Bad Habits You Can Break Today

Hi lovelies,

We’re all guilty of some bad habits - we’re only human after all. But when your energy levels are starting to suffer and your health isn’t what it should be, that’s when you know it’s time to make some important changes.

Breaking bad habits can take time, and it isn’t always easy. But if you’re willing to make some positive changes, you can get your health back on track and feel more energized and youthful than ever before.

Want to know more? Here are some bad habits you can break today.

Photo by Alexander Mils on Unsplash

Always eating on the move

A hectic work and social life can mean that you tend to eat on the go, a lot. From a take-out lunch to constant snacking, you’re not doing your body or waistline any good by always eating out. If time is short, then some quick and healthy recipes you can turn to in a hurry are always good for helping you maintain a balanced diet. 

Staying up too late

Do you tend to burn the candle at both ends? All of those late nights will soon catch up with you. It’ll show in your eyes, your skin and your overall mood. Sleep is more important than you might realize, and by making an effort to go to bed earlier, you can help yourself restore your energy. If something’s stopping you from getting your eight hours a night, like work or going out too much, then it’s time to start saying no and making some important decisions for your health.

Things that are causing serious damage to your health

While some bad habits won’t have a serious effect in the short-term, there are others that can cause long-lasting damage. Drinking too much and smoking are two of the worst things you can do for your health, but they’re also some of the hardest to stop. Getting a Juul Starter Kit could be a good way to help you give up smoking cigarettes, while drinking less will also make a difference to your overall health. Remember that your doctor can advise you on some of the best ways to quit to help you benefit your future health.

Not moving enough

Exercise is incredibly important for maintaining your health. It helps to keep your heart and lungs strong, while also making sure you keep your weight within a healthy range. 30 minutes a day is all it takes, so take a look at some of the ways you can fit half an hour of exercise into your day. Your mood will improve, as will your energy levels, to help you live life to the fullest.

Breaking bad habits takes time, but some say you could form a new habit in as little as 30 days. Make some positive changes to your lifestyle to help you put your health first and give your future self the best chance at a long and healthy life. You control your own destiny, so start breaking those bad habits now.

*This is a collaborative post.

Easy Ways to Keep Your Home Running Perfectly

Hi lovelies,

Being a homeowner brings with it a lot of benefits. Having the freedom to unleash your inner interior designer and decorate your rooms in your own style has to be one of the biggest benefits! However, there are also a lot of responsibilities that come with owning your home. Taking care of every aspect of your property is essential to keep it running smoothly. Regularly maintaining your home will help save you from the hassle of lots of bigger problems and expense in the future.

Here are some of the ways that you can make sure that your home stays looking great and in perfect working order:

Clear Out Your Clutter
Clutter is something that seems to creep into your home over time slowly. Everything can be neat and tidy, then one day you will look around to find that you are surrounded by mounds of ‘stuff.’ Clutter is a problem for many reasons, but some of the main issues are that it attracts dust and can be a major trip hazard too! 

Having lots of clutter littering your house can make it feel like an unorganized place to live, and in turn, can make life feel more stressful. To be able to relax in your home you will want it to feel like a homely sanctuary. Unfortunately, lots of clutter can have the opposite effect, and instead, create a stressful living environment.

Decluttering doesn’t have to be a huge hassle. You can make decluttering manageable by taking time to tidy things away little and often. This is the key to keeping your home clutter-free and fabulous.

Don’t Skip Services
As a homeowner, sometimes you will inevitably need to call in the professionals. Calling in a technician is not something that only needs to happen when something breaks; it is something that you should do to keep your home well-maintained. Getting items such as your HVAC serviced regularly by a company such as mes-ac.com is crucial to keeping it working at its best. Not getting your heating and air conditioning means that potential issues won’t be picked up. If your HVAC unit then breaks you could find yourself uncomfortably hot in the scorching summer, and freezing in the winter months.

Don’t Ignore Warning Signs
The best way to handle potential problems in your home before they become a significant issue is to get them sorted out as soon as you notice them. If you think that you may have a leak, or you have seen a crack, it is far better to get it checked out when it first appears. Ignoring potential issues allows them to become a bigger problem at a later date. By taking action early, you will help to prevent the problem from escalating further.

Spring Clean
Spring cleaning is the ultimate way of showing your home some love. A good top to toe clean will help you identify any issues such as mold or mildew, and will help your home look at its very best.

