Five Top Trends of 2013: #5 Indie Polishes FT. Spy Princess' Kir Royale

Happy 2013! Wonderful wishes for a fabulous new year! Mojo is clicking about something, but it's more likely " Ma, stop typing a hamster's gotta sleep." Welcome to the final installment of my top five trends. I have to say that this has been a lot of fun, so you might see more trend forecasting from me in the future.

I have to say this one was a no-brainer. Indie polishes are amazing for a few reasons. First, it's about the creativity. I look at each one being a little piece of art, the selection of colors and the time it took to craft. Second, I love the names! I have to say it, even if a color is just cool sometimes the name throws it over the top... Finally (and most importantly), its about encouraging small business, I come from three generations of small business owners and am a total supporter.

The polish I am featuring was selected by my husband, Jesse.  I had been showing him about 5,000 polish shades to give him ideas for Christmas. He snooped out my Etsy favorites and found this one. He loves purple. It was no surprise to me when I saw this color that it was the perfect gift from him.

Also, I am super psyched because it's a polish from Spy Princess. I have waxed poetic about Christina's line so many times. Seriously though, awesome colors, fabulous brand concept- you have got to love it! Kir Royale was a holiday release and is a great festive winter color. It is a sheer dusky purple jelly with silver, copper, black, and plum glitter hexes of various sizes. I have to say that I am partial to glittery polishes with colored bases, and this definitely fit the bill. This color can be worn on its own, but I layered it over Essie's Wicked for a more vampy look. Super sexy. 

Spy Princess is available at Etsy. Please check them out on Facebook and Twitter. I know that Christina is hard at work on a new release for 2013...

A few indie polish lines to check out for 2013. I have a feeling that they will continue to amaze...

Whimsical Ideas by Pam
Serum No 5
Sinister Benediction
Tough As Nails Lacquer
Maisie Shine
All That Glitters
Oopsie Daisies

And oh yes, a bit of a countdown extra... Elena's top ten of 2013:

1. OPI On Her Majesty’s Secret Service
2. OPI Unfor-greta-bly Blue
3. Julep Julia
4. Julep Ivy
5. Whimsical Ideas by Pam Magical Mystery Tour
6. Spy Princess Cloak & Dagger
7. Essie Beyond Cozy
8. Essie Mojito Madness
9. Tough As Nails Lacquers The Baconian Method
10. LVX Midori

I was trying to get a photo of Mojo "announcing" my number one color OPI's OHMSS. (I never wear colors twice any more, but I LOVE this color.)  He was not having it last night... here are some super cute (non-edited) attempts of trying to get the picture...

Look at that cute paw!

" I am not going to look where you want me to. The back of me is amazing."

"I will totally eat your ring, woman, if you don't put me down!"

What are your fave indie brands and polishes of the year?

On the Ninth Day of Christmas, my nail art gave to me... Christmas Cookies & Treats!

It's day nine of the challenge and its another delicious post! Today's theme is Christmas cookies, and I have to admit that I didn't get as adventurous as I wanted to. Instead I used a couple of my favorite colors and really hoped that you could tell that these were cookies...lol

I have to say that a favorite Christmas activity of mine is baking with my mom. We typically end up making an awesome variety of Greek pastries. Sooo good! Since she is in Florida we are both baking solo this year :( Technically, she's baking and I have been working way too much.

Now on to the mani... I started with a coat of Julep's Julia, a beautiful purple-gold microglitter. I then made cookie shapes with Sinful Colors in Nirvana.

I then added details with Stripe Rite in white, Sinful Colors stripers in Jungle and Be My Valentine to form my gingerbread, sugar cookies and linzertorte cookies. I brushed on a bit of Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear in Disco Ball for some shine. To give a bit of pop, I added Spy Princess Coronation to the background. ( I just put a coat of Coronation over my pedi of Tomorrow Never Dies....Awesome!)

Time to check out Kelly's Christmas Cookies & Treats manicure over at Tuxarina. I know she has something awesome in store today...

Spy Princess is available at Etsy.

On the tenth day of Christmas, my nail art gave to me... Snow Globes!

Stay tuned...

Introducing Spy Princess: Moneypenny

I am concluding my introduction to Spy Princess with the lacquer inspired by the quintessential Bond girl- Moneypenny. At first she seems steadfast and predicable, but a firecracker lurks underneath. The firecracker spirit is captured perfectly in this hue. 

