6 things I’ve incorporated into my mornings to be more productive

Let’s be real - New Years is always a good time for everyone to start implementing changes into their lifestyle to try and better their every day living. For the past few months, I’ve noticed myself becoming more and more frustrated with how much cleaning and organizing we have to do in the house. It’s my first time living with my husband under one roof, and there are some things we need to work on, such as not leaving all of our things dumped at the door when returning from work.

I’ve never been good at being productive in a cluttered or messy environment, so I started brainstorming ideas on how I can improve this. Most days I’d find myself saying, “I’m too tired, I’ll tackle it all tomorrow.” By the time tomorrow comes, there’s an even bigger mess to clean. So I decided that in the mornings that I have before work, I would take the time to start my day off with a straight hour of productivity.

Keep my phone on DND and limit use on social media

When I would wake up before, the first thing I’d check was all of my social media. I had an extreme case of FOMO when I first moved to El Paso. I think it’s because of the lack of things to do here while pregnant; I was vicariously living through everyone on my feed. I found this very draining after a while. So I started leaving my phone in the bedroom when I’d wake up. I don’t have any social media apps on my iPad except for YouTube, so the chances of me being lost in a “scroll-daze” on Instagram are highly unlikely when I use my iPad. Instead, I find blogs or videos about being a more productive person and incorporating new systems into my lifestyle and let them play in the background. Social media will always be at the ends of my fingertips when I seriously have the time, but I’m trying to no longer fall into that black hole of scrolling.

Make the bed

I make our bed. It’s probably the easiest task I can do in the morning. As soon as I get up, I let my dogs out to use the restroom and I go back to make my bed. By the time I’ve made the bed, they’re already begging to come back inside. It’s the perfect 2-minute routine to jumpstart my productivity. Walking into my room and not having to see a mound of blankets piled on top of all of our pillows gives me a little more ease as I get ready for the day.

Start the day with breakfast and a warm drink to sit and think of what needs to be done in the next hour

Every day that I work, I have the same breakfast. I always start off with a bowl of oatmeal and a cup of tea or coffee, depending on how my baby is feeling that day. (Some days I have an inkling that coffee isn’t going to sit well with him, lol.) It takes me 90-seconds to make my breakfast, and takes me about 10 minutes to sit and enjoy it. During this time, I focus more on the audible or YouTube video I’ve chosen for the morning. They’re normally 10-15 minutes long, so it’s perfect for the first part of my day. I’ve got a good start on my daily nutrition, and I’ve already brainstormed what needs to be done in the next “tidy-up hour”.

Journaling or Planning

Depending on if I have an idea to write something or if I need to take the time to plan the week, this is when I’ll do it. I use the Goodnotes app and Google Calendar to plan my days and weeks, and to write down any thoughts I have. There are a lot of things I know need to be done before the arrival of baby, to include the personal goals I have for myself, so I try to find the best ways to tackle them. I know that if I write it down then I won’t forget it needs to be done. Being able to cross if off my to-do list helps me stay on track and keeps me accountable to the task. I make sure I write down all of the urgent things that I need to get to, and plan ahead of the tasks I can clump together to be more efficient. I highly suggest learning to plan, even if it’s just writing down your errands. When you set aside the time, you’re more likely to get it done than trying to keep it in your short-term memory and saying, “I’ll get to it after I do XYZ.”

Tidy up the house

I cannot stand coming into my home when there are things all over the place. When my husband comes in from work, he’s always dragging in 2-3 bags from work to include his backpack, gym bag, and lunch bag + giant water bottle. He dumps the mail on the table, he takes off his clothes and hangs it on the back of the chairs, and dumps his pockets next to our coffee machine. It. Drives. Me. Crazy. He’s gotten better at putting things away after I’ve clearly voiced how upset I get when I see it :). So now, all I do is tidy up the kitchen and the living room. I take the time to fold the blankets, fix the pillows, vacuum, feed the dogs, load/empty the dishwasher, prepare the coffee, and make rice for dinner. Doing all of these things in the beginning of the day make it easier to come home to the house at the end of the day. By the time I get off of work, the last thing I want to do is clean. That’s why it would usually get pushed off to the weekends or my days off. Tidying the house a little bit every day helps keep the messes from piling up too high, which in return, gives me more time to enjoy being at home hanging out.

