Adventures in Polishland

Book Review | Bleeding Earth by Kaitlin Ward

Posted on June 28, 2016May 17, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

Bleeding Earth by Kaitlin Ward

Published by Adaptive Press on February 9, 2016

Genres: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Apocalyptic

Format: eARC

Pages: 256

Source: NetGalley

Goodreads: ★★

Lea was in a cemetery when the earth started bleeding. Within twenty-four hours, the blood made international news. All over the world, blood appeared out of the ground, even through concrete, even in water. Then the earth started growing hair and bones.

Lea wants to ignore the blood. She wants to spend time with her new girlfriend, Aracely, in public, if only Aracely wasn’t so afraid of her father. Lea wants to be a regular teen again, but the blood has made her a prisoner in her own home. Fear for her social life turns into fear for her sanity, and Lea must save herself and Aracely whatever way she can.

REVIEW

Bleeding Earth is a young adult apocalyptic novel following teenager Lea. She and her friend go to the local cemetery one day to work on a school project when suddenly blood begins seeping out of the ground. Lea hopes this has something to do with the cemetery, or perhaps just a hallucination while being in a creepy place. However, it turns out that it’s not just the cemetery that’s bleeding – it’s the entire earth. The book continues to follow what happens to Lea and her community in this bloodbath.

I found this story’s concept extremely intriguing, but unfortunately the book fell flat for me. My main issue with Bleeding Earth is the writing style, which is going to make or break the story for the reader. The writing is in the first person from Lea’s point-of-view, and sounds as if a teenager was speaking directly to you. Not only is the dialogue in the teenage voice, but all of the other writing is as well. While I think teenagers might connect well with this writing, it did not work for me as an older reader of young adult. I found the prose quite irritating, and that really detracted from my enjoyment of the novel.

Moreover, Bleeding Earth is the type of book in which the author is trying to do too much. For example, Lea is a lesbian and readers learn a lot about her sexuality and coming out process. I think it is awesome that the author included a member of the LGBTQIA+ community as our main character, but I think the lengthy explanation of how it was for her coming out of the closet, how her friends and family treat her, etc. was a bit out of place in this particular book. I wanted to focus more on the crazy apocalypse that was occurring in the world, not Lea’s complete history that didn’t have much to do with what was happening in the present.

I also found Bleeding Earth to be quite unbelievable, mainly due to lack of structure in the novel. For instance, I cannot tell the timespan for this novel because the author doesn’t give the reader any clues along the way. When I accompany that with the small plot holes I found while reading, the book loses a lot of credibility.

That being said, I did really like the aspect of the story dealing with unreliable narrators. I won’t go into this too much because of spoilers, but I love when the reader never knows whether or not she can trust the narrator’s voice. This unreliable narrator added a lot to the book in terms of creepiness, and definitely gave me an unsettling feeling. I also thought the ending was good, but I wish we had an epilogue to fully explain what happened next to our characters.

All in all, I was quite disappointed with Bleeding Earth. The story idea was great, but it just wasn’t executed according to my tastes. I would recommend this book for younger readers, as I do think they will enjoy the narrative voice. Otherwise, I think you can pass on this book without missing much. I hope to find an apocalyptic book that I enjoy very soon!

BUY THE BOOK

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository

When you buy a book through the Amazon or Book Depository links above, I earn a small commission through each website’s affiliate program. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Nail Bliss Nail Pop Appliqués Review | All Laced Up

Posted on June 27, 2016June 3, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Monday! Today I have a review of a nail art product from the brand Nail Bliss. This is a new-to-me brand sold exclusively at Sally Beauty Stores, and I was excited to receive the Nail Pop Appliqués in the style All Laced Up to review. I love trying out nail stickers because they make nail art really quick and easy. Plus, nail appliqués typically last longer than nail polish. Nail Pop Appliqués are also super fabulous and affordable, so I knew I had to test them out so I could share my thoughts with all of you!

Here is a look at the Nail Pop packaging. These appliqués are designed with accent nails in mind, so you only receive eight full size nail stickers. However, you do get a lot of smaller accents, which can be layered or worn alone. I was surprised that this bulky box only contained the sheet of appliqués you see here, and not a nail file, which is needed to apply the stickers and is included by many competitor brands. This packaging seemed a bit unnecessary, especially since there was a cardboard piece inside to puff out the box. I would rather a more environmentally friendly design for such a small sheet of stickers!

