How to Give Yourself a Spa Pedicure Without Stepping Foot in a Spa

You don't need to spend a lot of dough to treat your feet after a long day's work. After sitting through hundreds of pedicures and observing every move, I've been able to take my feet into my own hands and give myself my own spa-like pedicure. So kick off your shoes and relax those tired feet, just follow the simple steps listed below and you too, can enjoy the indulgence of a professional pedicure in the comfort of your own home.

1- Set the mood. Light incense or your favorite candle. Place some therapeutic music, pop open a bottle of wine and gather some magazines to read while your feet are submerged in water.

2- Begin by using a cotton pad soaked with nail-polish remover to take off any old polish.

3- Soak your feet in a large bowl with hot water. Pour essential oils, bath salts, cucumbers or even rose pedals for a complete aromatherapy experience.

4- Place a bath towel below your bowl to give your feet a comfortable surface to rest after a few minutes of soaking satisfaction.

5- Now your cuticles should be soft enough to be pushed back and easily removed. Then trim your toenails and file down smooth edges until you achieve your desired shape.

6- Next, treat calloused areas with a pumice stone or foot file and smooth your heels, the balls of your feet and the outsides of your pinkie toes.

7- Pat feet dry and apply a generous amount of exfoliating scrub or moisturizing foot lotion and work into the arch of your feet. Knead the muscles and massage all the way up to the calf.

8- Finally your clean canvas is ready for paint! Create space between toes using a foam toe separator (twisted tissue works great too).

9- Apply a coat of base coat, two coats of a color of your choice and one coat of top coat, making sure to let each coat dry before applying the next.

10- Use a moistened cotton swab with nail-polish remover to clean edges or polish off your skin.

11- Finally finish your bottle of wine, while your toes dry. For faster results use a drying spray or polish. Try Essie's "Good to Go" and your nails will literally be just that right after application.

Remember although your polish may be dry, you should still avoid closed toe shoes for 24 hours to avoid damage to your perfectly pedicured toes.