Speaking of Splurging
August 28, 2013 | My Jottings
Last Christmas, one of the presents I received from Sara was a gift certificate to the nail salon where she occasionally has her nails done. My fingernails grow quickly and I’m always cutting them, but I decided a couple of weeks ago that eight months was long enough to wait before using my certificate. (The last time I had my nails professionally done was in late 2007.)
Sara told me which nail techs she felt were the best, and I set off one morning for My One Appointment Of The Day. Since my knee replacement surgery, I’ve tried to schedule only one thing each day so I can make resting, icing, elevating and healing a priority. There are actually several days on my calendar that are blank, and those are the days I look toward heaven and say, “Thank you, Lord!” Part hermit, part agoraphobic, I guess.
Anyway, when I arrived at the small nail salon it was packed. There were at least seven people doing nails, and there were five customers before me. Since I had an appointment I only had to wait about 15 minutes, though.
Juan asked me what I wanted done and I told him “a French manicure with gel,” just like Sara recommended. Apparently the gel protects your nail polish from chipping and a manicure can last up to three weeks. Here’s what my nails look like today:
Juan painted the white tips on my fingernails and covered everything with a thick gel, and I like the look! Not too long, not too short, nothing really gaudy. Although I see so many women wear colors on their nails no one wore when I was young! Check out this, and this! I might go have my nails done once again before I fly to Seattle in 22 days for The Second Annual Lupi-Soo Convention, but a manicure isn’t something I would normally fit into my regular schedule or budget, so another six years may pass before I have another one.
If I were to splurge on one thing for myself, I think it would be to have regular massages. I love getting a massage. And I know it’s not just for the pleasure of it anymore — studies show the many benefits of massage and I’m a firm believer in them for mental and physical health reasons. Even just one fifteen minute massage on my knee makes a world of difference. Alas, I don’t splurge on myself much (unless I count the books I buy!), so a professional massage might be on my schedule only once a quarter, if that.
If you could regularly splurge without guilt or concern on one thing for yourself, what would it be? Regular manicures? Weekend getaways? Dining out three times a week? A swimming pool?
I look forward to reading your comments… 🙂
As I’d rather read than eat my one weakness is for books ~ however I love a good massage. It just makes you feel so well & it really helps with migraines. Cait doesn’t give a bad one but if I ever become rich that is likely to be my indulgence. Reading material is an addiction & beyond my control. 😉
Hi Ganeida! I agree with you about how massages make you feel — increased blood supply, flexibility, endorphins, relief, relaxation…so many wonderful benefits there are. And your last sentence? Ditto. xoxo
Julie, I had my nails ‘done’ for the first time ever the day before my daughter’s wedding just over eighteen months ago. The result wasn’t lovely, naturally shaped nails like yours – mine were a horrid, square shape with a very thick disproportional wedge painted on the ends! I was so upset! Being the wimp that I am, I managed to hide my disappointment and hurried home to have a good cry. Two days after the wedding, I managed to clip off most of my nails and then a week later I prised off the ugly things. My rash way of removal meant that my original nails looked awful for six months. Now, if my nails had looked like yours do I would have been delighted. But you know the saying, once bitten twice shy, and I wouldn’t go back!
So what do I regularly splurge on? Well I always have cut flowers in the house (I tend to kill pot plants with either kindness or neglect!) and like Ganeida I love books. Ganeida, do you keep all the books you buy or do you give them away? My bookshelves now cover two walls of our spare bedroom and that’s after I have given quite a few away! What would I like to slurge on? Having a cleaner once a week to help with the chores that I find painful to carry out.
xx
Oh Kay, I think I know what shape nails you mean, and they don’t look normal at all. I would have been disappointed to sit there for so long and have them be anything except what I’d hoped for. I also think fresh flowers in the house bring such a lift. I agree with you too about the cleaner — I have a friend who cleans houses come in every other Wednesday to do my floors and dusting and I don’t know what I’d do without her. (Do it myself I suppose…. 🙂 ) xoxo
Your nails look so beautiful – I love them! My splurge would without a doubt be a massage. I’ve only had a few done, but oh what bliss! I never get them anymore, probably because Doc (my horse) takes any extra money I have, but boy is he worth it!
