I love my nails… really I do.
But…. I was sitting at my desk yesterday and typing. All of a sudden I just got an OVERWHELMING urge to just chop my nails off.
They were kinda in the way. 
So, I did. And though I might miss them, they are gone. For now. 🙂
“Kiss Me On My Tulips” – OPI
Back to some “regular” polish. And faster typing speed. And productivity from not being so dainty and prissy with my hands. LOL
At least for a little while.
That is what my brain cells have been doing for the past month or so.
I cut my nails off.
And while I have been enjoying the level of productivity that occurs each time I “start over” on my nail growth, I haven’t decided on any nail art that I even want on my nails right now. It feels almost weird.
I have been seeing a lot of nude colored nails recently. And I’m loving the clean, non-contrasting look of them all.
I started with a little pink… gelish – “Pink Smoothie”
Then Autumn came:
ibd Just Gel – “ Fall Forward”
Now, I’m just a pretty blank canvas of gelish – “Little Princess”
just looks barely there. 
It gradually gets louder. LOL
Gradient in “pinks” covered in cheetah print. I like…..very much.
OPI – “Pinking of You”, “Got A Date To-Knight” & “Don’t Know….Beets Me”
w/ handpainted cheetah print in black acrylic paint
I was thinking that Chicago was going to just skip right over Spring. But alas, the weather is starting to get some act right. FINALLY! And with the warming temperatures, I was feeling more playful…on my nails, at least. I started by chopping them off which is always like a fresh start and always seems to make nail art more fun for me. I am also seemingly way more productive. Then…..
A bunch of Essie colors and a couple OPI colors later…. along with some
dots with acrylic paint in: yellow, green, blue, pink and gray
….from no-chip polish, that is.
As practical as no-chip manicures seem to be, they completely eliminate the absolute FUN of manicures!!!!
I need to go back to the “convenience” of changing my polish and nail designs at least two or three times a week. No-chip is just way too much maintenance for that scenario. I know, I know…. people LOVE no-chip! Some anyway….
Lots of people complain that it thins their nails, removal is a burden…. it’s more expensive…. etc., etc… But, of course, it has supporters too: long-wearing, super shiny, strengthens nails, less maintenance, non-smudging immediately after service, manicure that stands up to nail abuse, lol.
It would be practical for me, while I dabble in acetone every day, to have a no-chip. BUT IT’S NOT AS MUCH FUN!!! I promise.
So back to regular polish right now. 
China Glaze – “Escaping Reality”
OPI – “ Goldeneye” layered with “When Monkeys Fly!”
Valentine’s day leopard fun….
ibd Just Gel – “Funny Bone”
w/acrylic paint design
When Aryiana’s dad sent me a photo saying she was “like your friend Cheryl”(that would be me, lol)… I was super flattered!!! It made my whole day.
I was inspired 
…..and a new manicure is ALWAYS fun!
Aryiana’s design:
Pink & Periwinkle
My copycat version:
China Glaze “Sea Spray” & Sally Hansen Insta-Dri “Instant Iris”
Hope you like it Aryiana!! 🙂
I couldn’t decide:
So Hannah told me to do the stripes…..
I started. It was beautiful!!!!!
China Glaze “Empowerment”
and I felt empowered and pretty. lol
then, apparently, I got out of line…. and ended up with this. -__- me no likey.
so I erased them faster than the time it took me to paint them.
Felt like a princess with a little crown after this manicure.
Maybe my expectations are too high now because I am not at all enamored with the formulation of this polish. It’s a pretty color, but it’s thin, and slightly streaky. You will most definitely have to use a minimum of two coats for any remote coverage and opacity. I will still use it again… because like I said, it’s a pretty color. Plus, I feel like a beautiful girl with it on.
Sinful Colors “Beautiful Girl”
gold acrylic paint dots
expression…
good for the soul??
concept better than reality:
Nicole Miller “French Vanilla” (base)
OPI “Green-wich Village” & dark pink acrylic paint (applied w/nail art brush")
Color Club Nail Art Striper “Crème de Razzery” & “Glitter Hologram”
Reality better than expected:
OPI “Sparrow Me The Drama”
green acrylic paint & Color Club white nail art striper 
inspired by:
TopCoatIt’s "argyle nails” 
new attempts: 
OPI “You Don’t Know Jacques!”
Color Club Nail Art Striper “Crème De Razerry”
Stripe Right green nail art striper
i love it. 
Essie “Chastity” (base)
Color Club – Nail Art Stripers “Mint” & “White”
Polish2Times 