Wednesday, January 06, 2010

Question Of The Week



If you know me well, you know how low maintenance I am. I have never had a manicure or pedicure. I've colored my hair once - when Caroline gave me a gift certificate - and only because I freaked out after finding a gray hair. I don't do my eyebrows. I only tan in preparation for a significant sun-filled vacation. I don't have a gym membership.

While I'd love to have the time to go to the gym, the rest of it doesn't appeal to me. When I think of the bill I'd receive after such luxuries, I immediately envision a hotel stay with the family somewhere, passes to ski, or tickets to a great museum. And, those things appeal to me more.

But, since I'm 35 now and noticing more gray hairs than ever before, I realize I'm going to have to finally take the plunge and do it.

In a routine.

Consistently.

And, I can't stand it.

So, if I were granted a free pass from God for one personal expense, I'd request to have my hair color maintained.

***What would yours be? What can you not live without?

33 comments:

Shannon said...

Pedicures. My feet look like they could belong to Shrek if I don't get pedicures. I'd like them to not be so Shrekish.

I get manis/pedis at least once a month and get my hair colored every 2-3 months as well as eyebrow wax. The color is due to grey hair as well and the fact that my hair is naturally so dark that it doesn't look good w/my pale skin. Need some highlights to warm it up.

donatelli98 said...

Probably hair coloring too - the grey monster has begun to invade my hair one strand at a time! Although I would have to admit I am a little high maintenance - I love pedicures; don't do manicures because I ruin them way too quickly; I have a gym membership (but it has been great for Mr. ESPN and I - we have both lost some weight and are staying in shape); I need to have my eyebrows done but never make the time so I pluck away!

Dee Stephens said...

I'm with Donatelli. Grey has invaded me too -- bigtime. I'm actually getting my hair colored tonight!
Pedis mainly in the summer but not manicures. I ruin them as well.
Gym..I do it but am more of a fan of exercising outside and it's FREE!

Tammy said...

I LOVE my gym membership. I've met lots of great people and it keeps me in shape. I also have noticed lately that I need to color my hair on a more regular basis. I do get a pedi a couple times during the summer because it usually happens on a Girl's Day or Night Out!

If the shoe FITZ said...

pedis during the summer.
only had my hair colored once or twice and that was at least 5 years ago. Grey hair is starting though...but not enough to color yet. I also enjoy a massage but only like once a year and i do have a gym membership...that i have actually started to use.
never had my eyebrows done either.

Kelly Beatty said...

You have grey hair? OMG. I can live without all of it. I proved it during a 9 month deployment on a Navy Ship. I didn't have a haircut, eyebrows, hair color, manicure, or pedicure. Okay, I forgot. I cannot live without online shopping.

Anonymous said...

this isn't a hair or nails thing but, if i could afford a massage every month i would be a lot less cranky. i'm a grad student with little kids and blah blah blah--i've got a lot of stress and routine massages would be awesome.

Coco said...

You are so weird. You can take two hours every six weeks for yourself. Come on.

I would say mani and pedi.

And I've never found a single gray.

Sara said...

I was standing in the mirror last night plucking out gray hairs. It's so depressing!!! As you know, I just colored my hair darker and now they are even MORE noticeable. ugh.
So....... hair coloring for me (to quote Coco) FO SHO!

The Soladay Family said...

I get my nails done every 2 weeks and add a pedi in there every other time, high lights every 6 weeks, and that's pretty much it. With age and wrinkles coming my way rapidly....weekly age-defying facials would be nice!

Heather said...

you are making me feel VERY VAIN. Do I have to pick one?? I guess gym - I get very cranky if I don't work out. I guess I'd rather have ugly dishwater blond/gray hair than be fat. It'd be in a ponytail anyway.

The Luis Family said...

Geez, that's a hard one! I never get any hair primping done until I go back to Austin. My hair is usually pretty sad once I finally get home to Texas! I do love the way it feels once my hair is look'n good!

I find a pedicure in one of those massage chairs can make a difference in my mood and attitude for days! It is not at all that expensive and takes an hour tops. A great way to take time out for yourself and get a little rejuvenation!

The Jones Family said...

You freaking crack me up! I'm with you, Coco, take some time for yourself EVERY now and again; and not just for a movie! :) YOU deserve such treats!

Mani/Pedi's for sure! I go at least once a month because I too, Shannon, have feet like Shrek.

I'm not big on the hair thing either; every few months at best (just did it last week for the first time since September!).

Carrie Darney said...

Pedicures for sure! I don't get them AT ALL in the winter months and my toes right now are almost comical. But I get them all the time in the summer.

I have found some greys, but not enough to dye yet. I pluck them out...mainly at the top of my head and sticking STRAIGHT up in the air! I'm lucky in that my hair is not that dark so I can buy some more time. I probably just jinxed myself...

Never had highlights, or anything. I get my hair cut 2-3 times a year. BORING

FROGGITY! said...

lol! i had never had a pedicure before my wedding day. and even now it's VERY seldom that i get nails done. i just don't care that much about it. also trivia:
i hate shoe shopping.
i hate getting my hair cut. never have colored it (yet).

what do i LOVE? the gym.
and i had to freeze my account recently with all of this bed stuff. i am going nuts. i need that hour per day to release. so that would be mine! :) perpetual fitness.

Jodee said...

Oh no! You are making me look a little high maintenance! I get my eyebrows waxed every single week and my hair colored every couple of months or whenever I find another gray hair! Pedicures are definitely my favorite spa treatment, however, I usually only get them during the summer time! Please go treat yourself to a cheap pedicure soon! You SAHMs deserve it!

