Leibster Award

I think I'm starting to collect these or something (Gotta catch 'em all!) - I now have 7 nominations for this.

As I've been nominated by so many people, I've decided that I'm going to answer everyone's questions, because I'm polite like that, but I'm not going to nominate anyone. All of the blogs I follow have this (possibly more than once by the flow of nominations I've had), and if you don't feel free to take it from me. I'm sure you'll get nominated pretty soon anyway!

I'm gonna put this all under a cut because this is gonna be an absolutely mammoth post....



Rachael of Racho's Nail Love was first to nominate me back in February, just after I'd started my blog...
1. What was the very first polish you posted on your blog?
My mysterious and unnamed red Essie - I think it might be Forever Yummy - with white spots.

2. What is the most you would pay for a nail polish? 
I kinda resent paying more than £10 for a polish, but the cheaper the better for me. 

3. What is your favorite polish?
My favourite brand is probably Nails Inc, but my favourite single polish is probably BarryM Raspberry for the colour.

4. What is your favorite type of Nail Art?
Striping tape, or just stripes in general. I love stripes so much.

5. What is one thing you would like to improve on?
My colour combinations and being braver at trying new things.

6. Whats your biggest guilty pleasure?
Disney films and chocolate.

7. What is the most 'Extreme' thing you have ever done?
Eaten before swimming, and traveled to America by myself. I don't really regard the latter as extreme, but a lot of people are surprised that I was brave enough to do that more than once on my own.

8. What is the geekiest / nerdiest thing you have ever done / do?
I've actually been to a sci-fi/fantasy conventions - DragonCon in Atlanta, GA. That was absolutely amazing.

9. What is your favorite nail product and why?
Rimmel Stronger base coat. Its amazing, especially for the price.

10. What was your favourite childhood cartoon?
Oh lor, I watch so many cartoons its kinda hard to separate childhood ones from teh ones I watch now! It was probably Sailormoon or the 1990s X-Men cartoon. Or the Gummi Bears if we're going back a bit further.

11. Name one thing about yourself that not a lot of people know
I've had a sword broken across my ribs. Admittedly it was only a fencing foil, but it was still a sword and it still shattered.

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Then I was nominated by Paulina of Paulina's Passions...
1 - What is your dream job?
I have absolutely no idea, how bad is that? I'm 27 and I have no idea what I actually want to do, haha.

2 - One make-up item you cannot live without.
Eye primer. Eyeshadow disappears within about an hour without it, its unreal. I love the urban decay primer, but I'm using ASDA's own brand at the minute and its pretty good. And a fraction of the price!

3 - Who is your inspirational icon?
I don't really have one to be honest.  There are a lot of people I admire for their talents or their style but nobody I'd really class as an icon per se.

4 - What is your biggest weakness?
Sweet food. Chocolate, ice cream, pastries, anything. I've got a massive sweet tooth.

5 - How many nail polishes do you own?
322, not including base coats and top coats.

6 - What was your childhood nickname?
Fez.

7 - Top 3 favorite TV-shows.
Doctor Who, Sailormoon and ... er... god, I've just realised I don't watch much tv haha.

8 - Describe the best moment of your life.
Getting off the plan in Atlanta after flying all the way by myself. It was the first time I'd been to the US at all, and it was to meet some of the best friends I've ever made.

9 - What is your biggest fear?
Heights. Spiders. Being upside down. Going mad. They're all about tied.

10 - Describe yourself in three words.
Er, highly misc.

11 - Dogs or cats?
Totally cats.

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After that, it was Dawny at Sassy Little Nails...
1.What is your fav thing to do when you want to relax?
Read. I love reading, and I used to absolutely devour books when I was younger. Sadly I don't get as much time to read as I'd like to now.

