Tag Archives: claws

Jan9

New Lavender & Plum Nails

Posted on January 9, 2025 by lifewithlilred

Hello!! My beloved salon, Elysian Nails, takes a well deserved week long break during the first week of the New Year. I am so happy that they do that because all of the techs work incredibly hard and are incredibly skilled. I could not imagine how exhausted they all are after the big holiday rush! I have to admit, I was very excited for the salon to reopen because mama needed a fill and I was able to get a spot with my go to girl on Tuesday. This made for five weeks in between my last fill and I was surprised at how good my nails were looking until my tech took a better look lol. After some repairs for almost popped off nails, shaping, and sharpening, my talons are back to their former glory. Check it out:

I’m not sure why, but I was in a very purple mood for my nail polish selection. It probably has to do with the fact that I was with my niece this weekend and she always let’s it be known that purple is her favorite color lol. I was in a rush to get to my appointment so with no time to consider other options, purple it was! I went for a pretty, deep plum that is oh so chic for winter and rather than fiddle around with a compatible combo color, I went with more purple! I thought it would look nice to do a dark and light variation with the plum and lavender. And, I hate to toot my own horn, but TOOT TOOT because I love it!

Once my old polish was off, my tech was properly able to assess the damage of five weeks sans fill. I couldn’t believe how loose three of the acrylics were because they still felt so sturdy to me. A true testament to how amazing she is! As quickly as the worn nails were off, three new ones were placed in what felt like no time at all. Even with this extra step on top of all of the detail work my tech does to keep my stilettos on point, I STILL made it to work on time. My appointments are kind of a mad dash and my tech knows I am in between shifts. No problem with my nails is ever too big to not be handled and I have yet to be back to work late. Once again, I am in the best, most skilled, capable, and speedy hands to boot. ❤

A full set is next on my agenda at Elysian Nails and I am so looking forward to a lengthier, evening appointment so that I can sit back, relax, and enjoy. This fill was an excellent way to treat myself now that it’s back to the grind after the holidays, though!

What are your favorite colors for the winter? How often do you get your nails done? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Dec14

New Magenta & Gold Glitter Nails

Posted on December 14, 2024 by lifewithlilred

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Hello!! Last week, Johnny and I came down with a little forty-eight hour bug that knocked us out. I have to admit, it was freaking awesome having a few sick days. What sucked was having to cancel my standing nail appointment! You all know my talons are my pride and joys so I had to be feeling pretty awful to not get them back to perfection. I was extremely worried that my tech wouldn’t be able to fit me in her schedule because Elysian Nails is absolutely slammed this time of year. Thankfully, she was able to squeeze me in at a random time to get my nails looking right for the holidays. #blessed Check it out:

I am so not a holiday nail girl and you will never catch me sporting seasonal designs. I think they’re nice for a while, but I can’t commit to a month’s worth of it in between fills. As I pondered what to do about this moral quandary for my color combination, my mind went to gold. I am a huge fan of All Gold Everything (The color AND the Trinidad James song) and knew I could work with that. Gold is ideal for the holidays for my preferences because it’s festive but not in your face about it. For the other color? I had no idea! All I knew was that the magenta glitter polish was calling my name and it was a done deal. Christmasy? Not really. On point with my personal style? Totally.

As per ushie, my amazing nail tech hooked it up and it was so desperately needed considering it had been five weeks since my last fill. Despite how jank they were, my girl breezed through the fill like it was nothing. In fact, she got done so quickly that I actually had time to let my nails dry before running off to my next shift. It. Was. Great. lol. We both agreed that while these are not holiday nails in the slightest, we are legit obsessed with the color combo anyways. That glitter magenta is just fabulous!

My Christmas miracle was my tech being able to fit me into her insane schedule and for that I am thankful. Here’s to no cancelled fills in the New Year!

What color of nail polish are you rocking? Do you like getting seasonal designs? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Nov9

New Burnt Orange & Tiffany Blue Nails

Posted on November 9, 2024 by lifewithlilred

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Howdy!! This past Tuesday I enjoyed my monthly break time fill appointment at Elysian Nails. While I absolutely loved my pink and purple nails for my Candy Queen Halloween costume, I was definitely ready to add some fall colors to the mix – especially after getting my hair darkened up for the season. I had a few ideas in my head of what I might like to have for a fall palette. Oddly enough, it was a combination that I live for in the summer… but with a twist, of course! Check it out:

As soon as the warm weather hits, I instantly want bright blue and orange nails. There is just something about that combo that hits different and it screams fun in the sun. As I contemplated fall nails, I thought about how I wanted something that strayed from the traditional autumnal hues of gold, burgundy, and deep purple. So, I took my go to summer palette and turned it fall. My original plan was to use burnt orange and a deep teal or turquoise. However, none of the shades of blue at the nail polish wall along those parameters spoke to me. In fact, none of the orange ones were either.

