I love going for my monthly facial and mani/pedi.
I try to go every 4 to 5 weeks.
Making a plan is key
I put it on my calendar early, so that it’s harder to let other things get in the way.
I know I’m very lucky to be able to do this on a monthly basis.
My husband very sweetly always says he knows my monthly facial and mani/pedi is important to me and he wants me to “feel as pretty as I am.”
Something to look forward to
I look forward to this day every month!
Not just because my appointments help me to feel prettier and keep my skin healthier and younger looking but because I look forward to seeing these ladies that have become my friends!
I always start my day with Ms. Jenny for a mani/pedi and then I see Courtney for a facial.
Both ladies are excellent at what they do and in my opinion, are top of their field!
First stop, nails
With Ms. Jenny, I get acrylic powder for extra strength along with gel polish.
A week or two before my next appointment, I usually start thinking about possible colors and designs that I might like for that particular month, then I google the ideas and see if I can find photos.
Most often, I do find something similar to my idea on google and then I send the photo ideas to Ms. Jenny and ask her if she can make it work.
This month, I didn’t really have any ideas and I thought I might just get my favorite bright pink, neon pink or neon orange.
Then one evening my husband and I had an impromptu discussion about the up coming July 4th holiday.
We talked about what the 4th of July means to each of us and whether or not we would celebrate in some way this year.
To me, the 4th of July reminds me of happy summer weekends with my father when my brother and I were young; carnivals, parades where they threw candy to the crowds, outdoor barbecues, fireworks and chasing lighting bugs…
As an adult, every summer, I think I don’t mind rather I see fireworks or not, and yet, if I miss them, I always feel like I’ve missed the summer.
After this discussion, my husband asked me if I would be asking Ms. Jenny to paint fireworks on my nails.
I had never thought of this! In fact, I’ve never even painted my nails red, white and blue. This got me thinking… and googling 4th of July nails.
This is what Ms. Jenny and I decided on…
Aren’t they adorable?!? I absolutely love them!
Second Stop, facial
From Ms. Jenny’s studio, I go to Jordan Thomas Salon and Spa for a facial with Courtney.
Courtney and I catch up a little and then talk about my skin.
She asks me if I have any skin care problems or concerns.
I think it’s fair to say that most of the time, I don’t have any big concerns, just occasional dryness and breakouts.
Recently, like many other people, I’ve had a lot of problems in the mask area. Wearing a mask makes you sweat, dries out your skin and causes break outs.
After we talk about any problems or concerns I might have, I get comfortable and Courtney begins my facial.
We talk more as she gets started and then she takes a good look at my skin. From here, she discusses optional treatments and I usually go with her recommendations, because she definitely knows what my skin needs better than I do!
A week before my facial, I accidentally got a bad Sunburn. When checking my skin, Courtney saw that my skin was sensitized from the sun, so she went with a calming facial.
She used the Bioelements Sensitive Skin Cleanser and Image Ageless Cleanser. After that, she chose an enzymatic exfoliater because of the sensitivity.
She then pressed hyaluronic and antioxidant enhancers into my skin and followed this with a lymphatic drainage massage using hazelnut oil and aromatouch essential oil by Doterra on my neck and shoulders to relax sore muscles.
Lastly, she used the Vital C Hydrating Enzyme Mask to get my skin hydrated while she preformed a hand and arm massage using Extremely Emollient Body Lotion from Bioelements.
Facials are so relaxing and they leave my skin feeling amazing, I absolutely recommend them!
You can choose the facial that fits best with your needs and your budget.
Speaking of choices…
The same day as my self care appointments this month, the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade.
While I would never want to use my blog as a political platform, I just want to say how deeply disappointed I am about this and I’d like to share my story about choice…
When I became pregnant with my son, I had never been to a gynecologist before so I went to one that was recommended by a friend.
I had to wait a month for the appointment. The day finally came and I met with the doctor. We talked, she did an exam and some tests.
A few days later, the doctor called me at work and said that I needed to have an abortion immediately. That if I did not have an abortion, my infant or I, or both of us, would die in childbirth and if my child did survive, he or she would be severely disabled.
I was devastated!
But I wanted my child more than anything…
After a week of tears and anguish, I went back to the doctor, asked her a question and told her my decision.
I asked her if there was any chance of my child being healthy? She said it was a slim chance.
So, I told her my answer. I told her that I would rather die than abort my child.
She was very angry with me and said that she refused to be my doctor and that I needed to find another doctor immediately.
There is more to the story, but the point is this…
I HAD A CHOICE
My son just turned 30 last Saturday and I am thankful everyday that I made the choice that I did.
A wise gypsy lady once told me that I would meet the man of my dreams and that my third marriage would be the marriage I always wanted. That he would not let me down like my first two husbands did.
She was right.
But my son is the owner of my heart.