Beginner's Luck

I have benefited from Beginner's Luck on many occasions: the first time I was introduced to Munchkin; the first (and only) time I played squash; the first time I made coffee at home. If I ever take this super power to the casino I will undoubtedly leave very happy - the first time.

My Beginner's Luck also extends to my nail life. If I test a design, it never turns out as well on game day as it does in practice. One example: I painted a portrait of my friend's puppy on my own nails before I painted him on her nails.

Pictured: One Good Doggo

That je ne sais quoi is missing from the final version that is effortlessly there in the first attempt.

And then sometimes I will redo looks just because I convince myself I can do better. And then I prove to myself that I cannot. I'll think I want to change one detail - the colour palette, the juxtaposition - but the second version is always second-rate. Example:

Just the right amount of sophisticated yet playful

For this look in particular, I loved the design but did not like the colour story. So I thought maybe monochrome would be the way to go - but it still wasn't right.

Blue and blue colour scheme

Then I thought, maybe a more fall-appropriate colour palette would be the answer:

Fall-inspired bad decision

Lesson learned: practice does NOT make prefect! First time's a charm.

After showing my financé each version of this look, he told me I was a fool to question my instincts. He said the first one was the best one. Beginner's Luck, always.