*First Blogiversary + Birthday Giveaway!!!*

Hello and welcome, goddesses!!  August 13th was officially Tiny Twinklings' first blogiversary, hooray hooray!  I closed out that year with several other big firsts- graduating from college in June, starting my first real career job in August, etc.- and am starting this second one out with a few more... buying my first house, namely among them. (!!!!!  Closing in just a few short days- let the pandemonium ensue!)  And in two weeks I will also be a Birthday Princess, which I take very seriously ;)  Tee hee.

So in celebration of my blog's birthday and mine, I am so pleased to offer you the chance (many many chances, in fact!) to win a couple of my very favorite things: Rainbow Honey Mystery Bags!  They've made many monthly appearances here on Tiny Twinklings, and in fact my very first post ever featured the July Mystery Bag of last year.  I've been saving my double of the August 2014 Mystery Bag and Limited Edition polish all year, and together with this year's August 2015 Mystery Bag and featured Limited Edition polish complete our fabulous prize!

In total, that prize includes:

>> AUGUST 2014 MINI MYSTERY BAG <<

"Modern Hearts" nail polish

"488nm" nail polish

"Royal Fruits" perfume roller ball

"Royal Fruits" cuticle balm

"Royal Fruits" scented topcoat

"Summer Juice" body splash

>> AUGUST 2014 LIMITED EDITION<<

"Crystal" nail polish - full size!

>> AUGUST 2015 MINI MYSTERY BAG <<

"Mr. Saturn" nail polish

"Jelly Red Sandals" nail polish

"Fruit Juice" bath oil

"Fruit Juice" bath tea

"Fruit Juice" perfume roller ball 

"All Your Base" basecoat - full size!

>> AUGUST 2015 LIMITED EDITION <<

"Celestial Hydra" - full size!

The fabulous contents of these mystery bags pictured above are my personal (duplicate) set; yours awaits, brand new and unopened :)

Your prize!!!

This giveaway is open to U.S. addresses only.  The giveaway will be open for two weeks, starting now until Saturday, September 26, 2015 at 11:59PM Mountain Time.  You must be 18 years of age or older to enter, please.

First Blogiversary + Birthday Giveaway!!!

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It has been by far too long since my last post, and I want to convey my sincere gratitude to my darling readers who have stuck through the droughts with me.  I'm looking forward to my life finally settling into place again... I've missed this!!  I've missed you!  Thank you so much for celebrating this crazy, exciting month with me ♥️  

Good luck, and enjoy!

XOXO
Marisa + Sprinklepuff

Hare Polish "I'm Your National Anthem"

Happy Independence Day, American darlings, and a perfectly pleasant July fourth to all others!!  It is a good thing that I had this polish queued up for the occasion because beyond my blue-speckled red claws, nothing else about the day was particularly festive or patriotic.  In fact, like the rest of this month (as you may have noticed) it was for the most part downright lazy- but then, lake days should be!  I only just got back from the lake an hour ago, actually, so it's really remarkable and strange that I've chosen today of all days to pick up my blogging torch again, but hey- today's the day and the only one all year at that, so procrastinating is just going to have to wait.  ;)

Guest Post with *Lacquer Slacker Liz* featuring CrowsToes: An Edgy Ocean Dream

Happy day, Twinklings!!  And what a special day it is here on this tiny, twinkling blog, to receive a visit from my very own polish angel... Lacquer Slacker Liz!  Polish angel, nairy godmother, blogger BFF; if blogging is an adventure at sea, an edgy ocean dream even, then Liz has been my lighthouse.  Not only does this fabulous lady have a discerning sense of color and a meticulous eye for detail, she writes with a compelling degree of humor, sincerity, and passion little seen in beauty blogging, or the written word in general.  I tend to start my morning reading Lacquer Slacker Liz, for the polish of course but also simply for Liz's clever quips and brilliant descriptions- I always end up with a smile on my face, and I often feel like standing and applauding Liz's en pointe narrative :)  She also tends to capture the many personalities of a polish in many lights, in such a way that I have been frequently smacking my own forehead for having passed up whichever lacquer that Liz then goes and reveals to be such a gem.  Exquisite torture.

