See that cute little box under the word “Connect” on my sidebar? That’s Google Friend Connect and the wizards at Google are taking that away from us non-Blogger blogs in March. Thanks peeps! It’s their way of forcing us into the land of Google+ which it seems that no one is really using.

So for the 4,000+ of you who use GFC I want to make sure you have plenty of options to still follow ALU and get updates of new posts.

Bloglovin - Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/AllLacqueredUpFans

Feedblitz email notifications - http://www.feedblitz.com/f?sub=210622

Google+ – https://plus.google.com/110240764910859451284

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Twitter – http://www.twitter.com/alllacqueredup

Follow one, follow all. All sources will now receive updates of new posts though each one has slightly different content outside of that.

Happy 2012 Fanatics! I hope your NYE was fun, safe and free of any regrettable actions (drunk texts, hangovers, etc). Mine was relatively low key spent with good friends and enjoying an amazing meal with the boyfriend.

I, for one, was ready to watch the door hit 2011 as it left and am embracing 2012 with welcome, open arms. Instead of recapping the past year, because it pretty much blew, I’ve spent the past couple weeks doing a lot of reflecting on ALU and what I want to do with it going forward. How I want to kick off its 5th year. That’s right, ALU turns FIVE today. Crazy, right? Where did the time, and my youth, go?

I have a lot of fun things in store for the upcoming months that I hope you will enjoy.

• A 5 year blogoversary is a reason blow the roof off so, much like I celebrate my own birthday, I’m keeping the party going all month long with a bunch of amazing giveaways. They will be random and only last for 24 hours so make sure you check back often so you don’t miss a chance to win some great nail loot.
• The Fanatic Favorites is back and nominations will begin this week. If you aren’t familiar, take a look at last year’s results and start thinking about which brands/colors were your faves in 2011.
• I’m reinstating the “Untrieds” series but not in a 365 format. I decided to make it a permanent thing until my bin of Untrieds, is empty. And by bin, I mean 5 gallon storage tub. OY! Instead of every day you will see 3-5 untried polishes each week and my goal is to make sure they are accessible unless it’s something I just HAVE to share.
• The amount of new nail polish brands on the market is getting kind of ridiculous and trying to cover them all is impossible. At this point there doesn’t seem to be a clothing chain out there without a private label line of stock colors. I want to focus on the brands I really love, that are accessible and consistently deliver quality. Tried & true staples like Chanel, China Glaze, CND, Deborah Lippmann, Essie, Nubar, Orly, OPI, Rescue Beauty Lounge, Sally Hansen, Zoya (just to name a few). Of course that doesn’t mean smaller, up and coming brands won’t get love from ALU but I will only share things with you I feel are really worth seeking out. Cult Nails, for example, is one to watch.
• While I am admittedly a noob when it comes to video, I have been researching and my plan is to incorporate more video tutorials in 2012.
• And speaking of video, I am also working on launching a regular live show where we can interact in real time.

Of course, I am open to your suggestions and I would love to hear your thoughts. I just ask that they be constructive and feasible. Also, if there is a series or type of post I have done in the past that you really miss, let me know.

Curious what sparkler I chose for NYE? Stay tuned!

Have you been following the drama that transpired after I originally announced the China Glaze & Hunger Games nail polish collaboration? After word of a lawsuit emerged I thought for sure the collection was dead and then I read on Crushable that Lionsgate finally CONFIRMED that the collection is indeed happening but that the theme, and possibly the colors, would change.

Well, thanks to The Hob we now know that while the theme has changed, the colors have not. Phew! I loved the original color palette so I’m happy that is staying the same.

The official name is now the China Glaze “Colours From The Capitol” Collection.

In keeping with the powerful themes and messages of the story, the collection of nail polish will be inspired exclusively by one of the book’s distinct settings—the Capitol of the nation of Panem. Awash in lavish fashion, food, and entertainment, Capitol citizens enjoy extreme cosmetics and body modifications, bold wigs, and outlandish costumes.

Though as a reader of The Hob pointed out, the polish names coincide with the specialties of each district.

