First day at work after the holidays went well, actually day was over really quickly. It is nice to have some time off, but in the same time, it is nice to get back into your routine. It really helps that I love my job, and the people I work with. They are like a second family to me.
Super bright green was calling my name, and I could not do anything else but answer. LOL!
Actually, this particular polish waited for a while to  be used - I got it on Black Friday sale!
This polish is by Pahlish Polish - Electronic Santa Claus.

Acid green crelly is full of copper micro flakies, and is absolutely stunning in person.
This one needed some builiding up, so on the swatch above, I am wearing 3 coats and no top coat.
How stunning is this!
For the long time now, new polish is paired with new (or equally untried) stamping plate. That was case here, and for this manicure I used Major Digit - 48 stamping plate.

This plate is one of the AliExpress finds, and it is pretty good quality.
Image that I set my hart on is in the bottom left corner. Love dragonflies, and dragonfly images, and I think that this plate ended in my basket just for that image.
First, I stamped half of the image using the Konad - Black, then I double stamped using DRK Nails - Copper.
I absolutely loved the final result, and I could not wait to share this with you.
Town where I was born and raised in was on the marshy ground, and I had a pleasure living in the suburb. About 10 minutes walk from my home was a man made pond - they harvested clay for a little bit for the bricks, but it proved that this area was riddled with the underground water supply, and soon the holes where clay was dig out were full of the water. Soon after, someone brought some fish, and before you know, it was the whole marsh eco system in place. That included the cattails, that I always connect with the summer... Remember some kids would light their tips, and it would slowly burn releasing the thin smoke - we were told that this particular smoke was also mosquito repellant, and we believed - anything to get those pesky little bugs away from us.
After this little walk down the memory lane, I will wish all of you a wonderful day, and remind you to keep yourself safe and well hydrated.
​Cheers! 

Heat wave is not lessening its oppressive strength, and my polish room is like a sauna.
Room temperature when I was doing this manicure was 31*C. I do not need to tell you that this heat is not really good for the stamping, and if I was considering the freehand for the hot minute. Only thing, I was was to hot and too bothered to give this a second thought.
Today, I am showing you the polish sweet Victoria from NailStuff.ca tucked in my 'Ard As Nails order.
I took an advantage of the sale that took place about 4 weeks ago, and I picked up few crellies that were missing in my collection... did not pick this one, and Victoria wanted me to have all three polishes from the Seasonally Inappropriate Trio.
This is 'Ard As Nails - Peach-A-Chu.

I skipped this one on purpose. If look at the official photo, description, or even name - one thing is strongly jumping on me - Peach! Peachy tones are really not my strength, and my skin looks really horrid when I wear that particular tone.
Not sure if there was a deliberate change in the color formula, but the bottle I received was not peach, but blissfully nude!
That was the best part, and I am so glad that Victoria included this in my parcel, as this is only nude flakie crellie that I own, especially with those cobalt blue metallic flakies.
Formula is super creamy and easy to apply, and on the swatch above, I am wearing 2 coats and no top coat.
This nude shade is very flattering against my skin tone, and I see lots of use in the future.
As you well know, I do have a discount code SANJA10 that will save you 10% off of your purchase, and if you are in Canada, you will know that we are often straddled with absurd shipping costs. Have to stress out that you  will not be set back with the shipping within the Canada - Victoria is offering a flat $5 flat rate shipping.
Classy shade asked for the subtle, classy design and I was more than happy to oblige.
If this design disappoint, please remember the temperature of my polish room - I really wanted to escape it as soon as humanly possible - I am really not good with heat.
Image I picked up is on Uber Chic - 3-03 stamping plate, but in my fashion, I just could not decide on the stamping color... ended up triple stamping it, which took multiple tries as my stamping polishes would dry before my stamper would be even close to my nail, and we all know that I am not a novice at this. This was utterly frustrating to say at least.
I wanted to compliment the blue flakies, so I picked A England - Natasha's Dance War  & Peace. This midnight blue polish  was all to close to the flakies, and looked too moody, so I went with the second layer. My pick was What's Up Nails - Fab Cab - thought sunny yellow will brighten this, but in reality it made it ugly... Not sure how was that possible, but it was ugly to me...
Third charm - white Hit the Bottle - Snowed in saved the day.
All that was needed was few dots using the Natasha's Dance War & Peace, and it was done.
I purposely misaligned the same image, so all colors would be visible. I truly can't say that I loved this, but I just slapped some top coat, took few photos, and run (or should I say flew) out of that room ​ like a bat out of hell because I was done! Slow cooked and falling off of the bones! 
Isn't that the image you wanted stuck in your mind! LOL!
First day back to work after 10 days... wish me the luck.
Cheers!

