Fun and Mental Changes

Oh how I missed you!  This is a mani I haven't done in quite some time and I JUST realized that it NEVER got posted on my blog the first time I did it.  I can't believe it!  It's one of my favorites... and NOT just because it's a Halloween mani (mostly, but not entirely).  I like it because of all the Konad image plates I get to use to create this wonderful Halloween collage on my nails!  So here it is for the first time here on FunandmentalChanges.com!!!  And check out my thumb.... My thumb is sort of an exception to the rest of the manicure because the scary jack-o-lantern is off of a "fauxnad" plate, but the rest of the Konad images plates are M3, M17, M18, C01, C04 and C05.  Wow.... that really IS a lot of plates!!! So my base coat is Nail Aid's Pink Growth Therapy, then one coat of Orly's Mirror Mirror and then the various images stamped in Konad's special black and white polishes.  I LOVE THIS ONE!!!  The inspiration for this ...

Alright.... just a quick one today since I'm in the Halloween spirit, I thought I'd do my nails using one of my favorite past Konadicures.  Some of you may remember this one from a couple of Halloween's ago and it just so happened to be my first run at a Halloween manicure!!!  So to recap, I just simply used a base coat of Nail Aid's Instant Wrap so that my nails had a nice strong base.  Then I polished just the tips using OPI's Tangerine Scene and topped it off with a coat of Seche Vite Quick dry top coat for a fast dry.  Once dry, I stamped the lace image from Konad image plate M69 using the Konad gold-black special polish.  Finally, I stamped the spider from image plate M1 using Konad's special polish in black and applied another top coat of Seche Vite.  That was it... couldn't have been easier.  This is probably one of the easiest manicures, but sure does pack a creepy yet gorgeous punch!!!  This was the perfect mani to keep me from miss...

For this lazy girl, there's nothing like a matte top coat to make a manicure look fresh and new WITHOUT having to re-polish or waiting for a brand new manicure to dry.  Really, in this way, a good matte top coat is sheer magic because a matte top coat dries in a matter of about a minute and makes any manicure look super stylin!!! *Shown here, Nail Aid Pink Natural Growth Therapy base coat, Opi Over The Taupe, Essie Matte About You top coat. And then there are times when you want to put in the time to add a little something special and that matte polish is, yet again, sheer magic.  I ADORE this matte/shine french mani!!!  Granted, it isn't PERFECT, but for a first attempt, I'm pretty happy with it!  If you haven't tried the matte top coat, you honestly don't know what you're missin!!! *Shown here, Nail Aid Pink Natural Growth Therapy base coat, Opi Eiffel For This Color, Seche Vite top coat and Essie Matte About You tips.

So I know that I haven't posted in quite some time.  Actually, I've been a wee bit busy with my husband who sustained an injury at work (he's a police officer and for those of you even thinking of being with a police officer.... MAKE SURE you know EXACTLY what you're getting into.  I would NEVER EVER want any other husband and if I knew then what I know now I would DEFINITELY do it again, but I also know that I'm not the typical girl.  I'm a red head with a lot of "spunk" and was being "groomed" to marry this man long before I met him.  It is because of this man that I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that there is a God and he loves me.  Ok, I'm done with the gush!  That was quite a long gush.  I think I may have achieved some kind of world record for the use of these parenthesis....hahahahaha) and has been recovering after corrective surgery.  It has been a long road for him and here we are working to get him "back".  Back to a...

Ok... wow!  It's been a while since I've done my nails.  Judging by how short they are, you can probably guess why.  Another reason is the HUGE scar I now wear on my middle finger from when Martha Stewart tried to kill me!  Click HERE for the gory details.  But, with Valentines right around the corner, I couldn't help but do a little Konadicure for the occasion.  Well, that and I did a Konadicure for the Super Bowl (so sorry I didn't get pics before completely trashing my nails at the party... GREAT PARTY by the way!!!) that REALLY needed to go.  A girl can only go so long with all of her nails looking like tiny footballs.  Yah, kinda regretting not posting them.  So that I don't make the same mistake again... here are some cuties. So for my base coat I used Nail Aid's Pink Natural Growth Therapy followed by two coats of OPI's Got a Date To-Knight and then a coat of Seche Vite for a quick dry.  Then I went to Walmart and picked up my ...

