Just like a good night equals a good morning, a happy Sunday brings a happy week. In this series, we explore the end-of-week rituals of people we admire to discover how they prioritize respite and calm to reclaim their rest before the Monday madness hits. Next up, step inside Stella Simona’s Sunday nighttime routine—the visionary co-founder of Haati Chai and Amarilo jewelry.
Do you have people in your life who you call friends but you’ve never actually met them in person? Same. I’ve met countless people virtually who were digital friendships for months (sometimes longer) before we took it IRL. For the myriad faults, Instagram has actually been an incredible platform for making and nurturing friendships, not to mention the access to professional relationships that were previously unavailable. My real-world friendship with Stella Simona started out this way as a cyber connection. I was immediately drawn to her minimal, streamlined, and slow approach to skincare, style, and family. When we finally met at an event several years ago, she was just as warm as her aesthetic, and her beauty is captivating.
When she’s not influencing us with her skincare advice, Simona is the visionary behind jewelry lines, Haati Chai and Amarilo. Drawing on her heritage, culture, and journey towards self-discovery, each piece was designed to become everyday heirlooms passed down from generation to generation. With 113K followers on Instagram, Simona sees her platform as a space for so much more than just beauty. It’s also become a pulpit for spreading awareness around issues and organizations that are close to her heart proving profit and purpose can co-exist in business.
With so much on her plate (and two thriving boys), we wanted to learn more about Simona’s Sunday winddown routine that sets her up for a week of success. Keep reading to discover her end-of-week ritual which includes her love of meal prep, candles, feel-good music.
What time does your Sunday nighttime routine begin and why?
My Sunday evening typically begins around 9 pm which is right after I put my boys to bed. As a mother and businesswoman, I lead a busy life which is why I always prioritize time to myself via an evening routine.
What is the first thing you do to help you wind down on a Sunday night?
I turn on some feel-good music. This immediately helps me to mentally switch gears. I’m usually running around with my family and the kids on Sunday and this music is the start of my personal Sunday evening.
Please take us through your Sunday nighttime routine from start to finish.
After turning on my music, I light a candle and pour a cup of warm tea. Once I’ve set up an ambient atmosphere, I proceed to tidy my bedroom. This entails sorting my closet and miscellaneous items lying around. Being mindful and conscious of my space and surroundings is essential for my creativity, productivity, and rest. After I finish with cleanup, I unwind with a relaxing bath and beauty routine.
I love to use the Lord Jones bath salt in my bath water—it smells beautiful and leaves my skin soft while relaxing my whole body. I also apply a moisture mask while bathing. My favorite mask right now is the True Botanicals Resurfacing Moisture Mask. Once I finish my bath I take a quick shower and apply the Josie Maran Body Scrub to slough off all the dead skin. Then I dry my skin all over by gently patting it with a towel so my skin remains damp while I apply skincare. I use whatever products I use on my face on my body as I’ve noticed this keeps my skin looking its best. I start with the Erborian Yuza Double Lotion and then the Laneige Cream Skin Toner & Moisturizer all over from head to toe. Then I apply the Oak Essentials Ritual Oil on my face and Klur Elements of Comfort on the body. Some evenings I finish it off by giving my face and neck a massage with my ReFa 4 Carat Body Tool.
All of these rituals help me to reset and set the tone for the week ahead.
Do you get the Sunday Scaries? If yes, how do you deal with them?
Not at all. I feel relaxed every Sunday and I’m very intentional about making sure I have a really laid-back schedule on this day. Overall, I am optimistic about the week ahead. I love my life and what I do. I always prioritize putting on my plate what I can handle so that I don’t get to a point where I feel so overwhelmed. On Sundays, I sit down and organize my calendar for the week ahead which leaves me feeling in control and excited for what’s to come. I always plan a few work and personal life-related tasks that I know I’d find enjoyable, and this really helps with feeling positive on a daily basis.
Do you work on Sunday nights?
Besides organizing my schedule, I do not work Sundays. We don’t acknowledge the fact that our bodies need rest in order to be happy and productive so that is why I’ve made a commitment to leave my Sundays to do just that.
What things should you never do on a Sunday night?
Make sure you focus on recharging on Sundays.
Never stay up too late. Going to bed at a good time will allow you to feel energized for the week ahead.
Try not to talk to a bunch of individuals in the evening. You want to lean into your introverted self because the week ahead most likely entails a lot of meetings, calls, etc.
Do not eat poorly, you need to eat well so you are not feeling lethargic and in a great mood.
What is on your nightstand?
My nightstand is always minimal.
I have something for the lip and an all-over body oil with a beautiful scent that helps me to unwind—Klur Elements of Comfort Oil, and Summer Fridays Lip Balm Vanilla Beige.
Do you watch TV / movies on Sunday evening? What are you currently watching?
Actually, I don’t. I am pretty out of the loop on what’s on TV these days.
Do you do any meal prep for the week ahead? If so, walk us through it.
Yes. I love meal prep as it makes my week more enjoyable. I usually pick out a few key veggies and two types of protein such as asparagus, green beans, potatoes, eggs, and salmon, then I chop and season everything and set it in the fridge to eat three to four days out of the week. One day out of the week we order take out for the family. Knowing what you’re eating in advance is so helpful and more importantly, we don’t reach that point where we feel hangry while we’re busy working and running around—it’s one less thing to worry about.
Do you have a favorite bedding you swear by for a more restful sleep?
Parachute makes really soft linens and as long as I have a fresh set of those on my bed I am set to have the most restful sleep.
What books are you reading right now and recommend reading on a Sunday night to prep for the week ahead?
I’m currently listening to an audiobook called Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey where he shares his outlook on life and what he’s learned from them. He considers it a love letter to life—I would say this is a good Sunday read for sure.
Do you put your phone to bed or avoid social media? What are your social/tech hygiene habits?
No, I actually put my phone in another room during bedtime. I also block out specific hours in the day where I leave the phone in another room far away from me so I can be more present.