2.Are there any products that you never expected to like but ended up loving?
Pretty much anything make-up based. Through my life I've never really worn makeup until I started wearing eyeshadow and mascara to work. I ended up buying the Urban Decay Naked2 eye palette a few weeks ago and I really can't live without it now. But if you asked me a few months ago if I'd ever spend £37 on one set of eyeshadows I'd have laughed my backside off at you.

3.What is one nail polish/product you cannot live without?
Rimmel Stronger base coat. I've gone through so many bottles of the stuff since January I've lost count. 

4. If you could go to the future or past what year would you like to be in? 
I'd be all over the place. I'd probably spend a lot of time popping about the past, learning things and just generally doing stuff. And then I'd pop through the future to find out how long its gonna take for hoverboards to be invented.

5.What is one quote or saying that really means something to you?
Shy bairns get nowt, which is my entire problem. I'm a very quiet person, which means I do miss out on things because I so rarely speak up.

6.what's your fav top tip to give?can be anything like..cleaning tip or beauty tips. 
Grated cheddar cheese from the supermarket can be squashed tightly together with the fingers to produce a block of cheese, ready for slicing or grating.

Top tip from the Viz, I remember one of my old managers telling me it (as I don't actually read the Viz, he did) and I nearly pee'd myself laughing.

7.What was the last thing you ever said that was funny?
Oh god, I can't remember. I say a lot of things in the day, and I seem to make people laugh quite a bit. 

8.What's one thing that most people probably wouldn't know about you?
I have an unbridled love for stationary. I have about 20 notebooks sat on my shelves that I won't use because they're too pretty to ruin. I can't be let into WHSmiths unsupervised. 

9.What's the beauty rule you preach.. but never ACTUALLY practice? 
Moisturise.

10.If I could meet anyone on this earth, who would it be?
Stephen Fry.

11.Are there any beauty products that you keep coming back to throughout the years?
Pretty much anything by Rimmel.

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Next came a nomination from Bite No More Nails...
1. Where did your blog name come from?
My other half (often referred to as Mr Painted Claws, but actually called Peter) calls me Kitty due to my love of cats and my odd habit of meowing at him to get his attention.

2. What inspired you to start blogging?
My bestest friend Rachael started her blog Racho's Nail Love and immediately began attempting to get me to do a nail blog so she would have someone to talk to about polish. It was a downward spiral from there hahaha.

3. Favourite and least favourite colour?
Favourite colour is teal. Least favourite is probably lilac or mustard. Or Chartreuse. Because it looks like sick and is hideous to spell.

4. How do you relax?
READ ALL THE BOOKS. Also, if I'm in a super bad mood - ABUSE ALL THE SIMS.

5. Summer or Winter?
Winter, totally. I love being all wrapped up and warm.

6. If you could have one wish, what would you wish for?
More wishes. Or a winning lottery ticket. Whoever said money doesn't buy you happiness clearly wasn't short of a bit of cash.

7. Has anything good ever happened to you as a result of your blog?
Not really, but I do get to see absolutely awesome nail art from the loads of people that I follow.

8. Best tip advice, beauty or other?
Don't pick at it or it won't get better. Works for more than just scabs.

9. Comedy or horror?
Comedy.

10. Has blogging taken over your life?
A bit, yeah lol.

11. Where do you see your blog 10 years from now?
Hopefully still being updated!

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And then came a nominations from Melissa at Take me to your Lacquer...
1. Do you prefer brands or indies?
At the minute brands, because I'm not gonna lie - I'm not too fond of glitter. Mainly because I'm super lazy about removal haha.

2. Do you have a hand/cuticle routine or are you one of the chosen few who don't have to look after their cuticles too much?
I'm terrible. I really should have a hand/cuticle care routine, but all I really do is push my cuticles back every so often and moisturise my hands (when I remember). I also use Sally Hansen Maximum Growth cuticle oil when I remember to moisturise as well.

3. Are you allowed to wear your nail art in work? If not, do you do it anyway? :p
I am, i get people coming up to me on a Monday to see what I've left on after the weekend haha.