You missed the nail art didn't you?!?  It's been awhile my lovelies!  Mainly because I had a biting relapse, and I don't mean the brooding vampire kind!!!  Luckily I stopped the biting with the help of some TLC and my beloved Nail Aid, now I'm back on track and dippin into the Konad.  With Twilight on the mind since the release of the trailer (click HERE for the vampy/wolfy goodness) for Breaking Dawn, well, you know, it's all I can think about!  So my nails get a little mani with Twilight in mind! Base coat is Nail Aid Peeling Nail Therapy, 1 coat of China Glaze Innocence (kinda fitting here), 1 coat of Seche Vite for quick dry, and Konad image plate M64 with Konad Special Polish in black.  I finished this off by adding some red bling before sealing the whole thing with another coat of Seche Vite. So I'm LOVING this mani!!!  The pink is creamy and ever so subtle making that red bling pop out on top of the black background. ...

Yes, Yes... I'm terribly late... I know!  I was supposed to announce on April 1st that I'm having ANOTHER Favorite Things Birthday Give Away.  Well, here I am.... 7 days late, I'm here with the announcement.  BUT FIRST:  Let's check out some of the prize goodies!!! So pictured above is nail treatments from my ALL-TIME-FAVORITE nail treatment company... Nail Aid .  I LOVE their products, I LOVE their company and I LOVE their service.  And this year they GENEROUSLY donated another HAUL of their new products available at Walmart (check your local store for availability as I'm finding that not all of them carry it... which is NUTS!).  They are just so generous... THAT'S FIVE PRODUCTS!!!  Now I've never tried these products... being that they are new, but I personally use MANY of their products and I love them.  So be sure to check out their website by clicking the link above.  And just so you know which ones are my favorites, I...

OMG... isn't this one CUTE!?! And I gotta say, it TOTALLY matched the outfit that I wore to my sister's bridal shower! That really is just so fun to do! You can do it too!!! Just use discount code "FITTERTWIT" over at OC Nail Art and receive a free image disc with a $30 purchase on top of free shipping!!! Be sure to choose your free image disc at checkout! :) So for this Konadicure, I used my Nail Aid Pink Growth as a base, 2 coats of OPI's Decades of Shades, Konad image plates M57, M61 and M69 using China Glaze's GR8 from their OMG line, one coat of Northern Lights sparkly topcoat and then one final coat of Seche Vite. AWESOME!!! Click on the pic to enlarge. That is all today gang! Happy Sunday!

So, today is overcast and dreery (SO WONDERFUL) and I pulled out Young Frankenstein, a Halloween classic, to pop it into the dvd player and couldn't help but be struck by the urge to do another Halloween mani! You know you love them!!! hahahahahaha. So with the movie put on hold, I went in search of the PERFECT image plates! Here's what I did. Base Coat: Nail Aid's Rapid Growth 2 Coats: OPI's Gargantuan Green Grape Image Plates: M7 and M19 (for french tip) Images Stamped: in black Konad special nail polish Top Coat: Seche Vite for quick dry I'd say these babies are perfect for the Young Frankenstein viewing.... don't you agree? Gotta run folks! Time to pop popcorn and press "play"! :) Don't forget... visit O.C. Nail Art and use code FITTERTWIT at checkout to receive free images along with your free shipping on orders over $30!

ONLY 10 MORE DAYS!?! I can't believe Halloween's almost here!!! I'm so excited! So I'm going to try to fit in as many Halloween Konadicures as I can between now and then. Today's is a simple orange and black "quickie" using Nail Aid's Pink Growth as a base coat, then two coats of OPI's Tangerine Scene, nail stamp from image plate M15 using Konad special nail polish in black and then a top coat of the beloved Seche Vite! THIS IS SO GOTH!!! I love it! I'm going to do this again in red and black... stay tuned for that!!! I went ahead and covered the ghastly-gash-al-a-Martha Stewart so that I could show you the entire mani. Please forgive the nasty cuticles... ever since the Martha Stewart attack , I just haven't really cared for them while waiting to heal. But at least you all get to see this awesome mani!!! Get yourselves ready.... Halloween's almost here!!! For a GREAT deal on Konad Nail Stamping, check out OC Nail Art ! Code "FITT...

