The Perfect Weekday

June 16, 2018June 4, 2018Leave a comment

I love a casual weekday where I can do things that I love. These ideal weekdays are a rare treasure. However, when they do occur, although understated, they are beyond special.

I started the day poolside with a homemade breakfast parfait. It had greek yogurt, fresh berries, granola, almonds, and a drizzle of honey.

After this delightful breakfast, I went to Rolling Greens, a local nursery, to get some indoor trees for our house.

This was an adventure in itself. I love Rolling Greens.

I ended up getting this tree for our living room. It adds so much freshness and a splash of color to our otherwise monochromatic living room.

They had some rustic flowers laying out on the counter.

For lunch, I decided to make a Cleo inspired Grilled Halloumi, Watermelon Salad on a bed of lettuce with a light vinaigrette. Halloumi is a Mediterranean semi-hard cheese and its flavors are released when grilled.

This was scrumptious.

Afternoon snack

Would it even be a relaxing weekday, if you didn’t watch your favorite tv show? I had to make some stove top hot chocolate with dark chocolate, some half & half for added creaminess, and a sprinkle of cinnamon. I also cut up some fresh strawberries and had a mini chocolate croissant from Whole Foods.

Ramekins make everything better, right.

cheese board.JPG

For dinner, I arranged a cheese board with three types of cheeses, grilled crostini, fresh grapes, walnuts, raspberry jam, and a drizzle of honey.

XOXO,

Shiza

Spa Night

February 11, 2016February 11, 2016Leave a comment

With all of the stress, work, and everything going on in our busy lives, it is important for us to occasionally RELAX. I mean put down our phones , turn off its notifications,and spend a couple of hours devoting some time to doing what we love and DE-STRESSING ourselves both mentally and physically.

To me a spa night consists of my best friends , some yoga, a luxurious Bubble bath, some baking , and tons of LAUGHTER and a good Old Hollywood movie to watch at night ( Breakfast at Tiffany’s and How to Steal a Million are some of my favs ) .And thats what I did this past Sunday. It truly made all the difference and has helped me clear my head and gave me amazing vibes. I swear vibes are everything.

Bubble Bath Essentials:

A good bubble bath NEEDS

dark chocolate ( Godiva has the best)
Vanilla Bean Ice Cream
Pink Grapefruit Italian Soda Cocktail ( its virgin) with a splash of orange juice, ginger ale, Pink grapefruit Italian soda, and fresh fruit (sliced strawberries and tangerines) + mint & plenty of ICE
A good body scrub
Candles
Classical or Relaxing Spa music (pandora has some good stations)

The ultimate comforting dessert is PECAN PIE and since baking is like the most therapeutic thing EVER to me, I had a lot of fun making it and devouring it with tons of whipped cream

This is the opening scene from Breakfast at Tiffany’s. Your Fifth Avenue outfit cannot get any cuter than this ? It can if Hubert de Givenchy was your designer and stylist.

A little yoga with a watermelon lemonade candle from Bath & Body Works burning on the side, is the perfect duo and the best way to get some relaxing exercise into your Spa Night. I love the after feeling of yoga, my body and mind feel rejuvenated.

I hope my version of a Spa Night has inspired you to have your own. Good vibes only.

XOXO,

SHIZA

DIY : Refreshing Facial Mask

January 27, 2015January 31, 2015Leave a comment

This cucumber face mask is perfect for those stressful days in which you need to relax and rejuvenate your skin . It is easy, quick , and most importantly made with ingredients you have laying around the kitchen. This effective face mask leaves your face feelig fresh, smooth, and revived.

Cucumber Facial Mask :
– 1/3 of a small cucumber, grated using
a cheese grater
– 1 tsp rose water
– 1/2 tsp olive oil
– 1 Tbsp yogurt

Blend the ingredients and apply on a
cleaned makeup free face. Leave on for about 7-10 minutes or untill the mask has dried. Wash off with water or wipe off using a damp washcloth. Enjoy!

Benefits :
Cucumbers are mainly composed of water . Therefore, they can hydrate your skin. Also, they have the ability to treat blemishes and dark circles because of its cooling effect and the high content of ascorbic acid found in these antioxidant rich vegetables.
Rose Water is a natural toner for the skin and adds a glow to it. In addition, it is an efficient cleanser and can remove dirt, oil, and makeup from the skin.
Olive Oil is abundant in vitamin E and is a great way to moisturize dry skin.
Yogurt contains natural anti-bacterial properties that can help eliminate acne. Also, the high content of zinc in it can aid in giving sunburn relief.