Are you Gelish yet?

So the product I'm writing about today is call Gelish.. (get it... are you GELISH yet?!...I know I'm so creative!)

Lets rewind to how I came across this amazing little gem.  A close friend and I have decided every Wednesday we're going to take a little break from life and catch up with each other.  Turns out we forgot about a TON of things we have in common like LOVING to go get our nails done.  About a month ago, we went for the first time-- a coworker of mine suggested I try out a Gelish manicure.  $25 later I was in love.  

Gelish is a nail polish that is cured with either an LED or UV light.  The polish does not damage your nails-- instead it acts more like a double stick tape, one side sticking to your nails and one side sticking to the next layer.  

Reasons why I fell in love with Gelish:

1. Zero dry time after the polish has been cured.  I literally gave myself a manicure 20 minutes ago and I've already washed my hands twice, washed my face, put on lotion and changed into my PJ's-- all of which would never be able to be done with a normal manicure.  

2. Makes your nails stronger.  This was honestly the the number one reason why I decided to try out Gelish. I have very brittle nails that break very easily.  I wanted a way to grow my nails out long and strong.  Gelish makes your nails stronger while not making them any thicker (this is a big issue for those girls that don't like artificial nails).  Gelish is literally only as thick as normal nail polish. 

3. SUPER SHINY.

4. Lasts at least 14 days! This nail polish because it is cured, and strengthens your nails does not chip.  At all. Whatso ever.  (unless of course you have a bad application-- meaning you basically paint the whole area around your nail)

So after paying $25 both times I got it done at the salon, I thought there has to be a less expensive way to do this! After a little google searching here I am.  I ended up purchasing all the items that I'd need to create my perfect Gelish manicure.  The items are shown below. 

Gelish PH Bond, Gelish Foundation, A Gelish color, and Gelish Top It Off

Light Elegant

A LED or UV Lamp

Gelish Nail Surface Cleanse 

Pure Acetone (to remove them)

 Steps to Applying a Gelish Manicure:

1. Push cuticles back, file nails, and LIGHTLY buff the shine off your nails.  This will not damage your nails!

Sorry my hands look so dry-- I had to remove last weeks Gelish

2. Apply a coat of the PH Bond:

 

3. Apply a thin coat of the foundation.  Note: all layers work better thin!! Cure under lamp! (my lamp works in 45 seconds)

4. Apply a layer of color-- then cure.  Apply a layer of color and cure.  Finally apply the topcoat and cure.

5. Take a paper towel square and add the Nail surface cleanse.  Wipe off all nails-- Yes, your nails will be dry!!

6. ENJOY!

First Gelish Manicure

  I'm honestly not in love with this color.  I thought it would be more opaque than it really is.  I don't like that you can see the whites of my nails underneath.  This could be a great french manicure base.

 The whole kit was a little expensive but literally will pay for itself in 2-3 manicures.  SO worth it.  Time will be the true test-- to see if it starts to peel / lift


Thanks for reading!

Instagram

I'm gonna get a sun tan on half my face..., a photo by LifeByLexis on Flickr.

I'm going to get a suntan on half my face!

Gimp Status.

Well, its been nearly 4 weeks from the day I got my cordisone shot.  I had a picnic this week where my coworkers were playing volleyball.  There was no way I was missing that.  I figured since it was week 4 (and I was told "3-5 weeks" that I'd be fine taking my boot off.  I took that sucker off ASAP and played an awesome game of volleyball with no pain.  I wore the boot home but decided that it was my last day wearing the boot.  On friday I strolled to work boot free all smiles.  I was pretty active walking around at work.  When I got home at the end of the night my foot was feeling sore and I was a little scared.  I woke up this morning with the same pain that I had felt prior to the shot 4 weeks ago.

Talk about a let down.

I literally almost started crying while putting my boot back on today.  I'm not really sure why that upset me so much-- I think mostly because I'm frustrated with this pain and I just want to be better already.  This shot was supposed to cause me to be pain free for 6 months.... and I'm in week 5 and having the same pain as before.  The shot was so painful the first time, I really don't want to go through that again, but I'm already doing all the exercises that I would be doing if  I was in Physical therapy.  Its just super frustrating.

I seriously love my job #ipad #fun #instalove

I seriously love my job #ipad #fun #instalove, a photo by LifeByLexis on Flickr.

My week in Instagrams

Awwww @nantoszewski

Awwww @nantoszewski, a photo by LifeByLexis on Flickr.

This week has been kinda busy...

This week has been crazy busy for me.  I’ve been “on call” at work (7a-4p).  Its not really being on call since I was really only watching it while I was at work—but it was enough to stress me out.  I was having (Ligit) nightmears about itsunday night.  Turns out it was basically all in my head because everything went relativly smoothly.  One of the most stressful parts of my Monday (catching up on balancing the charges for 3 days) went SUPER smooth compared to last time I balanced—at one of our go-lives and it literally took me 4 hours to balance for ONE DAY.  Yeah.

I think part of my fear about the on call week stuff was that Monday (By far the busiest day for “on call” random duties—Balancing, running reports etc) I was going to be alone.  Ligit alone.  No one was at work with me.  Me myself and I.—Okay lets not be draumatic, there were people at work, they were just people that would have no freaking idea what to do if I ran into some issue with my work—helpful I know.  Anyway, that’s basically what stressed me out the most.  Not knowing—the unknown.  But I handled it and it worked out.  I’m actually really glad that I had the opportunity to experience “on call” alone even if just for a few hours.  It allowed me to have a “slow” introduction to being on call and not just thrown into it in October. 

