✨ things that make my life feel expensive ✨
Always being curious to learn and actively pursuing knowledge. This is #1 for me. Constantly be trying to elevate yourself with information. There's no better time than now to be able to learn new things. Psychology, theory, fiction, persuasion, finance, history, emotional growth, nutrition, beauty, time management, philosophy, politics, strategy, classic literature, art, high fashion, hard sciences, technology, investing. There's so many things to learn about. There are a lot of free courses out there as well.
Having manners and etiquette. Smile at people. Be friendly. Be especially kind to people working in the service industry, retail, customer service.
Being well spoken. Limit profanity and slang. Don't gossip or say anything about yourself in a negative light. Think before you speak. It's okay to pause, think, and articulate.
Water, tea, freshly squeezed or cold pressed juices in champagne flutes or wine glasses.
Making fancy cocktails (or mocktails!) and putting them in proper glasses, with stirrers. It helps if you have a bar setup too, I have a cute lil bar cart with all the fixings.
Expensive smelling candles. They don't have to actually be expensive, they just need to look cute and smell good.
Cooking delicious recipes from scratch, and eating at the dining room table with a full setup. Candles, glassware, cloth napkins, jazz music in the background, the whole nine yards. Ambience is everything.
Drinking tea in the afternoon out of a teapot and teacup.
Natural air fresheners. Essential oil diffusers, incense, reed diffusers. I'm a big fan of fresh eucalyptus bundles in the shower too.
Salt lamps and battery operated candles. I try to live off of low, warm lighting and sunlight as much as I can.
Buying cute crystals and setting up an altar to myself. I have a pretty silk scarf laid out on the end of my vanity, with crystals, sage, written affirmations, etc.
Sunlight. Get as much as you can, even in the winter. Go outside in your puffy coat if you have to.
Being in nature, in general. Nature walks are essential.
Listening to jazz & classical music.
Reading. There are a lot of free ebooks online, or you can go to the library too.
Cooking with fresh herbs, vegetables, fruits etc.
Trying new hobbies. Ballet, yoga, Pilates, barre, horseback riding, etc.
Maintaining a clean and beautiful home environment.
Wearing perfumes & perfume oils. Right now I'm obsessed with Oudh, it smells incredible.
Trying new recipes out of fancy cookbooks.
Going to wineries and attending wine tasting events.
Try baking delicious and healthy treats.
Fresh, high quality bedding. Crispy, high thread count white sheets. Feathery pillows. Great quality mattress.
Get up and watch the sun rise, if you can. Sunsets are beautiful too.
Get blackout curtains, especially if you live in a city with light pollution.
Fancy coffee table books.
Fresh bread, either from a local bakery or homemade.
Going to farmers markets.
Going to museums and art galleries.
Having dinner with friends. Either at a nice restaurant or having a dinner party.
Sleeping. Resting. Hibernating. Sitting. Napping. Relaxing. Being Present. Single tasking.
Espresso drinks at home, with a milk frother and espresso machine. The cost of a mid range espresso machine will pay for itself in no time if you drink takeout coffee regularly.
Bluetooth speakers in the bathroom, bedroom, and kitchen.
Big, fluffy, white bath towels.
High quality, nontoxic personal care products. This goes for hair products, face products, body care, makeup, even toothpaste. Don't throw everything out, just be conscious of your purchases when you buy new things.
Going on picnics in the park.
Going to the library and bookstores.
Reservations at new and exciting restaurants.
Reusing pretty candle jars as containers.
Reading luxurious magazines and newspapers. Some of my favorite are Vogue, Town & Country, Architectural Digest, Food & Wine, Financial Times, Bloomberg Businessweek, and The Wall Street Journal.
