Day 27: Inspired by an Artwork

I wanted to do paint splatters but my girlfriend did that and I didn't want to copy, so I did nails based on this art work:

These are the nails:  

I didn't want to do the same nail over and over especially on smaller nails.  One big problem I had was when pulling the striping tape off (even after I had waited for it to dry) a lot of them pulled so a lot of them look bad.  Anyway the colors were Sinful colors: Black on Black, Snow Me White, China Glaze's Man Hunt, and Happy Go Lucky, and OPI Vodka and Caviar.

Day 26: Inspired by a Pattern

This wan't a very different mani to do, but would have worked much better with either a thinner brush, if I wasn't so heavy handed (I did get better on my right hand) and also if my nails were longer.  The colors I used were Julep's Janel (raspberry), Mackenzie (lime green), OPI Teal the Cows Come Home (blue)

Day 25: Inspired by fashion

So I did these nails awhile back.  I'm so close to finishing I just keep getting nail mail and want to play and I'm just not inspired.  I had this tutorial up on my computer for a month to try and finally found my excuse.

I used all China Glaze for this one: Happy Go Lucky (yellow), Dance Baby (pink) and Westside Warrior (Green)

Nail Challenge Day 24: Inspired by a Book

These were done last week after finishing my third John Green novel, looking for Alaska.

Sorry about the clean up.  I wanted to take a pic before bed in case the got messed up.

This is the hand I liked the best.  I think it was the right one.

These I thought most looked like the book title.

The colors I used were Sinful Colors "Snow Me White" and OPI's "Black Onyx"

Nail Challenge Day 23: Inspired by a Movie

So this post has a lot of picture.  First off, I love Harry Potter and was so excited about this.

I used by my friend's striping tape for the first time.  These are modeled after third year ties.  The stripes are in different directions because they are on both hands and I picked the best ones.  The Ravenclaws were a bitch to do.  And even though I hate Gryffindor those nails turned out amazing.
Four Houses:

                                       Slytherin                                                  Ravenclaw

                                  Hufflepuff                                                      Gryffindor

Golden Snitch (I had one on both hand, but I think the other got messed up before I could take pics so this is the one you get.)

                              Left Hand                                                            Right Hand

What house are you?

Day 22 Nails: Inspired by a song

These nails I did a few weeks ago, but I have been hella busy and have yet to complete day 24 even though I have had bare nails for over a week.

These were inspired by Adam Lambert's song If I Had You

I know the design looks simple, but this song always makes me think of Malec (for those who don't understand read City of Bones by Cassandra Clare).  Magnus and Alec are by far my favorite couple and before the CoB I was dream casting Magnus as Adam Lambert.

CLOCKWORK PRINCESS OMG!! (spoilers)

So a couple of days ago I finished Clockwork Princess, and perhaps I should have written this right after, but all the feelings were still to raw.  First off I am going to be posting spoilers so if  you haven't finished or want to read at some point and don't wish to be spoiled you should probably not read any further.

On to the review (I might try and do one of these for ever "fun" i.e. not assigned college reading book I do)!  To start of I think one of my favorite things about this series is the time period it is set in. I absolutely love steampunk type things and historical fiction/fantasy novels, especially if they are set around Victorian/Edwardian era (Samantha was my favorite American Girl), especially, especially, if they are set in England, maybe it should be the other way around, but I think you get the point. So on that front I like TID more than TMI just on personal book preference (not saying I don't like TMI, just like TID better).  Another thing I love about these books as a whole compared to I guess TMI or a lot of other books, is the intricacies. Just like Harry Potter I feel I will go back and be the OMG it (something, whatever) was there the whole time!

I was really surprised how little Mortmain was in this book.  A little, but mostly it was character focused which is some thing that I love!

Fact going into CP2 I was a Will/Tessa shipper.  Not a super crazy I-will-rip Jem's-balls-off-if-he-touches-Tessa-or-even-looks-at-her-lustily-engagement-be-damned, but a I-get-Tessa-and-Jem-are-engaged-but-Will.....  So I just want to through that out there Wessa over Jess before I read Clockwork Princess.  After... OMG SQUEEE!  But I will come back to that with my discussion of the epilogue.  So at the beginning:  A character that kind of surprised me but not really (and was one of my favorites) was Gabriel Lightwood (also Cecily Herondale, but we will get to her in a minute).  Oh Gabriel how you make me want to hug you for being so stupid one minute, then punch you the next minute for being stupid and a jerk, the huggle you because you weren't a jerk after all and are really a sweet caring guy.  Side note: I think another reason I love TID so much is the character depth.  It's not just Jace and Clary and googly eyes and fighting.  All the characters seem so multifaceted, sometimes good, sometimes jerks, only one character is really bad and even he has hidden depths and secrets you just can't wait to find out.  And mysterious pasts and backstory! God how they give me women reading boners.  I LOVE them!