I began my manicure with a base of Color Club’s Mod in Manhattan. I decided I wanted to replicate the manicure on the Nail Pop box as much as possible, so an off-white shade was a great choice. I made sure to let my manicure dry completely before attempting to apply the appliqués.

The Nail Pop Appliqués work just like any other nail sticker. You choose the size that fits your nail best, smooth the sticker over the nail, and file off any excess. Then, make sure to seal the manicure with a top coat.

The first thing I noticed with the appliqués is that I had trouble finding the right size for my nails. Similar nail stickers often come with more stickers than you need so that you can find the perfect size for your nails. That is certainly not the case here. Not only are there not enough appliqués for a complete manicure, but the four sizes available didn’t fit my nails well. Similarly, the appliqués were difficult to apply because they are so sticky during application that you cannot reposition them at all. If you make a mistake, you have to work around it.

That being said, I did really like the final manicure result. The All Laced Up Set has some really fun patterns, and I like being able to create a skittle manicure with little effort.

Unfortunately, my manicure did not last long. Just a few hours after my manicure was dry, I noticed the nail appliqué begin to peel off my pointer finger. You can see the edge is completely off my nail in the above photo. The next morning when I woke up (about 17 total hours later), nearly all of the appliqués were peeling at the edges. This was so disappointing! I made sure to follow the application instructions on the stickers exactly, and sealed them with top coat. I think the main reason they were peeling is because they just didn’t fit my nail shape well. I will say that the smaller accents stayed put very easily, and I had trouble removing them.

All in all, I would recommend passing on the Nail Bliss Nail Pop Appliqués. Of course, these will work a bit differently on everyone, especially if the sizes included fit your nails better. However, I’m really disappointed my manicure didn’t even last a full day. I do think the small accents work very well, so if you are looking solely for those you might be interested in this set. You can shop the entire Nail Bliss line at your local Sally Beauty Supply store, or online HERE. Please let me know in the comments if you’ve tried any products from Nail Bliss. I would love to hear your experience!

The product in this post was provided for my unbiased review. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

2017 Erin Condren Life Planner Unboxing & Review | #PlanWithPolishland

Posted on June 25, 2016June 25, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Saturday! Today I am beyond excited to share with you my purchases from the 2017 Erin Condren Life Planner Launch. I can’t believe it’s now been an entire year that I’ve been using my current Life Planner. It really has made my life better in so many ways – I’m more organized than ever before, but I also truly enjoy the creative outlet that planning is for me. While I don’t need a new planner until 2017 begins, I wanted to join in on Erin Condren’s Launch Day and purchase my new planner right away. In this blog post I will share an unboxing of the goodies I purchased on Launch Day, and share my thoughts on the launch and the updated planners.

UNBOXING

I filmed an unboxing video for my YouTube Channel, which is included in this post so you can see me open the box and show you the products “in person.” If you aren’t subscribed to my channel yet, please do so HERE! I post planner videos every Tuesday and Saturday, and sometimes on bonus days, too. If you love Plan With Mes, sticker hauls, and other organizational DIY videos, definitely subscribe (it’s free!).

Here are photos of everything I received so you can get a closer look. I will include direct links to each product on Erin Condren’s website, but if you are new, please use my referral link HERE. Not only will you save $10 off your first Erin Condren purchase, but I earn a $10 reward as well. I really appreciate it when you support me in that way!

Freebies – VIP Cover, Postcard, Sticker

Erin Condren always includes a free postcard and sticker with every order. This is a great way to spread the positive messages Erin Condren supports with your friends and family. Plus, who doesn’t like a freebie, even if its small? This year Erin Condren did something really special. There was an opportunity to sign up for a VIP list for free a few months ago. VIPs receive emails with sneak peeks about new products, but we also got a free, metallic cover with our launch purchases! This is a $10.00 value, and very much appreciated. I don’t know if you can join the VIP list at this point in time, but here is a detailed look at the cover.

