Twelve Twinkling Tree Lights

Nail Polish Queens (NPQ) is hosting a beautiful Christmas challenge, 

called "The twelve days of Christmas - NPQ style!"

First up is: Twelve Twinkling Tree Lights

Reto Hi5!

 

I'm not exactly sure where "Reto Hi5" started or came from and what it means.
But I do know that it is a chain of challenges.

When you receive this challenge from someone you can either ignore it (and break the chain) or take the challenge.

*I got challenged by the lovely +bubica vucko and her post of this challenge can be found here.*

She challenged me to paint "Flowers which represent my country for me".
I always love a challenge and this one isn't that hard for me.

The Netherlands is famous by their tulips.

 

 

The tulip industry is quite big and like the image above they make the Netherlands very colorful.

Needless to say that I had to paint tulips :D

I've done a tulip mani before with aquarel:

 

But this time I wanted to do something else. Something more than the tulips that represent my country.

I chose to include our national color orange, a wooden shoe and our flag

All very famous of course ;P

And I included one single tulip...cause less is more!

 

 

 Now, hope you like my design and it's time to pass this challenge on.

 

The Rules:

• You have to name the person who challenged you and do a manicure with the give challenge topic.
• Choose a new topic (whatever you want)
• Nominate 5 new persons and let them know they were nominated

Passing on:

• The new topic is: Explosion (make it your own! A few examples: bomb explosion, explosion of color, explosion of love, explosion of tears etc.)
• My 5 nominees are:
• +Karen Sulkowski 
• +Zoë March 
• +Aisuru Nails 
• +Sis Sissy 
• +roa' milas hamouda 

Good luck and I love to see it!!

Day 365) 365 days of nail art - completed ✅

I can't believe it: I NAILED IT!

When I started my challenge I had big dreams of becoming a famous blogger. Getting free products to review. VIP's that wanted me to paint their nails. Being an inspiration to others. Etc.
Hehehe, dare to dream big right?!
Not much of that came true though :(
I'm still a mom of 4 kids, loving wife, doing housework and...doing 'inspiring' nail art.
But I'm happy with this life! Even more happier and thankful than I've been before.

This challenge has cost and brought me a lot the past year!

The costs:
- It has cost a lot of my precious time (precious time that I could have spent with friends and family)
- It has cost a lot of money (yeah, yeah, ask the hubby)
- It has cost a lot of polishes, removers, brushes, cotton pads, base coats, top coats and many, many other nail and nail art related products (yes, people think I'm running my own business at home)
- I guess the above are the most important but I'm still wondering if this past year has cost me anything health related. I mean: I've been sniffing the polishes and acetone non-stop and maybe the bad influences will only show after time... (I will come back at this when I'm 80 or so or before that when I'm experiencing any withdrawal symptoms)

Now, let's get to the benefits or what it has brought to me:
- It has brought me yellow nails, brittle nails, broken nails, crappy cuticles (oh wait this has to be in the costs list)
- It has brought me a kind of pride.
After a troubling childhood, finishing my education (pregnant), a broken long term relationship, moving around with no goal except parenting, finding new love and being a house wife I felt kind of useless and less worthy.
I wasn't sure about myself anymore or that I could accomplish anything in life.
Finishing this challenge and getting all those beautiful comments has giving me pride.
I'm proud of my deducation, my hard work, my art and the loving person that I am.
- It has brought me ME-time. When I'm making a nail art I feel totally relaxed and forget about all the rest.
- It has brought awards (Versatile, Liebster), articles, guest posts, reviews and even winning a give-away.
- But the most important thing it has brought to me, is YOU! Or in other word: LOVE.
I didn't expect to get so much love. It doesn't matter if you are a silent reader or a commenter.
I feel really loved to have so much views, shares and comments on my work.
Some of you have been there with me all the time, others just joined in recently but without you it wouldn't have been any fun.
There is no bigger compliment in the world than people loving the thing that you love to do.
I even found some real friendships!
I also found a lot of love from my dear ones; my mother shared my pictures each and every day on her Facebook. My hubby gave me strength when I felt weak and wanted to quit, he also settled for less quality time with me as goes the same for my children ("Mommy, you have to work now right?!" "I know what mommy wants for her birthday: polish!") Hahaha, aren't they the cutest!
But for real:

 

Without YOU I wouldn't have finished my challenge!

 

Now for the challenge.

It will only be completed when I show you today's nail art (on my natural nails).

The design I had in mind is about my love for what I do and then I felt really sad that I would only have the pictures to look back at and maybe a few days of pleasure while wearing it.

I needed it to be around me longer so I can enjoy and look back at this beautiful experience for a longer time. And I found a solution I can live with.

Here is today's nail art:



And here is my end project (that I can keep, cherish and proudly wear):

Thank you for everything!
Happy New Year to all!
And that all your dreams may come true!