Good morning everyone! I’m up and at ‘em this morning, as today is the official celebration of my 30th birthday (which isn’t actually until Monday)! I’m pretty pumped – my bf has planned the whole thing and it’s a total surprize, I have no idea what we’re doing! You can be sure to hear all about it next week 
In the meantime, because I’m not sure what’s going on – which means I don’t know how to dress – I did a birthday celebration manicure, since fun nails work in any situation!!! I thought about it all day yesterday (even during work training – oops), trying to think about what I could do special. I was keen on the idea of another gradient/ombre manicure, as I love how they look and they’re so eye-catching. I decided to do contrasting pastel-type shades, and I LOVE how it turned out. Take a look!
China Glaze Pink Plumeria & MAC Mischievous Mint
My technique has improved since the last time; I made sure to use only one shade on the tips, and mixed the edges of the dollops of the two shades together on tinfoil to ensure a softer gradient (in the last one, I just had a splash of the tip shade on the foil which I picked up with the sponge), a tip which I learned from this tutorial. MUCH better than before, though I could still use some practice. You can see on one of my pointer fingers that the pink is a little more saturated than the rest. Oh well, I’m determined to get this down pat – it’s one of my favorite nail looks right now!
I’m off to enjoy the day now, I hope you all have a lovely weekend – it’s pretty full for me but I’m off on Monday so you can be sure I’ll be posting a little something then 
#1 by aliciab on May 26, 2012 - 11:27 am
Love it! Happy birthday Latoya!
#2 by Latoya on May 28, 2012 - 7:57 pm
Thanks so much Alicia!! I bet you’d make something like this look REALLY amazing!!
#3 by judit1661 on May 26, 2012 - 11:53 am
Love the colors you used. So pretty.
Happy Birthday from another May baby (16th)
#4 by Latoya on May 28, 2012 - 7:58 pm
Yay! May birthday’s are where it’s at Judi
Thanks so much, I hope you had a great one too!
#5 by kat on May 26, 2012 - 6:43 pm
beautiful! happy birthday!!!!!!!!!!!!!
#6 by Latoya on May 28, 2012 - 9:08 pm
#7 by Amy on May 26, 2012 - 11:45 pm
Gorgeous! Very appropriate for birthday fun!
#8 by Latoya on May 28, 2012 - 9:09 pm
Yea, thanks Amy, I thought so too!!! It reminds me actually of Moon Mist ice cream lol
#9 by projectswatch on May 27, 2012 - 12:20 am
This is SO gorgeous, and happy birthday!
#10 by Latoya on May 28, 2012 - 9:10 pm
Thanks so much Emi!!! It has been a really great one
#11 by Larie on May 27, 2012 - 6:49 pm
This is awesome!!! I really need to try this – you make it look so effortless! Happy birthday, gorgeous!
#12 by Latoya on May 31, 2012 - 7:45 am
Thanks Larie!!!! Its not ‘effortless’ lol – there were a few nails that buggered up and I had to totally redo -argh! – but its the easiest *nail art* I’ve done and well worthwhile! Definitely try it out!!
#13 by Margaret on May 27, 2012 - 10:13 pm
I kept seeing gradient-style manis all over Pinterest this past week and they always make me of you. I guess we were both on the same wavelength.
Happiest of birthdays to you my dear. xo
#14 by Latoya on May 31, 2012 - 7:48 am
Thanks dahling!! This is definitely my new fave kind of mani – maybe because it uses multiple shades and hence I cover more polish-using-ground lol. Also, it looks freakin’ cool!!
Gotta go find some more inspiration on Pinterest!