J'Adore Paris : NOTW & OOTD

Image packed post!

I'm definitely feeling the holiday blues as I write this, looking through my photographs, 'take me back!!' After nagging Mark to go to Paris we finally got a good deal for 3 days, staying right in the heart of Paris in a sweet little hotel called 'Le Pierre'. I would totally recommend this hotel as it was situated just off the 'Champs Elysees', there was a metro stop round the corner, the Eiffel Tower was a 30min walk away and if that wasn't good enough the 'Arc De Triomphe' was at the top of the street.

 Only having 3 days meant that we had to be up and out early every morning which proved very difficult most mornings but I think we slotted into the Parisian laid back way of life pretty easily after having dinner at 1am. (they eat so late and stay out all night inc school nights). Oh and if you have ever been on the subway in London and think its caotic try the metro's in Paris, this is when you find out the true meaning of feeling like a sardine.

On the night of our arrival the Arc De Tiomphe roundabout was filled with traffic flying by, people standing on their cars shouting, waving flags as Algeria had won the football that night but then it got scary as flares were being thrown and there were police EVERYWHERE.
Day 1 we visited the Arc, ofcourse went shopping ( I loved watching all the Parisian woman they always looked so elegant yet didn't look as though they were trying hard, stunning). Strolled over to 'The Louvre' and at night we booked a boat trip along the river Siene which was beautiful. The sky was so pretty, we were able to see the buildings by day light and by the end the nightlife and to top it off right as the boat pulled in the Eiffel Tower Twinkled.

Day 2 we went up the Eiffel Tower in the morning and eventhough we were only able to go up to the 2nd floor, the view was amazaing. The sun was shining so brightly and we were able to see for miles a full 360 of Paris and to my surprise it was actually really cheap. Then we took a 3.5 hour walk in the sun to Notre Dame which was a killer but was beautiful to see and hear. On our way there we popped over to the Padlock Bridge of Love (thats what I call it anyways) and put our own on and done the whole thing of signing it and throwing the key into the river, how romantic.  That night we went back to the Louvre to see it at night.

Our 3rd and final day we went the furthest to see the 'Moulin Rouge', 'Sacre Coeur' where we sat and watched a photoshoot (I enjoyed watching them all in different places). Enjoyed some afternoon sun at the Arc De Triomphe and headed up to the top at sunset which almost killed me!! (180 spiral steps). The view was worth the pain, totally breathtaking. Trecked back to Moulin Rouge which was a completely different atmosphere at night time and then to finish we headed over to the gardens at the Eiffel Tower which was a lovely way to end our trip. Paris truly is thee most romantic city, you can feel the love no matter where you are.

 I was so pleased that we were able to visit all the places on our list and what was more amazing was we saw them all at night aswell as the day seeing the sunset and all the lights was incredible. At first I was a bit nervous going as everyone kept telling me it was so expensive but it really wasnt the sites were all very reasonably prices infact because I was under 25 (take ID) I got up the Arc FREE and got a discount on the Tower. So you really can do Paris on a budget.
I couldn't actually beileve I was in Paris, I still can't believe I've been. Time flies by so quickly and Paris is so busy it was hard to take it all in. Until our last night when I was standing in the gardens looking up at the 'Tower de Eiffel' in all its glory with thousands of twinkling lights. That's when it hit me that I was finally in Paris after all the years of wanting to go I was finally there. Now I can say I have been to the most romatic city in the world and I cant wait to go back and find our love lock...maybe.

♥

Cat Kidson inspired NOTW

It definitely gets my brain thinking when it comes to new ideas for my manicure and I can't believe I have stuck to my nail routine of every 2nd Tuesday...proud of myself :) Now I know 'Cat Kidson's' designs mainly have a light background but this weeks nails remind me of her designs and not to blow my own trumpet, but I think my roses are definitely getting better...don't you?


