Pregnancy: Gender Announcement

Hi there!

I had some fun with this one...

Pregnancy gender announcement.
All from OPI: D.C. Cherry Blossom, Shorts Story,
Senorita Rosalita, Pink Flamenco, Strawberry Fields,
Elephantastic Pink, La Paz-itively Hot, and (of course) It's A Girl!

... it's the photo I used on my Facebook page to let my family and friends know the gender of the bitty baby buttercup growing in my belly.

I was afraid it would fall on deaf ears... or blind eyes, I guess, since most in my community aren't so polish-savvy. BUT THEY GOT IT! Well... either they were really happy that I posted a bunch of pink nail polish or they were really happy from the message they gathered.

Now I'm curious. What are some ways you have announced (or want to announce) gender to your family and friends?

If you're interested in a baby themed nail polish list, click here. It's a list I compiled a few years ago, so it's likely a smidge outdated. I'll gladly add to the list if you have suggestions!

Until next time...

Random: What the heck

Hi there!

I was just browsing newly released baby clothing online and I came across these...

"Kiss my butt" baby leggings.
Photo source: Walmart.com

"Kiss my butt" baby leggings.
Photo source: Walmart.com

I have many, many opinions... most are some variation of disgusting.

But I'm very curious if you'd honestly ever have your kid wear them? And why?

Until next time...

Rant: Terrible Customer Service

Hi there!

I am SO annoyed!

I had the perfect idea for a corner in our backyard where the shrubs hadn't yet matured. I thought I'd place a distressed looking fence plaque there to give the area something more to look at.

This one...

Bad customer service from Champions on Display.
Photo source: Walmart.com

The stock picture makes it seem like a nice vintage-typed piece of work. When I received and opened my package, I immediately thought, "what is this!?" It is so UGLY! Fugly, even!

It's a particle board piece of junk. The image is awful. It's stretched as if they tried to put a small image on too large an item. It's difficult to photograph, but the the image is also very pixelated. Imagine opening a .jpeg in a paint program and using a blur tool to mess it up. Then zoom in to 300% where you can see the dots that make up the image. It's amateur...

Bad customer service from Champions on Display.

And get this- it also says "INDOOR USE ONLY!" on the packaging! That makes sense considering it's particle board. But I'm pretty sure I bought and paid for a wood sign...

Bad customer service from Champions on Display.

Since I ordered the item through walmart.com, I first contacted them to see what could be done (I had already known that a third party seller, Champions on Display, sold the product through Walmart's website and they charged a 20% restocking fee + shipping). With regular Walmart items, returns are free... no questions asked.

Don't get me wrong- if I had ordered the product and then changed my mind about it, I'd understand having to be responsible for it. Since the item was simply not as depicted, I didn't want to be responsible. Anyway, Walmart's customer service gave me Champions on Display's contact information.

I wrote Champions on Display, included pictures, and very nicely asked for a prepaid return shipping label and for the restocking fee to be waived. The item is still in its packaging. That's how awful it looks- I didn't even want to open it!

A few days later, Champions on Display wrote me back essentially saying "too bad!" WHAT!?

I replied saying I know the item is supposed to look distressed. That is what I anticipated. A distressed item is not what I received. And I reiterated the problems regarding the image.

TEN days went by with no reply. I wrote again, simply saying I was still awaiting a reply and that I looked forward to a resolution.

I contacted Walmart's customer service department again (I felt like I was "telling mommy" on Champions on Display). The person I spoke with seemingly didn't have access to the marketplace sellers' disputes, so he escalated my claim to someone else and told me that someone from Walmart would get in touch with me within a week to get this resolved.

I'm guessing Walmart got in touch with Champions on Display right away- because the next business day, I received an email saying I'm responsible through and through. Oh, and that my eyes deceive me because the item I received IS as pictured. Ummm, no it's not... not at all. They signed off with a very smug "thanks for your patience and understanding."

At that point, I switched from annoyed to livid (ever so briefly). All of this over the matter of a $27.99 item?

Bad customer service from Champions on Display.

It's laughable now. But that's not what had me so mad. It was the principle. The Champions on Display customer service people are RUDE! Okay, it was about 90/10 principle/money.

