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Saturday, January 31, 2015

Polish My Life My Red Room and Nude Lace

Yes I am still very much enamored with Polish My Life! So far, I have been back to work for two days now and it's been difficult.  All I think about is my dad and how he is no longer here.  Still crying tons of tears.  I'm trying so hard to be ok with this, but I'm just not.

I'm sure you guys are tired of hearing all of this.  I'll try to talk about other topics.

Ever since I was a little girl, I've been fascinated by Laura Ingalls and her Little House on the Prairie. Oh yeah do I love that TV show.  I own the books she wrote and have read each of them several times.  Recently, I saw that there was to be published an actual true life autobiography, written by Laura Ingalls and I immediately preordered it.

Well that was over two months ago.  It was so popular, it sold out in its first printing and they've since done two more sets.  Yesterday, I finally got my copy.  It's a huge book, written like a textbook with footnotes and actual pictures of Laura Ingalls, Almanzo, the Owens (who on TV were the Olesons) etc.  I am in Prairie heaven! I will tell you more as I read it.  I am still getting through the back story on how the book came to be, that the manuscript was written when Laura was 60 and all long hand and with pencil.  I didn't know she lived to be 90.  Oh and the picture of Ma and Pa (Caroline and Charles) is hilarious.  As my whole life, Pa to me is Michael Landon the actor, not the real life guy from the mid 1800s with the whacked out long beard.

It's a surreal thing.  I can't wait to get to the actual life story.

Well, I'm pressed for time, have to get dressed, paint my nails and get my hair dyed so let's get to it shall we?

Here is your silly bottle shot.


This is Polish My Life Nude Lace, My Red Room and Mundo Black.

I started with skittles.

Indoor Sun

Indoor Sun
How gorgeous is this red? See the amazing shimmer in it? I am in love!  Next I just did some dots and used tape.

Indoor Sun

Indoor Sun
Simple, but oh so awesome! I am really happy with how this came out.

Until next time people.  Any thoughts out there?


Thursday, January 29, 2015

Barielle Gray Sky, Heaven Sent, Under The Sea

While I was in New York, I was loving the snow and the cold.  It was -20F several nights in a row. We were laughing at how 10F was a heat wave! I'm one who loves the cold and the snow, things I don't get living in Virginia.

When I got home the other day, it was so hard being around pictures of my dad and seeing all the furniture that he made for me.  I had so many ideas for more things I wanted him to make me.  I see the light fixture we were going to install on my back porch.  The leaky faucet I wanted him to watch me change the washer to make sure I do it right.

I wonder if I was a good daughter, whether I spent enough time with him, whether he knew how much I love him.  I didn't get to have a 'death bed conversation' as it were. My brother and mom did in the hospital when my dad was more alert.  I wonder if I had that, would I feel less guilty. I wish we knew before it was too late how sick he was so maybe we could have got him different medical care. I know you can't do the what ifs, but boy am I.

I can't stop picturing him in the casket.  I can't stop crying.  I hope my mom is doing ok.  She is keeping busy and says she has her moments.  It's been a little over a week since he passed away.  I wish I had more time.

Isn't that what we all want and figure out when it's too late?

When I got home, I had gotten my Spring Barielle collection.  I thought I'd play with those colors first.

Here is your silly bottle shot.


This is Barielle Heaven Sent, Gray Sky and Under The Sea.  These lean more teal IRL.

I started with a full mani with Gray Sky.  It's a gorgeous pearly shimmer.

Flash

Flash
I've gone from having no gray polish to now owning almost ten! All because of that book 50 Shades of Grey!

Next I simply did a tape mani.

Flash

Flash
How gorgeous is this?  Simple, yet so awesome!

I can't wait to play with the rest of the set!

Until next time people.  Any thoughts out there?


Tuesday, January 27, 2015

Enchanted Polish November 2014, Polish My Life Storm Clouds

Oh people.  I just went back and read my last post from the 15th.  So much has happened since that posted.

This is going to be a very difficult post for me.

When that posted, I was already at my parent's house in New York watching my beautiful dad die.  I had mentioned that the plan was for me to drive up there on that Thursday.  What actually took place, was mom calling me Monday the 12th at work telling me to get home as fast as I can.  This is a phone call I never wanted to receive. I left work at 10:30, drove to my house, packed like a mad woman, threw my cats in the car and literally drove 80 mph for 9 hours to get home.

