Getting My Claws into CutieCool Nails.

I am a nail-biter.
It's one of the most embarrassing habits to admit to, after years of the excuses of 'like, yeah, my nails just don't grow how weird is that?' to 'they're just brittle and break into these blatantly nibbled stubs.'
Stopping biting my nails has been my new year's resolution every year since I was about 9. Every method you can think of to stop yerself chomping away I have tried it and probably tried it again. Stop n Grow? Chewed through it. Covering every finger with plasters? Took them off because I looked MENTAL. Even trying to find something to distract myself with didn't work as I'd bite them when I wasn't even realising I was.

It's frustrating seeing Instagram littered with pals showing off their amazing new nails they've just had done or seeing incredible nail art and having to go 'well I can't do that.' Even worse, after slamming my hand in a door I have a heave worthy half nail meaning I ALWAYS wear nail polish to disguise that I have hands like Gollum.

When I went to the Miss Dixiebelle relaunch I was gifted the goodie bag to end all goodie bags with exclusive vouchers to treat and pamper myself with, one of which was for the CutieCool Nails bar in Miss Dixiebelle itself.

Zara's work is unreal, it only takes one look through her instagram to see some before/after shots, half moon manicures that no vintage loving girl could resist and the one that grabbed my interest the most - remedial nail treatments. Photo's on her website www.cutiecoolnails.com has a whole section dedicated to nail biters and treatments she offers and to my surprise there were a helluva lot worse than me; it was time for kitty to get her claws.

So here are my hands of shame. Absolutely hingin'. The plan of action was to use 'Backscratchers powder glaze acrylic extensions.' Now unlike some nail extension methods this doesn't require any roughening/dehydrating of the nail plate, they simply apply and build up from the natural nail. This means that even once they are removed the nail underneath should still be in good condition, and most importantly for us nail-biters GROWING without being nibbled at!

90 minutes later and VOILA. They didn't even seem like MY HANDS. And for those who think that that seems like a long time, there is no more fabulous feeling than sitting getting your nails done amongst the glamour of the Miss Dixiebelle vintage beauty parlour with old time swing playing in the background. I had the extensions filed into a classic almond shape and opted out of getting shellac on them, just so I could paint them different colours, use nails decals etc after really having proper nails for the first time ever!

 I settled for a nice pale polish to have them finished off with and I am delighted. I can't stop tapping my nails against everything and casually putting my hand up near my face at any given opportunity so that someone may notice my beeeeaautiful nail transformation. I can't wait to go back in a couple of weeks to have them reshaped and the gap where my nails have grown filled in, and this time I'm thinking some emerald green shellac as well.

THANK YOU ZARA!
www.cutiecoolnails.com
@cutiecoolnails

Dayna x

Miss Dixiebelle Relaunch!

Since moving to Edinburgh three years ago, Miss Dixiebelle has always been one of my favourite shops. So when I got invited to their relaunch party I was deeeeelighted to go, pin curls and eyeliner flicks at the ready.

After three and a half years of business Miss Dixiebelle has gone from strength to strength with their amazing vintage makeup and hair salon attached to the shop, pop up beauty stands here there and everywhere, and now the Cutiecool Nails nail bar, essential for those half moon manicures! 

The shop boasts an incredible range of clothing from vintage inspired designers as well as reproduction clothing and have now adapted the range to suit their customers even better. 

I am a massive fan of the "What Katie Did" range, a collection of high quality British hosiery and steel boned corsetry, with their seamed stockings even managing to stretch up my lamp post legs. 

The Miss Dixiebelle Gals.

The biggest change within Miss Dixiebelle is the brand new hairdressing salon upstairs, decorated in a 1950s inspired style with Hollywood lit mirrors, pastel pink walls (with flamingos!) and timeless vintage dryers to complete the look.

Now as well as being able to get your hair done into a fabulous vintage style for a night out or event, Miss Dixiebelle now offers colouring and wet sets, as well as a full blown pamper package, with new recruit Angela having 20 years in the hairdressing business. 

