Shattered Colors

Hey, everyone!

I hope you all had a great Christmas and have fun plans for bringing in the New Year! I did do another Christmas mani, but I'll share it sometime next week. For now, here's some fun blingy nails I did a few weeks ago. Keep reading for more info!

Fancy Floral Tips

Hey, everyone!

Every once in a while I get on a floral kick. And this is one of those times! So here are some lovely classy floral French tips created using some water decals from Born Pretty Store. Keep reading for more info!

Born Pretty Store Review: Odor-Free Latex

*Provided for honest review*

Hey, everyone!

Christmas is getting closer! So I created this festive mani using a new product from Born Pretty Store. It's their new odor-free liquid latex! Keep reading to find out my thoughts on it and how it performed!

Born Pretty Store Review: Snowflake Nail Wraps

*Provided for honest review*

Hey, everyone!

I have another wonderful review of a Born Pretty Store item to share with you today! And they're perfect for this Winter weather we've been having lately (especially in NorCal!). So keep reading to find out all the details for this look and this product!

3D Birdies

Hey, everyone!

Soooo my last post was supposed to go live on the 7th, but for some reason Blogger decided to not bother... so NOW it's live (three freaking days later), and I'm gonna go ahead and post this even though it seems really close together. Oh well! Anyways, enjoy this funky 3D mani. Keep reading for all the info!

Chrome of the Future!

Hey, everyone!

I've got another chrome mani to share with you today! I've really been enjoying this mirror powder from Born Pretty Store. It's so easy and fun to use! Keep reading to learn how I got this look!

Majestic Mountains

Hey, everyone!

I've been tempted to do these nails for quite a while now. I was originally inspired by this mani by Coewless Polish and this mani by More Nail Polish, and then recently this version by @coyarose inspired me to finally tackle my own take on it! Keep reading to find out how I got this look!

Shiny Chromium

Hey, everyone!

This manicure is a few months old, actually... I wore it way back when I was still testing the Mirror Powder I was sent to review for Born Pretty Store (my full review is HERE!). My application technique has actually gotten a lot better since this first attempt at using it, but I thought I'd share anyway! Keep reading for all the deets!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Hey, everyone!

Happy Thanksgiving! If you're reading this on Thanksgiving, then I'm at my grandparents' house enjoying a feast with my family and getting fatter by the minute (heehee). I hope you all are enjoying this day, whether you're doing something to celebrate or not. Although this year has been one of the most difficult yet in my life, I'm incredibly thankful for all the good that has happened as well. Anyway, enjoy these fall themed nails I did a few weeks ago!

Crouching Tiger

Hey, everyone!

I'm catching up on all of my manicures from the last month or so! I hate editing pictures, it's by far my least favorite part of blogging. All I do is color correct and crop and watermark, but the color correcting definitely takes a while and is tedious for me. But enough of my complaining! I'm more than happy to share this tiger design with you, so keep reading for all the details!

HAPPY HOLO-WEEN!

Hey, everyone!

Happy Holo-ween! That's the holographic version of Halloween, for those who don't know! I didn't have the time or inspiration to do nearly as many Halloween designs this year, but I really like the ones I was able to do. Keep reading for all the details on this design!

Born Pretty Store MEGA Review: Mirror Powder & Other Goodies!

*Provided for honest review*

Hey, everyone!

Well, this post is a LONG time in the making! I (shamefully) got these items to review in approximately early August, and have just gotten enough time to sit down and document my review. That's right, I've finally hopped on the "chrome nails" bandwagon, and oh boy is it a ride! Keep reading to find out more! Oh, and be ready for lots of pictures and words!

Eyes in the Darkness!

Hey, everyone!

I'm back again - I know, it's been just about a month since I posted something. Life is really good at getting in the way of blogging these days! I've been dealing with an ongoing family emergency that has finally stabilized it seems, and my work life has changed again, not to mention regular everyday responsibilities. But for now, I have some fun Halloween nail art to share with you! Just don't get too spooked. Keep reading to learn more!

One Lemming Off My List!

Hey, everyone!

This post is (again) long overdue... it was originally planned to celebrate my one year anniversary on Instagram, but that day was on July 16th. Oh well! My very first post on Instagram was for my Vampire Squid nails, which I still absolutely love. And, coincidentally, on July 16th of this year I received a polish in the mail that has been on my lemmings list for quite a long time - Illyrian Polish Vampire Squid! Keep reading for more info!

Marie Curie - Woman of Science!

*Product won in giveaway*

Hey, everyone!

Today I've got a mani to share with you that I'm very excited about! A little while ago, I won my very first giveaway on Instagram! It was hosted by @heheplate and the winner(s) received 2 plates from the new Science collection of their choice! Keep reading for all the details!

Abalone on Abalone Shores

Hey, everyone!

Look, two posts in one week! WHAAAAT?! I'm trying to catch up with my backlog of pictures, so that means actually posting them and not letting them sit in a lonely folder on my computer. This design is probably about a month or so old, but I hope you enjoy it anyway! Keep reading for all the details!

