What's on your Monday Menu, RNYers?

Good morning! I had a lovely relaxing weekend and it was glorious! I started watching the Last Czar on Netflix yesterday. Is anyone watching this? I love this stuff but I have mixed feelings about how they are being portrayed - were they really that pathetic? After gardening yesterday, I'm looking at my nails and sad cuticles They are oh so shabby looking (only I really can't blame it on the gardening)! I LOVE having a manicure - gels specifically, but the removal process fries my skin on my finger tips/sides. They were always dry and sometimes cracked. Anyone else have this issue? I miss having pretty hands and would love to go back. Back to the grind today!

QOTD - What comes to mind at the moment (my favorite musicals) Sound of music, Joseph and the technicolor dreamcoat and Grease. I really like Goodfellas and Pretty Woman both had a great sound track. I can't think of anything recent? Huh.

Accountability - great! I tweeked my calories up and my macros around so now I'm 800 cals 30%p/65%f/5%c

TSS 2 years 8 months Keto day 8 174.5!

Have a great day everyone!

Yes, I had been getting my nails (gel) done for years and then after surgery they just seemed to not want to stay and lifted and didn't hold up well. My nails seem healthy and grow pretty fast now but sometimes I still have issues with them being dry. I have ointments from my dermatologist but sometimes they still split/crack.

I need to get something - what ointment do you use? When they leave me in the foils too long I start to panic!

Fluocinolone acetonide is the current one when needed.

I've never had gels and do my own nails except for very rarely. I keep them pretty short, and prefer an almond shape (though coffin-shaped nails are gorgeous and so retro in style - just the thing for 50's bouffant skirts with miniscule waists, or tight 40's wiggle skirts - I may indulge over the holidays). I almost always prefer a dark ruby color, it keeps things classic and simple. My nails are in pretty good shape. Julep makes an amazing product called Ta Da! - you put 1-2 drops into the base of the nail 1 minute after applying your last coat of polish or your top coat. As long as you've used thin coats and given yourself sufficient drying time between them, this product helps them dry to a high shine and seems to make the polish last much longer without chipping, etc. - basically until they grow out of you want a color change. Good stuff, and it smells nice too, as long as you like lavender essential oil.

I don't have the skills or patience to do it myself so big props to you, Cara!! I am really hard on my hands and gels holds up well. I like my nails very short, pretty much straight across with softened corners. I prefer dark red, wines and purples - all year long. Every now and then I will get french tips.

I'm sure your nails are beautiful, Amy!

I haven'****ched it yet; a couple of the historians I follow on Twitter have been pretty savage about it...and since I have shelf just for my Romanov history/bios/etc books, I've been afraid to dive in. I tend to get TV rage when they get facts wrong a lot.

I was getting so annoyed that I stopped after episode 4, but honestly I will finish the season. There are only 6 episodes and it is at least beautiful.

I am a first generation Slav, and have always resonated with the stories and photos of the Romanovs. I have a gorgeous book of photos and descriptions of Russian court clothing. Incredible finery! Here it is:

https://www.amazon.com/Russian-Splendor-Sumptuous-Fashions-Court/dp/0847849465