2007-2008 Top 20: #14-#11 Vignettes

#14: Hot Topic Iridescent Purple

I love this color despite its inability to be photographed properly. Almost all pictures of this color appear blurple, which it is not. It has some blurple glitter, but it is a true purple. It's kind of jelly with gorgeous glitter flecks that resemble glass. The bottle and brush will definitely give a user fits due to its inconvenient shape and cap, though.

#13: Chanel Antilope

After the disappointment of Black Satin and US Vamp, Antilope turned me to the dark side known as Chanel. I loved the neutral tone, especially during summer 2008. My favorite application of Antilope was for French tips. The main problem with Antilope is the dreaded streaks from metallic polishes, but I feel like the gorgeous neutral shade makes up for it.

#12: Essie Wicked

I turned to Wicked after my purchase of Chanel Vamp turned to be a bust. This was my first crème vampy, which I loved immensely. Of all my Essies (with the exception of a certain mini bottle), it is the only bottle close to empty.

#11: Hard Candy Sky

Hard Candy Sky takes me back to the days when quoting Clueless was "in". This color was popularized by Alicia Silverstone when she name-checked it on Letterman. I remember the bright pastel colors and of course, the ubiquitous jelly ring. I didn't get a chance to own it until very recently; their website had them for sale at $1.75 a bottle. The shipping cost more than the two polishes I ordered. I found Trailer Trash and Tantrum at TJ Maxx for $2.99 each along with a lot of their other makeup products on the cheap.

Nail vs. Nail: Chanel Or de Russie

While I have sung my praises of Chanel's Moscou collection, Or de Russie comes close to taking it away. Not because of the color (I think it's fantastically gorgeous), but because I freaked and thought I may have bought a $30 dupe of another Chanel I already owned.

My sisters thought that Or de Russie looked a lot like Haute Chocolat, a color I worked myself up into a frenzy for that fall that sorely disappointed me. After taking pictures of a comparision, they were wrong:




With flash (Or de Russie on index, middle and left side of thumbnail; Haute Chocolat on ring, pinky and right side of thumbnail)


No flash

I was kind of scared for a minute prior to the side-by-side comparison. After all, both colors do have gold flecks, but Or de Russie is more yellow and Haute Chocolat is more muted. Or de Russie's base looks brown due to the gold flecks but is black, while Haute Chocolat is a true chocolate brown.

I prefer Or de Russie because it suits my skin tone a lot better than Haute Chocolat. I feel that Haute Chocolat would suit me better at a fairer skin tone (i.e., my skin tone while I was studying in England).


(Or de Russie on index, middle and left side of thumbnail; Wagon Trail on ring, pinky and right side of thumbnail)

Another color that is a relative of Or de Russie is China Glaze Wagon Trail. Wagon Trail is darker than Or de Russie, which has more lit-from-within flash from the yellow gold glitter.

I don't regret buying Or de Russie and I prefer it to its close cousins, but I guess I will have to think twice before drinking the Chanel Kool-Aid so impulsively next time.

2007-2008 Top 20: #15 China Glaze Ruby Pumps/Lubu Heels

One of the main things on my "outrageously priced item" wish list are a pair of Christian Louboutin heels. While Manolos are the main attraction due to Sex and the City, Louboutins and their signature red soles stole my heart. I love Christina Aguilera's retro look; a style I hope to emulate once I get that cash. The look is usually accompanied by a pair of Louboutins. Considering that I am only 4'9 1/2, I need all the help I can get.

However, since I am broke, I occasionally indulge with a Louboutin mani. I know I'm totally late in the game with this, but I love the pairing of black and red. In the early days of my nail polish addiction (winter 2007), I attempted the manicure on much shorter nails. I used Chanel Black Satin and an unknown red glitter Jessica polish for the look.

I didn't attempt a Louboutin mani until a couple days before I went to New Orleans in December. My nail length at the time was ideal for the Louboutin mani. By this time, I owned the China Glaze Lubu set: Lubu Heels and Ruby Pumps.


No flash


With flash

There is one huge drawback to the Louboutin manicure: it is a bitch and a half to remove. First of all, you're dealing with glitter nail polish: every manicurist's nightmare. I remember back in my acrylic days, I had on a cheap pink glitter polish prior to my nail appointment. I'm pretty sure the manicurist surreptitiously glared at me while scrubbing my nails down with acetone. That's not even dealing with the underside of the nail. You'll be scrubbing this stuff off for days, be warned!

