Great Escape: Get a Manicure

You work. You clean. You type. You wipe noses and even bottoms.  So there are days when you look at your paws and realize the toll your kids have taken on them. After examining your extremities, get the Elmer’s (or worse) out from under the nails and push back those cuticles. Swap “mommy hands” for a more professional and updated look. It is time to escape to the nearest nail salon for a manicure!

There are several locations with varying prices in the Laguna Niguel area. I recommend finding one relatively close to your home that takes walk-ins so you can pop over at a moment’s notice. It is those overwhelming days when you really need to regroup—such as when your baby is teething, you have had an argument with your teenager or you have been working a 60-hour week.  You simply need a moment to clear your head. Sit back in one of those massaging chairs and let someone else pamper you for an hour.

Before going, I like to bring a hot beverage. is fine, but my favorite hot tea in a tumbler is a less expensive alternative, and the aroma relaxes me.  Then I slip into one of those expensive massage chairs and imagine I have one in my living room, complete with the masseuse. I swear,  there are times I have been so tired I have literally fallen asleep by the time they polish. I particularly like the hand massage. The only thing better is a foot massage, so if time permits get a pedicure too!

Nice-looking hands are the finishing touch to your overall appearance, provided you don’t have claw-like talons (we have all seen those women and wondered how they type, apply mascara or manage bathroom hygiene). Hands make a difference when you shake with a new client.  They enhance your impression. And, in this weather, nicely trimmed and polished toes can also make an impact.

When you are tired, moody and overextended, you can feel like the world is spinning out of control. But, despite the stained shirt and messy living room filled with toys, when you look at your manicured hands and feet you will know at that moment there is at least one thing that makes you look and feel great!

Some local nail salons:

27311,  La Paz Rd., Suite C, 949-362-5436.  Good for when you want to get in and out.

, 31161, Niguel Rd., Suite J, 949-661-5581. The staff provides great customer service and treatments.

Burke Williams, 27741 Crown Valley Pkwy., Mission Viejo, 949-367-9717. Perfect for when you want the spa experience.