... Mario and Boo ...

It's not often I'll tackle a theme twice but I had so much fun with the AIPAS "Revenge of the Nerds" theme this week I wanted to do another. I really do love Boo from the Mario series. He does get forgotten about a bit behind all the other villain characters but I'm glad I had a chance to feature him.

The base for this mani is Pretty Serious Creature Crush which I guess is appropriate! It's an extremely pretty dark blue with black and silver glitter. I really like how the larger hex pieces are not overwhelming if you are like me and not a huge glitter fan. Sadly it's being discontinued so if this looks like a polish you need in your life, run over now to Pretty Serious and grab your bottle!

Boo is from the ever loved FUN3 stamping plate while Mario is from MoYou London - Back to the 90s 01. Both have been filled in using acrylic paint. Marios overalls got a tad smudged when placing the reverse stamping which is due to my impatience in not letting the paint dry! But who can blame me when this looks so good!

I've got big things planned for the 1st of June so I hope you pop back then to check it out!!

... AN Monday - Animal Print ...

YAY! AN Monday is back and I've combined it with the "Paint it Blue" theme for Autism Awareness. ASD is a big part of my daily life but I'll get onto that another day soon. Todays theme is Animal Print and I had a really hard time narrowing down my choices for this! Recently I had a bit of a complaint about striping tape hating me and someone kindly sent me some nail vinyls which appear to be all the rage lately!

I've chosen to use the stunning Pretty Serious Crystal Lake as the base with an unamed black on top covered with a matte top coat and I've used the zebra print nail vinyls. I think the blue and black works really well.

For a newbie I'm quite pleased with how these Zebra stripes turned out! They need work but compared to how much rage striping tape produces, I can see we will be friends.

And because I've had this in my head for the whole time I was doing this mani ... Sit back, relax and enjoy! Zebra Zebra Zebra!!!

Wanna see more Aussie Nails? Check out these links or check out #anmonday on Instagram!

Lily Jinks - @lilyandjinks

Ann - Nailovelogy

Tracy - @oliviajade19

Holly - @nails_by_holly

Naomi - @nadeekay and Nananaisnails

Erin Wu -  @erinzi and Erin Zi’s Nails

Elissa -@tenlittlenubs and Ten Little Nubs

Kate - Pimped Out Nails

Astrid - @lovessweetas

Sarah Claire - @shattermeclaire or Shatter me Claire

Julia - Fancy Nails and Cups of Tea

Sylvie - @smudgedpolish

Relle - @lazylacquerista or Lazy Lacquerista

Tammy - @ohmygoshpolish

Christinemay - @xtinemayyy or Nails at 2am

Tash Birch - @tashisdead

Nicki - @celestialcosmetics

Briana -

Loz - Polish Patterns

Kelly - @kellyskolors and Kelly's Kolors!

Tara - @lokislacquer or  Osiris and Loki paint their nails

... Aussie Nail Monday - Flowers ...

Hurrah! It's AN Monday again. Todays theme is "Flowers" and I've been thinking about this design all week and I'm so glad that it worked out.

This is Pretty Serious Forbidden Fruit with pretty reverse stamp flowers using Pretty Serious The Pink One! YAY!  Originally I was going to go for a rainbow of colours but who can say no to the beauty of this pink polish! So pretty. So summer!

I had to take advantage of the Aussie sunshine for the top photos! It's supposed to be rather hot today but I've been couped up inside for a week now and I wanted to get some fresh air! I love how striking the flowers are against the background and I really like how summery it feels! And here is an indoor shot for you aswell!

The best thing about reverse stamping is that you don't have to do it in one sitting. I did the flowers over a few days and I chose to use MoYou Suki Collection 01 plate.

Now these giant image plates have been released from MoYou with the idea that you can get a whole different look from each section of the plate.  All these flowers are the 3 on the bottom left of the plate. All of them!  After stamping them onto baking paper (ie wax paper) and filling in the colour, I individually cut them out and placed on my fingers. It was a bit fiddly but if you have a good pair of tweezers life is easier! I really recommend painting your nails with a regular top coat to hold them down when placing and when you are satisfied, go over the whole lot with your fave top coat (I used Seche Vite)

I'm glad I gave this a go as this is probably my fave mani this year! I'm definitely going to give the rest of the designs on this plate a go soon!

Wanna see more Aussie Nails? Check out these links or check out #anmonday on Instagram!

