Hi Everyone! Every year there is such a hype about this sale and every year I want to cover it by sharing some of my favorites and honestly I feel like sometimes its overrated. I think its a great time to stock up on some of my favorite beauty products that are on sale and snag some fall and winter pieces. This year is my first year covering the sale and sharing my top picks. I wish I could have gone into the stores and shared try-ons. Considering the closest Nordstrom to us is in Salt Lake City about a 2.5 hour drive and with the pandemic these fun photo collages will have to do for now. I hope you enjoy seeing my favorites and get a better taste of my style. If there’s anything your looking for feel free to leave me a comment and I’d be happy to find you some links (I make a very small commission from my links and it helps me build this platform for you so any support would be appreciated!).
If there’s anything you like simply click on the image and you’ll be directed to the item. Happy Shopping!
Happy Monday!! As summer is coming close to an end and it didn’t exactly end up being a very typical summer because of a pandemic we made the most of our time. We flew in the airplane for a few overnight getaways while the hubby got to log some hours, we enjoyed bbq’s, water balloon fights, pool time, and soaked up all the sun our hearts desired. But I have to admit this year brought a lot of anxiety with all the unknowns.
As life slowly goes back to some kind of norm I’ve been feeling a little anxious. I have a nephew off to college this week, a niece headed back to NYC for college the following week, my sister and nieces headed back to NYC after three months of being with us, I’m not sending my boys to preschool this year and instead doing online learning with our Montessori school. Teaching at home while working on my business growth in such uncertain times is sure going to come with its own challenges.
Usually around this time of year the boys routine is a bit haywire and so is mine. When there’s no routine the anxiety kicks in because my days seem to slip out of my hands leaving me with a feeling of accomplishing nothing all day. I’ve had to really learn to ease my anxiety this year with so many unknowns this pandemic has thrown at us. So if you’re feeling a little anxious and don’t know where to start I’ve jotted down ten things that have helped me refocus and rechannel some of that negative energy.
10 Tips to Easing Anxiety
1.) Meditate: this could be in any form. This year I’ve found prayer has helped me a lot. If you’re new to meditation try the headspace app, or the meditation oasis podcast by Mary and Richard Maddux. Really anything just to take a few minutes to concentrate on my breathing and relaxing my mind of all thoughts helps.
2.) Go for an outdoor walk or run: There is nothing like slipping a pair of running shoes on and going for a stroll, good for the mind and soul.
3.) Get dressed for the day: A shower and getting ready everyday always gives me a fresh start to my day and sets a positive tone for the day ahead.
4.) Read a self improvement book: So many great reads out there to help you refocus and bring minor changes in your life to help you turn that negative energy into positive solutions. Personally one of my favorites has been The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*uck and 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.
5.) 30 minutes of time to myself everyday
6.) Create a To-Do list: Write down the things you need to get done and cross it off as you get things done. I love the feeling of crossing things off my to-do list, I’m weird like that!
7.) Journaling: Sometimes its just random thoughts I like to write out helps give me clarity and this year I started jotting down at least 3 things I’m grateful for it has been a game changer!
8.) Routine: for myself and kids I’ve always been a believer of early to bed early to rise. Not always the best at implementing it for myself but I try because I’m a night owl and that’s the only time I get where all the creative juices help me gather my thoughts.
9.) Meal Planning: I started this just a week or two ago. Sometimes deciding what to cook can be such a trying task in my day so when I know what I need to cook I’ve got things lined up right after breakfast and I get all the cooking for the day done before 3pm.
10.) Giving Yourself Grace: Knowing that things don’t always go as planned is okay. Have a general idea of what things need to be accomplished in your day you don’t necessarily need to schedule out your days down to every minute. As a stay at home mom I’m always multitasking or trying to get things done constantly on the go so if something slips it’s no big deal just take a breather and pick back up again.
I hope some of these tips help you end your summer and this year on a lighter note despite all the cards we’ve been dealt with. A positive mind helps channel positive energy so chin up and have a great Monday as you begin the month of August! What are some things that have helped you get through this year? share in the comments below!
