The Nail Boutique (Temple City, CA) Review

Hi everyone!  Viola!  My February post!  Shocking, yes, I know. (Can you tell I've been watching Finding Nemo much?  I think it's around 50 times and counting....blame the kid, lol.)  And for all you normal people who don't get the silly reference - HIyeeee!  This month has totally flown by.  I have a review for y'all, but it mostly applies to those living in/near the SGV (aka San Gabriel Valley or the 626).  Picture on the left shows my manicure after 2 weeks.  Sorry I don't have a fresh one!

My best friend took me out on a girl's day for my bday.  I chose the place, The Nail Boutique (http://www.yelp.com/biz/the-nail-boutique-temple-city-2#query:nail%20boutique), because I had never been there, and it was within 5 miles of my parents' house.  (Please don't stalk them, lol.)

Originally we had planned to just get a manicure or maybe a mani/pedi, but their employees talked us into getting a gel manicure.  It was $25, which I thought was very reasonable.  They had a bunch of colors from CND (Shellac) and Gelish, and possibly one that looks like Gelish, but is probably called Daisy or something.

I never got my manicurist's name, shame on me!  But she was quiet efficient.  She actually soaked my nails in soapy water, like a regular manicure.  I had never had a gel manicure with that, so I thought it was a little strange......but....the end result is undeniable.  My manicure lasted 3, yes THREE, weeks.  Of course there was a smidge of wear and tear the tips and that ugly nail growth, but I was lazy testing to see how long the manicure lasted.  So backing up, she soaked my hand in soapy water while she cut the other one down and removed polish.  Then she soaked the other hand while she filed and cut down the cuticles.  After that, she did a quick massage, and put on the cuticle oil.  She wiped each nail with alcohol, and then lightly buffed the tops.  I noticed she used the Gelish PH Bond, but the Shellac Base Coat.  Between each coat, she would have me cure my nails under a UV lamp.  She put 2 coats of the Shellac color, and one coat of Water Field (a Gelish glitter), before adding a top coat (Shellac again).  The whole process took about 45 minutes, and it was well worth it.

I've never had a gel manicure stay on my nails so long!  I think it is the soaking in soapy water, or possibly the Shellac Base Coat.  I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised that manicure was still going strong after 2 weeks.  It was still there after 3 weeks on my left hand, but a few nails had chipped on my right hand.  Finally, the growth was just killing me, so I removed the polish.

Soo...yes, I would recommend The Nail Boutique to those of you in the 626, or maybe even if you visit the 626.  I am considering checking out a place in Arcadia, for some Japanese nails.  I don't really want to go acrylic, but they look soooo good.  Especially smothered in little resin Hello Kitties and My Melodies. LOL  Maybe I'll get them done up for a friend's wedding in April.  =)

Anyhoo, I hope this review helped some of you out there!

Till Next Time!

Disclaimer:
My friend paid for my manicure, but is not affiliated with The Nail Boutique or its employees.  I am also not affiliated with them.  It was only after the manicure lasted so long that I decided to do a review.  The Nail Boutique did not pay me to write this review, and these are my honest opinions!!

31 Day Challenge - Day 17: Glitter

Hey Everyone!  This will probably be my last post of the 31 day challenge.  As most of you know, I have taken over a year to get to Day 17, and I can tell you, I am not feeling very inspired at the moment.  I actually had done this look a couple months back and had started the post, but never finished it.  I figured I would go ahead and at least update y'all with what I'm doing and what I have planned for 2013.

Similarly to Day 15, I am wearing OPI's Yodel Me On My Cell on my tips, with China Glaze's Shooting Stars on top.  I had applied both with a sponge, and faded it as I got higher (or is it lower) on my tips.  Then, on my ring fingers, I added this polish that had butterfly glitter in pinks & blues.  I actually liked the way this turned out, which is a nice change considering I haven't liked the last few looks I sported. =)

Sooo, a quick update on where I am in my life.  I am sorry I haven't been posting as much as I would like.  Every year, I make a resolution that I would like to have more blog posts.  And I do try...but I will try harder this year.  Especially since I'm setting more realistic goals (more on that in a few).  My little one is now 2 years old (crazy, isn't it?).  Here's a pic from his birthday in November:

Excuse the fact that I have bare nails!  I had so many things to do to prep, and didn't have time to do them.  Soon after I had taken the pic of my nails (above), my nails started getting all weak and kept breaking.  It has taken me this long to grow out a decent set of nails...and then I went and got them done up with some gel polish at a local salon.  That will also be a future post! LOL

Anyhoo, so I've pretty much been working full-time for about a year, and I had spent countless overtime hours trying to finish up projects.  At least for now, everything has settled for a bit, and I will hopefully have more time for posts.  I will be celebrating my 3rd wedding anniversary next week! Feels like forever to me...but, then again, we dated for 9 years before tying the knot, lol.  Regardless, I feel super happy and blessed that my life is finally on track and going well. =)

Soooo...plans for 2013.  I am going to start with the realistic goal of blogging at least once a month.  I know this is a little late, but I will count this as my January blog. =)  I think there is no excuse not to have 12 blogs up by December.  Ideally, I would like to go more often than that, but let me just start w/ this for now. =) LOL  I also plan to put my name in for the Nike Women's 1/2 Marathon in October.  It will be my first time trying anything crazy like 13 miles, and I plan to start training soon.  As soon as my treadmill has some space in the garage, lol.  I also have plans for my online store (http://teacraft.storenvy.com), to try to make it a good side business.  At the moment, I am just selling perlers, squshies, and plushies, but I want to maybe expand to polymer clay charms or even resin charms.

So yeah, I have lots of things to keep me busy!  But, I will try to keep up with blog this year.  For sure.  I promise!  =)  I am also on Pinterest, and will be building up a nice board on cool nail art.  If you want to follow me, my username is MiniTeaBaby. =)  I don't think I've actually spoken about my Lasik experience, and I also need to talk about the Flash N Go.

Blah, I'm babbling.  So yes! Till next time!

Disclaimer:
1. I bought all of the products shown in this post.
2. I am not affiliated with any of the companies of the products shown.
3. No one has paid me to write this blog.
4. These are my honest opinions.