MANICURE MONDAY----Hard Candy Glitter Polish ~ King of Pop ~

I decided to do something new! Manicure Monday!!! I know, a ton of people do them, but its kind of a fun way to structure consistent content and a great way to have something to look forward to. Now, I'm new at this and although I'm actually quite good at Photoshop or any photo-editor I don't actually have access to one right now so I can't produce cute little images or easy-to-pin pictures. I also have to tell you it took practically forever to get these pictures on to my computer because I really have far too many pictures on my phone and my computer tries to import literally all of them.

On to the manicure!

I like to start off my nail routine with Hard as Hoof Nail Strengthening Cream which I got at Walmart. I put a tad on each nail, massage it in and let it soak in for at least an hour. I clean off any residue left before putting on the base coat.

I used to not use anything to strengthen my nails, as I naturally have very durable nails, but since I used to constantly use 100% Acetone to remove my polish multiple times a week they started to become a bit more brittle and split a lot. 

I then use Essie's All in One Base. Mine spilled a bit in transportation so the bottle's a tad messed up.

 I alternated fingers using Sinful Colors' Easy Going and Pure Ice's Scream.

 To top it off I used Hard Candy's King of Pop glitter polish. I'm not the best at keeping neat while I paint so when my nail's are completely dry I wash my hands and most of the polish comes off the skin and you can just pull it or scrub it off. Sometimes If I'm not doing anything or going anywhere I'll wait til much later in the day and scrub it off in the shower. 

*To note, I did not put a top coat on because in my personal experience it becomes practically impossible to remove without soaking. Currently I just have an inexpensive drugstore non-acetone polish remover, so it would really take a while.*

~Update: It took over an hour to remove even without a topcoat~

 This is the finished look I posed on Instagram about a week ago with the edges all cleaned up. If you want to follow me on Instagram @Psychopomp (as you can see).

I also post all my nail art to Twitter @TheRedBuffalo and Tumblr @redpsychopomp

Yeah... I know.. I should probably get them all the same.

Background Change

I love Fall. I mean, I really LOVE Fall. This year the first day of the Autumnal Equinox is on September 23rd which I feel is too late, it should be Fall right now. To hold me off on my love of Fall, the brisk air, the changing leaves, the smell of pumpkin pie (although I dislike the taste of pumpkin pie, I can't get over the smell... lucky for me, Archimedes LOVES pumpkin, so I can make ALL the pumpkin pastries I feel like) I've decided to change my background on the blog to some lovely fall leaves. I've also been gathering a plethora of Fall Foods on my Pinterest, if any of you would like to view it, click here. I've been constantly adding things to it on a daily basis, so go ahead and follow it to keep updated! I've been adding things that make me feel a bit like I'm home, what my family normally has in Autumn, and new things I've never had before that sound amazing.

I really enjoy making blog posts and have been thinking about how to evolve this, make this more enjoyable for all of us, keeping it fresh and interesting. I'm thinking of maybe starting something specific I do weekly, I'll update you as I decide what it may be.

Until next time!

~À Bientôt

Back to my New Home

So I'm on a plane back home (to Archimedes and my apartment) and I can't help but think about how much I am amazed by planes. I mean,  I understand how they work with lift and what not, I actually studied aerospace science for a year. I still find them immensely interesting, but really... I dislike flying in them. In this past year I've been on 8 flights and two were international 7+ hour flights.  I don't think its wrong to say I'm very tired of flying while at the same time getting very good at it. Its easier to pack appropriately for my carry-on, remember snacks, and go through security with confidence. 

Earlier today, I had that feeling that it wasnt going to be too busy today at the airport and despite my reassuring my father I ended up there 2 hours early. Security took 5 minutes so I had 2 hours to just chat with Arch on skype. I had felt miserable earlier in the day and had only slept about 5 hours the night before.

All in all Im happy to be home.