Skin care

This is a routine that I have had to really get myself to follow, and I’m glad that I started being more serious with my skin care. There isn’t a time where I felt worse after cleansing my face. It’s a refreshing start to my day. I know that when I go out, I’m feeling my best because I feel like I’m looking my best. Taking the short 5-10 minutes to take care of myself goes a long way when starting the day off. (Related: Part I: Essentials of my skin care routine)

3 must-have apps if you’re trying to get fit!

Oi, fitness. Exercise. Something we all know we should be getting at least 20 minutes of every day, but it’s so much easier to turn Disney+ on than it is to do 40 pushups, right? I know, I feel you. You’ve been at work all day long, and if it’s as tiring as being a nurse, you’ve been vertical all day, so there’s nothing more inviting than being horizontal on your couch. But don’t let that stop you from your workout!

It used to be daunting to go into the gym and not beeline it to the cardio equipment. I ran because it was the easiest thing to do in the gym (no thought, just start the treadmill and go for as long or as fast as you could). I ran because to me, it didn’t take much effort. Then I signed up for my first marathon. I realized that there was much more to running than going out and running 6 miles a day. My muscles were sore, I was starving, I wasn’t supplementing my training the way I should have been. That’s when I looked into incorporating other forms of training and diet into my routine, and these apps helped me stay accountable.

Nike Run Club

This app is pretty self-explanatory. I had an Apple Watch at the time and it was easy to just lace up, hit start on my watch, and go. I wasn’t using the app to it’s full potential at first because I would just to my own runs. Then they made some updates that had more guided runs to help you through interval training, endurance runs, and sprints. When I started scheduling my runs, the notification would pop up on my watch and I’d get myself dressed to go. The notification alone was a nice way to stay accountable for my training, but then I added my friends. Every day we’d run, whether it was together or on our own. The accountability sky-rocketed when we were running alone. Trying to “one-up” each other on our mileage. We’d see each other at work and say, “hey man, you’re slackin’ this week!” I probably had put in hundreds of miles before running my Athens Marathon, and I’d have to say a majority of it was because of this app.

Nike Training Club

When I decided that I needed to add supplemental training to my running, I downloaded this app. It wasn’t that I didn’t know what I was doing in the gym, it’s that I was too lazy to create a routine. This app made it so easy to choose what I wanted to work on, whether it was stretching, cardio, HIIT, or resistance training. There’s even a yoga series on the app that made it a little easier to stretch out after my longer runs. If you aren’t comfortable getting into the weight room, then find yourself a small space in the aerobic room, grab a mat, some equipment for resistance training, and start the app. This is also nice because you can link up with friends and keep each other accountable just like on the running app!

LifeSum

Okay, I’ve only used the free version of this app, but it’s been amazing. I haven’t found the will to buy the pro version, especially since I’ve become pregnant, I rarely use it. I first started using this app when I decided that I wanted to become very serious about my weight training and diet. This was post-marathon, and I was in the weight room almost twice a day. This app helps you track your calories for every meal, you water count, your fruit count, your veggie count. It can also break down how much fat, protein, and carbohydrates you eat. You can scan the barcodes of items that you buy, and if you don’t find it, the app makes it easy it manually input the nutritional values! If you’re the type of person I was, eating meal-prep, then it is very easy to input your calories into this app. If you’re like my husband who eats regularly cooked meals with a bunch of varying ingredients, cooked different ways, then this app might not be best for you.

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Get moving this 2020!

All three of these applications are available on Android and Apple. If you’re struggling to keep up with your New Years resolution on being active, maybe it’s time to get some digital motivation and accountability! I can’t wait to get back into a steady routine after I give birth! Get ahead of me now, because I’m coming back strong this year with my new mom bod!

Baby Boot Camp: Why are these classes so helpful?

Today, Sean and I attended baby boot camp. These classes can be extremely helpful if you haven’t spent too much time around newborns, or it can be a refresher if it’s been awhile since you’ve had a child. These are normally taught by registered nurses that have vast experience in labor and delivery and the postpartum period. For me, it wasn’t too much new information since I’ve spent quite some time as a nurse helping take care of infants and mothers, but it was an eye-opener for my husband that’s only held one baby in his entire life.

