This is me, showing off my Jamberry nails.

You’ve probably heard about this craze called “Jamberry”. I kept seeing it in my Facebook feed. I have a couple of friends, both which live far, far away, that sell Jamberry. I’ve seen their promotions, sure, but I didn’t get it.

What’s a Jamberry exactly? Is that a fruit? It is a real thing? Ok. It’s a nail product. Is this like Lee Press on Nails or something? What is it?

I googled it: “what is a jamberry”

Well, when you google it, all you get is virtual posters of the pretty nail designs, like this:

Anchors away!

or this:

They come in many team logos!

I think I NEED these.

Call me corny, but I’m TOTALLY considering these teacher styles. Is this the equivalent to the ’90s denham jumper with apple appliques?

You can get more classic patterns too:

I could post pics of the amazing designs all day. I’m FASCINATED!!

By the way, I’m also stubborn. I HAD to know if there is actually a jamberry fruit. Guess what! There IS!! It’s like a yellowish/purpleish Mexican tomato. Good luck google-ing it because Jamberry Nails definitely has the market cornered on the search engine results.

But that’s neither here nor there, really…..

So my friend Kristina sent me a free sheet of “nail wraps” to try out.

Have you met my friend, Kristina?

Yes, she’s pretty, but she’s also tough. This is a goat farming, home schooling three kids, sweet, Christian, home remodeling, Jamberry selling, Rheumatoid Arthritis AND Psoriatic Arthritis fighting, POWERHOUSE.

Yes, powerhouse, just ask ANYONE who knows Kristina. She’s amazing, she’s very down to earth, and you can’t not love her.

So when Kristina asks you to try on her Jamberry wraps, you try on her Jamberry wraps:

-even though I hadn’t done anything but trim my nails in like 9 years

-even though I didn’t know what a Jamberry was

-and even though I have never been to a Jamberry class and had NO idea how to put them on.

(Yes, I like diamonds too.)

Many people get to go to a class where they show you how to put these things on, but Kristina lives in Tennessee, and I live in California, so I was on my own. She did send me a YouTube video, though, of how to do it:

They are basically like stickers, but you heat them with a hair dryer before and after you put them on. I have teeny, teeny, tiny fingernails, so I used the smallest five wraps. Then I trimmed almost all of them with fingernail clippers, all the way around. I am a freak, I think. I need to buy my next set from the little girls’ section. The smallest one fit my pinkies perfectly, but after that I trimmed them with nail clippers, and that worked just fine.

They come on a sheet of paper like this:

First, I gathered my materials:

alcohol to clean nails: Well, I searched the house, there wasn’t any, so I just washed my hands and carried on….  I’m sure that’s against the rules, but the wraps are still working great.  😉

scissors: You have to cut each wrap in half: half for your left hand, half for your right.

finger nail clippers: to trim the wraps to fit your nail

nail file: finishing touches

hair dryer: to set the adhesive– You use this right before you put the wrap on and right after you put it on.

pretty nail wraps

My Tips:

As you see in the above pic, I goofed on my thumbs. Those were the first two I did, and I had no clue which wraps to use. That’s the advantage of first times. You only have to do the first time once, and then you are never a first timer again. Now I know that I only need the 5 smallest wraps for my hands.

I trimmed the excess with nail clippers, and all was well. I got the wrinkle out too. The key is to go smaller than your nail, not larger.

My only other tip: I think this will be a lot easier for someone who has experience with things like manicures and any sort of press on or stick on nails. I’d never done any of it, so it was all new to me. I remember, even on my wedding day, nails were such an after thought. I asked my friend Leigh, “Can you bring some polish or something and do my nails right before the ceremony?”

The Results

I am SO happy having pretty fingernails, I am not sure I will ever be able to go back to not caring. Having such festive fingers has been surprisingly fun. It is a MOOD lifter! I look down at them and remember that I am NOT one of the boys. Remember, I rarely get to be around another estrogen-filled person!

I’ve mentioned that I now work with middle school girls on Wednesday night. Well, let me tell you, they were IMPRESSED. I didn’t say a word about my nails, and I got so many compliments–lots of oooo’s and aaahhhh’s– on my flowery fingers.

Even my little boys have noticed! Well, sort of. Caleb asked, “Um, what is that? On your hands?”

I didn’t even know how to explain. I’m not sure what I said. Caleb replied, “Oh yeah, you’re a girl.”

OH YEAH!!!! And it’s high time I have a little more fun with that whole girl thing! 🙂 Maybe tomorrow I’ll wear a dress at home or something…..nah…

girly, girly, girly

By the way, here are a few FAQs for ya:

Jamberry wraps:

-Last 2 weeks

-Made in the USA

-completely water-resistant or proof or something….Water slides right off

-Do not chip!

-Do not contain harmful chemicals.

