How a nail polish company convinced me to paint more than my toes

My Julep Maven box. 2 bottles of polish, mascara and a sample of foot scrub. via notthecar

If you've ever met me you know i wear flip-flops, open toe shoes and sandals or walk around barefoot as much as humanly possible. Because of this my toes are always polished. I like polishing my toenails and i like to use vibrant, funky colors. I almost never paint my fingernails because they chip without days, sometimes hours. I made the mistake of getting a manicure for a close friend's wedding 2 days before the wedding, half my fingernails were chips or peeling by the afternoon of the wedding. I know that i am hard on my nail and so thats why i just don't paint them. Always bare rarely even have clear on.

When i came across Julep, i was pulled in my the colors. My toenails are currently aqua and were previously neon yellow. I figured i'd sign up at the very least to get some cool colors to put on my toenails. I took the Julep Maven quiz and got the result Classic with a Twist. Think Jackie Kennedy, Audrey Hepburn, Lean Lorne. While i love those classy looks i never keep my polish that tame. Turns out you after locked into it. I looked at the other introduction boxed and decided i was more intrigued by the Bombshell box.

The bombshell intro box came with 2 polishes and a full size mascara. Each box comes with free sample and in this case i got a foot scrub sample. The colors were lovely but we really roped me in was the staying power. it took a full  days before i saw any chips without a single touch up.

Day 1 (via notthecar)

Day 7  (via notthecar)

The Julep system is a subscription service, each month you get a hand selected box in your style profile to purchase for $19.99. You are given a few days to change to a different box, skip the box, buy a few discounted add-ons, or if you do nothing your box skips automatically to your home. Sounds simple right? Its really easy to sign up. Visit Julep.com (afflilate link) and complete your style profile. Afterwards you can select the introductory box that matches your profile. Enter the code "FREEBOX" and your intro box will be free.

Take the style quiz and tell me what style are you?


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DISCLOSURE: I received a free intro box and was not asked to review or compensated in any way for this review. I am an active subscription member of Julep and this post contains affiliate links. 

Shot@Life: Interview with a Champion

Its time to celebrate!

Shot@Life Is celebrating its 1st birthday. as it continues in its goal to immunize children globally and make sure these children also get more birthdays Shot@Life is celebrated during World Immunization Week. Thats this week! Last year after meeting with the folks at Shot@Life i was moved by the cause and i wrote a small piece about it. 

Not too long ago i was paired up with a Shot@Life Champion to interview. Little did they know i already knew my partner! I got to interview Fadra Nally who used to live in the Raleigh and moved further north last year. being paired up with her gave us the opportunity to talk about a cause we both care about and to catch up with each other.  We had a Google + Hangout together and after a while we got down to business. 

Fadra Nally and Kia Slade yapping on G+ hangout

What motivated you to be a Shot@Life Champion?

While at TypeA Conference last year Fadra talked to the representatives, went to the talk they presented, and then wrote a blog post to spread their message. 

When did you become a Champion?

Fadra applied sometime in December of last year and then was selected and attended the summit in Washington DC in January. 

Since becoming a champion what have you done to promote the cause?

Fadra writes for the Johnson & Johnson Parents blog. She campaigned and has become a featured contributor on the Shot@Life subject. She pointed out to me that not all Shot@Life champions are bloggers. They range from Doctors, Nurses Director's of nonprofits and others from all backgrounds. Each plays up their individual strengths to promote the cause. This year The Global Mom Relay is donating $5 between now and May 6th for each shared post, via facebook, twitter or email. the money is being donated by Johnson & Johnson and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Fadra also shared with me that the push to eliminate Polio has come so far and we are down to 3 countries where its still prevalent. The fight continues. 

I'm very proud of Fadra and so happy about how she's spreading the word of Shot@Life. She's a true champion.

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Driving down Highway 40

Photo credit 2020VG 

Its been almost 1 year since C1 has been legally old enough to drive. It was never a question of if she would be able to drive it was always a question of when. I knew that i wasn’t going to have the smiling kid pictures taken shortly after their birthdays with brand new learners permits. It makes me a little sad nonetheless but i know that’s not our life. I wasn’t sure how long it would be but its looking like that time is now.

I’ve talked with many parents with children on the spectrum who are older than C1. they all agree learning to drive is another life skill that is harder for them than most and should be filed as one of those “milestone” markers we’ve long since learned to disregard. I still did my due diligence of reading the handbook or driver’s Ed and getting an insurance quote so i would know what needed to happen when she finally brought up the subject. 

That didn’t make me less worried... just more prepared. 

It looks like that time is now.

Today C1 brought home the drivers Ed form to sign her up for class. This wasn’t unprompted, we has decided she could try this summer. We’ve talked about it but i know that there’s an equal chance of her failing. I’ve taken her on one driving lesson in an empty parking lot. My knuckles were an awesome shade or white that afternoon. I also know that the road from Learner’s permit to license is longer for children on the spectrum. Some say this is great because you have more practice and breathing room, but even constant practice can agitate the most patient people. I’ve tried to mentally prepare myself if she fails, 1, twice 6 times as a fellow parent of a child with ASD has experienced. I’ve tried to acknowledge private practice driving may go hours and hours beyond the state required amount. I’ve accepted that in a little for 2 years when she’ turns 18 she might still not have a driver’s license. This is my reality. It doesn’t make it easier, just more shaky.

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