Favorite Splurges!

By Kate Riley February 5, 2013

Hey y’all!  I’m in Charlotte, NC for the next two days – wow, what a beautiful place!  I can’t wait to get out an explore a little bit, I’ve always wanted to visit here, and I’ll share some pics next week. 

Since Valentine’s Day is around the corner, I think it’s an excuse to splurge on something special and show yourself some love, ha! I rounded up some blogger friends to share their favorite indulgences with you today in a continuing "blogger favorites" series (last month it was organizational tricks).  I asked them to share that special thing they indulge in to make themselves feel special or to share a recent favorite splurge.  Mine is at the bottom, don’t think I’m weird, but I’m in love!


archipelago candle

 

"My splurge item is the Archipelago Black Forest candle.

It is one of the best candles I’ve ever purchased. It smells so lovely and it’s beautiful too."

~ Danielle Moss, graphic designer and co- founder of The EveryGirl blog

image: stoffer photography

 

"My husband first gave me this "hot chocolate on a stick" for Christmas, and I’ll admit, I thought it was a little odd. Then I tried it.

Let’s just say my cupboards are now comfortably stocked with the salted caramel flavor."

~ Nicole Balch, design blogger at Making It Lovely

hot chocolate on a stick

 

macarons " There’s nothing like indulging in a macaron to make my day feel a little more special. Their pretty pastel colors make them irresistible and they’re so tiny, I hardly feel guilty eating them. Just a nibble, pinkies up, and my messy house disappears and I’m instantly transported to a small cafe in Paris!"

~ Jennifer Flores, DIY and design blogger at Rambling Renovators

 

"My favorite splurge is definitely fancy fixtures! Case in point, my beloved kitchen bridge faucet. It was pricey and it would have been a lot easier on my wallet to go with a more affordable option but I’m so happy I went with a splurge. I still love the way it looks six years later. "

~ Stefanie S., design and DIY blogger at Brooklyn Limestone

stefanie faucet

 

jen ramos camera

"Businesses are competitive and in order to stay on top of my game – I had to splurge and buy a Canon Mark II camera. I’m so glad I did, it’s fantastic!

Glad I know how to work it, because if I didn’t it would be very confusing. Lots of buttons! It seems the pricier the technology is, the more complicated it can be."

~ Jen Ramos, design blogger at Made by Girl and the artist behind Cocoa & Hearts

 

"My indulgence is prosciutto! I loooove it and don’t eat it very often but I could honestly eat it every day.  When it’s in the house I’ve been known to eat it for breakfast.

The way I feel about prosciutto is akin to a chocoholic’s love for chocolate! One of my favorite dishes to make is prosciutto, arugula, capers, and shaved Parmesan."

~ Lauren Liess, interior designer and design blogger at Pure Style Home

prosciutto

 

simplified bee splurge "My satin heels by Kate Spade were total a splurge. I was drawn to the unexpected lime green color.

And for the record (just in case my hubby is reading), a friend I was shopping with made me buy them. :) "

~ Cristin Priest, design blogger at Simplified Bee

 

"When I am feeling like being comforted, I turn to carbs — potato chips, pasta, but honestly, nothing beats a bowl of freshly popped popcorn.

To make my popcorn that much more indulgent, I love sprinkling it with fresh herbs like thyme or rosemary and a healthy dose of black truffle salt."

~ Courtney Lake, Interior Decorator and blogger at Courtney Out Loud

truffle popcorn

 

caramel macciato "My latest indulgence happens to be the ever so popular, Caramel Macchiato from Starbucks.

Every Friday is considered, "fun Friday" in our home so while my son is in school, I spend an hour or so at our local Starbucks reading my favorite design magazines and sipping on a delicious gourmet coffee. It’s so not healthy but oh so good!"

~ Jessica Bruno, DIY blogger at Four Generations One Roof

 

saucepanWhat’s my latest splurge? Get ready. A professional covered saucepan.

Seriously, after cooking with the same old set I’ve had for twelve years, a really top quality covered saucepan is life changing!  I look forward to trying new recipes that use a saucepan and I even *shocker* look forward to cleaning it and caring for it. Crazy, I know!

 

How fun are these indulgences?  I hope you’re enjoying this monthly series! I love getting a peek at how everyone treats themselves in different ways, thank you so much Danielle, Jen, Nicole, Lauren, Jennifer, Stefanie, Cristin, Courtney, and Jessica.

What’s the one thing you splurge on that makes you feel special?  Go on and share, I’d love to know.  It can be anything!  

P.S.  Forgot to mention, thanks so much for sweet comments on the bathroom upgrades – my mom is at our place helping us with the kids so we finished it just in time for her to enjoy it!

P.S.S.  The Homies nominations are still going on…. feel free to vote for me, wheeeee!  #shameless

Be back soon!

 

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36 comments

  1. I’m a devoted reader from Charlotte, NC! So glad you’re visiting and I hope you enjoy the city and all the yummy places to go visit and eat!

