elevated.

The little things…

Size matters, my friend. And I mean it matters in a way that the absolute best things are often the smallest. Especially as it pertains to elevating your everyday life to make it just a little bit ‘more’.

More luxe.

More relaxed.

More enjoyable.

More of whatever it is you want in life.

The little things are often what make the most ‘more’ you need in life. Trust.

It’s not exactly a secret that your girl here is a high-maintenance kind of gal, and that’s all right. I own it. I like nice things. But even more so, I like nice experiences. And those often come with the littlest of touches we can all add to our homes and lives – and I’ve got a few you might want to use to elevate your moments.

Jesus, that sounded so Meghan Markle.

Anyway…

Use the correct glass

It sounds particular because it is. But when you use the correct glass, everything is better. Use a white wine glass for your white wine. Use a red wine glass for your red. A champagne flute for your bubbles. A coupe for that Manhattan.

And here’s where size REALLY matters – use thin, waif-like glasses. Nothing thick. Nothing short. You want your glasses tall and thin like a 90s supermodel.

Trust me when I tell you it’s a very little thing that makes a very big difference in how you experience a good cocktail.

Be scent-sational

See what I did there? I made a dad joke.

Listen, Light the candle. Buy good candles. I grew up in a home in which candles were only lit on ‘special’ occasions, and I’m like….what? No, candles are lit in my house the moment we wake up in the morning, and they’re lit unless no one is home.

Your home smelling lovely isn’t for special occasions. It’s for everyday life.

Elevate dinner

All it takes is one special touch. We don’t eat a gourmet meal every single night, but even on the simplest of nights, we elevate dinner with something good. For example, if it’s a Publix rotisserie chicken and salad kind of night, we make sure we have a really spectacular bread – a fresh-baked French sourdough or baguette, for example, or we make it a wedge salad and use freshly made fun bacon. Just one small touch can really elevate a meal and make it feel special.

No-Guilt Breaks

Free time isn’t something we have a lot of. But I find time for a no-guilt break every day (trust me when I tell you my sanity requires this). I have a five-hour window each day in which to live my entire life. This means walking the dog, eating, laundry, cleaning, shopping, errand-running, the gym, etc. Five hours between rising and getting kids off to school and needing to get ready to go sit in pick-up lines for 90 minutes before heading home to make sure homework is done, kids are fed, and everyone is ready so we can get to practices/games.

When I tell you that I find 30 minutes to read without a single feeling of guilt, I mean it. I need it. My entire life is spent thinking of and doing for five others and a dog. I won’t feel bad for taking 30 to myself.

Do it.

Flowers

I have one (hundred million) weakness, and it’s fresh flowers. I need them in my home in various locations all the time. And I’m not settling for a basic ass $20 bouquet from the grocery store.

Not that there is anything wrong with those – there is not. In fact, that’s what we buy. But not alone. I like to make my own bouquets that are lovely, beautiful, and elaborate. For example, my husband knows I love hydrangeas and peonies more than any other flower. If he sees them, he’ll grab several to bring home. But he’ll also bring me fillers. Small pink roses and large white roses, greenery, ranunculus, and more.

Because while he knows he can walk into our house with a basic ass bouquet for me and I’ll love it because he’s thinking of me, he also knows that it’s the act of making a beautiful bouquet out of lots of my favorite flowers that really brings me joy. So, he’ll bring them all (and he’s taught our son to recognize what I love, so the two of them bring me flowers together, and I love it).

My point is this – make sure you have fresh flowers. It’s an instant mood-booster.

Say no

My favorite.

The single best way to make your life feel a bit more elevated and a little more luxe? Say no when you feel it. Don’t say yes out of obligation. Don’t say yes to protect feelings. Say no if that’s what you truly want to say.

Don’t say no if you want to do something. But do say no if you’d rather not.

End the day early

The single biggest luxury.

Early pajamas. Early showers. Early bedtime. You don’t need to stay up late and do all the things every night. End your day early. Give yourself the gift of soft time.

Guys, you don’t need to do all the things all the time. But do try to add something to your week – or day – that makes your life feel a little softer, a little more luxurious, a little more elevated. It’s so good for your soul.