*Photo credit for this collaborative post: Image credit - Pexels CC0 License

3 Ways to Turn Your Home into a De-Stressing Centre

Hi lovelies,

Stress will kill you. That’s something we’ve all been told growing up, and it’s also one of those bits of folksy wisdom that also turns out to be backed up by scientific evidence.

When our stress levels are elevated, it’s not just a matter of us “feeling” one way or another. The sensation of stress is connected to “stress hormones,” particularly cortisol and adrenaline. In short-term situations, elevated levels of these hormones may save our lives. But when they are heightened over a prolonged period of time, they contribute to systematic damage to the various organs of the body – not to mention premature ageing.

Our homes should be naturally relaxing paradises – but often they just add to the stress we are already experiencing.

Here are some tips on how to turn your home into a de-stressing centre, instead.

Fill it with furniture and features that up the comfort level dramatically

It would be difficult to relax and de-stress your home, if you had no comfortable furniture, and the overall ornamentation and style of the home naturally worked against you.

The first step in helping to turn your home into a de-stressing paradise, is to get some furniture that you find both comfortable and visually appealing. For some, that may mean classic shell chairs, for others, the kind of plush sofas you can melt into.

It’s generally pretty easy to figure out when your furniture is making it more difficult for you to relax. Just ask yourself the question, “is there anywhere in this house other than the bed where I’d feel comfortable curling up with a good book?”

If not, you’ve got some work to do.

Be sparing with the gadgets – and don’t have too many things going at one time

It’s difficult to de-stress when you are constantly being bombarded with information from all sides at once. And yet, that is the situation that most of us find ourselves in, in the modern world.

Not only do we have to deal with the demands of our bosses, take care of those ominous-looking letters from Inland Revenue, and deal with everything that goes along with maintaining family and social connections – but we also have to deal with dozens of daily news reports that convince us that we’re facing the end times. Then, there’s the latest entertainment gossip, and more.

If you want your home to be a de-stress paradise, consider going easy on the gadgets. Specifically, spend less time online, and less time watching TV.

Also, try to do only one thing at a time if you can, rather than overloading your attention and stressing yourself out by “multitasking.”

Always have the fridge stocked with nutritious, home-cooked meals

It’s hardly a secret that home-cooked meals, from whole food ingredients, are better for us than processed snacks.

But it’s not only a matter of how long you might live, or how free you might be from some kind of illness years down the line. Eating nutritious food – and the right amount of it – helps to regulate your hormones and keep everything behaving as it should.

When you don’t have enough nutritious food in the house, you’ll likely tend to either starve yourself (which contributes to significantly elevated stress hormone levels), or you will order takeaway, and experience mood and energy instability as a result.

Cook your food in big batches, and always keep the fridge stocked with nutritious meals.

*Photo credit for collaborative post: Pixabay - CC0 License

4 Things To Remember When Buying Your First Home

Hi lovelies,

Buying your first home is a big step and it’s the most expensive purchase you’re ever going to make, so you need to make sure that you don’t rush into things. It’s harder than ever for young people to get their foot on the property ladder and people spend a long time saving up the deposit that they need. When they finally get there and it’s time to start looking at houses, a lot of people find that they don’t really know what they’re looking for. If you’re about to start looking for your first home, here are a few simple tips that you should follow. 

Photo From Pexels CCO License

Always Budget First 
It’s easy to get carried away when you’re looking at houses, but if you want to avoid disappointment, you should always budget first. If you start looking without a clear budget in mind, you might fall in love with a house, only to realize that you can’t afford it. You need to look at how much you have for a deposit and what you can realistically afford to spend each month. It’s also a good idea to look into home loan pre-approval so you can work out what kind of mortgage you’re likely to get before you start viewing houses. If you go in with a clear budget in mind, you can manage your expectations and you won’t waste time looking at places that you will never be able to afford. 

List Your Priorities 
When you are trying to narrow down your options, you need to make a list of your priorities for the house and for the area that you live. Do you want somewhere with a nice outdoor space? Do you want a big kitchen? Are you willing to live in a rural area where there isn’t much going on or would you rather be nearer to the centre of a city? If you list your priorities and then rank them in order of importance, it will be a lot easier to choose which houses you want to view. 

