New Year's Eve Glitter Nails

Servin' Up Sparkle - OPI

White French Tip Polish - Rimmel London

French Tip Guides - Ebay

I'm a big fan of glittery nails, especially at this time of year! This one from OPI is a new favourite. This is the perfect way to add some glamour to a classic French Manicure. I always use these French Tip Guides when painting my nails this way and I'm also wearing two coats of OPI's Servin' Up Sparkle which is full of fine holographic glitter and the occasional big chunk of glitter too. These photos do not do it justice, it really sparkles in the light! A possible contender for this Saturday night....

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Christmas Cards DIY

I fancied making some more personalised Christmas cards this year for my friends and this design is so easy. All you need is some nice quality paper, mini colourful pegs, a selection of gold paper, ribbon and some glue. There's not long left till Christmas, so maybe you could create Happy New Year cards? Or use this style for Birthday cards too...

I cut out the little square of fancy quality paper on which I stuck Christmassy designs. The mini pegs are stuck on with a cut-down sticky foam pad (double sided tape) and I attached a little piece of ribbon to each peg, the kind you can find in the shoulders of your clothes! Just cut them off carefully (they're annoying anyway) and re-use them!
The pegs hold the square of card with your design (or personalised message/photograph) and I think its a sweet way of making something that looks fairly professional. I gave these to my four best friends this year as something a bit different than a shop bought card.

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A Little Topshop Dress

Dress - Topshop

Tights - Primark

Rings - Fashionology

Razzle Dazzle Nail Polish - Deborah Lippmann

I bought this Topshop dress last week, taking advantage of their free online delivery. It arrived just in time for a Christmas get-together with friends and I'm already in love with it. The low dip back is just high enough to cover my bra strap and it actually stays on my shoulders! It's a dark grey almost black covered in teeny coloured metallic threads that sparkle under the light. It's stretchy and breathable and perfect for eating lots in one sitting!

Just like last year we got together to swap presents and enjoy a three course Christmas meal. I just wore my Topshop Vectras and New Look blazer-coat (which I need to photograph soon!) to dress it down a bit.

This nail polish came in this month's GlossyBox and was a star addition for me.(more on this soon) It's my first Deborah Lippmann polish in such a beautiful colour for the holiday season. My mum and sister have already requested to wear it over Xmas.

I apologise for the quality of these pics, that's one thing I won't miss about Winter - the dark evenings! Come Spring I promise lots more outfit posts of better quality. 

I'm also wearing my hair extensions for the first time in months and if you follow me on Twitter you'll know I dyed them so they'd actually match my hair colour. I think I did a pretty good job.

I'm looking forward to the rest of this weekend's festivities, trying desperately to fend off illness as everyone in my house seems to have suffered or still is suffering from colds and flu. I'm writing this from work whilst drinking a Lemsip Max!

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Nails of 2011

Fimo Flower Nails

Multi-Coloured Nails

Peach Leopard Print Nails

Bonfire Night Shatter Nails

Dalmatian Print Nails

Traditional Leopard Print Nails

Christmas Nails

Galaxy Nails

Tropical Shatter Nails

Vintage Floral Nails

A few of my favourite nail designs from the Year 2011, my personal favourites being the Dalmatian Print and the Blue and Peach Leopard Print. 2011 has been all about nail art and I've enjoyed practising and sharing different designs on my blog. Click on the links above to see the individual blog posts.

How will you be painting your nails this Christmas?

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Christmas Countdown

Jumper - Primark

Skirt - New Look

Shirt - Primark

I apologise for the plastic appearance of these photos - my ISO was accidentally set really high when I took these meaning they came out gritty. I've had to messily soften them up a bit.
Wah la, me in doll form.
It was my last day at Uni today before the Christmas holidays, (even though I'm popping back in tomorrow for the feedback from my first assignment and to borrow some camera equipment) so I wanted to wrap up warm for sitting in a breezy studio. I'm wearing two pairs of tights. It works wonders.
I'm afraid everything is quite old, I've been spending my money on other silly things like fairy lights and a Kindle. (more on this soon!)
Two winners from my giveaway were selected at the weekend but failed to respond within the allocated 48 hours (girllss!) so I've had to pick two new winners... check your inboxes!

