As a mom with two young kids I am up for anything that makes my life easier and that takes less time out of my day. Over the last several years I have found some simple tricks that are a huge help.
Most of these tricks are pretty basic, but if I don’t do these little things each evening I end up feeling rushed and/or stressed the next morning.
* Lay out Carson’s school clothes on his bed the night before. This is huge, as my little man loves to sleep (he gets up with only 30 minutes to spare). When his alarm goes off I go in his room, turn his lamp on, and let him know it’s time to get dressed. With his clothes already lying on the bed beside him, he knows the drill, and can get himself completely ready. I also have to remind him to brush his teeth and hair 🙂
* Pre-pack lunch the night before. Besides sandwiches, I do all my prep work the night before.
Example: Cut up all fruit and veggies (even though it’s usually just fruit with Carson) and place them into plastic lunch size containers. This way I can just toss it into his lunch bag without wasting any time.
* Mix Taylor’s morning milk so it’s ready to roll when she wakes up asking nicely demanding it! We still have to give Taylor a small dose of prescription Miralax in her milk each morning, so mixing this in the evening and having it ready the next morning insures I don’t forget about it!
Like I said earlier, these are all pretty simple, but they make my day run so much smoother. And a good bit of my mom duties are complete, after all, I still want to make sure that I am taking care of me…and let’s be real, I need to make sure I am taking care of me! You know, the basics…….eating healthy, exercising, taking care of my skin, and even showering if the opportunity arises…haha!
This is where Clinique and their new Smart line step in to make life a little easier in the ‘taking care of me’ department. You should all know by now, I love Clinique and I have used their products and most of their skincare for over a decade now. But, not only do I love their products, I truly believe in them and how well they they work.
The two moisturizers below are truly my favorite from this line. One is for day and one is for night, but they are both packed with four amazing benefits. They visibly ease wrinkles, even skin tone, firm your skin, and brighten your skin. This, my friends, is what I call a moisturizer win!
Included in their Smart line are some other really great products as well! Clinique was nice enough to send me their Clinique smart oil treatment and the Clinique Smart custom-repair eye treatment to try out. I have only used these two products for about a week now, but I am really loving them both so far.
The oil is great when your skin is feeling really dry, or if you have dry patches (like myself). And even though it’s oil, it doesn’t leave your face greasy at all like you might think. It’s really light and soaks right into your face. And I’ll let the eye treatment reviews speak for themselves, but I can already feel a difference after only one week of use. I’ll be sure to report back after 12 weeks and let you know how my lovely crows feet are looking 🙂
Now for the fun part, Clinique has allowed me to pick one lucky winner and send them a full size Clinique Smart moisturizer night and a full size Clinique Smart moisturizer day!
All you need to do to enter is leave a comment telling me one simple trick you use to make your everyday life run a little smoother! Giveaway will end Sunday EST time at midnight!
* Thank you Clinique for partnering on this post. As always, all opinions are my own.
My husband and I meal plan every Sunday before we go to the grocery store. It takes the guessing game out of what we should have each night for dinner and saves us money so we aren't buying a bunch of random items that we will end up throwing away!
I pack my gym bag the night before!
I always have my kiddos clothes picked/laid out for the next day, no matter what we are doing, right down to the socks! No time to be wondering what to wear in the mornings!
Great giveaway!
Coffee set on a timer!!!! Lifesaver.
Annie Reeves
Love Clinique! I've used it for years! I make out a daily list and stick to it. Everything from house cleaning chores to kids clothes for the next day. Keeps me focused:)
I always meal prep for the next day. The crockpot saves me tons of time so that I can help with homework, go to volleyball practice and the laundry list of other things.
I always have my boys' clothes laid out and ready to go! I also prep their lunches and breakfasts the night before! Huge time saver in the hectic morning!
Prayer, Coffee & Coconut Oil!!!
To make my everyday life run a little smoother, I dress in my exercise clothes first thing in the morning so that I can't make any excuses not to work out. Thanks for the opportunity to try this new line! dbyrne1[at]gmail[dot]com
I clean the kitchen before bed and start the dishwasher. That way I don't start the day with those chores!
