Sunday, September 18, 2011

It's all about the Glitter

Back in August this post by Anna started my obsession with nails and then she added to it with this post.  I have had glitter and patterned manicures on the brain ever since.  Apparently I am not the only one because I have seen them all over Blogland, Pinterest, and Twitter.


At the moment my nails look like this.


It took me a few about 6 attempts (and lots of nail polish remover) to get them close to my Pinterest inspiration (thanks for pinning Tesca). 

There are tutorials all over the web (even on YouTube) for this type of gradiated or ombré glitter manicure.  I used five (yes 5) different polishes: base coat, solid teal, teal glitter, clear with larger teal glitter and finally a top coat.  Apply base coat, then the solid color just a the edge (like with a french manicure), the glitter polish from the middle of the nail plate up to the edge,  the clear polish with large glitter a few millimeters from the cuticle all the way to the nail edge, and finally the top coat. A little time consuming I admit, but I love it.

We don't have Sally Hansen Nail Strips that Anna used available here in Germany, but yesterday I bought a set of Incoco Nail Strips  (A very big thank you to Frau Haselmeyer for finding them.)  You can guess what is going on my nails next. :) For right now though, it is all about the glitter.

Sunday, September 11, 2011

Remembering

Cargo Cafe, Staten Island on September 13, 2001

10 years ago today I was living in NYC with Milt.  We were both pretty excited on that morning because it marked the start of our last work week.  That Friday we were flying to Germany and we were going to marry a week later.

I had to leave for work a little early because of an early meeting.  When I got to the office I  went straight to our large conference room.  About 30 minutes in to the meeting I noticed there was a man on the roof of the building across the street with his eyes fixed south.  I remember thinking how odd it was.  Never could I have imagined what he was looking at.

A few minutes later a co-worker popped her head in the room and told us what was going on.  I went down to my floor and started to frantically call Milt.  He worked only two blocks from the World Trade Center.  I couldn't get through and I checked my messages.  He had left me a message as he came out of the subway saying that there was smoke and fire spewing from the World Trade and people appeared to be  falling out.  He was heading for his office.

Everyone on our floor gathered around the TV and watched the events unfurl with the rest of the world.  When the first tower fell I ran to the phone again to reach Milt.  I remember shaking so bad that I couldn't get the numbers right,  a co-worker dialed for me.  I was so happy to get through and hear his voice.  We spoke briefly and agreed that he would walk up to get me (about 40 blocks) and that we would try to make it home together.  I don't remember what time he finally got to my office.  I just remember him standing at my cubicle all of a sudden. It was such a relief.

We didn't linger long and started our walk back downtown.  At the time we lived in Staten Island and took the Ferry from the very bottom tip of Manhattan to get home.  The further we got down the emptier the streets became.  There was no traffic.  By the time we got to the vicinity of the financial district Manhattan was a ghost town.  There was ash and paper every where and cars standing doors ajar in the middle of the street.  The burnt smell in the air was strong.  We made it down to the ferry terminal and were relieved that they were still running.  The sight from the harbor was unfathomable.  Smoke where just that morning the two towers stood proudly.  We had seen them come down on TV, but it didn't seem real until that moment.

The memories of that day and the months that followed will linger forever in my mind.  Months of unease, fear, grief and yet I was fortunate.

We were fortunate.  Our story continued and a mere ten days later Milt and I were married in Germany. For nearly 3,000 people the story ended.  In the memories of their loved ones and friends they will never be forgotten.


Saturday, September 10, 2011

Mini Hack

More like microscopic hack.  Back in July I posted about the SORTERA bins that I bought to store our recycling bottles.  I am pretty happy with them, except for one tiny little thing.  When stacked (and they are meant to be) the flip tops don't/can't stay open.  Kind of pain when you are putting stuff in.  Enter these little guys.


A total of 4 mini, but super strong magnets.  Two in the upper bin and two in the lid of the lower bin.


A little super glue and ta-da my first IKEA hack. :)

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

September Garden


Here we are in September, the month that brings autumn.


Looking at the garden  I can see the first signs of the changing season, but I think there is still some summer left. 



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This time of year is actually my favorite, with the crisp mornings followed by warm afternoons and most the green in the garden looking, well still green.