Spring into Action.
Because it’s Spring…and it’s now or never!
xo
Carly
You’ll notice the format of this quote this week is a little different – I’m trying something new! I’m using the Sobbers font from the Spring Bundle from FontBundles.net. I’ll be sharing a tutorial tomorrow on how to make your own inspirational quote typography using this font, so check back on Tuesday!
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I’m big on squeezing every.last.drop of usefulness out of a manicure. If I’ve gone to the trouble of painting my nails (and it’s not gel)…I want them to last as long as humanly possible. Some bottles of nail polish say that to keep your mani fresh you need to paint another coat on your nails every 2 days. But seriously…who’s got time for that?? (Plus, if you’re sealing your manicure with a topcoat once done…wouldn’t you have to paint…and then seal…again?) I want minimal time, minimal fuss, and minimal damage to my nails.
This is where I’m at after about 10 days of wear using a base coat, regular nail polish, and topcoat. It’s almost time to retire it…or is it??
In the past, I’ve shared a Glitter Tip Refresh and a Sharpie Tip Refresh. How about another nail polish refresh…but this time playing with a matte version for contrast? 
I’m using: Urban Outfitters UO Classics Midnight Rider Nail Polish with Urban Outfitters UO Matte Violet Nail Polish on the tips for the refresh (aff. links)
The tutorial is pretty self-explanatory: use tape to cordon off a cool diagonal stripe that makes the nail art cool city girl chic.
Peel tape off while tip color is still wet.
If you do the proper thing and add a layer of topcoat you’ll lose the pretty matte textural contrast…but your tip refresh will last longer. Matte polish chips a lot faster than regular, so you may only get a few more days out of this mani…but it’s good enough for me!
What do you guys think? Something you might try to keep that manicure going a little longer?
xo
Carly
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For the first time ever, Pantone selected two colors of the year for 2016: Rose Quartz and Serenity. Leatrice Eiseman, Executive Director at Pantone Color Institute, describes the color combination as “reflecting connection and wellness as well as a soothing sense of order and peace.”
But because these perfectly lovely pastels are subtle hues instead of bold and bright ones…they can be hard to maintain wash after wash. Especially when fighting stains!
Enter Clorox 2® Stain Fighter & Color Booster detergent, which is specially formulated to keep colors true no matter how many times you run them through the laundry. Here’s how to have success when laundering your most precious pastel garments:
The best way to keep your clothes looking their best all year round is to care for them correctly. An easy way to do this is to pre-treat stains with Clorox 2® Stain Remover and Color Booster. Just follow these tips and add some Clorox 2® to keep your colors true and bright:
The Clorox 2® Stain Remover Precision Pen for Colors can provide precision stain targeting before you wash the item. Use it with Clorox 2 Stain Remover & Color Booster detergent for the ultimate stain-fighting power!
Adhesive tape, chewing gum, rubber cement: Apply ice or cold water to harden surface; scrape with a dull knife. Saturate with prewash stain remover or cleaning fluid. Rinse, then launder.
BBQ Sauce: Working from the back of the stain, flush it with cold water. Next, pretreat it with a liquid laundry detergent, using an up-and-down motion with a soft brush to break up the stain. Rinse well. Then sponge with white vinegar and rinse again. Repeat, treating the stain with liquid detergent, then with white vinegar until you’ve removed as much stain as possible. Pretreat with a prewash stain remover and launder with bleach that’s safe for the fabric.
Beverages (coffee, tea, soft drinks, wine, alcoholic beverages): Sponge or soak stain in cool water. Pretreat with prewash stain remover, liquid laundry detergent, liquid detergent booster or paste of powder laundry product and water. Launder using sodium hypochlorite bleach, if safe for fabric, or oxygen bleach.
NOTE: Older stains may respond to pretreating or soaking in a product containing enzymes, then laundering.
Blood: Fresh Stains: Soak in cold water (do not use hot water as it will set blood stains). Launder. Dried Stains: Pretreat or soak in warm water with a product containing enzymes. Launder. NOTE: If stain remains, rewash using a bleach safe for fabric.
Chocolate: When the stain strikes, gently scrape off any excess chocolate. Once you get the item home, soak it in cool water. Then pretreat with a prewash stain remover and launder in the hottest water that’s safe for the fabric. NOTE: If stain remains, rewash using a bleach safe for fabric.
Cosmetics: Pretreat with prewash stain remover, liquid laundry detergent, paste of powder detergent or laundry additive and water. Or, rub with bar soap. Launder.
