Sunday Sneak Peak

The picture of Hugh Jackman damp?  Just some random hotness on a Sunday. 

I'm calling this week the Australian AllStars. Every lacquer you'll see on the site this week is from an Aussie brand.

To kick off, the Great Aussie Swatch Watch will give you the chance to win two BYS lacquers of your choice (well, from the ones I swatch anyway).

I also have two lacquers from Bloom - Mena and Bonnie.  Mena is a stunning black base with multi-coloured glitter.  It has to be seen to be believed.  Bonnie, meanwhile, is an Illamasqua Phallic dupe, or so I've heard.  I'll put that theory to the test.

Turning up the squee-ometer is Mecca's Cosmetica's Autumn 2010 Collection.  If you haven't heard how I bought this under a haze of concussion, click here.  It's a good story.

And just for those turquoise lovers, I have kit's Speed Demon, from their High Velocity Collection.

Stay tuned later today when I announce the winner of the February Giveaway.

I hope you're all having a lovely weekend!

Sunday Sneak Peak

This week's colours have no rhyme or reason. They're just colours that I spotted in my untried box and thought 'Hey, I might swatch these this week'.

There's Spring Blossom from Ulta3, Kit Cosmetics' Island Hopping, the Milani 3D Holographic Collection, Marks and Spencer's Mint Green and a sparkly orange from Etude House.

In addition to regular manicures, I also have some haulage from Etude House that is just so awesomesauce (thanks Kaz for the bestest made up word ever).  I also bought some Inglot flakies which are divine.

I hope you are all travelling well.  I'm really busy at work at the moment and seem to have a to do list that stretches endlessly.  I also have to do a presentation to my Group Managing Director tomorrow (I found out about it on Friday so not alot of time to prepare) and have to practice my speech today.  Wish me luck for tomorrow!

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Sunday Sneak Peak

I thought I'd put together a little formula of what makes me happy (click on the image to see life-size version).

It's pretty simple really.

Pork buns, my family, Alexander Skarsgard to a factor of 1,000,000 and nail polish.

Public transport does not make me happy, particularly the man who, a few months ago, strode the length of the train carriage, stood in front of me and asked 'Do you like my pants?'  Hmmm, is there an answer I can give that WON'T result in you removing those pants?

This week, I have some lacquers that are making me smile whenever I wear them, including a lacquer that is, like Scandal's Amoled Glam, an absolute find. Plus I have a manicure that is, seriously, out of this world. You will be double, triple squee-ing when you see it, I promise.

In non-nail related news, a few of you have emailed asking how my new job is going.  It's going great!  I've found it challenging, stepping up from a front-line management role into a senior management role, but the work itself is everything I had hoped it would be.  Thank you all for your well wishes. 

Have a lovely week everyone!

Sunday Sneak Peak

Edited to add: yay for Blogger and the addition of pages!

A whole week of Valentine's Day manicures...

For me, Valentine's Day isn't a really big deal, except for the lovely manicures I get to indulge in.  Yes, this week will have plenty of pinks and reds.  But I've thrown in a blue which, when you see the name of it, you'll groan at the obvious reference (or be utterly offended).  And, in what could be the find of the century, I'll show you a fabby little lacquer that I found in a Korean supermarket.  I went shopping for BBQ Pork Buns (hands up who loves pork buns) and found nail polish instead!

Best of all, one of the lacquers this week will feature in February's Giveaway.  Stay tuned next Saturday 13th February to find out how you can win!

Have a lovely Valentine's Day week everyone!

Sunday Sneak Peak

Despite not being particularly good in 2009, I still had one hell of a long list for Santa (see picture left, he looks perplexed doesn't he).  And, boy howdy, the old boy delivered.

This week is all about my Christmas lemmings.  Chanel, Illamasqua, China Glaze (a collection you've all seen swatched a million other places but I love it) and one colour from Jessica that I think every single person should have in their collection.  Oh, and one new lacquer I recently purchased all because of Nea (Nea, you're a terrible enabler). 

Just a reminder, too, to vote in the Great Aussie Swatch Watch.  Voting is now open and the results, so far, are extremely close.  As in, at least three lacquers are tied for first and the other two are only a vote or two behind.   If you haven't voted as yet, now's the time!

I hope you're all having a great weekend.  It's hot here in Melbourne (36 celsius, or 97 for the non metric), which means lots of sunshine, icecream and cold showers. God bless whoever invented air conditioning.

Sunday Sneak Peak

Ladies, this week, I have some really super special lacquers to show you.

