NBA… Now Back in Action

Basketball fans all across America are delighting in the news that the owners and the players have finally come to an agreement and the NBA is back in action. After months of back and forth arguing and coming up with deals that could not be agreed on, the lockout is officially over and teams are set to start up playing games again on Christmas day. The months of agony over whether there would be a 2011-2012 NBA basketball season have been driving die hard fans crazy, and left players with no job and a fear of not being able to provide for their families. Vendors in the area are going to be getting their business back, players will have their jobs back, as will coaches, and the employees of the arenas the games are played in. This holiday season is bringing about lots of Holiday cheer for fans, families, and business all somehow invested or even just interested in basketball and the NBA.

Movie Review: The Change-Up

I recently wathed Ryan Renolds and Jason Bateman’s comedy The Change-Up. In the movie, the ridiculously gorgeous Ryan Renolds plays Mitch Planko a single guy with no worries, except for maybe who the next girl he’ll take home is. Jason Bateman plays Mitch’s long time best friend, Dave Lockwood, a married man with three kid and a loving wife. Both Mitch and Dave express their envy for each others lives, and one night lightening strikes while the two drunken friends are peeing in a fountain, and they switch bodies. After waking up the next morning and realizing what had happened, the two try to undo the switch, only to find out that the fountain they’d peed in the night before was moved. The two friends frantically begin searching for the fountain, but while waiting to find out the new location, they are forced to live each others lives. Mitch is thrown into the the unfamiliar life of caring for children, specifically his best friends newborn twins, and working an office job. Dave is given an opportunity to live the single and carefree life he never got to live. In the end, the two are forced to make a decision about whether they want to go back to their original lives, or if they prefer living each others lives.

This movie reminded me a lot of Freaky Friday, and various other movies in which people switch bodies and lives. The events of the movie bring in to perspective how much you really should appreciate what you have, because it’s a gift and you could lose it at any time.

“Things longer than Kim’s marriage”

72 days… Not even three months… That’s how long the civil union between the wildly famous Kim Kardashian and the previously little known Kris Humphries lasted. After a few months of planning, the two wed in a lavish $10 million wedding, which in typical Kardashian fashion was documented from beginning to end and broadcast to the world in a two-night event on E! Entertainment. A short seventy-two days later, and an $18 million profitable wedding, Ms. Kardashian has filed for divorce from her husband.

The news of their divorce prompted hilarious posts all over Twitter doting the hashtag “Things longer than Kim’s marriage.” If you aren’t one of Twitters millions of users, you may be wondering what some of these “things” were. A few that made the list were, the pause Dora takes after asking a question, the time it took for Rebecca Black to chose a seat, Taylor Swift’s speech before Kanye took the microphone, and that’s only the beginning. Speculation has arose as to whether or not the marriage of the two stars was genuine or just one big publicity stunt and money maker. The Kardashian’s are known as business moguls and have found ways to make money of off their personal photos, perfumes, sex tapes, even water bottles donning the “Dash” logo in, you guessed it, their self named clothing boutique. It’s no surprise that they chose to broadcast their marriage to the world, and even less of a surprise that they made a huge profit off of it.

Whether the two decided to wed as a publicity stunt or because they were in love is their business, and is something that the world will probably never know the truth on. Whether the chose to compromise the sanctity of marriage or not can be speculated about for as long as people would like, however no one but them will ever know the complete truth.

How to give yourself an awesome manicure!

A nice fresh manicure can be the difference between feeling good and feeling great. Having clean nails can give you the extra confidence boost that you may have been looking for. The problem is, professional manicures can be outrageously expensive, so why waste your money, and your time sitting around when you can give yourself an at home manicure that would impress even the pros themselves.

1. Find a good workspace
   The fumes of  nail polish as well as the nail polish remover can be very strong and are harmful to your health in high concentrations. When you’re giving yourself a manicure make sure that you work in a well-ventilated area and if there are any people around make sure they don’t mind the smell of the chemicals. Also make sure that if you do accidentally make a mess there is nothing around that would be ruined by the nail polish or remover. I suggest working at a table or desk and placing a paper towel beneath your hands.
2. Remove any old nail polish
   Using nail polish remover and cotton balls remove any old nail polish from your nails thoroughly.
3. File your nails
   Be sure to file from the outside in to the center of the nail in one direction in order to prevent tearing and grinding the nail. Don’t file your nails too short because the tips of the nail beds will hurt if you do. You should be able to see some of the white tip still once you’re done.
   
4. Soak your hands
   Fill a bowl with warm water and a few drops of soap and soak your hands for a few minutes. The water and the soap will loosen up dirt, dead skin and any dust from filing your nails. This will also help to soften up your cuticles. Avoid soaking your hands if you have dry skin or fragile nails, soaking will make it worse. Instead, just rinse your hands in warm water with soap.
5. Cuticles
   Push back your cuticles. If they do not push back easily after soaking them, use a cuticle moisturizer.
   
6. Moisturize
   Apply your favorite moisturizer, or hand lotion/cream. Make sure that you massage it into your hands well so that it will do the trick.
7. Prepare your nails
   The nail polish won’t stick to your nails if there’s lotion or other oils on your nail. Apply rubbing alcohol to a cotton ball and use it to clean off your nails.
8. Apply a base coat
   Cover your nails with a base coat or nail strengthener. This will even out  all of the ridges and all the unevenness that may be on the nail. The base coat works as a primer for the polish and helps it to last longer and keep the nail polish from staining your nails.
   
9. Polish
   For an even amount of polish on each nail use three strokes of the brush, the first one down the center and then one on each side from the bottom of the nail (by the cuticle) to the top.  Allow the first coat to dry for 5 to 10 minutes before applying a second coat. Applying a second coat will make the color of the polish deeper.
     
10. Top coat
    After applying the two coats of polish allow your nails to dry for about 5 to 10 minutes, then apply a clear top coat. A top coat will help to prevent your nails from chipping and make the manicure last longer. Be very careful when doing anything with your hands because the nail polish is not completely dry. Even if the polish feels dry to the touch, it most likely isn’t dried all the way through. Allow yourself a few hours to be careful with your hands and let your nails dry fully.

Enjoy your pretty painted nails! Paint your nails with your friends, or for your friends, make it a fun experience by having a fun nail party and listening to music.

Note: I do not claim rights to any of the photos in the post. Clicking on the image will take to to the original link.

The therapy of getting thoughts out…

When I’m stressed out or going through a tough time and need to get something off of my chest, I like to write poetry. Right now, I’m going through a rough time and I have a lot of thoughts and feelings floating around in my head. This poem is for someone that I love very much and whom I miss right now more than ever.

Never in my life have I gotten so mad
and within a few moments wanted someone so bad
Never in my life have I been so in love
and felt like I was sent an angel from above
Never in my life have I needed someone so much
and felt so alone when they’re not within my clutch
Never in my life have I felt so complete
and with just one touch have my heart skip a beat
The passion that we have no one else can match
I know that this will not end with dispatch
I could never let you go without a fight
Because when I’m without you things are not right
Only we can know and feel how well this love works
Despite the frustration we put up with each others quirks
The feelings that I have are real
They’re not something that I would conceal
I’ll love you ’til the end of time
Just promise me that you’ll be mine