The Gift of Beauty

Dad joked about the size of this fine china creamer the Christmas
he and Sis gave it to us--it holds just four ounces.

Dad asks Sis to buy Christmas gifts for me, H., and Figgy every year. She is his good elf, as it were. And he usually asks me to get gifts for Sis and Don [but this year, she wanted to order something online].

Many years, Sis, Don and Dad chipped in and got us a place setting of our wedding china [Remembrance, by Mikasa]. One Christmas even brought the beautiful china teapot; another, the dainty creamer and sugar bowl.

Style Wrapped with Ribbons and Bows
This year, when Sis asked, I knew. All I wanted was a little cash so I could get a blowout and pedicure at Vamp Hair Studio on New Year's Eve in the afternoon. I was waiting for freelance paychecks and had spent what we had on Christmas gifts and car repairs--but if you prebook your next appointment as you leave the salon, you get $5 off, and plus, Vamp is running a holiday sale on pedicures. So I prebooked on December 23, and the two services together cost $60.

I love Vamp. It took me a while to get into the groove with a beauty salon in Montclair that makes me happy. Some are overpriced and not that great; others are small-town and gossipy. But Vamp's chic owner, Danielle, does hair for major magazine spreads! And her twin sister, Dominique, keeps the salon humming on schedule. They are charming and so, so stylish. Also sweet--Danielle passed out glasses of champagne Friday. My first pedicure while sipping bubbly.

I've been to a lot of the best salons in NYC, from Frédéric Fekkai for color and cut [for years] to Buff Nail Spa at Bergdorf Goodman for impeccable pedicures to Bliss [tried the pedicure there, too]. But now I've found bliss in my own backyard. I rang in the new year feeling totally pampered with a shampoo by Rachel, blowout by Christina and pedicure by Yajaira. I chose OPI's upbeat fuchsia Let Me Entertain You. [Here's the link: www.vamphairstudio.com.]

Thanks, Dad, I said on New Year's Eve. I went to the beauty salon with the money you gave me for Christmas.

When? he said.

Today. 

Good. You should.


He's a generous man even from the bed by the window in Room 111. And Sis is his generous personal shopper.

Good night.