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Sep 152012
If you know me, you know I’m obsessed with Auburn Football. Auburn is my first love and I stand behind them win or lose. I have a Saturday shirt and earring tradition, where you will find me parked in front of our TV shouting “WAR EAGLE!” and belting the school song, or shouting at the players and telling them to run faster.
I love the friendly rivalries that come with being a college football addict and I never miss an opportunity to yell, “WAR EAGLE!” to someone wearing an Alabama shirt.
I’ve recently become quite obsessed with the Cute Polish channel on YouTube. I found a really great color blocking nail design that looked easy enough to do while the babies were napping and cute enough to show my school spirit on game day. This nail design is inspired by this cute design.
Of course you could use the same technique for your favorite NFL teams as well. It just so happens that my Tigers have the same colors as my Broncos so I’m golden…but I bleed orange and blue.
The technique is SO, SO easy and relatively quick. Cute Polish recommends using a striper brush to draw diagonal lines but I found it easier to rest my hand on a hard surface and roll my finger to create a thick line, then brush downwards to spread the color all over my nails.
So here it is:
Materials Needed:
Base coat
White Polish
Team Color #1
Team Color #2
Top Coat
Step 1:
Paint your nails with a base coat to protect and strengthen your nails.
Step 2:
Paint your nails with an all-over white polish. This really helps the other two colors pop!
Step 3:
Carefully paint a diagonal line with Team Color #1. It is best to rest your hand on a hard surface and rotate your finger while keeping the polish brush steady. Once the line is drawn, paint downwards to evenly spread color on the bottom 2/3 of your nail. Do a second, thin coat to even color. It’s OK to make a mess. We’ll be cleaning your cuticles when we’re done.
It’s OK to make a mess! We’ll clean them up when we’re all done.
Step 4:
Take Team Color #2 and draw a diagonal line from where Team Color #1 ends, at the lowest point. Once line is drawn, carefully paint downwards to evenly spread color over the bottom 1/3 of nail. Apply a second coat to even color.
Step 5:
Apply a top coat to protect your design and provide a beautiful shine.
Step 6:
Dip a cotton swab in nail polish remover and carefully clean the skin around your nails.
Step 7:
WAIT UNTIL YOUR POLISH DRIES to change diapers, do dishes, and rummage around your purse for the last feminine protection option in your house. The time this takes will completely depend on what sort of nail polish you used for each coat. I try to buy quick-dry polish for this reason.
Step 8:
Head out to the nearest football party to cheer your team on and show of your super festive nails.
English: Sports logo of Auburn University (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Odwalla (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
I am always so excited to give back to the community and nothing makes me feel better than helping someone in need, which is why I was so excited when Collective Bias, Champions for Kids, and Odwalla put together a sports equipment donation drive. I had the fantastic idea of mobilizing Styles’ 5th grade classroom into donating to the cause.
Then I got sick.
Really sick.
I sent in a flyer to go home with all the children but I wasn’t able to go into the classroom and pump everyone up without the huge possibility of passing along the bubonic plague to the entire 5th grade. The flyers went home and I went in several days later to pick up the donated sports equipment.
But there was none.
I was so sad. I bought tennis balls, a tennis racket, and a t-ball bat that came with a ball for Styles and I to donate, but I was so excited to be able to drive up to the boys and girls club with a van full of sports equipment from the Godley Station 5th grade, but there was nothing else to donate.
As disappointed as I am, I understand that times are hard right now. We live in a very depressed part of the country and things are tough for many people. I also know how 5th grade kids are about showing their parents what is in their backpack at the end of the day.
But it doesn’t stop me from being disappointed.
I chose to donate to The Boys and Girls Club because when I was a little girl, my sister and I spent summers at the Girls Club of Alachua County, Florida. Our counselor’s name was Wayne and he was one of the funniest guys I’d ever met. We used to go roller skating, to the public pool which was HUGE and had an amazing slide, and on other fun excursions. I met some great friends there and have some wonderful memories. While I’m in a different city now, I wanted to honor a club that helped shape who I am today.
We were just a little younger than this when we spent summers at the Girls Club
So I went alone today to the Boys and Girls Club to donate what little I had and guess what? They were so humble and so excited to receive ANYTHING.
When I got home to write this post, I realized that my camera didn’t have a memory card in it that entire time. I called the representative at the B&G Club and she laughed with me then agreed to meet up so that we could take some mock photos this week so PLEASE stay tuned for pictures of some very happy and humble individuals receiving some serious tennis equipment.
SO since nobody here wanted to get involved, I’m calling you, my wonderful readers to GET INVOLVED in your community! Give time, give sports equipment, give whatever you can – large or small! And please join Champions for Kids on Facebook and Twitter to mobilize yourself and your family.
Happy volunteering!
This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias. #CBias All opinions and camera misfortunes are my own.
Related articles
- A Tribute to Papa – a SIMPLE Service Project (bananahammocksandtutus.com)
Feb 022012
HOLY Cow can you believe that we’re almost 1/2 way done? I can’t believe it’s Day 10 already. Although my body composition hasn’t changed much, I love the new movement that I’m incorporating into my life. While the change isn’t drastic physically, I FEEL better.
How about you?
Today isn’t quite as fun, y’all. It’s gonna hurt. In that “OMG I’m building major muscle” way that some of us love.
Today your challenges are as follows:
Diet – Eating Environment: FOCUS on creating delicious meals and snacks. No more noshing on the go, even if it’s Paleo-aligned. Everything must be planned out to succeed Primally. Does it take more work than mindlessly grabbing a protein shake or a granola bar? Yes. But it’s worth it. And after a few months of consciously planning your food, it will become second nature and you won’t have to think as much about it.
Image by Getty Images via @daylife
Exercise – Primal WOW: The WOW stands for “Holy crap, this is going to hurt”. Not really. It stands for “Workout of the Week”. Today you’re going to do a little bit of everything. As I watch my 10 month old walk across the floor (no lie). Today, your workout consists of the following:
- Pushups – one set maximum reps
- Sprint – immediately sprint 40-80 meters
- Rest: 30-60 seconds
- Pullups (or appropriate progression exercise): one set maximum reps
- Bunny hops: hop (feet together for takeoff and landing) for 20-40 meters
- Rest: 30-60 seconds
- Squats: One set maximum reps
- Sprint: immediately sprint 40-80 meters (YEAH RIGHT!!!)
- Plank: One set maximum time
And an advanced addition:
- Sprint/Bunny hop: After planks, immediately sprint 80 meters, hop 40 meters in opposite direction then walk 40 meters to starting point. Rest 30 seconds, then repeat.
If you do the advanced option, you get to add an extra 10 points to the RESOLUTION : Paleo Rafflecopter widget tomorrow. You need to tell me that you did it, right here in this blog post for your entry to count. HONOR SYSTEM, PLEASE.
Lifestyle: Email fast. Engage in email correspondence only during morning and afternoon time periods of 30 minutes or less. Even if you work, you can make this work. Unplug from your email for the bulk of the day (minus ONE full hour), and get some important tasks done without being distracted by your inbox. This is great practice for your focus and concentration.
I’m so proud of everyone who is hanging in there with me. I haven’t been as rigid as I thought I would be but I’ve been squeezing things in day by day and making small changes everywhere.
How are YOU doing with this 21 Day Challenge? Is it what you thought it would be?
Related articles
- 21 Day Body Transformation – Day 8 (bananahammocksandtutus.com)
- 21 Day Body Transformation Day 9 (bananahammocksandtutus.com)
- RESOLUTION : Paleo Week 3 – Goal Setting (bananahammocksandtutus.com)
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