NOTD: My Pointe Exactly Jelly Sandwich

I don't know what it is about the color gray, winter, and cold weather (actually, it's pretty obvious), but it seems like every year about this time I break out a gray polish.  This year it's a jelly sandwich with the uber sheer My Pointe Exactly and sparkly Pirouette My Whistle from the OPI 2012 New York City Ballet Soft Shades collection.

I'll be honest and say I like the concept of these better than the actual execution.  The pale gray is not the most flattering color on me, nor is it easy to get even coverage with the sheer tints.  I do adore Pirouette My Whistle, however, with it's delicate silver sprinkle of glitter.

What you see here is 3 layers of My Pointe Exactly alternated with 2 layers of the glitter.  Plus a little critter at the center of the camellia flower.  I'm not crazy about it (the manicure, not the critter), but hey, them's the breaks. 

So, here's a flashback to a previous January gray NOTD, just because:

Noot and Cassedy by Zoya

NOTD: Little Peanuts by OPI

I found Little Peanuts, the mini set from OPI's Halloween collection, impossible to resist.  It wasn't because it has a black or a taxi-cab yellow polish in it, although I'm not opposed to them.  It was the glitters!  Oh, and the Peanut's themed nail decals!

Realistically, nothing about this set screams "Halloween" to me.  That's okay, as it actually reminds me a bit of another OPI Halloween mini set that I really enjoyed, 2012's So So Skullicious.   A disappointing difference turned out to be the decals in the Peanuts set, as they are not water decals but peel off stickers.  I found that out after I let them sit in water for 10 minutes.  Yep, I'm quick like that.  Now I'm wondering how different the yellows in the two sets are.  Hmmm.

Snoopy smelling the flowers

But's it's the Peanuts gang!  So of course I couldn't resist.  WHO ARE YOU CALLING BOSSY?!? is a very nice black, and two coats provide glossy color.  The yellow Good Grief! was a bit problematic, and I needed 3 coats to get smooth color.  Like the color though!

Love the glitters and don't have anything like them, so they are really the stars of the collection IMO.  I used a dabbing method to place To Be or Not to Beagle on my ring finger. 

I don't remember the cartoons as particularly violent, but maybe memory is failing me.  Pow!  Bonk!  Oof!  Linking up with The Nail Files hosted by Jennie Shaw:

NOTD: Do You Have Have this Color in Stock-holm? from the Little Northies OPI Set

Little Northies is the mini-polish set from the OPI Nordic collection.  I love mini-polishes and prefer them to full-sized polishes, so if the colors are even semi-appealing I usually pick them up when OPI releases a new collection.  Fortunately, all of these appeal to me!

There is a nice mixture of bright, bold, neutral, and glitter in this set, and I can't say I've got anything quite like the vivid blue/purple of Do You Have this Color in Stock-holm?  So of course that was my first manicure color pick from this set, with the retro 1950's kitchen appliance green of My Dogsled is a Hybrid on my toes.  The formula on both was good, although two coats were a must for both.

I used My Voice is a Little Norse as an accent on my ring finger and quite liked how it turned out.  Just enough bling to catch your eye but not enough to overwhelm.  I'm going on day 7 of wear with no chips and some tip wear, most impressive!

NOTD: The Spy Who Loved Me by OPI

If you are looking for holiday festivity in a bottle, then The Spy Who Loved Me is all that, just without the bubbly.  Although I could definitely see myself wearing this while holding a glass of champagne.

Part of the Bondettes mini set from OPI's Skyfall collection, this glass fleck red has that lovely glow from within quality that gives visual interest without going over the top.  I used two coats with Seche Vite's base and top coats and application was a breeze.   

The Bondettes mini set is well worth picking up if you'd like to try some of the Skyfall collection - there seriously is not a dud in the bunch!

Disclaimer:  I purchased this.

The Nail Files weekly linkup:
 

NOTD: The World is Not Enough by OPI

The World is Not Enough

The World is Not Enough is part of OPI's Skyfall collection, and is a really interesting purplish mauve gray foil.  It was interesting to me when I was taking pictures outside that so many of the colors of fall as it progresses towards winter were complemented by this color.

In my mind, that makes this a really great fall and winter color, as it captures some of that richness that is starting to decay.  The flashes of purple/mauve also make it a bit more complementary for my skine tone than a straight gray.

I took these pictures 3 days in, and other than a bit of tip wear, it still looks great!  The World is Not Enough does apply a bit sheer, so this is 3 (maybe 4, I can't remember) coats with Seche Vite base and top coat.  Fortunately, it does dry fairly quickly. 

I don't have anything else quite like The World is Not Enough, so I'm really happy it was part of the Bondettes minis!

 Disclosure:  I purchased this.
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The Bondettes by OPI: Skyfall Mini Nail Lacquers

The Bondettes by OPI are four mini nail polishes from the Skyfall collection, inspired by the latest James Bond movie.  Each polish is named after a different James Bond movie.  I love these mini nail collections, as rarely do I make it through a full sized bottle, and these give me the opportunity to try a couple of featured colors without having to invest in the full sized bottles.  Fortunately, all four of the Bondettes are colors I would have probably chosen anyway!

GoldenEye is a rich gold fleck and will look good as a layering polish as well as on it's own.

The Spy Who Loved Me is a gorgeous red with gold flecks. It will be perfect for the holidays.

The World is Not Enough is described as a rosy silver, but depending on the light I can see a gold shimmer in it as well.  I have nothing like it in my collection.

Live and Let Die is a blackened green with gold shimmer.  The box description of this one is misleading, as it calls it "private jet black".  Could this be some kind of reference to OPI's iconic My Own Private Jet?  Regardless, Live and Let Die stands on it's own.

Seriously, there is not a dud color in this set!  The Bondettes  retail for $12.50.

Disclosure:   I purchased this.
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OPI So So Skullicious Mini Set and NOTD

OPI's 2012 Halloween mini set, So So Skullicious, is inspired by Mexico's Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead.  Origins of this tradition can be traced back two to three thousand years, with the modern holiday focusing on gatherings that honor dead friends and family members with remembrances, prayers, and offerings of food, liquor, and candy.  

Source:  Tomascastelaz

When I first saw this set it didn't really register with me. The colors are bright and pretty but nothing particularly unique.  Then I saw a blog post that showed the decals, which I wasn't even aware of.  The decals, a collection of sugar skulls and flowers, make this set for me.  It took me a hot second to figure out how to apply them, but once I realized that soaking them in water caused the decal to separate from the paper, it was on!

The polish colors are:

• Hi, Pumpkin! This jack-o-lantern orange is sweet on you.
• A-Rose from the Dead:  This hot pink is the life of the Halloween party.
• Mourning Glory:  A black so shiny, it will lift your spirits.
• Candlelight:  Be all aglow in this flame yellow.

The polishes were mostly opaque after two coats, with the yellow one probably needing three.  Ten decals come with the set, but I wish there were more!  To use the decals, you cut around the pattern and soak it for about 10 seconds in lukewarm water.  The decal will separate from the paper and I used tweezers to lift it and place on the dry nail.  Cover with topcoat and you are ready to celebrate the dead, or just go about your daily business:-)

So So Skullicious retails for $9-$10 and is limited edition.

Disclosure:  I purchased this.