ALU’s 365 of Untrieds – Barielle A Bouquet For Ava
365 of Untrieds is my personal challenge to weed through the polishes in the ALU stash that I’ve been wanting to try but just haven’t gotten around to.
Ah, where to begin. I’m not really one to overshare the details of my life that include other people but I’ve been kind of a mess the past of couple days. I came home Thursday from Put-In-Bay to find out that my dad went to the emergency room, thinking he had a heart attack. As an only child with very little extended family, my parents are my whole world and my father is my rock. He may tease me like he’s the older brother I never had and he may be more stubborn than me (which is a feat) but he’s funny, smart, caring and, most importantly, always there when I need him. So needless to say, I’ve pretty much been a crying mess ever since. Even now as I wait to see if he will be released, I’m crying just typing this. While I have every belief that he will be okay, if you could send a positive thought his way, it would mean the world to me. As you can imagine, talking about polish is about the last thing I care about right now so I’m not even going to apologize for effing up my 365. Some things are just more important than polish. Needing a little cheering up, I put on Barielle A Bouquet For Ava which came out with the Barielle Wildflower Collection last year and was created to benefit the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund. There’s even a group that raises awareness for the disease through nail polish called Teal Toes. |
Formula & Application: Barielle nail polish is 4-Free (including formaldehyde resin) and free of camphor, which can be an irritant. The long, thin plastic caps house a round, dense brush with flexible bristles. Barielle’s brush was definitely developed with a professional in mind even though it is a consumer brand. It doesn’t hold too much polish and it easily fans out, giving great coverage and control, without any resistance that could cause dragging.
The polish is highly pigmented, barely needing two coats, and has a thin, creamy consistency that allows you to lay down thin coats without streaking. The only downside I can see is that the color does stain a bit so be careful during removal to avoid smurf fingers.
Barielle A Bouquet For Ava is a medium teal creme that leans heavily towards blue. I wouldn’t quite classify it as a “bright” even though it is rich and vibrant. I think that’s what I like about it. It feels very season-less in that it isn’t some moody muted color more suitable to fall/winter yet it isn’t a screaming bright aqua that some may deem “too loud” outside of summer.
Back when I reviewed the OPI Hong Kong collection, I included A Bouquet for Ava in my Suzi Says Feng Shui comparison and against all the polishes featured, the Barielle shade is much brighter/greener than its competitors.
The closest I’ve come to finding a twin is MAC Morning After from the Alice & Olivia collection though A Bouquet For Ava isn’t quite as murky or green. Though, since that one is discontinued, it’s kind of a moot point unless you own Morning After and want to avoid having too many polishes of that color family.
Bottom Line: The formula is full of win and the color is gorgeous. It’s not the most unique shade I’ve ever seen and I certainly have plenty of teals but this one takes me to my happy place and right now, that’s a very good thing. If you haven’t tried Barielle before or you’re looking to beef up your blue-green arsenal, A Bouquet For Ava won’t let you down.
365 of Untrieds Stash/Share Verdict: I’m STASHing it.
Barielle A Bouquet For Ava is available online at Barielle.com. While Barielle treatments are carried in a number of retailers, Shades nail polish availability will vary by location. Visit their store locator for details. Barielle nail polishes retail for $8/ea for a .5oz bottle but they regularly offer specials to their email list and are always BOGO 50% off.
Thoughts on A Bouquet For Ava? Are you a fan of Barielle nail polish? What is your favorite teal? Have you ever polished your toes teal in support of ovarian cancer?
Disclosure: A product sample was provided by Barielle. For more info view my Disclosure Policy.
Lisa N.
Ms Meatballhead
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I’m really sorry about your dad. I’ll make sure to send lots of prayers and positive energy his way and yours too. Feel better, Mismases! (Mismii?)
My thoughts are with you and your family – and you’re right, you have absolutely nothing to apologize for, family will always be more important than nail polish.
*hugs* to you. I hope that your father is doing better soon!
I’m so sorry to hear about your daddy. I’m a daddy’s girl too and when my dad was having heart troubles a few years ago I freaked out just as much. I’m sending happy, healing thoughts to you and your family. Make sure take care of yourself, too.
I hope everything will be okay with your father
Positive thoughts your way for your dad! Be strong… I’m sure he will be outta there and back home in no time! -hugs-
I hope your father recovers! I’m an only child too, and while I have a large extended family, they live on the other side of the world, so I can understand your parents being everything to you. I’ll be sure to keep your family in my prayers.
