Renovate and Inspire

This weekend I am planning on doing a couple of small and easy projects. Smaller projects can make a surprisingly big difference to a home, and can really improve how a room feels. You might have a gorgeous room, but if the decorations are wrong or the space isn’t used effectively, it’ll all be for nothing. First off, finishing up a space in our basement that we deem the ‘kid section’. This is what it looks like now:

We started off with great intentions. The plan is to eventually fully renovate the basement – our friend used to have a basement similar to ours, but they used a company similar to Multi-M Contracting, Inc to completely reconfigure the walls, and it’s honestly made it so much more spacious! Gone are the small rooms and dark corridors. They now enjoy an open-plan room that they use for a variety of things. For now, we’re making do with sectioning off parts of the basement for us and the kids. For now, the basement doesn’t seem to have a dampness issue so we are good to go. However, if we face issues like damp walls and bad odors in the future, we can contact firms that provide basement waterproofing services in our area and get the required adjustments done. This can prevent the infestation of pests in the space.

That said, as you can see, I’ve now created a great little kids’ corner. I even bought these adorable zoo animal hooks and framed some pictures, but then it all seemed to fall to the wayside when we got busy with everything else in life.

These prints are from Urban Outfitters and so are the hooks.
I bought this adorable 4 frame set of this poem from Mindy’s Classic Finds in Elmhurst.

I’m also going to finish up a new inspiration board. I do these every season or so, it helps me focus on what to buy when I’m out shopping and helps me decide on what outfits to put together too. My husband thinks inspiration boards are silly, but he also wears his Vibram five finger shoes everywhere, so I don’t really worry too much about his opinion on fashion. I also like to do these for home design and decor. You can also do them online on sites like Pinterest, but I like the idea of walking past a cork board with my favorite pictures thumb tacked onto it. I guess I’m old school like that.

Here’s what I have so far:


I’m loving the florals and prints, the hair jewelry, embellished outerwear, animal print bags, and the pink/navy color combination.

I’m so ready for the weekend to get started! What are you going to do this weekend?

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Last week we took a quick trip to escape the snow for some sunshine in Key Largo, Florida☀️ We spent every moment possible outside, Tom and Adam got their Scuba Diver PADI certification (yay!) while Sophia and I spent our days either swimming or drawing marine life and landscapes. This was my first trip after my sister passed last November, and even though I look so happy here, there were so many moments I felt the grief and sadness, as if it happened just yesterday. I am still figuring out how I want to show up in this space, as I have changed so much as a person since the loss. I just don’t feel called to post some of the things I shared before. Maybe that will change someday, or maybe it will just naturally evolve into something new. I think I will take this year to just process it all. (Even the idea of taking an entire year to think through something is a huge shift for my usually hyperactive type A personality) My focus at the moment is just living in the moment with my family and friends, spending time doing things that make me happy and healthy. I hope to share some of that journey here with you ~ thanks for following along ❤️
I had planned to shoot this outfit in collaboration with @lenacoutureofficial right before my dear sister passed away. Saba, the designer, was more than understanding if I didn’t want to anymore - but after thinking on it for a while I decided I wanted to - in my sister’s honor 💗 She was always my biggest hype woman. When i would feel like I’m not good enough or that I should quit (which was often) she would tell me I was unique and great and to keep it up. When I think of my sister, beauty and love is all that she embodied in her being. She expressed that on the outside also - as she loved to wear everything glam, bright & colorful, and full of bling. Hair done, nails done, everything did - that was Nusrat. For this shoot I took the time to get glam after a long hiatus - and makeup and hair took so long because I think I forgot how to do it, but afterwards I was surprised how I felt transformed. When I wore this gorgeous outfit that I know was designed with such love and incredible attention to detail by @lenacoutureofficial, I felt all of that beauty - like a walking piece of art, and very much at peace. Thank you so much to @divmophoto for capturing the feeling so well 💕
Ski weekend with my favorites ❄️❄️ So proud of Sophia for skiing on her own for the first time!
There are some trees with seeds that only grow after a fire. Their seeds are completely sealed with a resin that have to be physically melted off by a great fire in order to propagate. So to do we as humans, gain wisdom only after great pain and suffering.*
A month ago (and one day) I lost my sister and best friend to cancer. I am still completely gutted and broken. But, I’m also so so grateful to have had felt the love that now brings me so much heartbreak. ❤️ I am so inspired by her - and I will forever live my life to honor her memory. Miss you sis ❤️
Classic outfit combo: oversized blazer + denim 🖤fendi mules @shoeslutz
Just a mom who loves mums 🌸 🪴
Cozy for a coffee date ☕️
French. Toast. Egg. Bake. Save this recipe for a weekend or holiday brunch - it’s SO good and fool-proof! I’m not even a sweet person and I love it. The pecans are a non-negotiable IMO - I get honey bourbon vanilla pecans for this and it is just heavenly. Enjoy!