Many years ago, Rachel blazed onto Lush with liquid red hot (brilliant!) stories, confidence and genuine kindness. On the social scene, she quickly became someone to look up to, while still managing to emerge as a real champion of the underdog. If you didn't already know her, you wanted to.
She's a quirky blend of 'can't look away' Oakland edge, whimsical Disney Princess, and she has a playful inner kitty vibe capable of just the right kind of bite. Pretty much a total original. I think this partly explains her fantastic ability to write quality stories that span a dizzying array of styles and voices - that mind is crisp!
Her devotion to the site and its betterment is complete and yeah - royally awesome. She's fully deserving of the accolades, and I'm grateful to call her a friend. Love you, girl! xx
This was beautifully written, Rachel.
OMG. My eyes skipped across this thread and I was convinced I must have been reading this wrong. This is so shocking. I had no idea he was ill. He was always so kind and friendly and helped me get some of my writing seen and reviewed, always eager to pass on news of potential writing opportunities. He was also a tireless champion of fighting against plagiarism and helping writers protect their work.
There are no words. What a lovely human being and talented author. He will always be remembered fondly.
Congratulations to Puddleduck, WannabeWordsmith and Littleduchess, as well as the rest of the top ten. There were some really great stories in this comp. The winning story was total writing genius.
Theoretically, yes. UV and LED lamps both emit UVA light/radiation (4 x stronger than the natural sun). It's higher intensity for a shorter amount of time to cure the polish.
It can cause premature ageing and potentially skin cancer in the same way that tanning salons and outdoor-tanning-by-sun can cause the same.
You can help limit this by putting SPF-50 plus sunscreen on the hands prior to this (though you'll have to work with your manicurist to ensure it isn't washed off during the manicure) or she can help put it on for you without it touching your nails. I've heard of some places that use fingerless gloves.
Personally, I wouldn't be overly concerned about it if you're not doing it on the regular, and assuming you aren't super sensitive to UV light/sun. But yeah... technically, the theoretical risk is there. I don't use them.
There are several 'gel-style' polish lines that don't require the lamps that are pretty good and give similar effect/durability. Not exactly the same, but comparable.
Excellent nomination and decision. Rump is a kind, warm-hearted, talented yet humble man who offers some of the best constructive feedback for writers who really want to improve their skills and grow. He's a huge asset to the site and a really awesome human being! Congrats!
Congrats, Buz! This is more than well deserved. You truly are a one in a million kind of guy. Your selflessness, kindness, empathy, humor and adventurous spirit are character facets I've always admired. I hold you in the highest regard, and I mean that sincerely. Thank you for being a friend over the years, for sharing your stories and for leading by example. Awesome sauce, all the way!
If I had to pick one (and the style I wear most), it's definitely Bianca. Very Prive would be a close second.