Day 93 | Vindicated

Vindicated. 

Thats been my word for the past couple days.  The causes are manly stupid, but I've been very frustrated with the feeling that I can't vindicate myself.  It's not that I don't have the right arguments.  I can vindicate myself, especially in my mind, for hours.  

The problem is, and this is a big one. I'm nice. It stinks being nice. Its not simply that I'm nice. That's a wimpy excuse not to defend yourself.  Its that I think stuff like "I don't know what kind of day they have had" or "What good will my being aggressive back do?"  

All that said, this is my moment.  Its been building up inside me for the past couple days.  Like I said, this is mostly over stupid stuff, people I don't even know online. How lame.  But its in me and I need it out.

I'm sorry you were having a bad day.  

I'm sorry that I did something you considered to be incorrect.  

I'm sorry that I respected you.  

I'm sorry that I tried to explain myself at all to you.  

I'm sorry you felt the need to project inordinate amounts of anger toward me.  

I'm sorry you think it works to put a smilie face at the end to make it seem nice. 

I'm sorry you didn't think about how the one 

obscure 

meaningless, 

faceless person you took all the bad day out on was 

me, 

the one person who would 

care, 

go red in the face, 

and cry.

  Do I need to be less sensitive. Ohyeah.  Was I having an emotional day too? Definitely.  Am I sorry I am not sorry? No.

Whew.

Thank you.

All this said... think.  Think before you take any anger out on someone.  Think before you are rude.  Think before you assume you know their motives.  Think of how you want to be treated. Think of how crappy their day may have been.  Think of the better.

Even if they are just a name on a screen.

Also, to the person this was toward... I sincerely hope today was better.  

Day 92| Dwell

I was messing around with the ohsofabulous Evernote today, having realized how easy it made syncing my life to my computer.  During this messing, I made my first note on the computer. It simply poured out of me.  I thought I'd share.  This isn't a great theological debate.  It's simply a note to uplift.

Girl, you are wonderful.  Jesus made you and He loves you.  Yes, there will be hard times, this isn't a feel good lie.  The core of life though is that you are made to glorify God.  God would not put so much stock in what he says "is good" if it wasn't important.  He seemed to consider the work He did at the end of each day of creation finished if "it was good."

 He didn't say dwell on death, sadness and heartache.  He didn't say live each day in suffering and moaning.  He said it would happen, but not to dwell on it.

He said: "whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things."

Smile.

Be joyful.

Be thankful.

Be loving.

Be.

These are all of God.

*Phil. 4:8

Day 91| Thinking

I asked a friend what he was up to today.  His reply: thinking.

I told him my plans for the day (nothing but chillin' with the hubby man. aahhhhh, how lovely.) Then I asked "thinking?"  This was unheard of to me.  To have a life so organized as to be able to just take time to think.    More than that, to have a life that you value so much that it wouldn't matter if everything was done and in place, you had to take time to think that day.  I have never planned to think for a day.  I... can barely comprehend this.

My friend simply replied, "yes. Thinking."

I was inspired.  I couldn't get it out of my head.  I asked more questions of him.  The included contemplating how Christ often took time to be alone.  Now, the idea of "I'm getting away to be with God" that one I've heard.  I suppose it's like thinking.  There is something beautifully mediative, zen-like and natural about the idea though.  I spent a lot of today, in the back of my mind, thinking about thinking.

Later, the wind started blowing powerfully outside this afternoon.  I raced out to get the clothes, that were drying, off the porch. I stood there for a moment, looking at the clouds... there were so many faces in them, I was tempted to run downstairs and grab my sketchbook.  I knew they would be gone when I got back though.  Instead, I dumped the clothes on the table.  Picking up one of the towels, I folded it up into a pillow and went to lay on my back on the porch.  I lay there for about 5 minutes, just looking and thinking.

Just thinking.

I am inspired.

Day 90 | pause

{pause}

Day 89 | CRACKLE!!!

You guys thought I forgot, didn't you?  You thought I bailed.  I didn't.  I'm here.  I have the review!   

Its for China Glaze CRACKLEglaze Nail Lacquer!

(disclaimer: I don't have the best camera nor do I know how to use the camera I do have well.  This is not about having perfectly done nails.  Really.)

