For every season.........

Today there aren't any pictures of nails, nor this entire week. This past week has been so mind-numbing exhausting that I couldn't prep any.

Let me explain:

I have had a huge change in my life. 

I had to quit my job that I have been working at for the past four and a half years. I did not come by this decision lightly. Over the past few months my anxiety has increased ten-fold. This past week I was home bound for three whole days.

Three days in where my body was wracked with anxiety. My anxiety isn't so much doom and gloom but an an overwhelming intense emotion and physical feeling. Everything seems to shut down. My mind goes blank or TV static and my body just feels all tingly and shaky on the inside; like my insides are boiling but without heat. My heart feels like it is racing far too fast. I can't cope with anything no matter how small. Everything feels like an attack on my system.

My system is so overwhelmed that I cry. A lot. And it is the ugly cry that happens. 

And there is no relief from this either. Everything just continues to build on itself.

Three whole days in which my anxiety sent my depression spiraling downwards at a frightening speed.

I don't know what triggers these attacks. Sometimes it is loud noises or the anticipation of a noise, sometimes there is no trigger that I can find. 

I felt like I was failing at my job. Everyone there was great and understanding, I just felt I let them down all the time. 

Finally, this past week I couldn't take it anymore. I had reached my ability to somewhat cope with this and still function.

I was asked where do you see yourself in ten years. My immediate thought was: hopefully alive. The anxiety feeling was so overwhelming that I knew if something didn't change......something bad could happen. 

And this scared me. I knew then that I had to change something.

So I left my job, left my great co-workers, and decided to get to the bottom of this. 

To fix this. To find myself again because who I am right now, isn't me.

So please, be patient with me as I figure this out. 

I hope this means that I will find that spark again for this blog and be able to spend more time with it again!

I read this amazing blog called Epbot written by the also amazing Jen. She is someone, though I have never met in person, I feel a connection too. She has written about her anxiety and dealings with it. She created this image that I love, because it's true. At least right now I am trying to tell myself that.

Photo Source

The Digit-al Dozen Does Fashion: Weekly Round Up!

Whew! I made it! Finished all five! And there were some amazing manis this week by the ladies! Did you miss them? No worries! Here is the week in review!

MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY

The Digit-al Dozen Does Fashion: Accessories

Final day of The Digit-al Dozen Does Fashion and today we have accessories! Your outfit isn't complete without the right accessories! Polish being one of them ;)

I started out with two coats of Finger Paints Leonardo Da Vin-Pink. I used a thin layer of HK Girl Top Coat and wait for it to dry. I stamped using OPI Get in the Expresso Lane, the image comes from my MJ XII plate (first time using it!). Ended with another layer of HK Girl Top Coat.

As for the glitter, because what outfit isn't complete without some bling?! This is Owlet. This is a custom made polish that I asked Kevan of Dragon Lacquer to make for me. (Actually this is one of two that was made, more to come later!). I love this glitter! It is two sizes of brown glitter in a clear base. Easy application and lovely formula! And fabulous customer service!

Just love the glitter in Owlet! Thank you so much Dragon Lacquer!

Yep, this was also a TGIF: Thank Goodness, Indy Indie Friday post! Don't forget to check out Emma over at Manicurity for her post!

Don't forget to check out the other ladies and their fashionable manis!

The Digit-al Dozen Does Fashion: Lacoste......Maybe?

Day 4 of The Digit-al Dozen Does Fashion and I have a take on a fashion brand: Lacoste. Maybe? Sort of? Do you see it?

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Ok, so it's not perfect but that is what popped into my head when I first say this adorable little guy on my stamping plate! :) 

I used two coats of OPI My Boyfriend Scales Walls and a coat of HK Girl Top Coat. I free handed the french tips using A England Dragon which I also used for the stamping. The image is from MoYou 63.

Don't forget to check out the other ladies and their fashionable manis!

The Digit-al Dozen Does Fashion: The Chevron

Day 3 of The Digit-al Dozen Does Fashion and I have for you today: the chevron!

This is one of the biggest fashion trends right now it's ridiculous! Don't get me wrong, I love it. But what I don't love: the confusion over chevron and zigzag (which is also freakin' popular right now!) A chevron is a single v shape. A zigzag is multiple v's. Both are awesome and popular but let's make sure we label them correctly! :) Want to read another blogger's rant on it (it's funny!) visit Just Jingle.

But my mani today is definitely a chevron! I used China Glaze Custom Kicks as my base (two coats). I then used a thin layer of HK Girl Top Coat to help with the drying time (love this stuff!). I stamped used Konad White (also love this stuff!) and Vivid Lacquer VL006. Added another layer of HK Girl Top Coat to seal in the stamping and voila! A chevron mani for the trendy!

And can I just say that I didn't realize how rounded my nails had gotten until I was edited my photos and saw it! Gasp! The straight lines of the chevron (how many more times am I saying this word?) really make my nail shape stand out! Hahaha! Oh chevron....(I guess once more, huh).

Chevron! (Bah!)

Don't forget to check out the other ladies and their fashionable manis!

The Digit-al Dozen Does Fashion: Sewing Pattern

Day two for The Digit-al Dozen Does Fashion! And today I have for you symbols you would find on a sewing pattern!

