For my Aunt

Front: Aunt Lori, Mom, Aunt Lisa and Uncle Keith in the back

Yesterday my Aunt Lori lost her fight with Ovarian Cancer.  Her funeral will be on Friday.  My folks are in San Jose and I am home, because facing emotionally disturbed kids at work is something I am afraid I wouldn't be able to do.  So, I decided to create a manicure in her honor.  There is not a lot I can do to prepare and to show my love for her, but I can do this.  But before I do, I thought I would tell you a little about her.  My Aunt Lori is one of the strongest people I know.  She is strong in her faith and will not hesitate to share her testimony.  She was never married or had kids, but she leaves behind nieces and nephews who will carry the love she showed them in their hearts until they are rejoined with her in the next life.  I am so grateful to know that this is not goodbye, but an, "Until I can join you." 

I did this with Bundle Monster BM-307.  The polishes were China Glaze Don't Be A Luna-tic and Nabi Neon Blue.

Doing the butterflies in the holographic polish made them rather difficult to photograph, so in the shade is the best way to see them.

But oh what the sun does for them.

I can't forget my thumb.

Ovarian cancer is horrible and devastating.  But, I am so grateful I could see her before she passed.  On Saturday I did her fingernails and toenails.  We embraced and were able to talk a little in between the times she slept.  I love you dearly Aunt Lori and I will honor you the best I can until we meet again.

Tootles
Fitz

P.S.  For more information on Ovarian cancer and the warning signs, please click this link.  Early detection is the best way to survive this disease and the only way to discover it early is to be informed.

Sunday Stamping: Once Upon A Time . . .

Today's Sunday Stamping challenge was to do a manicure that represented our favorite Fairy Tale.  I tried to think of ways to represent different Fairy Tales; Rapunzel, Cinderella, Beauty and The Beast, or The Little Mermaid.  Nothing was coming to mind until I really followed the challenge and thought about my favorite one. . .

So this isn't a very common Fairy Tale.  So you might not know it, however it is the Grimm Fairy Tale The Shoes That Were Danced To Pieces, or The Twelve Dancing Princesses.  I could tell you what it is about, but I think you should read it for yourself.  I really love how the trees turned out, well except for the diamond tree. . . I couldn't figure out how to do it without it looking like another silver tree. . .

I used Bundle Monster BM-213 to represent the shoes and Winstonia W102 to create the trees.  The colors are China Glaze Want My Bawdy, Millennium, Medallion, Angle Wings, Glistening Snow, and Brownstone.  I also used loose glitter for the leaves.

My right hand I just used Medallion over WMB.

The Shade.

My thumb.  I am not sure what  could have done for the diamond tree. . . if you have any ideas, let me know.

Tootles!
Fitz

Pretty little penguins

I believe I mentioned I moved.  Well, in moving I have acquired an extension to my family.  There are two girls and a boy who run around this house we call home.  For the sake of privacy we shall call one of the girls Sue.  Sue has some trouble at school and her Mom asked me to paint her nails as a reward if Sue had a good week.  This is the second time I have done this and they turned out so cute I had to share.

Doing nail art on a four year old is no easy task.  Not only do they squirm, but their nails are so tiny that getting an image on them is intense.  So when she asked for penguins I was a little concerned.  Different ways to approach this ran through my head and then I remembered the cute little penguin on the Cheeky Plate CH43.

The idea of stamping on a four year old seemed harrowing so I made my own nail stickers using the method from Gnarly Gnails.  Preparing them made things easier, but there were still mess ups, one tore a little, but she didn't mind.  Sue didn't mind the smudges either.  What can I say, I am still learning.

So I used China Glaze Secret Peri-Wink-le (the base color), Life Preserver (the beak), Recycle (the wings), Konad Special Black, Wet n' Wild French White Cremè.

Her thumbs.  The one on the right in the perfect penguin.

She looks so cute with her nails done.