Major positive thoughts and prayers are going out to you and your family! Your Dad sounds like quite a guy! This color is pretty, but I have China Glaze’s Shower Together, which looks pretty close to it, so it’s a pass for me. Keep us all posted on your Dad!!!
My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. Your focus should be with your father and rest of your family right now….nothing can be more important than family and being all together through the tough times.
I’ve never tried their polishes but this colour is so pretty. Heading over to their website to sign up for the specials too
I’m really sorry to hear about your dad! I’m absolutely positive everything will be ok, and I’m sending all the positive energy I can muster right now to him and to you.
Sending your dad positive thoughts and good vibes. I hope he comes home healthy and ready to rock and roll, soon.
Hang in there, girl.
*hugs* I don’t mean to be really morbid, but I just wanted to share something with you that my best friend told me while his father was suffering from liver cancer. He said that surviving our parents is the way we pay them back for raising us. I certainly hope that you won’t be in that situation, and I wish you and your family all the peace and health in the world.
Family is the most important thing. Hope your Dad is home soon and bounces back quickly!
Thinking of you and sending good wishes your way. I’m also an only child and I know what you’re going through – stay strong! I hope your daddy is okay and on the mend.
Sending positive energy to you and your dad. We love happy places!
I am very sorry to hear about your father & send good wishes your way for his speedy recovery!
My father died very unexpectedly almost 6 years ago now, & while he & I were not at all close, I do miss him & wish he was still around.
Hugs from Washington, D.C.!
shower together by china glaze stains like crazy as well. i think it’s just this whole color family…
I remember when my grandfather fell earlier this year and had to go to the hospital because of a brain hemorrhage, I cried almost every night till he came home. My grandfather was stubborn and so is your father. Means he’s a fighter and that’s a good quality. He’s gonna be ok. =) *hugs* for you and your father.
Prayers and positive thoughts for your dad. Being an only child does make it a bit different as I well know. Take care of yourself.
As much as I love polish, nothing, NOTHING is more important than family. Loving and healing thoughts coming your way, sweetie. I don’t know what I’d do without my daddy nearby, and I’ve been married for nearly 13 years!
Hugs and Prayers your way!
*Sending all of my positive beams of energy your way* And that is the least I can do for all the joy I get from reading your blog! Thanks!
I read your blog everyday and thoroughly enjoy it. I hope your Dad is doing better.
I’m sure your dad will be okay. My father went through a similar experience a few years ago, and it was just angina. He’s been fine ever since.
I LOVE this blue. I’ve always been partial to reds and corals, but everytime I put a blue polish on, I can’t stop staring at it!!
Hey Michelle, I’ll say a prayer for your Dad for sure. It’s funny, the second I saw this shade I thought “Suzi Says Feng Shui” and “Shower Together”, but it really is different. Thanks for the comparisons, and from my HUGE experience with sickness, I can tell you this… try not to worry until they tell you to. *big hugs*
I’m so sorry to hear about your dad, I hope he pulls through. Sending love and positive thoughts to you and your family! xx
my prayers go to your father
My thoughts and prayers go out to you and your family! I hope everything works out ok.
All of us here at Teal Toes are sending best wishes for a speedy recovery for your father.
Our fans have been enjoying all of the various fun with teal polish you happen to have posted over time and have been lifting many ideas from your blog.
Many prayers being sent that your dad will be just great. Working in the hospital, there are so many HA and so much known on how to proceed and care. Just be sure to keep on him when he gets out about his aftercare and needed life changes he might need to make like not smoking if he does, major diet changes, exercise like walking daily. You can give him a lot of strength as I am sure you are doing right now.
Lovely shade and such a worthy cause. And yes, I am a fan of Barielle. Got into them from their Total Foot Care Cream, and now they are my big time cutical savers with their Nail Strengthening Cream overlaid per Barielle directions with their great Intensive Nail Renewal Oil.I have fab natural nails thanks to this company and really soft feet too! They have a small but interesting line of polish shades. The BOGO is a good deal.
My prayers are for your father and family. And that polish is beautiful.
TONS of positive healing energy for your dad! I too am an only child and can’t even fathom something happening to either of my parents. I hope he feels better very soon.
Sorry to hear about your father, stay positive and have faith.
Praying for your dad, hope all turns out well.
Thanks for the daily polish review even though you are stressing! Good luck and we’re all thinking of you!
I’m sorry to hear about your dad. My thoughts are with you and your family. I hope he recovers and is back home happy and healthy soon
oh no! Good wishes being sent your way. hugs!
i am so sorry about your dad. i couldnt imagine losing my father and i know when that day comes im gonna just lose it completely. so i am praying for you and your family that you wont have to deal with that and that he will be fine. hang in there
Sending positive thoughts your way, and keep wearing colors that make you happy!
