GETTING TO KNOW . . . . . SCRANGIE

SCRANGIE
Who doesn't already know about this wonderful blog? Not many in the nail polish world, anyway. Well below you just might find out a few things you didn't know about Scrangie, the lady behind the nails. Enjoy!


1. How or why did you start your blog?
I started my blog because none of my friends wanted to hear me ramble on about makeup. I've always been totally obsessed with beauty products of all types and I wanted an outlet to talk about the things I liked and didn't like and to talk to other people who liked the same things.

2. How did you come up with the name for your blog?
You know, I'm not sure my blog even has a name. Haha! It's just my name- Scrangie. Creative, right? One of these days I should name it.

3. How many bottles of NP do you own?
I have never actually counted. I can really only estimate... I'd have to say over 3,000. But based on how many pictures I've taken compared to how many polishes I've not photographed, it may be even more than that. What can I say, I like to collect things.

4. How do you store you NP?
I use plastic Sterilite drawer units- the big ones with four large drawers. I have also recently obtained a few 'Helmer' file cabinets from Ikea and I'm thinking of switching over to those because they take up less space. I like the Sterilite ones better because I can find things easier in them and they're sturdier, but they're quite bulky. I also have a few large wall racks and table racks, but I prefer the drawers.

5. What’s the most you have ever paid for a bottle of NP and was it worth it?
Hmm... That's a good question. I think it was Chanel Gold Fiction, $30? No, totally not worth it, but I got sucked in by the hype! It's a gorgeous polish and all, but... It's just gold polish.

6. How much would you say you spend on NP a month?
Enough ;-)

7. How do you feel about fake nails?
I love 'em. I don't personally like to wear them because I find them very uncomfortable and a pain in the rear, but I'm definitely not biased against them. They take a lot of skill and artistry to do right and I have a lot of admiration for all of the super talented nail techs out there. And I love wacky over the top acrylic nail art.

8. If you had to get rid of all your NP and could only keep 5 bottles, which ones would you choose? (It has to NP you already own)
Oh man, this question makes me break out in a cold sweat! This is a really hard one. I'd have to say... Clarins 230, OPI My Private Jet (the original charcoal version!), NARS Zulu and my original bottles of Maybelline Fairy Pretty and Wet n Wild Blackest Green. A combination of color and nostalgia for all of those.

9. Do you Franken your own NP?
I do on occasion. I have a lot of fun doing it, but I always have to buy extra bottles of polish to use for frankenpolish because I don't like dumping out my bottles. I also like to turn MAC pigments into polish by adding them to clear, if that counts as frankening!

10. What is your favorite brand of NP and why?
Oh no... I can't pick a favorite! They all have their advantages and disadvantages. Am I allowed to say 1990's Sally Hansen or Maybelline? Not the Sally Hansen or Maybelline that exist now... But the ones that used to make awesome colorful creative polishes instead of eight million sheer pinks. Otherwise I like China Glaze and Nubar for the colors and creativity, OPI for the brush, Illamasqua and Rescue Beauty Lounge for the formula and Misa, Essie and Zoya for the pretty-looking bottles that fit so nicely on polish racks.

11. What is the best NP advice/tip/trick you have ever gotten?
Quick dry topcoat! It changed my life. I can't imagine not using a quick dry topcoat. I started out on Seche Vite and Poshe, and now I'm trying every other kind I can get my hands on.

12. Do you have a significant other and/or any kids?
Yep- I am married, but no children!

13. What other hobbies do you have?
My next biggest obsession after polish is music. I also enjoy cooking, video games, bird watching and reading.

14. What is your favorite food?
Anything my mom makes! I love mom food, it's the best. Or paprika schnitzel from my favorite restaurant. I don't think I can pick one favorite. My tastes change with my mood, just like with polish!

15. If you could spend a day with anyone, who would it be and why?
Oliver Riedel and... no comment. Heh.

16. What is something about you that most people don’t know?
Ooh, I have to think about this one... Does being left-handed count? No? How about... I have telephone phobia. The telephone freaks me out. I can't talk on it... I can't answer it... When it rings, I panic! If I have to call somewhere to do something, it'll go un-done forever. My cell phone plan has the lowest number of minutes I could get and you would not believe how many rollover minutes I have... haha!

GETTING TO KNOW.....KRONICLES OF A KONADER

I know, it's been awhile since I have done one of these! In the past I have featured mostly people that have had blogs for a while and are pretty well known. But today I want to feature some one that is fairly new to the blogging world. I just think Christy is super amazing. As soon as I found her blog I just loved it. I am always so intrigued by blogs that don't follow the norm, and Christy's certainly doesn't. She isn't your average girl - and I find that so interesting!! If you haven't been by KRONICLES OF A KONADER, then you are missing out. Not to fear, just CLICK THIS LINK and you will magically be transported there :)


Thanks so much for doing this Christy!! You are my blog sister already :)
Look how stinkin' cute she is too!!

Check out her cool necklace and earrings! Her wonderful husband made these!!