Anyway... back to people; Cecily Herondale, so kick ass! I mean she has been at the Institute two months and she goes to fight Benedict Lightworm ( :D ) and jumps and his damn back!!!! Like how bad ass is she! (Sometimes I think more bad ass than even Will ;) ) Um... more character gushing... Charlotte still kicks ass even when she's pregnant also I love her stick to your guns no matter what a man says attitude.  Which reminds me of another thing I love about this book, Shadowhunters are supposed to be all "Girls can fight just like men" and "We are all equal and carry the bad ass blood of the angel in our veins" and still because of the time period they are in (and to an extent the place) Charlotte is seen as an inferior because she is a woman, she is seen as weak and easily manipulated by the (don't get me started, but I will probably rant about him later) Consul.  Just like mundane women at the time would be.  And both Charlotte, and Tessa, and even Cecily are like "You know what Victorian propriety and whatnot, you, you can go fuck yourself."

Another character "couple" I love the interaction between is Henry and Magnus.  Now by themselves they are fucking awesome!  I mean Henry is all adorable and in CP tries not to upset Charlotte when they both loved each other for real but didn't realize it.  And I just love him and also the ties between what he makes and you can see how they are incorporated into TMI and I just think it's really awesome.  And then Magnus by himself is just well Magnus.  He has a witty quip for everything and snark and love of cats and just MAGNUS (if you don't love Magnus, you are lying to yourself. Just sayin').  But when Henry and Magnus get together and start working on the portal it's so amazing and cute.  I mean Magnus is basically like: I bet among the Shadowhunters you are considered a genius and Henry is like: Well... yeah... no, not so much.  And this is pretty much Magnus:  O.O ('cept you know with cat eyes) And the Clave is stupid.  And you Henry sir are awesome, also what is this shiny thing that makes me sparkle I could coat is all over my body and shine forever! :3

Also SOHPIE AND GIDEON and awwwwwwwwwwwwww and yes yes yesyesyesyes!!! (That is all I will say on that topic for now).

So up to main characters.... Well I think Jem is a good place to start.... maybe... are you ready for a spoiler filled rant/gush (probably long) paragraph?  So first off I think I will start with about half way through the book with Jem because this is what comes to mind.  Will riding off to save Tessa 50% in and Jem DIES!  I just sat there in shock for a second and was like... um... but Jem... rest of book... dead ALREADY?!  It just really through me for a loop, I mean I had the feeling going in that he was brother Zachariah so when he died I was like... well that it.  And then they completely clean out his room I was really upset.  I couldn't believe they had completely cleaned out his room and he was their friend and gah!  I was just so angry at everyone for that!  But then Brother Zachariah showed up and was all silent and just like all the other brothers and my heart dropped because that was supposed to be Jem, but he was dead and then wham!  It was Jem and I did a happy dance because JEM!  And I was right and he was back and yay!

Which brings me I guess to Will and Tessa my favorite characters.  They are just amazing!  I love Tessa’s intelligence and her determination to do whatever no matter what any one else says.  I love her (and Will’s) love of literature an books.  And Will… I love that boy.  He is head strong and courageous and he loves with all of his heart.  He loves Jem as more than brother (which made me think of Will/Jem… which I would totally ship) they are something even greater and Will conceals his own desire for Tessa from Jem just so Jem can be happy.  He is selfless and amazing and I would totally steal Will from Tessa in a heartbeat.  I love his witty quips and I knew there was know way he was a total jackass.  Much as he tried to pretend to be one.

So on to my favourite and last part.  The epilogue.  So this epilogue got me much like the Harry Potter epilogue did and I imagine that much like that epilogue it will be hated by some.  I absolutely loved it!  I mean she gets both boys in the end.  I am such a sucker for happy endings and this one has two!  It was so said both Tessa and Will’s goodbye to Jem, but they knew it was for the best.  And the flashbacks at the party of how Tessa helped Will move on and it was like watching them fall in love all over again.  I’ve seen some post from Jessa shippers about how Tessa going to meet Jem is like her cheating on Will.  Seriously?!  Absolutely not.  One, I’m sure Will knew Tessa was going to see Jem and I have a feeling that seeing Tessa is what kept Jem sane and from completely turning into a Silent Brother.  And the fact that Tessa and Will got to grow old together and have children and ah!  It just makes me squee and fangirl on the inside.  (and want to write fics about it).  Which as I understand it Cassie will be writing about it herself.  Anyway when Tessa sees Jem in the epilogue and he is himself and cured again it just makes my heart melt.  She gets to spend two life times with the boys she loves.  The fact she had to chase Jem down made me smile because even after being a Silent Brother and having lived through god knows what and almost 200 years he is still the same shy Jem who sees Tessa as his parabatai’s love even if will has been dead 80+ years.  It’s just so beautiful.  I want to just keep reading it over and over and over again.  Brava Cassie.  Can’t wait for more.