Well look what the cat dragged in...

Hi. You may remember me from posts in 2011 and a feeble few posts this year but I am here to say I'm back and ready to play with blogger again.

A quick update -

1. My arm is healing nicely - at this stage I still have some weakness and still can't straighten it fully but I don't need to sit on the sidelines anymore.
2. Work is going bonkers but I am digging in there. I like me a challenge and it has been delivered this year.
3. Planning for the US trip is in full force with our flights being booked last month and my leave being approved at work just last week (yeah I'm a gambler).
4. After a pretty intense hate-relationship with Essie for the past couple of years I like them now and for my birthday did a haul of 9 polishes (through transdesign so all up it was $60 including P&H).

You may also have noticed some changes to my blog -including my blog name, my description and my "where does my stuff come from" section. Having a break from blogging gave me a chance to really think about what I could do that was more "the real me". So I have decided that I'll only post about stuff I buy or that is given as gifts. If I am lucky enough to be given something for free, I wont post about it unless I am prepared to buy one myself with my own money.

I'm not trying to make any kind of "statement" about what other bloggers choose to do and quite frankly I wouldn't do that anyway because I don't have a problem with people receiving samples when it's done transparently. I love reading posts with new collection stuff just as much as the next person and the only way that can happen with any regularity is with PR samples. My decision is based on what I could do that feels comfortable to me (given my work commitments do impact my ability to post regularly) and what could be a point of difference for my blog.

Anyway I am pretty excited to be back and I have a tonne of stuff to share - not because I have been buying a lot but because I haven't been blogging about stuff I purchased for most of this year.

For those of you with blogs out there - I have been reading but not commenting as my arm does get sore after work still. I'm hoping things will improve and I'll try and leave a smiley face if nothing else so you know I stopped by.

Hope this post finds you well.

Jac x

Quick Update and Easter wishes

Hi everyone it's so nice to be writing a post.

Gee it has been a hard few weeks trying to learn how to do things with my left arm but I'm pleased to say that my right arm has been healing nicely. I am almost back to working full time hours again and today I managed to actually touch the top of my head with my right hand - wow it's been ages since I could do that. I'm not going to lie and say it's all been sunshine and smiles because it hasn't. Some days have been very hard - especially when you come equipped with a voice that is happy to tell you how crap you are without any encouragement. But overall I am getting there and determined to remain positive.

I hope to be back writing posts and sharing my thoughts by commenting on your posts again soon (in my head I am thinking by May). The husband and I continue planning for our trip to the US and our latest batch of renovations are almost complete - so expect a pic heavy post about that when I'm back on deck.

Anyway I just wanted to quickly come on to say Happy Easter and I hope you all have a safe and happy holiday. Hugs and chocolate to you all.

Jac x

Haul: Zoya True Collection with swatches

SCORE - I found this completed blog post sitting in my drafts with pictures and all. Enjoy!

I've really not had my eye on the game as Zoya released both the True and the Feel collections without me even noticing. I also had a bloody hard time finding these online until I returned back to my faithful eBay seller who never ever lets me down where this brand is concerned. Now of course You can also find these on Nailsetc.

The True collection contains 6 polishes but 2 are nudes which I didn't order. After picking up the Touch collection last year and already owning Orly's Pure Porcelain (swatched here) my nude collection feels pretty full - at least I can be sensible sometimes lol. Let's take a closer look below at the four colours I did pick up Tru, Lotus, Bevan and Skylar. 

Bloggibis Interruptis

For those who follow me on twitter you already know this but for everyone else - I broke my arm 2 weeks ago. Unfortunately it was my right and it is broken in at my elbow end. Fortunately there is no cast - yay! I have been resting and keeping up with pain relief so hoping to be more mobile soon.

Breaks usually take around 6 weeks to heal (I had no idea as this break is my first). I am hoping to be back sooner than that but we'll see how my healing continues. Until then no posting or comments from me - I'm pretty much done just from typing this.

I've had some good ideas for future posts and some updates with my blog design but I'll explain more once I'm back on deck.

