Wednesday, April 29, 2015

Summer Dots with Purjoi One Step Gel Polish

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Hello Loves!  I have a fun summer doticure to show you today using Purjoi Nail Studios One Step Gel Polishes.  I also have swatches of the colors used in the mani from Monday's post.  Ready to see them?

Summer Doticure with Purjoi One Step Gel Polish

I was feeling something bright and cheerful, and this doticure definitely did the trick.  I started with a base of two coats of Purjoi French White.  Purjoi polishes are a little thicker like most one steps, which makes them very easy to apply and the creams are super opaque.  This white offers flawless coverage!
Purjoi One Step Gel Polish French White Swatch
Purjoi One Step Gel Polish French White Swatch

I then broke out my dotting tool and dotted in circles with Shout It!, Baby Doll and Electrify! 
Summer Doticure with Purjoi One Step Gel Polish

The color of the dots is a little off due to the white base, so let's take a look at the swatches.  Shout It! is a pretty, wine crelly.  For those who aren't familiar with the term, a crelly is a sheer-ish cream with high gloss depth.  In other words, a cross between a cream and a jelly finish.  ;)  This is two coats.
Purjoi One Step Gel Polish Shout It! Swatch
Purjoi One Step Gel Polish Shout It! Swatch

Baby Doll is a medium/bright pink cream that offers great coverage in two coats.  I should note that immediately after curing this one in my Gelish 18G, the color was a tad samon.  Once the gel rested for a bit, it took on the pink tones again.  I've never seen that happen before, but thought I would mention it since I know the 18G is a popular lamp.  If you order Baby Doll and notice it changes, just give it a bit and it will go back pink.  lol
Purjoi One Step Gel Polish Baby Doll Swatch
Purjoi One Step Gel Polish Baby Doll Swatch

Finally, Electrify! is a neon green jelly.  This is a discontinued color and is currently on clearance so grab it while you still can. ;)  I swatched two coats below.
Purjoi One Step Gel Polish Electrify! Swatch
Purjoi One Step Gel Polish Electrify! Swatch

Since Purjoi is a one step that doesn't have a tacky layer, the dots were a bit raised.  So I finished it off with a coat of High Gloss Clear.  I love this clear!  I can be worn alone as a one step clear polish or as a top coat over art.  It has the same high shine as Purjoi colors and is tack free!  Whoo Hoo!
Summer Doticure with Purjoi One Step Gel Polish

As promised on Monday, I also have swatches of the colors I used in Monday's mani.  In case you missed it, here it is again.  The colors used are Fierce, Own It! and My Seoul.
Flower Nail Art with Purjoi One Step Gel Polish

Fierce is a classic red cream.  It applies flawlessly and covers beautifully in two coats.  Look at the shine!  That's the Purjoi One Step formula, not a separate top coat. :)
Purjoi One Step Gel Polish Fierce Swatch
Purjoi One Step Gel Polish Fierce Swatch

Own It! is a classic silver.  The consistency is similar to a frost, but I found it applied nicely without streaks that are common with frosts.  This is also a two coater.  Of course, with the frosty finish, it is a little unforgiving.  You can clearly see where I filed a gash into my nail plate on my index nail in the second photo.  Oops.  Nail School.
Purjoi One Step Gel Polish Own It! Swatch
Purjoi One Step Gel Polish Own It! Swatch

Finally, My Seoul is a beautiful, deep, two coat black.  Gah, that shine kills me!  I find it so hard to believe that a one step gel polish can have a shine like this.  It really blows my mind.  I have top coats that don't produce these results! 
Purjoi One Step Gel Polish My Seoul Swatch
Purjoi One Step Gel Polish My Seoul Swatch

If you're interested in picking up any of these colors, you can find them at PurjoiNailStudio.com!  Be sure to check out that clearance section.  There are some pretty colors there that are being discontinued.  :)

~Michelle

*The polishes featured in this post were provided by Purjoi Nail Studio for my honest review.  This post uses affiliate links.  Purchases through these links generate commissions that help fund this site.
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Monday, April 27, 2015