While this isn't an everyday look, it's definitely fun for a night out. Don't be scared by red tips; it'll just give you an excuse to rock all those other vampies in your collection.

I don't get green.

I just committed nail polish blasphemy.

Don't get me wrong, I own a few fetching greens myself. I just don't get the whole hype (i.e., $80 eBay Zulu madness). Maybe it's because I don't really wear green. I'm most likely to get pinched every March 17 because I don't have anything green to wear.

...Until now.

Prior to the China Glaze Summer Days collection, I only owned two other full collections (Zoya Flourish and Chanel Moscou) and two almost-full collections (Zoya Twist minus Moxie and Misa Sugar Sugar minus Confection Section). I was immediately attracted to the glass-flecked gorgeousness of it all. However, one color stole my heart:


...China Glaze Watermelon Rind.

Wearing this after the disaster known as Zoya Kotori completely restored my faith in nail polish and (maybe?) made me believe in green.

2007-2008 Top 20: #19-#16 Vignettes

#19: Zoya Yasmeen

This color is purple perfection. If there is a certain shade of purple that is associated with royalty, Yasmeen nails it along with its subtle gold shimmer. This is great for people looking for a dark purple without heading into the near-black category (i.e., Lincoln Park After Dark or Chanel Vendetta).


#18: Essie Short Shorts


Essie Short Shorts was the first pink neon I have liked. My sister is a huge fan of pink neons but I never liked any of the ones she had, but I was also still in my vamp stage. I bought my other sister the Essie Neons mini set as an early birthday present and took a liking to neons, especially Short Shorts. Between the three of us, that mini bottle of Short Shorts was quickly depleted. Since then, I have searched in vain for a dupe and ended up with a bunch of neon pinks that are close, but no cigar. My sister has happily taken them off my hands. I finally ordered a full bottle of Short Shorts that came in with my China Glaze Summer Days collection from Transdesign.

EDIT: This picture was taken indoors and required about 5-6 coats because I doused the final remnants of the mini-bottle with nail polish thinner; it really looks nothing like it does in RL. I'll try to get an updated pic now that I have a full bottle.


#17: OPI Have You Seen My Limo?

Have You Seen My Limo is to duochromes the way My Private Jet was to holographics for me. I was thoroughly impressed the first time I applied it. I was shocked by the duochrome, which changes from purple to brown to this blue-green sheen at different angles. Since then, I can't get enough of duochromes (yet I'm holding out on Nubar for financial reasons). I spent a whole morning at work trying to photograph the different sides of HYSML which is why of all my nail polish colors, it has the most pictures saved on my computer.


#16: Chanel Nuit de Russie

I graduated from university on December 13, 2008. I say this because that's how I rationalized dropping $90 for 3 bottles of nail polish: a graduation gift to myself. I seriously flipped the moment I saw the Moscou collection. A few select colors have had the distinction of an instant must-have the moment I see it; what makes the Moscou collection unique is that I didn't even see it swatched yet, but I had to have it due to what I saw on the promos. The moment it allowed me to order online, I was there with credit card in tow. I do think $30 is steep for any polish, but I don't regret it one bit. Of the three, my favorite is Nuit de Russie (followed closely by Feu de Russie). Or de Russie is last only because of a future Nail vs. Nail post. My picture does not do it justice: it has a lit-from-within blue sparkle. On my thumbnail was my very first (and partially scratched off) Konad experiment in China Glaze OMG and Konad plate m63.

Today (well, technically yesterday) I received my China Glaze Summer Days collection...wow! I really like China Glaze. I've heard complaints of their formula, but I love their collections; it marches to a different beat rather than Essie or OPI *glares* I have managed to more than double my collection within the first 2 months of 2009, from 103 at the end of 2008 to the current 212. *gulps* I think I may have a serious problem...that and my family is starting to notice the frequent packages sent to me...

No sir, I don't like it.

I really wanted to like this color. Really, I did.

It's pretty hard for me to dislike a color that's not a stereotypical pink/red.

Unlike Zoya Lindsay, which ended up endearing itself to me with its pink jelly/glittery goodness, I couldn't get myself to like Zoya Kotori. I love the name, I just can't stand the color. First of all, it took 4 coats to reach optimal opacity, which is a pain. Even at ideal opacity, it had this watery look that I did not like; it reminded me of watered-down ink. Also, it just did not look right with my skin tone. I can usually rock most colors, but it wasn't happening with Kotori.

