Hi Readers! This Sunday's challenge in AIS (Adventures in Stamping) is Can't Wait For Fall. I LITERALLY can't wait for Fall! It's my favorite time of year. I live in Wisconsin which is truly gorgeous in the fall. I also live right along the Root River with the woods behind me so I get a picture perfect scene everyday of Fall! The red and yellow maple trees are so beautiful. The crisp smell of an air starting to chill and smoke on the breeze from fireplaces--HEAVENLY!
This is the design I did for today's challenge. I think it turned out great!
I gradiented using Kleancolor Metallic Yellow, Misa Golden Thread, and Butter London Knees Up
I stamped with Kleancolor Black using BM04
I got my Misa Golden Thread from my fav friend Wendy and I'm definitely going to be using it by itself in a mani--it's gorgeous!
How do you feel about Fall, Readers? Do you live where you see the Fall season or are you at a loss without it?
Thanks for stopping by!! I hope you all have a fantastic day!
Hi Readers! I'm slowly trying to find my way back to a "normal" life. Truth is your life is never the same after someone you love so much dies. Unfortunately I've gone through this a few times in my life. I'd like to share with you a story about my bestie Sandi, aka Sandilicious. I met her via Chins-n-Hedges a fantastic chinchilla and hedge hog forum. But we didn't have a good way to actually meet face to face for the first time. I met her at my sister's funeral. She drove all the way up from Chicago to see me and pay her respects. I couldn't believe it when this beautiful woman with the best smelling hair hugged me. I expected her to say she had worked with my sister as the many people who were there for Lisa's funeral said just that. But instead as we hugged she said in my ear, "Laurie, I'm Sandi" That was three years ago and we've been bestie's ever since. I truly, TRULY believe it was my beautiful sister, Lisa, who sent her to me.
Sandi went along with me on the bumpy ride that was my father's CLL diagnosis, his renal failure, his getting better, and his surprising death from an acute sudural hematoma. I knew she would be there for me at his funeral and she was, looking as lovely as ever and her hair smelling just as wonderful as I always remembered from Lisa's funeral. She cried for me every time I called to tell her what was going on with my dad. She hugged me tight and told me she loved me at his funeral. And even though we have a food therapy involving The Cheesecake Factory planned in our new future, on the second worst day of my life she pulled a box out of her purse and handed it to me. No one knows how to help you find some joy in your sorrow filled heart like a bestie.
For a duochrome lover this IS the Holy Grail of Nail Polish!
It's the most gorgeous polish on the planet AND SANDI THINKS IT LOOKS LIKE MOLD! Can you believe it Readers? I love her with all my heart but she is cray-cray!
Here are a bazillion pics of it I took today at work
I wore my cage ring with it and it looked magnificent!
Words aren't even necessary for the glory of this beauty!
I went outside on break to check this baby in the sunlight!
Holy freaking sparkle batman!
Back inside during lunch! I couldn't even eat I was so busy staring at my nails and taking pics of them lol!
And the glory ring again!!!!
I was thinking Simon and Garfunkel need to add a line to their fab song Like A Bridge Over Troubled Water--"when you need a friend *she'll bring you Chanel Peridot* I'm sailing right behind, like a bridge over troubled waters I will ease your mind"
A great friend is someone who knows you inside and out and tries to bring a little bit of sunshine on the days it rains hardest in order to leave you with a rainbow.
Hi Readers! Many of you know I'm a HUGE Elvis fan so today, for me, is the day 35 years ago the music died. I was only 14 when he died and was a fan of his since I was 7 years old. In a time when girls my age were into David Cassidy, Donny Osmond, Andy Gibb and Leif Garrett I was into Elvis. 42 years later I'm still into Elvis lol! today I did a musical mani tribute to him--can you guess what songs I'm wearing on my nails?
A couple of them are probably no brainers but I hope I threw in a couple of brain teasers!
Here's some facts about me and my love of Elvis!!!
My favorite Elvis movie is: Live A Little, Love A Little
My favorite Elvis songs are: Edge of Reality (from the movie Live A Little, Love A Little) and Are You Lonesome Tonight
I have an Elvis tattoo on my ankle
I've been to Graceland twice but never when it was open to the public
I have the entire OPI Elvis collection and they are on display with my Elvis collectibles BUT not polish I wear!
Did you come up with the songs yet?? Thumb is Jailhouse Rock, Index is Blue Hawaii, Swear is Teddy Bear (put a chain around my neck and lead me anywhere) and thanks to my pal Gina for that great idea! Ring is Viva Las Vegas (and this finger reminds me of his white jumpsuit with the rhinestones) and the Pinkie is Burnin' Love.
Here's the charm bracelet I'm wearing today with my mani!