1. How or why did you start your blog?

My Mom actually urged me to start a blog. I would always send her links to other blogs I followed showing her cool stuff, and she kept telling me I should really do one. That and I had a whole 15 minutes of free time before passing out from exhaustion at night, so I HAD to find something to use that time for! :)

2. How did you come up with the name for your blog?

I really Love the how cute KonADDICT and KONADomania's blog names are, and wanted something showing that my blog would be Konad-centic, so I was playing with all these names and Kronicles of a Konad-er just popped in my head. I signed up using it before I could change my mind about liking it!


3. How many bottles of NP do you own?

I counted last night! 178. Seems like a TON to me, but I know it's nothing compared to a lot of people.

4. How do you store you NP?

I have 3 Rubbermaid style containers, And I sort the bottles by color. I used to store them by Brand, but found that it just didn't make sense to me. I go looking for a Purple, or a Blue, not a China Glaze or a OPI.

5. What’s the most you have ever paid for a bottle of NP and was it worth it?

Thankfully not much at all, I think $9 for an OPI "My Private Jet". No it was NOT worth it. It's not the holo version, which I couldn't tell in the store, and it's not a charcoal color, its a funky purple-grey-brown.

6. How much would you say you spend on NP a month?

This varies greatly, depending on finances, but I'd say an average of $25.

7. How do you feel about fake nails?

I love 'em! and I have them! My natural nails are just very thin, very weak, and very slow growing. Combine that with the hazards of working on engines and cars, and loading weigh plates on barbells, and it's hostile territory for naturals nails. Acrylics allow me to have longer nails than I could every achieve on my own.

8. If you had to get rid of all your NP and could only keep 5 bottles, which ones would you choose? (It has to NP you already own)

Wow, Hard question! Hmmm...
China Glaze "Ruby Pumps"
China Glaze "For Audrey"
China Glaze "Caribbean Temptation""
China Glaze "Millennium"
China Glaze "LOL"
Wow, that was super hard!

9. Do you Franken your own NP?

Yup! I'd say about half the time it comes out good! I'm not yet a franken master!

10. What is your favorite brand of NP and why?

China Glaze because their color and finish variety is so vast. And their formula is consistently good.

11. What is the best NP advice/tip/trick you have ever gotten?

To not polish all the way to the cuticles, leave a gap. That has made such a HUGE difference in now "polished" (no pun intended) my manicure looks.

12. Where do you live? (City and or State)

I live in the Mountains about 20 minutes away from Harrisonburg, Virginia, in the Shenandoah Valley. This time of year is my favorite around here. The leaves are incredible!

13. What do you do for a living?

I am the Office Manager for a Locally owned Wireless Internet Service Provider. My Husband and I also own our own business, building Hot Rods and Race cars (drag racing, not Nascar), so I'm also Business Manager of that as well.

14. Do you have a significant other and/or any kids?

I've been Very happily married for 3 1/2 years now. Seems longer, but in a good way! We don't have any kids yet, life has been just one thing after another since we got married, but it's finally started to slow down a bit, so soon maybe.

15. What other hobbies do you have?

My Husband and I are Powerlifters, so we train a few hours a day 3 to 5 days a week. I also love building engines, and will be starting on the engine for my 1963 Fairlane here before long! I love cooking, playing with makeup, jewelry making, playing with our various animals, and reading too!
And there's nothing better than a weekend motorcycle ride to just relax!

16. What is your favorite food?

Hmmm, another hard one! I LOVE food! My family is Italian, so loving food is in my DNA! I'd have to say my Mom's Lasagna. You seriously don't wanna know how much this thing weighs! It's ridiculous!
Cheese in general would be a close second!

17. What is your best memory?

Really any memory involving being in the kitchen with my Mom and Grandmother!

18. What is your best and worst quality?

Worst...I can get overwhelmed sometimes, with just bills, and the negative all around me, and can get depressed, and have a hard time seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.
Best...No matter how bad my day is I make a conscious effort not to take it out on others, and to be smiling and cheerful, no matter what. It isn't anyone's fault I'm having a bad day, so why be snotty, all that does is make me feel worse and make someone else feel bad too.

19. If you could spend a day with anyone, who would it be and why?

I'd love to have another day with my mother-in-law. There's so many things I wish I could have asked her before she passed away.

20. What is something about you that most people don’t
know?

I may not look it, but I Bench Press over 205lbs!

GETTING TO KNOW.....VAMPY VARNISH

Wow, it's been a long time since I have done one of these, huh?! Today I bring to you Kelly from Vampy Varnish. Kelly's website is really great about bring swatches of brand new collections for us all to ohhh and ahhh over. She is also good about bringing otherwise unknown (at least to me) brands to my attention.

1. How or why did you start your blog?

I started Vampy Varnish because I needed a creative outlet outside of work. I love writing, taking photos and nail polish so I combined the three and came up with Vampy Varnish!

2. How did you come up with the name for your blog?

Well I have always loved the so called "vampy" colors (dark ones) the best and I love the word varnish because it's so British sounding, so I put them together. I also love that they both start with the same letter so I can use "VV". Yes, I am a word nerd :)

3. How many bottles of NP do you own?

Currently I am at around 900!

4. How do you store you NP?

I have large 4 drawer rolling plastic carts from Target that I use. I have 3 of them almost completely full now and they are kept in the hubbie's closet ;-)

5. What’s the most you have ever paid for a bottle of NP and was it worth it?

Oh man I am sickened to say this but...$36 bucks (not including shipping) for a bottle of OPI Rainforest Green on eBay. What can I say, I just needed to possess it!