Luxe and Lush – District 1 (Luxury)
Stone Cold – District 2 (Masonry)
Riveting – District 3 (Technology)
Hook and Line – District 4 (Fishing)
Electrify – District 5 (Power)
Fast Track – District 6 (Transportation)
Mahogany Magic – District 7 (Lumber)
Dress Me Up – District 8 (Textiles)
Harvest Moon – District 9 (Grain)
Foie Gras – District 10 (Livestock)
Agro – District 11 (Agriculture)
Smoke and Ashes – District 12 (Mining)

Are you as relieved as I am that the collection is NOT dead? What do you think of the new theme and names?

The China Glaze Colours From The Capitol collection releases on March 1st and The Hunger Games premieres on March 23rd. Let the countdown begin!

May the odd be ever in your favor.

image: The Hob

It’s a new life. For me. And I’m feeling good (great).

I know many of you are worried/upset/mad/concerned/disgusted about my obvious absence from ALU and I’m very happy to report that is has come to an end. You see, the last 6+ months have been a real struggle, the past few months being the worst.

Last June, my partner lost his job and to say it’s been tough would be an understatement. He is a personable, educated man and neither of us expected it to take this long for him to find a new position. We also didn’t expect the toll it would take on us both mentally.

I’m generally a pretty positive person and way too optimistic thanks to my glass-is-three-quarters-full mother. She instilled in me the idea that things always work out for the best and I really believed that. Well, the last few months I gave up on it all. I became bitter and lost all hope in humanity. It sounds overly dramatic but I’m someone who has battled depression in the past and it felt like I was drowning without a life preserver anywhere in sight.

The point of all this TMI is that with everything going on in my personal life, I just couldn’t bring myself to write about nail polish. Something that brings me so much joy. To have fun and wax whimsical about polish at a time when I just wanted to punch kittens (not literally, I LOVE cats) just wasn’t happening. And rather than deliver a post that didn’t express my pure love of nails and color, didn’t do any of us justice.

Now on to the good news. I am OVERJOYED to report that the boyfriend has landed a wonderful job with a local CPA firm and I feel like I can finally breath again. More importantly, I feel like I can ENJOY nail polish and not feel guilty about it.

I KNOW I have a ton of catching up to do and I will do my best to cover the holiday collections before they pass us by. China Glaze and OPI are no brainers and we’ll go from there.

Thank you all for sticking with me and your emails/comments/tweets of concern. I love you!!

Thank you everyone for your constructive feedback regarding the 365 of Untrieds. I really appreciate hearing what you want to see on ALU. At the end of the day I have to do what makes me happy but, I want, as much as possible, for all of you to be happy with the content I provide as well.

As I mentioned in the past, I started the 365 to end my blogpression and to better serve all of you. I felt I was failing you with my lack of consistent posting and the pressure I put myself under just wasn’t healthy. I wanted to find a way to get my blogging back on track in a way that I would enjoy. And believe me, I am really enjoying the 365 concept.

Here’s the thing though. Life gets in the way sometimes and as much as I wish I could be that person who blogs every single day for a year, clearly it just wasn’t meant to be. So based on the initial feedback and my own blogging desires I have decided to continue the 365 of Untrieds but with some adjustments.

• The 365 will continue but I won’t beat myself up if something, like my upcoming trip to NY Fashion Week, or an unexpected issue causes me to miss a day or two. I won’t stop until I review 365 polishes from my “untrieds” stash. I’m going to include the number from now on so we can keep track together. Revlon Blue Lagoon was #114.
• I will only review “untrieds” that are not part of current collections and, for the most part, still accessible. (ie core collection colors, non-LE)
• I will resume collection reviews with the intent of posting at least one new collection per week. Something that both you and I want to talk about.
• I will post collection previews and news as they come to me

Does this sound like a good compromise? I just want to be up front with you so you don’t think some tragedy occurred if I miss a day of posting. I also don’t want to feel like I’m failing myself or all of you if I miss a day. I want this to be a fun experience for all of us.

