Chanel Cavaliere, Polish My Life Milk Chocolate Goodies

Today is one of those mani for me days.  One where I choose colors just for me.  Usually, I try to rotate shades and do holos if the sun is out.  This day I wanted my favorite color brown.

Yes I know it's weird I love brown.

I've officially found and hired what I hope to be a good petsitter who will be around for awhile.  She does this on the side, so not dependent on petsitting for income so hopefully won't stop doing it for a long time.  So Myrtle Beach in February here I come!

Yeah I know, I took a week off.  I started this post last weekend and just had nothing to talk about, nothing to say.  Listening to the new part one EP from Julia Michaels.  So love her music.  Been waiting months for this album to come out and it's a part one? Dude WTF? Anyway, am on the second listen so can't say how I feel yet.

Her first EP had the song Pink, Make It Up To You and all the rest BUT the song Issues.  I read yesterday that Issues was number eleven on the Top 100 BillBoard.  Huh.  It seems that every song I really like is never the one that the world likes.  Oh well.

Driving home from work last week, I had the tire low light come on.  It was like 20F at that time and I just figured I needed to add air as it didn't feel like I had a flat tire.  I made it to the gas station near my house thirty miles away on the highway and saw that I was actually driving on a very soft almost flat tire.

My first thought, well my second thought after I thought sh*t, was damn I hope I didn't ruin my rims. I was adding air to the tire and it did come up, but it was so cold and the air thing was metal and my hands were numb that I just couldn't hold the thing long enough to try to get it up to the forty pounds it needed to be.  All I wanted was to get home and warm my hands.

It held the air for me to get home and knew I would have to call the tow truck in the morning. Next day, it was back to flat.  Called the tow guy and he was able to put enough air in so I could get to the garage near my house.  Turns out I had run over a nail so it was a slow leak.  It was also near the outer rim in a place where it just made it legal to patch it.  Otherwise I would have had to buy a new tire.

Now I know I already need new tires this Spring as I'm hitting 50,000 miles on my car.  I just wasn't ready to buy one then. You feel me?

So $100 later, I was finally on my way to work.  It was one of those days.

All right, let's get to the silly bottle shot.

This is Polish My Life Milk Chocolate Goodies and Chanel Cavaliere.  Here is the base.

Notice I actually took the time to file my nails into a nice shape.  They have since split and broken back down to nubs.  The Milk Chocolate Goodies leans khaki to me.  You can see in the second photo there is holo in the bottle.  It's very subtle.  Cavaliere is a gorgeous deep brown with shimmer.  I love it. 

Next I just added dots and my funky.

You can see the shimmer in the Cavaliere in these pictures.  Still working on a pose. 

Until next time people. Any thoughts out there?

American Apparel Peacock, Girly Bits Cosmic Ocean and Bettina Clouds

It seems that the videos I added to my recent posts aren't working, so I've removed them for now.  It worked in the past, but not now.  I'll have to look into it as I like to show you guys the rainbows.

I'm seriously thinking of revamping my blog.  I'm a bit tired of the green.  Because of this, I've just spent the past hour researching other nail art blogs and websites that list the "best" nail art blogs. So so many of them are no longer posting.  I'm talking the great ones (IMO) from the past when nail art blogging was huge.  Like 2012-2016 or so.

I'm talking about All Lacquered Up, The PolishAholic, The Nailasaurus, Chalkboard Nails to name a few.  Are they posting elsewhere or just gave it up all together?

What happened to the blogging? Has another platform replaced it? I know personally, I no longer read blogs and I guess that most people don't read blogs anymore either.  What would be really cool is to do mini videos on Instagram like Yagala does. But I am no editing expert and don't feel like learning right now.

Maybe it's silly to spend money to revamp something that no one reads, but this blog means a lot to me and I've put countless hours into it since I started back in 2011.  It's my way of journaling I guess.

Even in my heyday, when this blog was at its most popular, I only got like 200 hits a day.  But those 200 people meant something and still do mean something to me.  A reader on Facebook yesterday mentioned how my past staged silly bottle shots was like my thing, my signature.  That started out as poking fun at blogs for showing the bottles as I thought, who cares? I'm here to see the nail art. But then it turned into something my readers liked.

I may need to revive that.

Maybe more people would stop by here if I didn't write as much and just focused on doing the nail art.  What do you guys think? Do you think a new design and less writing would get more visitors to this space?

I'd really like to hear your opinions.  Please.

Back when I started this blog, I did a mani using American Apparel nail polish.  Somehow it got featured on this website that I've forgotten, but have it printed out and have it somewhere in my house. Today when I see that mani, I just cringe.  I'll dig it out and paste the link here so you can see for yourself.

