Must Stash!

It starts off small. You have six or so treasured polishes that fit neatly in your medicine cabinet, or underneath your sink.

Slowly, your Stash begins to grow. You turn to a shoebox for help, but that only works for a few weeks. You need something bigger. Something better. Something that's not lowly cardboard. You need a vessel worthy of your Stash.

Gals, I feel your pain — because I've been there. I searched high and low at brick-and-mortar stores like Target and IKEA. I scoured Amazon and Google images for ideas. I read other nail polish blogs to see what fellow polishaholics were doing.

In the end, I found the perfect storage solution! I'll show you guys pictures tomorrow, but first I want you to tell me — how do you store your Stash? I'd love to hear about your tried-and-true method in the comments. (If you have pics, even better!) And if you're still on a quest for a great method, then come back tomorrow for my purrsonal recommendation! >^..^<

xx, Francesca

The Polish Addict's "Lacquer Lexicon"

Yesterday, in All Aboard, I explained that the nail polish blogging world can seem somewhat foreign at first. Sometimes it's like we nail polish aficionados are speaking a different language — and we sort of are. Like any closely-knit or subject-specific community, there's some key jargon that you must know. Nobody's put together a better list than The Polish Addict. If you love nails and have not checked out that blog, that should be your next stop. In the meantime, allow me to share her Lexicon with you.

The ones that I see most often are VHTF/HTF, Franken and Dupe. Later this week, I'll fill you in on a lemming of my own that I can now consider captured AND I'll show you not one but TWO glitter manicures... using HTFs, no less.

xxo, GLOSS

Sephora — Glimmer Wonderland Nail Polish Set

You pay for what you get, as the saying goes. Usually, the old adage is true *except* when it's Christmas time! Oh, I do love a good gift set. (As you know.) I saw this gem online today and had to share.

Eighteen mini bottles — nice! I am of two minds when it comes to mini bottles.

On the one hand (pun intended), I love that they're less expensive, so you can load up on way more options than you could if you were buying full-size bottles.

On the other hand, I find that the little bottles dry up pretty quickly. You can always invest in some actual, legitimate nail polish thinner (yes, it exists... and NO, using nail polish remover as a thinner is not recommended by true purists such as myself). Alternatively, you can just embrace the fact that this is a one-time or two-time polish and make the most out of it.

If you're a big fan of Sephora by OPI, note that many of the colors in this set are some of the line's most popular shades, so you may end up with dupes if you've got a stash already going.

At $48 for the set, this breaks down to ~$2.50 a bottle. This would be an awesome gift for a young lady in your life who's just beginning to develop her very own nail polish stash — and would be just as perfect for that special someone who's already obsessed with polish. And if that "someone" is YOU (nothing wrong with a little treat for yourself)...

My recommendation is finding two or three friends and going in on the polish together so that you can all get your favorite shades! If all of you seem to be liking the same shades (uh-oh!), I suggest this "grab bag" method:

• Putting all of the little bottles in a bag or box — however you'd like so that the drawing is blind
•  Roll a dice or do rock / paper / scissors to see who grabs first, then take turns grabbing until all bottles have been distributed
• Then, it's up to each girl:
• Keep what you grabbed, or
• Discuss trading options on a bottle-per-bottle basis

Hey, nail polish distribution is serious business, okay?

Maytheoddsbeeverinyourfavor, GLOSS

On the Usefulness of 3x5 Cards

I love 3x5 cards!  This bit of information indicates that I am 1) a perfectionist, and 2) a total dork! But did you know that 3x5 cards are useful for a variety of things?  Of course, we all know they are good for remembering speeches/presentations and for flashcards when you are studying.  In addition to these practical tasks, I also use 3x5 cards as bookmarks, to write quotes on and then tape to my bathroom mirror, writing to do lists, writing grocery lists, as a ruler, and........

wait for it......(dramatic pause).....

As a swatch for my nail polish!

This is such a simple, but genius idea, which I get asked about all the time while I am at the beauty store/drug store choosing new nail colors!

If you are like me, obsessed with nail polish and cannot keep your mind from thinking about the glistening colors that will soon be swept across you nails, then you too have a TON of nail polish sitting at home.  This, as you know, makes it quite difficult to choose a new color- What if the color is basically identical to one you already have?  What if the new color is just a shade off?- Sacrilege!

Never fear....just grab yourself and handy dandy 3x5 card and start painting it with the already existing colors you have that you are trying to match!  Then carry this card with you wherever you go (seriously, mine is always in my day planner!), so that the next time you are out and about and happen to stumble upon some interesting polish, you can assess your current stash for appropriateness and need.

This is especially helpful when choosing the perfect ombre nail shades:

Happy hunting!

-  Varnish