Ok, so last Halloween I found the GREATEST Konadicure I have ever seen but did not have the image plates to do it, so I saved the image and FORGOT to include the name of the person who did this nail design. So for the record, I am NOT taking credit for this design, however I am taking credit for how good it turned out!!! I made only a couple of mistakes, but they are livable! This is STILL an amazing mani!!!! I have been growing out my nails specifically for this Konadicure. This mani is the reason I quit gnawing on my nails!!! What's a Konadicure? Konad is a REUSABLE nail STAMPING system and if you read this blog, then you have an "in". Head over to O.C. Nail Art (click HERE ), spend $30 or more and receive free images when you use the code FITTERTWIT (choose free image plate of your choice). Add to that free shipping to the US and I'd say that's a pretty screamin deal!!! And not only is this nail art system reusable, you can use any color you want to create gorg...

A little while ago I had some heartbreak, as we sometimes go through in life, and reverted back to NAIL BITING.... DANG IT! I honestly thought I was past that horrible habit that turned my hands from pretty and feminine to tacky and gnarled! I grew up biting my nails only stopping when I had acrylic nails applied as an adult. Then, after the economy took a turn and I couldn't afford professional nail services, I had the gel nails removed (I switched from acrylic to gel because gel ROCKS) and began caring for my own nails. WHAT FUN!!! I grew my natural nails very easily and LOVED nail art.... I REALLY loves me the nail art. So what happened? Why can't I stop biting now?!? I did probably the hardest mani yesterday on the tiniest nubs I've seen in a LONG time!!! I know that darker colors on shorter nails looks awesome, but dark colors on nubs does not simply because the application is IMPOSSIBLE. Hopefully my Nail Aid Ultra Rapid Growth will actually stay on my nails to allow ...

Have you ever been SUPER busy but didn't really get anything done? I feel like that's been my life for the past two weeks. So I figured I better get a shot of this mani up before I remove the polish. Typically my manis don't make it 5 days before I wanna change the color and with running 100 MPH while standing still... Well, I just better get it in! LOL! So I have gotten SOOOO much length from using the Ultra Rapid Growth from Nail Aid and this thumb nail is here to sing Nail Aid's praises. My nail looks like a false press on nail! HAHAHAHAHAHA! I assure you, it's real! So anyway, I used the Rapid Growth as a base coat followed by ONE coat of China Glaze Pink Chiffon (not lazy, just exhausted). I then put on a coat of Seche Vite for a quick dry before stamping the images from Konad image plates M79 and C01. The polka dots were done in Color Club's Laser Pink and the flowers and kitty were done with Konad's special black nail polish. I topped it all ...

These nail blogs.... I'll tell ya!!! Surfing through them can cause a serious need to RUN out and spend money! hahahaha! I saw this mani done by Evil Angel over at Black Nail Polish and Lip Gloss and was inspired, but only after viewing Scandalous over at Scandalously Polished and her AWESOME halos (holos or holographic)! So what's a girl to do? I say COMBINE!!! So here's my "Splattered" mani! I used Konad image plate M9 and Konad's eggplant special nail polish on top of the most GORGEOUS halo I've ever seen. It reminds me of a fire opal! Don't you think? 1 coat Nail Aid Ultra Rapid Growth 2 coats China Glaze's TTYL Topped with Seche Vite Stamped Topped AGAIN with Seche Vite So AMAZING!!! I've been wanting to do this "Splattered" mani for a while and finally got inspired by Scandalously Evil Angels! ;)

Yesterday was my final day for the Nail Aid's Ultra Rapid Growth nail treatment that is available at Walmart (STILL NOT AT MINE THOUGH... UGH)! Yep... this one gets many, many high fives!!! This product not only worked as a nail treatment, I will continue to use this product as a base coat. You guys can judge for yourselves as far as the growth goes. Below are the day 0 and day 5 pics.... but that "rubbery" base layer is the "GETCHA" for me! I haven't used anything like this product. My nails feel stronger and the polish goes on sooooo smoothly. As far as using this product as a topcoat... well, if I'm trying to grow my nails out quickly, then ABSOLUTELY I will use it as a topcoat as the directions tell you to do. I couldn't master the top coat application so that I didn't get ANY bubbles though, so as soon as I get my desired length (which for me is NOW) I will be switching back to my beloved Seche Vite (which I did today). The pic at the top s...

