Holiday Gift Guide: Treat Yourself

This holiday season, I've seen a ton of social media posts about what presents you should be getting for others. These posts are about all different types of people, such as parents, brother, boyfriend, grandparents, co-workers, etc.....but what about a gift for yourself? Why hasn't anyone mentioned about treating yourself?

One of the best things you can do to maintain happiness is to take care of yourself. Once you take care of yourself, you become more confident to those around you. It relates to the saying that "you can't love someone else if you don't love yourself". As you exit college mode and enter your post grad adventure, it's important to reflect on what you value and how healthy your current state is.

I'm not trying to make an excuse to go buy something for yourself, but to reflect on the choices you make and what can you do to make yourself better. This holiday season, I want YOU to make sure that as you are buying gifts for everyone important in your life, including the one person you will always be stuck with.....yourself.

Pajamas | Bean Bag Chain | Tory Burch iPad Cover (on Poshmark) | Candle | Gray Fluffy Pillow | White Fluffy Pillow | Gray Knit Blanket

It’s all up to you on how you define spoiling yourself, but here is some things I do once a week, or when I’m stressed to treat myself with. Some are more expensive than others, but I’ve found a way to make it worth your buck.

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Spas

The older I've become, the more I've learned to appreciate getting a spa treatment. Spas are great for quiet time and relaxation. My two favorite spas in New York City are Heyday and AIRE Ancient Baths.

HeyDay is one of my new favorite spots for a facial. They have easy online booking, and convenient locations over Manhattan. During the appointment, the lady doing my facial explained all the products she was putting on me and how it would help keep my skin young and prevent acne.

AIRE Ancient Baths has amazing services that make this place worth the money. This spa has a variety of baths based off the traditions of ancient Roman, Greek and Ottoman civilizations. The variety of baths are: the Caldarium (Hot Bath 102ºF), the Frigidarium (Cold Bath 57ºF and Ice Bath 50ºF), the Tepidarium (Warm Bath 97ºF), the Balneum (the One Thousand Jets baths) and the Laconicum (Steam Room) and a Salt Water Bath (that you can float in). To get the best deals for this spa, check Groupon!

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Fitness

Working out is not only great for losing weight and toning up, it helps to release stress. As you start working a busy work schedule, it's important to set time aside and find fun ways to workout.

One of my favorite experiences I’ve had from moving to New York City has been the fitness studio class. My favorite studio in New York City has been Flywheel, and I am on the search of a great pilates studio to change it up. If you check out the studio prices and it freaks you out, sign up for ClassPass to get lower priced classes!

Corporate America offers great discounts and perks that more people should take advantage of. For my company, they have an online site called the "Discount Mall" that offers discounts for everything, including gyms. When I wasn't traveling so much for work, I signed up for Equinox. I realized with their discounted rate that I only had to go 4 times a month to make membership cheaper than paying for 4 fitness studio classes. Plus the locker room feels like I'm at the spa with their showers, shampoos and steam room.

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Shop

YES RETAIL THERAPY! There is no better feeling than buying yourself a nice gift. It gives you a sense of accomplishment. Don't spend all of your bonus on a gift - spend a small portion and put the rest in the bank!

Lately, I've been into buying less, but spending more on what I'm buying so that it will last longer. One of these things are Molly J Swim. Best material (so soft and comfortable) and worth the money you're spending. Plus, its a company one of my longest friends started, so I love buying her products! Use the code “SARA” for 50% off at checkout till Christmas!

If you want a gift that keeps on giving, but don't want to spend too much, Birchbox is the answer. Birchbox is a company that sends you monthly deliveries of beauty product samples for women and men. Starting as low as $10.00 a month, try out products and decide if any you love enough to purchase for full price!

Last suggestion to treating yourself that I wanted to mention is reading (hence why I chose using these photos for this blog post)! This is something I wish I did more of and am going to try more over Christmas. Reading on the beach, at a café, or in your bean bag chair is a great relaxing, mental detox. If you're someone who travels often (like me), I recommend using an iPad or reading tablet to carry around book options. Otherwise, find a cute local book store in NYC, or visit a local Barnes & Nobles.

Happy Holidays from The Modern Socialite family to yours! Xo

#holiday