I almost never wear nail polish on my hands.
As a gardener and an overall klutz, I am always chipping it off and it looks horrible after a couple of days and it never seems worth the effort.
My toes on the other hand, are almost always covered in polish. This past Monday I went for a pedicure. It had been awhile; I normally do my own pedicures because I am, well, cheap. However, I received a gift certificate to a local spa awhile back and decided that this was the day to use it.
The results:
But there is something about the holiday season that brings out every ounce of excess in me...I despair for the house this season as I will have time to REALLY decorate, not just slapdash it all up...I feel positively Fezziwig-ish in November and December leading up to the holidays!
Someone may need to reach out and comfort old Barry...
Anyhow, dear daughter and I were shopping for nail polish last week and we came upon the Mariah Carey OPI Holiday Collection.
Oh Mariah - you can sing, but you kind of scare me, though you do make some pretty nail polish colours!
There are delicious reds and glittery pots of sequin-y goodness!
I admit that Cute Little Vixen (on my toes up above) and In My Santa Suit came home with me, as did this little number:
It is clear nail polish with these random sequin/rhinestone/disco ball bits in it. You KNOW I had to have it! And of course I had to try it out on my more neutrally polished fingernails to show you the effect:
The colour I am wearing underneath this crazy bling is And This Little Piggy (see below) and it is very pretty. Of course, this is already chipping off and it is all coming off this morning anyway, since even me, in all of my excesses, doesn't really like running around with disco ball fingers unless I am heading to a party!
How about you? Do you go for the nail colour come the Holiday Season? What brands or shades do you love? Do you think crazy bling on your nails is over the top?
Have an awesome Wednesday and stay safe out there!
As a gardener and an overall klutz, I am always chipping it off and it looks horrible after a couple of days and it never seems worth the effort.
My toes on the other hand, are almost always covered in polish. This past Monday I went for a pedicure. It had been awhile; I normally do my own pedicures because I am, well, cheap. However, I received a gift certificate to a local spa awhile back and decided that this was the day to use it.
The results:
But there is something about the holiday season that brings out every ounce of excess in me...I despair for the house this season as I will have time to REALLY decorate, not just slapdash it all up...I feel positively Fezziwig-ish in November and December leading up to the holidays!
Someone may need to reach out and comfort old Barry...
Anyhow, dear daughter and I were shopping for nail polish last week and we came upon the Mariah Carey OPI Holiday Collection.
Oh Mariah - you can sing, but you kind of scare me, though you do make some pretty nail polish colours!
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There are delicious reds and glittery pots of sequin-y goodness!
I admit that Cute Little Vixen (on my toes up above) and In My Santa Suit came home with me, as did this little number:
It is clear nail polish with these random sequin/rhinestone/disco ball bits in it. You KNOW I had to have it! And of course I had to try it out on my more neutrally polished fingernails to show you the effect:
The colour I am wearing underneath this crazy bling is And This Little Piggy (see below) and it is very pretty. Of course, this is already chipping off and it is all coming off this morning anyway, since even me, in all of my excesses, doesn't really like running around with disco ball fingers unless I am heading to a party!
How about you? Do you go for the nail colour come the Holiday Season? What brands or shades do you love? Do you think crazy bling on your nails is over the top?
Have an awesome Wednesday and stay safe out there!
Lovely pedicure!
ReplyDeleteI am a bit of a late-starter with nail colour, but for the last year or so I have rarely been without colour on my fingers or toes.
I love dark, vampy shades in winter, and brighter orangey shades in Summer. At the moment, a favourite is OPI hot and spicy.
I sometimes get a shellac colour done at my local nail place. It lasts for about 10 days and one of the best things about it is that it is dry immediately. The only bad thing is the pain of removing it - you need to soak it off with acetone, which can't be good for nails or skin. I only do this occasionally, but it does make normal colour seem very fast to chip!
Shellac is for special occasions only, it really is tough on nails Ruth!
DeleteHI Ruth and CSW - I avoid the shellacs for that reason, plus I have a claustrophobia if I can't get something off in seconds! I love dark colours in winter and wish I could wear oranges in summer, but the reality is, I stay very Caspar-ish in the summer so orange and pink is a little much..
DeleteOh I know, shellac can wreak havoc if done too often - one of my gfs had a shellac disaster after a long period of having it done.
DeleteI will get it done for our wedding anniversary trip/start of silly season, but then will leave my fingers nude for their annual rehab in Jan/Feb
PS, that sparkly sequin polish is da bomb!
ReplyDeleteOh those sequins will be out a lot very soon and they come off very quickly last night!
DeleteI love dark burgundy on nails, and soft pink. However, since I worked as an archivist for several years diring college and before grad school, I had to forego the polish (can't have polish, even if dry near the art and artifacts). I wonder if Louise can come to my rescue and suggest a natural polish and remover!
ReplyDeleteI am really glad you treated yourself to a pedicure. I've never had one and they scare me, but my friends insist it's a must!
AB - what would we do without Louise? I was harassing her yesterday and she is always so patient with us all!
