Author Archives: Mary S.

China Glaze All Aboard Collection Press Release

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China Glaze All Aboard CollectionAutumn is my favourite season because of the rich colours, explosion in fashion, new beauty products, pumpkin spice lattes, colours of the changing leaves, knitting projects, and pumpkin pies! (Plus Hallowe’en is my favourite holiday.)

So you can just imagine how excited I am about the China Glaze All Aboard Collection, which is their fall release, launching in September!

The shades are rich, and, as with many of China Glaze’s collections, this one is full of variety, so there’s something for everyone.

When I first read the press release and saw the promo pictures, I was most enticed by Choo-Choo Choose You and Mind the Gap.

Which ones catch your eye initially?

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OPI My Dogsled Is a Hybrid Swatches & Review

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OPI My Dogsled Is a Hybrid Swatches & ReviewOPI My Dogsled Is a Hybrid from the Nordic Collection is one of those bright blue-ish greens that’s a pick-me-up. I don’t have to worry about it clashing with my skin tone – it always works without any hassles.

This is a shade that’s happy and bright, but not neon or too loud. It’s just right!

Although I have lots of turquoises and aquas in my collection, I always gravitate toward this familiar colour territory because it’s a no-brainer. And I love how it adds a pop of fun colour onto my nails. Plus this colour looks great on so many different skin tones, which is awesome!
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Chat with Zoya’s Creative Director on Twitter on August 27

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This is the second blog post for today because I have some exciting news to share! (If you haven’t seen the other post today, go check it out – it’s a review of cool Bundle Monster Cabochons!)

Chat with Zoya’s Creative Director (Rebecca Isa) on Twitter on Wednesday August 27! This opportunity doesn’t come around often, so jump on it, and ask anything you’re curious about.

To participate:

  • Follow @ZoyaNailPolish
  • Use #FALLingForZoya in your tweet from 8-9 pm EDT (5-6 pm PDT) on Wednesday August 27

The Twitter party will include:

  • Fall’s hottest nail colours
  • Trends from the New York Fashion Week runway
  • GIveaways (for U.S. residents)
  • Plus more!

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Bundle Monster Cabochons Swatches & Review

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Bundle Monster Cabochons Nails Nail Art ReviewSome days, I have an itch to rock dramatic nails that are as over-the-top as Lady Gaga.

The friendly ‘monsters’ over at Bundle Monster sent me two blingy cabochons to try, and let me tell you, if you’re looking for nails that will set yourself apart from the sea of generic manicures, cabochons definitely do the trick!

The Bundle Monster Cabochons are the very first nail cabochons that I’ve ever sported, and I have to say, they’re pretty badass! 😉

I felt totally edgy when I wore the cabochons over the jet black, OPI Who Are You Calling Bossy?!? from the Peanuts Collection, and I think they offer an interesting 3D effect that you just can’t get with other nail art. Plus the ease of cabochons are wonderful – just put a dab of top coat or nail glue to act as an adhesive, and you’re golden.

Sure, these are not typical for me to wear on a day-to-day basis. I see them as something for a special occasion. They’re such a far departure from everything else that I’ve tried, so I was curious to jump into this lake and swim around a bit.

(Please note that I had cut my nails pretty short, and my fingers and nails are narrow. On someone with average-sized fingers, the cabochons won’t look as big.)

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The Body Shop Colour Crush Got the Blues, Oh, Petal & Mint Cream Swatches & Mini Review

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The Body Shop Colour Crush Collection Got the Blues, Oh Petal & Mint Cream SwatchesIf you followed me on Instagram or other social media, you saw a photo I posted recently of the epic nail mail with 18 nail polishes that I received from the generous folks at The Body Shop.

In October, they’re coming out with 24 rainbow shades in the new The Body Shop Colour Crush Nails Collection!

These nail polishes are promoted as being vegan, not tested on animals, enriched with silky Community Fair Trade marula oil, having a high-gloss finish, and featuring a quick-drying formula.

Additionally, they have a ‘4-free’ formula, meaning that they don’t contain Dibutyl Phthalate, Formaldehyde, Formaldehyde Resin, and Camphor.

I was debating on which colour to wear first, and since I couldn’t decide, I ended up wearing 3 at once, which had a candy, Easter-esque feel:

  • The Body Shop Got the Blues (periwinkle/purple)
  • The Body Shop Oh, Petal (pink)
  • The Body Shop Mint Cream (green)

Since this post contains photos of all 3 in one manicure, I’ll show you swatches and photos of the bottles, but there’ll be a mini review of my first impression of the formula.

When I wear another manicure with just one shade, then I’ll do an in-depth review.

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OPI Who Are You Calling Bossy?!? Swatches & Review

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OPI Who Are You Calling BossyOPI Who Are You Calling Bossy?!? is described as a “stormy black” in the official press release for the OPI Peanuts Collection, and I definitely agree with it.

This is a jet black, not one of those near-black shades that sometimes frustrates me.

When I want really dramatic, dark tips, I prefer to reach for a full-on black, not one that tip-toes around the bush. This one is gothic, and I love it!

Sure, this black may not look unique, but the formula is wonderful. At just 2 coats, I got great coverage. (Sometimes with other blacks, you need 3 coats, or the formula is really thick, leaving behind an uneven finish.)

If you don’t already have a staple black nail polish in your collection, this is a good one to own!

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Smorgasbord Sundays: Forever 21 Statement Necklaces

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Forever 21 Statement NecklacesI’m a huge fan of statement necklaces, and they don’t have to be expensive to excite me.

Sure, I have some pricier necklaces I adore from Ann Taylor that are of very high quality, but the majority of my statement necklaces are more affordable.

Recently, I purchased several new Forever 21 Statement Necklaces, which I can’t wait to style!

I love large necklaces that have a lot of movement or interesting geometric shapes. And if a statement necklace has lots of intricate detailing or reminds me of a warrior, I fall for it real hard! 😉

In today’s Smorgasbord Sundays post, I’ll show you my most recent purchases, and since they’re all still available on the Forever 21 Canadian website, you can get them, if you’re interested.

I’ve linked each photo of the individual necklaces to their corresponding page on the Forever 21 Canadian website to make it easier for you. And, for complete transparency, I want you to know that there are zero affiliate links in this blog post, and I’m not sponsored by Forever 21. Hehe, I wish!

Edit: You may remember seeing my old post from 2011 on a DIY Necklace Holder, where, at the very bottom, I showed you some of my necklace collection. 🙂

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