6. How much would you say you spend on NP a month?

I think I probably spend about $100 bucks on average.


7. How do you feel about fake nails?

Not a fan. I can say this with authority because I was sucked into acrylic nails for probably 8 years or so back in my 20's. The main reason I got them was because polish would NOT stay on my nails longer than a day without chipping unless I had acrylic. My main problem with acrylics (and gels, silk wraps, etc.) is that they ALWAYS look fake. No matter how short or thin they may be, they just look like fake nails and that's just not flattering on anyone.


8. If you had to get rid of all your NP and could only keep 5 bottles, which ones would you choose? (It has to NP you already own)

China Glaze Wagon Trail, OPI Ink, OPI Who Are You Wearing?, LA Girl Rockstar and OPI You Don't Know Jacques!


9. Do you Franken your own NP?

You know I never have but I really would like to try! I need some empty bottles first, I don't think I have ever gone through a whole bottle before!


10. What is your favorite brand of NP and why?

This is the hardest question here! I am going to go with OPI and here is why: They have a huge range of colors, the formula on most of them is pretty great, they are easy to find and are relatively inexpensive. I love that they are venturing into edgier colors now and away from the constant flow of reds pinks and nudes. Some of my fav polishes ever are OPI's so I guess that makes them #1 in my book.


11. What is the best NP advice/tip/trick you have ever gotten?

I once read that it's easier to file and shape your nails when you already have nail polish on because you can see the tip and shape better. It's SO true. I always file my nails now with color on. Also I only use glass nail files, they totally rock because they are less harsh on the nail, you get less snags and (unless you break them) they last forever!

12. Where do you live?

Bay Area, CA


13. What do you do for a living?

I'm an Executive Assistant at a large Biotech company


14. Do you have a significant other and/or any kids?

I am married with an 11 year old step-daughter, 3 furry cats and 1 sweet old dog


15. What other hobbies do you have?

I read a ton, whether it's books (Kindle or paper), magazines or blogs. I am a TV freak (fav shows include 30 Rock, The Office, Better Off Ted, Rescue Me, True Blood, The Tudors, Damages, CSI, Law & Order, Gossip Girl, I could go on forever...) I love taking photos and am getting really into photography lately. Also I'm not only into nail polish, I'm a makeup freak in general since I started wearing it at age 13. I have a pretty large collection of MAC and other brands. Oh I also love baking and am especially a HUGE cupcake fanatic!


16. What is your favorite food?

Italian food gets me every time. Deep down I'm an old woman from Sicily :)


17. What is your best memory?

I would have to say my wedding day. I got married just over two years ago on the beach at sunset in Hawaii. It was a long time coming and it was fabulous!


18. What is your best and worst quality?

Best quality is I have an eagle eye for spelling errors all over the place; books, menus, signs, websites, etc. Worst quality is I tend to get caught up in smaller details sometimes not seeing the larger picture


19. If you could spend a day with anyone, who would it be and why?

Heather Armstrong from Dooce.com. I totally love her! She is an amazingly talented (and hugely successful) blogger/writer and photographer. I would love to pick her brain and find out what makes her tick. Oh and I would also love to meet her dog Chuck :)


20. What is something about you that most people don’t know?

When I was ages 10-13 I ice skated a lot. I'm talking I took classes 3-4 days a week from various different types of skating teachers. I didn't even have to taken PE in school because I skated so much! I wanted to be in the Olympics, but then I turned into a teenager and gave it all up

Thank you so much Kelly for taking the time to answer all these questions!

MEET STEPH FROM NAIL JUICE

Like I said, I could not get blogger to upload the pictures of Steph to accompany her Getting To Know feature, but I believe it was just with that one post as I just uploaded some pictures. So I am just going to post her pictures here and provide a link to the original post.

Steph's cat, Bella

Steph and her Significant Other

GETTING TO KNOW.....NAIL JUICE

GETTING TO KNOW.....NAIL JUICE

Today I have featured for you Steph from Nail Juice. I really enjoy her blog and have been reading it from day one. Steph has recently started attending nail school, so her blog is filled with all of the cool things she has learned at school. Of course, she still has her amazing swatches and nail art pictures as always! Thank you Steph for doing this!

(I have some pictures to post with this aswell, but blogger is being a pain right now, I will get them up as soon as possible though)


1. How or why did you start your blog?
I started one because I was so inspired by everyone's NOTD posts on their blogs, I was also trying to grow my nails too, so it was sort of like a good motivation to do it and not bite them n_n
2. How did you come up with the name for your blog?
Hehe It was the name of my make believe company at school when I was doing art design, a few people said they liked the name - so here it is! :D

3. How many bottles of NP do you own?
My stash always stays over the 100 mark, but its changing quite frequently so I never really know hehe. I think last time I counted it was 140ish.

4. How do you store you NP?
In a cosmetics trolley. Because I love to see everything at once and have it all displayed nicely. At the moment its all higildy pigildy, I have been sorting through the stash trying to cull some. Oh! It has three... levels if you will, and on the top level it has little separated areas so I have areas for my top/base coats, remover stuff, untrieds, nail stickers... hmm... I think thats all.

