China Glaze Starboard

Hope everyone had a wonderful Saint Patrick's Day.  As usual, I'm late in the game to posting my holiday/celebration themed mani.  I can blame the awful weather we have had all week.  Raining days make for terrible picture taking.   I still gave it a shot because the color was just too pretty not to share.

Gone are the days of sharing a pitcher of green beer with my friends.  What's changed?  Kids and the fact I'm just getting older.  But we still can have fun and celebrate a little right?  Aside from the usual corned beef and cabbage dinner, which was super yummy by the way, I also sported a green mani my kids approved.

Dior Vernis Garden Party Collection: Waterlily 504 and Forget-Me-Not 694

From Dior Garden Party, the spring 2012 collection includes two new limited-edition colors:  Waterlily and Forget-Me-Not.  I have to say the colors were very well chosen.  They captured the essence of a spring garden perfectly.  When I look at the colors, my mind immediately conjures up images of a Claude Monet painting.  Beautiful.

Not only are these colors visually appealing, Dior decided to appeal to another one of our senses... smell.  By now, I'm sure you have all heard these are scented.  Again, taking the garden theme to heart, these carry a subtle scent of roses.

I know, I'm a little late to Garden Party.  I originally wrote off the collection, not because I didn't find the colors beautiful, but because I'm not much of a pastel color wearing gal.  As always, something about Dior colors always end up pulling me in...  I gave up fighting and grabbed the colors.  So shall we get started?

Ozotic 513

Ozotic is an Australian brand nail polish I have been wanting and waiting to try for a long long time.  What attracted me immediately to this brand is their holographic colors.  Not just any old holographic nail polish, but linear holographic!  The good stuff that can't be found in the US, unless imported.  

Sadly, I never did take the plunge.  I've admired them from afar, staring at beautiful swatches posted over my favorite nail blogs.  Then last Christmas, I was gifted several Ozotic colors from a wonderful woman during a secret gift exchange.  When I opened the the package, all I can say was "Wow!"  Just one look and I was fast in love... gorgeousness!  It wasn't just love; it was lust!

Project Red: Ulta Professional What a Maroon

I couldn't resist this little beauty when I found it over in the clearance section at Ulta.  Yes, perhaps I have too many reds already.  But quite honestly, it's really hard to resist a great shade of red, especially at a bargain price.  I admit it, I am weak to bargains.  I think that may be my problem too.

What a Maroon definitely is lighter than what the name may suggest.  Not nearly dark enough to be called "maroon", but it is a very beautiful, medium toned red with a slight brown base.  It's a crème that is "jelly-like", with definite transparent quality to it.  I have no idea if the color is part of any collection, but it looks like Waht a Maroon may have been a limited color, or it was discontinued.

Project Red: A Quick Update

The new year has been incredibly busy for me so far.  Something I didn't really expect.  Each week, I think to myself that I will have more time the following week, but so far that theory has not held up.  Honestly, when I first started Project Red, I had anticipated to be posting more frequently than I have been.  Needless to say, I am very behind in posting and I actually have a few backlog of red manis to share still.

Even with all the craziness, I have stayed true to my Project Red.  There was half a day that I went au natural because I had a funeral service to attend.  Although it may have been perfectly fine to put on a darker red, I just felt it was better if I went without.

I am hoping work will settle down soon, and I will finally get a bit more free time.  So that my red manis don't go to waste, I have decided to extend my Project Red beyond the month of January, and go through to Valentine's Day.  I hope my readers will bear with me and continue to come by to pay me a visit.  I promise to back soon with a red mani post.

Project Red: Chanel Le Vernis Dragon 475 - Ringing in the Year of the Dragon

Happy Chinese New Year!

January 23rd marks the first moon day of the new lunar year in 2012, which is said to be the 4,709th Chinese year.  We have entered the Year of the Dragon.  The dragon, is the most favored sign out of the twelve Chinese Zodiac animals.  It's believed that people born on the year of the dragon are the luckiest people, showing character of strength , passion, intellect and fortune.  I'm no dragon baby, neither anyone in my family, but we all still hold high hopes for the new lunar year.

The color of red in Chinese culture, and many other Asian culture as well, symbolizes good luck, happiness and joy.  So to ring in the new lunar year, it was naturally fitting for me to choose Chanel's Dragon.  The most perfectly eye-catching classic red crème...

Project Red: OPI Royal Rajah Ruby

Pulling out an oldie from a few years back...  OPI Royal Rajah Ruby was released in spring 2008, part of the India collection.  It's a blackened ruby red with red micro-shimmer.  I love vampy colors, so it's no wonder that I couldn't resist this beautiful ruby version.