How to Have a Self-Care Sunday

Self care is important, especially at a time like this. Self care helps give you a better life-work balance, it reducing stress and improve physical and mental health. Making sure you dedicate the time for self care is about commitment. I schedule a time every Sunday as a commitment to self care and being more mindful.

Here are few ideas how to make most of self care sunday's:

Have a bath with all the goodies – candles, essential oils, relaxing music.

I recently go to try Dr. Teal's new coconut foaming bath and epsom salt and not only does it smell divine but its perfect to relax and destress. Dr Teal’s® Foaming Bath transforms your bath into a relaxing spa with essential oils to soothe the senses, revitalize tired, achy muscles and help provide relief from stress

Bake something you love or make a yummy comfort dish and enjoy.

These cookies are my fave or crepes with Euro Cream and plazma. 

Go for a long walk or a hike.
The perfect self care Sunday for myself is to make sure I get some quality time outside, ideally in a park, with fresh air and sunshine.

Look at old photos and videos.

Photos are memories captured in time - going through old photos always brings me joy.

Have a home spa day.
Do a face mask, give yourself a manicure or a pedicure. I love a good clay mask or sheet masks. I recently got to check out Nena Clay sheet mask and those have been a game changer.

How do you do self care Sundays?

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Five Ways to Keep Active at Home

We are on day... who the heck knows of quarantine and at some point I figured I'd have to start exercising because eating my weight and working from bed has taken its toll. So I started looking for online classes and videos to help keep boredom, hunger and cabin fever at bay. Here are five I came up with and actually loved:

Aimee Lee's online classes. 

From yoga to stretching to barre classes you can do from comfort of your home. She posts a weekly schedule on her instagram. Her classes are free but in this state of the world you can send her a $5 donations on Venmo @aimee-lee-3 or PayPal (or more if you’re feeling generous) 😉. You can DM or e-mail her for class invite.

Doing TikTok Challenges.

Now that you have finished laughing, trying to do some of those videos is SO HARD and a great workout. Plus its fun. Add me on tiktok @LetterstoLALAland

I did this video for charity fundraiser (they are still looking for donations) and by time I got it right (which was 5 rounds) I was breaking a sweat.

Fitsugar Zumba video.

I have learned I am NOT coordinated, and cannot dance but that zumba is a great workout (and these ladies are KILLING it).

BodyBoss Method.

I have the book and online access but I am fairly certain you can find most of it online. These workouts are a HIT circuit and best part come with pre-training and a 12 week program. Maybe it's just me but this book tries and kill me every time.

Jump Rope.

Skipping rope is one of the most effective cardio exercises around and there are videos you can follow that are 10 min and help you burn ton of calories. I do more of a leisurely jump rope aka I do it till I am sweating than sit down and complain.

How are you staying active?

FCT: NONE, zero, Just stuff I like.

Bosnian Halva

Ramadan Mubarek friends. My mom made halva yesterday and the house smelled ABSOLUTELY amazing. I asked my mom for the recipe and her answer was "Amm we don't have one, we just make it". COOL mom, how am I gonna learn to make this if you don't have a recipe. So google, thank you for having my back, always! Halva are dense, sweet confections originating in the Middle East but Bosnians have made our own version for years.

What you need:

100 gr margarine

100 gr flour

100 gr sugar

200ml water

30 gr vanilla sugar

Walnuts for decorations. 

How to make it:

In a saucepan melt butter, when butter is completely melted, found in flour.

Stir constantly for about 10 minutes without interruption, you have to be super careful to take care so your halva doesn't burns. 

In a second saucepan, bring water and sugar to boil.

When the flour and butter mixture is done (so when you get a beige color) add to the water mixture into it and fold the mixture well. 

Spoon the mixture on a plate (you can put it fridge to cool down a bit) and decorate

enjoy! This recipe and translation are my mom approved, and ai quote "That sounds correct, but you have to do it for it make sure it works"

Learning With A Purpose

Quarantine has been a challenge - I flipped flopped between doing nothing and wanting to be productive. So I decided to take a course and I came upon Cudoo. Cudoo offers One-for-One e-Learning community where they have 800+ online courses in Languages and Professional Skills. They focus on online learning, while working on making a lasting difference and giving back to the community. They have individual classes and business - I had the opportunity to check out some courses in the digital marketing bundle.

This specific bundle consists of 5 different course: Basic Internet Marketing, SEO for Business Certificate, Building a Brand on Social Media, Creating a Google AdWords Campaign and Marketing with Social Media which I thought would be a great fit for someone in the blogging world. The sign up was super easy, the classes consist of videos, tests, quizzes and are super easy to navigate. 

One of my favorite things on Cudoo is that for EACH purchased course, one is DONATED.  When we choose to learn, and choose one (or ten) of any of the 1300 certified online courses on Cudoo and they donate a course on your behalf to someone in need. 

You can use code NOMEROVIC1 and get 20% off your order at Cudoo.

FTC: The course was provided free of charge to me, all opinions are my own. Some of the links are affiliate links. If you buy something through some our links, we may earn an affiliate commission, at no cost to you. We recommend only products we genuinely like. Thank you so much.

5 Binge Worthy TV Shows to Watch on Prime TV

Many of are paying to have Amazon Prime because like who doesn’t love free, expedited shipping options and prime video that comes with it. Since it feels like I have watched all of Netflix during quarantine, I have rounded up my favorite TV and movies you can watch with your free Prime subscription. This month we are sharing five of our favourite binge worthy TV shows, let us know what you think:

Hanna

Ted Bundy:Falling for a Killer

Elementary

Mr. Robot

Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan 

What are you watching on Prime Video?