That was back when I used to post so many pictures.  Sunlight, regular light, close ups and macro. I've stopped using my camera to take my nail photos and have been using my iphone.  I need to work on better photos.

All right, here is today's silly bottle shot.

This is Girly Bits Cosmic Ocean, an original from when she first started making polish. American Apparel Peacock and Elevation Polish Con Tanto Affetto Yeti.  Another original bottle from when Elevation Polish first started.

Are there people still making polish out there?

I started with American Apparel Peacock.

It's a bit more teal IRL.  Next I added a layer of Cosmic Ocean.

See the gorgeous green shimmer? I love this and have since the day I got it.

Next I tried making a zigzag design with the glitter, but was a huge fail, so I ended up just adding dots and my funky.

Kind of a fail, but I kind of like how it came out.  Very wintery. 

Here is the mani I mentioned that won a place on a website long ago. 




Don't say I didn't warn you! This was back before I changed to showing my left hand.  Yes this is horrible, yes I am aware, but I'm still proud of being on that website.

Until next time people. Any thoughts out there?

Enchanted Polish Winter and Cherries Jubilee

I mentioned that I wasn't able to go home for Christmas this year.  I actually have been super busy decluttering and cleaning the crap out of my house.  I've been living here since 2002 and don't think I've ever cleaned and organized the way I have recently.

What started it all, was a YouTuber named Matt D'Avella.  Besides his being dreamy, he is a Minimalist.  He got rid of most of his stuff and only keeps cherished items.  I'm certainly not saying I'm converting, but, I am kind of trying to be better about stuff.  This year I want to really save more money and not buy as much.  I have gone through all my rooms and decluttered the crap out of them.  You'd be impressed.  I'll show a couple pics at the end of this post.

I started with my clothes closet.  I had stuff in there like my favorite dress from 1993.  However, I can no longer fit into said dress and it's just hanging there.  Away it went.  Actually, as I write this, I wish I had kept that one dress.  It meant a lot to me.  I should have taken a picture, which is what Matt says to do before getting rid of items.  I have pics of me in that dress somewhere, but not just of the dress.

Damn.  Now I'm depressed about it.

I took every single thing out of each closet.  Every single thing from under each sink cabinet.  I took out every single thing.  Went through each item and decided harshly what to keep and what had to go. I took literally garbage bags full of clothes, shoes, etc to Goodwill and garbage bags full of trash to the dump.  Christmas Eve, I finally finished the last room.  The room that almost killed me.

It was that bad.

My Honda Civic was loaded to the gills with trash.  Christmas Eve dump trip.  The trunk, the back seats, the front seats full of stuff.  Now all gone.  It's actually quite nice.  I have to go through three kitchen cabinets of food, and one or two shelves in my linen closet, but overall, it's decluttered to the max.

I have since bought a crap ton of new turtlenecks to replace the threadbare ones I threw out.  At least now I have the room in my closet for them!

I've also bought a new journal, renewed my membership in 10% Happier app, bought books on saving money and meditation to make myself more calm and wiser.  LOL.

I also have a haul from Mundo de Unas coming (stamping polish) and got new stamping plates and a clear jelly stamper to play with.  Those will be for another post.  The clear jelly stamper scares me though.

All right.  Here we start today's mani with the silly bottle shot.

This is Enchanted Polish Winter, Cherries Jubilee and Polish My Life White Ice.

I started with a layer of PML White Ice to try and get Winter to not lean grey.

And yes, it still leaned grey.  Oh but how gorgeous is this red holo??? Must do a full mani with it!

Next I did a simple jigsaw dotticure.

I did pictures in full sun and not so you can see how this red changes color.  I just love it!!!

Now here are a few pics of my decluttering of the room that almost killed me.

BEFORE

AFTER

BEFORE

AFTER

Yes it is quite impressive if I do say so myself.  This took me TWO days and I almost gave up, but I couldn't cause my room was a mess!!

Until next time people. Any thoughts out there?

Enchanted Polish April 2015, Bettina Ambrosia

Today may just be my last post talking about Stupid.

Or not.

I'm undecided.  One of my coworkers came to me recently telling me how she had clocked in, then disappeared for three hours.  Only the lady who does all her work for her knew where she was and she ain't talking.  I immediately got pissed (natch) and went to storm off and tell the boss.  But my coworker got mad and said don't you dare tell.  She said it will all be revealed or some sh*t like that.

How is it going to be revealed if no one tells? Anyway, I walked away saying don't tell me these things anymore. It infuriates me how much work I do and how little she does.

I presented this notion to my Facebook group as a morals question.  Should I or shouldn't I?  Seems the general consensus was I should not.  That bosses don't like to hear from whiny, complaining employees anymore than they like people who do no work.  But it's not up to me to police my coworkers.

