I got “me time” yesterday for a few hours. Well, let me rephrase that: “me time to run not-me errands,” which is usually how “me time” works. (And what I mean by “got” is that it had to fit into everyone else’s schedule, of course.) Where was I going? First stop – the mall. Ugh. Those of you who know me, stalk me or read my previous posts know that I HATE the mall. In fact, I dread going there, but somehow it ends up on my to-do list quite often. Usually because my son wants something from the Disney store or to drive the arcade cars that suck up all the quarters from the bottom of my purse. In this case I was heading there to return some items I purchased online (hoping to avoid the mall in the first place). I was now heading to the mall, because more than I hate the mall, I hate the post office and couldn’t imagine going to the post office to mail back the return items and wait another week and a half for my son’s summer tees to come. So…back to running “not me errands.”
On my way to the mall, I thought about actually doing something for me. But what would that be? I could not think of one thing. What do moms do to pamper themselves? According to most of my mommy friends the answer is simply “shower or sleep in,” two things that are quite rare in mommies’ worlds. Well, since I already showered and sleeping in was null at this point, I thought, “I know, I’ll get a manicure.” That sounded like a pampering sort of mommy thing to do. But something about waiting in a crowded nail shop with the fumes of formaldehyde and acetone just to be soaked, filed down and talked about in a foreign language did not appeal to me. And just as this thought came to my mind, I spotted a Rite Aid on my right and turned into the parking lot. Aha! I would purchase a new nail color and just manicure myself later…plus we could use a few things at home.
So, after I picked up toothpaste and soap, I headed to the nail polish section. And there it was – “Sally Hansen – Insta Dri.” The quickest mommy manicure that dries in seconds. I read the label. “Dries in seconds (as I mentioned) and only needs one coat.” I was ecstatic and they were on sale. What more can a mommy-on-the-go-on-the-way-to-non-mommy-errands-who-hates-shopping-and-manicures ask for? I bought two (because it was buy one get the second half-off). So I chose a lime green one and a pink one. I paid the cashier and hurried to my car.
I gave myself a quick polish of lime green. (A little brighter than I had intended, but what was I to do now, head back in for nail polish remover? Well, I could, but I didn’t.) So voila…after one coat on ten fingers I debated painting my toe nails as well since I was wearing flip flops, but a guy behind me was honking and waiting for my space (I didn’t know that). He was lucky that it was quick dry polish, otherwise he may have to have waited even longer. (You’re welcome, mean guy in a gas-guzzling SUV with a Napoleon complex!)
I backed out and headed on my way to the mall with freshly “manicured” lime green nails. I felt great! It doesn’t take much to make me happy. I arrived at the mall feeling I had done something for “me,” and it only took less than a minute to do (give or take a few seconds to choose the color).
I arrived at the cashier to return my items. The cashier noticed my nails and said, “I like your nails,” then looked down at her own and said, “boy, do I need a manicure.” I wanted to fill her in on my secret, but thought again…maybe I’ll just let her wait ‘til I write about it.
