Get in Summer Mode with KBShimmer's Candy Land Inspired Items for the May Polish Pickup

Greetings, dear readers, and happy Friday! It has been an exhausting week and I am so glad I get to take a break when the hubby gets home from work today. I wish I was able to follow the schedule I had initially created for the kids, but most days I've just had to wing it. There is more non-educational screen time in my house than I would like, but I'm considering it a necessary evil for the time being. We're all doing the best we can to get through the days right now, and today's blog post features a little self care I've enjoyed. Let's jump in!

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April is FINALLY coming to an end, and that means the May Polish Pickup is right around the corner! Opening next Friday, May 1st, the winning theme for May is Candy Land, and the brands are here to deliver some incredible creations. I had the pleasure of swatching and trying out the upcoming offerings by KBShimmer; I love them both and you're definitely going to want to get your hands on these! First up, the nail polish!

Fruit Slices, Yummy Yummy

Christy from KBShimmer had the following to say about this polish:

I love the type of gummy candy that is slightly firm, brightly colored and covered in crunchy sugar crystals. Especially fruit slices, yummy, yummy! Give me all the lime, cherry, orange, and other fruit-flavored treats, please! Maybe it's because I remember candy dishes full of them as a child, or the fact that just saying "fruit slices" immediately brings to mind that awful but catchy song about fruit salad that makes me want to wiggle.

Fruit Slices, Yummy Yummy is a bright, coral-colored jelly polish accented by color-shifting flakes. These flakes shift from a fiery orange to lemon yellow and lime green. This coral shade can lean more pink or orange depending on the lighting, complementing many skin tones. Micro holographic flakes add a hint of sparkle to this juicy shade.

I love coral hues and gravitate towards them once the weather warms up and I'm looking to the days of frolicking in the pool. Fruit Slices, Yummy Yummy pulls a little more pink on me, making it my ideal kind of coral. I've become very particular about flake-filled polishes, and I am happy to report that those in this polish complement the base hue beautifully. I had full coverage with two easy coats although I did have to either push the occasional flake back onto my nail or pull one off as they extended beyond my nail length. Thus is the nature of the flakie beast, so if you already wear flake-filled nail polishes often, you're already familiar with this little dance. I topped off my nails with KBShimmer's Clearly On Top top coat for this photos. 

Retail: $10, no cap on the number of bottles available for purchase.

KBShimmer will also be offering their fabulous sugar scrub in a new, exclusive scent!

Spun Sugar Sugar Scrub

This is what Christy had to say about the inspiration for her scrub scent:

On hot summer days, families loaded up their cares and headed to the State Fair for food, fun, and festivities. In the air, the aromas of fried food, milkshakes, and caramel ready to cover fresh apples made your taste buds water. Screams from kids whizzing around on rides that thrilled were made even better when accompanied by school friends and bellies full of cotton candy and fresh-squeezed lemonade, making the State Fair the best event to cap off summer.

Spun Sugar Hand & Body Scrub evokes memories of those sweet summer days at the fair. This scent starts with sugary notes of raspberry cotton candy and tart lemon and is anchored together with undertones of musk and caramel. Don't let the name fool you, this is no fluffy scent. Deep and complex, Spun Sugar will make strangers stop and ask what you are wearing! If you love KBShimmer's Pink Sugar scent, this is an updates version you are sure to love!

My jar got a little melted in the hot Arizona heat getting to me, but you can still see the beautiful pastel rainbow in the jar. I'm a fan of KBShimmer's sugar scrubs for on my hands, and I especially love to use them on the tiny bumps that form on the back of my arms. I generally use mine about twice a week, and the result is smooth skin with a light scent. As for the scent of Spun Sugar, I'm liking it quite a bit. Not too heavily fragranced for my sensitive nose, it is a little warmer than I would expected for "spun sugar". That being said, I really like the warmth of this scent and am happy to have it in my sugar scrub rotation!