 I went to Sally's Beauty Supply with Mom and looked around for this "crackle" nail polish I'd been hearing about and seeing all over the web.  I didn't see it. I walked up to the counter and asked if I was just kinda blind and missing it.  The girl smiled and said I was in the right place.  She pulled the box out from behind the counter and proceeded to gush about this nail polish.  I text Somewhere just to be sure he was okay with the idea of me paying $7 for a bottle of nail polish.  


He was, with a claus.  "You have to do a review." 
 Twist my arm why don't you?  
I happily agreed and bought it in a refreshing color called "Crushed Candy."
 About a month ago.  
It's about time for me to keep my end of the deal.  :)  

Some big tips to remember before I start though.   

1. This nail polish DOES NOT work on natural nails.  You have to have a polish on underneath. 
2. This nail polish works so much better if the base polish is completely dry first before you paint over it. 
3. Be patient.  It takes time to learn how best to use this kind of polish.

Anddd action!

I started out with multi colored nails.

I used five different colours for my bases.

(Colors and brands listed at the end.)

 I did this pretty quick, so it looks a little rough.  A good thing to remember is you have to go quick with this stuff.  Also, the thickness of the layer makes a big difference.  The amount of strokes changes it too.

 Basically, it does take getting used to so you can get the effect you want within reason. 

 Part of the beauty of this is also it's curse in that it changes every time.  It will never crack the same way twice.  I did each finger differently in this case, so you can get an idea of what you can do. 

The thumb is a black base. 

 I did it quick and pretty light, but I missed the base.  

I tapped a little on the base to cover my mistake. You can see the line too well, but if you don't tell, they won't know.

The index finger, with its bright purple 

is an example of what happens when you go over a second time.  

You can see the split of the three areas. It was also heavyish stokes.

The middle finger is a good example of if you lay it on quick and thick.

I love this colour on white. It might be neat to do half and half of white and a darker shade.

It's a chunky, well separated look when you use thick, quick stokes.

The blue based ring finger:

This one I did very quick and light stokes.  

I took it to the side to add variety.  

Many people just run the brush lengthwise.

Dark purple pinkie:

This purple color is one of my favourtites but it just doesn't make it pop with the crackle.

I like the somewhat muted look of it, but, a polish like this begs for drama.

This was just a heavy, normal speed stroke.

 I decided to mess around with a few quick designs on my right hand.  

One of my favorites, that I do most of the time that I wear this polish, is this slant streak.  

It adds such a nice splash of chaos without letting it take over.  I also did a couple squiggles that look 

pretty awesome, but since they were on the white, I gave up trying to get a good shot.

 This is not a nail polish for everyone.  Its so fun, though, that you should try it, just in case it is for you.  


 Have fun and look up reviews and tutorials on this if you are stumped how to use it.  There are so, so many extremely talented people out there who have done so much with this type of nail polish its nuts!

There are many brands that carry a crackle/shatter line.  O.P.I, Cover Girl [where? I don't know] and Mia Secret all carry them.  

Katy Perry and Pirates of the Caribbean have their own sets through O.P.I. even.

Thanks so much for reading!  Let me know which color you liked the crackle with best, and if you have them, let me know what you think of crackle nail polishes.

Color Names

I am not an affiliate of China Glaze or any of the other companies listed.  

I simply did this review for fun, they have no idea who I am.  :)

Day 88 | ugh

I feel so horrible about how little I've been able to blog this weekend. It's simply been non-stop. The wedding I worked threw a kink in my make up review and today I just didn't have the time to redo some of the steps. If anyone was waiting to read that tonight, I'm so sorry to have let you down. In exciting news, Somewhere and I have been talking and I'm going to have a surprise for you guys. Hint hint, Day 100 is coming up. To me, it's weird that there are nearly 100 little posts you can read to get further into my mind. I feel a little bit naked thinking about it.

This said, expect a nice long post and a make up review tomorrow.

Be loving!
Didge

Day 87 | sore feet

Well, my brother, my husband, one of my best friends and I worked a wedding today. Oh my word My legs/feet/walking apparatuses ache. It was so much fun though. I wanna do it again. I wanna sleep more. Sorry this is a short post weekend. I love you all. ~Me