Recently Stana wrote about her favorite things and in a post, Kandi asked for some of our favorite things. I sent just a few of my favorite things:
- My regular manicures and pedicures. The compliments and envy they generate.
- Mascara
- My knee high – high heel boots. The compliments and envy they generate
- Tiny Rings
Since I first wrote this, Ms. Robbins has posted the combined list.
In this piece I wanted to expand on my list of favorite things and what makes them my favorite things.
Manicures and pedicures. My toenails almost always have been painted for almost two decades and long acrylic/gel fingernails have been painted for over a decade. I am a regular client at a small collective of nail artists, each with their own set of clients. They are all booked for the next 6+ months. I thoroughly enjoy my monthly 3+ hours of pampering. Each time my nail artist and I come up with different designs. She enjoys my visits because I push her to paint outside the mundane. The results are random unexpected compliments and envy. I really enjoy having nails, and compliments are just something extra.
Mascara. LOVE LOVE LOVE, more please. enough said.
After decades of knee and ankle surgeries, I finally figured out why I was having so many issues, and the reason was the shape of my feet and men’s shoes. I changed to only women’s shoes in 2010 and added high heels in 2015. Solve the issues. I’m in high heels almost all the time. I have 80 – 100 pairs of high heels that I wear, some more than others. I am lucky because I wear regular women’s sizes 10 and 11 (US sizes). This is one of my favorite things because it reduces the pain I live with from a nasty injury. But I love wearing fierce high heels, knee highs, stilettos, … I feel a sense of empowerment in heels and enjoy the compliments they generate. I am known for my heels and nails.
Tiny Rings. I got a bunch of tiny rings as part of my Halloween customer a few years ago. Since then, three tiny rings have become fixtures of my left hand. I don’t know why, but I am just drawn to these three.
When our weather is nice, in the morning I like to sit outside in my beach chair, drink coffee, watch birds forage and read numerous documents. I like to sun myself in one of my bikini bottoms and either a bikini top or a bra, necklace and a shirt. The other day, I was sitting there when I looked down and all I saw was HER. Breast (fake) in a bra, side-tied bikini bottom, hands with rings and nails, and colored toes. Hairless legs, chest, stomach, groin. HER. Not only is it a very favorite thing of mine, but it also makes me tingle with the feeling of femininity. My side-tied bikinis where the ties have beads at the end of them enhances everything as the beads bounce along my hips as I walk.
Yes, these are some of my favorite things.
I rarely wear wigs (even though I love the way I look in them) and put on more than mascara and eye shadow; but I thought that I would play with makeup and wigs and take some pictures showing. It also gave me a chance to play with my necklaces and how they work with different looks.
This is my favorite necklace, and I wear it when I am not at work.
P.S. For Amanda J’s enjoyment. Up close with my ultra-soft faux fur vest.
Also, one of my favorite things.
11 Responses
Fur and stilettos – that’s my kind of outfit! Thanks for the thought!
As for the other things on your list, I’d love to do the nail thing (fingers only, I have an aversion to toes!), not least as my fake Amazon cheapos have attracted some nice comments but I think Mrs A would have something to say and let’s just say it wouldn’t be complimentary! Mascara is something I wish I could get to grips with but my natural lashes are pretty short and I tend to find it quite irritating so fake lashes are my preferred option there.
Nice necklaces by the way!
Thanks Amanda,
Long lashes is genetic in my family and my eye drops side effects are longer lashes and longer eye brows. I have to get my brows trimmed (and shaped) every 2 months otherwise they start to poke me in my eyes.
I had acrylic – gel nails for about 10 years now and I just love them. Costly but because I damaged my nail beds, thus necessary. I can’t see a time when I wouldn’t have nails.
I waiting for two new necklaces/chokers.
Cali
Cali,
I love posts like this , just to sit and think about what I really enjoy about being Teresa .