Somewhere along the line, I forgot this.

I used to keep my head down, do my work and leave without getting involved in the drama.  I don't quite recall when I stopped doing that.  I appreciated the advice my groupies gave and have decided that I will go back to minding my own business and doing my job to the best of my abilities.

One thing I do know however? That lady who does all Stupid's work is retiring June 19.  At least that's what she's saying at the moment.  She's been retired and come back and then said she's re-retiring for a very long time now.  What I do know is that if she really does leave this time?  Stupid is finally going to have to tow the line for a job she doesn't even know how to do.

I am secretly thrilled at the notion of seeing her finally not be coddled any more.

Oh and that meeting I told you about? Never happened.  Seems the bosses don't want to hear them whine either!

So I may still tell you readers my Stupid stories as I know a lot of you love them, but I will no longer get involved in her day to day NON activity.

Now let's get to this.  Here is the silly bottle shot.

This is Enchanted Polish April 2015, Bettina Ambrosia and Mundo Pink.

I started with all April.

Outdoor Sun

Outdoor Sun

For the first time in forever-I have outdoor sun pictures!  I have to say I am in love with this polish. April is my birthday month and I am happy with this color choice.

Next I did my funky and some dot flowers.  They sort of need work, but man did people on Instagram love this one!

Indoor Sun

Indoor Sun

Pretty cool eh?  Someone commented on my IG post-asking if I was in love as I did pink and flowers. No people, not in love, just once in a while, I feel the need to be girly and do some pink.

Now back  under the rock I go.

Until next time people. Any thoughts out there?

Enchanted Polish March 2015, CbL Gemini Rising, JoJo

Found out that my coworkers are demanding a meeting with the higher ups. Sh*t.  They are complaining that no one understands them and what they do (I'm still trying to figure that out), they are saying they don't have enough time to do their work as they are pulled to do clinics (wah-I do three) and one lady is leaving so how will we ever make it thru the day?

Oh puh-lease.  I am going to do my damndest to not go.  I have a clinic but am told they will have this meeting after that.  I may just have to conjure up a good old fashioned emergency patient, or migraine, hack up a lung something so I don't have to sit there and listen to them freaking whine about what they do when they don't do a damn thing.  It should not take three people to do the job of one.  If Stupid wasn't coddled and was made to pull her own weight we wouldn't have this problem.

She better not be making more money than me. Sadly, I think she is.  I'm still trying to figure out how to find this out and demand I get at least the same amount as I bust my ass and she stares into space.

How is that fair?  Now before you say life isn't fair and all that crap.  Put yourself in this situation.

Still say it ain't fair?

My cats are shedding bad.  They were throwing up a ton, but I've been brushing them once a day and so far it's been working.  My new betta does a happy dance when it's time for brine shrimp.  It's the cutest thing ever.  Oh and he made me a bubble nest, so he's happy!  That makes my day.

Here is your silly bottle shot.

This is Enchanted Polish March 2015, Colors by Llarowe Gemini Rising and JoJo.

I started with all March.

Indoor Sun

Indoor Sun

So these two jerks on Instagram decided to tell me that they don't like my nails and this looks puffy. Oh but they're sorry and I do great designs.

WTF? That's a veiled insult if I've ever seen one.  It's a shadow on my nails for one stupid and two, I don't tolerate that sh*t on my account.  They were deleted and blocked.  So no more of my fab for them.

Next I just did tape and dots.  Figured since Gemini stains like a beeyotch, I'd use it on top of another polish.

Indoor Sun

Indoor Sun

Pretty cool eh? I liked it anyway!

Until next time people.  Any thoughts out there?

Painted Polish By Lexi Bells Of Ireland

Today I bring you my half of a twinsie post I did with someone on Instagram.  I saw a post with the shoutout asking for people to do this with her.  I saw the image and figured this was something I could do and offered to do a twinsie post with her.

Here is the print we were to recreate.

Looks pretty simple right? Well look again.  These flowers are six sided and all I know how to do are five sided flowers.  Yes people. The attention to detail has now gotten my ass involved in something I wasn't sure I could even accomplish anymore.

So it's about a month or so until my birthday and I've already bought myself my presents.  I got myself a Filofax planner and a set of 150 colored pencils to go with my coloring books.  Check it out, it's not even polish!  I've actually been very good lately and haven't bought any new polish.  That will change soon as Chaos and Crocodiles is putting out a new set of "soft" pastel holos that I must have. I've no idea what that means, but they are so pretty I must have them.

We all know the drama I went through to get a set of the Secret Agent collection because back then, stupid me said I didn't  need it.  I ain't making that mistake twice!

