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  • .⠀ ‘SELF-CARE ISN’T SELFISH. ‘ —Unknown⠀ .⠀ As a busy mom and entrepreneur, I know how difficult it can be to find the time for regular self-care, but I’ve learned the importance of listening to my body and recognizing when I need to prioritize my physical and emotional well-being. There is only so long we can live in a constant state of overwhelm before our bodies start to break down, and we forget that an imbalance in our physical and emotional health not only impacts how we feel about ourselves, but effects the quality of our relationships with our family and friends as well.⠀ .⠀ For a long time, I used to think engaging in regular self-care would require me to take up yoga, keep a daily journal, and make weekly appointments to get my nails done, and while I encourage you to try all of these things, the reality is that there will be seasons where self-care is more about tending to our physical versus our emotional needs.⠀ .⠀ And that’s 100% okay.⠀ .⠀ Any kind of self-care is beneficial because it reminds us that we are still important outside of our roles as caregivers, friends, and business powerhouses.⠀ .⠀ If you’re looking for tips to help you find the time for regular self-care, here are some ideas to help:⠀ .⠀ ✔️Start small. The more realistic and manageable you keep things, the more likely you will be to maintain them.⠀ .⠀ ✔️Schedule it. Planning ahead and scheduling self-care into your calendar is a great way to keep yourself accountable!⠀ .⠀ ✔️Manage your energy effectively. Figure out when you are at your most productive and use that time to power through your most important tasks so you have more downtime at the end of the day for the things that bring you balance.⠀ .⠀ ✔️Learn to say ‘no’. Only commit to the things that contribute to your goals, and don’t spend an ounce of time feeling guilty for prioritizing the things that are important to you – including your physical and emotional well-being!⠀ .⠀ What are your secrets for prioritizing self-care?
  • .⠀ ‘HAPPINESS IS A BOWL OF CARBS.’ —Unknown⠀ .⠀ Do you eat breakfast?⠀ .⠀ I do. I can’t function without it!⠀ .⠀ Most days I have a green smoothie with a piece of fruit and nut butter, but on weeks I know I am going to be pressed for time and need a filling grab-and-go option, overnight oats are my go-to meal. I love how easy they are to prepare, and that you can mix them up with whatever ingredients you have on hand. I workout first thing in the morning on an empty stomach, and since I find oatmeal to be nice and filling, I think it’s the perfect post-workout meal.⠀ .⠀ Click the link in my bio for 11 of my favorite overnight oat recipes to save you time and kickstart your mornings!
  • .⠀ ‘THAT’S ONE OF THE THINGS I LOVE ABOUT MAKEUP. YOU CAN CHANGE YOUR WHOLE ATTITUDE BY JUST DOING YOUR EYELINER OR LIPSTICK DIFFERENTLY.’ —Beyonce⠀ .⠀ Do you wear makeup everyday?⠀ .⠀ I do.⠀ .⠀ I’m actually not sure I’ve left the house without a fully painted face since the 7th grade! 🤦‍♀️⠀ .⠀ For a long time, makeup was nothing other than a way for me to hide all my imperfections - my blemishes, my freckles, and the dark circles under my eyes - but over time it’s just sort of become a part of who I am. I enjoy experimenting with makeup, and I love the confidence it gives me.⠀ .⠀ Here are 4 products I cannot live without:⠀ .⠀ @anastasiabeverlyhills brow powder duo: I love their brow whiz, brow definer, and dipbrow pomade, but find their brow powder gives a more subtle, natural look.⠀ .⠀ @smashboxcosmetics 24 hour shadow primer: This primer enhances the pigment in my eyeshadows and makes application and blending easier, and it keeps everything in place all day long. No more smudging or grease streaks on my lids!⠀ .⠀ @smashboxcosmetics studio skin 24 hour hydrating foundation: This is the ONLY foundation that doesn’t break me out. I hope they never (ever) stop making it!⠀ .⠀ @toofaced natural eyes palette: I love the neutral shades in this collection. You can create a natural daytime look or a bold smokey eye for a night out - it’s such a versatile palette!⠀ .⠀ What are your daily go-to makeup products?
  • .⠀ ‘DON’T LET SOMEONE WHO DOESN’T DREAM AS BIG AS YOU CONVINCE YOU THAT YOU NEED TO PLAY AS SMALL AS THEM.’ —@mrdavehollis⠀ .⠀ Before I quit my job to be a stay-at-home mom turned full-time-blogger, I worked in corporate marketing at a home and auto insurance company. I worked 12+ hour days with tight timelines and ridiculous deadlines and LOVED finding order in chaos. ⠀ .⠀ I still have moments where I miss the insanity of my corporate marketing days, but I much prefer being my own boss. I get to set my own hours, decide which projects are and are not important, and while the stakes are definitely higher, the rewards are much more meaningful, and I have an amazing (and sexy!) husband who cheers me on every step of the way. He’s always telling me to follow my dreams and to stop apologizing for having aspirations, and for that I will be forever grateful.⠀ .⠀ But not everyone is as supportive as he is. There are a lot of people out there who like to belittle bloggers and online influencers, and for a long time, I really took this to heart. I felt guilty that running a household and volunteering at my daughter’s school didn’t fulfill me, and for years, I felt extremely embarrassed and uncomfortable when people asked what I do for a living.⠀ .⠀ 2019 has been a year of significant growth for Meraki Lane (and me!). I’ve learned that I’m allowed to have big dreams and aspirations, and that when people try to belittle and undermine us with their words, it’s usually a reflection on themselves and their own insecurities. ⠀ .⠀ Here’s to setting big goals, chasing our dreams, being true to ourselves, and never apologizing for any of it!
  • ⠀ .⠀ 'A SUCCESSFUL MARRIAGE REQUIRES FALLING IN LOVE MANY TIMES, ALWAYS WITH THE SAME PERSON.' --Mignon McLaughlin⠀ .⠀ 👆True story!⠀ .⠀ I often hear people lament about how difficult marriage is, and I’ve never understood it. Being married to my Boo is the easiest thing I've ever done, and I can't believe we'll be celebrating our 12-year anniversary later this month! 💃💙⠀ .⠀ 'Love seems the swiftest but it is the slowest of all growths. No man or woman really knows what perfect love is until they have been married a quarter of a century.' – Mark Twain
  • .⠀ 'PLANNING AHEAD PREVENTS POOR DECISIONS.' --Unknown⠀ .⠀ While I’m an organized person by nature, meal planning has never been my forte. I’ve never particularly enjoyed cooking, and since my husband and daughter both have significant food sensitivities, I could never really wrap my head around trying to find easy-to-make meals we could ALL enjoy.⠀ .⠀ It seemed much easier to prepare 3 distinctly different meals each evening to meet each of our needs and wants, and even though the things I was making were simple and boring – and I was often serving the same things day after day – it wasn’t until I committed to learning how to meal plan that I realized how much time (and food) I was wasting each week.⠀ .⠀ I can’t remember exactly what prompted me to learn how to meal plan, but I've learned that it's the ONLY way I can stick to my healthy eating goals. It also reduces our monthly grocery bills, decreases the amount of time I spend shopping and cooking each week, and I very rarely throw away spoiled produce when I'm sticking to my plan.⠀ .⠀ Click the link in my bio for 11 meal planning tips that help me stay organized and accountable, and that saves me tons of time and money each week!
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