Mom Life – Page 20

Be the Change

Filed under: Mom Life · September 28, 2017

It has been 3 weeks post Hurricane Irma and I almost feel back to normal. I must admit it has been a struggle. Every time I drive down the street, I see lots of leaning trees and debris and it is a constant reminder that things are not the same. The days are going by and we have to keep it moving but life as we know it is changing right before our eyes. Call it global warming, political storms, race wars…whatever you want to call it, things are definitely changing.

I am a little overwhelmed with what I have been seeing. I am sure most of you are too. Fear doesn’t really help so I won’t call it that. I think it is more disappointment. I am disappointed in how bad things have gotten in 2017 not just politically but just everything. I am disappointed that our kids will have to experience some things that we never thought they would see except for in a history book or movie. I am disappointed that I cannot fix my son’s illness. I am disappointed that the healthcare industry is failing so many people. It’s not all bad but damn what is really going on?

When I started writing this post I did not know what was going to come out. Last night we went to a charity event to raise money for hurricane relief in Puerto Rico, the Keys, and the Caribbean. It was amazing to see over 300 people come out on a weeknight to help people in need. Ray Allen gave his thank you speech and something that he said struck a nerve to me. He said remember as a kid when a situation would come up either in your community or around the world and you thought to yourself, man they should do something about that. Somebody needs to fix that. Well you are that somebody. We are they. So instead of staying disappointed, let’s do something. Let’s do our part to make the world a better place.

XO,

Sharonda

#momonamission

Fall Fashion Faves

Filed under: Blog, Mom Life · September 28, 2017

If you are a little overwhelmed these days like me you probably don’t even know that it’s officially Fall. I know Fall in Miami doesn’t mean much. The leaves have only changed colors (brown) due to Hurricane Irma. It is still 94 degrees outside and like everyday and well we Miamians just don’t experience the four seasons. Maybe just maybe we can wear leather or long sleeves by November. Or some of us might just wear those cute fall trends and be a little ….hot. After browsing Pinterest and a few of my favorite stores, I noticed a trend. Red!!! Red is so in right now. Some ladies don’t care for red outfits. Me on the other hand will rock whatever looks good on me. If you aren’t a red girl maybe try adding just a pop with denim, white or black. You can never go wrong with a red handbag. Here are some of my Red Faves!

Smashbox Vs. Too Faced

Filed under: Mom Life · September 18, 2017

If you are a busy momma like me, you know we barely have time to shower some days let alone put on makeup. Well as I get closer to the big 40 I must confess I now make the time to put on my sunscreen and foundation every single day. Mainly because I am trying to hide these tired designer bags ok my “eyes” after nights of minimal sleep. Yes #momlife! I really thought they would sleep through the night by age 11 lol.

That is when I struck up a conversation with my mommy friend that is a makeup artist about what products I should use daily. I know that she’s an expert and has tried hundreds of products over the years on her clients. Her first suggestion was to add a primer to my routine. She says, “ You wouldn’t paint a wall in your house without adding primer first, would you”? Think of your face like a canvas. Hmmm, I thought… I have some of that in my makeup bag. Sephora included a sample of Smash box photo finish primer in my birthday gift box. (frequent VIP shopper) I just never used it lol. So I tried it the next day. Boy what a difference! My skin looked amazing and the makeup lasted all day, even through barre class. It is the number one seller right now!

After using it daily for about a month, my sample tube was almost empty. I headed back to Sephora and there stood a display full of all the bestselling primers. How do I pick with all of these options? I messaged her again because there was so many to choose from and I really wanted to try another one to compare to Smashbox. She said to try Too Faced the hangover. I made my purchase but not before buying a few other things. That store is dangerous. Fragrances, hair products, nail polish and way too many lipstick options.

The next day I applied the Hangover after washing my face and moisturizing. I felt a tightness at first. I started wondering if I was going to have an allergic reaction lol. While reading the ingredients I was shocked to see that it had probiotics, coconut water and skin revivers. Really, probiotics for your face?? Next, I applied my foundation and very minimal eye makeup. I was thrilled to see my new glow. It was like an instant makeover. My skin looked flawless and I got compliments all day.