When I didn’t have immediate luck, I almost pivoted to an orange and purple motif but that felt too much like Halloween. So, I kept on digging for what I really wanted and ended up finding the perfect shade of burnt orange. The blue hue I was looking for continued to evade me so I threw my hands up, selected a Tiffany blue, and made my way to my tech’s station. My nails were back to their former glory after being expertly repaired, shaped, and sharpened. I still wasn’t sure how the colors were going to turn out, but at least my stilettos were on point!

Happily, these summer inspired fall nails came out even better than I could have hoped. I was slightly worried when the burnt orange applied way darker than what was seen in the bottle. This ended up working out though because the blue was much lighter than what I planned for and added some brightness to the burnt. Now, if only I could find a sweater in that burnt orange shade because I am obsessed!

What are your nails and hair like for the holidays? What is your favorite fall color? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct5

New Light Pink & Purple Shimmer Nails

Posted on October 5, 2024 by lifewithlilred

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Hi! I live for my monthly break time fills at Elysian Nails and had an appointment this past Tuesday. I am also getting my hair done later this month so LOOK OUT because your girl is about to be feeling her goddamn self. During Treat Day with my niece, I asked her what colors I should get my nails and she suggested pink and purple. She read my mind because that’s exactly what I planned on doing! Check it out:

I’m not sure if I mentioned what mine and Johnny’s Halloween costumes are so if I did, sorry for repeating myself lol. He is going to be Lord Licorice and I will be a Candy Queen inspired by Candyland. It is going to be cute as can be and I am SO excited to order my costume! As you might have guessed, what I picked out primarily features pink and purple so I needed nails to match the vibe. When I approached the nail polish wall, I found two perfect shades of shimmery pink and purple sitting side by side. It was like they were waiting just for me! 😀

As per ushe, my tech did a bang up job and exceeded her former personal best on my nails. She was done in one hour flat and that provided me with the time to actually sit and wait for my nails to dry, run an errand, and still get to work on time. It was absolutely amazing! Boy, did the hour fly by too. We spent the entire sesh gabbing about the Monsters series on Netflix as we both had recently binged the two seasons. Like everything about this appointment, it was exactly what I needed because I really wanted to talk about the show with someone. That ish was CRAZY. 😮

My nails are fully prepped for Halloween and my hair is next. I can’t wait for all of you (and myself) to see the end result!

What color of nail polish are you rocking? What are you going to be for Halloween? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Sep5

New Burnt Orange & Gold Glitter Nails

Posted on September 5, 2024 by lifewithlilred

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Howdy!! My break time fill at Elysian Nails is my monthly treat and I always look forward to it. My nail tech and I have this process down to a science and by the time my nails are semi dry, I am able to get to my next shift with a few minutes to spare. Although I love an after work fill, I love going home after work more so it really does work out perfectly. Despite the super speedy session, I always leave the salon feeling as pampered as if I spent hours there. Going back to work with fresh new claws tends to have that effect! Check it out:

After a stint of ninety plus degree days in good old Akron, Ohio it has blessedly began to feel like fall. The temperatures have been in the seventies and low eighties and even though that’s still warm, the significant drop feels breezy. I am living for it because I have been waiting for fall since it ended last year lol. With crisp days, crunchy leaves, and Halloween heavily on my mind, I wanted to do an autumn hued motif for my nails. There was an ample selection at the nail polish wall that matched my fall aesthetic and all of them had their merits. My first pick was the lovely burnt orange with some shimmer to it. Then, I went for a glittery gold for a dose of bling and to accentuate the shimmer in the orange even more. The end result? Fall leaves with a boost of sparkle!

Normally when I get a fill, there is almost always a repair that needs done for a lift or break. I am pleased to report that this time around, my nails were in top notch condition minus the regrowth. This was an anomaly that my tech and I both noted and we agreed that she must have worked some magic during my last fill. She always does, but it definitely hit different! Because the time consuming task of repairs wasn’t necessary, I was in and out in record time. I even was able to let my nails fully dry at the salon and that rarely happens! I am keeping my fingers crossed that this fill will be just as successful and knowing my tech, I am sure it will be. 😀

I have been feeling so fall and I now have the nails to match. I just have to smile every time I see the sparkly splendor of my new talons!