I will only say this once. This is not an "pumpkin glitter bomb" reserved for Halloween or some random school spirit fest. This is a whimsical yet sexy shade that is perfect to go from day to night. I do have to say the color was a bit difficult to capture in the photo. I kept saying to Jes, "This is just so much more in the natural light!" Oh, why don't you just get a bottle and see for yourself? 

The polish like her entire premiere collection consists of 3-Free suspension base, high-quality pigments and solvent-resistant glitters. Orange micro-glitter, copper hex glitter, holographic micro glitter and iridescent square glitter dance in a orange jelly base. In the right light flashes of blush, mint, and lilac wink through the juicy copper. It is so luscious. 

In order to not have my natural nail color interfere, I "neutralized" it with a base coat of Sally Hansen Insta-Dri in Petal Pusher (an ultra-light peach). I applied two coats of Moneypenny over it. This is a color that you can look at over and over and notice something new.

I look forward to reviewing more from Christina and Spy Princess Nail Lacquer! She is an amazing talent and it seems like a lot of you are noticing. My blog received 50 hits within an hour of the Coronation post last night!!! Thank you for the love!

As always the details... Spy Princess is available at Etsy for $8.50 per bottle. Please go and support Christina. Also, show some love and follow her on Twitter @spyprincessnail. 

I am going to leave you with an exciting bit from the source herself as tweeted here:

spyprincessnails @spyprincessnail

Things are happening, creativity is flowing! New shades in the works, plus more exciting stuff before the end of the year!

 

The spy theme continues with the mainstream's contribution to the mix. Skyfall, anyone?

Introducing Spy Princess: Coronation

All hail the Queen! Queen Coronation that is... This polish is a stunner. I shed a tear for all of you lovelies that have spent major coin on 18k and 24k gold top coats. Coronation's variety and sparkle makes all other gold top coats look like brass. 

This is another handcrafted lacquer using 3-Free suspension base, high-quality pigments and solvent-resistant glitters. This is an absolute golden glitter bomb! It is a cacophony of a variety of gold hexes, microglitters and glitter shreds. It also features some lovely golden tinged holographic hexes and shreds.
 

The design that I am featuring Coronation on ups the intrigue factor- the trigger mani. Nothing says sassy and classy like a trigger. I wanted to show the versatility of the shade by featuring it over Julep's Otte and Gayle. This is going to be a go to look for me this holiday season. I love it!

Once again the details... Spy Princess is available at Etsy for $8.50 per bottle. Please go and support Christina. She is a lacquer genius! Also, show some love and follow her on Twitter @spyprincessnail. 

The excitement continues one more shade left to premiere...

Introducing Spy Princess: Cloak & Dagger

Let's take a moment. You are about to experience something you haven't seen on any other blog before, and it is AMAZING! 

Your mission if you choose to accept it is to experience the fabulous world of Spy Princess Nails. Created by a talented artisan named Christina from Los Angeles, Spy Princess is for the "girly-girl or bad-ass in all of us." ( Oh, hell yeah it is! )

All of Christina's products are handmade in small batches and are crafted from 3-Free suspension base, high-quality pigments and solvent-resistant glitters. The colors have a ton of depth, texture, and presence. Each hue truly tells a story.

I also have to note that the Spy Princess shop is run like a well-oiled machine. Great response time on questions, fast shipping, and wonderful customer service.

I was so impressed by this collection that I am dedicating three posts to it. First up is Cloak & Dagger, a moody and sultry navy/ cobalt duochrome shimmer. The polish also includes small black hex glitter and silver microbar glitter. Easy application and all of the glitter lays flat. 

I have to say that this polish made me feel super nostalgic. I wore Chanel Ciel du Nuit for my high school junior prom (yes, waaaay back in '97) and I have loved me some sparkly navy since then. I have been searching for something that would come close with no luck. I have to say that this is no longer the case, Cloak & Dagger's complexity and lusciousness actually surpasses it for me.

So the details... Spy Princess is available at Etsy for $8.50 per bottle. Please go and support Christina, I know I will continue to!

 

Stay tuned, I have two more amazing shades that I will be premiering over the next few days.