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Chirag Diyora
Summer means dresses, BBQs, the beach, bike riding, and of course…ice cream! I personally love ice cream (and yummy sweets of all kinds), so I try to make good choices so I can enjoy them without feeling overly guilty.
While in Amsterdam, Dan (the hubby) and I found a place with the BEST strawberry milkshake ever (see image above)! We did indulge, but now that I’m home I’m trying to feel bikini ready and need to hit the reset button on my food intake! Ha!
If you want a MUCH healthier sweet treat, try this Strawberry Banana “Nicecream” – all the yumminess and a lot less guilt! Keep scrolling for recipe! xo
Ingredients
- 1/2 Cup Coconut or Almond Milk (more if needed based on consistency)
- 2 1/2 Cups Organic Strawberries (sliced is best – look in grocery store freezer section)
- 3 Frozen Bananas (Peel, slice and freeze 3 bananas prior to making this recipe)
- 2 tbs Coconut Nectar, agave or maple syrup (for desired sweetness)
Instructions
- Put the coconut milk, fruit and then sweetener of choice into the blender. You can also choose to skip adding the sweetener until the end so you can slowly add in your desired amount based on taste.
- Blend the ingredients on medium/high until smooth. You may need to stop the blender and mix with a spoon a couple of times to ensure the frozen banana and strawberry pieces don’t get stuck. You can add a little more coconut milk if it is too thick and isn’t blending into a smooth consistency. If you do add more, start with a tablespoon of liquid at a time so you don’t add too much right off the bat.
- Eat and enjoy! Yay! Save leftovers in an airtight tupperware container and store in freezer for later…although you may not have any left to store due to yuminess… 🙂
Natural fibers, fun shapes, and functionality….bring it on! I’m on board with this trend and have pulled together my faves for you this season. Keep scrolling and click on the images for more info and to snag your own! Oh and did I mention that all of my picks are under $65…? 🙂
A couple of my bags are almost sold out, so I’ve linked some similar options just in case! Let me know if you have any questions about these bags and I’ll happily reply! Happy purse shopping! Muah!
I linked to all of the bags I actually own and use – and a bunch of alternatives for those that are low stock. I wear them regularly, get lots of compliments on them, and am very happy with how functional they are! Hopefully you can find your own new natural fiber love for the season! Cheers!
A little black dress (LBD) is always needed. Summer is on the way and I for one wanted a fun LBD for date nights, cocktails, weddings, and other functions. You really can’t go wrong with a LBD in your closet. You’re not too dressed up, or down…it’s pretty much perfect!
I’ve linked to my exact outfit below (dress, bag, earrings and sunglasses) on the top line (first 4 images if you’re scrolling). Below that, you’ll find another beautiful ruffle and eyelet LBD, designer dupe bag (get it for a steal), earrings and perfect shoes (I do have these shoes…teehee).
This outfit was perfect when I was in Sonoma a couple of weeks ago. I had lunch with my mom and it was light and casual feeling, while also making me feel a little bit sassy and classy. That is a combo I’ll happily take! Let me know if you have any questions about this outfit or the dupes linked above. Muah!
In my first post about SAS shoes, I introduced you all to the SAS Layla. Not only is it a cute wedge that happens to match everything, but I’ve literally been stopped on the street and asked about them. Yup…they are that cute! For my full review, click HERE for my SAS Layla blog post with lots of pics.
As a part 2, I want to introduce you to the SAS Luxe. I have this lovely shoe in silver (see photo above) and am obsessed! This shoe is a leather loafer that I would call a flat (though it has a tiny heel). It has an almond shaped toe, which is both stylish and gives your toes proper room, and padding under the insole for cushioned comfort. I’ve taken some close ups that you can see as you keep scrolling.
The SAS Luxe is handcrafted in Tuscany, Italy. I personally chose the silver/gray because it is such a perfect color combo for Spring and Summer. I wanted something sassy that would work with a variety of colors, pair well with pants, skirts and dresses, and keep my feet happy all day! Pretty tall order for shoes…good thing I found these! 😉 You’ll notice that the silver Luxe has a gorgeous fish scale like pattern on it. The color and detailing are what gives it that sassy touch!