Here is what the front and back of the VIP cover looks like. It is a beautiful blue with metallic blue foil. I did want to mention that my cover came punched, but not cut. I easily took some scissors to cut it myself. Since this cover was free and the issue easily fixable, I did not feel the need to contact customer service. The inside covers are brand new with this launch, and are now formatted to act as dry-erase lists. Erin Condren now sells some wet erase markers, but I plan on using a regular Sharpie. You can learn how to erase Sharpie in THIS quick YouTube video.

Moving onto the products I purchased, I decided to get two accessories. First, I picked up the Rose Gold Metallic Snap-In Dashboard (LINK) because I wanted my order to total $100 so I could get free shipping. It was either pay $10 for shipping, or $5 for a dashboard. It was a no-brainer to get the dashboard! I also purchased the new Designer Sticker Book in the Classic Collection Edition 2 (LINK). I’ve really enjoyed the Erin Condren sticker books I’ve purchased in the past, and this one is even prettier than the older ones! You can see photos of each and every page in the sticker book on my Facebook Page HERE.

Now it’s time to talk about the Life Planner! This year Erin Condren is doing something quite different. Instead of buying a planner that is already put together, you build your own planner. You get to choose the coil color (Platinum, Gold, Rose Gold, or Black), the layout (Vertical, Horizontal, or Hourly), the color scheme (Neutral or Watercolor), the cover, and any cover personalization. While I really like the ability to create the perfect planner for me, the planner got more expensive than ever due to certain customizations being considered ‘upgrades.’ I’ll talk more about that in a minute. The cover I chose is called the In Bloom Metallic (LINK), and on the left you can see the new Plan for It Pouch that comes with each planner.

Here is a look at the Plan for It Pouch and the goodies you’ll find in it. In the past, the pouch used to be attached to the Life Planner in the back. Now you can choose where to put it, or even if you want to put it in your planner. I’m not going to use the pouch, as it bulks up my planner and I don’t use it anyway. Included is a Coil Clip, 3 Compliment Cards, 2 20% off coupons, and a sample sticker book. I love that we get some goodies with every Life Planner!

Let’s talk about my new Life Planner in more detail! I’ll share how I built my planner, and any coordinating prices.

Life Planner – $50
Rose Gold Coil – $10
Rose Gold Cover – $10
Personalized Cover – $5
Horizontal Layout – n/a
Colorful Color Scheme – n/a
6 Months of 2016 – $5

TOTAL: $80

If you’ve been following my #PlanWithPolishland posts since last year, you’ll know this is $5 more than I spent on my first Life Planner. The price increase is due to the $5 cost for personalization. I find this charge completely unnecessary, because personalized metallic covers are sold separately for $10 total. I don’t understand why I need to pay $5 extra for personalization when it comes on a planner, and not on its own. I did decide to get the personalization because it’s what I wanted, but I did want to point out my disappointment with this charge in particular. I am otherwise very happy with the added options for the Life Planner this year.

I want to show you a quick example of my Life Planner. Here is what a month looks like! This is January.

Each month you get a Notes Page and a Quote Page in the monthly colors.

That is followed by the Monthly Calendar.

Finally, here is what the Weekly Pages look like. It is very similar to last year’s Horizontal, but features the watercolor effect instead of the geometric print at the top of the page. I am loving it!

MY THOUGHTS ON LAUNCH DAY

I wanted to close out this blog post with my thoughts on Launch Day and my experience. I am very thankful that my Launch Day, June 1, was very successful. I logged into my Erin Condren account early, and had my order submitted two minutes before the official launch even began. I know there were a lot of technological issues on Launch Day, but I can only speak to my own personal experience. I had zero issues while ordering and received my confirmation email immediately after placing my order.

My order shipped on June 16, which was five days before my estimated ship time of June 21. I was a bit frustrated that people who placed orders days after me, and even weeks after me, got their orders before I did. I know I was one of the first to order, so it doesn’t make any sense why people who ordered so long after me received their packages before me. I don’t know what was going on at Erin Condren, but it felt like they were using a ‘last in, first out’ method instead of ‘first in, first out,’ when it came to shipping orders. Nonetheless, I can’t (and won’t!) complain too much because my order shipped out on time, and I received it in time for the start of the planner (June 27th).

