Thursday, January 7, 2010

Good Now vs. Good Later

I was so warm and snuggly in bed this morning, sound asleep under many blankets. I knew it was snowing and as Mom slept next to me, I was sure we were going to spend the entire day in bed. Who wants to go out in the yucky, cold, wet snow? Not me. Just like my girl Pearly, I do not like to get my tootsies wet. I'll get out of bed when the snow melts.

All of a sudden I felt Mom start to move. No! Go back to sleep!. The next thing I know, she's out of bed, running around like a mad woman. What is going on? I hear Mom yell "Get up Stubby. Time to go out and make poopy." Maybe if I pretend to be in a deep sleep she will just get back in bed and go back to sleep. Nope. She wasn't falling for it as she yelled "Let's go dude. I've got to hit the road or I'll be late for my appointment."

Where could Mom possibly be going in a blizzard? What could be so important that she has to leave the house when the weathermen are telling people to stay off the roads? Why can't she just stay in bed? All of a sudden I'm out of bed, out in the cold, and Mom is off to her appointment. Come back Mom!

Mom had an appointment for a facial this morning that she wasn't going to miss come hell or high water. She hasn't had a facial in a long time. For those of you who don't know, Mom was in a beach accident back in 2005. She received 30 stitches in her forehead and ever since then she has been afraid to have anything done to her face. That is until now. She has been complaining that her skin looks dull, feels dull, etc. So she scheduled an exfoliating facial for today, of all days.

So how did the facial go? Mom looked the same to me when she got home except that her face was a bit shiny. Not shiny like get my sunglasses shiny, just shiny like smooth. She told me that she already felt better but that she was given some product samples that she would probably never use.

Don't ask me why Mom had to put the products on my back to take a picture of them (I was napping next to her). These are samples of the products the esthetician used on her. I know what you are thinking - why would you let someone use these products on you? This is exactly what I asked her. Her answer - it's complicated.

Mom found an eco-friendly spa last year where she has been getting pedicures. She likes the spa's concept - it's LEED certified and they only use 'green' products - but she hasn't had the best service there so she didn't want to go there for a facial. She gets her eyebrows done at a different spa that isn't very eco-friendly, but she loves the esthetician so she decided to get her facial there.

Back to the products. Mom is not familiar with the dermalogica brand, so the first place she went to check them out was the Skin Deep Cosmetic Safety Database. As luck would have it, only one of the samples Mom was given was listed. The skin smoothing cream had a score of 7 (out of 10). There is so much bad stuff in this product including several parabens. Yuck! The lower the score the better and since Mom tries to avoid all products with a score higher than 3, these samples will go unused.

All this facial stuff got me thinking - is it worth it to use products that contain harmful chemicals so that you can look good now? Or are you better off searching for and and using products that don't work that great but that don't contain harmful chemicals? This is the classic risk versus reward. I personally think Mom looks okay and since I want her around for a long time, I think she shouldn't use products that contain harmful chemicals. Maybe she just needs to do more research to find a spa that meets her needs. She may have to travel a little bit further to get to a great spa but it will be worth it. On second thought, maybe she should just give up on looking good so that she can spend more time with me.

20 comments:

Deborah said...

That was so funny Stubby, I would be running around like crazy too if I was about to get a facial and little snow storm would not hold me back either!
I bet you Mom looks beautiful!

Sequoia & Petunia & Emma said...

Dear Stubby,

We know nothing abouts this...our Momma has never had a face-all. It sounds relaxing though. We agrees that chemicals are scary to be smoothering on your face. We says why don't these humans stop this silly stuff and also stop stealing ours too with their 'baths', hrmph!

But ifs our Momma gets a face-all she will look into if its eco-friendlys!

Salinger The Pug said...

Mom loves facials too and she'd let them smear mud and gravel on her face (doesn't get more natural than that!) as long as they do the "extractions" at the end! She LOOOOOVES that!

We had no idea about mom's accident! If she has scars or anything, we didn't notice at all! She is just beautiful as she is!

Hope you get to sleep in tomorrow dude! Holden has a 2 hour school delay and I plan on being very snuggly with him!

Love,
S-Dog

dw said...

Stubby, your mom was very brave going out in the cold and snow and muck this morning! Yeah, I stayed in jammies until noon! I don't know anything about that spa stuff either. Your mom sure does a lot of research.... she should write a book about it! With all proceeds going to you, Stubby! There's no denying that great support role you play in her life. Btw, I've started a serious look for a puggie of my own...not a lot available in the area, but we'll see. :)

Stubby said...

Hi Deborah! What's with you women? I find it hard to believe you would risk life and limb for a silly facial. You seem more sensible than that.

Stubby xoxo

Stubby said...

Hi Sequoia & Tuni! I don't really know anything about this facial stuff either. Anything that takes Mom away from me is bad, but it made her feel good, so I can't really complain.

Tell your mom that she doesn't need a facial because her skin is flawless. Just tell her to keep using sunscreen and she will be fine.

Stubby xoxo

Stubby said...

