I'm Swatchin' You - China Glaze Harvest Moon

I love today's color!  This is ChG's Harvest Moon.  I classified it as a brown, and it's actually a bronze with shimmer.  This is from the Spring 2012 Hunger Games collection.

Harvest Moon's formula was incredible.  Two easy coats was all that was needed.  Unfortunately, my easy clean-up streak is over.  This was a little tough to clean up, leaving traces of shimmer on the cuticles.  If only I was good enough to not require cleaning up!  But this gorgeous color is so worth it!

SH Double Duty and SV as base and top.

I'm Swatchin' You - OPI Chocolate Shakespeare

This is an oldie but a goodie.  I've had this one for quite some time.  It's OPI Chocolate Shakespeare, a light brown frost.

The formula was excellent, with smooth, trouble-free application.  You are looking at two coats.  And yes, the color totally reminds me of a chocolate milkshake.  Now, I'm thirsty.

SH Double Duty and SV as base and top.

I'm Swatchin' You - China Glaze Foie Gras

Today, I'm showing you Foie Gras, from China Glaze's 2012 Hunger Games collection.  It's an earthy brown creme.

The formula on this is great, and it self-levels beautifully.  You are looking at two coats.  This is one of those colors that I think I like it, but I'm not sure.  What do you think?

SH Double Duty and SV as base and top.

I'm Swatchin' You - Orly Buried Alive

Today's color is from Orly's Dark Shadows 2012 collection.  It's called Buried Alive.  This is a dark brown shimmer.

The shimmer on this is really beautiful.  Again, I'm happy to find another brown I can enjoy.  The formula was fine, in that it applied well.  However, mine was a bit thin, so I experienced some minor cuticle flooding.  Once I let the bottle sit open for a bit, it behaved more.

SH Double Duty and Insta-Dri for base and top.

I'm Swatchin' You - Pure Ice Magic

Today, I have a gorgeous brown shimmer for you.  This is Pure Ice's Magic, and it is quite magical.  I do not normally love browns.  Too many out there look like, well, poo.  But this is quite lovely.

The formula on this was excellent!  It applied evenly.  Two coats actually looked fine, but I did a third coat because I thought it needed a bit more coverage to look solid.  I tried my best to get some good pictures for you to really show the shimmer.  Since Pure Ice is so affordable, I would definitely call this a must-have!

SH Double Duty and Insta-Dri as base and top.

I'm Swatchin' You - China Glaze Brownstone

Hi there!  Today's color is coming to you from China Glaze.  It's called Brownstone, which is a rich, dark brown creme with red undertones.

You are looking at two coats.  The formula was pretty good.  Mine was a little on the thin side, so I just left the bottle open for about 10 minutes, and it worked much better.  Being up north for the time being is really taking it's toll on my hands.  I didn't use moisturizer prior to taking these pics, as you can see.  For those of you in cold climates, don't forget your moisturizer!  Crazy dry hands after missing only one day of moisturizing.  Let this be a lesson to you!  LOL

SH Double Duty and Insta-Dri for base and top.

I'm Swatchin' You - Orchid Funky Monkey

Today's color comes to you from Orchid.  It's called Funky Monkey, and you know I bought it for the name!  It's basically a brown glitter in a brown-tinged base.

If you look closely, you will see that the shimmer is a coppery brown that even looks rose and gold from different angles.  It's a very pretty color.  The formula was great, but it does go on a bit sheer.  So you are looking at three coats.  This does build beautifully with each coat.  The only thing I don't like is that there is a slight VNL, which the brown tinge of the base makes it look kind of like there's dirt under your nails.  Do you agree?

SH Double Duty and Insta-Dri for base and top.

I'm Swatchin' You - Spoiled Cougar Attack

Hello everyone!  Today's color is from Spoiled.  If you are at all familiar with Spoiled, you know they have horrendous brushes.  That is my only complaint about this color, Cougar Attack.

