Weekend Funnies

Kaz - I'm trying really hard to tell my Marvels from my DCs - see?

Congrats to my adopted home city of Melbourne, who today got the Guinness World Record for most people dressed as Superheroes in one place!

These are some of the cuties there today -

Photo: Alex Coppel

Ian McKellen's in the hizzouse, bwoi!

I don't watch Idol (Aussie or US versions) so it took me a while to hear about this, but please load the vid, then skip to 4:15 and kneel to your queen!

New Gumleaf Mafi-ettes

With all the upheavals the last couple of months, I have completely failed in my Godmotherly duties and am behind the times with mentioning new members of our Australian polish bloggers community!

Luckily Kaz over at Pretty Random has been on top of things and recruited some new members.

So welcome to -

Sunglasses After Dark (who is soon to be in Australia)
Meg Is A Nail Geek
Less Than A Queen
Bec's Beauty Buzz
Konad-licious
Love Vulcanella

So update your lists, all current Mafia members!
Isn't it nice to see the Aussie bloggers coming to the party?

If you're an Australian blogger who features polish and would like to join the circle, just contact one of our members - we'll coo-ee! each other ;)

IMPRESSION NAIL ART AND MORE

I'm going through a phase again this time it is with young nails impression tools. If you think these nails are wild and crazy you should meet this client of mine! LOL

This is one of the newest glitters from sparklesnailproducts.com. I added the white star using an impression nail stick from youngnails.com. Everything I have purchased from young nails has been amazing and has really made my job so much easier! Thank you Young Nails!

All of the dots (except for the black polish dots) in this design are done with acrylic. I used golden halo from sparklesnailproducts.com as the base color.

Super fun confetti nails. I mixed this confetti with clear acrylic. I just love when it's so easy to do something that turns out so cute.

This is opi gel nail polish in louvre me louvre me not. The white star is a sticker that changes colors in the sun!

I used 3 different colors of purple on these nails and added some moody confetti from young nails. I added some silver and black polish to really give them that extra edge! I loooove these!

A classic black and silver design.

I'm loving this bright yellow. It's from the neon glitter collection at artglitter.com.

The color of these nails is blue and yellow but my camera just doesn't like to photograph the lighter colors as well. I'm sure it's probably the photographers fault.

The rule when I do nails is if you don't decide on a design or color then chances are you'll probably get purple! I embedded all sorts of different things in these nails and also used an impression tool from young nails to make a star on a few of the nails.

Nubar Night Sparkle

I seem to be coming down with something.
I'm hoping it's Disco Fever, Bouzouki Fever, or even the dreaded Bieber Fever, but it's feeling more like a cold or flu.

My eyeballs feel like they're independent of the rest of my skull. It's rather weird.
I bet people would pay assloads to feel like this voluntarily, but I have work in the morning and I really don't have time for a Flu or LSD freakout right now.

So anyway, as I can't seem to blink in unison I'll just leave you to enjoy the pretty pictures of one of the best, most sophisticated glitters (yes, you can get sophisticated glitters!) on the market - Nubar's Night Sparkle...






Oh hey - who brought the pink elephants?

JUST ANOTHER BLOG

These nails were inspired by a photo my client found on the internet. You really can't go wrong with anything pink and black.

These nails are done with colors from the diva collection. I hand painted on the top. I used acrylic paint mixed with water to help it glide on. I also used a small inexpensive brush that I purchased from the craft store.



This is my first attempt at a 3d flower. The color on the nails is hot kiss with pink & yellow mylar added.

Weekend Funnies

Ah, the weekend! It's a glorious autumn Saturday morning. The sun is shining, the air is crisp, the leaves are falling. And I have to go to work. Ugh.
Here's this week's funnies and a few of my favourite music mash-ups to cheer me up...

100% passion. 100% danger. 100% cotton.

The Clash vs Stevie Wonder -



The Prodigy vs Dee-Lite -

Groove Is In The Girls from Andy Dunproofin on Vimeo.