Imagine Yourself Living There 
When you start viewing houses, you need to think about the practical stuff and check for any damage or signs of damp etc. but you also need to really think about whether you could imagine yourself living there. It’s important that your house feels like a home, and even a house that is perfect on paper might not necessarily be right for you. Keep that in mind when looking around and try to imagine where you would put all of your things and how you would use the different rooms. 

Always Get A Survey Done 
No matter how many times you look around a house, there are always things that you will miss. You don’t want to buy a house that has lots of hidden problems that are expensive to fix, which is why you need to have an independent survey done before you buy. A surveyor will be able to spot things like roof damage, damp problems, faulty plumbing, and dangerous wiring. You won’t notice these things yourself, so always get a professional opinion as well. 

If you follow these tips when you are viewing houses, you can make sure that your first home is perfect.

4 Great Ways To Make Your Wedding Day More Personal

Hi lovelies,

Weddings are filled with tradition, which is great, but sometimes it feels like you’re just doing things because that’s how they’ve always been done. Some people love tradition and they want to have the typical wedding, but a lot of people are moving away from that these days. Instead of following all of the traditions, they’re finding ways to put their own stamp on the wedding day and make it more personal to them. A wedding is about celebrating your relationship, after all, so making it more personal is the best way to make it special. If you want to make your wedding more personal, here are a few simple ways to do it.

Pixabay CCO License

Write Your Own Vows 
The wedding vows haven’t changed for a long time and although there are variations on them, they’re all basically the same thing. A lot of people find that they don’t really connect with the vows that much and they don’t feel very personal, so they decide to write their own instead. It gives you more of an opportunity to tell your partner how you feel about them. Some people want them to be soppy and romantic but if that’s not what your relationship is like, you could write some funny ones instead. If you don’t know where to start, visit https://www.theknot.com/content/tips-for-writing-your-own-wedding-vows for a good guide on writing your own vows. 

Choose Your Own Playlist 
If you book a wedding DJ and get them to choose a playlist, you’ll get the same songs that you always get at weddings. If that’s the kind of music that you like, you might be happy with that. But if you and your guests would rather have something different, why not choose your own playlist instead? You could even book a wedding band (check out https://www.alivenetwork.com/hirelivemusic/wedding_bands_in.asp?area=Hertfordshire for a registry of the best ones) and get them to play covers of all of your favourite songs. Picking your own playlist makes the reception more fun and personal for you and it gives your guests something a bit different. 

Ignore Wedding Dress Trends 
One of the most important parts of the wedding planning process is picking your dream dress. If you love the idea of a traditional dress, that’s great, but you don’t have to do that. It’s your wedding and you can do whatever you like, so think outside the box when it comes to picking a dress. 

Create Your Own Wedding Rings 
Wedding bands are another thing that you can easily personalize. You could just buy some rings from a jeweller, but there are some great places where you can get custom made rings from. A ring with the wedding date or an inscription on is a lot more personal than a ready made wedding band. You don’t have to go for a traditional gold or silver either if you don’t want to, you have complete freedom over the material and design so you can pick something that is ideal for you. 

You don’t have to follow wedding traditions if you don’t want to. If you want to make your day more personal to you, these are the best ways to do it. 

7 Ways To Take Better Care Of Older Relatives

Hi lovelies,

Older relatives play a huge role in shaping our lives. From moms and dads to aunts, uncles, and grandparents, they work themselves hard to provide a great start in life and even better future. As you grow older, you tend to see a reversal in the roles you once held. After being taken care of your entire life, it’s difficult to realize that those older than you now need your help. Becoming a caregiver in any sense of the word is tough. It’s an often upsetting, exhausting, and stressful responsibility. To take better care of your older relatives, here are seven things that you must do. 

1. Learn More About Caring
To effectively care for your loved one, you must have a clear picture of their everyday needs. Looking after a senior is nothing like looking after yourself or a child. There are many health conditions that those later in life typically suffer from. You can only provide the right help and support if you learn more about these issues, especially when they affect your relative. Researching these conditions can be upsetting, but it will help you to prepare for what’s to come.

2. Make Changes At Home
Although your relative needs extra support, they might not necessarily have to move out of their home. Most seniors want to hold onto their independence for as long as possible, so, while it is safe, you should allow them to do so. That being said, you will have to check that their house is equipped for their needs. Safety features, like handrails and medical alert systems, might need to be added, and you will have to remove as many trip hazards from the house as you can. 

