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I'm Shay! I’m a cookbook author, lifestyle blogger, travel agency owner, wife and mama who loves making every day special for my family.

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Mix & Match Mama

Let's Look ·

Let’s Look: AT LITTLE THINGS WE DO EVERY SINGLE DAY


Happy happy Wednesday, friends!

You guys, it’s Valentine’s Day!

No matter how/if you celebrate today, please know that I’m sending you all so much love!  I am so very grateful for each of you!

It’s also time for this month’s LET’S LOOK!

If you don’t know what this is, once a month, Erika and I do a little link up where we “look” at different aspects of our lives (and then if you blog, you share and link up too!).  We have been doing this little linky party for years now, and it’s always one of my favorite posts each month because most of the topics are YOUR suggestions!

So far in 2024, here’s what we’ve “looked at”…

In January, we looked at HOW WE CLEAN OUR CLOSETS.

And today, we’re LOOKING AT LITTLE THINGS WE DO EVERY SINGLE DAY.

This has always been one of my very favorite quotes.  I think about it all the time, and in fact, on my “to do” list that I keep on my phone, I have this quote at the top so that before I add a “to do” or check off a “to do”, I read it.  If you want to know what your life is made up of, look at what you do every single day.  Some of these “little things” below are actually quite BIG things (talking to God!), but they’re little as in they don’t take up a lot of time, don’t cost any money and can be done at anytime/anywhere.

Some of these “things” below are serious, some are silly, some are truly just functional and practical and none of them are in any particular order.

Here we go…

1: READ MY BIBLE

Every day.  You guys, if you want to get closer to the Lord, understand what He is doing in your life, KNOW HIM BETTER, read His word.  As our pastor would say, if you want to hear him actually speak to you, read it out loud 😉 .

2: PRAY

We have the opportunity whenever we want to speak to the creator of the universe.  We have access to G-O-D, I am not going to waste that.  I really find myself in prayer so many times during the day.  Of course, it’s a part of my morning quiet time, but it’s also just a part of my day to day, hour by hour way of life too.  I find myself often praying about something.

3: TAKE A SHOWER

I take two showers a day really just about every single day.  In fact, it’s hard for me to think of a day when I don’t. I love a morning shower after my workout and then I must, must shower before going to sleep.  I don’t care if I get home at 2:00 AM, I have to shower before bed (see point #14 and #15 as well!).

4: TELL MY FAMILY I LOVE THEM

Geez, I love these people.  I tell them as many times a day as I can.

5: READ A BOOK

I read a little each morning and a lot each night (and then in between whenever I can!).  Just take a look at my Kindle streak…

…that’s 5½ years of reading each week on my Kindle.  I LOVE to read!

Speaking of things I love to do each day…

6: GO FOR A WALK

Always.  Even if it’s only five minutes, I love to stretch my legs, be outside and “get my steps in”.  Bonus points if it’s with my dogs.

Speaking of which…

7: LOVE ON MY PUPS

I love my dogs.

Right this very minute, let me take a pic for you…

I couldn’t get them in one pic, but they’re all three up here with me 🙂 .

Something little I don’t love, but I still do it every day…

8: A LOAD OF LAUNDRY

Yup.  One load a day keeps it under control at my house.  I’ll even do a load on Christmas Day because I would rather do one load a day than get behind and backed up.

9: MAKE MY BED

I cannot imagine not making my bed every day.  Not only do I like to walk through my room seeing it made, but I like getting into a “made” bed at night.

10: GO OUTSIDE

Yes, yes, yes!  I LOVE TO BE OUTSIDE!!  Bonus points if it’s a pretty day, and I can work outside!  We eat dinner outside as many nights as we can (which is pretty often thanks to ceiling fans and heaters).  I love being outside.

11: LOOK AT MY CALENDAR

Hi, my name is Shay, and I love a calendar 😉 .  I have a big wall calendar for work, my Life Planner for life, my desk calendar for quick dates and my Cozi app for family planning.  I love it all!

12: DRIVE KIDS AROUND

Any other mamas out here have this on their list?  Between three different school drop offs and pick ups and therapies and tutoring and sports and youth groups and on and on and on and on, I drive kiddos around all day, every day.   I *try* really hard to soak in all the mom/kiddo time because I know in my heart this is a fleeting phase that I will miss. I *try*.  I *try*.  I sometimes just want to be out of my car though too.

