Business:busy

Yep. I'm working full time and interviewing for Zumba related stuff right now, and because of this I am pretty boring. I'm sorry! This coming year should be good... I hope! This is what I look like on the average day. I feel both under and over dressed.

Red Carpet Manicure Gel Polish: A Review.

I have posted before about my nail woes — how they break, peel, and just annoy me to bits. I work at a convenience store, and I don't think that helps the matter. My hands are constantly in bleach water, and because I work with the public I use a ton of alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Both of these dry my hands, and nails, out. No moisturizer has been able to fix this, and I don't believe that I am going to be able to find one that will. 

I have looked at this kit so many times, and I couldn't bring myself to buy it. It was $59.99 at my local Fred Meyer, and it seemed so expensive. I love having nice nails, but I haven't seen any reviews for diy gel nail polish and I tend to be rather inept when it comes to this sort of thing. There was a $10 off sale, and I decided to risk it. 

First off,  I truly recommend buying the kit, and not buying it piece by piece. I did the math, and I saved roughly $20. Not an enormous savings, but every bit counts. 

Secondly, it works wonders. Truly. I did this, while miserably sore (Zumba instructor training — there is a post coming!) and watching television late at night. It came out beautifully. It basically involves applying the base coat, putting it under the light, and then doing the same for each coat of polish thereafter. There is a finishing rub you use after to remove any tackiness. Just follow the instructions to the letter, and it will look incredible. 

I waited about a week to show you my nails, just because I wanted to give you a thorough review. Usually my nails are all chipped after about a day of work. I have had this on for two shifts and a week of pet-sitting and dishes. Lots of work! 

It is perfect! The tips are all covered, the polish is intact, and for some reason, the color doesn't look even in this photo. My nails look better in real life! 

The one caveat to this polish is that it lasts for two weeks, and the removal process is slightly more involved than normal polish (those who have had a gelish manicure are familiar with this.) You have to soak it off with a cotton ball and acetone for about ten minutes, to break down the polish. It really doesn't take to long. 

Ultimately, it was worth the money for me. It was an expensive initial investment, and the polishes are about $10 a piece, but I don't have to keep re-polishing my nails. Right now I'm working one full time job, one part time job, and going to school. I don't have a lot of spare time to keep re-polishing my nails, and I would rather be able to go out with my friends during the spare time I have. This polish allows me to look professional while only painting my nails twice a week. Awesome, no? 

ETA: I NO LONGER RECOMMEND THIS PRODUCT. It was terrible to remove after the first time, and no longer stuck afterwards. I returned the kit, and got most of my money back. Not happy.

Scent

Do you ever get a whiff of something, and it just takes you places? Like, the smell of fresh cut grass takes me back to my grandmum's house when I was about 8, playing in the yard in the crazy daisy (a weird sprinkler thing) 

I used up this shower gel about two months ago, and I still haven't had the heart to throw the bottle away. The funny thing is that, when I got it, I wasn't overwhelmed with the scent. Someone had given it to my mum, and she didn't like it, and she passed it off to me. It was over the summer, when I was working a town away from B and miserable. 

One night, after a wretched day at work, we talked. We talked just about every night, but this night was different. He could tell I was upset, stressed out, and just done. 

He came and picked me up. I know that doesn't sound like much, but he lived an hour away from where I was, and he had just gotten off of a 9 hour shift at work. It was midnight, but he was coming to take me home. 

I threw some random stuff into a bag, and this shower gel was part of it. I ended up leaving it at our apartment, and I would use it on the nights he would take me home (it happened about twice a month after that.)

This shower gel reminds me of the relaxed feeling of crawling into our bed after a hot shower. It reminds me of the dinners we had sitting on the floor, because we still hadn't had a chance to furnish the place. It reminds me of standing outside, in front of my grandmum's, waiting for him to arrive. 

It reminds me of how good it is to be loved. 

Thoughts, and an unfortunate picture.

I'm presently stuck in the most boring oceanography lecture in the universe. I typically love this class, but since this is the last week of term and finals are next week, people are asking stupid questions. This bores that crap out of me, and makes me want to leave. I would leave the class, but we get points for staying for the full class. I like getting A's. 

Anyway, I was talking to a friend (S) a few days ago, and the conversation has stuck in my head. We were discussing our everyday makeup/clothing, and which was more important as far as other people's perceptions go. To me, if I see someone in a somewhat boring outfit but with their hair and makeup done, I think it is intentional. I know that when I get stressed out, I wear a cute sweatshirt and leggings with heels and light makeup. I still look semi-polished, but not as "done" as I would normally like. (See above look. Yay finals and nasty landlords!)  

I know that I don't get as many doors opened for me when I wear flats and don't wear makeup. I don't get too offended by it, because I haven't put any effort in. S thinks that is wrong, that people should be perceived the same way all the time because they are the same person whether or not they put effort in. I disagree with this. I know that I get up a bit earlier to do my hair and makeup, and I consider it a part of putting my best foot forward. I don't expect to show up in sweats and be treated as though I'm wearing a gown. 

Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope everyone is having an amazing holiday! We went for lattes and just started preparations for dinner. I'm so excited because everyone is coming. Sadfaced though, because B isn't going to be here until seven or so tonight; another nine hours.

I'm off to drown my sorrows in mashed potatoes :)

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Frumpy.

I hate having short nails. I feel like I look unpolished, and almost immature, as odd as it sounds. I don't feel that way when I see other people with short nails, but the moment my nails start breaking, I get annoyed. My fingers seem fatter and I feel less elegant.

I admit, when my nail broke yesterday, I went out and bought glue on fakes, which were terrible and popped off in less than a day (full review coming when I get my computer back.) I am going to dinner with my boyfriend and his extended family tomorrow, and I wanted to look perfect. However, I painted my natural nails today, and I'm okay with them. I mean, this is who I am. There are plenty of thing to judge me on, and my nails should be the least of my worries. I'm excited to meet them, and am going to try to take it easy on myself. I get so carried away in my pursuit of perfection sometimes, and I need to remember that it is okay, and no one else is going to care how my nails look.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Something New.

This week I have done two things: Develop a massively unfortunately blemish on my chin, and get glasses.  

Everyone in my family has glasses, and I knew that I was eventually going to have to get them myself. Last week I was sitting in class and I realized that I couldn't read the stuff on the PowerPoint. I got out to my car and called my mum's eye doctor, setting up an eye appointment that I went to yesterday.

Apparently, I'm near sighted. And I have to wear these all the time. I go between being okay with it to being a tad frustrated. I lose my phone/purse/brain all the time, and I'm afraid that these are going to be just one more thing.

I do so love how clear everything is now though! 

I'm off to work, and am going straight from there to my grandmum's, because tomorrow is a holiday and I don't have classes. YAY!