5. What’s the most you have ever paid for a bottle of NP and was it worth it?
I think the most was $30NZ ($15US), but that isn't really too much I think. $50 would be my tops, and it would have to be an all time lemming (which I don't have lol yet).

6. How much would you say you spend on NP a month?
I used to spend about $50NZ ($25US) or so dollars a month, but thats when I had a lot of disposable income. Now its pretty much about $5 a month, if that. It feels like forever since I made an order! I am ordering those Zoya Mattes no matter what.

7. How do you feel about fake nails?
Well after making them and wearing them for about 5 weeks... they really aren't as bad as I thought they would be. I used to think, acrylics are really horrible for your nails. But they really aren't. All they do is scratch up the top layer - no damage, and you can buff that away and it'll grow out over time too :) So how I feel about them now is quite different, I like how you can make up a nail just like that to match your own if it broke or something. They are really strong too! Although saying all this, I will be going back to natural very shortly. Just because I prefer the feel of them, they don't melt with remover as well.

8. If you had to get rid of all your NP and could only keep 5 bottles, which ones would you choose? (It has to NP you already own)
1 - Color Club Pure Energy
2 - OPI Earthquake!
3- OPI Play Till Midnight
4 - China Glaze Awaken
5 - MAC Peppermint Patti

9. Do you Franken your own NP?
Sure do, but I haven't really got into it that much. I have made about 7 I think. My mum owns most of them hehe.

10. What is your favorite brand of NP and why?
Probably the ones I own most of, OPI. The formula seems to be great (most of the time) and they bring out really lovely colours. But then again I absolutely love the Color Clubs I have, their formula is great 100% of the time and has no baddies. Its a tie :D

11. What is the best NP advice/tip/trick you have ever gotten?
Hmm probably just to wrap my tips when polishing. Helps prevent chips, and also usually stops shrinkage from using a fast dry top coat.

12. Where do you live?
Auckland, New Zealand.

13. What do you do for a living?
Student, studying to be a nail tech, then to be a makeup artist, then to be a fashion designer. No desk job for me :D Well unless you call a manicure table a desk...

14. Do you have a significant other and/or any kids?
Yep :) One significant other. Hopefully moving in with him soon in a month or so. No kids, well I do have a cat, Bella, who has me running around after her.

15. What other hobbies do you have?
Drawing, designing and make-up. Make-up not really that much, but its growing!

16. What is your favorite food?
Teriyaki chicken on rice. I love the Japanese.

17. What is your best memory?
Probably when my sister and I first got our kittens. We had no idea what cats were like as we had always had a dog. They were surprising us everyday with how high they could jump, and how much they talk to/hassle you n_n

18. What is your best and worst quality?
I think my best would probably be punctuality, i'm never really late. Which is always good :)

My worst is probably, gosh, I have so many lol. No self control is probably the worst, I always tell myself "stop eating m&ms! Stop eating takeaways!"... well the takeaways has stopped a little but the m&ms haven't.

19. If you could spend a day with anyone, who would it be and why?
My bestfriend from high school, Vero. We got along so well, played survival horror games after school in the darkness... good times, would love to see what shes up to :)

20. What is something about you that most people don’t know?
How to spell my name. I don't really blame them though as I introduce myself as Steph, not as Stephani n_n

GETTING TO KNOW.....NEVER TOO MUCH GLITTER

Good Monday morning ladies! Today I have another blogger I would like to feature in the Getting To Know Series. Today's blogger is one of my favorite blogs and also a lady I consider a friend. It is none other than Jen of Never Too Much Glitter. Jen has yet to cease surprising me! When I first found her blog I assumed that she was Japanese because that is where she is located, only to find out that she is American - surprise! Jen I think could franken ANY color requested. I know I asked her to franken a H2F China Glazes - Dorothy Who? - and I think she nailed it dead on! I just think she is fabulous - and not just because she made it possible for me to get my beloved TiNS either! I think I was most shocked though to find out that Jen skateboards in her free time, something I never would have guessed. I think this interview so far has held the most unknown information and from a blogger that I chat with in comments and emails frequently. So keep the surprises coming Jen and thank you for doing this, I really appreciate it :)

***EDIT***
Jen just added a little bit more info about herself and Japan life over on her blog - it's really full of some quite interesting info. CLICK HERE to be directed to the post.

1. How or why did you start your blog?
Nail polish in Japan was so expensive that I knew I couldn't buy all the bottles I wanted! OPI is around $20 US and that's the main foreign brand here. Japanese brands are around $10-15 each. Instead of buying every shade I wanted, I decided to do some mixing to see what would happen. I found that I could duplicate almost any shade I wanted!

I found that a lot of people didn't know that you could mix nail polishes. Even my more adventurous friends thought that mixing polish could cause some kind of explosion. My blog aims to show the world otherwise!

2. How did you come up with the name for your blog?
I love shiny stuff of all sorts. I also do other kinds of arts and crafts in addition to nails, and I have a lot of supplies in my small apartment. I was at the craft store looking at glitter with my guy, and he jokingly said, "Don't you have enough?" Of course I told him that there's never too much glitter!

3. How many bottles of NP do you own?
About 250.

4. How do you store you NP?
I sort it by color in plastic boxes. Some people store by brand, but that won't work for me as I need specific colors to be handy while frankening.

