From Zahra

Mauve and Denim

 It really is nice getting back to my routine after being away – I know I seem a little strange to my colleagues when I say I’m actually excited to be back at work. I also loved catching up on all of my favorite blogs. Now I just have a stack of mail and magazines to get to. I had no idea how many subscriptions I had until I came home to almost a dozen!

Here’s a look I wore out to dinner one evening. I kept it simple with a crisp white top and denim bermuda shorts. Even though most of my trip was spent makeup free with my hair up – I felt like I needed to glam up a little at night. I did so by adding some jewelry, a lightweight leather jacket, and wedges. 

Outfit details: Jacket: Target Jean Shorts: H&M Similar Style Blouse: Forever 21 Shoes: Tory Burch Jewelry: Pearls gift, Bracelets Charming Charlie, Lia Sophia Watch: Michele 


Some happenings from my trip:


1. I ruined the wedges I’m wearing in today’s post by not wrapping up my shoes in my suitcase and somehow a burst shampoo bottle managed to discolor one shoe completely. A friend recommended these packing cubes – which are perfect for organized packing and protecting your favorite shoes! 

2. Traveling 15 hours with a toddler is torture. Complete torture. I refused to take the advice of some well-meaning friends who say to slip him a little tylenol, so I end up with an airplane full of people who glare at me every time I head to the bathroom for a diaper change. I lost my patience a few times over the course of the trip, but then I read this article a friend posted on facebook and it really made me want to stop raising my voice at my child. So far so good!

3. I met a sweet manicurist who moved to Maui from the midwest 20 years ago (on a whim, no less)- she swears that coconut oil (organic, first cold-pressed) is a miracle cure for many health and beauty problems. For one thing, it is a great moisturizer for skin and hair – and it smells great too!

4. Coconut macadamia ice cream is my new favorite dessert. Hands-down. I got one almost every day!

5. Always look forward when snorkeling, not just straight down. I ran into some coral and totally scratched up my legs. Another time I was looking at a sea turtle, and he dissapeared so I popped my head up out of the water and he was right in front of me!


By the way, I can’t wait to get my hands on the new Joe Fresh collection at JCPenny! Canada has some stylish folks and I love the fact that the prices are super affordable for anyone. Has anyone tried anything Joe Fresh?


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!