When my friend Kiki was little, her parents divorced. This made them feel very guilty, especially as it meant they wouldn’t all celebrate her birthday together anymore. So they alighted on a plan: the entire week surrounding Kiki’s birthday would now be known as Princess Week, and she would be fêted, gifted, and generally spoiled for seven days instead of one. When I first met Kiki, in my mid-twenties, and she told me about this tradition, I knew it was something to get behind. In those days I still loved my birthday—I had yet to truly understand some of the struggle around aging—so it worked in a celebratory way then, and now I use Princess Week as a way to remind myself to be gentle and good with myself. I also use Princess Week as an excuse to buy stuff. Sunday I hung out with my friend Maureen, and we went to the Maria Cornejo store, where I hadn’t been in over a year, if you can believe it, and went for this chic little sweatshirt which I already love unreasonably.
I also went for this Rachel Comey Chelsea boot , which is just insanely comfortable, and just the right amount of clunky too.
Also, just saw these and thought of you – they might work well on your acrylic nightstands (which sounds a bit installer ish but….): https://guesthousenj.com/products/liberty-london-playing-cards
*stalkerish
Really cute!
Please read!
Re your everything is fine podcast on making friends — would you be interested, and would any NY’ers reading this be interested in having a Girls of a certain age group meet up? Some people on Cup of Jo have been doing that with very large group hikes — I would love to have some kind of coffee date/book club/anything. Is anyone else up for this?
I love this idea! But alas, I’m in Cleveland. Shout out to any GOACA readers in Cleveland!
I love this idea! We are in the suburbs at the moment but will be in the city full time come fall!
Wish I was in New York to join! If there’s a Boston-area group, would love to get together!
And Happy Birthday Week Kim!
Bobby, I thought Cup of Jo sounded familiar. I have her turkey ricotta meatball recipe favorited. It’s easy and so delicious. Also, I hope y’all get together! I’m in NC, otherwise, I would be down for getting together. :^)
Good for you for treating yourself, Kim! Happy birthday to you!
Happiest of Birthday Weeks! Love your gift choices for yourself––I am a firm believer in gifting oneself. It’s affirming. And because it’s March 1st––rabbit rabbit.
Also the link to the boot just goes to a picture of the boot, not the shopping site
Link fixed!
My birthday isn’t till late September, but I might decide it’s Princess Week right now. And maybe again as often as possible.
I do a whole Princess Month. My birthday is just before yours, I believe so I’m still going.
Week? You’re a lightweight, Kim. Go for Princess MONTH.
Happy Birthday, dear one!
Happy Birthday week!! Or month, perhaps. Either is good.
Did you size down in the zero top?
I did indeed.
Princess Week! Love it…Happy Birthday, i hope your Princess Week is all that you want and more
Happy birthday. I’m 61, and while there are aspects of aging I don’t love, I always love my birthday. To me, birthdays are totally separate from aging, which happens on OTHER days.
Enjoy Princess Week….I celebrate Birthday Month, for real. “I also use Princess Week as an excuse to buy stuff” reminds me of “then I hang up and look at the ceiling for a while and think of a way to get a present” from my still favorite book ever – Eloise (yes, when the shoe fits you use it to comment on social media). Also, the link to the MC sweatshirt goes to Stitcher, which is perhaps a good thing for my wallet because that sucker looks comfy!
Yes! On the line from Eloise, and also had to mention that I reference the middle page spread of her meticulously drawn room multiple times a year. I did so only yesterday. An icon, that girl!
I also got the wrong link to Stitcher not the sweatshirt.
I think this is a fabulous idea. I hate to sound cheesy but as a woman – aging has many negative connotations. I think celebrating the passing of another year and welcoming another year is extremely important. And buying your own gifts is the best. Happy birthday week!!!