5. What’s the most you have ever paid for a bottle of NP and was it worth it?
I paid $10 plus shipping for a bottle of Nfu'Oh 60- black with rainbow flakies. The $10 I paid for the blue creme from Nfu'Oh- not really worth it.

6. How much would you say you spend on NP a month?
Yikes! I usually do a giant online haul every 3-4 months and spend around $200, so that's $800 a year, plus goodies I pick up in Japan....probably $30 month....the total works out to about $100 per month. Plus decals and glittery bits and rhinestones...oh, I don't even want to think about it.

7. How do you feel about fake nails?
It really depends. For myself, I can't wear them because I type a lot and it would drive me crazy. I do see them as an art form- especially here in Japan, the home of crazy nails. When they're done well, they have a certain attitude that I can appreciate, though I wouldn't wear them. But when they're done bad...ugh! Chunky hideous pink and white French tips are the worst. But some people can pull even them off!

8. If you had to get rid of all your NP and could only keep 5 bottles, which ones would you choose?
Well, with red, blue, yellow, and white and black, I can make almost any color at all!In my franken stash, a good medium red (Essie Jelly Apple), deep blue (Orly Star of Bombay) and yellow (OPI Need Sunglasses?) are three of the ones I reach for the most.

9. Do you Franken your own NP?
Heck yeah!

10. What is your favorite brand of NP and why?
Color Club because it's vegan and cruelty-free- and they answered my inquiry about animal testing the same day I sent it! CC is great for frankening because it's fairly opaque and not expensive.

11. What is the best NP advice/tip/trick you have ever gotten?

Whatever color or crazy nail art you wear, wear it with confidence! Actually, this applies to all fashion.

12. Where do you live?

Tokyo, Japan, but I was born in Connecticut, and went to university in Taiwan, Massachusetts, and Hawaii.

13. What do you do for a living?

Translator/office monkey by day, one woman art factory by night.

14. Do you have a significant other and/or any kids?

One sweet guy, no kids.

15. What other hobbies do you have?
Travelling, painting, drawing, printmaking, photography, scrapbooking, making jewelry, skateboarding and motorcycle riding. I have one accidental hobby: irritating Japanese people. I don't always mean to, but it seems I'm good at it. I live in a very old-fashioned area of Tokyo with few foreigners, and I really stick out a lot. Unfortunately, a lot of older people really dislike Americans. But I'm going to win them over with my funky nails! There's an old guy working at the 7-11 who seems to appreciate them. He oohs and aahs over them like a girl!

16. What is your favorite food?

I'm a big fan of sushi- there's more to it than raw fish! Nothing like a nice sushi roll with pickled eggplant, cucumber, and avocado.

17. What is your best memory?

I'm lucky enough to have a lot! Childhood memories: riding in my dad's red truck- he would let me get a soda pop and a candy bar before dinner. Travel memories- the first time I snorkeled in Hawaii, a place where fish actually lived (my hometown in Connecticut wasn't exactly an aquatic paradise), watching the sunrise in Laos...there's a lot of great memories.

18. What is your best and worst quality?

Being a slightly compulsive perfectionist, as you guys probably already know from my frankens. I have learned that it's OK if everything is not perfect, but that lesson came pretty slowly.

19. If you could spend a day with anyone, who would it be and why?

Hmm, it would have to be someone funny. Probably Shaun White, pro skateboarder/snowboarder. I actually met him a couple times, and he was great. Skateboarding lessons from Shaun White for a day would be a good time.

20. What is something about you that most people don’t know?
I feel guilty eating those chocolate Easter bunnies- you know- the hollow ones made of really awful chocolate for kids. When I got them in my Easter basket as a kidlet, I made beds for them in a shoebox and put them in my sock drawer. They stayed there for a very long time and didn't change shape at all. My mother told me she used to chomp the ears off viciously and fill the body with milk and drink it. I was totally horrified that my mom was such a savage. I still can't eat those bunnies.

GETTING TO KNOW.....POLISH PIXIE

That's right, it's time for another addition to the ever popular Getting To Know..... series! This time we focus on a little lady simply known as "Polish Pixie". This woman gets more nail polish and makeup hauls than anyone I have ever seen in my life!!!! I practically have a part time job helping Pix out with all of her haulage !! Yes, it's that massive :) There is but one thing larger and more massive than her hauls - her gigantic thumb!!! This monster has been captured a few times on camera, but not many. It's pretty amazing how elusive something as big as that can be! I was hoping that she would have included some measurements or a picture, but she didn't, bummer man! The legend lives on. . . .
She was kind enough to include some other pics, so please enjoy ladies!

***EDIT***
I almost forgot to include this fun fact!! Polish Pixie sent me my konad kit! I had been oogling all of her pics and whining about how I wanted one on her blog - DAILY. Finally fed up with all my comments, she sent me my first Konad kit! I think we ALL know how I feel about my Konad, so I am forever grateful to you Polish Pixie for my best NP gift ever!!!






