Nail Biting and Me

I've been a nail biter for as long as I can remember. I've tried several times to quit. Sometimes it's been mildly successful and sometimes it's just completely failed. Usually I do well until a stressful situation presents itself, then I get nervous and bite them all off. I'd love to go have acrylic nails put on, but I simply can't afford them. Not to mention how bad they are for your natural nails. Someone mentioned to me that I should try shellac. Hmmm... I thought that over too, but again, I can't afford to keep going back to the nail salon every two weeks.

Enter the ever efficient Pinterest.

I stumbled across a pin that suggested you can do your own knock-off shellac for a fraction of the cost of going to the salon over and over.  I find that if I keep my nails painted, I tend to bite them less.  I decided that I would go on a nail biting strike and use this as my starting point.  I already had the Sally Hansen Powerful Acrylic Gel and Essie polish (I LOVE ESSIE!!).  I just needed the Sally Hansen No Chip top coat.

Here are my first use results:


I applied one coat of the gel, two coats of Essie Go Overboard, one coat of no chip top coat. Initial results were amazing! My nails had a high gloss finish and did look very similar to a salon finish.



However, by the end of Day 1, I already had a chipped nail. I chalked this up to the fact that I have nubs for nails. I wasn't able to go completely under the nail with the top coat like it had suggested.



By the end of Day 2 (last night), my right hand had large chips on three fingers and my thumb. My left hand had two small chips on two fingers.

I am unimpressed. Right off the bat, it looked great, but it didn't even last a day. Upon reading the reviews of the No Chip top coat I found that they were all very low. Every review mentioned the same thing that had happened to my nails.

I'm not giving up on my mission though.  I'm just going to move on to a different process.  Hopefully with more success!  Stay tuned!

For the Love of Nails

I've been a nail biter since way back. Pretty much as long as I can remember.  My Mom tried many different techniques to try and help me quit biting my nails. We tried hot sauce, Avon brand polish (and others too!) specifically made to help you stop biting your nails, but nothing helped.

I thought it would be easier to quit as I got older. It didn't however and anytime I got stressed out I found myself biting my nails all over again. I finally figured out that if I kept my nails painted on a regular basis I didn't bite them as often. The problem is that I then encountered a new problem. 

My nails split.

I've tried several different strengthening products and ones that are meant to prevent splitting.  Same thing keeps happening.  I'm just about ready to throw in the towel!

Any suggestions?!

*Thank you to cup_cakr on Instagram for the suggestion of OPI's Nail Envy.  I'm going to search for that and give it a try!

Mad Men Fashion

I recently discovered Mad Men on Netflix.  I know I am behind the times.  In classic "I just found this TV series on Netflix" fashion, I watched all available episodes in a little over a week.

Anyway, that's not really my point.  I have always felt I was born in the wrong era.  Seeing this show, I fell in love with the costumes!  Love, love, love!

Image found at coutureallure.blogspot.com

I would wear these dresses.  I wish I could wear these dresses as well as these ladies do though!  In fact, I went on a Pinterest pinning spree looking for patterns.


Look how skinny these chicks waists are and how sizes have been skewed over the years!  I've never tried to sew anything of this size before.  Challenge accepted!  Now to find some vintage or vintage looking fabric.

P.S.  A few years ago I found a bunch of old photos.  This one is of my Dad and his first wife.  OMG... he's Don Draper.

Off the Mark - Oscars 2013

While I thought there were a ton of beautifully dressed individuals on the Red Carpet last night, there were a couple that just didn't do it for me.

I really don't know what to say.  I'm just not a fan.

One word:  Yikes!

Who do you think missed the mark on fashion?

My Pick for Best Dressed - Oscars 2013

I don't usually watch the Oscars.  Too much blah, blah in between the actual awards.

But this year I watched.  And I liked it.

I'm not a Family Guy fan.  At all.  But I loved Seth McFarland!  He was funny and not too insulting.  Sometimes he did seem a bit lost, but I'd give him a solid B+.

I watched the pre-show and honestly wasn't sure I had a favorite best dressed.  There were so many that got it right!  Charlize Theron, Jennifer Lawrence... I could go on.

BUT... I fell in love with Zoe Saldana's Alexis Mabille dress.

The color, the style, the shoes!  It's very flattering, elegant, and beautiful!

Who were your favoites?