NOTW 10 
Here I used CND Shellac Scarlet Letter which has got to be my favourite red, I'm not usually a fan of red nails on myself but this has certainly changed my mind. On my ring fingers I applied Blackpool and drew little red roses with Scarlet Letter highlighting them with Cream Puff. I added a bit more detailing with Mint Convertible and Pretty Poison leaves. Everyone has commented on my mani, thinking I stamped or stuck the roses on or even thinking they are 'Minx' which is a huge compliment. If only it didn't take so long to do, but hey they are worth it.

♥

Tango Passion and Chai Tea

NOTW 5

As I sip on my homemade 'cuppa' Chai Tea I thought I'd upload my Shellac nails no.5 and continue with my productive day.  Nothing too exciting was to happen the week of 'Tango Passion' so I wasn't really painting my nails for a special occasion but after treating myself to "Tango Passion" from the new "Paradise" collection I thought why not try something new and obviously I had to use my new colour.  I had some nail foils lying in my kit box I got in a free goody bag at one of the CND seminars and thought I would take a bash at using one.
"Tango Passion" is a beautiful, rich purple berry colour with a hint of sparkle. I absolutely love it, it has got to be up there in my top 10 maybe even 5. After applying 2 coat of the colour I then started to play around with the foil which had a petrol effect, silver with blue,green and pale pinks mixing together. Basically all I applied the foil by scrunching foil in my fingers and stippled it over my nails, some with with more foil to the others. It's such a great and easy way to get effective nails and with no mess. I wanted to use one of new glitters I got for crimbo so I brushed some "Fairy Dust" over one of my pinkies to see how it looks. All in all I am actually lovin' how the foil has come out and I will definitely be using again, I might even treat myself to some more funkier ones...OoOOo choices choices. 

Have you tried Chai Tea...mmm yum

sorry this was the only image I got as I am rubbish at remembering but I am getting much better at taking pics thanks to 'vscocam'

So until next time. Have fun :)

♥

Valentine Nails...Tinted Love

NOTW4 

As it was Valentines on Friday I thought I would have themed nails again...maybe not to the extreme of my Xmas ones by adding some hearts to my Shellac manicure. I would also like to say that my allergic reaction has completely cleared up, I no longer have HUGE, red, itchy ears and a horrible rash thank goodness for that. It turns out I was suffering from possibly an allergic reaction to fake earrings And also an allergic reaction to my antibiotics which gave me the rash but all is good now.

While I was through in Edinburgh doing a course on a new nails system I treated myself to some 'Brisa Smoothing' which is a fab power partner to Shellac. It's great for dry, damaged, brittle, or ridged nails as it goes on under your chosen Shellac colour or left as a clear on its own and acts as a strengthening primer/foundation by filling in the ridges leaving your nails 'smooth'. Or I f your someone who isn't able to keep Shellac on for the full 2weeks, due to delamination or if your guilty for using your nails for cleaning, (scratching dirt off a surface, no marigolds) then 'Brisa Smoothing' is the product for you. It allows your Shellac to be applied more evenly over the nail surface, and hides all the sins underneath, no one would ever know you have damaged/ridged nails therefore your Shellac will last longer, maybe even 3weeks+.

So with this weeks nails I decided to apply a thin layer of smoothing onto certain nails that I find maybe are prone to peel and my thumbs which I'm very guilty of using to scrape wax off of things. I then painted my nails with 'Shellac 'Tinted Love' which was one from their autumn collection last year. Its a rich dark pink with a hint of red, reminds me very much of "OPI Manicurist of Seville". To add a bit of the Valentine theme to my nails I thought I would free hand small hearts onto my thumbs and middle finger with 'Blackpool & Cocoa', using dotting tools. Very simple to do just dip your chosen dotting tool and dip into colour then place 2 dots side by side onto the nail then drag the 2 dots together meeting to a point. Simple as that.

I hope your having a lovely Tuesday.

♥

Cake Pop

NOTW 3 

This is an extremely late post, I have been soo busy and very forgetful. I had no clue what I was going to do with my nails this time round,  I have used my new colours and now I am just waiting for the summer colours to launch on February12th... How exciting!!!

