NPB Glitter A-peel base coat

I know everyone has heard and probably tried using the glue base coat to make having a glitter mani easier, but kinda gave up after a while. At least I did. I used the glue base a few times, and though it was a lot easier then removing glitter on it's own, it had it's downfalls. One being it's drying time, which is FOREVER. As well as the wear time, which I've heard is only a day or two, though I've never tested it. So after some searching I came across something that would possibly make it easier. After reading some reviews and seeing it was available for purchase, I decided to try out Nail Pattern Boldness - Glitter A-peel. After I ordered and received it a few days later I decided to try it out! First I wanted to test the drying time. The drying time for GA-P is so fast, way better than glue. I haven't tested the wear time on this yet though, since I just wanted to see if it's easy to remove. Oh boy was it! I used an OPI Liquid sand that I had. I'm not sure how easy it is to remove Liquid sands with just acetone, but it was a breeze with Glitter A-peel. I used two coats of GA-P and two coats of OPI Liquid sand- Can't let go. It seems that it works better with two coats as a base rather than one.  After testing it with my left hand first I was able to peel them off in large chunks, then I tried it with my right hand by putting a cuticle stick under the tip of the polish and it came off in whole sheets! I think I'm going to test it later, to see about the wear time, and with a top coat. Clean up was simple as well, it left a tiny bit on the nail which came off with one swipe of acetone, but if you wanted you could use non-acetone remover to make it less harsh on your nails. You can purchase it on Etsy or the store site. Here's the facebook page! http://www.facebook.com/NailPatternBoldness

Here are some of the pics I took of it!

Swatchy goodness

I haven't done a blog post in a while, and I apologize for that. Been a crazy new year. Anyway to make up for it I've done an assortment of swatches of some of the polishes I've gotten or had for a little bit. I hope you enjoy. Just a warning this is pic heavy.

This is one of the scented colors from the "candy shop" 5 pack that was at Rite aid during Christmas. The scent for this is "Vanilla Frosting" I think it smelled like vanilla, not too sweet though. Enough for me to keep sniffing my nails. Ring finger and pinky have a top coat. Which you can still smell it through the top coat. Also I forgot to put white undies with it, since it's neon even after three coats you could see my nail.

 This is another of the Fresh paint colors from Five below. It's purple with some silver glitter that kinda changes colors to a goldish color.

Oh man, this one. I love this color from Pure ice. Maybe I just love cremes, not sure. Honestly I think this color looks pretty with my skin color. Loving this green though. This was also WITHOUT any type of topcoat, very shiny and super smooth.

 Ah! Here's my little treat for everyone. I've noticed that people are really into holos these last few months, so I decide to share two of mine. Both have undies of Sinful colors- Jungle trail. First is Sally Hansens hard as nails in Night Lights. I heard that this was only in a certain gift set or something a few years ago? I'm not sure I don't really remember how I got it, but I love it of course! It's a dark grey holo. It's pretty sheer on it's own even with a few coats, hence the undies. Second is NOPI's make a comet-ment, which is a silver holo. Very pretty! I wasn't sure how sheer this was so I just put it over the same undies as the other. Of course it looks awesome too!

Updates and nails

I'm sorry everyone! I know I haven't posted in a while. (Besides my entry) The internet that we had wasn't even allowing the posting forum to load, that's how slow it was. Now that I have good internet again I'll be able to post more! There are tons of nail polish giveaways and contest going on, so make sure to look on my FB page to see some of the ones I've posted for you all. They're really good ones.

Like this nail art I did for this contest by Nail Polish Creations.

I did a purple holo gradient. With a purple holo base and a SC glitter polish. For the ring finger I used some shard/shred glitter that I got in an 8 pack at the dollar store. It's a light lilac/white glitter. I did use a top coat except for on the ring finger.

Polishes used:

Milani 35 Holographic- Hi-res

Sinful colors- I miss you

Jordana top coat.     

 

Pure Ice contest entry

As you can see form the title I decide to participate in the Pure Ice contest! It's a nail art contest and they're asking for you to do something that you love about where you live (City, state etc).

