Just to Give You an Idea
Posted by SandraDee on Nov 19, 2007
a leg-shaving salute to halloween
Originally uploaded by Cait Jane
I wanted to include this in my post Ain’t Mis-Beshavin’ so you could get a visual of what I’m talking about…thanks to Cait Jane for a great image.
Ain’t Mis-Beshavin’
Posted by SandraDee on Nov 15, 2007
Remember the first time you attempted to shave your legs? I do, and it was an absolute nightmare. I still have the scars to prove it. Yup, that’s right…scars…two of them, that continually remind me of how I really do have to learn to think things through first.
I still remember it like it was yesterday. I was 13 years old. Mom had left me with unkind task of cleaning the bathroom and both her and dad were out. Being naturally curious I started off by doing what I had always done, rifling through the medicine cabinet, looking for treasure. I used to love holding my mothers pretty perfume bottles, shaking the pill containers, opening moisturizes and sampling all of them, basically behaving in a manner, that back then, would have gotten me smacked and grounded.
This particular day, I had started my hunt for something shiny and new on my fathers side of the vanity. I began with inspecting the medicine cabinet. I noticed the bottom shelf had all the usual suspects…shaving cream, deodorant, toothbrush, aftershave…the middle shelf…a little more interesting, aspirin bottle, A535, dental floss, electric razor…lastly, the top shelf…what’s this?…EUREKA! There it was, his black leather shaving kit. It was like finding a box in a box. I was so excited. My anticipation mounted as I gingerly removed it from the shelf. Holding the case close to me I went over to the bathtub and sat on the edge. I carefully balanced the kit on my lap, left hand resting flat on top as I gradually inched the zipper along with my right. It was open. I cautiously turned over the top and peered inside. It was beautiful…each piece in its own spot, the single blade razor then the silver tipped shaving brush alongside the porcelain shaving bowl and last to follow, his heavily spice scented shaving cream.
I could hardly wait to try it.
Firstly, I needed to make lather. I had watched my father do this often so I was quite sure I could copy the procedure. Instead of using the “Old Spice” shaving cream, I had opted for a more feminine scent. A bar of Ivory soap. I must have spent 5 minutes grinding that wet brush into the bar in order to achieve maximum foaminess.
Content with the volume of lather I had manufactured it was time to begin the second step. Generously applying the suds to my legs I spread the mixture evenly starting at my ankle and ending at mid thigh. I wanted to make sure I had ALL the hair on my legs removed. Satisfied that there were no appearances of bare skin, I was ready to move on to step 3. The thrilling part, shaving.
Once again, poised on the edge of the bathtub, legs stretched out in front of me, I leaned forward towards my feet, with razor in hand, starting at the bottom, center of my shin I swiftly slid the blade up to my knee cap. I remember thinking that if I did it quickly enough it wouldn’t hurt so bad…after all, Dad always had those little globs of toilet paper stuck to his face after he had shaved and that looked quite painful to me….I expected the same results to happen when shaving my legs. You’ll be interested to know, I wasn’t disappointed.
Had it not been for the red stream that immediately appeared amidst the abundant amount of soap on my leg I would not have noticed a thing. I felt no pain. So, without hesitation I switched to the other leg and with one long swoop I went up the center as well. Hmm, look at that…same red streak, no pain. Then it hit me…hey, that does sting a bit. As a matter of fact it really hurts!
I had to get the soap off of my legs straight away, I had a strong feeling that there was some damage.
I was right.
I had gouged my shins so badly I was in gauze bandages for a week. My mother was furious and my father lectured me for hours on the perils of getting into things that I had no right being into in the first place. Plus, my legs hurt.
I had learned my lesson. I would not touch a razor for another 5 years. To this day I still have the indentations that have resulted from that horrible mistake.
My point…waxing is best when it comes to hair removal.
Sandra
Wow! How many live to regret that?
Posted by SandraDee on Oct 7, 2007
I recently had the opportunity to attend the Spa and Esthetique trade show that is held in Montreal, Quebec once a year. As usual, there were lots of vendors with a wide variety of interesting and compelling spa ideas and products.
However there was one booth I came across that literally made me give my head a shake! This particular company (and there are many more just like them) had created a “permanent” makeup line or as industry professionals like to refer to it “micropigmentation”. Basically tattooing.
Now, I admit that I do have my eyebrows dyed once a month in order to have them darkened…but, never once have I considered having them permanently tattooed onto my face! And let’s not stop just at eyebrows…there are also applications for eyeliner, lip liner, full lip color, eyeshadow and blush…just to name a few.
This got me thinking…what happens when you want to change your lipstick color, or you’ve lost interest in that particular eyeshade? Or, worse yet, like everyone who has tattooes, it starts to fade and begins to obscure…exactly how many “touchups” can your skin withstand?
I cannot imagine waking up every morning, looking in the mirror, donning a full face of makeup and I cannot help but wonder how many people live to regret that decision?
If anyone is looking for a career change…I suggest “tattoo removal”, I have a feeling there will be rapid growth in this industry.
Well I oughta…
Posted by SandraDee on Sep 5, 2007
Just because you are only 3 does not mean you have to be rude!
