Posting Schedule!

29 Thursday May 2014

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Hey all!

I have worked out a blogging schedule!

 

Sunday: Nail Art/Challenge post

Monday: Off or catch-up

Tuesday: Nail Art/Challenge post

Wednesday: RA post

Thursday: Nail Art/Challenge post

Friday: Miscellaneous post (includes beauty reviews, just for funs, other randoms)

Saturday: Miscellaneous post (could also include random nail arts that do not pertain to a challenge)

 

I know I have a lot of readers who are interested in just the RA or in just the Nail Art aspects of my blog so I wanted to allocate specific days for these posts.

If anything changes, I will be sure to tell you! I may even have time for two posts a day but I am not making any promises on that front since typing can sometime evade me.

 

I  hope this is helpful for future reads! I will update my “About Me” page with this information and future updates! If you have suggestions or want to see more/fewer types of posts please comment below!!

 

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

Gnarly Gnails’ Neverending Pile Challenge – Polish Trend That Died Before You Wore It

28 Wednesday May 2014

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Yay for spotty participation in this challenge! But, as you know, I rarely own untrieds since I cannot help but play with new nail polishes! However, when the challenge started I noticed a few prompts I wanted to take part in so I refrained from using certain polishes.

 

A few months ago, I noticed the Nails Inc. Feathers Effect polishes were on sale at the Sephora website. They looked interesting and I had nothing like them. Since the originally $11.00 polishes were on sale for $5.00 I excitedly put one in my basket.

After months, there is still one color left. Is that any indication of how well this trend did?

Regardless of this challenge, I never have occasion to use this topper. It is an extremely odd polish. On the nail, the bar pieces appear hairy. The affect does not add to the manicure. I can see why this trend never made it.

That being said, the formula is great. I am an avid fan of Nails. Inc polishes and this polish does not disappoint. The clear base is thin and easy to manipulate. The feathers are dense and I did not have to fish for them in the bottle. The best part of all? They self-level! A win of a formula.

 

ImageI used 3 coats of Nails Inc. Sprinkles Pudding Lane as my base.

I concentrate Nails Inc. Feathers York at the cuticles and brushed towards the tips.

 

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

 

Don’t forget to check out the nail polish trends graveyard below!

The Chronicles of the Orencia Infusion: May

28 Wednesday May 2014

Posted by in Rheumatoid Arthritis

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The morning of my IV infusion was a breeze. I requested the day off from work. My appointment was at 10:30 so I ate my breakfast peacefully and took my meds. I cared for my pets. Stress-free morning!

Question: Has anyone else noticed if you eat breakfast quickly it sometimes feels like you never ate breakfast? For me, if I don’t eat breakfast over at least an hour it feels like it does not metabolize correctly. Am I weird?

 

Every month, the technician monitors my blood pressure because Orencia is a biological medication. This month, my BP was low! This was not an issue but it was surprising! I had three glasses of water to stay hydrated. I took my time eating my breakfast and it should have metabolized by then. My BP should not have been 100/60. That is not to say this is a problem. I mean, better low than high but still…strange. I generally range between 110-120/80-90.

It just goes to show how interesting the body is. Things happen for no rhyme or reason but the body always manages to stay even-keeled.

 

The IV went through my right arm this month. No pain, no itching, no rash, no redness. The whole ordeal took about 45 minutes with no interesting updates. I brought my Instyle magazine and read it, patiently.

My infusion happened during the peak of my non-sleep cycle. I spent 5-10 minutes reading the same three paragraphs and retained nothing!

 

Huh…

Maybe that is why my blood pressure was so low? Lack of sleep? 

When I returned home I took a nap. As per usual, I felt groggy after the IV but thankfully, I did not need as long a nap as last month’s.

 

All in all, everything went smoothly. I had no trouble shipping my medications. I did not have any reactions. The infusion time was a little longer than usual but I think the technician made the drip slower because I did not have the usual IV reactions. This is a good sign! Hopefully, from now I will not have any bumps in the road!

 

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

Crumpet’s Nail Tarts May TPC #4: Purple, Red, Green

27 Tuesday May 2014

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Today marks the last May Tri-Polish Challenge. I have come to appreciate this set of colors. Before this month I had never put them together but I am very pleased with all my ideas for this challenge!

For this manicure I took inspiration from Vic at glowstars.net. I really love her nail designs. They are funky and so precise!!  I especially swooned over her splatter-foil manicure, linked here. Unfortunately, my Color Club polish was too thick for a proper splatter but I think it came out interestingly enough anyways!

 

ImageI used 3 coats of Cult Nails Deal with It as my base.

I sponge-gradiented Zoya Cheryl on the tips.

I detailed with Color Club Mrs. Robinson.

 

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

 

The Crumpet’s SIMPLES Challenge: Week Two – The Non Pattern Skittle Manicure

26 Monday May 2014

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I rarely do non pattern skittle manicures unless it is an Ombre-style. I tried to push myself out of my comfort zone for this challenge but somehow ended up in the same color category!! I thought the bright yellow worked well with the other purples. That counts, right??

 

ImageFrom thumb to pinky (all three coats + Seche Vite)

  • Color Club Mrs. Robinson
  • Color Club Pucci-licious
  • Zoya Payton
  • (1 coat) butter London Cotton Buds, Urban Outfitters Banana Hammock
  • Sephora by OPI Caffeine Fix

 

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

 

FingerFood’s Themed Weeks: Nature

26 Monday May 2014

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For this week’s Theme Buffet (Facebook group linked here) I decided on a solar flare. I tried water-spotting for the first time. It did not come out exactly like the tutorials show but I think it really encompasses the flare-like feel. I really want to try this again with an ocean/water color scheme!

I hope you enjoy!

 

Image

ImageI used two coats of Color Club Almost Famous! and one coat of Sinful Colors Chick Chick as my base.

I water-spotted with Sephora by OPI Mr. Right Now, Zoya Cheryl, Cult Nails Captivated and Color Club Wham! Pow!.

I used two very generous coats of Seche Vite to even everything out before topping off with a coat of INM Northern Lights for a sparkling finish!

 

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

 

Check out the other manicures for this week’s theme!

NAIL May Theme Three: Emerald

25 Sunday May 2014

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I bought a light box! I am playing around with pictures and brightness and things so please let me know if you like the picture quality!! Though, I think this picture came out a little more yellow than I would like.

When I saw the NAIL prompt for this week I instantly thought of the Deborah Lippmann “Wicked” set I purchased from Sephora. What better way to express Emerald than with references to the Wizard of Oz’s Emerald City?

I did a simple gradient by a different technique. I usually gradient with a sponge eyeshadow brush but it looks a little choppy so I am practicing the makeup sponge gradient style.

I think it came out pretty well. I hope you like it!

 

ImageI used three coats of American Apparel Parakeet as my base.

I used Deborah Lippman Defying Gravity in the middle and One Short Day on the tips.

 

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

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