1. How or why did you start your blog?

I realized I was posting a lot of NOTD pictures of MakeupAlley, so I figured I might as well put them in a blog. At that point I was already reading Stephanie's blog (PolishAddict) and I thought (and still think!) that it was the bomb. I knew that I wouldn't be able to show the newest releases or swatches of all the collections, but I thought of it as sort of a NOTD album. I enjoy reading other people's NOTD posts, so I figured I might as well give it a try :)

2. How did you come up with the name for your blog?

I really wanted to name it something with "Polish" in the name, and the other word had to start with a "p" because I figured that would sound cool. I never really thought much about Polish being a nationality too. Every time my boy friend sees me writing on the blog he yells "Polish Pixie" in his fake Polish accent.....

3. How many bottles of NP do you own?

Honestly, I have no idea. I don't keep track (which leads to quite a few duplicate purchases). I'd guess around 300.

4. How do you store you NP?

Errrrr..... you know..... just around (see attached photos). I don't organize it in any way.

5. What’s the most you have ever paid for a bottle of NP and was it worth it?

Not that much. Probably $20 for a swatched Oops J! polish. I think it was probably worth it, but I haven't used it yet!

6. How much would you say you spend on NP a month?

Ummm, I'm not really good with budgets. A lot? Mostly because shipping to Denmark is so expensive.

7. How do you feel about fake nails?

I've never worn them, but if they are done well I like the look. I love square nails and the fake nails often seem to have that pretty, square shape.

8. If you had to get rid of all your NP and could only keep 5 bottles, which ones would you choose? (It has to NP you already own)

Oh crap. Umm well... keeping in mind that I don't really know which polishes I own, I would keep Misa The Grass is Greener on my Side for sure. Then maybe China Glaze Ruby Pumps, Nfu-Oh #64, Nubar Purple Beach, OPI You Don't Know Jacques. If you ask me tomorrow I'll probably give you a different answer.

9. Do you Franken your own NP?

Yes, and it looks like poop. (Poop with glitter, but still poop).

10. What is your favorite brand of NP and why?

Misa! The formula and colors are fantastic. The price is great too.

11. What is the best NP advice/tip/trick you have ever gotten?

Use felt instead of cotton balls for removing nail polish (especially glitter) and eat broccoli.

12. Where do you live?

Fredensborg, Denmark <---- This is where the Danish Crown Prince lives too btw. Woot! 13. What do you do for a living?


I'm a chemical engineer/physical chemist. I work for a medical device company.


14. Do you have a significant other and/or any kids?


My boy friend of 10 years, 2 cats, a gerbil, and a snail that I found in my mom's bathroom. The snail will be released into the wild when the weather gets a bit better. I'd like to have lots more pets, but the boy friend doesn't believe in turning the house into a zoo. I want to get a goat at some point, but I think that will take more persuasion.

15. What other hobbies do you have?


I'm sort of nerdy so I like science, computer games, comic books, stuff like that. I'm very interested in environmental protection and animal rights (though not the crazy PETA version). I also like to cook (and eat). My favorite hobby is sleeping and I spend quite a lot of time doing so.


16. What is your favorite food?


I don't eat it much because I'm trying to be healthy, but I love really fatty foods. I could eat french fries every day. Whenever I go to the UK I eat a ton of fish'n'chips.


17. What is your best memory?


I don't really tend to remember very far back, though usually every day at work, I have an awesome memory of my lunch. Our cafeteria is amazing.


18. What is your best and worst quality?


Ohhh. Hard to pick ;) I'm sort of an arrogant, sarcastic, evil bitch, but I think my worst quality is that I am almost completely unable to admit that I'm wrong (not that I've ever been wrong, but you know....if it ever happened) The best: I'm highly entertaining.


19. If you could spend a day with anyone, who would it be and why?


I think I'd like to have lunch with Mr. Obama. I've got a few tips for him (and clearly a grossly inflated opinion of myself)


20. What is something about you that most people don’t know?


I've never had a professional mani or pedicure. The thought of someone touching my nails or filing them scares the crap out of me.




Thank you Pixie for sharing your answers and your photos!!

GETTING TO KNOW.....NIXXY'S NAILS

Ladies I have a real treat for today's installment of Getting To Know.....! I *LOVED* Nixxy's answers to the questions, they were very thorough and very funny. I especially like her answer to how does she feel about fake nails.

I have been following Nixxy's blog for a while, but it was her post on her ODE TO ZOYA ROXY that really got me hooked on her blog! Nixxy has also got me hooked on Summer Heights High - I'm totally in LOVE with Mr. G! I swear Nixx I had a dream last night about that damn show and I was singing "She's a naughty girl, with a bad habit, bad habit for drugs" - lmao!

If you all don't know about Nixxy's blog you can check her out HERE.

I also request that any blogger doing the "getting to know" series to attach a picture (childhood, grownup or both) with their survey, but of course it isn't required, so you will notice that is the only change from the first Getting To Know I did.


Enjoy and THANK YOU Nixxy for doing this!!


1. How or why did you start your blog?

Steph over at Nail Juice is completely to blame! I had actually emailed her about finding a 3-free dupe of CG’s For Audrey after ordering it at great expense from America and then finding out I was allergic to it. I mentioned I was getting some Zoyas. She replied that she’d like to see some photos when I got them. When I DID get them, I thought – “I couldn't find any swatches of these colours on the net – maybe more people than Steph would be interested?”