Sorry I have had these nails on for a week now and I totally forgot to take photo's as soon as they were done, the shops were calling my name. For the past week I have been suffering from really itchy burning ears due to a small infection thanks to some cheap earrings, great. After taking an allergic retain to penicillin and fighting my burning swollen ears AND red itchy rash on my neck and arms...ooo I looked so attractive, diseased more like, I am now on the mend. I don't cope well with pain.

Due to this I couldn't really be bothered doing anything too fancy with my nails but couldn't not do them so opted for a pastel pink...meet 'Cake Pop'. 

I painted 2 coats of 'Cake Pop' and on my ringer finger one coat of 'Cocoa' layered with a mixture of gold and baby pink glitter by 'gosh' and top coat. For my right ringer finger before top coating, I applied another thin layer of cake pop in the shape of a triangle from the free edge to middle of the nail, cleaning up the lines with an orange stick. Something a little different for me. I've never had triangles on my nails before or any kind of shape apart from dots for that matter... I'm such a rebel. 

After top coating I then rubbed in some of my trusting nsi cuticle oil as my nails and skin around my nails have been a little thirsty shall I say.  And that is it my notw3.

please excuse the dry nails I haven't been practising what I preach with the cuticle oil(slap on the wrists Claire)

♥

Take Christmas Into Your Own Hands. Crimbo Nails

Hi Everyone!!! Long time no speak I am extremely sorry that I have been super lazy, I'm not going to lie I haven't been very committed lately to my blog but New year on its way I am going to be strict with myself to try and blog at least once a week. I mean there are thousands of great bloggers out there and if you can all do it then what is stopping me.
Anyways I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and spoiled yourselves at the sales. :)

I know I am a little late I was planning this to go up on Christmas Eve but it didn't all go to plan so here we are today in my new jimjams, my 'Murad blemish control cream on and my cosy santa jumper.

I know I have done a few posts on Shellac in the past (you can read them here 1, 2 &3) But I have never done nail art like this before...these were my festive nails. I have never took nail art this extreme before but I thought 'hey it's Christmas if you can't do it now when can you?' So on my day off the week before Christmas I decided to go all out and use my Shellac to create some really festive nails which went down a treat at the salon, some of the clients were brave enough to go for a wee bit of holly on one nail or little tree. Thank goodness I didn't sit for 3hours doing my nails for nothing as they were the talk of the salon...yehh!!

So here are 10 different festive designs for your nails you could maybe take a bash at for next year I just came up wight the ideas on the spot and my white ran out half way through so I appologise for my fat santa face. Due to me melting one of my thumbs with spilt hot chocolate on a hot hob and to running out of Cream puff in my pictures I always have one thumb missing sorry about that.
All of these designs were done by myself using 'CND Shellac' products and dotting tools.

From left to right as seen in photo.

Pinky - Snowman, 'Midnight Swim' background and 'Cream Puff' done with 2 different sized dotting tools to create the snowman and then detailing done with 'Black Pool' & 'Tropix'.So starting from the

Ring Finger - Rudolf, background done in 'Rubble' and detailing done with 'Cream Puff', 'Black Pool' and 'Ruby Ritz' for the red nose.

Middle - Dotted Tree, 'Scarlet Letter' as the background (which was probably a bit dark) and then with different sized dotting tools again I created a triangle from dots using 'Serene Green' and glitter with a gold glitter at the top acting as the star.

Index Finger - Little Penguin (aww), I wanted to make it a little different from a black and white penguin so I used 'Azure Wish' as the main colour and layered 'Cream Puff' over it creating a pale cool blue for its tummy. Then using 'Tropix' I added the feet and beak and used the same as before for the eyes.

Thumb, everyone's favourite - Christmas Pudding. I did this one a day later as my white was just too old to use any further. i used 'Rubble' as the cake colour then drew the dripping cream on with a new 'Cream Puff' then using a small dotting tool I then dotted on the raisins with 'Fedora' and

'RubyRitz' and 'Hotski Tchotchke' for the holly.

