Christmas Nails 2016

Merry Christmas,  What better way to relax after having surgery than to do your nails.  I tried to sculpt my nails but my nails are too short and it was a complete fail.  For my Christmas Nails I decided to add tips to give a little length and add a little structure.  

Since I just had surgery and didn't wanted to work to hard , I used my electric drill with a coarse file . I started with pushing my cuticles back and lightly filed my nails with my electric file.   I then cleaned my nails with paper towel with alcohol on it.  I sized the nail tips and clued them to my nails.  I cut my nails down to a preferred length ( I like to keep them short as I can't do anything with them when they are long).  I filed the nails with my electric file to blend the tips to my natural nail bed.  Then I took a regular nail file with 180 /100 grit side and shaped my nails into a nice square shape and cleaned them with an alcohol wipe. 

Next I did the gel application.  I used IBD builder gel in pink.  To begin the gel application process I applied IBD Bonder to my nails and cured for one minute under a UV Lamp.   Then I applied a thin layer of IBD builder gel and cured for one minute under the UV Lamp.   I dipped my gel brush in the builder gel and picked up a nice amount of gel .  I applied a thicker amount of gel to the middle of my nail bed and worked the gel from my cuticle to the free edge.  I kept the gel thin close to my cuticle and thicker towards the free edge.   Once you have a nice C curve and are satisfied with your nail you can cure for three minutes.   After curing for three minutes I wiped off the dispersion layer (stictky layer) with an alcohol wipe.  I took my nail file and filed the sides and free edge of my nail keeping the sides slightly rounded.   I than took my electric drill and used a lighter drill to smooth out the nail.  I then took a white buffer and buffed my nails , then applied IBD Intense seal to the nails and cured for three minutes.   After curing for three minutes I took my nails out of the UV Lamp , there was no need to wipe off a dispersion layer as IBD intense seal is a UV top coat. 

After the gel application process I add cuticle oil to all of my nails and massage the oil into my cuticle .   I wipe my nails with a clean paper towel and chose my nail color.   Because it is Christmas I decided to use a nice classy red color and a festive green.  I love Sally Hansen nail color and decided to use Bordeaux Glow and Combusteable for my colors .  I used Combusteable on my accent finer and used Bordeaux Glow on the other four nails.  I then decided to add a fun full cover nail stamp to the accent finger using Konad nail art stamps with silver stamping polish .  I finished the nails with Sally Hansen top coat .  


I don't really like to use gel nail polish as you have to file your nails to remove it or soak your nail in nail polish remover damaging your nail bed.   Using regular nail polish allows you change your color as often as you like , and having the gel overlay on the bottom of the polish allows the color to last longer with less chipping from my experience.   I have been doing my nails for years now and never had my nail color chip.    Lets see how long these last , I am hoping that I finally learned how to do them correctly.   I will be back to do a new years design if I have time next week.  Merry Christmas !!!

 

 

Happy Mother's Day Everyone ! I did this manicure last night , I am trying to grow out my nails , but it doesn't seem to be working .  I notice when I do my nails than my natural nails grow.   When I don't have them done they grow out , but the are split and chip and end up breaking .  For this manicure , I put tips and cut them really short , I used IBD builder gel , and Sally Hansen polish in some gold color , I can't remember the name of the color .   I decided to use my Konad stamps , I chose some cool little flowers that kind of look like stars ! Because all Mom's are Stars !

Decided to do something different and new   .  I went with an oval shape .  I used nail tips to add length and instead of using  regular IBD builder gel , I used IBD Intense seal.  We'll see how they hold up , so far so good. 

The intense seal was a lot easier to use instead of the regular builder gel and it was less messy.  also I did not have to file my nails as much .  I add the tips filed them until they were even with my nails , then dusted them off and polished on the intense seal . I dried my nails under the UV light for three minutes .  They came out completely dry , then I buffed them with a white block , applied cuticle oil and polished them .   It was so easy .  

They are not as think as normal gel nails , they have more of a natural look if that is what you are looking to do.   They feel pretty strong and secure.  If this works I may never do regular builder gel again.   My whole goal is to grow my nails and keep them protected .   I am hoping that the intense seal doesn't crack or anything , we shall see.   I always use the Intense seal over my regular gel manicures and have never had a problem.   I had to add a flower for a spring design from my Konad nail stamp collection.

Candy Cane Nails.

So I broke  a nail while cleaning my bathroom . However I did not mess up my nails with my previous gel manicure.  I decided to keep my nails short and natural , as it is easier for me to do stuff .   I put clear gel on my nails and then used a Silver nail polish as the base and did full nail stamp on my finger next to  my pinky and a candy cane stamp on my middle finger.   I think I may just keep my nails short , as it a lot easier to do stuff without worrying about breaking a nail, it is also a lot easier to type and use my phone .  I am so happy that I have my natural nails back and that I am able to paint them and decorate them . 

The Apple Cider vinegar worked!!!  I now have nice clear nails, they are growing slowly though .  I got a new job for a while and I am hoping that I get a permanent position soon.   Everyone that I work with gets their nails done and I was missing my Artificial Nails .   I did a new set last night , and what is so funny is that last Thanksgiving I did my nails the exact same color with the same image on them.

Its been six month since I lost my job as an appeals and grievance coordinator for SCAN Health Plan.   I honestly don’t know  happened , perhaps it was my fault , but having a bad coworker who gets away with everything makes you think , hey if there keeping this person , no matter what I do they will still keep me.  Boy was I wrong, I better, I should of handled the letter right away when I seen it , instead of playing dumb .  I was over whelmed with so much work and the toxic environment caused me to just be plain lazy.    I knew that this case was going to get me fired and it did. 

I am taking this termination as a sign that I should maybe change careers , time for a new beginning.   Jason said maybe I should look into going back to school and c complete my teaching credentials.   I got accepted into  a program with CSULB.   I start in September , however with me being out of work I have to figure out a way to pay for it .    Now Jason is bothering me about getting a job .  I am trying but it is so hard ,  I applied for everything in my field and even went to a job agency.    Jason is now telling me that he doesn’t think that I will make a good teacher and he keeps throwing job ideas at me .  

Honestly I truly do not want to go back to work, I just want to stay home , clean the house And volunteer at the school for the boys .   I just wish I could somehow when the lottery so I would not have to worry about money.

 This whole experience has left me feeling so depressed and I am now questioning my role as a Mother and wife.  

I feel that my husband is starting to dislike me, he is constantly teasing me and he tries to manage me and tells me I am not doing a good job.    I just wish everything was different.  

                                                                                                                                                                                        

Happy Spring , though today it felt more like winter to me !  I am so happy to have my nails back and to finally have time to stamp all my nails .     When I think of spring of think of these flowers aren't they adorable?