The drive was awful.  First, you're worried whether you will get home in time.  There was dense fog in Pennsylvania, then snow, sleet and freezing rain followed by heavy snow close to my parent's house.  I didn't slow down until the last hour when the roads really were scary slippery.  My poor cats were freaking the whole time.  I got there at 9:30 pm.

For the next three days, there were tons of family and friends around my dad's hospital bed basically saying good bye.  I didn't know he was truly that sick.  No one did.  There are so many things I feel guilty about.  I'll get to those in future posts.

Being a nurse, I saw the signs that he was failing.  I took care of him as best I could.  I kept him comfortable with medicines as we had promised him we would do for him.

Then on 1/16/15 at 01:55 am, my dad passed away.  It isn't fair.  He was only 70-he should have had more years to live.  My mom and he have been together almost 50 years.  Seeing him lying there lifeless is something I never ever want to see again.

Then we had to make the funeral arrangements, calling hours, pick out the casket etc. It's too much after losing someone you love so much.  I've never been to a funeral ever.  Standing there next to your father in a coffin while people flow by saying their goodbyes and giving condolences is just too much to go through.  It's the hardest thing I've ever had to do.

I was at my parent's house for two weeks, helping mom with these arrangements, going through dad's stuff and just being there for her.  Tomorrow when you read this post will be my first day back to work.  I hope I do ok.

I'll talk more about this in the next couple of posts.  Please feel free to skip to the pretties.  I have to get this out.

Here is your silly bottle shot.


This is Enchanted Polish November 2014 and Polish My Life Storm Clouds.

I started with skittles.

Indoor Sun

Indoor Sun
How gorgeous are these together? I next used tape and dots totally inspired by a mani I saw on @glittr on Instagram, but added my own spin to it.  I love how it came out.

Indoor Sun

Indoor Sun
Isn't this awesome? I didn't do my nails for a long time after this.  I did a couple manis for my dad's funeral-same design as here, but NY Giants colors for him.  Nothing I will be posting here.

Until next time people.  Any thoughts out there?


Thursday, January 15, 2015

Enchanted Polish July 2013, Britney Spearmint and Green Goblin

Yes it's a green day and it was a full on sun day, so I had to wear holos.

I've bought two new cat carriers for my trip home to spend time with my dad.  I've left them out on the floor in the kitchen, sprayed with that Feliway pheromone stuff so they get used to it.  The day this posts, I will be on the road, unless I've left the day before.  It's all up in the air depending on how my dad is doing.  My plan is to drive up there Thursday, but more and more, I'm leaning toward Wednesday.  It's all day to day right now.

They are still working on different medicines to at least get him comfortable, so far he's really not. He's supposed to be released and driven the three hours home by ambulance tomorrow.  At that time, the local doctor will takeover doing his medicines.

I can't really talk about this anymore right this second as my eyes are tearing up as I think about losing the one father I will ever have in this life.  I've been thinking about stuff from the past, but he's still here right now and I don't want to be thinking like that right now.

I apologize to you my readers.  Please bear with me as I go through one of life's most painful realities.

Here is your silly bottle shot.


This is Enchanted Polish July 2013, Green Goblin and Britney Spearmint.

I started with skittles.

Indoor Sun

Indoor Sun
So freakin gorgeous!  Next I did a simple tape mani then added some dots.

Indoor Sun

Indoor Sun
How awesome is this? Sadly, you can't really see the lighter dots too well from all the bling, but yeah it's a gorgeous mani for sure!

Until next time people.  Any thoughts out there?


Tuesday, January 13, 2015

NexGen update, Enchanted Polish Djinn, OPI Oktoberfest

I've not got any mojo to write much after my last post's reveal.  This post actually has three different manis to it.

Let's start with my fresh NexGen nail job.

Flash

Flash
This is about the right length for me.  Any longer and I'm at high risk of breakage and being unable to type which is a huge part of my job.  It's still amazing to me that I now have long nails.  My whole life with nubs when a product finally came to help me out. Diana really does such a great job.

