#i do my nighttime hygiene routine

[pollenallergie]

i need more people to write benedict bridgerton x reader fics. i simply do not have the time to do it myself, but, goddamn, do i fucking love reading them.

[fushitoru]

the importance of skincare a gojo satoru fic

PAIRING: gojo x reader SUMMARY: worried about your boyfriend's skin health, you're set out on a mission to teach him about skincare, sitting him down and rubbing products over his face while seated on his lap. only, he convinces you that he has something to teach as well about facials. just not the kind you expected. WARNINGS: NOT EDITED, oral (m!rec), gojo cums all over reader's face, nsfw, FLUFF (a lot of it), established relationship, gojo is a nuisance, gn!reader, i have writer's block and this helped, silly little thought based off this drabble

“Applying sunscreen on my boyfriend because otherwise, this is what we’ll look like when we’re 60.”

You gasped out loud, despite being alone. Rolling around on the couch you were lazing in, you stared at the paused screen in front of you: a woman and her boyfriend, except she’s finely aged with a few wrinkles, and he looks like an extremely wrinkled potato. Suddenly, your mind flashes back to all the moments your boyfriend, Satoru, would scroll on his phone while you finished your nighttime skin care routine.

“Baby, you really should start doing some skincare.” You give him a sideways glance while rubbing snail mucin all over your face.

Satoru looks up from whatever nonsensical reel on his page half heartedly and observes you as you pat your hands all over your face and neck. “I wash my face.”

“Using your 13-in-1 wash?”

“I don’t use 13-in-1 wash.” Satoru fully looks up, frowning. Sassily, he adds, “And what you’re rubbing all over your face looks like cum.”

That’s as much prodding you’ve done to convince your boyfriend to adopt better facial hygiene, but today was different. You were not about to let your pretty boyfriend get skin cancer or age like milk.

The door opened, as Satoru stepped into your apartment. “Hi, baby!” You perked up from washing your dishes, your form barely able to peek over the kitchen counters over to him, at your doorstep. He can hear pitter patters of your feet as you make your way to him. Then your warmth envelops him, smelling of dish soap and rose. He gives a little mwah! to the top of your head while murmuring, “I bought crepes for you today. Extra Nutella and everything.”

But rather than excitedly reaching for the crepes, you stayed in his hold, hugging onto him tight and stuffing your face in his shirt, breathing in deeply as if to memorize his scent. Satoru confusedly looks down at you, hesitantly coming up to rub your scalp to give you head scratches with his free hand. “Are you okay?” 

“Satoru, we have to talk,” you mumble into his chest. 

Alarmed, Satoru looks down at you. “Oh my god,” Satoru nervously exclaims, “at least let me put down our crepes before you give me a heart attack.” Your only response is to nuzzle your face further into his chest, while he grabs your hand, unwraps you from him, and leads you to your couch. He puts the crepes down on the dinner table and grabs both of your hands, pouting and frowning slightly in that sweet, ignorant way of his. “What happened? Did I do something wrong?”

You glanced up at him, staring in distress. “Babe, you need to do your skincare.”

“This is what you wanted to talk about?” Satoru looks at you confused. “I thought it was something serious.” You almost want to sob at the way he looks like a confused kitten. You don’t understand why you’re so hung up over that one TikTok—although, your menstrual cycle app did say menstruation was near—but it definitely changed your outlook on your boyfriend’s skin health. 

“This is serious.” You were visibly growing more and more listless until you suddenly make the decision to stand up and make your way somewhere towards the bathroom. 

When you came back, you had your hefty Chanel purse, one that Satoru gifted you for your 2nd year anniversary. You set it down in the space between you and Satoru with a plop! as you began to rummage through the contents to find your essential skincare items. Dragging him to the bathroom, you command him to wash his face. And, to his credit, he does go through all the motions, albeit a little confused. 

A few minutes later, you sit him down on the couch—with your skincare items in hand—and take your seat on his lap. Satoru’s still a little confused as to what’s going on, but—to his credit—you aren’t doing much explanation, either. 

“Baby, I’m really confused,” Satoru is now putting his hands on your hips, pulling you closer to his torso as you lather different creams on your hands. Any further questions from him are stopped as you gently rub them all over his face, targeting his T-zone and cheeks. 

“I saw a TikTok of this girl ‘nd her boyfriend, ‘Toru,” you explain, lathering his face. “He doesn’t do his sunscreen, so he’s going to look like an overboiled tomato when he’s 60. Didn’t want the same for you.” 

 You continue to reach for another bottle, until you realize it’s set too far down the table for you to reach. Naturally, Satoru reaches it for you and puts it in your hands, frowning. “You made me so worried. I thought I did something wrong.”

“You are doing something wrong. You’re doing your pretty skin wrong.” You were scowling, but your hands were sweetly patting Satoru’s face in a way that made him relax. After a long day of dealing with Yaga, he appreciated your soothing hands massaging the tension out of his face. It was never easy dealing with dissaproving old fucks. 

Deciding to adjust his posiiton, Satoru crossed his arms behind his head, laying back onto the couch instead of sitting. Closing his eyes, he felt you straddling him in an effort to reach across his torso to his face to continue your pampering. You both fell into a comfortable silence as you droned on about what you were putting onto his face. A serum that smelled good. “This is hyaluronic acid serum. This’ll keep your face nice and hydrated.” A cream that felt cold on Satoru’s skin. “This is niacinamide, because I know you picked on your acne and boogers when you were going through puberty.” He wanted to protest, but it was so hard to when you pair the insult with a small smooch on his nose. Something that smelled harsher than the others. “This is retinol, and it’ll help you prevent wrinkles.”

In the midst of your teaching, he cracked open an eye and grabbed both of your hands by the wrist, seemingly in thought. “Wait, babe. You’re missing something.” You blinked. “What?” 

“Well, there’s this thing called facials." The beginnings of a smug smile bloomed across his face. It’s really good for your skin, ‘nd I have just the thing with me."

“‘Toru, you are so stupid,” you whined, licking up and down his cock and balls, giving little kisses to his pink and throbbing length.

