Thursday, May 17, 2007

Decadence

Maybe you will not be able to ascertain, but to the left is a picture of decadence. Until Luke and Frema's wedding, I had experienced one professional manicure. When Luke and Frema were married last May, I had my nails manicured for the second time in my almost sixty years. Last November, I had another manicure and my first pedicure. You see, once you start down the path of destruction there is no stopping along the way.

In December, Luke and Frema generously provided a gift certificate for the State of Mind Salon and Day Spa. I used the gift to have another pedicure and ...acrylic nails. Now, you are realizing how my demise continues. After years of sporting broken, uneven, and colorless nails, I am setting aside hours to have acrylic fills with sordid colors like I am Really Not A Waitress, 25 Colorful Years, Smokin' in Havana, and Jewel of India. I loved everything about these phony nails. I liked the exotic colors, the clicking sound of the falsies on my keyboard, and the lovely shape of each nail created by the expert manicurist. However, as summer looms in the future, I decided that it was time to go natural. Additionally, I have had a few accidents with the fake nails. Finally for summer, my decadent self yearns to have painted toenails and the luxurious foot massages that is an integral of each pedicure. My problem is although I can afford to have both manicures and pedicures, my frugal (cheap) self does not easily spend money on such frivolities.

Perhaps, you thinking what a crazy old lady. The picture does not show acrylic nails or a finely pedicured foot. However, those plain, colorless, and stubby nails cost $102.00. Granted that amount includes an eyebrow waxing (another decadence), Nail Envy, a nail strenghtener, Solar Oil, a cuticle revitalizer, as well as tips for the manicurist and the eyebrow wax technician. Most of cost was dedicated for the soaking, scraping, and removing the fake nails. So you see this is a picture of decadence; decadence I tell you.

19 comments:

Margaret said...

You have beautiful hands. If I could change only one thing about myself, it would be my hands. I don't take very good care of them, and it shows. I am like you though; my dad is Scottish and grew up in the Depression, so I have frugal genes!

Pamela said...

My hands were old lady hands when I was six. I kid you not.

I tried acrylic nails and was allergic to them.

I would love a nice pedicure, tho

Momentary Madness said...

Divine decadence as Lisa Minelli as Sally said in Cabaret
"What good is sitting alone In your room?
Come hear the music play.
Life is a Cabaret, old chum,
Come to the Cabaret"

Frema said...

I am already planning for my first pedicure of the summer. Maybe it'll be tomorrow!

Beccy said...

What beautiful nails (however they're achieved). I would love to have a manicure (had one before my wedding) and a pedicure (never had one. I went to a day spa once and had a head massage which was bliss.

daddy d said...

What a joy it is to hold those hands. The color of the nails does not matter. Joy is joy.

Sunshine said...

I used to have acrylic nails for a long time, it was one extravagence I allowed myself. Then my "cheap" self kicked in and I haven't had them in years, it seemed so crazy to spend $60 a month getting the fills, I started thinking of all the other things I could do with that money instead.
Besides, having four kids means my hands stay pretty beat up, I'd just be breaking them all the time now anyway!
However, I am ALL ABOUT the pedicure, get them whenever humanly possible, which ends up being maybe twice a year!
I think your nails look lovely: clean, shiny, healthy!

Barbara said...

I went down a similar path of decadence starting about 3 years ago. First massage, first manicure, first pedicure, first acupuncture, etc. I have no regrets. I just wish I had started experiencing these things a little sooner. (I'm also approaching 60.)

It's nice to feel good about your nails and yours certainly look nice!

willowtree said...

Well at least I guess it beats a Brazilian.

Mother of Invention said...

I'm ashamed of my nails because..i quite often bite them! They just get to a nice length and then I give in to temtation. Yours are beauty. Thanks for stopping by my blog. I was a gr. 6 and 6/7 teacher for 10 years and then Gr. 2/3 for the next 16. I'm on a leave for 2 years until I retire. very stressful job. My nails were really biten then!!!

Anonymous said...

They look beautiful....it's not decadence unless you have it done EVERY week.

Anonymous said...

You have pretty hands, with or without the long and colorful nails. Besides, it's what you do with them that is important and yours seem to be into some pretty meaningful stuff. I am one of those people with terribly weak nails. I have had acrylics a few times but always have to have them removed because they tend to make my nails even weaker. My daughter and I are heading on over for a pedicure or four, though. Thanks for that tip.

Daddy D - your comment is the best. Joy is joy!

Anonymous said...

I'm so rough on my hands that the thought of spending that much for a day or so of pretty drives me nuts.

Does dye stains count as being pretty??? lol

riseoutofme said...

Aren't you worth it???

Decadence shmeckadence.

Biddie said...

That is decadence! I have a difficlut time spending money on myself, but when I do, it is usually on my hair.
I think that you should enjoy every minute of it. You deserve it!

savannah said...

thanks for stopping by! i'm all for pedicures in the summer, too...as a public service gesture... ;)


anyway, life is too short not to have dessert first or manicures/pedicures, if you want them!

Beth said...

You really do have lovely hands. I take my daughter for manicures, but I'm yet to get one. I spend so much time digging in the dirt, I'd ruin it and never forgive myself. =)

Liz said...

Loverly!

I'd never had either a pedicure nor manicure prior to my own wedding in 2000. And I think I went another 5 years before I hit the nail salon again. My nails are, quite simply, a disgrace.

In my final months of pregnancy, I treated myself to a weekly pedicure. More for the pampering aspect of it all than the vanity.

Right about now? It's all about the 30 minutes to myself!

Good for you fr treating yourself...they look fabu! [[also? heart the comment from daddy d. gah!]]

Jenn in Holland said...

Good for you for the indulgence in decadance. I share that love for a good foot rub but also suffer from the cheap bug. It's hard for me to spend my money that way very often. But when I do, I really appreciate it!