Adventures in Polishland

Manicure Monday | OPI Louvre Me Louvre Me Not

Posted on May 18, 2015August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Manicure Monday! I can’t believe we’re already on to the letter O in the Alphabet Challenge. Time flies when you’re having fun! This week I reached for an OPI classic that I’ve had in my collection for years now. My mom gave me Louvre Me Louvre Me Not as a gift years ago now, and it’s one that I used to use a lot. Let me show you this pretty purple!

Louvre Me Louvre Me Not is a beautiful purple polish with magenta shimmer. It has a perfect formula that is opaque in two coats. I love the flat brush that OPI polishes have, and using this one made me want to expand my OPI collection. I definitely stay away from OPI because of its price tag, but I’ll have to make room for an OPI in my budget every now and then. I know I’ll always get a quality polish!

I’m so glad I got the change to use Louvre Me Louvre Me Not again. This polish was originally part of a limited edition collection, but is now available as part of the permanent line. You can purchase it on Amazon HERE for under $7.00! Make sure to let me know what your favorite OPI polishes are in the comments!

Sally Hansen Miracle Gel | Limited Edition Poolside Paradise Collection

Posted on May 16, 2015August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Saturday! Today I am so excited to share with you new shades from the Sally Hansen Miracle Gel line. To celebrate summer, Sally Hansen created the Poolside Paradise Collection that contains seven polishes that are bright and colorful. I got the opportunity to test out five of the polishes from this collection, and I can’t wait to show them to you! They are so fun and vibrant!

I first tried out the Miracle Gel line when it was released last fall. You can find my thoughts on two fall shades HERE. Back then, I didn’t have the best of luck with the Miracle Gel top coat. That being said, each of the polishes have great formulas when worn alone, so in this blog post I am showcasing each polish without the Miracle Gel top coat. Please let me know in the comments if you would like a true wear test on any of these shades – I’d be happy to do so!

First up is Pink-a-Colada, a light pink that Sally Hansen describes as cotton candy! Pink-a-Colada has a sheer formula, but it builds up easily. I’m wearing two coats here, and I’m loving the shiny finish! I have a lot of light pinks in my collection, but nothing quite like this. I’m really impressed with Pink-a-Colada!

Next up is Life’s a Peach, a red-orange shade that is super bright to the point I’d label it neon! I have to say, Sally Hansen does peach nail polish right across its nail polish lines. Life’s a Peach has an incredible formula that is opaque in two coats, and it is just stunning. I’ve never met a peach I didn’t like from Sally Hansen!

If you’re looking for a yellow, check out Morning, Sunshine! This is a true yellow polish with a hint of green pigmentation as well. I layered on three coats with Morning, Sunshine!, as I found it to be a bit on the streaky side. Yellow polishes are difficult to get just right, but I’m happy with the end result of Morning, Sunshine!

Next is Dive Bar, a beautiful blue polish. Dive Bar has a perfect formula that applies well and is opaque in two coats. I love my blue polishes, and Dive Bar is no exception. This cool color will look great on anyone no matter the skin tone!

Last but not least is Rum Punch, a bright pink polish. Rum Punch is definitely my favorite of the collection! It has a perfect formula that is opaque in two coats, and is just absolutely beautiful. I can see this being a staple in many nail polish collections, including my own!

All in all, I’m really loving the Poolside Paradise collection from Sally Hansen Miracle Gel. I’m so glad I got to test out these fun polishes for the summer and share them with you. I’d recommend any of the shades I’ve tried, but my top pick is definitely Rum Punch. You can find the limited edition Poolside Paradise collection at your local drugstore or department store for $9.99 each. What shades will you be getting?! Let me know in the comments!

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

Guest Post | Blobbicure Nail Art with Nail Envy

Posted on May 14, 2015August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Greetings Adventures in Polishland readers! My name is Emily and my blog is Nail Envy. Today I’m in for Christina while she’s away, so I hope I’m a reasonable substitute! =D

The design I created here is featuring the blobbicure technique. The first time I created a blobbicure, I did it with uncertainty. It was for a nail art challenge, and I had never heard of a blobbicure before. After a Google search, I wasn’t super impressed with how it looked, although the technique did look like it would be fun to try. So I tried to change it up a little by making blobby shapes instead of just blobs. My first blobbicure mani turned out kinda cute, but I managed to dodge the challenge because I wasn’t really a fan of the look.

Well it’s been a while since then, and I’ve seen lots of blobbicures popping up all over the place. I’ve not only been won over to the blobbicure, I’ve been inspired by so many of the designs I’ve seen to create some interesting combos of my own!

