Month: December 2014

A Sparkling Sendoff

~ Taylor Justine ~ 1 Comment

The sun is setting on 2014, and 2015 will be here in the blink of an eye. I’m not 100% sure where the past year went, but it’s gone already! The day is here to kick our nail art game into high glitter gear and pull out all the stops to ring in the New Year!

And you know what? I did just that!

New Year's Eve Nails

I didn’t want just any standard black and gold NYE mani (especially because my next cover-inspired design will be black and gold!), so I went with the equally sparkly and festive white and champagne look! If we’re being honest here, I can’t stop staring at my hands, that’s how happy I am with the way it turned out.

New Year's Eve Nails

The look was completed with Essie Blanc and Julep Nell and Soleil, two polishes from my December Maven box! As always, when striping, always use a quick dry top coat in between the base and accent colors.

New Year's Eve Nails

I would say this is a manicure that looks fancier and harder than it really was to create, which are my favorite kinds. I mainly used striping tape to create all of the color blocks and lines and a dotting tool for the polka dot nail. As for the individual glitter pieces, I went through the painstaking process of individually placing each glitter on the nail with the help of my dotting tool, which wasn’t hard so much as it was tedious. BUT SO WORTH IT!

What are your nails wearing for NYE? Happy 2015 and Happy Reading!

Looking Back On 2014

~ Taylor Justine ~ 8 Comments

2014 was an incredible year, not just for Novels and Nail Polish, but for me (Taylor) too! While it wasn’t without its difficulties, ultimately I grew as a person and blogger by learning from each experience.

Novels and Nail Polish's most popular Instagram Photo of 2014
Novels and Nail Polish’s most popular Instagram Photo of 2014

Novels and Nail Polish originally debuted on Blogger in March of 2013, but I didn’t find the drive to make it something more until about May of this year. For the past 8 months, this little blog, and its subsequent social media accounts, has become one of my most passionate endeavors. I’ve loved everything it has brought me, from new friends and fans to new books and nail art techniques I never thought I would experience!

A fan favorite - and one of my favorite - cover-inspired manicures
A fan favorite – and one of my favorite – cover-inspired manicures

I hold this blog and these two passions so dear to my heart because on top of providing me with wonderful experiences, they’ve also been a place for me to turn in difficult times. I went through a very difficult breakup in June, and this platform became a way for me to forget about the sadness and find happiness in things again. Without Novels and Nail Polish, I don’t think I would have healed as quickly as I did.

The Hunger Games series was one of my most photographed series of 2014
The Hunger Games series was one of my most photographed series of 2014

On a happier note, 2014 also brought success in my career life. I joined an incredible company and became a Social Media Account Coordinator working in Downtown LA! I’ve met so many new people that inspire me daily to be the best ME I can be.

2014 Snapshots

Cover Inspired Manicures

  • 11 Cover-Inspired Manicures
  • 11 Holiday-Inspired Nails
  • 46 New Blog Posts
  • 1,100 New Instagram Followers
  • 14 Photos Featuring The Hunger Games
  • 11 Nail Polish Brands Featured
  • 4 Book Rainbows
  • 4 Trilogies Read
  • 1 Temporary Literary Tattoo
  • 1 bottle of $50 Nail Polish

Thanks for being a part of it! I can’t wait for all of the adventures 2015 brings! Happy Reading!

Candy Cane Crazy

~ Taylor Justine ~ 2 Comments

Ready for holiday nails?!

Candy Cane Collage

BOOM. One of my projects this December was to create a series of candy cane inspired nails, and I’m pretty proud of the outcome! Let me just tell you a few things I learned through this month-long experience. First, you can’t buy candy canes one by one, so if you’re in need of a peppermint stick (or 5), come on over! Second, it is nearly impossible to pose your hand in the exact right light and location 4 separate times over the course of a month! We’re talking 50-60 takes each time. Getting that down, in and of itself, is one of my proudest accomplishments thus far in my blogging career!

I made it work… eventually!

Candy Cane Inspired Nail Art

Despite the abundance of candy canes and photography struggles, I really enjoyed creating these designs. It was fun finding a style that was representative of the classic spiral look, but had a modern twist! I paired an angled french tip with a striped accent nail for a cohesive and festive mani.