The SAS Luxe comes in 4 colors – all of them are beautiful and will work with a large variety of outfits. You can see from the images below, that you can pick between platinum, black, navy and silver. I think the black Luxe are my next purchase because they are so versatile and will work all year round.
They all have elastic side-panels which help give a more flexible (and custom feeling) fit. There is a steel shank that is underneath the midsole of the shoe to add support and help your shoes to last a LONG time! That is great news for me, because I am hard on my shoes! The heel of the shoe is made of an extra durable material that will withstand a variety of weather conditions and uneven pavement better than leather. Being a MN girl in CA, that means I could go from snow to summer in these cutie shoes! 🙂
I paired the SAS Luxe in silver with a fun plaid jumpsuit. I wanted to look cute but also be comfortable. That is key in my life these days – kids and dogs and busy mommy moments…I need to be able to function AND feel good! This outfit was perfect because I had a preschool play in the morning, a meeting around lunchtime, was able to walk the dogs in the afternoon, pick up the kids from school, and make dinner – all without my feet hurting one bit! I would say that is a BIG win!
To show some versatility – I’ve styled the SAS Luxe with a couple of dresses. You can see them both in the images below. The first is a white linen summer dress that is perfect for a hot day. I would easily put the silver Luxe with this dress for church, brunch, a family event, or other sweet Spring/Summer function.
I also paired the SAS Luxe with a striped summer dress that I would wear for brunch with my girlfriends, a little wine tasting, a picnic at the park, or even a fun date with my honey! These shoes are so versatile – which is why I wanted you to see them paired with dresses and pants. They work with a variety of patterns and solids – and I’ve totally worn them with white cropped pants and jeans! This color was the right choice – and I would highly recommend them if you’re on the fence on which color to order!
The takeaway from both my SAS Layla and SAS Luxe blog posts is that comfort and style can – and should – go hand in hand. You don’t have to sacrifice your feet (and body) to stay on-trend! You can do right by your feet and look good! I hope both posts give you a new view into what SAS Shoes has to offer – and that you’ll check out their website for other great styles!
BIG thanks to SAS Shoes for the complimentary shoes! I’m hooked for life and am so happy for my feet! 😉
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out. I’ve put my honest opinion into these posts, and am happy to share more if you want me to get more specific. You should also check out Instagram for style inspiration from others who have styled their SAS shoes like pros! Now, go enjoy your day and happy shoe shopping! Muah!
“Give a girl the right shoes, and she can conquer the world!” Marilyn Monroe, a total beauty and style icon, knew what she was talking about when it came to shoes. As a shoe lover, my collection is extensive and ever growing. When I was younger, and pre-kids, I was more tolerant of uncomfortable shoes. It’s so common to say beauty is pain…but does it really have to be that way? Can’t we have style, beauty and comfort?
Now that I’m in my 30’s, I am wiser 😉 , and much more savvy when it comes to stylish comfort. And I’m not just talking about shoes…I like to be comfortable in ALL aspects of life. Jeans need to have enough stretch so that I can bend, run and play with my toddlers. Tops need to give me confidence but also wash well (dry-clean only is a thing of the past). But lets get back to shoes…shoes need to make my feet happy when I’m chasing my kids, running errands, walking my dogs, when I want to look cute on date night with my hubby or with my girlfriends for brunch! Shoes should be comfortable to go from day to night – make you look good – AND make you feel great!
If you haven’t heard of SAS Shoes, I’ll let you in on the secret! They are the feel good shoes that you’ve been searching for! SAS Shoes takes particular care in making their shoes comfortable and stylish, so you don’t have to compromise. They have a whole section of their website where you can learn the history of SAS and why they are so passionate about what they do.
Beauty doesn’t need to be painful! You don’t have to give in and wear the poorly made shoes out there that can and will damage your feet (and body) through regular use! I wore heels to the office for YEARS and never really thought about what it was doing to my poor body. I mean think about the foot pain, back, hip and joint pain, and over time what happens to your toes from wearing bad shoes?!?