“Shhh, baby, this is good fo’ you, I promise.” Sounds of plap! plap! echoed throughout the room as your boyfriend slapped his cock against your cheeks. He groaned, taking in the arousing sight of you: on your knees, only wearing his shirt. His cock hardens at the thought of you, his pretty little girlfriend, spending all day in his clothing. He could see your cute little baby blue panties covering your ass as his shorts rode up in your attempts to take his cock deeper in your mouth. As you continued to slobber on his cock, deepthroating him, he could continually smell your arousal, moaning as he realized you must be ruining your underwear.

“Awww, I can smell you, sweetheart. Your little pussy getting wet from just sucking my cock? I’m not even touching you,” Satoru pouted in faux pity and cooed, patting your head while he continually fed you his cock. 

You tried to protest. “Mmmff—” 

“Shhhh,” Satoru had a cocky smile on his face as he shushed you. “Don’t talk with your mouth full, baby.” With that, he lightly grabbed your hair, looking down at you for permission. When you nodded, he began face fucking you in earnest, cock throbbing as your hot, wet mouth enclosed around him. Your tongue laving over his sensitive spots made him groan. “Your mouth feel sooo good. What a good girl, taking my cock, slobbering all over it—fuck.”

He felt himself coming closer. “Baby,” he groaned, “you’re about to make me cum. Gotta give you your facial, right? Make you all nice and pretty?” You whined, tears running down your cheeks because of your stuffed mouth. It sent vibrations up and down his cock, making him come even closer. “Fuuuuck. Fuck, I’m coming.” Satoru pulled out of your mouth, pumping his cock onto your face, your tongue stretched and your eyes directly on his. Rubbing your tongue softly on his tip was what made him reach his climax; he moaned as he splurted long and think ropes of cum, coating your cheeks, forehead, and tongue. It was all so messy. Even after being done, Satoru was continually rubbing his cum into your skin with his cock. 

“Wheeew.” Satoru giggled, reaching down to put you on his lap. “Looks like you got your skincare.”

“Satoru, please give me a tissue. Right now. Your cum is dripping all over my face.”

“Aw, don’t be like that,” he whined. To your annoyance, he only further rubbed in the creamy substance over your face, using his palms and fingers to spread it. 

Disgusted, you knew what to say. “You’re never getting head from me ever again.”

Satoru had never scrambled to the bathroom faster.

a/n lol he's so stupid. this is the only thing i could force my brain to write but now i'm locked in and finishing all my drafts fr

[pleaseeeimjustagirl]

It Is Time For 'Baddie Hibernation'

Hey babes we have 3 months before the summer! It is time to tighten up! This is the time to work on your physical and mental I know we all want to be hot girls this summer so now is the time to prioritize ourselves!

Routines

♡ Routines are super important. they are your key to success and living an organized life. If you have not created a routine already I created a blog post on how to create a productive routine. This is the time to stick to your routines in the morning and night and adjust them if needed. 

Physical 

♡ Hygiene. Consistency is key for your facial care routine to work so be consistent in applying all your products. If you aren't seeing results with a certain product you have been using for over 3 months maybe try and find a better product. I recommend using a gua sha three times a week there are so many benefits in using a gua sha blog post coming soon! Don’t just focus on your facial care focus also on your body care use African exfoliating net sponges, shave regularly, apply lotions and body oils, and use feet masks to peel dead skin.

♡ Diet. For my girlies who are on a weight loss journey and want to be snatched before summer, it is time to be dedicated to sticking to your diet. I don’t have any specific diets to recommend do what works for you. If you struggle with Binge Eating Disorder like me I have a book that I can recommend that will help you work on your ED and also help you lose weight “The Binge Code” by Allison Kerr and Richard Kerr. This book has been a game-changer for me!  For my babes who aren't focused on weight loss, it is still important to try and eat healthier try including a variety of whole foods into your diet and drink waterrr!!! Water is so good for us from our skin to our digestive system try and drink at least 50oz but aim for 100oz of water daily.

♡ Movement. Try and include some sort of movement daily we must move our bodies daily. Figure out what type of exercise you like walking is very simple and costs absolutely nothing. Start small with 10 minutes of outdoor walking daily. Natural light is so beneficial for our mental health and mood. Yoga and pilates are such amazing slow and impactful forms of exercise. I've been including yoga in my nighttime routine there are so many channels and videos on YouTube you can follow. There are so many other forms of exercise you can try some free and some that cost money.

♡ Supplements. Help and maintain our overall health they can also help with our daily requirements of essential nutrients. I will be listing a few supplements below <333

Multivitamin. Find a reputable multivitamin and take it daily or as instructed. Multivitamins can boost energy and give you vitamins and minerals you might be deficient in.

Magnesium. Improves mood, sleep, exercise performance, regulates blood sugar, and so much more. Magnesium is overlooked by many but so beneficial for us. I've been seeing the bedtime magnesium mocktail I have yet to try but I plan to.

Omega 3(fish oil). Helps with typical brain and eye development. It can fight inflammation and help prevent heart disease and the decline of brain function.

Vitamin D. A lot of us during the winter time have a deficiency in vitamin D because the sun is not out a lot so vitamin D supplements are a must-have they help with regulating mood, reducing depression, healthy bones, and so many other amazing benefits.

Vitamin B Complex. Helps boost energy levels, brain function, digestion, and cell health. There are so many other benefits.

Probiotics. Helps improve gut health, puts healthy bacteria into our gut that in turn helps our digestive system, and inflammation, and can even help aide your weightless journey. 

Mental 

♡ Sleep. Our bodies function so much better when we are getting a good amount of sleep. You think clearly and your mood is better. Try and set a bedtime for yourself and stick to it. I had to sleep train myself at the beginning of the semester it was so harddd but I'm reaping the benefits now I have energy during the day, my mood is better in the morning, and my brain functions better during the day.

♡ Journaling. We have a lot of emotions that we carry throughout the day and it is important that we let them out and journaling is the best way to do so. I have three journals. One journal is for my emotions, another for gratitude journaling which I highly recommend you get into, and finally my last journal for shadow work. You do not need to have three journals but I like to have everything separate it helps me. 

♡ Book. I love reading and listening to self-help books. We all have issues that we need to fix and thankfully we have so many self-help books dedicated to so many different issues people face on a daily. I have so many recommendations I’ll list below.

