DIY: Nail Stickers

I can't draw whatsoever but especially not with my left hand. I found this PIN on pinterest and couldn't help but try it out. While looking into it a bit more I ran into this POST that found parchment paper to work the best.

To give them all a fair chance, I used parchment paper, a ziplock bag and the tin foil from the backside of my parchment paper. I did two on each sheet, one had a top coat before the design and the second was only the design. In the end I found that the parchment paper definitely worked the best.

I let the top coat dry then painted the design on top; after the design dried I applied a top coat. I used the Nailene Top Coat; I tried Sally Hansen Hardener, Sinful Colors Clear and Sally Hansen Extreme Wear but didn't get very good results.

After letting the top coat dry the stickers peeled right off.

When it came to putting them on the nails, I applied a base coat of Sinful Colors clear and while it was still wet I put the sticker on. After allowing the sticker to dry into the base coat for a few minutes I used nail polish and cleaned up around the sides. After everything was cleaned up I applied another coat of Sinful Colors clear to lock it in. 

Now to see how long it lasts.

Chocolate Frostings

I absolutely love the chocolate cream cheese frosting that I use on my homemade brownies but a college roommate of mine gave me the recipe for her chocolate frosting and it is so delicious. 

NOTE: The cream cheese frosting is a rich frosting but makes about twice as much as needed for a 9x13 pan of brownies. The other frosting is on the thin side when it came to applying it. I put the leftover in the fridge and ate it the next day, it has a mousse consistency. 

Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting

10 oz cream cheese, softened
6 Tbsp butter, softened 
1 tsp vanilla 
4 cups powdered sugar 
3 Tbsp cocoa powder

In a mixing bowl, using an electric hand mixer on medium speed, whip together cream cheese and butter until smooth and fluffy, about 1 minute. Add in vanilla and powdered sugar, then sift in cocoa powder and mix until smooth and fluffy, about 1 minute.

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Chocolate Frosting

¼ c melted butter
¼ tsp. salt
½ cup cocoa
1/3 cup milk
½ tsp vanilla
3 ½ cup powdered sugar
1 Tbsp Karo

Combine butter, cocoa and salt; gradually add milk and vanilla. Stir in sugar in 3 parts; add Karo.
 

Between Shades of Gray By: Ruta Sepetys

This was an amazing book, and I couldn't put it down. I have never read an personal accounts from during this time period and it was quite interesting to see it through the eyes of a 16 year old. I loved seeing the growth in Lina; she decided that she wasn't going to give the Russians her soul and she lived by that.

This is the story of Lina and her family during Stalin's reign of terror. Lina is a great artist and uses her skills to communicate with her father. Lina throughout the story learns that you can't judge a person by their actions or what they say; it is what truly lies in their heart that matters.

Fool Me Twice By: Stephanie Black

This was a really good book. I enjoyed the twists and turns that it took.

When it comes to pleasing her twin sister, Megan O'Connor is an easy touch. She'll do just about anything to gain Kristen's approval, including trading places with her. After all, Kristen's plan promises to get Megan out of a dead-end job and make them both rich. It will be a nice reward for a little genealogical investigation--something that couldn't have happened without the help of Kristen's new LDS acquaintances. And who could blame the twins for using a tiny bit of deceit to manipulate an inheritance out of someone as demanding as their estranged Aunt Evelyn?

All Megan has to do is pretend to be Kristen, move into Evelyn's house, and take care of the wealthy old woman until her failing health kills her. It shouldn't take too long. It shouldn't be too difficult. Megan's the nice one. Except for the lie, the task is a natural fit. Everything would be perfect if she could just ignore the guilt--a feeling that only grows stronger as she spends more time with the new friends Kristen arranged for her.

But soon Megan discovers that there is more to worry about. She's living in a house of illusions where she isn't the only one playing a part. Someone has developed a new plotline that ends with a death scene--and in this version, the victim won't die of natural causes.

Beneath the surface of the sleepy New England town of Britteridge, deceit weaves a deadly web where turnabout is anything but fair play.

After By: Amy Efaw

This was a good book but for me it had a tendency to drag on. I found it fascinating how traumatic events can be blocked from our mind. I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in law, as it has quite a bit of information regarding the trial. I did find the ending to be a bit of a surprise; I wish it would have continued on a bit more.

This is the story of Devon as she faces life after giving birth to IT. The baby is found in a dumpster and Devon is charged with attempted murder. As Devon is preparing for her trial, one that will decide whether she is to be tried as a juvenile or an adult, she can't help but begin to relive THAT night. Everything that Devon's hears about her case allows her to see her life in a new light, a life that she is now prepared to handle.

American Born Chinese By: Gene Luen Yang

This book had a good message, you never know what impact something you do will have on someone else. For me there was a lot of stuff in the book that could have been left out and it still had a good message. You could see growth and change in the characters but at least for me there wasn't a lot to the plot. I don't think I could honestly recommended this book to anyone.

This is the story of Jin Wang, the Monkey King, Danny and Wei-Chen. As the book progresses each chapter is told from a different point of view. As the book comes to an end you find out how they are all interconnected. Throughout the book Jin Wang and Wei-Chen have to deal with the cultural differences found between Chinese and American culture.

Never Fall Down By: Patricia McCormick

Never Fall Down, is a true story about Arn Chorn-Pond and his survival through the Cambodian genocide. Arn tells of his life before the war got him, then his time as a prisoner, followed by his time as a soldier and ends with his life in America.

 

Throughout the book it is never sugar coated which I really appreciated. I watched a few interviews with Arn and Patricia McCormick, it really made the book coming alive actually hearing from him before I ever read the book. This genocide isn't usually taught in school so we don't realize what happened. This has a few graphic parts but nothing that teenagers and older kids couldn't handle.

Touching Spirit Bear By: Ben Mikaelsen

This is a really good book. The first time I read it was in seventh grade but I didn't really remember it much. Reading this book goes great with a class I'm taking about juvenile delinquents. I love to watch the change in Cole as he lives on the island and the change that we get to see come over Peter. I have seen a few people who have gone through a wilderness treatment to help them get over drug addictions and I would personally like to see it used more as a treatment. I would like to see them make it into a movie.

Touching Spirit Bear is the story of Cole Matthews as he tries to overcome his anger at the world. Cole is a juvenile delinquent who is at the point where he could be tried as an adult. His parole officer suggests he lives on a remote island in Alaska for a year so he can work out his anger and hatred in a place where he can't hurt anyone. After only a few days on the island Cole is mauled by the Spirit Bear; after he has healed enough and is allowed to return to the island Cole begins a huge transformation. He is joined by Peter, the kid he beat up, and he begins to help Peter heal.