Like so many other nail polish addicts, I recently purchased China Glaze’s Electric Nights collection. I’m still finding my way through all of the polishes and all of the combos I want to try, so I decided to use three polishes from this collection: Violet-Vibes, DJ Blue My Mind and Treble Maker. I used some Elmer’s Glue (which I keep in an old nail polish bottle) to coat the skin around the nails of my index and pinky finger. (The glue dries clear, is easily removed and takes all the excess paint off that would have got on your skin.) After the glue dried, I used some pieces of sponge to create a sponged design of the three polishes on those fingers.

For the blobbicure, I polished Violet-Vibes on my thumb, middle and ring finger, and when the first coat was dry, I put on a thick second coat and quickly blobbed on DJ Blue My Mind and Treble Maker. I waited a while for my blobbed nails to dry since the polish is so thick (about 15 minutes) before I finished my whole mani with a coat of Seche Vite.

My first official blobbicure is complete! I have more ideas of other combos to try, and can’t wait to do another and see if I can perfect this technique. If you haven’t created a blobbicure yet, you should give it a try!

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T3 Twirl 360 Motion-Sensing Auto-Rotating Styling Iron Review | #Twirl360

Posted on May 13, 2015November 9, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

IMPORTANT SAFETY UPDATE! PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION, WHICH I RECEIVED FROM MY BLOGGER NETWORK IFABBO:

“T3 has issued a safety recall on the Twirl 360 Motion-Sensing Auto-Rotating 1.25” Curling Iron (MSRP $230) in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Health Canada. The clamp on the tool can detach while in use, posing a burn hazard.

Please stop using this tool immediately. For information on how to send in your tool for repair, please contact T3 consumer services at 1-866-8880 from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. PT Monday through Friday or visit T3 online at www.t3micro.com and click on the “Product Recall” link at the bottom of the page.

T3 is committed to providing you with safe products and regret any inconvenience this may cause you. If you have any questions, please contact T3 consumer services at the above-listed telephone number.”

______________________

Happy Wednesday! Today I have a really exciting review to share with all of you. I got the opportunity to test out the new T3 Twirl 360 Motion-Sensing Auto-Rotating Styling Iron. In plain English, it’s a curling iron that rotates through a mechanism in the iron – no twirling or coordination necessary! I am not a hair stylist, and I didn’t even own a curling iron before testing out the Twirl 360. Part of the reason for that is due to my hair type. I have very thin hair that is naturally wavy, but that doesn’t hold curl. I typically flat iron my hair on a daily basis, and run out the door. I hoped the Twirl 360 would help me put together a fabulous look.

ABOUT THE TWIRL 360

The T3 Twirl 360 is a one-of-a-kind styling iron that features an auto-rotating barrel to create beautiful curls and waves by simply pressing a button! It has gyroscopic technology, which is used in aviation, space exploration, and hi-tech electronic devises, and is used for its sensitivity and precision. Gyroscopic technology detects motion and triggers the automatic barrel movement when you simply twist your wrist and let the iron know you’re ready to curl.

Take a look at this how-to video direct from the brand. I watched this video several times before I began using the Twirl 360! It’s definitely very helpful.

REVIEW

The Twirl 360 definitely has a learning curve. At first, I had a lot of trouble even getting my hair to curl at all! I tested out different techniques and heat settings, and quickly found that practice makes perfect. I like to use the slow speed and the second heat setting, and I typically hold my curls on the iron for about 15 seconds before releasing them from the barrel. Let me show you a step by step photo collage!

1. Before Picture

Here is my natural hair. I’m not wearing any product besides heat protectant. As you can see, it’s wavy, but very frizzy. I really don’t like it!

2. Curls Pinned Up

Here I am with my curls pinned up after the twirling process. It looks silly, but it helps to keep the curls in place. I left my hair like this for about 10-15 minutes. It doesn’t take very look for my hair to cool. If you want your curls to last all day, I recommend using a hair spray during this step.

3. Letting the Curls Down

Here are my crazy ringlets after I took the pins out! I’m pretty impressed! My hair never gets this curly!

4. The Finished Look

I used my fingers to gently break apart the curls. I tried using a paddle brush, but found that was too much on my thin hair. By gently using my fingers, I am able to break apart the curls without creating frizz. I’m loving the result! I feel pretty glamorous!

