Back to life essentials

As a kid I always liked this time of the year, the excitement of going back to school. New beginnings, seeing my friends again and of course back to school shopping! Whether shopping for clothes or school supplies it gave me a rush! Maybe that's the shopaholic in me ;-)

Now as a mom I still feel the same rush for my boys, actually I maybe more excited than they are LOL

Having two young and active school aged boy, it really does take a village! I not only count on their father but also my fellow mom friends. You have school pickup & drop-off and sports practice [baseball, football, basketball - depending the time of the year]. This is just a small list of items that help me stay on top of everything. 

A good tote bag is key, I got this Rebecca Minkoff tote bag on sale in black & natural colors and couldn't be happier. I use it to go to the beach, grocery shopping or just running around. It's big enough to hold all my stuff. I also am a bit old school and carry around a planner and/or notepad, something about writing things down that makes them seem more real. On the flip side I am always on my phone checking emails, sending texts, so naturally I carry a battery charger. These portable charging stations are great when you're out & about without access to an outlet. A great pair of sunnies are great for hiding tired eyes, loving these Karen Walker sunglasses. Staying hydrated is a must, I like to carry a water bottle with me, this water bottle w/infuser is great, just add some lemon slices (or fruit), add water and go. It's that simple. Chuck Taylor's are classic kicks, they never go out of style and are so comfy; perfect for running to the ballpark after work. A good (and stylish) watch is always a good idea, glad I was able to pick up this Michael Kors 'Cooper' watch - on sale! I can be a bit of a germaphobe and always carry hand sanitizer. I really like these from Bath & Body Works, not only do they smell amazing but they're only $5.00 for a pack of five! One for each handbag, you can't beat that!

As we say goodbye to summer fun and leisure, and say hello to the madness of school, after school activities and all that jazz; just remember to breathe and take it one day at a time.

xx, B 

Happy Sunday!

They say time flies when you're having fun, maybe that's why the weekends seem so short.

xx, B

Wednesday wants!

New year, new you? No? Me either. So, instead of making promises I may not be able to keep, I will just continue working out 4 - 5 times a week and making healthy food choices (for the most part). After all I've been able to maintain my weight this past year and you know what they say... if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

In honor of everyone jumping on the workout wagon, check out these gym bag updates.

1. Twist wrap - $90

2. Printed tights - $100

3. Nike Free 5.0 - $100

4. Vintage top - $45

5. Printed tights - $65 (on sale)

6. Nike Flyknit Air Max - $225 (obsessed with these)

7. Vintage top - $45

8. Vintage capris - $40

9. Headband (6-pack) - $10

10. Nike Pro sports bra - $30

11. Nike Pro printed sports bra - $35

12. Nike Pro sports bra - $30

13. Nike Fuel Band SE rose gold - $169

xo, B

How to... Organize your closet

Is your closet about to burst?! Then you do have a lot to wear - you probably just can't find it. Start the new year off with a closet makeover, here are a few tips to get you started.

1 - Take inventory, you must remove every piece of clothing, shoes, handbags, accessories from your closet. No more denial, if you haven't worn/used it in a year - consider it clutter. Exceptions: 1) if it's an investment piece, consider putting it in storage 2) if it's vintage also consider storing it. You have three categories use / donate / store. Cut the fat and only keep the pieces that flatter you the most.

2 - Hangers - Find out what hangers work best for your wardrobe. There are plenty of different options (velvet, wooden, plastic) I would stick with the thin velvet hangers. They take up less space and they won't weight down your clothes rod. Has your clothes rod ever fallen? Mine has, on several occasions, NOT a good look.

I love my Joy Mangano Huggable Hangers, I swear every time I go into Target I pick up a pack. They are supper affordable, come in a bunch of different colors and they won't deform your clothing.

3 - Group all like items together (all blazers, blouses, pants, dresses, etc) for a neat & systematic look. You not only avoid overwhelming your closet but it also makes it easier to find those fitted pants you've been looking for.

After you've categorized your clothing, you can take it one step further and color coordinate them. This also works for your handbags/clutches, making it easier to choose the option that best goes with your outfit.

4 - Let me see...your shoes. Simply put - if you can't see them, you won't wear them (this goes for every item in your closet). If you store your shoes in the back of your closet, you will continue to wear the same five pairs. Get your money's worth and show yourself your options.