Yes my nails are thin and I'd assume getting the same damage as acrylics, just maybe not to the extent of acrylics.  You can't possibly tell me that that electric nail file every two weeks and a layer of gel is not doing damage.  For me, it's worth the damage as I'd have my peeling crappy nubs instead.

I then got home after this, polished with the gorgeous OPI Every Month Is Oktoberfest, then was too lazy, added very old stickers which in turn didn't stick and ruined said gorgeous mani.  Man I was pissed.

Indoor Sun

Indoor Sun
Man but this one glows in the sun doesn't it?????  Lasted an hour and was a beeyotch to take off, ruining my new shiny gel top coat.

No way could I go to work nekked, so I did a quickie with Essie Nude Beach and a layer of Enchanted Polish Djinn.

Flash

Flash
How gorgeous is this? So simple, yet so pretty!

Until next time people.  Any thoughts out there?


Monday, January 12, 2015

Zoya Gemma and Pinta

Those that have been here since the beginning will remember that Gemma was the very first polish I posted on this blog.  I thought I'd revisit it for old times sake.

This is also going to be one of the hardest posts I've yet written here.  My gorgeous, awesome dad is dying.  We just found out.  It is happening way too fast.  I just saw him in November and yeah he was sick, but never in my wildest dreams did I think that we would be told he doesn't have much time left to live.

I am beyond devastated.  He is my daddy.  How do I say goodbye?  How do I even go on? How is this even real?  I will be driving home in a few days to spend some time with him. Am planning on two weeks depending on how things go.  I am bringing my cats with me as he loves them and vice versa.

My cats are AWFUL in the car just going a few miles to the vet and this is a nine hour drive.  Yeah it's gonna be rough on all of us.  I need to buy new crates for the car, the vet told me I can use people xanax and dramamine to chill them out for the ride.  I sure hope that stuff works as Checkers pukes, pees, poops and foams at the mouth the second the car leaves the driveway.  They are both twelve so they aren't young cats anymore.  The vet also recommended Feliway a cat pheromone.  So later this morning, I'm hitting the PetSmart and the local vet to get crates and this spray.

It'll be worth it so my babies can snuggle with my dad and make him happy.  I get that this is a fact of life and being a nurse, I'm well aware of these things.  But this is my dad.  He's not even old yet.  He's 70 and this is happening.  I cannot stop crying, whaling and thinking of all the things we still had planned to do around my house and furniture he was to build me will never be.

I think have I been the best daughter I could be? Does he know I love him?  Did I spend enough time with him? All these things are now moot as the time is running out.  What I do know, is that I love him and he is a wonderful man and an awesome father and I cannot imagine my life without him in it.
 
What do I do the next time I have an issue that requires my dad's knowledge? What do I do when I just want to talk to him?  Oh my God.  This is the worst thing ever.

I'm so sorry for all this.  But I need to get this out.  I need to say these things.  It won't be the last time.  You can just skip to the pictures.  I'll never know.

Here is the silly bottle shot.


This is Finger Paints flakies called Motley, Zoya Gemma and Pinta.  Pinta is purple IRL!

I started with the two Zoya.

Flash

Flash
Way better than my very first picture on this blog for sure! Gemma has this gorgeous purple shimmer in it.  I still love it.

Next I simply added some flakies, stamped with Cici&Sisi plate 10 and Mundo Violet.  I then added some INM holo top coat for sparkle.

Flash

Flash
I didn't realize the flakies would change the purple to blue! So now the purple stamping doesn't match!  Oh well.  It is what it is.

As of Thursday 1/15/15, I will be in NY and can't promise any posts or manis will be done.  Just wanted to let you all know what's going on.

Until next time people.  Any thoughts out there?


Saturday, January 10, 2015

Spring Day Scene with Pipedream Polish Neons

Today's mani once again was not quite how I wanted it.  I ended up ruining the sky by trying to add more and more.  However, it really did come out pretty cool.

So I actually took out my Foldio for the first time.  I darkened the room, pulled the shades and took some mani pics I will show you in a bit.  The issue I'm having is that they are coming out blurry.  I also cannot do my normal straight finger look inside the light box.  I'm wondering if I really should have spent the money on something I'm not sure is making my life that much better.

