All Mixed Up (Lacquers) & No Place To Go!

Bahaha!!! Get it? It’s pun day here at Mental Breaks and Manis! If you can’t laugh, you’ll cry right? This month you’ll LOVE the polishes I have for you! And since it’s related to one of my TOP favorite things- FOOD- it’s doubly enjoyable!

Releasing on April 20th at 2 PM EST is the Sugar Rush Collection from All Mixed Up Lacquers. This was one of my first Indie brand purchases and L.J. will always have a place in my polish-obsessed little heart! She was also one of the Indie brands who donated to my Instagram 500 Follower Giveaway-ahhh the good ole days!

First up from the Sugar Rush Collection is Sweet As Cherry Pie. This cherry red beauty has a mixture of iridescent flakes, purple micro-flakes and pearl flakies. This polish is delicious!

Just look at this yummy red treat!

 

This next one is normally not my favorite color- I’m not a girly-girl at all! This pink bubblegum beauty is Unicorn Cake. This is a medium pink crelly with a little bit of everything! We’ve got scattered holo, and different sizes and shapes of holo green, blue, pink and teal and get this- matte neon glitters in pink, blue, yellow and orange! Truly a rainbow of colors! This color is fun!

Cosmic Bites is a chocolate brown crelly with fabulous gold, teal, and emerald holo glitters and ucc flakies. This pretty is a dream!! As with all of LJ’s polishes I’ve tried, the polish goes on great!! The holo is subtle until it hits the light in just the right way and then BAM! My swatches are 2 coats plus a fast dry top coat.

This color here was SO HARD for me to capture!! Don’t ask me why, but I spent literally 3 hours trying to get just the right shot of this polish (and still not sure I accomplished it!). I think maybe because I am sheet white- no kidding either! If I was naked in the snow all you’d see is hair and eyes- I didn’t want my skin to wash out the beauty of this polish. Anywhoooo… this beauty is Mocha Mousse. A rosy beige with little itty bitty blue and purple flakes (also known as micro flakes) and small gold holo. Again, this is a creamy dream!!! I used 2 coats and a fast dry top coat- I’m currently hooked on Glisten and Glows fast dry!!!

And last but certainly not least is Rock Candy. This reminds me of that song by who knows, way back in the 80’s… “She’s rock candy babaay!! She’s hot, sweet, and stickaaaay!!” Ok, now back to our regularly scheduled swatch! This gray crelly has 2 different UCC flakies, small gold holo glitter, and purple flakies. When this baby catches the sun, you won’t be able to stop staring!!

All Mixed Up Lacquers has kicked ass with this collection! And I am honored to be asked by her to swatch it! As I mentioned before I have been a fan of this polish for a long time and LJ never disappoints!!

Interview with a Queen…..of Nails!

Alright readers and fellow polish addicts, I have something very special for you! Krystal- Queen Of Nails 83 agreed to do an interview for me. I’ve secretly stalked Krystal since I started on Instagram and I’ve worshiped at the alter of her swatches! And when I asked Krystal about swatching polishes. and how she managed to get to swatch for many of the most sought after polishes, she didn’t ignore my questions, she didn’t jealously guard her information. She gave me advice, she supported my goals and opened her schedule for me!

So, when I asked Krystal if she would mind if I interviewed her for my blog, she said she was honored to!!! Honored!! It was me who was honored, and if you don’t know Krystal then you have to give her a follow: @queenofnails83. You WON’T regret it! So, on to the good stuff! Here is my interview with Krystal:

How long have you been a blogger/swatcher?

2 years. I “officially” starting swatching in March of 2016 when I received my first press samples from Divine Nail Lacquer. Before then, I was swatching my own stash and posting to IG/FB. As for blogging, I started June 1^st

 

Have you always had a passion for nail polish and nail art?

I have. When I was 16 years old after begging my mom for my first full set, I was hooked.

 

On IG you mentioned having to go into work for the first time in a long time- what is your career?

The job that pays the bills is United Healthcare. I am a telecommuter so I work from home.

 

It seems your hubby shares in your love of IG and FB lives, does he share your passion for polish. We’ve seen him build your Helmer!! LOL

LOL! Not really. Jason is so good to me and he does whatever he can to make me happy. I think he took a ‘liking’ to polish for me.