Retail: $10, no cap on the number of jars available for purchase.

KBShimmer really nailed it with May's Candy Land theme! Between the bright, happy coral hue on my nails and a sugar scrub scent that has me eager for the hot summer days, I'm not sure which of these products I like more!

The May Polish Pickup will be opening Friday, May 1st and close Monday, May 4th. Be sure to mark the dates on your calendar as this is the only time you will be able to purchase these exclusive items. Please note that orders are submitted as a preorder and to allow up to three weeks for order shipping. I have been purchasing from the Polish Pickup since it first opened, and it is always well worth the wait!

After you get your orders submitted, jump on over to the Polish Pickup Pack Facebook page and vote for your favorite theme for a future month!

Until next time, dear readers, have a wonderful day!

XO!

Helpful Links

Store: www.the-pickups.com

Facebook Group (Polish Pickup Pack): www.facebook.com/groups/polishpickuppack
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Written In the Stars with KBShimmer and the Polish Pickup

Happy New Year, dear readers! Here's to a new and healthy year ahead! 2019 ended on a rough note with me enjoying the flu for the holiday season; needless to say, I'm really looking forward to a more positive month and year ahead!

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A new month means another Polish Pickup is upon us! The theme for January is "Written in the Stars", and for today's blog post, I have the offerings by KBShimmerto share with you. Let's jump in!

Astronaut Ice Cream

Sugar Scrub

As a child in the 80’s, space was on the forefront of a lot of minds. We had space shuttles heading into orbit, popular movies like Star Wars and Space Camp, and two space centers allowed us to get up close and personal with NASA. My personal favorite from the space center visit? A bar of Astronaut Ice Cream. That freeze-dried bar sparked my imagination and made me feel like I, too, could walk on the moon!

Inspired by that bar of freeze-dried Neapolitan ice cream, Astronaut Ice Cream sugar scrub features three layers, each with its own scent. The classic strawberry, vanilla and chocolate flavors are represented by the pink, cream, and brown-colored layers. Use each layer individually, or stir them to form a juicy, chocolate-covered berry scent.

I'm a fan of KBShimmer's sugar scrubs, so I'm glad to see another scent join the brand lineup! I've decided to mix mine together as I love chocolatey scents although I love the look of it with all the individual colours.

Due to the extra time needed to make this particular scrub (mixing multiple scents and layering), this has been capped to 135 jars.

Retail: $10

I Need Space

Magnetic Nail Polish

Looking up at the sky, I feel such a sense of wonder. That deepened black canvas seems to be endless. A splattering of twinkling stars and streaking comets just make me wonder how much more there is out there beyond the Milky Way. I Need Space is inspired by stunning photos of our galaxy from earth, with that hazy band of stars and deepened sky.

I Need Space starts as a silver slate. When you apply a magnet, a bright silver line accents a blackened-navy background. Micro and small holo glitters sparkle like the night sky, while tiny, shifty blue flakes complete this galaxy-inspired shade.

This polish is a stunner no matter how you choose to wear it. Sure, adding in the magnetic effect makes this shade out of this world, but the simple deep silver hue with subtle sparkle is quite spectacular as well. Magnetic nail polishes are the best at two-for-one polishes!

I used two coats of I Need Space for full coverage. The formula is a little on the thicker side, but this is par for the course with magnetic polishes, and it still applied pretty easily to the nails.

Retail: $10

The January Polish Pickup will be open this Friday, January 3rd through Monday, January 6th. These products are available during this time frame only, so be sure to snag them while you can! With the sugar scrub being limited in quantity, you'll want to pick up one of those asap so you don't miss out. Please keep in mind that orders submitted to the Polish Pickup are submitted as a preorder; allow for three weeks for shipping from Polish Pickup headquarters.

Are you enjoying the start to a new year and decade? Are you going to be starting the decade out of this world with this month's Polish Pickup? Cheers to the new year, dear readers!

