My Dadu (grandfather)...was my best friend. The kinda best friend who'd pick out the bones from the trickiest piece of fish before sitting down to eat himself...the kinda best friend who'd scoop out the largest prawns from his own portion onto my plate "just cos"...the kinda best friend who'd listen to me rave and rant about any myriad of topics...the kinda best friend who'd sympathize with cramps and bring painkillers and sugary comfort...the kinda best friend who thought nothing of helping tote a heavy purse or a broken shoe...the kinda best friend who'd go off to buy monthly groceries and happen upon a pretty nail polish which he thought I would like. Yeah...he was THAT kinda best friend. It's not surprising then that 10 years have passed but not a day goes by that he doesn't cross my mind. It's his birthday today...what would have been his 85th. And that's a picture of him above, dressed for a wedding before I was even born, dressed how I'd always imagined he would be on the day I myself became a bride, clad in traditional Indian red-and-gold finery, with the perfect red polish to match! I have yet to be a bride and he'll never have the chance to give me away...but today, I choose to set aside all the regrets, even through my tears, and celebrate him with Strawberry Cheesecake (he loved sweet things as much as I do) and the perfect red mani (his favorite color on me).

For this year's tribute, I chose OPI Smitten with Mittens, a gorgeous, perfect red with gold shimmer--a color he would have totally approved of. I won't go on about this color tonight, since my heart, despite all my efforts, is heavy. All I know is that this polish is coveted for a reason--it goes on smooth as the finest bridal silk and needs nothing but a thin layer of topcoat to make it perfectly glossy.


It's the very perfect red in my collection and perfect way to celebrate the life of a man who will always mean so much to me. I love you, KKC. This one's for you!



Til next time,
<3
B


I've been going back and forth in my mind about starting my blog--what should my first post be, which mani would be perfect, should I wait til I buy myself a new camera, should I wait til I build my lightbox...etc etc. So many decisions, so many reasons to fuel a Libra girl's procrastination! But it's Sunday night and while everyone I know seems to be caught up with the Super Bowl, here I was with the idea for a gorgeous mani and the need to share it. So...sometimes a girl's just gotta say "FUDGE IT" and go for it!

This mani also happens to be my first ever tape mani! I used OPI DS Design, which I was able to snag at a VERY affordable price from the blog sale of a very sweet lady (thanks Sara!), and Kelara Lacquers Uranus, by the lovely Tara Jobe! To top it off, I used my favorite topcoat, which you'll hear me raving about in every post, HK Girl, from my beloved Jill of Glisten and Glow!

DS Design is THE perfect neutral holo--subtle enough for work but holo enough in the sunlight to make it really pop!! It goes on like melted butter and is so flattering to my very tan Indian complexion. I'm so sad OPI discontinued their linear holographic designer series because they are without compare!

On the tips, I used Kelara's Uranus, which is described as a blue-green base with holographic micro glitters. GORGEOUS, right? The perfect teal blue! And though application was a wee bit challenging, I attribute that to trying to get it just on my tips.

I hope you love this mani as much as I do and forgive the not-so-great camera phone picture and the imperfect clean-up--I promise I'll improve as the days go by! A girl's gotta start somewhere! ^_^

You can find Uranus here>>>http://www.kelaralacquers.com/Uranus-Full-Size-031.htm#.UQ8fz6WCmts

And HK Girl (must-have!!) here>>>http://www.glistenandglow.bigcartel.com/

Til next time,
<3
B
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