I also did her toes in China Glaze Textured Itty, Bitty, Gritty.  She went around saying her toes were bumpy.

Tootles!
Fitz

F is for Feel

For Erica's Nails and More ABC Challenge we are up to the letter F (I will go back and do E later).  I decided to use a textured polish I just bought and call this the "Feel" mani.  I know it might be a bit of a cop out, but I am exhausted!  Anyways, here it is. . .

I was unsure of whether or not I would get on the textured polish bandwagon, but when Sally's had a buy two get one free offer, PLUS I had a birthday coupon of 10 dollars of a 20 dollar purchase, PLUS my Nana gave me a gift card from them for my birthday. . . Well, how could I resist trying 1. . . or 2. . . or 3.

This is China Glaze Of Course!  I was amazed how long this lasted without chipping.  4 days!  Yep!  Incredible right?  I thought the feel of my nails would drive me nuts, but I honestly did get used to it after a while.

I am still not sure what I feel about the textured trend.  The polish seems a bit too specialized.  I am not sure what else I can do with it.  I haven't tried nail art on it, but I guess I will have to.  I really want to splurge and get a Zoya Pixie Dust.  Those look so pretty online.

If you have any ideas on how to get more out of these polishes I would love to hear about it!

Tootles!
Fitz

World Ovarian Cancer Day

I have been stressing over this blog post since the moment I decided to do it.  I have always felt that this blog would be more about my nails and less about my life.  I wanted to let my art speak for itself without delving too much into my personal life.  I always knew I would add anecdotes and make sure my personality bleed through in my writing, but this was not going to be a diary blog.  This post will be different.  This post will be both, because this nail art and the reason for it couldn't be more personal.  My Aunt Lori was diagnosed with ovarian cancer and has been battling it for quite some time.  This is her third recurrence and she has decided to let the disease take its course.  I love my Aunt Lori dearly and know that this decision has brought her peace and happiness.  What more could I ask for her?  However, there are other women out there who go through life not knowing about the ravages of this fatal disease.  There is still things unknown about it.  There may still be ways to help those who are diagnosed in the future and if we don't raise our voices in awareness they may never be found.  Today is World Ovarian Cancer Day.  All around the world people will be wearing teal and talking about survivors and those who have been left behind.  We can do something about it.  I take great honor in joining my voice with chorus of others all over this planet we call home and singing to others about it.  I found a group called Teal Toes that I feel a kinship with and have been telling others to paint their toenails teal to help spread awareness.  This is where my blog comes in.  What a perfect way to express my love to my Aunt and to tell others about Ovarian cancer than to use nail polish.  First I want to show you my manicure.

I used Konad Special White and Finger Paints Winter Sky.  The plate was Bundle Monster BM-321.  I tried to offer some variety in placement of the stamp to break up the uniformity, but unfortunately my index finger suffered from ill placement.

I also broke my thumb nail.  At least the stub isn't too bad. . .

I do like how this turned out, but I want to try something different next time.

Now here is the really cool part.  My sister joined in my quest in Ohio and created two manis herself.

Now with Teal Toes being the point of the other orginization I few of those pictures too.

These are, from the top left going clockwise, my Aunt Lisa, Me, my Mom, my Grame, and my Aunt Lori's Teal Toes.  Everyone, but me was Sephora by OPI Mermaid to Order.  Then I was China Glaze Deviantly Daring.

My friend Angie and her daughter did some gardening and then took pictures of their teal toes for me!  I have some amazing friends!

If you would like me to include your teal manicure or pedicure, send me the picture at starchild202(at)sbcglobal(dot)net with any information you would like me to include and I will add it to this post.  I may even do another post with them.  I am also thinking of doing a challenge in September, which is Ovarian cancer month.  In the meantime more information can be found at Ovarian Cancer National Alliance.  I want to leave you with this last photo that shares some statistics regarding Ovarian Cancer.

Tootles!
Fitz