"Treat Yo Self"

(Source)

As mentioned in my previous post, the last couple of weeks, maybe even the last couple of months, have been really trying for me. I feel as if I have let a lot of things go, and essentially, I spend my time working and sleeping because I am so tired from working. A few weeks ago, I decided that I would treat myself to a few spa-like things over this break - hair cut, facial, and massage. When I booked these appointments, I remembered a Parks & Recreation episode that I saw last year where Tom (Aziz Ansari) and Retta (Donna Meagle) talk about how they have one day a year called, "Treat Yo Self." Well, I have spread these treatments over the course of three days. I didn't want to overload myself all at once - treat myself for three different days. Yesterday, I got a haircut, desperately needed one. Today, I have a facial, and tomorrow, I am getting a mud wrap and back massage. I wouldn't typically get a massage, but the place I found has a great deal.

When it comes to these spa services, I think there are few things that I want to consider when I am receiving a service. I am not quite sure what my priorities are as a consumer with these services. Also, I am definitely not going to write off - hair cuts, facials, massages, because they are great "pick-me-ups". Plus, the last time I had a hair cut was probably nine months ago (yikes), a facial and a massage probably two years ago. However, as a consumer, I think I can make conscious decisions where I go. For my haircut, I just went to the place I usually go that is close by. However, it is an Aveda sponsored salon. When I call to make an appointment, I get redirected to some place in Wisconsin. So, eventually, by my next haircut in three months, I will have found a local hair salon. With the other two places, I found local businesses, highly rated on Yelp, that do not have any corporate affiliation, essentially small businesses. In my experience, the quality of service is better at these places. I might not be able to get everything done at one place, but I would rather go to a place where the people specialize in that service than be okay at a bunch of little things. Thoughts? 

Here's the Parks & Recreation video clip:

Cleaning & Clearing Out

Over the past couple of weeks, I have been trying to get rid of things I don't use any more - clothes, books, furniture, etc. I hate having things I don't like or use in my apartment; it actually kind of stresses me out.

• Clothes - I heard this rule from my mother, who said, "If you haven't worn it in six months or it doesn't fit, get rid of it." With my clothes, if I don't wear it or it doesn't fit right, I feel like it gives me more of headache just staying in my closet. A couple of weeks ago, I took all of my clothes that I didn't like to Crossroads and received about $140 for various items. Anything they didn't take I took to the Salvation Army. My entire trunk was filled with things (sorry, I forgot to take a picture). This week, I just read a Real Simple article about this website, Style.ly that will sell and donate your clothes for you! Have you every tried this?
• Books - After college, I sold a bunch of my old textbooks on Amazon. I ended up making a fair amount. Lately, I have acquired some books that I don't think I would read again; they don't have sentimental value for me, and they are not detrimental to my professional career. Thus, I'm back on Amazon, selling those. Anything that doesn't sell after Christmas, I will donate to Salvation Army. My must-have/always-have book collection has come down to these - Faithful by Marianne Faithfull, Joan Didion's Blue Nights, The Year of Magical Thinking, and We Tell Ourselves Stories in Order to Live, Patti Smith's Just Kids and John Steinbeck's East of Eden. What are you must-have books?
• Furniture - Finally, one the biggest dilemmas I am undergoing right now is incorporating furniture that reflects my aesthetic. When I graduated from college and moved into the city, my mother gave me a lot of furniture from their old house. Growing up, my mother's style was very Pottery Barn/Ethan Allen/American Class - not my cup of tea! While the furniture was great for a little bit, I am past that now, and I would like to incorporate pieces that are more modern with mid-century vintage pieces. I have been selling various chairs, lamps, and tables on Craigslist and been quite successful. Also, thankfully I have a free storage space, so I don't have to look at the "eye sores" on a daily basis. Once I get rid of everything, I will start incorporating new pieces that I really like. 

My biggest reason for this mid-winter "deep clean" is that I don't want to surround myself with things that I don't like, especially in my home. It also gives me time to search for things I do like and make conscious decisions about what I want to purchase next.