Boy howdy do I love a good treat-yo-self. I’m definitely the friend that will convince you to own the day and buy that $200 bag you’ve been eyeing for a month, get our nails did and then eat at Sugarfish afterwards because guess what? You deserve it. There is, of course,
a fine line between splurging wisely, having a full blown money spending problem, and pinching pennies. I happen to flirt with the intersection of the three very, very well. I know when to fork out the few extra bejamins and I know when to not.
Here are some of the things I fancy doing so:
1. Facials
If you’re like me, I have insanely large pores and need to have them tended to on a professional, regular basis. I do my thang at Massage Envy. They offer not only massages (which I’ll get every now and again) but also facials with Murad products. Dr. Murad is an amazing dude who’s writes amazing book that I’ve been pacing through, amongst many that I’d eventually like to read.
I wish I could have a professional facial done everyday:( but let’s be real, I’m no Paris Hilton. Which is why I have a Clairsonic! and use it every other day with my favorite facial wash.
2. Select Organics
After maaaaaany a food docu, I know there are good and bad types of pesticides. Which is great! I would hate it if my nice field of crops completely died one summer because of pesky bugs. HOWEVER: One must know thy fruit and veggie. Going to completely contradict myself here and say you don’t always have to buy organic. Here are items I save money on and why:
- Avocados
Foods where you don’t eat the skin or outer shell are generally going to result in less exposure to pesticides. Avocados have a tough exterior, so when you discard the skin, you are also discarding most of the pesticides. The EWG found only 1% of avocados tested to contain any detectable pesticides. - Pineapples
Just as with avocados, pineapples have a thick outer layer. The fruit in the middle is protected from high pesticide exposure. - Cabbage
A sturdy leafed vegetable, cabbage requires lower doses of pesticides to grow. - Onions
Onions are not a bug’s choice of plant. They are often used to as a companion plant to deter pests in the garden. As a result, they are treated with fewer pesticides. - Asparagus
Similarly to onions, this vegetable seems not to be a favorite for insects. Asparagus stalks ranked number seven overall on the EWG’s full list of pesticide data. - Mango
Cut open a mango to reveal it’s fruity flesh that has only a 12% chance of containing pesticide residues, according to the latest findings of the EWG. - Kiwi
The tough and fuzzy outside of a kiwi keeps the tangy fruit protected from pesticides. Although, you may want to opt for an organic version if you prefer to eat your kiwis with the skin on. - Eggplant
Eggplants don’t have a particularly thick skin, but it may be the slickness of their exterior that keep pesticides from sticking. This ranked number 11 overall fruits and vegetable tested. - Grapefruit
The thick peel of a grapefruit leaves the sour flesh relatively clean of pesticides. - Cantaloupe
Melons rind prevents the insides of the cantaloupe from persistent pesticides. It was found that 61% of the melons tested were completely free of pesticides residue. - Cauliflower
This hearty head of vegetable can be pricey when purchased organic. Thankfully it was found to be a low risk choice as far as pesticides are concerned. Save money on organic and buy the conventional version with piece of mind. - Sweet Potatoes
Despite a recent hike in the approved level of applied pesticides allowed on sweet potatoes, these rounded out the EWG’s top 15 foods with the lowest residue.
If you’re a tea drinker, always always ALWAYS buy organic tea. This is important because tea fields are the #1 pesticide-ridden monsters. Here’s brands that are safe.
3. Filtered Water
Here in LA the water is….questionable. It has a certain…taste. But no matter where you live, there’s a lot more than just H2O in your home’s water, such as:
- lead
- arsenic (EX-FUCKING-SCUSE ME??)
- copper
- nitrates and nitrites (hexavalent & trivalent)
- chromium
- selenium
- birth control (from your pee)
- fluoride
- radium
- barium
- cyst (cryptosporidium)
- and total dissolved solids (TDS)
However, with a reverse osmosis system, you can drastically reduce those unwanted contaminants by a good 99%. The special membrane filters out the vast majority of microscopic organisms and heavy metals. It’s the shit. This water tastes like angel dewdrops.
4. Plants
As it turns out, the 1960s “flower power” activists were onto something, in more ways than they probably knew. Flowers, just like peace, are good for our mental health. Research consistently links indoor flowers with wellbeing and having positive psychological payback. Trader Joe’s has big ol’ bundles of many varieties, many for under eight bucks. I put a single flower in every room because boujie do and boujie does.
But if flowers seem silly to buy and have around your household, try an ivy, succulent or bamboo. These dudes are super easy to take care of and will add some flair to your home (while also reducing stress).
5. Art Equipment
Art involves a lot of tings. Paints, markers, paint markers, computer, computer software, canvas, camera, lighting, a completely extra and ridiculous Diva Ring light (like why not). I mean, eventually I’d like to get real and invest in an actual out-of-my-kitchen-area art studio and do crazy shit, like pour paint all over someone’s body while they play the flute or something. But all of this involves splurging over some money on a studio space and materials to get the job done.
6. Travel
Pretty self explanatory here. Life is short, go find yourself out there.
So there ya go. These are the things I value in this weird and wacky life.
What are items you’d splurge on?
