Nouveau Geek Box: Mario

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The Nouveau Geek box is a brand new monthly box containing delightfully nerdy items handcrafted for anyone with a love of video games, sci-fi, and other assorted geekery. The very first box will be available for pre-order April 1 at 11am CDT and ends at 10:59pm CDT on April 7.

The very first box is Mario themed and includes five indie polishes, Super Mario 3D Gummies, a star-shaped mani bomb from Lemming Lacquer, two felt nail polish remover pads from le polish, a figurine (mine was Yoshi!), and a Mario coin.



Your Princess is in Another Castle - a buildable sheer peach shimmer with gold glitters. I wore four coats with topcoat for photos, but this can also be used as a topper. The formula was fine, though a bit brush-strokey, and I had no issues getting the glitter out of the bottle.




Bob-omb.com - an explosive black polish with hints of red, pink and gold shimmer. I was surprised how rich and dark this black polish is. It seems unusual to me to find one that is nearly one coater. I did experience some trouble with the formula and contacted Jennifer about it. She responded quickly and assured me that the issue would be addressed/corrected before launch. I wore two coats for the photos.




It’s A-Me! - inspired by the main man himself! a darkened candy apple red jelly with red and varying sizes of holo and iridescent glitter. I couldn't quite capture the richness of this shade without loosing detail, but I got as close as I could. I wore one coat - yep you read that right. I couldn't believe how well it covered in one coat, formula was smooth and easy to work with although I found the brush a bit coarse/thick which made it difficult to get super close to the cuticle line without needing a lot of clean up. That aside, this one is awesome!




Gimme A Boost and Call Me Invincible - a stunning medium violet (almost orchid) holographic polish inspired by the new purple boost stars from New Super Mario Bros. U. I love this shade, perfect for any season. I wore two coats on two nails and one coat on the other two - can you guess which?




He'll Eat Anyything - a neon green jelly packed with matte gold glitter and a sprinkle of holo pigment and glitter, inspired by everyone's favorite hungry dinosaur. What a bright fun polish! I wore two coats for the photos, and stamped it for Easter nails!





I'm excited to see what each month will be as the boxes roll out. The best part is, that you can choose each month whether or not to purchase the box. There is no automatic invoice or obligation.
Fantastic, yes?! I'd say so!

I hope you've enjoyed my review - come back and see me soon!

Great Lakes Lacquer: April Limited Editions

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I am excited to have the opportunity to review Great Lakes Lacquers (GLL). The five polishes in my review are April LEs and are my first to try. Color me impressed. The packaging is cute and unique, the formula is good consistency and easy to control on the nail - most are opaque in two coats unless otherwise noted. The set launches April 1st at 2 PM CDT and they will retire on the 2nd of May at 6 PM CDT.



The Ice is on Fire
Inspired by the ice caves that form when Lake Michigan freezes up by Traverse City. Add some light from sunrise or sunset and you get magic. A medium blue green with shimmer that shifts from red to gold to green. I wore 2 coats for an opaque look.

I am including a bottle shot because the shimmer in this one is quite camera shy except when behind glass. (Does it think it's hiding!?)
In person, the shimmer is visible on the nail too, just not on camera as well.





Fools Gold
A nod toward the tradition of April Fools! A topper that can also be worn alone, this is filled with gold holo microglitter, pale pink holo microglitter, peach microflake, and rosy microflake. One easy coat as a topper over your favorite spring color or 4 (as shown in my photos) for a mostly opaque look. I especially love it over The Ice is on Fire and have included those swatches as well.






Out Like a Lion
Another nod to April Fools. Winter likes to trick you into thinking that it's gone when it's not. This year it spared us all the way up til the end. Then walloped us before it left. A white crelly with several types of microflake and two types of multichrome flake. I wore 2 coats for an opaque look - and this did not streak at all!




Stop. Stepping. On. My. Hyacinths.
From Mariah - "I love Hyacinths. Absolutely love. Next to lilacs, they are my favorite spring flower. They do not last nearly long enough for me. So I get a bit frustrated when those that are planted next to my porch are constantly stepped on. This year, I plan on moving them." A medium blue based purple with two different kinds of multichrome flake. I wore 2 coats for opacity.




Lilac Love
From Mariah - "My absolutely favorite flower ever. This spring bloom always just means home to me. I have a small bush in my front yard and it was the clencher in actually buying the house in the first place." A light pinkish purple with aqua shimmer and a scattered holo affect. I wore two coats for the photos below. I love how versatile this polish can be, one coat gives a delicate fresh look while allowing a peek at your nail line. I like this look, especially in spring/summer seasons. It might also make for a nice glitter or stamping sandwich when done in thin coats.




Which of these polishes is your favorite?

I hope you've enjoyed the review and will follow us on facebook xoxo, Jen and Great Lakes Lacquer

Crème à la Mode: Spring Box

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The Crème à la Mode box is a seasonal collection of cream finish polishes made by four different brands.
This is the third box, Fall and Winter being the first two.
The Spring box is packed with vibrant shades that are perfect for the season. All four polishes are opaque in two coats and have exceptional formulas. I've done some nail art at the end of the review - hope you enjoy!

Digital Nails Water You Waiting For - a bright ultra periwinkle shade, it definitely leans purple but my camera kept trying to capture it as a straight blue.



Indigo Bananas Smoke On The Otter is a beautifully done neutral, I'd call it a greyed up nude shade.



Literary Lacquers Salmon Chanted Evening - a stunningly vibrant coral shade. My camera just does not shoot coral color accurate, like ever. I got it as close as I could - you can expect this one to be super bright, almost neon.



