Sporty Mommas

Five tips to Create Work-Life balance

Filed under: Mom Life ·

Let’s face it as women we always have to get things done. We run our homes, businesses family schedules, and social lives and that by itself can be pretty exhausting. Then you add in the additional daily stressors of the world and those unpredictable events and well that often leads to burnout. But it doesn’t have to!

First, I want you to close your eyes and take a long deep breath. Now Exhale. Now picture exactly what you want your life to look like. Think about it for a minute. Now write down exactly how you want your life to be. How do you want to feel? Who’s in it? I firmly believe that if we write it down and say it out loud we are taking the first step towards living the life that we want. To further promote relaxation, you can also consume that CBD Oil.

Here are five tips that I use to create more work life balance as a busy mompreneur of three! Feel free to share your favorite tips in the comments.

Say No

  1. Say no to the things that no longer serve you. This can be relationships, jobs, fear, envy, negative self talk etc. Make a list of the top three things that drain your energy. Circle the first one. Now ask yourself is this worth it? If the answer is no well there you go. Example: volunteering to be on every committee 

2.  Create a schedule and stick to it. As an entrepreneur I feel like I am always on. A few years ago I started office hours and I only schedule appointments, meetings, business lunches etc during those hours. This gives me more time with my family.

Delegate

3. Delegate: Consider hiring a housekeeper or virtual assistant with tasks that you really don’t have time to do. If you believe your employer is being unfair to you by assigning you tasks that are outside of your expertise, an employment lawyer can talk to you about labor law resources in Oregon.

4. Movement: Move your body at least 30 minutes daily. This helps relieve stress, burns calories and is great for your immune system. Some examples are Yoga, walking, dancing, ….

5. Do what you love! If we focus on our jobs and never make time to play and do things that we are passionate about we aren’t really living.  

“You can’t do a good job if your job is all that you do.” 

How to plan the perfect Summer date night: Picnic Style

Filed under: Mom Life ·

It’s no secret that this summer has been challenging. I think everyone that I know is having a quarantine birthday party this year due to Covid. Well I am here to tell you that just because we are experiencing a new normal doesn’t mean that we can’t make the best of it. Besides the famous birthday parade how about planning the ultimate birthday picnic! The best part about it is that you don’t need a reason to have a picnic.

Black Girl Magic Wines

Since we are much safer at home, I decided to try a birthday picnic. I found the cutest picnic set with everything that we needed for the perfect date. This backpack comes with a blanket, plates, plastic glasses, napkins and utensils. The best thing about it is that we didn’t even have to leave our backyard. All you need is a blanket, little wine and cheese, some fresh fruit and your significant other and tada…you have the perfect picnic.

Fruit and Cheese platter

Must Have Picnic Items

  1. Blanket
  2. Wine
  3. Cheese
  4. Fruit tray or snacks
  5. Music
  6. Disposable dinnerware

Your favorite Wine glasses!

Have you tried the Black Girl Magic Wines yet? This Riesling from the McBride Sisters is amazing. The McBride Sisters are two black women who turned their passion for wine into the largest African American winery in the United States. I have purchased a few bundles as birthday gifts for friends. Trust me they will love them. (Target and most wine and spirit stores carry them too)

Oh and you can shop my picnic style below!

Hope this helps you plan the perfect picnic!

XO,

Sharonda

Summer Beauty Faves

Filed under: Fashion ·

The summer is officially here and boy is it hot. Last week the heat index was 108 degrees in Miami. When the weather is this warm nobody wants to put on tons of heavy makeup. So I thought I would share some of my favorite beauty products that help me look great during these hot summer days. These products are great for beach days too. Most of them are waterproof. FYI: I completed my look below in under 5 minutes while on vacation in Turks. You ladies know that we barely have time to get dressed so we need all of the hacks that we can get,  lol.

 

Phase 1:

The first step is cleansing with charcoal soap.

Moisturizing is a must I use Josie Maran whipped butter and add a few drops of face oil 1 from Beautycounter

SuperGoop Sunscreen is fantastic. It can be used as a primer and sunscreen. Since I turned 40 last year I have made more of an effort to use sunscreen daily. Do you apply sunscreen before your makeup?

Phase 2: 

Becca Blur Foundation in Sienna

Anastasia Brow Filler 

Fenty kilawatt bronzer

Fenty Glass bomb in shimmering rose nude

Makeup setting Spray– All Nighter by Urban Decay

 

P.S. If you are feeling a little sassy add a red lipstick. That will take your glow to a whole different level!

 

XO,

Sharonda

 

The Salty Donut

Filed under: Mom Life ·

Have you heard the big news? The Salty Donut just opened it’s newest location in South Miami. I kept seeing posts on Instagram about the Wynwood location but I had never actually been. Well guys I have another confession… I have a sweet tooth and a love for trying new things so I could not wait to see what the Salty Donut had to offer. The Salty Donut is a family-owned artisan donut shop. It is known as “More than a donut shop”. All of their items are chef-made and created in small batches with the freshest ingredients.  They even have a gluten free option!!! My son was so thrilled when I told him the news.