Besides producing an excellent resource for polish lovers, Liz is full to bursting with vibrant enthusiasm and golden-hearted generosity, and it has been my greatest pleasure in blogging to get to know this fellow color lover and lacquer loony.  (Sorry not sorry for all the sappy sap... sometimes you just gotta get down with your feels ;) )  Behold, and enjoy!!

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Thanks so much, Marisa, for welcoming me to Tiny Twinklings!

I'm totally psyched to be guesting here as I'm a huge fan! I'm afraid I won't be able to duplicate Marisa's engaging, whimsical style or her beautiful prose, but we share a serious enthusiasm for color as a replenishing source of joy that feeds the soul as well as the eyes. The featured polish for my post is one that I purchased specifically with Marisa in mind, long before she asked me to guest post, because it does exactly that.

An Edgy Ocean Dream was created by indie polish maker CrowsToes exclusively for international etailer Edgy Polish in Sweden. I came across this beauty on Be Happy and Buy Polish and was immediately smitten. Sending away for a polish from Sweden is a bit of an extravagance, but as Jessica said in her review, this one is worth it. Described very simply as a "mid-tone aqua holo with a highlight of golden flecks," this is a gorgeous complex holographic polish in a vibrant medium-light aqua enriched by superabundant golden flakes. The reflective flakes take on a gleaming pale sea green look from the base color, giving the polish a lush tropical south sea vibe, and add a beautiful burnished foily speckled look to the polish in indirect light and shade. In direct sun there is a magnificent linear prismatic display with a blazing central flame of cerulean blue edged by sparkling bands of aqua, green, yellow and red, all floating over a semi-metallic flash of pale sea green. So gorgeous! 

Application was a pleasure. The consistency of An Edgy Ocean Dream is fluid, full-bodied and dense with flakes. It has a certain thickness because of that, but nevertheless goes on with a creamy, self-leveling flow over the nail. Pigmentation is very good, with completely even opaque coverage in two medium coats, which is what I used for this manicure. Cleanup is fairly straightforward with a little bit of stickiness on the part of the golden flakes. An Edgy Ocean Dream dries naturally in very good time to a silky smooth, shiny finish. Topcoat does not diminish the holographic effects in any way. 

Photos show two coats of An Edgy Ocean Dream over Seche Rebuild treatment and Pretty Serious All Your Base basecoat with a topcoat of Seche Vite. 

What did I tell you? Just wonderful and totally worth the postage from Sweden. It got here really quickly, too. I love the complexity of greens and blues and the semi-tarnished foily finish that is created by the inclusion of the gold flakes with the holographic formula -- they play together so very well. And the name is perfect, no? 

Thanks for reading! 

love,

Liz

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like + follow + share the love

Lacquer Slacker Liz

BLOG // FACEBOOK // PINTEREST // BLOGLOVIN'

check out some of the recent activity on Lacquer Slacker Liz:

Lacquer Slacker Liz

>> http://lacquerslackerliz.blogspot.com/2015/05/polish-my-life-blue-pansy-and-mentality.html <<

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Lacquer Slacker Liz

>> http://lacquerslackerliz.blogspot.com/2015/05/girly-bits-youre-my-hooper-hero.html <<

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Lacquer Slacker Liz

>> http://lacquerslackerliz.blogspot.com/2015/05/essie-petal-pushers-and-shimmer-polish.html <<

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Lacquer Slacker Liz

>> http://lacquerslackerliz.blogspot.com/2015/04/alchemy-lacquers-naiad-of-spring.html <<

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I just want to thank our lovely Liz again for guest posting during this insane time of my life.  An angel, indeed!!!  And how gorgeous is this polish?!  I sometimes think Liz might be clairvoyant; really, it was like she premeditated me when she proposed this lacquer as our guest star.  She'd already known I'd love it when I didn't even know it existed, haha!  I, too, am enthralled with this inspiring name, its physical manifestation, and of course the permeating Swedish-ness of it all...  I'm a fourth Swedish myself, and the fact that this polish comes exclusive from the charming city of Malmö is quite compelling to the imagination.  How luxurious!  