SOUFEEL - Charm Bracelets For Every Memorable Day

Press Sample

Hello loves!  I have something a little different to show you today and I'm super excited about it!  I have a new charm bracelet from SOUFEEL, and I am completely in love! 
SOUFEEL Charm Bracelet and a Mani to Match

SOUFEEL specializes in memorable and customizable jewelery.  Their charms are 925 Sterling Silver and fit all brands of charm bracelets.  Better yet, the charms budget friendly!  Of course, if you're like me and have always wanted one but don't have one, they offer the bracelets too.  Not only are the bracelets and charms high quality, but SOUFEEL also offers free shipping worldwide on orders over $50 and they have a 365 day return and exchange guarantee!

I selected 6 charms to start my bracelet and the bangle style bracelet.  The charms all have a very special meaning to me.  Let's take a look. 
SOUFEEL Charm Bracelet Review

What do each of these charms mean to me?  Well, let me tell you.
1) the hearts and sapphires represent my husband.  He's a September baby.
2) I wear a lot of hats and have a lot of titles:  blogger, editor, student, nail artist...but my favorite title is MOM
3) the red flower in an antique silver setting reminds me of my grandmother
4) the paw prints are for my furchildren (two boston terriers and a pit/chow mix)...and the many years I spent working with Boston Terrier rescue before starting my family
5) this is the most important charm of all - a photo charm of my boys!  Here's the photo it was created from.  The picture is very clear on the actual charm, but my camera couldn't focus on it because of the coating.  This is one of the Memorable Charms and they are available in several different styles.  You simply upload your photo, use their interface to crop it the way you want it to look on your charm, and add it to your cart with your other selections.  Easy Peasy and so perfect!  I plan to add more photo charms of the boys as they get older.  :)
SOUFEEL Memorable Charm photo charm
6) finally, the last charm is a reminder to stay calm and relax.  The flowers floating in the green glass just scream serenity to me.  Don't laugh.  Y'all know I'm under a bit of stress these days!

The Memorable Charm is definitely my favorite.  Not only does it have my cuties on one side, but it has crystals on the other.  My babies and bling on the same charm is just perfect for me!  You know how much I love my bling.  ;)
SOUFEEL Charm Bracelet

I'm not going to lie...I love it so much that I haven't taken it off since it arrived last week.  Ok, I took it off to take the pictures.  Then it went right back on!  My only regret is that I didn't order the next size up.  This one is 19cm and I think the 21cm one would have been better.  It would have helped if I could have found my measuring tape instead of just guessing my wrist size.  That would require that I could actually find William's hiding place for all of my fun gadgets.  That kid runs off with everything and I have no clue where he stashes things.  If I ever find his hiding place, it will be like Christmas.  lol
SOUFEEL Charm Bracelet

Speaking of taking it on and off, I adore the design of the clasp on the bangle itself.  Unlike many that have balls that screw on, this one has a hinged ball that opens so that you can add charms or take it on and off with ease.  The hinge isn't exactly mani-friendly, but I've been able to open it without chipping my nails so far.  Here's a shot of the ball when closed.  (Please excuse my fingerprints all over it.  Like I said, it has been worn and loved!)
SOUFEEL Charm Bracelet Bangle Hinge Closed

And here's a shot with the clasp in the open position.  How freaking cool is that?  The little ball on the end of the bangle fits right into the groove in the clasp.
SOUFEEL Charm Bracelet Bangle Hinge Opened

You know I can't have a new favorite accessory without a mani to match, right?  Of course not!  I just had to do a mani to coordinate with the red flower charm.
Mani Inspired by SOUFEEL Charm Bracelet Charm

And a close-up of the accent nail.  I find it hilarious that my camera couldn't decide where to focus with so much shiny in the frame.  lol
Mani Inspired by SOUFEEL Charm Bracelet Charm

I used a few Purjoi colors in this mani that I haven't shown you before.  I swatched them, but I haven't had a chance to edit the pictures yet.  I know, I'm a slacker.  I have a Purjoi post planned for later this week, so I'll include them in that one.  ;)

