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   Is it any surprise that things didn't go as expected for me this month?  I ended going back to work 2 weeks earlier than we were planning on, and now I'm just starting to get into a new routine.  Again.  As I said a couple posts ago, I'm trying for blog updates on Wednesdays and Fridays for now!

January Checklist

   One of these things got checked off, but I already need to update my social media buttons again.  The media buttons I'm using currently seem a bit off with my new layout, anyway.  (Does this mean I should have left this item un-crossed off?)  As for my other projects, my Storenvy shop is close to being completely stocked (and I've already made sales!  So I'm not too upset about that - I'll have the rest of my destash polish listed soon.  The light box hasn't been built because I couldn't find a box that I was 100% happy with.  I refuse to buy a square box...  I know I will get one to recycle eventually.

Review

   Hello reader!  I understand you like to read things, since you're a blog reader and all, so I thought you might like to read a review about something I read!  Confused yet?

   I picked up the January/February 2014 edition of Nail It! magazine while I was at the supermarket a couple weeks ago, curious to see what one of the only nail-focused 'zines was like.  Magazines aren't something that get a lot of serious reviewing, so I wanted to share my first look at this relatively new bimonthly magazine.  Want to see if Nail It! earned my subscription?

Nail Art / Tutorial

   Here is a very quick and easy manicure!  Last spring pond manicures exploded onto the scene, no doubt thanks to the prevalence of jelly polishes and the fact that nail art creators everywhere were loving the effects those sheer washes of color can give.  A true pond manicure involves a dotting tool and a bit of skill as you create small white designs (usually flowers, hearts, dots, etc) between layers of juicy transparent polish.  I set out to create something even easier!

Swatch & Review

   Today I have swatches of the very pretty Kismet from Color Club's second Halo Hues collection.  Before I gush about this holo I want to give a few updates about what is going on around here, though! Exactly 1 week ago I got a phone call from work saying "hey, we got the return to work note from your doctor, you're on the schedule next week".  Next.  Week.  As in yesterday.  My husband and I were so not expecting that!  We both figured I'd have until the end of January before I was given any hours at work.  So, last week quickly unraveled into hasty baby-sitter planning and me trying desperately to get as much as I could done before Sunday.  Only I didn't get a whole lot done because I mostly made myself depressed and incredibly stressed out.

   Now that everything is done I'm still recovering from my migraine-filled weekend, but work has been fine.  Little Freya does just fine without me for 9 hours, and having to pump breastmilk on my lunch break isn't so bad after all.  Still, this does eat up more of my time.  Until I become a Super Mom who can do it all (ha) I am aiming for a blog post schedule of Wednesdays and Fridays.  If I can manage anything more than that I'll just consider it a happy bonus until it becomes regular.

Swatch & Review

   How awesome is this combination of polishes?  ILNP Animal Cookie is one of the first polishes I saw from the brand, and it immediately landed on my wishlist.  It took awhile for me to get it it, but it was worth waiting for!  I used one coat for my swatch, and the glitter spread nicely.  I dabbed a little extra into a few bare spots and then it was perfect.  The mix of white and pink glitters pops over my base of Zoya Rocky.  Rocky is a semi-dusty turquoise blue creme, and I only needed two coats.

Nail Art / Swatch & Review

   Have you ever had a manicure stuck in your head?  The only known cure is to sit down and paint that manicure!  I've had this one stuck in my head for weeks, and while it isn't quite as great as my brain imagined it to be, I still really enjoyed it!  First off, this is my first time doing an ombre manicure where each nail is painted a different color.  I couldn't find anything that talks about names for the different types of ombre manis - and there are many!  What is up with that?

Health / Review

   Disclosure:  This post is about free products that I received for review from Smiley360... and the timing couldn't have been more perfect!  The flu has been going around town as Airborne gummies arrived at my doorstep!  Read on for my experience with them and a $1 coupon for you!

   Now, here is one of the quirky things about me...  I don't enjoy orange-flavored things, and I make faces when I drink fruit juice.  Orange juice makes me gag!  The only juices I can tolerate are cranberry juice blends (in small amounts) and unsweetened grapefruit juice (which is hard to find).  So, the wonderful advice to drink a glass of orange juice for a boost in Vitamin C just doesn't work for me...