Like Coco Chanel, I love luxury. My heart flutters when I walk through the boutiques of Paris. A three-Michelin-star restaurant evokes wailing and moaning. And, a fabulous bag and hotel staff who constantly say “My pleasure” every time I ask for it makes me smile.
I even developed a luxury mastermind program where I have the honor of mentoring an amazing group of women as we travel to some of the most luxurious places in the world, like Aspen and Monaco. I think it’s important for women to learn how to infuse luxury into their businesses, lives, and souls. (By the way, that photo is of us at our sleepover with a private chef at the Ritz.)
Call me vain, materialistic or whatever word you have for people like me. I do not care. In fact, I get it. I used to feel the same way about people living “the good life,” and you know what? It wasn’t because I thought they were bad people. Deep down, he was just jealous, because I loved him too.
This is what you may not know about me. I have not always lived such a luxurious lifestyle. In fact, I’ve been broke. I’m talking about eating Ramen noodles, living in a double wide, chasing K-mart’s blue light special, and putting 25 cents worth of gas in my broken-down car.
I’m also not a money coach, which means I don’t teach you how to make more money. I teach you how to harness your desires, create health, follow your passions, and live life to the fullest. Money seems to follow a girl like that.
What I discovered is that you must first learn how to be a luxurious person in order to attract a luxurious life, which is what “The French Kiss Life” is all about: filling each day with joie de vivre, passion and desire, all of which are you can do with little money in the bank. In fact, this method, not some money management system, is exactly how I was drawn to a more luxurious life.
I want to show you how to do the same, because deep down I know you’d probably enjoy a nice bottle of wine or a night at the Ritz Carlton. And there’s nothing wrong with you for wanting it. In fact, I say: “Go ahead, sister!”
making it obtainable
Very few people are lucky enough to become millionaires overnight, but if you want to live a luxurious life, you need to align your energy with luxury. So what’s a girl to do?
Well, you may need to redefine luxury so it’s obtainable now, because if your current definition is fine yachts and you drive a Pinto, guess what? You are screwed.
So, let’s think of luxury like this: quality of people, experiences and things.
When I decided many years ago that I was fed up with the junk in my life, I started looking for quality. I was sick of junk food, whiny people, and Chinese-made plastics. I wanted more for myself, but I couldn’t afford Chanel at the time (and even though I write about her now like we’re best friends, I still don’t have a piece). He had to start showing gratitude for the luxuries. I had to bring more of that into my life, and believe me, if you’re reading this, you have a computer. That is a luxury.
Luxury is about quality, and sometimes the highest quality experiences are free. I can’t think of anything more luxurious than hanging out with my daughter on the couch watching a really good movie or my morning cup of coffee on my back deck.
Rather than give you a Wo-woo law of attraction guide to aligning energy to attract more money, I am going to share my real life examples of how I began experiencing luxury long before my first stay at the Ritz-Carlton (by the way, Love the Ritz). When I started doing the following things, the world of luxury opened its big arms and hugged me:
one. I stopped complaining people who were always talking about how broke they were. Major deluxe repellent.
2. I sought quality relationships with people. they were no strangers to luxury. he wanted to learn think like them
3. I spent more time in nature. There is nothing more luxurious than walking barefoot through the grass on a summer afternoon or a long walk through the woods.
Four. luxury abhors hasteso i slowed down and enjoyed cups of coffee and conversations with friends.
5. I stopped spending my money on garbage 2 for $20 shirts and I saved up to buy the nice one for $100. Luxury is not about quantity; it is the quality that matters.
6. I hung out in good hotel lobbies and you have just experienced the world of luxury. They don’t charge you for the lobby space.
7. I drove a junk because in order to splurge on good food. I still drive a less than luxurious car, but my life hasn’t suffered one bit.
8. I followed my passion and attended sommelier school. The initial investment of $500 opened me up to a whole other level of luxury where I was able to sample a $1000 bottle of wine and say something fancy like, “Hhhmm… I think it needs to breathe for a while.” Moment of great luxury. (By the way, following my desire to learn more about the world of wine, I was asked to write restaurant reviews for a regional magazine and create a wine program at a country club, which led to more luxurious experiences that I was paid for. How cool is that?)
9. I dressed and walked like a fancy womanWhich means I didn’t walk out of my house in baggy jeans and a dropped-shoulder T-shirt.
10. me he became a luxury studentreading quality literature, watching classic movies, and reading Town and Country and Vogue.
eleven I stopped listening to my thoughts. saying things like, “Kid, you grew up in a trailer. Who do you think you are?” It’s just unnecessary talk.
12 I started to get fully involved with my world. and the people in it, asking questions, looking for answers and constantly exposing myself.
13. put ffresh flowers in my house.
14 I visited my parents more. They always make me feel like a princess, even when we lived in a double flat.
fifteen. I looked for quality conversations. who discussed the important things, like death, life, religion, fashion, and food and wine. Well, at least those things are important to me.
sixteen. I attended luxury events, as a women’s orientation at Duke’s School of Business. Keep in mind that she worked as a full-time nurse and had never been in business. These events also didn’t cost me a dime other than gas to get there.
17 I started walking around Saks like I belonged there.Not like some weirdo whose eyes would roll out of my head when I saw the price of a Louis bag. No, just a shrug like it’s not the bag for me.
18 I became aware of what I put into my body and how I moved through the world. Yes, this means eating healthy and exercising.
19 I have cleared (and continue to clear) my world of low-quality people, things, and experiences. Luxury does not coexist with chaos, drama and disorder.
twenty I thought I deserved a luxurious life. This is the most important of all. Many women walk around feeling guilty if they invest $20 in themselves. If that’s you, listen to me. You are not doing yourself or the world a favor by denying yourself a luxurious life. The most generous people I know live the good life, which is how they can help so many others. You have to clear this thought to let the luxury in.
Bonuses: I remembered this one after finishing the article, so let’s call it a bonus. One of the things I began to do was bless those who lived a lavish lifestyle, instead of secretly judging and hating them. By saying, “Go ahead, girl,” every time I saw a woman sporting her Prada dress, walking out of the massage parlor, or strutting around the Four Seasons, I was opening my heart to the Universe and saying, “Go ahead. I’m ready! !”