I'm starting this new series about all the little things in life we can all implement in our everyday living to make each day a bit more special — those simple luxuries that don't always have to cost a lot of money but can bring us joy and make a big impact. Life is special and each additional day we are given should be celebrated. Having spent the majority of this summer in Europe, I was re-inspired to find the simple pleasures in life and incorporate them into every day. You can read about my trips here and here. Most Europeans, but especially the French, have mastered the art of living well. They know how to make life special by incorporating small pleasures into each day and are therefore happier and fulfilled. I'm trying to integrate that mindset into my everyday life at home and I want to inspire you to do the same.
In this series, I will be sharing some of these items I use or habits I've formed that bring me joy and help make my days a little better and brighter. I will also share current finds that I love, find useful and think you might love also. Some may seem insignificant , but it's often those small things accumulated that make an impact. I'll start this series off with an item I've been picking up in each city I've visited this summer as a little souvenir.
Soap. Yes, I know, it's so basic, but it's one of those things in which I find pleasure. I love collecting beautiful and unique scented soaps from all of my travels, whether from around the globe, in a different city or just around the corner at a local boutique. Beautiful soaps are fairly inexpensive, and I don't have to spend a small fortune to enjoy this little luxury. I'm always drawn to beautifully packaged and distinguished soaps that have a unique fragrance and are handmade locally, wherever that may be. We use soap daily, so why not use one that is special, has a lovely fragrance, and we love!
Beside using the soap for its obvious reason, I like to store them in-between my clothes, on the shelves in my closet, or in my drawers until I need them. My clothes have a beautiful scent when I wear them but it's light enough that it doesn't interfere with my perfume. It's a layer of fragrance to built upon, especially since I'm generally drawn to specific types of scents that are light, fresh and clean. I picked up this little habit as child, visiting my grandmother in Romania during my summer vacations. I loved opening her wardrobes and getting a whiff of fragrance from the soaps that were stored in there. It's not an uncommon practice, as I've seen others there do it, too. I've always thought is was a wonderful idea and I've adopted it for myself ever since, because it's the little things...
Below I linked some fabulous online finds, number 1 being my latest obsession. This soap is unusually large, which means I'll get to enjoy it for a long time, and it has the most beautiful soft, light, and clean fragrance that lingers on the skin. I can't get enough of it!