From Zahra

Spikes and Chains

Good morning! I hope everyone had an amazing holiday weekend. I can’t believe we are getting a few more days off so soon for New Years- a girl could get used to this!
About the look, the Shoemint shoes pretty much determined this outfit. They are fancy enough to carry this entire look by themselves. So I just wore my favorite Urban Oufitters blazer and a t-shirt and jeans. I think this could be my favorite look ever. Only because it is probably what I wear most often – jeans, t-shirt, heels, blazer. Substitute colors and distressed levels for jeans and you have an entirely new look each time!
Jeans Zara/Blazer Urban Outfitters (old) similar/t-shirt NY&Co (old) can’t find similar link but I love the chain detail!/Shoes Shoemint/Bag Perlina (old) Nordstrom Rack/Sunnies H&M/Watch Michele similar /Bangle Henri Bendel (won in a giveaway – yayay!)

In other news, I am wearing my new Makeup forever HD makeup that I picked up after watching a tutorial from the lovely and gorgeous Ally at Gumboot Glam. I had a lot of friends swear by the stuff but I never actually tried it. I like it a lot. What do you think?

Also, I read an article in the January issue of Glamour  magazine that I really connected with. It is about expressing yourself, written by Lauren Lungerich.

She writes: “From an early age, I’ve been nice. I came out of the womb that way.

And even though in my formative years it felt like the not-so-nice people got ahead, no matter how hard I tried to be vindictive or rock a sexy pouty face,  I just couldn’t, I was too smiley. I still am.”

The point of the article is that you don’t need to be bitchy to be yourself or to get ahead. In fact nice, according to Lauren, is the new cool. So I guess I am en-trend!

I cringe when I hear girls cut each other down, it is now obvious to me that it is their own insecurities playing out. I actually heard someone suggest a girl started wearing orange only because she herself loves and wears orange. The color orange! I’m sorry girl, I wanted to say, but you did not discover that color!

So I hope that in the new year we can all do more to express ourselves, in a positive way, and live our lives truly for ourselves and not for anyone else. Read the article in Glamour for more!

Have a great day and thanks for visiting!

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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!