I pick up the house, make sure all laundry is folded and put up and make sure the dishwasher is empty before bed, so I wake up to a clean and put together house!
I also plan all of our meals a week in advance and try to only go to the grocery store once a week (unless I need more fresh stuff or salad.) I also color code my grocery list and put it in the order of the store, I know a little OCD but man I speed through the store and usually don't end up with any off list purchases!
I pack my gym bag the night before I go to the gym. Otherwise I KNOW I'll talk myself into getting a bit more sleep instead and getting my butt up and working out.
I always pick out my work day outfits on Saturday. That way I have five outfits ready for the week and I don't have to worry about taking the extra time to decide what to wear!
I leave Post-It Notes everywhere to help me remember items I need to do the next day.
My kids are older so they are pretty self sufficient for the most part. 😉 But I always lay out my workout clothes the night before in the bathroom, that way I don't have to rummage around in the morning waking up my husband. And then I have no excuse not to work out after I drop the kids at school. Though every now and then I am completely lazy and just end up showering a few hours later with no work out. 🙂
Having the milk ready the night before is our jam too. I've got a 17 month old, and if he doesn't have that sippy cup of milk first thing, it could get ugly 😉 I just make sure I have a cup in the fridge the night before ready to go; that way I can grab it in the morning, before I even head to his room!
I pack lunches the night before. It seems like such a PITA to do it in the morning 🙂
I'd love to try that clinique! Been on the hunt for a new nightcream/eyecream. And making my mornings easier … i've really GOT to get better at mornings, but I set my Keurig up the night before. I'm a bad morning-er.
Meal planning – its so nice to know what we are having for dinner each night, and helps avoid extra trips to the grocery store! Love this giveaway.
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I'm in college and have a full day of classes, so I always pack my backpack the night before because I too love my sleep so I don't want to be racing around in the morning trying to find all my notebooks and my various electronics and chargers needed through out the day!
PS I'm trying to get ahead of the game with wrinkles and problematic skin as I age and I am always looking to try out new products!!
I plan out my outfits for the week on Sunday so that everything is clean and ready to be worn. There is never any question what I'll wear, which saves quite a bit of time starting aimlessly at my closet!
I like to make a list of everything that needs to be done each day. If I don't have it written down I either forget or get distracted. It helps keep my day flowing smoothly when I can see what needs to be done! Great giveaway, I used to sell Clinique many, many years ago!
I give my cat pills first thing and I have to break one in half so I break them and lay them out for the day
I pack my lunch and my gym bag the night before
Set out clothes, pack lunch and diaper bag the night before.
I pack my lunch the night before and lay out clothes! xo
I get up earlier than is necessary. With two animals and a two-year-old, my morning may not always go as planned. So I make sure I have the extra time in my schedule just in case. If everything runs smoothly, which it usually does, then I have a nice calm morning and that's worth sacrificing a few minutes of sleep. If something comes up, it's not usually a major issue because I have the time to deal with it.
I pack my son's lunch the night before too, it makes for a few extra minutes in the morning!
I shower and dry my hair at night, as well as make my breakfast and lunch for the next day. I am NOT a morning person!
Clean up my living room and kitchen before bed!
That 10 minutes after the kids are in bed that I use to pick up the house keeps sane.
I set the table before my kids get home from school so that the 'get dinner on the table' rush is one step easier!
I pack my kids bags and load them into the car the night before. I also lay out my clothes the night before so there is less rushing around!
My tricks are similar to yours – I pack lunches the night before, get all bags for school ready, and "try" to get my girls to lay out their clothes as well. However, they have a tendency to change their minds the next morning! Love these new Clinique products – I've been wanting to try them all!
I shower at night (right after my kids go to bed) and let my hair dry overnight. When I wake up the next morning it is dry so I just use a straightener from there. This saves so much time not blow drying my hair and also protects my hair from the extra blow dryer heat.
Morgan Smith
Morganannsmith@yahoo.com
All lunches are made the night before, so we just have to pull out the lunch bags and go!
