Another half marathon in the books

This morning, I joined 18000 runners to run the Nationwide Children's Hospital Columbus Half Marathon. It probably is the biggest race in Ohio. It has helped raise millions of dollars for charity. My little girl recently admitted to Nationwide Children's Hospital for a surgery and the staff was absolutely amazing. I was very excited to be a part of it. Seeing these children at each mile marker just put things in perspective. They're fighting everyday just to have what we called a normal life. They are true champions. Sometimes we tend to forget that having healthy child(ren) is the biggest blessing. I am very proud that I got a PR by 10 minutes (that's huge!). To be honest, I was kind of miserable the entire time. It was so cold and windy. I dressed pretty warm at first, then I threw away my sweatshirt and gloves at mile # 3. The wind picked up later and I was freezing the rest of the race. As soon as I crossed the finish line, I grabbed my medal, headed to see my family and went straight home. I didn't care about taking photos or getting the goodie bag because my face and fingers were basically numb. Despite the awful weather, seeing my girls at the finish line made the experience more special and memorable. The question I get asked a lot is that will I ever run a full marathon? The answer is no. It's not because I don't believe in myself, it's because I know I can't commit to the training. Marathon training is intense and a huge time commitment. There is a fine line between enjoying your run and beating yourself up for it. While it would be amazing to run a full marathon, it's just not for me. Will I run another half marathon? Yes, absolutely! If you're interested in knowing more about my training, running gear or anything running-related, let me know. I am more than happy to share the info. Outfit details: 90 degree by reflex *the best leggings* | Reebok half-zip pullover | Mizuno Wave 14 running shoes

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Another half marathon in the books

Current Favorites

Sharing some of my current favorites today with you all.

#1 - I am a huge fan of candles in general and would burn them year round. October is when I look forward to getting my favorite candles from Bath & Body Works. You can't go wrong with their scented candles. Three of my absolute favorites are leaves, sweater weather and marshmallow fireside. They make my home smell amazing! What are your favorite scents from B&BW?
#2 - Thanks to the Berkshire team for sending over these fun tights. I've done several reviews on their hosiery in the past (here, here and here). Their products are wonderful. I am still wearing the ones I got from Berkshire years ago. This year I got some fun patterned tights. They'll come in handy for the upcoming holiday seasons. Products pictured: Berkshire sheer diamonds 8013, Berkshire sheer chevron 8025, Berkshire fishnet 8010, Berkshire bold fishnet 8032
#3 - Kiara Sky Dip Powder D429 - A sweet friend of mine is always taking care of my nails whenever she comes over. I am very lucky that I never have to pay anything to get my nails done lol. She's done a few dip powder shades for me but this one is my favorite. The shade is perfect for Fall (deep burgundy with gold fleck). My nails are a week old now and they're still looking great! If you're interested in dip powder nails, you can ask for color D429 the next time you're at a nail salon

#4 - The last 2 favorites are shoes. I mentioned these Dr. Scholls slip-on sneakers here but I feel like I need to mention them again because they're truly amazing. They're perfect for this time of year when it's too cold for sandals but not quite boots season yet. These sneakers are like walking on clouds. If you're looking for a pair of everyday shoes, give them a try. I promise you won't be disappointed.
#5 - Last but not least is my Zara slingbacks. They're no longer available but I found some alternatives here and here. Again, they're perfect for this time of year and look great for the office. Not to mention, they're extremely comfortable. Until I can get my hands on these amazing Chanel slingbacks, this dupe will have to do =)

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Current Favorites

Halloween costume ideas

{Dressed up as Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse}

Since Halloween is less than 2 weeks ago, I thought I'd share a few costume ideas I have done over the years. We're not making our own costumes this year (just the kids). I barely have time to sleep (lol!). Thinking about purchasing this set to dress up as rock, paper, scissors with my sister and a friend of ours but we'll see. Looking forward to a fun night with friends and the girls. Are you dressing up this year?

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Halloween costume ideas

Longchamp bags on sale

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There is no secret that I am a huge fan of Longchamp. I own 4 Longchamp bags and I love them to pieces. These nylon bags are great on days when the weather is not suitable to carry a leather bag. This is my work bag when it's snowing/raining outside. I always take this duffel bag with me when I travel along with this cosmetic case. Also, this backpack is my number choice whenever I go to the park or go hiking with the family. There are many more styles on sale here. Check them out if you're interested.

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Longchamp bags on sale

What I wore in NYC

Sharing an outfit I wore last weekend while we were in NYC. It was a super quick trip. Originally, my husband and I planned a weekend trip for my 40th birthday. A few weeks prior to the trip, my daughter expressed an interest in going to a BTS concert. If you don't know who they are, you can read about them here. I know the band is popular right now but I had no idea how huge they're. I did a bit of research before saying yes and seems like they make a great impact on the young generation. Their concert tickets sold out in a matter of minutes. We couldn't get our hands on the tickets. Ended up paying triple price for 2 tickets from a reseller. It was supposed a weekend getaway for us. We ended up taking both kids. My husband stayed at the hotel with the little one while Courtney and I finding our way to Citi Field in Queens, NY for the concert. As luck would have it, the 7 train from Times Square to Citi Field is closed that day for maintenance. I wasn't comfortable taking alternative routes (especially at 10:30 pm) so we decided to take Uber both ways. Quite an effort to be at the concert. However, I am a big believer in work hard, play hard. This girl is doing wonderfully in school and we couldn't ask for a better teenager. We were more than happy to fulfill her wish. There were 40000 fans at the concert. They put on quite a show. Since the band is from Korea, I am glad we were able to catch their last concert in North America. Not sure when the next one will be. I pieced together some video clips from the concert below if you're interested in watching. This outfit is what I called the perfect fall outfit. Wearing my trusted black denim. I talked about these jeans several times on here and they're seriously the best. The length is perfect on my short frame. To add some sort of interest to the outfit, I paired the jeans with a leopard blouse. I knew we were going to walk a lot in NYC so I got these black slip on and I love them so much. These sneakers are like walking on clouds. With 2 kids in tow, this trip wasn't exactly what I had in mind but Courtney is very grateful for the experience and that's all that matters. Outfit details: Topshop jeans *size 26x30* | Gucci belt | J.Crew leopard shirt | Dr. Scholl's slip-on sneakers *insanely comfortable* | Le Specs sunglasses | Louis Vuitton Speedy 25B