I replied asking for clarification- that the product in person is SUPPOSED to look awful!? I suggested they at least update the product description to include "warped, pixelated, and amateur." Then I stooped to their level with the smugness and signed off with "my readers will have fun with this one."

I don't know why I said that. Sure, I did already know I was going to write something about my experience. And I knew their mind was made up. All along, they've had the same "customer is wrong no matter what" stance. I guess I wanted them to know other people (perhaps potential new customers) would be hearing about it.

I felt a huge sigh of relief, though. I said everything I could have said to explain the situation. I was specific and, more importantly to me, polite. My values didn't diminish. It was then I knew I'd just take a loss (after the cost of shipping and the restocking fee, I'd only get about $7 back). It is what it is.

And the power (or threat) of social media is intense. Only 30 minutes later, Champions on Display wrote me back saying they were sorry I felt the way I do (this time it actually seemed truthful) and they would be happy to re-evaluate the situation. Hahaha, finally!? Then they requested more pictures.

Nope, nuhuh. I'm done with you.

I don't know what will happen now. Champions on Display has my contact information. They have my payment method. They know how to make this right. I don't know what to expect when I hear from Walmart's customer service team. If nothing more happens- it's disappointing... but like I came to accept: it is what it is.

One good thing did come of this experience. I realized an AMAZING gift I can give to one of my friends. He is a major Seattle Seahawks (big rival of the San Francisco 49ers) fan... and he enjoys target practice. This thing will be perfect!

I'd love to hear about your customer service issues! Were they resolved?

Until next time...

Hoarder Time: Coffee

Hi there!

Project restock is in full force. Here's my latest coffee shipment...

K-Cups haul.

I don't even drink coffee, but I couldn't help myself! We host a lot of guests this time of year, and our Keurig machine seems to always be brewing something for somebody.

I picked a bunch of seemingly new flavors- even holiday gift packs to slide under the Christmas tree.

Do you drink K-Cups? What's your favorite flavor?

Until next time...

Redecorating: TV Stands

Hi there!

I'm now on the hunt for a new TV stand. The one we have currently is glass and open-faced. The kidd thinks the shelves are stairs, and he loves to switch all of the electronics on and off. It doesn't bother me so much, but it drives the hubby bonkers. What bugs me is the visible cords.

See?

I taped pipe insulation to the edges (more on that later... maybe). There was a piece attached to the top shelf, too, but the little stinker figured out that it was extremely fun to bite into the stuff! I feel I should also mention that the TV isn't broken- that's bubble wrap taped to the right side to hide the buttons.

Annnyway. So I stumbled upon this unit and couldn't help but share. Just take a look at this screaming deal...

Jofran Antique Media Unit.

You can save a whole penny!

While pretty, it doesn't really compliment the majority of our décor, so I'm still searching. Wish me luck!

Until next time...

Redecorating: Vagina Chairs

Hi there!

I've really been in a mood to redecorate lately. So far, I've spruced up everything from fixtures to furniture. Anyway, there was a spot in our downstairs family room that seemed to need... something. I figured two comfy chairs would do the trick...

Hudson Swoop Chair - Pearl.

I had them sitting there for a couple of days before something entered my mind and just wouldn't leave... VAGINA! That's all I could think of when I looked at the chair on the left.

It's just BING, BANG, BOOM! Three right in a row!

When I went online to order a replacement, they were no longer on sale! I had a little bit of a panic attack (for real!), but was quickly brought back to reality. It's just a chair, it's just a chair.

Luckily, they were on sale again in the matter of a week. I reordered two new chairs just to be sure!

Hudson Swoop Chair - Pearl.

This is the combination of chair backs and bases that I ended up liking best. The chair that's now on the right is similar to the chair I initially had, but it isn't as in your face.

Other than the print snafu, I really love these chairs. They're sturdy, comfortable, and they've held up to the peanut buttered fingers of my kid ❤

I'm happy now. I'm not nuts for thinking what I thought, right?

Until next time...

Random: It Made Me Laugh

Hi there!

I was browsing random things online when I came across this...

Hot dog scented nail polish.
Image source: Amazon.

They're scented!? Hahahaha! I just can't imagine having my nails smell like this! Bubblegum, maybe. This, just... NO!

This makes me wonder what the strangest nail polish set out there is. Any ideas? I'd love to know what you've come across!

Until next time...

Review: Lady Queen Stamping Plates

Hi there!

