#31DC2013 Day 2: Orange Nails

03 Tuesday Sep 2013

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Today’s 31 Day Challenge nail prompt is orange nails!

31DC2013

It is very Halloween but I love the bright orange, white and black combination so I decided to keep things simple.

Orange Nails prompt

Orange Nails prompt

I started with two coats of Color Club “Wham! Pow!”.

I applied two coats of Milani “Sprinkles”. The second coat I dotted on extra pieces to fill any gaps.

I used Bundle Monster plate “303” and Wet n Wild “Black Creme”. The stamp came out very light so I went over it with a brush.

I finished the look with Cult Nails “Wax That” top coat. I am not a huge fan of the matte finish top coats but I like Cult Nails’ wax top coat because it is a very subtle matte effect. It dries and works quickly which is always a plus!

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

#31DC2013 Day 1: Red Nails

02 Monday Sep 2013

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I not only decided to do the Nail Art Ideas Link-Up, more information here, but also I decided to try my hand at the 31 Day Challenge.

Click on the image to see original post.

Click on the image to see original post.

I am already behind by one day but this would have been my idea for the “Red Nails” prompt.

#31DC2013

Red Nails Prompt

I used two coats of butter London “Knees Up” for my base color.

I used a small artist’s brush to swipe a line in Color Club  “Warhol” and Cult Nails “Feel Me Up”. I then mixed the two colors and added a gentle swipe in between them for a linear gradient look.

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

Nail Art Ideas Link-Up: September Week One – Back To School

02 Monday Sep 2013

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I am taking part in this awesome Nail Art Ideas Link-Up (NAIL) hosted by Eeeek! Nail Polish!

For this first week I decided to take inspiration from my wonderful university Colorado State University!

Ram Pride

Let’s Show Some Ram Pride!

I painted my index, middle and pinky finger with two layers of Zoya “Goldie”. I sponged the tips with Zoya “Suvi”. To maximize the sponging in the middle I lightly sponged Chanel “Peridot”. I love Peridot because depending on the light it will look gold or green. Perfect for some Ram Pride!

I water-marbled my ring finger with the same colors. I wanted an accent nail to look different but not overwhelmingly so.

I used a toothpick to dot Color Club “Almost Famous” and “Twiggie”.

Finished off with INM “Northern Lights” top coat.

Enjoy!

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

Smile Like you Mean it

30 Friday Aug 2013

Posted by in Rheumatoid Arthritis

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To see the accompanying nail art click here.

Today I rock-climbed. No, let me re-phrase that. Today I rock-climbed well.

I climbed three 5.10s. Specifically, a 5.10a, a 5.10b, and a 5.10c. I climbed all three climbs from top to bottom without falling. I “sent” the climbs.

I knew sending the climbs was not important. I was just happy to be on the wall. I was not going to lie: I felt pleased. I was proud of myself. I had the strength, agility, and mobility to climb quickly and efficiently.

I climbed on and off for the last couple of weeks. There was a length of time when I could not climb at all because of the flare.

Before, every time I had a flare I lost my strength. I had to work my way back up the difficulty level of climbs. I was ecstatic when I realized I had not lost all my strength. Okay, so my fingers cramped up more than usual and I forced myself to stretch farther with my legs and shove my arms above my head but I was able to do it.

And sure, I am paying for it now. I am unable to climb the stairs properly, my elbows and shoulders lock, and my fingers cramp as I type. It is so worth it though.

When I was a junior in high school, I suffered through a bad bout of depression. I barely scraped by that year academically and emotionally.

Looking back, that year was a blur but there was one thing I will never forget.

My climbing coach pulled me aside one day and said to me, “Monica, I don’t think I have seen you smile at all this year. I miss your smile, it brightens my day. I think it brightens most people’s day.”

Today, for the first time in weeks, I genuinely smiled and laughed.

I know the difference between a forced and real smile. When I smile, for real, I feel it in my entire face. My cheeks get red, my eyes crinkle and light up. I show my teeth. My laugh lines go deep. I feel happy.

When I force that same smile it feels fake. People see right through me. They know it is a show.

I hope that because of this one smile everything will look up. This one smile is the crack I needed to find in the tunnel wall. The wall is weak around the crack.

I think I can push out now.

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

Nail Art: All in my Mind?

29 Thursday Aug 2013

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To see the accompanying post click here.

For this nail art I wanted to show my frustration. Whenever I do not see visible signs of swelling I always feel like a hypochondriac. It makes me wonder how much of this is in my mind. The fire represents the frustration I always feel and the little devil represents the insecurities that plant themselves and grow.

I apologize for the messy cuticles. I tried water-marbling before I did the fire. I also apologize for my index finger. I have not been able to shape it quite right recently.

Fiery Frustration and the Demons in my Mind

I started with three coats of Sephora by OPI “Metro Chic”. It is a very runny, sheer color and it does not reach full opacity before three coats. 

I then used a skinny artist’s brush to create the flames in Milani “Foxy Lady” (dark red), Color Club “Almost Famous” (yellow), “Wham! Pow!” (orange), and “Poptastic” (pink).

I applied one coat of INM “Northern Lights”. I like how it makes it look like there are sparks flying from the flames.

I used Bundle Monster plate “305” and Wet n Wild “Black Creme”.

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

Nail Art: When I Was a Child…

28 Wednesday Aug 2013

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When I was a child, I loved art-related activities. One of my all time favorites was ScratchArt.

Do you remember ScratchArt? A black waxy substance covered a multi-colored piece of paper. You scratched away the wax coating to show the colors underneath.

I decided to try doing a ScratchArt-inspired nail art.

ScratchArt

This nail art was tricky. It was important that each layer of nail polish dried completely or the colors got muddy.

I started with two coats of Essie “Blanc”. I added Seche Vite top coat. I did this so I would not rub down to bare nail.

I applied two coats of Zoya “Reece”, “Crystal”, “Goldie” and Urban Outfitters “Blue Velvet”. Urban Outfitters is so pigmented I only used one coat.

I ended with two coats of Wet n Wild “Black Creme”.

I used Q-tips soaked in nail polish remover to gently rub away the polishes. I used an upward stroke towards the tip of the nail. I did not rub the Q-Tip back and forth because the colors mix together.

I used fresh Q-tips for every two or three swipes to get sharp color contrast. They needed to be totally soaked in polish remover or the colors mix.

Did you ever use ScratchArt as a kid?

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

Quote

When I was a child…

27 Tuesday Aug 2013

Posted by in Rheumatoid Arthritis

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“When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child…”

People find me strange.  I turn giddy when I talk about the Hobbit. I wear my Winnie the Pooh earrings with pride. I manage to connect any real life event with I Love Lucy. I show no fear when gushing about Scooby Doo.

People say I never grow up.

I am ok with that. I have been through enough in my life to know that it is important to remember the happiest memories. For me, those memories are my childhood. I watched I Love Lucy marathons with my mother. I watched Scooby Doo cartoons in the morning. I read Winnie the Pooh books every night. I was happy and carefree. I did not worry about the future. I did not worry about college or what happens after I got that degree.

The world was open to my dreams and expectations.

I did not know limitations.

I worry so much now. Those memories keep me grounded. I am not afraid of showing my passion for my childhood obsessions. Those obsessions remind me of a time when I was always happy. I am rarely happy anymore. I am overwhelmed but I find peace in the small hidden treasures in the back of my mind.

 

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

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