Mani Monday | The Bold & The Beautiful

Try gel art for a lasting appeal as seen in Milkshakes + Manicures

When it comes to your mani, you can either go minimalist or bold. Here are 5 bold manicures to last you through the end of summer. Now to decide, which one shall you try first?


1) Tropical locations are beckoning and these colors from Oh, Andrea! answer with flare.

2) You've got that glow...that Neon Glow. Make it a memorable night with these glow in the dark colors.

3) Who better to inspire us to make bold, rock star moves than Gwen Stefani? Wear Push & Shove proudly even if the most rave-like venue you're going to is the Starbucks in Pike Place Market.

4) Think back-to-school with this manicure! This DIY manicure will be transformed into a fun look that'll have your peers thinking you're the brightest crayon in the box!

5) It's almost football season, so rep your team with fun nail art as seen in Hawk Nation!

xo | din

Mani Monday | 4 Colors to Keep Up Those Summer Vibes

Take a bite outta summer with Sally Hansen!

A stylista can find style inspo pretty much anywhere. And Mani Monday is no exception! These 4 colors will keep you going through summer or just offer a sweet pick-me-up when the summer sun is interrupted with summer rainstorms.

This OPI color certainly isn't mini when it comes to a day at the beach!

Your foundation isn't the only thing that should change come summer. Your nail color should, too. Have you been eyeing a color only to tell yourself if I was only a little more tan I could wear it? Well, now's the time, sister!

You can't more specific than this color from Wet n Wild!

Not everyone's summer will include a beach and jet skis. That's okay because changing your manicure is an instant pick me up. And with season specific collections, you'll be cruisin' down 1-5 in a windows down, pop music induced adventure in no time!

If laughter is the best medicine, then this OPI color is the pefect compliment...

What new colors will you try to begin your next summer adventure?

xo | din

Mani Monday | Sheer Tints

This trio surely left their mark! I wasn't quite sure what to expect from OPI's Sheer Tints enamel. I wondered if it would only look good on top of certain nail colors and how long it would take me to discover which ones those were.

I was pleasantly surprised to see this purple hue look nice against a bare nail, as well as on top of OPI's Where Did Suzi's Man-go?. It brought the sorbet orange enamel to a raspberry sorbet and I love it! (Instant smile, in fact!) It's quite thick in texture, so an even stroke is important for a smooth, clean finish. Unless of course you're going for a textured look, then experimental strokes will do!

Definitely going to check out other Sheer Tint colors (perhaps blue next?), because Don't Violet Me Down surely satisfied and will be making several appearances!

Want to have more Mani Monday fun? Take a look at the first coat in Mani Monday | Where Did Suzi's Man-go and Crayola Magic.

What do you think about the tint? Sound off in the comments below!

xo | din

first coat | OPI's Where Did Suzi's Man-go

second coat | OPI's Don't Violet Me Down Sheer Tint

final coat | OPI's RapiDry Quick Drying Top Coat

Mani Monday | This Color's Making Waves

Happy Monday! I have been a busy bee getting all my last minute boxes packed! Tomorrow I'll be bringing a load of boxes to a port in Seattle to be shipped to Honolulu on a barge and then Wednesday I'm flying away!

Even with all the craziness, I made a quick minute to polish my nails with this gorgeous color from OPI's  Hawaii collection. After all, the ocean awaits.

xo | dré 


polish | OPI This Color's Making Waves

Mani Monday | Dance Baby

Happy Monday! Today's mani is sure to make you wanna dance! I so love the bubblegum hue of this polish. It makes me want to throw on a bikini, grab some sunglasses, Bubblicious, and head to the beach! Who wants to join me?

xo | dré 

polish | China Glaze Dance Baby 

Mani Monday | Neon Glow

Happy Memorial Day everyone! I hope that you can all take a moment to remember the reason we celebrate this day, and that you feel blessed with the company of loved ones. For me, I'm soaking up spending one last day with my family all together before my husband leaves tomorrow for Hawaii. It will be 3 weeks until we join him in our new home, so quality time counts!

Today's mani is extra fun because it glows! This weekend we went thunder bowling. In case you've never done that or are not sure what it is, it's a late night bowling session where they turn off the regular lights, and turn black lights on. All the pins and bowling balls glow and there's upbeat music to set the mood. My little girls and I thought it would be the best choice to make sure that we wore things that would glow, including our polish. We may not have made a strike each time, but our manis certainly did! What do you think?

xo | dré 

polish | Cina Glaze Purple Panic, OPI Alpine Snow, China Glaze Flip Flop Fantasy 

Mani Monday | Which Hue Is For You?

Hello, Mani.

There are so many fun, bright colors out right now! But, we can't deny that spring also allows for a more soft and subtle finish, now can we? Take a look at these manicures below and be inspired to be whisper sweet with your next polish change!

via Rita Remark (Essie Canada) for Maison Burks

via candy&caviar

via Jessica Faulkner

Which style above are you more likely to try next?

xo | din

Mani Monday | Garden Variety

Your nail game just got turned up a notch with this sassy teal color from Essie's Spring 2015 collection. And despite the name, you won't be referred to as anything other than a trendy fashionista!

