Category: Let’s Look

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Let’s Look: Summer Staples

Hello All!

Happy Wednesday! I hope you are enjoying May and the fresh starts the season brings. It’s the second Wednesday of the month which means it’s time for another Let’s Look as I link up with Shay and Erika.

Here’s a recap of the topics we have covered so far this year

In January, we talked about How We Clean Our Closets.

In February, the topic was Things We Do Every Day

In March, it was all about what’s in our Grocery Carts

In April, we chatted about our Quiet and Prayer Time.

This month’s topic is Summer Staples.

I’m going to be sharing some new items that I purchased for this season and some of my favorite items that I have loved through the years.

Let’s start with the new items:

I love a good wedge especially for going out and when I saw these heels for sale at Marshall’s I knew I had to get them. I shared them just last week as a part of my Friday favorites! Wedges provide more support for me and I can pair them with multiple outfits. You can wear these with a pair of white jeans or capris and fun blouse, a short sundress, or a longer, flowy dress depending on the occasion. I can’t wait to wear them this summer.

Now let’s get to the tried and true:

I love having a solid long and flowy dress in my closet. I got this black one from Old Navy and adore the style. You can pair it with sandals or wedges and wear it to the beach, out shopping or out to dinner. Throw on a jean jacket or sweater and you are set.

From long to short, I love having a good t-shirt dress in my closet too. I have a few solid and print dresses and love to pair them with sneakers for a sporty look or sandals for a dressed up look.

Cotton shorts are such an easy go-to when you are looking to throw something on after a day at the pool or beach. I have a pair of cotton shorts in both blue and white and I am constantly reaching for them in the summer months.

Graphic t-shirt, if you are looking for an easy and casual shirt to pair with a pair of cotton shorts or regular shorts, you can’t go wrong with a graphic t-shirt. I personally love ones that I have gotten from different places I have traveled to, it’s a great memory of where you have been and a cute item to add to your wardrobe. 

Fun sandals are something that can really elevate your outfit, whether they are with a pair of shorts or a dress or even a skirt, I love a pair of sandals that can add some flair and fun to your outfit.

A tennis dress or skirt are two items I added to my closet last summer and I got so much wear out of them. I got both of these from Amazon and once again, they were easy outfits to wear after a day at work, at the pool, or running errands.

These are some of my favorite summer staples that are go-to’s for me in the closet. I am looking to add a few new items this summer including some white capris, denim shorts, and some cover-ups for the pool or beach. Tell me: what are some of your summer must-haves?! Let me know in the comments below and if you have any suggestions for denim shorts or cover-ups, I’m all ears! 

See you back here on Friday!

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Let’s Look: Quiet and Prayer Time

Hello all!

Happy Wednesday! This has been a BUSY week, I just wrapped up a big work project, so the fact that my weekend starts tomorrow is huge sigh of relief.

I got to witness my first Total Solar Eclipse which was an incredible experience.

Such a cool moment

It’s the second Wednesday of the month which means it’s time for another Let’s Look as I link up with with Shay and Erika.

In January, we talked about How We Clean Our Closets.

In February, the topic was Things We Do Every Day

In March, it was all about what’s in our Grocery Carts

This month, we are chatting all about our Quiet and Prayer time.

This is a personal topic for many, and I know everyone has their own faith life and practices. Today, I’m sharing what has worked best for me in my prayer life as an adult and how I have incorporated my relationship with God in my every day life as I have gotten older.

I have gone to church my entire life. I went to Catholic grade school, high school, and college, so I always felt like I had a good relationship with God. As an adult, I wanted to grow more in my faith life and that came in the form of making more time for prayer every day. 

Every morning, I begin my day with a daily prayer/reflection. I like to ease into my day with quiet time before the days gets busy.

I use the app Laudate, which contains daily readings, prayers and reflections. During special seasons in the Catholic church, like Advent and Lent, I spend more time in my prayer by reading other devotionals I get through my Church, they typically contain a reading and reflection and prayer.

 This was the one I was using for this Lenten season at the end of the day before bed.

After some prayer and intention time, I spend time journaling about my day, what happened, what was good or bad, what’s stressing me out and what’s bringing me joy. I really like to take the time for reflection before the day begins, plus it gets all my thoughts out on paper and out of my mind. This takes about ten to fifteen minutes depending on how much I need to unpack, haha! Once my quiet time in the morning is done, it’s off to start the day.