 

On Friday I tried to get a taste but the line was insane. I actually drove by the location more than once, but the line was wrapped around the side of the building.   A friend of mine posted that she waited in line over an hour for her fix.  My daughter and I were in line at 5:15 p.m. and the hostess came out to tell us that they only had 18 donuts left for the day and there were 20 people in front of us. Talk about a bummer!!! Last night I had three dreams about donuts so I woke up early Saturday morning and tried my luck again. After 10 minutes in line chatting with a lovely lady and her mom who filled me in on the #cronut, I walked out with some goodies for the Stew Crew. Have you ever heard of a Cinnamon Toast Crunch latte? It was like a trip bak to the 90’s!!!

 

I left the shop with a variety box. But the focus was on the Cronut. A cronut is a mixture of a croissant and a donut and let me tell you that this was a work of art. It was crispy, airy, rich and creamy all at the same time. Like magic. It says that it was only offered on their grand opening weekend but I hope that they bring it back. I just might wait an hour in line to get another one of those. If you make it over soon please let me know what you think. Hey we might even do a Sporty Mommas Connect over Cinnamon Toast Crunch Lattes soon! How would you all like that?

 

XOXO,

Sharonda

Fashionista Friday: Sporty Chic Inspiration

Filed under: Fashion, Mom Life ·

Can you believe that it is March already? I can’t. The only thing that I can say is that I am super excited about Spring Break. But other than that the days are going by a little too fast for me. Well March is Women’s History month so I wanted to kick off the month with a few of my favorite quotes from a few of my favorite badass women entrepreneurs. Did you know that Women’s History month traces all the way back to the first International Women’s Day in 1911? In 1978, the school district of Sonoma, California participated in Women’s History Week but it wasn’t until 1987 that congress designated the month of March as Women’s History Month. Salute to all of the amazing women that came before us and let’s continue to uplift and support the amazing women in our lives. What are some of your favorite quotes?

 

 

“Nothing beats a failure but a try”

Rosemary J.

 

 

“You get in life what you have the courage to ask for”

Oprah Winfrey

 

 

“Beauty begins the moment you decide to be yourself”

Co Co Chanel

 

XOXO,

Sharonda

Give yourself a break

Filed under: Mom Life ·

The other day I was speaking with one of my mom friends just chatting it up about life. You know how the conversation goes…how are you, how are the kids, what are you up to these days. Same ole, same ole. But after talking for a few minutes, she noticed that I seemed somewhat frustrated. She was right. So once I started sharing my true feelings and let it all out she made me feel so much better by saying that she could relate to what I was going through.

 

Most of you may not know that I was a teacher before getting married and having a family. When I went off to college I had already buried my dream of being an actress. (That’s another blog post) I decided that I could be a pediatrician and help save children. Then, I wanted to be a pediatric pharmacist.  However, after failing organic chemistry twice, I decided to teach cause I could still help save kids and not have to take out anymore student loans, lol. The message is that I never planned on being a SAHM! I am sure most of you SAHM didn’t either. Don’t get me wrong, I love it. It is a blessing to be able to be home with them and attend every possible activity in my power. But what happens when the kids get older and don’t need you as much? Then what? It’s something that I think more and more women are discussing these days. I think it was Glenn Close’s Golden Globes speech that really struck a nerve. She shared the story of how her mom at 80 felt like she hadn’t accomplished anything in life even though she kept up her home, raised amazing kids, grandchildren and supported her husband. She felt empty.

 

 

What I learned from that was that it is never too late to start to follow your dreams and do the things that you love. You may miss a game or two. You may not be able to host parent meetings at your house or attend every field trip but it is okay. You have to find personal fulfillment and follow your own dreams too. So, if you are beating yourself up over not being where you want to be… give yourself a break. You are doing an amazing job and the kids will one day appreciate that you did your own thing too. Take small steps towards your dreams but just keep stepping. I am writing these words to you guys but also to myself. For years I have suffered from severe mommy guilt. Fear of missing my daughter’s  first 20 point game or my son’s game winning shot. Not being there when they call home sick or so busy that I can’t be there for homework, activities or doctors appointments. But, I am learning each day to give myself a break and I hope that you will too. Here are three of my favorite affirmations to remind you of your greatness and if you want something, go for it! YOLO! (You only live once)

 

 

 

XO,

Sharonda

January Lovin’

Filed under: Mom Life ·

Can you believe that January is almost over? It seems like every time that I blink it is Friday. But hey I am not complaining at all. This year is off to a very hectic start and to be honest with you all I am just trying to keep my sh%t together. I have been decorating part of our home for almost a year now but you can’t really tell. Everything is moving so slow. I have window treatments up in one room, missing in another, the bar cabinets are missing and well there’s stuff everywhere.  I have hired two interior designers since March and well things just never seem to go as planned. But I guess that is how life goes. I am learning to be patient and to trust my gut. (Side bar: I should have ordered the sofa back in September lol)

 

On a happier note, I have decided to read a book a month and I am proud to say that I am on my second book of 2019 already! I am currently reading “The Subtle Art of Not Giving a f$ck by Mark Manson. It is not exactly how it sounds and even though I am only on Chapter 3, I highly recommend it.  I also challenged myself to try one new thing every few months and this month I took a boxing class at Sucker Punch Gym. The boxing and fitness studio is fairly new and located near the Falls. They offer personal training, boxing, spinning, yoga and there is a fully equipped gym located next door. It was so much better than I thought it would be and I must admit that I felt a huge sense of freedom punching the hell out of the bag. Have you ever tried boxing?

