Curl Up With A Good Book…

If you have a style, or like me, have several styles, the title of this post may not make sense to you. But if you don’t have one yet, you understand it completely. Don’t worry, though; you’re not alone. It’s more common than you realize. Think about it – the entire makeover industry, from fashion to home design, is based on people not having their own sense of style. You rarely see people with stylish homes, gardens, or wardrobes being made over.

So, find your style. Or styles. Forget about what’s trendy. Don’t worry about what’s currently “in.” Focus on what makes you happy, peaceful, or confident. We talked about this in terms of clothing. Now, we’re talking about it in terms of our surroundings. In terms of what makes up your good stuff.

Pay attention to where you’re most comfortable in your house. Be aware of which mug you reach for most often in the mornings. When you walk through Target or Fred Meyers or your favorite thrift store or wherever, what catches your eye? Throw pillows? Glassware? Picture frames? Pay attention to what makes you smile. All of this is part of what can be ~ what will be ~ your style.

Finally, don’t listen to the professionals who tell you that you have to have only one look, one style, one decor. That’s just silly. So what if your sexy peacock feathers and art deco art work don’t match the calico print you love on your curtains. Or if you dream of one room being painted black and red, while another is all pastels. As always, it’s about you and your champagne life, even on a beer budget!

Enjoy ~

~ Pauline

Have you had a chance to have a hotel night in your own home yet? Was it wonderful? Did you slip into your favorite lingerie? Did you pull out your best stemware and finest china? Did you use the good stuff?

Wait. What? The good stuff? Just for some cheese and crackers by yourself? Well… yes. After all, it’s a champagne life you’re going for, not a plastic, childproof, and rushed life. Plastic, childproof, and rushed I think we’ve got handled.

Now, before you start, I’ve heard the argument but what if it gets broken? Then I won’t have it to use! You’re right. Not even the search for a champagne life can guarantee you that china and crystal won’t get broken. However, if it’s not being used, or only barely being used, and is instead sitting, stored away in a cabinet somewhere out of fear of it being broken…does it really matter? Either way, you’re not enjoying it. Personally, I think it’s better to enjoy something, even if that means it might break, than to not use it or enjoy it out of fear.

So, instead of hiding the good stuff away, bring it out. You know the pieces, the ones you only use for special occasions. Because your life is allowed to be a special occasion. Pampering yourself counts, starting now. For me, depending on my mood, I either pull out my crystal goblet, my china plate, and my silver platter or my hand-thrown pottery and painted glassware. Yes, I have served myself cheddar cheese with saltines and seltzer water off of crystal, china and silver. Sounds decadent, doesn’t it? It really is, too. And that’s the point.

Because yes, it was just cheddar, saltines and club soda. But on the good stuff, it becomes so much more. It becomes decadent. It becomes elegant. It becomes a champagne life…on a beer budget.

Enjoy ~

~ Pauline