Thursday, September 15, 2011

What little things do you do for yourself?


These are my weekly $3.99 flowers from Trader Joe's. I get a bunch every weekend, without fail. The blend varies; this time around it's Gerbera daisies, roses and berries.

Buying myself flowers is one of the only things I do for myself every week, unless you count cups of coffee, plucking my eyebrows and bathroom breaks—and when the kids were little, let me tell you, I even appreciated bathroom breaks. The flowers are my treat during weeks crammed with work, chores, kid activities, going to therapy and doctor appointments for Max, scheduling therapy and doctor appointments for Max, rescheduling therapy and doctor appointments for Max (see a pattern here?).

Growing up, my mother always told my dad not to buy her flowers for their anniversary and other occasions. "They're a waste of money," she'd say, ever so sensible. For sure, that $3.99 could be going to lots of other things. When I do the math on what it costs a year, $200-plus on flowers seems kinda ridiculous.

But it makes me genuinely happy to walk into our back door and be greeted by flowers on the kitchen table. When I'm sitting there at night, in a stupor after a long day, the sight of them perks me up.

How about you—what sort of weekly treats are non-negotiable? And you are not allowed to say "showering."

22 comments:

  1. It's not weekly, but I have a very short haircut and I go to a really nice salon to have it cut every 5 weeks. Not negotiable. It's part of the budget full stop.

    I used to do flowers too, but emptying dead flowers out of a vase is one of my least favorite jobs ever so it got to be less of a treat and more of a chore :)

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  2. One thing that I do that's completely for me (and no benefit to anyone else)? During the school year, I take Mondays as 'me days' (Tuesdays if the kids have Monday off). I don't answer the phone and I play on the computer or nap or read. I don't do chores, or errands.
    It's my "me" day.

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  3. I go to a Bible study at my church every week. I get to be with a group of ladies that are true inspirations to me. I am the youngest in the group by about 20 to 30 years. I keep them young and they keep me grounded.

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  4. I take a hot bath, with a book and occasionally a glass of wine - without interruption! This is my time to de-stress, relax, catch up on reading and just be alone for a few precious moments.
    I also treat myself to a little dessert every night. Yes. Every night! Whether it's a piece of dark chocolate or a bowl of ice cream, I get to have it without guilt ;)

    I love the flowers and that they can perk you up after a long day!

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  5. I recently (at age 48) had my first pedicure. I'm hooked. I could care less about the nail polish. It's the foot pampering & half an hour in that glorious massage chair that I consider necessary for my well-being. I'd like to go weekly, but it's usually closer to monthly.

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  6. I don't really do anything for me. Well, I guess writing my blog but that's for others too isn't it? I'm going to have to rethink doing something ONLY for me day huh?

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  7. Weekly? Wow. It's hard to think of something I do for myself every single week. Sad, huh? In the summer I get pedicures every two weeks.

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  8. My weekly trip to Starbucks for a Chi Tea Latte! Yum!

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  9. Inspired by you all but, WilliamsMommy and Melissa, PLEASE find something to do for yourself!

    Angel, I LOVE the concept of a "me" day. I am trying that.

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  10. I am audiobook fanatic. So I can steal moments of me time while folding the laundry, driving in the car, or even laying with a child at 2 am. ( It is dark after all and I only pod 1 ear) It is nice to have a little something for myself while I do the most boring of household cleaning as well!

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  11. My big escape is listening to a podcast. Alone.

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  12. Peppermint mochas from Starbucks. If my son has a particularly rough doctor appt. or therapy session I always go through the Starbucks drive-thru afterward.

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  13. I carve out time for paper crafting almost daily, and at least once a week, I stop by Barnes and Noble for a mocha and to inhale the smell of thousands of books. (Shhh. Most times, I actually buy books, too.)

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  14. Ok, this may sound strange to some of you, but my "me" thing is going to work!! I only work Thursday and Saturday. I'm a hairstylist and I LOVE, LOvE, LOVE what I do. It took me years of college and tons of student loans to figure this out :-).

    I love needing to get up, make myself look nice and ship the kids off to someone else. I love that I get to spend my time chatting, being creative, AND get paid for it!! :-). I have fabulous clients, and depending on the day, I get to be a great listener, or talk about what's going on in my life. Some of my clients know everything there is to know about me, and other don't even know I have a son with special needs. It's a fabulous place for me to escape, and I love all the other ladies I work with. Couldn't ask for a better weekly vacation!!

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  15. I used to buy the trader joe's flowers too - before I quit my job and took the financial gut-punch!
    Now - I paint. I actually posted on that today - http://www.doozeedad.com/2011/09/fingerpaintingtomatoeshomegrown.html - and I think it's VITAL to find that *something*, whatever it is, that we do for us.

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  16. Enjoy those flowers!! You deserve them:)

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  17. bought flowers every 2-3 wks and then in btwn freshen up with various pretty growing things from my garden is win win for me, less expensive but with a similiar effect.
    i do things for myself on a regular basis, but not necessarily the same thing each wk, one wk breakfast with a friend, one wk shopping etc.

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  18. Enjoy your flowers, Ellen! You so deserve them!

    You got me thinking & made me grateful...I love the feel/smell/sight (etc) of a Book I've been wanting to read, even if it's a Library copy...Right now I'm tackling my 2nd David Foster Wallace...even if I was asleep after 5 pages last Night (Leo's soccer, playground, & subsequent shenanigans took it outta me) :)...Dark chocolate...at least a square, most every Night, & a glass or 2 of Burgundy Wine...I owe this pampering Time to my poor hubby, who comes home f/a full WorkDay & usually does Leo's bedtime stuff, & more...I realize now, I am even luckier than I'd imagined. (I really get this lie-down time because I can't move any more by Day's end...I'm injured & usually lie down on ice) <3

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  19. Thanks for keeping me grateful, Ellen! <3 to you & your beautiful family from CherylFaith, Robin, & Leo (7) :)
    ps Sorry I'm so verbose

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  20. Going to work. I love my job- I'm a manicurist at a salon. I find I'm able to relax and forget about spasticity, therapy and CP when I work. I love my kids but I cant stay at home 24/7 with them.

    Also sometimes at weekends, I take power naps. Nothing recharges me more then a power nap. During that time, my partner takes over. My naps last about 1 hour.

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Thanks for sharing!



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