Things for 2019

Alright, so this year didn't see quite the same amount of excitement as 2017 did but we still did manage to have what I think was a darn good year. This year I went to see Taylor Swift with my siblings, completed my very first Tough Mudder Half, celebrated my broski's 21st birthday in Las Vegas, tried a new activity, saw Christina Aguilera in concert, continued my family's paint party traditions, and spent two blissful weeks with my love in Italy. 

But now it's on to even bigger and brighter things in 2019 and I can't wait to see all that happens in the new year. Of course, it wouldn't be a new year without my "Things For" post. It's basically New Year's resolutions but slightly different. Let's see how badly I failed I did based on the goals I set back in January 2018. My "Things For" 2018 list included the following: 

1. Travel to a new country and/or state.  Hooray! Checked this off both as a new state (Nevada) and a new country (Italy).
2. Use one new never-before-used-on-the-blog polish per month. Let's see....in January I swatched OPI Relentless Ruby; in February I swatched Sally Hansen Street Flair, in March  I didn't use any new polishes; in April I swatched Sinful Colors Alfresco; in May I didn't post at all; in June I didn't post any nails; in July I didn't swatch anything; in September I swatched OPI Italian Love Affair; in October I didn't swatch anything; in November I didn't swatch anything; and in December I swatched OPI Pompeii Purple. So all in all I did five new-to-the-blog polishes. Five out of twelve isn't toooo bad, right? Lol.
3. Check at least five things off my Bucket List and two things off my 101 in 1001 list. From my bucket list I completed #126, #211, and #587 and from my 101 in 1001 list I completed #41, #90, #91. Since I completed two things from my 101 in 1001 list I'm going to mark this as completed. 
4. Post a design for every major holiday: Valentine's Day, Easter, Independence Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas, and New Year's Eve. Every single year I try to do this and every single year I fail.
5. Review this list and create a list for 2019. Done! Hopefully I do better in 2019!

My Things for 2019 are going to be:

1. Swatch at least one new-to-the-blog polish per month.
2. Run at least 50 miles total this year.
3. Eat more fruits and vegetables and less meat. Perhaps a meatless Monday or Fish Friday?
4. Try at least one new activity. Doesn't matter what it is, as long as it's new.
5. Travel to at least one new country and one new state.

Do you make new year's resolutions? What are some of your goals for the new year?

Happy New Year: Best of 2018!

I bet you thought I would forget, didn't you? It's that time of year again--time for my annual Best Of post featuring my favorite nail designs that I did in the year prior. I did this for 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2017, so there was no way I was letting this tradition stop.

I am happy to report that 2018 saw the exact same number of posts as 2017....73 strong. However, there were notably less nail-related posts in 2017. I am going to try to get back to doing at least a few more nail designs on the blog. After all, it is Nikki's Nail Files, after all. Anyway, here are my top 10 favorite manicures from 2018: