Hello babes! I am so excited for this blogpost because I have been diving deep into the topic of luxury lately and what it means to me. A few months ago, I began doing a life audit and decided that I want to live a luxurious lifestyle NOW. I was done waiting around for life to happen to me and telling myself that “once I achieve x, I’ll treat myself to y.” Nothing is promised in life, and there is no reason that we can’t start living abundantly right now. And no, loves, I’m not telling you to max out your credit cards and spend beyond your means to start living luxuriously. The truth is, luxury is so much more nuanced than we think and it is available to anyone and everyone, regardless of your financial situation. Read on for my seven tips on how you can start living a luxury lifestyle today on any budget.
1. Realize that luxury is a mindset
To start out, recognize that luxury is a mindset and means something different to each of us. If you want to live luxuriously, you have to define what exactly that means to you. You have to decide that you are going to live abundantly, and believe it or not, that mindset starts with gratitude for all of the blessings that you already have. Some of the things you want in life may not be within your reach right now, and that’s okay! Start by making a list of the steps you can take right now to get closer to your dream life. Now, take a step back and ask yourself which elements of luxury you can incorporate into your life now BEFORE you achieve x, y, and z. Maybe you finally book that vacation you’ve been wanting to take, or perhaps you light some candles, pour yourself a glass of red wine, and indulge in a bubble bath. Whatever the case may be, identify your priorities and take action, and I promise you there is something you can do to add luxury to your life today! Embracing a luxury mindset is the biggest way to achieve a luxury lifestyle on a budget.
2. Bring luxury into your home.
When it comes to luxury, I think we over-prioritize places and experiences outside of the home– first class flights, 5 star hotels and restaurants, etc. But the truth is, we are going to spend far more time at home than we do in those establishments, so shouldn’t we start there? The good news is, you can bring luxury into your home, whether you live in a 10,000 square foot mansion or a studio apartment. Some ways that you can bring luxury into your home are to make sure your home always smells amazing, swap out your fluorescent lights for something softer that really sets the mood, or invest in a piece of home decor that you truly love and feel proud of and that will last you for years to come.
3. Bring luxury into your routine.
Girl, give yourself permission to be extra! You have to jazz up and romanticize your life to truly achieve that luxurious feeling that we all crave! Take that extra 5 minutes and make yourself a delicious latte with whipped cream instead of your boring old keurig coffee. Sip it slowly out of your favorite mug while you set an intention for the day ahead. Slip into a silk robe, play some calming music, and light a candle while you do your nighttime skincare routine. Wear a matching set to the gym and throw on some mascara and lip gloss before you head out the door just to feel a little bit more glamorous. There are endless ways that you can bring luxury into your routine, get creative and get excited about it!
4. Spend time in luxurious, high-end places.
I find that many luxurious places have such an intoxicating energy that I just can’t get enough of! I feel inspired while I’m there, and I refuse to exclude myself from something that has such a positive effect on my wellbeing just because I may not have x amount of money in my bank account. For example, you may not be able to afford to stay at a $1,000 per night hotel, but that doesn’t mean it has to be off limits for you. Most hotels are open to the public. Get dressed up and go into your favorite boujee hotel for an espresso martini or a creme brulee– I guarantee you will feel the luxurious energy oozing into you. And it may just motivate you to work hard so that one day you can stay in places like this whenever you want. Don’t let fear or negative thinking hold you back from doing this. The key is to get into your luxury mindset and act like you belong because you do belong!
5. Declutter and get organized.
You may present yourself as a glamorous, elegant woman to the world, but if your life is a disorganized mess you are going to know it and you are not going to feel luxurious at all! Luxury is a state of mind and a big part of that is having a clean and organized home and lifestyle. There is nothing luxurious about clutter, honey. Go through your belongings and get rid of anything and everything that isn’t serving you. Your home is your sacred sanctuary, but it’s only going to feel that way if it is organized. This doesn’t mean you have to go full Marie Kondo and strive for perfection, but this is definitely something we should always be striving to improve on.
6. Take the time to get ready everyday.
I can’t stress how important this is. You deserve to feel your very best every single day, for you, and let’s face it, that’s not going to happen with your go-to gray sweatpants and messy bun uniform. This doesn’t mean you have to roll out the red carpet everyday, but you should absolutely be putting effort in and taking pride in your appearance on a daily basis. At the very least, do your skincare, make sure your hair is clean, and give yourself a spritz of your favorite perfume. Put on a clean, presentable outfit, even if it’s just something comfy– and I highly recommend investing in some nice loungewear for around the house! I guarantee you are going to feel so much better about yourself, you’re never going to want to go back to the old ways!
7. Understand that luxury is a lifestyle worth pursuing because you’re worth it.
You may need to do some inner healing and work to build your self-esteem back up. You are not going to give yourself a luxurious life if you hate yourself. Remember babe, we treat ourselves to the good life well because we love ourselves and we know that we deserve the best. You are going to have to stay strong in your self-love in the face of criticism, too, because unfortunately when others see us living our best lives, they can feel threatened and try to discourage us. If this is a lifestyle you want to achieve, don’t let the naysayers issuade you by making you feel silly, shallow, or materialistic. Anyone who acts that way is projecting their own insecurities onto you and their negativity isn’t worth a second of your time.
Final Thoughts
Thank you all for reading, loves. I hope you gained some inspiration from this post and are walking away with some very attainable ideas to incorporate luxury into your lifestyle, regardless of your budget. Pursuing luxury and abundance has changed my life and I only hope to help others do the same. Remember that life will always be full of mundane and unglamorous moments, but it is up to us to bring the luxury and the magic in. Let me know in the comments the ways that you live an abundant life! I would love to hear. 🙂
Until next time,
Jensen xoxo
Hello lovelies! I just wanted to write a quick beauty update for you all today. After religiously getting lash extensions for over 3 years, I have finally decided to break up with them and embrace that natural route. I may go back to them one day, or at least get them for special occasions, but I’ve really been enjoying taking a break from them and rocking my natural look. Read on to find out all of the reasons why I stopped getting lash extensions.
Obviously, the cost
I was spending between $110-220 a month on lash extensions which is honestly kind of insane and really frivolous! With everything going on with inflation and our economy, it started to feel like a really unnecessary expense, especially as my priorities are shifting. If I’m going to spend that much money on beauty, I would rather it be on something that’s actually improving my health and appearance, like facials or cryotherapy. But lash extensions are just a superficial add-on that contribute nothing to your long-term appearance. Better yet, I could prioritize my future and invest that money each month!
The chemicals
Lash extension glue contains formaldehyde, which is obviously not good for you, and can cause a range of issues from minor irritation to infertility. I would always leave the salon with irritated, blood-shot eyes, which is a clear indication that what I was doing was not healthy. Living a healthy, natural lifestyle has become more and more important to me over the last couple of years, and it became impossible for me to justify constantly exposing myself to these harmful chemicals.
They destroyed my natural lashes
I have always been someone with naturally long, curly lashes and have received many compliments on them over the years. But when my lash extensions were out, I could literally barely even see my own lashes anymore. They were short, stubby, and sparse, and were far from the natural lashes I had known and loved my whole life. Why on earth was I paying so much money to destroy my God-given lashes?! This was such a wake up call for me that the lash extensions were NOT worth it!
They can cheapen your appearance
I didn’t realize it at the time, but looking back at pictures of myself when my extensions were the longest, I feel like they looked a bit tacky and even went so far as to cheapen my appearance. When a woman’s fake lashes are far too long, it can be cringeworthy and take away from her natural beauty. Instead of noticing her, all you notice are how ridiculous her lashes look! This is what happened to me, because I got obsessed and enough was never enough– I kept wanting them to be longer and fuller! In hindsight, this was a big beauty mistake that I’m glad I finally woke up to!
They aged me and didn’t flatter my face
This was the biggest factor for me and ultimately the reason I decided to break up with my lash extensions. When I removed them, I started getting so many compliments on how beautiful I looked. My husband repeatedly remarked on how good I looked but couldn’t put his finger on what had changed. And when I looked in the mirror, I kept noticing how much more youthful I looked. Well, the change was getting rid of the lashes!
Lash extensions are flattering on many people and can make you look younger, but I don’t think this was the case for me. I have soft, delicate features and the lash extensions gave me a striking yet somewhat harsher appearance that diminished my natural softness. My eyes are one of my best features yet, rather than drawing attention to my eyes, I actually think they drew attention away from my eyes because my eyes were eclipsed by these ultra-long lashes.