I need to go through and do another blog sale.  Just seems like the brands I have, people aren't really buying. Like my Rescue Beauty Lounge ones.  I don't have the motivation for that kind of project at the moment, so it's a moot point right now.

Let's get to this shall we?  Here is your silly bottle shot.

This is Painted Polish by Lexi Bells of Ireland.  It's a gorgeous light scattered holo and I love it.

Indoor Sun

Indoor Sun

You can see the scattered holo here and it's just gorgeous.  Next I went ahead and did my five sided flowers as I knew I could accomplish that.  I worked really hard on this, trying to get the flowers spaced just right.  I used my Mundo White and Cream to make them.

Indoor Sun

Indoor Sun

What the hell I did to mess up the last photo on my pointer finger I've no idea, but it made me feel like a big fat failure.  I had worked so damn hard and the flowers are spaced just like the pattern and I go and ruin it.  When I tried to fix it, I made it even worse.  I told the girl I was doing this with that if she didn't think I was worthy, I was ok with that.

She actually thought these were cute and decided I did ok.  That made me feel better.

Why are we our own worst critic?????

Until next time people. Any thoughts out there?

EP All Love Garden, October 2014

The sun finally came out the day I did this mani.  Of course, I had to do a fabulous holo right?

Before we get to that though-

Seems no one was excited about my Plated meal delivery service I've been using.  Well I am! If you wanted to see pictures of the food I made, I posted them on my Twitter account and on Plated's Facebook page.  I got this week's ingredients last night.  I only got two meals this time as three was just way too much food.  However, then I'm into having to pay the $6 for shipping, but for $8, I got dessert! So I'll be making caramel apple tarts to go with my roasted carrot risotto and ricotta corn empanadas.

Man it's making me hungry!

So I'm still trying to decide whether or not I'm a planner freak.  I just feel like I don't need to write down every second and every action I need to do for every hour of my day. It just seems to be bulky and heavy and a pain in my a**.

I've really got nothing to talk about right now so I'm just going to get to it.

Here is your silly bottle shot.

This is Enchanted Polish All Love Garden and October 2014.

I started with All Love Garden.  This is a gorgeous green duochromey holo that I just love.

Indoor Sun

Indoor Sun

Isn't it stunning?  Next I added some October 2014 and some dots, then was told I had created a green ladybug. Not what I was going for, but it is what it is.

Indoor Sun

Indoor Sun

So love these two together-even if it does look like a lady bug!

Until next time people. Any thoughts out there?

EP Regal, Sweet Mint

Just spent the last couple of hours paying my bills and doing my taxes.  Good news is, I'm getting back enough money to pay my homeowner's dues for this year.  The bad news is, I'm still broke!

It sucks so bad to get a paycheck and after writing out all your bills, you're back to zero.  I just need a sugar daddy to come swoop in and take me away from my miserable existence and give me a life of luxury.  Paris for lunch? Why not?  

I wonder if I'd be bored after a while with that life.  Does it matter? If I'm bored, I could just buy a new life right????? HAHAHAH!

Just finished the most awful book ever written.  I exaggerate as it's in the top ten bestseller list, but I just don't understand why that is? It's most likely because mom and I like gory, murder filled psychological thriller who dun it types.  This was just page after page of just mundane stuff.  How five people's lives intersect and who killed the person.  I shall be sparing my mom from this one.  I took one for the team as it were.  On the bookshelf it's gone, forever to never be read again.  

Makes me not want to dive into the other book that's in the top ten that I bought.  This one is touted as very similar, and has a movie out based on it.  I'm not going to give names, as these are simply my opinions and I'm sure others love these books as they are top ten.

Note to self, stop buying these books!  

OH and get this! You know how I've shown you my NexGen nails saga? It's stayed the most popular post since I've written it.  I actually got a very nice email from the guy who invented the brand and the product! How cool is that?????? Someone had seen the story on my blog and showed it to him. He thanked me for taking the time to write about the NexGen stuff.

I tell you, I will never go back to my nubs!

Now today's silly bottle shot and mani are sadly NOT color accurate.

This is Enchanted Polish Regal and Sweet Mint.  Regal is actually a deep blurple and Mint is more mint!

I started with a full mani with Regal-I just loved it too much!

Indoor Sun

Indoor Sun

So wish my camera would show this better! Since I was so in love with this, I simply added a bit to my ring finger and left it at that.

Indoor Sun

Indoor Sun

Still pretty, even though it's not color accurate!

So I'm thinking about the new Essie Cashmere Matte set. But I hate matte and plan on using top coat. Is the set worth it? They seem to be gorgeous colors-I even checked them out at Ulta.  

What are your thoughts on that?

Until next time people.  Any thoughts out there?