Candy Cane Inspired Nail Art

This mint manicure was a very exciting one for me to create because the colors really represent a modern Christmas. Soft mint and touches of bright green next to a rich scarlet are a new take on classic red and green. Any time I can simplify and modernize something, I’m happy!

I definitely used way too many polishes to name over the course of December (the usual favorites were included like Essie, Julep, Ciate)! But like always, loved them all!

Candy Cane Inspired Nail Art

Despite yellow being one of my least favorite colors, I think this guy was one of my favorites in the end! Clean, crisp, bright and happy! Not particularly “traditional Christmas,” but still fun!

What is your favorite holiday-inspired nail design? Happy Reading!

Stuff Your Stockings in Style

~ Taylor Justine ~ 1 Comment

Some gifts are not meant to be stuffed into a stocking in any way, shape or form (for example, Gone with the Wind). But there is a golden handful of items that exist to be the quintessential stuffers. One of my favorites happens to be half of my blog’s namesake: nail polish!

I spent most of my holiday gift guide finding unique and cute gifts book worms will love, so now I’ll take a moment to put the other half of my blog in the spotlight! Nail polish is wonderful for procrastinators (you know who you are!!) because you can find it almost anywhere, at any price point! Grab a fab bottle of Sinful Colors glitter at Target for under 2 bucks, or lust over a bottle of Chanel at a department store. There are colors and brands for everyone, and that’s what makes nail polish such a versatile gift.

Nail Polish Stocking Stuffers

Budget-friendly – Any drug store or Target has a wide variety of brands and colors to choose from. Whether you go with a classic like Essie, or fan fav like Sally Hansen, you will find what you’re looking for!

Tried & true – Julep is an oldie but goodie for me. I’ve been a Maven for almost two years, and have amassed a huge collection. Their bottles have a sleek design, and the formula of their polish has improved greatly over the years. You can even gift your monthly box to someone (which also makes it perfect for birthdays, just sayin’).

Splurge-worthy – If you’re looking to spoil that special someone, go with Butter LONDON. Since the start of my nail polish obsession, I’ve gazed longingly at their gorgeous bottles and silky smooth finish each time I’m in Nordstrom or Ulta. It wasn’t until recently, though, that I can say I’m a proud owner. And the brand really does live up to the price and hype! It applies perfectly, and the colors are so rich! Another splurge-worth gift I adore is anything Cath Kidston. They make my go-to travel nail kit, and everything comes in perfect, feminine patterns!

What are your favorite brands to gift? Happy Reading!

Winemas Weekend Essentials

~ Taylor Justine ~ 5 Comments

Wine Glass Not many people can say their company takes everyone on a weekend holiday getaway every year. I feel lucky enough to say that we can as a part of the Konnect PR family! This year, our fearless leaders took us wine tasting in Temecula, complete with horseback riding, wonderful food and a sunrise hot air balloon ride.

After I toss everything in my suitcase, my final task when packing is always picking my nail color and book to bring with me on the trip. This might be just me, but I place way too much importance on my nail polish when I go on trips, because it really helps set the vibe of my outfits. The mani needs to be subdued enough for day activities, but turn on the fun at parties and nights out.

Hot Air Balloon Ride
Gorgeous views

With the holidays as my inspiration, I grabbed Essie Blanc and Nails Inc. Buckingham Square for a clean, yet festive look. And I brought John Green’s Paper Towns along to keep me company. From yummy lunches to winery tours, I had my book in tow (although I didn’t get TOO much reading done! ).

Reading over lunch
Flat-bread + Wine Tasting

We had a couple of incredible activities planned, aside from the delicious wine tastings and tours! First up, horseback riding! Meet my new bestie, Squirrel.

Horseback Riding
My new bud Squirrel

And the grand finale of the trip: sunrise hot air balloon ride!

Hot Air Balloon Ride
Up, up & away over the wineries of Temecula!

This incredible ride was one of the most exciting moments of my 20-some year life! The views were outstanding, and the weather was perfection! Pictures truly don’t do it justice.

Hot air balloon
Views from the top!

What are your weekend getaway essentials? Happy Reading!