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What I wore in NYC

My outfit costs less than $10

It's no secret that I love splurging on big ticket items. However, I love finding a good deal just as much. I went thrifting a few weeks ago and found these Express shorts for $2.99. My beloved t-shirt was on sale for $4.95. The total cost for this outfit was well under $10. I don't go thrifting often but where I work now is very close to a huge thrift store. I visited a few times during my lunch break and have been enjoying it. Thrifting is great for several reasons. # 1 - Everything is so affordable. You can find quality pieces for a steep discount. # 2 - Thrifting is like going on a treasure hunt. You don't know what you're going to find. # 3 - You can find unique items. You're less than likely to find yourself wearing the same thing as someone else you know. Speaking of  unique items, I wanted to share a few thoughts on personal style. With the rise of fashion "influencers", everyone seems to follow the same latest and popular Instagram trend(s). There are a handful of fashion bloggers that I follow who literally dress the same. I know 99% of my outfits are not even remotely fashionable or blog-worthy. However, these are my real everyday outfits. I am not going to put on something just for the blog. Having a pretty casual lifestyle, I have no reason to dress differently than the way I do now. At the end of the day, how fun is it to look like everyone else? Just because social media has made it easy to find inspiration, doesn't mean you should dress the same as everyone else. There is a fine line between being inspired by someone vs. flat out copying someone's idea. Define your personal style, know your body type and wear clothes that make you feel good. When you steal someone's idea, you also unintentionally (or intentionally) take away their enjoyment. It's called "personal style" for a reason. If you love someone's idea, then give credit where it's due. It's the right thing to do. It's not necessarily to spend a fortune to be stylish. What looks good on other people does not mean it'll look good on you. Self-confidence is the best outfit you can wear. My outfit is less than $10 and I feel great wearing it. Outfit details: similar sailor shorts | GAP tee | Louis Vuitton Neverfull | Le Specs sunglasses

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My outfit costs less than $10

Adorable LOL Surprise Birthday Party

Sharing a few pictures from my daughter's birthday last month. It was just too cute not to share. I had so much fun planning and she had a blast celebrating her special day with a group of friends (sorry, no pictures of the kids for safety purposes). I linked everything below just in case you're looking for ideas.
- Cake: custom made from a local bakery
- LOL surprise birthday balloons
- LOL surprise party supplies
- LOL surprise personalized t-shirt

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Adorable LOL Surprise Birthday Party

The biggest deal I scored on eBay

{I was in full concentration mode lol}

A year ago, I fell in love with this bikini set. I briefly mentioned them in this post. As much as I love them, there is no way I would pay $200 for a swim suit. Even at full price, my size sold out so quickly. I kept checking back but they never restocked the set (I think this particular collection exclusively sold at Everything But Water).  At one point, I planned to purchase the affordable version at Forever 21 but didn't end up doing so. I eventually forgot about the suit. At the beginning of summer, I was looking to purchase a couple of new swimsuits and decided to try my luck on eBay. Lo and behold, there was a listing for the set (top and bottom) in my size!!! They're brand new with tags, have never been worn for $15. I purchased the whole set for $15 (fifteen dollars!!!). They are amazing! I am a huge fan of Robin Piccone swimsuits. Not everything on eBay is worth buying but once in a blue moon, I found an amazing deal like this one. Have you found any good deals on eBay? If so, I'd love to hear

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The biggest deal I scored on eBay

Almost 50% off Barefoot Dreams cardigans

If you're been eyeing one of those Barefoot Dreams cardigans, you're in luck. Hautelook is having a few styles on sale at almost 50% off. They're the softest cardigans ever and definitely a closet must have.

Open knit cardigan (available in 3 colors)
Cozy chic short robe (available in 4 colors)

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Almost 50% off Barefoot Dreams cardigans

Wardrobe Essential :: A Silk Cami

I personally think every woman should have a silk camisole in her closet. It's perfect for dressing up or down and can easily transition from season to season. I am excited that Lilysilk reached out to introduce their silk products. Lilysilk carries everything from dresses to tops to pillow cases. Every piece is made from luxurious, 22MM silk. I ordered a 2 pack camisole in blush pink and gold to feature in this post and I am very pleased with the quality. This pack is also available in black and white. It's hard to find a good quality silk camisole at a reasonable price. They usually run around $100 each. You get two Charmeuse silk camisoles for only $79.99 (single camisoles here). Now, that's an amazing price. I also have a special discount code for you. Just use "SFDiary" at check out to get an additional 15% off your purchase. These camisoles are beautiful, well made and feel so good on the skin. I love both colors. They go with everything. You can dress a silk camisole up for a night out with statement earrings and a pair of high heels. You can also dress it down with a pair of cut off shorts when it's warm outside. Overall, I am really impressed with the quality and would highly recommend you check them out. Outfit details: Topshop jeans *my favorite jeans of all time* | Lilysilk camisole *size XS* | Gucci belt | Gucci bag | Free People sunglasses | Cartier bracelet | Rolex watch | Forever 21 earrings | similar cardigan

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Wardrobe Essential :: A Silk Cami