13: BRUSH MY TEETH

Well, you know I do this about 15 times a day.

14: SHAVE MY LEGS

Every day.  I cannot go to sleep unless I’ve shaved my legs.  I don’t care if I’m sick, post-op, home late…it doesn’t matter, I must.  It’s a weird quirk of mine, but I MUST.

And after…

15: PUT ON BODY LOTION

I put on body lotion.  I put lotion on every single time I get out of the shower/bath (so at least twice a day).  It actually makes my skin crawl to think about ‘not’ putting lotion on after bathing.

16: WASH MY FACE

Yup.  I always take off my makeup before bed.

17: TAKE MY SUPPLEMENTS AND VITAMINS

*New* to me (more on this topic later!), but yes!  I do this little thing every day.

18: TALK TO MY HUBBY

He’s my person.  We are big “talkers” with each other.

19: THINK ABOUT VACATIONS

Mine, clients’, friends’…I like to think about vacations.  I will think about those I’m planning, those clients departing that day, those clients already there…I think about future trips I want to take, current trips I have booked, trips I’ve already been on.  It’s in my DNA.

20: TEXT/TALK TO MY GIRLFRIENDS

I have the funniest, sweetest, most amazing friends and even though we’re all busy and doing “life”, I like to connect with them every day by text if not on the phone.

21: DRINK COFFEE

The first thing I do when I wake up is get coffee and the second is…

22: TURN ON MUSIC

…and then…

23: BURN CANDLES

…and that’s the start of a perfect day 🙂 .

So, those are the little things I do every day!

WHAT ABOUT YOU?!

I would love to know what you do every single day!  Please comment and share!

Coming up this year on Let’s Look…


Next month, we will be hosting on March 20th to avoid our Spring Break, so if you link up, please make a note.

Speaking of which, if you also blogged Let’s Look today, make sure you link up below.

One last thing this Valentine’s Day…

Whether you’re looking for…

…a cocktail…

Valentine's Cocoa

…a cocoa…

…or a treat, I have so many easy, festive and delicious Valentine’s recipes all in one place!

Have a wonderful Wednesday!  Happy Valentine’s Day! xx

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter


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Let’s Look: AT SCHEDULING/ORGANIZING OUR FAMS!

Comments

  1. Dana P says

    Love this! I would add doing the NYT Wordle and mini crossword. Our library gives us free access and I look forward to them every morning! They’re quick but just enough challenge. I also love reading Tim Challies’s A La Carte-a roundup of articles from a Christian perspective. And of course, every day around lunchtime I read your blog and enjoy a cup of coffee! Daily habits that I love makes all the difference. 🩵

  3. Peyton Cline says

    I’m just curious which body lotion you use! I’ve been trying to find one that keeps my skin moisturized during these winter months!

  5. Lyndsey says

    I live abroad with a 9 hour time difference from Texas, and I always look forward to reading your blog when my girl goes down for a nap! I will say though, I am *floored* you shave your legs everyday. I just cannot comprehend that!!! LOL. Like, your FULL legs?! Do you have a favorite razor? Good for you bahaha #goals

    • Mix and Match Mama says

      First and foremost, THANK YOU for reading every day! And YES! Every SINGLE day. I use regular old Bic Soleil. Every day.

      • Dana P says

        I tried this several years ago and my legs developed a super intense itch! If that happens to anyone else, I started using sensitive shaving cream and that really helped.

  6. Taylor says

    My whole life my dad has said (and lived), “Consistency is the hallmark of an organized mind.” I have so taken this to heart and internalized it, but then I tried to use it in a paper once and went looking for the original author/speaker … Nope! Just my dad! 😂 I will be sharing that last quote with him, though – it’s a similar idea!

    Also – he doesn’t get on many … touchy feely soap boxes, but, when it comes to family, he is adamant and passionate about the fact that, “there is no quality time without quantity time – you can’t just manufacture quality when it suits you.” It is brilliant and simple and true, and I think of it often when reading your blog and how much you value and protect your time with your people (and encourage readers to do the same). So to link it back to todays post, keep on trying to enjoy the car…? 😉

    • Mix and Match Mama says

      That’s a whole blog post in one comment, Taylor! Wow! So many powerful words and nuggets here alone. Thank you, thank you, thank you for sharing this with us today. What wise words.

