Summertime Blues

Summer is flying by and I'm seemingly getting nothing done. I have to leave for a summer camp a week from today and honestly, I'm not looking forward to it! They were extremely short female counselors though so I agreed to go. Anyway, I have to start thinking about packing, which I happen to despise!!! It should be easy, but it never, ever is. Boo. Onto the nails . . .

I finally got around to participating in one of PHD's awesome nail design challenges. The challenge was any design using only analogous colors. Having taken a color theory class this semester, I was compelled to enter. I'm still such a newbie (I only get around to doing my nails about once a week and usually am in a rush) but it is fun to try! Here is my blue, blue green, and green manicure featuring green blueberry stamps (creative liberty!). I really didn't like the outcome but they did meet the challenge requirements.

And. . . . drumroll: my first Hidden Treasure mani! Mm. So flakey. I did these a week before I found this on my blogroll and freaked out when I saw! Great minds . . . The pink is actually way more me but because the flakes are very red/orange/yellow, I thought the yellow would compliment them nicely.

I liked these so much that I wore them (and they lasted!!!!) for a week.

It's funny how VERY many things around me match the exact shade of yellow, Zoya Creamy

Day 8 I cut my nails (after bowling did some major damage) and I liked the micro tips.

Anyway, eventually I got bored and now I'm wearing a new green shade from Urban Outfitters. I'm hating the formula. Mini review to come!

Oh, and I finally put in my order for the Zoya Exchange earrrrly this morning. I'm an up-to-the-deadline kind of girl. :) I can't wait to get them! Which one will I use first? Oh my.

Remember that pink camera I was lusting after in an old post? Well I ended up ordering the white version (pink isn't available in the US) which I have already nicknamed (the moment I saw it online) the Stormtrooper. It arrived yesterday! I have SOOO much to learn about it. I can't wait to start taking some great pictures!

Hey, if you're reading this, you're awesome. haha. Have a great day!

I'm on a [Blog] Roll!

Three posts in week. Awesome. Last night was that party I mentioned earlier, the "Casserole and Martini" as it was named. It was fun! Lots of good food, drinks, and friends.

Mirror shot! Me and friends after getting ready:

Matchy matchy, just the way I like it.

Mary Kay In A Flash Lightspeed, Konad m71 double stamped w/Konad Special Black

I was asked to bring peonies (which I happen to adore) and they had opened up nicely!

Finally got to sport my glam cocktail ring. I mean, ahem, my rich fiance was out of town. (Don't I wish!)

I did these a week or so back. Turns out, as you may have guessed, that Turned Up is blacklight sensitive! (Found that out after I discovered my old blacklights in a box and had to test 'em.)

China Glaze Turned Up, Konad m77

I'm still having trouble stamping the images. Lots of times the image won't fully come off of the stamper. It seems I've tried all the variations (pressing harder, rolling, working super fast, cleaning the plate after stamping vs. not, etc.) but the results are always really inconsistent. Any tips to share?

OK, off to help with the construction (well, clearing a path for the concrete cutter). Hope I don't chip my nails. ;)

Breaking Nail Polish News!!

On a whim, I visited a Walgreens after stopping at the next-door Trader Joes and you already know what I found hidden, appropriately, behind other colors and a spring-loaded wall display. $8.50 (with tax) is a lot for me to pay for nail polish, but it is the holy grail of polishes at the moment. Score!!!

Nail Update

I'm still loving the fun nail thing, though still quite a novice! Here's what I've been up to:

I bought my first nail art tool that has a brush on one side and a dotting tool on the other. It is surprisingly hard to use. :(

I dotted over my then existing polish (sorry for the wrinkled fingers; I had just gotten out of a really long shower!)

China Glaze in Shocking Pink and Turned Up

Here's my first attempt at free-handing something other than french tips. I used the built-in brushes for the angles and the dotting tool for the dots.

Zoya Yummy, Zoya Demi & Sally Hansen X-treme Wear Rockstar

I went to an awesome tea and wanted to have quasi-themed nails. Here's what I spent 5 minutes doing as I rushed out the door. (The hostess made these amazing custom tea bags with our names on giant tags and a message on the back. So cute!)

[Horribly streaky] NYC French Tip White stamped with Essie A List, Konad m14 & m55

I got bored that night and added some more embellishments

Konad m3 stamped with various colors

That's it for now. I'm going to a late 50s/early 60s party this weekend and will be doing my nails to match my dress! They won't be so authentic, but oh well. haha. Until then, au revoir!

Proof is in the Bacon

So here's the bacon project I mentioned two posts ago. This was the original I made with paper (after doing so many versions) that I had to re-create with a different material. The project was supposed to be the study of individual cells and their connections to other cells. They were supposed to lose their individuality when grouped together and had to have a pattern that could be repeated indefinitely. I think I was successful.

20 individual cells together in little . . . bursts.

First I had to cut the raw bacon precisely in order to maintain the proportions of the original.

I sewed, cut, and stuffed the bacon pieces with wet paper towels before baking them.

I unstuffed and lined them up for more baking.

After they seemed firm enough, I hot-glued the cells together. I had to glue it several times because the grease kept the glue from sticking to the bacon.

What I presented to the class. I got some really mixed reactions in the class. Some were grossed out, some read wayyy too far into it ("sewn flesh!") and some thought it was awesome.

I never did find out what my grade was but I miraculously got an A in the class and I think this project made that possible. My teacher seemed shocked (in a good way) that I used bacon, and I'm so glad I did!