What color of nail polish are you rocking? What is your favorite fall color? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Aug10

New Strawberries & Cream Nails

Posted on August 10, 2024 by lifewithlilred

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Hello! This past Tuesday I enjoyed a much needed nail appointment at Elysian Nails during my break from work. It had been a fat minute since I got my nails done because I came down with the plague and wasn’t trying to bring that nastiness into one of my favorite houses of worship. Thankfully, I was feeling much better and my time with my go to nail tech couldn’t have come quickly enough. I had two nails that were lifting and must have super glued my fingers together at least three times trying to rectify the situation smh. That is no longer an issue I will have to worry about because my talons are fixed up and better than ever! Check it out:

Whenever my adorable mom gets her nails done or paints them at home, she can always count on me to tell her that whatever shade of beige or pale pink she’s using is boring lol. It is said from a place of daughterly love and has been a running joke between us for years. I guess my my mom’s preferences were rubbing off on me because I couldn’t get beige off of my brain while driving to the salon. I am a huge fan of the recent trend of pairing a nude shade with a bright color pop and decided to step into my Jane Era. I found the most gorgeous sepia hued polish among my selections, but I went with a soft pink rather than a neon. It made for a lovely strawberries and cream combo that looked so delicate and pretty!

Once my nail polish was chosen, I was able to go right to my tech’s station and the process ran like a fine tuned machine. While I love to take my time at the salon, my break time visits are very convenient for me and my tech knows that I need to head back to work at a certain time so I’m not late for my next shift. She is so accommodating of my time crunch appointment and never sacrifices the details while speedily shaping, buffing, and filing away. I have never once been late for my following shift and have always left with nails that looked and felt like a million bucks. It is the perfect way to spend a break and it feels so good to return to my long day with a renewed pep in my step.

These strawberries and cream nails are everything and a sweet homage to my darling mom’s favorite colors. I am living for my Jane Era!

What color of nail polish are you currently rocking? Which colors do you tend to avoid in clothing, nail polish, or makeup? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul5

New Watermelon Nails

Posted on July 5, 2024 by lifewithlilred

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Hi! This past Tuesday I enjoyed an appointment for a fill at Elysian Nails. It couldn’t have come a moment too soon because my car needed some extensive repairs and, therefore, I needed a little pick me up. I was without the Little Red Love Machine for a day and a half and missed her so much! I truly felt incomplete without my beloved LRLM and a fresh fill was a perfect combatant to the loneliness lol. I wanted something bright and fun and, as always, my tech delivered with these watermelon nails:

When I get my nails done, I either know exactly what colors I want or have no idea in the slightest. There is no in between! For this fill, the former was the case and I was in the mood for some watermelon nails. Other than being one of my favorite fruits, watermelon is a true summertime staple. While I try to avoid doing the same color combinations as I have before, I just had to break out the pink and green one time for the one time. I am so glad I did because they look phenomenal and I can’t help but smile every time I see my poppy acrylics clacking away on the computer. 🙂

Normally when I get a fill, it is in between shifts for work and I am more worried about getting to where I need to be on time rather than relaxing. This time around, I actually had the day off and it made the experience so much better. I got to sit and enjoy as opposed to staring at the clock willing the process to go by faster. The piece de resistance, however, had to be allowing the time for my nail polish to dry! Usually once the polish is on, I book it, hop in the car, and crank cool air to let them dry on the way to my next destination. Don’t get me wrong, I always feel pampered after a fill but this one definitely hit different! 😀

I am pleased to report that I was reunited with the Little Red Love Machine a few hours after my nail appointment. There was nothing better than getting back behind the wheel of my car with gorgeous nails to boot!

What is one of your summertime staples? What color of nail polish are you rocking? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun8

New Tangerine & Neon Blue Nails

Posted on June 8, 2024 by lifewithlilred

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Hello!! On Tuesday, I spent some time getting some much needed pre birthday pampering at Elysian Nails. I was in desperate need of a fill and I was even more eager to go because my nail tech just did a manicure for my mom last week. Tuesday has become my new go to fill day and I make my way to the salon during a break from work. It is the perfect treat to get me through the day because nothing is better than showing off some fresh new claws! I was ready for some bright, summery colors for this appointment and am loving what I picked out:

Sometimes, I have absolutely no idea what colors I want my nails to be. Other times, inspiration strikes and that was the case for this fill. It has been heating up in Akron, Ohio and I had vivid orange hues on the mind. But paired with what? At the nail polish wall, I made a beeline to a neon tangerine shade and it was exactly what I wanted. I toyed with the idea of purple and neon pink, but an electric blue caught my eye and it was game over. Orange and blue is a combo that screams fun in the sun and we were in business for some poppy, so bright you need shades nails.