4. Favourite author?
I don't think I really have one. I have a few authors that I'll always get their new releases - Lee Child, Trudi Canavan and Terry Pratchett mostly - but there isn't one author that is my favourite.

5. Do you update your blog as regularly as you'd like to?
Yes and no. I pretty much get everything done on time, but I'd like to have to time to do a little more.

6. Playstation, Xbox or PC?
I game on all 3, as well as my 3DS. Because, Pokemon.

7. Do you use a lightbox when taking photos of your nails?
I don't and I really need to now that the sun has disappeared for the next 6 months. Winter in the UK is not helpful!

8. Favourite and least favourite nail art trends?
Favourite - definitely dotticures. I love polka dots. Lest favourite - I think saran wrap, the mushed colours just look a bit "meh" for me.

9. Are you a fan of delicious flavour?
I am both confused and a little hypnotised by this gif.

10. Are you the kind of person who hears a new song then listens to it over and over until you hate it?
Yes, but not until I hate it. Just until I know the words and its not stuck in my head. 

11. What do you need more of in your nail polish stash?
Polish.

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And a nomination from Poppins Nails...
1. What inspired you do start a blog?
Rachael, of Racho's Nail Love.

2. When someone comments on your posts, do you always reply?
I'm terrible at replying, mainly because I never know what to say/

3. Have you ever had any negative comments? If so how do you react?
Thankfully no, I've not really had any negative comments yet. 

4. What's your favourite season and why?
Autumn/Winter. I like to be a littl bit chilly and then wrap up warm.

5. If you could be any animal, what would you be?
Cat. Cats are awesome.

6. If you could change just one thing in your life, would you?
I'd make myself less lazy, and I'd do that in a heartbeat.

7. Do you enjoy blogging? Or has it taken over your life?
It has taken over my life a little but I do really enjoy it. Its something a bit unique as not many people I know do it, and I do love to write.

8. Has anything good ever happened to you because of your blog?
I've learned more nail art techniques, and learning is always a good thing.

9. Sweet or Savory?
Sweet.

10. Would you, or have you got a second blog?
I kind of have a personal blog but I don't really use it ever. I used to have a livejournal that I used really frequently but I have a terrible attention span for things that aren't routine.

11. Where do you see your blog 5 years from now?
Hopefully still being updated!

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And last but not least, Neon Sparkly Nails...
1. What is your favourite brand of polish?
Probably Nails Inc, I think I have more of them than anything else.

2. What is your favourite polish colour?
Oh god, blue? Green maybes. Or red.

3. Do you have a favourite singer/band?
I'll listen to pretty much anything - my iPod totally worries people what I show them whats on it! It ranges from Nsync and Backstreet Boys to Frank Sinatra to Hamasaki Ayumi and Girls Generation to classical and move score music. Its a bit on the mixed side.

4. Do you have any hobbies other than nails?
I like to try and write. None of my writing has ever seen the light of day though.

5. Do you have any pets?
Not any more. I really want another cat, but sadly I'm gonna have to wait until my housemates move out for that.

6. What is your hand care routine?
I barely have one, I'm terrible. It mostly consists of moisturising sometimes.

7. What is your favourite type of nail art?
Dotticures and freehand painting.

8. What inspired you to start blogging?
Rachael of Racho's Nail Love. She practically forced me, to be honest haha.

9. Favourite food?
I have a terrible weakness for all things sweet but the one food I could not live without is mashed potato.

10. What is your most wanted polish?
I have any major lemmings at the minute.

11. What nail art trend do you hate?
I don't really hate anything at the minute. I've got trends I don't like, like saran wrap nails which look kinda smushy to me, but theres nothing I hate.

And that is all 7 of my Leibster award nominations. I really hope you've read the entire essay, because that took an age to write!

Thank you so much to everyone for all my nominations, its really nice that you feel that Kitty's Painted Claws deserves to be more well known.