DeleteI think I am going to try the silvery white tonight. It is so pretty!
I love a pedicure, but I feel an awful need to chat the whole time. Sigh...
I like to look at mags I wouldn't buy.
DeleteI should bring a book next time! I have difficulty not chatting with people. It drives Barry mad!
DeleteI'm sure it's endearing! Mags are good because you can read and chat.
Deletemust confess, love pedis, and for me the best part is the foot & leg massage. I've been known to tell the tech to skip the color and do extra massage instead.
ReplyDeletecurrent color favorites: Chanel Alchimie, Frenzy, Particulière, Deborah Lippman Modern Love.
I love the massages as well - have booked a back and neck massage for next Monday! I haven't tried chanel as you can't buy it here in town. I tried Deborah Lippman once but wasn't good with it for some reason?
Deletethe DL polishes take a loooong time to dry, which is fine with me because I sit with feet up and read (pedis being best at end of day anyway). Like any other brand, some DL colors are better than others. Another color I like is called Naked. One coat gives you a nice clean look, two a pale neutral, three is devastating. Also loving Dior Trianon, and the Dior brush is the best.
DeleteTOTALLY Agree re Dior brush!!
DeleteWintertime is vamp time!
ReplyDeleteI usually paint my toes but not my fingers as fingers require so much upkeep. But I absolutely love the very lightly tinted sparkly OPI polishes. Katy Perry put out a collection a year or two back with some great ones, and I still really enjoy them. My toes are almost always painted in OPI Malaga Wine or Miami Beet. I don't even bother with non-OPI polishes anymore -- the ease of their application and how long they stay on has made me a loyal customer!
ReplyDeleteM - I think we might be sisters from another mother, separated by about 15 years!
Delete:) Think of me when you acquire your next set of crazy pants!
DeleteI love a pedicure. Must admit a pro one lasts twice as long. More subtle with my color in sandal season but I go bold in winter. I actually get a kick seeing my tootsies swathed in dark red, blue whatever when I first get up. I prefer Essie and Opi. Manicures...I hate my old lady hands so they never have anything on them. I do have the strongest nails out there and they grow like weeds.
ReplyDeleteYou are so lucky to have strong nails - mine are bad! I have old lady hands too, so I prefer buffed nails usually or pale nails for that reason and DARK on the toes. And you are right - the professional pedi will last for weeks!
DeleteI think you are always a bit of a vamp, CSW!
ReplyDeleteI'm like you, I only do pedis and I treat myself to a foot spa and pedi once a month to get the dry skin off. Seeing it on you, I think I will try that sparkly topcoat. Looks very fun. I use only one color on my toes, a lush red (Essie Pouf Daddy). What's with all these nail colors and singers?
ReplyDeleteI know! Those pop singers love their nail polish! Will look for that Essie colour!
DeleteNo hand nail polish here either, even when I got married. I've had pedis a few times a year only in the past 10 years; I only have nice Whitney do them. I can't go to the quicky places-- fussy and I've diagnosed badass infections in a couple of women who frequent them. Orange in the summer-- Cajun shrimp is fun ( Opi). Pale pink--Italian Love Affair.
ReplyDeleteYou did a great job on your own! Mine looks like J Pollack.
But then they must look like art!
DeleteOh I love a Pedi - it was always my indulgence when pregnant to go to one of those cheap asian run nail bars and sit in a massage chair while someone else sorted my feet out.
ReplyDeleteI don't wear polish on my fingers generally as it chips off in 2 seconds, plus it draws attention to my hands which my husband has flatteringly compared to a washer woman's (as I get eczema on them...) . So I do neutral only on fingers, and brights on toes. But I hate all polish colours other than the classic red/pink/coral colours. I'm not sure why, but blues and greens will never be seen on my toes. xx
Maybe I should send your husband a picture of mine and he would lay off!
DeleteTry Zoya polish and remover. They are great and the colors are so pretty.
ReplyDeleteI love dark colors on my toes, but in the summer I sometimes go for super bright colors too. I have my hands done most of the time too, except when I am super stressed. Nothing beats a good salon pedi, but I like doing my own manis. I am very particular and hate sloppy paint jobs or bad cuticles. I find that I shape my nails better myself.
Your toes look adorable!
Bet she has a review, but very curious what Louise has to say about Zoya and relative eco status, a lot of spas tout it. I find the brush drags a bit compared to OPI or Essie, even when new. A totally envious of your ability to shape your nails well, can never get both hands same, right always looks more square.
DeleteGF - it took years of practice and finding perfect nail files (not too rough). I used to hate the process, but now find it enjoyable.
DeleteI have had a few not so great Zoya polishes, but most of mine apply great.
I won't even discuss my hands - the topic - and my inabilities in that area - is painful! I have never even heard of Zoya!
DeleteNAILED IT I'm like Lane, never painted my fingernails, even wedding day. I do love the French polish look (so dainty.) But have worked with too many people in the food biz and type too much. I love the idea of Shellac, but my fingernails are already weak and ridged - no go.