The Mountain Is You by Brianna Wiest (self-sabotaging)

The Most Powerful Woman In The Room Is You by Lydia Fenet (confidence and career)

Atomic Habits by James Clear (building good habits)

The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck by Mark Manson (living a carefree life)

The Binge Code by Allison Kerr and Richard Kerr (binge eating, weight loss)

The Shadow Work Journal by Keila Shaheen (internal healing)

The Eldest Daughter Effect by Lisette Schuitemaker and Wies Enthoven (eldest daughters)

The Game Of Life And How To Play It by Florence Scovel and Joel Fotinos (from pessimistic to optimistic, affirmations, and manifestation)

The Power Of The Pussy by Kara King (femininity and dating) 

8 Rules Of Love by Jay Shetty (dating and psychology)

The Muslim Woman’s Manifesto by Kashmir Maryam (religion, mental health, and women)

These are the books I can recommend so far there are more searches for books related to the issues you may be facing or things you want to improve on in your life<3 

♡ Therapy. I'm a big mental health advocate and it is very important that if you are dealing with mental health issues you get help<3. I've dealt with my issues before and I used better help I found the best therapist who helped me through so much. I love the way they allow you to choose your therapist. I recommend that you use better help. For my NYC teenagers between the ages of 13-17, there is a website called talk space that offers free online therapy for NYC teens NO REFERRAL IS NEEDED. If I find more websites that offer free therapy for other teens around the world I will let you all know<3.

If you have any tips that you want to share down in the comments please do I want all of us to be happy and glowing this summer!

[femmefatalevibe]

Hi! Do you have an easy peasy guide to skincare and hygiene for depressed dummies? 😃

Hi love! Sharing a high-level, basic skincare routine and hygiene tips to follow:

Morning Skincare:

Gentle facial cleanser & water

Vitamin C serum + hyaluronic acid

Facial moisturizer

Sunscreen designed for your face (at least SPF 50 – I think that this La Roche Posay SPF 60 choice is the best option for the money)

Apply sunscreen to your hands, neck, and any parts that will be exposed to the sun (Don't forget to use an SPF lip balm, too!)

Nighttime Skincare:

Remove any makeup (I love these Simple makeup wipes!)

Gentle cleanser

Toner/serums (only use AHAs like glycolic acid or lactic acid and retinol/retinoids at night, using them during the day can increase chances of sunburning)

Facial moisturizer (can be heavier than the one you use during the day, especially in the winter or if you have dry skin)

Spot treatments (if needed)

Eye cream

Skincare Extras:

Exfoliate your face 2-3 times/week (I love the First Aid Beauty Radiance Pads but the CeraVe Renewing Salicylic Acid Cleanser is a great drugstore option!)

Always use disposable cloths instead of a regular towel on your face to reduce bacteria, breakouts, or infections (I love the Clean Skin Club ones!)

Exfoliate your body 2-3 times a week using a dry brush or a scrub (I love the CeraVe Salicylic Acid Body Cleanser, but my favorite is the OUAI Sugar Scrub) and follow it up with a hydrating body moisturizer

Always exfoliate and moisturize before shaving, waxing, or other body hair removal treatments (look up the timeframes for the type of hair removal you choose)

Scrub under your nails daily with antibacterial soap & water and a nail brush

Vaseline is a versatile staple item that can be used as an affordable alternative to an eye cream, cuticle oil, lip balm, or hand cream, and can be used to treat any dry, cracked, or rough patches on the skin

Use a hand lotion and moisturizer on your feet with socks every night before bed

Aloe vera and coconut oil are great skincare staples to keep on hand to soothe burns, irritation, or inflamed skin

Haircare Tips:

Shampoo your skull, condition the rest: Focus shampoo on your roots and work it through your scalp; concentrate conditioner on the ends and work your way up until you reach the base of your skull - around your upper ear lobe

Always comb, never brush, your hair when wet: Gently use a wide-tooth comb, from root to tip, on wet hair to prevent breakage

Use a special towel to dry your hair: My favorite is from Crown Affair (pricey for what it is but worthwhile in the long-term), but a Turbie Twist from the drugstore works infinitely better than a regular towel that weighs down and causes frizzy, damaged hair

Always use a heat protection spray before blow drying or straightening/curling your hair: (Briogeo and Oribe products are my love for all haircare products, including their blowdry creams – also love R +Co. for a heat protection styling mist)

Choose your hair ties wisely: Use seamless or silk hair ties exclusively to prevent breakage or awkward creases on your hair. Wear a silk scrunchie if you prefer. These hair ties from Amazon are my holy grail (only $7 for 100 hair ties!), and they come in a portable ziplock bag

Use dryer sheets to minimize hair frizz and water or Vaseline to slick back fly-aways

Other Hygiene Tips:

Brush teeth, floss, & skincare (2x/day); Get a water pick, too, if you can!

Use a toothbrush cover at all times; Close the toilet seat before flushing

Wash your body towels at least once a week

Wash your pillowcases weekly and sheets at least once every 2 weeks

Throw out and replace your mascara every 2-3 months

Change your underwear and socks daily or more after sweating/working out

For those who menstruate, change your pad or tampon every 3-4 hours

Vulva owners: Use a fragrance-free soap on the outside, only water to clean the inside – no fancy wipes or douching. Wipe front to back!

Wear cotton underwear whenever possible; Find a fabric that breathes

Have a similar buttocks cleansing routine that you do for your face to prevent embarrassing zits or acne

Don't shave between waxes; Use tweezers if necessary a few days after your hair removal treatment

Always wash your hands before touching your face

Hope this helps xx

[edwinspaynes]

what do you think thomastair’s nighttime routine looks like 😵‍💫

OKAY OKAY OKAY YES

So. I think that after dinner on an average night, they'll do one of two things. The first possibility is patrol. They're definitely each other's patrol partners, and they likely are on rotation at least a couple of times a week. They probably patrol alongside James, Matthew, Cordelia, and Lucie. This would last until like 3 AM or so and then they'd go home, wash up, and fall asleep pretty fast. Thomas would wake up and make breakfast/lunch the next day (since they'd sleep late post-patrol.)

I think that they're not on patrol more often than not, though. Barring emergencies, I think they'd be on rotations like 3 times a week. So the other four nights, they would relax after dinner. They would make a fire and play card games or read together. I think they also study languages together and practice with each other. After that, they go to bed.

