Rinsing & Repeating Lately Part II

outfit formulas, a winning skin combo and 14 ways I'm streamlining life

The busier life gets, the more I realize that the difference between barely keeping up and actually enjoying life often comes down to my systems. The small, repeatable things that make the days run smoother, the chaos feel lighter, and the big picture a lot more manageable.

And the truth is, when you’re juggling kids, work, a home, a partner, a dog, a social life, cold/flu season (deep in it currently!) and a grocery list that never ends, there’s no medal for doing it the hard way. The win for me is in making the small things feel so automatic, so baked into the daily flow, that they just happen without much effort or stress.

So here we are, part two (part one here) of rinsing & repeating habits, rituals, and systems that save my sanity and make everyday life feel smoother, calmer, and more enjoyable.

1. Fall Uniforms
I always have a few outfit combinations to rely on when fresh outfit creation isn’t in the cards. Zero thinking, maximum feeling good. So far this fall looks like:

• Denim + Tee + Accessories + Great Outerwear
  This is my fail-proof formula for meetings, dinners, mom life and everything in between. It just works and is so flexible, the key is good accessories and great outerwear to really amp it up:

  • white jeans + white tee + trench + belt + boots + bag + earrings

  • black denim (great price point) + black tank + oversized vintage blazer + belt + sandals or boots + clutch (similar)

  • blue jeans (I love my vintage Levis or these or these or Madewell) + a good white t-shirt + belt + trench + loafers/ballet flats/jelly’s/sandals/boots + bag + earrings

• Trousers + Slip + Sweater

  The slip layered under the sweater is the real MVP here, it instantly brings trousers and a sweater into Fall 2025 territory. Effortless yet polished, and so easy to remix with different slips (black or white) and sweater combinations, plus trousers, denim, or silk pants. It’s also incredibly chic topped with a leather jacket. The whole look feels fresh, cool, and perfectly of the moment.

• Trousers + Tank

  I also love a great simple tank with trousers and sandals with a belt (GERI10 for 10% off Déhanche) and bag. Easy! A sweater (GERI10 for 10% off) over the shoulders or a blazer/trench for cooler days and done.

• Silk Pants + White Tee + Trench
  This one’s a personal favorite for travel days, school runs, and casual meetings. Silk pants like these, these or these with a classic white tee like this one or this one and these and a cropped trench or long trench is so wildly comfortable. It’s the definition of easy, elevated and pajama adjacent comfort. I rotate shoes between leather flip-flops, loafers (GERI20 for 20% off), ballet flats or jelly’s and swap bags/accessories/and swap out sweaters, coats (barn jacket included), and accessories to shake up the uniform.

2. The Skin Formula
I’ve been on a lot more zooms, and in meetings, and need to be more pulled together hence this winning combo (which I can’t take credit for, it came straight from the person I trust most for beauty advice) which actually includes foundation (it had been a while for me!). Here’s the combo:

Victoria Beckham’s foundation drops + a pump of your moisturizer + a pump of Glowy Super Gel or Westman Super Loaded Drops mixed together for your base finished with Sarah Creal’s amazing concealer under your eyes + bronzer + blush + a good lip (I just ordered this and love the combo of Almond & Ginger)

It’s a natural and radiant finish and doesn’t look like you’re wearing much at all but it’s so pretty that everyone will ask what’s on your skin. What makes this combo even more interesting is that Sarah Creal actually co-founded VB’s makeup line before launching her own, so it makes sense that their products play beautifully together.

3. Warmth Wellness
I’m in a real warmth era when it comes to wellness leaning into anything that feels cozy and grounding. Saunas and steams, warm nourishing meals, a heating pad tucked behind my back in the evenings not for pain, just to hyper-relax. Even a midday pause to close my eyes and let the sun soak into my skin. It’s simple, but warmth woven into my day makes me feel calmer and at ease.

The one ice cold thing I just can’t quit? The ice-roller which I recently upgraded from this to this and now I fully get the hype. The contouring and sculpting side is a real level up.

4. Auto/ Scheduled Downtime
One of the simplest but most impactful changes I’ve made is setting my phone to automatically go into “Downtime” from 9:00 p.m. to 7:15 a.m. every day. During that window, only essential apps and calls work, everything else is blocked. It’s a small setting that has had a huge ripple effect. I’m not available 24/7, not doom-scrolling before bed, I fall asleep faster, I’m more present in the evenings, and my mornings start calm instead of reactive. It’s become a built-in boundary I don’t have to think about.

5. Shoe Organization
The situation by our back door with the shoes was getting completely out of hand. A chaotic area no matter how many times I organized it, that made leaving the house take twice as long. So, we ordered a set of lockers (these in parchment) and gave everyone their own designated shelf. Now, when the girls come home from school, I remind them to put their shoes away right then and there. It’s a small system, but it’s clean, eliminated the daily shoe hunt, and made getting out the door so much smoother.

6. Designated Package-Opening Days
Instead of spending time opening boxes daily (and then having to break them down), I designate two days a week to open, sort, and handle deliveries all at once. It’s a small shift that streamlines the upkeep and the only time I deviate is if it’s something timely.