“When I first moved to New York I bought VOGUE instead of dinner. I just felt it fed me more.” – Carrie Bradshaw, Sex and the City
When I read that quote, I immediately knew my answer: it’s having simple luxuries like a really good cup of coffee to start my day. Nothing better than a hearty, robust cup of Joe in the wee morning hours. Or afternoon. Or after a great meal!
Do you really want to hurt me? google.images.com
I’ll happily spend a Visa gift card downloading MP3 music from Amazon. Who needs the whole CD when Boy George only had a few good dance songs anyways? Do you really want to hurt me? Do you really want to make cry?
I’ll happily take the plunge for a box of Clementine oranges.
I’ll spend my last bit of Christmas money in the book store … and take a couple of hours to do it.
I’ll skip dessert and save the calories for a really great bar burger shared with hubbs; I’ll languish over a cold Killians, too.
I’ll pass on home cooking, jewelry and purse parties and instead, I’ll lose an afternoon in the kitchen gadget section of “Bed, Bath and Beyond.” Lord, have mercy.
Oh, my darling, Clementine! Google.images.com
I’ll happily haggle with local farmers over fresh produce. And I’ll come home with more than I can fit in the fridge. Crazy, I know.
Yep, it’s the simple things.
What luxury will you happily spend money on?
A pedicure. And my BFF and I usually go together – fun to sit and chat while being spoiled!
I’m with you on skipping all those jewelry, home cooking parties too!
Oh yes, I forgot about those, good one, Dianna. And having a best bud next to you while you’re getting pampered? Glorious 🙂
Very few home parties have been worth the $$ invested, IMO.
MJ
A book, if you wrote it.
Aww .. that’s such a nice thing to say. Thank you, LeRoy 🙂
MJ
I understand this too well. I’d say my biggest luxury almost always involves books. I read lots on my Kindle, but going to the bookstore for an afternoon, knowing I can buy something special is, well, priceless.
Hugs,
Kathy
Yes — going to the bookstore, being surrounded by all those books and images .. ooh it’s just pure bliss for me. Even better if they have a coffee shop!!
I’ve resisted the ereaders .. I know my day will come but there’s just something about a book … sigh.
Hugs back! MJ
When the family visits my mother at the lake, there’s a kitchen store near by. Each year we spend hours there coming home with one more gadget…an apple core-er, teaspoons with extra long stems…love our times there together delighting in what each other chooses to bring home.
Those types of stores are just the best aren’t they? Sometimes the challenge for me is figuring out just what everything is .. and what it’s used for.
Happily, oldest boy inherited my love of cooking and I got him BBB $$ at Christmas; you should have seen the grin .. MJ
Ben & Jerry’s.
(You know this.)
Yes, I do believe I’ve heard that one somewhere before – ha!!
MJ
Really good olive oil, a meal at my favorite restaurant and a stay at a boutique hotel 🙂
Perfection!
MJ
Travel (my husband just said, “I ordered some socks” and my immediate thought was “That is $28.00 we can’t put in the Paris fund.” I didn’t say this out loud, but he knows me well because he added, “You know some black socks for when we go to Europe.”).
I like the way you wrote this post.
I like the way you think!
I’m planning another jaunt with my Mom and have already started earmarking discretionary funds for it .. just a bit here and there but it really does add up. Gonna have to cut back on my Clementine consumption methinks.
Thanks for commenting, you!
MJ
Art supplies, or a magazine for inspiration. Love clementines, and Bed Bath and Beyond, too.
Yes, Yes and Yes. All of the above. Sometimes just a beautifully produced magazine on glorious paper feels so very indulgent, doesn’t it?
Thanks for weighing in, Patti.
MJ
A white chocolate mocha from Starbucks or Caribou…
People Magazine…
Sesame chicken and an egg roll from Asian Express…
Pampered Chef products…
This was a fun one to think about! Thanks!
Oooh .. all of your choices sound positively decadent to me! Sometimes we just need something fun to think about 😉
Thanks for your comments, Terri.
