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the Rite of Aging…early

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the Rite of Aging…early

Category Archives: Just for Fun

Flashback Friday: A Whole New Chew Toy

15 Saturday Nov 2014

Posted by MonicawithRA in Animal Sciences, Just for Fun

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Tags

flashback friday, pets

I have not done a Flashback Friday post in ages! How is this possible? I love talking about my pets and most times, in person, nobody wants to hear it! So…I take to the internet! I am going to re-start these posts because they are fun to write and reminisce about!

 

We adopted Affie at 8 months. She came to us set in her obstinate, pig-headed, Coton ways and it took months and months to train her. I nearly lost my mind. However, looking back on that time I realize she was actually very well-behaved. Sure, she would sneak off and poop or pee all over the house but she never got into anything she was not supposed to, or wrecked other havoc on the house.

We adopted Saachi at 2 months. Of course, by the time she was 2.5 months she was thoroughly spoiled. She, on the other hand, was house and command trained in weeks. Just like a cat! On the flip side, though, when she could she destroyed anything she got her paws on.

 

I should probably interject at this point, whenever I left the house, I used all the tricks. I left squeaky toys out, I left hard rubber toys out, I left the lights on, I left the TV and radio on. She still showed her displeasure at being unsupervised. One evening, despite my attempts at making her feel less alone, I went out to dinner with friends. I returned home to find Saachi did some gardening. She re-potted every single plant to the white carpet. Seriously, dog? Really…I mean…really??

However, this is next to nothing to her piece de resistance: the chair leg.

 

I should probably say this did not happen over one evening…It took her weeks of stealthy chewing to completely eliminate a chair leg. We did not watch Saachi as carefully as we did Affie, because she was house-broken and slightly better-behaved….except, of course, when she got a tic in her head to complete some sort of project…

 

In our living room, we had a matching set of blue chairs. It was the “nice” living room which we used to entertain guests. However, during the first few months after adopting Saachi we rarely invited people over. Saachi was crazy aggressive to people and animals alike.

One day we noticed one of the chairs look a little skewed and when we took a closer look we noticed one of the legs was missing! Saachi had chewed and probably swallowed a whole chair leg!

 

Now, my father and I have strange attachments to our inanimate objects and could not bring ourselves to trash the chairs so instead, we sanded the left-over stump and placed books underneath to prop the chair up! Let me tell you, it was a conversation starter!

 

Smiling

Look at those crooked teeth!

 

Saachi’s adult teeth were fairly new so the constant wood chewing resulted in major cosmetic changes on her lower mandible!

 

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

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NORMAN ROCKWELL x KIEHL’S

05 Wednesday Nov 2014

Posted by MonicawithRA in Just for Fun, Skincare

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Tags

collaboration, holiday, holiday shopping, Kiehl's, Norman Rockwell

Contains affiliate links.

Updated: 11/15/2014

 

I have really exciting news!! Kiehl’s beauty brand teamed up with the Norman Rockwell Estate to create limited edition holiday sets! Better yet, Kiehl’s will donate 100% of profits to Feeding America!

 

trimming the tree

 

I don’t usually care for collaborations because they cater too much to the “hottest” thing at the time but Norman Rockwell is classic and absolutely perfect for this time of year. Sure, you can argue he was the “pop” illustrator of his time but there was something very relatable about his work. During a time of political uncertainty and economic struggle family became even more important. There was a certain fairy tale-like feel to his work that gave people hope. His artworks represented the struggles of the middle class family but there was something very calming about them.

 

dog and his owner

 

I saw a Norman Rockwell painting, for the first time, at a Smithsonian museum exhibit. I don’t remember now, for sure, which museum but if I were to take a guess I would say the Newseum when it first opened. I was mesmerized. At my young age I was first drawn to the dogs and their children but as I learned more about the inspiration for his art I realized there was more to the happy exterior.

 

 Now that I have rambled on about nostalgia let us get on to the products!

The picture is also the link.

