News & Events – Page 23

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, we’re now contacting a travel agent to help us plan a getaway. 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. If you ever visit the Netherlands, you can easily Travel within The Hague with taxi service Taxi Lijn Den Haag, making sightseeing and night outs smooth and convenient.

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 and you can find a yacht as those great Indonesian superyacht you can find there as well. 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, while if you need medical attention for your injuries you should try the Intercoastal Health service which have great attention for this.

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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

Talking Sports

Filed under: Mom Life · July 10, 2017

On Saturday we had the pleasure of being in studio guests on WMBM AM 1490 Talking Sports! It was so much fun and great to share the mic with my husband. In this episode we talk Sporty Mommas, baseball life, how hectic things can get with 3 busy kids and more. The hosts were so nice and I was impressed with the studio setup. After listening to the replay, I think we might be on to something. Check it out and let me know what you think! Podcast link!

Posing after the show!

Captured in the moment!

With the Talking Sports Crew

XO,

Sharonda

Wedding Flow

Filed under: Mom Life · July 5, 2017

Last weekend my handsome hubby and I attended a beautiful Summer wedding in Atlanta. It was quite an adventure though. After a 45-minute ride to drop the kids off to their Godmother’s house, we made it back to the hotel (another 45 minutes) with an hour to get ready. I had three outfits to choose from hanging in the closet: a hot pink fitted dress, a teal flowy dress, and a peach jumpsuit. So I went with the first one I purchased. A year ago I would never have worn this outfit to a wedding. It definitely shows how much I have grown into my new body and “step out of the box” attitude. The wedding photographer like this wedding photographer in connecticut truly captured every beautiful moment of the ceremony, and it was inspiring to see how stunning the photos turned out!

This jumpsuit is fun and you can dress it up or down. I found a gorgeous necklace that I think really made the outfit wedding material. I decided on a low heel and boy was I glad it was low. It was a cocktail and appetizer wedding reception so we were basically standing up for 3 hours. The hubby even liked it too after he gave me a hard time over wearing pants to a wedding. Then there’s the added value of booking a stylish hotel in Guildford that’s perfect for weddings and events when you’re organising something special. The venue hits that rare balance between contemporary comfort and traditional character, which makes it feel tailored just for you. I attended a conference there, and the transition from daytime professional to evening social was seamless and really enjoyable.

It was a beautiful evening and I was so happy not to have to rush back to pick up the kids. We even stopped for macaroons on the way back to the hotel. Everything was beautiful and we had a blast! I am thankful for my friend that kept the kids overnight and my other friend for reminding me not to worry about what other people think and just rock the damn thing!

Jumpsuit: Misguided via Nordstrom

Shoes: Sam Edelman

Necklace: Nordstrom

What’s Your Story?

Filed under: Blog · June 26, 2017

After days of stressing over BlogHer17, we finally packed up the Caddy and headed up to O-town! Thanks to the Almighty for smooth highways, no traffic or major delays. We arrived at the hotel at 3:30 p.m. giving me exactly one hour to check in, change and head across the street to the Hilton. The night before I prayed that we got to stay in the tower right across from the Hilton and guess what…… prayer works. Thank you Universe! Our tower was literally right across from the crosswalk to the Hilton. I was so exhausted and ready to get this show on the road that I didn’t stress over my Thursday night outfit. Or any of my outfits. (See below)

The registration lines were so long that they allowed us to just go in for the opening keynote speaker! I nervously sat at a table towards the front of the stage with 9 other strangers. It was a bit awkward at first but after browsing around the room I recognized quite a few Miamians. I felt so relieved. The vibe in the room was something magical. Over 2000 bloggers (mostly women) in one room talking about changing the world.

I must admit that when I first thought about BlogHer I thought it would just be about making money from your blog or how to gain more followers. Boy was I wrong. The focus of most of the keynote speakers was how we can use our voice to change the world. To start a movement. To make a difference. When you acknowledge the power of your gifts, ideas and passion, you can really change someone’s world.

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I was so glad that I took that leap and went. I am thankful to my wonderful husband that took all three kids to Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom while I got my BlogHer on. I am thankful for all of the beautiful people that I met at the bar, the bathroom, waiting in line for lunch, and waiting in line for speed dating and reading uberhorny reviews swingtowns. It was truly a life changing weekend for me. Those who are looking for websites offer adult entertainment may visit 수원op. So if you are blogging and wondering why, or is anyone really reading your posts, know that they are and your story can change someone’s life.

