NBR: Not Beauty Related - Cell Phone Self Repairs!

OK, I've stated it now, NO BEAUTY FOUND IN THIS POST :)

I'm technical by nature, so when I accidentally damaged a brand new phone I got (very unlike me, even though I have my moments of klutzy like the rest of us) I wanted to get it fixed.

The phone was bought on part of an upgrade plan through my work's cell phone service provider, they pay for the plan, I had to cover the phone. So basically, I screwed myself from the $$ since I had paid for it in the beginning! It's a brand new 4G LTE Smartphone for those that are interested.

I'm not really a handy type of person, but the cost of having to pay 600$ to buy a NEW phone at a non-discounted rate floored me and I went where every else may consider going... but not go.

TO THE SELF FIX ISLE by Google searching for what I'd need to do to repair it.

I called a company that provides pieces of my phone for doing your own self repairs to confirm what parts I would need prior to ordering. Granted only AFTER ordering did I realize that I'd need adhesive strips (UGH!) and they said that once you place the order they can't change it, even if you request a modification of the order 5 minutes later! That rant aside, I got the part, struggled with finding something to fit the missing "strips" mentioned above and tried clear scrap booking tape instead that has double adhesive.

I didn't fit the screen right in the beginning, but after struggling to get the LCD screen separated from it's back case to disconnect the digitized touch pad (since it's that touch pad glass piece I shattered) I ended up severing the cable on the LCD so I ended up fixing one thing and breaking another in the process to fix the digitizer.

Granted, now I'm another 90$ in the hole as I order a new LCD (even though this one is fine, the fine ribbon cable that it connects with I took a chunk out of accidentally when trying to release it from adhesive. SIGH!), proactively order a silicone case for it as well as the suggested adhesive strips they wanted me to use from the beginning.

What have I learned?

-I'm totally still not close to the 600$ mark that I would have paid for a brand new one
-I'm learning a new skill the hard way
-I'm learning that the patience I thought I had is NO WHERE near the patience level it needs to be when meddling into things I'm not an expert in
-Just because you watch a video of someone taking apart and fixing a phone SIMILAR TO but NOT MADE BY YOUR PHONE PROVIDER the video could clearly fail to show you things you need to avoid to NOT end up screwing up other parts of your phone (hence the delicate ribbon cable I severed)
-I know more about my phone, and it's pieces than I did 2 weeks ago :)
-The cost to get this part fixed by a local shop is 99$ for a new LCD and 30$ to install it. My cost to get it online is 79$ and shipping 8$ and the local shop would install the part I provide for 50$. At this point, I'm just going to try to finish this myself since I've already devoted so much time/effort/energy into it. If my attempt to get the LCD replaced does not yield results, I'll take the pieces into the shop and just admit defeat.
-Procure the tools you need ahead of time, tweezers, shot glasses to separate screws and write down things you want to remember as you deconstruct your phone. -Take pictures as you do it if you want to remind yourself of a set up or positioning for when you put it back together.

Since repair is not complete yet, and parts probably won't be received until Monday, I'm not yet sure if this will end in defeat or success.

Stay Tuned!

Review on Lynnderella Polishes Soon!

I had placed an order with Lynnderella a bit ago but she told me she had sold out of her first edition. Luckily enough, I was placed on her back order list and will be getting the polishes I wanted after all.

This image above, taken from her blog at: http://lynnderella-lynnderella.blogspot.com/ shows the First Edition polishes.

I ordered the following...
Connect The Dots x2
The Glittering Crowd x2
ShapeShifter x2

I can't wait to swatch them and review here when they arrive! I hear her Early Halloween collection is coming soon, pre-sales were to start July 31st but I would watch her blog site carefully to find out if that date is still valid if you want to see what goodies she's created this time! Email her if you are interested, as she's been very good at keeping communication with me over email these past few weeks.

Interested in more about Lynnderella? Here's her original post on the First Edition. And think she's selling polishes that she's really Frankened instead? Read about that discussion here. Want to see my back order polishes in creation?

What I learned at Fish Camp about Personal Care: Intro

Hello readers!

I'm happy to be back from my trip safely from Alaska. I'm still adjusting to the 4 hour time difference but it took me a while to adjust while there, so I assume the same can be said now that I'm back at home.