3. Find The Right Support
The older your relative gets, the more help they will need. Depending on your circumstances, you might not have the time to take care of them like they need to be. When you both start to struggle, it will help to seek out professional support. There are plenty of options to consider, from live-in home care to nursing homes. Make sure that your relative gets a say in the support that you choose. If there are other loved ones to lend a hand, you can ask for their help too. 

4. Look For Warning Signs
Asking a stranger to help care for your loved one isn’t easy, regardless of their qualifications and recommendations. What makes this worse is hearing all of the stories about nursing homes and carers that abused their patients. If this were ever to happen to your relative, you could contact a personal injury attorney about seeking compensation. For this reason, and the welfare of your relative, you should look out for warning signs that the professional you hired isn’t doing their job. 

5. Attend Important Health Checks
Annual health checkups are crucial at any point in life but are especially important for seniors. After all, you become more at risk to a number of different conditions as you grow older. The trouble is, many older people avoid these checks whenever they can. If you suspect that your relative is doing this, then you will have to step in. Rather than expecting your loved one to go alone, you should ask when their appointments are and tag along with them. 

6. Fight Against Social Isolation
Isolation isn’t always thought of as a serious issue for seniors. When there are so many life-threatening illnesses to look out for, loneliness isn’t a primary concern. However, studies have shown that loneliness can have a devastating effect on physical health, as well as mental health. Because of this, you must encourage your relative to be more socially active. As well as increasing your own time with them, you could suggest joining a club or visiting friends. 

7. Take Care Of Yourself
When taking care of a loved one, putting their needs above your own can easily become second-nature. The problem with this is that, if you don’t look after yourself, you won’t be able to look after anyone else, even your relative. You need to make time for exercise, three healthy meals a day, and plenty of rest. It can also help to join a support group for people in your situation. By talking about your struggles, you’ll find it much easier to overcome them. 

Taking care of an older relative can definitely be difficult, both for you and the relative themselves. However, with the advice above, you’ll both find it much easier to adjust to your new roles.

*Image for collaborative post From Pixabay

5th Annual Freeze HD To Host Star-Studded Benefit for the Huntington’s Disease Society of America

Hi lovelies,

I had the pleasure of attending the annual Freeze HD event last year and I wanted to share with you all of you the inspiring story behind this year’s event. Please read and watch and read below to learn about how you can join the HDSA “family” in the fight against HD purchase tickets or sponsor the 5th Annual Freeze HD on September 28th.

Go to http://www.HDSA.org/FREEZEHD today to purchase tickets and make a difference!

The Lion's Mouth Opens (2014) - Official Trailer from Lucy Walker lucywalkerfilm on Vimeo.

“The 5th Annual Freeze HD event, honoring Kelsey and Scott Porter (Hart of Dixie, Friday Night Lights) will be held at Avalon Hollywood in Los Angeles on Saturday September 28, 2019, benefitting the Huntington’s Disease Society of America (HDSA). Among the many volunteers lending their time and efforts to raise $250,00 for HDSDA, the Freeze HD host committee includes stars Rachel McAdams, Scott Porter, Jason Ritter, Jaime King, Bryce Dallas Howard, Simon Helberg, Marianna Palka and many more! Musical performances by Brian Logan Dales and The Dales Hotel, Katie Lowes & Adam Shapiro (Waitress) and Scott Porter.

Our first Freeze event was created by the talented Jason Ritter (Gravity Falls/Kevin (Probably) Saves the World) and Marianna Palka (GLOW) which featured a documentary that followed Marianna as she received genetic testing results for Huntington Disease. “

5th Annual Freeze HD To Host Star-Studded 

Benefit for the Huntington’s Disease Society of America

Host Committee members Rachel McAdams, Scott Porter, Jason Ritter, Jaime King, Bryce Dallas Howard, Simon Helberg, Marianna Palka and many more volunteer to raise much-needed funds and awareness for Huntington’s disease

Los Angeles, CA (July 26, 2019)- The 5th Annual Freeze HD event, honoring Kelsey and Scott Porter (Hart of Dixie, Friday Night Lights) will be held at Avalon Hollywood in Los Angeles on Saturday September 28, 2019, benefitting the Huntington’s Disease Society of America (HDSA). Among the many volunteers lending their time and efforts to raise $250,00 for HDSDA, the Freeze HD host committee includes stars Rachel McAdams, Scott Porter, Jason Ritter, Jaime King, Bryce Dallas Howard, Simon Helberg, Marianna Palka and many more! Musical performances by Brian Logan Dales and The Dales Hotel, Katie Lowes & Adam Shapiro (Waitress) and Scott Porter. 