  7. Amanda says

    I have to be honest here I have pretty much 0 routine. Every morning I do workout/quiet time but it is never in the same order and there is always other thing sprinkled in like flipping laundry, showering, kids stuff…. I never sit at the same spot at the table for meals. I try to leave at the same time every day for work but even that bounces around a bit. Bedtime routine at night same thing…sometimes I read…sometimes I watch a quick show, sometimes I just lay down and go to sleep….I still d everything I need to do it’s just in no particular order lol. I love to have a bath at night but the time of it could be 5pm…to 10pm lol.

  9. Tasha says

    Hi Shay! Thanks for sharing. Do you wash your hair every time you shower?! I am a wash my hair once a week kind of girl lol

    • Mix and Match Mama says

      Oh no, I do not! I wash my hair about every other day…sometimes in the morning (like yesterday), sometimes at night.

      • Lisa Joyce says

        This makes me feel so much better. 🙂 the thought of taking two showers a day was giving me hives.

  10. Linda Kinsman says

    So nice to meet you and what a fun prompt! I’m glad my Carrie at Curly Crafty Mom posted about it.
    I’m going to write a blog post using it today and add it to your link up.

  12. Amber says

    What are your thoughts on candles? I love them and have burned them for years, but I have read a lot lately on some of the toxic effects. I would hate to give them up- any suggestions on “clean” candles that still actually smell good?

    • Mix and Match Mama says

      I think if you feel like you should/could make a switch from candles, that’s something you should lean into. I’m making changes slowly over here as I learn/adapt/try things and they stick or don’t stick, and right now, I’m still really into my candles. I’m not saying that won’t change, but for now, they’re a big part of my day to day life.

  13. Shannon in PA says

    Like others have said, I cannot BELIEVE you shave every day. For some reason, I absolutely HATE shaving my legs. I don’t know why; it’s just always been a pet peeve of mine. I only shave if I ABSOLUTELY have to (depending on what I am wearing). I had a roommate once who used to shave in the shower in the morning and then shave in the shower at night. She would shave in the middle of the day in the summer if she was going to the pool. I was floored! I think I hate shaving at night because I always get cold and get goosebumps and then I feel like all the hair grows back… bahahaha.

  14. Arika says

    Speaking of #15 – body lotion – please tell us if you can get a code for Necessaire. I bought it last time you posted an love it!

  15. SC says

    If you want to hear God actually speak to you, read it out loud 😉 . Love this and today’s post!

    Can’t wait to hear about your changes to supplements etc!

  16. Allison says

    I am cracking up! I also CANNOT get in my bed unless I’ve showered and it is made. I have to unmake my bed to get in. I also have to shower before getting in. I also cannot shower without shaving my legs. Non-negotiable. Lotion too. And one thousand percent to being outside. I would all day if I could.

  17. Dena A says

    I am with you on the taking two showers a day and reading every day. The very few times I have not showered before going to bed I always wake up feeling so disgusting.

    I also loved seeing your Kindle streak. I am so impressed with your 290 week stretch. I am currently at 97 weeks in a row and 50 days in a row of reading. My longest daily reading stretch was 182 days in a row. I don’t feel like I can go to sleep without reading for at least 10 minutes.

  18. Beth Valenta says

    I love routine. Every day I pick up 2 coffees and bring it to my daughter who lives down the street from me and we say I love you and I pet her sweet dogs and head to school. Every work day I check on the same children to make sure they know I am here. I also look at my calendar to make sure I have my list going of things I need to get done. I always text girlfriend group and my husband texts me every day good morning and I love you. If you have tips to stay focused when praying, I welcome it. I start and then I get mind distracted and I want to feel intentional. I could be overthinking it. Have a happy valentine’s day! Off to get some filets!

  19. Kelsey T says

    I love reading your blog every morning. It has been a part of my daily routine for about 6 years. I am in shock you shave your legs everyday, that is impressive. I’m looking forward to hearing more about your vitamins and supplements.

