response 1 of 39:

Aug 7 03:19 UTC 2007

Indulgent Necessities


29 Things Every Woman Should Splurge On
By Geneva J. King
To splurge, to spend on oneself, to indulge - it sounds so sinful,
doesn't it? As women,  most of us are so accustomed to the role of
caregiver that we often feel guilty when  caring for ourselves. It's
time for us to re-evaluate our priorities, and to remember that there
are some  purchases that no woman should postpone - acquisitions that
can create a quality of life  that a hard-working woman needs and
deserves. So brew a cup of tea, put your feet  up, and indulge yourself.

Great Bra
Finding a supportive bra means so much to the curvy woman! It can be
nearly  impossible to participate in some sports when you have support
needs, since most " sports" bras are not helpful to women with ample
bust lines. You'll love the Enell bra,  which comes in sports designs as
well as basic colors, and was designed for true  support. Your back will
thank you!


Breast Exam or Mammogram
Sometimes, a splurge can be on something that isn't fun, but is simply
necessary. In  addition to taking the personal time for monthly breast
self-exams, make an  appointment with your health care provider for your
yearly clinical breast exam, and if  the provider so recommends
(generally age 40 and beyond), a mammogram.  According to the National
Alliance of Breast Cancer Organizations, early detection and  treatment
of breast cancer gives a woman a 97 percent chance of survival at five 
years.

response 3 of 39:

Aug 7 03:21 UTC 2007

One Classic Necklace
You can never go wrong with pearls - a great set will take you from the
office to the  nightclub. Not only will you receive pleasure from your
investment, but your great- granddaughter is sure to treasure your
bequest.


One Classic Suit
Suits are not just for the workingwoman; they are for every woman. When
you wear  professional attire, there is an aura that surrounds you. This
is the apparel to wear to  the principal's office, and it will take you
with panache to job interviews, funerals, city  council meetings and
weddings.

Portrait
Was your last professional photograph taken for your high school
graduation? Then it's  time to sit for a portrait session. Hang your
portrait at home, and use it later as part of  your r sum , or to
include in a family history. In your later years, you'll be glad that 
you have a photograph of you in your prime to pass down to future
generations.

response 5 of 39:

Aug 7 03:23 UTC 2007

Last Will and Testament
While none of us like to dwell on thoughts of our own mortality, part of
being an adult is  taking care of business. Plus, you'll have peace of
mind when you know that your  affairs are settled. A simple will is
inexpensive (and, in some states, a handwritten and  signed testament is
all that's necessary to be legally binding), and you'll feel 
satisfaction in knowing that your family and friends will receive all
you want to provide  for them.

Flowers
You can't go wrong with flowers. They bring a smile to your face and a
sense of well  being to your soul. There is no reason to wait for The
Perfect Date to come along and  present you with a dozen roses when you
can pick them up for yourself. Purchase a  bouquet of roses and arrange
them in a vase, or buy a single bud for your hair or lapel.

response 7 of 39:

Aug 7 03:24 UTC 2007

Massage
A great massage is nothing less than therapy. It relaxes your muscles,
invigorates your  soul and frees your mind. If you're a bit
self-conscious, go for back or foot massages until  you are ready for a
full body massage. But by all means, spend a few dollars to knead the 
tension away.

response 9 of 39:

Aug 7 03:26 UTC 2007

Dry Cleaner/Laundry
Ironing is the bane of humankind. No one likes it, but it's a necessary
evil. Why spend  hours slaving over a hot iron when you can drop cotton
shirts at the cleaners in most  areas for $1-$1.50? Your time is
valuable, so splurge on this service, and enjoy picking  up
fresh-smelling laundry that was ironed while you were at the bookstore!

Your Own Toolbox
Don't settle for hand-me-down tools - create your own toolbox so that
when you need  to hang a picture or do some home maintenance, you don't
have to "borrow" a  hammer. Keep a similar tool kit in your car, and you
can be the knight in shining armor  instead of the damsel in distress!

response 11 of 39:

Aug 7 03:27 UTC 2007

Digital Camera
It's a digital world, and you should be a digital girl! Anything worth
taking a picture of is  worth keeping forever and sharing years from
now, so you'll want to have it in digital  format. The latest digital
cameras and camcorders have phenomenal quality and some  have prices
that rival a film camera. Owners of digital cameras simply take more
pictures,  and enjoy their cameras more. Why wait to find out if you've
got the shot? Go digital and  know now.

response 13 of 39:

Aug 7 03:29 UTC 2007

A Pet
Can we really call it splurging to adopt a best friend? There is nothing
like a special pet to  make you feel like the only person in the world,
since to them, you are!


