Tag Archives: Essie

It’s Jersey, Baby!

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Quick Funny Story: Rafik and I drove to NYC over the summer, and as I was driving into Manhattan, right before the Lincoln Tunnel, I saw the sign for Hoboken, NJ. I’ve driven past it, oh 10 or so times in the past, but this time, it clicked: Hoboken = Cake Boss. While Rafik had some business to attend to, I researched everything I could about visiting the bakery (in the Starbucks on 65th and 3rd) so that on our way home we could stop.

We did the whole thing, the driving in circles to find a space open up in front of the bakery, the waiting in line for two hours while people cut ahead (we were the LAST people allowed in line before they closed it) and while CVS got annoyed at all of the people, the crowding into the bakery even though Budddy and Family were in Italy filming the season finale, spending an arm and a leg on some good ole’ fashioned Italian bakery goods, eating cannoli’s on the drive home through the Stench (an endearing term) of Hoboken, etc. All I wanted was lobster tails, but because we were last inside, they barely had any cupcakes left! Go figure! Tells you how good they are! But I got a picture of the stairs that they dropped a cake down ;-)

It was COMPLETELY and TOTALLY worth it though, I love Cake Boss! It was all a memory I won’t forget (and too, the stuff we did get was really fantastic, better than my Italian bakery at home, which is really sayin’ something)

Needless to say, I have those totally corny pictures of the front of the bakery on my computer. SO. When I was looking through my computer and stumbled upon them…..

Welcome To Carlos Bake Shop
For this manicure, I started off with two coats of OPI’s Natural Nail Base Coat and three coats of OPI’s Magala Wine, except on the thumb where I used one coat of Sinful Colors Black on Black. For the stripes and white details on the awning and sign, I used Essie Body Language, Sinful Colors Black on Black, Sinful Colors Sweet Treat, and OPI’s Golden Rules. I also used Sweet Treat for BOSS and Sally Hansen’s Lavender Cloud for CAKE and the little flourish. I finished with one coat of Seche Vite.
I didn’t do the entire sign because I felt like the awning was more memorable. But, I might just have to do another Cake Boss Manicure again- next time, with a wedding cake and black lace icing :-D
In other news, we’re currently getting slammed here with the remnants of Tropical Storm Nicole, which sucks because its RAINING so much! So, I hope that you and yours are taking it easy and if you’re on the east coast, taking cover, since well, I know of at least one person personally who was under a tornado warning earlier (warning = actual tornado watch = chance of tornado)
So, happy eating sweets and happy taking shelter!

This Is Halloween, This Is Halloween

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I was always one of those kids who had to snoop for presents at Christmas because I hated waiting for Christmas Day. I’m still to this day one of those people who get so excited about giving someone something that I think they’ll like- so I usually spill the beans on what it is before the actual holiday. As such, is it any wonder that the design I wanted to save for Halloween Night would be done before it even was October? I wanted to do this design for so many reasons…. and so, I gave in and did it today!!!

You A Gamblin’ Man, Santy?
For this manicure, I started off with one coat of OPI’s Natural Nail Base Coat and two coats of Sinful Colors Black on Black as a base. I then used ALLL of these colors for the details:
I then topped off with two coats of Seche Vite Top Coat. Whew!
So, are you as excited for Halloween as I am????

ALSO! I in fact had more than one request for my Kiss My Ras(s)pberry franken recipe so here it is!
I started with one bottle of Sally Hansen’s Insta-Dri Quick Clear. I added about half of a container of Fantasy Makers Confetti (made by the same people that own Wet N Wild and I bought it in my supermarket as part of their Halloween display for like, $3)
I mixed all of the glitter in and tested the formula for glitter density, and then added about a 1/5th of a bottle of Nina Ultra Pro’s Love Struck (just got it on clearance at Sally’s for $1.99 and had to figure out the name). I mixed for several minutes and bam! Kiss My Ras(s)pberry was born. I also added a tiny bit (maybe 5 or so drops) of a Fantasy Maker’s hot red mini that I have, no name. But any red would do I suppose.

A BIG Thank You!!

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I was lucky enough to recently win not one, but two!! giveaways and so I just wanted to do a dedicated post to those ladies out there that hooked me up with some seriously loved goodies and to send a BIG thank you along to the kind ladies who gave away such great gifts. PS, don’t mess- I know I used a roll of paper towels in the background- I figured you’d rather see them than Rafik’s feet :-)

I won Kristina’s Green Giveaway over at My Lucid Bubble

This giveaway included some really hard to find green polishes. Included in the giveaway were Essie’s Mint Chintz, Misa’s Embroidered Emerald, Milani Hi- Tech, Orly’s Opal Hope, Brucci’s Black Emerald, Orly’s Walk Down The Aisle, Sally Hansen’s Spring Green, and Wet ‘N’ Wild Fusion. I spent the afternoon playing this a lot of these (hence no nail design or swatches, I was playing- not doing serious business!)

I also won Megan’s Sula Giveaway at Dainty Darling Digits
This giveaway was another wonderful one! It included three of Sula’s Paint and Peel polishes, a Sula Paint in Peel polish/topcoat duo, Sula’s Vanilla Perfume Oil, and (an added surprise!) Sally Hansen’s Perfect Proposal. I didn’t play with these yet (though I’m wearing the perfume!) because I wanted to do special swatches of each color for ya’ll and I didn’t want to waste their peely goodness on a less than perfect mani.
Both Megan and Kristina are wonderful ladies and I’m so lucky not only to have won their giveaways, but more so to have had the opportunity to chat with them and get to know them a teeny bit more than I did before. I already frequent their blogs and you should too! Thanks ladies!
I’ll be doing a neat-o design in the following days- my apologizes for the lack of schnazzy nail art lately- due to the less than perfect health I had recently, I got a bit behind in school and home life (work, cleaning, errands, etc) and so I haven’t had the time to sit down and really focus on a sexy design. I will though, don’t ya’ll worry.