BOOM, SHELLAC LAC, BOOM!

If there's one thing I love to have done to make me feel like a chic nanay-- it's getting a mani, well, and a pedi too. I went to visit my girl, Tracy, at Art Nails a couple weeks back and she introduced me to this new nail polish called Shellac nail polish. Basically, it's a hybrid of a nail polish and a gel.

Here's why I like it:
*My nails are completely dry before leaving the salon. I don't have to worry about messing up my nails while attempting to grab my car keys.
*The polish doesn't chip and it maintains the same fresh "just got my nails did" shine the entire time I'm wearing it (usually up to three weeks).
*Nails look manicured for up to three weeks. (More than three weeks is when one REALLY sees the nail growth and, in my opinion, not so chic anymore.)
*I'm a mom and the convenience factor of not having to redo my nail polish every week is FABULOUS. Actually, I typically avoided polishing my nails because I didn't like the "chipped" look that usually followed my fresh polish (with regular nail polish). But now, I don't have to worry about that!

Photo above: Mani with Shellac nail polish after two weeks.

SMALL SPACE, VARIOUS FUNCTIONS

Here's a peak of an area in my home that has various functions: dinning area, office space, and sewing lab. Truth be told, I'd love to have a separate space for each function but that just ain't happening anytime soon. With that said, I really love the way this small area has worked for us. The leaning book shelves, with a nook for my laptop, are such great decorative and functional pieces. The table, which serves as our dining and crafts table, can be extended for more seating or work space. I do have the task of setting up and breaking down my 'sewing lab' whenever the time calls for me to do so. This typically entails setting up my sewing and surger machines on the table and laying out my tools. It's really not so bad once I've done it and it burns some calories... Always a plus!

I'm quite content with my small space and in my opinion, I think it's considerably chic.

SOMETHING NEW

I thought I'd make a pullover sweatshirt for Amelia to use for the summer nights. It was a fun project but when it was time for Amelia to try it on, I discovered the sleeves of the pullover were too tight! My solution: shorten them. It's still as cute and functional even though the sleeves aren't as long as I originally planned them to be.