The only issue I had with my Launch Day order was very miniscule. My tracking number never updated, and for five business days read “Order Processed” only. This means that the shipping label was created, but UPS never received the package. I emailed Erin Condren’s customer service team to find out what was going on, and it turns out I was given an incorrect tracking number. Not only was my email responded to in just over two hours, but the representative was very polite and helpful.

My order arrived on June 23, and everything was just perfect besides the little mistake with my VIP cover. I am beyond pleased with my Launch Day experience! I know that there were a lot of hiccups on launch day, and that many orders arrived damaged or with multiple errors. Again, I can only share my personal Erin Condren experience, and I am very happy to report that everything went quite smoothly for me this year! That is why I continue to purchase from and recommend Erin Condren. The products are amazing quality, and I think the customer service is great. Any issues I’ve ever had were always resolved in a timely manner.

THANK YOU FOR READING!

That brings us to the end of this very long and detailed blog post! I hope you found this post helpful if you are considering an Erin Condren Life Planner. If you have any #PlanWithPolishland blog post or video requests, feel free to leave them in the comments of this post. I am so excited to use my new goodies!

Please share your thoughts on Erin Condren’s 2017 Launch Day with me in the comments! Did it go smoothly for you? Did you experience any issues? Let me know!

June Sephora PLAY! Unboxing | The Minimalists

Posted on June 24, 2016June 20, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Friday! Today I’m unboxing my June Sephora PLAY! box with all of you. It’s been a couple months since I shared this beauty subscription with you on the blog, and I’m excited to do so today. I did want to let you know that I’ve decided to cancel my PLAY! subscription, and this will be my last box. I am doing this for a plethora of reasons, but I first thought about cancelling simply because I haven’t been using the products. While the box is only $10 a month, and I’ve gotten the opportunity to try some great products, I’ve not used most of the products I’ve received over the past several months. Nonetheless, let me share the June box with all of you!

Here’s a quick look at my June Sephora PLAY! box. Last month Sephora changed up the packaging big time and replaced the box with a reusable bag. I love that Sephora created a more environmentally friendly packaging for its subscription. In the past, the products came in a box filled with paper shreds all packed in another box. Major thumbs up for providing us with reusable bags! I know these bags will come in handy during travel.

June’s theme is The Minimalists, and includes products to prove that sometimes less is more. Minimalism is very on trend right now, and it makes sense that Sephora is embracing it when it comes to beauty products!

bareMinerals BareSkin Sheer Sun Serum Bronzer – $2.80 [BUY]

The first product in the June box is a serum bronzer from bareMinerals. This is a really unique product that can be worn alone or mixed in with your foundation. I’m glad this came in the subscription box, as I never would have tried this on my own!

Benefit They’re Real! Mascara – $8.00 [BUY]

Next up is the well-known mascara from Benefit called They’re Real! I think this is a great product to include in the box, because it is definitely a favorite in the beauty community. I’m one of the few people who don’t like this mascara, because it is very thick and weighs down my lashes. This sample is definitely a great value!

BECCA Backlight Priming Filter – $7.60 [BUY]

I am really excited to try the BECCA Backlight Priming Filter, as I know this is a favorite product of Jaclyn Hill. This primer is designed to blur imperfections and give the skin an illuminated look. I don’t typically go for the dewy look, but it will be a lot of fun to try it!

Tarte Tarteguard 30 Sunscreen Lotion – $4.33 [BUY]

I am also really excited to try this sunscreen from Tarte. I was actually looking into this product on my own, as I’m looking for a new sunscreen. Now I get to try before I buy, which is perfect because this is quite the expensive sunscreen. I am definitely up for writing a full review of this product in the future, so let me know if you’re interested in reading one!

Bumble and Bumble Don’t Blow it Hair Styler – $3.10 [BUY]

Next up is a product from Bumble and Bumble that is formulated give your hair style without the need for a blow dryer. I haven’t had good luck with this brand in the past, so I’m not sure if I will give this product a try. I do lot my hair air dry daily, and then usually flat iron it. We’ll see if I put this product to use!

