Hi everyone,

So, you'll be glad to know that I'm back to slightly erratic posts again after a brief stint at actual consistent posting. However, I'm quite proud that at least while things have been a little erratic, at least there have been no extended, unexplained absences.

I've just been feeling a bit stressed out and anxious recently due to the fact that I'm starting uni next week and I've been really tired all this week so all has compounded to me not really having much motivation. Although, it hasn't yet got to the the 'hiding out in my room doing nothing but reading Avengers fanfiction' stage so I'm by my standards, I'm managing all right.

Basically it was only because I really loved this design that I ever managed to photograph it and get it up.

If you're following me on instagram, you'll know I recently suffered a really bad nail break and had to chop off my baby claws, which was a sad time all around and explains the suddenly shorter and rounder nails.

As much as I loved my longer nails, I do feel (after an acceptable grieving period, of course), that it probably was time for me to have a change and cut them shorter again. They are feeling a lot healthier and I was able to cut off all the stained and peeling bits so they look super duper healthy. Yay!

Pop Art Half Moon Nail Art

Hi everyone,

I've been on a massive matte design craze recently and this is the first of probably many matte designs that you'll see around here in the near future. I think this was my first attempt at doing a half moon mani, despite it being one of the most popular nail art designs in existence.

I think they turned out all right, although I definitely think I need to either work on my free-handed curves or invest in those little sticky hole things that most nail artists use (although using the sticky things seems far easier and less time-consuming, to be honest). I did love my choice of colours - I always think of pop art when I look at them, with the rich blue and the contrasting orange/pink.

Then and Now: Galaxy Nails

Today's nails are galaxy nails because they are beautiful! And look stunning and way harder than they actually are. And it's pretty easy to get both hands looking the same because it's just sponging bits of polish on in random places. :)

Nail Art Inspired By: Fifa World Cup

Hi everyone!

So, who’s excited for the world cup final??

Actually, if I am completely honest, I’m not that excited. I’ll watch the soccer while it’s on, but I’m not a massive fan. However, my sister and dad are quite into it and so I keep up with the scores and the goss and as a result, have been quite sucked into the world cup this time round. :)

But, I couldn't pass up the opportunity to do some appropriately themed world cup nails, could I? However, because I had done my nails only a day before, I was not taking them off, so it's a good thing my mum was happy to have some soccer themed nails. :)

I was actually really proud of them! Especially the Argentinian flag. I honestly thought that was going to be a flop, but it turned out much better than I expected. I don't actually think it's recognisable as the Argentinian flag by itself, but with the soccer balls and German flag, I'm hoping/assuming people will get the gist. :)

Peacock Nails

Hi lovelies,

These nails are beyond doubt one of my favourites I've done this year. They didn't quite go down as well as my Rainbow Butterflies (the photos of which were not that great and I haven't actually sorted through yet, so you might see them on here and you might not), but then again, they are a little more muted than a giant rainbow gradient across my fingernails. So, lets have a look, shall we?

Please excuse the less than great pictures, I desperately need to sort out my photography set up. Before I just went outside and took pictures in the sunlight because hey, it's Australia, and it was summer. And that means sun. Plentiful supplies of sun for pretty consistent pictures. But we've had lots of rain and clouds recently and now my garden looks like this.

What a lovely shot right? Would you look at that artistic angle? Maybe I should give up photography nails and instead just take regular photos? No? Fine... But I think I have potential talent. :P

I mean, don't get me wrong - I love the rain and I am totally happy with this rainy and colder weather at the moment, but unfortunately, it also highlights how much I need to get my photography stuff set up..... So, if any body has any suggestions, please let me know in the comments! I did have a home-made light box, but me mum accidentally put her hand through the top and broke it and I never had huge success with it so I never repaired it.

Inspired by: Sculptures By The Sea

Hi there everyone!

So, I've decided to start a new series on my blog here where I do nail art that has to be inspired by something. (Actually, I think that was fairly self explanatory, but, oh well).

I've done a couple of inspired designs (like my dress ones (here) and my more recent Lily Allen ones), but I really think doing a more regular ones will help my technique and design execution. Or at least, that's what I hope.

Anyway, this one is inspired by the Sculptures by the Sea, which is a annual art exhibition and competition that's held at Cottesloe Beach in Perth. It was the first time I've gone and I really liked it, although I will admit I was a little tired, crotchety and over it by the end. It was really windy, there was a lot of walking in the sand, and I just don't get a lot of art. I mean, I can appreciate it for it's beauty and construction, but I can't look at it a see it as representation of something or read meanings into stuff or whatever it is that Opinionated (my art student sister) sees when she looks at them.