One of my strongest headcanons is that they just kind of lay down in the dark and talk until they fall asleep. They'll snuggle (they sleep cozied up together, Thomas makes a GREAT pillow in Alastair's book). And then sometimes they'll talk about the day or their plans for tomorrow, sometimes it'll be like philosophical questions, sometimes it'll be, like, 'what if you woke up tomorrow and I was a gerbil?' '...you're not a gerbil, shut up."

And yeah :)

Also they brush their teeth because a) dental hygiene is important, and b) Alastair NEVER lets Thomas live that one down.

[spammynegrutou]

Hi! Once again the Riku brain rot has consumed my entire being, so here's some headcanons I've created (not in any particular order).

BASIC HCS 💕

He's Handy! He can fix almost anything. He loves tinkering with his Gummi Ship!

His favorite food is grilled fish! White fish specifically, like flounder, sea bass, tilapia, etc. And he has a taste for savory treats, which combats Sora's sweet tooth.

He comes from a loving home. He loves his parents, a lot and they love him. However, his biological mother passed away when he was 7ish (after BBS, but before Kairi arrived). His father became emotionally unavailable for a while, until he met Riku's stepmom. She filled her motherly role over Riku and he thanks her for it. He loves his step mom!!!

His dad taught him a variety of things like: self defense, how to fix common things, fishing, basic survival skills, and the basics of building

He moved out after KH2, and got his own place. The reason why is because after everything he's been through he needs his own space to brood about how small everything is. Albeit sad, his father approved and has the land lady check up on him every so often 🥺 Riku helps outs his elderly land lady and pays rent on TIME! He's a responsible boy 😊

Riku isn't all into fashion but he can DRESS. He loves a good "urban/street wear" look, and fucks heavy with grunge. He appreciates the chains and skull designs that come with "punk" fashion but doesn't think he can pull it off

Riku doesn't spend a needless amount of time on his looks. He has gel for his hair, a skin care routine, and a nighttime ritual to keep his hygiene up. He's very much a pretty boy in our eyes, but that's just his genes. He does the bare minimum to keep himself looking presentable

Speaking of his looks, he surprisingly gets his good genes from his dad. The muscles, the hair, the jaw line, all from his old man. His father was most definitely a looker back in the day! That being said, Riku has his mother's smile and her eyes. He also carries her temperament with him.

Along with tinkering being a hobby of his, he likes video games too! But he's not a complete shut in video game nerd. Riku LOVES the outdoors. The wilderness calls him like he's a feral animal !!! He likes camping, and fishing! He's the main guy on the islands you'd go to for some handy survival tips. He knows a good amount of edible plants, fungi, berries, leaves, and etcetera to eat if he ever got stranded. He has one or two books on that kind of stuff but he doesn't read it anymore.

After the events of KH2, Riku didn't go back to highschool. Instead he got a GED (or KH equivalent) online and started taking community college courses. He's doing it to make his dearly departed mother proud.

To add on to that, Riku is a fast learner. He's quite intellectual when it comes to mathematics, some history, and biology but please don't ask him why the author made the curtains blue 😭 the boy is emotionally stunted. He is NOT using critical thinking when it comes down to poetry or thick prose. He has some emotional intelligence but compared to Sora, he might as well have the emotional capacity of a brick wall 😭

Alright! That's all I have for now (it's 5am, I should be sleeping) if I have any more I'll post em lol

XOXO Mx. Jade 💕

[prettyboybecomes]

🥀sleep routine🥀

Rules: 1.Sleep routine starts at 10:45 pm( to wake up at 7:30ish, adjust as needed) 2.you have to have dinner before seven pm 3.no blue light past 10:00. 4.My sleep routine starts after shower, skincare, oral hygiene, body self care, and washing my hands 5.No big lights after 8:00

Make sure your hair is about 65% dry and then put in root lifters (or heartless curlers if that’s your thing!). Then, put on a bonnet.

Next, go downstairs and make a nighttime mocktail or some tea. Something with ingredients meant to make you tired and sleep well. While you make that, nibble on some dark chocolate. The dark chocolate will supposedly help you sleep when consumed before bed, and it’s said that a square every day is good as a preventative measure against heart problems. This is also the time that you’ll take any medications that you may have, and stick a warmie/heatable stuffie in the microwave if you have one!

After you’ve had your little drink, go back to your bed and pull back the blankets you’re going to sleep under and spray a sleep linen mist on your sheets and pajamas. If you like a warm bed, turn on your heating pad or place your heatable plush in your bed! (Other alternative are a hot water bottle or a rice sock!)

Then, do a slow mindful yoga flow. We want this to relax you as much as possible and prepare you for bed! End in the child’s pose for a few minutes while taking deep breaths.

Next get in bed. Here, we’re going to do the last of the skincare for the night. Take a facial oil and a gua sha, (I like to use a heated one), and start massaging your face. Once you have the oil evenly distributed on your face, use silicone reuseable face patches to lock in the oil. You’ll sleep in these! During this time, apply any lash/brow serums, and put oil on your nails.

Then, spray the bottom of your feet with magnesium spray. If you have anytime left before bed, read, color, crochet, or just do something not very stimulating that doesn’t require a screen.

At 11:20, put in your mouth guard if you wear one and place your mouth tape. If you use a sleeping eye mask, then put this on now.

Goodnight!