It sure has been a while since I've posted a manicure of mine...

My nails painted with China Glaze - Spontaneous.
Stamped with Essie - Good as Gold and
image plate hehe006.

Lady Queen offered to send me a couple of items to review, so I figured "heck yeah!"

I chose stamping plates 006 and 019...

Image plate hehe006 and hehe019 from Lady Queen.

I was honestly very skeptical at first. I had tried cheaper plates in the past with little satisfaction, and the price of these kind of lead me to believe they'd be the same disappointment. I was wrong!

These are etched perfectly! I had absolutely zero problems with scraping and transferring the image to my stamper and/or my nails. The only thing I don't loooove is that there is no backing on the plates. I didn't cut myself or anything- I just think a backing makes the plates easier to handle.

So now there's this... Lady Queen offered to sponsor a giveaway if 10 people make purchases using the promotion code TGGT15. It's good for 15% off of your order and shipping is free worldwide.

Are you going to try any of their stamping plates? Or anything else?

Until next time...

Hoarder Time: Nail Polish

Hi there!

Soooo, this happened...

Most of my nail polish collection.

I started out just wanting to dust my nail polish rack. It didn't take long before I felt the need to make a rainbow on my floor!

Now I'm in the midst of sorting and downsizing- this picture was taken after I pulled about 200 bottles to get rid of! I find the reduction kind of calming... and surprisingly, none of the "rejects" have been tough decisions to make.

Next, I need to tackle the drawers I've got filled with nail polish. Oy.

Anyway, I'd love to see how you store your nail polish collection!

Until next time...

Coupon Deals: Zipper Baggies

Hi there!

I looove myself a good deal...

Free Glad Snack and Sandwich Bags.

... especially when it's free! I often say "for free is for me!"

If you have a Dollar Tree store nearby, print this coupon and get some free baggies for yourself! I'm not sure how long the coupon will be available for print... so if there isn't anything pre-clipped for you, I'd guess it's expired.

Until next time...

How To: Candle Recovery

Hi there!

I had forgotten that I stored Christmas candles in one of the bottom drawers of my buffet table. Well... my kid found them. He's learning "put it back," but he doesn't fully understand the concept of "carefully..."

How to fix a candle.

Don't worry, he was not hurt!

I knew I wanted to save the candle somehow, so I froze it for a few hours and then dug out a hammer and bucket...

How to fix a candle.

I put a piece of newspaper over the candle before I tapped it twice with the hammer...

How to fix a candle.

I suppose I could have skipped the freezing step since I planned on hammering the glass anyway. Too late now :-) Freezing without hammering would work great if the glass hadn't been curved.

How to fix a candle.

Ta-da!

How to fix a candle.

The lighting for my camera is simply atrocious, but I think it looks good in person!

If you try this and need to freeze your candle, I recommend letting the chunk of wax sit on a paper towel until it gets up to room temperature. If put immediately into the new container, a small bit of water will pool at the bottom and the candle will slip and slide.

Have you tried this before?

Until next time...

Hoarder Time: BBW Travel Lotions

Hi there!

There's no doubt about it- I have a boat load of Bath & Body Works travel sized lotions...

Bath & Body Works collection.

Why? I don't know!

Over the past year or so, I've come to the realization that I've got too much stuff. Plain and simple. I've always been the type of person that wants to have something just to have it. I don't need it... don't want to use it... just want to have it. They look pretty together, but it's time to stop.

I've slowly been purging, and it's tough! My hoard of everything is crazy... but I'm a neat freak, so it's all organized perfectly. That's a plus, right?

I feel like I should add that I didn't pay a penny for the featured hoard. My mantra has kind of always been "for free is for me..." not that that makes it appropriate.

My goal is to actually start using the things I have (instead of just having them to have them)... lotions, scrubs, soaps, shoes, perfumes, jewelry, makeup, books, DVDs, etc. If I have no desire to use it, well goodbye. My friends are really loving this!

I already got rid of 150+ DVDs and an entire floor-to-ceiling bookcase full of books. It's a rush! And now I have room for more stuff! Haha, just kidding... kind of. It does help to have extra space now with the remodeling I'm doing!

Do you hoard anything?

Until next time...

This or That: Mango Sugar Scrub

Hi there!

I've been loving fruity sugar scrubs this summer...

