Thank you so much to VIIcode for sponsoring this post! As always, all opinions are unbiased.
I truly believe that how you start your morning can set the tone for the rest of the day, and I also think that how you spend your evening can totally affect the following day! When I have a really productive and relaxing evening, I sleep better and I always wake up feeling good. It doesn't always happen, but if I spend my evening like this I am one happy girl!
Evening Walk
If I haven't gotten my 10,000 steps in already, this is a great time to get some more! I absolutely love walking with my husband, Blake in the evenings. We live in a really good neighborhood for walking and we can almost always walk for two miles together. If he is getting home later from work, or just isn't up for it, I will take the pugs for a quick walk around the block. Being pugs, they don't have a whole lot of stamina. Carrying one of them home isn't unheard of!
Let's be real though, I spend most of the time untangling their leashes!
Cooking Dinner
I'm a big meal planner, and that really helps us after a long day at work! Cooking dinner may be my favorite part of the evening. Most of the time we turn on some 80's music and cook together. It's the perfect time to unwind and catch up. Fun fact: we almost always sit at the table to eat dinner. It's a tradition I'm very proud of, and one of the reasons we had a strong family growing up.
It's pasta night! Pasta is something we do at least once a week. It ticks all the boxes: it's easy, cheap and delicious. (Here is my homemade pasta sauce recipe!)
15 Minute Clean Up
So, we don't have a dishwasher. #oldhouseprobs! I don't mind hand washing too much though. It's just the two of us, and if we have a bigger group I will use paper plates. Another reason I don't mind doing the dishes is because we take turns. When it's my night I put on a Youtube video and get washing. (I've really been loving Disney vlogs lately, because we haven't been in so long!)
Whoever isn't washing spends 10-15 minutes cleaning up around the house. Things like sweeping, wiping down counters, straightening up the living room and taking out the trash. There is nothing better than waking up the next day to a clean house and empty sink.
Family Worship
We do some kind of study together 3 nights a week, but I'd do a little something as a family every night if we could swing it. We do a rotation of something different each time, but my current favorite project is a Bible timeline! It's going to take us forever to finish it, but it's been so interesting! We are kind of winging it as we go, but I can highly recommend the program Aeon timeline since we've had a good experience with it.
Couch Time
Ahhh, finally sitting down! I really enjoy unwinding on the couch with the pugs! They know the drill, and as soon as I sit down they get comfy right next to me. We spend a few hours each evening watching Netflix or reading. I've been SO addicted to my color by number app! It's so relaxing. I also like to set up my diffuser with lavender and cedarwood essential oils in the evening.
Evening Skincare
As I start to get heavy eyelids, I have to force myself to get up and off the couch or else I will end up there for the night! A big goal of mine is to do a little skin care every night. After changing into my pjs, I remove my make up and wash my face. I also apply my DIY eyelash serum.
My perfect evening also includes some pampering! I'm so happy to be partnering with VIIcode skincare today to share their amazing overnight oxygen eye masks! These masks are so unique. I've never seen an eye mask that you can wear overnight. These feature a cool gel that is instantly refreshing. You just peel, stick and go to sleep!
My eyes are the tell tale sign of my overall rest. I get the worst dark circles under my eyes and my eyes can get really puffy. Getting to bed early is obviously important, but these oxygen masks are an excellent secret to looking well rested and awake! Just taking a few minutes to spend time on myself makes me feel so good and can really affect my mood for the next day! Waking up with clear and healthy skin is the best.
In fact, this whole routine can impact the following day! Getting a little exercise, eating a home cooked meal, and tidying up in the evenings are all great ways to pay your future self! You know I'm all about doing something today that you'll thank yourself for tomorrow!
Leave a comment below telling me your key components to an ideal evening! How often do you get to cook at home? Who does the dishes in your family? And what is your evening skincare routine like!? Have you ever used an eye mask?
Thank you so much to VIIcode for sponsoring this post! As always, all opinions are unbiased.
I completely agree! It’s amazing what taking 15 minutes to put in a face mask or read a good book can do to your spirit! I hate rushing, it puts me in a hectic mood unnecessarily, so I always wake up earlier than necessary so I can take my time to be in slow motion and read in the morning (and at night!)
ReplyDeletexAllie
www.theallthatglittersblog.com
Yes!! Taking the time to get things ready for the next day and spending a little time on yourself can totally make your next morning just a bit slower.
DeleteI completely agree! Unfortunately my morning started off rocky with someone having a meltdown over wanting to wear Nike shorts that he doesn't own. Anyway, I love evening walks and we haven't had a chance to go on many of them this summer. I love that you spend time together in worship. I need to check out those eye masks because the crows feet are real over here lol. Sierra Beautifully Candid
ReplyDeleteIt's so hard to walk when it's a thousand degrees! We have to keep it short lately, but when it cools down we can walk over 2 miles in the evenings. I love that time together!
DeleteThanks for sharing these helpful advice!
ReplyDeleteKelly | https://lizado.com/blog/news/
Thank you Kelly!
DeleteHappy evening time, so interesting.
ReplyDeleteThank you Alo!
DeleteThese are definitely the makings of a perfect night! I’ve been reading through the daily bible and I recommend it too- such a great way to read through it in a timely fashion :) I love walking the dog too, it’s also a great way to unwind and get exercise!
ReplyDeleteUnwinding, and getting exercise in at the same time is the best! Thanks Gentry!
Delete'Doing something you'll thank yourself for tomorrow' is such an eloquent way of summing up what you mentioned in your opening paragraph. I totally agree - almost to the point that if I don't feel my life and home is organised, I can't enjoy anything else. I will remember your quote as a great reminder! Your pugs are just delightful - the photo of their little faces (staring up in the hope of food?) is adorable. Your evening sounds great! Super impressed how you divide up one pot washer and one person on 'other jobs' - sounds like you have a great partnership going! The oxygen overnight eye patches sound great - I could certainly do with them - my whole demeanour seems to change with tired eyes! Great post - J xx
ReplyDeleteThat saying has totally changed the way I look at things and has made me so much more productive! I'm glad you found value in it too.
DeleteAnd thank you so much for mentioning our partnership-I couldn't agree more. We've got a good thing going! But we made it that way.
Tired eyes are the worst! You are so right, your eyes can really tell the whole story.
I love that you do family worship each night! That is such an amazing habit to make! Loved this post :)
ReplyDeletexoxo,
Juliana Grace | www.julianagraceblogspace.com
Thank you Juliana! We don't do it every night, but at least 3 times a week. It's so special and has drawn us closer together.
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ReplyDeleteHello Kristen, thanks for your sharing, I will definitely apply the sharing to my life for a good life and beautiful skin.
https://pinmytees.com/
I need to be better about meal planning + I love that you do family worship every night! Two things I really need to incorporate in my own life!
ReplyDeletexx katie // a touch of teal
Thank you Katie! We definitely don't get to worship together every night, but at least 3 times a week. But, ideally I'd do it every night! Same with cooking at home! That's the ideal I'm striving for.
DeleteThank you so much for reading and taking the time to comment!
I recently bought eye masks by peter thomas roth because I also show my tiredness in my eyes, not necessarily dark circles but definitely more wrinkles. the pads are a total lifesaver!
ReplyDeleteYour evenings are so organized. I wish ours were that structured! Sometimes we take a walk, sometimes we don't. Often the dishes don't get loaded in the washer (and we even HAVE a dishwasher- sheesh!). I love the Bible studies you guys do. That's so sweet and special! Sometimes I wash my face at night but I am the WORST with consistency. Something I definitely need to work on!
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