Words on Wednesday:Happy Birthday Xylon Kenzo

In honour of my beautiful son’s  birthday (22 October) I thought it would only be fitting to share some of the lessons motherhood has taught me. Being a mother has certainly been an interesting journey to say the least and no two days are exactly the same.  You have to be beyond patient and a sense of humour is essential. Here are a few other things I have learned from being a mother.

·         With motherhood comes a whole set of new uncertainties. From what formula to use; to are you being strict enough as a parent? You’ll worry every second that your child is out of your sight and at times it will become so scary/ frustrating /tiring that you’ll probably want to cry several times a day. You can’t do it all on your own. It’s ok to need and accept help from people you trust.

·         Going to the toilet will become a sacred, cherished affair. Enjoy going alone while you can. Children have absolutely no problem hanging out with you while you do your business.

·         You will have to learn and remember the names of all Dora’s friends (plus the meaning of a few Spanish words). Questions will be asked and if you don’t want your credibility doubted in the future, you better know the answers.

·         It’s perfectly fine to bribe your child every now and then to get them to do something. Yes, you always want to be in charge but sometimes it’s just not worth the struggle. You have to choose your battles wisely.

·       There comes a time when they don’t listen to you at all, about anything. Don’t take it personally; it has nothing to do with who you are as a parent.

·       Having conversations about poop will become completely acceptable and not at all cringe worthy.

·         Children are undoubtedly like sponges. They observe and copy so much of who we are as parents. Be careful how you talk to and react to your child. This is how they will eventually talk to and treat others.

·        There is no right or wrong way to parent. What works for you, other parents might find unorthodox. That’s all right; we all want our children to be confident individuals so we can’t possibly use someone else’s blueprint for parenting.

·         This one I learned the hard way. You will spend a ton of money on expensive toys and your child ends up enjoying tupperware and empty boxes more. Sometimes I tend to go overboard with buying things that my son couldn’t care less about.

·         Don’t worry about whether you are doing things right. The most important thing you can do is be present. Life passes us by so fast and the last thing you want is to regret not living in the moment and treasuring the little things.

Motherhood is the most fun I have had all my life and I look forward to making new discoveries and learning new lessons as the years go by. Happy Birthday Xylon. You are the love of my life and the reason I smile every day.

TILL LATER, LAUREN!

The issue with my hair

After suffering from major hair damage and loss, I am happy to report that my hair is finally looking better. It has grown a great deal and it just looks so much fuller and healthier. Thing is; now it’s at that awkward length where you can’t really do much with and it is slightly dull looking. Don’t get me wrong. I am elated that I finally don’t have to be embarrassed by the state of my hair any more, but I feel the need to do something badass with it.

I have been playing around with a few ideas in my head. At first I thought an edgy short hair cut would fit my personality, but the thought of having to cut off all my hard work scares me. And I am not brave enough to do the undercut thing. Let me leave that to Rihanna. Also, I would love to have an afro , but with my straight locks, that dream looks like it will stay just that, a dream. So while I try to make up my mind I have started adding hair accessories to my everyday looks and looking for inspiration online.  Who is your hair crush?

* I do not take credit for the images in this post

TILL LATER, LAUREN!

I love STREETSTYLE

 When it comes to fashion, we are all stimulated by different things. Be it blogs, magazines or runway shows; we all have that one thing that inspires us beyond measure. For me, that feeling comes from street style images. I cannot wait for the various fashion weeks every year solely because I love to gawk at regular (ridiculously stylish) people on the streets.

Seeing how people express themselves so unapologetically unsettles me slightly, but in a good way. It’s that feeling of “wow I could totally see myself doing that”or“jeez why I didn't think of that”. It makes me want to get up every morning and express myself in that same way, regardless of what other people would think.  Personally, street style seems like such a celebration of who you are as a person and it’s a celebration I would very much like to be a part of. I am definitely working towards taking a few more risks when it comes to fashion and not being so constricted by the fashion “rules” in my head.

 In my last post [read it here] I spoke about refreshing my wardrobe by making sure I have the basics. I look forward to adding my own flair with accessories and a whole new perception of style. In this post I have assembled some of the street style images that inspire me immensely. Some are quirky, some are flamboyant and some looks are downright genius. Naturally, we all have different tastes so these images might not inspire you, but I’m hoping that you enjoy them nevertheless.

Where does your fashion inspiration come from?

*I do not take credit for the images in this post

TILL LATER, LAUREN!

