My birthday in pictures

Hi all.

Firstly, I'd just like to say thank you for all of your birthday wishes. I had some really lovely tweets, comments in my last post and also Facebook messages. Thank you sooo much.

I thought I'd come back with a few pictures to let you know how my day went. Firstly, I decided that I didn't want to do anything too big because I haven't been feeling so well and I wouldn't have been able to handle too much extravagance.

I've joined Instagram too (well, I've had an account for a little while but have kept my photos private until a few days ag0). When I have some time, I'll see if there is a button that I can use to link my accounts...I'm on twitter and Instagram a lot more than I am on Blogger! My screen name is ashlilly_the_lacquer_lover if you want to search for me.

 Here is what I was presented with in the morning. This was one of three cakes I got, lol!

 My husband bought me a beautiful bracelet from Links. I've been hankering for this bracelet for years so I was really happy when I opened the package.

I bought these cupcakes from one of my Twitter buddies. They look amazing, don't they?

 Birthday nails done with foils. I didn't have a foil topcoat so they shrivelled up when I put a normal topcoat on.

 Birthday hair. I have very kinky, coily hair and stopped using chemical straighteners about four years ago. I used a flat iron to straighten my hair out, created a side plait and then used a mini crocodile grip to clip the end up. I like messy, big hair!

 Yesterday at Westfields I went hunting for the Models Own bottle store. Gorgeous isn't it?

LA colors polish for 99p each from Beauty Base (also in Westfields). You know I bought the store up, right?!

I'm off to the Tate Gallery today to look at art and pretend to be refined.

Have a lovely day.

 xx

Oooh and it's not even my birthday...

Hi all.

Over the past couple of days I've been rocking these nails. I don't want to go as far as to say that they are my birthday nails (although it is likely that I'll still be wearing this design in 2 hours...which IS when it will be my birthday!)

I've trashed my nails. Royally. I had a low break on my middle finger so I mended it with acrylic, which snapped today when I slammed my car boot. I have another break on my thumb nail so I mended the side with gel. The rest of my nails are strong and long on my left hand. My right has two extensions on, but I put those on for practise. All in all, my nails are all over the place. Much like this manicure!

 The acrylic paint design was painted over sponged Barry M's 'Matte White'.

Ha, it doesn't look like this now! After three clients today I've filed one nail to a point by accident, smudged my design and got half of my hand covered in red polish. In short, it was a brilliant day :)

I'll be back at some point this week (seriously, I will) to tell you about a little giveaway I want to run. Yes, it's my birthday but I want to share it with you.

Enjoy your weekends.

xx

Moonlighting

Yes...I've been moonlighting.

I didn't want you to miss out on this so I'm posting a link for you. 

Don't worry, this is not going to do anything to my regular content here. Blogspot is my home.

xx

Nail Tech Diary - Week 1 and NOTD

Friends, as you will already know, I started my VTCT Level 2 in Nail Technology (nail extensions) on yesterday.

First, let me start by saying that I am a moaner. I believe in good customer service and it upsets me terribly when I'm told to expect something and it doesn't come to fruition. I paid for my course at the beginning of February (two courses actually - the introduction and then the tech) and got my receipt and enrolment card. Great. I've been attending the first course without issue...but had noted that I hadn't received further information about the tech course. I called the college several times to see if I could glean some information from someone, so that I didn't have to start shouting at reception. I would do that you see...I have an awful temper *blush*.  I was told that I would receive something in the post. Erm, I didn't.

I went along to college anyway, just feeling that there would be some sort of an issue.  As I sat with a few of the girls I knew from the other course and the lecturer came out and started calling names on her register. Guess who she didn't call? That's right, me. It was suggested that there might have been an 'admin problem' or that there'd been some issue with my enrolment, but as there were two other ladies who didn't seem to be there at that moment, I'd be allowed to tag along. Okay, I don't DO tagging along, especially when I have spent a lot of money to get onto this course. I decided not to have a shout first thing in the morning, because this issue would have had nothing to do with the lecturer herself. The security guy was also about 3 feet taller than me too and I wasn't about to get booted off campus.

The first part of the day was spent on admin. Filling in forms and promising not to go drinking barbacide or flicking paraffin wax at one another - riveting stuff. I also got my ego stroked a few times too; some of the younger girls in their 20's thought I was the same age as them. Hmm, must have been my dewy make-up.