Octopus Party The Algae-attic Sea - super fun neon lime shade.



I was curious whether and how these would all stamp so I did a test and thought I'd share that with you! I used white on the pinky nail to show the difference in the neutral shade and bright white. Stamping with these definitely works. They are fairly sheer when stamped, especially the OPNL, so a light color underneath is suggested.




The spring box will be available for pre-order on March 27 - April 3 at the Crème à la Mode shop. Which is your favorite shade?

Awesome Sauce Box: Life in Plastic

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General Info : Life in plastic "barbie" box
Guest: Cupcake polish
Pre-Order: March 25th 3pm CDT - April 1st 10pm CDT
Shop: http://awesomesauceindies.bigcartel.com/

Comes in two sizes -
Full size: (pictured)
includes 5 full size polishes ranging 13.5 ml- 15ml, nail vinyls from lou it yourself, clay mash from ever after polish, balm from anonymous lacquer, charms from lavish, and vinyls from Lou It Yourself

Mini size:
includes 5 mini size polishes ranging 5ml- 7.5 ml, nail vinyls from lou it yourself, clay mash from ever after polish, balm from anonymous lacquer, charms from lavish, and vinyls from Lou It Yourself



I like to use the brand's descriptions to be sure I don't miss mentioning a pigment or something specific/important. So those are below, along with some comments from me.

Bridezilla - White crelly with a rainbow of shimmers!
I found this polish to be a bit challenging to apply, in that it was fairly thick and tended to dry quickly. Because I am not a pro at 'wrapping the tips' I didn't even think to try it so the free edge is not very smooth. I spoke to the box host who contacted the brand. The box host relayed back to me that the polish would be adjusted to be a bit thinner.




Barbie Girl - A hot pink linear holo with a slight lilac flash.
Slight is an understatement! I think the purpley flash was quite vibrant and almost pearlescent looking - what a beautiful finish!




Malibu Barbie - Blue aqua crelly with pink specks and holo shimmer.
I checked with Rachel and found that this polish is intentionally sheer to allow for light to reach the delicate flecks inside it. I wore four coats, which builds a very nice depth - akin to jadeite glass or looking into a clear ocean where you can see the coral and sand at the bottom.




Demolition Barbie - A black polish with color shifting glass based pigment in a blue to purple shift. As well, for an extra pop, micro holo flakies.
Woah sparkle girl! LOVE how sparkly this black polish is - there's magic in that bottle.




Let's Go Party - A lovely lavender crelly with gold shimmer, micro silver and gold holo glitter plus fine holo pink glitter and a splash of scattered holo.
From further away, the glitter blends well and is difficult to see; but when you get close you can see the hidden beauty and unusual glitter colors used.




All the polishes were opaque in two coats and had no formula issues unless otherwise noted.

Which are your favorite? What's that, can't decide? Me either!! They are all beautifully done and I love the theme and names of the polishes too. I hope you've enjoyed my review and will come over and follow me on facebook.

Literary Lacquers: Cactus Duo and Book Club exclusives

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These four new polishes from Literary Lacquers are stunning! A couple of them look very different on varying skin tones and lighting and I'm excited to share them!

The Cactus Duo is inspired by a book called The Cactus, by O. Henry.
It tells us the story of the pompous, arrogant, broken-hearted Trysdale. The story opens with him upset after watching the woman he loves marry another man. During their courtship, she had heard that he spoke fluent Spanish, he kept quiet and allowed her to assume that it was true. When he proposed to her, she sent her answer the next day. A cactus in a pot bearing a tag with a single word. Ventomarme. Not hearing anything else from her, he decided that the cactus was a refusal of his proposal and he turned cold toward her. Only after attending her wedding to another man, does he find out that ventomarme means come and take me.

Ventomarme – designed for Jennifer Sky Walker’s blogiversary, a dusty grey-green-blue with holographic microglitter, silver microflakes, and blue glass flecks. This is a morpher depending on lighting and skin tone. It looks more blue/grey on me, where it leans more green on others. This polish is a sheer crelly so I wore three coats for photos.

Ventomarme was designed for Jen at Musings of the Wife of a Jedi's blogiversary. Happy 4th blogiversary Jen!




Come and Take Me – Jelly fire opal orange packed with holographic microglitter and opalescent flakies. I wore three coats and just look at that squishy jelly-ness!

Amy dedicated this polish to Debbie Crumpet, she is often thought of even though she has retired from nail blogging. Debbie taught me several simple techniques that look amazing and inspired me to step outside my comfort zone with nail art. She's totally deserving of this dedication.




The Book Club custom polishes were designed as part of our book club discussions in the Literary & Lacquers facebook group.

Serious Nap Rays – designed with Jennifer Sky Walker inspired by Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson. Moody grey-purple-taupe with orange shimmer, pink glass fleck, purple flakies and just a touch of linear holo. Looks different in every light.




My Whirlwind Other Half – designed with Jennifer Zakroff inspired by We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves by Karen Joy Fowler.
It's a sheer shimmery crelly white, packed with holographic microglitter and rainbow opalescent flakies. I wore three coats for a delicate sparkling manicure. Because it is sheer, the natural nail color comes through and causes it to look a bit like my skin color. Wearing white under it, would keep it white. It's also beautiful in one coat over other shades too, but I wanted to keep it pure for my review.




All four polishes launch March 21-April 16 at the Literary Lacquers Esty shop.
The Book Club Customs are only available to members of Literary (&) Lacquers group, so please come join us!

I hope you've enjoyed my review!