I made morning checklists for each child (4, 6, 8) and hung them in their room. They include all the morning essentials (brush hair, teeth,) chores (make bed, feed the dog, pick up dirty clothes), and school stuff (get book bag, lunch box, shoes/coat on) — this helps me because I'm not constantly asking "Did you _____?" all morning. I just remind each child "Make sure your list is done!" or "Did you do everything on your list?" This isn't a perfect solution to our morning chaos, but it helps! (the 4 year old doesn't read, so his list has pictures to accompany the words)
I am a big list maker. Lists of work items and after work, as well as meal planning every week! I loooove Clinique! Their moisturizer and eye make up remover are the best.
I'm a brand new mom, so I'm trying to figure out some tricks to make life a little more smooth. So far, I've found that cooking a crockpot meal or something that can last a couple of days for leftovers is the best thing I can do. It means that planning and cooking dinner is one less thing I have to think about.
I pack my lunch the night before and try to plan each night's dinner that morning.
I pack my lunch the night before and try to plan each night's dinner that morning.
Love this post and can totally relate! I've just started using some the Clinique products and they are incredible. Something else I do to make life a little easier and less hectic is make a list the night before (whether mentally or on paper) of three things I need to accomplish the next day – whether its a work meeting, appointment, laundry, etc. It really helps prioritize what I need to be doing when my feet hit the floor in the morning.
I do the same thing.. Set out clothing and pack lunches!
I pack my lunch and gym bag the night before so it's all ready to go in the morning.
I love Clinique! I always start my day by waking up before everyone and spending quiet time with a devotion and prayer. This seems to calm "ME" for what lies ahead in the day.
I prep the next nights meals out.. I work full time and that way when I get home so easy to get everything together and not waste an hour on Prep! love Clinique
I do a lot of the same things you do by laying out kids clothes the night before and prepping all the lunches except the sandwiches. The primary thing that gets my day off to a good start is getting the coffee pot ready and setting the programmer to go off in the mornings just before I wake up! The smell alone helps me get out of the bed and get moving!
I make the coffee and set the timer the night before. Makes it so much easier to get up and get going when you smell fresh brewed coffee.
I prep all breakfast get out bowls and spoons, options of cereal. Oh and most importantly the COFFEE!
set out gym clothes and put them on when clock goes off. That way you can't talk yourself out of going- you are already dressed to go!
Every night…prepare coffee maker, make a list of next day's To Dos, & prepare lunches.
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Set out my daughters school uniform and make her lunch the night before is a big time saver
I take it one step further and put book bags in the car the night before to eliminate the stress of realizing too late that something got left at home! If we're running late in the morning, we eat our toast on paper plates then toss them…no dirty dishes :). LOVE Clinique skincare products!!
I have my clothes laid out and my lunch packed! I even go as far as scrambling my eggs the night before so all I have to do is dump them in the pan the next morning! Although I don't always loving prepping, it sure does make life easier in the morning and allow for a few extra minutes of sleep!
Get the coffee ready the night before!
Pack book bags with all homework, snacks and a water bottle! Thanks for the tips and the giveaway!
I do one load of laundry a day! From wash, to dry, folded and put away. It really keeps me from spending my Sunday doing 549846 loads of laundry all in one day!
I pack lunches while I make dinner. I'd never have time in the morning!
Does alcohol count? Guess that doesn't make life simpler just easier…lol. One thing I do is make a couple of crockpot meals on the weekend so I can put them on at lunchtime and have a homecooked meal for supper – if I don't then all too often I am scrambling to put something together for the kids or picking up takeout.
I always choose what I will wear the night before. I also fix breakfasts for the week on Sunday which is a HUGE help!
Lay everything out. Prep lynches etc
Pack lunches the night before, lay out 2 outfits for school (because my girl likes to pick and be independent), 1 crockpot meal a week, keep dinner simple – baked fish one night a week and dry shampoo!
Turn all laundry rightside and stain treat in the morning and wash/dry in the afternoon. That way I have better luck getting out the stains.