Hey friends well we’re on day 3955465 of this quarantine! What are you wearing as you read this, pajamas? How are you styling your comfy joggers!?!
Many of us have been in cozy and comfy clothes since the COVID-19 pandemic has had us on house arrest. It’s okay to dress comfy and casual if you’re working from home but that doesn’t mean you have to stay in pajamas all day!
Today I’m sharing three of my favorite casual and comfortable styles during quarantine. Nothing fancy, nothing pricey, simple ways to put together an outfit even if its just a pair of joggers. Because all you boss babes playing mom, teacher, and chef that are holding the fort down it’s hard to get ready in the morning and I get it but it’s such a wonderful start to your day if you get dressed!
The First Look: I’m wearing these Madewell overalls and a H&M basic long sleeve gray tee. Madewell is having a huge sale so the overalls are 50% off with code SWEETDEAL. I love overalls! These ones are a really soft denim!
The Second Look: I’m wearing Old Navy’s Camo Joggers paired with a basic long sleeve black tee. Tuck in the tee and throw on a denim jacket and you’re ready for a stroll in the park (of course maintaining social distance)! These joggers are butter soft and a must-have if you really want to be cozy and get dressed during quarantine! They are also 50% off right now at checkout!
The Third Look: These alternative joggers are the best Amazon finds under $30! I’ve worn this pair through my pregnancy and for a couple years after too! Maybe that’s why they look all worn out in the picture. But one the softest joggers EVER! I couldn’t find this exact t-shirt but I linked a similar one!
It’s taken me a week to put my thoughts into words. Honestly this past week or so I have just been trying to wrap my head around these flood of emotions. I’ve felt confused, scared, worried, sad, excited, happy, it has been a crazy roller coaster ride thanks to the Coronavirus!
The worry…
First, when all this news started and my parents were abroad in Pakistan I began to worry. I began to worry for their health and their susceptibility to catching the coronavirus. As the virus spread across the nation I started to hear more in the news about deaths, lockdowns, bans, and basically the world coming to an end. I feared for them as they were thousands of miles away. I immediately switched their flights to come home a month sooner because the last thing I wanted during this time was for them to be disconnected and far away. Although travel across the world was not recommended we took our chances and I changed their flights twice. We managed to get them home on Sunday just a few short hours before they locked down the last city in Europe!
The effects of the media… “Corona is a monster”
Secondly, the media and all this social bantering has not helped when you have a four and three year old. Coronavirus is some kind of monstrous figure in their mind who now comes and hurts people and apparently steals toilet paper. Today on our way home from Nanny’s house Jibran (my 3yr old) asked me “Mama is this virus going to come to my house on his feet”. I didn’t want my kids to be fearful. Awareness is important but fear is something they don’t need to have at such a young age. I then explained to him that this virus is just like a cold that you get from not covering your cough or sneeze, and when we catch germs from not washing our hands. That was probably the best I could do at the time to get him to chill and not call the coronavirus a monster… do you guys have any suggestions on how to explain this to my toddlers?
The reality when all the fear hits home…
Third, I’m scared! I’m deep down scared for my son who has severe asthma. Even with a common cold his asthma triggers. He’s been taking steroid inhalers since he’s been six months old to maintain his asthma. I’m also scared for my niece who has Cystic Fibrosis and is immunocompromised. And due to that during this cold season we tend to practice social distancing in general for her health whether coronavirus or not. I’m worried for my in-laws and my parents who fall right between the ages of 65-70.
With all this uncertainty, unanswered questions, or not having a mere idea of what the future holds, I’m just trying to find the silver lining in all of this…so here’s to finding the positive in all this chaos. Because there’s just too much going on right now and my minds going a little bonkers.
Here’s a list of my happy thoughts:
1.) I’d like to start off by saying my hearts a little happy having my oldest nephew and niece home from college (Sorry Mustafa & Fatima- But Khala’s so happy to see your faces after months!)
