The groom's cake in Steel Magnolias was a red velvet cake in the shape of an armadillo.

At my cousin's wedding last summer that was the groom's cake: [link]

She's sickish and didn't want to get up, wouldn't be bribed or cozened or bullied into it, just sobbed and raged and went simultaneously corpse-rigid and boa constrictor-squirmy, and finally just howled at me in helpless fury.

That's sort of how I wanted to greet the day. But the cat wasn't having any, so I had coffee instead. Perhaps Matilda would do better with a nice cup of Sumatran?

While we're talking nails, anyone have a product rec or two for nails that peel? I've been keeping mine short and using OPI's Nail Envy as a base coat, but the peeling will not stop. And I can't resist peeling them. Will consider another base coat or pills.

Stop using Nail Envy (long-term use will hose your nails and make them brittle) in favor of just a plain base coat. File the edges of them using a glass/crystal file *or* a four-way buffer.

Stop using Nail Envy (long-term use will hose your nails and make them brittle) in favor of just a plain base coat.

NOW you tell me.

File the edges of them using a glass/crystal file *or* a four-way buffer

I don't file them, period. Gives me the heebie-jeebies. I just clip them.

Groom's cakes are typically done in a fashion to show a hobby or something of the groom. In my family we have had: a NASCAR track with die cast cars on it, a putting green, a big mouth bass, and an open Bible with a favorite verse on it.

Today is going slow. I'm having a really hard time getting back into the swing of things here. I just feel off synch.

Today is going slow. I'm having a really hard time getting back into the swing of things here. I just feel off synch.

Sorry.

I've cut out drinking coffee, but I decided to create a "Monday morning exception." So I feel good (for as long as the caffeine stays in my brain, at least).

Crap. I need to toss out my Nail Envy, too. I only use it sometimes. Mostly I use Nailtique for a basecoat.

Cash, what colors do you generally wear? If you're more a neutrals girl, Essie'd be right up your alley.

I'm mostly neutral/reds. Sometimes I shake it up but it depends on the length of my nails. I still have problem with chipping. Once the polish chips, it usually takes some of the nail with it and I have to file down. I need a really good, no-chip polish.

Nail peeling was a big reason I stopped painting mine. I felt like I was doing too much damage.

But even unpainted, they look like wrecks. I'm trying to maintain good calcium in my diet, but it doesn't seem to be enough.

My sister was seduced by a Southern accent (at least once) while we were in NO. Sunday breakfast took forever because of her infatuation with our server's drawl. Not only did she keep calling him over for every little excuse, she drew out everything he said into a conversation about his dinner last night or other details. My god, I hope I don't see myself in her. But I totally do. We're terrible cougars.

On my (thankfully direct) flight back to LA (no more United, please), I had another seatmate making physical contact. Except this time, no trauma. In fact, I didn't process it until halfway through the flight that we'd been sitting pressed up against each other the whole time so far. Difference being this was a really nice guy who gave up the last apple juice for me and held my bags while I sat down and didn't stick his elbow in my stomach.

Still, it was kinda weird and I did pull away when I realised it, in case I was the one being odd.

When I was a lifestyle editor, I once received a wedding account that said, "The groom's cake was in the form of a truck, a symbol of the groom's profession."

My nails shred and split and my cuticles are always ragged. I use clippers because I am inept with files, plus they seem to add to the shredding. I gave up any ambitions beyond "enough fingernail to be functional" long ago.

When we moved I did a major polish culling. Figuring that I tend to pay for manicures more than paint my own. Well, nail services out here are more expensive so I have been limiting my paid manicures and have started a new collection of polish.

I even came home from vacation with 3 new bottles to add. I only bought one (an almost black but it is really green color from OPI). The others came from Lee (THANKS again!).

I wish I knew the name of the current polish - I didn't pay attention enough when I had them done. I'm pretty sure it is OPI. It is a dark but shiney blue.