So if you are not using primer girl don’t feel bad. Just run to Sephora or Ulta ASAP and grab you a tube. You definitely won’t regret it! Too Faced is my new best friend!!! I can’t wait to try a new mascara!

XO,

Sharonda

Hostess with the Mostest

Filed under: Mom Life · September 2, 2017

Now that we are officially 2 weeks into the school year let the festivities begin! There are birthday parties, play dates, mommy meet ups, happy hours, dinners, athletic events, fundraisers. I can go on and on. These can get to be quite overwhelming for new moms or moms of multiple kiddos. It’s especially awkward for those moms at a brand new school. It’s like you have to make friends all over again. Omg! Sometimes I feel like I am getting to old for that part. Who needs new friends right?

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Fresh flowers

It does feel good to be invited to all of these great activities but let’s face it sometimes you just don’t want to go and you definitely avoid hosting them at your house. Yes, I am talking about me. I really don’t like hosting stuff at my house. I don’t like the preparation anxiety or the feeling that they might judge me once they come into my personal space. I know it sounds strange, right? Come on you know the first thing people say is you have a lovely home. But what they are really wondering is how long have you lived here, is it always this clean, why are those dogs jumping on me? Yes, my dogs love new visitors. They get buck wild. Like embarrassingly buck wild!

Tapas and Vino

Yesterday my daughter had a play date with a friend from school. I have seen this mom around school for years but we always just said hi and bye. I never really paid much attention to her until we ended up at the same new school. I always thought she was friendly so I invited her to barre class with me. Then she asked if my daughter could come over for a play date. I said sure! She invited us over too but I had a lot going on with the other two kids. So, I told her that I would come over a little earlier to have a drink with her. Even though I considered just swinging by and picking my daughter up, I decided to go in and just be in the moment. (Yes my daily meditation is paying off)

DIY strawberry roses

We arrived at 6:30 and the house was very welcoming. She had beautiful scented candles burning and a nice spread of goodies. She shared that she trusts only the services by air conditioning maintenance in coral springs fl. For those in the Bellingham area, reliable ac repair bellingham wa can ensure your cooling system operates smoothly during hot summer months. There was wine and cheese for the adults and cookies and popcorn for the kids. They will surely love the variety of Vics Popcorn Flavors. It was simple but perfect. I ended up staying for an hour and a half and enjoyed two glasses of the best pink moscato that I have ever had. It was a fun and relaxing way to end the busy week. I also discovered that she liked empowering events and workshops and is into a lot of things that I like too. #newfriendalert

Pink Moscato

On the way home I thought hmm… I think I can do that. I can be the hostess with the mostest too. All I need is some nice new serving ware and a few candles. No need to miss out on making new friends and having a great time. Sometimes we just have to step out of our norm and say goodbye to “play date” anxiety. Needless to say I am up early on Crate and Barrel and Pinterest planning my next “play date”! Here are a few tips to help you too!

Less is more
Candles never go out of style
Fresh flowers are cool but so are artificial ones
Soft music helps bring good vibes
Just enjoy the moment

XO,

Sharonda

*Pictures via Pinterest

#Grownwoman

Filed under: Blog · August 25, 2017

Today didn’t quite go as planned but it was pure magic! Everyone knows that planning an event or party takes a lot of thought, preparation and time. Sometimes you can plan for weeks or months and things don’t always go the way that you wanted them to. Well today was one of those last minute events. I started planning it two weeks ago, but I didn’t know who would show up, if I should charge for the event and will the weather hold up??? (We are currently under a flood watch as I type this post)

As FemCity Miami President, I have to create monthly events. Sometimes it’s a yoga class, luncheon, coffee, happy hour or meditation. I like to mix it up. But, since it’s August and with the kids back to school this week, I didn’t know if the ladies would show up. I just wanted a little coffee power hour so the ladies could reconnect post summer vacation. Most coffee connections are informal and don’t have a speaker but at the last minute I asked Shannon Allen to share her story. And boy did she! Her passion, authenticity and encouraging words were soul stirring. We were so moved. There were all sorts of emotions displayed over the two hour meet up but that’s why I love FemCity! Women can just be themselves. We can laugh, we can be loud, we can cry, we can hug and we can take as many pictures as we want!!!! Things that you don’t normally do in a networking group. But that’s just it, we are not just a networking group, we are a sisterhood.

