Jingle Bells

Another day for the 12 Days of Christmas Nail Art Challenge!! Today's nail art is inspired by a holiday song. I went with "Jingle Bells" and I love it! It's simple but really festive!

I started out with two coats of Zoya Ziv (gorgeous gold!). On my ring finger I free handed a music symbol, a beamed eighth note, with Zoya Logan and China Glaze Ruby Pumps.

Then for my thumb finger, I free handed on the jingle bells!! I had started out with a large dot from a dotting took with Zoya Blaze. I let it dry, then I continued with the rest of the bell shape. I figured it would add more   depth and it really did! I then painted on the holly with Zoya Logan and then used a large dotting tool for the berries in China Glaze Ruby Pumps. I topped it all off with Seche Vite.

Here's one with flash so the bells are a little easier to see:

Unfortunately, before I was able to take the pictures I had to go to work. At work, I ended up with that nail indent. Not really sure how that happened, but let's just say it's an accent to highlight the bell. :-).

Check out the other challengers!

Christmas Tree Nail Art

Hey guys!! Since I only have one week of school left, I figure I'll jump into this challenge to get me into the holiday spirit! Kristine from Pink & Polished and Lorene from Overpolished have created this 12 Days of Christmas Nail Art Challenge with some exciting prompts! I ended up being way too busy to finish the Halloween challenge, but this one should be OK! The first challenge is a Christmas tree!

I started out with a base with two coats KBShimmer Snow Way! on my accent finger and thumb. On the other fingers I used Lush Lacquer Green with Envy in two coats. I started the tree by painting with Zoya Logan (perfect Christmas green color!). I really like how that turned out, so I took pictures in case what I was going to do afterwards didn't work out.

But I ended up really liking what I did do! I then painted on the silver with Sinful Colors Nail Art Striper in Fashionista. Then I used the stars from a Bundle Monster wheel I have. Check it out!

I topped it all off with two coats of Seche Vite.

Homework Post!

Hey you guys, ignore this post because it will be dedicated to a homework assignment!

Balbir, Kaur, and Kang Harinder Singh. "Comparative Study Of Concentration And Decision Making Of Successful And Unsuccessful Male Hockey Players." International Journal Of Educational Administration 2.3 (2010): 655-660. Education Research Complete. Web. 03 Dec. 2012.

This article researches the connection between performance anxiety and successful and unsuccessful hockey players. It is determined that hockey players that are successful have low anxiety and are much more at ease when playing and they are playing well. The hockey players that aren't successful are the ones that have a significantly higher amount of performance anxiety and are much more likely to be tense and stressed, therefore not being able to contribute to the team productively. This article is recommended because it shows the amount of stress that hockey players go through and how it affects their performance. Balbir Kaur is a research scholar at Shinghania University. Kang Harinder Singh has a doctorate and is a professor in sports sciences at UCLA.

Dunning, Derek, et al. USCHO. U.S. College Hockey Online, 07 Dec. 2012. Web. 08 Dec. 2012. [http://www.uscho.com/].

This website is devoted to Division I and III men and women's hockey. It covers information on the teams as well as the players and is constantly updated. This website is recommended because of the updated information on each team in its respective divisions, including stats and recaps. Derek Dunning is one of the contributing writers to the USCHO community since 2000 and. He is also a graduate from the journalism program at Oswego University.

Ecklund. Hockey Buzz. Ecklund's Hockey, 02 Dec. 2012. Web. 03 Dec. 2012. [http://www.hockeybuzz.com/].

This website is a community for fellow hockey bloggers of each team to share their articles. This website is important because it offers an inside look to rumors and the hockey world as it connects to the bloggers with insider information. Ecklund is known as "The Anonymous Hockey Blogger" amongst the hockey-blogging community., He is the main writer and founder of Hockey Buzz.

Farber, Michael. "Second City Revival." Sports Illustrated 112.26 (2010): 54. MAS Ultra - School Edition. Web. 03 Dec. 2012.

