Procrastinator's Guide: Getting into the Christmas Spirit

 We are in the home stretch! The holidays are in full swing and I am trying to top last year! Which isn't hard because we didn't get the tree up until the week before, I didn't wrap the gifts, told the kids Santa got too busy. No gingerbread houses, nothing. Last Christmas was rough. Even though the kids don't remember it, I do. This year I put the tree up early, started shopping early but there is still much to do, so here is what my family is doing to spread the Christmas cheer. 

1. Making cookies for "Santa" or just for fun. Im not a master baker so I got cookie mix and jazzed it up with chocolate and sprinkles. Since my Kids still believe is Santa they are making their cookies extra special for him.

2. Christmas Music, I know sounds obvious but we like to have a Christmas music battles with all of the Christmas Classics. Its so fun because the kids dance and learn the music we grew up with and the music our parents grew up with

3. Holiday Movies, I feel like it's my duty to teach my kids all the classics I learned growing up. My favorite is White Christmas and we have a movie marathon every Christmas Eve, so we will watch White Christmas along with Home Alone, Jingle Jangle, and  the Christmas Chronicles.

4. Decorating whether is a month before or the week of is fun. Over the years, I have collected trees, candle house and a whole lot of Christmas decor that I love. I know people do themes each year but that's too much work for me. I do buy three new ornaments a year. There was a time we couldn't afford to decorate like we do now so its fun taking the kids to pick out new ornaments for the tree.

We also have two trees. One that is a little more polished and one in the basement that the kids decorate.

5. Bible stories, this time of year it is important for me to teach the kids the meaning of Christmas. We have a children's Bible that we read stories from every week. And this week we will read a story everyday.

Remember, Christmas is about spending quality time with the fam. I didn't buy a lot this season,. We have spent so much more quality time with the kids, this going to be a holiday to remember. Our tradition has always been to cook an amazing brunch and order Chinese for dinner. Do the things you enjoy. This season can be so depressing and with COVID things have been difficult.

The spirit of Christmas and the holidays are rooted in taking a time to enjoy the moment.

Let me know what you traditions are. How are you spending the holiday season?

Happy Holidays,

Meka

Procrastinators Guide: Last Minute Shopping

 Okay... I have been trying to be good this holiday season by trying not to go crazy but these deals have been crazy. Here are a couple more things I'm grabbing for the kids and the hubster, and maybe even a couple pieces for me. After this I am really throwing my wallet in the ocean. Are you guys still shopping? Or are you done?

Let me know what you guys are getting into

Xo-Meka

The Big Move...

Do you get anxiety during the holiday season? Well, I do and besides therapy one of the ways I manage it is to organize and clean. Four times a year, I deep clean my house and rearrange everything, and when I say everything I mean everything. I move furniture to breathe new life into the house/space. But, before I can start moving stuff, I plan.

I go on Pinterest to get ideas of what I want to do with each space. We have been in our home for a little over a year and we are finally starting to get settled. Not to sound crazy, but we just unpacked the last box. I love that our house is over a hundred years old, so I like to decorate in a manner that pays homage to the home but with a modern twist. And thinking back on it, the best idea was hiring movers when we sold our last home. When we moved into our first house, we had to drive to three different places and two states to collect all of our belongings. It was a complete nightmare that I swore we would never relive that time.

So, this time around I wasn't going to leave anything to chance. Movers were the best idea. And, with that being said I know if I ever need movers again I will be using the New Age Moving Co.. They are a full service moving company that offer piano moving services, residential, commercial, and they even do labor only services, packing services, and more.

The company caught my eye because the owner, Armand Gasbarro, is a young entrepreneur that has put together an amazing team that values customer service. And, that's really important for me since I have had a couple bad experiences in the past. 

Now, I have a plan and have movers in mind, if needed. It's time to purge. I get rid of anything I haven't used in 4+ months. I was thinking about getting rid of some furniture and this is where I would need movers because we don't have a truck and it would be less stress hiring a company to just come and pick everything up. Mr. Prince is still debating on whether I can't purge his favorite broken chair but we'll see what happens. 

After everything is purged, I usually donate everything to a local charity.  Chris's clothing and shoes, I donate to A Little Bit of Heaven because its a men's shelter. I have been dropping off gently used items for a couple years. I'll be donating all the boys and my items to Margaret's Village. I'm way too busy to think about selling anything but that is also an option if you have the time and patience. Plus, since it's the holiday season it feels good to give essential items to people that are truly needed.

Last, I move furniture around to see if it might be a better fit somewhere in the house. When I'm done everything looks better than it did before and my nerves are calm. Plus, the house is fully decorated and ready for Christmas. The holidays are rapidly approaching and anything I can do to calm my nerves and make my space less cluttered is a win for me.

With the holiday season here and the pandemic still present it's important to do things that make you feel good. Depression and anxiety are real things that affect millions of people that see no light at the end of the tunnel. I have learned the importance of finding a good therapist and constantly purging and figuring out what items are important to me and make me feel good. We all need something that make us happy.  For me, maintaining a minimal type of lifestyle where everything must have a purpose coupled with weekly therapy has helped me cope with trauma in my life that I wasn't dealing with that was affecting my life in a negative way.

