#AtoZChallenge – Q is for Quality over Quanity Better?

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Today’s post is not really a blog post but a musing.

Everyone always says quality is better than quanity. Take my time, produce my best work and people will respond to that.

But is that true?

 

Whenever I post nail art every day or every two days my Instagram following increases and views on my blog also sky rocket. When I post daily I definitely do not put the same amount of energy into my photos or posts as I usually do because, I’m going to be honest, I just don’t have the time.

But! When I post sporadically and meticulously work on all parts of my post, I find that my social media presence remains stagnant or decreases.

What do you think of this phenomenon? Do people really only care if I post a lot??

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

#AtoZChallenge – O is for OPI!

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OPI’s polishes are sometimes a hit or miss for me. Some of the formulas and colors are fantastic, while others are just “meh”.

However, Guys & Galaxies, from their recent Starlight Collection, is one of my favorites. The formula is sheer and the color is similar if not a complete dupe for Sephora by OPI’s (SOPI) Mr. Right Now. This would not be a shock as both brands are OPI but it is nice to know there is another option since Sephora dropped OPI in favor of Formula X Nails.

opibottleFor today’s O post, I did a quick and simple stamping look!

I hope you like it!

 

opifingers

opiwobottleBase: OPI Guys & Galaxies

Stamping: Mundo de Unas Stamping Polish Copper, Pueen Cosmetics stamping plate PUEEN44, clear jelly stamper from Born Pretty Store

 

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

#AtoZChallenge – N is for New Hobbies, Nails and Nail Art

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I jumped into the nail art and blogging world without an introduction. I never actually said how I got into nail art which really surprised a whole bunch of people.

 

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(above) Check out some of my nail art through the years!

Growing up, I was a huge tomboy. I wore boy’s clothing and makeup was not my best friend. I always loved nail polish but only wore it on my toes because (even then!) I hated chipped nails.

Fast forward 10 years, add a Rheumatoid Arthritis diagnosis and  I was placed on a medical leave after over-working. I had nothing to do for two weeks. I could marathon Netflix for days but two weeks? My brain would turn to mush. Reading was always a must but just like well, everything else, I got distracted by all the books and mixed up my plots!

I needed something else so I stopped by a nearby Ulta and picked up six Zoya polishes on sale. I spent all two weeks trying different combinations, different techniques, photographing….and the rest was history!

 

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

#AtoZChallenge – L is for Let the Beat Drop!

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No, I’m not super fly nor a good dancer but I am a good nail artist. So, for the L prompt I decided on a quick, easy nail art look. “Let the Beat Drop” is a fantastic neon glitter topper from the nail polish brand China Glaze!

I am so thrilled with how this glitter gradient turned out. It is a super RA-friendly look and the glitters just melted right into the base.

I hope you like it!

 letthebeatdropBase: Barry M Gelly Chai

Glitter Topper: China Glaze Let the Beat Drop

 

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

#AtoZChallenge – M is for Marmalade!

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Ah, my first pet. Ever. Well, not exactly. I always had fish and hermit crabs but those don’t really count, do they?

We adopted Marmalade just a week after my mother passed away. I was 12 and a half years old and my father was speaking to our veterinarian (later, my boss) who mentioned they had a hospital cat looking for adoption. My dad thought it was time to give me a little more responsibility and get my first pet.

 

Marmalade ProfessionalActually, one of the veterinary technicians I worked with owned Marmalade (known as Samantha (ick!)) but she moved away to an apartment where she couldn’t keep pets. This all happened around the same time my mother passed away so it really was fate that Marmalade landed in our lives.

 

She is 15 years old and grumpy. I’d chock that up to age except that she was always grumpy. She was a 10 year old cat in a 1 year old’s body. She pretended she disliked everyone but really was a social, loving, maternal cat.

Sleeping

20150704_211120It’s weird to think she could have been someone else’s cat. I don’t think she would have been as wonderful with someone else. When I take a nap, she protects me by screaming and slapping anyone who tries to wake me up. When I’m ill she does not leave my side. She actually follows me around at my heels, which may or may not be a good thing as I constantly trip over her. If I’m bed-ridden she either sleeps by my side or stands guard outside my door. If I move or yawn she comes running to me, sits on my lap and stares at me to make sure I’m not on Death’s door. She won’t eat or drink or use the litter box until I’m asleep and immediately returns so I don’t miss her.

 

But, of course, when I am a-ok all she wants is her fishes!

 

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

#AtoZChallenge – K is for Kittehs, Kneading, and Kindness…Or Not…

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Do your cats knead? My cats knead a lot.

 

DSCF2607There are many beliefs about why they do this.

  1. Cats knead their mother’s belly to start milk flow during nursing age. They remember this and years later, in adulthood, show the same affection towards me.
  2. They are just looking for a more comfortable spot. After all, they knead blankets and pillows just as much as they push and pull me.
  3. And, my personal favorite (according to the Oatmeal’s book “How to Tell if your Cat is Plotting to Kill You), “[your] cat is actually checking your internal organs for weaknesses.”

Honestly, all three ideas are extremely possible.

 

Which do you think it is? Do you have any other speculations? Let me know in the comments!

#AtoZChallenge – J is Going for the Jugular

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Speaking of instinct, just over four years ago, Saachi attacked Affie and ripped her lower mandible off her face. Yes, you read that correctly.

 

IMAG0682Saachi was always food-anxious and one morning, as I prepared their meal she just snapped. The way Affie’s injuries turned out we figure she had jumped up to say good morning and Saachi just switched.

Saachi swung the poor girl from side to side and it took both me and my aunt to pull them apart. We rushed Affie to emergency where she stabilized. The hospital kept her mouth closed in a makeshift sling so her jaw wouldn’t just hang then two days later she went through severe dental surgery.

 

IMG-20130224-00205The dental specialist told us this was the most complex surgery he had done. Her entire lower jaw had separated from the rest of her skull. The right break was clean while the left side completely shattered. Thankfully, the muscles remained intact so it was just a matter of her bone healing properly. Unfortunately, there was a 50/50 chance Affie would be paralyzed on her left side.

The surgeon clamped her jaw shut with a wire on both sides and said we just had to hope the bone would heal properly.

We spent 5 months taking Affie out on leash, keeping her from jumping, running, going up/down the stairs (she also broke her leg), weathering the cold, her tantrums, and vomiting her meds on purpose but the time finally came to see how well her face healed.

 

IMG-20130522-00089She went into a second surgery to remove her rotted teeth (we couldn’t brush them while she was healing) and wires and we found out that everything healed perfectly well. She was 100% healed, no paralysis!

 

But, back to Saachi really quickly. I never felt anger towards her. After all, she was a dog who acted on instinct. She felt threatened and she attacked. It ended in more injuries just because of their size difference. After all, Saachi was 10 times bigger than Affie. And what was really amazing was how forgiving Affie was! They did drift apart slightly after the attack but Affie forgave Saachi ten days after her surgery, she went up to her wagged her tail and licked her nose. I may not go on instinct like a dog but I don’t know if I’d be that forgiving towards the person who tried to kill me!

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Smiling seven days later!

We were extremely lucky Affie was too stubborn to die and now four years later it is like nothing ever happened!

 

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

 

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