Contest Results!

Kristen and Brook, you are the winners!

I'll let Kristen have first pick of the two colors since she was the first winner chosen.

Girls, email me at barelytogether at yahoo dot com with your mailing address please!

Congrats!

NOTD: OPI DS Reflection

OPI DS Reflection

This is the second polish in the Designer Series I have tried, and I can't gush enough about how much I LOVE these polishes.

Application is dreamy- so easy to get perfect application!

Contest!

Manicure Mommas is hosting our first contest and we'll be giving away 2 prizes!

New bottle of OPI Merry Holly-days! (pictured above)

New bottle of OPI Don't Toy With Me! (pictured above)

(I don't have a swatch, but Scrangie does)

There are two ways to enter:


1. Follow us! Become a follower and leave us a comment on this post that you have done so. If you already are a follower, just leave us a comment saying you already are a follower. (and yes, the other Manicure Mommas are eligible to enter the contest!)


2. Do a post linking to our contest. Then leave a separate another comment to tell us you've done that.


Contest will be open until 8 am CST on Friday, January 30. US residents only please.


Maximum number of entries per person is two.

Lookie! Lookie!

On of your Manicure Mommas (me!) is featured as the NOTD on my very favorite nail blog, e-polishblog!

Go check out my gorgeous mani!

NOTD: I'm With Brad

OPI for Sephora

I'm With Brad

Absolutely gorgeous in the sun!

Love my salon trips!

I am just hoping I can get back on a regular schedule! Oy! Here is my latest set ... my fave color is purple, so here is what Tawny and I came up with. Acrylic colors don't have fun names like OPI, but I went with a purple pearl tip with dark pink back fill and added a few hearts for the upcoming love month. :o)

Please don't look too close at the picture if you enlarge - apparently, I need to get a good hand lotion! Ha!

Poshe Basecoat and Topcoat

Christine over at 15 Minute Beauty Fanatic has a great post about Poshe base and top coats.

I've never tried these products, but may do so after reading her routine.

Have you had good luck with them, or what products do you use?

By the way, Christine also had a fabulous post about her nail routine. It's a few years old, but fabulous nonetheless. I would love to hear what our readers use in their nail routines.

Night At the Fights: Poshe Cuticle Care vs. CND Cuticle Eraser

This week I'm going to do a little experiment. I'l be going all mad-scientist on you.

On my left hand, I'll be using Creative Nail Design's Cuticle Eraser. I purchased it at Ulta for $9.50 for 1/2 oz.

On my right hand, I'll be using Poshe Cuticle Care. I purchased it at Ulta for $9.99 for 1/2 oz.

I plan to apply at least twice a day, and post some comparisons and opinions for you.

Stay tuned!

Filing Your Nails

At Katee's suggestion, I recently decided I needed to throw out my old-fashioned Revlon files and convert to the often-mentioned crystal file.

Last month I picked up a NailTek crystal file with the gorgeous pink case shown above. I believe it was $15 at Ulta and I had a coupon for $3.50 off.

Girls, this is one of the secrets to fabulous nails! Crystal file prevent peeling and splitting and are so much easier to use. If you aren't using a crystal file, I insist you convert stat!

Q&A: Do your tips and toes match?

The oh-so-fabulous Katy writes: Here is a discussion topic that you girls MUST cover. Do you keep your toenails the same color as your fingernails? Like...if you have the Lincoln Park on your nails, would you have it on your toes or would you possibly have red toes? This is something to ponder for sure. Another aspect might be...you keep your toes neutral (like French Pedicure) with whatever on the hands. Am I thinking too much into this? I HAVE to take my toenail polish off if it doesn't coincide with my hands. It's a must girls...well at least in my head it is. Love y'all

Sasha's answer: Well, Saturday I went to an in-door splash pad party with WC this weekend and sported Lincoln Park on my fingernails and A Ruby for Rudolph on my toes, so my answer is, I don't worry so much about it. Just as long as they are painted! I absolutely cannot leave the house without my toes painted if there is a chance my toes may be seen! And I'm not a toe-neutral girl. I keep my toenails very short since I run, and the french thing just won't work for me. I'm all about red toes.

What does everyone else think?

NOTD: Essie Love, Beverly Hills xx

I finally got my hot little hands on a bottle of Essie Love, Beverly Hills xx. This pic was taken indoors because it doesn't look like we'll be having sun here for a few days. Tomorrow's high is 29.

But how pretty is that color? My painting job leaves something to be desired, since I painted them in between journal entries today at work. (Shh!!)

I'll definitely be using this color a lot, especially on my toes- so gorgeous! I'm new to Essie (It's Genius was my first Essie purchase), but I really like their polishes.

Edited to add: I did see this color today (1-18-09) at my local Ulta.

NOTD: OPI Lincoln Park At Midnight

OPI Lincoln Park At Midnight (discontinued)

Note: This mani is over 30 hours old... don't you judge!

I very sneakily polished my nails when I got to work on Thursday. That's the great thing about Seche Vite- your nails are dry so quickly!

This polish looks black indoors, but in sunlight, it is a beautiful plum. I typically don't wear vampy colors, but this polish is going to change my mind about that.

And although this is a discontinued color, I just bought a bottle at Ulta last month, so I don't think it's HTF yet.

I Went a Little Crazy

I'm my defense, it was my birthday money I was spending...... but I couldn't resist and ordered some of the OPI for Sephora colors.

How Many Carats? (shimmering snowflake)

Never Enough Shoes (black with multi-color glitter)

I'm With Brad (shimmering wine over dark coffee)

Meet For Drinks (shimmering magenta plum)

Can't wait til they get here!

Fab Deal On Sally Hansen Products!

This week, Walgreen's is running a BOGO free deal on Sally Hansen items.

And Sunday's Red Plum insert has a $1 off coupon for any Sally Hansen product.

YMMV, but you may be able to use two of the $1 off coupons on the two products you purchase. Sometimes the BOGO deal only lets you use one....

See this post to read about the two SH products I recommend.

Happy shopping!

NOTD: OPI DS Extravagance

OPI DS Extravagance

How gorgeous is this color? And application is divine... smooth, almost mistake-proof! The depth of the color in the sunlight is amazing... can't wait to get more of the OPI DS colors!