The hit UK nail polish brand, Nails Inc, is FINALLY easily available to US Fanatics thanks to their launch at Sephora. Select Sephora stores, including CLE’s own Beachwood Place location, and Sephora.com are now carrying the Nails Inc. line.

Fourty of Nails Inc most popular nail polish colors along with their Special Effects Crackles & 3D Glitters, Crystal Colours and treatments are headed Stateside and I couldn’t be more ecstatic. I’ve been a fan ever since I fell for their Kensington Caviar Top Coat at Cosmoprof a couple years ago and I’m so happy the line will be more accessible to us.  Keep reading for a closer look of which Nails Inc products are coming to Sephora.

Crystal Colour ($19.50) – Each season, four new colors in the line receive luxurious crystal caps. Each shade is packaged into a
beautiful box, making them the perfect gifts. Current Crystal shades include: Porchester Square (pictured), Charring Cross, Regents Palace, The Thames

Electric Lane Holographic Top Coat ($10) – This silver holographic glitter shade creates an electrifying look over any shade of nails inc polish.

Special Effects 3D Glitter ($9.50) – Three glitter-tastic nail polishes create a show stopping finish.

Sloane Square, Fitzroy Square, Connaught Square, Bloomsbury Square

Special Effects Crackle Top Coats ($9.50) – Create a gorgeous nail art effect using our innovative new crackle polishes. Simply apply crackle over your favorite nails inc polish and watch the magic happen. Your base color will appear through the cracks. Shades include: Camden – black crackle, Hoxton – purple crackle, Islington – pink crackle, Clapham – teal crackle, Farringdon – gold glitter crackle, The City – purple glitter crackle, The West End – blue glitter crackle, Hackney – silver crackle

Top Row: Farringdon & Hackney Bottom Row: Islington, Hoxton & Clapham

Nails Inc Nail Polish ($9.50) – Professionally formulated, catwalk inspired colors with an exceptionally glossy long lasting finish. All nails inc polishes are named after iconic UK destinations.

Gatwick Matte Nail Polish

Shoreditch, Brompton Place and St James

Porchester Place, St John’s Wood and Warick Way

Victoria, Foubert’s Place and The Thames

And how cool is this? Sephora is the first to launch the Fall 2011 collection.
The Nails Inc Autumn Winter 2011 Collection includes: Charing Cross – brilliant pure red gloss, Paddington – deep khaki grey, St Pancras – deep red brown and Fenchurch Street – russet cream

Here is a full list of the shades being carried at Sephora

Of course we can’t forget treatments. My beloved Kensington Caviar 45 Second Top Coat ($10) and its matching Base Coat ($10) are coming to Sephora along with the Westminster Bridge Matte Top Coat ($10), Kensington Hand Cream ($18) and Vitamin E Cuticle Oil Pen ($10).

Kensington Caviar Base & Top Coat, Westminster Bridge Matte Top Coat

The press information I received included a mention of a special top coat that will launch in October 2011 and it sounds pretty cool. This is the description:

Overglaze Top Coat ($10) - These top coats create a theatrical effect on the nails. Each contains hand cut holographic particles that look spectacular once painted over a solid base shade. Shades include: holographic red and green, holographic electric UV blue and holographic blue and green.

Per a reader request, here is the list of stores that are carrying Nails Inc: SANTA MONICA, ANAHEIM, HOLLYWOOD, FASHION VALLEY, VENETIAN, MIRACLE MILE, STANFORD, BEVERLY CENTER, POWELL STREET, MANHATTAN VILLAGE, BREA, TOWN SQUARE, 86TH AND LEXINGTON, PEARLRIDGE, SANTA ANITA, WASHINGTON SQUARE, DOWNTOWN SEATTLE, MENLO PARK, MALL OF AMERICA, POLARIS, KENWOOD, SOMERSET, COLONIE CENTER, BEACHWOOD, MALL OF LOUISIANA, CHESTNUT ST, FLAT IRON, PRUDENTIAL CTR, 5TH AVE, WATERTOWER PLACE, NATICK, 42ND AND MADISON, WALDEN GALLERIA, SOUTH BEACH, BOCA RATON, AVENTURA, FLORIDA MALL, COLUMBIA MALL, LAKESIDE, EATON CENTRE TRON, RIDEAU CENTRE, PACIFIC CENTRE, 5 TIMES SQUARE, CHERRY CREEK, FASHION PLACE, STONESTOWN, SOUTH SHORE, CHRISTIANA, APPLETON, AMERICANA-GLENDALE GALLERIA