 

kiehls x norman rockwell greatest hits

If you are new to the brand this is a great place to start! This set includes many travel size favorites including the concentrate and body lotion! Not to mention, this is one of my favorite paintings!

 

kiehls x norman rockwell creme de corps

If you’re just interested in one product the best-selling Creme de Corps lotion comes in this limited-edition casing, in three sizes! I think I may get the biggest size so I can re-purpose the bottle later on.

 

kiehls x norman rockwell set

Another great painting houses the best-selling original scent lip balm and heavy-duty hand cream. The perfect duo for the upcoming winter! Just keep in mind, the lotion is on the greasier side (I would wear it at night) and the lip balm is petroleum-based.

_9782046The “Hydration Essentials” is one I have my eye on as it contains some of Kiehl’s best-selling moisturizers! A cute gift box and sample-size essentials for all your holiday travel needs! I wanted to purchase the lip balm hand salve duo but given this holiday set contains both, plus more I think this is definitely a better value! I also have a thing for travel-sized products. They are so easy and convenient!

 

_9650886Are you a fan of the heavy duty “Ultimate Strength Hand Salve”? Do you want others to love it too? This trio is a great idea if you want a quick, inexpensive stock-stuffer for your friends & family!

 

Can you tell I am excited about this? If it was not too apparent…YAY! THIS IS AWESOME….I want to buy them all. Buy all the things. Seriously. I will sleep on it tonight and maybe tomorrow I will feel less spend-y…But I will tell you right now, I am purchasing the body lotion and Hydration Essentials! Don’t forget, Nordstrom currently offers a Kiehl’s gift with purchase as well!

 

Hi my name is Monica and I have RA.

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Bundle Monsters 30 Days of Screams – Day 12: Black Cats

12 Sunday Oct 2014

Posted by MonicawithRA in Just for Fun

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

Bundle Monster, Bundle Monster Halloween challenge, Nail Art, Pahlish, Pueen, Sephora by OPI, stamping, water decals

Check the sidebar for more information!

Contains affliate links.

I do not own any of the Bundle Monster cat stamping designs so I was thrilled to use my new Pueen water decals! The black cats may or may not have drawn me to this specific set. Heh…But, since this is a Bundle Monster contest I stamped a base for the little kitties.

I fell in love with my first Pahlish lacquer a few weeks ago so when I re-purchased my coveted Color Club Wham! Pow! I couldn’t help but buy a few more nail polishes from Pahlish. I was excited to use this grey base because I knew exactly what other colors I was going to use! Don’t you love it when you don’t have to pour over colors for hours and hours to decide which to use??

I had trouble with the water decals, they applied well but my hands were shaky so I couldn’t position them properly. These specific designs have very thin necks (literally!) and I, unfortunately, wasted a few because they folded over. That was definitely a bummer. I did not have trouble with air bubbles with these and they smoothed out nicely in the end. Better yet, they didn’t smear with top coat application!

I hope you like today’s manicure! The bottom is a closer look at this awesome Pahlish base!

 

Bundle Monster Halloween Challenge - Black Cats | The Rite of Aging

Bundle Monster Halloween Challenge - Black Cats | The Rite of Aging

I started with 3 coats, for good measure, of Pahlish Mind Like a Diamond. It is an awesome light lilac-grey with black, potentially dark purple (sorry, I’ve got terrible eyesight apparently) and a light purple shimmer throughout.

I stamped with Sephora by OPI Domestic Goddess and Bundle Monster plate BM-315.

I finished with Pueen water decals and Seche Vite.

 

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

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Giveaway Winner!

11 Saturday Oct 2014

Posted by MonicawithRA in Just for Fun

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

giveaway, international giveaway

Hey all! The giveaway result is in! Rafflecopter randomly shuffled through the entries and the winner has been selected!

Congrats to Jacqui over at Craftynail! I’ve emailed you so please look out for it!

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Thank you so much to everyone for entering and sharing my blog on the interwebs! I really appreciate it!

