Manicure & Pedicure Set

 

Professional manicures and pedicures are not in my budget.  A long time ago, for about a year, I treated myself to a set of gel nails.  It was an expensive treat.  Once I decided to adopt my girls that was the first thing to go in order to save money up for the expense of adoption.  I have never had them since. 

I had never had a professional pedicure until last summer.  When I mentioned this to a friend of mine she went out and bought me a gift certificate to have one done.  It was heavenly.  She got me another one for my birthday so now I've had two of them. 

When we got ready to move I put together a simple assortment of things for manicures in a zippered cosmetic bad with the idea that I would put more effort into doing my nails.  Since then I've expanded that to include pedicures. 

This is what I have: 

·         Nail clippers

·         Emery boards

·         Cotton balls & swabs

·         Polish remover

·         Nail polish

·         Top coat

·         Foot scrub

·         Lotion

·         Combination foot brush & pumice stone 

Once a month I give myself a pedicure.  I soak my feet in warm water and use my foot scrub (birthday gift from my girls) and brush.  After drying my feet I trim my toe nails and then put on two coats of my favorite red nail polish (a Mother's Day gift from my girls) followed by a coat of clear top coat.  I allow the polish to dry between coats.  After applying the topcoat I put my feet up and relax, watch a TV show on my laptop and enjoy a beverage.  When my program ends I slather my feet with lotion and I'm finished.  I make it an event. 

Once a week I give myself a manicure.  It is a much simpler affair than a pedicure.  I remove my old polish, trim and file my nails and then wash my hands.  After I dry them I apple two coats of clear polish and allow to dry.  Next I put on some hand lotion.  That's it.  I keep my nails rather short and my manicures pretty much fuss free. 

The girls and I will often sit around the table and do each other's nails for fun.  We've even declared a Sunday afternoon as a spa day and we've all had a pedicure.  It makes for a fun event and an excellent time to bond and visit with each other while pampering ourselves. 

A manicure and/or pedicure set would also make a great gift, don’t you think?  So would a gift certificate to have one done professionally. 

Do you indulge in a pedicure from time to time?