The class went over going into labor, what to expect at delivery, and the postpartum period. Some things that you may want to discuss are:

• What should I expect in early labor, and when should I go to the hospital?

• What will I need to bring with me in my hospital bag? Will the hospital provide a lot of the essentials to recovery and send me home with some?

• What are my pain management options - pharmacological and non-pharmacological? When’s the latest the anesthesiologist will give me an epidural?

• What will my diet be leading up to labor? Will I still be able to eat or is it going to be just clear liquid or ice chips?

• Are there other methods of delivering baby rather than just being in bed on my back? Water births? Squatting?

• What are your c-section rates or thoughts on episiotomies versus tearing during birth?

• If you’re having a boy - should I expect to have baby circumcised before we leave or at a later appointment?

• Are there lactation consultants to help me with breastfeeding afterwards?

• What’s not normal during postpartum recovery?

• Are there support groups I can attend during the postpartum period?

• What to expect from baby during feeding and how to tell if they’re hydrated and fed? (Importance of diaper counts!)

• Help on learning to swaddle a baby, change a diaper, and how to hold baby

• What are the signs that my baby blues is starting to develop into postpartum depression? (Because mental health is SO IMPORTANT!)

Preparing for baby is more than just making sure you have enough diapers, wipes, and onesies ready for baby at home. The nursery and gear can be totally set up, but if you aren’t mentally ready to take on baby, make sure you’re asking the right questions. There’s no such thing as a dumb question when it comes to the care and well-being of your child. Even as a nurse that’s helped a lot of moms after delivery, there’s still so much that I don’t know about when it comes to baby being at home.

Disclosure: Sometimes these classes can be giving outdated information, or they just haven’t “updated” with the times. There’s so much advancement in childbirth from the early 2000s, that it’s still best to discuss with your provider on what their recommendations are. With that being said, here are some photos of Sean learning what it’s like to carry around a belly and how to be a new daddy!

Sean had no idea what to expect from the class, but by the end of the class he said that it was becoming more and more real for him! As you can see below, he becomes very protective over our make-believe simulation baby.

This is the kind of face I expect to see in the first few weeks postpartum with the baby. A daddy who is lost, a baby that’s half naked, and me behind the camera laughing. I can’t wait to see you be a daddy!

My decade transformation: part i, the essentials of my skin care routine

It’s a new decade in just a few short days!  Isn’t that crazy?!  So much has happened in my life this past decade: I graduated high school in Japan, I attended culinary and nursing school, I joined the military, I got married in Denmark, and now I’m having my first child (next decade, lol).  I’ve been to way too many countries to count, and I’ve met so many awesome people along the way.  Of all the things I’ve learned growing up in the past 10 years, one essential thing has been taking care of my skin.

My skin when I first moved from Japan to the states, full of acne and scars, I was extremely self-conscious due to my skin. My confidence was always torn down by people commenting on my scars (which was a total pr*ck move)!

  When I moved to the states, I came with a face full of acne that only got worse when I started my culinary lab classes.  Spending 8-10 hours in the kitchen with a chef hat on and always having that greasy feeling did not help my skin at all.  So there have been a few essentials I learned to pick up along the way. Here to help me explain the importance of skin care is none other than my best friend, Susanna.

My personal Beauty AESTHETIC Consultant

“to create a relaxing experience while properly educating each client that I have the opportunity to share my passion with.”

Hey Y’all, I’m Susanna; I am originally from Austin, Texas. My career began almost ten years ago at AVEDA Institute Austin. Shortly after, I enrolled in medical aesthetics school at Texas Laser and Aesthetics. I found my love and passion for helping others achieve their best self as a whole, along with developing other aestheticians to become the best in a medical environment. With a broad range of specialties, I am most proud to specialize in skin transformations such as acne/scar revision. Part of my mantra is, “to create a relaxing experience while properly educating each client that I have the opportunity to share my passion with.” I am elated to bring my knowledge, skill, and extensive training to others and I look forward to meeting each of you and your skincare goals.

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The Essentials

To start this off, I do want to preface with my skin type. I have dry/normal skin. In the winter time, I tend to get rough patches along my temples, and in the summer time, I tend to feel like Spongebob going to Sandy’s house for the first time. My skin is thirsty and it loves hydrating products. So if you have oily skin, these products may react to your skin differently, but they’re all products for normal/combo skin. Most of my hydration comes from the extras I use in part ii.

