Monday, April 28, 2014

Kiss Nail Dress - for My Toes!

Hi, y'all!!  Today, I have nail strips to share with you.  I have always wanted to try these but I change my finger nail polish so often, I didn't think these would be a good investment me.  UNTIL! I discovered ones for your toes!  So I have some that I have had on for a week now.  

I have to say, I really like the style I picked up.  It's called "Gown" from the Jeweled collection.  I looked at these for so many weeks at Walmart but never got them.  Had to give in finally. So I bought them and they sat in my nail box for about a month.  I had taken my toe nail polish off and wasn't sure if I wanted to match them to my finger nails. Naw, I'll try the nail strips!!  So I did.

Here are my results.  As I said, I have been wearing these for a week, give or take a day.  The fit was ok. The strip on my big toe was not an exact fit, but it is close enough that you can't tell it's not a perfect fit.  All the other toes are fine but needed a trim here and there. 




They have worn very well.  The package said they should last 10 days.  I was worried that maybe they would lift when I went to be, get snagged on the sheets, but they haven't.  I will be wearing a few of my other nails strips, I do like them. And it makes it easy to "polish" your toes with out having to wait for them to dry!!

I will probably buy more when I find them on clearance. They retail at $6.99 regularly.  My cheap wallet won't pay full price.  But show me a clearance sale and I'm all over it!!

Have you ever tried any nail strips before?  How did you like them?

Have a wonderfully cow filled day!!  


Leigh Anne





Sunday, April 27, 2014

FingerFood Theme Buffet - Something New!


G'Day, y'all!  How is everyone this beautiful Sunday?  I'm much better now that Dominic finally got his butt over here to cut the grass.  It was in such need that if I had let one of the kitties out into the back yard, I would have lost them!  They might have wondered if they had been moved back to the African jungle!  But these spoiled brats won't be going anywhere!  Don't they look ready to go somewhere?



 This week's many for FingerFood Theme Buffet is Something New.  Now I know rainbows are nothing new, a total Neon, Holo Rainbow is something I have not ever done. Nothing complicated, that is if you are terrible at making straight lines of polish!  I always have a bit of a challenge there.  My hand tremors don't always like to cooperate with me.  But I got them as straight as I could!  And of course, one hand is always better than the other. To hide my crazy crooked lines, I used my holo top coat.  Plus, who doesn't LOVE holo?!  The neons aren't as bold under the top coat, but you can still see the colors.




That wraps up today's mani!  Hope you like it!

Have beautiful and cow filled day!!

Leigh Anne








Friday, April 25, 2014

FingerFood Theme Buffet - Gothic Nails

This week's FingerFood theme is Gothic!!  I went thru 3 or 4 different manis of failure before I finally found one I liked.  Black nails was the base color I decided on.  What to do from there?  I had no idea!!  Then I remembered I had a hot, hot pink crackle polish I have never used.  SO it was time!  I love the way a crackle Frenchie looks. Et voilĂ  !  There we have it.

I posted just the plain Frenchie on my polish page with the question: Gothic-esq or Goth Barbie?  The unanimous result was Goth Barbie.  I added the Barbie silhouette and the Barbie "B".  I also added a "G" for Goth. 


Your thoughts?



I will catch y'all next time!!  


Have a Wonderfully Cow Filled day!!!

Leigh Anne


Thursday, April 24, 2014

Epsom Salts Facila Scrub and Bath

I thought I'd go a different direction with my blog today.  I'm sure you've all seen the post floating around for a natural spa treatment using Epsom salts, I decided to try it.  Earlier in the day I had seen a facial using Epsom salt in an email. So I decided that it should be a "spa" night for me.  I rarely take baths, but tonight was a good night for on.  I've also heard that a few celebrities will take a bath with Epsom salts before an event.  It draws out excess water so they fit into their dresses better.


The bath recipe goes as such:  a handful of Epsom salts, 1/2C of baking soda and 10 drops of lavender essential oil.  I'm sure any essential oil will do, just add your favorite scent.  I happen to really like lavender so that's what I used.  I washed out the tub and and added the mix.  As you can see, my bath didn't have the foamy white to the water as the picture showed.  I was bummed a bit.  I had seen bubble bath in the store earlier today and really (kinda) wanted bubbles.  It was after I turned the jets on in the jacuzzi tub, did I get the white color in the picture as well as a few bubbles!



Just as when my 2 youngest were little, I was not allowed to bathe by myself.  I had company. The "kids" had to come in and accompany me.  They are fascinated by the bath tub.  They will usually go in and out of the tub or just sit in there in someone manages to sneak into the bathroom with me.  When I turned on the jets, they weren't sure what to do.  At first, they all ran away because the sound scared them, then it was more curiosity than anything else.





