Stamping Madness

I was feeling like I hadn't stamped my nails in a while, so last night I came up with a plan and set out to achieve it.  But I think my stamping mojo has been waylaid:

Essie Lion Around, Resort 2011
Color Club Revvvolution
Bundle Monster plate BM212

Note that this is my right hand - for some reason, when I'm trying to do a design that I want centered, I have much better luck stamping my right hand with my left. Go figure.

This was my first time using Lion Around.  It's not blowing me away, but there are times when I want a brown-toned soft pink, and this one went on nicely and was opaque in two coats.  It's just more subtle than I usually want to be.

But the stamping - ugh.  I only own four Color Club polishes - the so-called holos: Revvvolution, Worth the Risque, Wild at Heart and Fashion Addict.  I had seen someone do a pretty successful stamping with Revvvolution some time ago, but for me it was a struggle.  Half the time the polish wouldn't pick up on the stamper. The topcoat smeared it.  And this morning when the sun came out, I couldn't see even a hint of holo shimmer.  Big fail.  I don't know if the non-shimmer/holo colors are any better in this brand, but these four are going into the box where I keep my rejects to trade in (hopefully) next year for the Zoya Polish Exchange.  The colors don't live up to my expectations and I'm not a big fan of the formula; they dry kind of chalky, in my experience.

I just couldn't live with it.  So this morning I took it all off and put on China Glaze Something Sweet:

China Glaze Something Sweet
Up and Away Collection, Spring 2010

Ahhh . . . that's more like it.  Cheery.  I had some trouble with this too though; I was waiting for a phone call that was supposed to come sometime between 11:00 and 1:00, so I knew I might get interrupted.  So I tried to go very slowly and carefully.  But the more careful I tried to be, the messier I got!  I have this same experience when doing Vrksasana in yoga:  the more I concentrate on balancing, the less I'm able to balance!

But I got it applied, and then went on the the stamping:

Bundle Monster plate BM213
China Glaze Harmony
China Glaze Adore

Not horrible, but not a complete win either.  I was inspired by JQ's awesome multicolored stampings to try to be a little more creative, but I clearly need some practice.  Maybe I should just go back to knitting for the rest of the day.

Oh, and the phone call?  Still hasn't happened, as of 12:45.  Isn't that always the way?

Work Out

Today I went to the gym.

Concept2 Model C and Power Block set

Actually I go every day!  This is our little home gym, in a small space just off our living room (with a door that closes for when company comes over!).  The previous owners used it as an office, and while I'd love to have a home office, a gym is something I use a lot more consistently.  It consists of a Concept2 rower, a Bowflex treadmill and a set of free weights.  These items are among the best purchases we ever made.

This month I've been really stepping up my workouts, and today, despite getting only 4 hours of sleep, I rowed 10K at the fastest pace I've ever done (in a rowing career spanning almost 7 years now).  Then I did some leg work with weights. Later on today I'll do a nice, long yoga practice.

Why all the exercise?  Well, I find that I feel better (physically and mentally) and sleep better when I work out daily.  But I'm also currently in training.  What for?  A few weeks ago, hubby took me here for my birthday:

Pacific Beach, San Diego, CA

And I decided I want to learn to do this:

Surfers

So I'm going to need to be a lot stronger than I am now!

Chances are I'll lose my enthusiasm for it by the time we make it back there, but for now, it's keeping me motivated!