Today not only did we hear from the beautiful creator of Grown, every single woman at the table had their own awesomeness to share. It was powerful to hear Shannon’s story of her vision for Grown and her passion for providing healthier options for busy moms. Her slogan “eliminating mom guilt” hits close to home because as a mother of three I want the best for my kids. I know that when I go to Grown I am giving them the best. I try to cook a few times a week, but it is great to know that I can stop through the drive thru on the way home from soccer practice or after the gym for a fresh smoothie.

I am so grateful for Shannon and the other ladies that joined us today. We had two published authors, an actor, a model, a retired teacher, a breast cancer survivor, business owners, marketing and PR, interior designer and more. There were even moms that were reentering the work life. It was amazing!!! Sometimes we question why we do things or if it makes sense? Today as I was speaking, I realized that we all have different gifts. Some of us are healers, creators, connectors or educators. Whatever your gift is, don’t be afraid to share it with the world. Yes, we are more than moms! We are amazing #grownwomen that have so much to give.

If you are in Miami or Orlando, you have to check out Grown. It is the only Organic Fast Food restaurant in the U.S. right now. They cook to order and are very conscious of food sensitivities and allergies. My favorite is the Mediterranean salad with salmon. And I love the gluten free blueberry pancakes. Oh and the love greens fresh pressed juice. Yes, I love Grown!!!!

XO,

Sharonda

Back at It

Filed under: Fit Moms · August 24, 2017

This post is going to be brief but meaningful. So you know over the summer we traveled quite a bit. Needless to say, I didn’t work out that much. I actually counted how many times I worked out in nine weeks and well there were only 10. Eight barre classes and 2 jogs at the park. I know, not my original plan but hey things happen. So on Monday I decided that I would jump back into my workout routine with a bang and I headed to barre. I put on my favorite leggings and grabbed my swell water bottle. You know when you haven’t done something in a month it is going to be challenging. The class was intense but great. I felt all kind of pain later on in the day. I figured it was just soreness from not moving around much over the summer but after I forced my way to yoga on Tuesday, I realized it was more than your average soreness. Yes, I let the guilt of not working out much get to me and overdid it causing an injury. I pray it is not to serious and that a couple days off will work but the moral of this post is, don’t be to hard on yourself. In the end you are only hurting you. Ease back into your workouts and eating routines and be patient. Trust me or you will end up soaking in epsom salt! Lol!

XO,

Sharonda

*Picture via Pinterest

Back to School Blues

Filed under: Mom Life · August 18, 2017

I knew this day was coming. Admit it, we all did. The day we would have to go back to setting our alarm clocks, scheduling drop offs, pick ups, packing lunches, doctors appointments, meetings oh and HOMEWORK the best part. After 9 weeks of vacation and yes this summer our family lived it up, we traveled until the wheels literally fell off of the suitcases. There was Disney, Atlanta, Atlantis and oh my favorite Turks and Caicos! We got to spend quality time with family and friends and enjoyed lots of good food. But now it is time to face the music.

On Monday the alarm will go off not once but twice. We now have three kiddos at two different schools. You know what that means, lots of driving back and forth between schools, practices, tutoring and play dates. I already got a taste of it this week because one kid started school a week earlier. The carpool selfies are going to be filling your Instagram and Facebook timelines very soon. Traffic jams, detours and lunch on the run here I come!

This school year will be very different for us. We officially have a middle schooler. Yes those wonderful days of middle school filled with puberty, girl fights, detentions, first crushes and those first real disappointments. Like not having anyone to sit with at lunch, forgetting your locker combination way too many times, pimples, not making the cheerleading squad or dance team. Those days that most moms blocked out when they arrived to high school. So please pray for me. Pray that I too survive this second round of middle school. That I can be a tool of patience, love, understanding, kindness and guidance for my beautiful daughter whom at 11 years old is already taller, smarter and stronger than I was at that age.