I don't think I've ever disliked a color as much as I loathe this color. The only consolation I have was that I only spent 3 dollars on it as part of the Zoya exchange promo (JUMP ON IT, it ends February 28!!!). I would be much more upset had I spent the full 6 dollars. Am I cracking up? I'd like to hear your nail polish disappointment stories.

A quick question...

I was browsing through Chanel's site and realized that the Moscou collection is gone...how long ago did they discontinue it? I'm a little miffed now that they have re-released Chanel Rouge Noir, a color that I bought the $60 holiday gift set for (which included Allegoria, a color that reduces me to four-letter outbursts thanks to the streakiness that rivals Essie). I really only look at their website if I hear of a new collection, so I'm not really up-to-date on things. So if there's anyone out there in nail-bloggerland who knows, hit me up!

Thanks!

The Asian Girl

2007-2008 Top 20: OPI My Private Jet

While 2008 has come and gone, I'd like to present my own top 20. I also included my 2007 polishes because I only owned less than 10 prior to 2008.


First up at #20: OPI My Private Jet

I've read that there are two different batches of MPJ. I'm not sure which one I picked up; all I know that it's full of holographic goodness and takes about 3-4 coats to ensure opacity.

My Private Jet was my first foray into holographic polishes. I was torn between which to buy while at the store; this or OPI Baby It's "Coal" Outside. While I would eventually own that one as well, I was ecstatic with MPJ.

My only complaint is the 3-4 coats. I soon used this over one of my other favorite polishes, Chanel Rouge Noir:


I sure miss my old nail length. *sighs*

22 years of nail-biting down the drain...

There is a recurring theme among many nail polish fanatics:

Many of us are recovering and/or former nail biters.

For as long as I can remember, I was a nail biter. I remember seeing my sister's fantastic nails (and enviable long nail beds) and being green with envy. I was cursed with stumps and constantly gnawed at them.


This will probably be one of the few nail pictures I will not mark. It is so disgusting that I have no idea why anyone would want to take it. This picture was from my freshman year of college (please disregard the underage alcoholic beverage; this was the best picture I could find of the stumps). If this picture looks painful, it's because it was. I would bite as close to the quick as possible, sometimes breaking skin and drawing blood.

However, to circumvent this, I moved on to acrylics. I loved loved loved loved LOVED acrylics...I had them on almost non-stop from January 2004 to December 2006. However, whenever the acrylics came off, I was back to my painful chewing routine.


(Yes, they are porn-star-pink-and-whites. Don't hate.)

Around Christmastime 2006, I had a long streak of bad luck. During the midst of this, I lost my job and in turn gave up my beloved acrylics. My best guy friend gave me reassurance during this tough time: "Since all these bad things have happened to you so far, something really good has got to happen." On the last week of January 2007, I was on my way to England to study abroad for 5 months.

During this time, I finally learned to let my nails grow out. I was really tempted to go to the local nail salon for a full set but balked at the price. I soon learned to take care of my own nails. Strangely enough, despite my dependency on acrylics, I had the good sense to pack a manicure kit with my luggage. My first exposure to Zoya was while studying abroad thanks to my Canadian friend Krackie.


I don't know the name of this Zoya polish. All I remember was that it was a basic blue-tinged red creme.

As with all bad habits, there is always a chance of relapse. My only relapse was during a toga party. My nails were the longest they had ever been, but that night they were unpolished. I remember biting them off while I was talking to a very attractive friend of a friend during the party and being very nervous.


Note the right pinky nail.

I haven't bit my nails since May 2007. I don't get the urges anymore; even in times of extreme anxiety. Knowing how far I have come, I can't bear to bite again.

...Now if they would only grow faster!!!


FingerPaints Black Gumdrop

Trailer Trash vs. Trixie

Welcome to a new feature here at Gettin' Nailed: The Nail vs. Nail series!

Ever buy a polish then realize you have one that might as well be its twin? Isn't it, well, frustrating?! And it can get expensive! (Example: Chanel Or de Russie vs. China Glaze Wagon Trail. Not exact, but it still is $30!)

While dupes can be frustrating, I'm always fascinated to see subtle differences between similar polishes. The average nail fanatic can spot the differences, but to the untrained eye, it all looks the same. My poor, deluded baby sister still insists I have many of the same colors...but she doesn't know better.