All images via Pintrest

Hope this helps and happy organizing!

xo, B

Change comes with change...

Think about it, the seasons change, people change, life changes. For a long time I feared change and I always wondered.. as time went on why a lot of the people in my life didn't always stick around. Life is like a play, there are scenes and a revolving cast of characters; the good, the bad and the ugly. Just imagine a play that had the same scene and the same cast of characters, with no change or evolution.

I always felt like it was my fault when I had a falling out with someone that I really cared about; after some time had passed I realized had that person still been in my life, I would not be where I am now. It really makes you think, that things really do happen for a reason. You go through strive to appreciate the good times. You let go of the dead weight, those who tear you down and hold you back and hang on to those who cheer you on and keep you going.

You live, you grow and you learn; as time goes along you learn to pick and choose your battles and your friends. I feel as though I am in a good place right now, good job, good friends and a good life. Change is good, change is necessary and at times change is inevitable...

Organize this..

Organization may be on your resolution list or one of your long term goals; you really can start fresh and new at any time if you wanted to. What better way to kick off the new year than to reorganize your closets, drawers or any cluttered space in your home. Getting and keeping your "things" in order is key; whether those "things" are your clothes, shoes, toys or random papers in your office. A cluttered home leads to a cluttered mind; if it's piling up you will not be able to function to the best of your ability. Here are a few tips that help me get and stay organized.

- Go through each space and separate your "things" into piles:

1 - Keep
2 - Donate
3 - Trash
4 - Storage (if necessary)

-  A great rule of thumb is that if you haven't used "it" in a year, chances are you don't really need "it". You know what they say out of sight out of mind. If you haven't used that workout DVD, those strappy sandals or that kitchen gadget since 2009, it's time to part ways.

- A place for everything and everything in it's place! You should check out places like Marshalls, Home Goods, Ikea and Target for cheap yet chic storage bins for home and office.

- If you feel overwhelmed with a project ask for help, friends and family can help in more ways than one. Not only will they help you get your closets organized but they can take away any of the items you will be getting rid of. Try your best not to trash clothes (if they are in good condition) think about donating or selling them. Craigslist and Facebook are great tools as are consignment shops.

Just to show you that I practice what I preach, here is a picture of my closet - it's a never ending work in progress!

oh la la...

One of my favorite gifts from this past Christmas was a L'Occitane (pronounced lux - ee - tahn) gift set I received from one of my supervisors. I swear it's so awesome, if you're ever in doubt of what gift to get the woman in your life go with a "spa in a box" as I like to call it.

It comes with two extra gentle bars of soap, a milky body wash, an ultra rich body cream, a tube of their ever popular hand cream and a tube of their foot cream. I've always coveted their hand cream which is so rich and just right for my dry hands. Their body cream does the same, ultra rich, really moisturizes.  It comes in a beautiful box (which I threw away before I thought about sharing with you - I apologize) but I've taken a picture of all that was in my gift box.

I promise you will not be disappointed if you give this gift set or buy it for yourself!

P.S. we also love jewelry and cold hard cash! ;-)

Will you keep yours?

Every new year comes with new goals, dreams, aspirations; get in shape, get out of debt, make more time for family or yourself, the list goes on. My chances are hit or miss with my list, some will stick and some just won't! We make our lists with good intentions but let's be honest there are some of us who won't make it past January!

If these goals are important to you, try not to make the same mistakes as last year. If you've struggled in a certain area, let's say you want to get in shape; you have to set your mind straight, focus, say and do what it takes! Here are some tips that help me.

Write them down - I always feel that if "it's not written in stone" as they say you will not follow through. We are now living in a technological age but I still feel better writing things in a journal than typing it in my smart phone. If you're serious about it, write it down and follow through.

Be realistic - If your goals are completely unattainable, you are setting yourself up for failure.

Reward yourself - When you reach a milestone towards your goal. Lets say your goal is to loose 30 lbs., a little reward at every 10 lbs. lost will keep the momentum going and keep you motivated.

Right place at the right time - Try and surround yourself with like minded people, who will support and help you reach your goals. They will be there for you when you need the extra encouragement.