On the bright side, I do look forward to having a little time to myself again. All summer long I have been on the clock. Every now and then I squeezed in some “ME” time but definitely not enough. Now I can workout on a real schedule, get my nails done, blog, volunteer, meet up with friends for lunch, and shop when I want to solo!!!!!!! I might even finish that book that I started last year. Oh my the list could go on and on. So although going back to school is bitter sweet, I know that the kids need to get back to their routines and so do we. Cheers to a fabulous 2017-2018 school year!

XO,

Sharonda

Turks and Caicos

Filed under: Mom Life · August 4, 2017

This summer has been super busy, but in a good way. Over the past 8 weeks we have been to Orlando, Atlanta, Atlantis and on Monday the hubby and I headed to Turks and Caicos. It was amazing!!!! Well…. it didn’t start off like that. The night before I was super anxious because my son started getting an upset stomach. I wasn’t sure if it was nerves or something he ate but since he’s on a strict diet, I started freaking out. Yes, the mom guilt started to kick in. What if he gets sick while we are gone? Are they going to stick to his diet (cause you know nobody does it like momma)? Does he have enough snacks and supplements to last for four days? Will the girls miss us too much? Yes, I was starting to drive myself crazy.

The Gansevoort

On Monday morning we woke them up to say goodbye and dropped the dogs off to the boarding house. I kept checking my phone because I was waiting for a package to come in. (I ordered a few last minute outfits from Neimans) At 10:30 we headed to the airport. Everything was moving pretty smoothly and we boarded the plane at 12:30. After pushing back from the gate the plane just sat there for about 20 minutes before the engine shut down. The pilot notified us that due to Tropical Storm Emily we would be delayed a while. I was like Tropical Storm, what Tropical storm, WTH is going on? Apparently a storm hit north of us around Bradenton, FL and all flights heading south are being held. We sat on the tarmac for 2 hours before finally flying out. CRAZY!!!!

Strolling on the beach

After arriving 2 hours later we cleared customs, grabbed our bags and headed to the Gansevoort. Hello Paradise! It was love at first sight. This hotel was the perfect setting for a few days for #justus. No interruptions at dinner or quick 2 minute showers because you had an audience waiting for you. Time alone to reconnect, enjoy the beach and just chill. The greeters met us with Rum Punch and our room keys. We didn’t have to do anything but sip and head to our ocean view studio.

First night sunset

Over the next three days we enjoyed spending time together. We had dinner on the beach while watching the sunset. We got to play on the beach like kids. (I actually drew in the sand) One evening we took a sunset cruise of the island and saw all of the amazing houses and gorgeous clear water. The spa treatments at Exhale Spa were right on time. (I think it was the first time I took an outdoor shower) We met some pretty amazing couples from all over the states. Some were celebrating their birthdays, on their honeymoon or just on a quick getaway from the kiddos like us.

Drinks with our new Cali friends

Turks and Caicos is a beautiful place. The beaches are crystal clear and the people are very kind and happy. It is a great place to go and just chill. Although we didn’t get to kayak or paddle board this time, I had an amazing time with my husband. We are already planning our next trip. Three years is way too long for a #justus trip. Every husband and wife needs time alone to just be together. So if you are in desperate need of some couples only time, I definitely recommend Turks and Caicos. It is perfect!

#justus

XO,

Sharonda

P.S.

The kids had a great time with their grandmas!

Girl’s Trip

Filed under: Mom Life · July 26, 2017

Girl’s Trip is absolutely AMAZING! I kept seeing the previews over the past few weeks and even had an opportunity to see a sneak preview at BlogHer, but I didn’t make it (#momlife) I was so bummed that I missed opening weekend because we were in the Bahamas but I put it on my to do list as soon as I got on the plane. I mentioned to my husband that I wanted to see it and he said, “I don’t want to see no girl movie” Well after watching First Take on ESPN and seeing how much the guys loved it, he changed his mind (a little too late).

