Parenting Demands and Daily Shortcuts

I know there are many of you who can relate to lack of time. I happen to be a working mother, which means the pressure is on to face all types of demands: getting yourself ready and your kid to leave for work and school on time, packing lunchboxes, helping with homework, doing projects (let’s face it, until a certain age, it’s the parents doing them), plus all the other requirements that come with sports, such as practices and games weekly- need I go on? I’m sure it’s an understatement when I say we all live busy lives -but the truth is- there’s just not enough time and that’s why daily shortcuts are a necessity.

As I’ve advanced in juggling a full-time job with a 5th grader’s schedule and running a business on the side, I’ve learned that you have to create shortcuts.

For me, my shortcuts began with cutting down my time on getting ready. I always like to look nice and presentable, so applying make up in the mornings is probably my longest task. Now, I know what I am about to say some of you won’t agree with me, but just bare with me for what I’m about to tell you. One of my all-time favorite shortcuts is to not wash off my eye makeup for several days after a fresh application. Why? Because it cuts down half the time of putting my makeup on and it still looks great after a quick touch up the next day, and then the day after, and then even another day after that.

If you apply a good quality mascara and eyeliner you really can get by with just touching it up a couple days in a row. (To read my application routine and to shop the products I use click here.) When I travel for a weekend trip, I generally never wash my eye makeup off and it simplifies the dreadful process of getting ready from a suitcase. I always make sure to apply a fresh application the day I’m leaving, then wash my face at night scrubbing and rinsing around the eyes during my stay.

When I tell my friends this is three-day old eye makeup, they are amazed because you really can’t tell. Don’t let me fool you though, there are some days I wake up to a black circled mess, but I just remove the hot mess with a q-tip dipped in eye makeup remover, then simply touch up to what is left.

Common questions I get asked:

Will my eyes sometimes get dry? Yes, but not as often as you would think. Will I lose eyelashes due to leaving mascara on for so long? I haven’t experienced a loss at all and I’ve been doing this for almost two years now. In fact, I only continue to lengthen and thicken my eyelashes thanks to Rodan and Field’s amazing product called, Lash Boost.

Lash Boost is the bomb!

I’m not kidding when I say this product gives 100% guaranteed results. I don’t even use it correctly and it still continues to lengthen and thicken my lashes! You are supposed to apply a small amount every night, they say “less is more”. I probably only apply twice a week (due to my shortcut) and I still had to stop using the product for a couple of weeks because my eye lashes were getting too long.

I have never stood behind a more effective product than I have with Lash Boost. I personally do not sell the product (probably should!), but here is the link to my sales rep page where I order mine. Her name is Vanessa Smith, she’s a doll and is super friendly. If you have any questions she would be more than willing to take your call to help you out. Her phone number is 304-668-0024.

Going back to the shortcuts…

Another one that I do regularly is going three days without washing my hair and taking baths at night. Granted, if I workout in the mornings then I will take a bath, but still not wash the hair. Instead, I will blow dry it and apply baby powder to soak up the oils from sweat and use dry shampoo to add volume. It’s taken me awhile to find a great dry shampoo, but I now have to say, that I will not use anything else besides Drybar’s Detox Dry Shampoo. It is the best for volume, taking away the greasy look and to leave your hair smelling fresh. The smell of it is just too heavenly. Friends will always give me a compliment after using it, “You smell so good.” And I’m like, “Thanks, just got done working out.” ha

But let’s face it, no matter what your morning schedule includes we can all benefit from shortcuts. I know as a mother, and from other mothers, we need the extra time in the mornings to follow up with our ADD children who can’t seem to get ready on their own, even if they are 10 years old. I swear, I can tell my son what to do and even lay his outfit out, go back into his room to check on his progress 10 mins later, only to find him laying in bed reading his book wearing only underwear. SMH, it seriously drives me crazy sometimes! No one said parenting was going to be easy, especially on the days you both have to be out the door by 7:40 am; hence, why I have resulted to wearing three-day old eye makeup. Until next time.

Hope everyone has a wonderful Labor Day! Oh -and just a tip- you can still wear white pants after Labor Day, that rule is nothing but an old fashion fable these days.

Always be kind,

Erica xx

ALL IMAGES: RICHARD CRANK