Took my chances on a big jet plane, never let 'em tell you that they're all the same.

Hey, look, another off-topic post!  At least there's one picture of nail stuff in here. 

I'm back home... again.  If you read my post from last week, you may have noticed the part at the end where I said I was going on another trip.  Unlike my crappy fail-vacation in November, this one was actually fun.  So much fun that I'm actually sad to be back here in the windy, frigid, and now shockingly flat-looking midwest. 

It's hard not to want to go back when you wake up to this every morning:

That was the view from my hotel parking lot in lovely San Diego, California.  It was my first time in California and now I understand why people want to live there.  It's gorgeous.  And it has these things:

Normally when Christmastime rolls around, I'm all about snow and cold weather, decorations and Christmas shopping, all that traditional holiday stuff.  This year I just wasn't feeling it at all.  I didn't even put up my Christmas tree!  That never happens.  NEVER.  I am the kind of person who gets really into holidays, so that's saying something.

San Diego was festive in its own charming way, though.  There was a massive Christmas tree accompanied by a snowman made of balloons in the hotel lobby.  There were Christmas lights on palm trees.  And this is what my hotel looked like at night:

 

Is that cute or what?  Oh, by the way, in regards to that hotel... It doesn't get any better than booking your room for half price via Expedia on your cell phone in the hotel parking lot minutes before checking in.  What can I say?  I like to wing it.  It's more fun that way.

I didn't do much polish or makeup wise for my trip, but this is what my nails looked like (and what they still look like currently, just with a lot more tipwear):

OPI Black Onyx, OPI Silver Shatter, Gelous topcoat.  And a crab.

I know I probably shouldn't have picked up that crab, but it was so cute.  It was the first time I'd seen one in the wild!  Not only that, but the first time I'd seen (and touched) the Pacific ocean.  First tide pool.  Lots of firsts on this trip. 

I didn't just choose San Diego as a random vacation destination, though.  At least one part of my trip was planned.  That part was this:

(This is not my video, by the way; all credit goes to Witherwings7 on Youtube!)

I could go on and on about how awesome that was, but I'll spare you (unless you actually want to hear about it?).  The best part about that was that not only did I get to go to both nights of the show, I got to meet the band TWICE.  Best Christmas present I could have hoped for.  I guess that's what happens when you buy gifts for yourself, you always know exactly what to get.  Haha!

So, yeah, I took a much longer blogging break than I wanted or intended to, but I think I needed it.  I figured if there actually was some sort of apocalyptic event this month, would I rather have spent more time taking pictures of my own hands, or spending more time having fun with family and friends and doing things I don't normally get a chance to do?

But, after all this end-of-year holiday stuff is over, I should be settling back in and catching up on blog stuff.  The last couple of months have been unusually busy for me and I've been spending most of my free time working on music and writing, so not much time (or daylight) for me to devote to swatching. 

Once again, thanks for continuing to read my blog.  I hope you all had an amazing holiday and I wish you the best for 2013!