This post is about nail polish... seriously. That sounds kinda silly, but I have my reasons. Here we go.
I used to never wear nail polish. When getting a manicure, I never even let manicurists use clear nail polish. I always hated how it felt. And I was always terrible at painting my own nails.
After my miscarriage, I felt like I needed a really small, frivolous, silly new goal or hobby, so I chose nail painting. I decided I wanted to give myself a weekly manicure. Levi has always told me stories about how his mom used to give herself a manicure every Saturday night, so that her nails would look nice for church on Sunday morning. She even had a kit! It was all kept in a box. He remembers her filing and trimming and waving her hands around trying to get her polish to dry faster. All while watching Lois and Clark.
So maybe I'm romanticizing nail painting just a tad, but I always liked the picture in my mind of Julee performing her Saturday night ritual... and I've always thought her hands looked beautiful in photographs. I notice them because her wedding ring became my wedding ring.
I've been doing my manicures for three weeks now, and I'm getting really into it! And strangely enough, it's kind of helping me with my sadness and loss. Life really is all about the little things.
(my Valentine's manicure - all my nails were red except for my wedding ring finger)
I even signed up for the Julep Maven program. Essentially, it's a nail polish of the month club! Fun, right?! I got my first box last week. It included these two gorgeous polishes:
I'm going to use the glittery gold shade (Oscar) for an Academy Award manicure.
This week, Julep sent me an email with a discount code to share. Just click this link, take the style quiz (to find out your Julep Maven style; they have different boxes based on your preferences - I'm "classic with a twist"), enter SHAREONMAY in the promo code box, and you'll get your first box for $.01. Seriously one cent!
Once you're a member, you continue getting a new box every month (mine included a dark chocolate bar this month - I love Julep), and if you don't want a box that month, you can opt out for the month while still remaining a member.
If you take the quiz, let me know what your nail polish style is! I'm curious to find out! :)
I am an It Girl! (Edgy and Bold, your statement-making look exemplifies the modern rock 'n' roll chic. ...you're not afraid to stand out and be noticed.)
ReplyDeleteI think this is a polite way of telling me that I am an attention whore, which isn't really news to me. :)
I am Boho Glam: As a profound romantic with an appreciation of beauty on a deeper lver, your wardrobe is your creative drawing board. . .
ReplyDeleteAlso, how did you create the perfect hear? And how did you obtained the perfect shine on your nails?
~Karla
Hi Karla,
DeleteI just used my nail polish brush to create the heart. I practiced several times on a piece of paper before starting. It worked best when I wiped off the brush on the inside of the bottle to make sure there wasn't too much polish on the brush. I also tried using a toothpick to create the heart out of dots (I only tried this on a piece of paper, not on my nail), but I didn't like how it turned out.
The nail polish I used for the Valentine's manicure (Essie) was pretty shiny on its own, but I topped it off with two coats of Essie's Good to Go topcoat. It helps your nails dry quickly and makes them nice and shiny. It doesn't seem to help with chipping though so I might try a different top coat in the future.
Hope that helps!
Jasmine
Yay! Thank you so much, Jasmine. You are the bees-knees. ♥
Delete~Karla
Haha! Why, thank you!
DeleteI have a manicure ritual! Every Sunday night I watch a movie alone and paint my nails. Usually I take a hot bath or shower before and watch the movie in my huge robe with wet hair. It's the best way to prepare for the week and I always have nice fingernails the whole week :)
ReplyDeleteI love that ritual! I usually watch reruns of Friends or The Big Bang Theory while I do mine.
DeleteI'm doing my nails while watching big bang theory right now--it's like we are living the same life!
DeleteHaha! That's awesome. I loooove that show. If we haven't watched in awhile (usually like a day), one of us will say, "I miss Sheldon & Leonard." :)
DeleteI'm really getting into painting my nails as of late too. =) you do a great job at doing your nails! love them and love your reasoning for doing it too. =)
ReplyDeleteI took the quiz and i'm classic with a twist as well!! =) i'm thinking about joining!! seems like it would be fun!
I'm glad this little thing can help you so much! Its the little things in life.
ReplyDeleteI love nail polish and painting my nails and I might need to sign up for this Julep.
I paint my nails every sunday night because I teach at a middle school and i want to start out with some nice nails for the week. If we do a heavy art project they don't always last long.
My nail polish seems to only last about three days... so annoying! But it just gives me the chance to practice and try out new colors. :)
DeleteYay for fun goals! I've made a few since my mc as well. And I may have to add manicures to the list now! Have a great weekend.
ReplyDeleteI'd love to know what your other goals are. I hope you're doing well. I've been thinking about you. :)
DeleteI started painting my nails when I was student teaching, broke and depressed. I couldn't afford to go and do things or buy clothes. A bottle of nail polish every now and then was something I could afford.
ReplyDeleteIt really is a nice way to pamper/treat yourself. It seems like a lot of women use nail painting as a way to brighten their moods. I love it!
DeleteI am American Beauty... go figure. I have been painting my nails every week for about a year now and I have an ever growing collection of polish (sorry hubs). I started for a few reason one being my nails break super easy and it allows me to have longer pretty nails :) another reason is it makes me feel like I am spoiling myself.
ReplyDeleteJasmine, thank you for sharing with us! I just took the quiz and i'm boho glam! Haha. so i ordered and should be manicuring my nails starting in about a week! btw--your nails look awesome!
ReplyDeleteThank you!! :)
DeleteI LOVE giving myself manicures but never find the time to go out and buy new colors, so I LOVE this website. Thank you! I signed up, and I'm bombshell. Can't wait! My fiance's mother always said that a girl that can take good care of her nails, is a girl that can take good care of her man. ;)
ReplyDeletehttp://projectblissfullife.blogspot.com/
Yay! I hope you enjoy it! I think it's so fun, and I am toootally looking forward to my March box! And I love that your fiancé's mom has a little saying about taking good care of your nails. I'm gonna have to remember that one!
DeleteI, too, am an it girl!
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry to hear about your loss (dropped off the face of the interwebz for a few months, so I'm not sure when this all happened, but I am so sorry)
nail polish IS a great form of therapy, though. I've been doing the weekly manicures as of late as well, and I totally feel less depressed. It's definitely one of those little things that goes a long way
It really is! So many women seem to be able to relate to this!
DeleteI am an it girl too! Edgy and bold with bright, bold and fun colors - that's me for sure. What a great deal thanks for sharing!!! I signed up with your code and can't wait to see what I receive in the mail.
ReplyDeleteYay! Hope you love it!!
DeleteI'm an American Beauty! I signed up. :o)
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing the promo code!
how fun. i didn't realize it until i read this but i've been painting my nails obsessively. i have such a hard time sleeping and it's one of the few productive things i can think of to do at 3:00 am. definitely signing up. sending you love too ps.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Vanessa. I've been sending you love and thinking of you too. Hope you can start getting some better sleep!!
DeleteYou are good! Love all your colors. And I love seeing pictures of your ring--it's so beautiful!
ReplyDeleteThank you! I love my wedding ring so much. I feel so honored to wear it.
DeleteAmerican Beauty, apparently my wardrobe glows with bright and vivacious hues.
ReplyDeleteHahah! It totally does, Zachary. They've got you pegged.
DeleteI should sign up for something like this. Maybe it would encourage me to actually keep my nails manicured!
ReplyDelete