How to: find your 'borrowed' photos with Google Image Search

How to find your stolen photos with Google Image Search

Play by the rules

Do you see the picture above this paragraph? It took some effort to get that photo there: I had to remove my old nail polish and repaint them with Mimosa by Chanel. After that I get my camera, take some photo's, sometimes more than a hundred! I transfer the pics onto my computer, import them in Photoshop, do some cropping, resizing and maybe even a little rotating. Which takes ages on my tantalizingly slow laptop. Finally: they're ready for upload! Sounds like a bit of work, doesn't it?
Well, it is! So with that in mind, you can imagine how frustrating it can be, when others just take your photos and repost them without even a hint of credit. Or worse: place their watermark on top of your photo. I normally don't mind, when I see my photos on the net, as long as there's a link back to my site. It's not much to ask, right?

I know this isn't the kind of post you'd expect on this blog, but I've written blogposts for fellow bloggers before, so I thought this article possibly may be of interest to some. With the new and improved Image search by Google, it's now extremely simple to track down your own photos. Let's have a look:

1. Go to http://images.google.com

2. Drag a photo from your hard drive directly into the search field

3. Hit the search button

4. Et voila: an overview of your photos!

Of course it's up to you, what to do next. If you want your content to be removed, have a look at this article.

Hiya / OPI DS Glamour

Hi!

Long time no see! I'm excited to make this post, it's been a while. I finally graduated and got my bachelor of Communication & Multimedia Design, so I can finally spend a little bit of my time on the more trivial things in life, like blogging about nail polish ;-).

I'd also like to thank everyone who has been so supportive, even during my break! Thanks so much for all the e-mails, comments and visits to this blog.

Unfortunately I haven't been swatching like I used to, so for today you'll have to put up with some old material. These pictures were taken during my vacation last year, which I actually spent with two nail polish bloggers. Great fun.

OPI DS Glamour

This is probably the last post on OPI products ever, since they're now owned by Coty, but I needed to share this particular polish. OPI DS Glamour is old, hard to find and probably way too expensive on Ebay nowadays. But hey, it's pretty. It's a blue holographic, not as holographic as some other OPI holo's from the same line, like DS Signature or DS Original, but still damn pretty.

Since summer just kicked in, I thought it was fitting to start off with something holo. What I like about these holo's are their application, it's super easy, and they hardly chip on me. Even without a top coat, which they don't even need because they're super shiny worn alone. Two coats and you're done. Too bad I can't buy new OPI anymore, right?

Out of the loop

I have to admit, I'm hardly aware of the latest nail polish collections, so I disabled my 'upcoming collections' widget for now. If they're are any super hot collections I *need* to know about, please let me know in the comments! My wallet and I will be super grateful.

My favorite drink during the summer

Quick Update

Sooo. I think I need to make a little update on my whereabouts. It all started out with my MacBook charger dying on me, so I was "offline" for over a month. I have to admit, during this time I actually enjoyed being offline and it put a lot of things in perspective really. I'm not one to write a dramatic post about how I'm quitting my blog, and then start blogging again. So I won't.

The thing is... I didn't really know what to do with this blog. So I put off writing this post for ages - sorry about that! There are some things that make me question my joy for blogging and they've got to do with the major changes the blogging community is going through. In The Netherlands we have several pro-bloggers, meaning they make their living off their blogs. That's great, but they also set up a bunch of rules a good or professional blogger should follow. Especially my Dutch readers picked up on that. But also in general, readers are getting more demanding as the blogging community grows bigger and more influental than ever before. Eventhough you're not a pro-blogger, people will have the same expectations.

I'm pretty nonconformistic, so I like to do the things my way. My blog started out for fun, to share a passion. And truth to be told, that's the way I prefer to blog. Becoming a professional blogger is not on my agenda. I don't like the pressure. That being said, I probably will update again, on my own terms and my own pace. Since I'm busy with work and finally getting my Bachelors degree at the same time, it won't happen as frequently as before. I'm asking you: please respect that, and don't give me a hard time about not updating frequently enough. Because honestly? There's more to life than blogging about nail polish.

I also like to grab this opportunity to say that there's no way I can know absolutely everything. For example: if you're wondering what the shipping will be from Canada to Germany, please just go through the checkout process to find out. I'd love to help everyone, but I simply don't have the time. I also have a FAQ, so please check it out before sending me an email. And for the people who are always trying to find and point out my flaws: I'm human, therefore not perfect. Deal with it.

So, this is what I had to get off my chest. I hope I didn't offend anyone, I just can't please everyone (even though I always try to). It was really heartwarming to see how many people messaged me wondering what was up. Thank you for that!

See you soon!

Who Nicole by OPI really should have teamed up with

Adam Lambert nail polish

What the Blieb?!

A few days ago I read about Nicole by OPI's newest collection inspired by Justin Bieber. While I'm all for collaborations, I nearly choked on my drink when I found out. Why? The kid doesn't even wear nail polish! If Nicole by OPI would've wanted to rock it with a hot male singer, that's current, talented AND infatuated with nail polish, Adam Lambert would've been an excellent pick. But of course I'm biased, being the fangirl that I am.

Why didn't anyone tell me about quick drying top coat?!

Don't mess with my nails!

Adam Lambert doesn't shy away from wearing make up and nail polish. He likes to wear dark colors and is often spotted wearing Black Onyx, Russian Navy and Yoga-ta Get This Blue by OPI. See why he and OPI should get it on? Adam tells us he likes to do his own nails and he prefers his nail polish to be chipped. Boys will be boys.. There was even a rumor - that was debunked quickly - that claimed Adam lashed out on a fan when he was waiting for his nail polish to dry, when somebody grabbed him and ruined his nails. Hilarious.

Shiiiiny

Two tough guys discussing nail polish

Dear Adam, if you don't want to be Nicole's nail polish muse, would you at least be mine?

Image credits: Robin Roemer & National Post

Adam Lambert nail polish

Adam Lambert nail polish

Adam Lambert nail polish

Adam Lambert nail polish

Cosmic Encounter

Orly Cosmic FX

It's No Rocket Science a girl like me loves sparkly, shimmery stuff. Trust me, a true Galaxy Girl would kill a Wookiee for this collection, it's really Out Of This World. Looking at my nails I am truly mesmerized, losing focus for everything, except my nails. I'll sit gazing at them, like a true Space Cadet. If you haven't got these yet, I'd be quick because some shades sell out faster than Halley's Comet travels.

Okay, so yeah, this collection arrived at my doorstep a few days ago, and I friggin love it, till infinity and beyond. I'll post swatches soon, but blogging and swatching seem to become a chore lately, so for now, I just messed around with my camera. Pretty cool shots right?

Live long and prosper,
- Michèle

Helmer says Hi!

Hi guys! Today I decided to show you how I organize my stash and what's in it! I'm not posting this to show off or something like that, but I'm posting this because it's one of the requests I get most often! I'm not sure how you'd qualify my stash, small or big, I guess it all depends on what you compare it to.

I've been holding out on this request for a long long time, but I finally managed to put all my nail polish in one place: my Helmer from Ikea. Normally nail polish is everywhere, in different rooms, in my bag, on my desk, in my pockets, in bed, you name it. After putting everything where it belongs, it started to dawn on me: my Helmer was full.

By brand or color?

I started 'collecting' nail polish years ago, but from the moment I started blogging, my stash doubled in size, whoops. Luckily for me I'm only crazy about nail polish, I wouldn't know what to do with myself if was collecting makeup too :D.
At the moment I organize everything by brand, but I'm debating to organize by color, so I can spot similar colors more easily.. Anyway, here goes :D

• Nfu Oh
• OPI
• Nubar
• Ciate
• Color Club
• ManGlaze
• Nicole by OPI

• H&M
• P2
• Gosh
• Pieces
• Eyeko
• Models Own
• BeYu
• Sephora

• China Glaze
• Collistar
• Deborah Lippmann
• Rescue Beauty Lounge
• Chanel
• Misa
• Catrice
• American Apparel
• Essie
• Diamond Cosmetics
• Superstar Nail Lacquer
• Kiko
• Koh

• Essence
• Yves Rocher
• Herome
• Max Nails
• Etos
• Bourjois
• Claire's
• Allesandro
• Hema
• Theatre
• Frankens

• base coats
• top coats
• matte top coats
• whiteners
• cuticle remover
• cuticle oils
• cuticle creams/balms
• files & tools
• glue
• silkwraps
• glitter
• bundlemonster plates
• nail art pens
• nail polish remover
• brushes
• gloves

• card, notes & receipts
• Incoco products
• some nail polish for swap/giveaway
• hand lotions

I hope you enjoyed this peek at my stash! And see? It's pretty full. I could empty the last drawer but I wouldn't know where to put everything.. And there's still so many brands I want to try out (Orly, Illamasqua, BB Couture, more Zoya, Misa & Color Club etc etc..) I'm afraid I'll have to get a second Helmer..

Protect your painted talons!

The solution to all your problems

We all get it sometimes: post manicure stress. We bang our freshly painted nails to the door, and we smudge our nail polish because we have to pee. Or the kitty strolls along leaving a trail of small hairs stuck to your nails. But not anymore! Yes, aren't you excited?! /end sarcasm. I got an email from Tina C. showing me this wicked invention, thank you Tina!

In all seriousness, would you find these handy? Oh well, who needs quick drying top coat anyway...

You can purchase these on eBay for next to nothing! I also stumbled upon interesting inventions like Nose Up and The Wonder Double Eye Lid Clipper, pretty hot eh?