Huntington’s disease (HD) is a fatal genetic disorder that causes the progressive breakdown of nerve cells in the brain. It deteriorates a person’s physical and mental abilities during their prime working years and has no cure. Every child of a parent with HD has a 50/50 chance of inheriting the faulty gene that causes HD. Today, there are approximately 30,000 symptomatic Americans and more than 200,000 at-risk of inheriting the disease.

“Our involvement with Huntington’s is incredibly personal as it effects both Kelsey and her mother. After receiving the news that Kelsey's mother, Diane, was diagnosed with Huntington's, we also found out that Kelsey is gene positive and will develop it as well,” says Scott and Kelsey Porter, “We are determined to bring awareness to this disease and offer support to anyone who is affected by Huntington's. We are incredibly grateful to accept this honor from Freeze HD and cannot thank our friends and family enough for lending their voices and their support to this important and personal cause.”

Guests of the 5th annual event are invited to enjoy an evening of drinks, dancing, great music, celebrity guests, a fantastic silent & live auction and a few surprises! Our goal is to raise $250,000 for the Huntington’s Disease Society of America. HDSA is the world’s premiere non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of everyone affected by Huntington’s disease. 

ABOUT KELSEY AND SCOTT PORTER

A few days after Christmas in 2013, Kelsey and Scott Porter’s life changed forever.  Kelsey’s parents, Ken and Diane Mayfield, sat the family down and shared with them that Diane had been diagnosed with Huntington’s disease. After coming to grips with what that meant for Kelsey’s mom, they realized that Kelsey had a 50% chance of having it as well. In an instant, a disease they had never heard of before became a permanent part of their lives.  

Kelsey and Scott had been married just 8 months at this point. They had always planned to start a family and knew this news would not change their minds. The first step was for Kelsey to get tested. In early 2014 they received word of her diagnosis. Gene positive. Huntington’s is in her DNA. At some point in Kelsey’s life, if there is no medical help, she will experience the effects of Huntington’s disease. 

 Undaunted, as Kelsey always is, she threw herself into figuring out how to have children that would be free of HD. She discovered PGD-IVF (Pre-Implantation Genetic Diagnosis - In Vitro Fertilization), a process in which embryos are fertilized outside the human body and tested for specific genetic diseases before being implanted. Although an arduous process, the Porter’s children would not only be free of Huntington’s but this also meant HD could no longer be passed down by their children either. After the extensive testing, Huntington’s disease was eradicated from their family line going forward. The Porters now have two beautiful, healthy little ones, McCoy Lee and his little sister Clover Ash. 

Despite the positive of having children free of HD, Huntington’s is still a force in the Porter’s family. Kelsey’s mother is currently living with the symptoms of Huntington’s, as Kelsey will eventually too. It has been discovered that Kelsey’s grandmother also had HD meaning many other aunts, uncles and cousins have a fifty percent chance of having inherited the gene themselves. Since her mother’s diagnosis there have been four other confirmed cases in her family and the “at risk” numbers are staggering. When we say that, “Huntington’s disease is a family disease”, it should not be taken lightly. 

On Saturday, September 28, 2019 we will gather at Avalon Hollywood for drinks, dancing, great music, celebrity guests, a fantastic silent & live auction and a few surprises! Our goal is to raise $250,000 for the Huntington’s Disease Society of America. HDSA is the world’s premiere non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of everyone affected by Huntington’s disease. 

ABOUT HUNTINGTON’S DISEASE

Huntington’s disease is a fatal genetic disorder that causes the progressive breakdown of nerve cells in the brain. It deteriorates a person’s physical and mental abilities during their prime working years and has no cure. Every child of a parent with HD has a 50/50 chance of inheriting the faulty gene that causes HD. Today, there are approximately 30,000 symptomatic Americans and more than 200,000 at-risk of inheriting the disease.

The Huntington’s Disease Society of America is the premier nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of everyone affected by HD.  From community services and education to advocacy and research, HDSA is the world’s leader in providing help for today and hope for tomorrow for people with HD and their families.

HDSA was founded in 1967 by Marjorie Guthrie, the wife of legendary folk singer Woody Guthrie. Woody died from HD complications when he was only 55 years old, but the Guthrie family legacy lives on at HDSA to this day.