Well, today is day three of my Nail Aid Ultra Rapid Growth test and I've gotta say... I see a difference! Do you? It looks and feels like I've gotten quite a bit of length in three days. I love how the product feels when I put it on as a base coat and my last Konadicure lasted every bit of the three days before it was time to remove and reapply... which is better than some nail products out there that AREN'T nail treatment products. There is one thing that I'm noticing when applying the Ultra Nail Growth as a topcoat (per package instructions), I'm noticing air bubbles. There are only a couple of them on very few nails, but they are there. It COULD be simply that I'm applying it too thickly. I've never used this product before and I might need to change up my normal application slightly. I will give that a try on my day 5 mani... I'll let you know. Honestly, I can already tell you that this product is getting some serious high fives from me with or wit...

**** Be sure to enter my Favorite Things Birthday Give Away by clicking: HERE ! Huh! So, I had to remove the nail polish that I was wearing yesterday to apply the Nail Aid Ultra Rapid Growth to test, and since the directions say that you can apply one coat followed by color.... OF COURSE I had to do another Konadacure!!! And since I won't be wearing this longer than 3 days (also per directions), I thought it would be fun to do a Halloween theme.... you all KNOW how much I ADORE Halloween (in April???)!!! And these are super fun. So here's how: 1 basecoat of Nail Aid's New Ultra Rapid Growth (available at your local Walmart VERY soon) 2 coats of Orly's Mirror Mirror Konad for the web is found on IP S6 and done with Konad's White Special Polish Konad for the spider is found on IP M1 and done with Konad's Black Special Polish 1 topcoat of Nail Aid's New Ultra Rapid Growth This is the FIRST time that I've ever used this product. So far I LOVE it. Now I...

Ok... here we go! Here are the pix for the goodies that one lucky follower is going to win on May 7th!!! So exciting!!! To enter the drawing, click on this link: HERE . I will be posting the results of my test run with the Nail Aid Ultra Rapid Growth next week. I put 2 coats on tonight and will follow up with a coat every night for three days and then I'll remove it and start over. I'm supposed to have longer stronger nails in 5 days... we'll see!!! Honestly, with the AWESOME experiences I've already had with Nail Aid's products, I'm pretty confident that this will do everything it says it'll do. But to make sure, I took before pics. The Ultra Rapid Grow and the Maximum Iron Hardener (also by Nail Aid) are both new products that are available at Walmart. The lucky winner on May 7th gets a bottle of each! :) Two items in the prize haul didn't make it into the pics: the Seche Vite Topcoat and the Soaptopia Double Bubble 2-Soap Gift Box. The Seche Vite hasn...

IT IS ON! Ok... HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!!! I get to give stuff away! And not just ANY stuff.... MY FAVORITE STUFF!!!! Well, not ALL my favorite stuff, but certainly my favorites for at least ONE of my obsessions: NAILS!!! Maybe next year for my birthday I will be giving away craft supplies and exercise equipment... that would be AWESOME!!! But, this year's birthday give-away is HUGE with my favorite nail and beauty products and is open to ALL my followers. You guys are the best and deserve the best, so here is what ONE lucky winner is going to score: The Prize Haul: Konad Nail Art Stamping Set - Coraline I (I am addicted to Konad and I LOVE this set) Konad Nail art image disc - M63 (A little something extra from Kathleen... thank you) Fragrance Oil Set, types: China Rain, White Linen, Obsession (I love these for my relaxing baths) Nail Aid Nail Treatment Set including: Pink Natural Growth Therapy, Instant Wrap, Clear Liquid Bandage, Cuticle Cure, Peeling Nail Intense Repai...

I am SOOOO freakin excited!!! This month is my birthday month and next week I will be kicking off ANOTHER give-away. That's right, I'm stretchin, but I get to give away the presents which is a birthday gift all its own! And this one is SOOOO worth it because it's all my favorite stuff! Check out the prize haul: So far I have a Konad Coraline Nail Stamping Set generously donated by OC Nail Art along with one of my NEWEST favorite Konad image plates, #M63. Truth be told, they are all my favorites... but don't tell my husband!!! ;) Whoops! I got side-tracked... ON TOP OF THAT, I also have a collection of fragrance oils that I love to add to my bath water. ON TOP OF THAT, I have A TON of Nail Aid products that was another generous donation by Nail Aid . Not only did they donate EVERY ONE of my favorite nail treatments, they also donated two products that are newly available at Walmart that I haven't even tried yet... that's like 7 different Nail Aid products!!! Oh,...