FINAL THOUGHTS & WHERE TO BUY

I have to say I am really impressed with the T3 Twirl 360. I was pretty frustrated when I first used it, but after I got the hang of it I am definitely hooked. I wouldn’t use this curling iron every day, because it is pretty time consuming. However, if I wanted curly hair for a special occasion I think this tool comes in handy for sure. If you like to get blowouts regularly, I highly recommend the T3 Twirl 360. It is quite an investment at $230, but going to the salon for a similar look starts at $40! The Twirl 360 will pay for itself in about 5 uses when you consider the tax & tip you’d be spending at the salon. It is available on Sephora’s website HERE, which is awesome because that means you can use Ebates to earn cash back! If you’re in the market for a new curling iron, the T3 Twirl 360 is the way to go!

Have you tried any products from T3? Would you pick up an auto-rotating curling iron? Tell me in the comments!

This product was provided for my unbiased review. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Manicure Monday | ncLA As If + Miss Sunset Strip

Posted on May 11, 2015August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Monday! I’m all caught up with the Alphabet Challenge now, and I’m moving on to the letter N. I really had to dig in my collection to find an N brand, but then I found two purple polishes from ncLA that I thought would go perfectly together. ncLA is a boutique brand that makes 5-free polishes in the USA. I’ve never purchased directly from ncLA’s website, but over the years I’ve received a few bottles in subscription boxes. It’s been quite a while since I’ve put them to use!

I began today’s manicure with a base of As If, a pastel purple polish with a creme formula. As If is a bit on the streaky side, but because I was using it in a glitter manicure, it worked out just fine in two coats. If I was wearing it alone, I would layer on three very thin coats. To top of As If, I added one coat of Miss Sunset Strip, a clear base filled purple and silver hexagonal glitters. I love the formula of Miss Sunset Strip, as tons of glitters come out with one coat, and it applies really smoothly. These polishes go so well together!

All in all, I’m glad I reached for these ncLA polishes in my collection. I would not buy them regularly, as they retail for $16 each, but if you are looking for a splurge polish I think this is such a fun brand. If you sign up for the brand’s email list, you’ll be sent a 15% off coupon, so definitely snag that extra savings. You can shop online directly from ncLA HERE.

Have you tried ncLA? Let me know in the comments!

Book Review | The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordon (Percy Jackson and the Olympians #1)

Posted on May 11, 2015August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

The Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, #1) by Rick Riordan

Published by Disney Hyperion on July 1, 2005

Genres: Middle Grade, Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Adventure

Pages: 375

Format: Paperback

Source: Giveaway

Goodreads: ★★★

Percy Jackson is a good kid, but he can’t seem to focus on his schoolwork or control his temper. And lately, being away at boarding school is only getting worse-Percy could have sworn his pre-algebra teacher turned into a monster and tried to kill him. When Percy’s mom finds out, she knows it’s time that he knew the truth about where he came from, and that he go to the one place he’ll be safe. She sends Percy to Camp Half Blood, a summer camp for demigods (on Long Island), where he learns that the father he never knew is Poseidon, God of the Sea. Soon a mystery unfolds and together with his friends — one a satyr and the other the demigod daughter of Athena — Percy sets out on a quest across the United States to reach the gates of the Underworld (located in a recording studio in Hollywood) and prevent a catastrophic war between the gods.

REVIEW

I was unfamiliar with Percy Jackson until last year, and was excited when I won a full set of the series in a giveaway. I don’t often read middle grade unless it is a reread, but I was interested to give this a try because it has such a huge fanbase. After reading the first book, I can definitely understand why this series is so loved, but I did have some issues with it.

First and foremost, I was beyond annoyed with the Harry Potter parallels in this story. Our protagonist Percy is a 12-year-old boy who has experienced strange occurrences throughout his childhood that he cannot explain. As it turns out, he’s a half-blood, which means he is the son of a human and a Greek god. Percy goes to Camp Half Blood in Long Island, New York (aka Hogwarts), where he learns more about his special powers and is trained to kill monsters.

Percy becomes part of a trio that goes out on an epic quest in order to prevent a war between the gods of Olympus. He is joined by Annabeth, a very bright young girl, and Grover, a satyr who is a bit of a doofus, but a great friend to Percy. Oh, and did I mention there is a security guard at Camp Half Blood named Argus? I mean, come on, this is truly inspired by Harry Potter, and with every detail that paralleled Harry’s story I wanted to throw the book across the room. I’m sure author Rick Riordon was influenced by Rowling’s work, but whether he intended the similarities or not, I couldn’t believe how replete they were throughout The Lightening Thief.