This article examines hockey fans' reactions to a Stanley Cup win from the Chicago Blackhawks. It also appraises how the team owner could turn around a franchise that hadn't been doing well for many, many years. This article is recommended because it shows how fans really connect to the sport; the psychology of how when a hockey fan's team wins, it's the same as winning him/herself. Michael Farber is a senior writer for Sports Illustrated and in in the Hockey Hall of Fame for receiving the Elmer Ferguson award for impressive hockey writing.

Hartje, Tod, and Lawrence Martin. From behind the Red Line: An American Hockey Player in Russia. New York: Macmillan Pub., 1992. Print.

This book is about a Harvard-educated prospect that is sent to Russia to learn Russian-style hockey and to be the first American to play in the Soviet Union. This book is important because it sheds light on Russia during communist times and what hockey players went through to be able to play. Tod Hartje is the prospect that went to Russia, he is the first North American to play in Russia. Lawrence Martin is an Ottawa-based public affairs columnist for the Globe and Mail; he is the author of ten books, six of them being national best sellers.

Hirsh, Andrew. The Hockey Writers. The Hockey Writers, 2 Nov. 2012. Web. 03 Dec. 2012. [http://www.thehockeywriters.com/].

This website is about hockey news and insight. It is also a collective of the best writers and journalists of hockey. This website is recommended because it compiles great journalists together in one site, making it easier for readers to search what they are looking for and get quality-written work out of it. Andrew Hirsh is one of the many writers of this website. He's a contributer for the Carolina Hurricanes and has covered them since 2012.

Kreiser, John, et al. "NHL.com - The National Hockey League." NHL.com. National Hockey League, 07 Dec. 2012. Web. 08 Dec. 2012. [http://www.nhl.com/].

This website IS the NHL! Anything can be found at this site regarding any of the teams. Stats, schedules, scores, recaps, blogs, articles, shopping... it is all here. This website is recommended because it is the site to go to for all hockey information. John Kreiser is a columnist, writer, and night managing editor at NHL.com and has been covering hockey for more than 35 years.

Malloy, Shane. The Art of Scouting: How the Hockey Experts Really Watch the Game and Decide Who Makes It. Toronto: J. Wiley & Sons Canada, 2011. Print.

This book is all about scouting in hockey. It gives the reader an inside look to how scouts watch the game and what they are looking for in prospects. This book is important because it tells the reader the insides and outs of being a scout and what to look for in prospects. Shane Malloy is a columnist and broadcaster as well as a co-host of Hockey Prospect Radio regarding scouting. He is even a consultant for the NHL game from EA Sports.

Mason, Daniel, and Barbara Schrodt. "Hockey's First Professional Team: The Portage Lakes Hockey Club Of Houghton, Michigan." Sport History Review 27.1 (1996): 49-71. America: History and Life with Full Text. Web. 03 Dec. 2012.

This article comprises all of the facts and history behind the first professional hockey team. It's about a dentist who imported in Canadians for a hockey team he wanted to start, and he paid them for being on the team. This article is recommended because it tells the reader how hockey got professionally started. Daniel Mason is part of the faculty of physical education and recreation at the University of Alberta. Barbara Schrodt is in the Hall of Fame at the University of British Columbia as well as the BC Sports Hall of Fame for coaching the BC women's field hockey team for 18 years and gained six Canada West titles; she was also a a founding Director of the Canadian Women’s Field Hockey.

Morrison, Scott. My Greatest Day: 50 People, 50 Great Moments. Toronto: Key Porter, 2008. Print.

This book is all about interviews with fifty people and what each of their one greatest moment in hockey history is to them. This book is recommended because it shows the personal aspect to hockey and how each person has a moment that they look back on to cherish in one way or another. Scott Morrison is a Canadian sports journalist for Sportsnet. He is also a recipient for the Hockey Hall of Fame's Elmer Ferguson award.