Today is my last day of the Summer holiday, and tomorrow will be business as usual for me.
It is a Monday though, and little bit of dreamy side of mine is showing it self...
The meaning of my first name is dreamy one, dreaming one or the dreamed one... have to admit, living up to my name, as I am a dreamer in every sense of the word. I am plagued by vivid dreams at night, and having a head full of daydreams during the day.
That might be one of the reasons behind the overreactive imagination, and never lacking source of inspiration. That is just one side of me. There are the others that are in quite conflict with the dreamer I can be, but we will not talk about that right now.
My single status is not likely to change any time soon, but that does not stop my above mentioned imagination and dreamy states to imagine that perfect ONE, one that is perfect just for me. Because he is always somewhere at the edge of my dreams, somewhere in between the dream and reality, I decided to put that elusive, nameless man into a manicure, using very appropriately named polish: Mr. Burgundy by Painted Polis by Lexi. 

We all know that I love exclusive polishes from Polish Pickup, and with all the polishes I've shown you so far, can you blame me? This is one of those beauties.
Burgundy red jelly based polish with some beautiful gold and indigo blue flakies. Such a great coverage for a jelly, and on the swatch above, I am wearing 2 coats and no top coat.
Polishes like this one are my kryptonite. This color is so deep, and so sexy, I have to have as many polishes in this shade as I can put my sticky little fingers on.
To keep with the dreamy theme, I reached for the Maniology plate done in collaboration with Katja G. - BM-XL409.

This plate is full of really interesting images to say at least, and it was really hard to decide which one to use. In the end, I went with two images from this plate : That star studded lip bite, and Mr. Dreamy, made of stars and dreams in the arms (maybe mine?).
First I stamped with the white stamping polish, but I found the contrast too stark, so I double stamped using Maniology - Satin Blush. I am still not sure if this would be better if left the way I done it originally, as metallic polish can be difficult to capture on the photos...
All the products used were purchased by myself, but I do have a discount code that you are more than welcome to use SANJA10 will save you 10% on all non sale items in the store.
For your convenience I placed all the links, so you can check the store or directly the used items.
​All was sealed with the glossy top coat. 
Not sure about you, but I absolutely loved wearing this manicure, especially when I was the only one that knew the meaning behind it. Now you know it too.
Have a wonderful week.
​Cheers!

It is hard to believe that today is my firstborn son 24th birthday!
Time flies, even though it seems like yesterday I brought him home from the hospital still in awe that miracle like that just happened to me.
Happy birthday my child, and all the best in life today, and always!
In a way, today's post is so appropriate, as my son loved flying a kite as a kid.
My pretty speckled base is Different Dimension - Unicorn Sparkle from the Tutti Frutti collection I had a pleasure of reviewing few weeks ago. I used pretty much all but one shade from this collection for this bright look.
Couple of days ago Different Dimension released new collection, and I need every polish from this collection, but will have to settle for few... not quite sure which ones though... 
Image I used here is on MoYou London - Origami - 02 stamping plate.

This plate has some pretty cute images I plan to use in future, but for today, I used the kite image (or rather half of the image) and the wavy dotted line from the image to the left.
I rather liked using that part of the image to create almost the rainbow on my index finger.
As I already mentioned earlier, I used other polishes from this collection, all but other crelly that came with the collection.
Very simple, and pretty colorful if you ask me, but all in all a very Summery look if you ask me.
Naturally, I am partial to that opinion, but just bear with me here.
Now, off to go to bake a cake for my son, despite the tropical heat without any reprieve.
Wishing all of you a happy Sunday.
​Cheers!

