Your hands tell the world about you... what do yours say?

"Your hands tell the world about you... what do yours say?"

So begins my part of "Unzipped: The Guide to Being Your Best Badass Self".  You'll hear my best tips for taking great care of your nails, how to split you manicure routine into manageable time bits and how to mix and match patterns to #PlayWithYourJams.

I'm very proud of my latest book!  Compiled by stylist and entrepreneur Myaann Payne, "Unzipped: The Guide to Being Your Best Badass Self" is meant to inspire, uplift, and motivate you to wake up each day and throw out what society tells you to be and start being the badass that is in you!

This book is for anyone who is struggling to find himself or herself, anyone that feels like they "can't do it" (because you totally can) and for those looking for inspiration through others to overcome obstacles to truly be the best person you can be!

What you will find in these pages are stories of triumph over health issues, real-life transformations, notes and tips from an artist's chair, how taking care of yourself TRULY matters, and how you can be your best badass self.

Authors
Joshaa Flores
Carlos Velazquez
Erica Annise
Noel Giger
Isabel Fernandez
Myaann Payne

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Talking to Kids About Death

Recently a child at our elementary school passed away.  In a local mom's group, there was a discussion about how to talk to our kids about it.  I thought I'd share my response with you all here.

My kids were 5 and 7 when our infant son passed away. Unfortunately, we had to deal with it suddenly and unexpectedly. Fortunately, I have gained much wisdom through this process.

1. Tell the truth. Don't sugarcoat it, don't use words like "passed away" or "is no longer with us". As hard as it is for us as an adult to say, you need to say "she got really sick, the doctors did everything they could to help her, and she died."
2. Depending on the maturity level of the child, they may still believe in magical thinking concepts. This means that they may not understand that death is permanent. Be prepared to discuss that she will not be able to be alive again.
3. Older or more emotionally mature children may be beginning to understand the concept that death is universal. It can be helpful to explain that everything dies. Nature is a perfect place to illustrate this concept. Especially in the fall, leaves are falling off and dying. You can relate it to a pet that has died as well. They will ask you if you will die too, or if they will die too. Please be honest with them! Tell them "yes, we will all die someday."
4. Although the concept of Heaven is fairly Universal, please remember that there are atheist families and telling them that God took their child or that the child is with Jesus can cause disagreements between kids. Please keep this in mind when you are explaining to your child. We used to tell our kids that every family gets to make their own rules on some things and that they have different names that they call things. Like our grandma is called Kiki, some people have different names for heaven.
5. If your child is a boy, don't assume that he's not grieving because he's not crying. Boys often express anger or act out rather than crying. Also, boys are more likely to open up and talk during side-by-side activity. Play cars with them, a video game, watch a baseball game. Don't try to sit knee to knee and talk about your feelings.

Although we all hope to not have these conversations, they are inevitable.  I hope that these guidelines are a help to you!

Drive Me Matte

Jamberry’s Drive Me Matte Collection channels your deepest passions to elevate your mani to frenzied heights. Our matte lacquers’ deep and intense shades are the perfect way to embrace the hottest trend this season. Need we say more?

Your winter holiday shopping list has arrived...

If you like to match your manicure to the season (or your mood!) then I've got great news for you!  The new styles from Jamberry are super fun and a great way to spice up your mani routine!

'Christmas Charm' shows off Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer with lovely jingle bells and evergreen holly for a sparkling holiday mani.  #ChristmasCharmJN  This would pair nicely with #FindersKeepersJN or #NotSoInnocentJN lacquer.

Sponsor a Blessing Bag!

Giving back is extremely important to me.

I'm putting together 50 blessing bags for a local cancer treatment facility. YOU can help by sponsoring 1 or 2 (or 4!) bags!

My family was in financial crisis in 2013, we ended up filing bankruptcy and almost lost our house. We did lose a vehicle and many other physical things. But, what we gained through that tough time was an appreciation for each other and for our community that held us up. When 2014 brought huge success and blessings with Jamberry, we made a vow to give back. The last few years I've been honored to donate 100% of my personal sales commissions to charity and families in need.

Introducing the Jam Junkies Club!

If you're like me, your Jamberry catalog is marked up, dog-eared and full of potential!  Or maybe your online wishlist is full of possibilities and desires.  I've got good news!  There is an easy, affordable way for you to get those items and not break the budget <3 p="">

Winter Style - Top Ten Nail looks for Winter 2017

I just love Winter style!  Something about boots and hot cocoa, scarves and the smell of a fireplace just makes me feel at HOME!

Make sure that your nails are ready for any holiday shopping or gift wrapping parties!  Whether you choose wraps, lacquer or gel, your nails will be the highlight of your winter looks!

So when Jamberry launched it's winter collection today, I was looking for those things that would spark my soul!  I hope that you will find something to light your fire too ;)

My perfect picks for manicures while traveling

When I travel, I like to us only a carry-on bag as often as possible. That can really cramp my style though, because so many of my favorite products are only available in larger sizes!

It's taken me a while to figure out what I actually need, and what I can safely carry on-board (without fear of it being confiscated by TSA! The horror of losing a bottle of Nourish one time still keeps me on my toes!)

So, I present the Jet-Setter bundle! 

I started with the Deluxe Tool kit. I've traveled with this kit dozens of times, with no problem! I think since the scissors are small and clearly part of a mani kit, it doesn't even raise an eyebrow. This kit is SO HANDY to have when you travel! The clippers are large and strong enough to handle tags and even open packages! The scissors are great for cutting tags off your clothes (everybody shops for something new before a trip, right? No? OK, just me then LOL!) and the crystal nail file keeps your nails nice and smooth after wrestling your way to your seat. :0

Next up are the Hydrating Removal wipes. These are water-based and amazing for removing wraps or lacquer. They have no smell, unless you choose the Peach scented ones shown here ;) I've literally removed my lacquer in the car on the way to the airport with no complaints from my husband! They are great for conditioning bare nails after a day of constant hand-sanitizer use too ;)

Quench is like a miracle product. I use it as lip balm (why is the air in an airplane sooooo dry?) and on my hands. It's also perfect for dry elbows, knees and heels - and I've even used it for a face moisturizer when I forgot to pack that - OOPS!) Plus, it's got a light scent and stays on for a long time.

The Cuticle Oil Pen is just a staple item in my bag! Adding extra nourishment to your cuticles helps them not become hangnails. You know what's not fun while you're traveling? Bloody, painful cuticles! OUCH. (Fortunately, your kit has cuticle nippers if you let it go too far!)