Fixed It!

The last blog post I made was over two months ago, and it was about how frustrated I was with Blogger for messing up my blog layout. Every time I've logged on to post, I've been reminded that it's messed up and I just got angry and distracted again. Finally, though...Google to the rescue. I found out what was causing the problem and how to fix it (and it was easy!) Maybe now I can get back to blogging semi-(not-very)-regularly without wanting to trash the whole thing and start over. Hmm?

Blogger, why do you hate me?

So, for MONTHS my blog had a freaky gray screen on it. Came out of nowhere, no amount of fidgeting with the layout or settings would get rid of it.

Today, finally, it's gone...but now my sidebar is at the bottom of the page instead of, you know, on the side where it belongs.

The settings all SAY everything should look the way I want, but the result is...not.

WTF, Blogger. You're making me look like an idiot.

Old school

Deep purple and gold for today's game. SKOL, Vikes!

Class of 2015

My last class of spring term just ended! I have two take-home finals to do this week, and I'll be freeeeee for two glorious months. Then back to the grindstone with not two but THREE classes on my plate.

Assuming no major roadblocks, I expect to graduate in 2015 - hopefully in May  but definitely by December; if you're wondering, the difference will come down to how I use my summers. Its still a loooooong road, but with a realistic graduation date to shoot for, I can see a glint of light at the end of the tunnel...!

Boring golf stats post

Week 1
goals: get out of car. Tee off in front of strangers. Score double par (58) or better.
Actual: check, check (fun girls, about as "good" as me, whew!), 54!!

Week 2 (w/Levi)
Goal: count EVERY stroke including whiffs. Pray its under 100.
Actual: 79

Week 3
Goals: beat week 1 score. No more than 1 whiff per hole.
Actual: 53(!!!) And only 3 whiffs the whole round! Lots of craptacular shots, but at least I connected with the ball.

Up next: break week (driving range? date night?), open house (get pointers from the club pro? Ha. No.), guest night!

New toys! New toys!

Ooooohhh...

Ahhhhh....

Oooooohhhh!!!

Ahhhhhhh!!!

I have been fascinated by the intricately detailed art some nail bloggers have been sporting, and once I figured out how they were doing it, I started seeing it everywhere (it helped that I specifically started googling to find blogs that specialized in it). And you don't even have to be a Michelangelo with built-in magnified vision and nerves of steel to get it...all you need is...

A stamping kit!

A quick video demonstrating how stamping works:

So simple! Whodathunk?

And of course, this post wouldn't be complete without my first stamping attempts. For posterity, definitely not for bragging rights.

Brianna was the guinea pig. Rose on left, pointsettia(?) on right.

It's kind of a mess and clearly I need to work on my positioning.
But it's STILL AWESOME!!!

Even Josh wanted to get in on the action!

And just for fun - some freehand dots. No stamp here!

**Top four photos and video borrowed from the super talented Sammy at thenailasaurus.com**

Zen and the art of nail polish.

I threw up a quick post this morning showing how I biffed my manicure by trying to grab my backpack before the polish was dry (and skipped the topcoat - serves me right!), and since I was running late - hence the hurrying - I didn't have time to fix it and I had to walk around with botched nails all day. Sadface.

Anyway, after I got the kids to bed, I sat down to redo them, and it got me to thinking how suddenly painting my nails has turned into a little bit of a Happy Place for me; I find the entire process very soothing...deliberately stripping off every trace of old polish, giving a little file touch-up or trimming them back if they've gotten longer than I find practical, buffing smooth, caaarefully applying the new polish. Working out a new design. Admiring the finished product. :)

Now, in hopes of helping you find your nail polish Happy Place, if you so desire, here are some of my favorite tips I've picked up from obsessively reading other nail art blogs the past couple weeks. I've put all of these into practice and they really do work:

• Paint from pinky, in, so that you don't have to reach across wet nails. BUT...
• Save both your thumbs for last, so you can use them to clean up any drips along your nail beds (this makes so much sense, and yet I never remember to do it!)

• If you're doing any kind of multicolor technique (scotch tape designs, etc.), throw on a layer of top coat between colors. If you botch the second (or subsequent) color, you can quickly swipe it off with a little polish remover without having to redo all the way from the beginning.

• COOLEST TRICK EVER: Got a smudge on a freshly painted nail? Lick it. For real - lightly lick, and then gently glide over with a finger until the smudge smooths out. It won't take care of deep gouges, but you'll be amazed at what you can fix with this little gem. (Thanks to Erika at chloesnails.blogspot.com for this one!)

• My own personal tip: Ever get frustrated that one hand usually comes out soooo much better than the other? Try painting your dominant hand first - i.e., if you're right handed, put the polish on your right hand fingers first.  Especially if you're in a hurry, working on a design, or are just impatient (like me), you won't be fighting against the awkwardness of your off hand and fear of smudging your "good" nails and time/frustration/boredom, so you'll get better results.

Happy polishing!