Uh, yes. Definitely.

At least that is what I thought until a couple weeks ago when I actually tried them.

Now I'm kind of hoping that they look okay. Because they are solving a multitude of nail problems.

Okay, maybe the glittery chevron nail is a little tacky, but hey, you can't blame me for wanting to have a little fun, right?

These pictures were taken before I trimmed them down a little.

I have always had weak nails -- splitting, peeling, tearing. When I was working, I did them every week, and since I had an office job, they stayed in fairly good shape. But when I had children, it was catch as catch can, sometimes polish, sometimes not. If I kept them short and wore gloves when I did housework (which I still do), they were generally okay.

But in the past few years I've developed a split down the middle of one of my thumb nails that doesn't seem to want to heal. I've tried keeping it cut really short, but it amazes me how often it gets bumped or hit, and then that split deepens. 

I work with my hands a lot these days, and I don't have the patience to put polish on and be careful, careful all the time so it doesn't chip. I've tried gluing the split together, taking biotin, moisturizing my hands more frequently, etc. I have gone to get gel nails at the salon. They look beautiful, but it's expensive, toxic, and time-consuming. Plus, it further damages your nails.

What to do? I could keep them super-super short and unpolished. But sometimes, you just want to have pretty nails, you know?

So all this is a build up to why I thought about trying the press-on nails. You can buy nails that you attach using glue, but that sounded like too much work and potentially more damaging to my nails.

So the first set I tried stayed on a week. One of the index finger nails started lifting on the seventh day. I could have glued that one on and gone several more days, but I just took them all off. You can just peel them off, but I wanted to be careful, so I ran a Q-tip soaked in polish remover around the edges of the nails, and then lifted them off.

No damage to the nails at all, unlike when I've had gel nails removed. I think it's probably a good idea to let nails "breathe" a little, so I didn't put another set on for a few days.

It's literally peel and stick. You are supposed to press on them occasionally for the first half hour after you apply them, and avoid washing your hands for an hour after you've put them on.

I found them to be too long and squarish, so I cut them down a little the morning after I applied them and then used an emery board to round the edges somewhat. 

So what do you think? Tacky? Or no?

Linking with No Place Like Home.

I had a lovely blogging break, friends. Maybe you know already that I was in Colorado visiting my mom and sister and her family. And . . . three lovely blogging friends. Three! Oh, and met a fourth, new-to-me blogger.

First, I met with Stephanie of The Enchanting Rose and her mom Debbie of She Graces Her Home in God's Beauty. I felt very intrepid and adventurous as I journeyed through winding mountain passes in the snow-capped Rockies. Such different terrain than that in Michigan. Such wide and panoramic vistas. And, of course, I was filled with anticipation to meet my special blogging friends.

Well, Debbie and Stephanie are just as lovely and special as you would imagine them to be. Two beautiful and gracious women. I felt we were old friends as we sat and talked the afternoon away. Stephanie got some beautiful pictures of our time together here on her blog. The tea room was just beautiful, but I was too busy talking and eating and enjoying myself to get many pictures.

A few days later I headed down to Castle Rock, Colorado, to meet Roxy of Living from Glory to Glory, and her daughter-in-law, Amy, who blogs at God's Grace Overflows.  Another very special mother and daughter (in-law).

Today, I'm sharing my gifts from Debbie. Both Stephanie and Roxy also gifted me with some real lovelies, but I'll save sharing those for my next post.


Debbie gave me a beautiful teapot and matching teacup. I was overwhelmed by her generosity. (She also treated me to lunch as well!) Aren't they beautiful? I've always wanted a black teacup; I think the black with floral design looks very old-fashioned and Victorian.

I will so enjoy using these, Debbie. What pleasant memories they will recall.

And just so you know it isn't all tea parties and flowers around here . . .


. . . here I prepare to battle it out with my three nephews in a grueling Dart Warz game. I guess I didn't look too threatening. Some of the little kids were coming up to me and loaning me extra ammunition. Figured I needed help.

Looking forward to catching up with everybody.

Linking with No Place Like Home.