Tree Hut Shea Sugar Scrub in Tropical Mango versus
The Body Shop Mango Body Scrub.

... and I think it's fair to say I love a good value even more!

The Tree Hut scrub retails for $6.48 ($0.36/oz.) while The Body Shop scrub retails for $20 ($2.70/oz.). Yikes.

The Tree Hut (TH) scrub smells AMAZING! It's sweet and natural at the same time... while The Body Shop (TBS) scrub kind of smells like a scented Play-Doh! It smells okay in the shower, though.

The textures of each scrub are both nice in their own way. TH is rougher. I feel like it exfoliates much better and leaves my skin feeling soft after bathing.

Tree Hut Shea Sugar Scrub in Tropical Mango.

The Body Shop Mango Body Scrub.

I used the TBS scrub in the bath, and it turned my water milky. My skin was left feeling soft, but it was on the verge of greasy.

Both scrubs are organic- that's cool.

Overall, I don't think this one is even close. I'll use up the TBS scrub, but I most definitely won't repurchase it.

Have you used either of these scrubs? What are your thoughts?

Until next time...

Happy Mother's Day

Hi there!

My little guy gave this to me today for my first Mother's Day to a human...

My nails painted with Sinful Colors - Picante.
Sinful Colors Sinful Shine.

Awww ❤ 

I hope you're all having a great day!

Until next time...

First Postpartum Manicure

Hi there!

While pregnant, I really had no desire to paint my fingernails. It wasn't because the smell bothered me... I just didn't care. I kept chopping them as short as I could get them, so even if I wanted to sport a somewhat creative manicure, I don't think it would necessarily look lovely.

My nails painted with Sinful Colors - Dark Room.
Stamped with Konad image plate M57
and Color Club - Halo-Graphic.

I painted 1 coat of Sinful Colors' Dark Room before stamping... and then I added a coat of Seche Vite. Even though they're short as can be, I don't think this manicure looks terrible. The holographic touch makes me happy :-)

And since I think I'm starting to care about nail polish again, I raided my local drugstore this past weekend...

The Rimmel polishes were $0.49 each and the Sinful Colors polishes were $0.99 each. Do you blame me? Most of the Sinful Colors polishes were originally $2.99.

Until next time...

He Lost A Bet

Hi there!

Hunny Poo made a bet with one of his coworkers regarding the 49ers/Seahawks football game this past Sunday. If Hunny Poo's team lost, he had to wear the winning team's colors on his nails for a week... and vice versa with his coworker.

China Glaze - Man Hunt and Color Club - The Lime Starts Here.
Seattle Seahawks MANicure.

Needless to say, Hunny Poo lost. For the base of each green nail, I painted a coat of OPI's Alpine Snow... then I painted 2 coats of each polish to achieve what's pictured.

I think he made a pretty safe bet considering some of the other bets I've been made aware of. One of the guys has to wear a blue and green tutu for TWO WEEKS (until the Superbowl)!

Until next time...

Being Thankful

Hi there!

Today, I'm thankful... but it's not really as simple as that. I try to be thankful every day for the people, things, and opportunities in my life- and I think I'm pretty successful at doing so. What I have a more difficult time doing is realizing what I take for granted.

I'm thankful for my eyesight. It's been almost 2 months since I regained it with nearly full cooperation of my eyes. One minute, I was talking on the phone and everything seemed perfectly fine. In less than a full second, I couldn't see. Literally. I will never be able to justly describe or explain the feelings I felt in that moment. It was plain scary.

I don't know about you, but when things like that happen, all of the "what if" thoughts rush through my head. My pulse was quickly climbing. I thought that if I cried, I'd somehow make things worse. My right eye felt enlarged... so I kept thinking it'd explode or fall out (I never said my thoughts were rational). When I stood up, I felt dizzy, I couldn't walk straight... in fact, I walked straight into my dresser even though I knew where it was and I actively tried to avoid it.

Once I was at Quick Care (it's a place that's not so quick, but it was closer to my house than the ER), my heart rate was upward of 150. As much as I tried to calm myself, I couldn't stop thinking the worst. Without an explanation for what was happening, there was just no way I could be calm. They had me do their eye chart- you know, the one you stand however far behind and you have to spout off the letters you can see? I questioned the guy on what the point of this test was. I said I could see 3 of him when I could see. I still couldn't stand up straight- my husband had to hold me up. The guy told me to try anyway. So I did. It took quite some time because I had to hold my right eyelid open. And my eyeball burned. You know what he told me after I finished naming off the letters I saw on the eye chart? "You have perfect vision." WHAT!?