Fake Tattoos Nail Tattoos Review + Birthday Nautical Nails!

Hi lovelies,

A couple of weeks ago, I received my order from Fake Tattoos, which is a Scandinavian based company that sells, obviously, fake tattoos. I hadn't even known you could get nail tattoos until I saw this post over at More Nail Polish. I immediately went, 'that is so cool I want some!'. Luckily, I was able to get some on sale and guess what?? They do free shipping worldwide. :)

I bought the Ocean Design and Bird design, both of which I am very happy with.

Happy Australia Day

Hello lovelies,

Here in the land of Oz it is Australia day, so I celebrated by going to the beach this morning and coming back for brunch - is that 'aussie' enough? I think so. Especially when combined with the Australian beach ball, inflatable ring, wind socks and umbrella hat my family and I own. (We didn't actually buy them because we are extremely patriotic, but rather because Opinionated had an Australian themed birthday party a couple of years back and we still have a lot of stuff left over). :)

I also got into the spirit of patriotism with some Aussie themed nail art...

Christmas Nail Challenge - Day 9

Hello lovelies,

Okay, so, I think this is becoming a habit. For each day of this challenge, I've come up with some great design, only to fall short at the execution of it... (Except for the presents, I really, really, liked those).

So, for the this prompt - Christmas decorations - you will get to see my right hand. Why, because my left hand turned out so horrific that there was no way I was going to post it. Mostly because I had red candles on the left hand and when I applied the top coat, the design was ruined... I need my new top coat. I've been using Poshe's Super Fast Drying Topcoat, which I get from here, and I really like it. Mostly because of the incredible drying time and I like the fact that it is 3-free. However, it ran out and I hadn't had the foresight to order a new one before then, so I've been using whatever's lying around, which, happens to be a Manicare Clear Coat that came as part of a French Manicure I got as a present once. Now I know that it is not suitable for nail art which is another strike against the kit. (I wouldn't recommend the kit).

Anyway, this is what I did in the end.



I went for candles because in my house, we have so many candles and all of them get lit at Christmas time. Also, Christmas time for me always has memories of sitting outside in the dark with only candles lighting the night while we talk tall evening.

I'm really sorry about the less than great photos - my photography with my left hand really needs improvement! :)

Check out the other's here.

For these, I used, OPI's 'My Boyfriend Scales Walls' (white), Mode's 'Blueberry' (blue), Chi Chi's 'Doris Day' (light yellow) and Ulta3's 'Honolulu' (darker yellow).

Christmas Nail Challenge - Day 7

Hello lovelies,

Well, guess what? Today means that we have reached day 7 of the 12 Days of Christmas Nail Challenge. Yay! That means we are over half way through. While this challenge has been really fun and definitely something I would do again, I do feel my enthusiasm waning a little. It's hard to have to stick to a schedule of when I need to paint my nails - I'd rather just be allowed the freedom to do them when I want to. Although, saying that, I generally paint my nails every 2-3 days anyway. It's just occasionally that I really can't be bothered doing them. Today was an example of such.

Anyway, back on track, today's prompt was 'Inspired by a Christmas Movie'. I chose 'Sleepless in Seattle' , which might not be the most Christmassy of movies, but it was Christmassy enough for me. :)

This is what I came up with.

A little apology and Christmas Nail Art Challenge - Day 1

Hello there everyone!

Sorry about last week. I was away on holiday (yes, I had a lovely time, thank you for asking) and I thought that I would have access to internet - although, when I think about it, it seems quite obviously that I probably wouldn't.... Oh well. I'm back now and just in time for day 1 of the Christmas Nail Art challenge - Christmas tree. I'm sorry about my lack of creativity in this one - I was on a bus for about 9 hours today and so was feeling less than enthusiastic about this challenge. But I will forge ahead anyway and push forward through my exhaustion. :)

Tape Manicure!

Hi lovelies!

So about the quite extended leave of absence. School is a pain and I’ve been feeling pretty rubbish lately… So, no motivation to do anything… I’m sorry.

But, I’m back and I have another lovely manicure and this time, with a tutorial! :) Eventually… I know I keep threatening to do one and this time I’ve actually got around to doing one. It's pretty much a tutorial for this manicure, just with different colours. :)