Travel, Guest Nails, and CrowsToes Merope

If you also read my old school online journal, Hat on Top, Coat Below, you already know that a few weeks ago my mom moved into the rehab unit of a nursing home, coincidentally on the same weekend I'd already planned to be traveling to a conference in Green Bay, Wisconsin. As things worked out, the move went well enough that I was able to attend most of the conference events, though I did miss a few things in order to check up on things via phone.

Taking care of my nails had slipped down on my priority list what with all the other stuff going on, so heading in to that weekend, my peelies were atrocious. The night before I left for the weekend, I cut my nails short (sadly, it wasn't possible to cut off all the peelies even though I went to nubbins), put on a layer of the old formula Orly Nail Defense that I save for situations like this, and toppped it off with Instant Artificials to smooth things out as best I could.



One of the activities at this year's conference was creativity sessions, and I agreed to lead one on nail art. Because we only had 50 minutes, I decided to focus on dotting. I think it went pretty well; the ladies seemed to have fun experimenting on nail wheels and a few asked where to buy dotting tools.



Even though it was a busy weekend, I did take time to paint my nails. I stayed up late one night and put on one of the duochromes from CrowToes duochrome Pleiades collection, Merope. I didn't bring my lightbox with me, so I snapped these shots in the best lit part of my hotel room—over the sink. Unlike some duochromes, this didn't need a dark base color to look its best. I used Sally Hansen Age Correct Growth for my treatment (another thing I've been hoarding; I scooped up a bunch of bottles when it was discontinued), followed by Instant Artificials, two coats of Merope, and Diamond Dry top coat.



Merope has a blue to plum shift that's quite visible. (Also visible: the fact that my cleanup skills are not so great after midnight.)



Here's Merope in the winter daylight filtering in through my hotel room window the next morning:



A new event at the con this year was a silent auction, and I donated a "mini manicure" (basically shaping if needed and polish). I brought a wide variety of polish options in an attempt to have something the winner would like regardless of her taste. I had cremes and shimmers in a rainbow of colors and neutrals and a wide variety of glitters, with drugstore and salon and indie brands all represented. The auction ended up being won by the partner of my fellow lacquer lover, koroshiya (not her real name, but the name I first knew her by—we met years ago on an old school general interest discussion board). Rather than have me paint his nails, he gave the prize to koro, so before I left to go back to spend time with my mom, she and I sat down in the hotel meeting room and played with polish. She ended up deciding on Skittles with mostly indie brands. The light wasn't great in that room, so unfortunately my photos didn't come out very well, but you can at least get a flavor of the finished mani.



Right hand (above and below): thumb—Cult Nails Flushed, index—Sinful Colors Star Dust over Cult Nails Flushed (I'm pretty sure), middle—Polish Revolution Glitterbox over CrowsToes Alcyone, ring—Pahlish Marbles on Glass over Wet 'n' Wild Wild Shine Black Creme (I think), pinky—Smitten Polish I Feel Wicked over Wet 'n' Wild Wild Shine Black Creme.





Left hand (above and below): thumb—Cult Nails Disciplined, index—Happy Hands The Worst is Over, middle—Contrary Polish Bauble, ring—Pahlish Combustible Lemon over Contrary Polish Bauble, pinky—Cult Nails Bitten.



There were not a lot of stoplights on my drive between Green Bay and Mom's nursing home, but when I did find myself at one, I enjoyed looking at the color shift in Merope.



This all happened almost three weeks ago now, and I'm happy to report that Mom did so well in rehab that she progressed from being in a wheelchair to using a walker to being released to live with my niece, the nurse, and get all her therapy in a home-based setting. This may not be the long term solution but it seems to be the best option right now. I unfortunately haven't been able to visit since she moved as I've been suffering from a cold/flu/sinus thing and didn't need to be spreading those germs around. I am feeling much better and once I stop coughing I'll be heading back to Illinois. Thanks to all of you who have included my mom in your prayers and have sent good thoughts our way; I think it helped!