Nails Inc is available now at select Sephora stores and Sephora.com in addition to their home site NailsInc.com.

Are you as jazzed about this launch as I am? Which products do you plan to pick up first? If you’re already a Nails Inc fan, share your favorite colors and products with the newbies out there. And make sure you check out my past reviews of St John’s Wood and Kensignton Caviar Top Coat with Tate.

Disclosure: Product samples were provided by reps for Nails Inc. For more info view my Disclosure Policy.

The New York Times “Room for Debate” is a regular series that features a diverse group of pundits offering their views on a certain topic. For the most part, the debates focus on political or social issues but today they’re delving into the wild world on nail polish colors and they asked me to share my two cents. It’s pretty uncommon ground for the section and I was proud to be a part of it.

Me and my fellow debaters tackled the subject of bold nail colors and why they have gained such mainstream stature. It’s quite an entertaining read though the comments make it ten times better. Seriously, I don’t want to spoil it for you but believe me, it’s worth a look. Why Did Wild Nail Polish Go Mainstream?

I included my take on the subject here but I encourage you to read the views of all the debaters AND the comments and I hope you’ll lend your thoughts on the topic. Enjoy!

Katie Cazorla is small town girl who made dreams come true when she turned her passion for all things nails into owning her own salon, The Painted Nail. Not long after, reality tv came a knocking and now the nail world has its very own reality show, Nail Files, premiering Tuesday night at 10pm EST on the TV Guide Network. Katie and a colorful cast of characters are bringing their larger-than-life personalities to the party and what a party it is. Katie is opening the doors to her salon and her life, putting all the drama, fun and day-to-day business headaches on display. We get to see what it’s like for someone, who started a nail salon from scratch, trying to keep it all together in a crazy town like Los Angeles. Keep reading to learn more about Katie and what we can expect from Nail Files this season.

Tell us a little about yourself. Were you always into nails?

I’m from Elmira, NY. And actually, my mom is from Ohio, Dayton actually (ed note: Yay for Ohio connections!). I have the small town kind of nice upbringing. There were no spoiled or entitled girls. I have really good work ethics from when I was little. That’s what sets my business apart from the others. Plus I went to nail school and read books and completely enraptured myself in nails.

I went to Sunday school as a little girl. We had to color in these pictures of Jesus and the Virgin Mary. And my mother wasn’t a big coloring book person. She thought it didn’t instill creativity because you are just coloring in someone else’s artwork.  But I ended up putting red nails and toes on the Virgin Mary and putting glitter on Jesus’ overcoat. My mom mom still has that picture. Virgin Mary had red nails because my mom always had red nails.

Katie also had Raggedy Ann and Andy dolls which had mitts for hands, no fingers or nails. She used her mom’s old nail polish to give Raggedy Ann polished nails that dried all crusty on the fabric.

How did Nail Files come about? What is it about The Painted Nail that caught TV Guide Network’s eye?

I opened my salon March 8, of 2009. I didn’t do a grand opening right away because I wanted to work out the kinks. After about three months I thought, it hadn’t burned down or anything, so I did a grand opening. I invited a lot of fun people and asked my boyfriend to invite some friends and there was a producer who came and was like, “I’ve never seen a salon like this. You have a stripper pole and a stage.”

But I said this is my real business so we can’t like eff it up with some crazy show. I want to show what it takes for somebody who doesn’t come from a trust fund or loaded parents to open up a small business and make it work.

What is the biggest factor in the fast success and growth of your salon?