Before I get into the meat of it, I figured I'd show you some pictures from my trip.


This is looking out towards the water from around the Nikishka, Alaska area towards the mouth of where the water enters the Kenai.

An eagle nest not far from "Lands End" near the Homer Spit.

This is the crazy scene that was unfolding at the mouth of the Kenai of all the local dip-netters camping on the shore to fish as much as they can during their stay.

And of course, Fish Camp! (Electricity included, running water was not)

Now, I didn't take any NEW pictures of Fish Camp because there isn't many changes from this year's visit as opposed to the one I made for the first time last year. The pictures of camp are old, and only a few changes have been made since. The little personal size outhouse is our outside incinerating toilet hut.

For a girl who is well exercised in utilizing running water and having daily showers, this experience was quite a change. I needed to not only pack light for the trip, pack light for the camp (and leave a larger bag behind at the apartment) but also pack light for just about everything else. This of course is quite funny to the BH (Bunny Husband, Better Half) because he's under the belief that I almost never pack light for anything whenever I travel and I can't say he's not right. I do tend to pack heavier than others, I don't travel often and always feel the need to add extra clothes for "emergencies" or other unexpected activities that I might engage in.

So, even thought it's not directly "Personal Care" I bring as our first focus: Packing.

I'll focus tomorrow's post on Packing and subsequent other posts on other thoughts that came to me in 8 hour fishing sessions on the Kenai River or 5 hour vacuum packing sessions of fish filets!

Absence from July 13th to 24th for BB&B

Hello to my small following blogger group!

I wanted to let you know that I will be out of town and on vacation in Alaska from 13th-24th of this month.

That means there may be some scheduled posts, but I won't be around to comment or catch up with you all as I might prefer.

This won't be a beauty related trip sadly, though I will be bringing back pounds and pounds of Salmon (red and King I hope!).

This will be a working Vacay, as I'll be joining my father and his brother up in Anchorage to go fishing down off the Kenai river.

I spent 2 weeks there last year and had a good time, this one will be more designed for fishing only so limited internet/phone and the like (as well as basic necessities like showers! UGH!).

I know you all have many other blogs to keep you busy in my time away, so I look forward to catching up when I return!

New Yves Saint Laurent Nail Polish from Jardin de Minuit

I had a chance to stop by NM today to visit my favorite SA Kathy and she gave me a peek at the new YSL polishes.

The colors of La Laque are No 43 Wintergreen and No 44 Moonlight Blue.

Yes there are similarities between Chanel Blue Satin (which I do not own) and Moonlight Blue so you will probably need to decide if you need another (not to mention another blue coming from Dior and again from Chanel for Fall/Winter 2011/2012).

My quick swatches I did today, 2 coats each, sloppy job but you get the idea. Please realize I have strong ridges on my pinky so that's probably why it looks as bad as it does.

Wintergreen on my pinky, Moonlight Blue on my ring finger

Sorry for the blurry pictures, I didn't get to take as much time with them as I had hoped.

I personally didn't think Wintergreen sat well against my fair skin, but I did love the rich blue hue so I may pick that up after my vacation to Alaska. These are available at your local Neiman Marcus, or are at least available at MY local one!

Sally Hansen Combo of Green and Glitter

If you ever talked to any of my fellow nail polish enthusiasts they would probably tell you that I have never claimed to be brand loyal.

I say this because with every brand I have found good and bad lacquer combinations from just about all brands out there. I try NOT to tend to buy only one brand, but spread my purchases out, try new brands, visit and purchase ones I may have stayed away from due to previous issues with that polish combination in the past.

I can't say I purchase a lot of Sally Hansen, but I did pick up this lovely combo when I was trying to find something to do waiting for a nearby store to open up.

I think that Sally Hansen Emerald City has been on my want list for quite some time, but I had seen a nice swatch of Sally Hansen Snappy Sprinkles on someone else and figured I should try it out as well.

Sally Hansen Hard as Nails Xtreme Wear Nail Color in Emerald City (4860-10)

Sally Hansen Emerald City with one coat of Sally Hansen Insta-Dry Fast Dry Nail Color in Snappy Sprinkles

I didn't end up putting a top coat on this and in less than 12 hours had chipping so I'd suggest a good top coat and bottom coat to keep it on.