Tonight's main event are two recently acquired polishes: Hard Candy Trailer Trash and Zoya Trixie.

In the bottle picture above, they look very similar: silver metallic glitter. However, out of the bottle:


Thumb: Trailer Trash (left) Trixie, (right), Trixie (index and middle), Trailer Trash (ring and pinky) Note: Thanks Nessa!

Trailer Trash is more muted; I think it looks a lot like Cover Girl Mattalic Triple Platinum minus the matte finish. Trixie, however: WOW! I love the foil finish, it definitely pops out and grabs you by the throat. I have to say, my favorite is Trixie...Trailer Trash would've had a better chance if it had the jelly ring included with it :P

Nail misadventures in NOLA...

Let me start off by saying: I love New Orleans.

However, I tend to have bad luck there when it comes to nails. During my first time out there, (Mardi Gras 2004) an acrylic nail snapped off. When I went to the Hornets game back in December, I tripped down concrete steps at the Arena and cracked my big toenail.

Ironically, today's NOTD is more Valentine's-themed than the one I actually sported on Valentine's Day. I wore Essie Sexy Divide, one of my current favorites. Unfortunately, my right index fingernail snapped off while I hurried to get my shoes on. I didn't have a file, so I ended up walking around NOLA with a broken nail.

But then again, what do all three incidents have in common? ...Pre-partying. Oops.

So here I am, sporting stumps. My nails haven't been this short in about 8 months, but I take it as a sign that I needed a change. I do wish I had longer nail beds, however.

Zoya Lindsay is one of the thirteen I picked up from Zoya's amazing exchange offer. (There's 12 days left, go take advantage of it!) I was a little disappointed when I first swatched it; it takes about 3-4 coats to achieve bottle color and due to its translucent nature, still exhibits visible nail line syndrome. However, wearing it all day endeared Lindsay to me...it looks better in the sunlight, but I took the picture late in the day.

There is great news however: I got my camera back! There will definitely be more swatching and NOTD posts in the future. Tomorrow, I (finally) receive my MAC Hello Kitty polishes! I saw them while at Saks in New Orleans and cursed that I bought them online. Oh well, you live, you learn.

NOTD: NYC Nail Glossies 235

I'm very impressed by NYC. It's a bargain brand yet produces great nail polish. BFF1 bought me 5 NYC polishes for potential Konad use over Christmas and I've only gotten around to swatching them recently. The bottle color didn't look promising; just a dusty dark pink. However, out of the bottle: WOW! I don't own Miami Beet or My Throne For A Cranberry Scone, but I wonder if it's a dupe; the vibrant pink reminds me of those colors. (...but I can be sorely mistaken.)


Chinatown is another NYC standout. It's from their new line In A New York Color Minute. I liked it when I saw it on Steph's Closet, but I was a little disappointed seeing it in person. However, I only saw it indoors, but outside in the sunlight, it's freakin' fantastic! It looks dull indoors but sunlight makes the shimmer pop.

For around 2-3 bucks, NYC is a great deal. They have decent color variety (especially their limited editions such as Cognac Sparkle and Molten Metal) and great application. The wear on 235 wasn't great, but I'm a waitress so my nails see a lot of wear and tear.

I will be in New Orleans this weekend, so no posts until Sunday night at the earliest. I will definitely answer your comments and try to work on some suggestions when I return. I received my Zoya exchange polishes today and was completely impressed by my choices, especially one that I thought would be lackluster. On Tuesday, my picks from the Hello Kitty MAC collection (On The Prowl and Something About Pink) should be coming in. Ooh, I'm so excited!

Another way-back flashback...

Does anyone else out there in nail blogland remember scented nail polish? It was a big trend back in the late '90s (probably '96-'99; I remember it was while I was in middle school). I've looked it up and found candy scents, but I remember back then they had popular scents such as Tommy Girl (one that I particularly detest, I should add). Whatever happened to those? Do any of you still have a bottle or rocked it? Hit me up.

A way-back flashback...

I have a confession.

Once upon a time, this was my favorite song:



*hangs head in shame*

Oh, come on, I was 14 at the time! My object of lust was Nick Carter, for Christ's sake!

*sees the raised eyebrows*

Okay, okay, I'm digging myself into a hole here.