There weren't any rules stating that you had to use pure ice polishes for this contest but I did anyway because I had the perfect colors for what I wanted! I live in VA and in the community I live in we have a huge lake in the middle of everything. I'm right down the road from a Marina. That being said, I love the lake and the fishing there! I've always loved to fish since I was a tiny little girl, so it brings up the good memories I've had while living where I do. On my nails I decided to showcase the good and bad days of fishing. When there are fish and when there aren't lol. Either way I love it! Let me know what you guys think, in the comments. I'll list the polishes I used and the contest link.

Pure Ice- Calypso, Hot Tamale

Revlon top speed- Espresso

Wet n' Wild fast dry- Buffy the Violet Slayer

Funky Fingers- Mermaid Lagoon

Jordana- Black

#PUREICEMYCITY

Name/Blog name: Amanda, Lacquer Wizard

Town/City/State: Locust Grove, VA

Why you love it:  I live in VA and in the community I live in we have a huge lake in the middle of everything. I'm right down the road from a Marina. That being said, I love the lake and the fishing there! I've always loved to fish since I was a tiny little girl, so it brings up the good memories I've had while living where I do. On my nails I decided to showcase the good and bad days of fishing. When there are fish and when there aren't lol. Either way I love it!  Copied from above post.

PURE ICE CONTEST

1/17/2013- I edited the post to add two more pictures of the art.

Recent Hauls

I've been so busy with work lately I haven't been able to do a blog post of the stuff I've gotten recently! I got some clearance things a week or so ago along with a LacquerHead polish and cuticle oil. Then I also got some stuff tonight at CVS! Some for me and some for gifts, the gifts I did take pics of though. I love clearance and I hardly ever buy anything full price anymore. Here's the pics from my hauls! By the way, the chocolate cupcake scented polish smells SUPER good.

 

Liebster Awards!

I'm sooooo late on this, but I was nominated for the Liebster Award by two bloggers! The Blahg and Color the world with polish. Yaaay! Here we go.

The rules!

1. You must post 11 facts about yourself.

2. You must answer the 11 questions that the blogger who nominated you asked.

 3. You must then come up with 11 questions and tag 11 bloggers with less then 200 followers. No tag backs please!

 

 Here are my 11 Facts!

1. Pepsi is my favorite drink ever

2. I only ever sleep with Jersey knit blankets and sheets.

3. I like smelly things (candles, lotion, sprays) just as much as nail polish.

4. I have tons of pretty makeup but I rarely wear it unless it's a special occasion.

5. I have a few piercings, labret, industrial, navel, and 3 in each ear. As well as one tattoo.

6. My Zodiac is Taurus.

7. I hate the color pink! lol

8. I think I might like Halloween more than Christmas, maybe. I love both, but Halloween might be my fav.

9. I still love watching Disney movies.

10. I went to Germany, Netherlands, Scotland, and England when I was 15.

11. I love Kosher dill pickles! 

 Questions from The Blahg!

1. PETS! Show me! If you don't have one, we can cry together. I mean, tell me what you WOULD like ;)-----I do have a pet, a cute little puppy(She's almost 2 years old but still a puppy to me!)
2. What got you into painting your nails?----- Not really sure, I've been collecting nail polish since I was 5! A little less than half of my polish is from the 90's. I guess if anything my mom probably got me into it.
3. What got you into blogging about it?----- After realizing that I had so much nail polish and reading other blogs and seeing pictures from other bloggers, it just kind of clicked that that's what I should be doing. It just felt right. =)
4. What's your favorite specific polish so far?----- Ohhh this is a tough one. I guess I'd have to say Sinful Colors in UFO. It's just sooooo glittery.
5. Is there a cause you identify with (cancer, cystic fibrosis, transgender, depression, etc, etc...)? Wanna talk about it?----- Cancer and Suicide awareness. My Great grandma actually just died a few days ago due to lung cancer. =( Also one of my friends when I was in High School killed herself, and the reasons really weren't clear, but she was a dear friend of mine before we went to different schools. I would just like people to be more aware of these things and realize how suicide and illnesses affect others and their families.
6. What do you (want to) do with your life?----- Honestly I'm not sure. Recently though I had a hankering to maybe be a Nail tech?
7. M&Ms or Smarties?----- M&M's mmmmm chocolate.
8. Are you right handed or left handed?----- Right!
9. What is your first memory?---- I remember when I was maybe 3-4 going around the yard looking for hidden Easter eggs that my parents hid with my doggie Poo Bear.
10. What's your favorite indie brand polish? If you haven't tried any, which one are you lemming?---- I haven't tried any just yet, but I did already order some from Black Cat Lacquer and LacquerHead polish which should be coming tomorrow!
11. What is the strangest/most unusual dish you have ever eaten, was it good, and where did it come from (what country is it indigenous to)?----- Uhhh, not really a dish, but I did have some Octopus Jerky that I'm guessing is a snack in Japan? I got it from a little corner Asian store.