I see I have disappointingly few personal photos of Malmö, but voilà, here I am with Santiago Calatrava's infamous Turning Torso.  I had just graduated high school and was excited to be starting architecture school; now, five years later, I am about to graduate college, and am excited to be soon starting out in the profession for realsies.  Funny how things come full circle, isn't it?

XOXO

Marisa + Sprinklepuff 

6 Harts Polish "Swim Through The Deep Skies"

The hidden polish community is a fascinating digital underground: all words, no voices, all hands, few faces.  In a world of nuggles, with no inkling of the irresistible allure that something so innocuous as nail polish holds on the minds of ladies (and gentlemen!) all over the planet, it is a rare happening indeed to meet with another of this invisible, magical world.  We, the nail fairies, or nairies, if you will, walk through the physical world hidden in plain sight, and reveal ourselves only in our digital kingdom to our fellow nairy passionistas.  Oh, your nuggle friends are aware of (and baffled by) your ever-shifting, perfectly-painted nails, and might even, to their intense bewilderment, catch an occasional glimpse of one overflowing corner of your nail polish dynasty.  I find it is always best that they never know the full extent, unless you have a fainting couch and smelling salts immediately near your stash.  These dear nuggles are delicate creatures, you know.

But, once in a blue moon, a holographic blue moon (because, well, we're nail polish folk and cannot help ourselves), you might just be lucky enough to encounter another nairy in real life...

Until the day I met Courtney of 6 Harts Polish, I had never been so lucky, and, I suspect you will likely understand why that day I felt like I had actually found a unicorn.  A craftsy, hug-loving, sweet-as-sugar Montana girl who is not merely nairy-literate, but so fully engrossed in The Obsession as to concoct her own lacquer magic...?  It was kind of like looking into a mirror, or a dream.

An immensely warm, kind, darling dream mirror who gives really great hugs.

These lovely qualities of hers were really emphasized in this circumstance: after weeks of correspondence and anticipation, I was a full half hour late to our appointed meet-up.  Thirty minutes!  I dislike being late so I was absolutely horrified, and so ashamed that I wanted to sink into my own skin, but when I finally bounded, near panic-stricken, into our local riverside Bernice's Bakery, Courtney was so gracious beyond any expectation; all friendliness and warm welcome.  You would just love her!  The next half hour was revolutionary to me: words spoken that I had only ever seen typed (indie lacquer!  Helmer stash!  Elevation Polish!), sentiments reciprocated that had only ever evoked confusion in my nuggle friends (the unforgivable sin of a four-coat slow-drying crème polish, for example).  This nairy world that I had been living in for almost four years now was finally a living and breathing entity, and it was all kinds of beautiful.

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Speaking of beautiful, just look at this sparkling jewel of a polish that will be released next month!  Courtney generously surprised me with this little sneak peek, which I am so very honored to share with you.  When I first saw this gemstone lacquer I immediately assumed that it was inspired by our very own Treasure State, with its blue timbered mountains, endless sky, and royal blue state flag, but in fact was created for a movie-inspired polish maker's swap.  However, when it comes to deep skies, I believe I can reasonably attest that we natives of Big Sky Country are something of an authority ;)

Fair Maiden Polish "Change Your Fate"

Happy Friday the 13th, again!!  In the Celtic spirit of upcoming St. Patrick's Day, I just had to share with you this powerfully pretty polish inspired by Scottish princess Merida of Brave, and, fittingly enough, part of Fair Maiden's debut collection titled *Be Your Own Heroine*.  Merida was indeed her own heroine, and if this teal tribute was an arrow, it would be flying straight true to the heart and free spirit of The Bear & The Bow (as the story was originally called!).

