Can you believe we are already two years deep into this crazy life adventure known as the pandemic? If you’re anything like me - SO many things have changed in the way I live my life since March 2020. While so much has returned to normal, so much…hasn’t. Our twins had just been born when all of this began, and even though so many of my old “treats” are available yet again, sometimes it is just too difficult to carve out regular time for me to get out of the house, find daycare, and experience the “normalcy” of what my life was like pre-kids and pre-pandemic.

Whether it’s due to the pandemic or motherhood - there have been numerous ways I have learned to pamper myself at home, and I am excited to share some of my favorites with you! Let’s dive into some of my favorite at-home self care rituals.

• Do at-home dip manicures.

Photo courtesy offashionisers.com

One of my most missed activities when Covid started was getting my nails done. Constantly having my hands wet from washing pump parts, baby bottles, etc, meant normal nail polish wouldn’t last long and I needed to have dip or gel manicures to keep any sort of polish on my nails. I was SO excited when I found out there are tons of options and brands who offer everything you need to do dip manicures at home. A quick Google search will give you tons of options, and even Amazon carries a lot of these products. Even though nail salons are back open again, I love being able to do this at home, and save a TON of money at the same time.

• Create a space for fitness.

One of the biggest adjustments after my babies were born was no longer being able to make it to the gym regularly. This is a huge part of my life, and we made it a big priority to build out our home gym with pieces of essential equipment. Whether you have a garage, a room, or even just a corner in your bedroom to dedicate to your fitness - give yourself the gift of a space to work on your health. This could include a yoga mat and a pair of dumbbells, an exercise bike, or a barbell. Maybe it just includes a few resistance bands and a spot to plug your computer in so you can watch your favorite YouTube fitness videos. Whatever it is - creating a dedicated space can help keep you motivated to accomplish your health goals, no matter what life throws at you.

• Throw on some sunless tanner.

Photo courtesy of usmagazine.com

No matter what time of year it is, nothing boosts my mood like a fresh coat of tanner! It helps me look so much healthier, gives me a nice healthy glow, and nothing beats that pre-tan shower where you really take your time shaving and exfoliating so your application comes out perfect. It may take some trial and error to find the perfect tanner for you and your skin type (spoiler alert - the best ones will be a bit more pricey, but I promise it’s worth it!), but once you find it, you’ll never want to get a spray tan or lay in a tanning bed again.

• Do your lashes at home!

This one is totally new to me, but now that I have discovered it, I can’t stop talking about it! I had really been wanting to get lash extensions in recent months, but knew there was no way I could carve out the time for bi-weekly appointments, nor did I want to pay an arm and a leg to keep my lashes looking nice. A friend - who’s lashes I have always been so jealous of! - recommended an at-home lash system and this was the answer to my desires! I do my own version of “lash extensions” now once a week at home, and they usually take about 15 minutes, start to finish, to apply. There are a handful of brands who offer their own versions of this, so do a little research to find what would work best for you! I read up on some Facebook groups and beauty forums before investing into a particular system, watched how-to videos, and got comfortable practicing before actually applying them the first time. I am a total convert now and will never use mascara again! I honestly think these are even better than extensions, because if one were to come loose or come off, I can easily fix and reapply these myself at any point, versus waiting for an appointment.

What are your other favorite ways to take care of yourself from home? Share your tips and tricks with us below!