Long and Strong Nails

Oregon 

Hello Hello,

I am so excited. Christmas and New years are just around the corner and I have always made these dates markers for making sure a few things on my person are up to par. For instance my Hair (this topic is a whole story in itself) however what I mean is I'll stop using hot tools on it and trim it about 8 weeks before the event and look up ideas on pintrest to be inspired. another thing is my nails and that brings us to today's blog.

So I have to be super honest first and for most. I have always had strong nails. However growing up I never kept them out of my mouth. Biting them not because I was nervous more because it was a habit. All the way until my late teens. It went fairly well I always had Hard as nails by Sally Hansen in stock lol. I played the Piano so having a broken nail here and there was fact of life. Once I was old enough to know what fake nails where I would get discouraged if one broke before an event and I would go and get all of them done to look as natural as possible. (I'm a naturalist living in the real world lol) and that's where my nails began to go down the drain. Because after I get them done and the fake nails have come off, my natural nails are so brittle and thin that they split and break so easy. and it takes a good 2 months to grow them back out strong.  I was able to get them back for about 2 years and then I have no idea what happened but probably like 7 months ago they turned into these brittle thin things on the tips of my fingers.  I was desperate I had a important trip coming up so I.. You guessed it I got them done and it was so nice to have them all done the same even though I knew what was coming up 2 weeks later. That's about how long they last me. I had to stop and ask myself what was really going on? I am of a certain age now and I really hadn't changed my diet. So I began to do research and also I remembered what girlfriends have done and what worked for them. One of the things I started doing that I really never have done is take vitamins. You can talk with your doctor about what works for you. I take a Vitamin that has Calcium, Biotin and Iron in it. I also started scrubbing my hands and nails once a week with the Satin hands from Mary Kay. It gives me a moment to pamper myself and it smells really good, yes I use the fragrance free go figure. The last thing I have started to do is apply Nail envy by O.P.I $17.50 at a Spa/Salon close by. I have some before and after pics for you. I have been taking the vitamins for about 3 months and I drink water everyday. I am really doing my best to give my body what its lacking. It's not a secret either my body is giving me clear signs unfortunately. So I hope to have them Long and Strong for the end of 2014 and the beginning of 2015!!

Before Pictures taken 11/14/2014

Right Hand 

Left hand. Really bad.

The Instructions say 2 Coats then every other day another re apply and then weekly remove. My head is telling me well if your applying this stuff your not going to bite them so of course they will grow. I say back to my head "well maybe they will be thick like when I was a youngster" lol. 

Taken 12/08/2014 

Right hand

Left Hand

So far they are looking great. I will keep them short until all of them or the same length then I'll let them grow out some. Its been about 3 and 1/2 weeks not bad. 

Sometimes the easiest way to get out of a rut is to get some new product or remedy that will help and set a goal. Take pictures or share your goals with someone. Then you'll feel so good when you can keep them updated to your progress.

Gratitude 2014

Sammy made the Banner and Elise is posing and Smiling

 I have so many reasons to be Thankful.

I won't make this a "tissue needed read" lol. I will say one of the things I am Thankful for is TIME.

Why Time? You ask, well Time has a way of  Helping us get through, overcome, grow, and heal.

This was my favorite Thanksgiving of all times. Even the turkey needed more Time, (hahaha) my sister probably won't like that I said that. Love you little Sisley, but oh how juicy and tasty that turkey was. My little sisley made it and she did a superb job as always. She has a way of pulling out the best taste in food and bake goods when she puts her mind to it. We came together on Saturday and there was plenty of Turkey =)

Mashed potatoes and love to go around.

We Played phase10 laughed and made memories.

How was your thanksgiving?

Mi Amor and Mills

I hope yours was warm and full of wonderful times. God Bless. Till next time 
Mela

Soap Dish Project

A State park in Oregon

Happy November Lovely's

Today I am very proud of myself, Why? you ask, well let me tell you. I finally have the pictures for the Soap dish project. I am by no means a professional so please forgive any eyesores or classic amateur mistakes I made =) I'm just proud I got it done and I can move on to the next project now.