Merida the Brave

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Can't you just see the moss-dappled mountain glade, blankets of heather cushioning your footfalls as your breath parts the curtains of mist lingering in the early morning chill...?  The shadows are yet deep in the gathering dawn, and through their nocturnal curls a tiny ephemeral light flickers and skips: the ever-elusive dance of the will-o'-the-wisp.  And along their shivering path... fate awaits.

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a rare two-faced bottle!! :)

KBShimmer "Ins and Sprouts" + Rescue Beauty Lounge "Locavore"

Hello again, darlings!!  It hasn't even been three weeks, but it feels like an age has passed since I last made blogging happen.  My goal was to post once a week, but even that has felt like the final insurmountable obstacle in the mountain of schoolwork I have been scaling, slowly but surely :/  In the meantime, I have been accumulating DROVES of swatches, and am looking forward to doing some spring cleaning here on Tiny Twinklings over spring break.  If you love titanic posts storming with swatches,  I will have just the thing in a few weeks!

"Locavore" + "Ins & Sprouts"

My boyfriend's darling mother, Lynne, loves green, and has requested some verdant hues to get us all in the spirit for St. Patrick's Day!  As you know, I am all about celebrating the season in color, and so I am beyond happy to oblige.  As soon as March struck, I started in on my selected chute of greens with a vengeance.  Today's feature is one that I looked forward to most, while still enjoying my romantic roses and lavenders for February, and I just had to wear it immediately.  My dearest NPBFF, Lacquer Slacker Liz, posted a divine manicure yesterday with the most charming yellow-green holographic, Fancy Gloss "Lilypad", in the midst of so many beautiful Rescue Beauty Lounge, and this compound effort is my return tribute :)

"Ins & Sprouts"

"Locavore" + "Ins & Sprouts"

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)

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Liquid Sky Lacquer : Valentine's Day Duo "Love is in the Air" + "Thinking of You" ♥

Well hello, dahlings!  I've missed this.  I just had my midterm review, and I thought a review of a different genre might be a nice way to wind down after the past couple days' cram.  The moment February dawned I immediately began slathering on all of my love-themed polishes, and have been so anxious to share them with you!!  This duo was released for Valentine's Day last year, but I've been picking them off during sales and such, just in time for this year's celebration of love ♥

Liquid Sky Lacquer "Love is in the Air"

Liquid Sky Lacquer "Thinking of You"

Glam Polish "Dancing Through Life"

Happy (belated) Ninth Day of Christmas!  Yes, I know, it is actually the Tenth Day of Christmas currently here on the West Coast, but I've been wanting to post this polish in honor of the *nine ladies dancing* for weeks now, and while I was indeed panic packing yesterday for my move back to Portland today and wasn't able to get this post up at that time, I hope you'll agree that that the occasion is worth revisiting for this stunning showstopper!!

"Dancing Through Life" was released this past November as part of Glam Polish's Broadway Collection.  This awesome little company has been going nuts down there in Australia, debuting new amazing nine-part collections (plus occasional smaller collections) every month for a while now!  I mean, the creative stamina is just astounding to me.  I thought this one was just so perfect as a delicately chic winter polish, even after the holidays have come and gone.

Serum No. 5 "Holly Dazed" + Candy Lacquer "Rudolph's Rum Punch" Holiday NOTD

Happy Third Day of Christmas, Twinklings!!  Anyone got their three French hens yet?  Just kidding, I'm totally afraid of chickens.  As cute as French hens do sound in theory, I really can't get over their dinosaur claws and rubber wobble gobbles.  Though I do have to say, when I was forced to pet a barred Plymouth Rock hen a few weeks ago, I was pleasantly surprised to discover that their feathers are amazingly, incredibly soft.  I was almost okay with those hens.  What I am not okay with are the demon chickens that live next door to my boyfriend's house, who will chase each other down like the hounds of freaking hell if one finds a kibble or worm or something.