Lovely treats provided by The Marshmallow Lady

Those who were lucky enough to be invited to the relaunch event were greeted with teacups of prosecco and cranberry juice and a preview of the revamped salon, including learning about the ins and outs of all the new services on offer. It was lovely to meet like minded vintage style lovers, there was some great style on show to say the least, with the Miss Dixiebelle gals looking as glamorous as ever!

Cake stands filled to the brim with treats from the Marshmallow Lady were passed around, KEY LIME PIE MARSHMALLOWS ANYONE?! 

I received a jam packed goodie bag to take home with more of those scrumptious marshmallows inside (oreo flavour. Need I say more?), a voucher for Cutiecool Nails, lotions and potions from Just Be Botanicals as well as a Miss Dixiebelle points card, to reward all of our spending!

Cutiecool Nails nail bar.

I am so ridiculously excited to come into Miss Dixiebelle, hopefully in the next week, to have my nails done by the lovely Zara of Cutiecool Nails. A nervous nibbler, I've longed for proper lady like nails instead of my square brittle stubs and there seems to be nothing Zara cannot do to totally transform even the worst nails. Watch this space, kitty gon' get her claws.

Check out Cutiecool Nails here, the before and after photos are insane! And I thought there was no hope for me!

Myself and the lovely Emma.

A massive thank you to Emma for inviting me along and hopefully it won't be long til I'm in getting myself done up to the nines!

For of those of you looking to get the Miss Dixiebelle experience, they have a brand new makeover and photoshoot day planned in March, transforming you into 1950's siren. Lads listen up, this is the ultimate Valentines day gift. Find the Facebook event and get involved here.

Dayna x

By Leah Carroll, Henry Holland and a lot of tequila.

For those of you who know me, I work in Godiva Boutique on the Grassmarket here in Edinburgh. This week, after putting out the word we're looking for some new designers, our first arrival of new stock for our independent designer showroom arrived - and oh my daaaaaays - it's just bloomin' lovely. 

So, introducing By Leah Carroll.

Her beautifully handcrafted pieces of jewellery are inspired by childhood daydreams and memories with every piece having been individually and skilfully laser cut, sanded, hand painted and varnished by Leah herself. Made from Japanese ply, bamboo and brass Leah has three collections in Godiva at present and I'm struggling not to collect them all. Even the packaging's gorgeous! 

Need.

Treated myself to these bad boys. Ya beauty.

The designs are simple yet so eye catching and they are all handmade from Leah's studio in Dundee. It's only £17.50/£20 for a pair of Leah's earrings from Godiva, the same price you'd pay for a mass produced high street chain pair, so why spend the money on something that every man and their dug will have when you can buy some good quality, handmade jewellery. The geo range is my favourite, having treated myself to the diamond earrings, although I'm still eyeing up the frost blue triangle ones as well. They'd make for a bangin' Valentines Day gift as well (hint hint hint).

We're still looking for more local designers to stock and update our showroom at Godiva, if you know someone or you make some cracking clothes/jewellery/bits and pieces then geez a shout here or come in for a blether with us Godiva Gals at the shop. 

I hopped on the mega bus from hell through to Glasgow this week for Scot Street Style's 2nd big event, The Gathering 2, at the Hillhead Bookclub, a meeting and social event for Scottish creatives, bloggers, designers, models... you name it! It's a truly amazing community and I've met some extraordinarily talented people, some of whom I'm lucky enough to now call pals. 

I decided to rock my new and already beloved House of Holland full length dress (god bless ya January sales) to the event, even though I had trouble getting up and down stairs and kinda walked like a penguin, and loved it. I felt so glamorous and despite being as tight as it was, it showed none of my lumps and bumps (apart from the one big mega bump that I live with called my ass). The brooch print talked for itself so I teamed it with just my black Dr Martens, keeping all eyes on the bizarre pattern. 

I ended up in the Cathouse. In this. Give the girl a medal. I must've lost about half a stone in sweat/pure tequila.

Cigarette and Martini brooches? Yes please.

Ciao for now,

Dayna x