What do you think of my newest accessory?  Do you love it as much as I do?  You know, Mother's Day is right around the corner...and a charm bracelet with one of these awesome Memorable Charms would be the perfect gift for Mama.  Or for yourself.  I'm not judging.  ;)  And if you already have a charm bracelet, check out their charm selection.  Remember, they fit all brands of charm bracelets (including Pandora bracelets) for a fraction of the price.  Plus they have hundreds of charms to choose from

I'll leave you with one last shot of my charms and mani.  Oh yeah, before I forget, use code Manic5 for 5% off your order.  Be sure to order ASAP if you plan to order for Mother's Day.  The Memorable Charms take a few days to make and can delay shipping due to production and my package was shipped from China.  ;)  
Mani Inspired by SOUFEEL Charm Bracelet Charm

~Michelle

*The SOUFEEL bangle and charms featured in this post were provided by SOUFEEL for my honest review.  All links are courtesy links and do not benefit ManicTalons.com

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Friday, April 24, 2015

Abstract with Madam Glam Plus Bonus Swatches

Press Sample

Madam Glam Gel Polish Swatches and Nail Art


Hello Loves! Where has this week gone? I swear, I woke up Tuesday morning, blinked, and it's Friday! Sheesh, I even missed a post this week. You know, because falling farther behind is just great, right? Oh well. It happens. We've been working on prepping for State Board at school this week, so I guess I just got sucked in and lost track of time. But I digress.

I have a little bit of abstract nail art and some more Madam Glam Gel Polish swatches for you today. Let's start with the art and work our way to the swatches. I'm not really sure what I was thinking with this one. I was going for wavy or curvy but I think I ended up with seaweed.  lol  I still really like how it turned out.  I just wish I could have captured the vibrancy of the colors a little better.  They're so freaking pretty!  Oh, and in case you couldn't guess from the title, I used all Madam Glam Gel Polishes in this mani.  ;)
Curvy Abstract Nail Art with Madam Glam

The base is a beautiful, bright blue called Aqua Blue (#169).  This perfect cream is opaque in two easy coats.  I adore this color.  It makes my heart smile.
Madam Glam Gel Polish Aqua Blue Swatch
Madam Glam Gel Polish Aqua Blue Swatch

I then added random curvy lines with one of my absolute favorite shades.  Yep, that shade I hate to love...a teal green.
Curvy Abstract Nail Art with Madam Glam

This particular teal green is Madam Glam Sky is the Limit (#010).  Y'all know by now that my camera absolutely hates this shade of green.  I can't capture the vibrancy to save my life.  So you'll have to use your imagination a bit.  I promise, she's stunning.  Oh, and yes, she's two coats of perfection.
Madam Glam Gel Polish Sky is the Limit Swatch
Madam Glam Gel Polish Sky is the Limit Swatch

Of course, it needed a little bit of something extra.  So I added a few thin, freehand lines with Madam Glam Perfect Black (#002).  They aren't my best lines, but this black is amazing!
Curvy Abstract Nail Art with Madam Glam

When Madam Glam named this black "Perfect Black", they nailed it.  Seriously, this is an amazing one coat black.  Yes, you read that right.  One coat!  Perfectly opaque in just one coat (two if you have a heavy hand toward the cuticle like I do most of the time, but it was easy enough to correct for me and still keep it at one coat).  This is my new favorite black base for nail art!  I should probably note that I'm working over acrylic in these photos, thus the thicker look. 
Madam Glam Gel Polish Perfect Black Swatch
Madam Glam Gel Polish Perfect Black Swatch

So, what do you think?  Abstract art?  Or seaweed?  lol
Curvy Abstract Nail Art with Madam Glam

