Easy At Home Nails

I am really excited about today’s post! First, I have a great easy way to get salon looking nails at home. Then, I have a few great products at the end of this post to share that support breast cancer research. These are limited edition items that are only being sold this month in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness. And last, I thought I would let you know how I’m getting along. It was this month in 2014 that I found out I had breast cancer.

Now for today’s main topic….

I don’t get my nails done at the salon. In fact, I don’t think I ever have gotten a professional manicure, not even for my wedding day! And it’s really not because I don’t care about how my nails look. I do! I have just chosen to do my nails at home myself, though not very well, for various reasons.

Polishing my fingernails has always been out of the question too. I cannot get nail polish to stay on, and that’s a source of frustration. Plus, I’m tend to be hard on my nails anyway when I cook, clean, or do other household projects and chores. So for years, I really gave up trying to make my nails look nicer until I found ImPRESS Press-On Manicure sets. What a wonderful game changer they are for me!

ImPRESS Press-On Nails – Shimmer / ImPRESS Press-On Nails – Perfect Purple / ImPRESS Press-On Nails – Lucky

Now, I am new to wearing these press-on nails. So, I haven’t done a lot of hard cleaning in them yet. However, they have stayed on beautifully for me so far. I kept one set on for a week, and I probably could have kept them on longer. I going to see if the ones I have on now will last for two weeks while doing more around the house. Ha!

ImPRESS Press-On Nails – Lucky

There is no glue that comes with these press-on nails. It’s already on them. You just peel the clear tab off the back of these nails and press them on top of your natural nail – so easy! This is the set I have on above. It does come with some decorative accent nails, but I chose to just use the solid color only.

These nail sets like the one below are all solid colors without the accent nails included.

ImPRESS Press-On Nails – Perfect Purple

I’m not going to go through all the steps for applying these press-on nails, but I will say it’s very important to follow the instructions that come with them. Plus. here are a few more tips…

• Wash your hands thoroughly to get rid of any natural oils or lotion, and use the alcohol pad to clean each nail well before applying. This is key to getting them to stay in place.
• I put mine on late in the day or evening and try not to get my hands/nails wet until the next morning.
• They come in short sizes, but I always trim mine with clippers and file. I prefer shorter nails. In fact, I’ve actually gently clipped and filed them within an hour of pressing them on without any problems.
• Whether you clip/file them shorter or not, some of the glue can still be exposed underneath the nail. To deal with the stringy glue coming out underneath the nail, apply clear nail polish underneath the tips.
• If you look closely, each of the ImPRESS nails are numbered according to size. After you find the nail size that fits a finger the best, write down the size and finger it went on for next time.

ImPRESS Press-On Nails – Shimmer / ImPRESS Press-On Nails – Perfect Purple

You can find ImPRESS Press-On nails at Walmart, Ulta, and Amazon in tons of colors and designs.

ImPRESS Press-On Nails – Pick Me Pink

ImPRESS is also featuring several pretty pink nail sets for Breast Cancer Awareness Month on their website. Part of the proceeds from the sale of these nail sets goes to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. As I was getting ready to write this post, I was so happy to see them donating to a cause that has helped me and so many other women fighting this disease!

Another beauty brand I love is also joining in to support the cause. Part of the proceeds from the sale of this special edition of Clinique’s Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion+ will also be donated to breast cancer research this month.

And finally, this is not a beauty product but I wanted to mention these Kendra Scott pieces. I love her jewelry, and part of the proceeds from the sale of these items will be donated to breast cancer research as well. In fact, this pretty pink layered necklace would make a wonderful Christmas gift. This Kendra Scott X Tarte Bundle would make a great gift too!

I am very happy and thankful to say I am still doing well. These past few years have not been without challenges though. I took an aromatase inhibitor for several years after my mastectomy to prevent my body from making estrogen. My small breast cancer tumor was hormone receptor positive meaning estrogen fueled the growth of my tumor.

Though my risk was very low from anything returning, I still have one of my natural breasts. So, I took it as a preventive measure. This little pill was very hard on my body though! The longer I took it the worse the side effects got. After stopping it, I do feel much better but still continue to suffer with a few side effects – like bad hot flashes and some muscle loss.

Of course, I’m getting older too, so it’s hard to know what would have just been from naturally aging anyway.

I still am followed closely by my doctors, and most of my check ups every year revolve around my breast cancer diagnosis.

While it does get easier, it does stay in the back of your mind. However, I have my faith and know God is with me every step of the way in this life. And I am grateful for this life He’s given me despite the hardships. I am grateful for the sense of purpose this blog gives me. I am thankful for all of you!

Dressed in Faith

Yet you, LORD, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand. Isaiah 64:8