1. Oil-based cleanser

I think it’s been such a major step to double cleanse my face, starting out with an oil-based cleanser. I’ve noticed it’s really helped lift makeup, sweat, and dirt off of my face making my water-based cleansers much more effective in penetrating my skin. The only time I really skip this initial step is if I don’t put on any makeup and I’m chillin’ at my house for the day. Also, oil-based cleaners are not bad for those with oily skin!

Susanna: Oil-based or creme based cleansers are best for dry/sensitive skin. These types of cleansers help to soften the epidermis without causing a contraindication. Oil or creme based cleansers should also be used for the removal of makeup rather than your usual cleanser.

Banila Co. Clean It Zero | I love this cleanser for the days I decide to wear a full face of makeup. It’s such a smooth consistency. You don’t need much product to have it be an effective cleanser. Just a small scoop with the included spatula will take off all of my eye make up and “loosen” my foundation for easy removal. There are different versions of Clean It Zero for those with different skin types, so that’s very reassuring for those who want to try it but have oilier skin!

Mamonde Petal Spa Oil to Foam Cleanser | I recently started using this cleanser for when I don’t wear a lot of makeup. I love the smell of it because this entire line is a soft floral scent. My face always feels very refreshed and not dry after using this cleanser, which is super important when you’re going to double cleanse with a water-based cleanser.

2. Water-based cleanser

I’ve been using water-based cleansers the moment I got my first pimple. Using an oil-based cleanser before hand to remove things like sunscreen and makeup makes using a water-based cleanser that more efficient. The water-based cleanser removes water soluble based impurities like sweat and dirt. Double cleansing skin was made popular by SoKo (South Korean) beauty routines. After living in Korea and realizing how much pollution was in the air, I decided to start doing a double clean to wash away as much gunk as I could.

Susanna: Water or gel-based cleansers are best for oily or some acne-prone skin types. Gel-based is important for these types because it helps to balance out your skin’s oil/acne production with ingredients such as Salicylic and Azelaic Acid.

Kiehls Calendula Cleanser | My old faithful. I’ve been using this cleanser for about two years now, and it has never steered my skin wrong. The days that I don’t wear make up and don’t sweat much, like if I stay in the house, I use this and skip the double-cleanse. It’s a gel that still gets a pretty good lather despite being sulfate-free. I have pretty dry skin, so it’s nice that it’s gentle enough to not strip my face of moisture. I do enjoy the smell of the calendula line, it’s just a soft herbal scent that’s not overpowering. And did you know, that calendula is an anti-bacterial? So if you’re acne-prone, it’s nice to have in your skincare products to help with that extra bacteria that sits on your skin, and it’s an anti-inflammatory to help with redness.

The Body Deli Melon Foaming Cleanser | I started using this cleanser this summer, and I use it every other day, although it is gentle enough to use every day. It smells absolutely delicious, and I’m always craving cantaloupe after I wash my face. It’s a brightening cleanser and is also very hydrating. It contains cantaloupe, turmeric, licorice, and tamarind extract. Tumeric works great for reducing acne scarring, licorice is great for inflammation, and tamarind helps lighten skin and reduce dark spots.

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To the right:

Scroll through the images to view the products mentioned in this blog and view recommendations from Susanna.

ZO Exfoliating Cleanser | Elta MD Facial Sunscreen | Glowbiotics Probiotic Acne Treatment Cleanser | SkinCeuticals LHA Cleanser | ZO Exfoliating Polish | Revision Papaya Enzyme Cleanser | SkinCeuticals Clarifying Exfoliating Cleanser | SkinCeuticals Soothing Cleanser Foam | Zo Calming Toner | Zo Gentle Cleanser | Kiehls Calendula Cleanser and Toner | Kiehls Ultra Facial Moisturizer | Mamonde Floral Essentials Line | Banila Co Clean It Zero Balm | Innisfree Tone Up Sunscreen | Innisfree Antipollution Sunscreen

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3. Toner

Susanna: I’m a huge fan of toner and their benefits. They not only help to balance out your skin’s pH, but they’re the extra step to remove environmental toxins, help the skin look brighter and healthier, with less acne/scarring, and wrinkles.