Moreover, another huge drawback in the story for me was the predictability. I understand this is a middle grade novel that I am reading as an adult, but I was easily able to figure out most of the action by the plethora of hints Riordon drops throughout the novel. With that being said, I was quite frustrated with the ending of the book because it did not flow logically from the story’s set-up. Instead, it felt like Riordon wanted to shock the readers, and he did so with an unexpected twist that was a bit disjointed. That definitely took away some credibility from the book.

Putting those issues aside, however, I really did enjoy The Lightning Thief. The writing style was very well done, and I really liked Percy as a first-person narrator. Percy was a very relatable character, as he was quite imperfect but still incredible at the same time. If I was reading this as a middle schooler, I’d definitely want to be friends with Percy and his gang.

In addition, I loved the road-trip adventure that Percy goes on in this book, and how he needs to fight a variety of monsters along the way. It was really fun how Riordon included Greek mythology in an American setting, and adapted the gods and monsters for the 21st Century. While it took me about 130 pages to really become invested in the world, once I was hooked I couldn’t put the book down and finished the remainder in one day. I’m really looking forward to continuing on in the series and seeing where Percy ends up next!

Thus, if you are looking for a fun, middle grade fantasy, I think Percy Jackson is a great place to start. I know that kids will really enjoy it, but adults who grew up with Harry Potter as I did will need to read this with a grain of salt. I’m hopeful that as the series continues the books will divulge from Harry Potter and take on its own unique identity.

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When you buy a book though 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.

Guest Post | Stamping with Zoya Ali and Manna’s Manis

Posted on May 7, 2015August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Hello! I’m Manna from Manna’s Manis and I’ll be taking over for Christina today! I have a simple stamping mani that I was proud of to show you guys. Stamping and I typically don’t get along, but after I did this mani, I felt like getting up and doing my happy polish dance!

I could not get a perfect color accurate photo of Zoya Ali to save my life! I don’t know what it is with my camera and pinks/reds, but it won’t cooperate so I usually have to use my phone instead. K on to the stamping..

Products used:

Base: Zoya Ali

Plate: Moyou 08

Stamping polish: MDU Silver

Top coat: Out the Door

How good does it feel to see an entire image on your stamper?! Omg for once I had ZERO issues with stamping.

If you’d like to check me out, I’ve posted some of my social media links below. Thank you Christina for letting me take over for you today 🙂

Blog – Instagram – Facebook

What are your favorite stamping plates?

Book Review | Manga Classics: The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne, SunNeko Lee, Crystal S. Chan, & Stacy King

Posted on May 7, 2015August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Manga Classics: The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne, SunNeko Lee, Crystal S. Chan, & Stacy King

Published by Udon Entertainment on March 10, 2015

Genres: Fiction, Classic, Manga, Graphic Novel

Pages: 308

Format: eARC

Source: NetGalley

Goodreads: ★★★★ 1/2

A powerful tale of forbidden love, shame, and revenge comes to life in Manga Classics: The Scarlet Letter. Faithfully adapted by Crystal Chan from the original novel, this new edition features stunning artwork by SunNeko Lee (Manga Classics: Les Miserables) which will give old and new readers alike a fresh insight into the Nathaniel Hawthorne’s tragic saga of Puritan America.

Manga Classics editions feature classic stories, faithfully adapted and illustrated in manga style, and available in both hardcover and softcover editions.

Proudly presented by UDON Entertainment and Morpheus Publishing.

REVIEW

Graphic novels are all the rage in the book community right now, and I decided to test out the genre for myself with this manga edition of The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne. I’ll be completely honest here. I was assigned The Scarlet Letter during my junior year of high school, and never finished it. I remember the writing being a bit complex at the time, and I also pitied Dimmesdale when my classmates (and teachers!) completely bashed him. I put the book down and haven’t looked back.

The idea of the Manga Classics series is thus very intriguing. I was able to finally find out how The Scarlet Letter ends, and I saw the story depicted in pictures to help me visualize it even better. While I cannot say how accurate this adaptation is to the original novel, I can say that it made me want to pick up The Scarlet Letter and actually give it a second chance. This manga was a super quick read, but one that was emotional and intriguing. I couldn’t put it down until I was done!

I am no art critic, but I did find the art very interesting in this book. The artwork is done completely in black and white with the exception of the scarlet letter, which is shown in red throughout the book. I thought that was a very smart decision – it really makes the ‘A’ stand out on Hester’s chest, and draws the reader’s eye towards it in every scene. I did find that some of the imagery didn’t fit in with the story’s tone or time period, but overall it was very well done and certainly added a lot to the reading experience.