I am chronic insomniac, and some days - or should I say nights, my brain just does not stop. All sorts of things are going through my head, none of which is essential for the day that will come... One of those things keeping me awake at night - Is zebra actually white with the black stripes, or it is black with the white markings... see totally essential for the work in a doctor's office.
So here it is, one of the rare animal prints on my page - zebra.
I wanted this to be little bit different, and I picked up the MDJ  Creations - Black Lung, sheer black polish, part of Robin Moses Artistic Jellies Collection I had a pleasure of reviewing few months ago. Those are all sheer jellies, but some of them were easy to build up into almost a full opacity. One of those is the Black Lung.
I applied one coat of the Black Lung on my Index, Middle and Ring finger,  while pinky and thumb sported Painted Polish by Lexi - Statues at Sunrise. 
Those two looked like a nice match to me. I needed some pretty glitters in my life, and my heart was set on those. It was just that I thought those might be too dark for the Summer, not that being seasonally appropriate ever mattered much to me.
For Image, I used the plate that was waiting unloved for a long time. Plate I used was DRK Nails - XL Designer 1. I purchased several plates from DRK Nails as well as some pretty stamping polishes not just from DRK Nails, but also from La Femme and Jade while DRK Nails had US site. They decided to go to Amazon, and they closed it, but  after a while realized that it did not really worked for them.
Some time after, when Teresa would be heading to US, she would send me the e-mail, and a link for the pre-order, that she would mail from the US.
That also did not happen in a while now, so I don't think there will be any of those Brazilian brands getting into my hands any time soon. 
For stamping, I used my favorite white stamping polish by Hit the Bottle - Snowed in, and my bottle is almost empty. Luckily, I am prepared, and while I will not use my favorite white,  I managed to get my hands on few other brands, one of which arrived day before yesterday.
I truly enjoyed my time at home, and I am starting to feel sadness that this time will be over soon... I did plan for the week off around the Christmas, which I will love, but there is still several months till then. Decision to split my holiday days between summer and winter was calculated move on my side, as working  with the public for the year in between the holidays would drain all the energy out of me. This was planned move to keep my sanity in check.
Have yourself a wonderful weekend.
​Cheers!

Couple of days ago, I had a physio appointment, and I wore cute summer top with the palm fronds all over it, and decided to recreate it for today's post...
It is Friday after all, and that means that it is time for the Hawaiian shirt look, even though it did not bother me to wear my top on Wednesday... I am on the holiday after all.
My base is the polish I did not wear in a long time... 'Ard As Nails - Zed's Dead.

How gorgeous is this cobalt blue linear holographic polish! Can you believe that I forgot that I actually have it! Super creamy and smooth formula that could be a one coater, but I am always more comfortable with 2 coats.
I can't get over how beautiful it is!
Perfect image I found on Uber Chic - Lovely Leaves 2 stamping plate.

This plate is in my possession for a while now, and this was the first time I actually used it. I truly need to put a stop to a shopping... that is really hard thing to do, as for a few years now, I did not deny myself a much...
Stamping polishes used: Maniology - Maui Gold, Dance Legend - 7 Green + 8 Mint and La Femme - Verde Perolado.
I loved the way this looked enough to keep it on my nails for the next couple of days.
With the heat wave I sure hope that you are staying out of the sun and that you are hydrating as much as possible.
Cheers!

There is something about the skeleton keys that I love - can't really explain it, maybe just the longing for the times gone by, simpler times perhaps.
Skeleton keys been used for centuries to lock many precious treasures, but also the criminals... pantries and bedrooms... desks and diaries... they been the keepers of many secrets.
When we purchased our home, that was built around 1929, original door, with the skeleton key lock was still on the house. We never received the key, as along the way, one owner or the other put in more modern system, and we eventually replaced the whole door, as few of the glass panels were cracked, and with the small boys around, we did not want any accidents. 
Here I am using some of my favorite skeleton key images - by the way those are the only skeletons I like on my nails.
As a base, I used Madam Glam - Perfect Red, from The Perfect Collection.
​

