2014 Favorites

We hope you all had a great holiday and here's to the New Year!  Without further adieu, these were our favorite polishes from 2014.  Did any of these make your list this year?  Are you making any polish/ blog resolutions in the new year?

Hayley's Favorites:

My resolution this year is to explore (and post) more Indie polishes.  Almost everything I posted this year was from mainstream brands, but there are too many fabulous indie makers out there to pass up!

Sinful Shine Prosecco

A polish so nice, Sinful released it twice! (and right in a row).  I'm sure I don't need to say much more about the stir Prosecco caused, but you can view my full post here.

China Glaze - Choo-Choo Choose You

I imagine China Glaze Choo-Choo Choose You will show up on a few 2014 lists. I love how multi-faceted this polish is, so it deserved a spot!  Post is linked to check out more pictures.

Sinful Shine Go Glossy

I just could not get enough of this color on my nails this fall and winter.  There were many that I liked, but this one actually came out in 2014...way to Go Glossy! ;)

Jackie's favorites:

My resolution is to try more polishes from my stash. Anyone up for "Untried Tuesday" posts? I did get a few new polishes for Christmas so you'll be seeing those soon!

My first pick should come as no surprise and it isn't one specific brand, but a color - PURPLE! I've been so into purple in 2014 and I don't forsee that changing much next year. Here are a few of my favorites I've shared:
BEGL Fare the Wind
Different Dimension Dueling Unicorns
China Glaze Choo-choo-choose You
Above the Curve UH Purple

My next 2014 favorite was a surprise to me. I never would have guessed an orange polish would steal my heart as much as LynBDesigns Am I Ginger? has! This color just worked for me. I admit I bought it simply for the name, but I am so glad I put it on. This is proof that sometimes when step out of your comfort zone you find something new to love.

My final 2014 favorite isn't a polish, but rather my new found love for cuticle care products. Be they oils or balms, I've been much more diligent about using these daily and I try to use something after I wash my hands, even if its just a standard lotion. I've found that moisturizing helps my nails grow faster and I can say that I have seen some improvement in my peeling. Not as much as I'd like, but it all takes time. So if you don't already use some sort of cuticle oil or balm or lotion or something, try it out in 2015 and let us know how it works for you!

Here's to a new year filled with fun new favorites! Cheers to 2015!

~ Hayley and Jackie

Let's get Christmas-y with Above the Curve - Husbands Just Don't Understand

I don't know about you, but I love seeing everyone's holiday nails! This week I decided to join in and share one of my very favorite Christmas presents from last year - Husbands Just Don't Understand from Above the Curve. I just checked the store and I didn't see this beauty in there, but I know I've seen it recently. You could always ask!

With Flash

 HJDU is a dark teal scattered holo and it is just perfect (in my opinion) for the holidays. For me it conjures images of a lovely blue spruce adorned with twinkling white lights. Yep, I'm in the Christmas mood now! And how about that name? I know my poor husband will listen to me talk polish for short bursts, but he doesn't get it and probably never will.

Without Flash

This polish applied like a dream and shown is 2 coats with the ATC quick dry topcoat. I love darker colors in the fall and winter seasons and this really fits the bill.

With Flash

Are you ready for the holidays? I'm ready to have some time off, but I've got a lot of things to finish before then!!

Movember Mustache Mani

I'm sure you have seen the hype about Movember and what it stands for, but just in case you can check out the Movemeber Campaign here. The short version is that men grow mustaches to raise money for mens health. And the fun for me is that I've got a little obsession with mustaches (I think they are hilarious) so much that I chose a 'stache centered theme for my little man last year. We had a blast. Anyway, on to the mani!

I started with Blue-Eyed Girl Lacquer's Two! (ring finger and thumb) and Above the Curve's Lemming Have It. I topped them with Monster Polish Wyatt's Whiskers, a custom that Diana made me for above mentioned party. She also sent me a little bag of mustache glitter to place as I wished. Those are on my ring finger and thumb.

Outside in shade

Outside with direct sun

Direct sun

Direct sun

I love the way this turned out! The only thing I'd do a little differently ifs the pre-bend the mustache glitters on my thumb so that they would lay on the nail a little better. This was a really fun mani to create and to wear. As you may have noticed I love purple! And blue isn't far behind on my list, so this combo made me very happy. 

Thanks for checking out my 'stache! Are you participating in Movemeber?

A Beautiful Glitter Bomb

Today I want to share a beautiful glitter topper with you that was graciously offered as a prize in a small polish group I belong to. It is made by Blue-Eyed Girl Lacquer and it is called Heart of Texas. This polish was specially made and therefore only a few bottle exist, but I just had to share it.

 

All photos are taken in direct sunlight.

 

 For undies I used 2 coats of Above the Curve's Ultra Holo Pink (pointer, middle and pinky) and Blue-Eyed Girl Lacquer's Untrodden Snow (thumb and ring finger). 

This is also 2 coats of Heart of Texas with a bit of dabbing. I topped everything with my latest go-to fast dry top cot from Above the Curve.

*DISCLAIMER: All polishes in this post were purchased by me with the exception of Heart of Texas as mentioned above which was I won. There are no affiliate links in this post. Links are provided for your convenience.

Above the Curve UH Purple

Today I have a beauty from Above the Curve Nail Lacquer called Ultra Holo Purple. I snatched up three of their ultra holos as soon as they came out and I was not disappointed. U.H. Purple is my favorite (so far).


As some may know, I've really been in to the holographic polishes lately, but I feel like it actually dates back to college when I fell head-over-heels in love with Sally Hansen's Fairy Dust Pink. I can't tell you how many comments I got while wearing that color. I still have it too - anyone want to see it? Leave a comment below if you do! Now on to the pictures!

I'll take any opportunity to pose with my posies when they are in full bloom! Shown here is 2 coats of UH Purple with no topcoat and in full sun. I tired to get a few angles to show off those stunning rainbows. Seriously, who can resist a polish that sparkles with rainbows? Not I!

 

I love holographic polishes in the sun!

So let me talk just a little bit about why I love Above the Curve (ATC) so much and what I think is so special about them. Polish Monster introduced me to this company and I am so very glad she did! ATC is a husband and wife duo which is pretty awesome in itself, but what is even more awesome is that $1 from EVERY bottle of polish sold is donated to Shriner's Hospitals for Children and also used help raise awareness for Scoliosis! Polish for a cause? Yep, I'm on board with that!

I hope you will check out ATC's etsy shop and give them a follow on their facebook page too!

And I was serious, if anyone wants to see swatches of my first holo love, SH Fairy Dust Pink, let me know. I'm happy to take requests.