Hi friends,
It's been a while since there's been a blog post here but I hope you've been keeping well. It is currently the month of Ramadan for Muslims observing and if you're not quite familiar what Ramadan is- The holy month of Ramadan is the 9th month in the Islamic lunar calendar. It is a month of fasting, worship, service, communal gathering, and spiritual development. Fasting in Ramadan is one of the Five Pillars of Islam. We fast from sun rise (the meal is called suhoor/sehri) to sunset (the meal is called iftar) and abstain from food and water during those hours. Once we complete the month of Ramadan, Eid is our celebration to mark the end of the holy month by gathering with our loved ones. Often during the month of Ramadan, at sunset when we break our fasts or visit our friends and family to eat together, we bring gifts to share. I have been preparing these cookies for the last few years to share with our friends at our annual iftar get together and its always been a hit. The preparation takes a little time with accounting for chilling the dough in the fridge for about an hour + but it comes together easily and you can always substitute the toppings based on your personal preference. Of course these delicious shortbread cookies aren't exclusive to Ramadan/Eid and are delicious all year round. As my kids get older, they really enjoy helping in the kitchen and baking treats together has become such a fun tradition for us. INGREDIENTS
COOKIE DOUGH
Melt the chocolate chips in a bowl in the microwave for 30 seconds- 1 minute and stir. Add coconut oil if you need to melt them a little more until its in liquid form. Add the melted chocolate into a sandwich bag and carefully cut the end when youre ready to drizzle to cookies. Remember it can get messy quickly and you have to move fast so make sure youre actually ready to garnish the cookies. Once done, top with the pistachios and edible petals and enjoy. You can find the full video on my Instagram here. X Hope you have a great rest of the week! Sophia
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*This post is sponsored by Wandering Bear Coffee * Their seasonal Pumpkin Spice cold brew is available August 10th! Hi friends! Is it too early to talk pumpkin spice? The way I look at it, it's already August. Which means we are just about a few weeks away from the new school year starting aka summer is very close to be being over! But I'll be savoring every lasting bit of summer with lots of activities and coffee to get us through. Wandering Bear Coffee's seasonal Pumpkin Spice Cold Brew is extra strong, surprisingly smooth, and has no sugar added with the convenience of having your favorite cold brew ready in seconds right from your own fridge. You can save 10% by subscribing to Wandering Bear Coffee and receiving your box right to your door every month. Wandering Bear Coffee cold brew is brewed with a Fair Trade organic Arabica bean from central Peru. The coffee is shelf stable with no preservatives or additives and is Keto Friendly, Paleo Friendly, and Vegan. Wandering Bear Coffee Containers are 100% recyclable and the bags are BPA-free plastic and FDA-grade food safe. Their seasonal Pumpkin Spice Cold Brew is available starting today exclusively on their site! How are you planning on spending the next few weeks of summer ? I would love to hear! Also since we are prepping as a first time kindergartener, here are the best pieces of advice from fellow moms I've received -
To read more, head to my Instagram page here and follow along as we make the best of the remaining summer days and nights. Thank you Wandering Bear Coffee for sending over your delicious pumpkin spice cold brew that we will most definitely be enjoying well into the rest of the year!
Cheers friends and wishing you a wonderful next few weeks as you prep for the new school year. Thanks for being here. x Sophia Hi friends, I recently turned 40, a big number in my books, and while life has been quite eventful especially the last decade, it's come with many life lessons. Sharing my nuggets of wisdom I wish I learned sooner.
