Tuesday was a mini-spa day for me. Over my lunch hour, I got a great pedicure. (And I’ve already almost adjusted to my “Cherry Crush” colored toenails, after two or three years of “Plum Attraction.”)
Then after work, I got a massage for the first time in over a year. Ahhh… It can be a challenge to find a massage place that doesn’t use scented products, so I was very happy when Ikisti mentioned that a place in our neighborhood should be suitable – and it was!
Of course, since Ancient Realms uses light olive oil for its massages, I had to shower the minute I arrived home because my Chaos Kitty lurves him some olive oil and I didn’t fancy being licked, gnawed, and mauled for the rest of the evening!
What sorts of things do you do for yourself when you need some pampering?
Reading Update
Beyond the Highland Mist, The Highlander’s Touch, Kiss of the Highlander, The Dark Highlander, The Immortal Highlander, and Spell of the Highlander (The Highlander Series, Books 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, & 7) by Karen Marie Moning. *fans self* Moning writes very readable, very steamy time traveling romances.
Powers of Detection: Stories of Mystery & Fantasy edited by Dana Stabenow. This was an excellent collection of short stories combining both fantasy and mystery. It includes stories by Anne Perry, Sharon Shinn, Donna Andrews, Dana Stabenow, and even a Sookie Stackhouse story by Charlaine Harris.
Evermore: A novel of the Darkyn by Lynn Viehl. This vampire series is slowly growing on me…
Greywalker and Poltergeist (Greywalker, Books 1 & 2) by Kat Richardson. What’s not to like about a protagonist who has a pet ferret named Chaos? 🙂 This well-written paranormal/urban fantasy series (very light on the romance) is set in Seattle.
No Rest for the Witches by MaryJanice Davidson, Lori Handeland, Cheyenne McCray, and Christine Warren. No particular surprises in this collection of stores about witches and sex, erm, “love”… other than how bad McCray’s story was. Sheesh. Short, choppy, repetitive sentences – anyone at the reading level she hit would be many years too young to read the subject matter.
Personal Demon (Women of the Otherworld, Book 8 ) by Kelley Armstrong. This continues to be an extremely readable paranormal romance series. Narrators for this book are Hope and Lucas. You should definitely read the short story “Chaotic” from the Dates from Hell collection before you read this book!
Gone with the Witch (Triplet Witch Trilogy, Book 2) by Annette Blair. Oy, these are so bad. Why do I keep reading them?! Have I no shame?? Speaking of which…
Naughty Neighbor by Janet Evanovich. Yup, another one of Evanovich’s not-so-great pre-Stephanie Plum romances.
The Hollow (Sign of the Seven Trilogy, Book 2) by Nora Roberts. The trilogy continues – a bit formulaic if you’re familiar with Roberts’ other trilogies, but a good read nonetheless.
“Some of us don’t get spa days and have to make do with the materials at paw. I can tell you, I wouldn’t mind a little cup of olive oil right now…” -Chaos
Is this a trick question? Buy yarn, of course!
I don’t believe there are no kitty massages at your house!
Knit, buy yarn.
I’ve never had a massage but I would sooooo love to!
Hmmmm, it’s been awhile since I’ve done the pampering thing… But, we have an RMT come into work every week for chair massages, and I like to do that every so often. I think I may indulge in a manicure/pedicure soon.
Long nap. Followed by a pedicure.
Cherry Crush is one of my faves! You really should get your mom to give you a makeover, Chaos.
Going to the corner store by myself is considered pampering ’round these parts.
Seriously though, I get a pedicure once a month. My feet NEED it – they’d be in rough, disgusting shape if I didn’t – but more importantly, I need it too. I also get my brows waxed to keep them from looking either like caterpillars or thin little lines.
I’m setting up a little spa time for myself – CAN NOT WAIT!
Sounds wonderful! Pedicures and haircuts top my pampering list, but I also like reading a good book in the bathtub. Remember Chandler mixing up all the bath potions on Friends? Yeah, that’s me.
Yarn. Needles. Lather-rinse-repeat!
(and occasionally a good haircut with my longest-known boss, my hair stylist, Sandra! THAT is relaxing!)
🙂
Cherry Crush is a lovely color – we need to see your toes!
(((hugs)))
I love getting massages … I’m so jealous you got taken care of!
My kitties used to like popcorn and everytime I made some, I would have the three of them in my lap, begging for a treat. Finger nips and licks later, all the popcorn would be gone.
