But I Really Want Rhinestones
If you ever find yourself forced to sit with me for any length of time around holidays that traditionally involve the exchanging of gifts, you are likely to hear entirely more of my thoughts on the
Maggie Franklin
Blogger
20/20...At a Distance
I have always had ridiculously good eyesight. Up close, far away, itty bitty — I can see it. Well, I could. It started in late summer. One day the massage therapist next door burst into my salon
Window Shopping
It’s been a year since I implemented online booking. For the most part, it has been a great addition to the way I do business. It saves me time, it ended most of the phone tag,
I’m Not Psychic
So a new client comes in the other day for a full set. She tells me that she’s been stalking me online for a while and loves my work. But she has a regular nail tech,
At Least I Can Make Their Nails Look Good
Every time I see an ad or an article or some industry quip about ways to keep busy during the “winter slump” my eyes bug out of my head and I catch my breath. What “winter
What Does Baby Bear Use?
When I started out in this business, I spent years trying out different product lines, looking for the magic product that would solve all my problems. Naturally, at some point I had to suck it up and
Ergonomics
I have worked very hard to set up my workstation in a manner that is ergonomic for me. I put thought into it when I designed my desk. I thought about it when I bought my
It’s Gonna Take Three Hours, OK?
For a long time, I bought into the “time is money” philosophy. I caved to the pressure to book on the hour and be able to perform every service on my menu in one hour or
I Love a Parade!
The building that houses my salon sits right smack dab on the corner of a block of the downtown district where the city is fond of closing off our cross street for events such as the
The Test of Time
We spent our weekend at Disneyland. Disneyland remains our preferred destination for a weekend out of town, being not entirely local, but not too far for a weekend trip. But our weekends are not the point.
Monsters From the Id
The title comes from the 1956 science fiction movie “Forbidden Planet.” The concept comes from Carl Jung. And my oversimplified explanation comes from the elementary schoolyard poo-flinging fest taking place in my Facebook newsfeed: The more we
The Whole Nail and Back Again
When doing rockstar nails in acrylic, I really prefer to do a French style. It’s easier to change the colors this way — all I have to do is a backfill. If the client really wants
Are There or Aren’t There Artisans?
Have you ever been working hard to write up a really classy service menu and come up with the brilliant idea to refer to any of your one-of-a-kind creations as “artisan” anythings? I did once. I
Why Are You Yelling at Me?
Maybe it’s because the weather is changing and we are in that rare, and short-lived, time of the year when the heat isn’t on and neither is the air conditioning. So there are long periods of
Constant Contact
No. I’m not talking about the actual company by the same name. I’m talking about the concept of keeping in touch. Lately, I’ve found myself frustrated from dealing with a handful of companies that seem not to
Unrealistic Expectations
So, once again, I find myself dealing with gel-polish issues. This time, another high-end brand of gel-polish has presented itself fully cured in the bottles. This one is one of the “all gel” formulas, so no
Just Venting
All my Facebook friends know that this week has been a rough one for me. After coming back from vacation all primed and pumped and ready to tackle another 21 years of doing nails and not