I received this soak off gel polish few months ago for the review, and I really love how bright and brilliant this color is. Even though I did review while ago, you are still more than welcome to use my discount code SANJA30 to save 30% off of your order.
Images I used for this manicure are on Hit the Bottle - To Love Or Not To Love that I purchased as a Polish Pickup exclusive, even though I did see several exchanges are having it in stock. I guess the polish rules does not apply on the stamping plates.
Stamped with Konad - Black and Winstonia - Silver Bullet.
Loved this manicure, and I think that this manicure gives you a glimpse at my rarely shown romantic side. Never seen my self as a romantic - more like a dreamer, but romantic... 
Still loving being at home this week, especially because we are going through the major heat wave. It is nice that I do not have to be rushed, just take it easy.
Have yourself an amazing day.
​Cheers!

I love Summer manicures, as they are all about the fun, and travel and being somewhere else with the people you love. Summer is time when kids are out of school, and there is no really big holiday like a Christmas to distract them, so you have to came up with whole lot of the entertainment options to keep the boredom at bay.
Today, we are going sailing - ocean or lake, take your pick. All you need is body of water, some wind, and sail boat of course!
My super pretty base is by Masura + KombuchaWitch collaboration shade - Spring kiss. 

I love white based crellies, especially when the sport pretty blue, green and turquoise glitters in different sizes. Not sure when the Spring Kiss ties in here or however it is connected with the color scheme, but to me, this is summer on the water kind of look.
It is so cool and so fresh, and applies smooth like a butter. Took 2 coats to full opacity and  no top coat.
It looks great glossy, but in the end I opted for the matte look, and I could not love it any more.
All images used are on little plate by Clear Jelly Stamper - CjS-06.
I mostly used the Maniology stamping polishes: Straight Up Black, Bam White, Indicon, Pumpkin Head, and  I also used Esmaltes da Kelly - Ulli.
All was topped with the matte top coat, and I love how those glitters look matte!
My holiday is going on fabulous! I can't remember when I felt this relaxed last time. Last night I chopped my nails down - better me chopping them to the length I am comfortable with, than braking them down. Cindy had a little accident and one of the nails was ripped off pretty badly, and that spooked me enough to shorten all of them down.
On the plus side, typing is so much easier right now.
You see, you can always find a silver lining if you are looking for the one. 
Have a wonderful day.
Cheers!

Crazy Science is the theme for the August Polish Pickup, and today, I will show you Different Dimension contribution for both - Polish Pickup and Indie Pickup, both available at www.polishpickup.com from August 7-10th.
For the Indie Pickup, Different Dimension is offering a Cuticle oil duo in following scents:
Proton - Sweet cherry with orange cream, coconut, and vanilla custard scent.
Neutron - Sweet cranberry and raspberry scent.
Both are coming in 2 ml clickable pen, which really allows for the easy application without waste. 
Duo will be sold at price of $8, and no cap.
Both are inspired by science.
I like to list the ingredients: Jojoba seed oil, grape seed oil, apricot kennel oil, Vitamin E, fragrance and tea tree oil.
I am not the stranger to Missi's cuticle oils, and always have some at my polish desk, and my favorite scent is in my purse.
To prevent my oils from spoiling, I keep excess in my fridge, where they may last very long time.
On the photos below, I freshly filed my nails, and applied the oils in excess. Weekends are for the hand care, and usually I put on the non latex gloves to help keeping the oil on my hands, and heat from the hands will open your pores so more oils will be absorbed into your skin. I usually apply the oils and gloves, then proceed with the clean up of my house.  This way my hands get all the pampering, and my housework is getting done in the same time. Best of the both worlds.

For the Polish Pickup, Different Dimension came up with a super pretty polish named It's Electrifying.
It's Electrifying is purple to pink multichrome magnetic polish with added blue to purple to pink iridescent color shifting flakes.
​It is inspired by plasma ball.
Priced at $11 and no cap, available from August 7-10th at www.polishpickup.com.
This gorgeousness is absolutely stunning with or without the magnet, and here is the little collage of the It's Electrifying worn as regular, multi chrome polish without magnet.

