Liebster Award

I was lucky to be nominated for the Liebster Award by Patty from Patty and Goldies Day Off and I couldn't be more thrilled. This award is given to new bloggers with less than 200 followers and here are the rules:

1. Each person tagged must post 11 things about themselves
2. They must also answer the 11 questions the 'Tagger' has set for them
3. They must create 11 more questions to ask bloggers they have decided to tag
4. They must then choose 11 bloggers with less than 200 followers and tag them in their post
5. These lucky bloggers must then be told
6. There are no tag backs

Here are 11 random things about me:

1. I am obsessed with owls. I don't know why, I just am
2. I love watching TV and discovering new shows to watch. My recent find is Breaking Bad and I'm so obsessed with how bad ass this show is!
3. Lynnderella's Ruby Red Ruby is the polish that got my obsession started, even though I don't own any Lynns.
4. I will be graduating in December with two bachelors degrees; economics and finance
5. My dogs are my children and I love them more than anything.
6. Even though I'm from San Diego, I actually like Reno and the snow
7. I hate doing laundry
8. I really want to own a dog rescue, most specifically for pit bulls and the "bully" breeds
9. I paint my nails at least 3-4 times a week but I rarely ever paint my toes
10. I work at a tanning salon doing spray tans
11. I love country music

My questions from Patty:

1. What made you start blogging? Well, I was really into nail polish and nail art and I had a ton of blogs that I read so I decided to start blogging as well
2. Whats kinds of things do you do to make blog successful? I dont know, really. I post links on facebook and post my pictures with my link on instagram and twitter. I joined a polish group on facebook but thats about it.
3. What would make you stop blogging? I guess if I just "got over it" I would stop. At this point I dont see anything that would make me start. Even though life gets in the way sometimes, I enjoy it and it gives me a good creative outlet.
4. What inspires you? Anything and everything. If I see a combination of colors I like or a cool design online I will try to incorporate it into my mani. Sometimes I just sit down and start painting and something random will come out of it.
5. What is your favorite nail polish? My indies for sure are my favorites. As far as which one... hmm... I think right now its probably Pretty & Polished Phoenix, but it changes often.
6. Do you view blogging as a "competitive sport" or a creative outlet? I view it more as a creative outlet. I'm really not a creative person but nail polish and blogging allows me to express the tiny amount of creativity I do have.
7. What is the best way to get followers? I'd say social media, groups, etc.
8. What keeps you going when you feel defeated? My husband for one, he's awesome when I'm feeling like the world is against me. Also just my determination to keep on trekking and to be successful.
9. How do you organize your blog? I wouldn't say I have much organization, I just mess with the layout until it looks good and thats about it. As far as my posts, I usually talk about what I did then follow with pictures. I try to keep the wordiness to a minimum but sometimes that doesn't happen LOL
10. Where do you keep your nail station? It used to be the dining room table but now we've converted one of our spare bedrooms to my "girl cave". I've got a glass top desk that I use for painting my nails and I have a 3 drawer melmer for my polish. I have a bunch of plastic drawer organizers that I use to organize my nail art stuff and tools.
11. What is more important to you, pageviews or followers and why? I thought about this for a while and I think pageviews because you can have a ton of followers but if they aren't reading your blog, whats the point? For me its not all about how many pageviews or followers I have, I do this because I enjoy it and I want to share that with everyone.

Questions for my 11 bloggers:

1. What is your favorite polish in your stash?
2. Whats your number one lemming?
3. What is your favorite blog to read?
4. Why did you start blogging?
5. What is your favorite design so far?
6. What do you like to do on your spare time?
7. How big is your stash?
8. What is your favorite polish brand or indie polish maker?
9. What do your friends and family think of your blog?
10. Zombie Apocalypse, which 5 polishes do you take with you?
11. Do you have any pets?

