quiet luxuries from this past week
what i read, what i made, and what i bought
One of the first things I started doing at the end of 2023 and the beginning of this year was sell some of my handbags that I rarely (or never) wore. When you manage a business, whether as a full time career or side hustle, you end up looking at money differently. And it’s the same with possessions. I always knew I had too many purses but I also had that fearful thought that went, “what if I need it one day?”
But there is no value in something that sits in your closet, unused, unworn, and unloved. While at the time I may have justified its purchase, once that hit of dopamine wore off, I no longer appreciated it. I realized later that I only chased the thrill of making the purchase and not the actual item itself. And this, my friends, is the danger of the slippery slope of shopping.
Which is why it is so important to cause friction between yourself and the coveted item.
Yes, I like treating myself to something nice, but if something doesn’t give me a full body, resounding YES, it is not worth spending my hard earned money. I learned my lesson the hard way when I found myself giving away clothes, accessories, and pieces of jewelry that I only liked when it was nice and shiny, but ultimately, did not give me that YES feeling.
This past week was no different from any other busy workweek, other than the fact that the week involved a lot of switching gears and changing up what would have otherwise been a routine thing to get stuff done. In short, I had to be flexible to get through each day. It can be draining. It was draining.
But I was also intentional in carving out some time for myself to indulge in “quietly luxurious” moments, such as:
Appreciating the clothes I have in my closet.
This past week I finally bought my own copy of CBK and it did not disappoint; these gorgeous pictures depicted this iconic woman displayed her in all her fashionable, elegant glory. As I read this book from cover to beautiful cover, it made me think of the pieces that hung in my own closet, and how much I appreciated what I had. What is pleasing to me now (in terms of aesthetics, comfort, cut, style) is inspired by this pioneering fashionista, who made it a thing back in the 90s.
So I went to my closet and pulled out most of the white button downs, thick wool and cashmere blazers, a coat, canvas bags and laid them out on the bed. It was nice to be reminded of what I already had and loved. It was definitely a process to realize what my personal style was, but once I figured it out, I was able to make it work with my lifestyle.
Cooking dinner for my husband
These days for us, eating at home is a luxury. My husband’s birthday was this past week, and for his birthday dinner, he asked for either pan roast or Korean style braised beef short ribs. I decided on the latter, and boy, did I learn some crucial truths when it comes to Korean cuisine:
When making anything Korean, just make sure you prep the ingredients in advance.
It isn’t just the prep work that takes time; the cooking takes just as long (if not longer).
You have to taste test throughout the process.
The result is worth it.
Though it did take slightly longer than I anticipated to complete the dish, the end result was incredibly delicious and filling. And of course, because I’m such a stickler for traditions, I sang happy birthday to him with slices of cake I bought from the local bakery.
Making candles
I can finally cross this off my bucket list; since 2018, I’ve been wanting to make my own candles.
I’m not much of a DIY type of person, but as a candle lover, I’ve spent exorbitant amounts on store bought candles. I found a YouTube video made by this creator who made non toxic, all natural candles at home, and decided that now was the time to finally make my own batch.
I used Now essential oils in Clove and Orange and used a label maker to label each jar and let them dry overnight. The results came out better than I expected.
Journaling…with a glass of homemade iced matcha latte
I think finding the time to journal and meditate is one of the most important “quiet luxuries” we can ask for. We are busier than ever, but also more distracted than ever. I realize that things feel “off” when I don’t intentionally make time to journal. Even if it’s only for 10 minutes, it does me a world of good; it makes me feel centered, focused, and in those 10 minutes, I can find things I’m thankful for. The cherry on top is the wonderfully delicious iced matcha latte I made to enjoy along with my journaling. For reference, I use almond milk with a tablespoon of summer honey and it is such a treat.
Trying the Maison d’Etto Discovery Set
Perfume is one thing I cannot blind buy. Diptyque’s Do Son has always been my go-to scent, but I’m still looking for my signature fragrance. I discovered Maison d’Etto while scrolling through TikTok and Instagram, and happily opted for the discovery set for $90.00 USD instead of splurging on a full bottle. So far I am thoroughly loving Macanudo, a crisp scent that reminds me of fresh cut grass, with a hint of earth and bergamot. I dab on both wrists and behind my ears right before I leave for the day, but also carry it in my purse for an occasional refresh. It is light but invigorating, not too heavy or sickeningly…perfumey? In any case, I feel like an elevated version of myself.