I will say though, that the ONE picture I got to come out is really amazing in the box. I'll let you be the judge.  As we all know, neons are a beeyotch to photograph.

OH and did I tell you what I found out?????? Remember when Google Reader was savagely ripped from our lives making the GFC thingy obsolete? I went to Feedly and while I liked it, I couldn't leave comments on blogs while using the app.  I messaged them several times and they just replied Huh? every time, like they had no idea what the hell I was talking about.

Therefore, I stopped reading blogs all together.

Yes, to be honest, I got lazy, enamored with Instagram.  So the other day, I had nothing better to do, so I loaded up Feedly again.  And guess what? I can leave comments now!!! YAY! This makes my day as I used to LOVE leaving comments on a ton of blogs.  It made me happy.  Now I can do that again! I've already left a bunch of comments and finally am back to reading blogs again.  Thank you Feedly for finally figuring out what I've been trying to tell you for a couple of years now.

Now on to the mani.  Here is your silly bottle shot.


This was taken in my Foldio.  This is the complete Pipedream Polish Las Vegas neon set with Elevation Polish Tindur and Polish My Life Birthday Suit.

I started with a layer of Bday Suit and to layers of Tindur.

Flash

Flash
This is a gorgeous light blue with shimmer.  Next I sponged then over sponged, tried to add some spring flowers, but instead it looks like a stripe.  I also ruined this light blue.  It is still sort of cool.

Flash


Lightbox


Flash
The first two pictures show you the difference between a flash shot and the lightbox shot.  It's clearly different in terms of color correctness.  Again, I had a ton of issues with blurry photos so there's a learning curve there.

I'll keep playing with it as I do think it will produce more color accurate pictures. Although mine are for the most part color accurate.

Can you see the Spring day in this?

Until next time people.  Any thoughts out there?


Thursday, January 8, 2015

Polish My Life Blue Pansy, EP January 2014 and freehand

Today's mani will definitely make up for my last post!  Even though it was a sparkle fest, it wasn't what I was trying to do!

Gee, it seems I haven't had any good Stupid fodder for you lately eh? Are you missing those stories? The only thing I've got is that Stupid was all sorts of mad that she had to work half a day New Year's Eve.  Why couldn't she get a week off?

Well let's see here, you've been here how long now? Three years? And you STILL don't know the holiday policy that states you are only allowed five days off? Hmmmmmmm.  Just kills me.  So proves my moniker for her is right on the money.

Sadly, there really hasn't been much happening at work at all.  I guess that's a good thing, but now that the new year is here, you have to wonder what's in store.

I decided to take the plunge and buy a "life planner" as it were.  Maybe it will help me have a better life?   HAHAHAH! Yeah right.  I'm not going to go all spaz and join the journal/planner groups on Facebook and buy all sorts of cool crap to accessorize my planner.  Well, at least I don't think I will. We already know I have an addictive personality with nail polish don't we?

I bought mine from Erin Condren. If you do nothing else, humor me, follow that link and hover your cursor over her name in the top left of the website.  See what happens.

I'll wait.................

How freakin cool is that?????  I want to add that to my own blog.  Have a happy noise and a burst of sparkles come out of my header? I would be a happy camper that's for sure! Hear me now, I will be asking my designer if this is something that can be done. I keep going back to that site just to play with it!

Yeah, I'm not kidding.

Dammit my nails are getting way too long to type.  Starting to make me mad!  I see filing in my future!

All right.  Here's the silly bottle shot.


This is Polish My Life Blue Pansy,White Ice, Stripped and Enchanted Polish January 2014.

I started with all Blue Pansy.  This started off not so great, but then wham, the second coat just made it all better.  This totally stays deep blue and does not appear black. It's perfect.

Indoor Sun

Indoor Sun
OMG is this not the perfect deep blue creme????

Next I sponged and free handed.  Here are the way cool results.

Indoor Sun

Indoor Sun
Just realized I forgot the glitter polish in the bottle shot.  It's Nails Inc Snowflake polish in White Chapel.  Has white and gold glitter in it.  Stunning for a glitter!

What do you think? Are you liking my scenery manis or not?

Until next time people.  Any thoughts out there?