And now for Color the world with polish's questions!

 

 1. Do you have any children, if so how old are they?---- Noooo, no kids for me yet.
2. Do you have an IPhone?---- Nope, no iPhone. I don't even have a smart phone. lol
3. What is your favorite animal?---- Dogs! I have the cutest puppy.
4. Favorite candy?---- Anything with Hershey's chocolate mmm..
5. Do you play video games, whats your favorite one?---- I do! I love playing games. Xbox, PS2, and PC. My Favorite has to be Shadow Hearts Covenant for PS2.
6. Can you name your top 3 favorite movies?---- Aladin, The Crow, and Anastasia.
7. Do you like matte or shiny nails?---- Shiny
8.  Do you have a hero in your life?---- I can't really think of one.
9. Do you like black polish or colorful polishes?---- Both! I like color sometimes and I like black sometimes.
10. Are my questions boring?---- Not at all!
11. Are you thinking about ( or have) a career as a nail tech?---- I have been thinking about it recently. I'd love to do it.

Now time for my questions!

1. Do you know exactly how many nail polishes you have, if so what's the number?
2. How long have you been blogging, or thinking about blogging?
3. If you had to wear one color on your nail the rest of your life, what would it be? (Thankfully this would never happen. lol)
4. What is your favorite food?
5. Favorite thing besides nail polish?
6. One of your favorite traditions that you do during the Holidays?
7. Name one thing you've been anxiously waiting for, or not looking forward to happening?
8. What was your favorite thing to do as a kid?
9. What is/was your favorite TV show, if you don't watch TV name a movie?
10. What do you think is the cutest thing ever?
11. How much time do you think you spend on average painting your nails a week?

Now for the nominees!

1. Once Bitten Nails 
2. Polish me MANLY 
3. Adventures in Mani-land 
4. UndacovaNailLova 
5. The Girl with a bow 
6. Polish Pauper 
7. The Nail Obession
8. Lacquer Lad
9. Nails N stuff
10. Nails 4 Dummies
11. Happiness is a Dry Nail

1Q32 Instant Gellish BabyQ review

Hello again everyone! Finally got a new computer and had a day off work. I've been waiting a while to be able to do this review since I got it over a week ago. So without further delay lets get to it!

First off I want to say that I've never used Gel before, so this truly was a new experience for me. I have to say though, it was a very good experience. It's super easy to work with, went on smooth and even. Also it doesn't have a bad odor at all (to me anyway) Regular nail polish usually kills me, since I have asthma, but this was fairly easy for me to breath while working with it. Best of all it took less than 5 minutes to complete the full manicure! With virtually no clean up, if you get some on your finger while putting it on you can just wipe it off (I'm messy with everything though so don't mind me). It was also very true to color, from the picture of the color on the bottle as well as the website. The color is vibrant and shiny once cured, even without the Top Q (which isn't exactly needed but I put it on anyway). I pretty much fell in love with this right after putting it on, it was so easy, simple, and took no time at all. It's perfect for beginners, someone that doesn't have a lot of time to do their nails, or just plain awesome for anyone else! Mine came with a very handy instruction sheet with step by step how to.

Here are some pictures of 3 of the steps that I did.

Nice clean nails!

 First coat, made sure to make it very thin.

After two coats, cured and ready to go! This one is without the Top Q top coat.

 

 After applying and curing with the TopQ top coat. Extra bright and shiny.

 If you have any questions, just leave a comment!

If you would like to purchase anything, please visit their website http://1q32.com/en/home.html. Here is their current promotion!

Make sure to mention my blog if you do decide to purchase anything! =)