Preserving Produce

Yesterday I made two more jars of pickled radish seed pods before pulling up the plants. I want to make room for a fall garden. I have also started drying my Tabasco peppers. I had to move them as Max though it was a new toy. I will keep stringing on more peppers as they are ready.

Themed Nails

Last week I tried to do Steampunk nails, friday I used what I had learned to redo them. The black under the copper plating was a step in the right direction. It made more noticeable seams, but I found it too harsh. I think the brown in my august julep box will work best, it just has to get here first. The gold studs were a perfect touch. I also found a gold and copper glitter that looks great with it.

While on vacation with the family I practiced galaxy nails. I painted Joyce and Becky's toes and Alex and Kathryn's finger nails. In the process I messed up my nails so when we returned I tried it out on myself.

Yesterday I decided to try my new Julep color, Nan. It is similar to an unknown polish I have. Nan is more red, you can compare to the unknown on ring finger and thumb.

Metalwork.

Charles is in the EMC2 program. It is a program for those who want to go to school for mechanical engineering. They pay high school students to take free classes during the summer after their junior and senior years. So not only are classes free, they pay you $300 each summer and give you another$300 in scholarships after each summer (providing you enter engineering program after), you also get credits reducing your bachelors degree to an additional 2.5 yrs. How can you say no to that?

This is just one of the fun projects he made this summer.

Steampunk Nails and Steamed Greens

I've been trying to eat my greens while they are fresh. I've steamed them and put over rice with butter and soy sauce and steamed as a side.

I ordered my Maven box for August, I chose to upgrade to the full collection. I decided to try a couple looks with Faye- a bronze color while I wait. This first one I paired with Juleps Sienna and Petites' Passion Orange.

The second one I used several metalics to try a steampunk look. I used striping tape and gem stone layered with a copper polish for a grommeted metal look. I then used nail stamps to simulate gears on the other nails. To finish I hand painted tentacles, which were harder than I planned. I had to outline so the would show up. They looked better before outlining and I should have just done them in black as a shadow effect.

"Grow" Headphones

I finally finished Charles' headphones. I was also using them for a craft challenge. I had to craft something inspired by a proverb. I chose, "Children should be seen and not heard." It also had a garden theme for bonus points.

Accent Nails

I rarely painted my nails a year ago. It wasn't until I stumbled onto water marbling that I got interested in nail art. It is a fun way to both express yourself and to get creative in a small way. With accent nails it isn't over powering and I can focus most of the detail work on my non-dominant hand. Usually, I either do just my ring finger or I sometimes also do both thumbs. If I was more interest I will add a second color for a skittle look.

Last Wednesday I tried Julep's Karen which is a frosted peach. I hand painted a floral motif on my ring finger and both thumbs.

Tonight I decided to try Juleps Kaylen, a matte orange. I used a tattoo but instead of just doing the nail I also placed it on my finger. I had to add to the nail as some of it didn't transfer and added a black stud. I topped this with China Glaze Matte Magic. This gave the details a cohesive matte finish. I think this look is a little more daring.

Radish seed pods

My radish roots did not bulb up before they bolted. I started eating the greens and buds steamed and served over rice with butter and soy sauce. I was able to get to most of them before they created seed pods. I ate some fresh, pickled some, and may saute them as well.

Drink Dispensers with Chalkboard Labels

I decided to add to the drink dispensers. After I came up with the idea I realized I must have seen it in a magazine using the same dispensers from Target. I just can't locate it. I taped off rectangles and rolled on a homemade chalkboard paint. I used plaster of paris and acrylic paint. I then primed them by rubbing chalk all over and wiping it off.

Party Planning

Yesterday I started my party planning crunch. I bought punch mixers, chip and salsa, and the last of the party ware. The cake is ordered and I finally got a hold of Josue about ordering the carnitas. I still want balloons which I will try to get when I pick up the cake. I need to get the money for carnitas to Becky today as well as pick up tortillas and veggies to grill.

I started a project for a birthday gift and painted my nails. Today, I bug bomb again and shop. Tomorrow I start prepping food and Saturday is the party.

nails

While I was out yesterday I stopped at a plant sale with Mom. I picked up another tomato plant, a sweet and hot pepper plant, a sweet potato vine, and a catnip plant. I placed the catnip in Max's loft. He was chewing on my fingers after I came in from re-potting it. I placed it in a teapot.

While re-potting, I found that there still fleas outside. I will just have to keep spraying.

