Tag Archives: Glitter Gal

Blue, Blue and Blue Dots | Nail Art

09 Monday May 2016

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Asymmetrical dotticures are my second favorite look (after sugar-spins). I like that there is no pattern so I do not have to painstakingly measure the area between dots. They do not have to be perfectly sized to their neighbors and the eye plays tricks so the nail always looks the same as the others.

I hope you like it!

 

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dots3Base: Glitter Gal Australia Bluemerang

Dots: SinfulColors Why Not, Midnight Blue, Milani Power Periwinkle, Blue Print, China Glaze Purple Panic

 

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

Orencia – Month Seven | Rheumatoid Arthritis & Nail Art

01 Monday Feb 2016

Posted by in Nail Art, Rheumatoid Arthritis

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I have been on Orencia Abatacept for seven months. This is around the time we see the effects plateau. I took Orencia three times previously, both in subcutaneous and interveneous forms and each time I saw a dip in its effectiveness.

Orencia always works better than the other biologic medications. I feel less fatigued, painful and swollen. I also do not have any reactions to it which is a huge bonus.

And, even though this medication works best, the effects only last a couple of weeks. When I feel well, I wake up early and only need a short nap during the day but as the Orencia wears off I sleep later in the mornings and pass out for hours at a time during the afternoons. Sleeping is the best. I love napping but if I look back on the past five years I realize I spent more than half of it not awake! That’s a lot of time wasted…

When I go in for my infusion I am down for the count for a couple of days. I am not necessarily lethargic or painful, just a little out of it. Once the following week rolls around I snap back to attention, I have a bounce in my step and I feel “better”.

As the Orencia builds up in my system I do not think I will feel “better” immediately after each infusion but I shouldn’t feel worse. I still crave sleep and feel a noticeable dip in energy toward 3 or 4 pm. I am not sure if this is normal for seven months into this medication.

I sometimes feel like climbing after work but more often than not I just feel tired. The farther I have to drive (for work) the less likely I can do anything afterwards. I am usually too exhausted to even do my nails!

 

Regardless of my grievances, I prefer Orencia more than the other biologics but I wish it worked even better. But, I guess, beggars can’t be choosers!

Below, is the nail art I made for this month’s Orencia post. I hope you like it!

1-orenciadotsBase: Milani Power Periwinkle (old formula)

Dots: Zoya Crystal (un-matte), China Glaze UV Meant to Be, Pop Beauty Pacific Hoot, Glitter Gal Australia Bluemerang, Milani Blue Print (new formula)

Matte Top Coat: Essie Matte About You

 

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

Icy Blue Stripes | Nail Art & Review

20 Friday Nov 2015

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Some products provided for review. All opinions are my own.

Some of you may remember that a few months ago I was all blue-d out. Yes, you read that right: blue-d out. All the looks I made in August were blue except for one and when I went into the 31-Day Challenge in September I was wholly uninspired by the color.

I filtered out it as much as possible to give myself a break and I finally decided to use it again. It was surprisingly easy to stay away from my favorite color. It is not only my go to in clothes and decorations but it is the hue I wear most often on my nails.

I also lay striping to the wayside but mostly because I do not like the technique. When I chose products to review from the Born Pretty Store I was immediately drawn to a striping tape holder. Maybe an actual holder, fashioned after a Scotch Tape dispenser might make the whole process easier!

 

Born Pretty Store Striping Tape Holder | The Rite of Aging

The striping tape comes out easily but it does not fit snugly into the canister so it constantly moves around inside. This affects the tape placed on the nail and continuously pulls it up. I have to use scissors to cut the tape as the mouth does not have ridges.

All this being said, the tape container keeps the striping tape from rolling back into itself and saves me the hassle of finding the end. I prefer this holder over a basic Scotch Tape one because it is closed, lightweight, and durable.

I expected more from this basic holder but looking at the website it is only advertised as a basic tape holder and that is what it is. As long as the end doesn’t stick back onto the roll I am happy!

 

Icy Blue Striping Tape Nail Art | The Rite of AgingBase: China Glaze UV Meant to Be

Glitter: SinfulColors Ice Dream

Sponged Top: Glitter Gal True Blue Aussie

Striping Tape: assorted colors bought from Amazon.com, BPS Striping Tape Holder ($1.59 here)

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

10% off code

#31DC2015 – Blue Waterfall Nail Art

05 Saturday Sep 2015

Posted by in Community, Nail Art

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We are only five days in and I already hit nail artist block?? I tried five different designs and none of them looked right! I racked my brains, I skimmed through old photos and I met with absolutely no inspiration.