x Sophia Hi friends! We recently got back from a 2.5 week long trip to Sylhet, Bangladesh & Kolkata, India to visit our families with our kids ( 4 & 3 years old) and here are a few tips I have from planning/prepping and learning through experience. I got a couple of questions about sharing our experience and advice so here it goes. Please keep in mind, as prepared as we can be, long travel days are unpredictable with weather, delays, kids' health, temperament and so much more. The best we can do is plan out and pack everything essential and hope for smooth travel days. I've tried my best to add everything we needed besides the obvious items for the kids for our travel over on my LTK page. -First things first, call your travel nurse to check if you need additional vaccinations. Speaking of which, we kept disposable masks on hand for overly crowded spaces or heavily polluted areas. -Always keeping extra clothes for everyone in your carryon. Also backpacks for everyone including the kids so they feel a sense of responsibility -Be fully prepared for snacks/games/activities/download their favorites and tv shows -Keeping lollipops for motion sickness/nausea ( more linked here) -Take water purifying capsules, a water filter & liquid IV packs. We used bottled water everywhere as well as brushing teeth for the kids. -Kept bug sprays & sunscreen whenever we stepped outside. -Having individual hand sanitizer packs for use -This one is not a necessity but is more of a convenience especially when it comes to long travel days with kids. Check if you have access to airport lounges. Some credit cards have these perks
-Be sure to dress in layers so you can adjust to changing temperatures easily -A reminder: accept that schedules and sleep routines will be thrown off. Lots of screen time, some tantrums, flight delays, jet lag, cleaning up messes and more. Embrace the chaos and enjoy your time. Getting to travel and make these memories with our little ones is a blessing Well November went by fast, right? Between prepping for our trip to Bangladesh/ India ( when this post goes live, we will most likely be on the other side of the globe- wish us luck), and keeping busy with the holidays, kid's activities and everyday life, I don't think 30 days was enough for this month. Speaking of keeping busy, here is a weekly grocery list guide for easy meals/snacks from Trader Joe's over here. But also, even if we religiously don't celebrate Christmas, I could celebrate this season all year long if possible. Whether its the sparkles and sequins, or the Michael Bublé/Frank Sinatra holiday playlist, the get togethers and all the festivities, December is a great month! Speaking of festivities, I shared a easy napkin folding tutorial for anyone planning on hosting in the coming weeks, over here. Anyways, I digress. November favorites are going to be short and to the point. Wishing you a lovely holiday season; I hope you feel the warmth of celebrations. Tis' the season! If you're feeling particularly in the holiday spirit and need a little help with what to gift your loved ones this season, here is my gift guide linked here.
Wishing you a great December! Thank you for reading. Sophia BOOKS Our missing hearts- A book about what we pass on to our children; of the power of hope in America. The book starts off slow and does address Xenophobia. This book is not for the faint of heart The light we carry by Michelle Obama - This is an inspiring book drawn from real life experiences of the former first lady. I of course listened to the audiobook version because I enjoyed her first book Becoming narration so much. If you loved her first, you will absolutely love this too. TV SHOW/MOVIES From Scratch- Based on a true story, this is a heartbreaking yet beautiful. Watch out for the waterworks! Alaska Daily starring Hilary Swank joins a daily newspaper in Alaska The people we hate at the wedding - Amazon prime. Starring Kristen Bell & Allison Janney, its a heartwarming lighthearted watch Spirited- A musical on Apple + starring Will Ferrell & Ryan Reynolds that is a modern day twist on the Charles Dickens story PODCASTS A slight change of plans// The science of loneliness with guest US surgeon general Vivek Murthy- A very insightful conversation on being comfortable in your own company and the difference between alone and lonely. November Favorite items ear muffs & scarves for kids Dolman sleeved gown on sale here Straight leg jeans here ( styling/sizing reel over on my Instagram) petite teddy puffer