So I set up a page, posted the photos and told Steph “They’re over thataway!” Pretty soon I worked out not only was I one of a few Aussies with a nail blog, I was the only one in the world (apologies if I’m wrong) who seemed to feature ONLY Formaldehyde free polish.
“Aha!” said I, “A niche! I shall fill said niche and become…a niche-filler! I shall help other people like me!” And so it was.
Hard to believe that was almost exactly six months ago – now I can’t imagine not having the blog and all the wonderful people I’ve met through it!

2. How did you come up with the name for your blog?

Well “Nixxy” actually came about cos my name is Vanessa, but the personal Live Journal blog I had at the time wouldn’t let me use Ness, Nessa, Nessy-Noo, Loch Ness Monster, or any other version of my name – they were all taken. So I fell on Nixxy cos it was similar to Nessy and I have a thing for mythology. The Nix is a kind of water spirit/mermaid in some cultures. And “Nyx” is Greek goddess of the night. Apparently she used to get drunk on honey, which -

1 – Sounds totally bitchin’!
2 – Makes me want to know what the hell those bees were feeding off?? Maybe there were Heineken bushes back in those days?
3 – Sounds kinda sticky…
4 - Makes me wonder what a Honey Hangover is like...

So anyway, I just automatically decided to use it for my polish blog – which was just as well because soon enough there was a Vanessa and a Nessa hangin’ around and that would’ve made things triply confusing ☺

So it was the simple application of “Nixxy” to “Nails”, and a name was born. I could’ve gone all out and called it “Nixxy’s Pimptastic Nailgasmic Emporium of Wonders”, but obviously I was having an off day…

3. How many bottles of NP do you own?

Including multiple clear polishes/top coats – 113! I’m really surprised at that. Then I have almost 30 other polishes stockpiled to be sold/rehoused that I can’t wear due to my allergy.

4. How do you store your NP?

In a big gift box I bought from work. I’ve recently had to upgrade to a bigger size ☺

5. What’s the most you have ever paid for a bottle of NP and was it worth it?

(AUS) $32.30 (about $23 US dollars) plus shipping EACH for 2 N’fu Oh Holo polishes. And hell yeah! But would I do it again? Probably not.

6. How much would you say you spend on NP a month?

At the mo – nothing! I’m tapped out. My writing contracts tend to get paid in lump sums as I finish them, so I usually buy a big haul when a pay cheque comes in. Whenever that is. Luckily I’ve won some and got free samples of others!
The other alternative is my “Starving Artist Fund” change collection, which adds up pretty quickly.
Seeing as how most of my polish has to be bought overseas, it all costs a lot with shipping and the exchange rate. Therefore it requires a little extra budgeting.

7. How do you feel about fake nails?

Scared. Sometimes a little sleepy.

8. If you had to get rid of all your NP and could only keep 5 bottles, which ones would you choose? (It has to NP you already own)

Zoya Roxy, BB Couture Hermosa Surfer Girl, N’fu #51, N’fu #61, Maybelline Mirror Image. And if I could add one more? Maybelline Red Comet (as a dupe for CG’s Ruby Pumps, which I’m allergic to).

Notice they’re all glitters/holos....

9. Do you Franken your own NP?

Hell yes! With my allergies, it’s become a necessity. My holy grails are to get a match for OPI DS Extravagance and CG’s For Audrey.

10. What is your favorite brand of NP and why?

Uhhhh…that’s really hard, cos you turn to different brands for different things. Also, I haven’t tried some brands like Nubar yet. I’m in a state of flux at the mo.
Of the brands I actually have – it used to be Zoya. I can use their entire back-catalogue of colours without fear of allergic reaction - but I have many bones to pick with them over their prices and availability in Australia. BB Couture is now starting to overtake Zoya in my affections at this moment.

11. What is the best NP advice/tip/trick you have ever gotten?

WEAR it! Honestly, the best way to grow your nails is to wear polish on them. Preferably glitters cos they’re really tough. Oh, can I have one more? Do thinner coats. I always had bubbles until I started doing thinner coats.

12. Where do you live? (City and or State)

In real life - Melbourne, Victoria – Australia.
In my head – Richard Armitage’s underpants. They’re not a country. They’re a state of mind.

13. What do you do for a living?

Well I do that really clichéd thing of the “artiste” with a day job! I’m a screenwriter, working mostly in TV and have at various times been able to make a solid full-time living at it. Unfortunately with the way the world is at the moment, combined with a move across the country, I’ve had to take on a part-time day job in (gasp!) retail to supplement my income.

14. Do you have a significant other and/or any kids?

No and No. I fully expect to be a crazy old lady with cats eating my desiccated corpse.

15. What other hobbies do you have?

Not much besides writing, reading and movies/TV. I have no life. I would love to dance again but that would require actually getting up in front of people.

16. What is your favorite food?

What ISN’T my favourite food? Any variation on chocolate is alright by me. Give me Mud Cake and I’ll be your bitch. If I had to choose a cuisine – Italian. And I take my Ramen noodles al dente, please.

