Joe Fresh cardigan, Mexx dress, Jules & James flats, Le Chateau pashmina,

Three patterns are better than one, wouldn't you agree?  I got so many compliments on this outfit - people seem to really be digging the mix of prints (did I really just say 'digging'?).  It's pretty basic as it's all black and white, but a great way to incorporate the mixing-prints-trend into your look. 

Thank you all for your sweet comments on my return to the world of blogging.  You are all so sweet and it's much appreciated.  I'm doing well.  I know I promised you all a give-away, and I haven't forgotten; I promise to get that up early next week. 

In other news, the weekend is here, my new shoes arrived in the mail yesterday (I will post those tomorrow), I have recently had a ton of luck in the purse-shopping-department (so rare for me, I've been using the same bags for years now with the odd addition here and there, and then I find like, four in the past three months - unheard of) and it's still Summer (for those of you wishing away the Summer and craving for Fall, please stop.  It's especially disheartening for someone like yours truly who lives in winter for, oh, about eight months of the year).  Okay fine, I'm secretly excited for faux fur, layers, leggings, breaking out my (faux) leather jackets, jeans tucked into boots (and boots for that matter), hot beverages, crisp evenings and spiced candles.  But I can wait.

I'm a huge OPI fan.  That's pretty much the only nail polish I will buy (because I've become a huge nail-polish-snob like that.  Ugh.)  However, since seeing Essie's Turquoise & Caicos on several bloggers last summer (I know, I'm so behind the times), I decided to take the plunge one year later.

I've never used Essie polish before and while it cost the same as my OPI normally does per bottle ($10), apparently I completely overpaid because the links above are much cheaper.  Le sigh. 

Onto the review!  I find the T&C isn't a super thick formula, so while I did my standard two coats, three might have given a solid coverage (but then that's five coats with base adn top coat - far too much work for me).  The Mink Muffs on the other hand (errr foot?) covered nice and opaque-ly with two coats.  Normally I'm not a fan of thin brushes, but I find the Essie polish to be a bit more liquidy than OPI and thus a think brush is fine as it covers easily since it spreads well.  The lasting power isn't bad, certainly comparable to OPI.  As far as the shades go, I like their collections but find OPI has a bit more dimension to their colours. 

Verdict:  I'd buy it again, but still reach for OPI first.

Psssssst:

* DIY Manicure

* More nail colours