Many thoughts and prayers will be with you and your father!
wishing your dad a speedy recovery x
Sending good thoughts to you and your family! Hopefully all will be well soon!
Sorry about your daddy. Hope he gets better soon.
Sorry to hear about your dad. I hope he gets better soon. Amid the circumstances, this was a touching post where your love and admiration for him shines through. Stay strong!
God bless, best wishes to you and your Dad
Lovely color, hope it made you feel better for a moment
Of course we all understand and send positive vibes to your dad! :* Take care and let us know!! :* :*
You never have to apologize for putting family first! My dad is my world too. So I feel you. Am sending good thoughts to you and your dad.
Please remain positive, I have every faith that your dad will get through this and that he will get back on the road to recovery very soon! I can imagine what you’re going through, as an only child myself. Just remain strong for your parents, you will make it through this just fine
Beautiful shade of teal. My thoughts are with you and your family!
Lots of healing energy to your beloved daddy, I will light a blue candle for him tonight (blue is for healing) and a pink one for you (for serenity). Please don’t cry too much or he will notice your red eyes and think the situation is worse than he thinks, be strong for him, we’ll try to help you, as of course it’s not easy at all. Heartfelt blessings.
My mother had a heart attack and a quadruple bypass in August of ’07 so I can completely understand how terrifyiing it is. I hope your father will be fine. On the nail polish front, do you think the new Zoya polish Breezi would be a formidable dupe or is it completely different? That’s about the only bluish colored polish that I own.
hoping for a good outcome for your dad. {{{big hugs}}}
Though we’ve never met, I feel as if I know you because of this wonderful blog. Therefore, I am sorry yet hopeful that your dad is going to be okay! I’m sending loving thoughts & hugs your way and saying prayers for peace of mind and heart for your dad, your mom, and you. TAKE CARE!
more *hugs* and positive vibes sent virtual on your fathers behalf.
Nothing to apologize for, kiddo, and I’ll be sending all kinds of good thoughts! *hug*
As a single child myself, I completely understand. You and yours will be in my prayers. Thank you for sharing and for such a fun and informative website!
Oh no! I am very sorry to hear about your dad. I hope he recovers.
I’ve always enjoyed reading your blog but never left any comments. But I just wanted to say I’m sorry about the news about your dad. I love my dad a lot and I can only imagine your sadness now. I hope everything will turn out okay for you!
I am praying that your father is going to be ok. While we all love your blog and look forward to seeing what you put up everyday, your family is way more important than us wanting to see color swatches. Thanks for your dedication! Again, I am praying for your dad.
I hope everything is going well with your old man! I worry about mine too over the smallest issue, because he and I are so close.
My thoughts and prayers are with you & your family. I’m an only child too and know exactly what you are feeling! I hope your dad recovers quickly!
Strength to you and your family.
Love and prayers headed your way. Take care of your daddy, they can get more stubborn after the fact :D!!
Prayers sent out for you and your dad! Keep us posted!
Thinking of you and your dad this Sunday and sending well wishes/positive vibes & lots of prayers. I hope they have some answers from testing done now and idea as to where the cardiac enzymes are going (or have gone I should say). Give yourself a big hug.
Sending prayers your way!! You’re so right about more important things than polish, although it’s always nice to find one to brighten your mood
I’m so sorry about your dad, I hope everything goes well.
Prayers and hugs to you! It is called FAITH!
**hugs** I hope everything is ok and he’s out of there soon! Sending positive vibes to you and your family (and they’ll reach you fast because I’m from NE Ohio, too :D)
Oh man, I wouldn’t wish Dads in hospitals on anybody, it’s so hard to deal with. Good health vibes and positive wishes headed for him now. No apologies needed or wanted, family comes first.
I wish your father recovers soon. I am also sending him and you my positive thoughts. Hugs ?
Oh, this may cheer you up a skosh, perhaps. Did you know that Milani makes a green holographic polish called Hi-Tech? I’ve had it for months and it just occurred to me that this is what you’ve always said is your epitome lemming, right? If you can’t find it at CVS in your area please let me know and I will send you a bottle. It’s a lovely limey yellowgreen with a true holographic flash.
Sending positive thoughts to ALU dad and ALU family!
So sorry to hear about your father. I sincerely hope he feels better and is released from hospital soon. Best wishes to you and your family. *hugs*
Michelle, my thoughts and prayers are with your father and your family. Nail polish is fun, but family is so much more important.