At the end of the day, I have been working to unwind and have a few minutes of quiet time before getting ready for bed. I started the year by reading Near in the Night, it’s a companion piece to Sure as the Sunrise by Emily Ley.

It’s 100 daily devotionals and reflections. I made my way through Sure as the Sunrise last year in the mornings and have been making my way through Near in the Night this year. I did take a brief pause for Lent, but now, I’m back into it. I like the different devotionals and prompts that Ley writes and I like the room for daily and weekly reflection that she provides. After a little bit of quiet time, it’s time for bed.

Everyone has the own relationship with their faith life, some may choose to go to Church every day, while others may only go once a week. Faith is such a personal choice, and everyone has to decide for themselves what works best for them. I have found that incorporating time in the morning and night to spend time on my faith life is what matters most to me, so I make it a priority every day. There is always room for more time with God, but at this stage in my life this is what works for me.

If you are struggling with a faith life, I hope this encourages you to explore what else is out there for you. 

See you back here on Friday for another edition of Friday Favorites!

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Let’s Look: What’s In Our Grocery Carts

Hello everyone! Happy Wednesday! I hope you have had a great week and are enjoying the spring season. It’s time for another Let’s Look as I link up with Shay and Erika

In January we talked about cleaning our closets.

In February we discussed things we do every day.

This month we are talking all about what’s in our grocery carts.

This topic was a little tricky for me since I still live at home. When I go to the grocery store, I’m not just buying for myself but for other family members too. I typically go shopping with my parents for their weekly grocery shopping trip.

Before I head out to the store, I always plan meals with my family and make a list of meals we plan to make in the week. Typically, we aim to cook five to six meals at home each week and we make a list of what nights we plan to eat them (this may change through the week, but having a list saves stress from figuring out meals the night of and it saves money from eating out.

One of my New Year’s resolutions was to cook a meal for my family each week by trying and testing new recipes, so I will take one night, my mom cooks the other four and then we may go out or order in for the remaining nights. Our meals range from a mix of chicken, pasta, salads, sometimes seafood, and then an easier night of leftovers or soup/sandwich/salad for late or busy nights. 

One of my latest meals, baked chicken tacos!

When we are making a list of what to buy, we take an inventory of things we already have and can use for dinners or lunches. Making a list saves money and it encourages you to use what you have rather than buying new. 

Besides things for meals, we tend to stock up on fresh produce and veggies and any staples we may be low on in the pantry, like bread, milk, lunch snacks etc.

At the store, I also to keep my eyes open for new products to try. For example, I enjoy eating hummus with veggies or fruit, I saw this hummus trio at the store and gave it a try and loved it. You never know when a new item could be a win. I also get inspired by different things I see at the store that I may want to try on my own. 

As far as my lunches go for work, I did a post about meal prepping here. I like to have a variety of easy food options for lunch. I typically have some sort of fruit, veggie, something sweet, and then either a salad (veggies, chicken, tuna, egg etc.) or I will eat leftovers from the night before. I like to use what I have in my home before going out and shopping.

We love a good meal prep!

That’s a look into my grocery cart. Not too exciting or thrilling, but fun to share what things I enjoy buying and making.

Happy Wednesday!

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Let’s Look: Things We Do Every Day

Hello all! Happy Wednesday and Happy Valentine’s Day! ! I hope you are having a great day celebrating all things love, whether its with your significant other, best friends, or even celebrating love for yourself. Spreading some love island kindness is so important not just today, but every day. 

Valentine’s Day cookies are always a must!

It’s also the second Wednesday of the month which means it’s time for another Let’s Look. Last month we talked about cleaning our closets.

This month’s prompt is Things We Do Every Day. Obviously there’s things every person does every day (brush their teeth, shower, eat, sleep). I decided to go through my day and take note of the unique things I do (or try to do) every day.

Here’s what I try to do every day:

Journal- I always start the day with some prayer time and journaling. Sometimes I follow prompts, other times, I write what’s on my mind or how I’m feeling.

My journal for 2024

Movement- Whether it’s through a workout, a run, biking, a walk or yoga. I always try to get 30 minutes of movement in. I aim to get it first thing in the morning, so I don’t have to worry about it as the day goes on, but sometimes I don’t get movement in until after the work day.