Wake up before the kids for me time…with the coffee set and ready to brew! xx
It doesn't always happen, but what I like to do is plan what I'm going to wear to work Monday-Friday on Sunday evenings, and iron everything and put the outfits for each day on hangers, and it is easy peasy on Monday morning when I'm in a rush to get everything done.
i never go to bed with dirty dishes in the sink and i try to pick up vi's toys at the end of the day so i dont wake up to a mess. xo jillian
Laying out mine and the kids clothes each night 🙂
I like to shower before bed so in the morning all I have to do is my hair and makeup. Any extra sleep I can get is a win in my book! I love Clinique products and use them but haven't tried these new ones. My skin has been dry this winter! Xoxo
I try to pack my husband's lunch the night before so all he has to do it grab it from the fridge! I also set out his cereal bowl and juice glass the night before for his breakfast. One less thing he has to do!
I have learned to preset my coffee pot the night before so I wake up to the smell of coffee. Because this mom is much happier when I start my day off with my coffee :)☕️☕️
Definitely laying out my kid's clothes the night before is a time saver for me in the mornings!
True story and simple life hack: I kept accidentally shrinking my husband's favorite shirts when doing laundry. Now be does all the laundry for all 4 of us, as he claims he is much better at it than me! And I make sure to tell him how great I think he is at doing laundry too…so he doesn't forget or change his mind! Men love compliments ��
To make everyday life easier, my husband and I use GoogleDocs to layout all the expectations and tasks we want to accomplish at the start of each week.
Packing lunches/ffilling water bottles for my crew the night before is my biggest time saver in the mornings.
I do a lot of things that make life easier for me because I am a mom to 3 littles with a husband that works 5 days away. I teach preschool 3 days a week so on Sunday/Tuesday/Thursdays I get everyone's clothes laid out including socks and shoes, all 4 lunches packed, water bottles filled, and backpacks and diaper bags set out. I also take my shower at night so all I have to do is my makeup in the morning and run my flat iron back over my hair. Also, the day before my husband leaves for his 5 days I grocery shop and prep as much as I can for the next 4 nights dinner. Dinner. I love clinic but have not tied these items, I use their redness solutions line daily and I love it!
Excuse my errors, such as Clinique! It is late and I am tired!
I pack school bag and work bag the night before and get up early to workout in order to get it done before the day gets hectic.
I get ready for the day before my son is up. I also start prepping food in the morning. It definitely helps!
I plan my meals for the week on Sundays and we hit the grocery store! I also try to always make my lunch the day before. As a busy mom, it really helps to have the food already ready! I also pick out the clothes my daughters will wear the next day every night before they go to bed. That's a HUGE help in the mornings!!
I try to stay organized. In the long run it pays off. Predictability saves a lot of time.
I plan kids clothes the night before (even if it's just in my head).
I have started meal prepping on Sundays and that saves me a lot of time during the week since I have lunch and dinner ready to go!
Get the coffee maker ready the night before. Just one button to press in my infant sleep deprived state!
I check my day planner each night to make sure I have not forgotten an appointment and clothes for next day are put out.
I put together crockpot meals the night before and store them in the fridge. that way, I can just put the dish in the holder and turn it on the next morning.
I recently downloaded an app where I can upload and view all my clothes, then put together outfits for the whole work week. I don't even have to think about it in the mornings, and it's kind of fun!
Since my kids are older I make sure I have MY outfit picked out the night before! I'm a teacher so I also pack my lunch the night before.
Sunday meal planning and cooking in advance of the week is a life saver. Having meals ready to grab and go all week saves a ton of time!
I do lunches, backpack, and clothes and sometimes do overnight oats for breakfast. On Sunday evening I often do either a big pot of soup or bake a whole chicken for some lunches and a lazy dinner.
As the mama to 4 boys, I do as much as possible the night before: prep lunches, lay out clothes, backpacks set by the door and my clothes planned. Helps us all to feel less rushed in the morning! I have hopes of someday becoming better at meal planning . . .
I like to make batches of freezer meals for when I don't feel like cooking!
My child is a Senior, gasp! He likes to take a sub to eat and I always make sure I either buy or have it ready the night before. I also love Clinique products and seriously need to get on an antiaging regimen! I feel young at heart but at 47 my body does not quite agree, ha!
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