I also thought it was great that this book included a guide on reading manga at the beginning for newbies like me. It did take a few pages for me to get used to reading right to left, but I soon got the hang of it. I also liked how the book concludes with some passages about the original novel, and how the authors made choices in this adaptation based on The Scarlet Letter’s history. Unfortunately, I couldn’t read these passages on the eARC version of the book (the print was small and blurry), but they look like a solid addition from what I could see.

All in all, I really enjoyed Manga Classics: The Scarlet Letter. I think it would make a great companion to anyone studying The Scarlet Letter in school, or to anyone who is interested in reading classic literature but has a difficult time understanding it. I am definitely interested in picking up the original novel now, and want to check out more Manga Classics in the future. I highly recommend checking out this series!

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When you purchase 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.

Manicure Monday | LVX Viridian + Milani Hot Pink Rage

Posted on May 4, 2015August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Manicure Monday! I’m catching up on the Alphabet Challenge again this week, so I searched my stash for brands that begin with L and M. With summer just around the corner, I decided to grab two bright colors in pink and green. I also paired up a high end brand with a drugstore brand, so I thought that was a great combination. Let me go ahead and share the manicure with you!

I thought I would go for a cloud manicure today, so I began with a base of Hot Pink Rage by Milani. This polish is amazing – the formula is just perfection and it’s a one-coat polish. Then, I used LVX Viridian to create some clouds on each nail, and finished up with another coat of Hot Pink Rage. I think these two colors go really well together! I really like Viridian, but I remember it stained my nails the last time I used it, so I decided to use it layered. It worked like a charm!

All in all, I love this cute and simple manicure. It’s really fun to pair bright colors together. Both pink and green are my favorite polish colors, so it makes sense they work together. You can buy LVX polishes on the brand’s website HERE for $16.00 each. Make sure to keep an eye on HauteLook for special sales, though! Of course, Milani can be purchased at your local drugstore for a fabulous and affordable price. Let me know what you think of my manicure in the comments!

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

Book Review | Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson

Posted on May 4, 2015August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson

Published by Aladdin on September 1, 2000

Genres: Middle Grade, Historial Fiction, Survival

Pages: 272

Format: Paperback

Source: Purchased

Goodreads: ★★★★★

It’s late summer 1793, and the streets of Philadelphia are abuzz with mosquitoes and rumors of fever. Down near the docks, many have taken ill, and the fatalities are mounting. Now they include Polly, the serving girl at the Cook Coffeehouse. But fourteen-year-old Mattie Cook doesn’t get a moment to mourn the passing of her childhood playmate. New customers have overrun her family’s coffee shop, located far from the mosquito-infested river, and Mattie’s concerns of fever are all but overshadowed by dreams of growing her family’s small business into a thriving enterprise. But when the fever begins to strike closer to home, Mattie’s struggle to build a new life must give way to a new fight-the fight to stay alive.

REVIEW

Growing up I was a regular at my local library, and one book that I specifically remember checking out on more than one occasion is Fever 1793. It wasn’t until recent years that I discovered it is written by the same author of the acclaimed young adult contemporary Speak – a book I didn’t love despite the hype surrounding it. I’ve been wanting to reread Fever 1793 ever since that discovery, and when I found a used copy at the Strand for $1 I just had to pick it up.

Fever 1793 is the story of young Mattie Cook, a teenager growing up in Philadelphia and helping her widowed mother run a coffeehouse. The story opens with one of Mattie’s childhood friends suddenly dying from the yellow fever, which erupts into a full epidemic throughout her city. Readers follow Mattie as she attempts to escape the disease by leaving Philadelphia for the countryside with her beloved grandfather. Of course, things do not go as planned.

I am very impressed with how deep and emotional Fever 1793 is, especially for a middle grade novel. I grew to love each and every character, and found myself reaching for the tissues on more than one occasion. Mattie is an excellent first-person narrator, and while some of the dialogue in the book can be considered corny by today’s standards, the language stays true to the time period.

In the same way, it is clear the author did substantial research on yellow fever in order to write a historical fiction novel quite focused on the history. I really liked how each chapter opened with a quotation from primary source material, whether it be a book from the 18th century or a letter from a politician of the time. It added a lot of credibility to the story, and also made the fictional characters seem more real. I also thought it was smart that the novel concluded with a few pages describing the history of the yellow fever. It’s always nice to know precisely what parts of historical fiction are true to history versus created by the author.

All in all, I have nothing but praise for Fever 1793. While my opinion may be biased due to me loving this book as a child, I’m so happy I still enjoyed it as an adult. If you’re looking for a great historical fiction novel, I highly recommend this one. Whether you’re at the middle grade reading level or not, Fever 1793 is bound to be a great read for you.

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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.