 I went to a few stores Ikea, Ross, and some thrift stores in search of a soap dish that would compliment my style and be what I wanted. I also looked on line at Jcpenny, Anthropologie and Kohls. I did buy the one from Ikea and its cute I'll use it some day in the future. Here he is

Then on a weekend my mother, my sister and I went to another Thrift store and I was in the clothing section when sitting on the basket in between wallets and Sombreros was this perfect Soap dish. I was so excited I grabbed it and went searching for my mom. I told her the only worry I had was it didn't drain and she said oh you know how to fix that? I responded that NO in fact I did not know. and She told me. Put a ring from an old shower curtain in the dish. Then the dish doesn't touch the soap creating a drain of sorts and the soap bar won't get soggy =)

Isn't he gorgeous?

There's the shower ring 

Place it in the dish

Then place your soap on top and Wala

Well That was fun. I am sure I'll pull it out when I have company. I'm nervous on of the Monkeys that climb in my bed at night might give it the tiniest push  and for it to fall off that iity bitty counter space. Oh and I paid 99 Cents for the glass soap dish

 My next project is going to be painting a big shelve my Brother in-law gave me. I will share a few pinspirations next post. I hope where ever you are you are enjoying the weather. Staying Happy and almost ready for Family, Food and Making memories. Thank you for reading.

God Bless

Mela

Someday's you just need the warmth of the sun.  

I hope everyone is having a nice time while the weather transitions to Fall. Both my nieces and my eldest Sister have full blown allergies and we are trying to keep them under control. Today is Dress up day. Aka some other name. Everyone at the office is dressed up cept me lol. One side of the office did the whole Alice and wonder land theme. Someone dressed up as a giants fan lol. There was a Caterpillar (he used a sleeping bag) a flamingo as well as Chaquita Banana and a escaped convict. Whatever  you do today be safe and dry. Tonight is a storm for us here.

Should be a fun night to cuddle up with the girls and watch a show.

maybe light the fireplace...

Fall is here, and I am very excited.Time for Reading &  Hot Cinnamon Tea time. I love crunching the leaves while on the phone on my breaks out side of the office. Its been cool in the mornings and warm in the afternoons. Time to bring out the Sweaters and boots. I am trying to hold off to be honest. The other night I stayed up way past my bed time to clean and reorganize my room. Since then  I have a couple of projects that I have move'd to the top of my forever growing to do lists. Nothing to over whelming just some things I need to get at some point and there's no time like the present right?

First : Over the past year or so I have collected about 5+ bars of soap. They all smell so wonderful. Some, actually they all were gifts so I have the need of a Soap dish. I am very particular I need it to be dainty and feminine yet also capable of draining the excess water as I can not stand mushy bars of soup. So I took to Pinterest and a few of my trusty spots on the Web and here are few I found. They might be worth the trip.

This is Ikea's $3.99

Found on Remodelista for $14.99

lady-gray-dreams This one would be a find indeed

I will probably go with the first one. I'll try and post some before and after pictures. 

Love checking things off the list. Maybe you know where to find A Non-Soggy-Soap-Dish

let me know. 

Oh and Just in case you don't have any soaps on hand here is a Favorite blog of mine that put up a DIY brit.co

Brit.co DYI Soaps

I'll be posting some more of my to do lists and the finished projects in the next few. Lovely chatting. 

Talk to you soon XOXO

Not lost

Have you ever had that moment where you have to stop and look around wide eyed and realize you don't recognize anything about yourself? How your thinking? how your talking? how your reacting? Such a moment happened to me yesterday. I am not in a bad place I'm in a great place however there are things that can be better, way better. So I had like 10 minutes to ask myself  "How can I fix this"? I didn't have to ask, what I want? Or where do I see myself in 5 years? All that is clear in my head. I just needed to re-calibrate and it was a HUGE shock to me. So here's to getting back to me =) I hope where ever you are in life you can stay yourself. No easy task as I know that first hand. However Its very important very. You must know who you are first and that's something that comes early in life for most of us. I don't know that it's the same process for every one. The only advice I can give would be to follow your instincts and trust yourself to know the way and breathe just Breathe. Life is happening and we need to be in top form. A lot comes at us and sometimes we let it beat us down. That is what got me. I forgot that when stuff happens I need to sharpen my amazing-ness lol and not give up or in. To realize  

that this is a moment where I can SHINE and be the inspiration to others that I had. 

Lets go Cee