I'm not an overly "fancy" person. As a mom, I even shock myself at how often I'm doing disgusting things, such as eating other people's food off other people's bodies, and I mean that in the unsexiest way possible. (Do any other moms do this? Your kid has half a strawberry stuck to his face/torso/arm and instead of finding a cloth to wipe it off you just pop it in your own mouth? OH I'M AN ANIMAL NOW? You lie if you say you haven't done this.)
BUT.
There are times when I like to be a little fancy, and it's nice to incorporate some special touches throughout an otherwise unremarkable day to keep things pretty and to make yourself feel pampered.
Buy the good coffee. Yes, it's cheaper to buy a huge tub of Maxwell House, and that'll do in a pinch - but it's so much easier to get up and going in the morning when there's (in my case) Starbucks or Just Us brewing. Cup for cup it's probably not much more costly, and it's so worth it. We haven't sprung for a coffee grinder or a French press or any of those gizmos yet, but my understanding is they're both worthwhile investments. Bonus points: Drink your morning coffee outside. I almost never ever have time to do this but it's pretty great to take 10 minutes at the start of the day to sit on your deck and take in the fresh air along with your caffeine fix.
Get some fresh flowers. This is one of my favourite inexpensive ways to spruce up our mantel or kitchen table. Flowers don't need to be pricey! You can often grab a bouquet at the grocery store for $6, or just cut some flowers from your own yard. For the longest time, I was adamant about not touching the flowers in our yard, but where will you enjoy them more? Are you more likely to go outside and stare at your flower bed, or will you appreciate a small vase in your house, where you'll walk past it 100 times a day?
Drink some spa water. We always have a pitcher of water in the fridge at home and adding some fruits and veggies to it makes it feel like more of a special treat than just guzzling H2O for good health. Lemon slices are always a good choice, or mix it up with cucumbers or berries. Bonus - you'll probably end up drinking more water which is never a bad move!
Wear your nice jewelry, carry your best handbag, put on your expensive shoes, drink $10 wine out of a $250 wine glass. We splurge on these things or receive them as gifts, then put them away for "a special day" - and those gorgeous earrings or amazing shoes end up being worn three or four times, max. The hand-cut crystal flutes retreat to the back of your cupboard and never emerge. Every day is special. Wear your blingiest bling or your sky-high heels on a random Tuesday and you'll feel like a million bucks! Chocolate milk out of champagne flutes - why not?