Those are outdoor photos, and you can see the color shift so well on the first photo.
on the macro, you can see those flakies very well.
On the swatches, I am wearing 2 coats and the top coat, and there was no need for the black undies, and it is fully opaque as you can clearly see on the photos.
This polish is even prettier with use of the magnet. I wish that effect is stronger, but it is surely very pretty. I applied the magnet (not provided) over the second coat.

You can se the magnetic strip really well on the macro.
Collage above include indoor and outdoor photo of this beauty.
With the science theme, my inner geek came out to play, and I could not resist to stamp images of the atom - with proton and neutron as a nucleus, and electrons orbiting around.
Image is on Born Pretty - BP-L064, stamped with Winstonia - Silver Bullet.

Any weekend plans? How about quick trip to Italy?
When I think of Rome, I always think of the old movie with Audrey Hepburn and her vacation in Rome. This manicure is totally inspired by it, and of course La Dolce Vita (Sweet Life) of Rome.
Year 2020 will be remembered by many things, one of which is limited traveling due to pandemic.
That should not bother me much, as I am a famous armchair traveler...
Base for this manicure is Pahlish - Lilac Fairy.

Palest lilac base is full of pink to gold color shifting aurora shimmers, and on the swatch above, I am wearing 3 coats and no top coat.
Super pretty and very soft, it is perfect on its own, or with the nail art add on.
All images used here are on MoYou London - Tourist - 04 stamping plate.

Absolutely loving all the images on this plate, especially the Vespas. Those little motorcycles can be found throughout Mediterranean, as a quick and easy transportation and in many places you can rent one for the day.
There is also a little Fiat 500, one of the 60's era economy vehicles. 
Could not but include the Colosseums image - as one of the most recognizable images of Rome.
I used whole bunch of different stamping polishes, and I will not list them all, but that they include: Maniology (use code SANJA10 to save), Moyra (use code SANJAMOYRA to save) and Born Pretty stamping polishes. Just click on the link on the right side for the direct link to both sites.
All was topped with glossy top coat, even though it did not make the photographing very well.
In the end, I just loved this fun Summer time look and wish to be able to visit all the fun places I stamp on my nails.
Until tomorrow, Ciao Bella!

First day of the holiday still feels like a regular weekend, when I am trying to complete all of the Cinderella duties, so I could actually have some fun!
For today's manicure I used the shade that is possibly my favorite Color Club Nail Lacquer - Je Ne Sais Quoi.
I never knew how much I love the mustard yellow until this bottle came into my possession. I am at the half bottle mark, and that is really rare for me. Only black and white polishes get spent to the last drop, everything else looks pretty new, or barely used.
I was craving some vintage vibes, and this shade always brings them forward. Smooth application and  coats is always perfect for this polish.
I totally am blame growing up in 70' for my love of this shade. LOL!
I used layered images from Uber Chic - 28-01 stamping plate, and I first stamped with the white, then with the black stamping polish.
Coat of the matte top coat completed this look. 
I was totally in love with this one, and could not wait to share it with you, even though I know that not everyone loves this color.
Wishing all of you a wonderful weekend. 
Cheers!

I always loved the French tip, and today I have a fun version of it.
Summer is the time for the neon polishes, and if you like the neon pink, then you totally need Color Club Nail Laquer - Warhol.
So intensely bright, I was afraid it will totally freaked out my camera. Awesomely creamy and smooth formula that was perfectly opaque and bright even without the white undies in 2 smooth coats.
I painted tips with holographic pink polish from A England - Crown of Thistles, but I did a really good job of covering it up to pretty much invisibility. It happens sometimes...
I wanted to use the image from MoYou London - Tropical - 18 stamping plate. 

This plate is full of really cute designs, and it is really very possible that I will use this plate in many tropical designs. In today's manicure I used the last image on the plate.
First I stamped with the black, then offsetting the image a little bit, I stamped again with the white stamping polish.
I loved this, but for the one thing... I am so used to have the designs turned away from me, it was really weird to purposely pose with my hand upside down... that would take the learning curve from me. This was upside down apology for the photos that I find little strange. Maybe because I am not used to them...
I had to try that, and now that I did, I am not sure I will do that any time soon.
All was topped with the glossy top coat.
It is finally Friday, and I can't wait the end of the day so I can officially start my holidays - 10 days to spend the any way I want to.
No plans, so it all can go in every way.
Considering the Coronavirus pandemic, it is highly unlikely I will leave the town... On the plus side, I hear that staycations are the best!
Have an amazing day!
Cheers!