I’m super excited for out next project at work—We’re taking Hamot live 9/22.  Basically this means that we’re converting all of their applications (things to record patient information) and converting them to the applications that UPMC uses.  This is not why I’m excited.  I’m really excited because I’ll be back in Erie PA—the old stomping grounds—if you will.  I started out my education at Gannon—literally blocks away from Hamot.  A lot of my good friends still live up there and I’m excited to get the chance to see them. However I’m kind of feeling lost with that because it seems that many have no interest in seeing me.. or have lost interest in our friendship.  I’ve been attempting to contact a few ofmy friends over the past few days and literally have had no success.  

On a really random note-- I'm absolutely ecstatic about the ability to find acoustic music to listen to at work via Groove shark.  I'm in love and chilled out ALL DAY.

My Week in Instagrams

A Little out of order....

Got a shot and a boot...

Smiley Golf ball!-- Why yes I do have a dent in my thumb nail..

They were attacking the enemy... I'm the enemy..

How I spent my Sunday afternoon-- stranded on a beach towel in the middle of BF's yard because the boot was airing out..

Had to learn the most comfortable way to sit at work...

Wondered why OPI always has a weird scrape in the side of the bottle...

I got my car backkk!! And Proceeded to show my life for the Barbie Jeep.

Put up some Steelers Pride

Not Thrilled about the rain...

Stamps for the bridal shower!

Beep Beep, I'm a Jeep!

I love my sissy

Switch2Health Review

So before I became a gimp with a limp I found a pedometer in my college stuff that I had completely forgotten about.  I received the pedometer as a gift but I honestly can't remember from who.  I had worn it once or twice before clearly packing it away in a box.

The Pedometer is offered by a company called Switch2Health.com  

For every 10,000 steps you receive a unique code that can be entered online or via the iphone app (which is super awesome).  Each upload gets you 60 points.  The points can be redeemed for rewards. 

The pedometer itself costs $24.95 and comes in the 4 colors shown above (it also comes in a watch).  I have been using this for about a week again-- and I'm in love with it.  I like the idea of earning points by doing something I should be doing anyway-- and then I'll get rewarded for it.  

The pedometer is a very simple device with only two buttons "Mode" and "Set".  It has a VERY easy to read display which allows even nearly blind people like my dad able to read it with ease.   I've noticed that the pedometer is really accurate unlike some.  I've actually been the geek that I am and counted my steps and compared it to the pedometer and sure enough-- its right!

The iphone app is a pretty ballin' ability.  I literally carry my phone with me everywhere-- so it makes it really nice that I can simply look at my pedometer and if I have a code(it will be showing the code letters) I can simply open the app and get my points! Here are some pictures:

This code has already been used by me!

The only down side about this "system" for lack of a better word-- is the rewards.  

Thats really just a sample of the rewards on their site-- None of the items are really item's ive really ever heard of-- so I'd have to do some research to find an item that I want to purchase.  Originally when I first started using this-- they had itunes and Amazon on here which was really a great idea.  (as I look up there I see a $100 spa gift certificate-- a billion states away from PA--- you can sort the gifts by state which I later did-- no spa gifts near me.. Sad face).  Anyway, Right now I have 360 points so I'll keep racking them up and let you know how thats going for me..

Gaining points as a gimp is going a lot slower than I had originally expected.  Its hard to walk in this boot and for the first few days I have been in a lot of pain.  This morning I stood on the bad foot (I have done it two days in a row with no pain) to wash my good foot and I happened to be standing on the barely raised portion of the floor that is supposed to prevent you from falling.  At any rate apparently that raised portion was too raised for my foot (even though I can barely even feel the raised portion when I run my toes over it).  It literally sent pain the whole way up my foot to my back.  Its been a hard walking day since then.  

I'll keep you posted on the gimp life and how my Switch2Health points are going!

Life as a gimp

So today is day two of the boot.  When I got the boot the doctor said after the shot it should feel worse for a day or two and then start to feel better....well he was right.  Yesterday I struggled--- more like hobbled to get everywhere I wanted to go.  It's an odd feeling and very difficult to describe.  Before the shot I had a lot of swelling which was just really painful. When they put the shot in it is 1. Extremely painful and 2 just like fluid sitting in my foot which makes the swelling hurt worse.  From yesterday to today I feel like maybe I'm walking a little better and hurting a little less.  I'm just really worried for my marathon managing shift on saturday 8 a-11p and the fact that were going to the steelers game on Sunday.  Ill be crunching it out then... Too much walking for the boot.

Gimp Life

Well, I went to my orthopedic surgeon today for the suspected plantar fasciitis in my foot today.  He agreed and said it was indeed plantar fasciitis and that my original doctor didn't really know what she was talking about.  At any rate-- he told me I needed a cordisone shot and an accompanying boot.  My doctor only likes to give 1 cordisone shot so he wanted to make sure that the medicine had time to help and my foot had some time to relax... Apparently that's standard practice for this particular office.  Anyway, boot for at least 3 weeks-- up to 5 depending on how I feel.. 

No weight loss Wednesday this week-- Today's been too early and painful.

These are my friends...

These are my friends and the people I work with... Seriously.

My week in Instagrams

I haven't been too active in Instagram.  We've been really focusing on getting things out for the shower so I've been taking pictures but I can't let you all see them! But here are the photos for this week!

Seriously the most perfect nail polish for me.. The brand is "Lex" and its name is "Sassy Pants"