The Time Has Come...

I have been contemplating writing this post for a while now, and I can't put it off any longer. I have been blogging for a long time, since 2009. It's seriously been seven and a half years. That sounds kinda insane haha. And I've loved it. I do love it. I wouldn't have done it so long if I didn't. However, the time has come to move on.

I will be retiring, for lack of a better word, very soon. I plan to be finished by the end of this month. 2016 has been kind of a wonky year, but blog-wise I've enjoyed great success and I'm happy to be ending things on a high note. By success I mean having loyal readers and friends that regularly read my blog and look at my photos, and brands wanting to work with me and have me review their amazing products. It never ceases to amaze me that so many people care about what I think about a topic I love so much.

I have several reasons to be bowing out at this time. I will list a few, because I believe I owe you that, but some of the reasons I need to keep to myself. My time is factor one, as I spend an absurd amount of hours on this "hobby" of mine. All my daytime hours on the weekends are spent swatching and photographing. Then I work on my blog seven nights a week, even though I don't publish every day. I've never been fast at it, it takes a lot of precise work, and therefore energy. So much of my free time is spent on my blog, and as I have a full time day job, a lot of other things get pushed to the side in favor of nail polish. I'm not complaining really, it's been my choices that have gotten me to this point. I just can't continue to do it.

I wish I could just scale back, to limit my posts, to lighten the load. But another factor influencing my decision to stop completely is that I have carpal tunnel in both of my wrists. It's been a problem most of my adult life. I was a dental assistant for a while (before I ever even thought about blogging), on track to become a dental hygienist actually, and I ended up making the decision to switch career paths because my weak wrists couldn't handle the hours of intense, dexterous work. It hasn't been as bad in years past, but the past two it has become increasingly difficult to manage. The numbness and pain is not quite constant, but it starts within minutes after I start swatching and sticks around. The positions I have to hold my hands in to polish my nails and to take photos of them have become more and more taxing. I know there are surgical procedures for this malady, but at this time in my life that is not a feasible option for me.

I have seen some of my good friends, some of my nail idols, some extremely talented individuals leave the blogging world. And I'm sure there will be others to come down the road. They survived and I will too. Though I can't express my sadness enough. Maybe that sounds a little extreme, but it's true. I LOVE nail polish. I LOVE blogging. And I will never stop loving it, but I simply can't sustain the work this takes any longer.

Thank you, dear reader, for everything, your support and your kindness throughout the years! I've been so fortunate to meet so many amazing people, some of the best friends of my life, through blogging! To receive and review so many fabulous nail polishes has been a dream come true, so to all the brands I've been privileged to work with - I'm in awe of your incredible work! And if you have gotten this far thank you again, for reading this long dramatic post, haha, you're the most, to say the least.

Love always,

❤ Kellie

P.S. I still have a few more collections and posts to share with you, so you're not rid of me quite yet!

Pretty Serious Cosmetics Naileontology Collection Vol. 4 Swatches & Review

Hey folks! I have three new polishes to show you today from Australian indie brand Pretty Serious Cosmetics. These shades are part of the Museum of Naileontology collection, shades from the past they have re-imagined and made their own! Let's take a look at what they cooked up from the wild depths of the nail polish archives!

Press Sample

Chariots Of The Red Sea has a warm red jelly base filled with silver twinkly shimmer bits. This is actually kind of unique to my collection, which is a feat for a red! Great, easy to apply formula. This is two coats.

Disc Of The Heavens is a jade green with a angelic glaze of green and gold microshimmer. A stunning shade, one that captivated the nail polish world a few years ago and this is sure to satiate a few lemmings, one of mine in particular! Thin but manageable formula, I used two coats here for an opaque finish.

Mad Skull Of Cloverton is a pale lilac purple that leans iridescent with a strong green shimmer. This rides the edge of being a frost, but wasn't quite there, which is good in my opinion. A touch sheer and slightly brushstrokey, but not terribly so. This is three coats.

These shades are all available right now on the Pretty Serious website. They are $9.95 AUD, or about $7.27 USD. (They convert the prices to whatever currency your country uses, so simple and convenient!) Let me know what you think of these colors! I have some more goodies from PS Cosmetics to show you soon, so stay tuned!

❤ Kellie

The products mentioned were provided for an honest review.

The Holo Hookup January 2017 Swatches & Review

Hip hip hooray! I've got the newest box from The Holo Hookup to show you today! This box's theme is "New Year, New You" and there are four gorgeous polishes to go along with that idea. Permanent makers Glisten & Glow, Cupcake Polish and Different Dimension have been joined by guest brand Colores de Carol for this month's creations. Let's take a look!

Press Sample

color inspiration

Different Dimension Simplify is a pastel lavender linear holographic with added blue shimmers. Gorgeous with a flawless formula! I love how the holo almost looks chunky, it's so robust! Two coats.

Cupcake Polish Happiness is a light apple-y green linear holographic with pink shimmers. Nice easy formula on this one. It covers completely in two coats.

Glisten & Glow Love is a pale mauvey pink linear ultra holographic polish with added light rose and light pink microflakies. Great formula, a little on the thin side, but very manageable. This is two coats. Dries in a flash!

Colores de Carol The Extra Mile is a medium blue linear holographic with gold and blue shimmer and gold flakes. This was on the thinner side and a tad sheer. This is two coats. Judging from this photo, it seems like I could've maybe done one more, but in person the strong holo flame teases the eye and makes it look totally opaque.

This box will be available for pre-order on The Holo Hookup website from Wednesday, December 21 at 9pm EST through Wednesday, December 28 at 9pm EST. The box is $40 plus shipping, available domestically and internationally. Let me know what you think about these shades! I've been reviewing boxes from The Holo Hookup since December of last year and I'm just as in love with them now as I was then. You always get the best from these excellent brands!

❤ Kellie

The products mentioned were provided for an honest review.