Nail Art Using 2 Colors on the brush

Nubar Hyacinth Sparkle

Heigh-ho, here's some more of my Nubar Sparkles collection!

Hyacinth is a lovely lavender glitter, but like most of the Sparkles collection, I would recommend you put at least one layer of a similar colour underneath this before applying, or you may have to do 4 coats to reach bottle colour...

I have to admit this is not one of the most exciting colours of the collection, but that's kind of like saying you don't really dig Mr November in a Sexiest Firefighters Calendar. That doesn't mean you would kick him out of bed ;)


Hm. For some reason my camera decided to make this blue-ish in fluoro light. Weird.
Anyhoo - this is still a really lovely glitter. Add a few more points if you like lavender :)

I'm hoping that by the time I've posted my backlog of swatches, my nubbins will have grown out enough for me to photograph. At the mo all my nails are down to the bed. They're quite cute, but much harder to put polish on. I spend a lot more time cleaning up the ends of my fingers especially - polish everywhere!

Nail Art Rising in Europe

After celebrities including Rihanna were spotted wearing elaborate nail art on the red carpet and following reports in various beauty media outlets, this phenomenon previously associated with Japanese beauty trends, European beauty fairs such as the Mondial Spa & Beauté in Paris are now including nail art in their programs.

Longer, 1980s-inspired nails appeared on several runways this season (and Gareth Pugh's show even featured small chains on acrylic nails), and judging from beauty fairs' lineups, nail art usually reserved for the likes of the Tokyo Nail Expo is preparing to enter the mainstream.

For the first time this year, Paris-based Mondial Spa & Beauté (opening March 13) will run an exhibition for nail art and organize a nail art contest under the motto Glam & Rock. Professionals will be invited to take part in the competition, offering their false nail creations live on stage in front of a trade audience.

There will also be a special presentation by nail artist Luc Tuison (of ABC Nailstore), who will introduce the 'stiletto nail,' a technique to make hands look leaner through longer nails, similar to the effect stilettos have on legs.

Other trends dealt with at the event include the medical spa (a fusion between beauty spa and medical practice), sustainable products, LED light in anti-aging, and caramel waxing.

BYS Black Satin

Oh my freaking gawd! If I have to move again in my life it will be too soon.
I'm now firmly ensconced at my friend's house with her 6 cats (she added another one 2 days ago) and wondering how my life has come down to this.
London better be worth it - that's all I'm sayin'...

Anyhoo - let's try to get back to the nails, shall we?
Fashion Addict's Director David sent me BYS's Black Satin quite a while ago, and I'm only just getting round to posting the pics.

Sadly, these nails are now non-existent. I have nub-nubs on all my fingers, thanks to the move. The dream is over. Someone light a candle. Sing a dirge. Slap a Bieber.


I have to say, Black Satin is the best black I've ever tried. Great application - hardly any cleanup. Opaque in one coat, but I used two just to make sure. And plenty glossy on it's own, but in this case I used some BYS UV Top Coat David also sent me...


I've never been able to wear black before on it's own - it just seemed to look gagworthy with my skin. Made the cuticles look really red and florid. But no problemo with this one! I wore it on it's own for a couple of days and it just looked so glam and glossy - so unlike the usual black polish that gets a bad rep.

You CAN rock black polish and not look like a reject from a Twilight convention! Just make your application clean, your topcoat glossy and all will be well.

Now, although the UV Top Coat is indeed glossy, just be careful because the packaging declares it to be "quick drying", but it is NOT a fast dry topcoat (as I found out the hard way :)

I also had no UV light, so I couldn't test out it's glow-in-the-dark qualities. But I assume it looks something like Kelis, here...


Who wants to hit the local disco to find out for sure??