jacket under $50 here Kid's duffel coat here Stainless steel straws on sale here Hi friends! It’s gift giving season and whether you celebrate Christmas or Hanukkah or secret santa gifting amongst your friends or really any other holiday, there are plenty of reasons to spoil your loved ones OR yourself! I created a list last year around this time and loved hearing your feedback! I also shared a gift wrapping cost saving hack last year over on reels here While tangible gifts never fail, gifting your time/experiences together are always a great idea too. I've categorized these gifts by pricing $15 and under, $20-$50 & $50-$100 and a compact list of kids' gifts. Please keep in mind, I have included some experiences as well that could be different from tangible gifts. Hope this is useful and eases you from having to stress about thinking about gifts for your loved ones, coworkers, boss, family friends, or anyone or your gift list. Happy holidays! UNDER $15/STOCKING STUFFERS For the friend who likes breakfast for dinner or really at anytime- this mini waffle maker This 24oz water bottle under $10 to keep you hydrated always This monogrammed mug is a popular one, year after year - under $15 here These colorful cozy socks would add just the right pop for under $14 here This faux fur beanie is the perfect winter accessory at $10 only here $20-$50 For the friend who lives in yoga pants here under $35 For the friend who loves cold brew no matter the season under $20 here For the friend who is always cold. These Amazon slippers are under $20 and great quality For the friend who is always on the go - this trendy lululemon crossbody is the perfect gift for under $40 For the friend who loves planning - this calendar on Etsy is magnetic and perfect to stick onto your fridge For the friend who can never have enough makeup - this Rare Beauty blush set under $30 For the friend who can't have enough winter coats-this petite teddy puffer jacket under $50 here For the friend who has needed a new wallet for far too long- this one under $25 ( original $79) here For the friend that loves loungewear-These moonlight pajamas are extremely comfortable and almost too hard to change out of - on sale here for under $45 for select styles For the friend who is looking to find holiday activities in DC - Travelzoo currently has a a coupon for 30% of the DC winter lantern tickets under $22 $50-$100 This mini photo printer would make a great present for the friend who loves capturing memories and scrapbooking - under $100 here For the friend that loves to cook but doesn't have enough storage - the always pan $95 currently on sale here Oven ready meal subscription for the friend who doesn't have enough time - here For the friend who could use a spa day - $65 for your first facial here at Heyday, Alexandria Va. For the friend who is always ready to try a new experience- gift them an e-card and they can choose from 3,600 experiences. Kids gifts
These holiday pajamas under $20 would be perfect for matching family pictures or sleepovers this season. This kids' yoga mat is so fun to get them involved in workouts under $20 I always gift these KiwiCo activity based/project crates that are perfect for any kid's age bracket- here This kid's bathrobe that is every bit adorable - starting at under $35 Tickets to the National Children's museum for a day full of fun here Waterproof snowboots on sale here This arts & crafts library for the ultimate at home cozy game night for under $40 For the little budding photographer this mini camera is absolutely perfect (under $35) Hi friends! Well I'm a bit late on October's monthly favorites post but hey, better late than never! This past month was filled with checking off local Fall activities with the kids, Halloween festivities, starting a new job and planning for a trip overseas to visit extended family( it will be the kids' first time visiting Bangladesh & India). I have been putting together an extensive list of gifts for extended family there while prepping for essentials to take for the kids which I will try to compile into a blogpost upon return for any other fellow moms planning on taking a trip overseas soon. Also, speaking of gifts, I am putting together a gift guide that includes local/DC experiences as well if you find them to be more personal. Ok and lastly, but definitely not the least important- this is something I have dreamed of doing for years now and although I briefly attempted several years ago, I'm bravely taking the plunge and putting it out