Those of you who follow my Facebook know that Monday I released Softening the Bad Things. Monday's release had 26 bottles (one was for me, so 25 were for sale) and based upon the response it wasn't nearly enough! So many people tried but were unable to grab a bottle so I'd like your input for the next batch!

The bottles that were available for sale at about 2:32PM PST on Monday and by 2:35 all of them were either sold or held in peoples' carts! Wow!! How amazing is that? It seems that Softening the Bad Things really resonated with a lot of people and caused a lot of discussion about mental illnesses and I'm glad to have been part of that.

And now I'd like to hear from you all about your feelings on Softening the Bad Things' second run. Future batches will have their run # marked on the bottom along with their x-of-y (such as 13 of 26) numbering where as the first run had no such marker.

Regarding the $350 donation to NAMI: I'm in the process of collecting the funds from my fellow bloggers who agreed to match the $25 donation and once those are all in I'll be making the donation. Do you remember everyone who was matching that donation? Here's the list again:

• InsomniLacq (me!!)
• Lucky 13 Lacquer (also me!)
• Accio Lacquer
• Nails in Real Life
• The Lazy Laquerista
• Chronically Fantabulous
• Michelle B.
• Penny For Them...
• The Nail Polish Directory
• Jenna C
• Barbara H
• Lacquered Geek

It's nearly time! It's been so hard to wait to release this color the last two weeks but I had to wait until today. Why today? Because today marks the 123rd anniversary of the last day of Vincent van Gogh's life. I felt that, given the message of Softening the Bad Things waiting for such a day was appropriate.

Mental illness affects us all directly and indirectly, whether it's ourselves, our families, our loved ones, or our friends who suffer from the illness.

Personally, my family has a long history of various mental illnesses, and I myself have suffered from varying degrees of depression and anxiety. Thankfully I've mostly gotten these under control but I certainly still struggle with them frequently.

My goal with Softening the Bad Things is twofold: first, to remind those who suffer from depression that every life is a pile of good things and bad things. The good things don't always soften the bad things, but vice-versa the bad things don't necessarily spoil the good things and make them unimportant. My second goal is to work toward a country and a world where mental illnesses such as depression have less of a social stigma. People are not scorned and shunned by others for having a physical illness which they had no choice in developing so why should those with mental illness be any different? Which is why, with the help of the wonderful people listed at the end of this post, we've been able to raise $250 to be donated to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, an advocate group for those suffering from, you guessed it: mental illness.

Should you or a loved one ever be in a situation where suicide feels like the best or only option please call the national suicide prevention lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.

Ok, enough with the serious stuff. How about a lovely painting by Vincent?

And how about an even more appropriate version by Accio Lacquer?

As I mentioned in my announcement post there are only 23 remaining bottles available for sale. My website does not have a cart hold option so checking out sooner really is much better than checking out later. Anyone who has to do multiple orders to get their bottle of StBT will have the shipping overages refunded.

Now, how about a refresher on how this lovely looks?

Should you miss the first run of Softening the Bad Things (or you decide you need a backup bottle or three), fear not! In a couple months I plan on doing a larger second run of this color and I'll be spacing out the restocks across 2 to 3 days and at different hours during the day to allow for people with less flexible schedules to have an opportunity to snag one.

If you are interested in more than one bottle of this please be considerate and only order one right now to allow for others to get one of the first-run bottles. I promise this won't be the only batch I make of these. However, if you're buying for yourself and for a friend that is, of course, totally awesome of you <3

Here is the product page! If you see a drop-down menu that means there are still some available!

Below are the contributors ($25 each) to the NAMI donation.

• Lucky 13 Lacquer (me! But really you! From the extra $1 for each bottle)
• InsomniLacq (also me!!)
• Accio Lacquer
• Nails in Real Life
• The Lazy Lacquerista
• Chronically Fantabulous
• Michelle B.
• Penny For Them...
• The Nail Polish Directory
• Jenna C

Because I have the awesomest fans--nay, friends!--on Facebook I decided to do a flash giveaway today!

The prize will be any currently available L13L in full size! And heck, let's do International too, just for the fun of it. Ready? Go!

Warning: Tons of feelings ahead. Grab a tissue, I'll wait. It'll give this page time to load, too, 'cause I've gone a little overboard with the pictures and gifs.

