proving my talents and sheer beauty

I have been sat in bed for the past three days with tonsillitis, I keep going to write you up a lovely blog post and then I think 'I have no energy to type' and stick on another crappy 90's film. I did have the energy to do my nails though, and so I have summoned the energy to show them off :)

These nails are a little difficult and have taken a fair bit of practice (to do a good tutorial I'd need the means to video myself doing my own nails, which I do not) to get them the way I like them, the only downside to them is I cannot do the other hand (something I have always had the OCD'ness to do). So I just walk around with one gorgeous hand of nails and another with plain boring ones.. so what hahaha.

I LOVE doing paisley nails I've shown you before here (but I particularly love this colour pairing - it has a grecian feel). 

I decided to do them though after my lovely friend Ella showed me some by WAH nails, Topshop on Instagram, asking me to learn how to do them for her - I was all 'ahem, do not doubt my talent woman' and so here they are.. (you may have seen them on IG already but they make it onto the blog they are that pretty).

I used my navy blue Rio Professional Nail Art Pen and Andrea Fulerton White Nail Polish..

Another occurence of the last couple of days is the #NoMakeUpSelfie, a sudden viral breast cancer awareness trend. I hope you have all taken part I have and I HATE people seeing me without my best friend, mascara... See this is sheer beauty ;) PS If you do the selfie you HAVE to donate otherwise its a little pointless (Text BEAT to 70007 to donate £3 to Cancer Research UK)

Night night beautifuls xxxxxx

@pawsandclaws for instgramming

@pawsnclaws101 for twittering

how to create a funky flower nail bed

Spring is here! It must be given all this lovely sun. I love this time of year when the sun is out and warm but it is still breezy and cool.. The time of year I don't have to wear suncream!

So in hope that this summer will last, I rejigged my previous floral design (see it here in the original post) and have done a little tutorial, a wee step by step for you to kick start your summer!

What you need:

NYC In a Minute

Nails Inc Gel Effect in Mayfair Lane

Gosh in Splish Splash and Misty Mauve

Models Own in Pukka Purple

Rio Professional Nail Pen in Bright Pink

Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Top Coat

Sally Hansen Diamond Strength Base Coat

Dotting Tool

1. Apply your base coat , then on top give yourself a nice generous coat of your base colour (I used my NYC shade of blue). 

2. Use the larger end of your dotting tool to create the base of your flower (or the petals if you will) dotting in a circle and then filling the centre (you can use as many colours as you like here but make sure you have a lighter shade in them for the next step), like below:

3. Use the smaller end of your dotting tool (the smallest you can find) and put little dots on your flowers to create a more textured/3D effect in lighter shades, like below:

4. Now, again with your smallest dotting tool, ad some little green leaves. by placing your tool down as though creating a dot, but dragging to the side slightly as you pull away (don't worry about it being perfect, not all leaves are the same!), like below:

5. Apply your top coat et voila! TIP: Always use a base coat when applying nail art/design/dots of any kind as a good top coat smoothes out everything!

Hope you like and find it as easy as it is!

@pawsandclaws101 - Always Instagramming

@pawsnclaws101 - And Tweeting

xxx

going balm'y

I was quite impressed with my pun today - It took a sleepy warm tube ride (one of the ones where you fall asleep and fall off the curb - you know the one!), that combined with a rummage through my bag looking for my new favourite lip balm to realise I have too many lips balms/glosses/ointments/scrubs/sticks in my Mandy (Mandy is from Mango, she is my handbag, and I love her). Seeing as I've shown you all my lipsticks here in my red lippy post I thought I would stick to all the other lip products Mandy has been hoarding for me.

So these aren't in any real kind of order but the Pocket Balm by Bakewell & Vaseline with Cocoa Butter I alternate because I love them both so much. I would recommend all of them -that's why they all made the cut into Mandy's infinite depths. 

Prepping - Lush Bubblegum Lip Scrub

When I need it a love a good exfoliation, I never thought of doing this to my lips until my best friend turned up to my hole in Uni and showed me this product. It is basically sugar in a pot to be honest and I do eat it (even though I'm pretty sure you're not supposed to) but it's so nice! - It's actual purpose is to exfoliate the lips and prep them to be balmed and lipsticked. And it really does work, even if it is just a jar of sugar goodness.

