The Art of Being a Little Extra

Somewhere along the way, someone decided we needed a special occasion to use the nice dishes, wear the cute outfit, or drink out of the fancy glasses. And I have questions.

Mainly, who made that rule, and why are we listening to them?

Because personally, I think a random Tuesday is a perfectly acceptable reason to pour a $12 bottle of prosecco into a glass that makes you feel like you're vacationing somewhere along the Italian coast.

Will I actually be on the Italian coast? Absolutely not. I'll probably be standing in my kitchen wondering what the hell I'm making for dinner.

But at least I'll look fabulous doing it.

Who Decided We Needed an Occasion?

Think about how many things we save for "someday."

The nice candles we don't want to burn. The outfit hanging in the closet waiting for the right event. The dishes that only come out when company is over. The bottle of something delicious that we're saving for a celebration.

And listen, I understand wanting to make special occasions feel special. I'm a big fan of a reason to celebrate.

But here's my question: Why can't we make the ordinary days feel a little special, too?

Life is already full of laundry, bills, work deadlines, grocery shopping, and trying to remember whether you actually switched the laundry over or just thought about doing it.

If lighting a ridiculously pretty candle while you fold the third load of towels makes the experience slightly less miserable, I say light the damn candle.

Being Extra Doesn't Have to Be Expensive

I think sometimes people hear "extra" and immediately picture extravagant parties, designer everything, and spending money like there's an unlimited supply of it.

Which, if someone figures out that unlimited money situation, please let me know.

But being a little extra isn't necessarily about spending more. It's about putting a little more personality into the things you're already doing.

Put the grocery store flowers in a pretty vase. Make your favorite drink in the fancy glass. Throw on earrings to run errands because you feel like it. Invite your girlfriends over and make a regular Friday night feel like an event.

You don't need a perfectly decorated house, an elaborate menu, or a Pinterest board with 47 inspirational photos.

Sometimes all you need is good company, something to snack on, and a playlist that makes absolutely no sense but somehow works.

And if someone shows up with a bottle of wine? Well, now we're really getting somewhere.

A Little Extra, A Lot More Fun

I've always loved the idea of making things feel like an experience.

Whether it's getting people together, coming up with ridiculous ideas, or adding little details that probably aren't necessary but make me happy, I think there's something wonderful about putting your own personality into everyday life.

Do I occasionally make things more complicated than they need to be? Oh, absolutely.

Do I sometimes get carried away with an idea? You bet.

But I also think some of the best memories happen because somebody decided to put in that little extra effort.

Not because everything was perfect. Not because it cost a fortune. And certainly not because everything went according to plan.

Sometimes it's the silly little details, the unexpected conversations, or the night that started with "just come over for a little bit" and somehow turned into hours of laughing.

Those are the moments worth making room for.

Life Is Not a Dress Rehearsal

Here's the thing: we're all waiting for something.

The weekend. The vacation. The holidays. The next big milestone. The magical day when our schedules clear up, our houses are spotless, and we finally have time to do all the things we've been putting off.

And I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but I don't think that magical day is coming.

There's always going to be something on the calendar, something that needs cleaning, and approximately 900 things on the to-do list.

So wear the outfit. Burn the candle. Use the good dishes.

Make a random Wednesday feel like a celebration, even if the only thing you're celebrating is surviving the first half of the week.

You don't have to turn every ordinary moment into a production. Some days, making it through dinner and getting everyone to bed is an accomplishment worthy of its own trophy.

But when you feel like being a little extra?

Be extra.

Life is too short to keep all the good stuff tucked away for an occasion that hasn't happened yet.

And personally, I'd rather have a few more memories, a few less unused candles, and a whole lot of stories that start with, "Okay, so here's what happened..."

Stay Pretty. Get Unruly. 💋