To learn more about Huntington’s disease and the work of the Huntington’s Disease Society of America, visit www.hdsa.org or call (800)345-HDSA.

Good Morning LaLa Land: Special Guest Candy Washington

Hi lovelies,

I had the honor of being a guest on “Good Morning LaLa Land,” with the amazing co-hosts, Jezlan, Dr. Erin, and Robert Mack.

We discussed all things #TuesdayTransformation and I go deep on the Sugar Pills podcast and book, how to get rid of self-doubt, and what’s new at 1214 Media Productions.

You can watch my segment below and head over to Good Morning Lala Land for the full interview!

Simple Steps To Make a Positive Change in Your Life

Hi lovelies,

It is natural to feel like someone who is a little resist change. Of things are going fine, then it can be a hard choice to change things up a little. Even if they could potentially mean greater happiness or productivity in life, it can be hard to take that leap. The good news is that it doesn’t have to be the case at all. Change is something that is actually good for us, with both our personal and professional lives. Change can help to make us more flexible, which can be good for things in life later down the line, and it can expose us to trying new experiences and meeting new people. That in turn can help to open up the doors to experiencing more opportunities and more of what life has to offer. However, if you want to make some changes in your life, then you will want to do so in a positive way. So here are some things to be thinking about. 

image

Remove negativity from your life

Removing negativity from your life can sound much more simple to say that to actually do, right? But the thing is, if you are surrounded by negativity, then how can you think that you’ll be able to have a life that is happy, joyful and positive? In fact, it has been shown that people who are surrounded by negativity are more stressed, get sick more often, and generally have less opportunities come their way than their positive counterparts. So start step by step. Think about changing your mindset, and then look at other things in your life, or situations, that need to change.

Change the things you can change
It can be frustrating in life when you are trying to achieve certain goals but they can seem a little slow. For example, if you’re trying to get on the property ladder, then saving for a deposit can seem like an uphill journey. But the things that you can change are how much you spend each month, and perhaps even your job. If you are on a mission to be healthier or lose some weight, for instance, then the things you can change are things like changing your appearance, like trying a new haircut or color, perhaps. You could even look to get something like a tattoo or piercing; just make sure that you are informed and look up information about nipple piercings, for instance, so that you’re prepared. But changing some of the things that you can change can make you feel more motivated to get on with the end goal that you have. 

Exercise often
It can be hard to keep hearing things that tell you that you need to exercise more, but if you want to lead a happy and healthy life, then exercising can be great in many ways, for both your physical and mental health. Exercise can change your mindset, and the benefits of exercise are immeasurable. It will help you with drive, passion, and teach you some discipline. When you move more, you will feel happier about yourself, and that can lead to a reduction in anxiety, as well as stress levels.

Food Network Star Debuts 'The Real Milk & Honey Café' in ATL

Hi lovelies,

Just because I spend most of my time in L.A., that doesn’t mean that I still can share the Hotlanta Tea with you all!

Check out the scoop below on the new and fabulous, The Real Milk & Honey Cafe,’ that just launched in Atlanta, GA with a house full of celebs, influencers, tastemakers, and more!

FOOD NETWORK STAR OPENS THE REAL MILK & HONEY CAFE IN ATLANTA, GA

This past Saturday, July 20th, in Atlanta, GA, Food Network star and winner of the Chopped Redemption series, Chef Sammy Davis, Jr. alongside co-owner Monique Rose celebrated the Grand Opening of The Real Milk & Honey, an all-day brunch cafe that boasts an extensive menu that celebrates all things brunch!

To mark the power couple’s latest venture (they already have four thriving Milk & Honey Café locations in the Washington,DC area), The Real Milk & Honey opened its doors to a bevy of industry tastemakers, influencers and local Atlanta personalities this past weekend!

The event kicked off with a surprise, live, outdoor, cooking demo by Chef Sammy, the creative genius behind the restaurant’s decadent menu, and continued inside where guests, including Whitney Houston’s sister-in-law Pat Houston, Real Housewives of Atlanta star Sheree Whitfield, Atlanta personality and hairstylist Derek J., Saints & Sinners actress Jasmine Burke, Hollywood stylist and personality Phillip Bloch, and model and actor Darian Barnes sipped a signature “Adult Koolaid” cocktail and noshed on a tasting menu that included Chef Sammy’s signature Shrimp & Grits, Salmon / Sweet Potato & Kale Hash, and Fried Chicken with Honey Biscuits!