Kiehls Calendula Toner | Everything I had to say about the cleanser is basically what I have to say about this toner. When I was younger, I used to use pretty harsh toners on my face. I mean, I guess I wouldn’t call them toners, they were astringents which was my BIGGEST mistake for a person with dry skin. This toner is amazing though because it leaves my skin feeling refreshed. My skin doesn’t feel dry at all after using it, and I do like the herbal scent.

Mamonde Rose Water Toner | Normally I use a cotton pad to apply my toner, but this I just put on my hands and press into my skin. It’s mostly 90% damask rose water, and it really soothes and hydrates my skin.

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Beauty Giveaway 2020

I’m going to be teaming up with Susanna to host a giveaway in celebration of Okami & Company’s one year anniversary! To enter, participants must do the following:

1. Follow us on IG @okamiandco and @SusannaTheSkinSlayer

2. Tag a friend on the respective Instagram post for the giveaway

3. Comment on each blog post on the website with your favorite products and why

Each individual tag on Instagram is an additional entry to the giveaway. This giveaway will feature trial size and full size products that we will be recommending throughout the skin series!

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4. Moisturizer

I think one of the biggest steps I took into adulthood was finally using a moisturizer made specifically for my face. Before, I would just use the same lotion on my face that I was using on my body because it was so great for the rest of my skin. I started with drugstore moisturizers such as Ponds (I know you did too!) or Olay, and then I finally bit the bullet and bought a more expensive moisturizer. I have no regrets.

Susanna: There are specific oils and ingredients that can cause massive breakouts and skin irritants to the face. These oils and ingredients aren’t meant for our face for multiple reasons such as no proper penetration to the skin and too much oil.

When looking for a good moisturizer for your skin look into moisturizers in the evening and lotions in the day time. Lotions are usually less thick and will help the reduction of oil and acne bc it mollifies better with free radicals. Moisturizers are thicker and better in the evening when your skin is in a resting state and needs the most penetration from the hard day.

Kiehls Ultra Facial Cream | It was a game-changer when I stopped using regular lotion for my face. I started using this moisturizer during the harsh winter in Korea, where the wind could tear your skin apart with just one hit. It claims to keep your skin nice and hydrated for a full 24 hours, but I’d say that it at least got me through a workday. I love how plump my skin feels after slathering this on. It’s not thick enough where it gives me a heavy feeling, my skin isn’t greasy afterward, but it definitely feels hydrated. All Kiehl’s products tend to be on the pricier side, but in my personal experience, they’ve always been worth it.

Mamonde Floral Hydro Cream | I thoroughly enjoy the scent of this cream, it’s a light floral scent like the rest of the floral line from Mamonde, but it just makes me feel like a happy grandma with her night cream. It is a certified vegan gel-cream. It may be lightweight, but it’s so hydrating. It contains low-molecular hyaluronic acid that leaves my skin plump when I wake up in the morning.

5. Sunscreen

Sunscreen for me had always been on the back burner unless I was out somewhere warm. You don’t realize how harsh the sun can be in cold weather, especially in high altitudes surrounded by snow. My skin was so used to being in the sun after living in Hawaii, but I realized how sensitive it became when I went back (after living in Germany for 9 years), and how much it changed. I make sure that at least one product in my face routine has sunscreen in it, whether it’s sunscreen itself or it’s in my BB cream.

Susanna: God, just going over the importance of sunscreen and how much of a difference it can make, not just when you're out at the pool. I’ve seen patients come into Dermatology with melanoma the size of two fists for the failure of wearing sunscreen. You’re awake when a MOHS surgeon cuts that out and graphs. The scar is forever and most times when you have one area, you’ll have more. When looking for a proper SPF make sure the first ingredient is ZINC. You want that to always be in a pure state to ensure the best results for sun protection. It’s ok to want to look tan, choose a safe way such as a spray tan or gradual self-tanner. I always tell my patients; “A tan is temporary, the health and wealth of your skin is not.”

Innisfree Tone Up Sunscreen | SPF35 PA+++ * | This is my lighter sunscreen when I don’t expect to be outside for very long. It’s got a very interesting texture to it once it’s applied to the skin. It seems pretty thick, but then feels a little powdery when you spread it out. I like it because it usually serves as my primer before I put on makeup. It has a matte finish that lasts throughout the day. I wouldn’t recommend this if you have a darker skin tone just because it does whiten your skin since it’s a Korean product.