TOCCA Eau de Parfum Florence – $2.00 [BUY]

Last but not least is a perfume sample from TOCCA. As always, I’m not a big fan of perfume samples included in subscription boxes because you can get them for free at any Sephora. This one in particular is quite floral scented, so I definitely won’t be wearing it because of my sensitivity to flowers.

All in all, the June Sephora PLAY! has a value of $27.83, which is more than double the cost, but definitely a low amount compared to months past. I will definitely be using three out of the six products, which is good. I would love to know in the comments your thoughts on the Sephora PLAY! subscription service. Do you subscribe? Have you cancelled? Are you on the wait list? I would love to know!

This post includes affiliate links. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Book Review | The Girl I Used to Be by April Henry

Posted on June 23, 2016May 11, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

The Girl I Used to Be by April Henry

Published by Christy Ottaviano Books on May 3, 2016

Genres: Young Adult, Mystery, Thriller

Format: eARC

Pages: 240

Source: NetGalley

Goodreads: ★★ 1/2

When Olivia’s mother was killed, everyone suspected her father of murder. But his whereabouts remained a mystery. Fast forward fourteen years. New evidence now proves Olivia’s father was actually murdered on the same fateful day her mother died. That means there’s a killer still at large. It’s up to Olivia to uncover who that may be. But can she do that before the killer tracks her down first?

REVIEW

I was so excited to receive a review copy of The Girl I Used to Be by April Henry, as the synopsis sucked me in right away. This book follows teenager Olivia. When she was just three, her mother was murdered in front of her when her family went to cut down a Christmas tree in the woods. Her father was blamed for the murder, but when one of his bones turns up at the crime scene fourteen years later, authorities now believe he was killed that same day. Olivia now returns to her hometown in hopes of discovering who the killer is before the killer finds her first.

While I really loved the idea behind this story, unfortunately the book fell a bit flat for me. My main issue is with the writing style. I’ve never read a book by April Henry before, but the writing in The Girl I Used to Be felt very formulaic. The story is told from Olivia’s first-person-perspective, and each chapter follows a certain format. First, Olivia learns some clues by talking with the people in her hometown, and then she mulls over those clues by asking a bunch of rhetorical questions at the end of the chapter. I found these questions to be very annoying, mainly due to the sheer number of them. If we got a few questions throughout the story, that would build suspense and be fine. Instead we got lists upon lists of questions, and it left me feeling as if each chapter was just repeating itself.

Moreover, I think the short length of this novel really detracted from my rating of the book. The Girl I Used to Be is only 240 pages, and a lot of things go unexplained because of that. For example, the book opens with Olivia living in her own apartment in Portland, Oregon. She then decides to move back to her hometown, and she goes to the local thrift store to buy sheets and kitchen utensils. However, we never find out why Olivia never goes back to her old apartment to get her belongings, or even if she cancelled her old lease. This novel would be a lot stronger if it was longer, as Henry would be able to fully develop the story and its characters.

Another critique I have with this book is the romance aspect. Not only was the romance cringeworthy and full of insta-love, but the book would be exactly the same if there was no romance whatsoever. The only thing that would change is the two kissing scenes, which were quite awkward and didn’t fit within the book’s overall plot. I almost feel like the romance was added just for the sake of including a romance.

That being said, I am quite disappointed with The Girl I Used to Be. I really do love the idea behind the book, and I read it quickly because it is fast-paced and a short read. If you are a new reader of the mystery genre, this might be a good place to start. I found the ending predictable, and unfortunately I feel like this sort of story isn’t very unique. Thus, I only recommend it if you are looking to break into the thriller genre, or if you want a short and quick beach read this summer.

BUY THE BOOK

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository

Vintage Floral Nail Art featuring Born Pretty Store Water Decals

Posted on June 22, 2016May 23, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Wednesday! Today I am excited to share with you a vintage floral nail art look I created using water decals from Born Pretty Store. I absolutely love water decals because they make nail art really easy no matter your level of talent. Water decals work just like temporary tattoos – you soak them in water and transfer the design onto your nails. You can cut the decals into any shape you want, but today I decided to use the decals like nail strips and create an all-over design. Let me show you the vintage floral manicure I created!

