halloween – Adventures in Polishland

Tag: halloween

Dollar Tree DIY | Easy Halloween Wreath

Posted on September 8, 2017 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Friday! Halloween is just around the corner, and today I am excited to share with you a fabulous and affordable DIY project that will help you celebrate the holiday in style. I recently stopped by my local Dollar Tree store and found everything I needed to put together a cute Halloween wreath. This DIY is easy and quick, but the finished product looks stunning. Plus, since all the supplies you need are at the Dollar Tree, this wreath only costs $6.00 to complete. Let me share with you how to create this spooktacular wreath!

I am not sponsored by or affiliated with Dollar Tree. I simply love shopping at the store and want to share this DIY with you!

WHAT YOU NEED:

Floral Garden Metal Wreath Ring (14″ inch wreath form)
4 Rolls Crafter’s Square Decorative Mesh (20 yards of mesh total)
Decorative Spiders
Hot Glue Gun and Glue Sticks (not pictured)

I found the wreath form in the floral aisle of Dollar Tree, and the decorative mesh in the front of the store with the Halloween items. The mesh comes in black, orange, and purple. I went with two rolls of black and two rolls of orange. I decided to purchase a pack of purple spiders to add to my wreath, but you can grab any decoration of your choice. I went with purple so the spiders would stand out against the black and orange wreath. The one supply I did not purchase at Dollar Tree is a hot glue gun that I used to attach the spiders to the wreath. If you do not have a hot glue gun at home, you can purchase super glue from Dollar Tree to complete the project.

Now it’s time to begin the wreath! I followed THIS YouTube tutorial created by Paige Nicole. She demonstrates how to weave the decorative mesh through the wreath form to create the wreath. This process is very simple, but it does take some time. Set aside 20-30 minutes to complete the wreath. The decorative mesh can be a bit tricky to work with since it sticks to itself, but be patient and take your time during this weaving process. You can always unravel the wreath and start over if you make a mistake! As a guide, I made 5-6 loops in each section of the wreath form to achieve the fullness I liked.

The second and final step is attaching your decorative items to the wreath. I used a hot glue gun to glue my spiders onto the mesh. I planned out where I wanted the spiders to go, and simply glued them onto the wreath. I recommend getting lightweight decorations so they do not weigh down the mesh. As mentioned above, you can also purchase super glue at Dollar Tree if you don’t have a hot glue gun. Once the glue is dry, your wreath is complete! The wreath hangs very easily as well – simply place the top rung of the metal wreath form over a hook.

I am amazed at how easy this Halloween wreath is to make, yet it looks so expensive! In fact, similar wreaths sell on Etsy for $30.00-$50.00, and ours only cost $6.00 to make! This is a great gift to give during the Halloween season, and you can adapt this tutorial for any holiday by using different colored mesh and decorations. I’m so excited to hang this on the front door once October hits!

If you make this wreath, please tag me on Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook so I can see it!

Want more Dollar Tree DIY projects? Let me know in the comments!

Halloween Week | Sally Hansen Miracle Gel in Electra-Cute and Blacky O

Posted on October 23, 2015October 22, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Friday! It’s the last day of Halloween Week here on the blog (a DIY video will be up on YouTube tomorrow, though!). I’ve got a review of the two new Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Halloween nail polishes to share. In addition to my regular swatches, I’ve also done side-by-side comparison swatches of this year’s polishes versus last year’s. That way if you purchased the Sally Hansen Halloween polishes last year, you’ll know if these are a must have for you. The Miracle Gel line has grown to be a huge favorite of mine this past year, and I’m excited to share these limited edition shades with you. Let me show you Electra-Cute and Blacky O!

First up is Electra-Cute, a bright orange creme polish. I used two coats of Electra-Cute and finished up with the Miracle Gel Top Coat. The formula is excellent, and I’m loving this orange shade. Electra-Cute is great for nail art, or on its own!

Here are side-by-side swatches of Electra-Cute (pinky and ring fingers) and Pumpkin King (middle and pointer fingers). As you can see, the shades are nearly identical. I prefer the high gloss formula of Electra-Cute to the Insta-Dri formula of Pumpkin King (reviewed HERE), but if you already have Pumpkin King there is no need for Electra-Cute in your collection. I can’t tell a difference based on nail polish color alone!

