Brain Eraser and Leopard Nail Art

Well, another week is almost over!  Today I have a drink called a Brain Eraser, which you will probably need if you go out and brave the malls this weekend.  Also I have some freehand leopard print nail art that I am super proud of!

You’ll Need:

1 oz. Goldschlager

1 oz. Kahlua

1 oz. Vodka

Make It!

In a large shot glass, combine ingredients.  The recipe says to keep the liqueur levels separate (aka pour them slowly to avoid mixing), and suck it up through a straw.  But no thanks,  I’ll just chug it all at once!

Freehand Leopard Nail Art with China Glaze Secret Peri-Wink-Le and Re-Fresh Mint

Let me just start out by saying I was never a huge fan of China Glaze’s polish.  Love their colors, but the first one I ever bought (For Audrey) absolutely SUCKED!!  The formula was so globby and it took forever to dry.  Apparently I got a bad bottle because everyone else raves about it.  Anyways, I have since bought more polish from China Glaze and the formula isn’t so bad.  I think Secret Peri-Wink-Le has restored my faith in the brand!  This stuff is perfect and a one coat wonder, even though I added another.  There was no bubbling, it was the perfect consistency – just ahhh!  The color is so adorable too; it’s a darker pastel blurple (blue + purple if you missed it before).  Re-Fresh Mint is also a great polish.  Almost a one coat wonder.  It was just a tad streaky, so I added a second coat. 

Y’all know that I really want to attempt to improve my nail art so I don’t bore you guys and my IG followers, so here!  Be nice if you don’t think it’s good.  It’s my first try at freehand animal print!!  I am personally thrilled with it though, so poo poo if you don’t like it.  I got my inspiration form a girl I follow on IG (@noemihk), she does a lot of freehand leopard print designs and makes it look so easy and flawless!  I need lots of practice though! 

Two coats China Glaze Secret Peri-Wink-Le &
Re-Fresh Mint dotted with same &
Sally Hansen Onyx, topped with
Seche Vite

I did two coats Secret Peri-Wink-Le and two coats Re-Fresh Mint.  I used my large dotting tool to make the colored dots.  Then I used a medium sized one to make the black dots (using Sally Hansen Onyx).  Then I filled in the empty spaces with random dots using my tiny dotting tool.  I bought my dotting tools on Amazon for about five bucks – not including shipping.  There are five and they are double sided ranging in sizes from large to mini.  Great deal if you ask me.   

Two coats China Glaze Secret Peri-Wink-Le &
Re-Fresh Mint dotted with same &
Sally Hansen Onyx, topped with
Seche Vite

Two coats China Glaze Secret Peri-Wink-Le &
Re-Fresh Mint dotted with same &
Sally Hansen Onyx, topped with
Seche Vite

Two coats China Glaze Secret Peri-Wink-Le &
Re-Fresh Mint dotted with same &
Sally Hansen Onyx, topped with
Seche Vite

Two coats China Glaze Secret Peri-Wink-Le &
Re-Fresh Mint dotted with same &
Sally Hansen Onyx, topped with
Seche Vite

Since this post is kind of about redemption for brands I don’t like, let’s discuss Seche.  Before, I bought the Seche Clear Base Coat.  Completely hated it (also used it with For Audrey in my Tiffany’s Nails post – that was just a bad polish day I guess).  It made the polish peel off my nail in one big sheet within a day or two of wear.  Great for glitter, but normal polish?  No.

I was hesitant to buy Seche Vite, the topcoat, but I finally gave in because EVERYONE praises it.  Peer pressure!  lol I normally avoid topcoats because I’m super impatient and always smudge it.  But this time, I just decided to go for it.  What a complete shocker!  A topcoat that I love??!  This stuff is great!  It’s smooth, thick (in a good way), and makes your nails look flawless, almost shellacked!  Although I have two teensy issues with it.  It’s supposed to be fast dry, but it was still kind of gummy after about five minutes (that’s the “fast” cutoff dry time for me).  It also smells.  BAD!! But you know what, I’ll deal with it because it looks that great.  When I dotted the design on , it was slightly raised and bumpy obviously, but after the Seche, completely smooth.  So, if you were like me and just kinda ehh about trying it, I HIGHLY suggest you stop dragging your feet and go get some!!  Not the base coat though.  That shiz suxxx! 

