Back to Blogging

​I'm almost embarrassed to start posting again after being MIA for several months, but here I am.​ It's been an insanely busy summer and early fall, but in a good way. A promotion at work has meant longer hours and events to attend on nights and weekends, but it's been so worth it. The only drawback that I can see so far is that my poor nails have been unpolished and chipped for the larger part of the last few months. I've also been doing some traveling; in August, I visited Mexico City for the first time, and more recently I took short trips to Chicago and Vegas. In the next few months, I'm heading up to SF to visit one of my best friends, then hopefully Mammoth after Christmas.

Other big(-ish) news: An article I wrote on a San Diego-area nail salon was published this summer in NAILS Magazine. Despite working in the publishing industry for the last couple years, I still get a little thrill every time I see my name in print, especially when it's on a topic that I'm really passionate about!

They got the URL wrong (glitterandglossnails.com), but still cool!

​Things will be slowing down at work in another month, so I'm hoping that by my birthday, I'll be back to doing nail art (and posting) on a more regular basis. Fun fact: Wendy and I share the same birthday in November!

As I have more time, I'm also going to try to give the blog its annual design refresh and try to talk Wendy into posting something for the first time this year.

Sally Hansen Holiday Salon Effects

Happy holidays and merry Christmas! You might remember back when Wendy and I tried out Sally Hansen Salon Effects for the first time with the Rock of Ages collection ... now we're back with a preview of the holiday collection! We haven't tried them out yet, but since New Year's Eve plans are just a week away, we're thinking ahead to what we're going to wear on an occasion that demands lots and lots of glitter.

I got this press release from Sally Hansen about the holiday collection and wanted to share a few of my favorite frontrunners. We could probably replicate some of the nail art and glitter effects by stamping and using striping brushes, but the Salon Effects are the perfect way to get a quick and cute mani in record time -- just peel and stick!

Pictured below, clockwise from top left: Snow Way!, Simply D-Vine, Holi-Daze and Shiny New Year.

OPI Germany Collection Fall 2012

OPI launches its new Germany Collection for Fall 2012 today, offering us polish-aholics 12 new colorful shades. Ranging from the light honey beige Don’t Pretzel My Buttons to the dark-hued Nein! Nein! Nein OK Fine! and Unfor-greta-bly Blue, the Germany Collection is a perfect fit for fall and winter trends.

As usual, one of the best things about a new OPI collection coming out is getting to enjoy the witty names developed by executive VP and artistic director Suzi Weiss-Fischmann. Schnapps Out of It!, Danke-Shiny Red, Don’t Talk Bach to Me and Berlin There Done That are some of the clever gems from the Germany Collection.

Here’s a preview of the entire collection:

So Easy ... So Fun!

So it's no secret that we love nail art here at Glitter and Gloss ... and when we got word of the new It's So Easy Nail Art website, we were all over it like white on rice.  Created for nail lovers everywhere, the It's So Easy website features a nifty nail art community where fans can upload their nail designs, regardless of experience level.

Love the color scheme!

"Nothing is impossible when it comes to nail art," according to the company, and after browsing the site I have to agree. The product section offers Stripe Rites, which are thin brushes to help with any design, plus loose glitters, cracked ice glitters, rhinestones, sealers and handy tools.

Personally, we found the best feature of the website to be the incredibly easy-to-follow How-To page, complete with a step-by-step and product list. We only wish there were more than just three posted!

All in all, it's a great place to get inspired for your own designs and maybe pick up some helpful tips and tricks.

OPI Germany Collection Fall 2012

Yet another preview of an amazing OPI collection. This time, it's the Germany Collection for Fall 2012 with a batch of nude-hued cremes and jewel-toned metallics. It seems like they're taking a world tour via nail polish, this collection following the highly successful Holland Collection from Spring 2012.

From L to R: My Very First Knockwurst, Don't Pretzel My Buttons, Berlin There Done That, Dont Talk Bach to Me, Nein! Nein! Nein! OK Fine!, Schnapps Out of It, Suzi & The 7 Dusseldorfs, Every Month is Oktoberfest, Unfor-greta-bly Blue, Deutche You Want Me Baby, Danke-Shiny Red & German-icure by OPI.

Personally, I'm the most excited for the metallics, as they'll give an extra pop of color for what can be somewhat of a drab season in Southern California.

Which ones are you looking forward to? We can't wait to get our hands on these and swatch!

OPI Vintage Minnie Mouse Collection Coming in June

As a sucker for all things pink, I am already falling head over heels for this new collection from OPI, to be released in June 2012.

From L to R: I'm All Ears, Nothin' Mousie 'bout it, If You Moust You Moust and The Color of Minnie.

Since they'll be coming out in my wedding month, I'm hoping to deck my toes out in one of these beauties, likely If You Moust You Moust, topped off with what looks like the sheer glitter (with heart-shaped flecks?) of Nothin' Mousie 'bout It.

I'm loving that OPI is coming out with all these collections (62 shades by the end of 2012!), but my wallet definitely isn't!