My favorite PC product has to be their baking stones; I skip the parties and order from the hostess’ catalogue… whee!! MJ
I agree! It IS fun to think about the little ways we splurge on ourselves. We’re on the same wavelength with the Starbucks coffee. MMmmmm!
Belgian Chocolates. And this from a woman who spent 5 years living in SWITZERLAND. The Belgians know what to put inside, as well as how to make the most wonderful exterior. Ooh, I got some for my birthday … see ya!
Someone knows you well to have given you such a sweet gift 🙂 MJ
Experiences! Snow skiing, traveling, a dinner with the works, all better to me than jewelry. And for a small indulgence – a book – definitely. It holds the promise of a brand new world between the covers. Love the places you took us in this post MJ.
and I loved that you came along with me, Renee. Everything you described sound luxurious to me
MJ
Oooh, I love what you say here, “… it holds the promise of a brand new world between the covers.” So true!
MJ – I really needed to see this post today. Work has been frustrating this week and I’ve struggled to remember the simple pleasures that I can/do bestow upon myself. thank you! 🙂
I’m glad you stopped over, Alana. Sometimes we just need to strip away the nonsense to see the good that remains — the simple pleasures. Happy Friday!
MJ
I agree, good STRONG coffee is the only way to start the day! And after my cup and a half in the morning, I love ginger-peach iced tea as my beverage of choice the rest of the day.
Williams-Sonoma…don’t get me started!
I also love farmers’ markets and sun porches. It IS the little things that count! Thanks for the reminder on a cold Alaska January night (4 degrees here at the moment!) ~ Sheila
…I can see the bottom of my Tim Horton’s can (coffee) and I’ve been rationing it. Mmm.
And sun porches – yes indeedy.
So good to hear from you, Sheila, stay warm. It’s about 18 here this morning. Still … brrr. MJ
A trip to the bookstore and the opportunity to buy a real book. My husband got me a Nook a couple years ago, so I wouldn’t have to keep him awake at night while he’s sleeping and I’m reading. Nice, but…sometimes I miss the non-electronic books. Also, ever since college, we have been know to spend our last dollar on a lottery ticket — always a luxury when it’s your last one.
Yeah, that’s the reason I haven’t taken the plunge to the ereader yet… still love the feel and smell of a real book. And it’s fun to spend a buck on a lotto ticket, I get it 🙂
MJ
oops, that was meant to have a smiley after it. 🙂
I see it now – thanks, Jeannette! MJ
Did you REALLY bring out a Culture Club reference??? That was awesome! Having lived in Italy, I’m a bit of a coffee aficionado myself :). I’ve also been known to drop a dime or two on an MP3 or book (kindred spirits there). I love cooking, though…especially Italian…and like to splurge every now and then for a great meal. My wife loves my Chicken Franchese and Baked Ziti :D.
I’m dating myself with the Culture Club reference :). You’re mention of those dishes is making me hungry … MJ
MLB and I love going to a restaurant with a book or magazine in tow. We eat and then linger for an hour or so, just reading our own guilty pleasure separately, yet companionably. Lately, it’s been WP for Dummies, 8 Books in 1, and for MLB it’s a good mystery or Elle Decor.
Sounds positively decadent; great that you can both do your “thing” happily together. Sometimes I will bring my book out to where hubbs has a game on; I don’t always want to watch or listen to the game but I want to be near him .. we’ll chat on breaks and we enjoy our time happily “near” each other. MJ
One of my favorite ways to treat myself is to get my hair cut and colored. I love to change it up each time and transform my appearance. 🙂 I also love frozen coffees from Starbucks. So divine. 🙂
Books! Even though I have stacks of them. I always want more.
You and me both, Leah!! I don’t think I’ll ever go e-reader because I still love the feel and smell of a book in my hand. And I still love to see my favorites stacked up or sitting nearby. They’re like friends that I can visit with at anytime 🙂
MJ