  20. Leah Z says

    I’m glad to read about showering and shaving every day, so I don’t feel so strange! I shower every single day, no matter what. And I shave every single time I shower, followed by lotion – like you, my skin crawls without it! I cannot imagine having stubbly legs!

    • Mix and Match Mama says

      In McKinney, mostly Starbucks or sometimes Dunkin, on Nantucket, we use a Nantucket brand we buy at our grocery store there.

      • Claire says

        I have a jura also and love it! We also use the Starbucks beans. We have been traveling, and i always look forward to getting back to my bed and my jura coffee maker!💜

  23. Paula says

    Wonderful list! Practical and useful.

    I have a question. Two actually.
    One, books like Outlive; The Science & Art of Longevity and Blue Zone, how do you read them exclusively or toggle between it & fiction? I just received both in the mail today per your recommendation. Outlive in particular, is hefty looking.
    Two, have you implemented the eating more. I know you eat healthy, but you love meat so much. Just wrapping my brain around it myself after watching the documentary series.

    • Mix and Match Mama says

      For these types of books (and the Francophile ones too!), I read them as well as my “normal” novels at the same time. I would never read two novels at once, but I do when one is straight non-fiction. It’s just kind of what I’m in the mood for right then. And yes! I’m eating way more protein than normal!!

  24. Nancy says

    How do you put on lotion during the humid months?!! I live in the DC area and lotion during our hot humid summer months is a big no. It makes me sweatier faster!

  25. Kay says

    I love this post! I do a lot of the same as others every day including exercise, quiet time, trying to get fresh air.

    Another thing I adopted as a habit years ago is beginning the day with 10 minutes of mediation! (or 5 mins on Sat and Sunday). I use the Peloton app and it has become such a habit…I never thought it would! It helps clear my mind. It has honestly made the difference between having a good day and a bad day so many times.

    I also drink warm lemon water every morning and give thanks for THIS day. I lost a few colleagues at a young age, and it was right after that that I chose to start each and every morning by giving thanks just for being here!

    Lastly, I refill my Stanley (yup, I caved) 1,500? times a day?! ;). I’m never without water. It took a while to establish this but now it’s just habit.

    Happy Valentine’s Day and I hope you have fun celebrating with your adorable family!

  27. Rebecca says

    I want to know what you put your music on? A speaker, in your earbud, on the TV, etc??? Also, how do you like your new coffee machine? It looks fancy!

    • Mix and Match Mama says

      I use the Sonos speakers that are placed around my house in different rooms but controlled by the Sonos app. They’re great! We have had a Jura now for about five years and love it!!

  28. Shawna says

    Have you considered getting laser hair removal? I’ve heard it’s so worth it especially if you shave every day anyways!

    • Mix and Match Mama says

      I’ve done it! I actually went through the treatment two different times at two different places, but I think my hair is too blonde to be super effective (clearly as it didn’t “work” super well on me).

  29. Jamie says

    When you say you do a load of laundry a day….toss a bunch in on cold? Do a load from each person? Curious to know how this plays out between 6 people and hot/cold sorting

    • Mix and Match Mama says

      We now do per person, so I do a load (at least one) every day and it could be a load of my things (including towels and such that I’ve used in my bathroom), but then, I might not do another load of my things for five or six days. So, that’s pretty much our system. Sometimes, it will be a random mixed load, but I try to keep it separate (everyone has their own laundry hamper in their closets) to make it easier when it comes out of the dryer.

  30. Julie Anderson says

    I’m with you on multiple things!! Every day I make my bed, must shower, must shave, and must apply lotion after getting out of the shower! And I’d like to say I think about/plan/look forward to a vacation or travelling every day too! ❤️

  31. Lane Ciborowski says

    Shay thank you for these posts where you share your routines with us! I have loved them this week! They are so very helpful as I think you are so efficient and intentional with your time and I don’t naturally think this way! Thank you!

  32. Beth says

    Take a bath. I take a hot bath every night before I go to bed. It helps me unwind and it’s the only place where no one will come in and bother me!

  33. Carly Johnson says

    Every morning my husband and I have “Coffee Time” together. We sit in our sitting chairs and drink coffee and chat. Even if it’s only 15 minutes with our 4 loud boys being silly around us. We want them to see our intentionality in being together every day! It’s my favorite time of day❤️

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