I recently wrote a post on making good habits for getting up earlier in the mornings, & I realized it’s been a minute since I published a nighttime routine. 

SO I’m sharing my nighttime routine that I try to stick to most weeknights. (Key word, MOST- I have to make myself flexible if I’m going to be out that night or something’s going on that makes the routine flux. BE FLEXIBLE)

BEDTIME ROUTINE FOR BETTER SLEEP

Getting a good night's sleep is key for so many things: our immune system, mood, & overall happiness. But the whole getting the sleep is way easier said than done, yes? 

It's taken me a loooong time to establish somewhat of a routine, & it's still not perfect by any means. Some nights I'm naughty & use my phone in bed, or stay up til 1am netflixing.

BUT I've noticed that doing that leaves me waking up feeling less than refreshed, (who would've thought??) whereas having a good pre-sleep ritual winds me down & makes for a good night's rest.

// WIND DOWN WITH A SIP.

No, not of wine. (although I don't discourage a little glass of rose) I'm trying to drink more tea in the daytime, but tea to help wind you down at night is definitely a must-have. 

Sleepytime is my favorite- it's decaf, minty tasting, and kinda makes you feel like you've wrapped yourself in a nice warm blanket.

// CONSISTENT SKINCARE.

Our skin likes routine as much as the rest of us does, and sticking to a good nighttime regimen helps signal the brain it's time for sleep, My evening essential is definitely a toning spritz!

// SET THE MOOD WITH CANDLES + OILS.

In order for our mind + body to recognize it's sleep time, it's helpful to set the mood for sleep. Mood lighting & candles are two of my favorite ways, as well as playing some soothing music. (here's a couple spotify playlists I love) 

I also always turn on my oil diffuser & let the lavender flow. You can make your own essential oil 'cocktail' if it suits you, just make sure the oils are soothing & sleep inducing!

// READ + JOURNAL.

My routine once I'm actually in bed includes doing my devotionals, (there are SO MANY on the bible app) journaling, and sometimes I'll catch up on my current read. 

If you've got a busy schedule, sometimes before bed is the only time for reading & you should take advantage of it!

// MEDITATE.

If I'm being honest, I haven't been as consistent with meditating lately, but when I actually be still & do it I remember why I love it!

Ending your day with gratitude and positive thoughts is incredibly grounding & I can tell you, helps put you right into sleep.

What do you do for a good night's sleep?

xo,

kae

Weekly Pamper Routine.

Having a proper pamper night at least once a week is essential for self-care & sanity. I've found that setting aside a specific time each week for some "me" time sets the tone of the rest of the week. This is why I like a Sunday night pamper, but any weekend night is cosy. 
For me, the first step of my night is always a perfect bubble bath, with this scrub my knight in shining armour. Once I've had my netflix & soak (HA) I'll go in with a face mask. I'm always terrified of drying or breaking out my skin, so I only use a mask once a week. I've got a tiny version of this rose mask & my skin always feels super soft & hydrated afterwards. 
Bath & Body Work's aromatherapy stress relief oil is a necessity, not only because my stress is at code red at any given time, but the eucalyptus spearmint is also great for awareness & time stops for like, just a SECOND when you're putting this stuff on. 
After a body oil it's always good to lock it in with some body butter. I usually use this lavender or soap & glory one to freshen up. 
Once my skin is ready for bed, I'll finish off my tea and whatever episode I'm on, & crawl into bed. Sometimes I'll find another show to watch, but I've been trying to combat netflix with reading because finishing off the night with a good book (i'm currently reading lauren graham's!) is kind of heaven, right? 
SO, there ya have it. Use this guide to add to your next pamper night & I promise you won't be sorry....
xo,

Fitness Routine

{sports bra | VS}

*Disclaimer: Before I start this post I should probably let you know that technically I haven't worked out in about oooh five days. Whew, feels good to get that off my chest! Transparency is the way, am I right ladies? I'm also in no way a fitness expert but I want to share what works for me!

SO with that in mind, my workout routine isn't so much a "routine" as a "squeeze it in when I can" situation, because life is hard & the retail life is not glamorous, nor are the hours stable. I try to do SOME form of working out at least three times a week, but sometimes it's less, sometimes more. I tend to exercise in the evenings & I don't really have a reason for it.... I'm just a night owl who likes to party it up! What can I say? 

