Clark is 6 weeks old now.
We’re going camping over Memorial Day weekend with a couple of Nate’s brothers and their families, so I’ve been shopping to fill in the gaps in our camping gear. Which were significant. Veronica and I were at the mall for most of yesterday, and spent much of that time in REI, which is the coolest store ever. Every time I’m there, I want to buy everything and live in the mountains like a recluse.
Moving on, I bought Stahman’s Shawls and Scarves online finally. Unfortunately, the binding has come undone, so I’m waiting for another one to be sent. But before it all fell apart, I had some great ideas for conquering the world, or at least for knitting a shawl.
Don’t know when exactly I’m going to be able to do it.
But getting into the spirit of things, I drug out all of the lace yarn in my stash and came across the Daisy Swatch-turned-Scarf (see sidebar under WIP). I think I’m going to finish it as soon as I can find any length of time that isn’t claimed by something else.
Which might not happen until we’re camping, and even that’s thinking optimistic.
And now I’m sad. I just followed the Daisy Swatch-turned-Scarf link and saw my pretty fingernails. Pout. They haven’t looked like that in a long time. I had finally broke my life long nail biting habit, but it rears its ugly head when I’m under significant stress.
I bit them on 9/11. I bit them when my insurance company said it wasn’t going to honor the rest of my PIP coverage after the accident, despite my continuing pain.
So in January when we were suddenly and unexpectedly buying a house and needing to rapidly fix ours to sell, (remember the bathroom floor?), amidst pregnancy sickness, impending delivery, and car accident attorney stuff, my nails went to pot.
Where they remain.
I’m going to go find my cuticle conditioner and clear polish now, because I’m not ok with this.
May 17th, 2006 at 3:32 am
Please tell me your secret. Phil spoiled me with a new wedding ring for Mother’s Day and I want to show it off without being all embarrassed about my nails!
May 17th, 2006 at 3:48 am
You could just tell everyone you play guitar.
May 17th, 2006 at 4:06 am
Until I actually PLAY guitar, that won’t work for me :-). But thanks.
As for the nails, what works for me is to take care of them daily. When they’re in bad shape and really short, I start by using a good cuticle cream or oil every day, sometimes twice. I keep it on my bedside table, and do it before bed each night. Cream them, rub it in, push them back with a cuticle stick.
My favorite cream is Cuticle Eraser by Creative Nail Design. I alternate with Solar Oil, by the same company. They both smell really good and work beautifully. When the cuticles are high, cracked and dry, and stuck to the nail from neglect, I start with the cream exclusively, and switch to alternating with the oil after they’re in better shape.
I also keep clear polish on them. I’m much less likely to bite them when there’s polish on them.
Once they start growing, the MOST important thing to keep me from biting them is to keep them all filed smooth and the same length. If one of them breaks, or rips, or I lapse and bite it, or it isn’t growing as fast as the others, I file all the others down to the same length.
If I don’t, I’ll bite them all off without question.
It’s amazing how quickly my nails look gorgeous when I start up again.
I used to put a strengthening polish on them, but I don’t think it is as effective or important as taking good care of the cuticle to grow a good nail.
May 17th, 2006 at 4:52 am
I too adore REI – I spend way too much money there! So much stuff that I just HAVE to have. I hope camping goes well – I love to see families with little ones taking them into the outdoors!
May 17th, 2006 at 5:13 am
I have been enjoying your blog for awhile now but this is my first comment!! Hiya!! I’m here in the Seattle area as well :o) waving from across the water in Kirkland!!!! ANyway…I hear ya on the nail biting. I have been doing it since I was 2. Quit for a few years and had lovely long nails….then we bought a house. That will kill ya everytime I swear!!! That was 2 years ago and mine are in the same shape as yours. ACK. I feel for ya sistah! I am also a knitter/crafter/soapmaker/insane person :o) Not necesarily in that order. Have fun camping! You are a brave soul with such a little guy. My littlest is 6 months and there is NO WAY I am taking him this summer…….we will wait :o)
May 17th, 2006 at 9:30 am
Oh I love seeing Clark – too cute.
As for my nails, I am the same way about the length. If one breaks – they all have to be filed to match…..or else I make them match by biting. I am a clear or pale pink polish kind of girl and I use a nail treatment called Nail Tek. There are 3 to choose from depending on your nail problem. I have soft/peeling nails so I use Nail Tek II. Just keep up the maintanence and they will look great.
May 17th, 2006 at 11:25 am
I’m sorry…your family is just the cute and I wish you the best on your pain management and I don’t wish you any ill will but aren’t there bigger problems than cuticles? I mean, I’m sitting here with a CRUSHED PELVIS as my children cook and bring me dinner. I’m just mad right now.
May 17th, 2006 at 4:09 pm
Happy birthday! Six weeks have gone by so quickly. Clark is amazing…
May 19th, 2006 at 2:28 pm
I’ve been a nail-biter for as long as I can remember. I quit a couple of times during college by just quitting two fingers at a time. First week I had to leave my thumbs alone, next week ring fingers, etc. It worked really well until finals came along, etc. The past couple of years I’ve been biting again, but I keep meaning to quit. As far as vices go, though, I figure at least I’m not smoking or chewing with my mouth open.