Whether or not you are in a location that the decision-makers have released you to get out and about it’s, as the saying goes, coming to a city near you soon!! And, we are all happy about that! But wait!! This no makeup and leggings thing wasn’t so bad, was it? Complete comfort all the time wasn’t a bad gig for us grandmas. True, it came with a cost. Our roots seem to be sparkling as gray hair has been given the freedom to move on in. Our nails and toes are begging for help as the last of the pedi-mani we got eight weeks ago is, literally, hanging on by a thread. Even our drawers—the one we straightened at the first of the quarantine–are starting to shift around as if to say “Pick ME!” Every part of us is ready to dust off and get back in the game!

What have I done during this time for self-care in the area of hair and nails and spring clothes? First of all, I was one of the lucky few who got in the hairdresser just before the quarantine started. Remember that week. We weren’t sure this quarantine thing was a thing so we sort of kept going, however cautiously. I remember getting a text from my hairdresser saying all clients over 65 would be given a private room for their treatment. Whoa! Okay. Reality check. I was one of the ones in the risk category. But, I could still get my roots done, so I was okay with it and the private room was pretty cool. The very next day, the governor closed the state for all non-essentials. Snuck in by the skin of my teeth, as my daddy used to say. But that was weeks ago, in the meantime my roots have be allowed to grow freely. Fortunately, I’m a blond and that does fare a little better as it grows out than my dark-haired friends. But, I have been shocked at how gray the hair around my face is—nearly totally white. Not so much in the back or around the crown, that hair is brown with gray threads running through it. Not attractive at all. We’re all hopeful the governor will lift the ban on beauty salons and then it will be like a horse headed for home—we won’t be able to get there soon enough!

My nails, well, I call them “naked and afraid.” No polish on my fingernails in eight weeks. I’ve had to cut them several times to save them from themselves and breaking off. I’ve actually been surprised at how well they have held up. I think “naked and afraid” agrees with them, but I’m ready for my summer peach polish to brighten them up. My toes—just all bad. I have a fine line of pink polish just on the tips of my toe nails. They are also ready for my usual peach polish. 

Clothes—It’s time to get back to clothes. Yep, real clothes that button and snap or zip. Anything that requires more than “pulling them up.” I’ve been in leggings most of the eight weeks. Like nearly every day. And, I seriously love that. I’m a comfy dresser anyway so it wasn’t a stretch to enjoy the comfort of leggings for eight weeks. However, last week, the temperature jumped up to near summer temps and the leggings were a little warm. Fortunately, I had scoured the internet for long(er) shorts for the summer (if you remember I’m a summer camp director—long shorts are required) and they arrived just in time.

If you’re the on lookout for long shorts, check out these by Madewell and Free People. The Free People shorts are baggy by nature, so very comfortable. The denim shorts are from Madewell and have a high, mom jean cut. I seriously said I would never wear high rise again, but I’ve said those words many times in my fashion life. Both of these shorts fit pretty true to size, so order what you usually wear. 

Well, here’s to “dusting off” and getting back in the game. Our prayers continue to be with everyone who has been affected by this virus in any way—physically, emotionally, and financially. It’s just hard, but our prayer is that you lean on God, keep your family close and safe, and keep on being the ROCK STARS this world needs. YOU GOT THIS!