A solid bedtime routine is a girl's best friend. If I had to recommend one thing to improve your overall health and wellness and beauty it would be improve your sleep. Lack of sleep and poor sleep quality will literally age you and shorten your life span. In order to help prepare your body and brain for sleep, you need a solid bedtime routine. It's So important.
Our brains love routine and predictability and you can trigger your brain to recognize “oh we are winding down now” mode. I love my bed and sleep and created a pretty solid bedtime routine years and years ago. You do NOT want to be around me if I’m not sleeping well.
This is what works for me, and maybe you’ll see a few things you would like to adopt to create your own soothing nighttime routine:
(1) Melatonin: I need it. I use it. It works. It doesn’t work for everyone but if you’ve not tried it I do recommend it. Your body should produce melatonin on it’s own but it is triggered by darkness. And seriously, how much time do we actually spend in the dark? Not enough. I like the 10mg: https://amzn.to/3ULjGuF
(2) A fan: I cannot sleep if I’m hot. Forget about it. So the fan by my bed provides a nice cool breeze and the added benefit of white noise.
(3) Sheet spray: I use lavender but you can use whatever scent you love. My only suggestion is that you stick to ONE smell that you only use at night on your pillow or sheets. It has to become the “sleep scent” that triggers your brain to relax and prepare for beauty sleep. My fav sheet spray: https://amzn.to/3OR7apD
(4) Avoid the Blue Screens: This is a hard one for me and one I don’t abide by enough. Even my books are on my phone. But if I’m feeling like my sleep is not great, i will pull out a hardcover and leave my phone on the bedside table turned over and sound OFF.
(5) White noise: On top of my fan, I have a set sound mix that I listen to every night. There are tons of fantastic apps out there and I specifically use “Bettersleep”. I have been a subscriber AND have used the free version too. So many options open up with the subscription including Sleeptales, meditations, Sleepmoves and breathing exercies. My current mix is all free sounds and include: Storm, Night, Ocean, Wind and Rain. Can ya tell I’m an East Coast girl!?!?
(6) Preparation: Get organized and be prepared for your day. When I worked 9-5, I had my lunch ready, my outfit picked out including shoes and purse and jewelry. If my day was going to be busy, I would have a list made based on priority of what I needed to do. This alleviated that “worrying about worrying” feeling when you’re trying to fall asleep.
(7) Sleep Meditations: Along with white noise, there are so many sleep meditation and relaxation audios you can listen to as you drift off. I’ve studied hypnotherapy so I know and understand the power of the subconscious. If there is something you’re struggling with, I bet there is a free YouTube sleep meditation session you can just listen to as you fall asleep. You sleep and your subconscious can stay up and attend night school for you. You’de be surprised how easy and fast this can work. Most of these sessions begin with a very soothing full body relaxation that prepares you for sleep and also to be receptive to the message you are about to listen to.
My hero Paul McKenna:
Paul McKenna Sleep: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_LA5UlfYrII
Smarter While You Sleep: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQA9Yp7gjf0
Can I make you sleep: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PszW-3Q5fW8
Techniques for Deep Sleep: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dAV7mktZreY
Sweet dreams,
Patricia, xo
Define your waist. Smoke and mirrors people. Defining your waist, is an instant way to look thinner. It creates an illusion that you have more of an hourglass figure with curves in the right places even if you don’t. Think high waisted pants with structured fabric, tuck a corner of you shirt or a light sweater to show a peak of your waistband and belt. Shapewear is awesome for creating this silhouette, too.
I really love belts lower on my hip as a waist accent while not feeling tight and uncomfortable:
This beautiful belt will not break the bank either:
SHOP: https://amzn.to/49x6EVL
Clothes that are the correct size.
Contrary to popular belief, wearing clothes that are a size too big or a size too small for your frame doesn’t always make you look slimmer. Bulky clothing is more likely to make you look bigger than you actually are, and sizing down tends to draw attention to problem areas like back fat, muffin tops, and cellulite, so always choose clothing that fits true to size.You may feel more comfortable in baggy clothes, but you can switch that up once you get used to wearing the perfect size for your body.
Choose the right undergarments. We all can’t be Miley Cyrus and opt for no underwear. When it comes to finding clothes that make you look slimmer, your undergarments are just as, if not more important than your outfit. Tight bras draw attention to back fat, and tight panties can cause rolls, and muffin tops. Tight just doesn’t work for me - I need to feel comfortable underneath my clothes and in my clothes.
Avoid rounded shoes. Honestly, I love rounded toe shoes, but if you are looking for a long-legged look for a night out or a special occasion, just avoid them. Do your legs a favour and elongate and showcase them with pointed toes.
