5 Ways to Get Out the Door Faster in the Morning

July 21, 2014

As parents, we all know that when it comes to mornings with kids, every single second counts. Meaning: If you manage to shave off 20 seconds here and there you might have given yourself a smoother morning, or at least an extra swipe of mascara.

And since the summer is all about easy-livin’, I think that anything that helps make the a.m. routine a tad less onerous & a bit more breezy, and the results (at least in terms of how I look) more beautiful—well, that is a winner.

Here are a few of the things I’m summer-lovin’ to help me get out the door faster right now.

1. The fastest, most gorgeous gel-like manicure—WITHOUT the UV light

It’s pretty much no secret by now that gel manicures are the way to go when it comes to long-lasting, super-shiny nails. But not everyone has the time or money to hit up the salon. That’s why I threw up my hands in glee when the new Sally Hansen Miracle Gel came across my desk. Two coats of polish, one coat of the clear topcoat, and voila: You have a gel-like finish that really truly rivals the salon manicures for shine and durability. It comes in a boatload of colors, from bright and bold to soft and subdued. **Want even LESS of a “done” look, while still having nails that look ready for a close-up? Three words: Dior Nail Glow. The perfectly sheer jelly-like pink gives your nails a boost of clear color without actually depositing real color. The whites are brightened, the nail beds look just…healthier. It’s almost like a mini french manicure, without the fussiness and much less obvious. Seriously, I’ve already gone through a few bottles of this stuff, it’s that amazing.

sally-hanse

Next page: Earrings you can sleep in…

Liz Krieger is a wife, mother, writer in Brooklyn, New York. She's been a magazine editor for over 15 years, having worked at publications including Health, Self, More, Real Simple, Allure, Good Housekeeping, and Parents magazine. She has written for publications including Bazaar, WebMD Magazine, Women's Health, and O, the Oprah magazine. She's the mother of two lovely little girls, and when not chasing after clumps of cat hair (thanks to the two orange tabby cats who sleep near her head), she can be found avoiding to cook, attempting to regain some semblance of core muscles, listening to podcasts while jogging around Prospect Park, and reading really, really fast. Special skills and interests: Figuring out how to have a clean, organized home without actually having to clean or organize, seething at various Real Housewives, varsity-level lint rolling, and the ability to eat an entire pineapple in one sitting.