Elegant Blue Gradient

Hey, everyone!

I'm so far behind on my posts it isn't even funny... pretty sure today's mani is actually almost two months old! Yeesh... but I'll share it anyway! Keep reading for all the details!

Turning Two Dozen (aka My Birthday)!

Hey everyone!

I know I've been MIA and really inconsistent lately. I'm still getting used to working a full-time 8-to-5 job and juggling all the "fun" responsibilities that come with that! But I'm making time right now to say that I just turned 24 - WOW! Anyway, I just wanted some fun colorful nails for my birthday, so that's what I created. Keep reading to learn more!

(Very) Belated 4th of July

Hey, everyone!

Yeah yeah, these are an entire month late, but like I said in a previous post, I've been very busy lately! But I figure it's better to post them late rather than never, so enjoy, and keep reading for all the details!

A Hipster Sunset

Hey, everyone!

I'm not sure what to call this design, honestly. I just sat down with some polishes that looked good together in my head and this is what I ended up with! Keep reading for all the details!

Life Update and Mourning Ane Li

Hey, everyone!

This month has been pretty insane. I've gotten myself a car, a home (with my boyfriend), and on Monday I'm starting a new job. It's been stressful and yet, I'm so excited for this next chapter in my life to start! So for those of you who've stuck around, thank you. It means a lot!

As many of you no doubt know by now, the nail art community recently lost an incredibly talented artist, Ane Li. She was young, far too young to be gone now. But the nail community has rallied together to support one another and honor her memory. Since I didn't have a chance to post my recreation of her nail art with the rest of the community on Monday, I'm posting this now. Keep reading to learn more.

Hobby Polish Bloggers Presents: Fruit!

Hey, everyone!

I'm so excited to be participating in this month's link-up with Hobby Polish Bloggers (HPB)! I've been so busy lately that the last link-up I was part of was way back in January! This month's theme is fruit, and I've decided to emulate on my nails my very favorite fruit - AVOCADOS! Keep reading below to see how I got this look!

Durarara!

Hey, everyone!

I've got another set of fun anime nails to share with you today! These were inspired by another wonderful and quirky anime called Durarara!, and if you keep reading I'll tell you all about it and this design!

Born Pretty Store Review: Clear Jelly Stamper

*Provided for honest review*

Hey, everyone!

This post has been on my to-do list for a while, and I've finally gotten it ready to share with you today! It seems like just about every nail company has a clear nail art stamper nowadays, and today I'm sharing Born Pretty Store's version with you! Keep reading to find out more!

Our Sweet Carl

Hey, everyone!

This post is pretty near and dear to my heart. It is probably no secret that I love cats, especially the sweet kitties that live at my mom's house. A few weeks ago, an irresponsible driver in her neighborhood took our beloved orange tabby Carl from us. We don't know who it was, but we know that our hearts are broken. It was so sudden, and some of us are having a rough go of the grieving process. So I created this nail art design to honor the memory of Carlito Bandito, as I liked to call him. Keep reading to find out more.

Born Pretty Store Review: Funky Floral Water Decals

*Provided for honest review*

Hey, everyone!

I've got another water decal review to share with you today! Some of you might think I do too many water decal reviews, but honestly I love water decals! They're so quick and easy to use, so they seriously come in handy if you're rushed for time but still want a detailed nail design. Anyway, keep reading to see what I thought of these!

Blue Sparkles!

Hey everyone!

This was another mani that my boyfriend helped me put together. He chose the polish AND the image I stamped! I think he did a pretty good job! Keep reading to find out more!

Gila Monster!

Hey, everyone!

I'm not sure what possessed me to create these nails. My boyfriend helped me pick the base color and it sort of evolved from there... but I still like the outcome! So keep reading to find out more about this look!

Celestial Fortune Teller

*Provided for honest review*

Hey, everyone!

Look into my crystal ball and I can show you the mysteries of the Universe! I've been wanting to try this idea for a while and I finally got around to it. Keep reading to find out more!

Sparkling Cherries

Hey, everyone!

Today I've got a nice blingy Summery design to share with you! Lots of people like cherries - I for one do not, for whatever reason. But I do think they're adorable, especially in nail art, so keep reading to find out more about this look!

Born Pretty Store Review: Abstract Faceted Water Decals

*Provided for honest review*

Hey, everyone!

So, the school year is now over! That means that my recent job (long-term substituting) is over! And THAT means that I will now be bringing you regularly scheduled posts once again! First up is this long overdue review post for these lovely water decals from Born Pretty Store. Keep reading to find out more!

The Nail Smith Turns TWO on Blogger!

Hey everyone!

I know I've been totally MIA lately, but being a long-term sub and doing my own lesson plans and grading takes up a LOT of time! School is out after next week, so I will definitely be back to regularly scheduled posts at that point in time. But in the meantime, TODAY IS MY 2ND BLOGGIVERSARY!!! Woohoo! So I'm taking the time to write this quick post. Keep reading to check out the nail art, too!