I have a few more Madam Glam swatches to show you that didn't make it into the nail art piece but are just as amazing as those I've shown you above.  Let's take a look at Perfect White (#001).  This is, quite possibly, the most perfect white of all the whites in my collection.  It wasn't a one coater for me like perfect black, but two coats for a white is perfectly ok with me!  The coverage and opacity is amazing, and the white is very crisp and clean.  The photos are a little darker to keep from blowing out the white polish.
Madam Glam Gel Polish Perfect White Swatch
Madam Glam Gel Polish Perfect White Swatch

The next shade I want to show you is Cashmere Grey (#106) is a soft, slightly blue toned grey cream.  Yep, you guessed it...another perfect two coater.  Madma Glam is killing it with these creams!
Madam Glam Gel Polish Cashmere Grey Swatch
Madam Glam Gel Polish Cashmere Grey Swatch

How about a nude?  Love Me Nude (#094) is a classic nude cream.  I have a really hard time describing nudes, but I would say this one leans a little tan with beige.  Or maybe peach.  I don't know...I should probably just let the picture do the talking.  lol  It's a gorgeous shade and is opaque in two coats.
Madam Glam Gel Polish Love Me Nude Swatch
Madam Glam Gel Polish Love Me Nude Swatch

The final color I have to show you is one that made me squeal when I saw it.  I'm not kidding, people, Madam Glam is clearly a fly on the wall in my mani dreams.  I've been looking for this polish for years!  It is not currently listed on the Madam Glam site, so I've emailed my contact to ask if it is still available.  I really hope it is!  I don't even know the name...only the number.  So, without further ado, this stunning, two coat, fully opaque, shimmery white is #243.  It looks a tad silver in the photos, but it is a pure white.  It only looks silver because I had to shoot darker to keep my camera from blowing it out and losing the definition in the shimmer.

UPDATE:  It is still avaliable!
Madam Glam Gel Polish #243 Swatch
Madam Glam Gel Polish #243 Swatch

There you have it - my seaweed mani and more Madam Glam swatches!  What do you think?  Do any of these colors scream your name?  If you're looking for great black and white gel polishes, you need these!  And that shimmery white...be still my heart!  I'll update as soon as I know if it is still available.  Until then, drool with me.  ;)  These shades and many others are available from www.MadamGlam.com

~Michelle

*The gel polishes featured in this post were provided by Madam Glam for my honest review.  All links are courtesy links and do not benefit ManicTalons.com.  

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Monday, April 20, 2015

Adult Bullies...Standing Strong

Hello Loves.  Today's post would usually be a Nail School Update, but honestly, there's nothing to update.  Last week was simply more of the same.  Repetitions, repetitions, repetitions.  Besides, I have something much more important on my mind today.


When you think of a "bully", what do you see?  A school aged kid picking on another kid?  Name calling and pranks and pushing someone down on the playground?  The old saying "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me."?  First off, that saying is bullsh*t.  Words DO hurt.  Second, bullies come in all ages.  I admit, I never gave much thought to bullies in the adult world.  We have other names for them.  Softer names.  Names that dismiss their actions.  Online, we call them trolls.  In real life, we call them jerks.  Often, these alternate names disguise what they really are - Bullies.  The sad reality is childhood bullies grow up and often remain bullies.  Due to their "go getter" personalities, they often end up in positions of power.  Supervisors, teachers, law enforcement...just to name a few.

Ok, Michelle, where are you going with this?  Hold on...I'm getting there.

Sometimes you meet someone and you just clash.  Everything you say is taken the wrong way.  Everything you do is picked apart.  You notice that this person treats you differently than he/she treats everyone else.  You are met with iciness when they are met with warmth.  This person seems to go out of his/her way to put you "in your place" and make you feel small.  This person will attempt to isolate you from others.  At first, you might chalk it up to a personality conflict.  But it continues to escalate.  Eventually, the stress takes a toll - both mentally and physically.  You become depressed.  You start getting sick.  You dread being around this person, even when you know it is necessary.  If this sounds like the voice of experience, that's because it is.  I have found myself the victim of an adult bully.