Next up is Blacky O, a stunning black creme polish. Blacky O has a perfect formula that is opaque in two coats. It looks amazing on its own, but even better with the Miracle Gel Top Coat. I think this is now my go to black polish. I just love the formula and shiny finish! Blacky O is definitely a must have polish.

All in all, Sally Hansen created two more amazing Miracle Gel polishes just in time for Halloween! Make sure to check the limited edition displays at your local drugstore to get your hands on these. They retail for $9.99 each, but keep an eye out for sales and coupons! I highly recommend both polishes, and the Miracle Gel Top Coat is a favorite of mine. They are must for Halloween, or any time of year!

Have you tried the Sally Hansen Miracle Gel line? 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.

Halloween Week | Slime Nail Art

Posted on October 21, 2015October 14, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Wednesday! Today I have another really simple nail art look for Halloween. I was looking through my nail polish collection, and was inspired to use a bright green polish as slime. I instantly reached for a purple polish to go with the green, and created a funky manicure. If you’re looking to create a nail art look that doesn’t feature the standard orange and black for Halloween, this one is for you! Let me show you the slime nail art I created.

WHAT YOU NEED / What I Used:

Purple Nail Polish / Madam Glam in Midnight [BUY]
Green Nail Polish / Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear in Green With Envy [BUY]
Glossy Top Coat / Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Top Coat [BUY]

I began my manicure with two coats of Midnight from Madam Glam. I let this purple shade dry completely before continuing on with the look.

I used a bright green polish to create my slime. All I did was concentrate the polish on the top half of my nails, and messily paint it. One technique I used was to drop dots of polish in the center of my nails and drag it back to the tips. I also just used uneven strokes. Anything goes for this look! As you can see, it looks like I dipped my nails in a bucket of slime. I finished the manicure with a glossy top coat once the green polish dried, and that was it!

All in all, I hope you enjoyed this simple nail art tutorial for Halloween! I think these slime nails are a lot of fun, and a great alternative to traditional Halloween nails. Plus, you can use this technique if you’re looking to extend the life of your current manicure, or if you need a last minute Halloween design. You never know when a slime manicure will come in handy! That’s it for this post, but I’ll see you tomorrow as Halloween Week continues!

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

Halloween Week | 5 Halloween Costumes in Your Closet

Posted on October 20, 2015October 15, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Tuesday! Halloween Week continues today with a post all about costumes. I wanted to share with you some ideas for simple costumes that you already own. Whether you are putting together your look last minute, or you want to save money and use what you already have, I have five costume recommendations for you! I opened up my closet to see what I owned that could easily be turned into Halloween costumes. While these costumes may not be unique, they will save you a lot of time and money. Plus, if you head to your local dollar store or craft store you can get plenty of fun accessories to dress up your costume and make it your own. Without further ado, let me share the five Halloween costumes that are in your closet!

The Beauty Queen costume is really easy to put together! Grab an old prom dress or formal gown, or pick one up from your local thrift store. Then add flashy accessories! You can also turn yourself into a Zombie Beauty Queen by trashing your dress and adding some fake blood.

FROM MY CLOSET:

Old Prom Dress
Feather Boa

WHAT TO ADD:

Princess Crown
Sash (use ribbon & glitter glue!)
Anything glittery or with rhinestones

One of the easiest Halloween costumes is a Hippie! Almost everyone has a tie dye shirt, and if you don’t it’s easy to make one. Make sure you rock a center part in your hair! You can also add small braids on each side to really get the Hippie vibe.

FROM MY CLOSET:

Tie Dye T-shirt
Beads

WHAT TO ADD:

Bell Bottom Jeans
Round Sunglasses
Headband

Most of us have some sort of leopard print in the closet! Whether it be a dress, blouse, skirt, or even just some shoes, you can base a Leopard costume on whatever you own. I got some cat ears at the drugstore for a couple dollars a few years ago, and they can be reused now!

FROM MY CLOSET:

Leopard Print Dress
Cat Ears
Black Heels

WHAT TO ADD:

Whiskers (use eyeliner!)

With chambray shirts being so trendy in the past few years, Rosie the Riveter becomes a simple costume! Wrap a red bandana or headband on your head and you are ready to go.