I realized this morning most of the looks I did in August were all blue! No wonder! I am burnt out. Hopefully if I lay off the color I will recharge my blue batteries.

I did not necessarily want to do this design but I couldn’t do anything else. I pulled out some old polishes I had not used in a while. I forgot how much I love the Nails Inc. glitter. The colors shouldn’t work together but they do somehow!

Hope you like it!

 

#31DC2015 - Blue Waterfall #nailart | The Rite of AgingBases: Barry M Chai & Glitter Gal Galaxy Holo Top Coat; China Glaze UV Meant to Be & Nails Inc. Sprinkles Pudding Lane

Waterfall: acrylic paints

 

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

Follow me on Bloglovin’ | Twitter | or Facebook to keep up with me during the challenge!

Bubblies Under the Sea with Born Pretty Store

21 Friday Aug 2015

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Some items provided for review.

 

A while ago I attempted the recently popular bubble nail art technique. You know, the one where you paint a blob on your nail, let it set for a few seconds, then absorb the middle pigment with a dry Q-tip? Well, the result turned out worse than when I tried the blobbicure so when I saw these neat bubble water decals on the Born Pretty Store website I did not even think twice about grabbing them. Get the same look without the hassle and stress? Can someone shout “RA-friendly”!

I had no complaints with these particular decals. They separated well from the backing paper. The decals are thin but sturdy and did not flip or crumple while I worked with them.

I could not decide between holo top coat or a matte one so I used both! This is definitely a simple look but I really dig it! I hope you do too!

 

Bubbly Water Decals Nail Art | The Rite of AgingBases: China Glaze UV Meant to Be, Glitter Gal Bluemerang over SinfulColors Whiteboard. I am not very keen on the Glitter Gal polishes. They were on sale at LLarowe for $1.50 and it appears they were for good reason. Bluemerang is extremely sheer and difficult to build to opacity. For my own sanity I applied two coats over Whiteboard.

Everything is topped with INM Northern Lights Silver and Essie Matte About You.

Decals: Born Pretty Store (one sheet retails for $1.64 here)

 

Don’t forget to use my 10% off coupon if you are interested in these or any of the website’s massive stock!

10% off code

 

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

Under the Sea Blue Gradient Nail Art

17 Monday Aug 2015

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Well hello there lovely people!

Today I have a fun blue gradient with the brightest blue cremes in my collection! Just looking at them puts me in a good mood. And, as per usual, I did not leave well enough alone and added some sea creatures to my waves. Thankfully, they came out well and added nicely to the look!

Unfortunately, I completely forgot Why Not stains worse than any other polish in my collection. I used Crystalline Nail Veil but there was still skin that couldn’t avoid the inevitable. I am not really looking forward to taking this look off which is just as well because I love it so much!

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend!

 

 

Under the Sea Blue Gradient Nail Art | The Rite of AgingBase: SinfulColors Whiteboard

Gradient (from cuticles to tip): Glitter Gal Bluemerang, China Glaze UV Meant to Be, SinfulColors Why Not

Stamping: Creative Shop stamper, MoYou London Sailor 08, Wet n Wild Black Creme

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

OMD3 – Watercolor and Freehand Nail Art

18 Saturday Jul 2015

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Check the sidebar for information links to this challenge.

I was actually on top of the fish prompt but I attempted the look twice and both  looked horrendous. I was already very tired that evening so I lost all motivation to continue.

I had so many cute stamps I wanted to use and every time I stamped (yes, I mean every FINGER) the image looked different and warped. I just couldn’t do it. I shrugged and said ‘I’ll try them again on the weekend’. Well, the weekend is here and I thought, “obviously I cannot stamp so I might as well do something else”. These freehand fishes aren’t super intricate but I think they are kind of cute!

Hope you like it!

 

#OMD3NAILS - Watercolor and Freehand Fish Nail Art | The Rite of AgingBase: Glitter Gal Bluemerang

Watecolor: Emily de Molly Candy Coated, Milani Power Periwinkle, China Glaze UV Meant to Be, Picture Polish Serenity

Detail: acrylic paint

 

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.