there/manifesting it. And that is, wardrobe styling services! I have a full rundown of services offered and would love and appreciate any questions you may have about them specifically. Alright that's all the blogging updates I have for now. So lets get started on our favorites. I hope you have a great month, and thanksgiving, however you may be celebrating with family or friends and feel a sense of togetherness and belonging. Books It was a Colleen Hoover month with Ugly love (2.5/5 stars) & It Starts with us (3.8/5 stars). Ugly Love just felt very slow and drawn out with no substantial storyline. The ending was decent but not my top faves of CH books. It Starts with us was good and a continuation of It ends with us Podcasts Digital Sisterhood- A podcast encompassing stories of muslim sisters from all across sharing their bravery, resilience, grief with full transparency and vulnerability. All there is with Anderson Cooper - A podcast about loss, grief & navigating life with it all TV A whole me / standup comedy special with Yvonne Orji on HBO- If you've watched Insecure on HBO, you are very familiar with Yvonne's quirky sense of humor. She addresses several relevant topics and the complexities of being a woman of color in her 30s as a second generation American. Luckiest girl Alive - A netflix movie based on the bestselling novel is a must watch ONLY if you are fully aware of the trigger warnings and know the ( very real and dark) topic it addresses. The good nurse- A netflix movie based on a bestselling novel and a true story as well. In terms of other favorites, we are fast approaching holiday season and I have rounded up sequin pants here or a holiday office/party look here . If you're looking to update your blazer collection, I have compiled a list here ( I own most of these or similar and wear them on heavy rotation). Also here you can find my recent Rare Beauty makeup products I picked up from Sephora. You can find all my LTK picks and favorites here . You can also find my everyday outfits and looks by following me here on Instagram. OCTOBER FAVORITES/PURCHASES Croc brown boots - The exact ones I wear all the time, are from H&M from a few years ago but here is a similar pair that is on mega sale and almost identical here under $35.
Toddler girl rainboots on sale here This lint remover that comes in handy in the colder months for making your coats and sweaters look brand new These faux leather maroon pants from Express Shoe organizer on Amazon here Black sweater vest here Faux fur slippers ( would also make a great gift) Thanks for reading! Appreciate you taking the time out of your day Sophia Happy Monday and October friends! September was off to a slow start with taking it easy over Labor day weekend and a quick road trip to Richmond, va. Kids' activities were back in full swing this month with soccer, ballet, mosque classes and more and with Marjan on work travel quite often, I've been trying easy meals more than ever. Sharing this hearty soup recipe I posted on Instagram that would be great served over a bed of rice. I'll be sharing more hearty and easy recipes in the next few weeks over on stories for easy weeknight dinner ideas. I'll keep today's blogpost short and sweet starting with my favorite books- READ The Seven husbands of Evelyn Hugo- Historical fiction about an old Hollywood movie star and her life. A thousand splendid suns - Written by Afghan American author Khaled Hosseini about the volatile events of Afghanistan and how the people (espescially women) navigated troubling times. A heartbreaking but must read in my opinion. TV Selena + Chef - On HBO max , 4 seasons of Selena Gomez learning how to cook under the guidance of celebrity chefs Netflix Selling the OC-Reality television about real estate agents. If you've watched Selling Sunsets then these drama filled reality series is for you PODCAST Episode on How to have healthier friendships is such a great conversation on female friendships and the complications of it. A must listen for any adult female regardless of their friendship statuses MONTHLY FAVORITE BUYS/CLICKS September was a month of updating my Fall wardrobe with a few new pieces as well as stocking up on cooler weather items for the kids. Linking everything below in the image that will directly bring you to the landing page to see details If you have any questions, you can always send me a message! I love hearing from you/talking to you. And that's all for September's favorites. I promised to keep it short and sweet.