FROM MY CLOSET:

Chambray Shirt
Red Hair Band

WHAT TO ADD:

Jeans
Boots
Red Lipstick

If you’re not a Celtics fan, have no fear! You can put together a Superfan costume based on your favorite sports team or musician. Simply wear as much fan gear as you have and show your pride! The more you have, the better.

FROM MY CLOSET:

T-shirt
Hat
Foam Finger

WHAT TO ADD:

Themed Manicure
Face Paint

That brings us to the end of this Halloween Week post! I hope this inspired you to look inside your closet before you go to the Halloween store and drop some major cash on a new costume. You can also ask your friends and family if you can raid their closets. The possibilities are endless!

What is your Halloween costume this year? Let me know in the comments!

Welcome to Halloween Week! | Halloween Cloud Nails

Posted on October 19, 2015October 22, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Monday, and welcome to Halloween Week here at Adventures in Polishland! Two years ago I hosted a Halloween themed week on the blog, and I thought it would be fun to do one again this year. I think Halloween is a lot of fun, and my big sweet tooth enjoys it as well! Every day this week will feature something Halloween related, and I am also putting up two Halloween videos on my YouTube channel HERE. I’m kicking off the week with some simple Halloween nail art. Let me share with you my Halloween cloud nails!

WHAT YOU NEED / What I’m Using:

Black Nail Polish / NYC New York Color in Black Elixir
Orange Nail Polish / Zoya in Arizona [BUY]
Yellow Nail Polish / Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear in Mellow Yellow [BUY]
Glossy Top Coat / Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Top Coat [BUY]

I’ve used the same Pinterest tutorial seen HERE to create my cloud nail for years now! I absolutely love how easy this design is to create. I began with a black base and let that dry. Then I added orange clouds, and finally the yellow clouds. Once the entire manicure was dry I added a glossy top coat to even out the edges. That’s all it takes to create this nail art, but it looks really cool. I always get a lot of compliments whenever I’m wearing this look.

All in all, Halloween Cloud Nails are easy to create, but perfect whether you’re handing out candy on Halloween or simply wanting to look more festive. The best part is this manicure can be recreated using whatever polishes you own, and can be worn any time of year depending on the colors you choose. It is my go-to nail art for sure. I thought this would be a fun way to kick off Halloween Week, and I hope you’re excited for more to come!

Have you created a Halloween manicure? Share it on my Facebook page HERE!

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

The Fall Favorites Tag! | #PolishlandFaves

Posted on October 15, 2015October 14, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Thursday! It’s no secret that fall is my favorite time of year. Perhaps it’s because I’m an October baby, but fall just makes me feel cozy. I’m always excited for everything that fall brings, and that’s why I’m so glad fellow blogger Carolyn from The Diary of a Tall Girl tagged me in the Fall Favorites Tag. This tag was created by YouTube Beauty Guru Jaclyn Hill. I am a huge fan of Jaclyn, and can’t wait to jump right in and share my fall favorites with all of you!

Favorite Candle

Okay, so I know I’m ‘cheating’ already, but I’m just not a candle person. Instead, I’ll share my favorite fall scent, which also happens to be a candle! I’ve been obsessed with the Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin shower gel from Bath & Body Works. I love sweet smells, and I’m also a huge pumpkin lover, so this scent is perfect for me. Of course, if you like candles you can grab this at your local Bath & Body Works in candle form!

Favorite Lip Color

One of my go-to lip colors is definitely Berry Soft from the Baby Lips Dr. Rescue line. It gives my lips a sheer wash of a berry color, and also helps to moisturize and heal dry lips. Berry Soft is perfect to wear daily, and you don’t need a mirror to apply it so feel free to toss it in your purse! Even those it’s been three years since I first discovered Baby Lips I’m still a huge fan!

Favorite Drink

Like many, I am all about the pumpkin spice in the fall! My favorite pumpkin drink is the Pumpkin Spice coffee from Dunkin’ Donuts. I love it both iced and hot, and it’s a must have for me because of its sweet taste. I usually buy a bag to brew at home, and Target often has it on sale each year. If you’ve never tried it before, definitely go for it!