I honestly do eat and breathe nails. I don’t take breaks, I don’t take vacation. I maybe sleep an hour a night. I’m one of those people who really have a hard time turning it off. I feel like if you really have a passion for something. If you can really change the way people view something, I think you can do it. I thought nail salons in LA were really bad. Like what is the deal in Los Angeles? You go to get your nails done and it’s $150 at a spa or $20 and you question the cleanliness.

The nail polish fanatic in me needs to know, what do you have on your nails right now?

I’m wearing Miz Biz, a bright blue named by Paramore’s Hayley Williams, with Stiletto, a black crème, on my ring finger as an accent. I topped them all with Moon Drops top coat which has polka dot-esque sequins and pen point holographic glitter.

So you have a thing for glitter?

I love glitter when it’s done right. When it’s on long crazy nails, unless you physically do nails, I don’t think it looks good. It looks tacky. Glitter looks best on short, square nails with rounded corners.

Does your boyfriend now know more about nails then he ever wanted?

Like you don’t even know. He knows what 3 & 4 Free mean. He knows what all the chemicals are. He knows about color choice and layering. He knows about cuticle maintenance and pumice stones. I show him the blogs. He really gets excited to tell people about what he knows.

He’s just a fun guy and he totally gets it. When he has a hanging cuticle he comes in and asks for nippers. He does know the French manicure is dated. He says women shouldn’t do French toes unless they are in porn or are a stripper. Why do you need to have big thick lines on your toes? It looks like a bird claw.

I love that you read the nail blogs and have a love for nail polish as much as you do nails in general.

There’s people who just love polish so much. And then there are people who are like “Hmm, I don’t really care if my nails are done.” I’m like, “I don’t even understand you!” It’s a small thing you can do and when your nails are polished and have a little bit of shine, it’s like UH! Makes me feel so good about myself.

Nubar has a lot of nail fanatic fans. How did you choose the company to work with?

There’s just something about the Nubar formula. It doesn’t smell when you open the bottle. Some polishes, you open the bottle and feel like you are going to die, it’s so intense. Plus I can’t handle it when brands test on animals. It’s the softie animal lover in me. And being at the Nubar factory is like a kid in a candy store moment. You just want to steal. I stole once when I was like six. I stole a Humpty Dumpty punching balloon from Hills and my mother made me take it back. (breaking in) Hills, my mother LOVED Hills! Mine too!

Anyway, getting back to Nubar, I convinced him that I wanted to do a whole line about layering and fun colors. To take what my customers love from the line but make it just a hair different. We didn’t want to go too off the wall. We wanted to stay true to Nubar.

Are your colors are exclusive?

For the signature Painted Nail collection they are different. The brushes and caps are different. They apply a bit differently. It’s more retail than professional. He uses a brush that is more for a nail tech. Our brush is amateur friendly. It’s not a wide brush but it’s a flat brush.

Also the formula is different. We use a lot more jelly base because anyone can do it. You can suck at polishing your nails but if you have a jelly base it’s almost like gel. It hardens and it looks like you got a professional manicure.

The promos for Nail Files mention celebrity clients. I see you have polishes named by celebrities. How did that come about? Do they collaborate on the colors?

I have the colors done in the bottles. When a celebrity comes in. I feel them out when they come in and see if they are into talking about the salon. If they are being chatty and fun I’ll bring over my colors and ask them to honor my line by naming a color. For fall, I have a gray with holographic glitter that Lisa Rinna named Belle after her store Belle Gray. I also have a white called Betty, after Betty White.

Who was your first big celebrity client?

Ashley Tisdale and Vanessa Hudgens. Ashley called the store and her name popped up on the caller ID. I wondered if it was the real Ashley Tisdale and then she said she wanted to make an appointment for her and her friend Vanessa to come in to get mani/pedis. Paula Abdul and Hilary and Haylie Duff were next. After Hillary got engaged she chose a white jelly base polish, with glitter that looks like sprinkles on a cupcake, that she named Secret Engagement.

You mentioned before that the French manicure is dated so how do you not hold an intervention when the Jersey Shore girls, who are known for their acrylics and thick French tips, come in for service?

