Who needs Chevrons?

Waves are just as cool!

Welcome back everyone! I am back to show you yet another of my stamping designs, and this one I actually really enjoyed painting! I know this is just squiggles really, but they remind me of waves for some reason, wouldn't they if they were light/dark blue? I should test that theory..  I was recently told that I suit this nail shape, and whilst I am still getting used to it, I do think that they were right in saying that there is less to catch my nails on and less breaking, but I have only had them a couple of weeks so I wouldn't really know yet, think I should keep em like this? I dunno, I will decide shortly!

For this look I used Moyra 604 which is a blue toned lilac polish and on the top of this I stamped using Barry M Matte Black with the MoYou Sailor 06 (perhaps that's why it reminds me of waves!?) I actually like how the image looks rather grainy on the nails, is that weird or is it just me? I think it gives it more of a distinguished look to the design!

So, I have something else to show you. Whilst I really liked this design, I screwed up. I had to double stamp on the thumb because it must be longer than all of the others and my design never reaches the end, and, well, this happened. I like it though, it gives the manicure a quirkier edge to it I feel, and by telling myself this I guess I feel better about it not being perfect, although - who needs perfection?

So I am hoping you are all having a lovely day! I will be back shortly!

Celtic Floral?

It's what it reminds me of..

Welcome baaaack! Okay so for this design I guess I didn't know what to call it, but it reminds me of those celtic designs which weave in behind itself etc, and the cute little flowers in the middles. And although it looks red on the nail I was really surprised because the polish looks a lot more pink in the bottle.

For this design I painted one coat of Barry M Pomegranate, yes, I said one coat. Those Gelly's are absolutely amazing. And on top of this I used Barry M Matte Black to stamp my image with Pueen 49. One thing that did happen here though is that the black isn't as opaque, whether that is down to the plate not being as deep as the others I have used this polish with, or because it wasn't as pigmented as the base colour, I am unsure, but this kind of gives it more of a greying look, and I think it actually helps the design.

And here is the thumb shot! I absolutely adore this shot, not only because it gives you a look at the thumb without it being off side or awkward, but also because in this photo you can totally see the shine you get from using a decent top coat, which in this case I used Seche Vite.

Well, that seems to be all I have to say for today, but if you keep checking back on here and on my facebook page, twitter and IG I am bound to be back real soon! Hope you have a brilliant day!

Living life with a toddler.

Two year's in.

Living life with a toddler is a blessing and a curse all at the same time. 

Everything you have heard is completely true, the good, the bad and the down right ugly - it is all real with toddlers, but there is a million other things that no one seemed to tell me either. No one told me that no matter how downright ungrateful and horrendous her behaviour would be, that I would love her completely unconditionally, that she could be acting like a terror and all she has to do is say "Mummy" and I am falling in love with her all over again. No one told me that although she is small she can be the single most infuriating person on this earth, but this is one of the things that I love most about her.

Reasons to which my days are long :- 

1. When said toddler decides that they will shout things like "Mummy, Comere!", and of course this is always when you are in the middle of something like the washing, after you run to where the toddler is, they proceed to wave and say "Buh-Bye" as they laugh at you. This is totally the "Ever walked a long way for nothing" joke, which isn't actually funny.
2. When Sophie pumps and blames it on me, especially embarrassing when we are in public.
3. When you are tired enough as it is, and trying to get through the housework as fast as you can so you can go to the pre-arranged play date with one of Sophie's friends only to get everything done and realise she has come right behind you turning off the washing machine, dishwasher and dryer all in turn so you have to begin all over again.
4. Toddlers enjoy watching the same film/programme over and over again, to the point where you could recite each and every word throughout the whole show.

However there are the counter side to this : -

1. Although she cant really sing, her singing songs has to be the most adorable sound ever.
2. She is a mummies girl, and she is always up for a sleepover in my bed watching films and having cuddles.
3. She has her own little personality, and she knows exactly what she wants.
4. She totally wants to be like Mummy, whether its painting nails or how my hair is styled, she wants it.
5. Everything new is amazing, and everything amazing is a game.
6. She likes to help with my housework, by putting her rubbish in the bin and clothes in the wash (See Section 1, No 3.)

Bottom line is, she is amazing, and although she drives me to the edge some days, she is the glue that holds me together at the same time. These are the reasons to which I haven't been blogging as much recently as well, everything has stepped up around here, playdates all over the place, soft play centres, visiting family, doing shopping and somehow I seem to have more cleaning to do as well.

Magical Monday's (Wait, It's Tuesday!?)

I know, I'm late ):

Is it just me or do I seem to be late more than normal at the moment?! Yep, yep I do. First of all, I have lost another 2lb on top of the stone I already lost, so I am well on my way to becoming slimmer, boom. However I am unsure over how much this is down to the fact that I have barely been in the house the last two weeks.