The sprinkles in Snappy Sprinkles vary in my eyes to light pink, copper and green which worked nicely with the green color underneath. As most sparkles/sprinkles/top coats you need to make sure you use a good top coat to help settle the glitter pieces.

**These items used were either provided to me as a gift, or were purchased by me or a friend for my personal use. No review of this product was requested of me by any manufacturer at any time.

Dupe Question: Zoya Jules vs Chanel Quartz

As I was looking at my new Chanel Quartz I thought the color reminded me of a bottle of Zoya Jules I had received in a previous BirchBox (and also picked up during the Zoya Earth Exchange program).

I figured a swatch and comparison was in line for those who may have also wondered.

No worries, not a dupe, but big base color differences and shimmer/glitter marks them as unique.

Chanel Quartz 525 VS Zoya Jules ZP538

Holding Quartz with Quartz on pinkie and Jules on ring fingers:

Holding Jules with Quartz on the pinkie and Jules on the ring finger:

Both fingers alone w/o polish bottle:

Overall my thoughts are that both are unique enough to own each, however I feel that Quartz flatters my skin tone better than Jules does so I'll be putting Jules in my next Nail Polish Swap box I do on TPF.

**These items used were either provided to me as a gift, or were purchased by me or a friend for my personal use. No review of this product was requested of me by any manufacturer at any time.

Nail Wear Wednesday!

I'm going to try to make Wednesday's when I highlight what today's (or my recent) nail polish is. I change it so often it's almost a different color or appearance every other day!

~Toes~
I tried an alternating July 4th Red, White and Blue on my toes using Chanel, but the blue I was using tends to lean a bit dark (as does the Red) so it's not as nice as it could have been.

Chanel Pearl Drop 511
Chanel Feu De Russie 347
Chanel Nuit De Russie 357

Nubar Nubar 2010 as top coat on left side
Nubar (do not recall name) as top coat on right side (failure for intended appearance)

With Nubar 2010 on top:

With other Nubar on top (not a good application, either needs to be thinner or was to thick to allow bottom coat to come through):

No ~Fingers~ today since I'm still sporting the 4th Manicure from yesterday!

Where to get these Chanels?

I know tracking down the "De Russies" took quite a few calls to Lord&Taylor's and I finally tracked one down in Massachusetts? Pearl Drop a friend picked up for me along with Black Pearl when they first came out, if it's not totally gone from stores ask a SA to track one down for you if you have one that would do the legwork for you.

**These items used were either provided to me as a gift, or were purchased by me or a friend for my personal use. No review of this product was requested of me by any manufacturer at any time.

July 4th Manicure with OPI and Creative

I was going to save this for "Nail Wear Wednesday" but figured it's relevant since it was done yesterday to celebrate the 4th.

I was out all last week on work in Chicagoland (and with long 12hr days my time to run around and shop was severely limited), so it's taken me the weekend to catch up on rest (never works no matter how hard I try!) and prep for my next big getaway (visiting family and fly-fishing in Alaska from July 13-24th!).

I don't normally do a lot of travel each year, so this year is a big change for me (Vegas in Jan, Vegas in April, Chicagoland in June, Alaska in July, California in October, Texas in November, and who knows what else!). I'm also horrible at packing light so that doesn't help either when airlines hit you hard on limits of weight and bags you can bring.

Anyway, getting back to the manicure.

I started with a non-B3F mani of OPI Deer Valley Spice (smelly polish, not for the faint of nose):

Then decided to make it 4th of July related!
Tools:
Creative #217 Moonbeam
OPI Blue Shatter
OPI Deer Valley Spice

I used Poshe (a quick drying top coat that doesn't always work well for me) but for this mani, and considering I don't think the Creative was B3F it helped keep it all together. Today I've had minor chips, but overall wear for me has been better than normal.

I'm happy with this, wanted to incorporate the blue shatter into a design but realized I had no red shatter to use with it!

**These items used were either provided to me as a gift, or were purchased by me or a friend for my personal use. No review of this product was requested of me by any manufacturer at any time.