Kaplan Party of Three: recent

DIY At-Home Manicure

For a little self-care, here's how I do manicures at home that will last. In order to save some time and money, I've committed to perfecting how I paint my nails at home and give myself TLC.

A few things I look for in a good manicure is: Does it look good? Did it cost a lot to do (time and money)? Did it last? It's frustrating when you spend money for someone to do your nails, only to see that it's chipping a couple days later. With these steps, you'll eventually save money doing your nails at home, and will last longer too!

To help give my nails a boost, I've been taking over-the-counter hair, skin and nail gummies. They have biotin which supports healthy nails. So if you've noticed your nails chipping and breaking regularly, try adding these Nature's Bounty Vitamin Biotin Optimal Solutions Hair, Skin and Nails Gummies to your daily life. (Speaking of which, I need to go take mine!) Starting with a good foundation with your nails will be key to success.

Here's what I used and what you'll need:

White Towel
Small Bowl
Alchohol (rubbing alcohol, and if you prefer, a glass of wine too)
Buffer
Cuticle Nipper and Pusher
Clippers
Nail Files
Nail Primer
Nail Polish
Top Coat
Q Tips
Cuticle Oil
Lotion

Prepare The Area and Your Hands

The first thing I did was get everything out and ready for the manicure. I didn't want to have to go searching through any drawers or cabinets and potentially smudge my nail polish or get polish on anything else.

I used a clean white hand towel to set on top of my desk to catch any clippings or polish. Plus it felt spa-like. After that I washed my hands, making sure to get everything clean, especially under my nails.

Fill a small bowl of warm water to soak my nails before getting started.

Treat cuticles

You can use a cuticle remover cream if you prefer, but I just like to use my cuticle nippers and pusher to handle mine. You don't want to trim too much away, since cuticles are there to protect your nail beds and prevent infections.

Trim, Shape and Buff Nails

After I'm satisfied with my cuticles, I trim my nails to a manageable length. Out of laziness, I usually end up having long nails, but I like to typically trim them to just below the tops of my fingers. Next, using a nail file, I'll shape my nails. Instead of using a seesaw motion, as this can damage your nails and cause cracking/splitting, try to file your nails in the same direction with every stroke. I prefer a rounded square shape.

Lastly, I use a nail buffer block to buff my nails. This helps the nail polish to adhere to my nails better and give a smoother surface for the polish.

Wash Your Hands

Before you get ready to paint your nails, it's important to wash your hands. Inspect for any last minute shaping or clipping.

Primer Your Nails

You can buy a nail bond primer, but I find that using rubbing alcohol is just as effective. I use a Qtip with alcohol to paint my nails clean.

Next, I use O.P.I. Infinite Shine Primer to increase nail polish adhesion and prevent discoloration. The key to applying all of the layers to your nails is not to add too much at once. You can always add another layer later to make sure there's even application. But globbing on loads of polish at once will make for uneven coats and bubbles.

Paint with Polish

My latest favorite color is Essie - "Topless and Barefoot." It's a great neutral color with a soft blush pink kiss. When I paint a layer on my nail, I will typically do one stroke down the left side, then the right side, and then down the middle. I will typically only do 2-3 coats of a single color, which is enough to make an even, solid coat.

Top Coat

There's no point to taking the time to paint your nails, and wanting to make sure they last if you don't apply a top coat. I use Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Fast Dry Nail Color, Clearly Quick. After I paint my nails, I want them to dry quickly and last a long time. Toddler Time means I'm always rough with my nails, and I need something to protect my newly painted nails. I couldn't believe how quickly this dried! I timidly poked my pinky nail to test if it was dry (expecting to see my fingerprints) but it was dry in just 1 minute! To be safe, I gave my nails a few minutes to dry and then was tackling chores with confidence that my nails would be fine.

Cuticle Oil and Lotion

To make my self-care treatment complete, I finished with Blossom Cuticle Oil and some hand lotion.

Here's a little tip: If you feel like the shine on top your top coat is starting to fade after a few days, you can reapply a new top coat.

Also, every few days, especially during winter months here in the desert, I like to reapply the cuticle oil. Apply it directly to your cuticles, and then finish with some hand lotion.