Innisfree Intensive Antipollution Sunscreen | SPF50+ PA++++ * | This is the sunscreen I use when I’m going outside for longer durations and don’t plan on wearing too much makeup. It is actually pretty lightweight for what it claims to do. It’s waterproof which is nice for the summertime when you’re out sweating or swimming. It protects your skin from dust and UV rays from its powdery finish, similar to the Tone Up sunscreen. I also don’t recommend this for darker skin tones, as it does leave a light whitening finish.

notes: PA+++ is high UVA protection, PA++++ is extremely high UVA protection

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& 10 years later

Can you believe that the photo to the left isn’t edited? The only thing that I’m wearing in this photo is a layer of Innisfree Tone Up Sunscreen and a thin layer of BB cream.

It’s taken me a long time to figure out a skincare routine that’s worked for me. I’ve lived in 5 different parts of the world with all kinds of different factors that effect my skin. Each move required another change to the routine, but that’s what makes this so much fun. Peep my clear skin 10 years later!

I hope you continue to follow this short series on skincare and beauty routines that you can incorporate into your daily routine. Our next blog is going to go over extra steps such as serums, essences, ampoules, and masks. So be on the look out!

xoxo,

Jakki & Susanna

Our first desert adventure: Las Cruces, New Mexico

  It’s safe to say that we are having a pretty hard time adjusting to desert living.  Sean and I have both grown up in places with so many things to do (besides Fort Irwin, and I am grateful to have never been there).  So moving here has kind of put a quick halt to our travel bug.  When we arrived in the middle of August, it was scorching hot.  I was nauseated all of the time, so going out in the sun’s heat was not appealing to us at all.  Now that the weather has cooled down to temperatures we’re fond of, we decided to take a weekend and explore what this area has to offer.

  We made a few mistakes along the way.  Well, one in particular, and that was staying in an Airbnb 45 minutes away from our house.  Sure, it cut some of our drive times in half, but it wasn’t worth it.  The host of the Airbnb was a kind, old man, but the house was not what we were expecting.  I won’t go into too much detail, but an Airbnb in this area is not going to happen in our future anytime soon.

  Anyways ~ we spent most of the time outside of the house so it wasn’t too bad.  On our first day, we went to see what Slot Canyon was all about.  It’s about 1-1.5 miles long, and it’s actually pretty cool.  When we got there, we saw that there was a no trespassing sign, but everything online said that it wasn’t private property and that people still went.  So imagine my pregnant butt climbing a fence (no, it was not that hard, and yes my husband helped me).  The trail veers to the left even though there is a trailhead off to the right.  I don’t know where it would take you if you go off to the right, but it’s probably to the back end of the canyon.  It was fun watching the dogs climb through the canyon.  Sean was highly impressed with Oki’s parkour skills as he jumped from wall to wall.  Okami did her job in pulling me up the big steps.  Maybe if you’re lucky, Sean will find time to piece together our drone video.

  Next, we ventured off to White Sands.  It makes me laugh because Sean pretty much drives to White Sands every day for work, but never has actually seen the park.  It was about an hour away from Slot Canyon.  At the entrance, there’s a gift shop and a small informational area teaching you about White Sands.  You can purchase a round sled for $20, and return it for $5.  If you have a sled, just bring it.  Their sleds don’t work well in the sand.

  To get to the hills, you have to drive.  The entrance fee is $10 per person, but it’s free if you’re active duty military (heyyy!)  The area was surprisingly large.  There are places for you to set up camp, start BBQs, an amphitheater, and of course, the sledding hills.  The dogs were ecstatic when they got into the sand.  I’ve never seen them so happy.  Like I said, the sled didn’t work very well even after being waxed.  The hills were pretty short.  If you wanted a steep hill, it was the hill leading into the parking lot – not fun.  But it was a great place to get some good photos of the dogs, and I’m sure we’ll be back again with the family to take more pictures once our baby boy arrives.

  Overall, the day was pretty fun-filled with short adventures.  Nothing like what the PNW has to offer, or in our recent case, South Korea or Germany.  I guess we’re just going to have to learn to love it for the next few years, or spend the money going to places a little more… interesting.