Valentine's Day Nails

I recently bought Nails Inc's base coat polish, and this was my first time trying it out.  I am throughly impressed!  After painting on the base coat I only had to use one coat of color on most of my nails!  With some of these polishes I've used up to three coats in the past!  Below are the polishes I used for this nail-do.  Left to right: Nail Inc.'s base coat, Urban Outfitter's Cupcake, Ulta's Encore Pink, Sally Hansen's Xtreme Wear Bubblegum Pink, Nails Inc's top coat, Sally Hensen's nail art pen in white, and a red permanent marker.  

I paint on a coat of the base coat, then I randomly painted my nails with the three different pinks.  Once those coats dried I painted on a second coat of color, just because I'm used to doing that, not because they really needed another coat.  Then once the pinks had dried completely, or so I thought I attempted to draw on some hearts with the nail art pen.  I quickly realized the polish had dried completely and decided to do polka dots on the other nails.  I thought I could get away with using the marker while the polish was still wet, but I didn't have much better luck.  Plus when I went to paint on the clear topcoat it bleed all over the place, and now my hearts look like they are bleeding.  

I seem to be ultra impatient when painting my nails.  I have a hard time waiting for my nails to dry, and end up with smudged messy fingers.  Polka dots are so easy though, and always look great.  They are my saving grace when it comes to painting my nails.  I always think my nails look nice when they are adorned in polka dots.  Hope you have a lovely day, chris!

Teal Dream Nails

I painted my nails today.  I totally dig the color combo I picked.  I hope these last.  It's tough with my job they tend to chip easily.  

The colors are called Ivy League, The Real Teal, and the Julie brand doesn't have a name.  I'm a big fan of Orly's Won't Chip.  It helps a ton.  I can see a noticeable difference if I use one coat verses two.  One coat is great for regular everyday wear, but if you're rough and tough on your nails this is a great top coat with two layers.  No chips for days.  

This nail do is extra simple.  The style is definitely more in the color picks, and which nails got what color.  With using this many colors I didn't want to introduce anymore colors.  Maybe a design drawn with a black nail pen, but I don't own one.  

Well that's all I have for today.  Sorry it was so simple.  Have a great  night, and happy DIYing, chris!

Yellow and White Nails

A couple days ago I bought a small bottle of Orly's Lemonade nail polish, and I've been dying to try it out.  So when I got home from work today I set aside some time for painting my nails.  

I used Orly's Lemonade, and Sally Hansen's White nail art pen, plus Orly's Won't Chip clear coat.

I painted two layers of the yellow color, and then two coats with the white nail pen.  

I tried really hard to try to wait until the yellow had dried before I painted on the white, but I can see on a couple nails where I didn't wait long enough, and it smudged some.  Then I had to play the waiting game again before I could paint on two clear coats.  I love this look!  It will definitely bring some sunshine to these rainy days.  

I need to get some laundry done.  Happy DIYing, chris!

August Wrap-Up

Another month gone by.  Summer is nearly done now, and fall is approaching.  A couple days ago I could sense autumn in the air.  It was dusk, and there were leaves blowing around on the street, and kids were playing on the corner.  There was an urgency to their play, knowing that soon enough it will be too cold and dark out after school to play outside.  Usually when I start getting the beginning-of-the-school-year-jitters there is a crispiness to the air around dusk, but not this year.  The days are still in the nineties, and we are luck to get a bit of relief in the high seventies in the evenings.  The humidity is high, and the mosquitoes are biting.  

Today I'm interrupting my weekly This Is Me with my August Wrap-Up.  I've managed to fit four more This Is Mes into this month, #9, #10, #11, and #12.  I think the twelfth one is my favorite from this month.  I pinned this drawing of mine from that posting, and whenever I see it I'm impressed.  I know that must sound tremendously cocky, but I'm rarely overly proud of anything I create.  So when I am please with something I've made I want to scream about it from the roof tops.  I'm super picky, and I always try to be my toughest critic.  

I've been busy with DIYs this month!  Which I'm super happy about.  I'm loving the Tri-colored Braided T-shirt Bracelet I made this month the most, but my Bleach Dip-Dyed Tank Top, and my wide upcycled Fabric Bracelet are tied for a close second.  I also made cute tiny Button Earrings, a Hair Bowtie made with ribbon, and I started getting ready for Halloween with some paper Black Rats.  

You can also check out one of my other bleach dip-dyed creation in this Outfit Post.  Which also happens to be be the only outfit post I made this month!  

Though I did share two hair-do photos, my favorite being my summer look, the Braided Crown.  I also showed how keeping your hair in a messy bun during the day can result in lush Voluminous Locks for the evening.  

I also shared two cute nail-dos in August.  My Pink Polka Dot do wins hands down, but my Sun Kissed Nails are delightful too.  

Aaron and I traveled up to New York for our buddy Derick's (unisex) Bachelor Party.  We had an awesome time with live music, good food, great friends, and fun ShotSkis!

Speaking of drinking, I've whipped up five new drink recipes this month!  I've been drinking a nonalcoholic version of my End of Summer Cocktail since the first night I mixed that refreshing drink up.  I've made a couple different white rum cocktails this month, a Cherry Rum drink, and a Kiwi & Cherries Cocktail.  I also made two sweet chocolatey milkshakes, a Peanut Butter Nutella Snicker Smoothie, and a Buckeyes Coffee Milkshake.  

Mmm Peanut Butter ... I'm still day dreaming of the Peanut Butter Pie I made near the beginning of August.  Is it too soon to make again?  I've also whipped up a couple zucchini recipes, Sautéed Zucchini, and Parmesan Zucchini Chips with a Creamy Caesar Dressing.  Another snack recipe I came up with was a Cheesy Pretzel Apple Snack.  

In addition to all these lovely things I've posted, and working (nearly) full time, I've been working every chance I get on our house.  Things are finally coming together.  Most of the downstairs is painted, and we've refinished our hardwood floors.  They are looking beautiful all aglow.  I can't wait to move in already!

So that's what I spent my August working on!  I'm excited for this new season, and all the changes it will bring.  What is your proudest creation from August?  Are you ready for Autumn?  Happy DIYing, chris!