Now, my life has changed (as have my expectations). I still wear heels but I expect more from what I buy, and so should you! Yes, there are actual chic and on-trend shoes in the world that will treat your feet right! It just takes a company (hello SAS Shoes) that actually cares enough to construct them properly with care and real thought. 🙂
My current faves are the SAS Layla and the SAS Luxe. I picked these two styles because they fit a variety of needs. I chose the Layla because I wanted a wedge for Spring transition outfits like jeans and light tops, that would also work well with a variety of Summer dresses. I picked a lighter color that would literally match everything! My other fave is the SAS Luxe in silver – to add some sass to trousers, jeans, jumpsuits and more. Silver is such a versatile color, perfect for the warmer months! My focus in this post is on the SAS Layla (see images), but keep an eye out for part 2 where I focus on the SAS Luxe.
The SAS Layla is strappy with nice details like buckles and two tones. The back strap is adjustable so you can ensure a more secure and comfortable fit. They are very soft and have an easy to walk in 3″ wedge. The bottoms are not slick, but have a little tread which makes them more stable and easier to walk in (or chase toddlers in). The inside of the shoe is cushiony, almost like a memory foam. I tried them on and didn’t want to take them off!
I’ve tried so many shoes that claim to be comfortable, but I was pleasantly surprised by these cuties! They come in black, Fog/Taupe, and brown/denim (see images below) so you can literally sport these with anything! I love the height because they give a some fashionable oomph to your outfit – with a lot of comfort! I styled them with jeans to show how versatile and chic they are.
SAS Shoes is unique because they offer a variety of sizes, widths, and colors. Not all feet are the same, so why should we be expected to force our feet into the same kind of shoes? Some people have narrow feet, some “normal” (whatever that means), and some have wider feet. I would say my feet are pretty “normal” to “narrow” – so I was able to get a much more custom feeling fit due to the variety of widths available. SAS Shoes takes the uniqueness of our feet into account, which is one of the many reasons I love them!
Their shoes are made with premium leather, many of the designs with straps are adjustable to offer a more custom fit and feel (like the Layla), and the soles provide all-day comfort and shock absorption. We expect things like shock absorption from our cars (which we simply sit in) – but what about from our shoes that are on our feet all day long!?! I am so happy to have found out about these shoes – but am bummed it took me so long! I could have used these years ago!
Click HERE to check out the SAS Layla for yourself. The photos don’t do them justice – they really must be seen and worn in person to appreciate how chic and comfortable they are! Also, check out the SAS Shoes website to peep the large variety of styles they boast! It’s worth peeping Instagram and how others have styled their SAS heels, wedges, flats and more!
I’ve styled the SAS Luxe in silver for you as well – and will be posting more of those details and photos in a couple of days. Think of this post as a cliffhanger, as I entice you to look at new shoes that will make your feet (and overall style) happy!
Big thanks to SAS Shoes for the complimentary shoes! I’m happy to share my full and honest review with you all and hope it helps! Have a wonderful weekend and let me know if you have any questions! Muah!
Mom life is something I didn’t understand until I was in it. To be honest, I thought I had it all figured out, until we had a second child. Now I live in a constant state of what I like to call – happy chaos! Haha! I know there are moms out there with more than 2 children – and I say – more power to you! I have no idea how you do it – but you’re amazing!
Now to the good stuff…this coming Sunday is Mother’s Day! A lovely day to say a special thank you and show a little extra love to the moms in your life. Scroll down to find Part 2 of my Mother’s Day Gift Guide – organized by price point! My hope is to help any budget find a little something special for mom. Happy shopping! Muah!
Under $15
Under $30
Under $45
Special thanks to Dekker Photography for doing such a beautiful job documenting our family as it has grown over the years! This photo is about a year old – but it was a special moment with my family that I treasure. Thanks for reading and I hope you found something you love! xo
Mothers are a strong breed. They are full of unconditional love, life, rules, smiles, tickles, magic kisses, snacks, bandaids, patience, random toys in pockets and purses, and so much more!