I've been trialling my RBL lacquers for a little while now.  And I'm in love.  Seriously, I want to move to New York and stalk Ji Baeck.  I need to be around greatness.  She is it.

But, hang on, that's only four lacquers?  What gives?  Well, ladies, my fifth lacquer is going to be a surprise.  :-)

Unfortunately, my nails are very, very short this week.  Two weeks of swimming pools and generally being lazy about my nail care has taken a toll.  I saw my manicurist last week.  She sighed.  Tutted at me.  Sighed some more.  And then recommended I go short to restore the shape and to get rid of the weak ends.  So I apologise to all the talon-istas who love long nails.  You'll get no love from me this week on that score.  Thankfully, the uber-coolness of the colours should off-set the shortage.

I hope you all have a wonderful week!  I'm back to work full time this week and it's going to be crazy.  New job, new boss and all new challenges.  And I can't wait.  :-)

Sunday Sneak Peak

You may remember a little while back that I did a swap with the Lovely Leanne.

Leanne sent me a HUGE amount of polishes including my very first Barry M's and GOSH.  But I had a problem with these.  I just couldn't pick which ones to wear.  They're all gorgeous.  So I enlisted the help of my two little ones to pick five colours for me out of a hat and, as such, this week I've named Lovely Leanne's Lacquer Lottery!  5 random colours for you, including one mash-up that is a must see.

I've also had some major haulage over the last few weeks, which I'll be showing to you all week.  I'm kinda embarrassed by how much I've bought, but I comfort myself with the knowledge that most of them were reduced price and some were only $2 each.  And that it was Christmas. And I've been good.

To kick off, here's my recent haulage from the RBL 50% Off Sale.  From left to right: Sheer White, Black Russian, Au Chocolat and *sigh*  *gasp*  *faint* Scrangie.  They are all beautiful but it's Scrangie that, for me, is one of the most memorable lacquers ever made.  It's utter perfection in a bottle.

I will get around to swatching and posting these shortly.  I'm still trialling them to see how well they last on the nail.

I hope you are all well!  Have a kick-a** week!

Sunday Sneak Peak

You may remember that I recently bought the BYS Tropical Collection.  Well, I've finally gotten around to swatching this and the results are..... outstanding.

Every colour is a winner, both in terms of pigment and application.  I can't wait for you guys to see them.  The black, in particular, is probably the best black I've come across.

I'm flying back home today in the evening so I'll be offline for around 24 hours.  Speak to you all soon!

Sunday Sneak Peak

So this week is all about New Years Eve.

I have five great colours, all of which will work perfectly in saying goodbye to 2009 and hello to 2010.

I must admit, I love New Years celebrations.  It's a chance to re-evaluate the previous 12 months, set goals, and start afresh.

I had my Fijian manicure which is pretty much the same as a regular manicure except that it includes an exfoliating massage which was pretty damn awesome.  My hands look 10 years younger as a result.

I hope you're all having a lovely and festive holiday season.  We're having a ball in Fiji.  The resort we are staying at is gorgeous, the Fijians are sweet and welcoming, and the food is sublime.

Sunday Sneak Peak

Can you believe how quickly 2009 has passed?  I can't believe it's nearly Christmas!

I will be spending the holiday season sunning myself in gorgeous Fiji.  Yes, by this time tomorrow, I fully expect to be sitting in one of the deck chairs in the picture drinking a cocktail.  I don't care which cocktail.  Any liquor will suffice.

So, what does this mean for YGN?  Posting will continue as normal, including Christmas Day.  However, I have decided to reduce my posting frequency to once a day (as opposed to twice a day during the week, and daily on the weekends) for the period I am away.  I just really want to spend some quality time with my family.  And bartender.  See how lonely he looks? 

Never fear though.  This week, I have some of the blingiest Christmas lacquers for you.  I also have a Christmas Day nail art that, for once, is not a complete disaster / nail wreck.  No, really, it looks good.  :-)

Have a lovely week everyone!  Think good thoughts for me - I'm not a big fan of flying!

Sunday Sneak Peak

One of the things I love most about Christmas are Christmas Parties. I love catching up with friends and colleagues in December. It's just such a nice way to end the year.

This week, I'm bringing you two collections that I believe totally scream Christmas Parties!  The Essie Winter 2009 Collection and Mecca's Paint to Your Heart's Content Collection .

In case you're wondering, the artwork in the background is from my older son who decided that he wants in on this nail blog business.  :-)  This is a kid who never wants to do artwork because he likes to dance instead - so I'm proud to display one of the few art pieces he's actually done.

