another container out of sight because it's not nearly as pretty!

So who wants to come over for a sleepover & a manicure {oh, and I don't do feet ya sickos!} As for pictures/post of the rest of my dressing room that this rack is located in, that will be up soon!

Manicure Monday

I couldn't tell you the last time I paid someone to give me a manicure. Honestly, its been over a year that I've been doing my own nails and that is for a few reasons. First and foremost, it's hella expensive! Depending on where you go it can cost you $13-$20 for a regular manicure and I for one am not down to pay that EVERY week! Second, I can honestly file and paint my own nails just as good, if not better than the ladies that do my nails. So with that being said, I paint my nails an awful lot. I change the polish very often and try out different shapes and new nail art designs, curtsy of Jen. This is something I enjoy doing so I have a decent amount of colors to choose from. Although I've watched many nail polish collections on Youtube, I am no way shape or form on that level but I do probably have about 50 different colors.

Todays manicure is a combo of two drugstore polishes. I'm pretty partial to my Essie and OPI polish but I'e found some great drugstore ones as well. Both of these brands are high quality for a mere $2.99 each.

Colors Used:

||All over color-'Dance in the dark' by Julie G||

||Accent nail-'Waiting for my Solo' by Wet n Wild||

While I almost refuse to pay for someone to paint the nails on my hands, I RARELY do a pedicure myself. First and foremost, I HATE feet.  I also hate the process of washing, clipping, filing, buffing, and painting my toes while hunched over my boney kneecap trying to make sure I do a good job on those little guys.  I do tip really well though, I mean, I'm pretty sure no manicurist really WANTS to give pedicures, it's just part of the business. So save yourself an Andrew Jackson and learn how to give yourself an at home manicure, I promise, you won't be disappointed!