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Last Friday, in honor of my miraculous day off work from all four jobs and our impending one year anniversary, I called an impromptu “Treat Yo Self!” Day.

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Sounds expensive, right? How I wish I could afford a Treat Yo Self day with the likes of fine leather goods! Oh, the things I’d cross off my “maybe one day” list! A new quilt that isn’t ripped for our bed, a purse that isn’t falling apart at the seams, some pretty new clothes! Sigh!

Alas, we’re still on a budget and the last time I checked, this is still reality. So Treat Yo Self day had to be luxurious but also done on the cheap.

The last time I got my hair cut at a really nice salon was….never. That’s right. Never. The nicest place I’ve ever had my hair cut was at a place called Snippers. Simply put, I’ve never had the money to blow $75 on a haircut, and when I have had $75 to blow, I’d much prefer to blow it on a new outfit or some other more sustainable treat that lasts longer than six to eight weeks. My hair isn’t particularly finicky. It doesn’t require high maintenance styles or perms or coloring or special treatments even, so the run of the mill hair cutting place has always been fine by me. But that’s all those places are – just fine. You tell them what you want, they spray your hair with a water bottle, they cut it, they charge you $12, and you’re out the door. If you want it shampoo’d or blown dry, that’ll be an extra $7, please. By then you’re up to $19, plus tip.

But my hair was getting really long, dull, lifeless, and just plain grungy. I haven’t had a real haircut since before we got married. That’s pathetic, people. It was time. I’d planned on going to any old place, like I usually do, paying my $15 for an average haircut, and moving on with my life. But then I discovered I had one whole entire day off work with no obligations! What to do! What to do!? Ah, yes! Enter “Treat Yo Self!” day. And then I remembered that Cincinnati has not only an Aveda Salon, but an Aveda Fredrick’s Institute where they teach students cosmetology and the art of great hairstyling. Then I read that those students need people to practice on. Then I read the slew of awesome reviews and how wonderfully pampering it was there. Then I read that it was only $17. Then I was sold. I booked my appointment and happily made the 45 minute jaunt to the far north side of Cincinnati to try my luck at a cheap yet luxurious haircut.

Y’all, I want to live there.

A) They just relocated and had officially moved in only last week, so the place was gorgeous, and B) I was paired up with the super sweet and very talented Laura (she pronounces it Lara, just like me!…it was fate!) who made my life pure heaven for the next hour and 45 minutes. My session started out with a hairstyle consultation with Laura, and then her supervisor/instructor Ben came over and all three of us consulted together and came up with a style that would work well with my hair, face shape, style, schedule, etc. I was offered piping hot tea and whisked off for a relaxing neck, back, and shoulder massage, followed by an oh-so-amazing hair shampoo and conditioning session with a scalp massage, and then a mini hot towel and soothing lotion facial in a quiet little back room. After that little piece of heaven that I absolutely was not expecting, it was time for my haircut. And it was incredible. There was such attention to detail, and such a desire to make sure it was done correctly, and that I was happy every step of the way. She cut 7 inches off, took her time cutting and layering my hair, then she applied all sorts of lovely, yummy smelling Aveda products, dried, and styled my hair. It took well over an hour. And I love me some yummy-smelling Aveda products! All for $17. Seriously, $17. And they’re not even allowed to accept tips! All that pampering and it’s even cheaper than Great Clips! It was, quite literally, the best hair cut I have ever had in my life. I am so happy to have discovered this place that I might actually do what I’m supposed to be doing and go in every 8 weeks to get my hair trimmed. I mean, hell, if they treat you like that even my limited budget can afford a Treat Yo Self day for less than $20 every other month! Plus, I don’t look like a rat anymore. Pure bliss!

Earlier that day I’d done my own pretty manicure and pedicure, and for dinner Ted and I used a gift card to one of our favorite little pizza joints – Hyde Park Pizzaria – that my sister got us for our birthdays. For $17 (um, plus fuel…Cincinnati’s a big city, friends) I got a luxurious massage, facial, shampoo, haircut, style, manicure, pedicure, and dinner out!

I’d say Treat Yo Self day was a complete success!

P.S. The pictures totally don’t do it justice. It’s really hard to take a flattering picture of a hairstyle by yourself…it looks much better in person!

How would you spend Treat Yo Self Day?