#PursueToSmile

This year, beyond a shadow of a doubt, has been the most difficult year of my entire life.  It has been a chaotic, sad and pressure filled year. I lost 3 family members in three months, my finances were mostly dismal and I was going through a major existential crisis. But, these days, things are so much better and it is mostly because I decided to make a conscious decision to be happier whatever was happening in my world; that and a lot of prayer.

So the other day when I read Verushka’s (her blog)  #PursueToSmile blog post,  I thought: “Hey, this is just another way to bring some joy into my life”. Let me explain the concept. This is what I gathered from the post.

*Write/blog/tweet 5 things that make you smile

* Take a picture of you smiling and post it on social media

* Nominate two or more friends to take on the #PursueToSmile challenge

* Tweet “I have taken the #PursueToSmile challenge

And now for my list..

 *My son and the rest of my family. These people are so funny and creative that they make being around them an absolute joy. And they always keep me inspired.

 * Blogging has helped me through a lot of tough situations this year. Even if I don't have a ton of followers, never go to events and I don't get a lot of page views, the feeling self worth that I get from blogging is more than enough. Also, there are so many amazing bloggers out there that I cannot help but be motivated by them.

 * Anything hot in a pretty mug puts a smile on my face. There's something about a cup of green tea that seems like it could be magic. And I am sure I don't have to explain the amazingness of a cup of hot chocolate on a cold day.

*BOOKS! Basically anything I can get my hands on to read. I am obsessed with collecting books and magazines and being transported to far away places and glamorous photo shoots. To me, reading is literally like taking a mini vacation from the chaos of the outside world.

 *Fashion. What can I say about fashion? I love the fact that you get to be a different person everyday through fashion. You get to have a voice and no one can really say " well hey, you are doing it wrong". I read fashion blogs and magazines everyday and I find myself continuously amazed and inspired by the fashion industry.

Here is my picture

That is as big as my smile goes

I nominate Namreen from Life and Times of the Fireflies, Tasneem from City Girl Vibe and Naeemah from The Jam Jar Blog


* I do not take credit for some of the images in this post

OOTD - Casual Lunch

Since I hardly ever have anyone to take pictures of me during the day (no one with the patience anyway) I refrain from doing look posts. However, I would still like to share what I wore every now and then and I figured why not do it this way. I realise it is not nearly the same as a proper look post, but I suppose it is better than nothing.  Maybe I am just too terrified to actually pose in front of a camera.This is a quick post on what I wore recently to a pretty laid back lunch with a very good girlfriend of mine. I hope you enjoy it nevertheless.

* Boyfriends jeans and spike bracelet : Mr Price (Quirky Stylista range)
*Neon trimmed clutch and white T shirt : JET
*Sunglasses: Freebie with Glamour mag
*Shoes: Legit
* Lips ring : Edgars
* Gellac Nailpolish (burgundy) : Yardley

Thank you for reading....

TILL LATER, LAUREN!

REVIEW: Lancome Hypnose Doll Eyes Mascara

More often than not you will find me reviewing mascara on my blog. That is because I simply cannot stay monogamous when it comes to them: yes I have become somewhat of a mascara whore. While I have firm favourites, like Maybelline Illegal Definition (read post here), you’ll always find me yearning to try new ones and ultimately buying them. A few months ago I posted a lukewarm review of Lancome’s Hypnose Drama mascara which you can read here and today I’ve decided to discuss Lancome Hypnose Doll Eyes mascara.

 

Here are my thoughts on the product

The packaging is once again absolutely picturesque. The white tube is adorned with the most adorable little red hearts and flowers and was created by Lanvin designer Alber Elbaz. Too be honest, it looks like the R315 it costs.  Application was much easier than with the Drama mascara. The brush doesn’t pick up as much product either which makes it a relatively smudge free process.

Two coats are all you need to create lashes that are curvaceous and impactful. Without a doubt it creates a doll eye effect. Furthermore it stays on for the longest time but, also removes quite easily with a cotton swab and make up remover. It is definitely not mascara I would purchase for myself over and over again simply because of the cost; my budget would never forgive me. If you are looking to spoil yourself and splurge this would be a great choice.

Long lasting effects and a great smell: I give this mascara an 8/10.

Which mascara are you currently using and coveting?

 

                                                             TILL LATER, LAUREN!

Men's style for winter

The other day I was told that I hardly ever post anything for my male readers. Mind you, I didn’t even know I had male readers. Nevertheless, here I am doing one for the dudes. I absolutely love doing inspiration posts, so I thought why not do one on winter fashion for guys. I don’t consider myself a fashion guru, I like what I like and I tend to share what I like. I’ve gathered a few images that have caught my eye and I hope you guys (and girls enjoy it).

 

*I do not take credit for the images in this post

 

TILL LATER, LAUREN!