Once I got my tub filled, I tried out the facial.  It consisted of 2 TBSP of honey and 2 TBSP of Epsom salts.  I only used 1/2 of this so you may want to half it in ingredients. You can see how lovely I look with the scrub all over my face.  After the scrub, my face felt so nice and smooth.  This facial is supposed too help flush toxins from skin, exfoliate dead skin, remove blackheads, clean skin and treat acne.  Here is the site for the facial.   I think next time I do the facial, I will grind the salts down a bit more.  Hopefully my coffee grinder can make it a bit smaller particles, that way the salt doesn't feel like rock salt!  (I love the new grinder I bought, it is great for spices as well.)  With smaller grains, I believe I will be able to get a better scrub and have the facial be more beneficial. I also didn't allow it to sit on my face for 30 minutes as directed.  Next time, I will!






After a nice, relaxing bath and a soothing facial, I was feeling relaxed.  So I baked cookies!   :)  

If you give either of these a try, let me know how you liked it, or not. 

Have a wonderfully cow filled day!!   


Leigh Anne

Wednesday, April 23, 2014

April Ipsy Bag

Howdy, All!! 

Today, I have my April Ipsy bag to share with you.  I can honestly say I'm not as happy with this month's bag.  There are always so many options as to what Ipsy sends to each person and I seem to get the not so exciting items.  

This month, I got Dr. Brandt Microdermabrasion Skin Exfoliant.  I am excited about trying this with my facial spin brush.
Pop! Goes the Shadow is a small, single eyeshadow in Champagne. This color is a light, neutral color that will be great as the brow line shadow.  

Also sent was a 24/7 Velvet in Black Velvet eyeliner from Urban Decay.  I do like eyeliners that help make the smoky eye effect look more "smoky".  I'm not very successful with the smoky eye, but I try!  This eyeliner went on very smooth. I can see why it's called "velvet"!!  Now to see how it wears and for how long! My wear test is to sleep with it on.  I will NOT post a picture of my morning eyes!  You don't deserve to be scared off so soon.  The liner was smeared a bit and about 50% gone.  It wouldn't last on me for very long I'm afraid.  But I do love it!

I was also sent a lip pencil by Starlooks in Naked.  I states it is a  "luscious longwear lip pencil.  I am not keen on lip liners so I applied this as a full lip cover.  I don't care for the color.  It is way too light to even be noticeable.  and it is a very matte color, to boot.

Last, but certainly not least, included was a brush from Coastal Scents.  I look at the brushes on the Coastal Scents all the time.  One day I will get myself a full set of them.  I'm not very knowledgeable in the use of makeup brushes, but I am learning.  Of course, I can use the brushes that come with some makeup sets, but I know there is so much more that you can use the brushes for.  And I want to be able to use them all in the right way!   


Here are the eye products as I applied them.  I won't use the lip liner as a lip liner as I decided to try it out as an eye liner!  What do you think?  And here I am with everything on.  I seriously don't like taking pictures of myself. 




















So there it is.  My April Ipsy bag shown in all it's glory!  Hope you have an awesome cow-filled day!!!



Leigh Anne


Challenge Youir Nail Art Spring Renwal - FreeStyle

Yes, I know I am very behind getting this one out.  I was doing so well with the last three.  And I had to mess it up by not feeling well and just not having the "umfph" to get this one done and out.

Anyway..... For my freestyle mani I did a tutorial!  Excited?  Ya, ok, at least pretend for me.  I get a complex if I don't get a bit of positivity!  LOL!  Truly, it is a good feeling to know that others do read my blog and like what I show.  I'm always open to constructive criticism, just be nice. I'll post pictures of myself bawling like a baby if you have mean things to say!  *slaps my thigh in laughter*   

So I did strawberries on my nails.  What is more a sign of Spring than luscious, plump strawberries?   First, I made an area of green toward the cuticle end of my nail.  You can put yours where ever you would like the top of the strawberry to be.  I wanted the strawberries to be hanging down.  Next I polished the rest of the nail with a pretty pink that my bestie made just for me!  It doesn't have a name, but it was made for me by Samantha of Gothic Gala.  If you notice, I have one nail done in white (Snow Cow - Polish Yer Hooves - my own creation.).  The white nails is going to be a pineberry.  If you've never seen a pineberry, I have a picture.  I actually have seeds to grow some of these but have yet to try them.  I should!  Next, I added the seeds of the strawberry. Pineberry seeds are red color.  Last, I took a polish pen and outlined the edges of the leaf (leaves).  I also added a "stem".  The green polish I used was Sinful Colors in HD Nails for the leaf and outlined with Zoya Apple.

So there you have it!  Easy to make Strawberries!  Give it a try!  If you do decide to try my tutorial, please, post your mani to my polish page!!  Polish Yer Hooves.

Have a lovely cow filled day!  Don't forget to share your hooves with me on my page!

Leigh Anne

.