Hope you are doing well and thanks to everyone who's sent kind words while I have been going out of my mind with boredom. A special thanks to Tara (who actually sent me a pressie to cheer me up - so lovely) and those who supported her enabling to convince me to buy a Kindle - worth every penny.

Seriously now it's time to rest my arm.

Jacx

Haul: Salley Hansen Gem Crush Nail Polishes

 Pictured from left to right: Be-Jeweled, Showgirl Chic, Big Money and Razzle Dazzler

Yesterday happened to be the first day I have started to feel better in ages even though it was also the day it was confirmed I had been exposed to Whooping Cough.

You see the test for WC doesn't say yes/no you have WC, all it says is if you have been exposed (or maybe my Dr didn't ask for the right blood test?). Given that the WC immunisation lasts until your mid 20s and this is the first time I've had a nasty cough like this in ages, all signs point to me having battled through WC in the last month or so. So rather than feeling like my body let me down - which is what I had been feeling - I now feel like it's done an awesome job as I am starting to feel better already.

God I can be so long winded sometimes! Anyways... this was the first time I had been well enough to run errands and the first thing I did was go and pick up parcels from my local Post Office (staff there are THE best) and drop past Priceline. The result was a little haulage in the polish department. In a small burst of energy I have included bottle and tip swatches for your consideration below. Enjoy....

Review: Polished London Nail Polish

 

Recently I was lucky enough to be sent 3 polishes from Polished London to review. The shade that immediately caught my eye was Buckingham Blue which I shared in a NOTD post here. However I was also sent the bright shade Piccadilly and a black crackle shade called Union Black.

The important things for me with polish are :

1. Ingredients: These polishes are "4 free - no Toluene, Formaldehyde, Camphor or DBP".
2. Brush: The brush is wide which makes it easy to apply the polish evenly to the nail (see pic below).
3. Formula: Is designed to be opaque in one coat which it certainly was for Buckingham Blue. 
4. Smell: Definite polish smell but not overwhelming.
5. Ease of application: I found both the polishes as well as the crackle easy to apply. In fact I would have to say the crackle was the best crackle polish I have tried (I have tried several China Glaze crackles and this one beats the CG ones easily).
6. Chip resistant: Major thumbs up here. I had this polish on for days and all that happened was a bit of chip wear - which given I spend my days at work typing pretty constantly I was impressed with.

 A closer look at the Polished London brushes

Let's take a closer look at the colours shall we? Just FYI I did each tip with 2 coats of colour and then 1 coat of Union Black to show how awesome the shatter is:

 Left to right: Buckingham Blue, Buckingham Blue + Union Black

 Left to right: Piccadilly + Union Black, Piccadilly

I recently received another shade from the range in one of the monthly subscription boxes in the shade Fushcia ( yes it is spelt that way and to me seems like a dark red-based purple). This shade totally freaked my camera out and this blurry shot below was sadly the best it could manage. A hot hot colour!

Fushcia

So as you can see this range (from the shades I have tried) gets a major thumbs up from me. Lovely Lilit of Makeup and Macaroons has also swatched a couple of the shades - I am loving the look of Mauve Mandy personally.

The polished London range comes in 30 colours for $7.99 RRP (which I think is pretty cheap in comparison to other drugstore brands). You can find your local stockist at www.polishedlondon.com

Have you tried any shades from the Polished London range?

Jac x

NOTD: Butter London's Victorianna

If you saw my last NOTD featuring Butter London you may have been left with the impression of me being underwhelmed... and that is because I was. Yummy Mummy was both unoriginal and boring. Victorianna however is a different kettle of fish.

I thought I'd also show a bit more of the BL packaging too - as that was a surprise. You lift the lid off to reveal the "real" lid -

It's a little odd right? Anyway back to Victorianna. It's a gorgeous muted blue with silver shimmer and most pleasingly the shimmer does translate to the nail. All pictures shown were taken in natural outdoor light without flash.

Butter London polishes retail for $14 so my expectations are higher for them. In this case they definitely got there - Victorianna is gorgeous. Just looking at these pictures makes me want to go and put it on again.

Jac x