A FEW TO SHARE

It's weird, but now that I'm retired I feel like I've had less time to post. I've been doing a lot of putzing around the house, and we've been spending quite a bit of time with our friends. 

I've also been spending time running to the vet's office getting Tinlee ready for puppy-making. Today we took the first of three drives to her boyfriend's house.

I've been still doing nails every couple of days, so I'll share a few different ones with you today.

The brown base on this one is Sephora by OPI Metro Too Chic, and I used Mundo de Unas Black and Uber Chic 7-01 for the design.

I really liked this blue one. The lighter blue is Square Hue Lake Louise, and I used Julep Sonia and Uber Chic 5-02 for the stamped design.

Finally, I had mentioned this flop awhile back.

I had just received my monthly Julep box which featured some sheer polishes. It also included a bonus white to use under them, Julep Brigitte. For some stupid reason I thought I'd try stamping with the pink sheer, Julep Kimball using a floral design from Uber Chic 4-01. 

While I will say that the sheer polish stamped very well, I loathed this mani. I did end up wearing it for a full day, and I actually had a couple of people compliment it, but I thought it was hideous. Still do.

I'd have to say the blue one is for sure my fave of this group, but I liked the brown and black combo, too.

Now I'm off to fix my thumb nail. I managed to knock it loose when I was cleaning the house yesterday. Last night I got it all cleaned up and reapplied, and for some reason the damn thing popped off after my shower this morning. I did a quick reglue, but I still don't feel like it's very secure for some reason.

I really need Custom Nail Solutions to start making the pink nails again soon. I really want to get a new set.

Oh, I almost forgot the most important thing - the hummingbirds have finally arrived!! I saw my first boy the other day, and I had a girl here this evening.

That is what officially starts summer for me, even if they are predicting freezing temperatures tonight.

EARLY VALENTINE'S DAY TUTORIAL - "KINDA" LOOKS LIKE HEARTS

I can't win this winter! Bitter cold, snow - lather, rinse, repeat. Seriously. Yesterday was freezing and Kev left; warmer today, 8 inches of snow. Come on already! Somebody up there must really hate me. I don't know what to do about that damn driveway since the hubster won't be home until next Wednesday. Can I get a break, please? I'm begging at this point.

I'll post this mani now that it's up on the NailIt Magazine website. They've put up two of my tutorials in the past week or so!! They've also requested another one from me that I need to do sometime before Valentine's Day.  I also need to buckle down and finish my latest tutorial article for Les Nouvelles, but I really have to be in the mood for that.

I started off with two coats of Sephora by OPI's Ruby Without a Cause. I really could have just gone with one coat, but since I wasn't sure, I did two.  Once the burgundy was dry, I moved on to working one finger at a time. I did another coat of burgundy, and while it was still wet I used my dotting tool to put a thick dot of gold down each side.

Then I immediately used my smallest dotting tool and very lightly started at the top dot of gold and dragged all the way through to the bottom dot.

The dotter makes a notch in the top of each dot so that it forms an abstract heart shape, connected like vines.

I love Ruby Without a Cause. It's such a nice rich color, and the shimmer in it is really purdy. Orly Luxe is a great gold, too. 

I had actually tried to do this once before without success. I had a little bit better luck this time. I don't know if I used the wrong polishes the first time or what, and even though this one turned out, I still think the hearts could have been better.  I do like it, though, so don't yell at me about how I'm too critical of myself. lol

Even though it's a bit early for Valentine's Day mani's, I did wear this for a couple of days.

See? Told ya' I like it!