Charles' Party

They party went well. People showed up an hour early and the meat was late but with everyone's help it all worked out. There was one issue that came to my attention at the end, but it didn't effect the party. Charles had several of his friends there which made made renting the space worth while. Mom and Joyce helped set-up and clean-up with out being asked. My nieces and nephews were a great help, Alex and Matt brought the games that everyone enjoyed so much. Becky helped coordinate the meat and picked up a few things. Mom and Joyce graciously brought and prepared extras, insisting I take some home to enjoy. I hadn't eaten much, I was too busy and then too tired to enjoy the party, then it was clean up time.

Summer Heat

I received the Summer Heat Collection from the secret sale. It was 50% off so I couldn't pass it up. Actually there were several others I wanted but I restrained myself. I did also by two lip glosses from the super deals shop.

lip gloss; zinnia- burgandy and poppy- salmon/coral

 summer heat polish; leila- yellow shimmer, kaylen- bright orange, and drew- hot pink

Before I checked the mail I turned my patriotic mani into a Spider-man look.

My plans for my first day of vacation, grill out while I bug bomb the house. Maybe do my nails while I'm stuck out there in the summer heat.

Maybe painting my nails outside wasn't the brightest. The heat and wind made it clumpy and I didn't have anything to clean up edges. I will have to try this again.

Independence Day

Happy 4th. To some the 4th means parades, fireworks, and backyard cookouts. Actually that sounds like fun, it is important to be aware of our freedoms as well. If we take them for granted we could lose them. I'm not anti-government. I realize it is difficult to balance individual freedoms with protecting society as a whole. I don't know where we draw that line and the controversy shows that society as a whole is all over the place. If I was omniscient I could say one way or another, which way we should go, but I'm not.

I do however have personal hot buttons. I do not like that large corporations can buy political support. I'm not against gmo's specifically, I don't think they are the best choices, but for a company to "own" dna that they cannot contain and to seek damages when it spreads by nature...that is just frightening.

I  think police officers need more training and that certain government organizations need to have more checks and balances. They are human beings and can be subject to their personal prejudices and personal interests. That does not inherently make them bad, they are necessary in society. It is human nature to be self-absorbed, thankfully many also care about the betterment of society as well.

Well that was long winded. As I started, I enjoy fun as well. That will have to wait as I have to work tonight. I do start my vacation tomorrow, but tonight the boys have left to stay with friends. What about me? I did get a few gifts from the garden, a handful of peas, a cherry tomato, and a few red currant berries.

Old Nail Art

These are a few of my older tries of nail art. Most are just snapped on my camera phone as I finished.

flocked

 stamping

 handpainted nail transfer

 foil

 striping tape

 stamping

 stamping

 flocked chick

 tattoo

Patriotic Nail Art

Since the glitter polish chipped I decided to try another look. I left out the glitter this time. I have seen this look several times and wanted to try it out. Aside from it being the first time to try this look and it looking better on longer nails, I am happy with it.  It seems art deco to me.

I did have a little trouble with Juleps Catherine. It is very thin and runs easily. I love the color though it is very intense. I was afraid that if I cleaned up the edges it would take away the color on nails, so I let it dry and finished nails with two generous layers of topcoat. I then added another layer after cleaning the edges to touch up the shine. This picture is preclean-up.

Kitty Love

After losing a few plants this winter I decided to find a way to put plants in the window. Since the cat was already hanging out on the closet doors being stored between the head board and window I thought I could balance a shelf there. I went with a wire shelf so I wouldn't cover the vent. The room get cold enough in the winter. For now it is a kitty loft.

This is a gratuitous kitty pic. Max thought my purse made a perfect bed, so Danny tucked him in and carried him around.

In the Mail

I received two packages in the mail today. The first one had novelties from China. I was looking for a biting bulldog toy, but could only find it  in keychain form. My sister raises mini bulldogs and I wanted to give her one. I ordered five so I could share and take advantage of shipping. I also ordered two leafy zip ties. I couldn't resist and may even find use in the garden or with one of the fairy gardens.

The second package was my Julep Maven package. I ordered the boho glam package and included three add on's. boho came with Karen- a shimmery peach, Faye- a shimmery cocoa brown, and Beach Tonic- an after bath spray on body oil. My first add on was Sea Salt texture spray for your hair. I was excited to try this as the version I was using is pretty much gone. I also ordered Fireworks- a red, silver and blue glitter; and a collection that included Catherine- a bold sheer red, Sienna- a champagne gold metallic, and America- last years patriotic glitter. It has red micro glitter, blue and silver glitter, and silver stars. They also threw in Green Tea blotting papers. I have been meaning to pull mine out as my face has been oily lately.

 

I decided to test out the glitter as the 4th is near. I used my Millie- navy on my left hand with fireworks and Catherine- red on my right with America. I tested swapping the glitters on middle fingers. On the red there is only a subtle difference. America has a red shimmer. On the navy, the red shimmer was distracting.

When I touch up the middle fingers to match I found one of the elusive stars.