One of my workouts

Reading– I love to read, so I always try to get in some reading every day, whether it’s a few chapters or pages of whatever book I’m currently reading. Reading is a hobby that I love and try to incorporate every day. I typically read in the morning and at night as a way to start and end my day by relaxing. 

My current read

Wordle– This is a silly one, but I always start my day with the Wordle. It keeps me sharp and it’s always fun to play at the start of my day, plus my friends and I will try to see who can get the word in the least amount of tries.

Word Search– Another way I like to keep my mind sharp is by doing a word search. Most of the time I choose fairly easy ones that I can accomplish in 15 minutes, but it’s a fun hobby that entertains me.

No day is complete without a few minutes doing word searches

News Briefings and Blogs– I have a few blogs that I follow and a few trusted new sources that I always read before the day begins. I always check the top stories of USA Today and I love Katie Couric Media sent to my inbox in the mornings. I always like to be briefed about what’s going on before the day begins.

My most used apps in the morning

Family Time– My family and relationships are so important to me, so I always aim to have a family meal together or catch up after a long day. I also aim to check in with friends once a week to see how my people are doing.

That’s just a little recap of things unique to me that I try to do every day. Most of them I do in the morning before work because I know the days can get busy and crazy, but I always feel better when I have my hobbies or interests out of the way at the start of the day. 

There’s other things I try to do every day (laundry, cleaning, cooking)-but the above list are ones that I make a point to do every day. If I don’t get to something it’s not the end of the world, but I try to incorporate these little things to help set me up for success for the day ahead. 

Tell Me: what things do you try to do every day? Let me know in the comments below! Happy Valentine’s Day! Sending you love on this Wednesday!

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Let’s Look: How We Clean Our Closets

Hello all and Happy Wednesday!

I hope your week is off to a great start. 

Once again, I’m linking up this year with Shay and Erika for Let’s Look as we look at different areas of our lives. I love getting glimpses into how other people do things and what works well for them and I love to share my life hacks too, whether they are exciting or not.

Here’s all the prompts for this year if you want to follow along or join in.

This month’s prompt is how we clean our closets. 

I have a pretty small closet (my dream is to have a walk-in closet one day, where clothes aren’t crammed and shoes aren’t on top of one another), with that in mind, I try my best to maximize the space I have with racks and clear containers to keep things in order. Because it’s a small space, I do what I can to keep it clean and organized and not too crammed. I also try to keep it functional for my needs every day.

My top two shelves have my good purses (mostly designer purses and ones that I want kept out of reach from others) and special memorabilia in keepsake boxes. My closet also has a weird ceiling which cuts into my storage space too.

I keep bulky items like sweatshirts, sweatpants, and winter items (matching gloves, hats, scarves, etc) on my second shelf. Some things go in clear bins for easy access and others are just folded, nothing too fancy.

Back in November I cleaned a big closet clean-out and got rid of a lot of things I outgrew or wasn’t wearing anymore. I got rid of old homecoming dresses and put a few special dresses or outfits with special memories in storage. Now, I only keep things that I love and wear consistently in my closet. If I’m on the fence about choosing to keep something or get rid of it, I give myself a year to see if I will actually wear it, if I do, I keep it, if I don’t, it gets donated.

As far as how I organize my clothes, I have found the best way to keep things organized for me in a small space is by color, so I have all my clothes that are hanging up organized from light to dark. We start with whites and creams on the left side and then go into yellow, orange, pink, red, purple, we go into blues, greens, and then browns and blacks. I find it easiest to plan and pick out outfits when I can see them all in one spot, even though I have seasonal clothes mixed together, my brain works best with my color.

On the floor, I have all the shoes. I keep dress shoes on the racks in the back of the closet that I may not wear as frequently, but in the front, I keep the shoes I wear every day, work shoes, flats, sneakers, slippers etc. I do swap out summer and winter shoes from back to front based on the season, just to make it a bit easier. 

Since I have a smaller closet, I don’t have too hard of a time keeping it clean. I also have drawers that I keep all my other clothes in, basically anything that doesn’t need hung up. 

I also plan out my work outfits each week and keep them hung up so I can see what I’m wearing and can adjust for weather or other things that may pop up. 

I have followed advice from Emily Ley by only keeping the best, my favorite and necessary. This really helps when it comes to making decisions. 