The camera man bought it for me years ago!
I'm going to be playing Elvis non stop today Readers!!! What will you be doing?
Thanks for stopping by!!! Have a great day!!
Hi Readers! I want to thank all of you for your love and support these past couple of weeks. I cannot even begin to tell you how much it means to me. I was sitting here tonight trying to get back into the swing of things. Truth be told while you are caring for someone who is gravely ill and then preparing a funeral and caring for your family you are caught up with being busy. But after the funeral is over you are left with a great sense of loss and also no purpose. I didn't really feel like doing my nails again but I knew I had to get back to my life. I thought what better way than to gradient?! I loved the Bohemians over black so much for my mani the other day I decided to gradient with them
This is No Plain Jane, Unpredictable and then OPI Into The Night over black
Since I did this so late at night no indirect sunlight shade pics but here's some in the dark shade pics lol!
I really love these Bohemians!
I have dupes of some of the Bohemians and wasn't planning on buying the 3 I have dupes for BUT since I love them so much I'm just going to snag them and have a complete collection lol!
Thanks for stopping by!! I hope you all have a fantastic day!
I haven't much felt like even doing my nails since the 1st of August when everything started going to hell in a hand basket with my dad's illness. He was diagnosed with CLL a year ago and we were told most likely the cancer would outlive him but that's not what happened. When we learned he needed to do chemo we were all sick at heart especially after having to watch what it did to my beautiful sister, Lisa. But my dad was a trooper and he said he wanted to do it if there was a chance to give him some more time with us--his family. He went for his first chemo treatment on August 1st--this was to be the first one in a six month program. He didn't handle it well at all and it put him into renal failure. He fought like hell and came back from the brink of death with dialysis and things were looking so good and he would have been coming home this past weekend. Instead, on the best day he had so far, he developed an acute subdural hematoma and there was nothing they could do. He actually got out of the ICU on Monday the 6th and was moved to the regular hospital and went to a rehab floor. On Tuesday the 7th he got up and walked, ate 3 meals, visited with friends and did some crossword puzzles. But at 7pm that night, while my mother and I were with him, the acute subdural hematoma occurred and there was no saving my dad. We removed him from life support on Wednesday the 8th and he left us on Thursday the 9th very early in the morning. I know he's with my beautiful sister, Lisa, once again but it still doesn't make losing him any easier. His name was Alan Lutze and he was the greatest man God ever put on this earth
Tomorrow we are saying goodbye to him and I'm sure we will cry many tears, but I hope there will also be some laughter and good times remembered fondly by all.
I filed my nails down quite a bit to be able to rub lotion onto his feet and hold his hand without fear of scratching him. I haven't even though much about doing my nails since August 1st but I knew I had to put on the brave face and go to his funeral looking more like me and less like a scared and angry person. The other day I saw this gorgeous mani on Pinterest and I just knew I HAD to do this for my dad's service. Thanks SO much to The Polished Mommy for thinking this one up because it is SO gorgeous!
These are images BM311 and BM323 using the China Glaze Bohemians over black--so lovely!
I love how I can go wearing duochromes which I really love!
Here are some pics in the shade where the mani is still so gorgeous!
Duochromes over black equals love!
And in case you haven't noticed the Bohemian Collection stamps great over black!
A very big special thank you to Francine aka The Polished Mommy for this mani. I'm glad to wear something so beautiful to say goodbye to my Dad.
Thanks to all of you who have stopped by to say kind words and offer support. It means so much to me.
My dearest Readers I'm posting this to let you know my wonderful father passed away this morning and I'm sure I'll be on a brief hiatus. He died from complications due to chemotherapy after being in the hospital for one week. We did have some great days with him and we were all with him when he passed peacefully this morning. I find great comfort knowing he and my beautiful sister, Lisa are together once again. I hope if you see this today you take a moment to call your dad and let him know much you love him.
Hi Readers! My bestie Sandi's sweet daughter Cassie has recently gotten into stamping! I went down to visit Sandi and her daughters a few weeks ago and I did everyone's nails and we had a blast. I won my first ever nail contest for Bundle Monster when I entered something called Cassie's Cupcakes for a design and it's one I did on Cassie last year. This last time when I went to visit she wanted neons and this is one of the designs she picked out!
I used China Glaze's In The Limelight for this mani with an accent of Floam! I can't believe I'm wearing another neon but this is really cool!
The lightening bolts are courtesy of BM305
My black smeared a bit but all in all I really like how this turned out!
Here's the picture of my Cassie's Cupcakes BM entry that started it all well over a year ago!
We've both come a long way lol! I should recreate this one someday soon!
Thanks for stopping by!!! I hope you all have a fantastic day!