Lily Jinks - @lilyandjinks

Ann - Nailovelogy

Tracy - @oliviajade19

Holly - @nails_by_holly

Naomi - @nadeekay and Nananaisnails

Erin Wu -  @erinzi and Erin Zi’s Nails

Elissa -@tenlittlenubs and Ten Little Nubs

Kate - Pimped Out Nails

Astrid - @lovessweetas

Sarah Claire - @shattermeclaire or Shatter me Claire

Julia - Fancy Nails and Cups of Tea

Sylvie - @smudgedpolish

Relle - @lazylacquerista or Lazy Lacquerista

Tammy - @ohmygoshpolish

Christinemay - @xtinemayyy or Nails at 2am

Tash Birch - @tashisdead

Nicki - @celestialcosmetics

Briana -

Loz - Polish Patterns

Kelly - @kellyskolors and Kelly's Kolors!

Tara - @lokislacquer or  Osiris and Loki paint their nails

... Pretty Serious - Something Strange ...

I figured this was appropriate for the spooky season! Not a challenge today just something I've done myself.

If there's something strange in your neighbourhood?? Who you gonna call??  Really you should call the fantastic folks at Pretty Serious and get yourself a bottle of this beauty.

OK ... so I really wanted an excuse to do THIS! Mega mega glitter bomb in one coat!! WHY DIDN'T WE THINK OF THIS BEFORE!!

I've layered Something Strange over OPI Alpine Snow GelColor which I've been really trying to give a good workout too and the black is piCture pOlish black.

Yes the nail decal is crooked *sad face* so I need to work on my placement of decals.

I know many of you won't get this joke if you haven't seen the movie but it never fails to make me laugh!

Do ... Re ... Egon!

Before I go, I'll leave you with this! Surely I'm not the only one who played this game back in the day ... and could never finish it >:(

... We have a Winner!!! Pretty Serious Cosmetics Giveaway...

Hurrah!!! Thank you to everyone who entered the Pretty Serious giveaway I was holding combined with Nails in the Desert and The Polish Haven.

So congratulations to the winner Athanasia- she now has the choice of picking out some prettys from the fantastic range over at Pretty Serious Cosmetics! Hurrah!!

... Aussie Nails Monday - Favourite Brand featuring Pretty Serious Golden Ticket ...

And another Monday rolls on around! Todays theme is favourite brand. Yeah right - like I can narrow it down to one!!! Pffttt!

So I've simply gone for my favourite Australian Indie ... which is still a tough choice but there is only one brand that I've loved every polish that's come my way and that's Pretty Serious.

Recently this pretty came to visit my place ...

OMG!!!!!!! GOLDEN TICKET!!!!!!! *inserts squeals of delight here*

The beautiful Kristy over at The Polish Haven kindly let me do a mani from her precious super dooper limited bottle and I thank her so much as it really is gorgeous.

Anyone who knows me, knows that I'm not a huge glitter fan. I've tried to like it but have found that there are only a few that I love ... this is one of them! How can you not love that pretty gold colour!!

One of my big pet peeves with glitter polishes generally is making them smooth. I'm a picker and if my polish isn't smooth then I'll be there picking at it - I know it's naughty but can't help it!! Golden Ticket is not one of those at all. I was really quite impressed!

I dunno what to say that hasn't already been said - this polish simply is divine and I'd be encouraging you to buy if it was in stores! To those lucky 10 people who have original bottles! I'm totally jealous of you!

Also - speaking of Pretty Serious ... have you entered the Pretty Serious giveaway?? Just click on the pic on the right hand side to enter via rafflecopter!! ENDS THIS WEEK!!!! 

Want to read more Aussie Nail Monday posts?? Check these blogs out!

Lissa’s Polish Addiction

Nail Gun XS

Marie’s Manicure Madhouse

Shatter Me Claire

A Polished Prance

Shades of Phoenix

The Epitome of Superficiality

Lacquer Dreams

NananaisNails

Enamoured With Enamel

Adelle1985 (Instagram)

Kelly's Kolors

Polished Peripherals

Every Little Polish

Mel My Issta

Walk In My Eyeshadow

JennLojko (Instagram)

Erinzi’s Nails

Lovessweetas (Instagram)

Jas’ Blingtastic Nails

Mckfresh (Instagram)

Maedaynails (instagram)

Lili_Bete (Instagram)

The Reluctant Femme

Jibber Jabber

Messy Mansion

Nailovelogy

Ronda

It's All About The Polish

Pretty Polish Please

... Pretty Serious - Claris ...

Pretty Serious - Claris

Available from Pretty Serious Cosmetics - $9.95AUD

Howdy readers! The sun is shining bright and how can you resist throwing on a pretty pink and showing the world? This is Pretty Serious Claris and she's a real beauty.

Claris is from the PS "In the Night" collection and it's well worth getting for your collection if you are a pink fan like me or if you just want a softer shade. 

It's a pretty soft pink with a hidden surprise with the golden sparkle appearing. This is 3 coats and it's fast drying and no lumps or bumps.

At the moment I very much love to stamp ... STAMP ALL THE THINGS!!! Here it is with some pretty stamping over the top.

