Getting calgel is neither cheap nor practical if you don’t really go anywhere but the perfect opportunities presented themselves for me to indulge–Christmas and my trip to Mexico. Calgel is is a Japanese technique where your nails are polished with layers if gel (made of rubber) that is hardened using a UV lamp. They call it a nail strengthening system but I wouldn’t go that far. The great thing about calgel is that there is no filing or extreme buffing of your natural nails. They simply polish on top (in coats), let it dry, and you keep it moving. Once you take it off, your natural nails are perfectly in tact–unlike with acrylic–and a lot longer. I’m assuming that’s where they get the strengthening part from but the calgel is more like a temporary shell. There is no added nourishment.

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“Malicious But Delicious” raglan courtesy Dangerously Beautiful clothing. I bought the Hello Kitty suitcase at a Sanrio store Sanrio.com. It’s a great, sturdy suitcase (the number one travel must have).

I love traveling but it’s hard to do with no money (or sponsorship). However, my prayers were answered because I got to ring in the new year in Mexico. I set a goal, prior to being laid off in late January ’09, to head to Paris and Amsterdam before the year was over. At that time, I was six months away from my financial goal (womp womp).

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