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OPI Nail Envy Review

As I'm not a beauty blogger, I rarely review any products on my blog. But OPI's Nail Envy is a product that everyone can relate too, anyone that has always wanted stronger natural nails.

In a bid to get longer, stronger and healthier nails by Christmas, I bought OPI Nail Envy on a friend's recommendation. After previously trying a few Sally Hansen nail strengtheners that hadn't really worked for me I wanted to try something different.
I managed to find the full size 15ml on ebay for around £7 and tracked my progress over 3-4 weeks. I'm currently into my 4th week of using the nail treatment as is instructed on the packet.

Apply two coats to a fresh clean nail, and then one coat over the top every other day for 1 week. After 1 week remove all polish and start again. 

These photos show my own nails wearing just 2 coats of Nail Envy. As you can see (or can't see) there seems to be little difference between each image. In three weeks, my nails seem to have grown at an abnormally slow rate. I'd go as far to say that the Nail Envy might have even been preventing nail growth.

So if you're looking for a product that will also make your nails grow faster and longer, this is not it.

However, the results I saw in terms of the strength of my nails was quite good. I started with peeling, breaking, weak nails and after 2 weeks saw real improvement to their strength. My nails did not peel, the 'corners' of my squared off shape stayed strong and chip-proof. Not a single nail bent or broke.

In this past week I have suffered from two near-fatal nail disasters. One corner on a thumb nail suddenly had a huge chip out of it. I was pretty mortified, however the piece of nail that chipped away still left behind a lot of nail underneath - showing how thick my nails seem to have grown. Almost doubled in thickness.

I also noticed one nail was peeling which my nails hadn't done since I started using the product so I was quite disappointed. 

With three or four coats of Nail Envy, my nails were rock hard and very thick (almost like acrylics) which I liked. My bare nails were thinner, but still strong and had noticeably improved.

As you can see from the photos above, I still have LOADS of product left, even when I was applying a coat every other day (sometimes every day - oops) so I'd estimate having a whole 6 months or more left from just this bottle of polish. Great value for money.

So, would I buy again? I'm going to keep using Nail Envy whenever I feel I need it, also using it as a top and base coat as it adds a gorgeous shine over the nails and keeps polish from chipping for much longer.

When the bottle runs out I would consider purchasing another. Or maybe trying a new nail treatment. I found OPI miles better than Sally Hansen's treatment polishes.

It's not a miracle worker - but it does a decent job. I'd recommend anyone to buy this if they were looking for something to stop the peeling or breaking of longer nails and to also produce a high-shine effect.

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In a Week...

Mocha and Lunch with my Dad / New Hair

Photos in the City / Pentax Mz5N Film Camera / Skies

Manchester Town Hall / Christmas Lights / Glitter Berry J20 / Night Sky

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New Hair

I decided to go for it and get my hair dyed a darker blonde today. My hairdresser somehow managed to persuade me into reddy-brown low lights and a fringe too. It looks very dark in these photographs and for a while I was having a 'omgwhathaveIdone' moment. But after a week or so it will lighten up from washing and I did want a change for the winter. The center parting is also back! For now.

This rather fabulous festive jumper is from Primark Mens. It's lovely and soft and looked a bit wild in the shop which only encouraged me to buy it. They have a few other festive jumpers too but I'm glad I got this one I'm going to wear it all Christmas Eve!

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Eating Out and Baggy Jeans

Orange Cardigan - New Look

Striped Tee - H&M

Jeans - Topshop

Feather Necklace, Cross Ring, Feather Ring - Fashionology

Turquoise Stone Ring - Vintage Jewellers 

It's my day off Uni and even though I'm supposed to be working on a project I'm going out for a late lunch with a friend instead! It's freezing outside so I'll be wrapping up in a big parka coat and scarf before leaving the house. My topshop jeans/jeggings have now become so baggy around the waist and bum I can only really wear them on casual days. I'll have to have a look for another pair in a smaller size - has anyone else experienced this problem with topshop jeans? The best jeans I have ever bought were from Berska about 5 years ago and they died a miserable death a few years ago. I wore them until they split at the knees.