 

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

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Giveaway Reminder

06 Monday Oct 2014

Posted by MonicawithRA in Just for Fun

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Tags

giveaway, international giveaway

Hey all!

Just a reminder about my giveaway that ends on October 10! If you haven’t yet entered, check out {this} post on the prizes and click on the Rafflecopter link below.

Please keep in mind this giveaway is for my readers as a thank you. Giveaway only accounts will not be counted. I will verify all entries on the 11th.

Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

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100 Followers & Celebratory Giveaway!

01 Wednesday Oct 2014

Posted by MonicawithRA in Just for Fun, Nail Art, Rheumatoid Arthritis

≈ 8 Comments

Tags

100 followers, giveaway, international giveaway

It is giveaway time!

In honor of reaching 100 followers and receiving 100% reimbursement of my medicine’s out-of-pocket expenses I put together a giveaway to say thank you. I am so appreciative to all of you for sticking with me!

The prizes in this giveaway mostly consist of nail art goodies but some other items, as well. If you would like to enter, check out the Rafflecopter widget below. Please do not enter with give-away only accounts. This giveaway is a thank-you to the people who follow and read my posts!

 

 100 followers giveaway

The giveaway will run until October 10, 2014.

 

 

One lucky reader will receive (1) Incoco Nail Polish Appliqué in Day Dreams (check out the website for a better picture here), (1) Sephora by OPI nail polish in Metro Chic, (1) Chanel Les Vernis In Taboo, (1) Aveeno Positively Radiant daily moisturizer with SPF 15, and (1)  Bourbon The Original chocolate biscuits.

I really like  Incoco appliqués; it is nice to get pretty nails without the work. I am really bummed they discontinued this brand so when HauteLook had a flash sale on Sephora by OPI I snagged three bottles! Taboo is one of my all-time favorite polishes because, as you know, I have a soft spot for Chanel!

The Aveeno Positively Radiant moisturizer is my holy grail product. If I had to choose any product, whether it be nail polish or makeup, this moisturizer would take the prize. The medications make my skin look lackluster and this cream hides minor imperfections.  I prefer the SPF 15 over the SPF 30 because it is less greasy. I really love the Bourbon biscuits. They just make me happy. They are difficult to find in the US so I ask my father to bring home packs and packs of these when he travels.

 

These are some my favorites so I am really stoked about this giveaway, which is open internationally. I hope you enter by clicking the link below! Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

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Short Update of VERY VERY VERY Good News and a Celebratory Giveaway

16 Tuesday Sep 2014

Posted by MonicawithRA in Just for Fun

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

celebration, giveaway, international giveaway

I am a very happy Monica today! Look forward to a happy ending post on Wednesday! Reimbursement finally came through. The saga ended! I am getting ALL my money back.

YES.

All of it!

After 9 months, I will be reimbursed! I will re-count the epic, yes, EPIC (where generally people die at the end) tale of getting my money back.

I am so so so excited! This is not just they told me the invoices were processed and they will send the money. They have sent the money. The checks were posted in the mail on SEPTEMBER 9TH, 2014.

 

In other news…

 

On the 7th of September, 2014 I reached 100 subscription followers on my blog! Wow! I always prefer quick and instant gratification (who would ever said I don’t want that now, I want it in one year?) but I know big goals take time and persistence. For one year of nail art blogging, I am thrilled to have received 100 followers! I know my posts are not up to scratch because of flares and fatigue, and I disappear for short periods of time. I feel like I am not putting out my best work sometimes so I really appreciate you sticking with me through all of that! I’ve been considering a giveaway for some time and now is the best time to do it!

 

In celebration of all of the above…

 

I have not finalized what will be in the giveaway yet but it will contain some nail goodies and some RA-inspired goodies too! I want to keep it small so I can open the giveaway internationally!

I will use Rafflecopter to accept entries so expect more information on that in the next couple of weeks!

 

Seriously, thank you everyone!

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

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