(All items purchased)
I learned to crochet in late 2024. It has been really fun trying new projects and stitches. I began with crochet pumpkins for Halloween decorations, then followed with other projects like toy scarves (literally) and human sized scarves.
This year, I have a yearlong project that I would like to work on. A blanket that tracks what nail colors I wore in 2025.
(Purchased)
While many brands offer a variety of finishes, it is common for a brand to be associated with a certain one or aesthetic. In the case of today, when someone thinks "thermals," they are very likely to think of Fancy Gloss.
I had purchased Fancy Gloss once before years ago in a Polish Pickup, only to regrettably destash it before I could actually wear it. I had always wanted to retry the brand, and maybe repurchase that exclusive, since then. While it's not that specific thermal, I did purchase one during the one Polish Pickup that I participated in last year.
How is it? Let's find out!
It is the second day in 2025. Last time I posted here was in late 2021. Many things happened in that timespan: me operating my own nail polish business, closing the business to move abroad, marrying my soulmate, having a health crisis that culminated in surgical intervention, returning to school...
In between all this and more, my love of nail polish never wavered. I still follow nail blogs and Instagrams, I regularly lurk and comment in nail subreddits and Facebook groups, I buy polish when I can afford it. While I have other hobbies and interests, including writing and baking, nail polish is my passion. People regularly give me comments about how lovely my manicures are even when they are cremes. Friends ask me for nail care advice or color suggestions. I will give loved ones manicures for special events. It's become a party trick of mine for people to have me identify a brand by the bottle shape. I like nail polish. I like nail polish a lot. I've liked nail polish a lot for almost 15 years at this point. My interest is here to stay.
My resolution for 2024 was to start posting my manicures on Instagram again. Save for a handful, I managed to keep that.
For 2025, I wish to return to this blog, at least periodically. I enjoy sharing my collection, my thoughts about polish in general, and my nail art when I actually do it. Besides swatches and nail art, I may switch up things as well: posting nail related history, indie polish community happenings, maybe anti-hauls?
One thing is for certain: I learned to crochet about three months ago. Been enjoying it a lot so far. There is this concept in yarncrafts of "temperature blankets" where one tracks the average temperature of a location for a year in the form of color coordinated yarn. 365 rows later, there is a physical record of that year's temperature readings that can also double as a blanket. Other people prefer to track other things, like how their favorite sports team fared that season, or their weight if they followed a weight journey that year. I plan to track my manicures not just on Instagram, but also in yarn form! I will begin sharing that in the near future.
In fact, I will start sharing here again, right now. My final mani of 2024 was Kathleen and Co's Glow So Bright, a November 2024 Polish Pickup exclusive inspired by the classic toy Lite Brite. It is a black jelly with red/gold shimmer and a rainbow of different scattered holographic glitters. This was three coats and a major hit among my classmates.
How about you? Do you have any nail goals in 2025? Great to see y'all, again!
Items Used (all purchased):
Base: Glisten and Glow Ridge Filling
Color: Kathleen and Co Glow So Bright
Top: Glisten and Glow Top
Long time, no see!
After my father's passing last September, I just didn't have the passion to properly blog about nail polish. So, what's happened in the past year? Nothing much. I just started a new job. In retail, so not much fun. You do make do, though. I'm turning 30 next week.
Much more excitedly, I also started my own nail polish brand, Red Panda Lacquer. I started by selling exclusively on Etsy, but have since started selling on my own storefront as well. I don't intend on this blog becoming a giant advertisement for RPL, but I don't think some posts showing off my polishes every now and then wouldn't hurt... Right? (I also have a Facebook group and Instagram if you wish to follow them.)
One of the biggest signs that my brand has grown is that I can now participate in polish boxes a la Polish Pickup. This month I'm participating in Project Artistry. Project Artistry is based in Canada and run by Sarah-Kim of Saki Cosmetics. It runs every 23-27 of the month, so it's very easy to remember when the shop will open.
Project Artistry hosts different themes every month. There is a twist, however. The themes have dueling aspects. This month makers were assigned to either Team Light or Team Darkness. Makers are assigned at complete random. Red Panda Lacquer was assigned Team Darkness. Being a big Moonie, my mind immediately turned to one of its first and best villains for inspiration.
CW: cancer, death
My father passed away on September 1, 2020. He had been diagnosed with glioblastoma multiforme, the most aggressive form of brain cancer, in April of this year.
