Sunday 15 September 2013

Skittles for Essie - A Tribute

Earlier this week Essie from i Heart Pretty Polished announced in her unique warmhearted and authentic way that she will take a break from blogging. I was extremely touched by her frank post describing her concerns and thoughts she felt over the last couple of months. This post has triggered a spontaneous idea among some of us to do an Essie Skittle for her Tribute today. This is our nail polish bloggers way to say "thank you Essie" for having inspired us for the last one and a half years with your posts, comments and suggestions. For my part all I can say is that you have helped me fundamentally to shape my Blog and the way I post, not to mention the polishes that ended up in my stash based on your reviews. So I am very proud to be part of the Tribute post group and this is what I tried to re-create:

From left: Butter London Fruit Machine, KBShimmer Hexappeal, Cult Nails Nakizzle's Shizzle


Anyone following Essie's Blog already an idea where this might lead to? Well let's look:




Recipe:
Pinkie and index: two coats of Cult Nails Nakizzle's Shizzle
Ring: two coat of KBShimmer Hexappeal over one coat of Zoya Song
Middle and thumb: three coats of Butter London Fruit Machine


I took this picture from Essie's Blog (Essie, I hope you don't mind) and here is the link to Essie's original post of this skittle.

picture taken and owned by Essie, i Heart Pretty Polish

Yesterday I was attending a wedding (the first since ages - yep, I am not moving in a circle of marriage oriented folks). It was a beautiful ceremony at an awesome historic location in the surrounding of Basel:

Reithalle of Wenkenhof, Riehen

Of course I am not allowed to post any pictures of the bride and groom or the party but I assure you, they looked strikingly beautiful, the party was multi-cultural and the Prosecco delicious. The location, the Reithalle of Wenkenhof, are stables and riding hall of a historic manor in Riehen (close by Basel). And I proudly can say "MY MANI GOT PHOTOGRAPHED"!!!!!!! 

Now I ask my dear readers to take the time and have a look at the posts of the other Essie Tribute Skittles:

Thank you ladies for this awesome spontaneous joint project - THIS is it what blogging makes such a unique experience - you really ROCK!!!

The last paragraph is for Essie: my dear friend, I would like to take the opportunity to thank you through this post for all your inspiration and advice you blessed me with since I got to know you about a year ago. I thank you for your friendship and support through the darkest weeks of my life and feel incredibly happy to know that our friendship will last (I am sure of that). While I certainly will miss your authentic and unique posts, I so very much understand your feelings and concerns and have immense respect for your courageous decision to step out and take the time and contemplation to explain your reasoning to your readers. Thank you <3!!!! - See ya round :-)

Christine



16 comments:

  1. I love your skittlette, Christine!!! :D They say imitation is the highest form of flattery, right? And you totally nailed (haha, pun not originally intended, but it works!) your version of Essie's mani. :D
    P.S. that wedding, especially the location, sounds fabulous! Thank you for sharing a photo of it! I miss Europe SO much.

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    1. Hi Emily - awwww thank you - I realized I was the only one coming up with a plain copy and felt a bit ashamed but ever since Essie posted this Skittelette those colors stock to the front of my nail polish brain part and when we decided on this post no other picture would come up - haha!!! The wedding was very elegant and contemplative and I was for sure the only one rocking a multi-colored mani ;-) - all other nails I saw were either classic French, darkened reds or pearly nudes - that's probably the reason it got photographed. And one nosey question: you are from Europe or spent some time here? Where? (Super exited here!!!!)

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  2. Fantastic Christine!! I looked at your mani and said to myself, "This looks SO familiar..." Then you showed Essie's pic, and I was thinking, "DUH!" I love your idea of recreating one of Essie's memorable looks! <3 Thanks so much for organizing this post...it was so much fun! :)

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    1. Thank you so much Melissa - phew - I was WORRIED after having seen all those wonderful creations from you and I go copycat. While many of Essie's manis always swim at the top of my nail polish memorizing part of the brain this one has constantly pushed to the surface and I wanted to copy this for ages now - perfect opportunity given here!!! I thank you so very much for joining - indeed it was great fun and epitomizes everything I associate with nail polish blogger world - THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!