So, how are you coping? Is there anything new you are doing to calm your nerves during the pandemic?

Staying warm with the latest Winter Coat Trends

        

Winter is upon us. And even though we are still quarantined, it makes me feel better when I dress cute even when I'm just making a run to Target. I feel like I have to maintain a small amount of normalcy with all the changes currently happening. Since my current routine is work and home, I have mainly been wearing rags...lol, but I'm in the process of changing all that especially since I would like to stay married...lol

One way I have been dressing up my grudge look is to wear too coats to elevate my sweats and workout gear. I have been seeing so many cool trends and sales going on for the holidays, I thought I would let you in on what I am planning to grab. I am not one to buy trendy items but I do like updated versions of classic styles.

Faux leather puffer coat I feel like Im going to live in this coat and its going to elevate my track suits. My style has been suffering for a few years and I have decided to change that.

Teddy Coat I love the Teddy Coats because they are so cozy. But, I decided to go with a print. I don't think plaid will ever go out of style and I love pairing this coat with my oversized mom jeans and graphic tees.

Tailored Wool Blend Coats Since I have decided at the age of 40 that I would like to appear to be an adult, I have decided to purchase a few tailored coats for when I go on date night or some where a little more than casual. I do wear this coats with track suits and denim when I would like to be a fashionista.

Hopefully, I have given you some affordable option if you are looking to upgrade your coat collection at an affordable price.

All I Want for Christmas 2020

My favorite post of the year. This is the one time a year I can shout from the rooftop all the things I wish to receive...lol All jokes aside, I have become a shopper and what better way to practice self care than to pick out some amazing things for myself. So here is a round up of all the things I have been purchasing for myself. Hopefully it will motivate you to treat yourself.

PAMPER ME.

LACE ME.

EVERYTHING ELSE IN BETWEEN...

xo- Meka

Procrastinators Guide to Shopping for Your Husband

This year has been a beast. It has been met with a lot of change for my family. With the kids virtual learning and Chris being laid off, our world has been turned upside down. Nothing has gone according to plan. No travel or exploring our city like we were planning on. Its important that Christmas still has that homey family charm that we are used too. I want to spoil the man that really doesn't want anything but for his family to be happy. Here is my inspiration for my hubby, hopefully if will give you some inspiration for yours.

xo- Meka

Procrastinators Guide to Shopping for your Boys

 With Christmas right around the corner, I am trying to get my ish together so I'm not so stressed. Last year, I didn't even wrap the presents and told my kids Santa ran out of time. Between work, cooking and decorating something had to give and it was wrapping gifts. 

This year has been difficult to say the least and I don't want the boys to miss out on any Christmas cheer. So, we will be decorating early, and I have already started to scope out possible gifts for my boys. As they grow everything is getting more expensive so that also plays a factor in shopping a little earlier this year. Here is what they ave been crushing on, Hopefully it will give you some inspiration for your son, nephew, or any cute little boy in your life.

xo- Meka

Making a Statement: Bold Necklaces under $50

I have been upgrading my jewelry collection and with Christmas approaching, I thought it would be fun to think outside the box. There are so many sales going on, its nice to try a few new pieces. I love shopping on Amazon and Etsy for unique finds at affordable prices. With the pandemic still among us, I get anxiety going to the store. It doesn't matter if its the grocery store, home decor, or shopping (except cars and furniture) I hate the lines and just the overall feeling of being inside a store with a mask. 

Here are some of the options I found. Whether you are hosting in person or virtual, we can't stop living and statement pieces add interest to any jogging/track suit. I didn't want to spend too much but I still wanted fun quality pieces. So, here is what I found. 

    

     

   

   

 

     

You don't have to spend an arm or leg to be cute. Hopefully these gave you a little bejeweled inspiration.

xo- Meka

Dining Room Remake: Ready For an Intimate Gathering

I have always imagined having these beautifully decorated dinner parties. But, I have never did it because I haven't taken the time to finish my dining space. I have an old dining table from my mom coupled with some midcentury modern chairs, but that's it. There is no defined space and currently we eat all over the house. My goal is to finish one room every couple months. And, since the living room is the only area that is complete, I thought it would be nice to finish the dining room since they are closer to one another.

Examining the space
I knew I wanted to keep the table because it was solid wood and we would be able to affordable a replacement of the same quality.  Next, we also decided to keep the chairs but paint them. They are currently white and with kids it was really hard to keep clean. I decided to paint the chairs navy and refinish the table. This cost us almost nothing but time. After stripping the table I took a two week break because it took all my energy but I think it came out beautifully. 

I decided on a Dark Stain a little lighter that the floors. 

As for the chairs, I decided to get new black ones, we still have the old chairs but it was hard to be perfect with the spray paint. Im still finishing them up and cleaning all the paint off the wood legs. They have found a new home in the basement dining area.

Finishing the space
To finish off the space, I decided on architectural drawings because I love Chicago architecture. And, it's cool to have the artwork to bring some character to the space. Currently, I am on the hunt for the perfect side table to complete the room.