[writtenvlogs]

🎀Diary entry #001                                                                                                    13/08/2024

This is my very first entry yayy! ^_^  I’m starting off excited since I've been wanting to start this for quite some time now. This is more meant to keep track of the progress I'm making, journal about certain moments and thoughts and at the same time keep me motivated during my process of discovering myself and becoming someone I can be happy living with. We are with ourselves every second of our lives, so even if certain people around us won't accept or be okay with the way we are (personality, style, etc.) we shouldn’t be part of them.   What am I starting with right now? I can say that I'm in the middle. If on one side there are ‘haters’ and on the other side there are ‘fans’, then I am somewhere in between them. It’s not that I despise myself, nor am I completely happy with who I am. I haven’t figured out much if this has to do with the way I look, habits or my day to day life.  Something I believe is that looks can be influenced by certain habits and the other way around as well. Like diet and exercise, hygiene routines, etc. And these habits also influence day to day life. This is why I don't have a specific focus on just my looks or just one habit. Basically, I hope to improve my overall life and get the most out of it.   My inspirations, who I look up to Wonyoungism, SongJia mindset, WizardLiz, TamKaur Idols; NingNing and Karina (Aespa), Meghan Thee Stallion, Jia, Wonyoung, Seonghwa, Yeosang There are certain things I want to start incorporating in my daily routine. These are habits I believe are necessary basics (in my life): Consistent hygiene routine; skincare, bodycare, haircare Focus on having a healthy lifestyle; diet, exercise, therapy Improve my spiritual path; prayer, meditation, journaling So I already have a workout routine I used to follow and have gotten back to as well as a diet. I’ve also been going to therapy for some time and gonna try to talk about that in future entries.  Incorporating these habits in my daily life: 1. Be consistent with my morning and nighttime skincare as well as my haircare and bodycare.  2. Workout 4-5x a week (this is what i know i am able to do and gives me enough rest days!)   3. Go for walks on rest days so i’ll stay active in a relaxed way. (i want to try 10k steps or just 30 mins is also fine)  4. Pray 2-3x a day (morning, afternoon, before bed)  5. Meditate right after waking up (MUST) and before bed 6. Try journaling everyday (that's what this blog is for 😛) I’m not focussed on growing a following, but I hope that people who stumble across my blog can be inspired and motivated and maybe we can be friends who support each other on a similar journey! ^_^

Love, Sunny

[uncloseted]

Do you have any advice for actually sleeping? I do shift work and sometimes I'm working until 11:30 and when I get home I eat dinner and by then it's like 1 am /: I also have school in a different city so I have to wake up really early some days like 7 or 6. I feel really bad all the time because I never sleep enough, and sometimes when I lay down to sleep because I'm exhausted i just can't sleep. Like my body only wants to sleep when it's super inconvenient making me late for stuff.

The first thing I would suggest is working on developing good sleep hygiene. 

Be consistent. Usually, this means going to sleep and waking up at the same time every day, but since that's not an option for you, I would recommend having the same bedtime routine that you do every night. Limit your exposure to your phone, computer, video games, and TV for at least an hour before bed, since they're stimulating and can keep your mind active. Instead, try taking a hot shower, do a nighttime skincare routine, read a book, mediate or practice relaxation exercises, and do other activities that you find calming.

Make sure your bedroom is conducive to sleep.  A quiet, dark, cool bedroom is important for quality sleep.  Consider getting ear plugs, a face mask, blackout curtains for you windows, and/or a weighted blanket.

Avoid large meals, citrus fruits, spicy food, fatty or fried food, caffeine, and alcohol before bedtime. For you, it might be better to eat a large meal before work and then have a smaller meal before bed so that it's easier to sleep.

Work on your health in other aspects of your life.  Having good nutrition and getting regular exercise can help to improve your quality of sleep.

If you’re going to nap during the day, limit napping to 30 minutes or less, once a day, before 5pm.

Make sure you get adequate exposure to sunlight.  Your body’s internal clock can get off track if you’re spending too much time inside or in the dark.  Along with that, it can help to dim your lights indoors when it gets dark out.

Put your phone out of reach when you’re in bed, and put it on Do Not Disturb mode to block notifications that might wake you up during the night.

If you’re not asleep after 20 minutes, get out of bed, go to another room, and do something relaxing, like reading or listening to music until you are tired enough to sleep.

Turn your clock’s face away from you, if you have one in your room at all. Staring at a clock when you are trying to fall asleep or when you wake in the middle of the night can actually increase stress, making it harder to fall asleep.

If your anxiety is keeping you up at night, write your thoughts down before you go to sleep.  Getting them out will prevent them from circling in your head while you’re trying to sleep.

Try to only use your bed for sleeping.  Do “daytime activities” in other areas of your room/apartment/house. This will help to train your brain to recognize that bed = sleep and make it easier for you to fall asleep.

As far as actually falling asleep goes, often our bodies are tired but our brains are still active. The most common way to combat that is called the "military method". Here's what you do:

Lie down in your bed.

Relax your entire face, including the muscles inside your mouth.

Drop your shoulders to release the tension, and let your hands drop to the side of your body.

Exhale, relaxing your chest.

Relax your legs, thighs, and calves.

Clear your mind for 10 seconds by imagining a relaxing scene.

If this doesn’t work, try saying “don’t think” repeatedly for 10 seconds.

A longer version of this is called "progressive muscle relaxation":

Raise your eyebrows as high as possible for 5 seconds. This will tighten your forehead muscles.

Relax your muscles immediately and feel the tension drop. Wait 10 seconds.

Smile widely to create tension in your cheeks. Hold for 5 seconds. Relax.

Pause 10 seconds.

Squint with your eyes shut. Hold 5 seconds. Relax.

Pause 10 seconds.

Tilt your head slightly back so you’re comfortable looking at the ceiling. Hold 5 seconds. Relax as your neck sinks back into the pillow.

Pause 10 seconds.

Keep moving down the rest of the body, from your triceps to chest, thighs to feet.

Let yourself fall asleep, even if you don’t finish tensing and relaxing the rest of your body.

You can also try to do 4-7-8 breathing, where you breathe in for 4 beats, hold your breath for 7 beats, and breathe out for 8 beats. If you do this around four times, it should help your body to calm down and help your mind rest.

Another way you can get your mind to calm down is to focus it on something very specific. I've seen people recommend that you try to remember the plot of a movie you've seen recently scene-by-scene, but you could also try to visualize a place in extreme detail, count backwards by sevens, try to come up with one country for each letter of the alphabet- whatever keeps your mind busy, but isn't so stimulating that you'll want to actually get up and focus on the activity. Keep pulling your focus back to the activity when you notice it drifting, and eventually you should just fall asleep.