That’s a look into my closet, nothing too exciting and it’s what’s to be expected for most closets. I am always open to different ways to organize spaces. If you have a small space or closet, how do you organize it? Let me know in the comments below!

Have a great week!

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Let’s Look: Top Comforts

Hello All and Happy Wednesday!

It’s the second Wednesday of the month which means it’s time for our final Let’s Look of the year as I link up with Erika and Shay. 

This has been my first year participating in Let’s Look and it’s been so fun. Not only do I love sharing glimpses into my life, but I enjoy reading about other people’s lives too. Here’s a look at all the topics we covered for the past year.

Last month, in November we talked about stocking stuffers, October we discussed our biggest fears, in September, we talked about evening routines, August, we talked about our worst habits, in July, we talked about new favorite summer finds, in June, we talked about best travel tips, in May, we talked about our morning routines, in April, we talked about pet peeves, in March, we talked about Amazon purchases, in February it was about our medicine cabinets.

Today’s topic is perfect for this time of year, we are talking about favorite comforts. I love every season for different reasons, but there is something special about the Christmas and winter season that makes you want to cuddle up and get cozy.

Whether you are getting cozy for Christmas or looking to stay warm in the winter, here’s my top comforts.

Flannel Sheets in the Winter– A few years ago, I picked up a pair of flannel sheets to use in the wintertime and they are a comfort that has brought me so much joy. I only use them around the holidays, so when I take them out, it makes them even more special. They provide extra warmth; they make my bed feel a bit fancier and they make my bed look a bit more festive too. We spend hours every day sleeping in our beds, so it’s important that we make that space comfortable and cozy. 

Fuzzy Blankets– If I’m curled up on the couch with a good book or movie, chances are I have a warm blanket to go with it. I love a good throw blanket, not only are they practical, but they also make a great decor item. I have them draped over chairs, beds and couches. I use them all twelve months, but I get the most out of them in the winter months.

Throw blankets can add a lot to a space.

Seasonal Candle– Another way to make a space comfortable is by lighting a candle. Although, I light candles year-round (typically florals in the spring and summer and harvest/festive in the fall and winter) candles make a space extra cozy when it’s chilly outside. A candle sets the mood in a space and can make it more inviting, festive, or cozy. It also cancels out smells and odors which is a game changer if you have pets or just finish cooking a meal that has an aroma that lingers. I love to light a candle in my room when getting ready or relaxing, in the family room when people are visiting or watching a show or in the kitchen after cooking. You can purchase a candle without breaking the bank and it adds a lot to the ambiance of a space.

Festive Drink- If I’m looking to create a comfortable and cozy atmosphere, a warm drink will most likely be included. I enjoy hot chocolate in the winter, hot cider in the fall and then in the summer I enjoy a flavorful tea. Hot cocoa is my favorite holiday drink, I add some peppermint or candy canes for some extra flavor and to make it a bit more festive.

All festive drinks this time of year.

Good Book or Movie in the Background– After you have your drink poured, blanket handy and candle lit, it’s time to enjoy all these comforts. I like to enjoy them by reading a good book or watching a movie or tv show. I tend to get comfortable and cozy at the end of the day after the chores are done and work is on pause until the next day. Whether it’s for an hour or fifteen minutes taking time for yourself is so important and getting cozy and comfortable can only make it better.

That’s a look into my top comforts, nothing to exciting or special, a lot of things you probably have around your home, but they are little ways to elevate your space and help you relax and unwind a little especially this time of year when it can get extra busy.

Tell me: what are your top comforts? Let me know in the comments below! Have a great Wednesday and I’ll see you back here on Friday!

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Let’s Look: Stocking Stuffers

Hello All! Happy Wednesday! I hope you are having a great week so far and enjoying a bit of calm before the crazy. I always enjoy the few weeks in November after Halloween and before Christmas. I take those weeks as time to gather myself after the sugar rush of Halloween, simplify fall decor and start prepping for Christmas whether it be by creating gift lists of who to buy for, making plans for the holidays or browsing the stores for ideas. I don’t go into full on Christmas mode until after Thanksgiving, but I do enjoy a little prep work. 

One thing that has been on my mind is stocking stuffers and little gifts for friends and family which ties in perfectly with today’s Let’s Look prompt as I link up with Erika and Shay. 

As always, here’s a recap of the prompts from this past year. 

