Apple Pie Skillet Oatmeal
October 11, 2020
Simple Ideas for Designing Your Perfect Morning Routine
October 7, 2020
I have made some pretty useful discoveries about myself and uncovered some realistic tips that make mornings way more pleasant. I wanted to share them here on the blog, hopefully they will be helpful to you!
After determining the way I want my mornings to go and what actions to take, it has been confirmed that, a.) I am NOT a morning person but that doesn't mean I can't have a morning routine that works for me. b.) Those cliché cutesy aestheticized morning routines that you sometimes see on YouTube or Instagram are not realistic for everyone. c.) Consistency is KEY. and d.) Morning routines are POWERFUL!
After starting my new business, Shop BeautyFash, I knew that a solid morning routine would help me move forward and achieve my goals. And as much as I was fighting getting out of my warm and comfy bed and waking up early, I found out that working through the discomfort is worth it. Having a consistent morning routine is the first opportunity to send your day in a positive direction.
My strategy is super simple though: Start small. Pick just one (or a few!) ideas from each category below and design YOUR realistic morning. Work your way up to having more steps as you discover what works for you.
BASIC TASKS THAT MAKE A DIFFERENCE
- Set an alarm on your phone and make sure the phone is not within arm's reach
- Make your bed
- Open the blinds or curtains and let all the sunshine in
- Do your everyday skincare and makeup routine
- Get dressed for the day
- Take your time and make a good cup of tea or coffee
- Make your favorite breakfast
- Prepare your lunch and/or dinner for the day
- Text/call and say hello to someone you love
BE WELL - WELLNESS IS KEY
- Drink at least 12 ounces of water as soon as you get up
- Go for a walk or run
- Meditate for 10 minutes
- Pick the vitamins you want to start taking daily and TAKE THEM
- Sit outside for a few minutes and breathe in some fresh air
- Listen to your favorite song
- Read a chapter or two of a good book
- Write down 3 things that you are grateful for
NEVER STOP LEARNING
- Watch a short tutorial on YouTube
- Watch a TED Talk
- Read a chapter in a self-help book
- Start an online course that you can work on
- Read a blog post that inspires you to try something new
- Listen to a podcast
- Do a word puzzle or play a game that gets your brain working
- Research a project that you can work on
YOUR PERSONAL GROWTH IS PERSONAL!
- Work on your side hustle or a new business
- Make a list of the new things you want to try
- Research something fun you want to do over the weekend
- Try a new breakfast or lunch recipe
- Sign up for a new class in your neighborhood
- Have a phone call with a mentor or mentee
- Reach out to someone new for advice
- Brainstorm / write down a few new ideas to make your life better
- Add something to you bucket list
ORGANIZATION IS KEY
- Plan out your week, month or year
- Plan out your day - make a list of the things you need to do
- Clean your workspace or desktop
- Check your email and delete things that you don't need
- Check in on your finances / update your budget
- Get your work supplies ready for the day
- Organize and plan your clothes for the day or week
Tips for Easy Entertaining at Home
October 1, 2020
Having the expertise to quickly and effortlessly throw together a party at home for your loved ones should be highly coveted, especially now that we are spending a lot of time at home. With my simple tips, outline below, you will be a party-throwing expert in no time! :)
I hosted my parents' 44th wedding anniversary dinner party at home this past weekend and it was such a beautiful event. Everything went off without a hitch, the food was amazing, the appetizers were perfect, the decor was festive and colorful, the cocktails were perfection and most importantly, my guests had an amazing time! Here are my best tips for easy entertaining at home.
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Start cooking a little earlier than you think you should. Prep dishes the night before if you can. Have the salad fixings chopped, the veggies sliced, pasta pre-boiled, and the meats marinating well in advance, to save time when you are ready to start cooking. Always plan in advance what foods you will serve and go grocery shopping ahead of time. For the anniversary party this weekend, I made the crab cake mix the day before, chopped the salad fixings that morning and I also marinated the chicken and steaks a few hours before.
Keep appetizers simple. If you plan to serve appetizers, try to keep things simple and effective. I decided to go with a charcuterie board and mini crab cakes, which were both very easy to pull together. That lessened the stress for the pre-dinner bites, which allowed me to focus on the dinner and sides.

Beautifully arranged fresh flowers will bring life to your dinner party, literally. Always play up on the seasons when decorating. Our party fell on the first weekend of autumn so I decided to get festive with a few mini pumpkins and sunflowers. The colors went beautifully with the other décor and made such a pretty seasonal statement.
And finally, HAVE FUN! Just by rocking my Fancy Apron instantly put me in the best mood while I prepped, cooked, danced and decorated. It was such an amazing stress-free night.