After lunch, we were shown how to prepare a natural nail bed for the application of a false nail tip and then got to apply some. You have absolutely no idea how frustrating such a simple task could be! We can't order our own supplies until week four, so we were stuck with fighting to find tips (from the college supplies) that fit, to find glue that hasn't dried out, files and all the other things that we really should have had access to. I don't know if I was put off by people staring at me when I was working, but I had to fight to get the nails to stay stuck! Every time I went in to clip off the extra lengths, the nails would ping off in all directions. Admittedly, it didn't help that the only tips left for use were either far too big or way too small. I also used a little too much glue at times. Once the tip was in place, we had to use an emery board to 'blend' the seam between the nail bed and the end of the false nail tip. This was also pretty difficult because we were trying to make the join look seamless, without filing the nail bed to death. The key to this was small, light strokes at the joining point.

Friends, I'm not complaining. I had a great day today and got to speak to some nice people. My lecturer was actually trained by Lena White of OPI 22 years ago...so I MUST be in good hands, right?

Would you like to see what I wore to class?  They said 'bare' nails, and I took that to mean 'less garish than usual'...

This is Sinful Color's 'Pinky Glitter', with spider webs from BM plate 13 and two coats of matte top coat.
I realise that this was probably not appropriate, but hey.

The day before this, I was wearing this little man, sent to me by MariJo

My green Snowman! I love him...and he didn't stain either.

I'll come back with pictures of my practical work at some point...is that something you'd like?
Is there anything else you might want to see here (techniques, art, theoretical information about nail care, more shouty posts) Let me know!

xx

No nails...just idle chatter and an advert I like.

So, for some reason, since yesterday, Blogger has been telling me that I'm not following any blogs (um, you've seen how long my blog roll is, right?!) I don't know what to do about it. Usually if I get that error message I can just refresh the page, but I've a-refreshin' and my dashboard is still gaping at me. Any advice would be appreciated friends.

I've also noticed the amount of bloggers who are celebrating their birthdays this month. Well, Happy Birthday to you all!

Guess who's a year older next week Friday? Yes, I'm 21 again for the millionth time. I'm not concerned though. I went out with my cousin a couple of weeks ago and the bouncer at the club told us that we need to stop spending our parent's money on frivolities. I was so pleased with myself.

Whilst I'm diverting from the norm (naughty me), I thought I'd show you my favourite advert right now. That mum? That's so me. That's how much I value my daily caffeine fix.

xx

Dear readers...

I would just like to say thank you for all the lovely comments I have been receiving over the last few weeks (on my posts and also in the giveaway forms). I've also been reading your emails and I WILL be replying to them too. Things have been a bit hectic as you know, and sometimes life gets in the way of a lot of things :-(

Over the next few weeks I will be reading through the posts and commenting on the blogs that I follow, subscribing to new blogs too (I love seeing new blogs so please email me your links if you want to share them with me) and also entering giveaways. 

Every time I see a new comment, subscriber or page view, it means a lot to me.  So thank ya friends.

xx

£1 shop, fake nails and some body jewellery

I LOVE my Pound shop. It's great. It has everything in it. From food to books, to nail art gems to garden soil. And everything is a £1. You know I love a bargain.

This is what I picked up today.

 I bought these so that I could practice my nail art without having to dry out my cuticles experimenting on my own nails. I like to keep the fake tips I already have for when I need to put an extension on myself or anyone else. I have no intention of wearing these things because they are just so weird...there's already an adhesive on the bed of the plastic nail. The pattern is awful, but I'll be painting over them so it's no big deal.  You know how to remove them after wearing? Soak your hands in warm water. Crazy right? If you do wear these, you'd better not get your hands dirty!

Yes! More storage, but for £1!

Tiny isn't it? I think I may need to pick up a few more at some point. Oh, and yes, my daughter slapped Sponge Bob on my phone one day when I was gossiping with a friend.  I'm too lazy to take it off. Plus it looks like I put it there on purpose, lol!

 

One drawer contains a lid from a Body Shop body butter tub. There are a few costume jewellery earrings in there along with a pair of white gold and yellow gold creoles, several silver rings, silver heart pendant and white gold chain.

Body jewellery (a labret, bioplast nose and labret retainers, nose studs, banana bars and a hoop-thingy). I don't wear them all at the same time - I keep lots of spares because they get lost so often!

More of my favourite costume jewellery earrings, a few rings and a Tiffany bracelet buried in there too.
I have a lot more costume jewellery floating around my flat but they are all in Tupperware boxes or hanging up all over the place. I've been meaning to make a frame to hang my necklaces and the rest of my earrings on, but I haven't got around to it yet.  I say YET. When I do it, I'll let you know.

Thanks for reading

xx