For over a decade I've suffered from varying degrees of depression. Some days I'm fine, heck some days I'm downright manic, but there are days and weeks at a time where for no reason at all it's a chore simply to get out of bed, make coffee in my Keurig knockoff, and find something to eat. It's on those days that I'm grateful for bottled Starbucks frappuccinos and cold cereal or leftover pizza.

Thankfully, after years of trying different medications and methods I mostly have it under control, but sometimes I still find myself wanting to curl into a ball and hide in a hole.

I recently had a severe depressive episode that I fought like hell to get out of, but I was losing the battle which had gone on for over a week...and then I remembered the Eleventh Doctor's quote from Vincent and the Doctor...and the tears came. I'm still not sure if they were good or bad, but since that day I've been able to remind myself that just because things are bad now doesn't mean they've *always* been bad, nor that they always will be, and it's just a matter of waiting out the storm.

I already have two beautiful reminders of this, and they help a lot. In December my best friend made me the card below (ALL by hand! Using only an X-acto knife, construction paper, and printer paper) and it is simply amazing. It's especially meaningful because she rarely takes the opportunity for creative outlet and I know that she spent literally all day on it while I was at work.

And more recently my new best lacquer friend, Accio Lacquer, made this for me. I'm currently searching for the perfect 4"x6" frame so I can hang it on my wall.

If you'd like the original image to print out yourself click for a larger size.

And though I don't have it yet, this lovely bracelet is currently on my Etsy wishlist, awaiting a time when I have the money to spare to buy jewelry so I can add it to my pile of good things ;-)

Wow, strike that--my wonderful friends have just ordered me one! Accio Lacquer got to me first and mere moments after Nails in Real Life asked for my wrist size!

And now I have another reminder. A reminder inspired by this painting, originally by Vincent Van Gogh and modified ever so slightly by Doctor Who.

I am very happy (see what I did there?) to introduce Softening the Bad Things <3

Softening the Bad Things is a pale blue jelly, as close to the same shade as the background of Van Gogh's painting as I could get, with medium and large gold hex and tiny bronze glitters to represent the sunflowers.

This color is my first numbered Limited Edition. I made 26 bottles of Softening the Bad Things: 16 full size and 10 shortie size. They are each numbered in Van Gogh's own handwriting.

Bottle #1 is already at Accio Lacquer's, she was able to pre-order it to allow time for her to review it. Bottle #13 is mine of course, and bottle #20 is reserved for my mom--come on, how could I say no to Mom when she asked me to hold it for her??

That leaves 14 full size and 9 shortie bottles left for sale which will begin July 29th around 2PM Pacific Time. They will be an extra $1 per bottle and that $25 ($1 extra from 25 bottles) will be donated to NAMI. I will be matching the $25 donation and I am looking for other bloggers/indie makers/people who need an excuse to donate to match the $25 donation as well. I'll list any donation matchers on the product's sale page.

I am considering doing a second run of this polish in the future but since I haven't even officially released this color yet it's still just an idea that's just floating in my head. If these sell out faster than I expect then I'll consider a second run in a few months and the numbered labels will show that it's the second run at that time.

Ok, I'm done being overly verbose. Does anyone else here need a hug? I know I could certainly use one. If anyone ever needs some love from someone who understands depression feel free to leave a comment here, on my Facebook page, or send me a message.

<3

Oh my goodness, it seems I've struck a chord with so many of you. I'll absolutely have to do a second run of this, most likely a larger batch as well. I'm tentatively considering a second run being released mid-September.

You're all wonderful, thank you for your kind words, support, and for sharing your stories with me <3

The time has come! The Femme FaTEAL collection, Revenge is Suede, and Fight Like a Girl (and my new website!) are LIVE!

Be sTEAL My Heart

Flat teal creme without shimmer. Great for jelly sandwiches or as a lovely color by itself.

Femme FaTEAL

Teal jelly with holographic sky blue hex. This would look gorgeous accented (or as an accent) with Life is Short and You are Hot!

InsaTEALable

Medium-dark teal creme with silver and blue shimmer. My personal favorite of the group!

TEAL Me I'm Pretty

Teal jelly with tons of different sizes, shapes, and colors of glitter.

TEAL Me No Lies

Pale blue-leaning teal with a hint of shimmer.

Revenge is Suede

Suede shimmer in a matte base.

