Goodbye Pumpkin and Why I Never Wear Green on Wednesdays

Hi Goddesses

A sad day today, as we had to have our beloved Pumpkin put to sleep.  She was 14, or maybe older, and my boyfriend got home this afternoon to find her collapsed and unable to use her back legs.

I got the dreaded "you need to come home" phone call at work, and we rushed her to the vet.  We didn't know it til today, but she had a heart murmur, and apparently this causes a blood clot which over time detaches and travels down the spine.  This is what happened today, immobilising her legs.

We made the difficult decision to put her to sleep, and got to kiss and cuddle her before she passed - she even purred, bless her.

Hardest of all, was telling Beth.   Beth hasn't ever really known a life without Pumpkin (who we adopted from Cats Protection 9 years ago), and the 2 of them have had a special bond, with Pumpkin spending most nights asleep on Beth's pillow.

Beth has fretted about this day for 3 years, knowing Pumpkin was getting older, and it's partly why we bought Bluebelle nearly a year ago.  Needless to say, there have been floods of tears, but I have been very proud of her, and she stroked Pumpkin til her last breath.

The weird thing is how life often throws you strange sandwiches.  Yesterday was an awesome day.  The start of a 4 day week.  Amazing comments on my blog.  Reaching 2,500 followers on Facebook.  And then today, this.

And tomorrow is my birthday.  Tonight I am painting my nails orange in tribute (Literary Lacquer More Like Fire Than Light), as is Beth, and she is having a white belly and whiskers painted on hers too :)

So what's with the blog title?  Well, I am a superstitious person.  I absolutely believe I was a witch in a previous life,  and one of the things I noticed 20 years ago, was that whenever I wore green on a Wednesday, bad things happened - people died, cars crashed, work sucked balls.  So I've avoided it, ever since.

Luckily, I don't like my nails green, so that's never an issue, but this week I painted them grey - OPI Suzi Takes The Wheel.  It wasn't til I was under the office lights that I realised it was green-y grey.

So, sorry Pumpkin.   And thank you.  Thank you for 8 magical years of love, drool, cuddles, insatiable ear tickles, reminders that your food bowl is empty, sandpaper lickings, and perfect Garfield-esque putty-cat-ness.

You will be missed massively.  THAT'S how much you were loved.

From Beth - you have been a great friend, companion, and pillow and I'll miss the warm comfort of your furryness in my bed each night.

Are You Ready For The Crumpets Nail Tarts 33 Day Challenge?

Hi Goddesses

Are you ready for a new challenge?

The Crumpet's Nail Tarts nail art group are launching our new 33 Day Challenge on September 23rd.

We'll be posting 3 days a week for 11 weeks - Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

If you want to join us, we'd love to have you - click HERE to join the group, and in the meantime, here's a sneak peek of what we have in store :)

xx

Tri Polish Challenge - Roses

Hi Goddesses

I know, I know, enough with the roses lol.  Sorry.   It's Tri Polish time again, but as I broke my nail, I only got chance to do 2 manis.

I've used all Barry M polishes for these - Blood Orange, Yellow and Emerald Green - over a white w7 base.

The aim for these was to do 2 toned roses, specifically those pretty red and yellow ones.  Whilst not a *total* success, I do still like them, and they are a slightly different spin on the other ones I've done.

Tools were again a large dotting tool to get the rose shape, and then a fine art brush to do the petals and the leaves.

Enjoy xx :)

Layla Swatch-a-rama

Hi Goddesses

 A little bit of a round-up post here, featuring various polishes from the Italian brand Layla.  You've seen some of them before as bases to other manis, but here they are now in all their naked glory :)

CE66 is a beautiful medium blue, slightly denim in tone.

This applies beautifully and is super glossy.

CE12 is another super glossy polish, this time in taupe.

What makes this interesting for me, is that it's one of the darkest taupes I've seen, like a super strong coffee with one driblet of milk.

 CE53 aka Killing Red is just perfection.  A ruby flakie.  Yup.  Yes!!!

This just has so much electricity, it sizzles.  It's one of those polishes you can't stop staring at when you wear it.

Everything about it is perfect, from the colour, to the application, to the gorgeous flakies.

Then we have Soft Touch 04 in Neon Pink.  Oh this is exquisite.

Soft Touch is Layla's equivalent of a suede, but smoother - they almost look like velvet on the nail.  If you like textured polishes, you will love these.

Soft Touch 03 is the mink equivalent.  This is a really unusual colour.

It's not grey or beige or lilac, but some gossamer combination of all 3.

If you're in the UK, you can buy Layla at Sally Magpies, and in the US, they are stocked by Ninja Polish.  

Enjoy xx :)