The Busy Mom's Mani

OPI A Woman's Prague-ative

(3 coats)

from the Spring 2013 Euro Centrale Collection

I understand how hard it can be to find the time to pamper yourself with things like manicures. But over the years, I've developed a method that allows me to do a home mani in a short amount of time right before I go to bed. The secret is the fast-dry topcoat- my nails are completely dry by the time I hit the sack, and I don't get sheet marks at all! Start to finish, a mani takes me less than 20 minutes. Who doesn't have 20 minutes to pamper themselves?

And my secret to pretty nails? Always keeping them painted! It adds strength and keeps them from breaking.

So without further ado, here are my favorite nail products, shown in order of use for the perfect salon-quality mani. For all products, I start with the pinkie of one hand and continue on to the other hand before I move to the next step. And there's no need to let the coats dry in between steps- just start with the same nail each step.

1. Sally Hanson Instant Cuticle Remover. To have a long-lasting mani, you've really got to prep your nails. Removing cuticle overgrowth is a key step. I apply this all around my cuticles, wait a bit (you can wait longer that it says), then use the thumbnail of my opposite hand to push back/scrape the cuticles. I typically do this twice. Find this at drug stores and mass-market retailers like Wal-Mart and Target.

2. Orly Bonder. This rubberized basecoat overrides any oily residue on your nails and gives your polish something to stick to, another secret of a long-lasting mani. Find this at Sally Beauty.

2.5. Apply your favorite shade of polish. I'm a firm believer that if you use the right base and top coats, any brand of polish can work. Some of my favorites that vary widely in price are OPI, China Glaze, Sally Hansen and NYC.

3. NYC Grand Central Station. This is my new HG topcoat... it works just as well as the pricy Seche Vite, but it's only $2! You know I love a bargain. Find this at drug stores and mass-market retailers like Wal-Mart and Target.

4. Poshe Cuticle Care.  Keeping your cuticles neat and free of hang-nails is another secret to making your manicure last longer. This product is fabulous and I massage this into my cuticles twice a day to prevent hangnails and prevent cuticle buildup. Find this at Ulta for around $9.

5. Nail Polish Remover Dip-It. I change my polish pretty often, and this little treasure makes it quick and easy. Inside this tub are plastic bristles that really help scrub the polish off. Find this at mass-market retailers like Wal-Mart and Target for around $3.

Now, if you are trying to remove a glitterbomb polish, that's another issue, and you'll need to visit this post on my nail blog to see the trick for that.

Do you have any nail products to recommend to me? I love trying new products and would love to hear about your favorites!

Did you know I love nail polish so much that I've got a separate blog just for my nail polish reviews and pictures? Visit me at http://www.manicuremommas.com/ if you like nail polish as much as I do!

China Glaze Giveaway at My Nail Blog

When Beauty Stop Online sent me some China Glaze purples to review, they offered to send me 3 bottles to giveaway as well!

Left to Right:

Royal Tease

Draped in Velvet

Let's Groove

The winner of this giveaway will win a brand new bottle of each of the shades pictured above. I'll use Rafflecopter to manage the giveaway and choose the winner over at my nail blog. Come visit me there and enter! Good luck!

Disclosure: Polish for giveaway was provided by Beauty Stop Online (thanks guys!)

Spring Has Sprung.... on my nails!!!!

(this was posted today on Manicure Mommas, but I couldn't resist sharing here as well.....)

Sally Hansen Real Nail Polish Strips in Girl Flower

I've been dying to try these, but for one reason or another, hadn't gotten around to it. Now that I have The Spring Fever, I thought it was a perfect time to use them.

I LOVE that the pattern is forgiving..... if you look closely at the tips, you can see that I didn't do that well at ripping off the extra... but since the pattern is varied and has some white flowers, it's not that big of a deal. In person, you cannot tell at all.

Application time took me about 18 minutes, and I imagine it would be less next time now that I know which sizes fit my nails.

I can't remember exactly what I paid, but I believe I got these in a BOGO 1/2 price sale... I also have Misbehaved.

I added a top coat of Revlon ColorStay in clear because I heard that a topcoat extends the wear.

I will definitely report back and let you know how long they last for me.

Fabulous Giveaway at Manicure Mommas

Smoochiefrog is sponsoring a fabulous giveaway at Manicure Mommas- one unopened package of OPI mini nail polishes in the following colors: Ghostess with the Mostess, Boo-berry (both of which glow in the dark) and Pumped-Up Pumpkin.

Head over to Manicure Mommas to see how to enter! Good luck!

New Blog Idea!

I have totally become obsessed with nail blogs, and I would love to have a nail blog of my own!

But I realize that I don't actually get to paint my nails very much right now, since I'm chasing two small children around and trying to work full-time somewhere in there.

But what about a group blog for those of us moms who love to do manis? Each time we paint our nails, we can post our NOTD (or NOTW as it mostly like is) and banding together, we can be a nail blogger!

Let me know if you'd like to be a contributor! Hopefully I can paint my nails again tomorrow and snap a better shot for a header.

Check it out and let me know what you think!