Nail Art: Snow Day, Please?

19 Tuesday Nov 2013

Posted by in Nail Art, Reviews

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It may have been warm (as in high 60s) and sunny today, but I was craving snow!

 

Also, I just wanted to play with my new polishes!

 

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The second picture better shows the “snow falling from the sky” effect I was going for.

 

I used 3 coats of Revlon Parfumerie “Fresh Linen”. This is a very frosty, pearly white. The formula is extremely streaky and barely reaches full opacity with three coats. However, the scent does reflect clean laundry and is not overwhelming. Amazingly, it still smells even after top coat!

I dotted with Julie G “White Orchid” and topped with Seche Vite.

I sponged Maybelline Color Show Brocades “Crushed Crimson” on the bottom half of my nails. I did not capture it in these two photos but there is a heavy gold shimmer in it.

I re-dotted with White Orchid and topped with Sinful Colors “Holiday Rebel”.

 

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

Nail Art: Cozy Sweater

17 Sunday Nov 2013

Posted by in Nail Art

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I decided to match my nails to my favorite lime green and grey striped sweater!

 

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I started with 2 coats of Sephora by OPI “It’s Totally Karma”.

I sponged Cult Nails  “Deal with It” and butter London “Hen Party” to add dimension to the base. It is extremely subtle but the color does not lie flat as it sometimes does with matte top coats.

I jazzed up my nails with Sephora by OPI Jewelry Top Coat “Come to Pappa-razzi”.

I was feeling matte today so I covered all my nails with Cult Nails “Wax That” top coat.

I finished with a sugar-spin with Sephora by OPI “Metro Chic”.

 

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

What to Do About a Fever?

17 Sunday Nov 2013

Posted by in Rheumatoid Arthritis

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I know fevers can be dangerous in people with autoimmunes.

 

A fever means there is a bacteria or infection and the body is raising it’s temperature to fight them.

Here’s the thing: RA flares usually, not always, include fevers because the immune system tricks itself into thinking there are unhealthy cells.

Which means the immune system cannot distinguish between the healthy tissue and actual infection.

 

This fever with a flare is relatively new for me. Fevers only started accompanying my flares a year ago.

So.

How do I know when I really need to pay attention to the fever?

 

Do I wait to see if it goes away?

Should I take extra medication?

Should I just ignore it?

 

I do not feel sick, as in cold or flu-ish. My fevers never stay for more than a day.

So, if it lasts more than a day should I worry?

 

I want to think that if it is a problem, I will be able to tell.

 

Thoughts?

 

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

Nail Art: Stormy Weather

16 Saturday Nov 2013

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Remember when I said it was cold? Apparently, I lied.

It got warm and rainy.

Probably means we are in for a very bitter winter!

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Bases:

Thumb & Ring: Julie G “White Orchid”

Index & Pinky: Milani “Black Swift”

Middle: Sephora by OPI “Metro Chic”

Detailing:

Thumb & Ring: Marbling – Orly “Bonder”, Sephora by OPI “Metro Chic” and “Go My Own Way”, Essie “No Place Like Chrome”

Index & Pinky: Sponging – Sephora by OPI “Go My Own Way” and “Metro Chic”, Wet n Wild “Blue Moon”

Middle: Sponging Gradient – Sephora by OPI “Go My Own Way” followed by Wet n Wild “Blue Moon” on the tips.

Stamping: Essie “No Place Like Chrome” and Bundle Monster plate “BM 312”.

 

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

Friday Flashback: Hurt Healer

16 Saturday Nov 2013

Posted by in Animal Sciences

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Wow. Two weeks in and I already messed up my days! I thought yesterday was Thursday so I did not even think to write up my “flashback” post.

Since I am flared up and Marmalade sleeps on my hurting joints I thought it would be fitting to talk about the first time Marmalade “took care” of me.

 

We had only had her for two months when I got braces. My jaw, mouth and teeth were sore beyond belief. Because of the level of pain, I was insanely light-sensitive. I spent most of the afternoon and evening with my blankets over my head.

Marmalade started to pace up and down the length of my body.

 

I knew she came from a good place because she was worried about me, but this cat was ridiculous!

 

She screamed and yowled for a response. I ignored her.

She pawed and scrambled the blankets off my face. I pulled them back over.

Finally, she stopped! YES.

No.

She gave up. But not entirely. She just sat on my face and curled up into a ball.

I know she meant well but 16 pounds of cat fat does not help an aching face!

 

just lazing around!

 

Marmalade is an extremely caring cat. Maternal in many ways. I love that she knows what hurts and she sleeps on the exact spot. However, when I am already in pain, it does not make matters much better!

 

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

The Infusion

15 Friday Nov 2013

Posted by in Rheumatoid Arthritis

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To see the accompanying nail art click here.

 

This post is way overdue but I guess it works out better since I can talk about how well my new medication works.

For a year I was on weekly Orencia subcutaneous (under-skin) self-injections. I thought they were great. Until they were not anymore and stopped working. I tried Xeljanx for a month with absolutely no results. It was like I was on no medication whatsoever. So, I went back to Orencia.

On the first round of Orencia, I felt 80%! That had to be the record so far. When I returned to it I never felt better than 50%. It was a huge bummer.

My rheumatologist and I decided to try the monthly Orencia IV (through the vein) infusion instead. What was the harm? I planned on living in the same place for at least 6-12 more months and it was best to start new medications in as controlled environment as possible. We knew I had success with the subq (abbreviation for subcutaneous) injections and I would be more receptive to the higher dosage extended over a month.

 

I am not going to lie. I was a little upset.

When starting the weekly subq injections, I had to sit with the IV to kick-start the process. Three days later, I was hiking, climbing, active!

I was expecting the same reaction. So when I still felt lousy, my spirits sank.

Two weeks later, like clockwork, I felt great..but, only for two weeks.

There was a mix up with my insurance and I sat for the infusion a week late. (Note: with all the changes in public healthcare, private companies are more calculated about which and from where they will cover biological medications.)

There was one disastrous week when the previous month wore off and the current dose settled.

 

Now we are careful to make sure I get the infusion on time every month.

I feel great. (For the most part.)

I am easing my way back into climbing.

 

The only caveat? If I really mess up and flare, I do not have as many quick-fix meds (like my weekly injections) to “put out the fire”. I can only rely on prednisone. Slow and steady wins the race. Rather, slow and steady is my only option to win the race 😉

 

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

Nail Art: Snow Globe

12 Tuesday Nov 2013

Posted by in Nail Art

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To see the accompanying post, click on the first picture!

I really have to gush about this nail art. I wanted to go for a snow globe effect, which I had a lot of trouble photographing. In person, though, it looks exactly like a snow globe! There are a ton of top coat layers. This manicure better last!

 

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The picture below shows the snow globe effect a little better.

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Now on to the fun stuff. Let’s see if I remember all the steps!

I started with 2 coats Milani “Peacock”.

I dotted with Julie G “White Orchid” and Essie “No Place Like Chrome”.

I stamped with Zoya “Crystal”, Wet n Wild “Blue Moon”, and Bundle Monster plate “BM 319”.

I applied 1 heavy coat of Seche Vite.

I used water decals from Born Pretty Store on my thumb and middle finger.

I applied 2 coats of Seche Vite and 1 coat of INM “Northern Lights”.

I dotted again with the Zoya, Wet n Wild, and Julie G. 

1 more coat of Seche Vite!

 

I hope you enjoy this as much as I do!

 

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

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