[bringmefoxgloves]

very long vent stuff about life under cut. it’s a road map for what is going wrong in my life and setting out what i have to do. don’t feel like you need to read it at all lmao, this more for my own reference and reflection.

i’m looking at my future and how i could ever afford to move out and live my best, healthy and accomplished life. i’m looking down some hard numbers and facts.

this is all more for my own sake, seeing everything laid out for myself and what i need to accomplish and what i need to pay, what i should do in what order.

my school financial aid offer finally came back. my program’s estimated cost is $13,693, and i was offered $7,745 in aid. $4,245 of that is a pell grant (i don’t have to pay that back), while $3,500 of that is a federal direct stafford loan-sub (which i will have to pay back) and it leaves $5,948 that i have to make up somehow. and this is estimated, not actual.

i still need a laptop because i need the ability to study not in my room for various reasons such as ability to study anywhere if i need to get out of the house, so i don’t feel ashamed of the view of my messy room and feel like i won’t want to log on, and so i can do schoolwork while laying down or at a bigger table/desk than my very small desk in my room.

for a laptop that will last me my entire school time, i would be looking at $250 to $650 for a laptop, on the budget end, i think.

so in total for school, i think, i need somewhere around $5,500.

i need to visit student financial aid on monday and explore the options and opportunities of possible grants or scholarships to help cover the gap.

i would also have to add on 8 months to my two year (or more) bachelor’s degree in health information management for medical coding if it isn’t included in my program. also the field could be changing fast and i may have to pivot in what i am pursuing in my education.

as for my health issues, and the possibility of diagnosis, that depends.

i need to do some personal reckoning, getting myself on a schedule and routine. i do have to admit i have let my own personal hygiene and habits slip. that is my personal responsibility.

i need to make sure i go to bed on time, rather than stay up on my phone. i need to take my nighttime medication, wake up in the morning and shower and take my morning medicines, including my testosterone, on a normal daily basis. i also need to drink more water, way more.

however i know that will take away spoons from my already low amount of spoons available. i need to balance my life schedule and activity load, pacing myself. i should do anything my doctor recommends for me to do to help control what i can.

in the area of diagnosis, i am already diagnosed with adhd (inattentive) and long covid.

i’m working on getting a diagnosis for my chronic fatigue, racing heart and pre-syncope (which i believe is pots, which is connected to long covid). however, i also have joint instability, chronic pain, weakness my limbs, trouble walking without mobility aids (however most days using a cane makes my wrist, elbow and should joints hurt), and making sure my legs/spine are supporting myself as my legs and spine feel extremely unstable (i believe this is EDS or one of its related diagnoses).

all these health conditions are ones that immediately impact my health and functioning levels. i need to get these conditions supported and reduced in severity as none of them are curable conditions (if these things are from the conditions i suspect).

i may have more serious conditions or complications of these conditions that i have not noticed or are not diagnosed and may further disable me. that too is a reality i should keep in mind going forward.

i need to continue with the doctor i’m working with to try and get diagnosed or find the condition that is causing my decreased functioning. this will take time, as i just today finished and sent off my heart monitor to be analyzed. this will take a while.

however i will soon be having a follow up with my doctor for my wellbutrin prescription, which currently doesn’t feel like it is affecting me much, though that might be because my chronic fatigue and pain make my brain fog and anxiety mask any benefits of the medication. i might have to increase my dosage or switch up my medication. i need to discuss this with my doctor.

another thing i might look into, is getting a tilt table test as it seems my doctor is amenable to it, and that would help me reach my pots diagnosis faster. that means i would have to drive up to portland. also, i need to bring up my joint pain and instability to them, and my desire for mobility supports.

as for these mobility supports and other care needs, which i think would contribute to my comfort and wellbeing, they are but not limited to: a cane, a wheelchair, shower stool, finger splint rings, wrist supports, joint wraps, compression socks, heart monitoring watch, kt tape, and a weighted blanket. some of these are able to be covered by my health insurance as long as i get diagnosed, but others might not. i will need to research costs and plan ahead.

a further diagnosis i might need to push for is my autism diagnosis. i have been resistant to receiving one, as it would limit some aspects of my life to be labeled as such (i have heard horror stories of discrimination in healthcare settings, workplaces and it limits which countries would take me if i decide to leave the us as my home) but i think, overall, it would be helpful to me in the long run.

i think my autism has a much bigger impact on my entire life, since childhood, than i had previously wished to acknowledge. it impacts my life skills, social interactions, ability to create relationships, daily activities (such as showering and eating), schooling (i’ve failed out of college multiple times, which i think can also be contributed to adhd), and my ability to work (i have never been able to hold onto a job for longer than a couple of years).

in my current situation i don’t feel comfortable to do behaviors that will mitigate meltdowns or shutdowns, and burnout. i don’t want to stim in any highly noticeable way and i mask constantly, even at home, because i was trained out of that through schooling and the ignorance of my family.

the stiming i do feel fine doing are more self injurious than helpful, such as skin picking, scratching and peeling my lips. i know it is resulting from higher stress levels that i engage in these behaviors more.

i also don’t discuss my special interests or feel like i have the support or space to pursue them. my family regards my special interests as failed hobbies and strange obsessions, and find my info dumps tiring or annoying to deal with, especially my step father and younger brother.

they don’t seem to care about learning more about my autism and how it affects me, if not they don’t want to learn about the spectrum of autism as i think i live in an under diagnosed home and they would have to confront their own issues.

if i was diagnosed, i could get far more support and accommodations for my behaviors and needs. future work would be easier if i could wear headphones and have other needs met. schooling would be easier as well. and i could potentially get more benefits, if i was able to be granted some form of disability payment, or have lower income housing open to me applying.

one fear i have about getting an autism diagnosis is that my gender identity would be invalidated and ignored and medical care would be denied to me. i don’t think that my current pcp doctor would limit my care if i had a diagnosis. i also need to get back into therapy to support me through this process. and getting a diagnosis might make it possible for me to access supported but independent housing i need for my own health.

i truly believe that moving out would be my best option at this point. i want to live on my own so i can take control of my life. ideally i would like to live in a one bedroom apartment at this point, working towards buying my own home. at the very least i want to have some sort of rental assistance, if available. i would even be willing to move into a trailer park.

ultimately i just want my own space. it will help with my mental state and grant me the ability to make my own decisions about every aspect of my life, something i need to relieve my anxiety and depression. i don’t feel fully supported or safe in my home.

if i lived on my own i can improve my nutrition by being able to cook and eat what i want when i want, and receive snap benefits because my family wouldn’t be contributing as much to my food. i would control what would be in my fridge and cupboards, how many dishes i produce.