Starbucks, My New Friend

We have an apartment, but no internet. Currently I'm spending most of my day in Starbucks. Honestly it's kind of fun because it's quite a bit more social than just sitting alone in an apartment by myself. Even if I'm sitting around when people are having conversations next to me it's just as interesting as being in the conversation. Today, I'm particularly enjoying it due to the fact that there's a very lovely lady and two young adults crocheting take-home outfits for babies to take to the hospital. Their stories are great and as much as I'd like to join in I feel like it would be rude. I've been thinking maybe before she or I leave I say something so maybe I can join in next time they have their little crochet meeting. It really makes me miss my friend and I going to her aunts house to crochet and watch episodes of "Once Upon a Time".

Being in a new place kind of sucks when you don't have friends and happen to be the kind of person who has a very hard time talking to people, even if they seem awesome and would like similar things. I'd love to have friends to enjoy things with so that maybe these days while Archimedes is at work for twelve hours at a time. Without internet it's frustrating, but I think even with internet it'd still be quite boring to have no one to spend time with. 

Guy with the rainbow beanie and Pusheen t-shirt with the awesome Aunt (I think) and the lovely redhead that wants to be a Vet sitting in the Starbucks today crocheting take-home outfits to donate to the hospital and speaking of Jolly Rancher cotton candy and horses.... please find me... You people are massively enjoyable to listen to. I just wish I had the courage to talk to you and come crochet with you. 

Gah.. 

~À Bientôt


*Update: I talked to them. They are quite awesome. They are making baby outfits for the ones that don't make it and donating them to the hospital. How amazing of them to find something awesome to do with their talents. All of them are quite nice and intrigued into my life. Yey.. getting to talk to people. :) Really, I missed it. 

NEW HOME

SO... exciting news guys... Archimedes and I moved in together. He finally got back from his year long overseas deployment when I was in France and about a month later we moved in together at his new base. We found a nice little apartment near to the base in a nice little down right down the highway from a bigger city area. It took us 9 days to sign a lease and get an apartment all to ourselves.

The first night in the new apartment we had to sleep on the floor, but due to our 9 days of house hunting and furniture shopping, we have finally found an apartment and the next day a bed showed up on our doorstep ready to be installed. It's really helped since we have no other furniture in the whole place (unless you count the packing box we are using as a dinner table and the floor as chairs).

I'm growing quite fond of this little town and since I don't have a job now that we moved, I think that I'll blog more often... I hope. I think I'll devote myself more to crafts, nail art, and creativity in general.

Archimedes and I have a big surprise for you soon so stay tuned, I definitely won't forget to post about it.

~À Bientôt

France- A Place of Delicious Bread, To-Die-For Ice Cream, and My Favorite Sparkling Drink: Limonade

I haven't posted in almost a year, so time to fill you guys in. I WENT TO FRANCE. Now, this is something I've wanted to do for most of my young adult life and I was finally able to go to France for 5 weeks. An entire month left me with a wonderful feeling of closeness to a place many visitors only have a short time in. I went with school and for the first 4 weeks, we were in "classes" (I use the word "classes" loosely due to the fact that they were more like planned adventures through the cities.) We stepped foot in a classroom once, for our orientation on the second day of the trip. It was really an amazing experience and I just can't wait to go back again one day.

Now, five WEEKS of pictures is... a lot. I wish I could show you all, but its truly a ridiculous number of pictures so here are some of my favorites.

The Eiffel Tour from the Montparnasse Building

St. Chapelle 

Mont Saint Michel

Normandy Cemetery

Macarons from D'Alloyeau

Oh, did I mention my mom and I went to England for the weekend?

We went to Cardiff, Wales to see the Dr. Who Experience.

The last few days we were there was for France's independence day.

Our hotel was pretty close.

The fireworks were absolutely unbelievable from our balcony.

In all, it was probably one of the most amazing things I have ever done. I'm so happy I mustered up the courage and money to go to this wonderful country.

Instagram-arama-shlamma-bamma-Yo'Mamma

I'm usually not into instagram at all, but I realized I take tons of pictures of my nail art that I do. It always just kind of sits on my phone and seems pointless so I've just started to upload all the ones on to an instagram I made ages ago. The pictures will come soon when I have a moment to put them on here. UNTIL THEN: my instagram name is psychopomp :)

Those of you directed here from my instagram, WELCOME. Please be patient with me uploading things as I do have a kob, 6 classes at University, and a lovely boyfriend stationed overseas that all take up quite a bit of my time. :)