For the moms in your life, this is a quick gift guide to help show the love. Keep scrolling for 3 categories of gifts that start under $10 and go up from there. Most of the items listed are on sale – and all of them are mom approved (since I’m a mom and think these items are the bees knees)! 😉
My Mother’s Day Gift Guide Part 2 is in the works and broken down by price point. Keep an eye out! Don’t forget to order your gifts soon…Mother’s Day is coming up fast! Muah!
Comfies
Zen Moments
A Little Sparkle
Stripes are a staple in my closet all year round. As we transition into warmer temps, I’m starting to pull out my striped tops and dresses. This particular dress is a fave for me because it works with tights as well as bare legs! It was foggy today so I covered my legs, but on a sunny day this works well with flip flops, wedges or even a bootie for some sassiness!
My dress is sold out, but I found a SUPER similar one linked below that is on sale for under $20 – so snag it before it’s gone! I’ve also thrown in some other striped options and accessories that are super cute and will give you my look for less!
It was a twinning moment – which you know I love! 😉 Sofia’s exact dress is still available – linked below – and it’s only $11.99!!!! I know!!!! Keep scrolling for the deets! Muah!
Shop My Look
Shop Sofia's Look
Spring has sprung and it’s time for a new, fun, family friendly craft! Be always blooming with this fun activity that is easy and you may already have the materials on hand! Keep scrolling for materials, a quick step by step, and lots of cute pics! Enjoy! Muah!
What You Need:
- Paper cupcake liners in any color or pattern you like (or have on hand)
- Construction paper
- Scissors
- Glue – liquid glue works best for this (not a glue stick)
- Glitter – any color you have on hand works
What To Do:
Step 1: Cut your leaves and stems out of green construction paper. If you want to add some grass, cut a long strip the length of the paper and about 2″ wide – then make 1.5″ cuts all along the strip like blades of grass.
Step 2: Glue the grass, stems and leaves to another piece of construction paper. We used white but you can use whatever color you like. I think blue would be fun as well, to look like the sky.
Step 3: Glue the paper cupcake liners at the top of the stems to make your flowers. I only had one color liner (polka dots) but the inside was silver, so we glued one of them inside out for variety. It’s always nice to use what you have on hand.
Step 4: Put glue in the center of each cupcake liner – aka – flower. You’ll need enough liquid glue to hold the glitter (see step 5).
Step 5: Cover the glue with glitter! This can be a little messy but it is pretty easy to clean up and looks super pretty! Putting newspaper down before this step can help control the mess. 🙂
Step 6: Lay flat to let dry – and enjoy your beautiful new Spring Flower artwork!
Any music fans out there? We are all about it in our family! We have regular dance parties in the living room, listen to music while we cook, do crafts, in the car, walking our dogs, and even while I write my blog posts (like right now)! 🙂 I have something fun to share that you will definitely enjoy – so keep reading for something free!
The recent discovery of WEYV has been wonderful! You can see me in the clip above, dancing in my room via WEYV, while I fold laundry. Music makes everything better! WEYV is an ad-free, subscription- based app where you can PICK the songs you want to listen to (or listen to stations if thats your jam), read magazines, and (coming soon) watch visual content.
There are some BIG wins for me with WEYV…
1. I can customize playlists for my family. My kids request very specific songs like, Jump in the line by Harry Belafonte (yes that is totally true), and I want to be able to play the songs they love whenever they ask! I’ve been making my own playlists using WEYV and it’s super easy! You can add songs or entire albums (I’ve done both) and when you look something up you get suggestions that you can add as well! You can take a look at my music playlists in the image below.
2. The content is safe. This is huge because I can’t trust the radio anymore. Commercials and songs use words that may be ok for adults but are not acceptable for my 2 and 4 year old (in my opinion). Instead of trying to navigate the radio for family friendly songs (that I want to listen to too) – AND avoid commercials – I plug in my phone and play my WEYV playlist of choice!
