when i was 5 i was asked what i wanted to be when i grew up. i said "just giavanna"
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Weekend-self
I don’t consider myself someone who lives for the weekend. The phrases ‘Happy Friday!’ or even asking someone ‘What are you doing this weekend?!’ irk me a bit when I hear them. The usual weekend plans of going out, drinking, brunching, etc. don’t usually get me amped for those 2 days. It usually sounds exhausting, to be perfectly honest, and I have truly never had FOMO regarding anyone else’s weekend schedules.
I generally enjoy my workdays that begin at 8:00AM and end at 5:00PM. There’s a calmness that comes with routine and the sense of purpose I obtain from work excites rather than exhausts me. By the time the weekend comes, I don’t feel the need to jam that time with ‘plans’ (sorry to everyone I’ve cancelled on or not called back, it’s not you I promise)
With that being said my weekends, and my Monday through Friday, are of equal importance to me. However I've been told that my weekend-Gia look and vibe is a bit old lady, anti-social, yet relaxing. I’ll explain.
(I’m not sure if i’m allowed to instill wisdom at the age of 31 (almost 32), but I’m around a lot of people in their early 20′s that could probably gain something from this.)
My weekend-self is in a 48 hour spa-retreat mindset, wrapped up in a blanket, surrounded by books, coffee, skin care products, etc. The less people near me, the better for both you and for me. I thought this came with age, but i’ve known who I am for a long time (see the descriptive title of this blog). I’m an old soul trapped in a young body. If you follow the incredible essence of hygge, this will be right up your alley.
My home is on the smaller side, but it is a beautiful space that we put our hearts (and life savings) into. We bought our first condo in Goleta, right outside of Santa Barbara, about 1 year ago and if you’ve known me for while, you know my habitats are pretty but more importantly: comfortable. The weekend-self is not complete without the proper space to experience it in and this condo of ours is my sanctuary.
I’ve always been a home body because the homes I’ve lived in have been so soothing and lovely: why leave? Our bedroom is colored in soft blues and whites, while our living room has a pop of color with deep earth tones sprinkled in. Of course we have a fireplace, blankets everywhere, comfy pillows, candles, plush leather couches, etc. Our view from our living room is onto a tiny patio overlooking mature pine and eucalyptus trees; they are so close to you when you walk out it almost looks like they are reaching over to join you. We chose this place and the decor for a lot of reasons but we truly felt a calmness here tucked away in our quiet community.
I allow myself to sleep in on the weekends, sometimes until 11:00 or later. No alarms or earthquakes or my boyfriend can rattle me from my weekend slumber. My dad always told me if you are sleepy, just sleep, because this is your body telling you that you need to recharge.
Cooking my own food is something that became important to me when I lived alone for a while (7 years of solitude that began in 2008). I try to cook as often as possible using ‘fresh, locally sourced ingredients’...don’t you hate when people say that? But really, I buy fresh food and not frozen, processed things. I love making a nice breakfast, brewing some coffee, and picking a spot at the kitchen table or the couch to then be glued to for hours.
Reading is also something that became immensely important later in my life (after school was concluded). My mom is the fastest reader and loves to tell you and anyone around her as she strolls through Barnes and Noble that she’s read every single title on every single table. For the past few years I’ve been reading on my lunch breaks, enjoying the hour long opportunity to plow through whatever I’m reading. However the weekend is a whole DAY or DAYS to do this!
I’ve been picking up classic books that I blew off in preparatory school and even reading the coffee table books I’ve collected over the years. I’m a bit self-competitive and keep track of what I read, making sure each year I read more books than I did in the previous year; my goal this year is 30 books. I like to mix things up by reading a classic, like Wuthering Heights, and then picking up a fashion book, a magazine, or a biography.
I mentioned before that my weekend is my spa-retreat, which is why if you knock on my door at noon on a Saturday you’ll see some sort of colorful mask on my face and my hair wrapped in a terrycloth turban. There is a reason that I am still carded at 31 and will probably still (God willing) be carded at 41: I take care of and invest in my skin.
Every weekend, and multiple times per week, I apply masks (exfoliating, soothing, overnight treatments, etc.) and yeah, this tends to add up cost wise. It’s worth it. Investing in a cleanser, a mask, a serum, and a cream makes a world of difference and I truly believe doing these at home is the biggest cost saver. Can’t buy an $80 mask or spend $120 on a facial? Go grab an egg from the fridge, whisk the whites and plop them on your face: your very own kitchen scrap facial.
And sure, I’ll binge watch a show on Netflix (Alias Grace captivated me for a whole weekend), listen to French Cafe Radio on Pandora and dream of being in Europe, pay bills, check emails, catch up with family and friends on the East Coast, or take a break from my ‘plans’ and go out with Jamie. Santa Barbara is not necessarily a fashion capital so my weekend may also include online shopping (and the occasional unplanned splurge like I did this weekend on a Gucci bag). However the majority of my weekend is for me and at home: I need this time with myself and I truly love every minute of it.
For those who still feel the need to get drunk every weekend or spend $75 on your brunch plates I say have fun and bless you because hangovers after 25 are just not worth it. I’d rather save my money at this point and not torture Jamie because I’m ‘deceased’ after having 3 glasses of wine.
My weekend may not be your ideal weekend, but the self-care and calmness that come with a weekend tucked away can be really special. I’ve always felt that if you don’t love and take care of yourself, it’s impossible to love or take care of anyone else. The work week isn’t such a drag when you’ve taken ample time to make sure you’re bringing your best (and exfoliated) self to the table.
-G
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