For the longest time my only real form of exercise was yoga. I still like to incorporate it a lot, but I also like to get a little cardio in. I'm more of a work from home (*cue fifth harmony) kinda girl, & luckily my parents have this cool stationary recumbent bike I like to use. (the perks of living at home, folks!) I'll usually queue up netflix or put on my workout playlist and do about twenty minutes or so. Walking my dog is another form of cardio I always like! When the weather lets us, of course. 

Also, we can't forget about weight lifting. Thinking about the weights I lift compared to those intense ones you see at the gym is preeeetty comical, I must say. But we do the best we can, and sometimes our best is a five pound weight. Look ma, I've got upper arm strength! 

Then we move on to the yoga. I've talked before about my two favorite yoga youtubers, but HERE THEY ARE AGAIN. Adriene has some longer routines for when you have more time. I love all of her stuff- she's super relaxing. Tara Stiles has a lot of shorter (under 15 minutes) routines that are quick but get the job done and you still feel like you did something. 

I don't always do the cardio & yoga together, some days I'll only do one. But it's a little groove that works for me.... you know, when I actually do it. HA. Who knows? Today might even be the day....

Alright, I'm sure your routines are much less boring than mine. Tell me about them! Even if it's just eating pizza, that's cool too. I approve.

xo,

My Messy Waves Routine

The reason behind the cheesy grin and casually placed hand so the nail polish is seen just so? 
I'm bringing you a little tutorial today on some easy messy waves! 
* Disclaimer: I say the word tutorial very loosely. I'm in no way what the young people call those "beauty gurus." I know. You're disappointed. We can get through it together.
ANYWAY. I first started doing my hair in beach waves more back when I had the Lauren Conrad cut & now it's become one of my favorite ways to style it. Once I got the routine down it became like second nature & I like the way it looks kind of free. (Can hair even look free? I picture an entire head of hair blowing loosely in the wind, Stevie Nicks playing in the background. Casual.)

First things first: prep. At first glance this may look like a Tresemme ad, but alas. I just love these products! If I know I'm gonna wear my hair wavy the next day, after my shower I'll spray on this sea salt spray, scrunch, and air dry. But you can blow dry as well! The spray will give you some natural texture & serve as a good base.

Once it's styling time I'll heat up my flat iron and brush everything out, then I'll section my hair off, starting with the bottom. 

Then I spray some heat protectant on (I use this Tresemme one) and start curling my hair AWAY from my face. TIP: Twist the iron slightly as you move down and stop when you get to the ends; you'll want to keep them straight.

Take the next layer down, spray the heat spray, and continue the process on your whole head. Once you've finished curling everything, you'll wanna finger comb all over to get that messy, loose look. For even more effect you can scrunch the waves up a little & sometimes I'll tease the roots. 

{It's either cheesy grin or super serious model face. I'm real good at this blogging thing.}

RECAP:

1// Prep wet hair with sea salt spray and air or blow dry to natural texture

2// Section off hair starting with the bottom. 

3// Curl away from face, leaving the ends straight

4// Finger comb & scrunch waves for messy look

5// Teasing optional!

AND that's it. Told you it was easy! 

Let's talk hair. How do you do messy curls?

xo, 

PM Skincare Routine

I think I've gotten a pretty good skincare routine down in more recent days. 

To be honest I'm not totally sure what my skin type is, but it has the characteristics of combination. My forehead tends to get crazy oily and my breakouts are mostly {unfortunately} hormonal. 

All the products I use for skincare are natural because I don't really want chemicals seeping into my skin, and I've found that my face handles these products better.

My night time routine includes only three steps:

//When I'm in the shower I cleanse with Purpose wash, which I've been using for a couple of years and is really gentle and light. It's soap-free {soap dries your face out!} and hypoallergenic. 

//Once I'm out of the shower I spritz on some of my Boots Botanics Rosewater toning spritz. This product was my first experience with toner and it's aaaamazing! Toning is actually a pretty important step in skincare- it hydrates and detoxifies. 

//I let the toner set for a minute, and then my last step is moisturizing with coconut oil. It only takes a little bit {rubbed in really well!} and your skin is soft and fresh. 

I've seen a lot of bloggers and youtubers that have an array of steps and products in their routine and while that's great, it just doesn't work for my skin. What I've got going right now works and I like that!

Of course, I'm always willing to try out new tips! Spill your PM routine......