Now, it is quite bold in color, so if you work in a strict environment (sad face), then this color is best saved for your toes or the weekend.

I'm not quite sure why my difficulty with Essie polishes continues, but once again it wasn't the smoothest process. With 'Garden Variety ' I found it to be extremely thin causing the paint to drip off the brush. Once I got to the second coat (which was barely needed because the color is so rich!), I was able to find a happy medium between a brush stroke that spilled paint and one that prevented a smooth stroke.

In other words, I 'm a pro and made it work. Just look at this color! How could I not?

xo | din

Also check out my product review on Essie's 'Flowerista'.

Mani Monday | Hello Hawaii Ya?

 

Remember when I told you I had Hawaii on my brain? Well I'm so excited to announce, that I'm moving to Oahu with my family in 2 months!

The process for this move began about a year ago. It's definitely been quite the emotional roller coaster, as there has been lots of paperwork and testing involved with my husband's job in order for him to transfer. As all of the waiting was coming to an end, OPI  came out with a Hawaii collection!
Can we say, MEANT TO BE?!


Today I'm wearing Hello Hawaii Ya? because how could I not? It's such a fun shade of purple and I felt like I just had to add it to my polish collection. Next time you see this shade on my nails, I'll most likely be on Waikiki beach. Aloha!


xo | dre


polish | OPI Hello Hawaii Ya?

Mani Monday | Lei Me

I have had Hawaii on my brain big time lately. Leave it to OPI to know just what I need! Their Hawaii collection came out in impeccable timing. Of course I bought multiple colors, but I wanted to share this one with you first. I love how versatile the color is with my wardrobe and it's leaving me craving some major beach time STAT! Like it?

xo | dré 

polish | OPI Do You Take Lei Away?

Mani Monday | Lemon Shark

We've mentioned before that updating your manicure is a an easy and inexpensive way to give yourself a pick-me-up. So, I've taken our advice, added one of the most happy colors, and violà. What do you think? This color by Sally Hansen is part of the Triple Shine collection. Because I add a top coat, I can't really confirm the "shine". I have discovered that it's best to add a base coat before applying for a more even application layer. You will also need to add about 3 layers.

xo | din 

polish | Sally Hansen Triple Shine in Lemon Shark (currently on sale in select stores!)

Mani Monday | Crayola Magic

Happy Monday! I hope everyone had a fabulous Valentine's weekend! Today's mani inspo is sure to bring your childhood back. Follow the photos for my step by step of how I accomplished this playful look. I hope you feel the magic of art that I do! 

xo | dré 

colors from left to right | OPI Do You Have This Color In Stock-Holm? | Essie Play Date | Essie I'm Addicted | Nicole Sacre Bleu | Essie Vices Versa | Creative Iguana | OPI Ginza Gold | Essie Shorty Pants | Essie Lifesaver | OPI Where Did Suzi's Man-go? 

Glitter Off

 

There's one thing every woman knows, who has ever polished her nails with glitter; it's near impossible to get off! It's a love/hate really. One moment I'm feeling all sparkly and fancy, and the next I'm angry and sweating from trying to get the darn stuff off!

Well, let me tell you. OPI has come out with a fantastic polish called Glitter Off. You apply one thin coat to clean nails and let it dry completely. Next, you apply your favorite glitter polish. When you are done wearing the polish, no need to sweat! Just push the edge of it and peel it off.

It seemed to good to be true, so I thought I would try it out. My concern was that with such easy removal, it only made sense that the polish would just come right off before I was ready to take it off. I was relieved to find out that's not the case. I polished my nails with a glitter polish on Friday, and made it all the way until Tuesday, at which point I was ready to change, so I peeled it off. How great is that?! 

So now that the secret is out, what are you waiting for??

xo | dré 

Rose Gold

Have you ever walked into your beauty supply store to find that your favorite product has been discontinued? Indeed it's a sad sad day. Especially because had you known you would have stocked up!

Recently this happened to me with my fav OPI color, Ate Berries In The Canaries. What a BEAUTIFUL color that worked as a go to color all year 'round. 

After a moment of reflection and a brief pity party/vent sesh to dré, I decided I had to choose one of my many other berry colored polishes to potentially take its place. Nothing can, I tell you, but I am finding a new found happiness with Koala Bear-y. The sweetest berry pink that is perfect for summer, and surely the impending fall season.

If you're one to stick to your reds, shake things up and give this a try! Its bright, sultry color will still make heads turn. Promise.

xo | din

nail polish | Koala Bear-y by OPI

Coca-Cola Red

The Coca-Cola collection is one of OPI's latest sets of polish and we are loving it! Although there are several other the polishes that we fancy, you can never go wrong with a classic red. Not to mention, although it's far from healthy, Coke has got to be one of the most classic drinks of summer! It's tasty too ;)

xo | drédin 

polish | OPI Coca-Cola Red