Happy St. Patrick's Day

Nubar Meadow Sparkle + Nubar Grass Green Glitter + NOPI Brilliant Idea, originally uploaded by kennasmomma.

Nubar Meadow Sparkle + Nubar Grass Green Glitter + NOPI Brilliant Idea

The other day at Target I picked up Nicole by OPI's Brilliant Idea. This is part of the Target Exclusive Spring Collection. I really am liking these Target Exclusives! On its own, Brilliant Idea is a monochromatic glitter, made up of mostly micro glitter and a pinch of larger particles in a clear base. Its a spring green color that is leaning very yellow. Its pretty all on its own and can be worn by its self in just 2 coats.

I, of course, wasn't satisfied. In this manicure I layered one coat of Nubar Meadow Sparkle, which is very close to Brilliant Idea, perhaps slightly less yellow and more cool in tone. Then 1 coat of Nubar Grass Green Glitter, which is a bright, true green emerald color. Then I put NOPI Brilliant Idea on last.

The combination gives it a lovely depth. Its all green, but varying shades.

Nubar Meadow Sparkle + Nubar Grass Green Glitter + NOPI Brilliant Idea

Nubar Meadow Sparkle + Nubar Grass Green Glitter + NOPI Brilliant Idea, originally uploaded by kennasmomma.

Nubar Meadow Sparkle + Nubar Grass Green Glitter + NOPI Brilliant Idea

Nubar Meadow Sparkle + Nubar Grass Green Glitter + NOPI Brilliant Idea, originally uploaded by kennasmomma.

ChG Empowerment + NOPI Love Your Life

ChG Empowerment + NOPI Love Your Life, originally uploaded by kennasmomma.

3 coats of Empowerment. The polish looks better in these photos than it looks right now in shade. I don't know if it changed colors or if its just the different lighting. It looks so pale and soft in the photo, but currently its a less flattering (for me) warmer, louder pink.

The formula on Empowerment was a little thick and goopey. I thinned it, but it got goopey again by the next coat.

Love Your Life was thick. Not the easiest to apply, but it worked out. It seems to have tiny pink and light blue glitter in it. I wonder if this is a dupe for the UK Valentine's 2009 polish, Be Mine You're Fine!

I think I need to find a cooler pink cream that looks like Empowerment to make me happy! Hmm maybe one of those OPI Hong Kong pinks?

ChG Empowerment + NOPI Love Your Life

ChG Empowerment + NOPI Love Your Life, originally uploaded by kennasmomma.

ChG Empowerment + NOPI Love Your Life

ChG Empowerment + NOPI Love Your Life, originally uploaded by kennasmomma.

Happy Valentine's Day

CND Just Red + Red Sparkle (Red Hot), originally uploaded by kennasmomma.

CND Just Red + Red Sparkle (Red Hot)

This is the Valentine's Day CND Duo, Red Hot. I love the Just Red polish. It is a jelly, this is 3 coats. I love the way it applies. The Red Sparkle is nice for layering. Its a little sparse, but sometimes I like a more subtle glitter. It really does look a bit like a candy cinnamon red hot!

ChG Underground Pink + CG City Lights + OPI Teenage Dream

ChG Underground Pink + CG City Lights + OPI Teenage Dream, originally uploaded by kennasmomma.

I get a little crazy with the layering. I'm just trying to make a good polish better. Often, if I put on a polish and it just doesn't have the wow factor I will make it better. I like to experiment on nail wheels first, also.

I did 2 or 3 coats of Underground Pink and it just wasn't doing it for me, with the tone of my skin. I added City Lights, a fine holo clearcoat, but it wasn't enough. Time for Teenage Dream! The result: a sweet subtle pink with "in your face" sparkle. Like pink cupcakes with sparklie sugar sprinkled on top! Nom nom nom

ChG Underground Pink + CG City Lights + OPI Teenage Dream

ChG Underground Pink + CG City Lights + OPI Teenage Dream, originally uploaded by kennasmomma.

Zoya Jo + OPI Last Friday Night + Barry M Hologram Hexagrams

Zoya Jo + OPI Last Friday Night + Barry M Hologram Hexagrams, originally uploaded by kennasmomma.

I put on 2 coats of Jo, but it seemed so plain with Last Friday Night sitting on my vanity. I had just received Hologram Hexagrams and it wanted to play, too. I think the result was awesome!

Zoya Jo + OPI Last Friday Night + Barry M Hologram Hexagrams

Zoya Jo + OPI Last Friday Night + Barry M Hologram Hexagrams, originally uploaded by kennasmomma.

NOPI Di-vine is Divine + Glitz & Glisten

NOPI Di-vine is Divine + Glitz & Glisten, originally uploaded by kennasmomma.

This combo is probably my favorite of the Nicole OPI collection. The Di-vine is Divine I found at Wal Mart. I'm not sure if its exclusive to WM, but I didn't see it at Target. Glitz & Glisten is part of the exclusive holiday collection that Target had in 2010. They look like they were meant to go together. I've worn this combo more than once.

NOPI Di-vine is Divine + Glitz & Glisten

NOPI Di-vine is Divine + Glitz & Glisten, originally uploaded by kennasmomma.

NOPI Di-vine is Divine + Glitz & Glisten

NOPI Di-vine is Divine + Glitz & Glisten, originally uploaded by kennasmomma.

Franken topped w/ Pure Ice Oh Baby!

Franken topped w/ Pure Ice Oh Baby!, originally uploaded by kennasmomma.

This combination reminds me of Mac Jade Dragon, which is untried for me.

ChG VIII + Nfu-Oh 51 & 39

ChG VIII + Nfu-Oh 51 & 39, originally uploaded by kennasmomma.

Please excuse the dents! I slept on this mani before fully dry. It looks like a Bloodstone or some sort of jasper. I just adore Nfu-Ohs flakies. They bring so much fun to a manicure.

ChG VIII + Nfu-Oh 51 & 39

ChG VIII + Nfu-Oh 51 & 39, originally uploaded by kennasmomma.

ChG VIII + Nfu-Oh 51 & 39

ChG VIII + Nfu-Oh 51 & 39, originally uploaded by kennasmomma.

ChG VIII + Nfu-Oh 51 & 39

ChG VIII + Nfu-Oh 51 & 39, originally uploaded by kennasmomma.

ChG Midnight Ride + CND Raspberry Sparkle

ChG Midnight Ride + CND Raspberry Sparkle, originally uploaded by kennasmomma.

I really do love my CND Effects. They're really fun. I had applied ChG Midnight Ride and was disappointed with how black it was. The eggplant shimmer was very subtle. I decided to tart it up a bit.