PLAY DATE!!!

After having kids it is next to impossible to take some adult time out for myself.  Life gets so BUSY that at times we end up putting ourselves last.  Don’t get me wrong, I like being busy, busy is good but CRAZY busy is something I’m still trying to get used to.  I know that one day my kids will grow up and I will miss these moments.  I will miss those chubby cheeks and toothless smiles.  The holding of my hand while crossing the road and running towards me for reassurance when things go wrong. I’m gonna miss the times when hugging mama in front of friends is neither cool or uncool…its just instinct.  But most of all, I’m gonna miss being CRAZY busy.  Point is ladies…this chaos will slow down one day, and our kids will change overnight (as someone told me that the minute her daughter became a teenager, she was someone different entirely).

In these chaotic times, it is important to have a “play date” with your partner or your friends.  One of the biggest complaints I hear from couples is that once the kids left home they didn’t know who they were married to and where their friends went.  Evolving WITH your partner is just as important as raising good kids. Here is a what I wore at one of my “play dates” with some of our closest friends.

Top:  JC Penny   Pants: Old Navy   Shoes: BCBG  Purse:  Prada

On a side note, the month of Ramadan is here, and it is during this month that Muslims around the world fast from dawn till dusk.  It is a way of connecting with the higher power and getting in touch with their inner spirituality. Fasting also helps remove harmful toxins from our body, and manage certain addictions from caffeine, alcohol, cigarettes or even drugs. If you are interested in knowing more, there is a wealth of info on the web. Just type in “Ramadan” and hopefully you will have enough info to help you.

Health Info:

Speaking of addictions lets talk a bit about Fatty Liver. It is a condition that occurs due to many reasons.  Pregnancy, overweight and most commonly in people who have alcohol addiction.  It can eventually lead to liver failure or worse cirrhosis which is scarring of liver. Symptoms include: Feeling very tired, loss of appetite, nausea.  In case of cirrhosis symptoms include bleeding problems, build up of toxins, jaundice. Diagnosis can be done by a simple ultra sound of the upper right side of the stomach.  If you feel you have ANY of these symptoms I urge you to consult your doctor.  As the old saying goes “its better to be safe than sorry”.

Image from google

PLAYING WITH BRIGHTS!!!!

Hello everyone,

I know, I know its Monday again one of the hardest day of the week BUT on the bright side the weather is getting warmer, sun is shining and in a few short weeks the beaches will be open again…yay!!!

With kids it is next to IMPOSSIBLE to schedule a date night, either they want to tag along or scream their lungs out if left with the babysitter.  My poor babysitter, may she remain healthy and sane 🙂 .  We did accomplish to not only go on a date, but also hang out till 2a.m.  and just talk and watch movies and that for us is a BIG DEAL.  It was pretty close to a PERFECT night.  Here is what I wore, hope you like it.

Pants: Express (Similar) Top: (old) Zara (similar) Aldo: Shoes and Clutch (can’t find anymore)(Similar) Bracelet: Macy’s

This time around I think I have developed enough courage to play with bright  popping colors.  Hey, its summer and tis the season of color.  Be brave and try something you have never ever thought of trying, and I promise you it will free you in a sense.  By the way these sandals are super comfortable so definitely check them out.

p.s. Follow me on Instagram and never miss a post.  Enjoy the rest of the week.

Thanks for stopping by,

xoxo

Sarah

Quote of the day:

pintrest

SPRING AND BUTTERFLIES

SPRING AND BUTTERFLIES.

SPRING AND BUTTERFLIES

I don’t know about you ladies, but I am trying my best to soak up  the warmth of the sun.  This is the only way to melt the coldness of this winter away.  As most of you already know I am a warm body and get pretty sad as winter rolls around.  If you want to torture me then send to a cold snowy place no joke.

The look here absolutely screams spring.  What I love about this top is how bright and colorful it is and lets not forget the beautiful butterflies.  This top is pretty versatile too.  I wore it casually here but you can pair it will blue trousers and some heels to dress it up.

Sandals: Aldo.… Top: Nordstrum…. Shades:  Joe Fresh… Earrings:  H&M (similar)

Since I recently had a baby, I pretty much live in flats and these sandals from Aldo are not only stylish but very comfortable.  Something of a requirement for a mom like me.  Wanted to share something personal today…I have an aunt who is absolutely terrified of butterflies (yes I know butterflies) and I am SURE this top wont fly in her house (pun intended 🙂 ).  What are your phobias?…mine are snakes, spiders sigh….the list is long I’m afraid.  Thanks for stopping by.

xoxo

Sarah

Spring is here and most people have already started planting flowers and getting a head start in gardening.  So lets talk a little about ROSE GARDENERS DISEASE:  Sporothrix is a fungus that is present in most thorny bushes in the environment.  Disease occurs when we handle soil or get pricked while gardening.  It is not life threatening but very painful if not treated properly.  Antifungals and potassium iodide has been proven to be helpful.