Last month, in October we discussed our biggest fears, in September, we talked about evening routines, August, we talked about our worst habits, in July, we talked about new favorite summer finds, in June, we talked about best travel tips, in May, we talked about our morning routines, in April, we talked about pet peeves, in March, we talked about Amazon purchases, in February it was about our medicine cabinets.

I love little stocking stuffers on Christmas morning and an extra gift for friends and family when I am giving them out.

Growing up and to this day, we always enjoyed opening up our stockings on Christmas morning. It was the first thing we would open early in the morning. Our stocking stuffers changed as we got older, but they usually had some Christmas chocolate or candy, a gift card or two to favorite spot, a new tooth brush, some little toys, gadgets,or practical items and maybe some small gifts, like pens, stationary, a new charger etc. 

I always loved seeing what fun little items I would get in my stocking.

Whenever I am shopping for friends and family, I typically have my eyes open for a one main gift for people and then when it comes to friends, I may throw in some extra goodies or stocking stuffers in their bag or present.

A look at all the gifts going out to others.

Here’s some of my favorite stocking stuffers or extra gift ideas for Christmas:

  • Gift Cards (I always love to support local, so maybe buy a gift certificate to a favorite local coffee shop, book store, restaurant or apparel store)
  • Holiday snack mixes or candies (There’s nothing better than enjoying a sweet treat around the holidays- stock up on festive chocolate, holiday bark or any other treat and distribute it amongst all your gifts- this can be as easy as getting holiday chocolate kisses and putting them in every gift bag or you can go complex with a local chocolate).
You can never go wrong with a holiday mix
  • Hot Cocoa and Marshmallows (Another little gift you can buy in bulk and distribute amongst your gifts. Buy a big pack of lots of smaller packets of hot chocolate, buy candy candy canes and marshmallows and add them to each gift so people can enjoy a warm drink around the holidays).
A warm and cozy gift!
  • Homemade cookies (I am a big baker especially around the holidays. If you have a lot of extra cookies, consider making up a small plate or bag and adding them to each gift. It’s a thoughtful, homemade gift and you are sharing your talents with others.)
I love giving out homemade cookies to friends!
  • A favorite thing you enjoy (If you have a favorite item that you can’t live without, consider buying it in bulk and sharing it with your girlfriends for them to try it out. Do you love a new hand cream? Or can’t live without a specific charger or hair accessory, if it’s not too expensive, consider buying it for your close friends and have them try it out too. )
You can never go wrong with gifting a favorite item!
  • Travel size body care items- (This can be a fun extra gift to get for your girlfriends. Stock up on holiday or winter scented mini versions of body lotion, spray, chapstick, or facemasks and treat your friends to a mini spa night. It’s an affordable way to treat your friends.)
Travel size beauty products are always a hit!

These are just some suggestions when it comes to extra fun gifts or stocking stuffers. I typically don’t spend too much on stocking stuffers since I’m buying bigger gifts, but these are just some fun suggestions for some extra Christmas and holiday cheer. 

Gifts from last year wrapped and ready to go out!

Tell me, how do you handle stocking stuffers and extra gifts? Do you go all out or keep it small?

Let me know in the comments below!

I hope this gives you some inspiration as you start your holiday shopping. 

See you on Friday for another edition of Friday Favorites!

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Let’s Look: Biggest Fears

Hello all! Happy Wednesday! I hope you are having a great week as it’s hump day! Last week was in the 70s and 80s and it felt like a return of summer, which I loved.

Fall was back in full swing this week with the leaves changing and the temperatures in the 50s.

The changing seasons in full bloom!

It’s the second week of the month which means it’s time for another Let’s Look as I link up with  Erika and Shay. 

To recap, in September, we talked about evening routines, August, we talked about our worst habits, in July, we talked about new favorite summer finds, in June, we talked about best travel tips, in May, we talked about our morning routines, in April, we talked about pet peeves, in March, we talked about Amazon purchases, in February it was about our medicine cabinets.

Today we are talking all about our biggest fears! There’s two ways to go about this prompt, the serious or the comical way. I decided to dabble in a little bit of both.

Death– For serious fears, like many others, I am afraid of death and dying, I think that’s something that we all fear at one point in our lives. Will I be missed? How will I die? When will I die? These are all questions I know I have asked myself and I’m sure others have asked themselves at one point or another. I try not to dwell too much on the future and just like to live and be present in the moment (easier said than done).