ReplyDeleteToes, now that's a whole 'nother story. A few years ago OPI did a Canada collection and I actually hoarded colours, including At Your Quebec & Call, a verdigris blue-green based on the hotel's copper roof that was actually very flattering on. I am a sandal girl at soul and like BB pretty toes before the socks and slippers make me happy. Mostly dark colours these days like Essie Chinchilla. And if Chanel 18 Rouge Noir ever gets discontinued, I will be in trouble.
As for the holiday decking, love it. We are very minimalist, condo and no place to store masses of boxes. But I do a different themed baby tree every year, hubs always curious what I will come up with next. And must start stalking Loblaws for their Canadiana collection of ornaments this year.
Yipe, that should say Chateau Frontenac. And Barrie will be fine - he has his fridge for holiday goodies ;-)
DeleteOh interesting! What do you do with the previous year's themed decorations? I am always curious about that! We do a massive tree with family and kids ornaments and antique balls - the décor is very nostalgic for sure! I like Essie Chinchilla - so pretty!
DeleteThe Canadian collection of nail polishes! Well. Like the idea of that blue green.
DeleteHow about santas made from lobster claws ( with little hats and goggly eyes)?
Your toes look so nice!
ReplyDeleteI used to go to cheapie pedicure places,but after I contracted a fungal infection there,I stopped doing that.Had to take medication for 6 month and it wasn't fun.
Now I always do a mani/ pedi by myself.Mostly crazy color on my fingernails,like navy or dark green or burgundy.
On my nails I like classic red,a lighter corals red in the summer and a burgundy in winter.
I meant on my feet I do the classic red.
DeleteI findI can get by once or twice a year with a pedi, but they are really good to have! The rest of the time I do it myself!
DeleteI get a pedicure about once a year, in the summer of course, usually for my birthday. Now that it's winter I have a clear polish on my toes as I can't deal with the upkeep of nail polish. On my char-woman hands forget it. I did have a manicure on holiday and it was great, it actually lasted because I wasn't cooking and cleaning all day. It's funny I love fancy things but I've never been good with make-up and nail polish and stuff like that. My sister is an expert at all of these things. I guess she got that gene, Nana was obsessed with nails and make-up!
ReplyDeleteThe polishes you chose are SO WENDY. Girlfriend you know your style!
Ha! You are making me laugh after all my whiny navel-gazing over on your blog in the last day!!!
DeleteI am pretty good with makeup, but my hands are char woman hands like yours!
Tiny disco balls for your toes, of course you had to have it, they made it especially for you! I can't bare any nail polish, toes or hands, again it's because back in the 80's I had enormously long painted talons, my nails grow like billyo and are rock hard - they used to be the talk of the town, I was asked to cut them off for charity once!
ReplyDeletethat is so interesting - you were like an original Housewife of London!!!!
DeleteConfession time - I used to get over-the-top 3D manicures from one of my Japanese friends. I loved it, but after about a year or so, felt I needed to move on from the trend. But sometimes I look down and just really miss my crazy nails. Most of the time now, I use Essie's Sugar Daddy on my fingers and OPI's My Chihuahua Bites on my toes.
ReplyDeleteLove that color on your toenails, and am so glad you pampered yourself a little bit!
I love the name of that OPI polish! 3D manicures! I would be afraid to touch anything!
DeleteMerry Wife, I love My Chihuahua Bites! That and Hot & Spicy are my summer favourites!
DeleteHi Wendy, I only do a professional mani-pedi once a year or so, and the rest of the time I just keep things tidy and pale - favourites right now are Essie Mademoiselle and Ballet Slippers, plus Butter London All Hail the Queen. I like the look of dark shades, but chipping would drive me crazy, so I don't bother.
ReplyDeleteI really should go more often for a pedicure though - last time I felt like I was walking on air, my feet felt so good!
I adore wearing darker nail polish in fall and winter, especially with short nails since I type all day long. I love having red, or purple, or sometimes turquoise on my toes though. ;)
ReplyDeleteI like wearing some kind of nail polish on both my toenails and fingernails. I usually wear whatever is on sale at J. Crew. My last two have been Sugar Crush for the toenails (sparkly like yours) and Tulle Time for fingernails (almost clear), both from Face. I loathe spas, so I always give myself the manis/pedis.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your new polish!
Wow, in comparison to the data here I think I am high maintenance on the pedi, every 2 weeks no matter what. Okay I miss once a year or so. But the manicure is my problem child, fingernails are weak and sickly no matter what I do. But those lovely toes when I get out of the shower make it all worthwhile.
ReplyDeleteHi Wendy, this comment is coming a few months late (!!), but I have been thinking of buying a nail polish with silver glitter to do a glitter gradient manicure, and I remembered seeing a glitter polish on your blog, so I tracked this post down! Unfortunately, I never got to comment on this post (it was a very hectic time), but I think it looks excellent on you, so fun and sparkly. Must definitely go and find a glitter polish now!! (Also I just noticed AnthroBlogger and GetFresh had asked for my opinion on nail polish - sorry I missed seeing their comments, as I do have a couple suggestions!)
ReplyDelete