Today I did two unusual things: 1) got a manicure and 2) became an Ebay-monger.

Some guys might wonder why girls feel compelled to pay someone $15+ to paint their nails. Sometimes I wonder that myself. But only until I get into the salon and my hands are soaking in nice, warm water with bubbles on top and therapeutic pebbles at the bottom. Then you forget all about the $15 and think only how lovely everything feels.

And tonight I logged into Ebay (which is rare) and started browsing jewelry (even rarer). I’ve been looking for a solitaire cz pendant necklace to replace one I lost a while ago, and I found one being sold by igem.tv on Ebay. You can see the necklace here, but I assure you I didn’t pay $249. I paid 99 cents, plus about $11 in shipping and insurance. $12.33 for a necklace isn’t bad. And this necklace isn’t cubic zirconium, it’s briolite (synthetic diamond). Most reviewers left positive feedback saying the jewelry was gorgeous, and a few said it looked cheesy fake. So we’ll see how I like it.

The problem with Ebay is that it’s addictive. You start looking at one thing and then you look at another, and suddenly you’re thinking, “I could do with a pair of fourteen-carat white gold cubic zirconium-studded hoop earrings. They’re only $25.” And then you’re thinking, “I could do with a fourteen-carat gold ¼ carat diamond anniversary band ring. It’s only $325.” There is so much beautiful jewelry out there, and it’s frighteningly easy to point and click “BUY.”

I’m happy to say that I restrained myself with the one necklace. And the one manicure. Although I have to admit while I was sitting in the salon getting my nails done, my eyes kept wandering to the hair color charts on the wall. Maybe I could do with highlights in my hair . . .