 It's The Bakewell Soap Company Multi-Purpose Pocket Balm in May Chang Citrus

This balm isn't just for lips, I've used it on my cuticles to soften and keep them in shape and my elbows when they got oddly dry the other week. It smells lush though I suspect there is hemp in the ingredients (they aren't stated on the tin!). It's very strong in smell and in action, it works absolute wonders. I swear by my Vaseline normally but I started with this product last month when it came in my Love Me Beauty box - I will be sure to invest in it in the future as I recommend you do too!

The obvious runner up is my Vaseline Lip Therapy with Cocoa Butter

Need I go into detail with this product? It speaks for itself in reputation, the cocoa butter smell is my favourite. I have all sorts of cocoa butter products (inspiration for a post) because it's really good for dry skin and soothes my itchy arms and legs (post shaving!) so I knew I would love this version of the magical Vaseline tin of miracle balm. All I need say is, try it - it lives up to reputation.

The hydrator or also known as Nivea Hydro Care Lip Balm

This one is normally found under my pillow, especially when I have a cold as that's when my lips get driest. It does what it says on the tin - hydrates your lips to the maximum, definitley a must if you tend to get dry lips/bite your lips (I have a really bad habit of this, hence the amount of lip balms I own)

Love this one for the taste... DuWop Iced Tea Treatment in Strawberry Kiwi

This is one of the products I have had for 5 years, I remember how much I love the fragrance (and taste), use it for a week and then lose it again until I move house/flat! I have no idea where I got it from but it always finds its way back into my life, and I am glad because it is lush - the smell keeps me coming back for more. All I remember about getting this lip treatment is having really bad lips and being sat rubbing it on my chops for a good hour before realising it wasn't really helping.. This means I wouldn't call a treatment, I use it as a gloss because it gives a lovely sheen.

The last two products are what I use for a bit of colour when I'm not quite in the mood for the bright red look I love to go for!

When I'm all pretty in pink and girly it's got to be Lanolips Lip Ointment with Colour in Rose 

This product is from a long line of lip ointments and lanolin products. Lanolin is a miracle working thing that makes you all soft and healed (at least thats my version of it). This ointment has a lovely pinky colour that I love to use when I'm not going for my usual lipstick choices. And it has SPF 15 which is always a plus to this pale skinned red head.

Another one that I couldn't pinpoint it's entry into my collection - Pretty:Smile Pearl Shine Lip Gloss

Pretty sure this one came from my mum when she decided the roller didn't work for her - but it works for me fine, and I love a roller (I haven't the foggiest why). But this product, more importantly, glosses a lovely lovely sheen onto your lips, it's really light (makes it perfect for summer) and has Q10 in it (which is apparently good for cell growth - so another goodie for those biters out there).

BIG post for you all today, but I hope you enjoyed it because I do own this many lip glosses and have been this way for as long as I can remember - and I KNOW I'm not the only one ;)

Try as many of these as you can because they are all favourites of mine, determined after years of research and lip application! - And believe it or not this is not ALL of the lip products I own, it's just the ones in my handbag!

PS - don't forget to click the names as they are links to see/buy the products!

@pawsandclaws101 - Always Instagramming

@pawsnclaws101 - And Tweeting

the positive in seeing the negative

You, my lovely followers and friends have been missing out. Yes indeed, I speak the truth. you have been missing out on some of my nail art lately - unless you follow my instagram/twitter - as I little miss naughty nail blogger haven't been uploading all my nail art to my blog.

In this case I have decided to show you not one, but TWO lots of nail art I have done (one you have seen in technique before, but not in colour) and the other is fresh as a daisy just for you.

Firstly I wanted to show you the nail art I entered into the @glittr Instagram competition with a black and white theme... I obviously didn't win (sniffles) or you would have heard my excitement from miles away (wherever you may be). Here I showed you one of my favourite techniques in a a design I hadn't tried before and ended up LOVING so much I want to do it in different colours everyday, however I am too much of an experimenter to do that. I used my Blackout and Winter Baby Color Show polishes by Maybelline for this design and if you look at my previous post there is a quick how to that explains how EASY it is to achieve this design.

The next is a design inspired by designs by @naildecor on instagram. I love the negative space trend that has been circulating lately, it's so funky and fresh (yes I can say fresh). I have tried it a couple of times here  for Valentine's day and here for my denim inspired design. I think I am getting the hang of it and my new brushes definitley help, so if you are going to try negative space here are my tips:

1. Use brushes! - To paint and to clean up and to neaten up

2. Try cotton buds/pads to create your negative space - Using cotton buds to rub out the area you want is tricky so try wrapping a varnish remover soaked cotton pad around the end of a dotting tool/brush (or anything long and thin).