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I cannot believe Ryan is 18 months old. We've learned a lot during our journey as parents and I'm so proud of our son.

During his newborn stage, I was always trying to figure out the best “schedule” for Ryan, and it turned into more of a daily rhythm than a set schedule. Once we stopped worrying about everything being on time, and more about what Ryan wanted and needed, things went much smoother.

So here’s a look into a daily life in the Kaplan home and some of momma’s favorite things.

Ryan has lots of favorites. One of them is dogs. He’ll point out every dog he sees and says, “Woof!” He also likes pointing out every airplane he sees flying overhead. His other favorite is running! My mom talks about how it feels like a whirlwind when he comes to visit, because he’s so fast and gets into everything! He’s always on the move.

He loves having his own space too. We’ve tried to make our home a “yes space” where we’re confident that anything he plays with or discovers is ok. His favorite spot is in his DalosDream Teepee Tent that we setup with comfy pillows, stuffed animals and a little decoration. He’ll crawl in there to get cozy with a book or peep out the window playing hide-and-seek.

Rug is from Amazon

We’ve made bath time a little more fun too by adding some colorful toys to the mix. We like these Munchkin Bath Toys and Crayons and obviously so does Ryan. He likes to scribble on basically every surface in the tub.

The after bath aftermath

His favorite books still include the finger puppet series, but his favorite lately has been Little Blue Truck's Christmas. He can’t wait to see the festive lights at the end.

We’ve tried lots of sippy cups, and these Munchkin Sippy Cups have been the best so far. We like that it has a weighted straw, it's easy to hold and dishwasher safe! Only downside is that there are no marked measurements on the cup itself, but otherwise they are great!

Below is what a typical day looks like for me and Ryan. Some days are different considering a cold, appointments, etc.

- Wakes up around 6:00 am (has a 6-8 oz sippy cup of milk)

- Around 7:00am he has a sliced banana. I quarter the fruit into long manageable “sticks” for him.

– Put him back down for a nap around 8:00am (he doesn’t always take a nap during this time, which would affect when he takes an afternoon nap)

– Wakes up from nap around 9:00 am or 10:00 am and eats breakfast (usually eggs, fruit and yogurt)

After he’s eaten and is cleaned up, this is when I’ll try to get any of the day’s chores or errands outside of the house done.

– Plays until about 1:00 pm

– 12:00 – 1:00 pm – down for second nap (usually longer if the first nap was short or nonexistent and sometimes around 12:00 if he skips the morning nap)

– 3:00 pm – wakes up from nap, eats a pouch or snacks

- 4:30 – Dinner for him (Meat, fruit, dairy)

– Plays until about 5:30pm (Depending on if he will have a bath, start settling down, read a book and get ready for bed)

– 6:00 pm – BEDTIME

I know, it sounds crazy. Bedtime, at 6:00 pm?! Yes, Ryan has been sleeping from 6:00 pm to 6:00 am since he was only a few months old. We’ve tried to make his bedtime a little later, in hopes that he’ll sleep in later, but it never works. Ryan ends up getting frustrated because he’s tired, and he still wakes up at 6:00 am. My husband and I love the time we have to ourselves at the end of the day. We can unwind, cook dinner peacefully, enjoy an adult beverage and spend time together relaxing. I’m sure this will change as Ryan gets older, but for now, this is what works for all of us.

Also, every night since the weather has been cooler lately, Ryan will sleep in this Hudson Baby Wearable Blanket. It's light and breathable, but another layer to help keep him warm at night.

This post may contain affiliate links. Using links to these sites means I may earn a percentage of the purchase at no extra cost to you.

Everyday Makeup Routine

I'm not going to lie, I do not own expensive makeup. I try to buy long-lasting, affordable makeup, and this is what I use for my everyday look.

Products I use:

DIY At-Home Manicure

For a little self-care, here's how I do manicures at home that will last. In order to save some time and money, I've committed to perfecting how I paint my nails at home and give myself TLC.

Prepare The Area and Your Hands

Treat cuticles

Trim, Shape and Buff Nails

Wash Your Hands

Primer Your Nails

Paint with Polish

Top Coat

Cuticle Oil and Lotion

I cannot believe Ryan is 18 months old. We've learned a lot during our journey as parents and I'm so proud of our son.

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