FIFTH DAY: water abstract

So I can't really call this a water marble, but it's...ALSO FESTIVE.

Note: I have only heard two people use the word "festive" in a non-sarcastic or -ironic way: my friend Rob and Lance the UPS person who visits the office. They share several characteristics, which has led me to believe they may be long-lost cousins. Lance calls me "Cookie Lady," which is vaguely annoying.

  

OPI An Affair in Red Square, Happy Anniversary!, and the Ulta-exclusive holiday 2012 Skip the Gift Wrap (that rates 89 of 100 on my Dumb Name Scale), finished with two coats of Orly Twilight. For that pearly luster.

  

The middle finger came out pretty well, which is fortunate, considering we have board meetings this week.

  

The right hand wasn't too horrible. My main issue has been the polish drying too quickly on the water, in part due to the reluctance of the polish still on the brush to drop nicely into the cup. PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT RIGHT or possibly INSANE but QUITTERS NEVER WIN POWERBALL, or something like that.

FOURTH DAY: green glitter love

My claws were starting to show enough tip wear to concern me, so I had to redo them last night. I didn't have time for anything very exciting, so this happened.

  

Orly Meet Me Under the Mistletoe under Milani Gems.

  

I want to lick that bottle sooooo much.

  

IT IS GREEN AND SPARKLY, LIKE A CHRISTMAS TREE.

  

I wish I had added some diagonal lines to simulate garland. But there's always next year.

THIRD DAY: Holiday Skittles

These were supposed to be evocative of glass ornaments or maybe the old-fashioned light bulbs or something, I don't know, it's FESTIVE.

I think "skittles" is a dumb name for this color split, but that seems to be the generally accepted term.

  

PURPLE: Essie Sexy Divide
BLUE: China Glaze Blue Year's Eve
GREEN: Zoya Suvi
RED: Zoya Isla
GOLD: Ulta High Roller
MOONS: Sally Hansen Hard as Nails X-treme Wear Celeb City (wtf)

All except the silver bits were given a nice thick coat of Essie Matte About You.

  

I was musing how the Essie is such a nice purple, why don't I ever use that one...because it's a patchy disaster polish OH YEAH I REMEMBER NOW. I am excited because I think that silver may be good for stamping.

  

That is not very well focused but shows the colors in lovely December morning shade.

My beloved assistant said they look almost art deco. SQUEEEE

SECOND DAY: shiny glitter love

Here we have Zoya Isla with tips in China Glaze Twinkle Lights over China Glaze Champagne Bubbles, with an inverted accent ring finger.

  

This got a lot of love at work, but the pictures are not wonderful.

  

I have such mixed feelings about Zoya. The average wear time is crap, but I haven't tried it with their own base and top coats yet. If they would stock them at Ulta along with the polishes, I would have picked them up by now. HINT, HINT.

FIRST DAY: snowflakes glitter love

It is DECEMBER. That means it is time for HOLIDAY NAILS. I am EXCITED.

  

I stamped the snowflakes from BM14 on China Glaze Blue Year's Eve with Konad white polish and OPI Lucerne-tainly Look Marvelous, then topped with China Glaze Fairy Dust. Lucerne did not offer enough contrast to show up as more than a shimmery shadow; I would like to do this one again with white and ice blue snowflakes and maybe a different plate. Two people thought these were stars, which is understandable as smudge happened.

  

I usually prefer teal rather than blue, but this one is a delicious cold glass-fleck type. GOOD JOB CHINA GLAZE.

  

The thumbs came out pretty well.

  

It may be December, but the high is sixty degrees today, so this will be the only snow in my life for the foreseeable future. It is good for the utility bills but bad for holiday morale. I will squeeze my eyes shut and PRETEND.