Anywayyy.. on the this months design, so this time is it a character from Chamber of Secrets, and who else to do but Aragog! I thought about doing other characters, but I feel that because there isnt any mention of Aragog apart from when he dies in Half Blood Prince, I thought this would be my only chance to show off these nails with a character set. Remember this is a collaboration with FixintoFaff, and so you can check Ali's post over on her blog!

Ok, so I used Barry M Emerald Green as well as Moyra 601 to create the background of these nails, which I wanted to resemble the thick forest that Aragog lives in with all of his sons and daughters. I used the brush from the bottle and wiped off the majority of the polish before I dabbed and dragged it across the nails and built up the coverage with both colours to make my forest look. 

After this I used Seche Vite to secure some stones on my pinky and thumb nails. And then I wrote ARAGOG on my thumb nail as well with black Acrylic Paint, all of the art in this look was done with black paint, no polish involved. I really like how the backing to these nails turned out, it does remind me of the forest kind of look but at the same time it reminds me alot of moss, which again I normally think about spiders with moss aswell, whether that is because theyre in the damp areas of paths/walls etc or something? I dunno.

I thought I would give you all a little macro of Aragog, or in the words of Sophie, Mr Skinny Legs (Blame Peppa Pig!). I thought about painting his eyes and pincers, but then I thought I would give him shiny eyes, and I actually really like it! He's so cuuuuuttte.

Anyways, that is all I have for you today! I am hoping you like this and I am sure I will have another post for you very shortly! Remember and check out Alicia's Ron nails over on FixintoFaff, and I hope you all are having an absoutely amazing week - I shall try not to be late for next months edition!

 

General Life.

Hello.

I know I have been absent, and this has been noticed for some time, however, this has been partly due to me being unable to get onto my blogging site, as well as having just passed my driving test and so I have been out and about making the absolute most of each and every day.

Sophie and I have gone on great adventures, to play areas, parks, lochs (lakes), the woods, the shops and more places to add to that, including the North Queensferry Deep Sea World! We have been having so much fun! And whilst we have been enjoying all of this I have completely forgotten my camera along the way - this is something I should change?

Let us take this week for an example. On Monday we spent the day in a friends garden, where we got the swimming pool out and the girls had so much fun! I think it is absolutely amazing that a friend which I have had since I was four, (18 years?? Holy crap we are old.) has a daughter who is only 11 months older than Sophie, and they are amazing together! They run around singing that song from frozen.. Let it go, let it go.. not to mention I have watched that film twice today, so safe to say I have Olaf on the brain. Yesterday we did much the same, went to said friends house, and for her anonymity we shall call her Bertha - that will give her a kick, so we went to Bertha's house, and our kids had a play together, and another friend came over as well with her son, I absolutely love that Sophie is making friends and preparing for her school life, where I am hoping she will gain friendships which last as long as Bertha and I. After this play date we took a run through to Kevin's parents house where Sophie had a play in their garden, and then we came home to cuddle in for the night. Today was much the same, we have been having fantastic weather and so we went back to Bertha's house again, where she was spending the day in the garden with her Son and Daughter, her son being 6 months younger than Soph as well, which is also really good for her, but she was babysitting her niece as well who is a year younger than Sophie, so we had plenty fun with all four kids today! After this I came home to find Kevin has been sorting out most of the bushes in the garden I want removed, and he was doing it with a chainsaw! We played in our garden for a bit and then went through to see his parents again to discuss his dad renting a van to help with getting rid of said bushes..

Are you asleep yet? As mundane as all of this sounds, I have been having an amazing few days, with friends and family. They mean everything to me, and  wish that there were more hours in the day where we could spend time with one another.

For the rest of the week I have some small things planned, like doing the shopping, taking Kevin to get some special oil for his moped( I pretend I know what on earth he is talking about), and we have a Barbecue planned at Bertha's house with other friends attending, and then we have the great job of getting rid of all of the things in the garden which will need to be taken to the skip on friday, then this weekend, I am planning on finding a nice park or somewhere where me and Sophie can take some time out, and simply play. All of this will most likely be done whilst listening to a chorus of Sophie singing "Et I Goo, Et I Goo", but this, has to be the single most beautiful sound in my life.

I am absent, and my nails have yet to be seen, but I thought I would let you know where I have been, and what is likely to be shown on here. I am likely to upload pictures of days out, places we have found on our adventures and anything else on top of this, however, for those who have followed because of my nails, I will still be doing this. This coming monday I will have another of the Magical Monday's to show you, and I have another couple of posts in the pipelines. I am slowly getting there, and I hope that you will all be here to see in another year with this blog.