Author Archives: MonicawithRA

Nail-Art-A-Go-Go Day 2: Jewel Tones/FingerFood’s Theme Weeks: Birthday

02 Sunday Feb 2014

Posted by in Nail Art

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I decided to kill two birds with one stone this weekend.

Yesterday was my birthday and the February birthstone is amethyst! Amethyst so happens to be my favorite jewel tone anyways so why not create a manicure that serves two purposes??

℅ http://forgottenrealms.wikia.com/wiki/Geode

I took inspiration from my favorite childhood pastime: breaking open GEODES! Seriously, I loved hammering away at those things…I was weird little kid.

 

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I used 2 coats of Zoya Payton as my base.

I then sponged and “water-colored” with Essie No Place Like Chrome, Chanel Gondola, Zoya Payton and Yara.

 

Generally, the insides of geodes are very muted and not all that shiny so I finished with 1 coat Essie Matte about You. Enjoy!

 

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

January Favorites

02 Sunday Feb 2014

Posted by in Reviews, Skincare

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I skipped the December favorites because nothing WOW’ed me.

I have a set skincare routine (linked to part one and two) that makes me look healthy so I rarely stray from it.

There are only two products that stood out to me in January but I will definitely keep them around.

 

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Trader Joe’s Organic Virgin Coconut Oil

Coconut oil is so versatile! I initially purchased it from Trader Joe’s because I needed a good eye makeup remover. Manufactured removers are too harsh on my skin and baby oil messes with my eyesight. The coconut oil does not bleed into my eyes and it dissolves waterproof mascara, eyeshadow, everything! When heated, the solid melts within seconds and becomes so slick I cannot drag the delicate skin around the eye area.

Of course I purchased a pint of product but if I only removed makeup it would go bad long before I could use it up. It absorbs so quickly and is non-greasy. Unbelievable but true! I use it on my cuticles and hands for serious moisturizing. I also use it for shaving! Just WOW! It prevents razor burn and cuts. The razor slides smoothly and creates a close shave! And, unlike regular shaving creams, I can use coconut oil on dry skin!! Weee! I will never look back.

 

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Time lapse: 3 seconds

 

 

LUSH Mint Julips Lip Scrub

I love LUSH’s solid shampoos and conditioners and I love mint chocolate EVERYTHING. The Pennsylvania brand Turkey Hill Mint Chocolate Chip is my favorite ice cream. So when I saw a mint chocolate flavored lip scrub at the LUSH store register I had to try it out!

Sure, I could use good old sugar to get the same results but this product is so yummy! It smells and tastes like mint chocolate and it is edible so I can just lick it off! (There is a bitter aftertaste if I ingest it – probably from the essential oils [vanilla, peppermint, jojoba, and tagetes]). When I use this before bed it removes the flakes from my lips and leaves them insanely smooth. I finish with thick lip balm and I wake up with incredibly soft lips.

 

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Have you tried these products? What other uses can you get from coconut oil?

 

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

Nail-Art-A-Go-Go Challenge Day 1: Achromatic

01 Saturday Feb 2014

Posted by in Nail Art

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I’m really excited for this challenge hosted by Gnarly Gnails! It’s all about inspiration from art and I think it is going to be really fun!

 

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Facebook Group: Polish Passionistas

 

I did a black, white and grey scale tie dye swirl to signify the absence of color!

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I used butter London Tea with the Queen as my base before using an artist’s brush.

Polishes Used:

  • Milani Black Swift
  • Sephora by OPI Metro Chic
  • Revlon Parfumerie Fresh Linen
  • Julie G White Orchid

 

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

Fake-a-Tan! (My Favorite Polishes for Winter)

30 Thursday Jan 2014

Posted by in Reviews

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I have been dealing with some really deep-rooted depression the last couple of months. A huge reason for my mood dips has to do with the cold weather: I do not/cannot exercise as much, the days are shorter, I eat as though I am about to hibernate for five months…all of this has a major influence on my poor outlook on life.

To perk myself up, I reach for the nail polishes that make me feel like I am in the middle of summer. These are the shades that make me look nice and tan. What a swell reminder of those great sunny months!

 

(Top Coat: Seche Vite top coat)

OPI “Red Lights Ahead…Where?”

I love this shade. This is the only shade I routinely wear all summer long. It is a neon coral red that makes me look exceptionally tan and warm. I might just be weird, but except for nail art, I cannot bear to wear this on my fingernails. I only wear it on my toes. I think the color looks awful on my hands, which sounds strange given my hands and feet are the same shade.

The formula is thick and it streaks if I do not wait for each layer to dry properly. I have to be very careful to apply thin layers. This can be difficult given the thick formula but my trusty Seche Vite corrects any problems.