2.) I loved that my parents (aka built-in babysitters) are back home a month sooner (Ammi watched the boys all day today while I got some sanity time!). This was much needed after the boys recovered from being sick for over a month!
3.) I have loved spending time with the kids at home without the worry of running out the door for preschool or swim lessons. We spent one day in pajamas and binged on Disney+, we managed to play card games, read more books flipping pages, and some kindle books, we worked on our kiwico projects, and made pancakes together.
4.) Ali and I flew to Salt Lake City together and I really enjoyed the perks of private flying…no hustle or boarding rush, no people, no chaos. It was so nice to just sit in an airplane and fly to the closest city with my very own pilot (MashaAllah)! We grabbed a quick bite in a now deserted city and jumped on the plane again escaping a storm approaching within minutes. It was quite the adventure… a post on that coming soon!
5.) I’ve learned to be more creative with activities for the boys and I’ve found so many amazing resources online to help me practice Montessori learning right here at home.
Be a helping hand when you can…
I’d say despite all the chaos and the horrific news I’ve found some sort of peace and happiness in this new form of “normal”. As playing a part in society and my community I’ll just do the best I can to keep my family, my friends, my community, as safe as possible by following the simple acts of social distancing and not panicking. By offering a helping hand where I can. I’ll offer a helping hand in delivering grocery to someone who is immunocompromised or more susceptible to getting sick, I’ll offer my assistance to those in need of meals for their children, I’ll do the best I can to be their for anyone in need so please feel free to reach out if you’re in Southeast Idaho.
I wish you all health and happiness. I pray for your safety. People we’re in this quarantine together!! So know that we’re all losing our minds in some way!! I’ll post more on finding your sanity within this time of quarantine…there’s so many activities I’ve found I’d love to share!
How are you all keeping entertained with the family all cooped up for the coming weeks!? Share your thoughts, ideas, activities below!
Hey everyone! How are you doing with your 2020 goals? In this post I mentioned I was struggling for years to accomplish a lot of my goals because I lacked consistency. Consistency in exercise, reading, writing for the blog/instagram, even to the smallest task of eating my daily vitamins! In December I committed to focus on consistency with my goals and tasks by incorporating these five tips. These five tips to achieving consistency have helped me get back to a workout routine, pray/meditate regularly, and overall live a happier lifestyle.
Five Tips to Consistency
1.) Start your morning off early: The morning sets the tone for the day. On the day I wake up early I am more productive and I have more time in my day. Granted its hard some days because toddlers are exhausting! And I need to get better at going to bed earlier.
2.) Set a routine: By creating a pattern in my day I begin to create a habit of certain things I need to accomplish. If its something I really want to accomplish be it praying, meditating, working out I give it the same importance I would as brushing my teeth in the morning.
3.) Set smaller goals: Setting realistic manageable goals sets me up for success. If I attain success then I naturally get motivated! I couldn’t find myself to start praying five times a day. This genius lady suggested to commit to two prayers a day but make them a habit like brushing your teeth. It’s worked I’ve been praying 2-5 prayers a day since December. Praying has turned into a form of mediation for me. Helps me unwind, relax, and focus better.
4.) Reward yourself: Treating myself for accomplishing my goals motivates me to get the job done because my eyes on the prize! A shopping spree always makes me happy so I treat myself!
5.) Give yourself grace: This girl over here I learned a lot from! She told me it’s okay to fall what’s more important is to pick right back up. People make mistakes, shit happens, and life is random. Missing a prayer, missing my morning workout, even missing a daily vitamin are all things that would bother me and I would let that take over my brain I’d fall into the rabbit hole of failure. But one mistake or mishap shouldn’t control or judge me. I pick right back up where I left off because each day is a new day in which you should #beatyesterday
Use these tips and tricks through the year and see yourself achieve those goals! I hope we all make 2020 our best year yet! What are some of your goals you are working towards this year?
