gems

OPI – “Alpine Snow”

ahhhh butter…. LONDON

This polish is dreamy. Creamy consistency, wonderful opacity and color saturation AND 3-Free.

What a perfect color. I’m such a coral/melon/peach type of girl. So, this is already a favorite.

butter LONDON – “Trout Pout”

For some reason, I just felt this color would be great to try as a ruffian inspired manicure…. which, before, I wasn’t the biggest fan of….. now…. I am. I just love it. Smile

Daisy Crazy

Apr29 by Cheryl Cheryl

China Glaze – “Sky High-Top”

Play time

Apr27 by Cheryl Cheryl

I was thinking that Chicago was going to just skip right over Spring. But alas, the weather is starting to get some act right. FINALLY! And with the warming temperatures, I was feeling more playful…on my nails, at least. I started by chopping them off which is always like a fresh start and always seems to make nail art more fun for me. I am also seemingly way more productive. Then…..

A bunch of Essie colors and a couple OPI colors later…. along with some
dots with acrylic paint in: yellow, green, blue, pink and gray

SweetTarts

Apr19 by Cheryl Cheryl

Well, my “regular” polish phase ended abruptly when I purchased new gelish no-chip colors this week. It’s sad that I have polish ADD. I really don’t know how people WANT to keep the same polish for two whole weeks. LOL.

So I did my no-chip manicure… let’s see how long I can keep it. This will definitely be a challenge. I give myself until Sunday before I absolutely have to remove this and change the polish. Smile

gelish – “You’re Such A Sweet-Tart” w/ “Twinkle” (on the nail tips)
[no-chip polish]

practice, practice, practice

Apr15 by Cheryl Cheryl

I really need to practice my filigree with a paintbrush more….. Smile

OPI – “Can’t Find My Czechbook” & “OPI on Collins Ave”
w/turquoise nail gems

Louis Vuitton Round Two

Apr9 by Cheryl Cheryl

It’s clearly an incredible brand….. but they have the greatest window displays.

Perfect for my nail canvas. So…. here’s the Spring Summer 2013 Edition. Smile

OPI – “Alpine Snow” & “The It Color”

See, told you.

Apr2 by Cheryl Cheryl

Smile

Regular polish is so much fun.

I was playing in acetone (read: doing a client’s manicure), and forgot I didn’t have on no-chip polish…. so I got to change my polish (read: my manicure got trashed, lol).

That’s when I realized, I can’t wait for summer. Not necessarily for the heat…. because y’all know how much I LOVE snow… but, I can’t wait for the summer colors! I got a jumpstart:

OPI – “In My Back Pocket”, “Greenwich Village” & “The It Color”
w/ my remaining gold and glitz polishes from before & acrylic paint animal print

IMG_6426[1]

Taking a break….

Mar31 by Cheryl Cheryl

….from no-chip polish, that is.

As practical as no-chip manicures seem to be, they completely eliminate the absolute FUN of manicures!!!!

I need to go back to the “convenience” of changing my polish and nail designs at least two or three times a week. No-chip is just way too much maintenance for that scenario. I know, I know…. people LOVE no-chip! Some anyway….

Lots of people complain that it thins their nails, removal is a burden…. it’s more expensive…. etc., etc… But, of course, it has supporters too: long-wearing, super shiny, strengthens nails, less maintenance, non-smudging immediately after service, manicure that stands up to nail abuse, lol.

It would be practical for me, while I dabble in acetone every day, to have a no-chip. BUT IT’S NOT AS MUCH FUN!!! I promise.

So back to regular polish right now. Smile