diy nail polish

Ever get tired of not being able to find just the right color of nail polish in any store? No need to fret! You, just like me, can make your very own!

All you need are 2 'ingredients':

-clear nail polish (any brand you like)

-really pretty sparkly shiny dust

  -- (i.e. eyeshadow, glitter, or UV dust powder stuff)

Step 1:

Take your clear nail polish and open it. Easy as pie.

Step 2:
Take your really pretty shiny powder stuff ( I used this pretty shiny copper stuff that I found on wish.com that is supposed to be used with a UV base and lamp)

Step 3:
This is where it gets tricky.
Either use a really little funnel, or make one out of paper like I did.
CAREFULLY pour your glitter/shiny powder into your clear nail polish. 
Shake well.
(I obviously didn't use the same nail polish that was in the first photo, I just forgot to take a before photo)
*note: I decided to go with a super cheap clear polish just in case I didn't like the end result. No need to waste 5 bucks if it's not going to turn out

 Step 4:
Ta-Da! You have your very own, one-of-a-kind nail polish color!
Easy peasy lemon squeezy!

alexa+reed

Got the chance to shoot an engagement session for one of my best friends and her soon-to-be hubby (who I've actually known since Kindergarten).

The weather was absolutely miserable and cold, but these two made it completely worth it.

I couldn't have made a better match if I tried!

(all photos copywrite 2016 jessikalloyd photography)

it's alive!

My website is finally up and running! Hooray! 

I'm doing a little giveaway to celebrate!

There are two ways that YOU can enter, dear blog reader.

#1: Head on over to Instagram and look for the giveaway post on my photography page

(https://www.instagram.com/jessikalloydphoto/)

#2: Mosy on over to Facebook, and find the same post there

(https://www.facebook.com/jessikalloydphoto/)

One lucky person will win a canvas print of their choice (from one of the following categories from my website: Nature, Wildlife, Places or Misc).

The winner will be announced on my Facebook and Instagram pages on January 7, 2017.

*As of right now, I can only ship within the U.S.*

I look forward to what 2017 has in store for me and my photography, and wish you all a great year as well!

flowers: week 10 & 11

Sorry I didn't post last week. Busy, busy, busy.
The flowers have been mostly the same for the past few weeks.
Only 2 changes have happened. One, one more plant died. Two, there's another bud.

The one plant, the one that looks like a fern, still has no sign of any flowers.

Day: 70

Plants: 4

Flowers: 1

Buds:0

Day: 77

Plants: 3

Flowers: 1

Buds: 1

flowers: week 9

Nothing new to report this week.
Same 4 plants. Same 1 flower.
The only change is that the bud I thought I saw last week wasn't actually a bud. Just another leaf or something like that.

Day: 63

Plants: 4

Buds: 0

Flowers: 1

flowers: week 8 and...... a kitten?

The flower has bloomed! Still don't know what kind it is though. Anyone?
The second plant like the one that is flowering looks like it's getting a bud. We'll see what color that flower is. Hopefully it's not pink like the other one. I like variety, ya know?
Still no signs of buds/flowers on the other two plants. Hopefully they'll start here soon. The package said that they should start blooming around day 60.

Day: 56

Plants: 4

Buds: 1

Flowers: 1

Unrelated to flowers, but equally, if not more, interesting. The other day I was going to take out the trash (at like 10:30pm, cause I forgot), and when I opened the garage door, I heard this weird cry of sorts. I had no clue what it was. Then, my dog grabbed something fuzzy. Turns out it was a little kitten. She's no older than 4 weeks, but older than 2. She was so scared and hungry. We took her in for the night, because what else were we supposed to do? We're pretty sure she was abandoned, and on her own for at least a day or two. Didn't have any kitten formula, as we have never had cats, not to mention one this young. We had to research an emergency kitten formula and feed her that until we could figure out what to do with her. Luckily, my coworker Jade LOVES cats and has raised them before, and she was MORE than willing (and extremely excited) to take care of the kitten. She's doing a lot better just overnight. Jade was able to get some kitten formula for her, and that seems to be helping a lot. She's eating the amount she should for her age, and seems to be in good health besides being malnourished and probably dehydrated. She's super skinny, but so sweet and has such a playful, fun, carefree personality already. She loves to cuddle and explore/climb all over you. She's got big blue eyes, and a cute little permanent milk mustache. I'm just so glad that we went out to get the trash when we did, or she may not have made it. I don't even know how long she was alone for. God works in mysterious ways for sure. 

The morning after we found her. 

photo courtesy of Jade

This is from Jade's sister, who was taking care of the kitten while Jade was at work. The kitten already looks TONS better than she did yesterday (and loves pulling faces)

flowers: week 7

First and foremost:
WE ARE WITH FLOWER. I repeat WE ARE WITH FLOWER!

Now that I got that out, I can begin today's post. Not much has changed with 3 of the 4 plants. We've got a cute little flower coming in if you didn't already gather that information.

But the real question is: "[What] could it be? this [flower] that I did see. Can you help me guess this mystery?"
Some of you may have caught that reference. For those who didn't, you're gonna learn today. That, my dear reader, is from a lovely children's show called Zaboomafoo, and it featured Martin and Chris Kratt and their cute little ring-tailed Lemur friend. The show hasn't been on air in YEARS, but it was one of my favorites.

ANYWHOO, back to the flowers. 

Day: 49

Plants: 4

Buds: 1

Flowers: 1/2ish