Sometimes, nothin’ beats playing with nail polish, especially when you’re having a less-than-idilic day.

You know how it goes… Some days are just better than others, and today was not one of my better days. Couldn’t write to save my life, but things did start looking up when I started seeing L’Oreal’s Nail Color Riche line on my nails ($5.99 each, available now in dozens of shades).

You know what they say — when all else fails, swatch.

Here are pics of a baker’s dozen of them, a sampling of 13 of the new spring shades in the Color Riche line. Of these, Safari Chic is probably my fave (I’m wearing it on my toes right now), but dark blue After Hours, metallic teal VIP Status and He Red My Mind are serious contenders.

I’m wearing three coats here, which seems to be the sweet spot, at least for me. A few of the lighter colors apply a little streaky.

Other than that, I like the formula. It’s a little thick, and still very smooth, and after almost two weeks on my toes (with a base and top coat), Safari Chic looks as good as new.

After Hours

Grecian Goddess

Safari Chic

Haute Couture Red

He Red My Mind

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The other day, I sat down to do some nail swatching and tried to remember the last time I wore the same shade of nail polish on all 10 of my fingers or toes.

I totally drew a blank.

A month ago…? Or was it further back than that?

Lately, I’ve just been really into multi-colored manis, two-tone nails, glitter layers and ombrè effects. Now, when I wear the same color on every fingertip, I feel like I’m kickin’ it old school.

Today I planned to paint my nails with one of the three new Nail Enamels from the limited edition Paul & Joe Kitten Collection, but then the fickle ombrè bug attacked…

Four fingertips later, I was applying the second color. A few after that, I was applying the third.

See how they go from darkest to lightest from my left hand to my right? Just a different take on ombrè nails. Those shades are hot pink Manekineko, rosy pink Kitten Claws and peachy beige Tigress ($14 each).

Nail Enamels in Kitten Claws, Tigress and Manekineko

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So maybe limited edition nail polish collections and sci-fi teen fiction trilogies make unlikely bedfellows, but just like Greasy Sae’s mice meat, pig entrails and tree bark stew, something about this one just works.

China Glaze pays tribute to the tributes of The Hunger Games with the new Capitol Colours Collection, which catches fire on shelves at Sally Beauty and Ulta stores, and beauty salons early next month.

Playing with these polishes was almost like reading the books. I couldn’t put ‘em down! — and as I let the 12 polishes ($7 each) parade across my fingertips this afternoon, I wondered which ones Cinna would choose for Katniss…

From the left: Riveting, Electrify and Luxe and Lush

Hook and Line, Stone Cold and Smoke and Ashes

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Pairings that unexpectedly work…

Chocolate and chili powder
I had a chocolate and spicy chili gelato once and was surprised by how much I liked it — after the first few bites, which, yeah, were definitely weird.

Karen and Tabs
El Hub and I were actually dog people up until Tabs came along… Talk about unexpected detours down Crazy Cat Lady Lane!

Celebrities and shoes
Dude, I never thought I’d say this, but some of those celebrity shoes are really cute! I practically live in my Fergie boots. And if I had a nickel for every time a pair of Jessica Simpsons at Macy’s stopped me dead in my tracks…

The brights and pastels from the new Essie Navigate Her Spring 2012 Collection
Seriously, creamy avocado and shimmery hot pink? I know! But don’t these polishes look good together?

I’ve been neglecting my poor paws all winter long, but the six new shades in the Essie Navigate Collection ($8 each) promise to change that. Available in February, the playful pastels and bold brights in both cream and shimmer finishes offer an almost endless supply of unusual color pairings for fingers and toes.

Bottles from the left: Ole Caliente, Orange It’s Obvious and Tour de Finance

From the left: A Crewed Interest, Navigate Her and To Buy or Not to Buy

I never would have thought to pair some of these colors together, but standing side by side, I think they look pretty darned cute.

Swatches clockwise from my thumb: A Crewed Interest, Tour de Finance, Navigate Her, Ole Caliente and Orange It’s Obvious

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I’ve been keeping a secret from you.

No, I’m not a billionaire or a costumed vigilante…although I bet Tabs would look so cute in his little sidekick outfit!

Here it is: I’m a rock star.

Or rather, I would like to be.

Cat’s out of the bag! Yep, one of my resolutions this year was to channel my inner rock star, and no, I don’t mean by fronting a band. I mean someone who’s confident and bold enough to tear it up in front of thousands of people on stage. Someone with wicked style, too, like my own lead singer in a one-woman band. The Gwen Stefani of Novato, California.

But wait — it gets cheesier! To remind myself to “embrace my inner rock star,” I leave a lot of Post-Its around the house…

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