Back in 1999, nail polish was a lot more adventurous. (DAMN, has it really been that long?! *hangs head in shame*) Cover Girl definitely had some interesting polishes on the market.

First off, Mattalic Triple Platinum:


I found this at a Dollar Tree with a bottle of Crackle! *swoon* Two way-back flashbacks in one package, I practically hyperventilated when I found this. I clearly remember my cousin owning a bottle of the purple Mattalic. I, however, never owned my own bottle because I sported chewed-up stumps at the time. Adolescence: it's a bitch.

Back to the nail polish: this dried quickly and as the bottle states, matte. I'm not really a fan of matte finishes in either nail polish or lipstick...the dryness turns me off. For those of you like me, I added a coat of Poshe:


I think it may need more than one coat of top coat to show off the glittery goodness of Mattalic polishes. This picture is only one coat of Poshe. The bottle color is very sparkly; this is muted by the matte finish but can be enhanced with a good top coat.

Here's another color, Pink Zinc:


I don't know why, this color reminds me of Hello Kitty. Speaking of which, I can't wait for my MAC Hello Kitty polishes to come in! I really like the color of Pink Zinc, but I'm not very sure it complements my skin color. I have a problem with pinks; the only color I have ever returned was a pink (OPI Makes Men Blush). My all-time favorite is slowly becoming hard-to-find, Essie Short Shorts.

I used Pink Zinc as a base for an anti-Valentine mani:

With flash


Without flash

While I find the color combination overused, I love pink and black together. I feel the two are very complementary. I'm still getting used to Crackle, I prefer the deep recesses as shown with the pinky nail.

There's your walk through nail memory lane...now excuse me while I listen to my Britney Spears records.

5 bucks, a card and a stolen keychain

Remembering my only Valentine's Day with a boyfriend always makes laugh. My first boyfriend was a peculiar sort; he was the class valedictorian known for his laconic and deadpan sense of humor. When my best friend asked him what he was planning to give me for Valentine's Day, he replied, "Can't I just give her 5 bucks and a card?" In response, BFF1 hit him. I got a box of chocolates instead.

What I miss most from Valentine's Days of the past is a Snoopy keychain. It was a plastic figurine of Snoopy and Woodstock in a pink car with a heart on it; an additional gift with a box of chocolates. Sadly enough, this was stolen along with my set of keys that contained my credit card, college ID and drivers' license in October 2003.

Thus, I present to you, my Valentine's Day mani:


With flash


Without flash

My original idea was a half-moon mani with french tips. Unfortunately, my tips turned out too puffy, like fabric paint. I decided to add a little flair using the silver Sally Hansen nail art pen. I like the nail art pen, specifically its ease of use, but I dislike the $7.99 price tag. The base color is yesterday's NOTD, Revlon Color Illusion Silver Switch. The red is one of the best promotional items ever, Essie Pama. Essie Pama was free giveaway promoting Pama pomegranate liqueur, something I plan on trying one of these days. The tip color is Misa Sugar Daddy, one of my favorite whites yet requires 3-4 coats to ensure opacity.

I don't know what my final Valentine's Day mani will be yet; I'm going on a little trip to my favorite US city, New Orleans! I'm considering Essie Sexy Divide with maybe a coat of China Glaze Wireless Holographic top coat; it will definitely be a lot simpler than today's design.

Licensed To Ill

Even before my nail polish addiction, I have always loved discount stores. Many of my favorite clothing items are discount store finds. Some days you'll walk in and walk out empty-handed, yet some days you end up with something really special.

I miss the drugstore nail polish lines of days past...i.e., Sally Hansen Nail Prisms, Cover Girl Mattalic, etc. I feel like drugstore brands are playing it way too safe lately, with the exception of Sally Hansen's overpriced nail art pens. However, discount stores are here to save the day!

I went to a couple of Big Lots stores this weekend and made a new discovery: Revlon Color Illusion. One word: DUOCHROME!!! The moment I found one, I had to find them all! In total, my Color Illusion haul turned to 12. (Total haul of the day: 21. I have a problem.)

A couple of colors aren't duochrome, but are beautifully rich. I'll post swatches as I go. Today's NOTD is from the line, Silver Switch.

Silver Switch is silver that changes to purple and green at different angles. This picture was the closest I could get to capturing its multifaceted nature. I don't remember the color's name, but I remember the first duochrome nail polish I got back in middle school was a Revlon.

