I have a long-standing date with myself. Every weekend. For one whole hour. It is a cherished self-pampering time. That my husband has grown to accept. Because even though he doesn’t get any enjoyment out of it, he knows that if I don’t get this time to myself, he will have to deal with a very grumpy Stephie. It is my ultimate way to relax after a long week and get ready for the upcoming week. A manicure. Done by me.

1. I start with a good chick flick or girly tv show. Some favorite chick flicks: Pride and Prejudice, The Sweetest Thing, or Bridget Jones. Some favorite girly TV shows: Samantha Who or Kath and Kim (Seriously do you watch this show? It is so amazingly funny).
2. Then I remove my old nail polish. With good professional nail polish remover. This is important. Because the cheap stuff will dry out your skin, cuticles, and nails. And that is no good.
3. Apply cuticle oil (whatever you have. I use the kind that my mom got from that crazy guy in the mall who grabs your hand and tries to put lotion on you. Don’t know who I’m talking about? Then nevermind, just use whatever) and push your cuticles back with a cuticle stick (also called orange stick).
4. File your nails so that they are even and all nails are the same length. I also buff mine so that they do not have ridges.
5. Go over your nails one more time with nail polish remover. This is my own little trick to remove the cuticle oil, so the nail polish will be able to stick to the nail. It also helps clean off anything left from filing your nails.
6. Get toes ready with the oh-so-stylish toe separators
7. Start with a thin layer of base coat. Start with fingernails and end with toes. By the time you finish the last toe, your fingernails should be dry and ready for color.
8. Apply nail polish color. My technique is to do one line in the middle of the nail and then brush onto either side. Like this (btw that is sooo not me).
9. Apply top coat.
10. Then this is the hard part. I used to sit waiting and waiting for my nails to dry completely. This is vital. Otherwise you will end of either smudging it or going to bed and waking up to sheet prints in your polish. But then I discovered drying drops that I will never ever live without again.
11. Admire how pretty your nails look and finish your wine.

I was trying to think of something to give away for my birthday because I’m super generous like that, but was coming up short. Then I realized how excited I was when I found how freaking amazing awesome Sephora’s new OPI brand of nail polish was. I put it all together because I’m super smart like that. The result:

I am using my birthday as an opportunity to give away my favorite nail products. And believe me, it will change your life forever. Well if you are as superficial as I am. Which ones exactly? Base Coat, a Nail Colour of your choice, Top Coat, and the grand finale drying drops.

WHAT DO I NEED TO DO TO GET THIS AWESOMENESS?!

First, calm down. Geeze.

Second, go to Sephora’s Nail Colour selection and leave a comment here naming your all-time favorite color they have. Then I will randomly draw a winner on 12/12/2008. Should you win, I will go to Sephora and pick up that color for you! (as long as they have it in stock. If they don’t I will choose one that is similar).

Want five extra entries? Post a blog entry sharing this contest with your friends:

<center><a href="http://thosecorwins.com/2008/12/birthday-giveaway/"><img src="http://thosecorwins.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/stephbdaycontest.png"></a></center>

I know I’m not the only one who enjoys a perfect manicure. I hope I convert a few more of you.

U.S. and Canada entries only. It would be a sad birthday if I ended up having to spend .5 billion dollars on shipping this to Borneo or something.

Tags: Being All Feminine and Stuff, Contests, My Happiness

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