My 9 (I searched for 2 more and couldn't find any with less than 200 followers, sorry!) tagged bloggers:

1. This is the last nail polish
2. ooh la la polish
3. Polished Pirate
4. The Clock Wise Nail Polish
5. Starlight Radiance
6. For the Love of Beauty by Lara
7. Artistic Shadows
8. Mei Mei's Signatures
9. Pretty Kitty Claws

Nite Owl

Hi everyone! I know I've been MIA for a while, I finished up my summer school class last week, took the GMAT on Saturday and spent a few days in Bakersfield with my best friend. I'm back now and trying to get back into the swing of things. Next week my final semester starts YAY! Anyway, on to what we're all here for.. the nails!

I have been seeing lots of awesome owl nail art recently and I'm pretty much obsessed with owls so I knew this was something I just had to do! I ordered Orly Nite Owl and Fowl Play on Amazon and decided this would be the perfect time to attempt some owl art. I used 2 coats of Orly Nite Owl, which by itself is a pretty awesome color! I added dots in China Glaze Mahogany Magic and used Kalahari Kiss, Liquid Leather, Peachy Keen and Mahogany Magic for the owl details. I'm pretty proud of this design and I think it turned out pretty well.

What do you think of animal nail art? How do you think I did with my first Owl nail art?

Pretty & Polished Phoenix

I hope to get back to regular posts soon! I'm going on the last week of summer school and I'll be taking the GMAT on the 18th so life will be back to normal after that LOL

I recently got 3 Pretty & Polished colors: Jawbreaker, Phoenix, and Sand Art. Today I'll be showing you Phoenix, a unique mixture of matte yellow glitters, red glitters and large red hex glitters. I used 2-ish coats over 2 coats of Essie Braziliant, a lovely shimmer orange, perfect for summer, and 2 coats of Seche Vite! I love the way Phoenix looks over orange and nearly every swatch I've seen of it has orange as the undies. Application was a breeze, but I did have to fish a little for the larger red hexes but thats to be expected with the larger glitters. Wear is also really great, I've had this on for 3 days with no chips or anything.

What do you think of Phoenix?? I can't stop staring at my hands!

Versatile Blogger Awar

Apparently I can't spell but I dont want to mess up my link for everyone I tagged so I guess it'll stay!

I was so shocked to have received this award from Jackie at Jamegackie. I was so surprised that anyone found my little corner of the Internet and decided they liked my blog enough to give me an award! Thank you so much Jackie! Here are the rules:

• Nominate 12 fellow bloggers that are relatively new to blogging
• Let them know you have nominated them
• Share 7 random facts about yourself
• Thank the blogger(s) who nominated you by linking to their blog
• Add the Versatile Blogger Award to your post

Seven Random Facts:

I am the biggest procrastinator ever!

I change my nails every few days but I hardly ever do my toes

I can be shy around new people

I am studying Economics and Finance at the University of Nevada

I love sushi but I HATE fish

I've been to France twice! I'd love to go back again though!

My 12 Nominations:

I made these nominations based on time blogging, not the number of followers. I considered 1 year or less relatively new! Please take a look at these awesome blogs! (These are in no particular order)

1. Kelsiesnailfiles
2. Prettypolishplease
3. Horcruxnails
4. Pattyandgoldiesdayoff
5. Thechaddabox
6. Polishandsuch
7. Lacquerorleaveher
8. Noholos
9. Glitterandgild
10. Liesllovesprettythings
11. Beautyblogbyali
12. Ifeelpolished

Thanks again to Jackie!! 

Purr-Fect Plum Leopard

Sorry I have been MIA! I've had a hard time finding a lot of time to sit down and write up a post with school, my parents in town and lots of failed mani attempts! Here's one good one for you... China Glaze Purr-Fect Plum, 2 perfect coats, with leopard spots done in China Glaze Elephant Walk and Finger Paints Black Expressionism. This wore like iron for 3 days before I even took pics, look almost no tip wear! I had done this mani before with China Glaze Exotic Encounters as my base and I forgot to take pics :(

 All pictures were taken at night under artificial light.