This is the Fashionology feather necklace I won through their Twitter comps. It was lovely of them to give away so many goodies, and I love my new necklace (I am quite a fan of feathers) it matches my feather ring perfectly. 

You can still enter my giveaway for a chance to ring an Arty ring look-alike and one of my Galaxy Print tees. There's also a runners up prize! Ending on Saturday 10th - so enter now!

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500 Followers Giveaway!

A huge huge HUGE thank you to every one who reads, comments and appreciates ThisFashionIsMine. Without the support of my followers I wouldn't have the drive to keep posting, so I suppose you lot make this blog what it is!
I recently hit a whopping 500 followers which is quite amazing and I'm over the moon!

To say thanks, I've arranged a little giveaway. Theres a prize for the overall winner and a little something for the runner up to!
Here's what you could win....

Winner's Prizes...
Turquoise and Gold Statement Ring 
- similar to the YSL Arty Ring, a beautiful replica, solid chunky design, detailed turquoise stone. Size 7 (Medium)
One of the best look-alike YSL rings on the market, looks and feels expensive.

And...

One custom made Galaxy Print Tee in Oversized Fit (will fit sizes 8-14)

- visit thisfashionismine.bigcartel.com to see all the t-shirt designs. Pick you're favourite! (t-shirts only)

Here are just a few examples, see the shop for more!

Runner Up's Prize...
Deep Turquoise and Gold Statement Ring
- similar to the Winner's ring but a gorgeous deep mottled turquoise like the YSL Arty Ring, Size 7 (Medium)

How to Enter

There are two ways to enter this competition...

1. Leave ONE comment on this post stating the t-shirt design you'd like to win and your email address so I can contact you.

OR

2. Tweet about this giveaway directing your tweet to me by using @ThisFashionTwit

For example: "@ThisFashionTwit is giving away an Arty Ring and Galaxy Print Tee on her blog!"

OR

3. Do Both! One Comment and One Tweet will count for 2 entries!

(You will be automatically entered for both the Winners Prize and the Runners Up Prize!)

Rules

- You must be a follower of ThisFashionIsMine.blogspot.com

- No multiple comments on this post please girls, just one per person!

- Make sure you include all the correct info in your comment below, email address and choice of tee

- This give away is open internationally! So anyone can enter.
- I will select the two winners, the 1st will win the ring and custom tee, the 2nd will win the ring.

- The winners will be selected at random using Random.org 

- If you should win, please respond to your email within 48 hours or a new winner will be selected.

- You're prize will be shipped to you in time for Christmas, perfect for those Xmas parties! 

- The giveaway will run for 1 week - ending on Saturday 10th December 2011 at Midnight GMT  

Good Luck Girls!

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Galaxy Shop - What's New?

thisfashionismine.bigcartel.com

Girls - I finally have new stock! Yey! For all those of you who have been emailing asking when you can get your hands on a Galaxy Tee, well now you can. My stock is limited, so if you want one, buy now!

I'm also very pleased to announce I'm now selling Galaxy Print Dresses at a slightly higher price of £15.00. The design goes all the way around the dress, they are perfect for the upcoming part season or even just to wear through the day with a leather jacket, tights and boots.

I've been super busy with Uni work, and you know, sleeping - and I make each t-shirt myself, therefore stock numbers tend to be low. I'm going to run a survey to see which tshirt (or dress) sells the best and then will promise to make lots more of that design rather than trying to make a million different tees.
Also size variation is a little limited, if I do not have your size in stock then let me know! Ideally I want to have dresses and tees for every customer. You can always email me at gwen@gwenmcmullin.co.uk and request (nicely) a t-shirt or dress design you'd like in the perfect size for you.

Enjoy shopping! 
thisfashionismine.bigcartel.com

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On The First Day of Christmas...

Christmas Holly French Manicure

Nail Guides - Ebay

Nail Tip White Polish - Rimmel

Nail Art Pens - Ebay

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