3. Experiment where possible - whether you own a nail wheel or just use one clean nail to try different designs over and over as this is the best way to get used to being patient and steady handed (this rule applies to most if not all detailed designs!)

I used a random blue polish with no label that I got on a knock off market on Brick Lane (haha!) and my Andrea Fulerton White Polish that came in a glitter kit of hers, I topped it off with my new Rimmel Matte Finish Top Coat.

Let me know what you think lovelies xx

@pawsnclaws101 to tweet me
@pawsandclaws101 to instagram me

the key to a fast and furious blow dry

I have a bit of a versus post for you all today - and I am trying to be more (yes this previously said me bore, because I am apparently really bad at spell checking or lazy, either way I blame my mother the English teacher) efficient and constant with my posts too as I know I've been very quiet this week.

These products are used to speed up the process of the blow drying your hair, convenient for those like me who have thick hair and those who wash their hair in the morning before work (it gives you an extra ten minutes in bed!!). I don't know how the technology works in these products but it works well! So here is what I love about them..

Color Wow's Speed Dry

 The Color Wow product isn't as strong in speeding up the blow dry as the Blow Pro lotion however I will explain why this is an advantage in a minute.  What I loved about i t though is that it is in the form of a lovely spray, it's light and refreshing right before a blow dry and I think the spray gives you maximum and easier coverage of your hair. I personally prefer this product out of the two, even though they are both so good at their jobs.

Blow Pro Express Blow Dry

This lotion is really strong, it does the job much quicker than the Color Wow spray - however it was a little too strong for me - it felt like my hair was too dry after I used it and as I have hair that dries out really quickly between cuts it wasn't good. It meant I had to put a lot of oil on afterwards, which I didn't love! But I would advise that those with really thick hair, that have trouble with a blow dry, use this product. It does what it says on the tin so to speak!

So overall, I would say that both these products are great and what makes them differ is if you prefer spray/lotion products or the thickness of your hair. Whatever the whether, try one at least!!

I am doing this post and other hair related posts to create the perfect blow dry kit which will go up in a couple of weeks. :) 

xxx

liebster time

so the lovely Emily (http://pumpkinemilysmiles.blogspot.co.uk) nominated me for the Liebster Award! And I've been trolling around the internet to find my nominations and then last weekend I got another lovely nomination from Sarah (http://sometimessarahbeauty.blogspot.ca/) :) How sweet..

I am so happy my blog has been nominated twice I literally feel so freaking proud haha.. So here goes nothin'

the rules

1. You must link back to the blogger that nominated you.

2. You have to state 11 facts about yourself.

3. You have to answer 11 questions that were given to you by the blogger who nominated you.

4. You have to nominate 11 other blogs and set 11 questions for them to answer.

5. You can't nominate the person who nominated you.

6. You have to tell the nominees that they have been nominated by you.

11 facts about myself

1. Something you all may know - I LOVE nail art - it is an obsession of mine and will do anyones nails for fun (if I can be bothered haha)

2. I am university student - I am in my placement year of a Fashion Marketing course and as much as I love working full time and earning (some) money I cannot wait to go back and be a student again! Roll on £10 nights out.

3. I am ginger - and proud. 

4. My guilty pleasures include the tv show Charmed at the minute (amongst other amazing things like Ally McBeal, the Scream trilogy and Doctor Who (though everyone in their right mind should appreciate all of the above))

5. I still haven't eaten the white chocolate snowman my brothers lovely girlfriend gave me for Christmas.. God knows why!

6. I work in Public Relations - even though growing up I was the shyest and quietest person ever.

7. I can eat an entire large Dominoes pizza in one sitting.

8. My leg length is 36 inches (aka very freakin long)

9. I love cats - I have two back home, that I miss heaps, and will probably end up the woman married to her 20 cats that you will read about in the paper in 20 years.

10. I have a lot of short friends.. like a strange amount of my super close friends are really quite short.

11. I don't eat vegetables. Well, it's not that I don't period but I really don't like cooked veg... cabbage and spinach being my worst nightmares!

Emily's questions to me...