I hope your 2020 is off to a great start! 2019 was the year in which for the first time in two years I actually felt like I had this whole parenting thing somewhat in control. Honestly, I have no recollection of 2017 it was all diaper changes, feedings, and my head in the clouds. 2017 was the year I had two kids under two! 2018 seemed to be all tantrums, sleepless nights, more diaper changes, and chasing the boys! Needless to say in 2019 we still had sleepless nights, sick kids, meltdowns as we started our kids in preschool, but it felt like I could actually breathe and we were in kind of a cruise control since my older one officially got potty trained, his asthma got under control, and he got over his separation anxiety. Enrolling him in preschool even for a few hours did wonders for that boy! This gave me all the more confidence to enroll my younger one too for a few days. I learned as a parent it was okay to get a couple hours to myself. Granted I have yet to learn how to be more productive with that time because for a while it was just overwhelming to realize I was kid free for a few hours.
Through this new found freedom of time I gained the confidence to finally take a girls trip with my sisters and step away from mommin’ for a 48 hour trip to New York City which was such a nice and refreshing breath of fresh air. Ali and I also took a couple 24 hour trips sporadically through the year with the help of nieces, nephews, and my in-laws who stepped in to watch the kids. Yes, it takes a village to raise my kids!
I signed up to be a substitute teacher in the boys’ school which was a rewarding and exhausting experience. Some days I felt like I was dropping my own kids to their classes only to take on the responsibility of eighteen more toddlers. But most days it was so much fun and rewarding especially when the kids showered me with more hugs and love than my own. As a substitute teacher I gained more patience as a parent and learned ways to engage my own kids at home more creatively not to mention my boys were over the moon the days I substituted in their classrooms I have to admit that was a nice feeling. As a mom of boys I want to take in all those moments and feelings because when they become teenagers I know it wont be the same, perks of having nieces and nephews at a young age I guess, I know how those cute kids turnout when they grow up! (And if my nieces/nephews are reading this, I still love you all, haha!)
This year I also got to spend a lot of time with my sister-in-law who was visiting from Pakistan. That was probably the highlight of our summer the boys got to meet and play with their cousins they had met when they were newborns. I got to travel and connect with my sister-in-law for the first time since I’ve been married. She’s a dermatologist in Pakistan so she gave me some of the best skincare advice. She has three boys and a girl, her heart is just as full as her hands if you ask me. The kids were such a pleasure to have here because Rayyan was basically entertained all day by his cousins and gained this sudden desire to be just like his “older” cousins.
Towards the end of the year my faith grew stronger I began to pray more and my prayers turned into a form of meditation for me. Trying to pray five times a day helped structure my day better. I felt there was more productivity in my day. I learned the importance of gratitude and giving myself grace on the hard days. I began to realize that even though certain things didn’t go my way there was a greater plan out there no matter how difficult it was to believe that on some occasions. And there are still some days I go off track and question the random happenings that may upset me but I just have to keep building on that faith and make each day better.
I realized that my biggest struggle in many aspects of my life was consistency whether it be this blog, exercise, reading, or even with goals I set. If I fell off the beaten path I’d suddenly label myself as having failed and that immediately demotivated me. But then I met a lady on this platform who told me it was okay to loose direction but what was more important was to lift myself back up, set small goals, and reward myself. I’m nowhere near perfection but so long as I keep getting back up and finding my way to my very own definition of success I’ll keep getting better.
Setting smaller goals has helped with consistency and my productivity. With that being said here are a few small goals I’ve set out for myself for this year. And you all are welcome to hold me accountable on these goals since I’m sharing them so publicly.
Be more consistent with content on the blog/instagram
Be more consistent with exercise (Signing up for a race and actually doing it!)
Learn to swim, yes this is something I never learned, I can do some form of swimming but if I had to survive in an ocean or the “deep end” of the pool—NOPE!
Read at least one book a month (This month I’m reading Girl, Woman, Other by Bernardine Everisto)
Read/Understand the Quran by reading at least an Ayah a day with translation
Keeping it short and simple for this year! Here’s to a prosperous, healthy, and adventurous 2020!
What are some goals you have set for 2020?
Have any of you trained for a half marathon? Did you train with an app? If so, which app?