Takeaways
I really enjoyed lash extensions while I had them. They made me feel naturally beautiful and put-together without makeup, which was such an uplifting feeling, especially during the pandemic. But ultimately, I made the decision to move on and, through the help of a lash serum, my natural lashes are almost fully back to normal. I will likely get them again one day for a vacation or special occasion, but the days of constant monthly maintenance are behind me.
Have you ever gotten lash extensions? Tell me about your experience!
Thank you for reading, I hope this was a helpful insight into why I stopped getting lash extensions. Love you guys 🙂
College is undoubtedly a privilege and a time in life that is unlike any other. Maybe you’ve been having the time of your life in college and are struggling to come to terms with it ending. Or maybe college has been difficult for you and you’re counting down the days until you get to walk across the stage. Chances are, you’re somewhere in between. Whatever the case may be, the transition from college into the real world is a big one and it can certainly feel daunting. Read on for six tips that will help you make this transition as smoothly as possible.
1. Utilize your school’s career center
Most colleges have a career center and career counselors that are available for their students for free. This is a great resource and something you will not have immediate access to anymore after you graduate. Take advantage of it! Whether you need help with choosing a career path, fixing your resume, preparing for an interview, or submitting graduate school applications, the career center is there for you.
2. Make sure your LinkedIn is up to date
Now is the time to spend less time on TikTok and more time on LinkedIn. Many jobs nowadays ask for your LinkedIn profile when you apply. It’s a good idea to make sure it’s up to date and is painting you in the best light possible. Make sure you have a professional headshot done for your profile picture. You’ll also want to write a strong bio to share your skillset and what you are interested in doing. Go on LinkedIn every few days and add people that you know or are interested in working with. LinkedIn has thousands of job postings, so it’s a good idea to check out the ones in your field to get an idea of what is out there.
3. Get a letter of recommendation from your favorite professor
Do you have a professor whose class you particularly excelled in? Did you have an on campus job where you formed a good relationship with your supervisor? Start thinking about the faculty on campus who have seen you at your best and can speak to your value and what you could contribute to a job or a graduate school. It’s a good idea to ask for a letter of recommendation before you leave because faculty can be difficult to get ahold of once you graduate. Even if you don’t yet know where you’ll be applying, it’s always helpful to have a general letter of recommendation on hand.
4. Reach out to people who have been in your shoes
The transition from college to the real world is scary and intimidating for just about everyone, especially as we are navigating these unprecedented times. It’s important to remember that you’re not alone. Start reaching out to people who have been in your shoes and ask them for their advice. If you have some friends who are a couple years older than you who have landed great jobs, ask them how they did it and to share their advice with you. Ask them if they made any mistakes and what they would have done differently. Reach out to your family members as well. Remember that you have a lot of people in your circle who want to help you and share their wisdom with you.
5. Make a clear list of your goals
A lot of people leave college with no clear next steps. Many choose to move back home with their parents while they figure things out. Others want to go out on their own right away and dread the thought of moving back home. Identify what your goals and expectations are for yourself. Do you want to move back home and save money to buy a house? Do you want to move temporarily until you get a job? It is important to have clear goals so that you don’t end up in a rut. It is not uncommon for people to think they’re only moving back home for the summer and end up still living with their parents 5 years later. Don’t let this be you. Set timelines for yourself and have the discipline to stick to them. It’s okay to take a little time off to travel or spend time with your family, but you should know what your general plan is and when you would like to be financially independent.
6. Take time to reflect
Think back to the person you were when you first started college and how much you’ve changed since then. Be proud of yourself and how far you’ve come. Think about the friendships you’ve made and which ones are important to you. Many of our college friendships will fade as we go our separate ways, but other ones can last a lifetime if you put in the work. Identify who matters the most to you and prioritize staying close to them, even if you end up living thousands of miles away. Take the time to reflect on who has had the most influence on you during this transition time. One great way to do this is with a gratitude journal. Make sure to reach out to your mentors and tell them thank you. Tell them about how they positively changed your life. They will appreciate you taking the time to tell them this and may even be able to help you find a job in the future.
Conclusion
The transition from college to the real world is intimidating for everyone. It’s always important to remember that you’re not alone and it’s okay to embrace this period of uncertainty and change. It’s okay if you don’t know exactly where you’re headed yet. Just make sure you take the time to acknowledge this huge achievement you just accomplished. Have gratitude for the opportunities you’ve been given, and keep moving forward one day at a time.
Note: I have included a few affiliate links on this post, and I may receive a small compensation if you purchase any of the items mentioned using my links.