Mermaids in the Deep

*Purchased by me*

Hey, everyone!

Today I've got a post that I've been so SO excited to share with you! It involves a company that is new to me and I think every nail artist needs to now about! I'm talking about Athena Rocks, and if you don't know about Athena and her amazing products yet then you will by the end of this post. Keep reading to find out more!

Ssssssnakey!

Hey, everyone!

Funny story about this post. I totally thought I wrote it last night and scheduled it for today, aaaand it turns out I never wrote it at all. Until now! So keep reading to find out about this fun mani!

Spring Smoosh

Hey, everyone!

I have just a quick post for you today, as I'm working on getting a bunch of pictures edited and gonna be writing some posts to spread out over the next couple weeks. So stay tuned for that! In the meantime, enjoy this nice Spring mani! Keep reading to find out more!

Born Pretty Store Review: Cute Cat Water Decals

*Provided for honest review*

Hey, everyone!

I've got quite a cute and Springy mani to share with you today! I used some water decals I got to review for Born Pretty Store, so keep reading to find out my thoughts on them!

Electric Roses

Hey, everyone!

I'm not really sure what I was going for with this nail art, but I liked it a lot! It was a good excuse to try a new-ish technique and also use a polish I hadn't used in a while. Keep reading to find out more!

Beware of Crimson Peak

Hey, everyone!

I'm finally back with another post! Aren't you excited? I know I am! These nails are inspired by the film Crimson Peak, a pretty great thriller that came out last Fall. It's creepy and beautiful and Guillermo del Toro directed it, so you know it's gonna be great! Keep reading to find out more!

Born Pretty Store Review: Vintage Blue Water Decals

*Provided for honest review*

Hey, everyone!

I've got some more items from Born Pretty Store to review for you all. First up are these gorgeous vintage-inspired water decals. Keep reading for my full review of them!

St. Patrick's Day Holo!

Hey, everyone!

Happy Saint Patrick's Day to you all! This is one of my favorite holidays of the year, and it always puts me in a good mood. Maybe because Spring is starting to show itself around this time of year and the weather is just so nice. Anyway, I love it! Keep reading to find out more about my nail art I created for today!

Jojo's Bizarre Adventure!!!

Hey, everyone!

The idea for today's mani has been sitting in my little idea journal for a few months now and I'm SO glad I finally got around to doing it. This nail art is inspired by one of my all-time favorite animes, which is called Jojo's Bizarre Adventure. Keep reading to find out more!

Spring Neon

Hey, everyone!

Today I have a quick little Spring inspired post to share with you. It's been getting a bit warmer here lately so that's what inspired me to break out the neon! So keep reading to find out how I created this bright and cheery look!

Les Nail Smiths, February 2016: CHOCOLATE!!!

Hey, everyone!

February always seems to be such a busy month. But one perk of February is all the Valentine's Day candy that goes on sale after the 14th, especially the delicious chocolate! So this month, Michelle and I decided to do chocolate nail art! Keep reading to find out how I created my design!

Monochrome Geometric Style

Hey, everyone!

I know, today's post is a bit late. Sorry, but I needed a mental health day of doing nothing in particular since I've had a rough couple of days recently. I'm feeling a lot better now, though! Anyway, keep reading to read more about this nail look!

Born Pretty Store Review: Mirror Polish

*Provided for honest review*

Hey, everyone!

This review has been waiting to be written for like a month now and I've just been too busy to write it until today. But it's worth the wait! Today I'm sharing with you my thoughts on Born Pretty Store's Mirror Polish! So keep reading to find out what I thought about it!

My Top 20 (Right Now)

Hey, everyone!

I hope you've all been having a good week so far! This post is something that my friend Michelle or Le Lacquer Hookup encouraged me to make - my favorite 20 polishes in my collection! Keep reading to see my picks and also the many pictures I took!

Stained Glass Roses

Hey, everyone!

Today I've got a nail design that I absolutely looooooved wearing! I made it using a stamping plate that I've had for a while but this is the first time I used it! Keep reading to find out all the details!

Born Pretty Store Review: Cleanup Brush

*Provided for honest review*

Hey, everyone! This post is a review of two different items, actually. One is a brush that I was sent by Born Pretty Store to review, and the other is a gorgeous nail polish that I got as a belated Christmas gift from my bestie Michelle of Le Lacquer Hookup! Keep reading to find out more about these items!

Hobby Polish Bloggers Presents: Gradients!

Hey, everyone!

I've been saving the idea for this mani for a while now, and when the Hobby Polish Bloggers decided that this month's prompt would be "gradients" I thought it was the absolute perfect opportunity! Keep reading to find out more!

Born Pretty Store Review: Small Triangle Studs

*Provided for honest review*

Hey, everyone!

I've been so busy lately but I'm really loving my job so far! Substitute teaching is really fun and I love getting to see some of my favorite teachers from high school on a regular basis! Anyway, today I have a quick review to share with you of some super cute little triangular studs from Born Pretty Store. Keep reading to find out what I thought about them!