Removing Acrylic Nails

As someone who loves bright colors and making a statement, I love doing my nails. But, I hate when my nails peel and break. To avoid this I've had acrylics, on and off, since I was a senior in high school. While doing a calculation for how much I need to save before paying back my loans with this paycheck I realized that I pay about $1,000.00 per year on acrylic nails. This realization made me pause for a minute and realize I could be using this money for something else. So, I kissed my acrylics goodbye and set to work removing them.

~*~Disclosure~*~ I honestly recommend getting a professional to do this, but for those of you who are like me here's how I typically remove my nails.

Supplies:
Pure Acetone
Cotton Balls
Aluminum Foil
Nail File
Nail Clippers
Orange Stick
Buffer Block
Hand Lotion (I swear by H2O+'s Hydrating Body Butter for a quick moisture addition)







Tips:
*Do this outside, if the acetone spills it won't eat through your floors. Plus, you can work on your tan!

 *Do one hand at a time so you can still read, text, or do something to pass the time.

*Use a glass bowl to put the used cotton balls and aluminum foil in. This kept the acetone from ruining my patio furniture, and didn't allow the garbage to blow everywhere.

Directions:
1) Using a cotton ball and acetone, clean off the nail polish that is on top of the acrylic.

2) Soak a cotton ball with acetone and wrap it around the nail of the first hand you plan on doing. Place a small square of aluminum foil on top of the cotton ball and wrap this around your finger. I always extend the foil past the cotton ball, towards my knuckle so the acetone is less likely to drip.
Repeat this with all the nails on that hand and sit back to wait. I typically wait about 15 minutes to let the acetone "eat away" the acrylic. During this time feel free to read, text, or whatever.

3) Making sure your orange stick is within reach remove the first piece of aluminum foil. Using the cotton ball that was on the nail, rub the acrylic towards the end of the nail (away from your hand). You should use a considerable amount of pressure, but not so much that you feel like your nail will break. Once you feel that the cotton ball can no longer push the acrylic, take your orange stick and lightly (VERY LIGHTLY) prod the acrylic to remove it a bit more. Repeat this with all the nails on that hand.

4) Depending on how much acrylic is on your nails this is the time that I elect to trim my nails down. A good pair of nail clippers should be able to cut through a small layer of acrylic along with your nails. If there are any spots of acrylic that seem loose you may be able to use the nail clippers and gently pry them away.

5) Re-wrap the nails with fresh cotton balls/acetone and aluminum foil, and sit back to wait again.After 15 minutes, use the cotton ball and orange stick to work away the acrylic again. Keep repeating this until all the acrylic is gone.

6) Follow steps 2-5 on your second hand.

7) Take your nail file and shape your natural nail to a short neat shape. I would not do a square or pointed shape because your nails will be very thin and easily broken.

8) Using the buffer block smooth and shine your nails. My Walgreen's has a nice block that is four sided and each side is labeled for its function (File Nails, Remove Ridges, Smooth Nails, and Shine Nails).

9) Once your nails are buffed to your preference be sure to wash your hands thoroughly and use an extremely moisturizing lotion. I would wait a few hours before applying any type of polish, your nails will need the chance to breath and soak up any type of moisture they can.


Good luck!

Half Marathon Training Week 1

Somehow I've made it through Week 1 of the Half Marathon Training program I am participating in, and didn't feel like I wanted to die.

My running plan for the week consisted of the following;
Monday: 2 miles
Tuesday: 2 miles
Wednesday: 3 miles
Thursday: Cross Training
Friday: 2.5 miles
Saturday: 4 miles
Sunday: Rest

Because I felt awful on Friday and had a killer migraine I decided to switch Friday's plan with Sundays, so at some point this afternoon I plan on putting in the 2.5 miles.

The group run on Wednesday was interesting to say the least. I might have gone too fast and ended up running with one of the pacers. We kept a great pace that did not follow the run/walk plan, but I was able to really feel like I had worked out properly. My splits could have been better, but I think that the whole run and talk to something thing slows me down.

For the Saturday group run I had another runner in training who ran with me. We did a quick out and back on one of the local bike trails, which I will have to try out once it stops raining here. My biggest mistake with the run was that I had dressed for the weather at my house, not for the weather at the meet up location. It always amuses me how much of a difference there is between two points, 10 miles away from each other.

Overall, I am happy with the program. I just need to learn how to keep my pace more consistent. If I keep up with having splits like these then I feel I will burn out extremely quickly at the actual Half.