{{{hugs}}}
Positive thoughts from NY for your father and you
Your blog cheers me up on even my worst days so I’m sending lots of
I’m so sorry about your dad. All good thoughts your way….
Michelle, I love your blog and I’m so sorry to hear about your dad. Sending love and prayers, I hope he’s back on his feet soon xx
Hope to hear good news soon about your dad’s health. Hang in there.
Don’t worry, he’ll be out soon my dear! All love, kisses and hugs!!
-Fio
So many good wishes going your family’s way! I really hope your dad makes a speedy recovery. Having recently had a medical scare with one of my parents as well, I know how scary and disorienting the whole experience is. Please take it easy and only swatch if it feels like a much-needed distraction, not if it ever becomes just one more source of stress. We all want the best for you.
Thinking of you and your dad. I don’t know if this will help, but my mom had a completely unexpected triple bypass several years ago, and she’s now in fantastic health. But I know it’s really scary now, so here are more positive thoughts for you both!
I love reading your blog, I check almost everyday for your wonderful entries and reviews. I’m sorry to hear about your father, and I hope that things have started to look up for him, and for you too! Stay strong, and we’ll be here for whenever you’re ready to share again
Being there for your Dad is a blessing. Just like him being there for you has been a blessing. Stubborness goes along way in fighting back during a health crisis. Good luck and God bless your Dad your family.
I know it’s hard to keep focused on work. Hand in there.We all appreciate your work ethics. Taught by Dad ?
Sending you my thoughts and wishing your family some good news and a speedy recovery soon.
Sending positive thoughts to you and your family! Everything will be okay
I know I’m late, however I wish you the best for your father- as a med student, I have a lot of faith in the medical expertise out there- and since you’re in CLE, you’ve got some of the best medical centers around. He’ll pull through in no time
Sending robust, happy healing vibes to your Dad and to you!
I wish your father a speedy recovery, and I hope you feel better.
You, your father, and your family are in my thoughts.
I sincerely hope your dad will be better, having this happen to a family member is not something I’d wish on anybody. Oddly enough the same thing happened to me-my dad had a severe attack on July 1st…and I was wearing A Bouquet for Ava at the time.
Wishing ALU Dad a speedy recovery. Sending good wishes to ALU family. Love hearing your polish insights, & will miss you while you are gone, but agree that family comes first! XOXO
Sending my thoughts to you and your dad and praying he will be okey.
Wishing you all good things– happiness & health, for you and those you love. =)
Warm thoughts coming your way from Boston. I look forward to reading your blog everyday and wanted you to know that I’m thinking of you during this time. I came very close to losing my dad and know how difficult this time is for you.
Wishing you good thoughts and sending positive vibes. I’m an only child with almost no extended family as well – so my dad is my rock, too.
Sending hugs and good thoughts your way
Bless you, your dad, and the rest of your family during this time. Hope he has a full and speedy recovery.
Positive thoughts and prayers from Albuquerque. Hope your father feels better soon.
Hang on, Michelle. All it’s going to be ok!!! Best wishes from Slovenia.
Big hugs and recovering thoughts for your Dad. I hope that he is better and is now at home recovering.
Have not commented in over a year but am a loyal reader.
I will keep you and your family in my prayers. I too am going through some rough times (totally unrelated) and I know how hard life can sometimes be.
Keep your chin up and think positive no matter how hard it may seem.
I lost my dad when I was 17. He was my rock too…Hope you are doing better and that your father is OK…I love the way you express yourself in your blog…
Prayers from Georgia for your Dad, you and your family.
I, too, am an only child, so I can appreciate the daddy/daughter bond. Sending prayers and best wishes for a speedy recovery.
Hope all is as well as can be, as soon as it can be. Keep us posted if you can, we’re thinking of you. Hugs to the ALU family.
I read your blog all the time and never commented before. First thank you for always being smart, witty, funny and fun to read. I’m also an Ohio girl (NYC transplant) and also had a very sick father a few years ago. He’s back to being his usual grumpy loving “shit!” saying self and cancer free.
My heart, prayers and good energy goes out to you, your father and your family during this time! Much love and hugs!!
My thoughts are with you, I wish you and your family the best during this difficult time
Here’s hoping and praying for a speedy recovery. My first time commenting, and just wanted to lend my support!
So sorry you ahve to go through this, sending out my best wishes for you & your Daddy
Lots of positive healing energy to your blessed father. I hope you and your family is granted the strength to overcome this together.
pretty dirty teal!
Hi, I’d just like to make a comparison suggestion. How about Milani #530 Gems and Ulta Pi