1. If you can take a picture of anything what would it be? The Great Barrier Reef

2. Who is your favorite band? Will have to say Muse (forever and always)

3. What's your favorite album? Tough one.. The Breakfast Club Soundtrack or Moulin Rouge Soundtrack probably

4. Favorite song? El Tango De Roxanne

5. If you could meet anyone who would it be? Micheal Fassbender hands down - and everywhere else ;)

6. Your favorite thing to do. My nails ofc

7. What's your favorite animal? CATS  - more specifically white lions

8. What's your favorite flower? Used to be Bird of Paradise but now white Roses

9. What's your favorite shirt? Erm.. The one Micheal Fassbender is wearing right now

10. What is your favorite clothing item? My velvet vintage strappy top I found in a charity shop in Crewe

11. If you were trapped on an island, what five items would you like to have with you? Bertie bear, Mascara, a guitar or drum (for a bit of music), Micheal Fassbender (please can he count!?),  a bottle of Malibu! 

Sarah's questions to me..
1. Name 3 of your essential beauty products. Currently that would be Soap & Glory Hand Food, Simple Cleansing Lotion and Rimmel Retro Glam Mascara
2. What's your favourite place to be? On a sunny quiet beach with a cocktail and a book, under a shady umbrella please! - but more accessibly in the comfort of my own bedroom
3. What's your nickname? Oh well, I have many some know me as Abs (family) or Gabs/Gabble (Uni) or Scabi/Scabiwhale haha (girlfriends at home)
4. What is a makeup no-no that you have done? Moisturising RIGHT before you put your foundation on.. rookie mistake haha
5. What is your favourite quote? Easy - as it is inked onto my body haha - 'In a world of my own' from Alice in Wonderland
6. What do you think is the best childhood candy? All of them! They aren't just for childhood ;)
7. Place of the house your hate cleaning the most? Oh wow.. I don't really clean.. but it would have to the the toilet! ew..
8. If you suddenly won the lottery, what is the first thing you would buy? A round the world plan ticket for me and my bestest friends
9. Have you ever broken a bone? Nope, which is so strange as I am so clumsy!
10. What's your most used nail polish colour? White! It's my favourite.
11. What makes you happy? My Bronzed Aussie Boys calender hehe

i am nominating:

allthingsbeautybylauren.blogspot.co.uk by Lauren

thoughtsofruby.blogspot.co.nz by Ruby
mimibeauty07.blogspot.co.uk by Mimi
cupidsbowless.tumblr.com by Juliette
ohsojem.blogspot.co.uk by Jem
lilissss.blogspot.com by Aldona
dieforstyle.blogspot.co.uk by Filipa
itskieemm.blogspot.com by Kim
prettychitchat.blogspot.co.uk by Jessica
bohemianwood.tumblr.com by Bohemianwood (Couldn't find your name!)
heisenbergismyhomie.tumblr.com by Chelsea

and your questions from me are...
1. What is your favourite childhood film and why?
2. Your favourite make-up brand?
3. What era would you go back to you if you had a time machine?
4. In your eyes, what is the best TV show ever made?
5. Do you have any tattoos, if so what are they?
6. What piece of advice to give out the most? A.K.A, what is your motto in life?
7. What is your favourite smell/fragrance?
8. Night or Day?
9. What was the last good deed you did?
10. If you had the balls to dye your hair any colour, what would it be?
11. What is your favourite time of year?

Well, I enjoyed doing that.. even if it did take me a while ahaha. thank you so much to the girls who nominated me it is lovely to be welcomed into the blogger community! :) xxxxxxxxxxxx

gelly on a plate

Finally decided to give this gel effect varnish craze a go as the idea seemed interesting. And even though I've never had the real thing .. My friends and mum get them regularly and recommend them for their long lasting quality and no chip policy. However appealing this sounded I was never keen to invest due to fact I have a tendency to change my nails 2-3 times a week (I've even had those rare quiet weeks where I've had time to redo them every day)...

So, this alternate polish sounded really quite perfect. I picked the Mayfair Lane shade by Nails Inc and gave it a glitter tip and even added, on researching, a non chip coat of my all time love, Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Top Coat.

The result?

I loved the result, I was expecting a really thick consistency but it went on and felt like a regular polish. Once it had dried it just looked and felt the same as a good polish... no different really.

The chipperness?

I don't really have a job that means I am prone to chipping my nail varnish however I always manage to somehow. So, I was bound to chip them .. and so I did today.. I applied the nail varnish 3 days ago and honestly this is 2 days over my average wait to chip a nail. So I was impressed with the wait.. I think on anyone else it would have been a week!

The aftermath?
The only thing I am not very impressed with this polish is that my nails now feel really brittle and they were just starting to feel strong.. especially the tips where I've been chipping away the nail polish on the tube ride home, which means I have broken two of my nails ahhh!

I think despite the aftermath, if I treat my nails with something, the polish is successful in it's mission and I do think I'll invest in some more gel effect polishes. Will you?