Thank you Pat! I still would like to come and see Doc sometime soon…. xoxo
Hi Julie!
I too splurge on nails occasionally…feels good to have pretty fingers and toes. I agree with Sara about Juan…he is my absolute favorite tech there. Looking good, Sista!! missing you…see you in a couple of weeks at CBS!
XO
Kay
Hi Kay! It does my heart good to see “Kay in Cornwall” and “Kay in Duluth” leave comments here. I’m sure you two would like each other so much. 🙂 I am so excited for CBS to start up again — see you soon, dear Kay… xoxo
Kay in Cornwall [BTW, we absolutely adored Cornwall, our favourite part of England proper ~ only it isn’t really, is it? Once upon a time it was its own kingdom with its own language. *sigh* Sorry, sidetracking somewhat]
I have given lots of books away ~ I simply ran out of space. However we still have lots & lots of kiddies books in the hope of someday reading them to grandkids even though most of the books are in tatters because I kept the loved ones. Silly because many of them are still in print & replaceable. I also have a large reference library & a very large children’s collection.
I love your idea of a domestic. I should hire a cook. That is one chore I really can’t abide ~ & my whole house knows it! 😀
I’m barging in on your conversation here, Kay and Ganeida…to say that I should hire a cook too. I think I’ll quote you to those in my household: “This is one chore I really can’t abide.” Yawn. I’ll let you know how this goes… xoxo
I’ll let you know how this goes…
Probably not well. lol All the best with that. 😉
Hahahahaha!
Ganeida,
Mur plas ha deth da! (Thanks and g’day!)
🙂
Ok, Kay in Cornwall, I know the last fully Cornish speaker has died [ ;P ] so tell me, is Cornish like Gaelic or Irish [both Celtic languages] or is it more like Welsh? Or is it completely separate? And where did you learn to speak it?
Hello again Ganeida! I thought I had responded to your last comment, but something must have gone wrong with my email.:(
Cornish and Welsh are very similar, in fact they share 65% of language. I’ve been told that many, many years ago Cornwall and Wales were joined by land but although I don’t know if that’s true, it would make a lot of sense regarding the language. When we visit our daughter and son-in-law in Pontypridd, Wales, we feel very much at home. Here in the Duchy, most town signs and road names are given in both Cornish and English. There are quite a few fluent Cornish speakers here, but alas I’m not one of them. I only know a few words/phrases. I tried evening classes but I am most definitely a visual learner and as the classes were predominantly audio I found they didn’t work for me.
You were right in your previous comment that Cornwall used to be a separate kindom. (Kernow bys vykken! – Cornwall forever!) Cornish people are very aware of their identity and as we are only joined to England by a short strip of land there is definitely an island mentality here. One of our favourite words is ‘dreckly’ and a former Cornish M.P. best described its meaning as, ‘dreckly is similar to manyana but without the urgency’! Things move slowly here and we like it this way. 🙂
I’m glad you enjoyed your visit here. Tourism is now our biggest industry, having replaced tin mining. Now if only you and Julie could come here for a visit ….
We must be related because without a doubt I’d pick a maid and massages!
I think we ARE in the same family…last time I checked, I grew you! xoxoxo
Kay in C: How lovely! I know there is a real resurgence of indigenous languages in both Wales, Scotland & Ireland. I have Irish friends whose boys are definitely not language oriented & have not been happy to be stuck with years of learning Irish at school. We’ll blame the demise of these lovely languages on the Saess! 😉
My area of history is pre~Christian Celtic Britain so I am aware of some of the old kingdom boundaries such as parts of the Lake district being under the control of Welsh Kings & that most of Scotland is either Irish or Norse. lol And that Glastonbury was under water at one time.
I should love to come back. My heart’s desire is to be part of a dig at Skara Brae. Fascinating.
We live on a literal island & indeed things move slowly here ~ expect in our house which is a madhouse & mostly reminiscent of Bedlam…
My favorite splurge has something to do with your daughter Carolyn! Miss you Julie…but will be catching up soon!
Hi Sue! You’ve got me stumped! What does Carolyn help you splurge on? I knew Sharon was a splurge inducer, but not Carolyn!