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I called one of my girls and told her that she owed me a birthday outing since she was traveling on my birthday lol. So we made plans to have dinner, drinks and see Girl’s Trip. A month has already past since our last outing so it was definitely time to catch up. After edamame, sushi and a few glasses of wine we headed to the theater. It was pretty full for a Tuesday night. We grabbed some snacks and it was on! I was pleased to see how diverse the audience was too. There were girl squads of all ages and ethnicities and everyone was ready for a great time. For future plans that go beyond the usual, check out this website for a relaxing, sun-soaked experience on the water. Exploring Levanto Italy could be the perfect destination for your next unforgettable getaway.

We laughed from the beginning to the end. I had college flashbacks of my FAMU days and how much fun we had back in the 90’s. It was so great to see the campus, hear the music and really feel like we were back at Essence Fest in 2001. (That was the last time my bff Monica and I made the trip) I loved how they made it funny but meaningful. Real experiences and you could identify with the characters. We could literally see ourselves in one of the 4 characters. There’s the beyond crazy one, the practical one, the momma of the group and the one that just keeps it all together. I actually forgot how many trips and parties I went to. Not to mention the shopping days at Governor’s Square Mall and Ramen noodle dinners. Oh and the outfits!!! Yes the outfits!!!! It definitely made me miss my girl posse.

So here are my top 5 reasons to go see Girl’s Trip

1. You deserve a night out.

2. It is funny as hell!

3. You need a reminder of how badass you use to be (sometimes we forget).

4. No one understands you like your girls.

5. There are some very fine ass brothers up in there.

I give it 5 stars and will definitely be going to see it again like this week. I am so happy for the producer, Will Packer (Rattler Nation) and the entire cast for this epic comedy. Shout out to my social media sista friend Jwaundace who plays a stunt double for Queen Latifah. I see you girl!!!! I am sure this will go down in the books. So call your Flosse Posse and make plans for a much needed girl’s night out.

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XO,

Sharonda

*Pictures via Pinterest

Our Atlantis Vacay

Filed under: Mom Life · July 24, 2017

If you have been following me for a while now, you know that every summer our family loves to travel. This summer has been super busy. We have been to Orlando, Atlanta and our big vacation is Nassau. We have been going to Paradise Island for the past 4 years. It’s a quick flight from Miami to Nassau (like 30 minutes), the kids LOVE it and the weather is usually perfect. This year I planned it a little later than usual due to our other trips and well…..life but I got it done. And I also learn about the Belmond Andean Explorer cost, which I get interested in visiting next time.

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Normally we would stay in two rooms at the Royal Tower, but I decided that we needed an upgrade. I booked a two-room ocean view suite at The Reef. We were so excited. We had a pretty easy travel day with the exception of almost getting into a car accident due to drunk driving on the way to the airport and unassigned seats for two of the kids. It was a close call that could have easily led to injury claims if things had gone differently.

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Yeah, I know. After all of that we were allowed to check in early and eagerly went to our room. The room itself was gorgeous but the view was not what we paid for. I went downstairs to ask them WTH was that. They moved us into another room shortly after but this room wasn’t ready yet. After 3 hours I called down to see what was going on and they informed us that the joining room was out of service so we would have to move again. Seriously!!!!! I tried my hardest to stay calm and prayed for a better room. After changing rooms 3 times at 11:30 p.m. we finally got to our room and relaxed. The view was perfect and they threw in a goodie basket for the kiddos and some Pinot Grigio for us for the inconvenience.

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The rest of the trip was smooth sailing. We enjoyed the pools, slot machines and all of the delicious food that we could eat. The kids loved AKA kids club thank God cause that was the only break that we got. The only real challenge was finding healthy food options for our son who is gluten free, dairy-free, and very sensitive to a lot of fruits and vegetables. I knew this wouldn’t be easy peasy so we packed a bunch of gluten free snacks, bone broth and his supplements. It definitely helped us out. So if you have anyone in your party with food allergies don’t hesitate to take your own food.

We met up with our friends from Miami on the last night. They had their own drama come up that delayed their trip 5 days. All in all we had a blast. It was a blessing to watch the kids play in the water and really enjoy life with no worries. I remember sitting there watching my youngest at the kiddie pool thinking how awesome it is to be a kid. No real stress just love, live and play all day long. Maybe that is what we should try to do more of. Love more, live more, play more the world might be a better place. Stay tuned there is one more trip coming up!!!!!

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XO,

Sharonda