FTC: Some of the links are affiliate links. If you buy something through some our links, we may earn an affiliate commission, at no cost to you. We recommend only products we genuinely like. Thank you so much.

OOTD - Layers Layers

I m back with lawyers again - because well it still winter and I'm trying my best to be creative when it comes with layering. With this outfit I started off with a skirt, added and a t-shirt and finished the look added a comfortable for a completely different look. 

skirt: Lululemon

top: Zara

sweater: Reitmans

backpack: Amazon Fashion

shoes: Adidas 

Best Dalgona Coffee

Okay, I joined the basic quarantine squad and made Dalgona Coffee and let me tell you, THIS IS SO GOOD! I don't even know where this started, or how it started but I am glad it did. Surprisingly, it's super easy to make (with a little elbow grease) - I can see taking this to fall and making it ever more basic, PSL version of  Dalgona Coffee.

What you need:

2 tbsp. granulated sugar

2 tbsp. instant coffee 

2 tbsp. cold water

Ice and milk, for serving

How to make it:

In a  bowl, combine sugar, coffee, and water. Whisk the mixture like your life depends on it until it turns smooth and shiny. Than whisk some more, until it thickens and holds its foamy shape.

Fill a glass most of the way full with ice and milk, then put the whipped coffee mixture on top, mixing before drinking, if desired.

Have you tried it?

I Challenge You to #PlankTheCurve

At times like this - best we can do is help in any ways we can, use our social media presence and blogs to help charities and organizations that need all the help now.

I recently had the pleasure to join the movement to #PlankTheCurve with Covenant Foundation.  Covenant Foundation works with donors to support thousands of patients and residents in 20 facilities across the province, including acute care hospitals and continuing care homes. From funding leading-edge equipment for premature babies to funding recreational programs to help more seniors age with dignity and independence, donors to Covenant Foundation are creating a stronger health care system. Right now we are working with the Covenant family of facilities to determine their areas of greatest need during COVID-19.

Join the challenge here - to your own version of the plank, and invite others to join the #PlankTheCurveChallenge and donate if they can: DONATE/JOIN CHALLENGE HERE

Tag me, and I will share your posts as well!

Must-Have Spring Items That Never Go Out Of Style

This Spring has been different than any other - COVID-19 is affecting us all and at varying degrees. I spent four weeks filled with anxiety and stress so getting back to a routine, or what resembles a new normal is what was needed. This means getting back to blogging on regular basis- starting with my Spring must have list:

Classic trench coat. 

You can never go wrong with a trench coat. They’re classic, times staples perfect for Spring (well all the time!). There is ton of styles, my preference is a classic kind of trench that will stay in style year after year, in a neutral, light colored  and one that's mid calf.

Pretty slides.

Slides are a great shoe choice for warm weather, starting in Spring. I love that there are so many possibilities and options for slides - easily paired with anything from denim to pretty dresses.

Levis (everything).

If you know me, you know I have a obsession with all things Levis - I have 501's and 721's in few colors and anywhere from shorts to crop style and high waisted jeans. Denim jackets and well made, comfortable jeans are essential for Spring. 

Converse.

All Converse are classic look go with everything, they are also light and breathable enough to stop your feet from getting too hot. I have like 10 colors but swear by white and classing black converse. They are easy to pair them with some shorts or light trousers for an understated outfit. 

Perfect fitting leather jacket.

A good, quality leather jacket is a must have. Leather jackets are the ultimate must have pieces, great for layering piece, a cool leather jacket can do everything from elevating a T-shirt and jeans to making a slip dress look more casual. I swear by Bano eeMee jackets.

Flirty flower dress.

Yes, Florals for Spring - 100% groundbreaking but a flowy, flirty floral print dress is a must for Spring. Something you can wear often, with trainers or with heels and easily layered with a pretty sweater or leather jacket.

Pecan Chocolate Cookies

I LOVE cookies - like a lot. This batter is so easy to make and you can modify it any way you want. I made two versions of it and they turned out delicious.

what you will need:

2 1/4 cups all purpose flour

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1 cup becel original margarine

1/4 cup granulated sugar

2 large eggs

1 tsp vanilla extract

3 tbsp cocoa powder

pecans, toasted 
almonds, chopped
1 cup chocolate chip

1/2 white chocolate, melted for drizzling

How to make it:
version #1

preheat oven to 375.

combine flour, baking soda, cocoa and salt in  medium bowl.

Combine becel and sugar and beat until smooth.

Beat in eggs and vanilla until combined well.

Add flour fixture, and beat until blended.

Using a table spoon, spoon out mixture on an ungreased baking sheet.

Top each cookie with a pecan half.

Bake for 7 minutes.

version #2

preheat oven to 375.

combine flour, baking soda, cocoa and salt in  medium bowl.

Combine becel and sugar and beat until smooth.

Beat in eggs and vanilla until combined well.

Add flour fixture, and beat until blended.
Fold in almonds and chocolate chips.

Using a table spoon, spoon out mixture on an ungreased baking sheet.

Bake for 7 minutes.

OOTD - Perfect Party Dress with Wish Brands

I have partnered with WISH brands, a great place to get designed deals for women and men. I picked his BEBE dress that's gonna be perfect for summer and great for a night out dancing or date night. The temperatures are starting to increase, that means it time to pull out the mini skirt and dresses. Thanks to the ’60s and ’70s trend, the mini is very in fashion, which is good because this dress is on the very mini side on my 5'9'' frame. 
You can get Spring ready with Wish - use promo code: bownermisa, this promo code is for 15% off and will expire at the end of the month.

dress c/o Wish brands

jacket: Bano eeMee

purse: Chanel

shoes: Aldo