 Wishing you all a happy and prosperous 2012!

Every Little Bit Helps...

When I read about Facebook 's new initiative a couple of weeks ago, I thought this is great! With the all the recent stories in the news of people in distress, who tried to reach out via their social media accounts. 


-via Time Magazine


Facebook is making it easier for people who express suicidal thoughts on the social networking site to get help. The program enables users to instantly connect with a crisis counselor through their "chat messaging" system.


The service is the latest tool from Facebook aimed at improving safety on its site, which has more than 800 million users. Earlier this year, Facebook announced changes to how users report bullying, offensive content and fake profiles.


Read more at Time Magazine

Manic Monday!

What is it about Mondays are turn us off SO much? Is it because our weekends seem to fly by? Is the thought of the stack of papers left on your desk from the previous week, make you cringe? Well, what ever it is, I don’t like it!! I usually get up late on Mondays not on purpose; it just seems to always play out that way. And it’s a given that one of both of my boys will throw a tantrum on the way out of the house; that or I will get objections on everything – from their wardrobe to their lunch! Then you can add in what seems like heavier than usual flow of traffic; always on a Monday! It doesn’t stop there, once at the office it seems as if even the machinery is still on “weekend mode”; what with computers running slower than usual and copiers/fax machine need to be serviced.

But all in all we would be saying this about any day that comes after the weekend; I know that we always say that we should have three day weekends but when you get back into the office after a long weekend you almost have to peel yourself out of bed and it's like you're a zombie! LOL 

How do you cope with your manic Mondays?

And we're off!!

As I sit here writing this post, I am putting the finishing touches in our suitcases. I am going crazy with the thought of something being left behind but all that is left to do now is head to the airport. I don't like flying, as a child I suffered from motion sickness; I would get sick in a plane, on a boat, in a car and even on the bus! :/ It's gotten better the last time we traveled I don't think I got sick and if I did I can't remember lol. A little nervous about all the security changes in place, especially for international travel. I just hope it's not an unpleasant experience for any of us.

I will be gone for two weeks, so please bare with me and know that upon my return I will have pictures and stories to share with all of you. :) Hope you all have a great two weeks!!

~b

The driving force!

If you've been following me then you know that I've been determined to get my driving permit, well yesterday I went to take my test again and I PASSED!!! They say third times the charm! I can't tell you how relieved I am to have put that to rest. Now on to the hard part - driving school! I'm taking my friend's recommendation and going to the same driving school she went to. I also take comfort in knowing that I am not the only one amongst my friends who just recently got or will be getting behind the wheel.

I now have to concur my fear of driving! I know, what you are thinking "you've been working so hard to get your permit and be able to drive - yet you are afraid of driving?" I remember taking lessons with my mom way back when; I would literally pull over to the right EVERY time I saw a car coming. LOL Needless to say my mom was like "you need to get it together!". What can I say I'm a nervous Nelly behind the wheel and with all the crazy drivers out there can you blame me?! I am buying one of those multiple hour packages and hopefully the instructors will help me over come my fears or at least be more comfortable behind the wheel. Once the initial fear is gone I can practice at home or with my mom.

I just know that come mid October I will be ready for my driving test.

I got the JOB...

I was home with my son for two years before I started thinking about going back to work. Let's face it we are all going through tough times and I need to help provide for my family. Last April I was referred by a friend and landed a job at an accessories company; I was there for about six months. It just wasn't a right fit, my supervisor used to talk to herself - ALL the time! We shared an office and as you can imagine it was so hard to concentrate and focus; it just didn't work out.

I found myself at home for a month before I was able to get referred to another job, this time I was working for a small financial firm. After being there for about two months, two key players left the company and their needs changed. They decided that someone with a financial background would be a better fit and they had to let me go. They were nice enough to give me a month to try and find something while on their payroll. They ended up finding someone to fill my spot before months end.

I know it's been a tough year but I'm happy to say that I am will be starting a new job after the holiday! It's for a major bank and must I say that their pre-screening process is over the top! Four interviews, an extensive background check AND fingerprinting!! Just crazy, but I'm so happy it all worked out!

I am looking forward to being a working mom again, don't get me wrong I LOVE being home with my kids.  For me it's about balance, spending time away from home makes me appreciate it more. My kids are 3 and 7, I'm content and ready to head back into the work force.