Here is a look at the water decals when they arrive. You get a full sheet and it costs only $1.42 on Born Pretty Store’s website HERE. As you can see, the design can be cut any way you choose. I decided to go with an all-over design on the nail, so I trimmed the sheet into what I estimated my nail shape to be. You can also trim the decal once it’s on your nail, so have some small nail scissors handy.

I decided to begin my manicure with two coats of Zoya Ness. I thought that would make a great base polish for the decals because it matched up with some of the colors in the decals. Make sure to let your manicure dry completely before adding the water decals. I am loving my end result! I think the design looks really cool, and I’m so happy with how it came out. I could never paint my nails with such an intricate design, so it’s awesome I can get the look with water decals. I also wanted to quickly mention that I apply a glossy top coat over the decal to ensure it stays in place. The decals wear just like normal nail polish, and remove easily with nail polish remover.

All in all, I highly recommend water decals if you are looking to create intricate nail art without a lot of effort. I’ve always enjoyed the water decals I’ve tried from Born Pretty Store in the past, and this vintage floral design is no different! As always, you can get 10% off your order with the code FZL91 at checkout. Please let me know in the comments if you’ve used water decals and how you like them!

The products in this post were provided for my unbiased review. This post includes affiliate links. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Book Review | Amy & Roger’s Epic Detour by Morgan Matson

Posted on June 21, 2016May 11, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

Amy & Roger’s Epic Detour by Morgan Matson

Published by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers on May 3, 2011

Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Format: Paperback

Source: BookMooch

Goodreads: ★★★★ 1/2

Amy Curry is not looking forward to her summer. Her mother decided to move across the country and now it’s Amy’s responsibility to get their car from California to Connecticut. The only problem is, since her father died in a car accident, she isn’t ready to get behind the wheel. Enter Roger. An old family friend, he also has to make the cross-country trip – and has plenty of baggage of his own. The road home may be unfamiliar – especially with their friendship venturing into uncharted territory – but together, Amy and Roger will figure out how to map their way.

REVIEW

When it comes to the perfect summer read, it’s always safe to reach for a Morgan Matson book. Last summer I picked up Since You’ve Been Gone, and I was excited to pick up her first book this year. Amy & Roger’s Epic Detour follows teenager Amy. Her father recently passed away, and her mom decides to move the family from California to Connecticut. Amy is tasked with getting the family car across the country, but since she’s not driving, family friend Roger steps in to help. Readers follow Amy and Roger as they road trip across America and take a few detours along the way.

I absolutely love road trip books, especially when they take place in America. I feel like I am wandering throughout the country with Amy and Roger, and that is a lot of fun. This book includes a mixed media element, with photographs, scrapbook pages, and playlists being mixed in with the story. I loved this element, but I do wish they were placed better within the book. For instance, sometimes a scrapbook page featuring a state would appear before Amy and Roger got to that state. That is a very minor critique, and overall I really liked the inclusion of the mixed media elements.

My other critiques of the novel are quite small as well. I did find a few copyediting issues, which is surprising in a paperback reprinting. There is also a small plot hole in the novel. At the end of the book, Amy mentions that she can trust Roger because he hasn’t lied to her on their road trip. However, Amy mentions much earlier in the story that Roger does lie to her. While this is a very small hole, it does affect my rating a bit. My only other critique is that I wasn’t the biggest fan of how the romance played out. It felt a bit awkward, even though I was rooting for it.

Otherwise, I really loved Amy & Roger’s Epic Detour. The book is fun, but it is also very emotional, especially for anyone who has a special bond with her father. I loved how this book takes readers not only on a physical road trip, but an emotional journey as well. Amy and Roger both have things to work through, and they are able to confide in each other after spending so much time in the car together.

All in all, I highly recommend this book if you are looking for a summer read. It’s quick to get through, and will be perfect whether you are traveling this summer, or simply sitting out in the backyard. You get to meet a great cast of characters, and have a lot of fun! I know I will be reading Amy & Roger’s Epic Detour again, and all of Morgan Matson’s other books, in the future.

