Pink Piggies

I got a new Essie color over Christmas break that I had actually forgotten about until a few days ago! I found it in a small cosmetic bag that hadn't been opened since I got back. Much to my surprise, I saw "Secret Story" hiding as my little stowaway in the bag!

I needed to give myself a pedicure because I would be wearing peep toe shoes the next day, so Monday night I decided to paint my toes this fun new color! 

It's my new favorite BRIGHT pink! It comes out a  little darker than what the bottle shows, but I love it. "Secret Story" reminded me of another Essie color that I love, "Chastity" but darker. This is a color I am absolutely going to be keeping on my toes for awhile. It looks great and very girly!

Once I get a little tanner and not going on job interviews, I am totally putting "Secret Story" on my fingers!

xxKatie

Polish Change: Penny Talk

I really like the Essie Metallics collection. As elusive and hard to find as the collection was, I tracked a few of the best shades down and snagged them for myself!

I recently added "Penny Talk" to that list and just the other day, decided to put it on my toes! I use my toes as a tester before I do my real nails to see if I like the color out of the bottle and how it looks "on". After donning PT on my toes for a little, I've decided that I LOVE it, and I think I honestly like it more than the gold! It's a rosy gold-coppery color and looks very neutral believe it or not!

If you can find this metallic collection somewhere around you, you gotta go look for "Penny Talk" to add to your list!!!

xxKatie

All of the Lights

Milani "Disco Lights"

This is my new toe color! In honor of my friend Colleen's birthday I thought I'd do something really festive and fun! Plus, I couldn't really put it on my finger nails since it's very sparkly so my nails are a deep garnet color (Gameday nails, obvi). 

This is SO much fun though! I got it from CVS in Annapolis, but I know it's available at most still. I'm excited to wear this and know that I'm sparkling even if no one else does! 

Talk about twinkle toes, right?

xxKatie

Summer Shades: Hi Maintenance

It's no secret that I like to paint my nails. I often participate in the Manicure Monday tweet, have different colors on my toes throughout the week and have as many shades of pink as your local salon. My "new" summer favorite color is Essie's "Hi Maintenance". It is a pale pink that will match even your wildest of summer get-ups. It is neutral enough to be worn with other shades of pink and even red and orange. I currently have two coats on my toes with a high gloss top coat and it looks quite professional if I do say so myself! 

I love painting my nails especially in the summer when you can show off your pedicured piggies with fabulous sandals! This color can really be very versatile for all ages too. It's not too racy for a beginner and not too kiddish for Moms. I'm a big fan of Essie's "Hi Maintenance" and my bottle of it goes to show that! I've used up about a quarter of it already! 

Essie is my favorite polish brand if you're willing to spend a little extra for a home mani or pedi. While the polish is around $8, in the long run it's saved me a bundle because I prefer to do my own nails. I save anywhere between $15-$25 when I do my own nails AND I don't ever feel bad if they chip in 10 minutes (yep, that buyer's remorse has definitely happened to this girl trying to open her car door having JUST walked out of the salon...). I highly recommend the Essie brand over others (I know you OPI fans are probably all rolling your eyes!) because they have high quality polish, products, and even the little brushes inside the bottle. (Too bad they most likely have no idea I'm writing all this about them!) Anyway I am lovin' this color for summer and I think you will too!!

xxKatie

My Perky Pink Piggies

Sometimes when I need a little pick me up, I try to do little things for myself. They can be as small as baking a few cookies before I go to bed or as large as getting a group to go to dinner together. In my case, I knew I needed to paint my toes because the shagging world might see my piggies AND because my last self-pedi was not so nice looking. I always use the same few products when I paint my nails/toes.

First: China Glaze Base Coat

This stuff is the KEY to a long lasting pedi. It works well on hands too, but doesn't have quite the staying power as it does on your toes. This is a MUST if you're going on vacation anywhere and there'll be sand, hot temps, or ocean water. I think it works great!

Second: Color

This time I used Essie's "I Need a Vacation". I love this color for a pedicure. I will admit that on my fingers I think it looks a teeny bit pepto bismol-y which I don't love, but it's a very nice color for your toes. I used this to hop into spring a little and it's a good color that is very versatile for toes!

Third: Sally Hansen Hard as Nails Strengthening Top Coat

I'm all over the place when it comes to brands. I use Sally Hansen (via CVS) Strengthening Top Coat to seal it all in. After 2 or 3 coats of color, I pop this on and let it sit for awhile. It is SO shiny and keeps your pedi looking fresh. It, too, has great staying power so I definitely would recommend it.

Fourth: Essie's To Dry For

I only use this if I'm in a rush. It's a little bit hard to get the hang of because it's actually a dropper not a brush. You drop a little bit of the "oil" on your nail and let it sit for awhile and then wash it off. The first few times I ended up imprinting my nails with my own fingerprint or indentation of my sheets because I didn't let it sit for long enough, but my roommate Catherine has really mastered the use!

Fifth: DeMert's Manicurists' Finishing Spray

If this can looks like it's from the 1950's, it looks just like this in real life too. I got mine from Ulta for...$3.99. This is like magic in a can. I have absolutely no idea what's in this, but it feels cold to the touch and it works great. After letting your freshly manicured piggies or fingers sit for a little while, this spray is definitely something you need to use before you finish up! I LOVE this stuff!

Hope my other nail polish lovin' ladies out there get a few new tips! Any colors or products I need to check out? Help a sister out!!

xxKatie