Little break from the swatches to show you something seasonally appropriate.
As a base for this manicure I am wearing absolutely stunning Cadillacquer - Blue Poppy.

Blue Poppy is another Polish Pickup exclusive, thermal base with some red shimmers and delicious iridescent flakies.
My hands are super warm, and it was really hard for me to take many of the cold state (darkest blue), and being in the hot room did not helped the matter one bit. On the swatch above, I am wearing 2 coats and no top coat.
It instantly made me think of the ocean - you know what that means: ocean themed manicure.
Mind, I imagined this one totally different, but I guess, you can't win them all.
Images used are on Lina -  Born to Sail 02 .

As you can see, the plate is filled with images, full nail ones and individual ones. In this manicure, I used combination of the both.
Stamping polishes used were: Hit the Bottle - Snowed in + A Vermillion To One + Moonshine + Lapis of the Gods and Konad - Black.

As promised yesterday, it is the time for the last swatch of the soak off gel polish from the 6th Lust Collection by Madam Glam. Collection contains 10 glamorous, sparkly soak off gel polishes that need to be applied over the soak off gel polish base, and sealed with soak off gel top coat.
I started the reviews with the almost the white color, and finishing it with the black.
Every collection need couple of vampy colors, and this one has 2. I already shown you The Ruby Slippers, and today, I will show you The Caviar Sparkle.

The Caviar Sparkle is black semi sheer soak off gel polish with gold glitters.
It is classy and elegant, and one of those shades that can get you from the office to a party and will fit anywhere. On the swatch above I am wearing 2 color coats of The Caviar Sparkle.
This one is super sparkly, and as with the rest of the colors from this collection - perfect for that special occasion.
I do have something similar in the regular polish, but it is not as nearly as sparkly as The Caviar Sparkle is. 
To purchase this gel polish, and for many more you are more than welcome to use my special discount code - SANJA30 that will save you 30% at the checkout.
For which ever reason, I connect the caviar with the high class entertaining, and no, I did not even thought about painting the fish eggs... I went with the something else that can be seen on the events like that - gold, as in gold jewelry. Little gold chain will elevate that little black dress to the next level of elegance.
Image I used is on What's Up Nails - B006 stamping plate, and I stamped with Mini Mani Moo - Gold stamping polish.
I hope you are doing well, and keeping yourself hydrated - best way to beat this tropical heat. Keeping indoors when the sun is the strongest will protect your skin from the harmful effect of the UVA and UVB rays.
Cheers!

After somber color scheme yesterday, we are back with light colors and with the sparkle. We gotta have a sparkle in our life, one way or another.
Continuing with the reviews of 6th Lust Collection by Madam Glam. This collection has 10 glamourous glittery soak off gel polishes, and I received 5 of them to share with you.
Today, I am showing you The Manhattan.

The Manhattan is palest Tiffany blue glittery soak off gel polish. It is on the sheer side, but it is fairly easy to build up. On the swatch above, I am wearing 4 thin color coats over the soak off gel base coat, and all was topped with the soak off gel top coat.
I really love this color, and it is once again the color you can wear all year long. Reminded me of the sparkly water, and I think that it is really appropriately named. There had to be a at least one shade in this collection that was inspired by the New York, where Madam Glam HC are.
For this shade, and many others at the site, you can use my special discount code SANJA30 to save 30% off of your order. 
With this beautiful shade, I could not resist adding another nod to the great New York, so The Manhattan is adorned with the Statue of Liberty.
Images used for this manicure are on BP-124 and QA76 stamping plates.
For stamping, once again I used Maniology - Delirium, and  I wanted to give some patina to Statue of Liberty so I double stamped it with Maniology - Plantation Tea.
I have one more shade to share, so stay tuned, last reveal is tomorrow.
​Cheers!