Letting People Down– Another serious fear I have is failing or letting people down. I always, always try to be a team player and a “yes” person, even if I have to be the one to suffer at one point or another. I hate the thought of saying no and being an inconvenience to others. It’s something I’m working on, but I fear being someone who makes more work for others.

Now, that we have gotten past the serious fears, let’s get to the comical or irrational fears.

Skunks– I hate skunks and am afraid of getting sprayed by them. My college always had skunks roaming the campus and I hated whenever one would cross my path. I have never gotten sprayed by one and I never want to. I know it’s a silly fear, but I try to avoid skunks at all costs, even when I see them at the zoo, I don’t stay at their exhibit long. 

Breaking a Bone– Another irrational fear I have is breaking a bone. I have never broken a bone and I hope I never do. One, I am afraid of the pain that comes with it and I’m also afraid of being out of commission and having to rely on others. I hate to be a burden to others or rely on people to take care of me. Also, as an aside, it would be an adjustment to not be as active if I was laid up.

Whew, getting all those fears out there was a lot. I’m sure I am missing some fears, but the are the top ones that come to mind. I hope I don’t have to face these fears, but if I do then bring it on. Tell me: what are your biggest fears, serious or comical?

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Let’s Look: Evening Routines

Hello all!

Happy Wednesday! 

I hope you are having a great September. It’s the second Tuesday of the month which means it’s time for another Let’s Look as I link up with  Erika and Shay. 

This year has been flying by, I can’t believe we are closer to the end of the year than the beginning or middle. It’s been such a good and fulfilling year, I can’t complain. 

Here’s a quick recap of all the Let’s Looks we have done this year. 

In August, we talked about our worst habits, In July, we talked about new favorite summer finds, in June, we talked about best travel tips, in May, we talked about our morning routines, in April, we talked about pet peeves, in March, we talked about Amazon purchases, in February it was about our medicine cabinets.

I love getting a look into other people’s lives and I love sharing a bit about my own too!

This month’s prompt is a look into our evening routines. My evening routine is pretty lowkey and not too exciting compared to my morning routine. It also ebbs and flows more than my morning routines.

 For me, the end of the day is all about wrapping things up and prepping for the next day so I can do my part to have a smoother morning.

After I get home from work or whatever I’m doing that day, I’ll eat dinner, visit with my family and clean up. Then I’ll do some computer work or picking up, like laundry, getting my lunch, prepping for the next day, anything that needs done.

I’ll shower and wash my face then unwind for the night. Unwinding is typically done by watching a show (whatever I’m binge watching or if there’s a weekly show I’m watching) or I’ll do some reading. If I have to be up early, I may drink some Sleepytime Tea to unwind. This is what I’m currently drinking.

My current favorite tea!

Right now, I’m watching A Perfect Story on Netflix which follows the story of a runaway bride and how she turns her life around when she meets someone totally unexpected. It’s a light-hearted mini series that’s only five episodes long, so it’s been a fast watch.

I just finished reading Pineapple Street by Jenny Jackson. I have been waiting all summer to read it, but it was always checked out at the library. It was such a good and fast read all about the dynamics of a wealthy family in New York City. I loved how it was told from different perspectives and truly fell in love with the storylines and characters. Sometimes I’ll watch an episode or two depending on the time or read a few chapters or pages, it mostly depends on the day and how busy I am.

My latest read!

I try to be in bed between 9:00 and 9:30 when I’m working an early shift which means my alarm goes off at 3:30 a.m. or by 10:00-10:30 when I’m up at a normal time like 6:00 a.m.

A few things I always use before bed is my Sara Happ Lip Scrub and Slip. Since I always have lipstick on, I like to use this scrub and slip to clean and protect my lips nightly.

I also like to use essential oils at night for a good night’s sleep. I use different scents through the day, but at night I stick to Lavendar, Peppermint or mixes like Calm, Headache, or Deep Sleep.

I always use these at night.

If I also use a pillow/room mist that has Lavendar in it too and then I always apply some hand lotion before bed, Bath and Body Works Lavendar has been my go-to.

Now all that’s left is to put on my eye mask and hit the pillow. I do one final check on my phone for social media or to see if there’s any calls or emails I may have missed and then it’s time for bed.