FAVORITE BLUSH

When the weather gets cool, my blush gets warmer in tone. My cousin gifted me Pür Minerals Hot Rocks a couple years back, and I am obsessed with it! The color is stunning, the formula is super blendable, and it is 100% worth the high end price tag. I’m showing you a stock photo of this blush because mine is completely destroyed at this point. It still applies beautifully, but we all know what blush packaging turns into after a lot of use. It’s that good!

FAVORITE CLOTHING ITEM

While I love boots, scarves, and sweaters, this year I have been wearing my new Wren sneakers from Sole Society every single day! They go with every outfit, and are comfortable and stylish at the same time. I’m so glad slip-on sneakers are on trend right now. I used to wear them back in my high school days! If you’re not a Sole Society member yet, use my referral code HERE to snag 20% off your first purchase!

FAVORITE FALL MOVIE

Hocus Pocus is, of course, my favorite fall movie! I remember the first time I saw it back in second grade nearly 20 years ago now. I thought it was scary back then, and now it’s just a ton of fun. I watch it every time it’s on TV even though I own the DVD. I know I’m not alone in loving Hocus Pocus! Share your favorite quote from the movie in the comments!

FAVORITE FALL TV SHOW

One of my favorite TV shows of all time is The Big Bang Theory! It is so funny, and I love Sheldon Cooper’s character. I’ll admit that the new episodes this season haven’t been my favorite, but I hope they’ll get better soon! I also watch this show a lot in reruns, so there is always a funny episode to see. I can’t wait to find out what happens to the characters next!

FAVORITE THANKSGIVING FOOD

I don’t have a picture to share, but my favorite Thanksgiving food is stuffing! Thanksgiving is extremely ritualized in my family. We eat the same hors d’oeuvres, main dishes, and desserts every year. I used to love turkey, but as a vegetarian I, of course, don’t eat it anymore. That being said, I tried stuffing for the first time at my brother’s wedding five years ago, and I’ve been hooked ever since! Thankfully, my family makes vegetarian stuffing because there are three of us who don’t eat meat. I don’t eat stuffing often, and that’s what makes it a fun Thanksgiving food!

FAVORITE HALLOWEEN COSTUME

I’ve also had a lot of great Halloween costumes over the years, and it’s difficult to pick one favorite to share! I’ve dressed up as Minnie Mouse, a 50s Sock-Hop Girl (complete with a handmade Poodle Skirt), Stephanie from Full House, Maureen from RENT, and the list goes on! The costume that I am the most proud of is one that my friend and I created in high school. We were both dancers our entire lives, so we decided to take pieces from all of our costumes over the years and layer them together in a crazy outfit. We called ourselves Confused Dancers, and it was a lot of fun!

That brings us to the end of the Fall Favorites tag! I hope you enjoyed learning a bit more about me and my fall loves. I would love to see your answers to these questions! Either leave them in the comments, or create your own blog post! I will officially tag all of you who celebrate a birthday in October.

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

NYC New York Color Midnight Beauty Collection | Black Elixir & Smoky Top Coat

Posted on October 26, 2014August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Sunday! I am so excited to review two of the nail polishes from NYC New York Color’s Midnight Beauty Collection. I’ve really loved the polishes I’ve tried from this brand lately, so I couldn’t wait to test out some Halloween shades. There are four total polishes in this collection, so make sure to visit your local drugstore to see the complete collection. Nonetheless, let me show you two of these stunning shades!

First up is Black Elixir, the perfect black creme polish. Black Elixir has an amazing formula that glides on flawlessly and is opaque in two coats. I am obsessing over this black polish, and highly recommend it. If you’re on a budget like I am, this is the black polish for your collection!

I also tested out Smoky Top Coat, a black crelly polish with grey glitters mixed throughout the base. I didn’t realize this was a top coat when I was swatching it, as the formula is great and opaque in two coats. I love the finished result with Smoky Top Coat, especially because the crelly formula has a cool dimension to it. This is definitely an awesome Halloween polish!

All in all, I really love the NYC New York Color Midnight Beauty polishes that I’ve tried. These retail for just $1.99 at your local drugstore. I still cannot get over how amazing that price point is for such quality polishes. Definitely give this brand a try if you have not already done so! As always, let me know in the comments if you plan on picking these up!