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  3. I love this look :) The Hexappeal looks gorgeous! A tribute to Essie is a great idea, I'm going to miss her posts so much but I also admire her for recognizing that she needs to take a break!

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    1. Thank you so much - I am so happy you like the copycat and our idea of the tribute to Essie - I think she influenced many of us and reading through those posts her support and strength she shared with many seemed endless. Her simple and touching statement to step out of blogging for whatever time has touched me deeply and I admire her even more for sharing her thoughts with us.

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  4. Brilliant, sis! A perfect copycat mani. You did an amazing job recreating this and I thank you for the absolutely lovely idea :) You're both such wonderful people and I'm blessed to have y'all in my life :) <3

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    1. So so happy you like it sis!!!! Though as mentioned before, I felt a bit meek to go for a copycat with all of you coming up with those incredible creations. It is upon me to thank you for joining me so spontaneously - another great experience to be put on the heap of "joy of blogging"!!! Connecting kindred souls seems a virtue in the nail polish blogger world and to the day I am still stunned and awed about my luck to have met you all - thank you <3!!!

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  5. What can I say Christine? You are one of the most special people I have ever "met." You know how to make all of us feel loved with your kind comments. I'm not used to sharing my feelings, but you have taught me that in order to be close to others, I have to let them in and be vulnerable. I feel very comfortable sharing things with you and I know others do as well. You have a special place in my heart and I am constantly reminded of you when I walk by my fridge and see the Switzerland magnet that you sent. April and Shelby think it's so cool that I have a friend on the other side of the world...and I think it's pretty cool too;). I am so thankful that I started my blog because if I hadn't, I wouldn't have had the pleasure of having you in my life <3 Thank you for coming up with this tribute post idea, you are one in a million! Oh, and you did such a great job with this mani. I really enjoyed wearing it and I bet you are enjoying it too. And remember, I copied you too with the post dedicated to your husband....and that's what blogging is for - to inspire each other! Thanks again and I will talk to you soon.

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    1. Now it is upon me to ask you "what can I say Essie?" Well I am of course über-happy that you liked our little tribute - a small sign of appreciation for what you mean to us!!! And then you will forever remain one of the most special and important people in my life, despite having never met you in person nor that we know each other for long and who knows what the future brings - maybe we stay in touch for years to come, maybe it will fade in a couple of I don't know what but both you and Liesl were here for me in those first weeks after Mark passed away and this was creating a bond to the two of you that will last forever. And how could I forget that awesome mani you dedicated to Mark - thinking of it still touches me deeply. I was an open person all my life (at least I believe so and this is what I am told from left and right) and all I can say - it never did me any harm. In contrary, while appearing vulnerable by the thought it actually gives immense strength - at least to me. And if I could be just a little encouraging at my end I am more than happy. As for the mani: I was the ONLY one at the wedding wearing multi colored mani - everyone else went for either classic French or darker shades of red or nude pearl. So no wonder they got photographed. I will keep you posted if it made it to the Wedding Book ;-) - Talk to you soon - *hugs*

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  6. I agree with Liesl, this is a perfect copycat mani! So pretty!

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    1. Thank you Ina, this mani was sort of dancing behind my eyes ever since I first saw it ;-) <3

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  7. Such a heartfelt wonderful post, Christine! Essie has touched so many of us, and even though we'll miss her blogging, I'm really happy to still have her around as a friend. Great mani, by the way. That's one of my favorite skittles by Essie. :)

    ~ Yun

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    1. Awwww thank you Yun - I am glad you liked my post. I will miss Essie and at the same time am so happy for her that she had the guts to step out of that vicious circle. Indeed I feel blessed to be able to continue having her in my life - she is a wonderful person!!!! That Skittelette really rocked, didn't it? I hope her way of throwing together the most simple stuff and getting the most amazing out of that will sort of stick with my memory..... ;-)

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  8. What a wonderful post, so touching. Christine you're the sweetest person I know. I'm jumping to read the other tributes and sadly I didn't know Essie, but I'm sure she's happy of having a friend like you (just like I am <3)
    bisous ma biche, xxx

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    1. Merci mille fois ma belle!!! You like it? I am so glad!!!! Just to remind you - I am blessed to have you all in my life too - you girls have made such a difference and you seriously ROCK!!!!!! Bisous mon amie - je te souhaite une bonne journee xxx

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