My morning routine is way more detailed an expansive. However, at night, it’s just about wrapping up the day, getting set for tomorrow and then calming the mind and body. I’ll do some deep breathing techniques right before bed and that typically puts me to sleep.

Alarms set for the new day!

I wish my evening was more exciting, but it’s pretty subdue. 

I’m always curious to learn about other people’s evening routines! Tell me, what do you do at night that helps you get ready for a new day or unwind at the end of the day? Let me know in the comments below!

Happy Sleeping!

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Let’s Look: Worst Habits

Hey everyone! Happy Wednesday! I hope you have been having a great week. Last weekend I ran my first 5K and I’ll be sharing more about what I learned about myself while training and how I prepared for it next week. Since it’s the second week of the month, I like to link up with Erika and Shay. for Let’s Look. Here’s some of the past things we looked at through the year. 

In July, we talked about new favorite summer finds, in June, we talked about best travel tips, in May, we talked about our morning routines, in April, we talked about pet peeves, in March, we talked about Amazon purchases, in February it was about our medicine cabinets.

Today, it’s all about worst habits which is similar to the biggest pet peeves prompt from April, but I decided to change it up and switch up my responses. When I first saw the prompt, I knew I could think of a list of bad habits or things that I’m not good at, which shows me how hard we can be on ourselves. 

Rather than give you a list of bad qualities, I decided to choose three bad habits I have and how I want to work on them. 

Here’s what I came up with:

Over planning– I am a Type A person through and through. I like lists, planners, a schedule and direction and I like it way in advance. But, as I have learned, life doesn’t work that way and you have to adapt and adjust, often or on the fly. Sometimes, I tend to over plan and then when things stray or change, I get thrown in a tail spin which is not good. I will also stress out about things that are out of my control. I will get anxious about something that is days, weeks or months away or may not even happen. I sometimes get so focused on it and get tunnel vision and then it may not even happen. I’m also really working on not overbooking things in advance and instead being more open and flexible to plans and things falling into place. It’s way easier said than done. I’m also working (which I have been for years) on being more spontaneous to making plans with friends and family. It hasn’t been easy but I’m doing my best. 

A look at my overly organized planner and to do lists.

Neat freak– I am a neat freak, control freak, everything has a home freak through and through. I love to clean, I love to make sure dishes are put away at the end of the day and all the laundry is folded and hampers are empty. I have been known to clean and put away dishes and cups when people are still using them. However, living with five other people, I know the house isn’t always in perfect condition. I try my best to let the little things go and give myself grace, but that doesn’t always happen. I love the sense of satisfaction of clean space which I alway try to leave room at home and desk at work in good shape whenever I leave, so when I come back, everything is fresh and clean. Growing up in a large family you get used to chaos, disorder and messes and it’s all a part about being in a family and I wouldn’t change it.

Getting sucked into “Sales and Free Items”– I enjoy shopping and I always love a good deal. However, I am guilty about buying things to get a sale or discount or to get something free when I don’t need it in the first place. For example, I will get emails like many other people about getting a free item/drink/side with a purchase and I will want to take advantage of the offer, because I would get something free too. However, do I need to buy something in the first place? Probably not. I fall victim to spending more sometimes to get a free item or free shipping when I probably didn’t need the item in the first place (I’m looking at you Bath and Body Works and Chipotle!) I will say that McDonald’s app and deals are ones that are consistent and worth the free items or discounts. However, most times, I realize I probably didn’t need to buy the item to get something free to begin with. I have gotten a lot better at simply deleting the email unless it’s something I absolutely need. However, I am guilty of spending when I don’t need to be spending haha!

An example of an email that I try to delete and not give into

I think as I have gotten older, I have seen these habits come out more, they aren’t necessarily bad, but when you take them to the extremes or become obsessed then you have to reign it in a bit. 

My biggest takeaways as I have grown up is that it’s all about moderation and not going to extremes of being a neat freak or over planned or stressing out about things out of your control, what it comes down to for me is about being more flexible and adaptable and less rigid. I’m a work in progress and I’m proud of that. I’m sure if you ask my friends and family about what my worst habits are, they can can give you a full list of other things, but these are big areas I that hope to work on as I grow older.

Now, that I have opened up, tell me, what are some of your bad habits? They can be big or small! Let me know in the comments below!