General Fashion

Martin Luther King Jr Day 2018

 in General Fashion  tagged holidays 2018 / MLK by

“I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too big a burden to bear” -Martin Luther King Jr

Every year, when Martin Luther King Jr day rolls around, I love talking to my kids about how he fought for justice through peace and love. I want my children to know that they can always fight for what is right through peaceful means. In this day and age, there is so much to continue to fight for. While we have come a long way in society since MLK’s day, we still have miles, and miles to go. MLK’s words and actions continue to inspire current and future generations to peacefully educate, and the get the word out, about what is right. I am thankful my children can look to him as a role model for social justice.

There is always at least one quote from him which speaks to me every year. This year, you can see that quote above. What is your favorite MLK quote?

Show off your MLK love with these products:

Thanks for stopping by!

XOXO

Cathy

Ways to reduce stress

 in General Fashion  tagged lifestyle / tips by

ways to reduce stress manage stress

Ways to reduce stress: Things which help manage stress levels from top left: A fun mug for decaf tea before bedtime / “Zumba” home workout routines to get moving at home and reduce stress / cozy blanket throw to snuggle up in while relaxing before bedtime / paper planner for getting re-organized (this is the planner I own, and I love it!) /  yoga mat for stress reducing exercise / sneakers for looking cool while talking a stress reducing walk

If you find your life is busy, stressful, and hard to manage, then welcome to the family! I am always looking for new ways to reduce stress in my life. As a working Mother of three who home-schools, and volunteers in the community, I have a lot of balls in the air.

In order to manage stress without drinking alcohol, or using any vices, one needs to get creative! If you search online for ways to reduce stress, often times the articles will give advice about meditating, taking deep breaths, and similar new-age type tips. If you are like me, these new-age tips are completely worthless. I don’t do meditation. I don’t listen to tapes with ocean sounds, and I certainly don’t sit crossed-legged taking deep breaths. No sir-re bob!

As an active person, I need active and calming practices to help me reduce stress; as well as time management. In order to juggle running a business, home-schooling two kids, juggling three schedules for three children, keeping my house in order, and maintaining my two, big volunteer jobs, I have created my five tips to managing stress. These work for me! I hope you like them and find them helpful!

5 ways to reduce stress in life

  1. Exercise: OK, I am sure you have heard this before, but exercise is my favorite way to manage my stress level. When you exercise, you release endorphins which helps to keep your spirits up. Exercising actually creates energy, making it easier to get through your busy day. My favorite stress-relieving exercises include Cardio Kickboxing (imagine punching things that stress you out), Spin Classes (spin out the stress!), and Cardio dance classes (nothing like getting lost in the rhythm and the music!).
  2. Get Organized: This may sound like a no-brainer, but sometimes we need to reorganize our personal organization systems. Try switching from an electronic to-do list to a paper planner, or vise-versa. Sometimes just using a new organizational system can makes things seem more simple. I use a paper planner with my daily schedule and to-do list. This helps me organize by the day, week, and month. If one day seems too busy, you can easily switch things up. I think a paper planner is easier to see at a glance versus using an app. I also like being able to take my pen and check things off after they are done.
  3. Relax at least one hour before bed: I don’t know about you, but I cannot get my much-needed sleep if I work up until bedtime. One hour before I go to sleep I zone out in front of the television. This is also a great time to chat on the phone with a friend, catch up with your friends on social media, or listen to music. Don’t do anything productive or your mind will still be spinning when you try to go to sleep.
  4. Schedule “Me Time:” When you work, raise children, and juggle everyday life, sometimes it can be hard to remember to schedule time with your friends, or to schedule alone time. What is fun and relaxing for you? Is it meeting a friend for lunch during a busy day? Is it strolling through the mall with your friends? Is it taking a long walk alone? Make sure you have at least one planned “me time” during the week, every week. It will help keep you sane.
  5. Stay away from addictive substances and sugar: No joke. Caffeine can make you jittery and elevate your heart rate when you are under stress. Alcohol can cause all sorts of headaches when you are stressed out; and I don’t just mean a hangover. Do I even need to mention why cigarettes cause stress even thought you think they calm you down? Just say no. Stay away from anything addictive. Sugar too! Sugar can make you tired, less productive, and groggy. There is no place for a lot of sugar in a busy day. Save sweet treats for your rest days; in moderation of course.

These are the ways I reduce stress in my life, and I manage my stress levels. What are some ways you manage stress in your busy lives?

Things I find comforting when I am stressed out:

Thanks for stopping by!

XOXO

Cathy

Cozy faux fur on a winter day

 in Bay Area Fashion / General Fashion  tagged casual style / gucci / jd williams / madewell / outfits by

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wearing: bold blue earrings / Bobbi Brown lipstick “Lilac” / cozy faux fur coat / light blue scarf / long sleeve tee / Gucci Marmont Lady Bag (spring 2018!) / boyfriend jeans / Chanel spring nail polish / lace up boots (on major sale!)

So, if you have been following me for the past few winters, you may have noticed I am huge fan of faux fur. I love how funky, faux fur jackets and coats can be. They really elevate an otherwise casual, everyday look into something fabulous.

I originally chose this faux fur coat to wear with an evening jumpsuit I plan to wear later this month for my wedding anniversary, but I couldn’t wait to wear it. It is so cozy, and it fits so well! Plus, the price is so affordable! Love that!

We took these pictures in Capitola before enjoying brunch at Zelda’s last weekend. It is one of our favorite beachside restaurants, and we ate such a yummy meal. I had the bacon and eggs scramble, which was delicious, and my husband enjoyed the Eggs Benedict. Normally when we eat at Zelda’s, I order the Eggs Benedict, so I can attest that it is quite delicious. These are definitely my two favorite brunch dishes from Zelda’s in Capitola. If you’re local, I highly recommend trying them out; and ask for a table by the window. The view of the ocean is beautiful.

After brunch, we listened to music by the beach at the veranda and watched people trying to ice skate on a plastic ice rink. Um, it didn’t look very easy, so we decided not to try it. Have you tried skating on a plastic ice rink before? How was it?

That afternoon we took the kids to “The Mystery Spot” in Santa Cruz. Now, this is total tourist attraction, which is purely for entertainment. The whole thing was designed for fun; there isn’t really a mystery. That being said, I don’t want to spoil it for you if you have not been there, and everyone has to go at least once in their lifetime! The kids had so much fun, and our tour guide had the best jokes. It was really a lot of fun!

This was our last staycation day before school started up again. Our weekends for the next few weeks are full of the kids activities; and then I head to fashion week! Whoo-hoo!

What are some of your favorite staycation activities where you live?

Thanks for stopping by!

XOXO

Cathy

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