I was listening to the Bad on Paper podcast last week, and heard the episode where Becca and Olivia talk about their “little luxuries.” Think the things you have, or things you do, that make you feel fancy – they don’t need to be expensive, but they feel luxurious – those are your little luxuries. It made me think about what my little luxuries are, and I thought it would be fun to share.

Buying a new book

Supporting libraries and borrowing books is amazing, and everyone should do it. But I really love the little thrill of joy I get from buying a new book. The excitement of starting a new story, the feeling that I’m building up my own little library, whether it’s physical or digital – it just makes me feel happy. I feel like there are worse things I could be spending my money on?

Wearing “real” pajamas

For years, I just slept in old, comfy t-shirts – things that were soft, and worn-in, and had holes in them. But a few years after college, I decided that it was time to start sleeping in “real” pajamas. My current favorites are from LAKE, but they don’t have to be expensive to count! It’s just the concept of actual pajamas instead of threadbare t-shirts that feels luxurious to me.

Making skincare into a routine

Every night, no matter how late it is, I wash my face and do my skincare routine. It’s not a huge number of steps – a toner, tret, a serum, and my eyelash serum – but it’s a small way to slowly unwind from the day. It’s kind of my signal that it’s getting close to bedtime, and I try to really make it into a thing, rather than just a collection of items to check off my to-do list.

Having a macchiato

Honestly, any coffee is general is my favorite little luxury – whether it’s the deliciousness of my first sip in the morning, or the jolt that I get from an afternoon pick-me-up. But my absolute favorite is having a macchiato, whether it’s from my espresso machine or a coffee shop. The espresso and foam (… and sugar!) are the perfect combination, and it really does brighten my day. And on days when the weather is nice enough for me to drink it outside on my patio? True luxury.

Wearing jewelry around the house

I know the pictures I share here are the ones where I look put together, but I spend a lot of my off camera time in comfy loungewear. But I’ve started adding jewelry anyway – putting on my rings and a necklace – even if I’m wearing the daytime equivalent of pajamas. It’s just a little fun thing that I do just for me, and no one else, and that’s what makes it special.