The Financial Corner:                                     by Nancy A. Bascom

         ~with a twist~                                                      Office Manager

With the rising price of gas these days, it’s more financially sound to coordinate our errands than ever before.  In an effort to conserve, I strongly recommend that we make each office visit a dual visit.  Get two things done at once.  Schedule a wrinkle filler visit (Radiesse or Restylane) and also get a hot stone massage.  Two things at once.  Schedule Dysport or a Botox visit and also get an IPL hair removal for your underarms or legs.  With the summer coming (someone told me it was coming) now is the time to remember that less is best.  Less wrinkles, less leg hair, both good adjuncts to our summer “natural look”.  Looking your best isn’t just a good nights sleep or an hour of exercise.  Looking your best is eliminating unwanted wrinkles and frown lines.  Is it really necessary to go another summer looking another year older…..NO!  Certainly not.  So, start conserving on gas…..optimize your doctors visits by enhancing two body areas at once.  Your significant others and your wallets will be impressed that you’re doing your part to go green and keep the household gas expenses within budget.  

In our next financial corner we’ll discuss . . . . How to stretch a dollar!

Shoes in The Trunk

If you are a woman you know exactly what I'm talking about and if you are a man then I'm letting you in on a HUGE secret. In relationships many women (although I think I was the biggest offender) buy shoes and keep them from their partner by stashing them in the trunk. I know that right now many of you are reading this and counting the pairs in your head that are in your trunk right now or worse your husband has just asked to borrow your car and you are silently praying in your head that he doesn't need to check the spare tire.

My "problem" started when I got married. I wasn't a shop-a-holic by any means but it used to drive him crazy when he would see a bright shiny shoe box come into the house. It was like I was breaking some man law, you know the one that says "normal" people only need one pair of work shoes, one pair of sneakers (to mow the lawn of course) and one pair of "sensible" sandals. He just simply could not phathom the fact that I needed at least ten pairs of black heals all with a different design and material. Hence the beginning of many loud arguments on how our money could be better spent. So I had to find a way to still have shoes but keep the peace and I did.

 I asked a friend of mine who had been married for many years and had a shoe collection that I could only dream of "what did you do to convince your husband that you needed all those shoes?" She grinned and said " I hide them in the trunk until he is out of the house, then I scuff the bottoms on the tar just enough to look "office" worn" Then she continues "NEVER bring the box home".

The first time I tried this risky move I was sure he would either smell my fear or the new shoe smell on my feet that was still lingering from my joyous romp around the store with the other women nodding and smiling cheering me on to buy that perfect snake skin boot that only goes with one skirt (fhhhw I'm out of breath). I walk in like any other day and when he asks the fatal question " so what did you buy?" I smile and say "nothing" then I wait. Hmmm nothing he just said "oh ok". I did it. I really pulled it off. The next morning after he had left for work I went out to the car, popped the trunk and carefully put on my new boots and scuffed them just enough on the tar (still not understanding that part but she said to do it. That night my very observant husband asked (accusingly like I had scratched his car) "Are those boots new?" "No, of course not" I answered. He then said " lift your foot" "Excuse me?" I asked. "Lift your foot he said again" So I did as he asked and to my amazement he said "no those aren't new and you should take better care of your beloved shoes these are scratched really bad on the bottom, don't drag your feet" Well I could barely contain myself. The plan had actually worked.

It's much later in my life now and after deceiving one Ex-husband and one Ex-boyfriend I am happy to say that my life of hiding my beloved shoes in the trunk has come to an end. I found a wonderful man that used to keep his movies hidden in the trunk from his Ex-girlfriend. He loves movies (mostly horror, thank goodness) as much if not more than I love shoes and for many years he had to hide his movies and then "unearth" them slowly as not to be found out.

What is the moral to this story and how does it relate to Plastic Surgery? Look everyone wants to look good and I like to think that the clothes, the shoes and a little Botox can make you feel like a million bucks. So here is my advice hit a BOGO sale at payless, shop the sale rack at JC Penney and make an appointment for some filler and some Botox and not only will you feel like a million dollars you will find the confidence to say "yes honey these are new shoes and they can walk out as easily as they walked in and they are not easy to fill".

 Jenn Graham (soon to be Gibbs)

Patient Care Coordinator

                                               Empty Nesters

Spring is here and summer is almost upon us once again. With this beautiful New England weather we get picnics, out door concerts, family fun in the sun and many of experience the joys of becoming “empty nesters”. Whether you have a child graduating from High School, College, getting married or simply moving out to be on their own, as parents it is a bittersweet but proud moment.  Then we find ourselves wondering; “What next?”  “What now?”