Beautiful Stationery
Email is amazing, but there is nothing like receiving or sending a
personally penned letter.  It's easy to get in the mood to pour out your
feelings or relate the latest news when  you're using lovely stationary
with matching envelopes. There is something romantic and  old world
about musings that go from your hand into the hands of another.

response 15 of 39:

Aug 7 03:31 UTC 2007

Great Handbag
It's fashion, it's convenience...it's your life in a small tote! Why not
find a handbag that  reflects your style, and has all the features you
deserve? From clutches to shoulder  bags, you'll find attributes that
make your life easier, such as wireless phone pouches,  credit card
sections and quick-adjust straps. Never fumble for your keys again. Buy
a  bag that lets you be both organized and stunning.


Professional Housecleaning
Whether you work at home, in an office, or on an airplane, there is
never enough time  to deep clean your home the way you'd like. Leave
some of the heavy duty scouring to  a service, or go all out and sign up
for weekly service. You may feel a twinge of guilt at  first, but there
are so many other fantastic ways to spend your time, without cleaning 
the oven or mopping the floor, that you'll be too busy care!

Indulgent Soaps
We all have them - beautiful soaps, wrapped in cellophane, laid out for
guests. If they  are great for guests, why aren't they suitable for the
lady of the manor? Buy a few  luxurious bars, take off the plastic wrap
and actually bathe with them!

response 17 of 39:

Aug 7 12:13 UTC 2007

For those women who can pull it off, I would add an LBD to that list.

response 19 of 39:

Aug 7 19:20 UTC 2007

Little Black Dress

response 21 of 39:

Aug 8 00:22 UTC 2007

Stuff from the list that I have [or have had in the past]:

--Yes, I do get a mammogram every year because of the history of cancer
in my  family including my mom with breast cancer [had a masectomy], dad
with cancer  [being well controlled with hormonal therapy], my eldest
sister died with 3 types of  cancer, a cousin who died of breast cancer
and another one who died of brain cancer.   So yep, I think its
important [and I've had to get a biopsy a few years ago following a 
suspicious looking mammogram].

--I do have 2-3 nicer necklaces around [including pearls] but I never
think to wear  them.

--Portrait: I've had a couple since HS, First, we had a photographer
come in and take  individual portraits for my nursing school
class--besides taking the photos for the class  composites with our
uniforms, we had the option of getting pictures taken with regular 
'street' clothes.  So that was cool. [I was given a gift package that I
didn't have to pay  for [or got super cheap] since I was the one that
made the arrangements to have the  photographer come in. So I ended up
with a fairly big-sized photo with me in my  nursing uniform that I have
no idea waht to do with]. Then, a few years later, I  somehow ended up
with one of those package deals where you get so many sittings at  the
photo studio. I went in once but then gave my other coupons to friends.

--Great pair of sneakers: got 'em, I just need to get back to using
them!

--getting flowers for whatever [or no] reason is nice; though its
something that I've  only done for myself once or twice.  But I've had
some sent to me once in awhile for  special occasions and they're always
nice to have around.

--journals: I've tried to journal a number of times throughout life but
usually didn't stick  with them, maybe in part since I primarily used
them to vent--which might be a way to  blow off steam, but depressing
when I did that every day--so I'd get discouraged and  quit.  However, I
started a project recently--from a workbook I'm going through; and  one
of the things strongly suggested we do is to sit down with a notebook or
journal  every morning and write 3 pages each morning. About whatever or
nothing, as  long as  you get in 3 pages [so if you can't think of
anything to say, just say over and over, 'I  don't know what to write, I
don't know what to write].  And over time, you'll find stuff to  think
about, focus a bit on, and express these things in written form. You
don't ever  have to go back and reread if you don't want [and its
suggested that you don't til some  time later] and ya never [shouldn't]
have to show it to any one else...  So far, in about  2 weeks or so,
I've done pretty well, only missing one day--though I did do it one day 
late in the afternoon and 2 other days I didn't do a whole 3 as
suggested.

response 23 of 39:

Aug 8 00:39 UTC 2007

--Comfort Food: I can't live without it!!  :-)

--A Fun Class--I've done classes on a number of occasions--like
photography classes as  well as some cool craft classes and workshops.

--Great Handbag--well, I've had my 'shoulder bag' that I've been using
for a couple years  now--and I can fit so much into it!  Though I do
like backpacks as well [but I don't have  one at the moment].

--Professional Cleaning--no, I don't have this done on a regular basis
[but have known  people that do]. However, I once won a certificate for
a free 2-hour cleaning from Molly  Maids [is there one of these
franchises up here in MI?]