Tag Archives: blogging community

#31DC2015 – Green and Silver Stamping Nail Art

04 Friday Sep 2015

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Today I went with some simple stamping. I just re-did my 31-Day Challenge tab and realized today’s look is nearly identical to last year’s: silver stamping over a dark green. However, this year, I used a different base and a different stamping plate!

I hope you like it!

 

#31DC2015 - Green and Silver Stamping #NailArt | The Rite of AgingBase: Glam Polish Fangorn Forest

Stamping: Color Club On the Rocks, Pueen Cosmetics PUEEN33

 

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

 

Follow me on Bloglovin’ as it’s the best way to keep up with me during the challenge!

#31DC2015 – Black and Orange Gradient

02 Wednesday Sep 2015

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The weather has been so sunny recently (albeit a bit humid) so I switched my photos and opted for natural light. However, this means I have to finish my nail art by about 6pm and the time will slowly inch earlier and earlier as the month progresses. I may return to my indoor lighting or take photos the next morning before work. Unfortunately, I may have some wear and tear on the tips. Ah well, I’ll cross that bridge when I get there!

I cannot wait until I purchase my new camera! I have my eyes on the Canon Rebel t3i. I tried a friend’s and it was amazing. I instantly fell in love and crossed the Sony RX100 III off my list (okay, that’s a lie, it is still on my list as a basic not so basic point and shoot).

 

For today’s orange prompt I did a gradient. I love gradients but I especially love orange ones. Interestingly, as you may remember, I am not a fan of Halloween and never quite understood the orange and black color scheme. Regardless, I LOVE the combination on my nails..go figure!

I spiced things up with a little shimmer in between and I have to say I dig the final result. Do I seem more bubbly to you? I’m in a fantastic mood. I am back on the “good” meds. I exercise every day, nap less and am in better spirits. Also. I hate August. August is gone. YES.

And now I bring myself back from that tangent…

 

#31D2015 - Orange Gradient Nail Art | The Rite of AgingBase: Wet n Wild Black Creme, Urban Outfitters Westside

Gradient (from cuticles to tips): Wet n Wild Black Creme, Urban Outfitters Banana Hammock, Westside

Stud: Born Pretty Store

 

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

 

Don’t forget to follow me on Bloglovin’ if you want to keep up with my looks this month!

31DC2015 – Red

01 Tuesday Sep 2015

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It is officially the start of the September 31-Day monthly challenge! I really hope I can keep up this year. I completed the challenge during my first year of blogging and during a time when my RA was at its worst…If I could get through the daily prompts then I can certainly manage them now…Right? Only time will tell!

 

For today’s prompt I decided to ease my way into the month with a simple glitter gradient. I spent the last few days re-arranging, de-cluttering and making sure my nail polish swatches were up to date. In the process I re-discovered a few old favorites! I blame it on the small bottles. When a company manufactures a travel/trial size of their bigger products I never hesitate purchasing the smaller version. It is especially difficult for me to get through polishes so the mini bottles are my best bet!

In actuality, this entire look features forgotten polishes: the glitter is from my favorite indie brand and the base is an old Milani…I’ve probably mentioned this multiple times  but I do not want to use any of my old Milani polishes! I am less than impressed with the new formulation and I never want to run out of the old ones I have left. Is that weird? Do you do that too? Let me know in the comments! 

I hope you like my simple nail art today. I have an entire month to build on my techniques and as it is, I probably will focus on RA-friendly looks anyways!

 

31dc15 - redBase: Milani Foxy Lady

Glitter: Serum no.5 Fallen

 

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

 

Follow me on Bloglovin’. It’s the best way to keep up with me during the challenge!

It’s that Time of Year Again – the Annual 31-Day Challenge!

31 Monday Aug 2015

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One of my favorite times of the nail blogging year is back! The 2015 31-Day Challenge hosted by Sarah from Chalkboard Nails will take place throughout September! This was the first full monthly challenge I completed after I began blogging in August 2013. I am so excited to take on this month again and hopefully I will make it through!

There are four different banners to choose from (found on Sarah’s information post here and the FAQ page here). My personal favorite and the one I will feature in the sidebar is the one below. The sidebar image will post to the FAQ site.

Since Sarah does not plan to post directly to her blog but share her creations on IG, Cathy from More Nail Polish graciously made the Inlinkz codes for the bloggers to use on their sites (linked here).

And, don’t forget to hashtag #31DC2015 on all social media platforms to connect with others doing the challenge!