Pagnotta, David, et al. The Fourth Period :: NHL Hockey Rumors, Trades, Breaking News, Headlines, Lifestyle and More. TFP Media, Inc., 07 Dec. 2012. Web. 03 Dec. 2012. [http://www.thefourthperiod.com/].

This website is a magazine on the lifestyle of hockey. The site gives readers the availability to explore what is in the magazine online, features such as photos, articles, rumors, stats, and random information about hockey players, teams, and the ice crews. This website is recommended because it is a fun way to look at and check out information regarding the NHL. David Pagnotta is the CEO and President of the magazine.

Pelletier, Joe. Greatest Hockey Legends. Blogger, 8 Dec. 2012. Web. 08 Dec. 2012. [http://www.greatesthockeylegends.com].

This website is a list and compilation of all of the greatest legends in hockey. The goal of the site is to keep the memories alive of former hockey players. This site is recommended because it's an extensive list of hockey history and biographies. Joe Pelletier is a freelance hockey journalist and the creator and writer for the site.

Pelletier, Joe. Hockey Book Reviews. Blogger, 8 Dec. 2012. Web. 07 Dec. 2012. [http://www.hockeybookreviews.com/].

This website is dedicated to reviewing hockey books and updating readers on upcoming hockey book releases. This website is recommended because anyone that has an interest in a hockey book, but is not sure where to start, can go to this website and be recommended the best books and told about the books that just did not quite make the cut. Joe Pelletier  is a published author and a freelance hockey journalist as well as the creator and writer/reviewer for the site.

Proteau, Adam, et al. The Hockey News: Insight on the NHL and the World of Hockey. The Canadian Press, 07 Dec. 2012. Web. 03 Dec. 2012. [http://www.thehockeynews.com/].

This website is a daily newsletter delivering consumers all hockey information. This website also has its own magazine as well. Articles from top-notch journalists are available; also available are fantasy league tools, prospects, rumors, injuries and more. This site is recommended because of the depth of information available regarding hockey. Adam Proteau is one of the writers for The Hockey News. He attended the Ryerson school of journalism. He has also won the Pro Hockey Writers Association’s award for best column in 2006.

R. Dawn Comstock, et al. "Patients With Ice Hockey Injuries Presenting To US Emergency Departments, 1990--2006." Journal Of Athletic Training 45.5 (2010): 467-474. Academic Search Complete. Web. 03 Dec. 2012.

This article examines the amount of hockey-related injuries that show up in the emergency department throughout 1990-2006. The results show that a large number of young male kids (age 9-14 and 15-18) had the highest amount of injuries. The results also show that the most amount of injuries occur in the face due to lack of appropriate wear of protective gear. This article is recommended because it the danger and high risk of the sport. R. Dawn Comstock is part of the Center for Injury Research and Policy at the Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH and is has credentials from Ohio State
University, College of Public Health and College of Medicine, Columbus.

Richard N. Lalonde, et al. "Personality Traits And Stereotypes Associated With Ice Hockey Positions." Journal Of Sport Behavior 35.2 (2012): 109-124. Academic Search Complete. Web. 03 Dec. 2012.

This article discovers if personality traits have anything to do with hockey positions. It is determined that there really wasn't any major correlation between the two. The traits that tended to be the ones that stuck, however, were that goalies are conscientious people, defensemen are laid back, and forwards tend to be edgier and hyper. This article is important because it helps remove the stereotypes of each hockey position. Richard N. Lalonde is a Professor of Psychology at York University and has a Ph.D. in Psychology from University of Western Ontario.

Silverman, Steve, et al. Bleacher Report. Turner Sports and Entertainment Network, 07 Dec. 2012. Web. 08 Dec. 2012. [http://www.bleacherreport.com/nhl].

This website is dedicated to the NHL and has many writers covering each team in the league. It delivers comprehensive and entertaining news to its audience. This site is recommended because each and every article is checked for validity in rumors and for quality of work. Steve Silverman is one of the many writers that contributes his time and work to Bleacher Report. He has covered college and professional sports since 1981 and has won three awards from the Pro Football Writers of America.