It is very important to wear gloves when gardening. I hope you have learn’t a little something about Sporothrix. If you need more information you can always consult your doctor.  Happy gardening and soak up the sun.

p.s…Image taken from web

No mo snow!!!!

The unpredictability of early spring, is that we experience warm days where we happily shed our jackets and days where we have to regretfully bring out our winter gear.   Today is one of those days I’m afraid.

Jacket : Target (Similar).. Boots: Sam Eldman (Similar) Bag: DKNY …(Similar). Jeans: Levis…. Sweater: Ralph Lauren (Sold out) (Similar)

Thankfully on days like these this jacket is a mood lifter.  If you haven’t guessed already I am OBSESSED with polka dots.  Hope you like the look.

Health info:  Speaking of dots, lets talk chicken pox.  It is a Varicella zoster virus.  It is related to Herpes Zoster.  When children get infected with  chicken pox  the virus does not truly go away after treatment.  It lays dormant in the brain for many many years and when we experience debilitating conditions like fever, decreased immunity or just plain old age this virus gets active and comes out as Shingles.  Shingles is very painful and vaccines help decrease the duration.  Babies who have not yet been vaccinated for chicken pox should avoid a person who has shingles because they are at risk of getting chicken pox which can be life threatening.  There is obviously a lot more info on this particular topic and if you are interested in knowing more info please consult your doctor.  Hope I helped.

xoxo

Sarah

YELLOW FEVER!!!!

Hello Ladies,

I have been seeing a lot of yellow on the racks lately.  It is a tricky color to pull off for some.  You either love it or hate it…there is no in-between.  As for me, I am totally obsessed with it.  It is such a fun happy color and a promise that spring is coming (my favorite season of all).  Hope you like what you see, cause this color is going to be a repeat offender I’m afraid.

Top: NY & Co ….  Pants: NY & CO ..  Bag: DKNY (similar)  Shoes: old (Similar)

The top runs a size big, so make sure to order a size down.

The older I am getting the busier I seem to be.  There are so many things that I want to accomplish during the day and only about half of them seem to get done.  My plate is ALWAYS full. It can get a bit overwhelming at times.  So for the past month I have been trying a little trick.  It is looking at things in a positive light and finding the humor in small things and believe me…..it has made a BIG difference. I still have a full plate but I’m not so stressed out about it and as a result I’m happier.  There is always going to be another day but today I am going to play ball with my son who is not going to stay little for long.   Point is ladies…..Its all a matter of perspective.  You change the way you think, and it will change the way you live….PROMISE!!!!

Health Info:

What is yellow fever?

It is a viral infection that is transmitted by mosquitoes.  Usually occurs in people who are traveling to South America or Africa.  The symptoms range from fever, chills and muscle aches and pains eventually leading to liver damage which causes the yellow discoloration of the skin.  It is always a good idea to get vaccinated for yellow fever before traveling to countries that are infested with mosquitoes.  Consult your doctor if you have traveled and are experiencing similar symptoms, a simple blood test can help detect the virus.

My very first crop top!!!

Hello Ladies,

As most of you know, I just had a baby a few months ago and I am in-between sizes at the moment.  I am in no real hurry to get my pre-baby figure back since I am still nursing and   I must say…I’m kinda enjoying the extra curves.

A few days ago, hubby and I decided to catch a play called “The West Side Story”.  For those of you who are into musicals and wanna watch a good love story, this play is for you. I highly recommend it.  The theater is gorgeous  and at the end of the play I even got to meet the main lead.

Now, I’ve never been much of a crop top lady since I feel that it would expose the areas that still need a bit (ahem)…..toning up.  But when I ordered this top from ASOS I thought to give it a try.  For those of you who don’t want too much of the tummy exposed and still want the short effect…this top is for you, it is not too high and is just short enough to add a little sexy to the look. It was cold that day so I wore a black tank top underneath  for added warmth but I will definitely try it out in the summer without the tank.

Hope you like it.