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

Sally Hansen Fuzzy Coat | Halloween 2014 Collection

Posted on October 25, 2014August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Saturday! Today I have the final post in my Sally Hansen Halloween 2014 series to share with you. This time around it’s a review of the two Fuzzy Coat polishes. I’ve never tried the Fuzzy Coat line before, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. I’ll let you know right off the bat that they are super fun! Let me show you the Halloween themed shades.

First up is Fur-ankenstein, a green and black glitter polish in a clear base. All of the Fuzzy Coat polishes contain bar glitters, and I love the festive colors in this one. Plus, how awesome is the name Fur-ankenstein?! This polish has an amazing formula, and I applied one coat over OMGhost for the result you see in the photos. I think the coverage in just one coat is awesome!

The other Fuzzy Coat is Witch-ful Thinking, which contains the classic orange and black colors for Halloween. Just as with Fur-ankenstein, Witch-ful Thinking has a great formula and one coat provides tons of glitters. I layered this polish over OMGhost as well, but of course you can customize the base color to your liking.

All in all, I am loving the Sally Hansen Fuzzy Coat polishes for Halloween 2014! Not only do the polishes have fun names, but the color themes are just perfect for this time of year. If you don’t have the patience for nail art but still want to rock a festive manicure, these Fuzzy Coat polishes are perfect for you! You can grab them for $5.99 at your local drugstore or department store now.

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

Sally Hansen Big Glitter Top Coats | Halloween 2014 Collection

Posted on October 24, 2014August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Friday! Today I’m continuing my reviews of the Sally Hansen Halloween 2014 Collection with the Big Glitter Top Coats. If you’ve been a follower of mine for a while, you’ll know that I love wearing glitter polishes alone. I decided to see how versatile these Big Glitter polishes are, and swatched them without a base color. Let me show you the sparkly results!

First up is Costume Glitters, a golden glitter polish that leans towards a rose gold hue. It contains holographic square glitters, and is just stunning! I applied three coats in the manicure pictured here, and though the look is not opaque I still love the finished product. It’s super sparkly, but I would definitely wear this whether it’s Halloween or not!

The other Big Glitter polish in the Halloween line is Dressed to Thrill. This is a silver based glitter polish. Again, I’m wearing three coats and as you can see it just shy of being opaque. If you’re dressing up as a princess, prom queen, or anything along those lines, Dressed to Thrill is a must!

All in all, the Sally Hansen Big Glitter Top Coat polishes are so much fun for Halloween! They can be worn alone or layered to get a customizable look that’s perfect for you. These polishes retail for $5.99 and can be purchased at your local drugstore and department store. Of course, let me know in the comments what you think of these glitters!

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

Sally Hansen Insta-Dri | Halloween 2014 Collection

Posted on October 23, 2014August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Thursday! Halloween is right around the corner, and in the next few days I’ll be sharing reviews of some fabulous and affordable polishes for the season. Sally Hansen has some awesome limited edition lines, and I’m going to start out by showing you the four Insta-Dri polishes. These polishes are the perfect base colors for the season. Let me go ahead and share them with you!

First up is OMGhost, a white creme polish. OMGhost has a watery formula, so I recommend three very thin coats. The final result is gorgeous, and the streaking is minimal. If you don’t yet own a white nail polish, OMGhost is perfect to pick up this time of year. It goes well with glitter on top!

Next up is Pumpkin Queen, my new favorite orange creme. This polish is perfection! Not only is the formula great, and opaque in two coats, but the result is awesome. Pumpkin Queen truly lives up to its name. I think this is a must buy in the collection!

Night Fright is up next, and it is a stunning black creme. Night Fright is nearly opaque in one coat, but I added a second coat to ensure a rich pigmentation. I love how glossy Night Fright is even without top coat. I highly recommend it if you need an affordable black polish for your collection.

Last but not least is Scaredy Matte, a matte black polish. Scaredy Matte has a great formula that is opaque in two coats. I do wish the matte effect was a bit stronger, as the finish is a bit shinier than I would expect from a matte. Nonetheless, this is a great polish for this time of year, and perfect to match with your leather jackets!

All in all, I think the Sally Hansen Insta-Dri polishes for Halloween 2014 are awesome! These are four core polishes that everyone should own, especially for this time of year. These polishes retail for just $4.99 and are available at your local drugstore or department store. Let me know in the comments which of these you’re going to pick up!

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