Pretty is...as Pretty does!

I took Friday off to make it a four-day weekend. Ab had Friday off too, since her school doesn’t end until this Thursday, so we made it a girl’s day out. Besides, it was pay day and since State employees only get paid once a month, we were ready!

After a fun lunch with her big sister and I, we headed off for a day of shopping and beauty treatments. She’s just learning how to be a young woman, with the makeup, nails and other foo-foo stuff. Ab’s always said she’s not a "girly" girl, but she’s enjoying the change; surprisingly at her request.

Yesterday, while I was getting a pedicure, she asked for a whole set of acrylic nails, instead of just the manicure that I normally get her. I had to relent, since she said so sweetly, "Pleeeeeezzze, for graduation!" Technically, she’s not graduating, but half her class is, as she’s in a combined 7th and 8th grade in a private school. During the graduation ceremony, the 7th graders get "promoted" to the next grade, and they are recognized for all their achievements with comments and certificates from their teachers. The 7th graders are allowed to dress up for the occasion, just as long as they don’t "show up" the older graduates!

Her hands are now so pretty….. with blue and white nails, that are just long enough to be stylish. We then stopped at a roadside fruit stand for fresh, sweet red cherries. Yum!  We had to laugh at how difficult it is to get used to doing things differently "with nails" as she tried to open the plastic bag that was tied at the top because we had to try those luscious cherries right then and there! Oh, the price we pay to be beautiful!

Then we were off to visit a friend and former co-worker, who had to take a medical retirement from our crazy department and was retrained as an "esthetician." Try saying that 3 times real fast!

She’s set up a wonderful workroom in a local salon, all decorated in glamour girl stuff, right down to the pink poodle accessories. There are lot’s of special gift items for sale, like heavenly scented lotions, creams, candles, and purses and pillows that any pampered woman would love. I saw one really cute pillow that I thought about getting for a friend that said, "You’ll always be my friend, because you know too much about me!"

Anyway, in addition to all the regular waxing and stuff, Bobbi is specializing in acne treatments and dermabrasion. She completed Ab’s first treatment a couple of days ago, but I wasn’t able to take her. So yesterday, I went with her while she talked to Ab about proper skin care and the dangers of sun damage. It’s especially effective coming from Bobbi, who shares photos of her husband's battle with a horrible case of skin cancer that he’s having to treat with topical chemo-therapy after lots of surgical excisions. He’s currently off work, and so very sick from the treatment. And, ironically, Bobbi went to the doctor the previous day, and had a spot removed from her chest that the dermatologist feels may be early melanoma! YIKES!

Ab has extremely oily skin and hair, and as a result, has had difficulty with breakouts along her forehead, and those pesky blackheads. As she has an olive complexion, she tends to scar easily and she just can’t keep from picking on her pretty face. Her new nails may help keep her from picking!

After her talk with Bobbi, we purchased the products that she recommends Abbie use for the acne and Bobbi will continue to treat her with the facials and ultimately, do some dermabrasion when the acne’s under control.

Bobbi then spent some time fixing us up with some of the special brand of makeup she sells in her shop and we looked stunning….so it was off to dinner, for Ab’s favorite, Chinese.

We invited Bobbi and Jeff to go with us and we had a great time, although Jeff was feeling kind of out of sorts with really bad joint pain from his chemo. Poor guy!

At the end of our dinner, I told Bobbi that I was supposed to go to my "Fat Doctor" on Saturday, but….."Since I am "still fat" I might as well have a facial!" and I asked if she had an appointment available the next day.

Ab, who’s always brutally honest, said…Mom you NEED to go to the fat doctor!

I elected to cancel my doctor’s appointment and go for the facial.

A girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do!

I’ve decided I will be one of those women with a lovely face that every one talks about saying…You know, she’s got such a pretty face…..wouldn’t she be gorgeous if she lost about 30 pounds!