 

 

 

I hope that your week was amazing and I want to encourage you to do something for yourself this weekend.  Maybe book a spa day, take a class or buy yourself a new pair of undies cause I know we mommas are always looking out for everyone else. (You deserve new undies too) Here are a few other things that I am loving this month. Let me know if you have tried any of them.  Have a fabulous weekend!!!!

 

Must Have Makeup:  Becca Ultimate Concealer

 

 

Favorite Scent: Louis Vuitton Attrape-Reves

 

 

 

Designer: Marchesa’s designs have caught my eye over the past month. I love the bright colors, lace and flair these days. Normally I would never wear something like this but this is the year of trying new things!!!!

 

XO,

Sharonda

Change of plans 2019

Filed under: Mom Life ·

Happy New Year ladies!!!! I hope that your 2019 is off to a great start. Did you write down your goals, make a vision board, or sign up for a new gym membership yet? That is what we tend to do every year. On January 1st we come out swinging ready to take on the world. And there’s nothing stopping us, right? Until about two weeks later we realized that those excuses that we thought we buried are still nagging us telling us that we can’t do it. 

 

So this year I decided to try something new. I am not making any goals… yet. I am going to rest and give myself time to recover from the kids being home for 2 weeks. I am going to declutter my closet, clean out my makeup drawer, wallet, the locker room (aka the trunk of my car) and just chill. Because the truth is I am exhausted and I need more time to get my shit together. My mom says that I always had a plan growing up. Well ladies, I have no plan. I am just looking forward to getting back on a real schedule.

 

 

I have started my list of must read books for 2019. Over the break I purchased Jen Sincero: You are a Badass Every Day. It is a daily motivation book to remind you of your bad ass self! When I mentioned it on Facebook a friend told me to get the green book. So I decided to get the audio copy of You are a Badass at Making Money. The audio is working out pretty good for me. I realized that since I spend so much time in my car I can probably finish it in less than a week. (I’m already on Chapter 4) Now that I am thinking about it I should have gotten Michelle Obama’s book on audio too cause I have been stuck on page 101 for a month. #momlife 

So please don’t feel bad if you haven’t set goals or made a vision board yet, just do it when you are ready. Well that’s it for now. I am going to chill, sip on some Kombucha and finish listening to Jen tell me that I am a badass so I can keep creating badass stuff and make some money in 2019. 

 

XO,

Sharonda 

 

P.S.

Amazon has a free 14 day trial of Audible if you want to give Audio books a try. : )

Pictures for a Cause

Filed under: Fashion ·

A few months ago a Facebook friend reached out to me about an upcoming opportunity to give back and of course I had to say yes. This was not your average fundraiser it involved photoshoots, glam teams, and families that were affected by the horrific MSD shooting that took place last February in Parkland, FL. Our sessions gave others the opportunity to get pampered for the day and making some special memories with their loved ones. By participating in this event not only did I get some beautiful photos, I met some amazing people with huge hearts. So here are a few of my favorites and some behind the scenes shots from this very special shoot. A special shout out to Kristie Montrois and Priscilla Birro for working their magic! By the way if you have never had a photo shoot just for you, you should! Most of us are always taking pictures of the kids and we never get good pictures of ourselves.

 

 


 

 

 

XO,

Sharonda

Just Bee Queen

Filed under: Fashion ·

I had an amazing time in Aruba with my hubby last week. (More pictures and vacation tips coming soon) But while we were there I got to wear one of my favorite new skirts. This tulum skirt from “Just Bee Queen” was a head turning, show stopper, had people whispering as I walked by type of piece. I love it because it is unique, custom fitted to my curves and one of a kind. The fabric was handpicked by designer and owner Maria Strauss. She loves traveling all over the world finding unique fabrics and inspiration.

 

 

The best part about this piece was that I wore it on a catamaran cruise and to dinner at BLT Steakhouse at the Ritz Carlton and it was so chic. Just Bee Queen is known for their one of a kind up cycled sustainable clothing. Maria believes in empowering women through fashion. You can customize your Tulum skirt in your favorite color combinations. It usually takes 2-4 weeks depending on the size of the order. I also love her one of a kind military jackets. I always travel with mine. Learn more about this fabulous woman owned business at justbeequeen.com!

 

 

Just Bee KIND to the environment.- Upcycle/Recycle!

Just Bee STRONG with your resolutions – Stand up for what is Right!

Just Bee YOU – Because you are Unique!

 

 

 

XO,

Sharonda