Welp, I hope y’all are ready for the 12 Days of Christmas Cocktails I have comin’ your way!  First one will be up momentarily!  Enjoy :)

ALSO!! I want to say Happy 26th Anniversary to my mommy & daddy!  Yay! :) <3

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Summer Fun! Mojitos and Cotton Candy Nails

Wheeeee for the weekend!  And its OFFICIALLY summer (not technically here in Florida, cuz let’s be real – it’s ALWAYS summer here).  It was suggested that I post a mojito recipe.  What better time to give it to you than the first weekend of summer!?  Here is my friend’s recipe (thank you, Danny) and my own recipe. 

For Danny’s Cuban Mojito (he uses REAL measurements – WTF?)

You’ll Need:

•  2 oz. Light Rum (Matusalem Platino)
• 8-10 Mint Leaves
• 1 oz. Simple Syrup
• 1 oz. Fresh Lime Juice – keep the leftover lime for garnish
• 2 oz. Soda Water
• Crushed Ice

Make It!

Place mint in a glass along with simple syrup and lime juice, muddle gently.  Slice the remainder of the lime and add along with crushed ice.  Add rum and soda water.  Stir – don’t shake.  Garnish with sprig of mint.  Enjoy.

For My Extra Sweet “Gringa” Mojito

You’ll Need:

• Light Rum (I like to use Bacardi Limon or Bacardi Dragon Berry)
• 8-10 Mint Leaves
• Lime Juice
• Sprite
• Ice

Make It!

Pretty much the same as above – Muddle the mint and lime.  Add a few glugs of rum, Sprite and ice.  Stir it up, drink it up, and relax.  I don’t mess around with the garnish of mint and lime.  I usually strain the muddled leaves out anyways since I always seem to forget they’re in the glass and choke on them.  Haha =\

I’ve mentioned before, I LOVE sweet drinks.  So if you’re more traditional, you should most definitely go with Danny’s Mojito.  I was never a fan of soda water, so I always used Sprite instead.  SO GOOD GUYS!  And if you’ve never tried the Bacardi Dragon  Berry…get to a store now and buy some!  It’s strawberry flavored.  Delish.  Adds more flavor to a plain mojito.  It’s also great in Ginger Ale and Coke.  BUT you don’t have to get all fancy with the flavored rum.  Plain Bacardi works perfect too.  Or whatever you want, I don’t care.  Sorry, no picture this time because it only looks like a glass of Sprite - boring.

Fun Cotton Candy Nails

I really wanted to quit boring y’all with my blue polish obsession so I went with something more girly.  I went to the store looking for some nice bright summery colors and stumbled on this gorgeous bubblegum pink Essie that was on sale.  Duh, I had to get it!  Then I was all ohh hey look at this cutie blue too!  I couldn’t help myself and threw in a blue pedi.  So be warned: my gross toes are pictured below!! 

Two coats Essie Cascade Cool; Two coats Sinful Colors Snow Me White
Dotted with Essie Bikini So Teeny and Cool Cascade

I used two coats of Essie Cascade Cool on four nails and two coats of Sinful Colors Snow Me White for my accent nail.  This was a girly enough mani, but I wanted to make it even more fun.  I bought this dotting tool from Sally Beauty a month or so back and was finally brave enough to try it out.  I dotted on (took me like, four tries – SO annoying!  My hands kept shaking) Essie Bikini So Teeny and Cool Cascade in a little sort of half moon shape.  I did the same on my toes but switched the colors as seen below.  It reminded me of cotton candy, hence the post name. :)

I didn't even realize, but the Bikini So Teeny has cute little sparkles in it!

Close up

On the Toes: two coats Bikini So Teeny dotted with Cascade Cool and Snow Me White

Of course, Essie is my favorite brand, so I don’t have any complaints about how the polish went on, no chips, no bubbles, blah blah.  The Sinful Colors got some little cracks, but didn’t start to chip off until Thursday.  I didn’t even put a topcoat on. 

Have a blast this weekend y’all!