Are press-on nails tacky?

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.

"it's all fun and games until someone breaks a nail"

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. 

Note to self: use moisturizer before taking pictures of hands!

I got these imPRESS brand nails at Meijer's, a Midwest chain store, for $6.29 for 30 nails, or three manicures (or two if you don't want to use any accent nails. Some colors do come without accent nails, but you only get 24 nails.) I've seen them at CVS; in fact, I think you can find them all over. Amazon also carries them at $9.50 a package, but they have a wider selection than what I've seen in the stores. 

These nails are easy to put on and easy to take off and they're cheap inexpensive. They will definitely protect my real nails from splitting further. You don't need to inhale any toxic chemicals when using them, either. And I think if you don't use the accent nails and if you cut them down a little, they don't look so "fake."

So what do you think? Tacky? Or no?

Just pictures today

A book club friend had us over, and served tea using her beautiful set of cups and plates, all different patterns. I made gluten-free peanut butter cookies. So easy -- one cup peanut butter, one cup sugar, one egg, roll in sugar, bake about 10 minutes at 350 F -- that's it!

Got an orchid from Trader Joe's -- you water it once a week with three ice cubes. I can do that.

My husband and partners and employees went out to celebrate the end of tax season, and he came home with leftover crab and shrimp.

Using up some almost-expired puff pastry in the freezer. I made a chocolate-walnut roll. Recipe at puffpastry.com.

Ugh . . . three hours of scraping with a razor blade to get all this off pantry shelves in our daughter's fiancé's new house. We've been working here a lot, spackling and painting, etc. 

I still had one more coat of paint to put on this, but was quite pleased with the progress.

New blue shoes.

Remember my recent post about my red shoes? (I can jump higher in my red shoes.) Well. I think I can enjoy tea more in my blue shoes.

Linking with No Place Like Home.

The Enchanting Rose teacup exchange reveal

Today's the day, friends! There's 167 of us taking part in today's teacup and mug exchange reveal. That's a big tea party! So grab a cuppa, and enjoy a peek at my gifts received and sent, and then hop over to Stephanie's at The Enchanting Rose to see the rest.

This is such a fun party. Who doesn't like to get a big package in the mail? Especially when it's filled with lovely little pastel pretties like this! 

Linda from My Sew What Blog got my name, and wow, am I ever glad she did! She sent me an incredibly generous package. I felt like a kid at Christmas!

A beautiful teacup,  three delicious cake pops, a sweet candle and matches, a little notebook, a huge bag of tea, a tin of chocolate rolled wafers, and two lovely vintage napkins

Good thing I took these pictures right away, because these cake pops didn't last long! 

The teacup is from Germany, U.S. Zone, which means it was made right after World War II. It has a beautiful silver edging on it.

I'm stealing this idea for decorating a votive candle. So pretty!

We eat by candlelight every night, and I often light a candle when I'm sipping tea. I love that satisfying scratch when you light a wooden match; so much easier than using those flimsy paper ones, or listening to the annoying clicking of a lighter.

Mmm . . . love strong black tea with some cream and sugar in it.

Thank you so much, Linda!

Linda is a new-to-me blogger, and I'm delighted to have met her through this exchange. I am really hoping to carve out some time in my day to do some more creative things -- sewing, knitting, embroidery, paper crafts -- and I will be following Linda's blog with interest. She has an etsy shop called EasternAveDesigns where she sells some of her creations.

I sent out a package to Karren who blogs at Oh My Heartsie Girl. It's so much fun to receive a package in the mail, but it's just as fun picking out gifts for someone else.

I went to my favorite little tea shop and got this bright green heart-shaped teacup and organic Earl Grey tea. Just so you know how much work Stephanie puts into this exchange, we all receive info about what colors our swap partners like and the types of tea they enjoy. So I was able to choose things especially with Karren's tastes in mind.

An Irish linen tea towel.

Thank you so much Stephanie for all your hard work in putting together this eighth teacup and mug exchange! Hope you can take a moment and enjoy a relaxing cup of tea while thinking about all the lovely friendships you helped start.

Stephanie has these exchanges twice a year, once in the fall and once in the spring. You don't have to be a blogger to participate. So join the fun!

Linking with The Enchanting Rose.

More gifts from Colorado

Today I wanted to share pictures of the gifts I received from bloggers Stephanie of The Enchanting Rose and Roxy from Living from Glory to Glory. I wrote about my trip to Colorado in my last post, and shared how I was able to visit Stephanie and her mom Debbie (from She Graces Her Home in God's Beauty) and Roxy and her daughter-in-law Amy. I've already shared the beautiful teapot and teacup Debbie gifted me. 

Look at the rest of the lovelies I brought home with me . . . 

The little bird was nestled inside this box from Stephanie, which was filled with all kinds of other goodies . . . 

. . . including this darling little fabric basket that she made, filled with tea . . .

. . . and a beautifully framed print that she embellished with fabric and lace. It sits on my dressing table, reminding me of the sweetness of friendship.

This little be-jeweled cup, looking very much like a crown, was perfect for a serving of chocolate-covered raisins recently. Here, I have it filled with tea from Bernideen's tea shop, which I visited last year.

Some pretty magnets were included. Here they are displaying a card from Stephanie, with her signature fabric rose.

Another handmade card and a tag . . .  Stephanie, as you can see, is very talented, and makes beautiful fabric and paper crafts. You can see more of her art on her website, where she shares easy-to-follow tutorials, or at her etsy shop here.

In case you missed the picture of us all together . . . 

Thank you so much Stephanie!

A few days after I met with Stephanie and her mom for tea, I met up with Roxy and her daughter-in-law Amy, who blogs at God's Grace Overflows.

Roxy was delightful. Much more talkative and funny than I would have gathered from her blog. She uses her blog to encourage and exhort Christian women in their calling, and I guess I expected her to be a little more serious. Of course, she's serious about what she believes in and blogs about, but that doesn't preclude having some good ol' fun, does it?!

She made me this lovely tea cozy. And told me I had to put a pretty button on top!

So off I went to Home Goods, and found one that I think will be perfect.

She also made this darling little tea holder for carrying in my purse.

And put in a couple hand sanitizing wipes as well.

Thank you Roxy! And Amy for joining us for lunch! It was a delight to meet you both.

Wow. Such a lot of goodies; wasn't I spoiled? But the best part was meeting all these dear ladies in person.

Back from Colorado

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.