I got these colors at an amazing price: $2 for a pack of 2! You can't really beat that except at the Dollar Tree!

Nailonomics

During this trying times with the economy, many of us are trying to find cheaper avenues of escape. I know many of you out there balk at the prices of nail polish. I remember OPI being priced at $6.50 back in 2006 and Chanel at $18 in 2007. Now OPI is $8.50 and Chanel $20 (or $25-$30 depending on the collection), definitely a huge jump.

Most of my disposable income is spent on nail polish. There is nothing that compares to that except maybe going out to eat and clothing during post-holiday sales.

I do find the retail prices of the common brands (i.e., OPI (ESPECIALLY the DS line), Essie, China Glaze) to be inflated, which is why I've gone out of my way to find other avenues of purchase.

My main exception is Chanel. While I was greatly disappointed by the first two Chanels I purchased (Black Satin and US Vamp), I have been impressed by others such as Kaleidoscope, Vendetta and Nuit de Russie. The moment I saw the Moscou collection, I knew I HAD to have it. My most expensive nail polish endeavor was ordering the whole collection the day it was available online. The next expensive was ordering Chanel's holiday nail gift set, which included a long-time lemming: Rouge Noir.

Except Chanel, I rarely pay full price for nail polish. I remember one random trip to Bealls Outlet and I found a champagne-like Revlon for $1.50. When I got to the counter, apparently it was also 95% off and totaled to $0.07. YES, $0.07 nail polish!

I do have a limit when it comes to pricing, however. Even though I long for Essie Starry Starry Night, there is no way in hell am I paying $50. Prior to the Moscou collection, I was not convinced enough to pay $30 for Gold Fiction. I do wonder however, if OPI Symphony In Gold compares to Gold Fiction, which I found at a Bealls Outlet for $7 paired with OPI Thrills In Beverly Hills top coat. Something interesting I've also found was that while all the hype surrounded Gold Fiction last summer, they still have bottles of it at my local Chanel counter yet Kaleidoscope is long gone (*grumbles to self*).

For those of you who don't want to spend the full retail prices of nail polish, I suggest looking at drugstore brands. I think there's a bit of stigma associated with those brands, but I've found quite a few fetching colors and even wear with drugstore brands. The best deals can be found at discount chains such as Dollar Tree and Big Lots, with sets of 2 going for $1 or $2.

Also, brands such as OPI and Essie can be found for prices comparable or even cheaper than the most expensive Sally Hansen line via online vendors. Better yet, if you're going to buy online, take advantage of Zoya's nail polish exchange…but act quick because all packages need to arrive at their headquarters before Feb. 28!

Happy hunting!

Wish upon a star...

I have an incredibly gorgeous male friend. He is what we call traditionally good-looking: tall, dark and ridiculously hot. I've even slept in his bed! (…alone.)

Another male friend of mine isn't traditionally handsome like the former, but has a je ne sais quoi about him and is entertaining on a whole another level. His eyes are a brilliant shade of cornflower blue that I would kill for if it were a microglitter nail polish a la Misa Sugar Daddy. (For those of you not in the know, blue eyes are my weakness. D'oh!)

What does any of this have to do with nail polish?

My biggest and most elusive lemming is Essie Starry Starry Night. I cannot have any of the above.

The apex of my nail polish addiction started shortly after Essie stopped the re-release of SSN and Viva La Vespa. I kick myself on a regular basis (okay, not that regular, but often) that I didn't get into nail polish seriously until Fall 2008. I sometimes get a little sad when I see it on other blogs. (Talk about nail envy! Grow a pair, Asian Girl!)

I found that SSN is available through Harrods' site. However, after the currency conversion and shipping costs, it would total up to $50. I've already spent $30 each on Chanels; I cross the line there. I almost thought about calling up an old study abroad pal who is back in London for grad school to help me out but the shipping rates would probably still apply.

Because of this deep longing of SSN, I resorted to what may be my biggest low concerning my addiction. Bealls Outlet is a Florida-based discount chain where I frequent to find random nail polish colors. I found a "grab bag" of nail polishes, mostly full of Sally Hansen colors (seriously, how many craptacular colors can be made from pink and red?) but one caught my eye…a SSN lookalike! I almost had a heart attack on the spot. I, for one, did not want to spend 8 dollars for the bag. (There is no rhyme or reason to this. I have dedicated much more dollars and credit on less-worthy nail polish endeavors.) I found a loose color of Rimmel with a $1.50 price tag, carefully removed it and put it on my SSN lookalike and put the Rimmel in the grab bag and high-tailed it to the register.

