Forever MaharAnnie (And Ways for You to be a Princess Too!)

This week has been MaharAnnie week. But, if I’m honest, I don’t really need to be in an idealic location like Rajasthan to believe I’m a princess. Basically it’s a mindset for me. I mean, I’m not overly spoiled, but my husband and my family treat me very well. I am definitely a clothes horse, but I don’t have luxurious labeled items (except for my Louis Vuitton bag!) I don’t own a car, I live in a very small apartment, and I’m a teacher. Yet, I still try to live a decadent life. Today, with another set of pictures where I played the royal part, I wanted to share some of the ways I like to imagine I’m a princess in my daily life. It really comes down to some very simple things:

• I love a bath. Bubbles make it even better. I like to light a candle, pour a glass of wine, and treat myself to a little alone time in the tub. I usually either read or listen to a book. My bath routine takes no longer than 30 minutes, but it makes me feel special.
• I grab my iPad and a soda water. I pile the pillows high on my bed and surround myself with comfort. My furry blanket is ready at my feet, and again a candle is lit. Then, I just surf the Internet. I look at blogs, I window shop online, I binge watch The Affair (btw, when will Netflix update season 3?!), and now I’ve started to find some fun YouTube channels. Alternatively, and again, I’ll immerse myself in a good book. But, the key here is my bed. I love my bed. I adore the horizontal position. After work, it’s safe to bet, that either a bath or a cozy lie in bed have occurred. Either one of these activities helps me unwind.
• Another little luxury, that a real royal would have done for her, is doing my nails. They are continually in awful shape. They split and crack (so if you have a solution to my issues, please let me know), yet taking the time to give myself a manicure makes me feel good. It’s like a personal splurge, similar to the bath. In fact, it often takes place during the luxury mentioned up above on my bed. I don’t really care that my nails aren’t worthy of polish, but the act of polishing them makes me feel like a proper princess.
• For most people, shopping may be torture; for me, it is a day of bliss! The funny thing is, I don’t even need to purchase all that much. But walking around, and window shopping, and checking out new alleys filled with different shops…oh the thrill! And if I have $1000 HKD ($128 USD) in my wallet, all the better! Again, a princess, nor queen, is usually after a good deal, but this MaharAnnie is!
• A proper princess would never do this as all her meals are made for her, but, when I want to feel extra special, I cook. Planning the meal, purchasing the ingredients, chopping it all up, and then making the meal for my family, are a joy for me. I don’t do it enough. But, when I do, I feel awfully special.

What do you do to feel special?

These are six little ways that make my simple life feel a little more royal. I am no princess or queen, but in my mind I am a MaharAnnie. What do you do in your daily life that makes you feel more special?

*Aside from Rawla Narlai, there is another stop that we always insist on for any trip to Rajasthan: the town is Udaipur and the haveli to stay at is Amet Haveli–another spot to completely and utterly feel like a proper princess!