Salinger dude! Mom said the facial lady spent so much time doing the extractions. I have no idea what that means but it sounds painful.

Mom thinks her scar is huge but it's really not that bad. The plastic surgeon did a great time stitching her up.

I'm sleeping in tomorrow with or without Mom. I'm freaking tired and if I don't get my sleep, ugly Stubby is going to come out!

Stubby xoxo

Stubby said...

Hi dw! Brave? Don't you mean crazy? Jammies until noon sounds like it was the best way to spend the day. I'm hoping that's the plan for tomorrow.

Mom likes the idea of writing a book, but she doesn't think anyone would read it. I think if she put me on the cover everyone would read it!

Stubby xoxo

Pee-s: I'm glad you've started a serious look for a puggie. I'll have Mom keep her eyes open for one. You can always borrow me for the weekend if you need a pug fix!

RILEY AND STAR MY MALTESEKIDS said...

Hi Stubby,

It was nice of you to hold the fort down while your mommy went for her facial. We all need a good facial now and then.

Hope it gets warmer where you are.

Luv,
Riley and Star.

Stubby said...

Hi Riley & Star! Mom is pretty lucky she has me. Who else would hold down the fort and keep all the bad guys out?

The snow stopped for now but now it's getting really cold. I think it might get warmer in a couple of months!

Stubby xoxo

Kelly said...

Hi Stubby! You are so right- we do hate getting our tootsies wet! Or cold! I hope you are snuggled up in the warm house today.

I am sorry to hear that your mom was in an accident- as others have said, I never noticed a scar. She looks beautiful!

Ideally, I hope she can one day find a facial that uses responsible, eco-friendly products without sacrificing quality!

xoxo
Pearly

Stubby said...

Hi Pearly! I slept in so late today, all nice and snuggly. Mom called me a lazy lima bean but she was right there in the bed with me.

Unfortunately it snowed so much last night that when Mom opened the door for me to go out, I took one look and ran the other way. She proceeded to pick me up and put my little tootsies down in the snow. Yikes! It was freezing and I ran to the door. She will just have to deal with whatever happens in the house today.

Stubby xoxo

Jan Mader said...

Oh Stubby...I understand why your mom was in such a rush! Nothing could stop me from a pampering facial either!

You know what's funny? My Annabelle just posted on our animal blog today about going outside...go see!

http://animaltalk4u.blogspot.com

Love your blog and the comment you just left on mine! You inspire other people to write!!!!

Anonymous said...

Hey Stubby... thanks for coming by my blog.. :) Gus is pretty loud and I bet you can be too!


I haven't had a facial in a while and my estethician (sp) used gm collins which was fine there, daily use reacted badly with my skin.
I use roc and I find that i am spending 25$ for moisturizer, 15$ for toner and face wash. I am not sure if it is leed certified but I do know it is the only stuff i can use where my skin isn't rough, dry, covered in small rash like spots.
I really recommend facials for people that haven't had them before, it is the best way to relax while someone cleans, scrubs, (pops pimples), moistureizes and sometimes even massages your face.

How did your scar hold up? If it has been a few years, you should be just fine to use whatever products you like (mayeb spot test on the svar to make sure?)

Oh poor Stubby.. Indy LOVES the snow but Gus is on the fence still. :)

Stubby said...

Hi Jan! Those facials must really be good. I wonder if I need one.

I am heading over see what your Annabelle had to say about going outside. Maybe all of us need to move to a warmer climate.

Stubby xoxo

Stubby said...

Hi Lex! Mom told me she used to use Roc and that she had great results. I will ask her why she stopped using it.

Mom's face is not as shiny as it was yesterday, but it still looks good. The scar looks the same as it did before the facial, which is good. I hope she doesn't make a habit of this facial thing because I need her home with me.

No more snow!

Stubby xoxo

The scar seemed to do fine

Archie and Melissa said...

hi stubby!
oh i am so glad your mom treated herself to a facial!
i love the description of your morning.
this reminds me of the time mom gave me a virtual spa day... :)

http://pugnotes.blogspot.com/2008/05/two-thumbs-up-favorite-beauty-items.html

i still feel squeaky clean from that post. :)

have a wonderful weekend my friends!

xoxoxo
m & e

Stubby said...

Hi Melissa & Emmitt! I checked out your virtual spa day and it cracked me up! Mom thinks maybe we can do a spa day when I come visit you but I told her that there's no way my buddy Emmitt wants get clean.

Stubby xoxo

Smushie Ranch said...

Hey Stubby,

Our mom has a scar on her face too from falling on a brick fireplace. She thinks it gives her character. We're sure your mom is beautiful no matter what! Glad to hear she enjoyed her facial and spa day. She should have more!

xoxo
Stella, Gunther and Betty

Stubby said...

Hi Stella, Gunther, & Betty! Falling on a brick fireplace - ouch! I'm sure the scar gives your mom character and maybe it does the same to my mom. It definitely give her a story to tell.

I think Mom is going to get facials more often. I'm not really happy about that but I guess I'll get over it.

Stubby xoxo