Cheap Pampering in Brazil

Here I am getting a manicure and pedicure at home.


Yes, you can say it, I'm getting spoiled in Brazil. It's funny to see what costs more or less then in the U.S. Most everything here in Brazil is more expensive then the U.S. But I have found something that is a lot less expensive, and has to do with some pampering for me.

I'm talking about manicures and pedicures. Let me just tell you how great they are here. First, I don't have to go anywhere. The lady who does it, comes here to the house and does both my mother-in-law's and my nails. Second, she even does the "fancy" stuff....like painting flowers on your nails. Third, and this is the big one, it only costs R$12. In Dollars, thats about $7!!!!!! For BOTH a manicure AND pedicure with all the fancy "extras". So are you jealous yet????

In the U.S., a pedicure was only a rare treat for me, because I could find a lot more things I could buy with the $24 I would spend on a pedicure. But it was a fun girls day to call up my friend Sarah, and go relax in massage chairs, read magazines, chat, and have someone else do the job of filing off the nastiness of my heels. And I NEVER got a pedicure AND a manicure (except for my wedding), because there was no way I was going to spend so much money on that. Another thing I never did was get the fancy "extras" like flowers painted on my nails because they were an extra $5. (I did get flowers the day before I came to Brazil though, because I needed MAJOR help with my feet from going from winter in CO to summer in Brazil....and flip-flops. I couldn't hide my feet in Brazil, so I wanted them extra pretty and splurged on some pretty flowers.)

Here in Brazil, the women get their nails done once a month. So, I figure that I may as well adapt to the culture a bit and treat myself to the monthly mani-pedi, with the fancy "extras"...........for only $7!!!!!