I forgot to mention just what my eyes looked like. My left eye and eyelid looked normal. My right eyelid looked like a Pug dog's forehead. My right pupil was dilated so greatly, it was hard to tell the color of my eye. Oh, and the pupil was most definitely not aiming forward. It was as far right as you could imagine it might go.

Anyway, the people at "Quick Care" sent me to an eye doctor. He ran some fancy tests- all of which, I passed with flying colors. He then did the simple "follow my finger" test. He said my right eye seemed like it became disconnected. My eyes were not cooperating together or with my brain. No kidding, Sherlock ;-) He sent me to the ER because he was convinced I had suffered a stroke or had a brain aneurysm.

After a very long MRI, I was told there were absolutely no signs of a stroke or a brain aneurysm. I still had no answers, though. The best the doctors could do was guess. So what it came down to was stress. I had gone through sooo (can I double underline that?) much of it in the hours leading up to that dreadful day that my body couldn't handle it. I was told that basically, just like your feet can swell, your eyes can, too. Fluid behind my right eye more or less exploded and pinched a nerve. Phew! That sounded hopeful. Except that the doctor then told me not to expect a dramatic or quick recovery.

I'm still recovering, and I will be for the next 4+ months. Bright lights and cold temperatures really hurt my eyes. I do feel an occasional burst of pain through my eye and I can't keep my right eyelid open all day. Sometimes I either have to hold it open with a finger or let it close and take a rest. I'm hopeful.

I'm thankful again for my eyesight. I'm confident I'll never take it for granted again. I appreciate being able to see my loved ones, the changing of the seasons, the sky, and that dang pimple on my chin. I feel like I've gone through a journey. As odd as it may sound, it's self-discovery.

There are so, so, so many things to be thankful for. Especially around this time of the year with holiday gifts and such, it's easy to lose sight (heh, no pun intended) of what's really important. Sure, I think it's okay to be thankful for a game console or a new bicycle... those things do bring joy and entertainment- and I think joy and entertainment are necessary components of life. But I urge you to think about the things and abilities you have that you may not notice. It's kind of enlightening.

What are you thankful for that you may have taken for granted in the past?

Until next time...

Patriotic Week - Day 7

Hi there!

This is my Independence Day manicure...

My nails painted with OPI - Alpine Snow.
Patriotic 4th of July nail foil design.

I painted 2 coats of Alpine Snow. Once dry, I applied the foil glue and waited for it to become tacky. Then I pressed the foils over the glue, and... voila! I used Seche Vite as my topcoat.

I was inspired by a combination of this picture...

Photo source - avenue.com

...and the fact that I've not tried nail foils before. They've been sitting among my nail art supplies for over a year! I think the technique is pretty simple- but more importantly, it was fun to achieve.

To see my other Patriotic manicure ideas, click here.

Welp... I'm off to go down to the waterfront to watch the neighborhood's firework display. I'd love to know how you wore your nails and how you celebrated today/tonight! Stay safe.

Until next time...

Patriotic Week - Day 6

Hi there!

I enjoyed the sponging of yesterday's manicure, but I wanted something more...

My nails painted with China Glaze - First Mate and Hey Sailor.
Stamped with Winstonia plate W107.
Patriotic 4th of July manicure.

I painted 1 coat of Julep's Brigitte before sponging with First Mate and Hey Sailor. Once dry, I stamped with Konad's special white polish and then topped everything with a coat of Seche Vite.

To see my other Patriotic manicure ideas, click here.

Until next time...

Patriotic Week - Day 5

Hi there!

This is my manicure today...

My nails painted with Julep - Brigitte, Gunta, and Salma.
Patriotic 4th of July manicure.

I painted 1 coat of Brigitte before sponging with all 3 colors, and then I topped it with a coat of Seche Vite.

I'm thinking that, maybe, this manicure needs something else. I'm not sure what, though. Would you wear it as is, or add something to it?

To see my other Patriotic manicure ideas, click here.

Until next time...