When they first came in, I thought maybe this wouldn’t be the best for me because it was all four of them; Snooki, J-Woww, Sammi, Deena and they were like, “Why don’t you do acrylics?” I feel there’s no need for acrylics anymore but they have their style so it’s not my place to intervene. But there really is no need for acrylics. I don’t like the smell, it’s just terrible. There’s soak-off gel, there’s Virtual Nails if you have busted nails. Dashing Diva Vitural Nails is a miracle product. We have people who are diehard acrylic fans or chronic nail biters who have nubs and we put the Virtual Nails with a very thin white natural line and they look like a real nail. They’re so thin, like a contact lens.

What do you want people to take away from the show?

I really want people to see what it takes to run a nail salon and all the crazy stuff that is in it. Because It’s not easy to do but it’s easy to start. If you have the passion for doing your own nails or doing other people’s nails or just making people feel pretty you could do this. You could start a very glam nail place and make the world understand that nails is not just a junkie, chop shop. That we matter, it is glamourous. People in the nail world know and it’s time for everyone to see it.

Remember to tune in to Nail Files on the TV Guide Network, Tuesday June 21st at 10pm EST to catch the premiere episode and stay tuned for a fun Nail Files giveaway.

There’s been a lot of buzz recently around a J.Crew ad that depicts the company’s president, Jenna Lyons, with her son who has neon pink nail polish on his toes.  It includes the quote, “Lucky for me, I ended up with a boy whose favorite color is pink. Toenail painting is way more fun in neon.”

Why there is such an uproar about this escapes me. Granted, I don’t have, or plan to have, children so I can’t really see this from a parent’s perspective but I’ve always felt that if you aren’t hurting anyone or breaking any laws, do what you damn well please.

We’ve discussed men wearing nail polish in the past and to this day it is still one of my most popular posts, continuing to receive new comments. While there are people against the idea, the majority of us Fanatics seem to be okay with men wearing polish on their hands or feet. So why shouldn’t this apply to little boys? Would we even be talking about this if the color was more “masculine” like gray or black?

When I looked at the ad, I thought, “Oh this is a way to pimp the Essie polishes J.Crew will be carrying this summer.  Using her son will be sure to draw attention.” Not that civilization as we know it is ending because of how she colored her son’s toenails.

Yes, it is eye catching to see a male with neon pink toes. Yes, it obviously got the press to take notice. But how did I learn of this whole controversy? From a reader asking me on Twitter if I knew the name of the polish used in the ad. Enough said!

What are your thoughts on this ordeal? Is it something we should be talking about? Do any of you have young boys in your life that like to polish their nails?  Does it make a difference whether the color is a “girly” pink or “masculine” dark?

ps To answer the reader’s question… I don’t know the shade name but when I find out I will update this post. The Essie polishes used in J.Crew ads are usually for sale on the website but the only pink I is see currently is Forget Me Nots which is not neon.

Fanatics, I had an absolute blast talking nails with the ladies behind Nail Talk Radio, Athena Elliott & Naja Green. It was such a pleasure to be on the show and I appreciate all of you who listened, joined the chat and called in with questions. In case you missed the show and want to hear me discuss the origins of ALU, some of my favorite products, the NYFW backstage experience and more you can still catch up by listening to the episode on demand below. Enjoy!

I hope my natural ability to chatter didn’t turn into full on rambling and you enjoyed the show.  I definitely learned a few things, as I always do from tuning in.  Thank to Athena I have a top coat to test out.  I’d love to hear your thoughts on the show.

Also, to all the professionals who are discovering ALU thanks to NTR, welcome!  I hope you’ll share your expertise with us.  We welcome anyone who loves nails here, not just the at-home users.

And be sure to tune in to Nail Talk Radio every Monday night at 10pm EST/7pm PST.  Future guests include Chanel MAN-icurist Tom Bachik, CND Co-Founder Jan Arnold and Essie Weingarten.  What a lineup!  I’ll be tuning in, will you?