Top: ASOS… Pants:  Express…  Shoes: BCBG  Purse: Stolen from my mom 🙂

Stay fab ladies,

xoxo

Sarah

Health Info:

So last time I spoke briefly about Estrogen.  Today lets talk a bit about Progesterone.  It’s a hormone released by our ovaries to help the uterus prepare for implantation of the fertilized egg(pro-gestation).  Imbalance of estrogen and progesterone will cause bleeding and effect fertility.  High levels of progesterone indicate…pregnancy, cancer of the uterus or the ovaries or a problem with your adrenal gland.  Low levels indicate….miscarriage, infertility and problems with ovulation.  This is just a brief summary of the hormone, if you want to know full details it is a good idea to talk to your doctor or do some research on the web.  I hope I helped.

 

 

THE WINTER BLUES

Hello Ladies,

You might have guessed by the title that I can’t WAIT for this cold arctic weather to turn into spring and warm/hot summer.  I am SUCH a warm body that I almost mourn the coming of winter.  I even considered moving, but couldn’t bear to leave everything and everyone here in Chicago.  I guess I just have to learn to love it.

On a positive note, I hope your valentine’s day was what you hoped for.  The hubs and I decided to do something low-key and basically stay at home.  We did venture out and discover a GREAT pastry shop called “Vanille”  located on Clark street, Chicago.  It is a dream for all you chocolate lovers out there. Definitely check it out.

Here is a look I wore this week. Hope you like it.

Shirt dress: Old Navy   Watch: Michal Kors   Bracelet: Charming Charlie’s   Sunnies: Coach Boots:  Similar

My problem is that I have skinny calves and finding a boot is SUCH a hassle.  It takes me years to find a good boot I like and I must say that when I laid eyes on these babies I had to buy them and paid extra to have them taken in.  Hope you like them as much as I do because you will be seeing a lot more of these boots in the  near future.  Stay warm ladies and ALWAYS stay fab.

xoxo

Sarah

A LITTLE HEALTH INFO:

When women are breastfeeding we see a decrease in the hormone ESTROGEN.  This helps in the whole process of milk production.  Women who want to stop breastfeeding take a shot (injection) of ESTROGEN which helps stop the milk production.  Too much of this hormone is also responsible for most breast cancers.  Women who breast feed lower their risk for breast cancer.  Hope this helps.

My digital perm experience!!!!

Hello everyone, those who are close to me know how much I hate having pin straight hair….sigh…I wish I had even one curl or a wave, but to my dismay I was born with really straight hair.  My curly-haired friends envy my hair and I envy theirs…. I guess its human nature to think that the grass is always greener on the other side.

Let me backtrack a bit.  When I was in high school I got a perm and it was a complete disaster.  Getting a perm back then was the fastest way of making anyone look unattractive.  So I did what most girls do….I went home, cried and then wore a hat for a long time.  Fast forward to 2015….. I saw a friend of mine who had straight hair with lovely curls during my new years party.  When I asked her about it she told me that she had gotten a digital perm.  The minute I heard “PERM” it brought back a few memories that I had been trying to forget for a long time.  Anyway, she explained to me that the digital perm is different.  It does not fry your hair and the curls come out better and more natural.  I mean the proof was in the pudding…her hair looked awesome.  So I thought why not? its only hair…worst comes to worse….I will wear a hat.  (sigh)

After doing a lot of research I came across a salon called “Chloe’s Hair Salon” in Naperville.  After cancelling two appointments I finally took the plunge…and let me tell you….I was pleasantly surprised.

Sharing some before and after pictures.  Let me know what you think.

AND NOW THE AFTER!!!!!(DRUM ROLL PLEASE)

  Its been two days since my digital perm and so far so good.  I have not washed my hair yet (they say that I have to wait at-least 24hrs before I wash). Be careful of over brushing because it will leave your hair frizzy and de-tangle all the curls for good.  I am not using any products in my hair so far.  All I do is spray some water and crunch up my curls and that’s it!!!!….curls are back.  Will I recommend it?….at this point I would like to say “yes” but I want to wait a few weeks to see how things go.  I will keep you ladies updated.  If you have any questions let me know and I will do my best to answer.

 

xoxo

Sarah

This man is a Genius!!!!

Hello, ladies. Hope the winter has been good to you all. Since I am in Canada for now, I am literally freezing my butt off. But a little cold is not going to hold me back form all the wonderful celebrations that is happening all around me. Because Christmas is right around the corner there are many little parties that are thrown by members in the office, family or friends and a girl should always look good no matter what the occasion. Here is a short tutorial on how to apply eyeliner AND curl your eyelashes at the same time. Check it out and let me know what you all think.