i also wouldn’t have my mother judging what i ate or make or telling me to go on fad diets, complaining that she is overweight (so i am too by extension because i have her same body size and type), seek out alternative medicine that has no proven benefits, or try to get me to take unproven supplements as magical cure alls. her issues with her health wouldn’t be projected onto me.

if i lived on my own, i could potentially live in a more accessible environment, where i could use my mobility aids or lay on the floor as needed, do my own gentle exercise (yoga, strength training), and have a bathroom to myself. i wouldn’t have to explain and justify my pain levels or ability to accomplish tasks, or be called lazy or weak for relying on mobility aids.

i could limit triggers (slamming doors, raised voices, loud laughter, strangers randomly appearing inside my home because they were invited in by someone i love with, being watched over my shoulder) that leave me stressed and tense and grinding my teeth, scared to leave my bedroom.

i could also reduce sensory overload by controlling my environment, such as controlling temperature and times appliances are running or fan use. i would be able to control my environment, how it looks and how it feels to my body and sensitivities.

i would be able able to control my own schedule. i would have access to public transportation and not have to coordinate my transportation with others who dominate the car usage of the household. i could go out on my own, without having to explain why or where i’m going, i could go to see friends or invite them over.

while i would be responsible for controlling my own finances and paying my own bills, cooking my own food and cleaning my environment, i don’t find those as hard as long as i can do it my way, with my system. i would actually look forward to it, to give myself a chance to be able to do hard things and survive them.

if i lived in town, i would be able to have wider job opportunities available to me and i could really start up my own business and work. being able to access an area with a better social fabric and community involvement would support me and help me make connections.

at current moment, my finances are dire. i have less than $1 in my bank account. i need to avail myself of mutual aid and fundraising. i will ask my parents for money tomorrow and lay out this life plan to them, with some adjustment to not insult or implicate them in my self neglect and worsening mental and physical health.

i still need to remain with them for a while longer, as it might take a long time for me to line all this up. i have my top surgery consult in 2025, and hopefully it will happen that same year, if not sooner. i need their assistance to care for me during my recovery period, if not i need to have friends or avail myself of the local trans community support group to find a temporary caretaker to support me.

this limits me a bit in terms of finding independence sooner rather than later but this is a long process, that i have set out for myself. it may take years for my diagnosis to all be found. it may take multiple attempts to get approved for disability. it may take years to get into an affordable apartment and set up my own place, find my own groove and system.

i need to have patience but i can’t just sit back and throw up my hands.

so what i need to do is clear. i need to work on my personal health, find out if i can get on disability and if not, part time work, and see if i could move out. all during this i need to apply myself to my studies and get my degree.

there is a long hard road ahead of me but i need to find my way to it. i can’t stay stagnant and continue to suffer in silence and pain and isolation.

i want to live my best, most healthy life i can.

i deserve to.

[queerautism]

Hey rouke!! I've been struggling with depression for All Of Fucking Eternity and as a result always had pretty poor dental hygiene HOWEVER I've been doing a lot better this past year and mt dentist even noticed and commented!! I feel so happy I just needed to share :D

Oh hell yeah!!! Congrats!!! Ive actually been doing a lot better with brushing my teeth too since I started doing it as a step in the middle of my nighttime skincare routine. It's hard as fuck but we're both killing it!! You should be really proud <3

[abuzd]

hi, i have an ask about sleep if that's okay! um basically i have a very disordered schedule and things are overall hectic for me (in terms of everyday situations i go through as well as just… the inside of my brain and my thoughts, pretty much). so it's been hard for me to keep consistent times for sleeping and waking up, and i wanted to hear how you manage that type of stuff, if it's alright with you.

i know you use a mood tracker app (i actually got the same one after seeing you use it and reached my 30 day milestone today). how much is your time scheduled out, if you don't mind me asking? do you set reminders for yourself to get things done by a certain time or is it more like, trying to get things done at some point during the day/night but not having an exact time set for it?

i've heard a main key to sleeping better is to have a strict and consistent schedule for things like - winding down, taking nighttime meds, going to bed, waking up early, etc. and i feel like it's a struggle for people with trauma because (at least in my case) i never know how i'm going to feel, what thoughts or flashbacks are going to creep up on me, how stable i'm going to be feeling throughout the day, etc.

basically i just wanted to know how you handle schedules/routines so that maybe i can get some useful ideas, even though i know different things work for different people, but it's just something i've been finding tough. i really wish you a lot of positivity and good vibes, and hope everything has been going okay! i'm sending so much love your way, please keep taking care of yourself!

ngl i don’t know why people come to me about sleep stuff haha because we Struggle with sleep every night. it’s 3:30am and i’ve done all my usual night time sleep things to ready me for sleep and even been tired all day but now im Wired and i’ve been cleaning my apartment like a maniac. the usual sleep hygiene doesn’t usually work for me tbh and my onset of sleepiness comes at random times during the day now and i need to nap and try and hold off until night time but then by then im usually not that tired anymore. i truly wish i had good advice to give, more than i’ve offered in other asks, but i’m out of ideas to think of 😅

i’m with you thought that having a strict schedule doesn’t help us at all, especially not with sleep. we have to stay flexible and take rest and sleep when we can get it and still don’t feel rested ahah

i wish i could help more i’m sorry! i’m sending you so so so much hope and warmth and safety in your sleep friend, you deserve it, and i hope you find the rest you need and deserve!!!

[femmefatalevibe]

Hello dear,

I'm an older woman who didn't have the chance to be guided when I was younger about selfcare, about beauty (makeup, clothes, accessories, etc.), the importance of looking my best, and about wanting to move forward professionally.

I've always admired the way women carried themselves in the 1940's (their clothes, their femininity) and I'm getting inspiration from that era for hair, makeup and clothes. This kind of information is pretty easy to find. My problem is I lack self-discipline when it's time to take care of myself, since I feel I was not taught properly, and I find it difficult to create a routine and sometimes even to get out of the house looking by best.

Could you please help me define a routine (morning and night) and new partterns, along with a mindset to achieve the self-representation of my dreams?

