Mint Green and Gold

I love the color combination of mint green and gold. There's something about it that conveys a discreet sophistication to me. It might have to do with my boundless adoration for Ladurée, the French pastry shop that I fell in love with on one my earlier trips to Paris. Every trip I've made back since then, I've stopped by for a box of their macaroons. If you think, as I once did, that macaroons are always these crumbly, dry hockey pucks that taste like tanning lotion smells (coconut and, well, who knows what else...) there's a whole other world out there.

The macaroons at Ladurée are light little merengue jewels, with flavors as varied as dark chocolate, rose (yes, they really taste like roses smell!), blackberry, pistachio and a vanilla that's far from boring.

Image Credit: letartinegourmand.com

So notice the packaging behind those little sweet morsels of heaven? Mint green and gold are Ladurée's signature colors. When I bought a bottle of Essie's Navigate Her I knew the shade reminded me of something I really liked, although at first I couldn't quite remember what. Then once I got it home and played with it a bit I whipped this up:



To create this look, I started with my usual coat of CND Stickey Base Coat.  
I then applied two coats of Essie Navigate Her, the mint green background color.
I stamped the wave pattern using a generic gold stamping polish.
I finished off this manicure by using Essence Matt topcoat to mute the effect a bit.

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The Megan Draper Mani

I'm a huge fan of "Mad Men". Have been since the first season. While playing with a beautiful new green ANNY polish I got a few days ago I did this stamped mani.

So why am I calling it the Megan Draper Mani? The deep green creme polish stamped with a shimmering gold in a somewhat Mod pattern that likely would have been popular in the second half of the 60's is a look the young and fashion-forward new Mrs. Draper could appreciate. I like to think it's perhaps how she would've done her nails when she sang "Zou Bisou Bisou" to her husband at his birthday party...if nail stamping was around in 1966, of course.

For this look, I started off with a coat of CND Stickey Base Coat and applied two coats of ANNY Green Racing Drag. The ANNY polishes, by the way, are fantastic. Huge range of shades, highly pigmented and they apply like silk. I also have very few tipwear issues with their colors.

I then used a no-name generic gold stamping polish to stamp the full nail design shown.

I finished up by sealing it with a coat of Seche Vite top coat.

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First Manicure Post!

Ever since I discovered nail stamping almost a year ago, I've just completely fallen in love with it. I love what seems to be an endless range of color combinations and designs you can play with on those ten little canvases that are literally right at your fingertips.

To create this look, I started with CND Stickey Base Coat, then applied two coats of Chanel Vendetta (a very dark bluish purple with a subtle fine shimmer) for the background color.

For the stamping polish, I used Essence Silver Stampy Polish on an XL nail plate and chose the full nail design you see in the photo.

I then sealed it with a coat of Seche Vite top coat.

The design reminds me in some ways of traditional Japanese woodcuts or textiles.

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Hello and Welcome!

After months of thinking about it, hemming and hawing, and lots of encouragement from friends and loved ones, here is my humble little nail blog.

I hope to update regularly and look forward to your visits!