And now that I have ruined the Twelve Days of Christmas, I thought I'd show you one of my favorite holiday manis from before I went back to Illinois/dropped off the face of the interwebs.  You know, to cheer you back up :)

Serum No. 5 "Holly Dazed" + Candy Lacquer "Rudolph's Rum Punch"

 

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Different Dimension "Ready, Set, Snow"

Well hi, snow angels!!  I wasn't actually sure if we would have a white Christmas here in western Montana, and was feeling a little blue about it... but then, low and behold, come Christmas Eve a light, sparkling snow began to fall, and by Christmas morning everything was blanketed in winter white.

We usually do have snow, and the mountains are always snow-capped in winter, but down in the valley we are a bit more susceptible to warm spells traveling inland from the Pacific.  It comes and goes, so snow is always a precious presence for me.  We had been bereft for several weeks, but then last Thursday afternoon, a few hours after my dear grandma passed, a few magic flurries breezed through.  While the forecast had already predicted some snow for the day, I liked to think that Grandma Marilyn was fluttering her new wings, and shaking down some snowflakes for me.  In memory and celebration, I painted on this shimming snow polish, and watched the snowy sky dance.

Candy Lacquer "Rudolph's Rum Punch"

Happy Monday, Twinklings!  Three days to Christmas... is everyone ready??  I am patently not; the season has really blazed by for me, and seeing as how I'm currently in Illinois for my grandma's funeral, we can anticipate that Christmas is going to be something of an improvised affair, but while I love traditions I'm surprisingly okay with that.  After all, these blank slate occasions are when new traditions are made.

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Now that Rudolph is the most popular reindeer, I'm sure he throws simply smashing Christmas parties (responsibly, and after all the toys are delivered to all the girls and boys, of course).  Thankfully, Candy Lacquer has bottled up the holiday spirits (tee hee) so that even those of us who can't conveniently attend North Pole soirées might appreciate the warmth and cheer of a good rum punch ;)

Fair Maiden "Sleigh Bells In The Snow" & "The Stars Are Brightly Shining"

"I'm dreaming of a white Christmas // just like the ones I used to know // where the treetops glisten // and children listen // to hear sleigh bells in the snow..."

I cannot help myself; these polishes make me want to sing!  There's the obvious cause of blatant suggestion - "O Holy Night, the stars are brightly shining..."- but also, these lacquers are so radiantly gorgeous that you might just be inspired to "fall on your knees!".  You may even "hear the angel voices!"  Oh night divine, indeed.

 

"Sleigh Bells In The Snow" + "The Stars Are Brightly Shining"

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Lucky 13 Lacquer: "The Cold Never Bothered Me Anyway" {Frozen: Day 6}

"Let it go, let it go // And I'll rise like the break of dawn // Let it go, let it go // That perfect girl is gone

Here I stand // in the light of day // Let the storm rage on! // The cold never bothered me anyway."

I don't know if I've mentioned this or if you've already figured it out... but I do have a serious Frozen problem.  It goes like this: I'm walking through a store, and see some Frozen merchandise, and like a moth to a lightbulb I am inexorably drawn to the display.  90% of the time it is children's trinkets, but 100% of the time by brain is subconsciously wondering, what among this rubbish could I reasonably own/wear?  By reasonable I mean, socially as a rational adult woman, and with regards to what is physically possible (because as pretty as some of these little girl clothes are, they are clearly never ever ever going to squish on to any part of my body besides like my lower arm, and even the crazy part of my brain accepts this).  But I can't help it, and by golly, I occasionally find things that are made for full-size humans!!  Which is great, and yet despite the fact that I am a legal adult I feel like I should be able to buy a ready-to-wear Elsa princess gown at Target, too.  And a plastic Elsa crown, complete with light-up wand.  I see what these little kids are getting; I know what's due to me.

So in lieu of embarrassing myself by publicly possessing Frozen children's toys, I think I'll just keep giving myself manicures with these lovely Frozen-inspired polishes ;)  Today we return to Lucky 13 Lacquer's *Let It Go* collection with a ice blue hue frosty enough to make my soul spiral in frozen fractals all around... ❄

"The Cold Never Bothered Me Anyway"

"and I'll rise like the break of dawn..."