Surrounded by friends and family, the event was co-sponsored by premium hair company Miss Jessie’s, and feted by Atlanta’s best!

The Real Milk & Honey Cafe is located at 3719 Main Street in College Park, GA, and is already a celebrity favorite, as high-profile clientele and fans include Killer Mike and actress Adrienne C. Moore, who plays Cindy on Orange Is the New Black!

Photos by: Freddy O & John Sands

Are Your Hobbies Harming Your Health?

Hi lovelies,

There are so many hobbies out there that people enjoy. Reading. Writing. Running. Skipping. You can list around a hundred hobbies, and there will be avid and excited followers of all of them. Some hobbies are healthy to have, and there are others that are just as fun, but perhaps not as healthy. It's very easy to follow and embrace hobbies that aren't so great for your health, but not always as easy to enjoy a hobby that is fantastic for your wellbeing. You should be able to enjoy whatever it is that's making you happy, but can you really appreciate it if it's affecting your health?

There are a lot of things that you can spend time doing, but the one thing that you need to know is whether you are doing something that is good for you or not. With that in mind, let's take a look at a few hobbies that you could be engaging in that are truly detrimental to your health.

Netflix and what?
Those binge-watched TV shows on your Netflix account make you feel happy. You've caught right up to the latest and greatest TV shows in your life, and that makes you feel fantastic. Here's the thing: spending time sitting on the couch and catching up on those shows could be having a toll on your health without you even realising. Sedentary life is not the life we humans were meant to lead: we are not slugs. You can still binge-watch those shows, but why not use a step like this while you do it? Or try weighted hula hoops while you watch; getting your heart going while you enjoy your show is a good way around it.

Gigging Away

Whether you are in a band or you are watching concerts live as much as possible, you need to pay attention to the way that your hearing is working. Exposure to loud music is not great on the ears, and if you're a musician yourself, you need to learn more about your hearing and the impact of the music on it. It doesn't mean that you have to give up something you love: it just means you have to get smart about it.

Excessive exercise
Running is supposed to be a healthy hobby, but it's not always the best thing for your body when it's in excess - much like anything else. You wouldn't mind the odd cheeseburger but probably wouldn't eat ten in a row. The same goes for running. Pushing yourself past your limits, running harder than your body is truly ready for and causing injury to your legs is one of the worst ways to spend your time. Talking to your doctor about what's safe for you can help you to find a healthy balance in your favourite hobby and allow you to enjoy it.

Hobbies should complement your life, not harm your health. Review what works for you and what you enjoy, and you'll start to feel great about yourself.

*Photo credit for this guest post: Image Source

Simple Ways To Make Your Home Feel Like a Home

Hi lovelies,

Moving into a new house can be stressful. Even once the boxes are put away and you’ve put up your gallery wall, there can still be a feeling of newness that can stop you from feeling 100% comfortable. Sometimes it can take until your moving in party, or once your decorating is completely finished to allow you to settle into the feeling of being truly home. 

Many renters and house-sharers know that there is a huge difference between simply living in a place where you go to eat, sleep and wash and a home that really feels like home and you feel comfortable in. There's often the difficulty of not being able to decorate, knowing that your tenancy is only for a year and also living with people who you may not know.  But a sense of home is all about how you see things, and regardless of the external factors it is possible to curate true warmth, joy and personality no matter where you’re living.

Figuring out how to make your house feel like a real home is about finding out what makes you feel safe and cosy at home. Only you know what truly makes you feel at peace and warm, safe, and happy, but by sitting down and brainstorming on what those things are and then coming up with creative ways on how  to incorporate them into your house or apartment is the first step toward creating a sense of home. Here are some ideas to get you started.

First Impressions 
The hallway is a great starting place and goes a long way in creating the initial impression people have when entering your home.  Make sure your passage is clear of shoes, bags and other clutter. Keeping the colours light and airy to help the space feel less claustrophobic. Keep a door mat on both sides of the door to stop dirt and mud from the outside creating a mess on your carpets. 

Keep Your Clutter Away and Clean Up 
No-one likes mess and unnecessary clutter. A messy or unclean home can invite a whole host of health problems not to mention invite yucky vermin into you home. Think you’ve got a rat or mice problem? Sort it out quickly by hiring a pest control service, to get your home feeling safe and clean again as soon as possible. 