In other news, thanks to everyone who voted in my reader poll about whether I should expand YGN to include beauty reviews.  The vote was split down the middle.  Hence, I'm going to stick to what I know, which is nails.  If, in the future, more of you want the beauty stuff, I'll figure out some way of accomodating that.

Finally, you'll notice a big improvement in the quality of photos on the site going forward.  I have started using the light umbrellas I bought and - wow - what a difference.  Although I'm using artificial, rather than natural, light, I am getting a much truer representation of the lacquers.  So what you see in the photos is how they look in real life.

Well, that was a long and rambling post.  Have a great week everyone!

Sunday Sneak Peak

No, I haven't lost my mind.  That really is Corey Hart, in all his upturned shirt collar and luscious chest wig glory.

This week's colours - Chi Chi's Neon Collection - are so bright that you will need to wear your sunglasses to view them.  

Each of these lacquers have been inspired by 80s song lyrics.  There's 'Jitterbug', 'Doris Day', 'Boom Boom Boom', 'Relax, don't do it', and 'Choose Chi Chi' (which I assume is a play on words from Wham's 'Choose Life').

I'm experiencing application problems with these lacquers (which is typical of neons) but I'm still hopeful that the colour payoff will make you guys swoon. 

That is, if Corey hasn't done that already.

Sunday Sneak Peak

I confess.  After having bought Essie's Matte About You, I'm now madly trying to mattify every lacquer that I have.  I'm not just a convert of the matte look.  I'm probably its biggest fan.

So, this week, I've got five great Australian lacquers from Bloom and kit Cosmetics for you.  I'm going to see if I can get 10 different looks out of the five lacquers using the Matte About You top coat. 

I'm sure some will work and some won't (I don't mind a good nail train wreck sometimes - it keeps me honest).  But they will all be interesting.  I hope.

As for the picture of the ice-cream.  Well, why have one flavour when you can have two.  Geddit?  One lacquer can have two looks?  Two Flavours?  Mmm, I might need to work on this analogy thing.

Sunday Sneak Peak

This week is all about Australian lacquers, hence the picture of a kangaroo!

I'm planning to start off the week with Dionyza and Helen from Mecca Cosmetica's new limited edition collection. These are true to form Mecca Cosmetica lacquers - creamy, pigmented and super easy to work with.

The second half of the week will be about Be Yourself's Carnival Collection. If you want loud, summery colours, these are most definitely it. Looking at them is like looking at a bowl of Skittles!

Don't forget that entries close for my November Giveaway on Saturday. If you're a follower of YGN, then you don't need to do anything else - consider yourself entered. If you're not a follower, be sure to click here for your chance to win.

Have a great week everyone!

PS If you take a look to the right, I am now on Twitter! If you have a Twitter account, let me know in the comments so that I can stalk you legally..... :-)

Sunday Sneak Peak

This week is definitely Rule Britannia (with a little Essie Matte About You) thrown in for good measure.

I'm thrilled to be able to show you all butter LONDON's Christmas 2009 Collection. Once again, butter LONDON outdo themselves with a collection that: a) is extraordinarily pigmented; and b) works beautifully together.

So, yes, ladies, I have dragged out my long suffering Konad kit and have done some stamping this week.

In the second half of this week, I'm trialling Asos Paint Pots' Autumn/Winter Collection. This is the first time I've used these and, I have to say, I'm seriously impressed. The colours are amazing. These lacquers also work really well with my new Essie Matte About You topcoat.

Have a great week everyone!

Sunday Sneak Peak

I'm so thrilled that Australian cosmetics have come far enough that, this week, I can have a whole week devoted to extraordinary Aussie lacquers.

The first half of this week will be about BYS' Glam Glitter. These are beautiful little lacquers that can transform and 'bling' any lacquer into something spectacular.

The second half of the week will be about Glitter Gal's holographic lacquers. I don't normally like holographic lacquers, however these have completely changed my mind about them. Glitter Gal's lacquers are extraordinarily good quality and good value. And they deliver internationally, yay!!!

I also have the much awaited butter LONDON Christmas Collection in my hands. I will post a haulage photo later today. Do you want to know something really sad, though? I went to bed last night with them sitting on my bedside table, so that, when I woke this morning, they would be one of the first things I saw.

Finally, I will be launching my November giveaway this Saturday so please stay tuned. It's going to be a busy week!

