A Pair of Snowflake Manicures!

Hello!

Now that it's December I've started to go a little festive with my manicures, and today I have two blue snowflake looks to show you - Winter Butterfly and Shimmering Sweater.

For my butterfly mani I layered some stamping to get a snowflake-patterned wing effect. I started with a base colour of Blueberry Muffin by Models Own, then stamped on some snowflakes from one of my Bundle Monster plates. On top went the lovely butterfly wings from Nailz Craze plate NC01. As well as finishing with top coat I painted a layer of it between the two stamping designs, so they wouldn't muddle together.

Next I did a very shiny Christmas pattern mani! My mam chose the colour for this one; the result is nice and festive. I started with Blue Odyssey by Max Factor then stamped on the snowflake sweater pattern from my other Nailz Craze plate, NC03, using Holographic Hero by Gosh.

Hugs,

Lisa xx

Lisa's Operation Update

Hello!

This is just an update for anyone that knew I was going in for gallbladder surgery on Wednesday, plus a manicure to keep it relevant!

The operation was successful and I am now parted from my very troublesome gallbladder! I stayed in hospital overnight and came home on Thursday morning. I'm feeling very well, just a little bit sore, but can move around and do things for myself.

Things didn't go perfectly smoothly - I had a bit of a mental health crisis before being anaesthetised, and the operation itself took longer than normal because my gallbladder was really beaten up - but all is well now.

On the same positive note, here is the beautiful Fantasy Fire by Max Factor which I wore before the day of the operation:

Thanks so much for the support and kind words and I hope to be back posting new manicures soon!

Hugs,

Lisa xx

Halloween French

Hello!

Diary Entry (I won't be offended if you skip to the manicure!) ~ Last post I wrote about how I'm currently having serious problems with my depression. I'm still feeling absolutely awful but I have helplines to call if either I just need to talk or am in any danger, and I have been put on the waiting list for counselling. My job is in jeopardy but they may be willing to take me back on once I'm feeling better, provided I 100% turn up for my shifts. My current plan, other than sleeping a lot, is to keep going along to the charity where I volunteer and hopefully find little jobs to do while I'm not well enough to do my paid work. They've already been really helpful in giving me advice and support. And of course I will try to keep blogging :-)

Phew! Today's manicure was inspired by my awesome friend Kellie. She'd shared with me a photo of a lovely purple mani with a black French tip, and I decided to try a blue variation. The polishes I used are Odyssey Blue by Max Factor and W7's Black, and I topped them with Seche Vite for a glossy finish:

I call this a Halloween French because it's gothic and a bit spooky, but it's not overtly seasonal. I don't really celebrate Halloween but always want to make the most of the relevant nail polish and nail art stuff that I have, so this is a gentle start!

Hugs,

Lisa xx

NOTD: Fantasy Fire!

:-D

Yes, I know, we've seen it before, but I wore it again and had to take piccies! It never ceases to enchant me, the many facets of this polish that come out in different lights. Here I wore it alone in 4 coats; not the most economical but it gives the effect I like best!

Hugs,

Lisa xx

Max Factor ~ Dazzling Blue

Hello!

Dazzling Blue is the polish I bought alongside Fanstasy Fire since they were 2 for £5.99 at Superdrug.  It is shimmery, mermaid-y, barely opaque and has a lot of green tint to it!  It is a lovely polish but Dazzling Blue is a bit of a misnomer!  Here are two coats:

P.S. I forgot that I tried out the polish while my nails were still long as well, here's a flash pic where you can see the green hue:

Hugs,

Lisa xx

Max Factor ~ Fantasy Fire

Hello!

This is the fab UK polish people have been going crazy over!  Superdrug were doing a "2 for £5.99" sale on Max Factor polishes so I snapped up this and one called Dazzling Blue.  Here are 4 coats of Fantasy Fire (pre-nail breakage!):

Yes, it is stunning.  The amazing blue shimmer didn't show at first in my badly-lit bedroom, but when I got some natural light it came alive.  I also tried less coats but with a black base, and you still get the amazing effect, but it has a more ethereal look on its own which I prefer!

Hugs,

Lisa xx

No... no... oh nooooooooooo...

I broke a nail :"-(

Yep, here is a photo of the lovely Fantasy Fire by Max Factor with my heartbreakingly fractured middle fingernail.

*sob sob sob*

I have really strong nails, but with the length I grow them one does inevitably break at some point.  So, like with past accidents, I chopped my nails down to baby-length and prepared to rock some short manis while they grow back.  The post-disaster polish I chose was OPI's So Many Clowns..., a milky soft soothing sheer.

You'll see a couple of long-nail posts from me in the next couple of days using photos I had lined up, including more Fantasy Fire pics!  But for now I shall stare forlornly at my nails and re-learn how to use my smartphone ;-)

Hugs,

Lisa xx

Epic Haul!

So on Monday, to chase away the fear of the dental hospital, I bought 2 big nail polish sets from TK Maxx. Today, to chase away the fear of my interpreting exam, I bought 2 Max Factor polishes and an Accessorize 3D glitter. Then, when I got home, I found my Lena White package of cut-price OPIs waiting for me.

I feel SO SO SO bad. But SO SO SO good at the same time.

At the back ~ Nail polish set by Spring Water Spa (?) ~ Probably not a wise buy, but hey, £4.99.

Below that ~ All About French set by Color Club
Far left ~ Play the Peonies by OPI
2nd left ~ I Lily Love You by OPI
3rd left ~ I Vant to be A-Lone Star by OPI 

4th left ~ Fantasy Fire by Max Factor ~ Saw this talked about in UK Polish Paupers and needed it!
5th left ~ Dazzling Blue by Max Factor ~ It was 2 for £5.99 ^_^ 

6th left ~ Emerald City by Accessorize ~ Wearing it now, full post to come, but it's beautiful!
Far right ~ Femme de Cirque minis by OPI

Hugs,

Lisa xx