I admit, I can be very naive.  I tend to think of people as inherently good.  Good people who occasionally do bad things.  I see people as good until they prove otherwise.  And even then I tend to dismiss their actions as anomalies.  I take people at their word and trust until given reason not to trust.  When people do things to hurt me, I rationalize their behavior.  I dismiss it as a misunderstanding.  I can't seem to accept that people hurt other people intentionally.  I also wear my heart on my sleeve and tend to reveal things about myself that bad people can use to hurt me.  Believe me, it is a dangerous way to live life.  I get burned.  A lot.  This also makes me a prime target for bullies.

Image source:  www.loveoflifequotes.com

Until last week, I didn't realize that I was dealing with a bully.  No, I thought it was me.  I spent months trying to figure out what I was doing wrong - why I can't seem to communicate with this person without being misunderstood.  I don't have problems communicating with other people.  I'm generally seen as a kind and helpful person.  So why can't I ever seem to connect with this one person?  The stress from this situation has made me physically ill.  My migraines are out of control and my IBS is flaring worse than it ever has before.  These physical symptoms are standing between me and my goals.  I have become generally negative.  I smile less.  My depression is returning.  I'm even starting to lose interest in the things I love - my hobbies that usually bring me immense joy.  You may have even noticed it through my writing here.  Being torn down by someone in a position that is supposed to encourage you is devastating.

It wasn't until I was talking to another person about the situation that it began to make sense.  She told me that others have had the same issue with the person I am dealing with.  She called this person's behavior "bullying".  I admit, I was shocked by that.  I always thought of bullies as a grade school problem.  She insisted that the behavior I was describing is adult bullying and challenged me to look it up. I did just that, and I was shocked at what I found.  Page after page described my situation to the letter.  The page on Adult Bullying on NoBullying.com really drove it home. My entire outlook has changed.  I will NOT be bullied anymore.  I am a strong, kind person and I have a voice.  I will not be silenced by a bully!


Sadly, it took months for someone to give this problem a name.  I have discussed the situation with several friends and family.  And you would be surprised at the number of people who advised me to ignore it.  Press on.  Do what you have to do and get it done.  Laugh it off.  It's only temporary.  Keep your eye on the goal.  While these friends and family were trying to help, their advice is not sound.  Ignoring a bully doesn't stop the torment.  Allowing someone to tear you down for any length of time, no matter how temporary, is NOT the answer.  Running from a bully won't solve the problem.  Especially if running prevents you from reaching your goals.  I even attempted to discuss the situation with the bully on several occasions, assuming it was a misunderstanding.  Things got better for a day or two, but the bullying behavior always returned.  Bullies thrive off of tormenting their victims.  They tear you down in order to make themselves feel stronger, more powerful or more important.  If you ignore them, the bullying attempts get stronger.  More vicious.  More direct.  The only way to stop a bully is to stand up and say "Stop"!

My mani for this week is a simple one with a "Strong" reminder.  I will face this bully.  I will beat this bully.  I will NOT let this bully stand in my way any longer.
Stay Strong Manicure with KBShimmer
Base color is KBShimmer What Are you Wading For? from the upcoming spring launch.  Ring Finger has one coat of KBShimmer Alloy Matey!, also from the upcoming spring launch.  Swatches of these and other KBShimmer Spring polishes coming soon.

Today is my first outward step in fighting this.  I am putting this out there, because I know I'm not alone.  If you are living a similar situation, I encourage you to stand up, be strong, and take charge.  Report the bully if it is a workplace situation.  Stand up to him/her and say "I will not be bullied by you any longer."  Never let anyone make you feel the way I have felt for the past few months.  No one, I repeat NO ONE, deserves that much control over you.  I am a STRONG woman.  I'm putting my foot down.  If I can do it, so can you.

To anyone dealing with a similar situation, I'm here.  If you need an ear, a shoulder, or even advice, PLEASE email me.  Do not face this alone.  I am thankful for a handful of friends and loved ones who are standing with me.  I am here for you if you need me.  My email is manictalons@yahoo.com.

~Michelle

*The KBShimmer polishes shown in this post were provided by KBShimmer Bath and Body for my honest review.  That review will be published within the next few weeks.

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