Wanted: Nail Art Submissions

We are looking for submissions from the professional nail art community that would be interested in sharing their most popular nail art design and would like to promote their salon. Submissions should include step-by-step instructions with photos or a voice narrated video. For information on how and where to send your submissions, use our contact form.

Note: This is not a competition and all submissions will be posted.

If you are a nail art suppler, trade school or any other resource to the nail art industry, please contact us for possible inclusion to our resource page.

Choosing Nail Art for your Wedding

Wedding Nail Art

Boston Terrier Fundraiser and Giveaway WINNER!!!

First of all I am sorry for the delay. I have been without internet for what seems like an eternity and I had to drive an hour to my mama's house to post this! 

I am happy to announce our Giveaway Raised $205 dollars!!!  Thank you to all who donated from the bottom of my heart.  It means the world to rescues to have people reach out and help.

Now for the meat and potatoes. The prize pool can be seen here.  AND THE WINNER IS... Lucisek!!!  Congrats Dude!  With all the loot you've won all I can think is- Please god don't be international!!! LOL! 

So, Lucisek Email me at manateemama@live.com using the same email you used to donate and we will get you hooked the EF UP, Girlfriend!

Love, MM

                                                                     

Weekend Funnies

Short & sweet today...

New BB Couture Collection!

Ahem.

New men's collection - "Formal"! Ch-ch-check it out HERE!

Bear With Me...

Hi guys !
Well the move has happened and I'm now squeezed into one small bedroom at my friend's house and can barely get to the bed at the mo, let alone my stash! Just give me a while to get things back on an even keel and I'll be right with you. In the meantime, this should keep you amused...

Ticky, ticky, ticky - weee! Ticky, ticky, ticky - weee!

NEW DESIGN WITH GEL PAINT

This client of mine is amazing. She is so creative and thinks of designs that I would never come up with! I absolutely love it. I feel like the best nail designs are always a collaboration. There is a lot going on here, the nails are acrylic with little glitter moons in them. The design on top is done with gel paint.

This is another gel paint design. I learned this technique at the ibs las vegas show. I love it because it is very easy to do but it looks so cool!

These are actually my nails. I had my amazing nail tech do them and then I added the gel paint design on the ring fingers. Hey I have to have a little fun too!

These nails have some little "keys" on them. I didn't have a plan just kind of went for it.

These are acrylic nails. I layered two colors gunmetal and purple pizazz from sparklesnailproducts.com. I added a real dried flower on the ring finger.

What Your Nail Polish Color Says About You

Do you think that the color you choose to paint on your nails is merely a reflection of a color you think is pretty? Well, perhaps you should think again.

When you see someone with bright red nail polish, you make a judgment about that person. It may be consciously or subconsciously, but a judgment is made, nonetheless. What about when you see someone wearing black nail polish? I think you see my point.

So, before you give yourself a manicure (or have a professional do it for you), think about what impression you want to make on people. Here's a run-down of what different nail colors say about the wearer.

Variety of nail polish colors

Your Nail Polish Color Palette

Fire-engine Red: You're sassy, self-assured, and not afraid to be dramatic. Bright red is a bold, look-at-me color that is a symbol for passion, fire, and confidence. You love the spotlight, and you take charge of situations.

Hot Pink: You're spunky and energetic. Pink is a color that is associated specifically with women, and hot pink lets you show your spunk and spice.

Pale Pink: Painting your nails pale pink is a subtle expression. You are likely quiet, or at least you don't want to stand out, and youthful. Pale pink is not significantly different from the color of your nails (if you're Caucasian), but you still want to show your soft side.

Black: Painting your nails black is a classic symbol of anti-establishment. It doesn't mean you are depressed or going goth, but it's a way of rebelling against the norm and showing some of the darkness in your personality.

Navy Blue: This is a color of sophistication and authority. Wearing this color on your nails tells people to listen up, because you're in charge.

Aqua (Light) Blue: You're showing the youthful and calm side of your personality when you paint your nails a light blue. Aqua is a cool color, a nonchalant color.