18. What is your best and worst quality?

Apparently I’m too negative for my own good. I can never do anything well enough to be satisfied. Sometimes this spills into crippling insecurity, depression, shyness, pessimism and bouts of watching “Two and a Half Men” and actually laughing. But then again, it stops me from getting a swelled head.
Um. Best? Don’t really know. You might have to ask someone who’s not me! I’m very quiet and punctual…

19. If you could spend a day with anyone, who would it be and why?

Any of the guys from my MWCILTRMND articles – and the “why?”…you can’t print ;)

20. What is something about you that most people don’t know?

I wanted to be the world’s first Archaeologist-Ballerina as a kid. I was gonna discover Cleopatra's tomb in pointe shoes!

I would LOVE for you to include a picture of yourself for me to attach with this post! It could even be a baby pic. Of course, this is optional!! :)

Hehehe! I don’t “do” photos as such, I try to keep away from cameras as much as humanly possible! I have tried to destroy evidence on occasion as well (witness my mum discovering me burning my year 11 formal photos and freaking the hell out!). All my baby photos are on the other side of the country, too. The tiny photo on my blog required actual threats from a friend and 4 days of cajoling. But attached is a photo of me “Simpsonized” that’s actually a fairly accurate representation. I even had a top like that once…

There ya have it ladies! I wish I could air mail Nixxy to me!! lol She's just that great :)

GETTING TO KNOW.....THE POLISH ADDICT

Well ladies, this is my first post in a series where I am aiming to get to know the wonderful ladies behind the nails! I chose Stephanie for a couple of reasons. The Polish Addict was the second nail polish blog that I found, All Lacquered Up was the first. The Polish Addict is my favorite nail polish blog, hands down! Even just from reading her posts I can tell that Stephanie is a genuine person. When I first started my blog I had on my acrylics and had crappy pics and Steph was the first person to add me to her blog roll, and that really meant alot to me. I have always tried to have the same approach with any new blogs I come across to help spread the word, just like Stephanie did for me.


Thanks again to Stephanie for taking the time to answer these questions, I know there are alot, and some of them actually require a little thought before answering them, so Thank You!


1. How or why did you start your blog?
I developed this strange obsession with nail polish and I was trying to find some way to procrastinate studying for finals.

2. How did you come up with the name for your blog?
It’s really not very creative – my friends are always making fun of me for being so into nail polish and they started comparing my hobby to a heroin addiction. In some senses, it’s very true.

3. How many bottles of NP do you own?
Agh. I lost count recently due to computer failure (I keep a spreadsheet). I estimate it’s around 1500.

4. How do you store you NP?
I use a storage unit from Ikea called Helmer. They are seriously amazing, it’s almost like they are made for nail polish. After they were discovered on MUA, I’ve never gone back to sterilite bins.

5. What's the most you have ever paid for a bottle of NP and was it worth it?
I don’t have a hard limit of how much I could spend a bottle but I don’t think I’ve ever gone over 25 (including shipping)… except once and yes it was really worth it lol. It’s not something I do often. My really expensive bottles have usually been very thoughtful gifts.

6. How much would you say you spend on NP a month?
Ugh. I really have no idea and that’s probably not a good thing. I’ve really toned down my spenditures lately – I think my collection has reached critical mass and in general I’m being more responsible with my money.

7. How do you feel about fake nails?
I don’t have a problem with them. I really don’t understand all the hate.

8. lf you had to get rid of all your NP and would only keep 5 bottles, which ones would you choose? (lt has to NP you already own)
Ack. Ummm. Probably Color Club Revvvolution, RBL Recycle, RBL Dead Calm, Nars Zulu, and Clarins 230.

9. Do you Franken your own NP?
Very rarely. I always feel like I’m wasting the original color.

10. What is your favorite brand of NP and why?
I don’t really have a favorite brand per se right now. It used to be OPI but lately they’ve been dropping the ball when it comes to color. China Glaze probably has the most creative colors as of late so if pressed, I would say them.

11. What is the best nail advice/tip/trick you have ever gotten?
To get Seche Vite. It’s amazing and it changed my life.

12. Where do you live?
Florida

13. What do you do for a living?
I’m a law student but soon I’ll be a prosecutor.

14. Do you have a significant other and/or any kids?
I have a significant other, no kids though.

15.What other hobbies do you have?
Law school takes everything away but in a previous life I was an avid reader. I also really enjoy anime, manga, and supernatural horror movies.

16. What is your favorite food?
Definitely sushi.

17. What is your beet memory?
Tough one to answer… hmm… probably getting to ask Ruth Bader Ginsburg a question when she came to speak at my school. My heart nearly pounded out of my chest.

18.What is your best and worst quality?
Man these are tough. Best quality, I guess would be that I have an over developed sense of guilt so I’m really ethical about everything, even really silly things. Worst quality, I’m SUPER negative. I hate everything. : P

19. If you would spend a day with anyone, who would it, be and why?
I don’t really idolize anyone famous. But I’d actually like to meet Scrangie. We seem to have so much in common (it’s uncanny, really) and we’ve become pretty close online but we live so far away from each other. I think it’d be fun.

20. What is something about you that most people don't know?
I am horribly afraid of the dark and generally sleep with a TV on. It has to be a TV because night lights are scary too.


I don't know about you guys, but I found out some interesting stuff that I otherwise would never have known about Stephanie! You can check out Stephanie's blog The Polish Addict by clicking here!


If you are a blogger interested in participating in this post series, please contact me an let me know!