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.