 

How do you manage a full time career, full time mommy and being such a busy swatcher and blogger?

Wow, that’s a great question. Ummmm, I’d have to say, Jason. We really do balance each other out and he’s a very involved husband and father. I don’t think I could have started swatching/blogging when my kids were young but because they are older, 6, 11, and 15, they are more self-sufficient and require less from me. I do cut myself off from work at a certain time and all things polish at a certain time, and I don’t swatch on the weekends and holidays.

 

What started you down the Indie polish road? What do you think of the lengths that polish crazed people will go to in order to get their “lemming” lol

I purchased my first indie from Enchanted Polish in March/April 2016 for $30 and the rest is history. I was a newbie in the game then so I didn’t know any better. LOL. And although I still own the polish, I don’t reach for it often but because I paid $30 for it, I’ll keep it forever. But I get it, lemmings and FOMO is real and the shopping addiction is real. I think supporting indie is very important. It makes me happy thinking that I can help a family by simply buying something I love.

 

What lengths have you gone to for your lemming? Do you even have one?

Currently I don’t have any but I did stay up to bid on an auction for the ANIVC from PDP, cost me $100 only to have the maker re-release them.

 

How did you get into blogging and swatching?

Honestly, the opportunity fell in my lap. Like I said, I had been swatching my stash and posting to social media and of course filling out swatcher application on maker site and finally a brand took a chance on me. Blogging came about a little differently. I had no intention on blogging but I had been approached by 3 different people, 2 of them non-polish addicts and said that I should start a blog. I considered it and finally took the leap.

 

As a popular swatcher, what do you think is most important piece of advice you can give to the ladies and gentlemen that may want to get into swatching?

‘Popular’ that’s funny. I don’t see myself that way at all. I’m just a girl that loves polish. But I would say good lighting, clean, well-manicured cuticles and clear pictures, but I think that stuff should be assumed. At the end of the day, image what you want to see and do it. If you borrow an idea from someone, approach them about it first but ultimately, make it your own. I mean there are only so many hand poses you can do without looking distorted but spice it up a little and try different backgrounds. You have to stand out some way.

 

Did you ever see yourself doing this sort of thing say 10 years ago?

Absolutely not. I was quite content with going to the salon to get my nails done but I wouldn’t give up what I am doing now for the world.

 

Would you say that people in the nail art world supported your goal of being a swatcher?

I really didn’t know too many people in the nail world when I started and didn’t ever realize that so many people shared in the passion like i do. I was in 1 nail group and made great friends and I believe they supported me.

 

Do you find there are drawbacks in swatching for some makers? (you don’t have to mention names if yes lol)

There are differences for sure but no drawback. The differences are what keep it interesting. I have made great friends with many makers that goes beyond polish.

 

Have you ever not really wanted to work with a maker, but did anyway? If so, what made you choose to go ahead and work with them?

Not at all. I respect all the makers that I have had the opportunity to work with. If there ever were an issue I’d address it a sever tides.

 

What do you do to stay out of the drama that can occur in the nail art world?

I try to stay out of anything that does not affect me directly, not everything requires a comment. Also, if I do comment, I make sure it’s from a place of understanding and not judgement.

I want to thank Krystal for being the kind person she is that agreed to be interviewed! As busy as she is she fit this in! She also got me into blogging and patiently answered my questions! I know I’m repeating myself, however, it bears repeating! She’s an amazing person, swatcher, and blogger!

Now one thing I want to share before I go….

Find joy in something. In the middle of the darkness, find something that has brought you joy-whether it’s a photo, a book, learning something new, or a bottle of polish, FIND YOUR JOY!!! When it gets rough, and people you thought were your friends turn their backs on you, or you know you need to turn your back on someone who is incredibly toxic for you, don’t forget to find your joy!

If you need to, take a minute, and close your eyes and just breathe! Fake friends can be replaced. Turn to your real friends, or family. But don’t ever let the darkness overwhelm you. See the pinpoint of light at the end of your tunnel and know the light will grow bit, by bit. But you have to help it!

Until then, take care of yourself first, and then you can take care of everyone else that deserves it! If you need to chat I’m an email away!

 

Take care sunshines!!