To some the prep every morning would be a chore , to me it’s what makes me what I am , I can rid the man in those few minutes . To sit at my dressing table in a bra and pants and apply my makeup , check out my wardrobes and choose something that will make me feel good even if I’m just gardening or mowing the lawn . When I jump in my car the fresh air wafts the softness of my perfume , I feel good with a smile on my face . I greet my friends at my art groups and share a tale or a joke , sometimes I get a nice compliment but I’m always ready to return the gesture . After a group of us go for something to eat , we know all the serving staff so there’s always some fun after we might do some shopping .
Sadly I have arthritis in my toes but a still wear heels , I don’t have many flat shoes , the good compromise are my wedges , they’re usually the first item I pack when I go on holiday . I love my painted nails but have to rest them after a few week to let them recover , I’ve tried all the so called healthy base coats but sometimes they just need fresh air .
Teresa,
I damaged a few fingernail beds and I need to have acrylic gel covered fingernails (otherwise I would have more than 10 fingernails). So why not have long exquisite nails and enjoy it? I’ve always wanted painted nails, besides whose going to notice your nails when you are wearing knee high stilettos anyway? Today I’m questioned if I don’t have color.
I also have many types of heels from knee highs to high heeled sandals, wedges – block – stilettos. But pumps and my feet hate each other. I like to say my wardrobe has transitioned.
I love your posts!! You’re an inspiration! My deliciously long and lovely talons provide so much joy and pleasure the little inconveniences —- buttons, poptops, dropped coins — are so totally insignificant. And spending time in feminine spaces, at the salon getting my mani-pedis, and out and about, flashing my latest, sharing nail ideas with the girls, admiring theirs, receiving compliments on mine, it’s heaven! I also delight in skinny jeans, high heels and bags, so I’m so totally jealous of your daily footwear! My stilettos are still in the closet — perhaps this spring I’ll elevate my look and free my pretty toes! One last thing — you must share your manis with us more often!!!
Thanks George,
Yes the inconveniences are minor and the rewards are great. I have a background in material science and love playing with holographic, metallic, temperature activated and as well foils. There’s so many things to play with.
I have an older post on nails somewhere here in Kandi’s Land and I keep a file on a thumb drive with each pedicure and manicure by date.
But nails are a niche topic here on KL. So many here can’t keep colored nails so must relive on press-on or quick paintings and then soon after removal. I feel sorry for them, they will never know the joys that nails can bring. And of course there is the cost. But it’s all worth it.
Cali,
I choose to paint my own nails , normally they last about two weeks , I do love them and will often repaint them but as I mentioned they do need to breath and recover . My toes normally last much longer and I don’t have the same degrading problem
.
My appearance isn’t about individual items , it’s more about how my whole look is accepted , OK sometimes it means just blending in , I don’t mind that because being accepted totally as Teresa is what I’m about .
Teresa,
I run with the executives now, so I need nails on par with that group, beside if I am going to have long acrylic gel nails, I want the best. I damaged bones in my thumb, so my hand doesn’t work like others, cutting my nails and nail care is difficult. Plus I don’t have all the tools and creams, nor the time. I usually work (read reports and write policy) during my pedicure with occasional talk.
I’m accepted as this ‘wild and crazy’ smart guy in high heels with outrageous nails and colorful clothes.
Thanks for sharing your likes with us Cali. It’s always nice to hear what other people are into.
As my wife doesn’t really tolerate makeup or nails etc, my loves are my clothes, I sometimes feel like I might be dressing younger than my age, however, I’m fortunate that I look young for my age according to most people. I have my own long hair which means I don’t have to wear a wig. My favourite clothes are my satin midi and maxi skirts as the feel so nice on and have that beautiful look and girly swish about them
I have a fair collection of them and denim maxi skirts too. I mainly wear them with a plain white t shirt or a blazer
I do have a couple of nice dresses, my favourite black dress was bought for me by my wife. You can never have enough beautiful clothes right? ❤️👗
Chris,
I found that when I ran out of space in my walk in closet, it was then time to slow down. Now I only add very little to my clothes, quality over quantity.
Nature abhors a vacuum like I’m compelled to fill every empty space in my closet — with heels, with bags, with nail polish. More heels, more bags, more nail polish than my lovely wife. Life’s too short for boring. And, so many compliments, so little grief. Paint your nails, rock those heels! You’ll be totally glad you did. Love you, Cali!