We have a lot of moments where I want music in the background. You can see Gabe playing a memory game with me below – and we’re listening to some family friendly tunes that we BOTH enjoy. No, I don’t want to listen to kid music all the time. Yes – there’s a ton of great family friendly music out there for you to discover! 🙂
Did I mention WEYV is also COPPA compliant??? So if you have kids that are under 18 and want to let them pick their own music – you can make that happen while having some peace of mind!
3. WEYV also has a charitable aspect that makes me especially happy. I try to set a good example for my kids – and part of that is being on the lookout for companies that care. You can see by their actions that they believe in giving back – and it is an easy way for YOU to give back – by listening to music! They contribute 0.5% of net revenue to deserving charities – so listening to music helps you AND others! Listen to music on your own or with those you love, and know that WEYV is not only giving you the tunes, but is giving back! Just sayin….
4. As mentioned above, WEYV doesn’t just have music – it has magazines ready for you to enjoy at the ready! You can also multi-task and listen to your playlists (or stations) while you kick back and read some articles all on the WEYV app! Talk about a dream for your daily commute, on vacation by the pool, on an airplane, in the tub for a calm moment, or even at the gym when getting your cardio on! It’s totally seamless – and you don’t need to jump from app to app for the things you want to listen to and read! This happens to be one of my FAVE features of WEYV – and is a must try!
5. There is a social aspect that I really like! With WEYV you can share stations, music, and more with friends and family. I’ve added my parents and husband so they can add music, see my playlists, and enjoy the social aspects of WEYV. This is especially helpful because my parents visit us a lot (see above) and even babysit – so my playlists are perfect for them to put on when the kids want to listen to music. Yay for mommy approved content!
6. Offline Access is a big win! You can see in my playlist image that I actually put together an offline mix in my WEYV App. There are definitely times when this is needed – and it’s not just for the music! You can download magazines in advance as well! Great for travel and commute time if you ask me! My old commute included being on an underground train without any signal…if only I had WEYV back then! Oh well…I’m happy to have it now!
You may have noticed in several of my other posts that my kids love to dance! Sofia is partial to ballet – which is SO much fun! The music is lovely and the outfits are adorable! We’ve had a lot of fun ballet mommy and me moments, and they are all special to me. I used WEYV to create a “Sofia Ballet Music” playlist so that we can dance and play whenever and wherever we want! I want as many of these special moments and memories as possible, and having the music ready to go makes it just that much easier.
In the image above, you can see me ready to go on a walk with my dogs (this was literally an hour ago). Clearly it was chilly – since you can see me all bundled up! I went on a perfect night stroll with my sweet girls while listening to my favorite songs via WEYV. It was like having a little soundtrack for that moment of my life. That may sound silly, but I don’t get a lot of alone time, so that little stroll with music of MY choice was wonderful!
For those of you who are into working out (like this mommy) – you can also find some great workout jams! I made a workout playlist for running, and I’m going to make a lifting playlist and a cool down playlist next. In the little video above you can see me relaxing post workout for a moment enjoying some tunes using WEYV. I didn’t include the music in the clip – so this is your chance to imagine your fave post workout jam in your head. Ha! BTW – the cat ears were necessary since i had a serious case of workout hair! 😉
Bottom line, I’m enjoying WEYV a lot and I hope you give it a try! I share what I like – and I like this! You can see my recent activity above – including the #momlife playlist that I’m totally into! Not to mention the Sport Illustrated Kids magazine that I read to Gabe! It was such a perfect bonding moment as we snuggled up, read and listened to music together!
Be ahead of the game and cutting edge – try something new that you can share with family and friends – and know that they have so much more coming soon! Oh hey – did I mention that WEYV is giving my readers something special just for being awesome music lovers???
You can try WEYV for 2 months free (no credit card required) by using this special code: MAKEWEYVS18
Yay for special codes that give you free stuff! You can get the app by clicking HERE or HERE! Rock on and let me know what you think after you give it a go! I know you’ll love it! Muah!