Helpful Links

Store: www.the-pickups.com

Facebook Group (Polish Pickup Pack): www.facebook.com/groups/polishpickuppack
Instagram: www.instagram.com/PolishPickup

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KBShimmer: Winter Is Coming to the December Polish Pickup

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Greetings, dear readers, and happy Monday! I'm cutting it close with this post as the December Polish Pickup opens TODAY in just a few hours, but at least I didn't miss it! If you're eagerly anticipating the opening today, let me give you another look at two of the offerings available this month. KBShimmer is offering a nail polish and a sugar scrub; I'm not sure which one I enjoy the most! As I often start my manicures with a scrub, let's start off with that first. Let's do this!

Cocoa & Cookies Sugar Scrub

There's something special about heading outside to build a snowman, or to drag your sled to the top of a hill just to zoom back down on a crisp winter's day.  For me, making snow angels and getting into snowball fights made for the best outdoor fun.  But a day of winter play wouldn't be complete without heading inside for a warm cup of cocoa and a fresh cookie.

Cocoa & Cookies sugar scrub is inspired by the cold weather treats of the same name.  This scrub starts out with notes of warm steamed milk and rich chocolate.  A hint of vanilla and sugary sweetness along with the tan color of the scrub bring to mind fresh-baked sugar cookies. Like your favorite sprinkles, a hint of gold mica completes this yummy scrub.  For use all over your body, this scrub will help even the driest winter skin.

I've not kept it a secret that I love the KBShimmer sugar scrubs- they always smell so delicious and they leave my skin feeling oh-so-soft! I like to use them on my hands between manicures to slough off any dead skin that may be lingering around causing rough patches, and some make their way into my shower for full body exfoliation. I like to use these every 2 to three days in the shower. The scent selection is generally what determines if the scrub stays at my sink or  goes on the ledge in my shower stall.

I love baking cakes, cookies and brownies, but I'm not particularly fond of smelling like them. This is what intrigues me the most about this particular scent offering from KBShimmer. There is a slight sweetness to this fragrance, but it is far from too sweet. It's not too intense chocolate (although I wouldn't mind that!) for the cocoa aspect, and I agree with the description that the vanilla is subtle. It is a beautiful balance of warmth and sweetness, not leaning too far in either direction. While I originally thought this sugar scrub would end up staying on my sink for hand scrub use only, I adore the scent balance and will actually be enjoying this in the shower as well. While the scent is certainly there, it isn't too intense for my sensitive nose!

Retail: $10

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Un-brrr-lievable Nail Polish

Growing up in Minnesota, we joked about having four seasons: almost winter, winter, still winter and road construction.  While it's not really that bad, Minnesotans have learned to embrace and even celebrate the cold.  One way we do that is with our annual Winter Carnival. Featured as its centerpiece is a giant ice castle constructed of ice blocks and ice walls, each colorfully lit for an amazing visual experience that can only be described as Un-brrr-lieveable!

Un-brrr-lieveable is a cool-toned polish that starts out as a rich purple hue.  When your hands are warm, the purple quickly shifts to a bold icy blue reminiscent of those majestic ice castles.  Iridescent flakes in tones of pink, purple, aqua, green and gold light up this wintery nail polish shade, while micro holo glitters add a hint of sparkle and shine.

I do NOT do cold weather, but I have to admit visiting an ice castle sounds pretty awesome and worth bundling up for one of these years! That said, I still love polishes inspired by cold weather, and this one is no exception. How gorgeous is this polish! I've a huge fan of flake-filled polishes with a matte finish, so since this is my blog, that's what you're gonna get the most of today!

The formula was really easy to work with, and I applied two coats to my nails for these photos. Under the bright light setup I can see a hint of visible nail line, but in normal lighting conditions, I didn't notice it at all. Those with longer nails or very white nail lines may want to use a third coat for opacity. Alternately, you can opt to layer it over a lighter shade. That leads to the question: do you layer over a light blue or a purple? I guess it depends on if you tend to lean more towards cooler or warmer temperatures naturally! I also added a layer of matte top coat for these photos.