During my nail appointments, my tech and I normally catch up on the latest in each other’s lives. This time around, there wasn’t too much to discuss because I literally just saw her four days ago lol. This was totally fine by me because I could just sit back, relax, and go brain dead for a bit before it was back to work! While I zoned out, I swapped between watching HGTV and the magic that was unfolding at my tech’s station. Before this appointment, a few of my nails were definitely lifting and were feeling less than sturdy. In what felt like no time at all, I had a fill so good that it felt like I had a brand new set on. They are sharpened and shaped just the way I like them and just right for ringing in the summer vibes!

This was just Part One to my birthday pampering and I can’t wait for Part Two later this month for a brand new do at the Shear Shop. I am stepping into my thirties in maximum style!

How do you treat yourself for your birthday? What color of nail polish are you rocking? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

May10

New Pink & Deep Purple Nails

Posted on May 10, 2024 by lifewithlilred

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Hello!! Three of my houses of worship are TJMaxx, the Shear Shop, and Elysian Nails. They are where I go to find solace, shelter from the storm, and inner peace. I leave each location a transformed woman and always feel much better than I did before! On Tuesday, I had a fantastic fill at Elysian Nails and it turned out beautifully. There is nothing quite like that fresh fill feeling and no one could tell me NOTHIN for the rest of the day! My nail tech got me just right and I am loving this cute color combo:

^^^ Peep those new finger tattoos!

It has felt like summer for the past several weeks in Ohio and I always like to transition to brighter nail polish when it starts warming up. My plan was to go for sunny, poppy hues for this fill but I was feeling very uninspired at the nail polish wall. Every color combination I could think of was something that I had done before and while I have no problem repeating combos I liked, I just wasn’t in the mood for it. After staring at my choices for what felt like forever, a bubblegum pink caught my eye and I could work with that! Rather than continue with summer colors, I decided to expand my horizons and chose a shimmery, deep purple. It was different than anything I have used recently and I can’t believe I haven’t selected it before because it’s so pretty!

When I go in for my Tuesday fill, I am in between shifts and it can be hard for me to fully relax when I know I have to go back to work. But, after I sat down at my nail tech’s station, I could literally feel my stress melting away. My girl is the absolute best and I never realize just how bad my nails are until she goes to work on them. As we chat away, she expertly repairs, fortifies, and sharpens my claws back into their former glory. Once I leave the salon and am on my way back to the grind, I always feel like I’m ready to take on the rest of the day. It’s amazing what some fresh new talons can do for me. 😀

Elysian Nails is, truly, my happy place and I think it is having the same effect on my mom… She has been itching to go back for a mani since we got our toes done and I am SO there for it!

What colors do you like to wear in the summer? Where is your happy place? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr13

New Lemon Lime Nails

Posted on April 13, 2024 by lifewithlilred

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Hello!! This past week, I just couldn’t get enough of Elysian Nails and I am so not complaining! On Monday, I enjoyed a wonderful pedicure with my mom as a belated birthday gift. Then, I was back the following day for a much needed fill. And I mean very much needed because they were busted, broken, and lifted. As always, my amazing fabulous tech got me right and I am so happy to have my nails back to their former glory! Check it out:

Sometimes when I get a fill, I have no idea what polish colors I want. Other times, I know exactly what I want. The latter was the case for me this past fill because I had lemon lime on the mind. I wasn’t quite sure why, but I finally figured it out! I have had a can of unopened Sprite in my car from when I returned to work after being sick last month. I never bothered taking it out because I consider it my “emergency drink” in case I happen to get really thirsty while driving. Lol, I mean hey – it’s better to have it and not need it! I am definitely glad that I kept it around because it turned into my nail inspo and I am loving the yellow/green combo. 😀

This fill blew me away and was such a testament to my tech’s expertise. She replaced five nails that were either lifted or broken and rather than put on new tips, she painted the acrylic on freehand. I always assumed you needed the tips for acrylic nails so you learn something new every day. It really sped up the process and within minutes I had brand new nails and they were already shaped so well. My tech did such a good job with her freehand application that my talons only needed a little bit of sharpening to get the stiletto shape afterwards. She is the best!

My back to back appointments at Elysian Nails had me feeling like a billion bucks and I love my pretty new toes and nails. My claws look awesome and I seriously can’t stop looking at them. Lemon Lime for the win!

What is your favorite kind of pop? What color of nail polish are you rocking? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

	lifewithlilred on Spirit Christmas Haul
	oliveunicorn on Spirit Christmas Haul
	Simon on Thxgiving OOTD Bloopers
	lifewithlilred on Thxgiving OOTD Bloopers
	Simon on Thxgiving OOTD Bloopers