Do you still lust after matte suede polishes like the ones OPI made (but are always so darn expensive and hard to find)? Well, now you can make ANY creme polish a matte suede with this topcoat! You can even wear it over a duo-chrome for even more of a unique look!

Want to know the coolest part about Revenge is Suede? I'm sure you all know how notorious matte/suede polishes are for chipping if you so much as look at them the wrong way, right? I wore "real" suede polishes on my thumbs during the testing phase and the nails with Revenge is Suede lasted three days longer than the "real" suedes. I didn't even use a normal topcoat beforehand, either!

These items are all currently for sale in my new and improved shop!!

Revenge is Suede will be a free gift to those who order the entire Femme FaTEAL collection in the first week (so from July 13th to when I wake up July 21st). Revenge is Suede will be available for individual purchase as well, but those who order the entire Femme FaTEAL collection will get Revenge is Suede in whichever size they got the most of for the Femme FaTEAL collection (so 2 fulls and 3 shorties from Femme FaTEAL would mean a free shortie of Revenge is Suede).

All of the beautiful swatches of the teal collection above are courtesy of Accio Lacquer. Go Like her on Facebook so you can see her full review of these lovely teals later today and she will have a review for Revenge is Suede in just a few days!

Fight Like a Girl

Hot pink jelly base with tiny purple shimmer and different sizes and shapes of dark purple glitter.

On a more serious note, my "soul sister", Mandi, a nurse and a wonderful mother, was recently diagnosed with breast cancer. It has developed to a point where the best course of action is a double mastectomy.

Because of the costs involved and because she'll be unable to work while she's recovering I'm doing what I can to support her--and that's spreading awareness and donating 50% of each bottle sold to her, her little boy Skylur (who's almost 5), and her wonderful husband Greg.

Mandi has been through so many difficult times in her life but has never lost her optimism or her beautiful smile. She touches the hearts of so many, she's truly an inspiration to me. I want to be like her when I grow up!! :-)

$4 from every full size and $3 from every shortie will be donated to Mandi. If all you can afford is kind thoughts, prayers, and remembering how cancer affects so many that is help enough <3

Many moons ago (some time back in May, if I recall correctly) I announced I was making an entire collection devoted to that most beloved of green-y/blue-y colors known as TEAL! I was pleased to see that I am not the only one with a teal obsession and now my only hope is that I'm not the only one who loves teal-related puns.

I am pleased to announce the Femme FaTEAL collection is officially scheduled to be released Saturday July 13th! (*confetti, fanfare, flailing with happiness*)

These colors are currently sitting patiently in my official swatcher's room awaiting their moment in the limelight so trust that there will be proper swatches and higher quality macros soon. Most of these teal lovelies were born while I was living in a hotel room as I moved to a new state so it's hard to get high quality photos in such conditions!

And since the Femme FaTEAL collection was originally going to be released in June but upon realizing Lucky 13's birthday was June 13th I decided to instead release the Mischief Managed collection I will be releasing another, very special topper polish on July 13th as well.

Ladies, gentleman, everyone. May I introduce: Revenge is Suede.

Above, 1 coat over...Left hand from index: SpaRitual Basalt, Revlon Midnight, Orly Lucky Duck, Wet n Wild Mint Macaroon. Right hand from index: China Glaze Call of the Wild, Zoya Frida, Anise Urban Jungle, Elixir Lacquer Miss Kitty's Mee-Yow (yes, a suede duochrome!)

Above, 2 coats over the same colors.

Do you all still like matte suede polishes like the ones OPI made (but are always so DARN expensive and hard to find)? Well, now you can make ANY creme polish a suede with this topcoat!

Revenge is Suede will be a free gift to those who order the entire Femme FaTEAL collection in the first week (so from July 13th to when I wake up July 21st). Revenge is Suede will be available for individual purchase as well, but those who order the entire Femme FaTEAL collection will get Revenge is Suede in whichever size they got the most of for the Femme FaTEAL collection (so 2 fulls and 3 shorties would mean a free shortie of Revenge is Suede).

Want to know the coolest part about Revenge is Suede? I'm sure you all know how notorious matte/suede polishes are for chipping if you so much as look at them the wrong way, right? I wore "real" suede polishes on my thumbs for the mani above and the nails with Revenge is Suede lasted three days longer than the "real" suedes. I didn't even use a normal topcoat beforehand, either!