At it again...

So last Thursday I went again to take my permit test and guess what?! I failed by ONE point, one point!!! I tell you that I left the DMV so crushed! As the clerk told me third times the charm!! Ugh, I hope so because it sucks to keep failing at something you want so bad.







For now all I do is read that driver's manual and try and remember any questions that I was asked and got wrong; while reenforcing the ones I already know. Did you know that:

1 1/2 oz of 80 proof whiskey, 12 oz of beer and 5 oz glass of wine all contain the same amount of alcohol: about 1/2 oz of alcohol per drink.

Well, wish me luck I'm at it again this Thursday, send all good vibes my way!

On the fritz...

So my computer crashed yesterday after I made my post; I was like "what in the world?!" So there I am in a panic, not knowing what to do; I couldn't access the customer service number for Dell technical support because it was on the computer - that I had NO access to! Thank god for my blackberry, I was able to search and find the customer service number. Good thing the boys were in daycare because I was NOT a happy camper!

I was on the phone with technical support for almost two hours, when I remembered that I had made lunch plans with my old coworkers - YIKES!! So I mention to the tech that I had a "lunch meeting" to go to; he said that the download would take 45 minutes to an hour. I said that's perfect because I needed to step out and he said he would call me back.Off I went to my "lunch meeting"; as I walked out of my house I noticed that I had just missed the bus (so I was sure to be late). After waiting for about 30 minutes I decided to jump in a cab; I made it just in time to have a lovely lunch to take my mind off what was going on at home with my computer.

Once I got back home the tech calls me and we are back to playing doctor with my computer, for another two hours! From re installing the drivers to the operating system - we did it all! And as I sit here in the public library writing my post and checking emails my computer is not back up yet. They will be sending me a new hard drive and god knows what else lol. All I can say is that I am going through withdrawals right now! I do have a blackberry but we all know it's not the same as a desktop. So no fancy graphics today as this computer does not want to cooperate with me lol. I just hope I am up and running soon.

Shut up and drive...

I moved to New Jersey from New York City (where everything is a train ride, bus stop or cab ride away) not knowing how to drive. Fast forward eight years and I STILL don't know how to drive! The truth is that I am a nervous wreck behind the wheel; I've taken a few lessons in my mom's car - let's just say that didn't go so well! I want to learn not so much for me but for my kids; having the option to drive is a welcome change than the current - mass transit!!

In New Jersey the knowledge test consist of fifty questions, you must get forty of them correct. I've come close to passing quite a few times, at this point I'm so frustrated! I take comfort in knowing that I am not the only one who has failed the knowledge test multiple times; a couple of my friends have been in my shoes. The testing is done on these fancy computers and I swear they reword the questions in a way that's much different than in the book lol, no kidding.

I am determined to pass this knowledge test, get my permit and ultimately my license. I went last week and got thirty-two of the forty questions needed to  qualify. I can't believe I failed by eight, that blows! I am going again this Thursday and hoping to get that much closer to passing and moving on to the next step!

Just another Manic Monday...

New week, new you; same issue how to get the most out of your day, week, month or year?! Now a days there are so many ways to keep organized.

I used to write a To Do list; I would buy some nice stationery, jot down my list and put it up on my fridge, in my bag or by my computer. Where ever I thought it would be visible and help me get things done. Then I moved on to the personal planners, I had several of them. Loved the fact that you had an address book, calendar, a section just for notes, sections for business cards all in one place; you could customize it to your needs. Didn't like the fact that it could get bulky and you always needed a big bag to carry it around. Then getting organized went digital, in comes the Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs for short) they were all the craze in the late 90s. Side Bar: Nokia introduced the first mobile phone with full PDA functionality in 1996; which grew to be the world's best-selling PDA.

Back to getting organized; now a days our cell phones can do it ALL! It's like they say "There's an app for that"; it's a great tool to get you and keep you organized. You can enter meetings, doctor's appointments, soccer practice all in your calendar; you then get reminder notifications which means that you may never miss another appointment again. You can even manage your budget, the possibilities are endless.

I am currently using a personal planner and my cell phone. For some reason I think if I write it down I will not forget it; it works most of the time...

How do you stay on top of your game?