Strang, Katie, et al. ESPN. ESPN Internet Ventures, 07 Dec. 2012. Web. 08 Dec. 2012. [http://www.espn.go.com/nhl/].

This website is dedicated to producing content related to the NHL. The site is all about comprehensive sports coverage. This website is recommended because they are considered the worldwide leader in sports because of their extensive coverage and quality of work. Katie Strang is one of the journalists for ESPN and has a graduate of Michigan State University and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.

Urstadt, Bryant. The Greatest Hockey Stories Ever Told: The Finest Writers on Ice. Guilford, CT: Lyons, 2004. Print.

This book is is an anthology of hockey stories from commentators, to players, to coaches and to people whom the game has affected. These are not just any hockey stories, though, it's many stories that will appeal to a large audience. This book is important because it is sentimental and shows readers why hockey is more than just a game (or sport). Bryant Urstadt is an associate features editor at Bloomberg Businessweek and has contributed, as a writer, to many well-known magazines.

Zweig, Eric. Stanley Cup: 120 Years of Hockey Supremacy. Richmond Hill, Ont.: Firefly, 2012. Print.

This book is about each hockey team that won the Stanley Cup since the beginning of the Stanley Cup tradition. It also recounts highlights of the playoffs and personal stories. This book is important because it goes into detail for the stories of each team and any obstacles they may have overcome to win the most coveted trophy: the Stanley Cup. Eric Zweig has a degree in political studies from Trent University and is a member of the Society for International Hockey Research.

Different Dimension Fall Me Maybe

I went crazy getting my hands on fall-themed nail polishes! This is one of them from Different Dimension. My first nail polish I've gotten to try from them (of the few I purchased, excited to swatch!). This is beautiful. I keep staring at my nails because of how gorgeous the glitter is. Fall Me Maybe has this small gold, red, orange, and brown glitter in it. It's beautiful, especially over Revlon Copper Penny.

This is three coats of Different Dimension Fall Me Maybe over one coat of Revlon Copper Penny and one coat of Seche Vite.

Without further ado, here you go!

Indoor Lighting:

Indirect sunlight:

TIHNAC Jack-O-Lanterns!

I know I am late with this post, but I have had midterms that past two weeks as well as three essays to complete!! Such a nightmare. Anyways, my Jack-O-Lantern nails! I think my cuticles are getting much better now. So exciting!! Just to note, I wanted to try doing a glow effect on my middle finger, just to see how it would look. Didn't quite turn out the way I wanted it to, but that's ok. I would have never known.

And just in case you were wondering what the other challenges were coming up, here they are! I'm currently working on the zombie one right now.

The other challengers:

Caribbean Seas

I loved this look probably the most out of the six I did in Vegas. Dark green is just perfect for brown eyes! And then with the blue blending out into the highlight, I feel like it makes my eyes glow. Just lovely and awesome at the same time. Hope you guys like it! I really love the Quill Uniliner from Lime Crime, too. Very nice black liner.

Too Faced Glitter Glue
Lime Crime Chinadoll Palette in Jade-o-Lade and Lotus Noir
Lime Crime Aquateania Palette in Nautilus Prime and Atlanteal
Urban Decay Naked Palette in Virgin
NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Black Bean
Lime Crime Uniliner in Quill
Sephora Advanced Lash Booster Mascara

This Is Halloween Nail Art Challenge: Ghosts

Today's challenge was to do ghosts!! Super exciting. My ghosts have a story. First of all, ignore the lousy cleanup job. I'm super sick and did this while doing homework because I really wanted to put it up. My thumbnail ghost is a scaredy ghost. My middle finger is the girly ghost. And my pinky finger is the angry ghost! He's actually trying to yell at the scaredy ghost, but the girly ghost is in the middle to stop the fighting. Oh, yeah, true ghost story. :D