Iva Messy said...

gosh I LOVE my gym membership .....but I COULD go without it,and workout still at home/outside ;)

The Rand's said...

Hmmm . . . this was a thinker! I'm a slacker on the hair stuff. I do get highlights, but not consistently. I, too, am finding more and more gray, or actually it's white! UGH!!
I love getting my nails and toes done, but I think I'd have to say the gym. I love working out. It's one hour where I don't think about a thing. Nothing. Zip. Nada. It's a nice little break, and it makes me feel good!

timmonstimes said...

Hmmm, the first thing I think of that I would not want to do without would be my camera :) I love it and it brings me so much joy (not pictures of me but pictures of my family and friends or of babies and children)!

I've never colored my hair either - just since I've turned 30 have I noticed a few grays and I hate them!

timmonstimes said...

And I realize I didn't answer your question as to what my free personal expense would be :)

countryfriedmama said...

I just started coloring my hair. When I forked over the money, I almost threw up. It's like adding another utility bill every other month. Brutal.

Tutus and Choo-Choos said...

We are so much alike that it is scary! Like you I have never had an eyebrow wax, a manicure or pedicure, or a massage. I look at the money and how I could spend it on the family instead.

I have highlights put in my hair about once every six months and I just started doing highlights a few years ago.

I have never gone and gotten a fake tan because I am so fair skinned that I would have to go a thousand times to get brown.

But, our family does have a gym membership to the YMCA. I need that escape.

SASS said...

Oh Casey you're too funny. I initially wrote "Oh Casey get over yourself" but realize this is a tender little moment in your life: Pampering yourself.
It's endearing. Really.

I'd go with hair. I have too much to deal with on my own. I can get away with skipping out on other stuff (I've realize manis and pedis look the same if I do them myself) but hair is crucial.

You can do it. Even Tone gets his hair cut and colored every 8 weeks! (He says he'll let the gray grow once I'm 30)

Live.Love.Eat said...

Wow, and I thought I was low maintenance. I go months without a haircut and don't get it colored and I do the pedis once in a blue moon when I want some pampering.

There is nothing I can't live without BUT I would chose a facial on a monthly basis because they're even more relaxing then a massage!

Shannon said...

This post and some of the comments have me confused. I don't understand not cutting your hair and going without ever having a manicure or pedicure (though if I could do them myself, I would. I just can't seem to.). And if you can get away w/o an eyebrow wax, more power to you but I'd look like a gorilla.

I keep thinking this is a symptom of a bigger issue: not taking care of yourself in general. In order to care for others, you need to be cared for as well.

starnes family said...

PEOPLE (and by that I mean Sass, Brit, Coco, etc), I am not being a martyr here. When I think of pampering myself or treating myself, I consider skiing, travel, etc exactly that. Which I value more than these rituals.

We have the money for me to do this stuff. I simply don't care for it.

Yall are driving me crazy! So, I think I need a massage.

Monica said...

Massage to rub all my stresses away!

Malinda said...

Mine would be highlights. I do not have any gray hair yet, but mine is a very flat yucky brown if I don't highlight it.

All the other stuff I can live without. Mainly because I don't like strange people touching me. I would NEVER get a massage because of them having to touch me. Yes, I'm a total weirdo. I did get a facial for the first time two years ago, and I left thinking, what a total waste of $100. AND it made my hair greasy! It was on a Girl's weekend trip and I had peer pressure to do it. I just kept thinking that I could have bought a second Coach purse at the outlet that weekend.

Merry Mack said...

Good for you! You deserve it and you will find that you will have a little pep in your step, your hair will look great and you will not need a tan or all that other stuff you mentioned because your hair will be like a shampoo commercial. I have done it since I was 16 and I know for a FACT that I cannot live with out.

I have given up a lot lately so I must keep the color and I would also say some red wine.

I do indulge in the other grand stuff but not routinely. I would also just pay to sit in that massage chair and not get the pedicure.

I also don't do eyebrows.

Amy said...

This cracks me up on so many levels. I have got to get my hair colored asap. When your hairdresser tells you it's time and the grey is widespread, you shouldn't ignore. But I have. I'll do all the other the things - regular mani/pedi's, facials, waxes, etc., but I have NEVER colored my hair. And it's time.

The Lenzers said...

my greys are getting worse. i color my hair about 3-4 times a year. but i do so close to my natural color that i dont get roots (at least not bad). if i were brave enough to buy the box stuff and do it at home, i would. i do all those other vices, but mainly to get have someone giving me attention. i am trying to cut out pedis to save money. so i have been behind in blogworld. looks like yall had a great christmas and new years though. so impressed with the skiing. maybe once we are in OKC there will be somewhere close enough to drive for a weekend so we can teach the boys. i dont ski but mark loves to snowboard. for your trip, you must go fishing/crabbing in half moon bay, anything in san fran is great, and go to the boardwalk up there (cant think of the name right now). i know you will find all kinds of cool things to do! BTW, i do have a sling and carrier...i use them all the time in the house. when we are going to the store though, sometimes i hate to wake the baby up (he usually sleeps in the car) to put him in. i guess i will have to start. hope your having a great week.

mae mae said...

manicure, pedicure, hair color, and most important the gym - all a must in my world, i could not live without any of them! call me high maintenance, i don't care!

Julie said...

The only maintance I do is my own hair coloring, the cheap $3.00 a box stuff. It seems to last just as long as the good stuff and the one time I did get it done professional it wasn't good.
I think to have someone do my nails (if I had nails) would be kind of cool. I think a massage would be wonderful, never had one but I bet would feel terrific.
Thank you for sharing. I love you blog.
Have a great weekend. God Bless!