OPI Nordic Collection - Fall 2014

Hi there, gentle readers! Thank you so much for all the kind words. <3 We've been doing all right. We're slowly replacing all the essentials we lost, though that's been a bit slow because last month has been insanely busy. I've bought another camera, and I'm borrowing a laptop, so I'm able to finally make progress again with blogging. :) It's really wonderful to be back. I've missed you guys.

Today, I've got the 12-piece OPI Nordic Collection for Fall 2014 to share with you. I was pretty excited when I heard of this collection. I love the idea of all things Nordic, and my one visit to a Nordic location (Stockholm a few years ago) was filled with incredible memories. Also, this is the first year in a long while that I've been this eager for fall and everything that it brings. Just thinking about the cold nights and snuggling in warm sweaters fill me with joy. Ok, onto the collection...

An update...

Our house got broken into over the weekend. We're ok and so is our furbaby, but they pretty much took everything that's valuable. It includes the camera and laptop I use for blogging. So I probably won't have a new post for a little while as we sort through everything and order new laptops and camera. I'll keep you guys updated, but hopefully I'll be back to blogging soon.

Salon Perfect Neon POP Skittles Mani

Hi, you guys! :)

One of the quandaries I have with neon colors is deciding which color to wear when I love them all so much. If only I had more hands... But since I don't, and I want my cake and eat it too, wearing them in a skittles mani is the perfect fun solution. The Salon Perfect Neon POP Collection contains 12 bold shades, and I combined four of my favorites for the mani below.

Left to right: Tickled Pink, Loopy Lime, Traffic Cone, Fired Up Fuchsia

Tickled Pink (index finger) is a neon barbie pink with a creme finish. The formula is a little on the runny side, though nothing too bad. It's also a little streaky, but is mostly even by three coats.

Loopy Lime (middle finger) is a neon lime green with shimmers. This color is stunning, so bold and vibrant on the nails. It's easy to apply, and isn't too streaky by neon polish standard. It's opaque at two coats though I did three for the swatches.

Traffic Cone (ring finger) is an aptly named neon show-stopping orange with a creme finish. This is the brightest orange I've ever put on my nails, and I love it! I used three coats for the swatches.

Fired Up Fuchsia (pinky) is a bright magenta pink with fine shimmers. It's another really stunning color from the collection. The formula's pretty good and easy to apply. I used three coats for the swatches.

I tried a few of the other colors from this collection too, and all of them are super bright. Though there is a white base that you can use with the colors, the intensity and brightness of the shades shines through even without it, so it's not really necessary. The formulas can be a little streaky, pretty on par with neons. In general, the cremes are more uneven, while the shimmers apply more evenly and easily across the nails.

What do you think of this collection and of neons in general? Will you be picking any up to add to your collection? And do you wear neons only in the summer or all year-round?

You can find the Neon POP shades exclusively at Walmart stores for a retail price of $3.98 for each 0.5 fl oz bottle.

** This post contains product(s) provided for honest consideration.

FingerPaints Enchanted Mermaid Collection

Hi, you guys! I'm writing this as I'm watching The Strain (on FX) with my husband. It's a gory vampire tv show, and I'm totally chicken when it comes to anything scary, so I'm half hiding behind my laptop as it's on lol.

Today, I've got a collection with an interesting concept to show you. The FingerPaints Enchanted Mermaid Collection is made up of four shimmery shades with fish scale textures. When I first heard of this, I was so excited. The idea sounded amazing and I'm always up for trying a new texture, especially one with a novel concept. But it didn't quite turn out the way I had thought. You can see for yourself...

Zoya Lola

Hi, you guys! Hope your week is going well. Mine could be better, but at least the merciful weekend is almost here. :)

Today, I've got one of my favorite polishes—like ever(!)—to show you. Zoya Lola is a bright hot fuchsia pink with strong blue shimmers that dries to a slightly matte finish due to its neon pigments.

The formula on this is amazing, spreading out smoothly across the nails, almost like it were applying itself. Taking into consideration the fact that this is a neon (which are notoriously tricky to apply), and you'll understand my never-ending amazement at this great formula. I always wear this at two coats, which is what I have in the swatches, but you'll still see some visible nail lines at that. I like that soft, slightly squishy look, but you can add one more coat for total coverage if you prefer.

I know some people are a little weary of wearing neons, but this one actually isn't too loud. It's bright enough to be noticed, but not so loud as to be obnoxious. I always get tons of compliments when wearing it.

I don't think I will ever tire of looking at this beauty. It's a fantastic color—intense, vivid, and happy. It's my pedicure color of choice for the summer; I think I've been wearing it more than half of the time so far. If Zoya ever discontinues this shade, I'd be sad panda, which reminds me that I must get a few backup bottles, just in case. :)

Priti NYC Australia Summer 2014 Collection

Ah ha, so I haven't been imagining it! This summer has indeed been hotter than usual. On average, we've been running about five degrees warmer every day for the month of July. Yikes! And the trend's continuing so far for August. You can be sure I am counting down the days to fall. :P

In the meantime, I'm taking full advantage by wearing tons of brights and neons, which is one of my favorite nail polish trends. And today, I've got one such collection I've really been enjoying to show you. Priti NYC's Australia Summer Collection is comprised of four intense, bright colors, perfect for this sweltering weather. :)

OPI Ford Mustang Collection

When I was in high school, I loved reading Nancy Drew mysteries. Here was this super cool girl who solves crimes and helps people, all the while remaining witty, unflappable, and likable. And Nancy drives a Ford Mustang! As an impressionable youth, that fact seared itself into my mind and throughout the entirety of my teen years, the Mustang remained my dream car.

Needless to say, I was pretty excited when I saw the collaboration between OPI and Ford to celebrate the Mustang's 50th anniversary, and I've now got the six-piece collection in my paws to show you. :)