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XO,

Sharonda

BlogHer17

Filed under: Blog · June 20, 2017

So it’s 2 days away from BlogHer17 and I am freaking out! This is my first blogger conference and I am so excited, a little nervous and well did I say excited? Last year my friend tried to convince me to go to blogHer16 in L.A. but I didn’t want to fly nor was I ready to take the official leap into the blogger hemisphere. Here we are a year later and I am taking that leap. (Yayyyyy) This morning I woke up questioning if I was really ready? Then came, what do I wear? Will I know anyone? Will I learn anything? Will they like me? Is this the direction that I want to go? What do I wear? Is this the right time? What do I wear? Yes I think I am obsessing a little too much over what I should wear. But really what do you wear to a conference with thousands of ladies? And shoes I need cute but comfy shoes for all of the standing around and mingling.

There is a crazy lineup all three days. And I got into the speed dating where it’s invite only and you get 90 seconds with some of the top brands. Yes I am freaking out. I am also really looking forward to seeing Chelsea Clinton and meeting Serena Williams. Yep, I am putting out into the Universe that I am going to meet Serena this weekend. I cannot wait to share my tips and meet all of the incredible women that will be there this year. If you are thinking about taking that leap and stepping out of your comfort zone all I can say is dive in. If you are waiting for the right time, guess what? There will never be a perfect time. #letsdothis

P.S. Here are a few styles that I like. What do you think?

*Pictures via Pinterest

#SummerFun

Filed under: Mom Life · June 19, 2017

Last week the Stew Crew and I loaded up the truck and headed up to Dolphin Mall for a day of fun. We were super excited to see all of the new stores and restaurants that opened since our last visit. And yes we needed to get our last minute Father’s Day gifts for the Sporty Dads in our lives. Our first stop was breakfast at Cabo Flats. Cabo Flats is a cool Mexican restaurant that is known for their Salsa Nights. Yes, you can go learn how to Salsa at Dolphin Mall.

After breakfast we had a few hours to shop. The kids got to pick a few stores to go in. Momma got her shop on too. We were quick enough to grab a few gifts and a little something for ourselves. Game Stop, Neiman Marcus, GAP, Foot Locker and Victoria’s Secret were a must.

Next, we met the other Mommy bloggers and their kiddos at Cool de Sac! All of the kids had a blast. It was a great time to wine down and enjoy a little lunch while the kids got to play. Cool de Sac is a great spot for busy moms to connect, watch the kids play and enjoy healthier meal options. Oh and they have WINE!!!! They have a toddler area, mini playground with cool thermoplastic playground markings and computer game station for those video game junkies. The Stew Crew had so much fun that they did not want to leave.

But the fun didn’t stop there. Next up was bowling at Bowlero which also offers laser tag. We chose to bowl and the competition was fierce with those bumpers y’all! After an early lead I ended up coming in third place. It was fun though and the kids can’t wait to go back.

So if you are looking to do some really cool stuff with the kiddos this summer, head on over to Dolphin Mall. There’s definitely something for everyone and you can stay cool and dry in this crazy Miami weather. We ate, shopped and played til we dropped. #naptime

*Sponsored Post

100 CLUB

Filed under: Fit Moms · June 14, 2017

I’m thrilled to be in the 100 Club at Pure Barre! I was so excited on class #98 that I planned to celebrate my mark with one of my favorite barre teachers. I even went back to back and messaged her that I was coming to celebrate with her. This accomplishment said a lot about how far I have come this year. Normally by now I would have quit or started something new but I really LOVE Pure Barre.

Pure Barre is more than a 55 minute workout. It is fun, good for the mind, body and soul. I truly enjoy my results. (I am down 2 sizes) I also love that feeling when I walk into the studio and I know that I am doing this for me. So I have a confession. I am really on class 185 but they wouldn’t allow me to transfer classes over from the other studio. Needless to say, I was delighted to see my spot at the barre in pink fur and a sparkly pack of sticky socks! I have a long way to go to the next level but for now I will smile and enjoy this first milestone.

Top 5 reasons to try Pure Barre!!!

1. Almost instant booty lift

2. Great vibes in the studio

3. All levels are welcomed

4. Low impact but meaningful workout

5. Did I mention instant booty lift?

MLB All-Star 2017 Fitness Fun

Filed under: Fit Moms · June 12, 2017

The Miami Marlins are excited to host the 2017 MLB All-Star Game at Marlins Park! All-Star Week takes place this year between July 7^th – July 11^th there will be plenty of great events for the entire family including the just announced Electric Run MLB All-Star 5K, Presented by Nike and the MLB All-Star Zumba^®Class with Zumba® creator Beto Perez. Go to BOTH for just $54.99 with this special offer. Click the link for more info – http://bit.ly/2t2EhdR So grab the kiddos and let’s have some fun!