FingerNailFixer

Looking Back at 2017 — With Gratitude

by Holly Schippers | December 29, 2017 | Bookmark +
This is a group of my class attendees in Long Beach. How many attendees do you recognize?

This is a group of my class attendees in Long Beach. How many attendees do you recognize?

Have we already come to the end of 2017? Where has the year gone and how has yours been? This year was one that reminded me time and time again of all the things I have to be thankful for. If you’ll indulge me, I would like to do a review and thank some of the people who made it possible.

NTP Nail Cruise 2017

NTP Nail Cruise 2017

January 2017 began with an attempt at being slightly healthier for the coming year. I have managed to make exercise part of my week at least three-to-five days and walking a mile has become easier. It was so cool to attend the Grand Opening of Wildflowers Nail Academy. What an honor to be there for one of the many milestones that Lauren has achieved. After the opening it was time for the NTP Nail Cruise. With a shooting occurring at the airport as many of the cruise attendees were arriving, it became an eye-opening moment to be grateful for the many things we are all lucky enough to have — including the chance to go on the cruise. The end of January brought my first appearance at ISSE Long Beach as a guest artist of the show itself. To make it even more exciting, Jessey from mylably.com broadcast the class live online! The highlight of January was becoming a Contributing Editor for NAILS Magazine! Have you seen any of the pieces I’ve written this past year? Your feedback would be appreciated and ideas for future stories welcome.

This teal Kupa manipro is helping me expand my knowledge base.

This teal Kupa manipro is helping me expand my knowledge base.

February brought a shock into my professional life: I acquired a Kupa Manipro Passport, which is an e-file. This is something I had not envisioned for myself; however, I felt like knowing and understanding more about e-files would give me valuable insight that would allow me to answer a broader range of questions. To see the journey just search for #efilechronicles and try not to laugh so hard you hurt yourself! The second month of the year also kicked off a series of 12 social media posts that nail professionals could save or copy and paste for client education. If you missed them, the information is still relevant and would make great posts to kick off the new year.

I created this look for the #profilesbackstage monthly swag.

I created this look for the #profilesbackstage monthly swag.

March showcased the rest of the educational social media posts, in addition to ABS in Chicago. That was an exciting show for me as I had the chance to do nails for the editors at Modern Salon magazine. It was so much fun to give them “fun” nails that they had seen at shows or on social media yet not had the opportunity to experience. March was also when I had the chance to create a design for the Profiles Girls’ monthly Swag. It was challenging and exhilarating to try coming up with a look others would enjoy creating.

Winning first-place in gel-polish at Nailympia.

Winning first-place in gel-polish at Nailympia.

Right after ABS was the Best Lil Nail Show Texas in April. This was an exciting show for the industry as it brought in the international competition, Nailympia. To support Nailympia, I entered the gel-polish competition. To let all of you see what it felt like to compete, it was also broadcast live on the NAILS Magazine Facebook page! The first-place win came as a total surprise and made my whole weekend! All of the entries in all of the categories were fabulous! You should definitely look back at some of the fantasy work — it was mind-blowing to see all the details in person.

May saw the last of the 12 social media education posts. If you missed them, here are the links for all 12:

Week 1: Let’s Educate Our Clients
http://www.nailsmag.com/blogpost/117755/lets-stand-up-for-our-industry-by-educating-our-clients

Week 2: Single-Use Implements
http://www.nailsmag.com/blogpost/117877/week-2-social-media-post-single-use-implements

Week 3: Disinfection Liquids
http://www.nailsmag.com/blogpost/117934/week-3-social-media-post-disinfection-liquids

Week 4: Foot Files
http://www.nailsmag.com/blogpost/118008/week-4-social-media-post-foot-files

Week 5: Marketing Buzz Words
http://www.nailsmag.com/blogpost/118057/week-4-social-media-post-marketing-buzz-words

Week 6: Nails Don’t Breathe
http://www.nailsmag.com/blogpost/118066/week-6-social-media-post-nails-dont-breathe

Week 7: The Truth About Nail Damage
http://www.nailsmag.com/blogpost/118119/week-7-social-media-post-the-truth-about-nail-damage

Week 8: Don’t Shave Before Pedicures
http://www.nailsmag.com/blogpost/118176/week-8-social-media-post-dont-shave-before-pedicures

Week 9: UV Lamp Safety
http://www.nailsmag.com/blogpost/118257/week-9-social-media-post-uv-lamp-safety

Week 10: No Magic Products for Healthier Nails
http://www.nailsmag.com/blogpost/118286/week-10-social-media-post-no-magic-products-for-healthier-nails

Week 11: Don’t Buff Ridges
http://www.nailsmag.com/blogpost/118310/week-9-social-media-post-dont-buff-ridges

Week 12: Soaking the Nails
http://www.nailsmag.com/blogpost/118367/week-12-social-media-post-soaking-the-nails

Mid-May was my second attempt at a 5k for the year in an effort to be a little more healthy. While not being able to do every bit of it was disappointing, making it further in that one than the first one was a great feeling. My plan is to go all the way through a 5k in 2018. How did you do this year in your own attempts to put a little effort into taking care of yourself?

Remembering mentor Debbie Doerrlamm

Remembering mentor Debbie Doerrlamm

The June staple is Premiere Orlando, which is always hot. Yet in spite of the melting feeling, a good time can be had by all. The weekend must-do is definitely the NAILS Networking Social which has come so far from the days of the BeautyTech BBQ on a small patio. The tradition lives on through NAILS Magazine while getting bigger and better every year. Debbie Doerrlamm, the founder and creator of BeautyTech, nail networking, and the BBQ left earth in 2017, which was heartbreaking. If you are a nail professional, chances are good she touched your life in some way via the six degrees of separation. For example, she played a huge part in my pursuing education in nails, being active online, and more; therefore if you are reading this blog, she touched your life! Another reminder how grateful I need to be for my career was spending most of June teaching in New Zealand. It is a beautiful place with talented and wonderful nail professionals.

In July I returned to the states in time for the Nail Tech Event of the Smokies in Gatlinburg. After all the years of attending, I finally got to see a bear in person! July flowed into August which brought another tragic loss to the industry when Amanda Lenher passed. She was a talented competitor who was willing to help anyone better themselves. You can find one of her last tutorials on NAILS TV. In September I had the honor of being invited back to The Nail Hub for an interview. Even bigger news is that The Nail Hub has become the official podcast for NAILS Magazine! To finish out September there was a pedicure by Nellie Neal that we broadcast live on the NAILS Facebook while taking viewer questions.

Sunset at Nail Camp

Sunset at Nail Camp

October is the time for #nailcamp, officially known at the Northwest Nail Tech Retreat. This is easily one of my favorite events with its unique style, location, and atmosphere. I was able to get some additional information and blogs on e-files for those following the #efilechronicles. As keynote speaker, I covered #naileyes with the hope of giving the professionals attending ideas for unending inspiration.

November brought my very first, very own nail table for the salon! I’m so in love with it and feel pretty special working at it. With the end of the year approaching it’s a good time to reflect on all those whom I am so thankful to for being a part of my journey.

Thank you to my family for making it possible to do what I do. Thank you to my amazing clients who allow me to learn and play on them. Thank you to CND and NAILS Magazine for the honor of being part of your teams. Thank you, yes YOU reading this blog who inspire me to be a better nail professional and educator so that we can elevate the industry together. Thank you to all those that touch my life and make it a better place by being a part of it.

May the coming year be everything you could ever hope for and more. Continue to pursue education, chase nail perfection, and be the best you that you can be every day. I wish you good health, prosperity, and the satisfaction of a job well done!

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