  2. Whole Foods has these amazing dark chocolate covered salted caramels; at $6 for a small tub of them it is far pricer than any other sweets purchase I make but sooo worth it. My sister in law got a heart transplant last April and there was a Whole Foods right next to the hospital… it was occasionally my reward to myself for making the drive into the city and fighting traffic. :)

  3. Fresh Flowers.
    I love to arrange them in odd containers – (soup tureens, wooden boxes, old silver plated coffee servers, etc.) They can be pricey here in the midwest, but they make me happy.

  4. You are in my city! Welcome! Hope you have a fantastic time – there is a lot of great food & views to be had! I’m hoping to splurge on a Blendtec blender soon. It’s been on the wish list for years!

  5. What a cute idea! I love reading things like this. My favorite splurge is adorable cases for my phone. Truth me told, one of the reasons I switched to an iPhone was because it was easier to find fun cases for it than Android phones. It’s so silly, but buying a new one makes me giddy.

  6. I used to live in Charlotte. You must try and get to Amelies–it’s a little french cafe with the most delicious pastries!

  7. I LOVE Charlotte! So happy you are able to visit the beautiful “Queen City”. I lived there for 7 years…but sadly had to move away this past summer. I am anxiously awaiting my move back to that little slice of heaven in 1-2 years. Enjoy!

    I splurged on an amazing pair of pretty/fun/shnazzy/sassy sandals last March while on a girls trip to Charleston (another amazing southern city that you MUST visit if you haven’t all ready). I had never spent that much on a pair of shoes…sandals no less…but I feel fabulous every time I put them on! Might just have to buy myself another pair this year!

  8. You are in Charlotte? I was there last night to get my Young House Love book signed. Would love to meet you too sometime!

  9. I love that your favorite splurge is a professional saucepan! I am currently researching cookware because I’m getting ready to splurge on a new set of pans. I’ve been looking at the Calphalon Tri-Ply Stainless Stell 13 Piece set. I’m also considering All Clad. Any at home chefs out there want to point me in the right direction? What set do you recommend?

  10. My favorite splurge has to be a skinny vanilla latte and fresh flowers. I don’t always buy them every week, but when I do I wish I bought them all the time! I love bright colors and having them in unexpected places around the house!

    P.S. I loved your bathroom update and I am a big blog fan!! Thanks!

  11. Welcome to Charlotte! It’s a great city! I agree with the commenter above, I think you would LOVE Amelies! Such an adorable little French cafe. If you have a second, you should also absolutely check out Isabelle- a gorgeous upscale home boutique on Providence Road! Have fun!

  12. I live north of Charlotte in Lake Norman. Be sure to check out the Depot at Gibson Mill in Concord or Sleepy Poet in south Charlotte, depending on which side of town you are staying.

  13. I love bing cherry chocolates from Harry & David. They have closed all of the stores in my area, so now I have to order them online making them an infrequent splurge. It was one of my Christmas gifts and I made them last for a long time, but they’re gone now. I hope for more for Valentine’s Day. :) But I don’t think my hubby reads your blog, Kate (sigh).

  14. This will sound silly but I love to splurge on special treats for my dogs- watching them wiggle with joy is just the best feeling in the world for me. Welcome to N.C., hope you have fun!

  15. I love all of these splurges everyone, so great to hear how you all treat yourselves!

  16. My everyday splurge is a body wash from Molton Brown called Re-Charge Black Pepper Body Wash. It’s more of a masculine scent but I love it’s earthiness and it lingers on my skin afterwards. At $25 a bottle, it’s pricey but lasts a long time.

    My recent splurge is a new slipcovered sofa in denim. I’ve wanted a slipcovered sofa for years and I love the casual durability of denim. I love how it fades over time and with three dogs, three cats, a kid and husband, I need for it to be hardcore! Can’t wait for it to arrive.

  17. I splurge on green tea lattes at Starbucks, plus toys for my dog and cats. Watching a cat play fetch is one of the cutest things ever. ^(‘x’)^

  18. My favorite splurge was actually a Christmas present from my husband–super nice sheets! We had gone on a weekend getaway in November and I fell in love with the sheets that were so soft and luxurious. Before we left I completely tore apart the bed (what the B&B owners must think…)trying to find a label to no avail. He was very crafty and called them later to get the name and order them. I love my 600 thread count wrinkle free sheets from Innstyle.com!
    Carrie
    [email protected]

  19. Welcome to Charlotte! Another devouted reader that can’t wait to see your pictures of Charlotte.

  20. One of my favorite splurges is taking sewing classes and getting Vietnamese food beforehand. I usually sign up for evening classes at a local fabric store near my work, so I go to a small Vietnamese restaurant beforehand and get a big bowl of pho. I guess it isn’t really a splurge seeing as pho is so cheap, but I love sitting there quietly, reading a book, looking forward to sewing all evening! Just some nice ME time!

  21. Welcome to Charlotte! We moved here 28 years ago and have never regretted it! Two days is not enough, though. Please come again soon!

  22. Funny how many of these are food related – make me feel like eating a box of dark chocolate covered strawberries – that’s my favorite splurge.

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