Browsing Category : Simple Thoughts

Who wants to know how to remove SNS?

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BJJ and beautiful nails don’t blend, not for me though, since I cut them down each couple of days to prevent the idea of being ‘that’ scratchy-nail lady on the mat. And polish? Nah. I only do that when I have an important event to attend. Well, in the wake of getting my first SNS nail manicure for my brother’s induction, I figured out how to effectively deal with a mani and training.

sns nail supply

 

The pretty shot

Aren’t they flawless, plastic amazing looking incredibleness?! Truly strong. I was drumming my fingernails along everything.

Since my ‘improved’ French manicure was blunt, awesome and not as long as my usual nail length, I was able to pull it off shortly before the induction; no scratching anybody or feeling like I may unintentionally rip my claws off.

Back to the United Kingdom, and in spite of the fact that the SNS was beginning to grow out, I needed to be vain and keep that souped-up nail feeling for a few days more. Nevertheless, how do I trim them when they grow too long and scissors cannot handle them?

Way to go! It was dreary but then it worked.

For the next few weeks,  I kept my nails short for BJJ, and that French nail trim (though it was looking odd since the white section was gradually vanishing) kept on holding with no issue. Just so you know, it was quickly looking more terrible and awful.

So this is where I start feeling lazy. Who really gives a darn what they look like now anyway! Do I get remover or visit a nail salon to get it removed? No way! I’ll just let them grow off on their own.

All the BJJ holding began to pry them loose mid-roll to the astonishment of my preparation crew; Hey! I just found your nails and guess what…they’re fake!

It is great I didn’t lose any real nails in the process or feel a thing, I do now have a large portion of my hand looking like a bizarre pink stuff are all over my nails, and my nails don’t feel strong anymore. I sincerely hope it won’t be so for long.

Don’t let yourself be stressed out. What you’re seeing is mostly residual glue and not ragged layers of your nails like you thought.

How would my nails have look if I had decided to remove the SNS nails the responsible manicure-girl way? Possibly, perhaps not, the opinions on the internet seem divided. Whichever way, it is most likely the course I’ll take if I ever have to repeat this manicure.

Freeze Frame Friday

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As I sit back and drink some homemade lemonade with Sonic ice (duh), I can’t help but think back on some things I’ve been really grateful for lately. These are moments I don’t want to forget from the past few weeks.
Our little boy is basically a teenager now. Tomorrow I’ll be 35 weeks along! Just when I think things are gettin’ real, then I realize things are gettin’ real. And then it’ll probably just get more real in every season with him. It has been an honor to house our sweet Eddy for these past eight months. I don’t want to forget the kicks and little rib jabs or when PK reads to him and asks him about what he thinks about the economic state of foreign countries. You think I’m making that up, but I’m not. It’s hilarious. All I’ve been reading to him lately are Top 10 Buzzfeed lists. (bahaha!) All this to say, it’s a miracle, like a serious miracle that this baby is growing and thriving and wiggling and I thank God every day that we get to experience this and be Eddy’s parents.

Just when I think I can’t get enough of this man, he goes and gets me Sonic. In a V-neck. Have mercy. This season with PK has been sweet as we prepare to be parents. There’s been a lot of relaxing, and Friday Night Lights, and yummy dinners at home, and coffee dates, and PK helping me off the couch, and rubbing my feet that literally look like blown up rubber gloves. (It ain’t no joke people, it looks like I can pop these things) I’m grateful for my husband, and his kindness to me, and his listening ear, and how he can make me laugh in the midst of my hilarious pregnancy woes. Let’s never stop laughing and enjoying the little things PK, and let’s never forget this season we’ve had together. I love you.

We took a trip to our friend Sara’s parents’ house and it was glorioooooous!  Sometimes I don’t realize I need to get away until I get away. It’s a little oasis every time we go there. It was so fun to hang out with our sweet friends from here in Chicago. We got to wake up slow, boat all day long one day, lounge around, have good conversation, eat good food, and the list could go on. Sara’s parents are the best, and ask us good questions, and really want to know us, and it makes me feel so loved. Thank you Daryl and Gretchen from the bottom of all our hearts for having us over and loving us the way you do!
What are some sweet moments you’ve had these past couple of weeks? You know, the ones you want to store in a little box and never forget? Write ’em down, journal them, blog about them, keep ’em archived somewhere so you can go back and be reminded of the things that make the heart full.