Saturday, April 19, 2014

Challenge Your Nail Art - Spring Renewal - Spring Flowers


 Today's challenge is for Spring Flowers!  This was pretty easy to decide what to do.  Flowers are every where!  And I love them!  

As you can see, I have a Tulip on my index finger, Hyacinth on my middle finger, Daffodil on my middle finger and Daisies on my pinkie finger.  On my thumb, I have Lily of the Valley.   The back ground is a light blue with green for the grass. 


 
 

The list of polishes is a long one.  With so many different  flowers, it took many different colors.  Here is what I used:  Pure Ice - Splash!, Zoya - Apple, Polish Yer Hooves - Field Daisies, LA Colors Nail Art - Yellow, Diamond Cosmetics Nail Art - Neon Green, Polish Yer Hooves - Hot Pink Lips, Sinful - What a Night, LA Colors Nail Art - Baby pink, LA Colors Nail Art - Purple Shimmer and Shany Nail Pen - White.  PHEW!!!    Oh and topped with Oh So Wet Top Coat.


Tomorrow is a Free Style day!  Not sure what I'm planning yet...


Have a wonderfully, Cow Filled day!!  


Leigh Anne

Friday, April 18, 2014

Challenge Your Nail Art - Spring Renewal PASTELS

Greetings, y'all!  As promised, I am bringing you the second day of Spring Renewal in Pastels!  With this mani, I again was trying to think of something fun, pretty and different!  I hope I delivered!  

So I was in the Dollar Tree the other day - with the purpose of getting a 9V battery for my beeping smoke-detector.  Of course, I forgot the battery, but I did see something I thought would make an interesting gradient!  A kitchen scrubbie!  You tell me if you think it is a success.  I'll (for the most part) happy with the way this mani came out.



What I did to achieve this look was to draw a line of polish with each color, next to and touching, each other.  I dipped the scrubbie into the polish and "stamped" it onto my white, polished nails.  I had a lot of white visible after a couple stamps so I repeated the process in that area.     

So, there you have the mani.  The polishes I used were Sinful - Snow Me White, Zoya - Gie Gie, Pure Ice - Twinkle, Julep - Lexie, Zoya - Midori and Zoya - Hudson.




Ok, thoughts?  Is this method a keeper or shoud I scrub it? Alright, I know, corny attempt at humor, but someone has to do it!  Have an awesome, cow-filled  day!




Leigh Anne







Thursday, April 17, 2014

Challenge Your Nail Art - Spring Renewal





Howdy all!  Pardon the absence, but it's been a roller coaster  of craziness as of late. I've been AWOL for a while and for that I have to apologize.  I've been dealing with some personal and family matters.  Things are still crazy but I'm going to try to do better at getting at least one blog out per week, if not two!   This week, I'm shooting for 4!  As you see from my little picture here at the top, I'm doing a "Spring Renewal" aka Easter nails challenge.  And I plan on sharing all 4 days with you! 

Today's challenge is Easter Egg Nails!  This was a very fun set of designs to do.  I always have a hard time thinking of what my art should be, this time was no different.  I started out just some base colors.  Trying to decide what those colors should be wasn't easy either.  Looking thru my plethora of choices, I picked a favorite color, a new color, 3 older ones and just a blue I love that I've never worn before.  The polishes I used are:


Sinful Colors - 24/7             Essence Color to Go - L.O.L 
Wet n Wild - Tickled Pink      N.Y.C. - Taxi Yellow Creme 
Wet n Wild - Sunny Side       SH XTreme Wear - Pacific Blue

Now for my fanciness!  My hand tremors haven't been cooperative the past week or 2 so I used my Nail Art Pens.  These tend to be a little easier for me to control than a small brush.  I tried out a couple new pens I got off EBay.  Jury is still out on them.  I plan to review them later on.  I also have a Nail Art Tattoo Pen by Essence.  I love it!  But so does one of my cats I noticed.  Someone tried to use chew on it.

OK!  Now to the fun part!  The actual nails!!  My pinkie is done with just simple stripes.  Always my go to for my eggs.  Can't think of a decorations for my Easter eggs either!  My ring finger is just as simple, polka-dots! My index finger has a bunny on it, it seemed like a no brainer to have a bunny on one of my egg nails.  He even has his carrots!  My thumb is a couple stripes with polka-dots. My middle finger, for some reason the first try on this nail was a total flop.  I actually redid this nail 3 times. I finally settled on polishing the nail
half yellow and half pale pink with a blue stripe between the colors.  White polka-dots seemed to be the perfect finish.  
 
So there you have it, my Easter Egg Nail Art!  As a way to try to get my nails dry faster, I tried out Essence Nail Art Express Dry Drops.  They worked pretty well.  I would definitely recommend them. I got them from Ulta for $2.99.  Worth the purchase.   

That wraps it up for today's challenge.  Tomorrow, I'll have Pastels!  I tried something different.  Y'all will have to tell me what you think.