In two weeks, 12 days to be exact, I turn 30. Yeah, I officially become three decades old and will begin to live à la Rihanna’s Pour It Up video – wearing mink coats through shallow waters, throwing Benjamins haphazardly in the air as strippers twerk and swing on poles, calling Jay up to close my deals, wearing jewel encrusted shades in a dark green-lit room as I sit in a throne and watch it all fall out. That svelte physique obviously isn’t included in the “Turning 30 – Pour It Up” package, but is available as an add-on for an extra charge.
Now this over-the-top scenario isn’t for everyone, but everyone turning 30 deserves to ring-it-in more elaborately than the usual cupcakes and dinner. So I’ve compiled a list of ways to really give that Flirty Thirty more pizazz.
Just get away
Listen, I want to spend birthdays with people I love, knocking back tequila shots and being escorted out of nightclub for aggressively reminding everyone it’s my birthday… but let’s not do that. Try escaping to a city, near or far, and taking in as much as possible.
Sites like TheFlightDeal, JetBlue, and Travel Zoo have some insane pricing for inexpensive travel. If you want to kick it up a notch [do I have to pay Emeril for this line? I sure hope not!] book Emirates, Qatar, or even Turkish airways… you’ll never want to travel those European liners again. EVER.
Stay fancy
A trip may not be in your budget or schedule, and that’s ok. Staycations are so hot right now, especially if you live in a large city with roommates. Make a long weekend out of it and book yourself into a swanky hotel, and never leave until checkout. Raid the mini-bar, take long baths as you play your favorite tunes, sleep-in and never make your bed (ummm, hello, hotel maids!), lay by the pool or take in the spa. Seriously, make this stay your haven of solitude.
A few great places that always showcase flash hotel deals off the beaten path are GiltTravel, Groupon, and LivingSocial. For Gilt, even check your city flash sales from the homepage to see what experiential options are available, exclusively to your area.
Kimpton brand hotels let you gorge on the mini-bar throughout your entire stay for FREE, when you signup for the Karma Rewards. You can move up tiers for additional perks, and some of their hotels are even animal friendly!
Pamper yourself
You don’t have to go away to relax, book a day at the spa. Some of my favorite places include spas at the Mandarin Oriental, Shangri-la, ParkHyatt on 57th, Greenwich Hotel in TriBeCa, and The Waldorf Astoria (they are closing their doors in 2017… so this may be a must). Eventually you’ll have to leave, but trust me you won’t want to… especially if you’re hoping to spot a celeb or two. DeNiro owns the Greenwich and he knows everyone, and last year at the ParkHyatt I spotted Jon Hamm. Like he was standing next me, but you know I played my signature temperature, cool, and said nothing. So make the most of it. Reach out to the spas directly to inquire on the additives each treatment allots – like detoxing in the sauna before or after. A word to the wise, arriving early is definitely to your advantage when it’s in a hotel, as after some treatments dipping into water could just be a no-no.
But some of the best spas are rightfully solo –
Joanne Vargas has touched everyone who is anyone’s face.
Karina NYC Lash & Skincare uses the Novalash system for lash extensions and they can last up to two months (There is currently a deal on Gilt starting at $95. Totes worth it.)
Klara Beauty Lab is one of my favorite spas. It’s on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, and each treatment is in-depth and formulated just for your needs.
Ole Henriksen Spa in Los Angeles. The skincare line is an absolute dream, so imagine what the professionals can do. (Gilt also has a deal happening now starting at $70, in Los Angeles. I’m tempted to buy it to redeem whenever visit the west coast.)
Get svelte
Your metabolism changes when you hit your thirties, so binges you did in your twenties will definitely have different outcomes now. So make the most of your fitness routines! A few top picks from experience include AquaStudio (cycling in water knowing to rid cellulite while working up a sweat), BariStudio (trampolining to the extreme while toning that tush, abs, arms, actually everything), PopPhysique (you haven’t felt the power of barre until you’ve done PopPhysique. A minute in, you may be dripping sweat.), and Mile High Run Club (learn to run or train for that marathon… your choice).
Homemade makes it special
Since I’ve been cooking a lot more, I’ve been looking to see if I can actually cook as well as chefs. And I can’t, but I can cook. The main reason I love it is that I can now control what and how much I put in my body. I even make my own ice cream still!
Now shopping for the food can be costly, cause food waste, and just take all the fun out of the process. I’ve tried GreenChef so far (there will be a story about it tomorrow) and it’s pretty amazing. Most everything inside is recyclable and they try to provide you with the most organic items possible. Of course not every item will be, but they do their best. Next week, I’ll be getting a Blue Apron box so will fill you in that, and shortly after Plated.
Follow the links above to get 4 free meals from GreenChef (essentially paying for 2), or 50% (or 3 free meals) from Blue Apron (it will come out to you paying $30) for a week worth of meals. Plated you can get one free dinner for two, with plans starting at two to four dinners a week…basically you’ll pay $30 as well, for the two person/two meal a week option.
You can skip weeks, or cancel anytime… just give it a shot and see how cooking changes your interaction with food.
Splurge moment
There are very few moments dropping too much money is justifiable. Some think turning 30 isn’t, but I think it is. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise… unless you have to pay your bills. Then, you need to rethink this splurge.
While everyone is obsessing over red-bottom heels, check out the other prize show ponies at the fair. They’re way cooler and super unique – Sophia Webster, Kat Maconie, Charlotte Olympia, and Shoes of Prey. Shoes of Prey allows you to create your dream shoe from style to texture to print to color, or choose from the thousands of options already created.
Or you can shop Barney’s online selection if you still can’t leave the red bottom brigrade.
If shoes aren’t your thing, and you’ve been eying up plaid check the English way, drop some coinage on essential items you can wear seasonally. My top choices would be anything from Temperely London, or this military cape coat from Burberry, or this circle skirt from RVN. Walk in to any room with a flash and a twirl, and who’s going to stop you? No one.
Make a list of something you’ve always wanted and get them. Actually create your personal 30th birthday dream and make it reality. If it inconveniences others, you need to reimagine your dream, but if not… GO FOR IT!
As mentioned earlier, if funds aren’t growing on trees, take advantage of flash sites like Gilt, Groupon, LivingSocial for almost everything listed above. Yeah, even designer fab finds! And if money does grow on trees for you, still try them out and save that extra dinero.
Did I miss any other flash sites? Let me know! I love a good deal.
Until another spend-worthy milestone knocks…
Soon to be flirty and thirty,
xTillie
P.S. This isn’t a sponsored post, I just love sharing great or overlooked finds. If these brands were paying me, I may be able to afford that $5,000 cape from Burberry… but wishing doesn’t make dreams come true, does it? Does it?