Monday morning coffee date

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I thought a little coffee date might be fun on this lovely Monday morning.

Today in Chicago it’s crisp and cool. It’s one of those big comfy sweater days where you throw your hair in a top knot. Minimal makeup. One of those days you just let yourself be.

If I had you over, I’d make you Metropolis Coffee. That’s the good stuff we got as a gift from some sweet friends of ours. As we cozy up with our fresh cups of coffee I’d ask you how you are. It’s been a while, so I want to know it all. What have been moments lately worth celebrating? What has been difficult, and how can I walk alongside you?

I would tell you that I’ve been looking forward to this week for a really long time. On Wednesday I leave for The Influence Conference. I’m so excited to see sweet friends I met last year and to meet blogger friends I’ve made this past year, but have yet to meet. I’m excited to soak in as much as I can about how I can make God known through this blog. I’m excited to learn more about Jesus and let that seep into my heart. I’m just pumped for it all!

Amidst the obvious excitement, I’d tell you that there is also a little part of my heart that aches knowing that Elston won’t be in tow. I was excited to be sharing in the joy with the other pregnant women that will be at the conference. I would have been about seven months pregnant and what I would give to be wobbling my pregnant self around that place with the other wobbling women. I truly do trust in God’s plan in all this even though I will never understand it all on this side of heaven.

At this point in the conversation, it would probably be refill time. It’s Monday, which means an extra cup of coffee is a must. I would continue to tell you what a blessing it has been to have our sweet friend Kanani live with us this past month. She inspires us both and has a soul as sweet as the warm sunshine on a cool day. That’s what she is, a ray of sunshine. She is a young woman who, in her presence, you feel free to just be. You just want to soak her right up because what she adds to this world is so incredibly life-giving. I would tell you, too, that I’m not ready for her to leave at the end of the month.
I know I’ll see her, just probably not as much, and she really has become so special to me. I think I’m not ready for her to go because she’s been such a breath of fresh air in the midst of one of the hardest seasons of my life and I am just so thankful for her. My sweet, dreadlocked Kanani, I’ve told you this before, and I’ll tell you it again, that you are a gem. You are “far more precious than rubies” (proverbs 31), and you have a special place in the hearts of PK and me. We love you!

{Lovely Kanani. Seriously, even playing kickball she is gorgeous!}

As we conclude our lovely coffee date, I would ask if it would be okay if we prayed together. For the things that are going on in our lives and for the things that weigh heavy on our hearts. We are in this journey together and I see no better way to conclude such a good morning than with prayers of thanks and praise and requests to the God that loves us so.

Thanks for the sweet lil date, let’s meet again soon.

Influence Link-Up

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InfluenceConf
In T-minus two weeks I’m hopping in a car and driving off to Indy to attend The Influence Conference!  To say I am excited is an understatement. I went last year and met the most incredible women. Women with a fierce love for Jesus and making Him known.
Lemme just tell you for a sec what I’m looking forward to:
A. Seeing friends I made last year at the conference and meeting friends in real life for the first time!
B. Sashes Market. Going into the conference last year I didn’t realize how beautiful and amazing everything would be in there. So, this year, it’s on Sashes Market. Me and you.
C. Soaking everything up. Learning more about Jesus. Learning more about how I can influence others for Him with this lil’ blog.
I bet you’re wondering what I’m going to have packed in my bag too, so I’ll go ahead and tell you:
A. Cash money for the Sashes Market, obvi.
B. Journal and my G2 pens (.38 extra fine point.) I don’t leave home without these pens and I don’t share them either. I know, so bad.
C. Underwear. I forgot them last year so thank ya Jesus for a mall attached to the conference center.
And for all the beautiful women who are linking up, here’s a pic so you can hunt me down and then we can grab coffee:
Chambray on chambray that day!!
Do you see my Better Life Bag over my right shoulder there?
You’re in luck, she’s gonna be at the conference. I am in L-O-V-E love with this bag and what Better Life Bags is all about. Go to her site and check her out. Then buy a bag.
Or, come with me to The Influence Conference and get one there!
Can’t wait to see everyone!
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