Hi love! So excited for you to start this self-care journey and prioritize yourself. I believe it's always the right time to start a routine that makes you feel better about yourself. Focus on the small things and begin habit-stacking. I have a goal-setting, productivity, and self-discipline guide linked HERE to get you started.

To become consistent with self-care habits, I think the most important mindset shift is to remember that no one else will ever put more effort into you than you will yourself – they're too busy with their own lives and everything that comes up. This change is for YOU, so you can feel better about your daily life. Why deprive yourself of this joy and self-pleasure when all you have to do is set aside a few minutes twice a day to better your life? Think of lacking consistency in your self-care routines as a form of self-sabotage (because it is, honestly).

When it comes to routines, you have to find what works for you, but the most important steps fit into 3 buckets: hygiene, nourishment, and improvement-focused indulgence (beauty, style, self-development reading, a yoga class, etc.).

Simple Morning & Nighttime Habits:

Brush teeth, floss, & skincare (2x/day)

Shower, brush hair, moisturize, and blowdry with heat protection cream and a round brush (1x/day)

Establish a daily makeup routine and a capsule wardrobe

Have at least 2 filling plant-based meals packed with whole foods, such as fruits, veggies, avocado, beans, whole grains, tahini, potatoes, etc. (following this regimen for 10 years has given me almost perfect skin with little to no external effort)

Drink plenty of water (your weight in pounds = target water consumption in ounces)

Wear sunscreen daily (at least 30-50 SPF)

Cut, file, and brush your nails (at least 1x/week)

Use a dermaplaning, sugar scrubs, and tweezing as needed to remove hair from your face and body (usually once every 2-4 weeks)

Here are some other resources to build a morning & night routine, some beauty tips, etc.

Femme Fatale Morning Routine

Femme Fatale Nighttime Routine

Femme Fatale Beauty Playbook: Tips & Tricks To Feel Clean, Confident & Seductive Daily

Femme Fatale Guide: Habits To Become Your Best Self In 2023

How To Build A (Realistic) Femme Fatale Wardrobe: Daily Essentials

Femme Fatale Beauty Routine: Essentials To Unleash Your Dark Feminine Energy

Hope this helps xx

[redblkviolet]

Hey sissy for the nighttime routine I was talking about everything for you go to bed like skincare habits and hair care routine.

after oral hygiene I wash my face with a simple cleanser, and then use witch hazel to tone, followed by moisturizing. I am fond of natural oils and fats that are topical-safe such as shea or mango butter, or rose oil. I do this every (or nearly) every night.

for hair, nothing too extreme. Just a light brushing and that’s it. Once in a while I massage some essential oils on the ends just to keep it sleek, and I take lots of vitamins (vitamin b, hair skin and nails, fish oil, and also riboflavin.) it’s all good for hair and skin. Also drink lots of water.

[terrible-twst-oc-ideas]

3 Terrible Three Questions (Round 12)

Are you a morning person or a night owl?

🏹: Morning person, through and through! In fact, I have the most energy when the sun is high and bright in the sky. By the time late afternoon rolls around, I tend to get a little drowsy… which totally isn’t my fault from not getting enough sleep!  It’s... biology.

🌰: Hmm, I’d say morning person! At least after I’ve had time to freshen up and get dressed. I can’t do anything until I’ve made myself presentable!

🎶: Night. The moon is a calm, comforting friend who keeps watch over the dark and my practice, while the sun is an obnoxiously bright fiend. I hate mornings.

What’s your nightly routine like?

🎶: I shower. Brush my teeth. And then start practicing. Nighttime is ideal organ practice time, because no one else is around to bother me, and my attention is unfortunately demanded elsewhere for much of the day. If I have time and haven’t already fallen asleep before practice is over, I try to get some light reading in before retiring my glasses and going to sleep. 

🌰: Well, first thing’s first, I can’t go to bed until I’ve showered and washed the day off of me. So, I do. But then, my hair and fur are still wet, and I can’t sleep while they’re wet. So, I finish freshening up, and then I usually settle in for a book. By the time I start drifting off, my fur’s finally dry enough to let me head off to bed. It’s a wonderful system.

🏹: Night routine? I just change into my pjs and go to bed! It’s too much time worrying about all that hygiene stuff before then. It can wait until the morning.

What’s your sleeping position?

🌰: I’m a side sleeper, first of all. It’s difficult to get to bed when you’re lying on top of your tail. I tend to curl up a bit more as the night goes on, usually holding one of my pillows. It’s a bit hard to sleep when I don’t have something in my arms.

🏹: I prefer to sleep on my chest, face propped up on my pillow. It’s a lot more comfortable for my tail and ears that way.

🎶: I can only sleep comfortably when I’m lying straight on my back, head on my pillow, and with my hands folded across my chest…why are you staring at me like that?

[scariot]

240124

accidentally slept thru my alarms. got up eventually to get ready. didn’t do any hygiene routine. did fill my home water bottle and chugged it. left and got a dragonfruit refresher after i got off the train. made it to class and finished one of the three sculptures. agonized over the second one because i forgot how hard it is to make vinyl tape work nicely.

got on the train back, absolutely packed. ended up being squeezed and got stepped on by the person in front of me. somehow got talking with one of the commuters, which is funny to me. got asked by him which sports i play cause of my broad shoulders and how many pushups i can do. got a laugh out of that. iunno, it felt pretty nice to converse with someone.

drove to the store to grab some sodas that were on sale. accidentally made a wrong turn but made that into an opportunity to learn the new lay of the land. got a little nervous though because running low on gas.

got home and checked mail, which was all junk. immediately started making dinner of eggs and toasted bread. sister called it peasant dinner. got devastated.

chilled for a bit then broke out the record book to start documenting my purchases, which i hope to make into a budget. chilled after that.

eventually got up to unpack some more things. finally got the energy to lift the middle section of the couch from the kitchen and reattach to the couch frame, then screwing it back in. gave myself a pat on the back for being strong. flopped on my now single piece couch and watched some videos.

got up to play with some makeup. fucked it up big time. removed makeup and finally showered and did simple nighttime skin routine.

today kinda went in a blur in terms of time passing. looking forward to actually working on putting my place together and rearranging my furniture where i actually want it.

thought about going hiking and painting while waiting for the east bound train and i think i might actually go for it.

overall: ???, me strong