I didn't want to leave you completely hanging, so here are a few photos where I added a glossy top coat (KBShimmer's new Free & Clear 5-free Quick Dry Top Coat). It's certainly pretty either way, although the shine fights with my light setup and glare some here. If you're a fan of blues and purples, this is a must have polish for your collection! My love of flakes has cooled off, no pun intended, but this one is fabulous! 

Retail: $10

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KBShimmer has certainly contributed two fantastic options this month, and I'm not sure which one I enjoy more! Both of these will be available for purchase TODAY on the Polish Pickup website at 11am EST / 8am PST. They are using a different format regarding days this month, and it will remain open through Friday, December 6th.

Please keep in mind orders submitted through the Polish Pickup are submitted as a preorder; allow up to three weeks for shipping out to you. Unless your order contains exclusively domestic items that can be received by Polish Pickup headquarters quickly for earlier shipping, your packages likely will not make it in time to you for Christmas (for those of your celebrating). I've had my recent overnight and priority packages taking 5 days to get to me, and I'm not expecting it to improve with Black Friday weekend and Cyber Monday shopping items about to flood the postal service. I don't want to discourage anyone from shopping as there are incredible creations to choose from this month, but I want to make sure you're prepared in case you're shopping for a gift. Now if you're celebrating the 12 days of Christmas, which officially starts on Christmas day, you should be set!

Are you excited for the opening of the December Polish Pickup? What all are you planning to pic up this month? Are you a fan of sugar scrubs? Do you prefer Un-brrr-lievable with a matte or shiny finish? I'd love to hear from you!

Until next time, dear readers, have a wonderful day!

XO!

Helpful Links

Store: www.the-pickups.com

Facebook Group (Polish Pickup Pack): www.facebook.com/groups/polishpickuppack
Instagram: www.instagram.com/PolishPickup

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KBShimmer for the November Fairy Tales-Themed Polish Pickup

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Greetings, dear readers, and happy Monday! It's been crazy around here the past few weeks as the hubby has been out of town, my mother-in-law has been visiting, and trying to finish up last minute things for Halloween. I'm playing catch up and wanted to get this post up in time for the November Polish Pickup. Today is the last day of the Fairy Tale-themed pickup, and I have two special items to share with you. Created by indie brand KBShimmer, I have the pleasure of sharing a sugar scrub and a nail polish with you. Let's jump in and check them out!

The Dark Crystal Sugar Scrub

In a land called Thra, two new races, the Skeksis and the urRu came into being when a powerful crystal cracked. The evil Skeksis use this cracked crystal to grant immortality. Jen, a Gelfling and the hero of the story, learns that the crystal can be repaired if done before the three suns aligned. This sets off the quest that makes up the story of The Dark Crystal.

The Dark Crystal sugar scrub is inspired by this story. Like the crystal from the movie, its rich fuchsia color is warmed by the lush scent of amber. Sugar and citron combine with juicy plum notes, accented by cashmere musk for a deep and complex scent.

Check out that sparkle! This only decorates the top layer of this scrub, but what a great introduction to a new jar!

I'm a big fan of KBShimmer's sugar scrubs! I like to use them to keep my hands soft, and they work perfectly to remove any residual shimmers hanging out on my skin. Of course you can use them on your body as well, and I often have a jar in my shower for gentle exfoliation.

I'm a fan of fruit scents in general, and this warmed plummy option is a delight!

Retail: $10 per 9.5oz jar

The Nothing

"We all have movies that we loved as children that can still bring to mind fond memories when we look back on them as adults. For me, The Neverending Story was one of them. Maybe it was because I loved to read, but the thought of reading a book and becoming part of the story was captivating to me. Bastian, a young book-lover, steals The Neverending Story against the wishes of a bookstore owner and is soon caught up in a world called Fantasia, its fight against The Nothing, and a journey to save the Childlike Empress. I won’t spoil the movie, but I was caught up in the twist toward the end and really wanted a pearl headdress."

