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10.16.2007 :: handy
as always, click picture to be whisked to flickr land
My hands are a wreck. And that has nothing to do with the wonderful flower photo. Flowers courtesy of my neighbor. I kept driving by that combo of daisy on dahlia and had to run back out there today to take it's photo. Anyway, my hands. They always have been quite the trainwreck, skin-wise. My skin is dry, flaky and I get those annoying and painful cracks. Every winter I think I have found the cure, kind of like when people see the Virgin Mary on their toast, I guess. Just wishful thinking.
In the whole "take care of my hands" fling, I have been wanting to get a manicure. Just because. I find myself saying things like "hey, I deserve it" a lot lately. Don't make me justify myself because I will. But the thought of entering those walmart type of nail salons that have invaded every street corner in town just makes me run cold. You know the salons, you can smell the toxic smells about a mile away? How can that be good for anyone?
The internets sometimes does wonderful things because when I searched for nail salons in my town, one looked a bit different, Bodiscience. Now, I admit to some it looking all mumbo jumbo-ey and all, but am I alone in thinking that a Warm Stone Hand Treatment sounds wonderous? Or even just the Hand Treatment complete with hydrating the delicate skin of my hands? All that and a manicure too?
I have an appointment on Thursday. Unfortunately they don't recommend polish after having the warm stone treatment so I'll have to go back for that another day. Oh, and they do not do the fake nails so the smell will not be toxic in there.
I may have to fight off a bit of mumbo jumbo but it seems promising and sometimes a little fight is worth it, right?
(I'll let you know...)
(I'll have good looking hands right in time for Rhinebeck. Coincidence? Not)
I also had a dream last night that I hired a Cleaning couple to clean my house. They did a great job too. I woke up feeling refreshed and not overwhelmed.
Hey, I can dream, can't I?
Posted by Sandy on 10.16.2007 AT 04:47 PM
Comments
You DO deserve it - and I agree with Claudia. Toes get polished. :o)
I guess I'm lucky that my local mani/pedi place does the fake nails but uses some magical substance that doesn't stink so no headaches (thank God).
Posted by: JessaLu on 10.17.2007 AT 09:46 PM
Nail polish on fingernails is highly overrated, IMHO. Go for the toes.
Detailed description of warm stoney goodness on Friday, please.
Posted by: claudia on 10.17.2007 AT 09:18 PM
Now that sounds like a right proper salon. I won't even walk into one of those other salons. The germs would make your skin crawl. I don't mind spending a little extra money knowing that I'm going to a place where people know more about my hands than what color nail polish will look best with my shoes. Sounds like you are in good hands.
I suffer in the same way. The cracked knuckles, the dry flaky skin, it's a family curse. I have tried everything too. Last winter my fingers were so dried out I poked my knitting needle right into my finger. Ow!
Oh and of course you deserve it.
Posted by: Tracey on 10.17.2007 AT 12:46 PM
The hand treatment sounds wonderful. I also use Watkins salve for hands (we call it miracle salve)
Posted by: Angie on 10.17.2007 AT 10:59 AM
I agree with Cookie- get the kids to help with the cleaning. No reason why Mom has to do it all. My daughter is responsible for a few things each week and it helps a LOT! I'm now working on the boys. Of course, at their age I'd be happy if their aim was better (if you know what I mean!).
Enjoy your spa treatment. Sounds wonderful!
Posted by: Annie on 10.17.2007 AT 07:26 AM
I had that trouble, and took a small dose of Zinc. Small dose because zinc can be hard on the stomach. That healed the cracks. And I used Bag Balm on my hands at bedtime. I would warm it in a small dish in hot water...it felt good rubbing it in. Hope it works for you.
Posted by: Mariann in TX. on 10.17.2007 AT 12:26 AM
I thought having bad hands was normal. o.0 Have you looked into those paraffin hand spas? I have one and it's just heavenly.
Ya know, you could have a couple of cleaners. Live-in even. Your kids. ;^)
Posted by: Cookie on 10.16.2007 AT 10:57 PM
Sounds promising! I have to admit that I don't like wearing nail polish, so on the rare occasions (okay, two) that I actually had a manicure, I only got polish once. The other time I just asked to have my nails buffed. There's something about the extra-thick feeling of having polish on my nails, it throws me off when I'm trying do things, like, oh, say, typing or knitting?? (grin)
Posted by: --Deb on 10.16.2007 AT 10:27 PM
We can always dream. Have you tried Bag Balm?
Posted by: Lucia on 10.16.2007 AT 10:21 PM
Soooooo, your hands will be all pretty and mine will be their usual mess. How is that FAIR?! :)
Posted by: Norma on 10.16.2007 AT 10:01 PM
Lanolin is great for hands, especially knitters' hands! If you check out the baby products section at Walgreens, you will find a product in a purple tube/box called Lansinoh. It's marketed for nursing mothers, but it is also great for chapped and cracked hands, blisters, and minor burns. Put some on your hands, stick some nice wool socks over them, and let it work overnight!!
Posted by: Jenn on 10.16.2007 AT 09:50 PM
My hands have been a mess for years. Finally I found 2 things that work. Heal My Hands (www.healmyhands.com - no affiliation, just love) and a parafin wax contraption I got for Christmas a few years ago. My hands have never looked better.
Posted by: Heather on 10.16.2007 AT 08:53 PM
Sounds wonderful!
I use aquaphor by eucerin every night before going to bed. Yes, it's expensive, but my hands thank me for it. I used to get the cracking, bleeding and splitting, plus my nails used to break easily. Now, no problems.
And it is NOT the same as using petroleum jelly. The ingredients are completely different.
I'll show you how soft my hands are when I find you on Saturday! You're on my bingo card. :)
Posted by: Sunflowerfairy on 10.18.2007 AT 12:33 PM