Nails, nails, nails
Hey, gals! Let’s talk nails!
I was born in 1977 and was in HS in the early 90’s. Can you imagine what that was like? Bright colors, big hair, and stonewashed blue jeans! Ahhhh, those were the days! Living in a small town in Louisiana, acrylic nails were just beginning to become popular. They were all the rage, and if you were lucky enough to have parents that let you partake in such a thing (like I was), the nail salon was a regular stop during your weekly trips to the mall! Yes, I said weekly! Back then, you basically had square nails with white tips (french) or the style’s more subtle version that had a bit more pink (American). Listen, they were NOT pretty, but they were definitely a status symbol, and I was sure to let my status be known week after week.
Looking back now, I can’t remember a period from that time on that I went a significant amount of time without getting my nails done. I mean, who doesn’t love a fresh, full set?! There is something so invigorating about seeing those nails as you grip the steering wheel, cruising around town! Of course, over the years, the styles have changed. We now have oval, almond, round, square, square round, coffin… I mean the list goes on! It has truly become an art form and a way for people to really express their style. However, with increased shapes, colors, lengths, and designs, the prices of mani’s have soared. Gone are the days of $20 full sets. Yes, you read that right, I used to pay TWENTY DOLLARS!!!! Now a days, you can barely get a polish change for that! So, recently, I decided to say goodbye to the salon and let my natural nails thrive.
Now, listen, I HATE my nails! I wish I was one of those women that had long, beautiful nail beds that don’t require any length at all to look long. You know what I’m talking about? Ugh, to have those nails! My nails are thin, brittle, rarely grow, and often times split. (I’m sure having my nails done for decades has NOTHING to do with that! lol) No matter, I decided to stand firm. For a while. Ok, for a month. But still, that is progress!
After a month of nurturing my little nubs, I decided I couldn’t take it anymore and shamefully walked into my regular salon where I made up some lame excuse as to why I hadn’t been in. I decided this time to try GelX nails and felt like I had FINALLY found something that wouldn’t destroy my nails and that would SUPPOSEDLY last up to a month. Well, ten days later, they were all off! Ok, I needed that. Heck, I DESERVED that! It was time to reassess and begin my natural nail journey once again. Until…one day at Ulta.
I walked in the store with every intention of buying some nail magic in a bottle, nail files, buffers, all the things, but then, I came across a large display of press on nails. Now I won’t lie, I initially scoffed and thought who in the world uses press on nails?! Well, apparently it is a thing again. Much like all of the other trends that wiggle their way back into our lives, press on’s have made a comeback. After looking at many colors and shapes, I decided to give them a try. AND LET ME TELL YOU… I am HOOKED!
Don’t get me wrong, I don’t wear them everyday. I am still nurturing my natural nails, but for the occasions when I want to feel a bit sassy or need a bit of an ego boost, I throw these girls on and feel like a new woman! They last, are strong, come in a variety of colors, shapes and lengths, and the best part is THEY LOOK LIKE YOU JUST LEFT THE SALON! Swear it! You can’t beat the price (especially compared to the salon) and they take no time to apply. So, do yourself a favor, ladies, and give them a try! The link is below! Click it and you won’t regret it!
Give mi liberty
Happy Independence Day, Everyone! Today is such a magical day for me; one in which I wake up with a positive attitude, a grateful heart, and an open mind. I truly love my country, and I know my country loves me. I also know, without a doubt, that this is the greatest country of all and one that I am proud to call my home. I know not everyone would agree with my statement, and that’s ok. After all, we do live in a FREE country! Free to believe what we want, free to scream those beliefs from the roof top, and free to ignore or embrace the opinions of others; and no matter the mistakes of our ancestors, that is exactly what they fought so hard for! Happy 4th, Everyone! I hope you spend the day celebrating our beautiful country, and remember; she is still young and growing and learning! Much like children, she has a long way to go, but there is no place I would rather be!
Give Mi Liberty or give me death!
Mi (me)
Hi! It’s Mi! Let me start by introducing myself. Michelle is my name but for some, I am Ma, mom, momma, or MiMi. So, when trying to decide on a name for my “brand,” I decided to go with Mi (me). After all, it’s what this brand is all about, so why not?! For days, weeks, months even, I tried desperately to narrow down what I wanted to write about, post about, and video. Then, I thought, why just one thing? I, myself, am many things. I am a daughter, a sister, a wife, a mom, and a grandmother. Also, I am a woman, I am middle aged, I am short, I am loud. I am unapologetically Mi. So, Mi will be a bit about everything. Our ups and downs as humans, things that I love, things that make me happy, things that make me mad, things that help make life easier. It will be a smorgasbord of life! So, with that being said, let me give you a little background on Mi.
I am lucky enough to still have both of my parents, and to have grown up in a happy home. A traditional family of four, it was me, my mom, dad, sister, a dog, and many many cats. (seriously, I cannot remember all of their names) I can’t remember one time growing up that things were “bad.” Perhaps that was a sign of the times, or perhaps it was because my parents did a good job at shielding us from the adult things in life. Either way, being a kid was great! At eighteen, I was married and had my first child. At twenty-one we added a set of twins to the mix, and at twenty-five I was divorced. It took a bit of time to find myself and I can honestly say that didn’t happen until I found the love of my life, my current husband, my salvation, David. With him, I learned who I really was, and felt free to be unapologetically Mi. With David also came two bonus babes. Our first date was in March 2005, we moved in together in May 2006, and were married in July of 2007. Blending our family was not always easy, but we eventually found our groove and I can honestly say it was well worth the effort!
It wasn’t long until we became empty nesters, and I took it HARD! I started baking and decorating cookies in our small kitchen in Baton Rouge. Quickly, I had a full-fledged custom cookie business out of our home. (That is an entirely different story that you can read about HERE.) Staying busy with that business helped ease the pain of feeling “alone.” After a few years, we began to embrace the empty nest and I no longer needed to drown myself in flour and icing to occupy my mind. However, something was still missing. At the very beginning of the pandemic, I decided to live out my lifelong dream of going to college. So, at 42 I enrolled and at 45 I obtained my BA in English, graduating Summa Cum Laude, and with the highest cumulative gpa in my class! In the midst of the pandemic and school, our kids started getting engaged and married, and then we became first time grandparents!! Boy, how life changed after that!
So, I thought, what will I do now? I love to write, I love to shop, I love to share. A good conversation is medicine for my soul, and plants and cooking make me absolutely giddy! So, here we are. I am no Gweneth Paltrow with Goop, or Kourtney Barker with Poosh. What I am though, is a regular woman, a mom, a wife, a daughter, and a Mimi that has a lot to say and share. I would like to show the world that not everything is perfect, that you can be happy in any size home, you can travel or not, you can be you without any other expectations. I am not rich; I am not poor. I am not old; I am not young. I am NOT a lot of things, and I AM that many more. I am....Mi!