A magnetic polish, this shade starts out as a rich emerald green color that shifts to navy blue. When a magnet is used, the added array of holo glitters and pink-to-blue-shifting micro flakes give this polish a galaxy-like feel.

There is something about a magnetic polish that I really enjoy. Perhaps it's the idea of having two polishes in one: apply as a normal polish and you have one look or pull out the magnet and you have something quite different.

As seen with magnetic polishes in general, the formula of The Nothing is a little thicker than your average polish. On my short nails, one coat actually was enough to cover any visible nail line, although I followed up with a second coat for these photos. Once a second coat was applied, I held the KBShimmer Neodymium ring magnet over my nail for about 45 seconds while the polish dried. Once I had finished all my nails, I followed up with Clearly on Top top coat for a glossy finish.

Retail: $10 per 15mL bottle

Both these items can be picked up from the Polish Pickup website. Please note today is the last day to submit an order, so you'll want to jump on this quickly if you haven't already. Also, all orders are submitted as a preorder. Please allow three weeks for orders to ship out to you.

Have you pickup up any items from the November Polish Pickup yet? Have you added either of these items to your list? I'd love to hear from you!

Until next time, dear readers, have a wonderful day!

XO!

Helpful Links

Store: www.the-pickups.com

Facebook Group (Polish Pickup Pack): www.facebook.com/groups/polishpickuppack
Instagram: www.instagram.com/PolishPickup

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Polish Pickup and Literary Lacquers On Why You Shouldn't get Tattoos in a Language you Don't Understand

Urban Legends have taken over the October Polish Pickup, and there are both new-to-me tales in addition to some old favorites. While the exact tale that inspired by Amy of Literary Lacquers isn't one I've heard, I am familiar with the general idea behind it. Let's check it out!

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According to the story, a female diner is taken with the Chinese characters on her menu. She loved the characters so much, that in one variant of the story, she knits a sweater containing the characters. The modern version of the tale has her getting a tattoo of the characters. It is some time later she learns that the characters mean "This dish is cheap yet tasty". Inspired by this urban legend and Amy's bff's love of all things magenta, here is This Dish Is Cheap Yet Tasty.

I have loved just about all the polishes released by Literary Lacquers, no matter what the finish may be, but my mind always first goes to holographic nail polishes when I think of the brand. I am so excited to see this rich and vibrant magenta holo join in this month's Polish Pickup.

I know I can always count on the brand to provide great formulas, and This Dish Is Cheap Yet Tasty is no exception to the rule. What does set it aside from many of the others is it is incredibly pigmented, and I only used one coat to reach opacity for these photos. I'm often a two-coater kind of a girl in spite of many brands saying one is enough, but in this case, one coat was definitely enough. I've not yet had the opportunity to use it for stamped nail art yet, but it should fit the bill nicely!

Retail: $13

No cap on the number of bottles available for purchase

This Dish Is Cheap Yet Tasty was created exclusively for the Polish Pickup and will be available for purchase here from Friday, October 4th through Monday, October 7th ONLY. Be sure to mark your calendars so you don't miss out!

As always, purchases made through the Polish Pickup are submitted as a preorder. Please allow three weeks from the close of the October opening for items to be shipped out to you.

Are you excited about the October opening of the Polish Pickup? What are you planning to pick up? Have you heard this particular Urban Legend? While I didn't know this exact one, I did have a friend years ago who had a brother that got a tattoo thinking it meant one thing but it actually translated to something else.

Until next time, dear readers, have a great evening!

XO!

Helpful Links

Store: www.the-pickups.com

Facebook Group (Polish Pickup Pack): www.facebook.com/groups/polishpickuppack
Instagram: www.instagram.com/PolishPickup

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