Nail Polish, blues and greens

So I've decided to post some polish swatches, everything is 2 coats + base and top coat.


OPI Russian Navy. Deep navy blue shimmer with pink/red sparkle. It's okay, but nothing I would write home about. It's hard not to love a dark blue shimmer though, I think it might be ingrained in my dna.


OPI Blue My Mind. It's a little too primary, I was looking for a dupe of a wet n' wild shade I used to have. It was a bright navy shimmer, and all I need with it is some red lipstick and bangs and BOOM it's 1996 again. I used the opi ridge filler with this and I think that's what caused the bubbling.


OPI Yoga-ta Get This Blue. Navy shimmer with blue sparkle. Really wonderful blue, better than Russian Navy. I need to re-swatch this because this pic is terrible.


China Glaze Sky-High Tops from the Custom Kicks collection. I really love this color, and I didn't think I would. It's a beautiful shimmery blue. Forgive the chips and tip wear, that was after at least 5 days of wear.


Misa The Grass is Greener on My Side. How fun is that name? So much sass. And the color lives up to the name, it's a gorgeous deep green/teal shimmer. Forgive the visible polish lines it was SO HUMID when I did the mani. Despite giving them drying drops and 20+ minutes to dry, I still smudged my thumb so bad I had to re-do it.

I have ~12+ nail polishes to swatch that I haven't even worn yet, let alone what I own that I haven't swatched. And the 8 bottles of Zoya polish on their way (including the MatteVelvets!!!). And I'm eyeing a few more bottles of CG, Color Club and Misa. It's a terrible addiction.

Things I am into Lately

Version 2.22.09

Nail Polish
Currently:

Sephora by OPI in Skinny Jeans.

I unabashedly paint my nails every week. I consider it therapeutic and a worthwhile endeavor. I might start documenting it for posterity. For the record I went out thursday night and my nails perfectly matched my drink. I just wished the drink was as good as it looked.

Music:
CELLOS

Zoe Keating, read the Coilhouse post here which introduced me to her awesomeness and NPR's unusual lack of awesomeness.

Purchase here or just do what I did and go to itunes. I heard one of the Bach suites in a trailer for The Soloist and remembered that I loved them.

The Amelie soundtrack is more accordian than cello but it is equally delightful for any fan of the movie.

Food cravings:
Tacos (even though I just had them [as leftovers] for lunch)
Sweet Cupcakes. Best cuppies ever.
A fresh, ripe, summer peach.
Bootlegger Iced Tea: Skyy Citrus Vodka, Iced Tea, Lemon, Sugared Rim. It's a little sweet, a little tart, a little boozy but super refreshing, even in February. Swilled at Rick's Roadhouse. I'm not a total lush though, really I'm just craving lemon iced tea and the kind of weather where I can really enjoy it.

Books:

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare. Young adult fantasy novel, but I have been totally sucked in ... recommended if you enjoy Holly Black's YA books and OH SNAP there's a blink and you'll miss it cameo with 2 of her characters.

Salt: A World History by Mark Kurlansky. A fascinating historical/through the ages look at something I probably overuse.

100 Cupboards by ND Wilson. An overprotected boy named Henry goes to live with his aunt and uncle when his travel writer parents are kidnapped. He finds cupboards in the wall of his attic bedroom. RIYL: Coraline.

When I Grow Up: A Memoir by Juliana Hatfield. I was really excited to read this book, and I thought it was a thoughtful, insightful examination of her life as a musician, woman, person growing up, etc. Also I am a huge nerd for 90's music. Recommended if you enjoy dancing around your bedroom to Blake Babies, Veruca Salt and Letters to Cleo.

I just thought I would share since clearly I'm not so good with the whole blogging thing.

Resolutions, and salad ...

So many people make resolutions for the new year. Quit smoking. Quit sugar (the horror!), lose weight ...

I’m not alone in those resolutions. I hate that word though, I prefer to think about improving my life, and trust me, there are a lot of improvements to be made. But to discuss that would surely bore you.

One thing I am trying to do is be more mindful of how/what I eat. I don’t like “diets” as some drastic, strict forced way of looking at food. Eating should be a joy first and foremost. But in addition to eating more mindfully I am also trying to eat more vegetables, because I simply don’t eat enough. How embarrassing!

So, I buy salad fixins (as I refer to them on my shopping list) and make a big batch of salad, keeping it on hand for munching. The mix is always the same, baby greens, sliced English cucumber, yellow and orange pepper and scallions. It is my favorite salad, and it doubles as sandwich/wrap filler as well.



But, I am very finicky about dressing and will rarely purchase dressing from the store. It’s too expensive and I can surely make something just as good if not better at home. So I did.



Shallot Thyme Vinaigrette.
Sherry Vinegar: Olive Oil in whatever your preferred ratio is, whether it’s 1:2 or 1:3.
Chopped fresh thyme (dried thyme is too poky for me)
1-2 minced small shallots
Dijon mustard (for emulsifying)
Salt and pepper.

This is definitely a “to taste” recipe, as I didn’t measure a thing. But it made a lot of salad dressing and it was/is really good. Also I had way more shallots when I made it then I thought so I ended up making A LOT. But it’s all good, since it means I’ll be eating a lot of salad. :)

I should also add that I'm resolving to post in here more, rather than allowing it to rot away in the dark corners of the internet. We'll see how successful that is.

EW counts down celebrity blogs . . .

Check it out here

Honestly, what stood out for me was the verdict on Meredith Viera's:
Bland but friendly, Vieira's blog is the perfect vehicle to reach her fan base. Or more specifically: If this blog wore pants, they'd be mom jeans.

I never want to be the kind of blog where if it wore pants, they would be mom jeans. If that happens, it may be time to take me out back and put me out of my misery. But the same can be said if I ever use the word "tablescape."

Points of interest:
1. New color scheme. I don't know if I like it or not, but I like it better than the old color scheme.
2. Real blog posting schedule commences next week.

a little something to tide you over . . .

This morning I felt like it was impossible to get out of bed. Maybe if I had some raisin brahms to motivate me . . .


or perhaps van goghgurt?


I love the Ad Council.

it's oh so quiet . . .

Where did the summer go? I'm not really sure. I've managed to be stone silent on here which is unfortunate. I'm going to do some plotting and planning and overhauling. I'm not really in love with the color scheme at the moment, so it's back to the drawing board.

food: tomatoes, stone fruit, burgers, popcorn
beverage: water. and more water.
scent: kenzo amour, stella by stella mccartney
book: My Mistress's Sparrow is Dead edited by Jeffrey Eugenides. An interesting collection of love stories. I think it's a nice mix, well worth checking out.
music: podcasts: NPR Books, Food, and Pop Culture. iFanboy pick of the week. I am a giant nerd. I also listen to KDFC, the San Francisco classical station.

That's all I've got. I'll be back soon. I mean it this time.

sicky mcinfectedpants

I am working on a recipe/review post. But I seem to have caught a spring bug and feel . . . well, like crap. Hence, Sicky McInfectedpants.



That is my mom's homemade chicken stock. I put it in a white mug just so you could see the rich color of it. Awesome huh? I drank a whole lot of it.

So lots of fluid, a little medicine and I'll be back soon.