Am I the only one decorating during this pandemic?

Are you currently redecorating? What spaces are you working on?

Shoe Refresh: How to Revive your Fall Shoe Closet for Under $200

 Fall is here! No more Indian summer, the hawk is out. Let me be the first to say, I'm not a shoe person. I buy good quality shoes so I don't have purchase shoes every year. This year I felt my shoe closet needed a little life. It was getting a little tired so I decided to get out of my comfort zone with some new booties and loafers.

Ankle Boots are my go-to for fall. I love wearing them with maxi dress or skinny jeans but this year I decided to think outside of black and brown. I decided to go with animal print. Since I already have staples, its okay to think outside the box. It's the perfect opportunity to mix prints and have a little fun.

Tall boots are always in fashion during these months and I noticed I don't have any. I'm a flats kinda girl but I don't mind a kitten heel when the occasion calls for it. Here were my picks for my bargain finds:

Fun Flats- And sometimes you gotta have a little fun. Just like the animal print booties, statement shoes can make an outfit, whether its causal or more dressed up. Even though we are still in a pandemic we still need a since of normalcy. Fashion is one way I cope. If I feel confident or beautiful, it sometimes easies the anxiety I have. 

What shoes are you wearing for fall? Where's your go-to place to find deals?

Xo-Meka

Life of the Party: My Secret To Healthy Adult Beverages

I've been on my health journey for a second and avoiding alcohol but sometimes its fun to go out with friends or have a drink after a long day of work. While watching television, I saw a commercial for Ketel One Botanicals and I was starstruck. I was so happy, Ketel One Botanicals comes in three flavors (Peach and Orange Blossom, Cucumber and Mint, and Grapefruit and Rose) and has 0 Carbs and 0 Sugar. 

I know a lot of sugar comes from mixers but I remember having a sparkling water called Sparkling Ice. It also has 0 sugar and 0 carbs. And, it comes in a million flavors so its easy to get creative with cocktails.

Here are my top two drinks that I make for myself on the weekend of after a long day.

Grapefruit Dream
4oz Pink Grapefruit Sprakling Ice
1.5oz Grapefruit and Rose Ketel One
1 slice wedge of grapefruit

Mix Sparkling Ice with Ketel One. Add grapefruit wedge for garnish

Ginger-Lime Mule
4oz Ginger Lime
1.5 Cucumber and Mint Ketel One
Basil
Lime

Muddle lime, basil, and Ketel one in a mule. Top with ice and Sparkling Ice. Garnish with mint

Guilt free drinks where I can be social.

Enjoy,
Meka 

Edge Naturale and Castor Oil: My New Best Friends

I have been on a healthy hair journey for a while but I was missing something, edges. I never noticed how far back my hairline had descended. I was contacted by Edge Naturale to review their product and immediately thought that it wasn't for me. But, upon further discussion with my friend, my opinion changed.  Edge Naturale gave me an opportunity to provide my hairline with some selfcare. 

I started a new routine. In the morning, I do simple face cleansing then I lightly apply Edge Naturale to my edges. After I massage the cream into my edges and also apply Castor Oil to my eyebrows. I have virtually no eyebrows so any growth is better than what I have at the moment. I do this twice a day. Once in the morning, once in the evening. And to be completely honest and transparent, I didn't think either product was working. 

Until I was Facetiming a friend and she could see the shadows of the sprouting hair on my hairline. I was so excited that I ran to the bathroom to look for myself. Because I am horrible at photographing my journey, these are the only pictures I have but I will continue to use Edge Naturale to further my results.

My results:

  

week 6

  

week 4

  

week 2

Please don't think this is a cure for baldness but if you are consistent with the product it will work. I would recommend this product if you have area where your hair is thin or bald because the Edge Naturale stimulates your hair follicles and increases blood flow. But just with any product, continued used and frequency will give you better results. 

 

While I was working on my edges, I was also debating microblading for my nonexistent eyebrows. I was on a live watching Hayet Rida do her makeup when I saw in the comment section that people used castor oil to grow, eye lashes and eyebrows. I existed the LIVE immediately to go purchase from Amazon. After getting lost in the mail, I finally received that package.

I have started to include castor oil in my morning and night time routine to see if I could also increase hair growth in my eyebrow area. I can gradually see the change. Hopefully using Edge Naturale and Castor oil will assist in the continued growth of my edges and eyebrows since I continue to use both products.

Do you guys have any remedies or products for hair growth? I would love to know your experiences

Upgrading My Loungewear

Since COVID19 is still in full effect here in Chicago, I have mostly been wearing workout attire, pajamas and sweats. In the beginning I looked like a homeless lady walking the streets with holey socks, and stained sweat pants but I have decided to get my at home look at make over with some bomb lounge wear and pajamas. My self esteem has been teetering so anything will help at this point. 

So, I have loaded my shopping cart with basics from my favorite stores so my kids won't be scared to go out in public with me:

Aerie:

Zara: 

HM: 

So, What have you been wearing during the quarantine? I feel like everything goes full circle because I remember my mom wearing the same stuff back in the 80s.