-Never animal tested

-Latex Free

-Non-Toxic

-Over 250 designs

She posted this photo of her Jamberry-covered nails, to demonstrate how well they hold up to the rigors of farm life:

She said this: “Just birthed 3 goat kids this week, 2 were pulled. My jams have been on for 9 days! Still look awesome! We may live in a barn but we don’t need to look like it!:)”

I thought that was pretty impressive! Thanks for the fun, Kristina! Mine have been on 5 days. I haven’t birthed any goats, but I did have my hands in lots of bread dough and diapers…..not at the same time…..ewwww…..and they are holding up great!!

The post What’s a Jamberry anyway? appeared first on Stories of Our Boys.

exhausted Mom…..because if I posted a picture of myself looking truly exhausted, that might be embarrassing.

10 Random Thoughts from an Exhausted Mom (It was a long day.)

1. How many boys, ages 9 down to 20 months, will fit in a standard American bathtub?

At least four, as my children have proved. I’m sure if I had another child, they would show me how to fit five.

2. What does desperation sound like when it’s time to cook supper?

“Here, boys, play with this bowl of water in the floor while I finish cooking.”

3. What does giving up on being a strict teacher sound like after an emotionally trying morning?

My side of the conversation:

“Where is your TNT book?”

“I don’t have time to help you look for that right now.”

“You aren’t getting out of your work that easily. Here.  Copy this verse from Hebrews.”

“Yes, fine, copy whatever verse you want. Just copy one. I have GOT to go get a drink of water, and I think JD has a poopy diaper.”

4. How do you sneak out of the house without taking Daniel with you?

“Caleb, we are going to the library. Daniel has to go to bed, but he’s still downstairs. You have to go get ready like you are on a secret spy mission. This is a secret mission. You have to prove your spy skills by leaving with me in 5 minutes, without Daniel noticing. Go!”

2 minutes later: Caleb stood at the front door, jacket and all, and proclaimed, loudly, “I’m ready to go!!”

:/

More coaching. Believe it or not, we did pull it off.

5. How many times has a skunk sprayed our house (outside, thankfully) since we moved in, 7 months ago?

3–I just smelled the third.

pretty wildflowers picked for me by Caleb and Dan

6. Sometimes Caleb and his faithful sidekick, Daniel, pick flowers for me.

7. When I feel really grumpy, I look down at my pretty Jamberry-covered fingernails. This is probably the first time I’ve had pretty fingernails since 2007. Post to come about that soon!

No, he didn’t go running with me. He does look cuter walking than I do, though.

8. I went running yesterday. I ran a mile. I was super proud of myself. I didn’t do it in my strength. I hate running. Yeah, I know. I used to do it a lot. That’s because I hate it when my clothes get snug more than I hate running.

It’s funny, though. I have that “I can’t” attitude about anything athletic. I am not athletic, but God reminded me, “Yes, you can. You “run” all day, schooling the big ones and shepherding the little ones. You hardly ever sit, so you can literally run too.”

“Ok, God, I’ll run to that Stop sign.”

“No, you run all the way home.”

“Ugh. Okay.”

If you listen, God can be very clear. (Sometimes I remind myself that some non-Christians may read this blog and think that I’m a crazy schizo…Oh, well…I can assure you I am not. Christianity is about a personal relationship with God, not about following a list of rules.

I did that mile in God’s strength. I haven’t run a mile since JD was born. Did you know that you can stop, anytime it feels like the walls are closing in around you, and plead desperately, “God, I CANNOT do this. Help me!” And he will answer your prayer.

Sometimes I forget to listen for the voice of God, and then I’ll have a shining moment where I just REMEMBER, you know? I listen, I pray, and God strengthens my soul, not just for running, but for real life. How do I handle four boys? God’s strength, only by God’s strength. I cannot imagine life without that. I couldn’t do it. I really couldn’t.

9. I know. I started out being funny, and I got all serious. 🙂 Exhausted people reserve the right to jump around.

I had such a relaxing week with my parents here last week. I think Mom and Dad think that I always sleep until 8am.  I promise that is not the case. I was taking advantage of you.

That sounds like a horrible thing to say after talking so spiritually. It’s just that I could hear you taking care of JD, so nicely, so I thought, “I’ll just sleep a little longer.”

You were a great help, and we enjoyed the visit! 🙂  I think sleep was the greatest birthday gift you could have ever given me!

10. Confession: I quit making to-do lists a long time ago. I live by my daily routine, and if it’s not on my routine, it ends up getting done by Alan. You can thank Alan for all of your birthday gifts, and my kids and I can thank him for their doctor visits, dental appointments, and sports teams.

11. Who cares if I said 10? I have 11 thoughts. 😉

What would I do without Jesus, Alan, Joshua, Caleb, Daniel, and John David? Where would I be without grandparents that come to visit, help, and encourage? How dull would life be without friends and neighbors: both the wonderful and the crazy. I love my exhausting, first world, home school, routine, ordinary life!!

Tired, but happy! Praise the Lord!

The post Every Good and Perfect Gift is from Above appeared first on Stories of Our Boys.