 

31dc2015-prompts-3

 

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

Neon Gradient Sugar-Spun Nail Art

05 Wednesday Aug 2015

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I am so so so sorry for the quality of this picture. I took multiple photos, many times and I never got a decent one! Eventually I snapped one with flash and while my skin is freakish, I got a clear shot of the sugar-spin.

There are multiple Instagram challenges going on in August and while I am not sure I will take on each and every prompt, I will definitely do the ones that peak my interest. Gradient and rainbow did so the following manicure covers both the #clairestelle8august and #dreamnailschallenge challenges!

I was a little skeptical about using neons for the sugar-spin especially since Sun Worshiper dries down sort of matte. I was pleasantly surprised. All three polishes I used worked wonderfully and the gradient came out exactly how I wanted.

I am a little peeved my middle nail ended up a little stringier than usual but my nails are so short I had to make the threads a little thinner.

Check out the bottom of the post for some of my tricks for a great sugar-spin!

 

Neon Gradient Sugar-Spun Nail Art | The Rite of AgingBase: Milani Fast Fuchsia

Sugar-Spin (from cuticle to tip): Color Club Wham! Pow!, China Glaze Sun Worshiper, Daisy Know Me Name?

 

I am not sure I can do a proper video tutorial until I get a new camera. I am still using my phone and I just don’t know how to take a video while doing a sugar-spin! So, for now, I will just write down so tips below! If you have any questions please ask!!

 

  • I use a clean white piece of paper for my polish puddles. This way I do not mistakenly blend pigments.
  • I pour out the polishes before I apply my base color. That way, I am not waiting around for ages for them become tacky.
  • I use separate toothpicks for each color.
  • While I wait for each layer of my base coat and base color to dry I turn the polish over so it dries evenly.
  • After I am done with the sugar-spin, I use the clean side of the toothpick to gently push the edges of the threads underneath the nail. Then, I pull the excess straight back for easier clean-up. Otherwise, the cleanup brush will move the polish around and ruin the design.
  • If parts of the threads are too gloopy use the clean side of the toothpick to gently pull from the center of the thread to the edges of the nail.

 

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

OMD3 – Floral Freehand Nail Art for #mynailsandmyperfume

31 Friday Jul 2015

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We’re at the end of the OMD3 challenge! What a month. I am so proud of myself I managed to keep up. There were a couple of days here and there when I fell behind (and yes, one of them was yesterday) but I caught up and finished on time!

 

I am a perfume girl. I wear it every day even inside the house. I love scents. And, according to my friends, I have a signature one. The perfume mixes well with my body chemistry and they smell as one. When I wear other perfumes everyone knows I am wearing a scent but when I wear my signature it’s like I’m not wearing anything. Ah, I have reached perfume wearing perfection!

Now…what is this holy grail perfume??? Prada Infusion d’Iris.

 

Storytime: I actually first smelled this from an magazine insert. I fell in love and bought it without testing it in-store. Sounds like a disaster waiting to happen, doesn’t it? Well, it turned out to be the ONE. What a stroke of luck!

 

I decided to push myself for the last day and freehand some flowers. I practiced painting irises but they did not turn out too well so I opted for regular flowers in iris colors. I hope you like it!

 

#OMD3NAILS - Freehand Irises Nail Art | The Rite of Aging

 

#OMD3NAILS - Freehand Irises Nail Art | The Rite of AgingBase: Pahlish Sunless Sea

Details: acrylic paints

 

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

OMD3 – Dots and Decals Nail Art for #mynailsandmybag

31 Friday Jul 2015

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I really don’t understand why sometimes my camera decides to take different types of pictures at different points in the day. I take my photos in the same room, inside the house, away from natural light…so, I would think the photos would be unaffected. My phone is quite odd sometimes. My photos are pretty subpar today but I really couldn’t win the fight. Hopefully when I do the last prompt tonight it will no longer throw its tantrum!

Anyways, I hope you like my nail art inspired by my Jonathan Adler bag! I saw this about a year ago on the Gilt.com website and immediately bought it. No hesitations or questions. I needed this bag.

Hope you like it!

 

Jonathan Adler Dogs Bag | The Rite of Aging

 

#OMD3NAILS - Dots and Decals Nail Art | The Rite of AgingBase: OPI Red Lights Ahead…Where?

Dots: Anise Make Waves

Decals: Pueen Cosmetics

 

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.