Wishing you and wonderful month ahead with all the cozy Fall activities and a renewed season of hope. Sophia Hi friends! Hope you had a nice and relaxing long weekend enjoying the last bits of summer. Yes, yes an entire week has passed since Labor Day weekend but better late than never! And although summer isn't over yet, I'm also excited for Fall including the festivities and whats to come. Not to forget all the outfits and cute little kiddos Halloween costumes. Speaking of which ( and yes, this may be too far in advance) I have a cost saving Halloween costume tip for kids and adults included. I scored brand new (New with tags) Halloween costumes for Jordan & Nora from Poshmark for under $15 each. I'm looking forward to sharing my favorite finds from this month but also the books and TV shows I loved. Although I regularly share anything I hope is useful directly on stories, I've been trying to consolidate the favorites into these blogposts in order to help you find anything you may be searching for. Starting with my favorite reads/listens ( because I actually listen to my books over on Audible while walking, running errands, driving, doing dishes and everything in between) Book- The secret keeper of Jaipur - Part 2 of Henna artist trilogy. I highly recommend if you are interested in novels with complex characters, a page turning suspense & mostly an escape into a different time. Book- Verity - a very dark suspenseful book by Colleen Hoover. Just a heads up - there are several trigger warnings, without giving away too much of the plot. I finished this book in 3 days and trust me it was hard to put down. Book - It ends with us. another Colleen Hoover bestseller. It starts a bit slow but the end is worth it. TV show/movie - Wedding season on Netflix is a light Indian romantic comedy TV show - Surface on Apple TV created by Reese Witherspoon is a suspense and although it's a slow watch, it's worth checking out. TV show- Marvelous mrs maisel (Season 4 )is Amazon Prime's hit comedy and I finally caught up on it. It was heartfelt and everything that Maisel fans love this show for. Aug favorite finds involved a lot of style finds that are perfect for end of summer and early Fall.
These gorgeous heeled socked booties from Zappos This very affordable oversized camel blazer that would be functional for work or evenings This tan colored faux leather blazer that is not only trendy but also a piece you could trust to wear for a few years This knit tank that is great for layering or wearing on its own ( styled in this reel) These strappy heels that are a must for dressing up. I have them in black too. Wore these tan ones 2 nights in a row and were extremely comfortable. This white poplin shirt that is a great basic to have These highwaisted paperbag shorts that would be great with boots or with loafers ( worn here) This special occasion pearl bag from Amazon that is great quality These black jeans from express that are a must! This white blazer dress for a fun night out ( which I pinned in the chest area for more modesty) You can also find lots more Fall looks inspo over here on my LTK page or Tiktok if you're not following me on there yet, I share easy quick healthy meal ideas over on tiktok too! Also for friends who have long work days that involves commute and being on your feet often, I shared a list of stylish work flats over here And that concludes our August favorites although I know there are a 100 more items I would like to share with. But I'll save them for another time. Thank you for taking the time out of your day to read through this. Have a great weekend! Sophia Photos - Igda Warner Hi friends, This goes without saying - Summer is absolutely flying by. As fun as fall fashion and activities are, I always feel a little bit of seasonal depression when I realize how summer is fleeting. Am I the only one? July was filled with pool days and finding kid activities indoors. We started off the month with a trip to Jacksonville, FL for 4th of July weekend which was wonderful .Did a solo parent day at the Please Touch museum in Philly and the kids absolutely loved it and already asking to go back. We also did a weekend trip to New York and although there was a heat warning, we made the best of it. I've received questions before about kid activities in NYC and I have a highlight saved here from last and this summer. Here are a few of my favorite TV/Podcast/Books for this month. TV Trying - Comedy/Drama Available on apple tv about a couple in London trying to go through the trials and tribulations of adoption process MOVIE Not Ok -Available on Hulu about how sometimes social media is so far off from reality and sometimes the consequences are irreversible ted lasso on apple tv PODCAST Broad ideas - A celebrity podcast series with rachel bilson discussing current affairs and female relationships/challenges We can do hard things - Another star studded guest line up on this Glennon Doyle podcast READING One true loves - Book by Taylor Jenkin Reid, a novel about how sometimes some choices arent as simple. It's being adapted into a movie and has the true Notebook romance kind of feel. Here are a few of my July favorite finds
July favorites These adorable toddler besties tee here this portable fan on Amazon here this multicolored baublebar ring here for under $10 This fabletics dress that I cant get enough of here styled 3 ways These fabulous fun shoes here These matching mommy and me dresses from JessaKae These target sandals I've been loving lately (available in white too) This lovely mesh ruched maxi dress if you are looking for a special occasion dress here Hope you have a wonderful month ahead! Thank you for reading! Sophia |
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