Wednesday, March 19, 2014

Sanitation Nation!

How safe are your nail services?

A lot of people think because we are working on their 'nails', which are hard or solid, that there isn't much risk for infection. Even if they've hear about infections from acrylic nails, they pass it off as because the acrylic caused it or the nail wasn't allowed to 'breathe'.

Wait, what???

Doesn't that mean it's not solid? You see my problems with the logic, right? People just don't think it's an issue or they don't get how delicate their skin and nails can be. A way I like to think about it is, your nails are your weapon, not your shield. You have to be on the offense and actively ensure your services are preformed in a safe manner, with safe products and sanitary implements and tools.

Prevention starts and ends with the client.

You may ask how is it up to you that your nail services are done in a safe and hygienic way. You decide where you get your services. Clients need to be informed and proactive about your hand and nail care. Here is a list of ways to protect yourself and that your nail tech should utilize.

1. You and your Nail tech should sanitized your hands before any part of the service is preformed. Feet should be soaked for 5 minutes in foot bath and techs hands sanitized.
2. Tools and implements should come from sealed packages from a heat sanitizing system, taken from sanitizing liquid, or taken from a dry storage marked clean and you can see where used implements go after they are used and it is clearly different.
3. Files need to come from same sanitized areas as tools and be clearly marked Sanitizable OR be new for each client and given to client or disposed of after use. (We use new file and buffer for each client, send home file and throw away buffer.)
4. Know what products are being used on you. Know that they are, what they are supposed to be. Antiseptic foot bath instead of Windex (Yes, it has happened), Hand Sanitizer or antibacterial lotion instead of plain lotion in bottle.
5. Pay attention to the cleanliness of your salon and nail tech. Notice if they have healthy hands and nail. If they are wearing gloves, make sure they change into new gloves and toss last pair between each and every client. Gloves are awesome for preventing disease, but only work for the nail tech if they are changed for every client.
6. If you have overlays and see discoloration make sure the product is filed away and the nail exposed so it can be determined if it is in fact a fungus or infection or just something like makeup or dirt that was able to get between nail and product because of lifting.

These are all things we as nail techs and manicurist should be doing, but it's up to you to make sure your services are done safely.






Wednesday, March 12, 2014

Ivy Vines, Visions by Judy Serrano Blog Tour Review

Ivy Vine, Visions
                 by Judy Serrano
I was given this book to review by the author and CM Book Tours for my honest opinion.

This book was enthralling. No Joke. As soon as I picked Ivy Vines, Visions up, I couldn't put it down. It was like nothing I've ever read. I love all things paranormal especially those that tinker around in biblical dogma, but Judy Serrano took it to a whole other level. This deserves at least 5 stars.

I love to read but seldom do I find a book that I am so immersed in. Like watching the most captivating movie in my own head. I usually liken books to other books, but Ivy Vines got me where the movie The Order, did. You know, the one with Heath Ledger. And it had Heath Ledger going for it too. So, that is saying something.

While we get glimpses of Ivy Vine's early life, we meet her as she is trying to start a new life away from her home town that has so many bad memories, and trying to start over in Sedona. Ivy believed God had answered her prayer and taken away her gift or curse if you want call it like you see it. She was moving to a safe and comfortable place where her best friend and high school sweetheart had gone away to college. She'd have her best friend back and was getting back together with the beautiful Michael.

Ivy has a new job, a new home with Simone but as soon as she thought she could relax she met Eli, their dark, sexy and no so nice boss Eli. As soon as he touched Ivy she had a vision again. A vision of them. They were together. He could be her Guardian or the Devil himself.

Ivy isn't the only one with a gift. She was wrong about being safe in Sedona, and she was wrong about who she could trust. She hadn't escaped him. He had taken her parents away, and he was going to have her, or kill her. Lucifer wanted her, and it was up to her new caretakers to keep her safe. No matter what that meant.

Judy Serrano grips you from the start, but doesn't stop there. She sends you on a roller coaster of emotion with Ivy as she becomes stronger and grows with her gifts and new knowledge. After a ride like this and high expectations, the ending doesn't let you down. I'm still reeling that I have now more to read. I can't wait to read the book from Judy, and I would recommend this book to anyone who loves suspense of any kind.

You can find more reviews of Ivy Vines, Visions by Judy Serrano on Blog Tour on CM BOOK TOURS, HERE. You can pick up your own Paperback or Kindle copy on Amazon or Paperback or Nook at Barnes and Noble.

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

Everlasting ( Night Watchmen, #1) by Candace Knoebel Book Review

   Everlasting
          by Candace Knoebel
I was given this book to review by the author and Mackable Book Reviews for my honest opinion.

I really loved this tale and that it is a fresh new niche about witches in paranormal writing. Candace Knoebel is so creative. I can tell you now, you need to get this book but if you need to know more.....

In the world of the Night Watchmen, who unbeknownst to most people, protect us humans from all sorts of paranormal creatures and evil, there is a ceremony everyone in the Primeval Coven must go through when they're 18. The Culling. For Faye Middleton The Culling it isn't going to be the exciting day to look forward too learning her fate to be a witch or a hunter. She knows and fears her mother's vision she would be a Defect and neither, but she shows great ability for being both a Witch and Hunter.

Candace Knoebel pulled me in to Faye's world and lets me feel her fears and strengths . I love that she is a badass girl, who was still a good decent one, wanting what was best and struggling to find out what that was with her was so much fun.

Jaxen who becomes her instructor, protector, friend is the complex character needed to really bring out who Faye really is. Along with Gavin, he teaches Faye to be a Hunter and their companion Witches teacher her to use her magic.

When her parents disappear and the foundations of her belief in her Coven are shaken Faye is truly tested and finds out at least in part, who she is meant to be. And who she can trust, if anyone.

Jaxen's secrets and her truths make this a book you can't put down and hate that it's over. Thank goodness we already know it's a series! I can't wait for book 2 to be published and highly recommend this book.


*Let me know what your reading and if you've had a chance to read Everlasting. It is availible in Paperback and on Kindle from Amazon and for Nook at Barnes and Noble!

Please go check out mine and Cassandra's review of Everlasting on Mackable Book Babes Blog.