Let Your Nose Do The Talking
Nothing is nicer than entering a home that smells great. Smell plays a huge role in creating a pleasing environment. Fill your home with air diffusers, incense, scented candles or even fresh flowers, for a home that smells clean and lovely. 

Let The Sun Shine!
It’s a well-known fact that colours can affect our moods. Cool colours like sky blue or lilac are known for being fresh while yellows are known for being invigorating. Warm and autumnal colours are known for making a room feel relaxing. Warms also work really well with neutrals and allow you to keep your space from looking too bland. 

Your home should reflect your personality.
Most importantly, being authentic to your own personal tastes and interior style will instantly add character and atmosphere in your home. If you create an environment that you love to be in, the rest should naturally follow. 

MINDSET + BODY: The Essential Self-Care Starter Kit

Hi lovelies,

Since helping others in how to unconditionally love, support, honor, and protect themselves through self-care is a personal mission of mine, I wanted to curate my essential self-care starter kit for those unsure of where to start when it comes to growing your level of self-worth and self-esteem.

It’s crucial to remember that self-care isn’t about spa days and face masks, although those activities can be apart of your self-care routine, it’s truly about taking inspired and intentional action to honor who you are and the space that you take up in this beautiful world.

Self-care is the foundation for creating healthy boundaries with yourself and others, exercising your own autonomy, building your self-confidence, elevating your mind, body, soul, and spirit, and unlocking your inner peace, love, and joy that’s waiting for you.

Please enjoy some of my favorite ways to honor my life by taking intentional time to slow down, be still, and get present.

Need additional guidance in harnessing the power of self-care? Then check out my self-care sessions, here, grab a copy of the Sugar Pills: 10 Days to Awaken Your Inner Power guide and journal, here, and don’t forget to subscribe to the Sugar Pills: 10 Days to Awaken Your Power podcast, here.

***Just click the images below to get started.***

BATH + BODY

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MEDITATION

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JOURNALING + CREATIVITY

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READING

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AT-HOME EXPERIENCE

DINING: Why Every Lifestyle Influencer Loves Katana West Hollywood

Hi lovelies,

I had an amazing girls night this past Friday night with one of my lovely BFFs who’s also a lifestyle influencer.

The first thing that we noticed about Katana, a hotspot in West Hollywood with an enviable menu and super yummy drinks, was the friendly staff and sleek ambiance located on the heart of Sunset Blvd with an amazing view of LA’s coveted skyline.

The next thing that we noticed was the new Vegan Omakase menu that we were dying to try. My favorite dishes were the Roasted Cauliflower, Miso Eggplant, and Grilled Corn along with the Organic Kale Salad, and the Assorted Vegan Nigri.

But it wouldn’t be a complete girls night without delicious cocktails. We sipped on Lychee Cocktails and the Roxberry cocktail was also one of our favorites.

We danced in our seats to the beats by the DJ and enjoyed the warm rooftop breeze of a summer night in L.A., while catching up and laughing the night away.

I’m officially obsessed with the Kobe Pepper skewers and we ordered two extra rolls of the Kani Maki creamy baked crab wrapped in soy paper!

We can’t wait to go back and try the rest of the menu.

KATANA :: WEST HOLLYWOOD :: VEGAN OMAKASE

AMAZON SHOP: Must-Have Favorites From My Amazon Shop

Hi lovelies,

I’ve been working on curating my Amazon Shop just for you guys of all of my favorite things that I love and use on a daily basis!

Check them out here and let me know what you think!

SHOP MY AMAZON SHOP HERE

HOME DECOR: How Every Lifestyle Influencer Elevates Their At-Home Experience With Dr. Vranjes Room Diffusers

Hi lovelies,

One of my favorite ways to make my place feel like a home, is to make sure that it always smells yummy and sweet.

When scented candles just won’t cut it, I turn to Dr. Vranjes Scented Room Diffusers, plus by using the room diffuser, I never have to worry if I left my candles burning when I leave or go to sleep, so it’s a safe way to create an inviting, pleasant, and warm home environment, without the worry.

My favorite scent is the Rosso Nobile, which makes my home blossom with the sweet scent of bouquets of the finest Tuscan wines. It’s the ideal way to enhance my mood and the mood of my guests along with creating a stress-free ambiance while enhancing an overall sense of happiness and wellbeing.

DR. VRANJES FIRENZE ROSSO NOBILE ROOM DIFFUSER