This is the Konad m78 plate with Ulta3 Lily White. I really like this a lot!! Simple yet fancy!

Have you entered the Pretty Serious Giveaway yet?? No? What you waiting for!!! Myself, The Polish Haven and Nails in the Desert have combined to bring you this awesomeness. You could win pretties like Claris!! Enter here ---> CLICK ME TO WIN!!!

... Pretty Serious Giveaway ...

It's been awhile but it's GIVEAWAY TIME!!

I'm joining forces with the beautiful ladies at The Polish Haven and Nails in the Desert to bring you this fantastic giveaway and I mean FANTASTIC!!!!!

PRETTY SERIOUS COSMETICS!!

We super thrilled to bring you this giveaway sponsored by the FANTASTIC Kaz over at Pretty Serious Cosmetics!!

If you haven't had the chance yet to try out these wonderful polishes then you are seriously missing out. There is so many great colours who come to you dressed in gorgeous packaging and are stunning!

One lucky person will WIN 6 bottles of Pretty Serious polish! Woo!! It will be sent to them direct from Pretty Serious Cosmetics! OMG - That's a lot of wonderful polish :)

This giveaway is open WORLDWIDE!!
CLOSING MARCH 1 [Aussie Time]

Are you excited?? I am!! Get too it!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

... Pretty Serious - Blue Gums on Boxing Day ...

Pretty Serious - Blue Gums on Boxing Day

Available from Pretty Serious Cosmetics - $9.95 AUD

Here's one from the memory card and I'll admit ... I wore this on Boxing Day!! Excuse the poor nubs. I am hard on my nails at the best of times but I always have breaks while travelling. Lugging suitcases and what not around - it takes it's toll.

So this is Pretty Serious - Blue Gums on Boxing Day. If you haven't seen Pretty Serious polishes around then where have you been living?? They are a fantastic Aussie brand who have the most beautiful polishes.

So Blue Gums is obviously green and there is a sneaky blue fleck surprise hidden behind all that green goodness!!

And using the Fun1 plate I've done some stamping that had good intentions that didn't appear the way I wished it too.  I've used the "Blues" design ... you know Blues and Guitar ... Blue Gums ... well I thought it was amusing at the time *is the only one in the world laughing*

I used Santas Sunburn for the stamp and I probably should have chosen something more contrasting. Lesson learnt!

** Final Verdict **
Like every other Pretty Serious polish I owe, Kaz has outdone herself with this as it's a beauty. If you love greens then get on this!!

Oh ... I've read on numerous blogs that they were expecting this to be a "blue" and don't get the Blue Gum reference! The Aussie in me finds that amusing but it's basically a tree. There are many variations of blue gums. I'm not a gardener so I have no idea if this pic is actually of the right type of tree ... but it's pretty regardless!!!

... Pretty Serious Cosmetics - BSOD ...

Pretty Serious Cosmetics - BSOD

Purchased from Pretty Serious Cosmetics - $9.95 AUD

Howdy everyone! I'm trying to make a dent into my disgustingly huge "unswatched" pile - or drawer! It's pretty bad which is why I'm doing "No Buy July" - or attempting too! It's hard! It's taken me awhile to get to this beauty and I can't believe I've waited so long!!

This is BSOD from Pretty Serious Cosmetics and I don't want to use the word "Indie" on this range if I can help it. The creator may be a blogger but there is definitely a lot of sweat and tears put into this range that's put it in my opinion higher up on the list. No stuck on labels or bleeding glitter issues ... just a fantastic product that you'd expect to pick up at the shops on the shelves next to all the others.

Firstly ... how pretty is the packaging?? I honestly love the effort with this - it's the little things that make you smile and remember brands.

Now I haven't been reacquainted with the BSOD [blue screen of death] since my Windows desktop died. We used to have daily meetings towards the end of it's life because it loved me so much and wanted to make sure I knew it was there!! Unlike my desktop version - BSOD doesn't make you want to give it a swift kick or throw it out a window!

It's a beautiful glitter packed blue jelly of win! I've used 3 coats in these swatches. It's bright, fun and super pretty. It actually dried rather quickly for a jelly providing you don't try and make it opaque with 1 coat.

See all the droolworthy sparkly bits packed in under that shine! So pretty! The sparkle seems to move along in the light aswell.

 Actually moving it around reminded me of something but I couldn't put my finger on what but this is pretty close ... the blue matrix! Pretty!

And as a matte those happy blue glitters stand out even more!! Hot!! Usually I'm not a fan of putting matte on something that sparkles/shimmers/looks great but this really worked for me! Would highly recommend it!

*Final Verdict*

A fantastic and beautiful polish that's "local"!! I have absolutely no faults or unkind words to say about this at all. Now go and support an Aussie! Go go go go go!