Crayon: For a Few Spots: Treat the same as candle wax or dampen the stain and rub with bar soap. Launder using hottest water safe for fabric. For a Whole Load of Clothes:
Wash with hot water using a laundry soap and 1 cup (212 g) baking soda. NOTE: If color remains, launder using sodium hypochlorite bleach, if safe for fabric. Otherwise, pretreat or soak in a product containing enzymes or an oxygen bleach using hottest water safe for fabric, then launder.
Deodorant: Light Stains: Pretreat with liquid laundry detergent. Launder. Heavy Stains: Pretreat with prewash stain remover. Allow to stand for 5 to 10 minutes. Launder using an oxygen bleach.
Grass: Pretreat or soak in a product containing enzymes. NOTE: If stain persists, launder using sodium hypochlorite bleach, if safe for fabric, or oxygen bleach.
Grease or Oil: Light Stains: Pretreat with prewash stain remover, liquid laundry detergent or liquid detergent booster. Launder using hottest water safe for fabric.
Heavy Stains: Place stain facedown on clean paper towels. Apply cleaning fluid to back of stain. Replace paper towels under stain frequently. Let dry, rinse. Launder using hottest water safe for fabric.
Ink: NOTE: Some inks in each of the following categories _ ballpoint, felt tip, liquid- may be impossible to remove, Laundering may set some types of ink. Try pretreating using one of the following methods: Prewash Stain Remover: Pretreat using a prewash stain remover. Launder. Denatured Alcohol or Cleaning Fluid: Sponge the area around the stain with the alcohol or cleaning fluid before applying it directly on the stain. Place stain facedown on clean paper towels. Apply alcohol or cleaning fluid to back of stain. Replace paper towels frequently. Rinse thoroughly. Launder. Alternate Method for Denatured Alcohol or Cleaning Fluid: Place stain over mouth of a jar or glass; hold fabric taut. Drip the alcohol or cleaning fluid through the stain so ink will drop into the container as it is being removed. Rinse thoroughly. Launder.
Paint: Water-based Paint: Rinse fabric in warm water while stains are still wet. Launder. NOTE: Once paint is dry, it cannot be removed. Oil-based Paint and Varnish: Use the same solvent the label on the can advises for a thinner. If not available, use turpentine. Rinse. Pretreat with prewash stain remover, bar soap or laundry detergent. Rinse and launder.
Sweat: Use a prewash stain remover or rub with bar soap. NOTE: If perspiration has changed the color of the fabric, apply ammonia to fresh stains or white vinegar to old stains; rinse. Launder using hottest water safe for fabric. NOTE: Stubborn stains may respond to washing in a product containing enzymes or oxygen bleach in hottest water safe for fabric.
Wine: Sponge the stain with cool water or soak it in cool water for about 30 minutes. Pretreat with a prewash stain remover. Launder; if safe for the fabric, add chlorine bleach to the wash.
Good luck in your battle against stains and keeping your 2016 pastels perfect!
xo
Carly
“It always seems impossible until it’s done.”
-Nelson Mandela
From one of the most inspiring people of our time comes this quote, effective in its simplicity, awe-inspiring at its most humble.
When things seem impossible, know that they only do on this side of them because they aren’t done yet. And persevere. Like the brave and untiring Nelson Mandela did.
Truly inspiring.
xo
Carly
“Discover Your WHY”
So many people ask me how I’ve been blogging so long (8 years this month now!) and how I’ve been able to keep motivated for so long and consistently (er…mostly) kept up with posting, week in and week out, for many, many weeks (and months…and years…)
My answer is: I’ve discovered my WHY.
I can’t stress how important this is to every endeavor you may undertake in life. (I’m not sure of the attribution for this inspirational quote, but the words are so singularly important I’ve chosen to share this here.)
No matter what, if you are putting time, energy, and passion into it…you must have a WHY.
An overwhelming, underlying reason for WHY you do it.
And WHY you must keep going with it, even if energy, time, and passion fail. A greater conviction. A higher moral calling. Something to get you through thick and thin, through the dark days of uncertainty and self-doubt.
I find sometimes the best thing to do when my passion or focus flags…is to ask myself WHY. WHY do I blog? WHY do I put time into it? What do I get out of it?
And whatever answer I have…ask WHY again. Keep asking WHY until I reach the core reason – and that is what I must hold on to when motivation flags or I begin to doubt.
This is a great tool for discovering (or re-discovering!) your purpose, or getting in touch with your passion, and I highly recommend it for anyone who wants to continue a creative endeavor long-term.
Discover your WHY – and you can keep going until that WHY changes. May it buoy your wings…
xo
Carly
Carly J. Cais I am a DIY’er, designer, sewist, maker, and marketer. Chic Creative Life is where I share what I do, and help others bring their unique style into their own lives.