Sunday Sneak Peak + A Photo

Here in Melbourne, it's all about Spring Racing at the moment.

Spring Racing is the horse racing carnival that extends from mid October through to mid November. It's a chance for everyone to 'frock up' (translation: dress up to the nines), drink alot and maybe watch a few horse races (although that last bit is usually a minor distraction).

So my colour choices this week have been totally inspired by horse racing. Partly by some of the beautiful fashions, but also the jockeys' silks which, for me, are worth watching all on their own.

In other news, my mother-in-law arrives on Thursday, which means that I will very soon have my hands on the new butter LONDON Christmas Collection as well as three Ciate Paint Pots. I cannot wait. If the colours are half as gorgeous as they look on the website, I will be thrilled.

Finally, thanks to all of you who gave me Halloween advice about my four year old. I told him the 'rules' before we went out (no unwrapped lollies and he had to wait until we got home to eat them). And we had a great time. Thankfully, people had hung either lanterns or other Halloween paraphernalia on their front porches to show they were 'Halloween Friendly'. He now has enough chocolate and lollies to last him until next year!

Best of all, there was a MASSIVE storm here last night after we got home. Lightning, thunder, rain..... the works. A perfect Halloween.

In other site news, if you look to your left, you will see a photo of yours truly. I figured it was about time you guys could put a face to the name. :-)

Have a great week everyone!

Sunday Sneak Peak

Really, did you this week wouldn't be about Halloween?

I've trawled through my collection and found some fabulous Halloween colours. There's a mix of the dark and vampy with some colours that just suit this time of year.

Let me ask you guys something. Many of you are mums, or you're still young enough, to perhaps relate to my current dilemma.

My four year old wants to do Trick or Treat this year. He even has his Spiderman outfit all sorted. Now, in Australia, celebrating Halloween is a very recent thing. Not alot of people celebrate it, and some even violently reject the event as 'Americanism'. Thankfully, my street has a alot of young children so we've all agreed to make it a community event.

My question is, for all you seasoned Trick or Treaters, how do you ensure your kids have a great time but are still safe? What are your 'rules' for your kids? Do you allow them to eat lollies that aren't in a wrapper? How do you make sure they don't eat too much? I am a total Halloween novice.

Sunday Sneak Peak

I was going to make this week all about the glitter. I even had a great name to celebrate my love of all things sparkly - Bling It On.

That was before my butter LONDON Fall 2009 collection arrived in the post. Since it landed on my doorstep, I haven't stopped playing with it. I love love love this collection. The quality. The colours. The longevity (I wore a manicure for four days last week using two of the colours and it didn't chip, wear or shift). The fact that it's three free. Outstanding.

So, this week will be dedicated to butter LONDON's Fall 2009 collection. However, this week won't be about straight swatches (although there are those). This collection is amazing when it's mixed and match with the Konad. Each day, I'll bring you a basic swatch AND akonad-icure using another lacquer from the collection.

I can't guarantee success every day - indeed, knowing how terrible I am with the Konad, there's bound to be a disaster somewhere along the line - but I'm hoping there will be some great color collaborations.

Suffice to say, I am now lemming butter LONDON lacquers something fierce. Indeed, I've scheduled a little 'field trip' in a week's time to visit a store here in Melbourne, Klein's Perfumery, that stocks a limited range. My mission: to obtain the shade, Muggins. This lavender hue features heavily in my dreams at the moment. I won't rest until I have it.

PS. I just got onto Asos in the UK who are stocking the butter LONDON Christmas Edition and, yep, you guessed it, I couldn't resist and bought all three. I am having them delivered to my lovely English mother in law, who will be visiting Australia in three weeks, and will bring them out with her. I also bought some Ciate Paint Pots. Uh, I think I may have an addiction!

Sunday Sneak Peak

This week's theme is 'My Favourite Things' (hence the photo of Maria from The Sound of Music) featuring my all time favourite lacquers.

Those bottles that I reach for when I'm feeling indecisive because I know they will look good. The hues that never fail. The quality that never falters. In short, the lacquers that I love with a passion.

Rather than let you guys know which ones they are today, I'm going to keep you guessing this week. Each day, I'll count down my favourite colours until Friday, where I will reveal my most beloved lacquer.

There is a mix of colours. Some are old colours. Some are brand new. And, for the first time on YGN, you will get to see the 'big boys' of the lacquer world - OPI and China Glaze. I can't believe I haven't swatched any of them as yet.

I would love to know what your Top 5 polishes are. What are those colours you just can't live without?