How Do You Pamper Yourself?

Recently, I was on Dru's blog and she mentioned getting a manicure. I have never had a professional manicure in my life and I often wondered if it was as nice an experience as it looked.

I work with my hands. Whether it's digging in dirt, painting on canvas, or refinishing furniture, my hands are always into something, so a manicure feels like it would be lost on me. As a matter of fact, I have a badly damaged middle finger that will never look normal again. (I lost a fight with a giant workshop door.)

My other problem is my inconvenient work ethic. I was taught that reward comes after the labor. Unfortunately, (and all mothers know this too) work is never done. There is always something to do around here. So in my twisted sense of logic, I never earn the right to pamper myself.

But I am willing to mend my ways. Honest! I just need to do it in baby steps.

My mother admonishes me constantly about not taking care of myself. She regularly partakes in massages, facials, manicures and fine wines. The woman is near 80 and looks absolutely fabulous. Her skin is luminous, she can walk at a pretty good clip, and her wit is sharp.

All I got going for me is my wit---and I only have half of that left.

I keep promising myself that I'll get a massage or a facial. I look longingly at my couch and think how nice it would be to take a nap in the middle of the day. I even bought bath salts once in the hopes I'll take a nice hot soak. But do I do any of these things?

Phhhhht!

Physical labor is pabulum to me. Greg will tell you (we argued about this only yesterday) that about this time of year I start bouncing off the walls because I am not as active as I normally am. During the winter, I am more sedentary. My jobs consist of things that can be done indoors. Good for writing. Not good at relieving my pent-up energy.

So help me live vicariously through you. What do you do to pamper yourself?

What can I try that will only take 10-15 minutes of my time? Maybe I can start slow and work my way up. *g*

Dogs know how to relax anywhere, any time.
They are way smarter than me.


Comments

Dru saidā€¦
I would start with a manicure with no polish which should take less than 15 minutes.

I remember when I was gifted with a body massage and a facial and let me tell you that I went in with anxiety and came out with more stress- so I know a massage or facial is not for me.

Having a manicure/pedicure is probably the only girlie pampering that I would do and it was a nice experience as they took care of all that I would never take care of.

Go ahead...get that manicure.
Maria Zannini saidā€¦
Ref: I would start with a manicure with no polish which should take less than 15 minutes.

Really? I always thought they took longer than that. My nails are so short right now.

My hands have been in more hot water than Tiger Woods was with his wife. :o)
Sherri saidā€¦
I've only had a full body massage and a facial once. The massage was heavenly but I was too stuffed up with a cold to enjoy the facial. The only time I've ever had manicures (if you can call it that) was as part of getting acrylic nails back when that was important, LOL (aka before husband and kids).

Now, a pedicure is my thing. I do what they call the mini-pedi's here -- takes about half an hour not counting polish drying time. While I'd love to do this every week or even every other week, I only go in every 6 to 8 weeks due to dollars.

On the cheap...a long soak in the tub with a glass of wine and a good book. And that's something I can fit in as often as the kids stay out of my bedroom, LOL.
Mike Keyton saidā€¦
Pampering? We're talking about sleep here. Churchill and other activity freaks swore by the regular cat-nap. Mind you, his drinking habit probably helped too.
Maria Zannini saidā€¦
Sherrie: I would love to do the tub more often, but it is too long. LOL. I'm not kidding. I keep slipping under and drowning.

I have to invite Greg in to keep my head above water.
Maria Zannini saidā€¦
Mike: I do believe in cat naps, unfortunately, I'm one of those people who can't sleep at night if I take even a little nap.

So I have a choice. Nap now or sleep later.
Marian Perera saidā€¦
Not much point in getting a manicure when you're doing medical laboratory science either. :) Tomorrow I'll be embedding bits of tissue in hot wax - not sure what that would do to a manicure.

My way of pampering myself is to get into a warm bed with a library book and something hot and un-nutritious to eat. Spicy Thai food would be perfect.
Maria Zannini saidā€¦
Marian: Hey, now that's something I can do. Love Thai food!
Marianne Arkins saidā€¦
I don't bother with manicures -- like you, I use my hands too much. NOW... a pedicure? YEAH, bay-bee, and it feels so much more like "pampering" than a manicure does, lol.

You can do your own facials -- it's easy peasy. In fact, I think I'll have to do an all natural facial for my H&H blog... hmmm...
Maria Zannini saidā€¦
Write the post! I can do a facial--I think.

I don't think I can do a pedicure. My feet are ticklish.