Sleep. Everybody does it. Why not make the most out of it? I'm a true believer in bed-time routines and regimes to make sleep a hundred times more relaxing. That said, it's funny I've never really talked about it before. I love doing masks and pampering myself so much because it makes me so comfortable and ready to take on the next day or week.
I don't have a complicated routine or anything, but I do a couple things before I hit the hay just because it makes me feel good.
Usually, at night I have already taken a shower and gotten my PJs on which consist of a t-shirt and Nike running shorts, nothing too glamorous. I'll do a mask or paint my nails on occasion, but I always make sure to clean my face after the long day and moisturize, moisturize, moisturize.
My lips also have to have some sort of balm or treatment on them, too. The Kiehl's Lip Balm #1 is one I've been using and I like it. It is hydrating and refreshing on my lips!
I can't forget some eye cream either, I've woken up with dry and red under eyes and it is not something anyone should have to wake up to. I use the Tarte Maracuja C-Brighter eye treatment and love it. Creams before bed just make my skin feel good and warm. I hope other people feel the same way, too.
Most nights, I listen to music, watch movies, read, or write. I write for the blog and I have recently really gotten into journaling. I write about my day or just how I'm feeling. I would really encourage it because it's great to reflect and just let go with a pen and paper. We get so distracted and forget our days as they fly by. I try to take in moments before bed when I can to just decompress and think about what I did that day. What's your sleep-time ritual like?
The hot months can be intimidating for a lot of people when it comes to wearing less clothes and exposing yourself a bit more during this season. We're always trying to achieve a "beach ready body," when in reality, we're all ready for the beach anyway. It's too hot lol. No matter what you think, body positivity during the summer decreases because we're obviously wearing less clothes than normal.
I don't think I've specifically stressed about finding body positivity or honed in on it in a post before. Lately I've felt pretty good with my body; I do regular exercise and try to eat healthy (I just baked puppy chow, cookies, and brownies—it's so hard).
My yoga instructor said something that resonated with me: "We're more than just numbers on a scale, the price tag on our clothes, a salary, likes on Instagram...we have substance and we are so much more than that". I know it may seem cheesey, but it's true.
I have my fair share of insecurities like most people: my pudgy stomach, acne, broad back, my big nose, and round face all bother me sometimes. On occasions, I just feel like shit and I'm sure a lot of people can relate. Now more than ever I've been focusing on the good and pushing away the negative thoughts when I get to that low place.
Taking photos like these for example, makes me hesitate sometimes because of the way my body looks or how I'm posing. All of these pictures are unedited and raw, because I don't believe in photoshop, but also because I want people to see me.
We can get distracted when we try to see ourselves as other people see us. Throughout middle school and high school, I would say I worried a fair amount about what I looked like. Heck, I used to wear curlers in my hair every night. As I've grown into college, I haven't been as high strung about looks and will normally just roll out of bed, no makeup, and a high bun.
I am wearing makeup in these photos, but my normal day is only moisturizer, primer, and maybe mascara if I feel like it. My beauty posts and makeup reviews have really declined because I just don't wear much anymore and I know the minimal makeup is becoming a trend. It feels better without it and I can actually breathe and do things.
I do wear makeup on occasion and have a pretty good collection still, but I don't see myself collecting more than I need or any fancy highlighters or palettes anymore. It feels good to be comfortable with my bare face and I think a lot of people should be too.
I know it's not easy for everyone to feel comfortable in their own skin because it's different for everybody. It was definitely not easy at times for me and I will still have my low moments. The person I want to be is someone who can live their life not having a care in the world about what other people think. If only it was that easy. I think it's achievable and I have to keep telling myself that no one can define who I am, only me, myself, and I.
I want to encourage body positivity everywhere, especially to my fellow readers and bloggers. It can be hard to not filter ourselves online and get distracted by how many likes or views we have. I also know that this all may sound clichéd, but I genuinely believe that a lot of people may need to hear this and their's no harm in boosting someone's mindset. We need self love and positivity more than ever nowadays.
So far summer has really picked up the pace. I have already gone on three big trips and it's almost the middle of July. I think it's amazing how time flies and I'm really trying to take advantage of all the time I have this summer since I go back to school in September.
You have probably noticed that my blog schedule has been flux over the past month—with travel, more nannying, and being all over the place, I've set my writing on the back burner and just gone with the flow for a bit. It's summer and I need to pace myself a bit more. Also, I want to be more ambitious and motivated in doing things and achieving things I want to in the future.
That said, I have really gotten back into my yoga regime and went literally every single day this week. I'm doing the same yoga challenge I did a couple times already to get to forty classes by the end of the summer. I'm at like 15, so I gotta pick up the pace a bit.
Corepower, my yoga studio, offers spin classes. I am really trying to push myself to get into cardio more. This summer has really been about improving my mental state more than ever and to get prepared for this upcoming school year. While the traveling bug has come and I seem to be hopping from one destination to the next, I need time for myself and everyone else does, too.
There's a lot more going on this summer and it's really only the beginning. I am hoping to get my blogs back up and producing more content for you guys. I'm really excited to share with you all a photoshoot my best friend and I went on this past month. I want to focus on body positivity and changing your mindset on who you are and things like that!
I need to move forward on a good foot and apply myself more than usual. It seems like I might be doing a lot at times, but I always believe that I just haven't done enough at times.
I need to move forward on a good foot and apply myself more than usual. It seems like I might be doing a lot at times, but I always believe that I just haven't done enough at times.
Especially with writing for the blog, I've been a little unsatisfied with the way my motivation and persistence has been with it. I'm going everywhere and doing so many things, it can be overwhelming. How do you all find your groove at times when you need the most motivation?
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