BUY THE BOOK

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository

Dare to Compare | Julep Evelyn vs butter LONDON Queen Vic

Posted on June 20, 2016May 14, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Monday! Today I have my last nail polish comparison in the purple color family. I’m surprised I don’t own more purple nail polishes, as I really love the way they look! Nonetheless, I noticed both Julep Evelyn and butter LONDON Queen Vic look very similar in the bottle. I figured I didn’t need to own both of these polishes, so I decided to swatch them to see which one I like better. Let me share the results with you!

First up is Julep Evelyn, a deep purple polish with a hint of red pigmentation. Evelyn has a good formula that is opaque in two coats. It does have a thicker formula, so prepare for that by wiping most of the product off the brush before applying the polish to the nails. Evelyn looks amazing on my nails, and it is a great shade for the fall months.

Next up is butter LONDON in Queen Vic. This polish is also a deep magenta purple. Queen Vic has a good formula, but it does tend to be streaky. I needed to apply three coats to achieve opacity and get a smooth finish. I think Queen Vic’s formula changed over time, because in the past I only needed two coats. Sometimes polish formulas can definitely get wonky over time, so unfortunately I think that happened to Queen Vic.

Here is a look at the polishes side-by-side, with Julep Evelyn on my pinky and ring fingers and butter LONDON Queen Vic on my middle and pointer fingers. Evelyn is just slightly darker than Queen Vic, but this difference is very miniscule. If you own one of these polishes, there is no need to purchase the other! I’ve decided to declutter Queen Vic since I prefer Evelyn’s formula.

All in all, I am surprised to see how similar these polishes are to one another! I know Julep often gets a bad rep, but while I’ve definitely found some Julep duds, there are a lot of Julep products I really enjoy. The opposite goes for butter LONDON polishes – they are well loved, but they just don’t always work the best for me. I would love to know in the comments if there are any popular polish brands that you don’t like. It’s such an interesting conversation!

Some of the products in this post were provided for my unbiased review. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Chevron Nail Art featuring Striping Tape from Born Pretty Store

Posted on June 17, 2016June 16, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Friday! Today I have another review for a nail art product sold by Born Pretty Store. I was very excited to receive a chevron patterned striping tape to review. I love striping tape – it makes creating geometric nail designs really easy, and I’ve used it multiple times here on the blog. When I saw chevron striping tape I knew I had to have it! Let me share with you how I used it to create a bright and fun manicure!

I wanted to create a summery manicure, so I began with a base of Zoya Dixie, a bright pink polish. Once that manicure had dried completely, I applied two rows of chevron tape to each nail and went over the tape with a white nail polish. I applied two coats of white polish, and removed the tape promptly. I finished with a glossy top coat, and I’m loving the result! My manicure looks so fancy, but it was really easy to create!

All in all, I’m so glad I was able to try the chevron striping tape from Born Pretty Store! I can’t wait to test out this tape more in future manicures. Plus, the tape is a super fabulous and affordable price of $1.59 HERE for an entire roll that can be used several times. If you are looking to create an easy nail art look, I highly recommend purchasing this tape. You can also use the code FZL91 for an additional 10% off your purchase. Be sure to let me know if you’ve ever tried striping tape, and how you like to use it!

The product in this post was provided for my unbiased review. This post includes affiliate links. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

$100 Starbucks Gift Card Giveaway!

Posted on June 16, 2016June 16, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Friday Eve, everyone! I’ve teamed up with some fellow bloggers to bring you a very exciting giveaway! One lucky winner will receive a $100 Starbucks Gift Card just in time for summer! You all might know that I love coffee, and a good iced drink in the warm weather. If you win I recommend an iced chai tea latte, or, my go to, black coffee with caramel syrup. Of course, make sure to let me know your favorite Starbucks drink in the comments! Best of luck!

GIVEAWAY DETAILS

Prize: $100 Starbucks Gift Card

Giveaway organized by: Oh My Gosh Beck! (Please email becky@ohmygoshbeck.com with any questions.)

Rules: Use the Rafflecopter form to enter daily. Giveaway ends 6/30 and is open worldwide. Winner will be notified via email.

Are you a blogger who wants to participate in giveaways like these to grow your blog? Click here to find out how you can join a totally awesome group of bloggers!

*Please note this giveaway is a bit different than the ones you normally see at Adventures in Polishland because it is a collaboration! Make sure to follow the link in each section, and follow all of the profiles linked in order to enter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway