franken-polish "Pumpkin Juice" {inspired by Harry Potter}

BOO!!!  It's been a while.  A year and a month and a week and a day, or so.  I wasn't actually planning on blogging again, truth be told.  I posted my last post three days before I bought my house, and everything just got wilder from there.  It's been an astonishing year!  A lot of things have changed, but my love of polish and color and wonderment hasn't.  I did discover a different angle on it, though, and that's what brings me back here.

My third Helmer was overflowing (I know, I know), and I had all this drugstore/mainstream/dupes/etc. polish that wasn't getting enough love.  I wondered, could they be upcycled, rediscovered, reborn?  I had long dreamed of creating my own lacquers...  And thus, yet another craftsy obsession ignited my imagination.

The frankening bug has hit me hard these past few weeks since I started.  I've made over forty frankens already... jeepers!  Halloween seems an appropriate occasion to debut my first franken polish monster, so without further ado...

>>> Pumpkin Juice <<<

Girly Bits "The Power of Love"

Happy, happy Valentine's Day!!  May your day be full of affection and love, be it romantic, filial, friendly, and/or of the self ♥

[P.S. - I happened upon this lovely feathered family in the Kastellet fortress gardens of Copenhagen; with its palaces, roses, swans, and fairy tales, not to mention the royal hearts which gild the coins, it is one of the most romantic cities I have ever visited.]

Passionate purples and lovely lavenders are some of my favorites for this occasion, but this exquisite lilac with ethereal elfin qualities occupies its own sphere in my polish-loving heart.  "The Power of Love", indeed!  I predict that even hearts hardened against the season's sappy pinks and reds will warm for this magical lacquer, like a love goddess's dream.

au naturel (no topcoat)

glossy (two layers topcoat)

* ♥ * ♥ * ♥ *

Christmas Eve NOTD: Girly Bits "Eggnogaholic" + Orly "Halo"

You know, I'm not usually all that into eggnog, but I was having a lovely tea time with my dear friend Grace yesterday, and kind of rediscovered the eggnog magic.  Every time I have gone to make tea during the last week I would look in the fridge at the eggnog, and ask whoever happened to be nearby if they thought a dash of it would be good in tea, and everyone unanimously was like ew no gross Marisa, what the blazes are you thinking, but then yesterday I finally just went for it because whatever YOLO and, you know what?  It was absolutely amazing.  I made everyone in the house try it, and they all agreed that it was delicious.  A big ol' mugfull of hot water steeped in Celestial Seasonings Nutcracker Sweet black tea, plus equal parts eggnog and skim milk, plus a bit of agave nectar for extra sugar with that spice... heaven.

Unfortunately, today when I went to recreate my scrumptious treat, I was quietly devastated to discover that we were out of both Nutcracker Sweet and eggnog.  :(  Bigelow Eggnoggin' black & green tea blend was just not the same.

Thankfully I have a beautiful eggnog confection that my giant, college-football-playing brother cannot devour, like he does any and all other edible things: the aptly-named glitter crelly by Girly Bits, which served as the base for my Christmas Eve manicure.  Inspired by snow angels, shining stars, and all things beautiful and bright, I was and am so in love with these heavenly lacquers together in seraphic harmony.