Pampering? What’s that? The one and only pedicure I ever got (5 years ago) was done by a butcher that didn’t speak English so when I was commenting about things like “was that supposed to hurt” she didn’t or pretended to not understand. A nightmare of an experience.
That pic of Chaos is precious!
Chaos really does have a beautiful coat. Can I make oven mits out of him when he passes away?
A nice foot soak in the foot spa 🙂 Of course, if I ‘m feeling rich, a luxury pedicure at a local salon.
Every now and then there are street fairs during the summer in my neighborhood. One or two of the booths are massage tables offering a 10 min massage for $10. Hair cuts I considering pampering since someone else is taking care of my hair.
I’ve never gotten a pedicure since I’m afraid of kicking the poor person working on my feet.
The same toenail color for years? Really? I have to change it every month or so.
I love a pedicure. And, a manicure and yarn shopping. I need a pedicure for the sandals. I had one earlier and tried to replicate it myself. It looks awful. And, Esau Marie wants to know if Chaos and May have at thing, or is he available. She’s enchanted.
Your spa day sounds lovely!! For my birthday, I had a nice facial and shoulder massage at a local place new to me,and it was heavenly. But usually I do my own pedicures when I need some TLC. Or, taking the night off from chores and lying down with a book and a cat or two is heavenly. Our power went out last night so we were “forced” to do that, and it was a wonderful treat.
Chaos likes olive oil? Is he by any chance part Italian?
Oh, wow – a pedicure and a massage! How nice! I would have locked Chaos in the bathroom while I enjoyed that nice oil seeping into my skin.
your spa day sounds like heaven. Pampering??? hahahah
Chaos looks so dang cute – he’d talk me out of olive oil for sure.
BTW – just finished a fabulous new book – The Host by Stephanie Meyer – so well written, difficult to put down at all. Fascinating.
I used to love going and getting a pedicure in one of those big massage chairs.. ahhhh. I bet its that love of olive oil keeps Chaos’s coat so shiny!
Wow, you whipped through Kelley’s series fast! I guess that’s the benefit of joining a series when it already has 8 books out, though. I’ve had to spend years waiting for them, while you get to pick them up right away…
Chris- My idea of pampering is someone else doing the dishes.
When I need pampering I read or fondle my stash. :->
Chaos was just going to complete your spa services with a little skin resurfacing! You know, kitty dermabrasion?
I have never had a pedicure nor a manicure. When I had time, I had no money. Now I certainly could afford it, but time is hard to come by (and then I’d feel guilty for taking the time, I guess). I need someone to just make a spa date for me, I guess. A bath with some sort of bath product in it, is my idea of heaven right now. How pitiful is that?
glad you had a good day chris! of course every one of my work days are “spa” days seeing i work in a spa! lol. Oh well. Today was my day, i spent all my free time giving touch up polishes, massages and pedi’s to the other spa girls. They did tint my eyelashes for me though as that is super hard to do on yourself…so we do try and take care of eachother. Glad you had a good day though! Hey, you shouls question when making your appt to be sure on the scents. We use a grapeseed oil as a base carrier but then specialize any scents to each individual client. Now go sip some wine and relax!!!
Me too – yarn it is. Or other window shopping. Or dessert.
Chaos says he needs some extra olive oil to keep his coat nice and shiny.
That sounds like such a good mini-spa day! When I need pampering I like to grab a glass of wine, fill up the tub, and do my own mini-spa.
Hi Chris,
Have you read the Gerry Bradley books yet? The first is “Vampires Live Large” and the second is “Vampires Have Curves” or maybe I have them the wrong way around, anyway, I thought them interesting, especially since they’re set down in Austin.
By the way, did you hear someone torched our governer’s mansion? Weird, no. Luckily it was undergoing renovation so the gov and mrs weren’t there nor was all the luscious stuff like china, silver, paintings, linens, furniture, etc. But the mansion was sadly damaged. They say they expect it to cost 20million dollars to repair. Oh well.
Hope you are all well.
Ann and the Furherd in Dallas
Olive oil, eh? No accounting for taste..
yay spa day~
Massages are the best. I haven’t had a massage in a year or two. I definitely need a good massage, that’s for sure.
Cherry Crush is a bit pinkish for you, eh? I have both of those colors at home, Cherry crush and Plum Attraction. I like Plum Attraction too, but it’s more purple. We’ll have to see those toes!
I laughed when I read that cats like olive oil! I learn something new every day …
Ooh yes massage, I could do with another one of those 🙂