In days that seem long past, outfit posts were a pretty regular feature on this blog. But life has been more serious in recent times and making time to take pretty photos in a pretty environment has just seemed too frivolous.
But is there anything really wrong with being frivolous once in a while? Frivolous as it might be, I think pretty clothes are fun. I like them a great deal. It's not that there's a good logical "reason" for outfit posts...I just like them. I have fun with getting dressed up and going out on little adventures with my Angel.
Therefore, while we could have said, with so many others, that we could just stay home and not do anything for Valentine's Day--that it would save money and be a more efficient use of the limited time in our schedule--I felt it was a bit wiser to shout "Hang efficiency!" and go out on a date. Dress up and curl my hair and pose in front of a fancy wall and take photos.
We went to the mall and split an appetizer and shared a dessert--a scoop of ice cream on top of a hot chocolate chip cookie served in a skillet is a BRILLIANT dessert idea. And then, to top things off, we split a smoothie bowl.
We went to the grocery store with a gift card we'd been given for Christmas and gleefully bought snacks, calculating so perfectly that we came within mere cents of the gift card amount. Yeah, we also did another errand or two while we were at the mall and picked up some photos my family had ordered to be printed, because maybe I'm not really all that serious about "hanging" efficiency after all...
But sometimes the wisest thing you can do is something that's a bit silly, like dressing up in a handmade skirt and a hand-me-down blouse and my great-grandmother's necklace and having your instagram husband snap photos like he did in the olden days when weekly dates and the frivolity of outfit posts were a regular thing. For me, this is fun. And if you don't let yourself do things for the sheer fun of it once in a while, your life will feel a bit out of balance. I'm not about being all selfish and millenial-esque...but I do think there's a lot of value in setting aside resources for having fun. And fun is different for everybody...for some people, it's watching Korean dramas for hours on end. For others, it's getting out of the house for any and every adventure. For some it's yummy food or time with friends.
Besides, when you add it all up, the appetizer, luxurious dessert, and smoothie bowl were less than $20, so it's not like a dinner date is nearly as 'costly' as the reputation it seems to have acquired for itself, right? And for a lovely Valentine's Day...it's totally worth it.
When do you shout "Hang efficiency!" and do something just because you enjoy doing it, not because it's actually needed or there's a strong logical reason to do so?
Linking up with Brita.
I love that you two had a frivolous and fun time together :) I'm a very practical, frugal person, and while my husband is also those things, he's very good at lightening up than I am (sometimes when he does things that seem meaningless and I ask why, "For fun!" is his usual response)-so this has helped me realize that we all need times where we do something random and frivolous for fun. I think for me, one of the regular-ish ways I do this is with grocery shopping (since I do pretty much all of it and take charge of our food budget), and buying one "frivolous" treat each week for my husband and I to enjoy together.
Um yes -totally agree with this. Letting yourself be goofy and lighthearted every now and then keeps you sane. There is so much negative in the world today, you gotta at least try to balance it out with positive stuff. Plus, memories. Lots of memories.
Aww I love this. I could use some fun right about now. We did have a good Valentine's Day at home. It was perfect. But I think I've gotten in a rut recently with efficiency on the mind. You're right. We need some fun in life too!
First of all, your outfit is ADORABLE. That blouse is too cute, I'm in love with that skirt, and the red shoes are perfect. So yes, bring on the frivolous outfit posts!
Dan and I like to be practical too, but we still enjoy splurging. Like when we saw the local theatre production of "A Little Mermaid" with my dad last year, they were selling plastic tiaras for $5 as a fundraiser. Clearly I wanted one, so Dan braved the crowd of little girls and parents to buy me a tiara. It was for a good cause, AND I felt like a mermaid princess!
Also, we like to split things when we go out too. Neither of us eats a lot, so we can easily split a large entree (like a 12oz steak and 2 sides) or an appetizer and a small entree.
I honestly shout that as frequently as I can manage. That isn't always the wisest choice, sometimes I just really want/need to cut loose and eat a burger and fries with my husband, even though I have tons on my to-do list. Or go to a coffee shop to blog when I have plenty of coffee and interwebzzz at home. Ya know?
I love this idea of making time for frivolity. I'm in constant search of balance, as a wife/mom/full-time employee/writer/friend/etc. Especially in the cultural climate we find ourselves in, being silly and lighthearted is not only fun, it's necessary for survival, I think. Hang efficiency, indeed!
I think this is an excellent idea. I can get caught up in being serious, and it's rubbish because why would you do that!? I think a pudding date is amazing, and I used to go on them more before puddings became difficult (generally hard to find good gluten free ones). I am all for doing things within your grasp that make you happy, regardless of whether other people think they're reasonable. Oh and also that skirt is beautiful!
I still have never had a smoothie bowl. Is it really just a smoothie in a bowl instead of a cup? Whatever it is, they always looks cool.
Since November I have been limiting the times I go out to eat to two or less per month, but this month I have been collecting all of my birthday freebie coupons and my husband and I are going to go on a date and get all of the freebies on the same day. I guess it is still budget efficient (yay freebies!) but it is totally unnecessary and I will be certain to have fun.
My husband and i don't eat out often, but we do love to get out and take walks together. Whenever we do I always take picture of the river, us, our dogs, or whatever! It's so simple yet so relaxing!
Yes. Taking time for fun is always a good thing. And laughter, well it's the best medicine after all. Wise words. Thank you for sharing.
You have great style!
I love this! I am so glad that you got dressed up and went out. I love your sense of style. Nick has a really crazy job right now. He could work every single weekend and still have more work to do. So while he does work a lot on the weekends, sometimes he just has to give himself a break and we do something totally indulgent like lay on the beach. Just because you need some fun in your life.
The only lines I'll let sit on my face are my laugh lines because the world should be able to see my happiness mapped on my face!
i love this!
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I'm digging your confidence and your cute threads; you exude beauty. Cheers to a simple, fun, smiley Valentine's Day. You're right - frivolity is a welcome break from everything else in the world right now!
Having fun as adults is great! For Valentine's Day, we got a babysitter and then went to see the Lego Batman movie and laughed the whole time. Also, before we had Rhys (even after, we would take him with us) one of our favorite "childhood indulgences" date is going to Nickle-cades!
Good for you guys and being a little frivolous! Looks like it was much needed - totally valid reason.
We are usually really cheap, but every now and then, we give in and go do something spontaneous - penny-pinching be darned! I think it's healthy for all of us to get that sometimes. Happy day to you and Angel!
So good to go and have some fun! Love this! I'm impressed you came down to cents left on the giftcard! Well done!
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