This morning while I was having breakfast with my 3 1/2 year old, I noticed her staring at my arms. I asked her what she was looking at….”I’m just counting the freckles on your hands” she replied innocently. Now just to be clear, I have never had freckles and at this late in the game doubt that I ever will. What my lovely little lady was counting, were age spots that appear to be cropping up at an incredibly rapid pace.
I believe it was just yesterday, yup, for sure yesterday, that I only had two, maybe three, of the light brown sporadic dots…today I woke up with thousands and they are no longer just on my hands they seem to be invading all areas of my body. Can you say mortified!
When I first met my husband he nicknamed me “Miss Lily” due to my pale skin tone. His new term of endearment for me is “Spot”. This is the reason I loathe nicknames.
So, what is a girl to do? Upon further investigation I have come to know that age spots are caused by exposure to the sun. This information, however, comes to me a little late. Not to mention, it is hard to find a tree on a beach to sit under. Even if I did, I am the only person I know who can burn whilst sitting under an umbrella wearing 50 SPF sunscreen! It’s true, I swear!
Hydroquinone…apparently, if I dab this “safe” lightening agent onto my spots everyday for a minimum of one month they become unnoticeable. I’m sure I don’t need to tell you what I will be fixating on for the next little while.
I would like to know, exactly how it is a woman is to “grow old gracefully”. Everyday something is either shifting, sagging or appearing. It’s a full time job just trying to keep up! It seems to me that there is nothing distinguished about it. If “gracefully” includes having to lotion up with age defying creams on a daily basis well, I guess I am indeed quite elegant.
Also, what male, and I am sure it was, coined the phrase “children keep you young”? I am downright exhausted physically and mentally by the time evening falls, my legs hurt, my body aches and my brain is numb…not to mention those age spots did not materialize until AFTER childbirth!
Do you see the turmoil a 3 year old and a bad nickname can cause?
Sandra
Metrosexual Healing
Posted by SandraDee on Sep 2, 2007
As ZZ Top once said…”every girl’s crazy ’bout a sharp dressed man”. Certainly, I am no exception to this rule. I adore a man who takes care of himself. A well manicured and pedicured man can put me in an absolute tizzy. Throw a facial and body waxing in there and, well, I am over the moon!
In the UK the male grooming market is a thriving industry worth 685 million pounds, in the U.S. this number is considerably larger at 5 billion dollars. Mens grooming has become a booming industry. Men are no longer shy or intimidated when it comes to a little “pampering”. With the increase of men spending more money than ever on grooming, the call for male estheticians is also on the rise. Afterall, some men might still be a intimated when it comes to letting a female perform their “Brazilian waxes”.
Also, a majority of reputable cosmetic companies have expanded their skin care lines to include the male market. For me, personally, I can deal with my man wearing moisturizer, but I draw the line at makeup. I will never forget the first date that I had with my husband, I was absolutely horrified when he showed up at my front door donning an excessive amount of dark eyeliner…I told him that “there is absolutely no way I could ever date a man who wore more makeup than me” and especially one who is stuck in the punk rock era. Needless to say, we are together today.
I do admit though, when I notice a man wearing foundation it’s all I can do not to break out in laughter…my girlfriend has labelled makeup wearing men as “mangina’s”, I think that is partly what I hear in my head when I see the made up male…so it just makes me laugh.
I have yet to meet a man who can pull off wearing “makeup”, but then again, I have never met Dennis Rodman or David Beckham. This is truly unfortunate! In my opinion, David Beckham is the epitome of metrosexual male and I would be very curious to know how long he spends each day on grooming and if in fact he does wear makeup on a daily basis. I mean let’s face it…he’s HOT. I wonder if he and Posh fight over the mirror as much as Bob and I do?
Sandra
You’ve been in there long enough…
Posted by SandraDee on Aug 31, 2007
It is a constant fight for “mirror space” in the mornings with my husband. He spends more time primping and preening than I do! Trimming facial hair, shaving his head, (this is a good thing…he would have the “Einstein” look going if he didn’t) applying lotions…you know, all the things one does for good grooming.
I, personally, can accomplish my grooming tasks in a half an hour…Bob, well, he takes over an hour. This is proving to be a problem when we both have to be somewhere at a certain time. The absolute worst is when he locks me out of the bathroom!
When did men start caring so much about skin care? I think it came around the same time as the word “metrosexual”. I know my father never spent long periods of time grooming. A quick shave, 30 seconds with a toothbrush a dollop of Brylcream and away he went.
Men are becoming just as obsessed as women when it comes to skin care, style and good grooming. It’s no small wonder that male grooming products are a billion dollar industry.
I like the fact that my husband cares about his appearance. I like the fact that he stays in shape. I like the fact that he’s into skin care. But, most importantly I like the fact that he no longer rolls his eyes when I purchase my $100.00 bottle of moisturizer. It would hardly seem right since he pays around $120.00 for his!
Yup, my guy is becoming quite obsessed with keeping the wrinkles at bay. Constantly drinking water, moisturizing regularly, professional facials and good lotions are all a part of his newly developed routine.
What do I say about all of this…
“That’s awesome, let’s have a spa day!”
I love my ladies day at the spa with my girlfriends…however, if I went with hubby I could probably tack on a few extra treatments…hmmm, something to think about.
Sandra