French manicure: You are glamorous and professional. You don't need a whole new color; your nails look good as they are, and you simply emphasize and define yourself.

Magenta: A combination of the reds, pinks, and purples, magenta is feminine but not flashy. You are vibrant and youthful, but you don't need to be the center of attention at all times.

Orange: This color is bright and vibrant, for people who want attention drawn to them. It also symbolizes autumn and the changing seasons: a time of brightness and change.

Dark Brown: A dark and rich color, this shade of brown indicates boldness and authority. You like your nails like you like your men. Just kidding.

Maroon: Maroon is a warm color, a combo of red and purple, retaining the authority of red and the confidence of purple. It's a mature, sophisticated color that, when worn on your nails, invites respect.

Coffee-colored: You are earthy and energetic. Tan and light brown are earth tones, cool colors that bring you closer to Mother Nature.

Green: This color invokes images of vigor and the environment. Going "green" in your nail polish exudes earthiness and spunk.

Deep purple: Purple is the color of royalty. Wearing it on your nails shows you have a confident personality, and you're not afraid to stand out from the crowd.

Lavender: You are graceful and collected. A combination of pink and purple, lavender is feminine and confident without the youthfulness of pure pink.

What does your nail polish color say about you?

Weekend Funnies

In the middle of moving. Kill me now...

Watch the tiger on the left...



This one's for Kaz - PUNCH DANCE!



Well everyone is hailing this as the successor to the Snuggie, so here t'is -



2 more days to go in the house. Cleaning starts in earnest tomorrow.
Pray for me...

Gel Polish Cheetah and much more!

This is opi gel polish in Pink Flamenco. I hand painted a little cheetah print to go with a super cute outfit my client brought for inspiration! Love the gel polish just can't get enough of it.

This client was in the mood for blue and green so that is exactly what she got! I hand painted some little swirls and circles.

These are some stars that I purchased from the IBS Las Vegas show. I just mixed them with some acrylic and went for it!

These are fimo clay flowers from oaktreedollshouseminiatures.com The glitter that I faded into the black is from sparklesnailproducts.com. Can you tell that I love internet shopping for nail stuff???

This is a glitter from sparklesnailproducts.com. I love their stuff! I just bought some of their new glitters.

These have fimo clay dragonflies and flowers from kennickkreations.com.

Baseball Mom! The baseballs are fimo clay from kennickkreations.com. Go Granger Lancers! Go #24! Woot Woot!

New Updated Site Design

We finally decided to update our blogs look and feel with a new template and layout. Please feel free to send us any feedback you may have by using our Contact link above and let us know what information, techniques, videos or widgets on the site you would like to see us add in the future.

Thanks,

Brenda~

Help! Melbourne peeps!

My sofa still hasn't sold and I have to be out of my rental property at the end of Monday!
It's been re-listed on ebay for 99c.
I'm absolutely desperate, here - I need it gone. I have no way to store or transport it.

Anyone in Melbourne want a sofa for a dollar? Anyone?

The REAL MWCILTRMND Monday

LOL OK - here's the real thing

Today's hunk-a-spunk is actor Ian Somerhalder, currently seen in "The Vampire Diaries" as bad, bad, naughty fang boy Damon Salvatore.



Now, I know someone requested him but I can't for the life of me find the email or comment, so whoever you are - this is for you!


As you can see, the man basically makes a living smoldering.
In fact, I'm just gonna start calling him "Smolderhalder".

When you catch him in just the right light, he looks a bit like Rob Lowe, too -


Or in some cases, Barry Gibb...

Yeah...let's forget about that one.

It's hard to make "Ehn!" sexy, but somehow he manages...

Smolderhalder as an over the shoulder boulder holder.

He wouldn't get out of bed for less than $10,000, but $5000 eventually got him to the floor...

"Cabaret" got that much more interesting when Sally Bowles developed a 5 o'clock shadow...