Left Thumb - Christmas Tree, 'Serene Green' as my base and then I made a triangle from tip to cuticle with 'Gold' Additive, giving the effect of a gold tree with a little red star gem on top. Simple but very effective. (sorry I don't have a close up of this one as I melted it while cleaning a hot hob).

Index Finger - Santa, 'Beau' for the base (santa's skin) then I drew a semi circle with 'Wildfire' for the hat. I then added 'Cream Puff' with a dotting tool for the fur around his hat and beard and dotted 2 small 'Black Pool' dots for the eyes. Then I sprinkled some iridescent glitter over the 'Cream Puff'.

Middle Finger - Holly, I layered 'Romantique' & 'Moonlight & Roses' for the background to which I then stuck 3 small circular gems at an ankle and then used 'irresistible' green jagged glitter which gave the holly more of a 3D effect. This design was the most popular with the clients...not too crazy for them.

Ring Finger - a Snowflake done in 'Blue Rapture' as background colour with 'Cream Puff' & 'Azure Wish' layered for the actual snowflake. I then dotted on some iridescent glitter.

Pinky - a little Fat Robin done in (first of all it was 'Dark Lava' but was too dark) so opted for 'Rubble' with 'Ruby Ritz' (limited addition colour for Christmas)for his red tummy,  'Cream Puff' and 'Black Pool' for the detailing of eyes and feet.

Here are some of the clients nail art which is also really nice just on  one nail. (All done by me at 'Belle and Blackley' ).

I hope you liked my nail art. Did you get adventurous with your nails this Christmas?

♥

I Have Too Much Time On My Hands

My door still isn't fixed so I got woken up pretty early so me and my mum went out shoe shopping (she has a fancy dinner to attend with my dad for his work) so new shoes for the new dress.
This isn't the season for silver or even dark purple nice shoes that aren't too 'hooker' like :s
So as per I bought a few bits and bobs that I can tell you about another day if you wish.

I have too much time on my hands literally...hours on my hands. Nail art was never my strong point I always felt I didn't have the patience and I've always admired nail technicians or even girls just messing around at home that can produce amazing nail art, so intricate but make it look so easy. Recently I gave nail art a go with Shellac and to my surprise it wasn't as hard as I had imagined. Shellac is a great polish to work with when it comes to nail art as it doesn't dry until cured under the UV lamp. So you can fuss over it for as long as you need to and it will not go 'gloopy'.
If you are like me and you are pretty fussy when it comes to having your nails done then you will probably feel the need to do them yourself. I never know exactly what I want done with my nails, what colour, glitter or design to do until the very last second. I spend far too much time on my nails but hey I'm a girl its allowed.

I started off with nail wheels, all different types of animal print and stripes and flowers before finally moving onto myself and clients.
Don't get me wrong sometimes people will ask for designs that I'm still not confident with, I am in no way the best but I like to learn and try and so far the designs I have done have all been pretty popular.

Here is a few photo's of my work, I hope it gives you some good ideas and remember your imagination is your limit and don't give up keeping trying.

Nail Art Wheel

Valentine Nails (myself)

Polk Dot...Cake Pop, Azure Wish, Lilac Longing 

Lilac Longing With Rose Nail Art  (myself)

Wildfire with Black Pool Paw Print

Lilac Longing with Floral Nail Art

Purple Purple with Floral Nail Art

Cocoa with Rubble & Fedora Stripes

Cake Pop with Purple Purple, Hot Pop Pink & Tropix Diagonal Stripe

Halloween Nails  Black Pool with Cream Puff Spider Web & red gem

Holiday Nails Cake Pop with Hot Pop Pink index Rose Ring Finger Nail Art (myself)

Lilac Longing with Rose Nail Art  Purple Purple, Tropix & hot Pop Pink (myself)

All of my designs were drawn free hand by myself with stylus pens(dotting tools).
View my previous shellac posts here ...'Hands are Jewels not Tools' , 'Me, Myself & Shellac' and 'Rockstar Nails' .

Which one is your favourite?

Do you like to mess around with nail art what is your favourite design to do?

♥