Indulging in Guilty Pleasures!

By: Lexi Smith

Wikipedia defines a guilty pleasure as something one enjoys and considers pleasurable despite feeling guilt for enjoying it. Often, the “guilt” involved is simply fear of others discovering one’s lowbrow or otherwise embarrassing tastes, rather than actual moral guilt. Fashion, music, and food (especially unhealthier foods high in sugar and/or fat) can be examples of guilty pleasures.  Case in point, my friend just posted on Facebook that it’s Happy Ice Cream Day – and his particular guilty pleasure is Haagen Das.  Somehow his metabolism can endure the pleasure – I look at his posting (and imagine an empty ice cream container) and gain 3 pounds!!  So, I opt for lower calorie pleasures – like shoes, and my latest, The Real Housewives of New York.  No kidding.  It’s awful and I love it!   What are your guilty pleasures?  I’ll share my top five.  Will you do the same?

1. Shoes – I am hopeless/helpless when it comes to a shoe sale.  I love them so much that I have an entire closet dedicated to my shoe collection.  The one thing I fear the most is someday not being able to wear heels.  I spend money on a chiropractor just so I can continue to wear stilettos without pain.
2. Reality TV – but especially The Real Housewives of New York.  I really enjoyed The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills too, and hoping that they come back for another season.  When I’m home alone, I watch episodes On Demand.
3. Chick Lit – especially anything written by Janet Evanovich.  I’m so excited that her newest book in the Stephanie Plum series, Smokin’ Seventeen, is now out!! And – there’s a movie due out in January 2012 (filmed in my hometown – Pittsburgh).
4. Anything French – especially anything Parisian.  I’m absolutely addicted to the language, the food, the culture, the clothes, the shoes . . . the wine . . . the chocolate – well, that’s a whole set of guilty pleasures . . . and, finally,
5. Flea markets, garage sales, and Goodwill – I am the queen of recycling other people’s junk.

Indulge in one of your guilt pleasures everyday – life is too short not to!

Lexi Smith is a lifestyle guru for the woman seeking positive change.  She is owner and creative director of Being Fabulous!, a consultation and personal shopping service designed to help clients achieve a higher quality of life by finding their own signature style.