I also love the look of nude shoes and tights for one loooooonnnnnggg sexy line.
I'm such a fanatic about being COMFORTABLE that I don't wear a lot of high heels, but I do love these shoes so much:
SHOP: https://amzn.to/4bJXbMP
So many cute pointy shoes to choose from, too. This pair comes in so many amazing colours:
SHOP: https://amzn.to/3HTsMhi
Wear heels with skinny jeans. I’m NOT a heel person, but if you are wearing skinny jeans and are self-conscious about the width of your legs, avoid flats and flip flops and opt for whatever height heel you are comfortable with. Your legs look longer by ensuring your denim is ankle-length (or slightly longer) and pairing them with a sexy pair of pointed-toed heels.
My Fav Skinny Jeans are stretchy, have a nice wide waist band and make your butt look so good!
SHOP: https://amzn.to/4btLhq6
Invest in shapewear. If you want to know how to dress to look thinner, shapewear is about to become your new best friend. Most women save shapewear for special occasions, but there’s no reason it can’t become a daily staple. Shapewear offers more support than your average undergarments, hides bulges and imperfections like cellulite, and gives an overall slimmer appearance. Camis offer seamless coverage from your breasts to your waistline, corsets help cinch your waist and accentuate the curves of your hips, and control tights will slim your tummy, bum, and thighs. I posted previously about Shapermint, and I wear their camis every single day.
SHOP: https://amzn.to/48a8Hh9
Dress in one color. When you dress in 2 contrasting colors and/or prints, the eye is naturally drawn to the area in which the 2 come together, which is typically your waistline. This can be a good thing if you have a natural hourglass figure, but if you want to elongate an already boxy frame, dressing in one color is a simple way to lengthen your body by creating one, sweeping look. Boom. You look fabulous and stylin’.
Cover up with long outwear. Long sweeping outerwear whether a coat or a long sweater will help lengthen your frame. Pair with skinny jeans and pointy-toed heels or boots and leave your coat open, or cinch at the waist for a more flattering look when you really need to bundle up. Whoop whoop. Your lunch date look is done.
There are of course all the other tips and tricks such as:
Patricia, xo
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“Pearls are always appropriate." - Jackie Kennedy
Whether you’re wearing subtle and minimal or bold statement pieces, the colour of pearls enhance every skin tone, hair colour and eye colour. Pearls in the summer? Gorgeous with a little tan. In the winter, they play up your winter whites and are just as beautiful.
They have been around forever, but they are just as popular today. And recently, men have been stealing the look! Celebrities like Harry Styles, Pharrell Williams, Justin Bieber, and even Elton John have made fashion statements wearing pearls. Last week, the clerk at a store here in Sherwood Park had both a pearl necklace and pearl bracelet. Of course, I grilled the guy like a reporter! Where did you get them, how often do you where them, do your friends where them too?. He said he never took them off. Smart young guy.
(Harry Styles in Pearls)
I personally have always loved pearls and have tons of pearl strands, earrings and pearl accented jewelry. Kate Spade would be my favourite designer for affordable pearl jewelry with Stella and Dot a close runner up. I have shoes with pearls on them. Ha ha ha ha
They are so classic and so beautiful but can take some getting used to if you have never been a pearl wearer. Get familiar with them, get comfortable in them and then add them to any damn outfit you want - think white shirt and jeans.
If pearls are totally foreign to you but you have an old box with a strand of pearls in your drawer, I recommend getting them out and putting them on. Wear them to bed. Let them warm up from your skin, touch them often and fall in love with them.
Some pieces I wear allllll the time:
A classic single pearl on silver, gold or rose gold. Subtle and gorgeous. There's something about this simple pearl that is just wow. I have it in Rose Gold but really want it in yellow gold too. It pops on any skin tone. Get your here: https://amzn.to/48o6U9t
Gorgeous Pearl Hoops are a must. Such a different take on the classic hoop. Timeless and cute! The clasp is tight and you will never loose these. I've had mine for years and not tarnished one bit! Get yours here: https://amzn.to/3NVHSpS
And lastly, pearl drop earrings. So comfortable you can sleep in them. So sexy yet feminine. These are the perfect size with a small dangle. Love, love, love. Super dressed up or to the gym. Totally up to you. Get yours here: https://amzn.to/41QEuCk
Run don't walk to your jewelry box and pull out all your old pearl jewelry! And again, WEAR-THEM-TO-BED. You'll even sleep better. ;-)
Cheers ~ Patricia, xo 💋
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