Currently Reading:

Voyager by Diana Gabaldon

The Strain by Gulillermo Del Toro and Chuck Hogan
The Painted Girls by Cathy Marie Buchanan

Book Review: Girl Runner by Carrie Snyder

Photo Credit: CarrieSnyder.com

Girl Runner is a strong contender for my favorite new book of the summer. It is the story of a former Olympic runner, Aggie, and her life. From the title you would expect it to be strictly about Aggie’s running career, but it evolves into so much more. This story shows how running impacts Aggie’s everyday life, provides her an escape, and makes her the woman who narrates the story.

One thing that I did find slightly disappointing, but did not detract from the story, was that the Olympics are mentioned very briefly. I had thought there would be this whole big section dedicated to it, but in reality there is a few chapters that deal with the Olympics while the rest focus on the pre and post race events. Though, in retrospect this could be seen as how some things happen briefly but make a huge impact on an individuals life. 

This book caused me to feel a range of emotions from cheering Aggie on to anger at some of the events that Aggie encounters. I would recommend this to everyone from runners, to those that cringe at the thought of running.

Ms. Snyder is an author who I would expect great things from in the future. 

Book Review: The Season by Sarah MacLean

Photo Credit: SarahMacLean.net

Every so often I like to pull a book from the Young Adult season for a quick and easy read. The Season was one of those choices.

This book tells the tale of three friends, Alex, Ella, and Vivi, and their experiences during the 1815 Season in London, England. The girls encounter mystery and adventure during the Season, along with a hint of romance.

Overall, this is a fun, quick read. It never gets too elaborate or exciting which was disappointing. But it does force the reader to try and guess what the final outcome is. I will definately be looking into additional works from Ms.McLean

Half Marathon Training Begins

Life loves to get in the way of plans and dreams. You plan on one thing and the complete opposite of your plan will happen. Such as planning to move back to the state you love, but life decides to have you to stay in your hometown. When I lived in FL I had a group that I would run with, I had people who would encourage me and help me achieve my goals. Moving back to IL I suddenly found myself alone; no friends to run with, no one to encourage me or help me train. Long story short, being a runner without a support group isn’t fun. So, when I was in my local running store getting fitted for a new pair of shoes, I jumped at the chance to participate in a Half Marathon training group.

The 12-week training group is hosted by The Running Depot in Crystal Lake, IL, and consists of two group runs (Wednesday and Saturday) and about three solo runs with suggestions about cross training on “rest days”. There are also weekly motivational emails and five informational sessions covering various topics. What I already like about this program is that there is a run group and a run/walk group. The “goal race” is the Crystal Lake HalfMarathon, with the Fort2Base being a “training race” towards the end of the program.

Today was the first day of the program (aside from an information meeting on Thursday night). Initially, I intended to participate in the run group, but after some soul searching on the drive over I decided that doing the run/walk group would be a better choice for my first half. The last thing I want to do is injure myself and potentially lose the chance at a race I have planned for February.

The group consists of individuals of all ages and paces. Today, as a way to determine where everyone is at in their training my group did a 3/2 run/walk and averaged a 14’27” pace.

Fitbit stats from the run

This pace is considerably slower than my normal 10:30 pace, but I figure I can always jump to the training group if necessary. Feel free to laugh, I know I’m relatively slow.

Overall, I’m super excited to participate in this group and can’t wait to do my first half with them!

Currently Reading:

Dangerous Deceptions by Sarah Zettel

Voyager by Diana Gabaldon

The Strain by Gulillermo Del Toro and Chuck Hogan

New Shoes and New Opportunities

The worst realization that I can have on a training run is that my current shoes need to be replaced. I hate replacing shoes because I never know what my options will be, and I tend to be extremely picky. Unfortunately for me, today my precious Asics of 6 months decided they were done with me. So, off I ran to my local running store to get refitted. Though the girl who assisted me brought out a pair of Brooks which fit amazing and felt amazing, when I put on another pair of Asics I knew these were the right shoe. 

So, now I am the proud owner of these beauties.

While at the store the sales girl suggested that I try out their Half Marathon training program that begins next Saturday. At the moment I am attempting, on my own, to train for the same Half that this program intends on doing. Though I hesitate at spending money on a coach I wonder if this is a better option than training alone. Plus, it would be nice to get to know more runners in my area. 

Currently Reading:

The Season by Sarah  MacLean 

Voyager by Diana Gabaldon (re-read)