 

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3 coats, top coat

 

Urban Outfitters “Westside”

I adore this polish. This is a great light orange. This is a shade I wear on my hands all the time. It feels like a neutral to me because of the way it enhances and brightens my skin.

The formula is good and does not streak. I have had this polish for at least a year and of course the formula thickened. The polish drags unevenly across the nail, however, three coats will even out the finish.

 

3 coats, top coat

 

American Apparel “Neon Yellow”

This is the brightest polish I have ever seen. It captures the fluorescent highlighter color. I love how “in my face” this shade is and even though it is a new addition to my collection I know I will wear it a lot.

The formula is pretty bad. Have you ever painted your nails with that yellow highlighter before? Well, each layer of this polish is exactly like that. It is thick, streaks, bunches and dries insanely slowly.

…But I love the color, so I will deal with it.

3 coats, top coat

 

American Apparel “Neon Red”

I lusted for this shade after seeing a post on GothamPolish, linked here. Amy raved about the color and I fell in love.  Sadly, every time I visited American Apparel it was out of stock. Until last week! This is an awesome color! It is a pastel coral red that is more muted than Red Lights Ahead…Where?

The formula is runny, streaky and I have a lot of difficulty with application. It is goopy and difficult to apply evenly. I recommend waiting for each layer to dry completely before applying the next. Then wait even longer to apply top coat. The color catches and creates bald spots.

 

3 coats, top coat

 

 

What are your feel-good summer polishes for winter?

 

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

Chronicles of the Orencia Infusion: January

28 Tuesday Jan 2014

Posted by in Rheumatoid Arthritis

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My December infusion turned into a January one. The speciality pharmacy I have to work with did not send out the medications on time so I had to re-schedule…again.

 

We placed the IV in my right arm. It did not hurt and I did not even notice the liquid entering my bloodstream. If you read my account of the November infusion, linked here, you might remember I had an extremely poor experience. I was ecstatic that for the first time in months, the IV did not affect me!

 

But wait, it gets better!

I was still functioning that same day. Since I switched to the IV formulation, I always had to take the day off from work because it took so much out of me. This month I was able to run all my errands and I only took a two-hour nap! However, I will continue to request the day off just in case because there is no telling how these medications will affect me on any given day. I was kind of hoping this would not happen, given everything else had gone so well.

 

Unfortunately…

I sat with the IV one week late. I am still “new” to this formulation and it is still building up in my body so I cannot really afford to reschedule a dose.  The week following the IV my energy levels tanked, I flared up and had difficulty with normal, everyday tasks. I knew this would happen  because this particular week was the one where last month’s infusion wore off and the new one had yet to kick in.

 

I know I cannot keep taking my medications late like this, especially the most important immuno-suppresant but what can I do if my pharmacy is making me jump through hoops? My doctor’s office and I have had this problem for the last three months! Not right. From now on, after I am done with the IV, the doctor’s assistant will call the specialty pharmacy with me there, have me approve the following month’s shipment and she  will schedule delivery right then and there. Phew!

 

Hopefully there will be no hiccups in February!

 

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

Crumpet’s Nail Tarts January TPC #3: Red, Orange, Yellow

28 Tuesday Jan 2014

Posted by in Nail Art

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My submission for The Crumpet’s Tri-Polish Tuesday Challenge on Facebook! I shared this look to my Facebook and it was my most liked post ever! I do have to admit I love it, though.

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ImageBase: 3 coats American Apparel Neon Yellow (this is a bright neon yellow that dries down semi-matte very similar to a highlighter. This polish dries streaky and patchy but it’s novelty makes up for it)

Details: American Apparel Neon Red, (Color Club Wham! Pow! + Julie G White Orchid)

Stamping: Milani Black Swift and MoYou London Time Traveler’s Back to the 80’s plate 02

 

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

Nail Art: Sparkle…Like the Emerald City

27 Monday Jan 2014

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My submission for Sam’s Fingerfood themed weeks on Facebook!

First off, I snagged the Deborah Lippmann “Wicked” set from Sephora for $15! As a theater geek, I had my eye on this set since the release but could not justify $30 for three mini-sized bottles of unextraordinary colors.

This set is not worth $30 so I am glad I purchased it on sale. The brush is full-sized and difficult to maneuver with the small 0.27-ounce bottle. I hit the sides and splay the fibers and they do not fall back into place properly. My brush strokes ended up very messy.

FYI: Gilt.com generally has regular Deborah Lippmann sales.

 

Now, on to the nail art!

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I used 3 coats Popular as my base. 

I dotted Defying Gravity along the base of my nail with dots closer to the top.

I sponged One Short Day on top.

 

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.