Was it worth it? Take a look:

While I just divulged my snarkiest nail polish confession (hey, at least I didn't steal it from someone's bathroom *cough*SarahMichelleGellar*cough*), I think Bealls got the last laugh. Their regular store recently had a MAJOR sale (50% and 70% off color clearance plus take an extra 40% off) and they sucked over a hundred bucks from me last week. They definitely got their money's worth from me.

However, I'm still holding out hope for guys (not those guys, but the others out there) and Essie Starry Starry Night. I just won't spend $50 for either.

"I wanna be rich

Never work at all

And sleep all day

And I wanna see it all

Oh, I want, I want everything

I want everything I can't have"

- "Everything I Can't Have", Robin Thicke

CONTEST CONTEST CONTEST

What's better than getting a dozen roses on Valentines' Day?

Getting a dozen nail polish roses instead!

Hightail it over to Brooke's site at http://getchanailsdid.blogspot.com and enter!

Ladies, I know you find me sexy.

I love Chris Paul.

How do I count the ways? Well, for starters, he's not the typical tatted-up thug trying to cut a rap album. He's cute as a button. He's the kind of guy you can take home to Mom. Oh, yeah, and he's the future of the NBA.

...Did I mention he's cute as a button?

Thanks to Chris Paul, I decided to dip my toes into the world of nail art. In preparation for the December 23 New Orleans Hornets vs. Los Angeles Lakers match, I tried a couple of designs.

This design is based on the Hornets' home jersey. I used Zoya Gaia as the base while Zoya Yasmeen and China Glaze For Audrey were used for detailing. For Audrey isn't close to the Hornets teal; it was just what I had at the time.

While studying abroad in England, I took a class on modern art and wrote an arduous paper on Piet Mondrian. This design definitely has Mondrian influence. The base is Essie Marshmallow and the detailing is Zoya Yasmeen, Essie Shorty Pants and Color Club Bizerk Turq.


This was the design I wore to New Orleans for the game. I was inspired by the Louboutin manicure I sported the day before. The base color is Bizerk Turq and the detailing is Essie Shorty Pants, Zoya Yasmeen and Essie Marshmallow. The thumb design is based on the Hornets' away jersey.


Unfortunately, as you can see (and what I found out upon buying a jersey of my own prior to the game), Bizerk Turq was too green. It did, however, resemble the older jersey as seen above. However, I have since bought a more suitable blue (China Glaze Shower Together) so I am ready for the playoffs! GEAUX HORNETS!

WELCOME!

You have reached the realm of The Asian Girl. I'm a newbie at both the blogging/nail polish thing. I've been a long-time lurker at many of the popular nail blogs (wow, that makes me sound like such a creeper) and decided it was time to finally share my addiction with the world.

Addiction, you say? While grocery shopping, I have to troll by the cosmetics aisle even though I will more than likely be disappointed. Impulsively buying a collection the day it comes out online despite the exorbitant price (90 dollars, are you out of your mind?!) counts as an addiction. But that's not as desperate as when you find yourself on your hands and knees on the floor of your former favorite nail salon looking at the bottles for sale.

I currently own 146 bottles of nail polish. I'm not up to the typical nail blogger number (…yet.), but I only began this little obsession back in the autumn of 2007. This number will certainly change, probably as soon as tomorrow. I plan on talking about a myriad of nail polish topics: NOTD (which is going to be postponed due to my camera currently being MIA), nail products, nail art, and personal opinions regarding nail polish.

Before we begin dishing about polish, I must warn you: I have a foul mouth and have a predilection for inappropriate comments. That's just how I am…so if you are sensitive to certain four-letter words and dirty humor, you may want to step away or just concentrate on the pictures instead. See! Everyone wins!

Here's a little bit of side information about me:

• I'm a recent college graduate (BS in Community Health Ed) currently working as a waitress at a restaurant located in a local military base on the lookout for my first post-grad job.

• I'm full-bred Filipina-American (hence, the "Asian" part).

• I like to make a lot of side comments and use lots of semi-colons. That's why my stories tend to ramble on; it's a trait I inherited from my mother.

Thanks for stopping by!

Note: The first picture was my nail polish collection on May 4, 2008. The second is my collection on January 20, 2009.