I used two coats of OPI Did You 'Ear About Van Gogh, I used Sinful Colors Black on Black for the symbols, I then did a thin layer of HK Girl Top Coat to seal in the black followed by Orly Matte Top Coat. This is my first time using the Orly Matte Top and I like it, it has more of a satin finish to it.

The symbols from left to right are: Seam lines, button holes, cutting (where to cut), and grain line. This didn't turn out exactly like I had planned but I still thought they were fun and different! :)

Photo Source

Don't forget to check out the other ladies and their fashionable manis!

The Digit-al Dozen Does Fashion: Red Norwegian Sweater

It's that time again! The time when The Digit-al Dozen takes over the week! This time it is fashion! Bah! I struggled this week.....a lot! I did a lot of stamping! :)

For today I have some stamping for you! I am pretty pleased with how this one turned out! This stamped reminded me of those Norwegian sweaters!

I started out with two coats of Zoya Sooki. I used a thin layer of HK Girl Top Coat to speed up the drying process so that I could stamp. I stamped using Konad White and Nailz Craze NC03. I then added another layer of HK Girl Top Coat to make it shiny!

Doesn't it just look like one of those sweaters? :)

Don't forget to check out the other ladies and their fashionable manis!

Haul Post

Today is a haul post! I haven't done one in awhile and I got some really nice polishes that I had to share! :)

Bring on the Catrice! I got these from Jewli at Fanning the Fumes! Thank you Jewli! I love them all! (l-r) The Effect Maker, In The Armee Glow, Lilactric, and Petropolitan.

More Catrice from Jewli! (l-r) Mint Me Up, Purple Reign, The Monkey Gets Funky, and Squeeze Me.

Some clearance Milanis from Target! (l-r) Fresh Teal, Totally 80s, Pink Hottie, Rapid Orchid, and Violet Dash. Some of these are awesome for stamping and others are pretty sheer but will make interesting jelly sandwiches!

And finally I have these three! KleanColor Fashionista is a gorgeous poop color! Hahaha! I got the Color Club London Calling in my Birchbox. And the Nailtini in Mai Tai I got from my first Ipsy bag! Never tried Nailtini before! :)

Have you done any good hauls lately?

Wednesday Reads: Inferno by Dan Brown

So it's been awhile since I've done a Wednesday Reads on my blog! But I just finished an excellent book and thought I would share it with you!

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I love Robert Langdon! For those who aren't familiar with Dan Brown's novels, Robert Langdon is a Harvard Professor who specializes in symbols and the interpretation thereof. This is Langdon's fourth appearance (previous books: The Da Vinci Code, Angels and Demons, and The Lost Symbol) (I recommend all of them!).

This time we journey through Italy with Langdon as he must solve a riddle dealing with Dante's Inferno, before the world is changed forever! We get to learn about different classic architecture and art. This is what I love about the Robert Langdon books: classic art! I love me some Italian Renaissance! :)

 "In the heart of Italy, Harvard professor of symbology Robert Langdon is drawn into a harrowing world centered on one of history’s most enduring and mysterious literary masterpieces . . . Dante’s Inferno.

Against this backdrop, Langdon battles a chilling adversary and grapples with an ingenious riddle that pulls him into a landscape of classic art, secret passageways, and futuristic science. Drawing from Dante’s dark epic poem, Langdon races to find answers and decide whom to trust . . . before the world is irrevocably altered." (barnesandnoble.com)

Now, this book was typical of the Langdon books but I felt it was a bit weaker than the others. It took me a bit to really get into it, but I finally did, and I ended up really liking it. But I would say it is my least favorite of the Langdon books.

I don't want to go into too much detail but there is death and adventure, suspense and education! 

I think this video is really funny, doesn't tell you much about the book, but if you know about Dante's Inferno then you will get the little quote at the end! :)
 
Have you read it? What did you think?

Duri Rejuvacote

Avert your eyes! Nekkid nails! Yikes! :)

I just wanted to show you all how my nails are fairing with using Duri Rejuvacote. I've been using it for about the past 3 weeks regularly as my base coat. I have noticed less breakage and peeling. My middle finger still likes to be a different shape and length than the others (no matter what I do! It has a mind of it's own!).

I am loving the results and will continue to use Duri Rejuvacote! I got mine at Walmart! 

Any of you using it?

ABC: F is Orly Fowl Play, KleanColor Fashionista, and China Glaze Fairy Dust and a FAIL!

Today is brought to you by the letter F: Orly Fowl Play, KleanColor Fashionista, and China Glaze Fairy Dust. F is also for FAIL! Hahahaha! I attempted a saran wrap mani........totally chose the wrong colors! I used China Glaze Fairy Dust to help camouflage it! :)

Started with Orly Fowl Play. So pretty! Look at all those flakies! Looks like a melted grape popsicle on my fingers! This is where I should have ended the mani. Nope, I was feeling like trying something new. Bah!

Here you can sort of see the saran wrap mani effect. I should have chosen better colors. As much as I love KleanColor Fashionista (love baby poop greens!) it doesn't look nice on your fingers and cuticles when it doesn't come straight off with acetone cleanup! Hahahaha! I was able to get most of it off but for a while....ew! :)

I really do want to try this technique again, but I will try to have at least one bright color. I think that is why this failed, they were too dark. Put that one into the book to remember what not to do! :)