To be honest, I didn't think I was going to love this color.  But everyone was raving about it when it came out, so I grabbed it to give it a shot.  OMG, what a gorgeous polish!  It's a copper glitter in a copper jelly base.  The base color builds quite nicely.  You are looking at two coats.  It would just get more incredible with more coats.  The result is a beautiful coppery color with a strong copper shimmer from the glitter.  It looks great and my pics just don't do it justice.  You. Must. Buy!

SH Double Duty and Insta-Dri for base and top.

I'm Swatchin' You - OPI Ginger Bells!

Hi all!  Today, I'm showing you a color I love.  I love any color that reminds me of autumn.  I'm such a sucker for fall shades.  This is OPI's Ginger Bells!  It's a gorgeous cinnamon creme that totally reminds me of pumpkin pie.

You are looking at my usual 2-coat swatch.  The first coat was a bit streaky, but it was solid by the 2nd coat.  The color is a rich, deep orange which leans brown for that delicious cinnamon hue.  And the formula on this was fantastic!  Gotta love it!

SH Double Duty and Insta-Dri for base and top.

I'm Swatchin' You - OPI You Don't Know Jacques

I have always heard rave reviews about today's color, and they were RIGHT!  This is OPI's You Don't Know Jacques.  It is a smooth brown creme that is absolutely beautiful.  If you are looking for a classy, soft brown, then grab Jacques and hold him tight!

The first coat was a bit on the streaky side, and I did experience a little balding on the second coat.  But I had solid coverage with the third coat, which is what you are looking at.  It is a really pretty color that my pictures right now just don't do justice.  I wish I had my light box for this one!  Do you love it?!?

SH Double Duty and Insta-Dri for base and top.

I'm Swatchin' You - Orchid Truffle Maker

Good morning!  Today, I'm showing you Orchid's Truffle Maker, a brown shimmer.  I am not typically a fan of brown pollies.  Too often, they just look poo-tastic on me.  But I really like this one.  I've only ever used it as an accent color.  This was the first time I tried it on its own.

The first coat goes on very sheer and streaky, but don't worry!  It looked great by the second coat, which is what you are looking at.  Overall, a good color with a good formula. The brush on the Orchid polishes is a thin round brush, which I like.

SH Double Duty and Insta-Dri for base and top.

Feature Friday - Peep Show!

It's Friday! First, welcome new readers!  Only 10 away from an amazing giveaway!  I've been gathering goodies for you...OPI, Orly, Sinful.  Bouncing off the walls excited!  PLEASE help me get there!!!  Oh, and if you didn't notice, I've added a page where I will post other blogger's giveaways as I come across them.  Go check them out!

So, here I have my Easter mani.  You may have come across this before because it was featured on Nouveau Cheap's Easter round-up, which can be found here.  From one G to another G - thank you!!!  Sorry I didn't get "in-progress" pics on this mani.  I was a little pressed for time (what else is new?).

I started with my base of SH Double Duty.  Then I did two coats of OPI's Alpine Snow (despite the fact that she's such a bish to me - we have a very unhealthy love/hate relationship).  I free-handed the peeps using ChG Sweet Hook and Sinful's Unicorn.  I used a dotting tool to add the eyes using Orchid's Truffle Maker.  I topped them all off with Spoiled's Shaken Snow Globe (darn those craptastic brushes!).

After submitting this to Nouveau Cheap, I decided I needed something different on my thumb.  So I attempted an Easter basket.  It didn't come out as I'd hoped, but then, these things rarely do.  Oh, well.  I started with ChG Cha Cha Cha for the grass.  Then I added Orchid Truffle Maker for the basket.  Using my beloved tape, I added CC Antiquated to attempt a woven look (fail!).  Everything was topped with SV.  In the end, I thought it was cute and enjoyed doing it.  I am actually planning a different, more "classical" mani for Easter day.  I'll post that on Monday.

Enjoy your weekend, everyone!  And if you celebrate Easter...Happy Easter!