wingsandstrokes-blog

[wingsandstrokes-blog]

Writers Refuge - Impact Of Lack f Sleep On Health

Writers Refuge – Impact Of Lack f Sleep On Health

IMPACT OF LACK OF SLEEP ON HEALTH Good health flaunts a gleeful life. Health is a major and the most important part and it needs full attention. It’s not about only having hygienic and salubrious food but it also depends on a lifestyle you are carrying. Adding activities to life will adjoin more liveliness to one’s soul. When your face sparks with a refreshing smile, you are living at your best…

[wingsandstrokes-blog]

Hey everyone!! If you know me well by now, you should know that I make changes here & there very frequently and all those of you who follow me on Instagram saw in my stories that I gave my beloved fridge another much needed makeover. So in this post I’m bringing you details of that. I did answer many questions via DM’s too but I think its best I put all the details here to answer all the questions you may have.

Before I start I want to show you what my first fridge looked like and what I did with it.

  So the first thing we did for the fridge was buy this awesome decal that you see in the picture above and placed it on the fridge. This was my absolute favorite and I never would’ve wanted to change it but time came to change the fridge and so when I tried to take it off and place it on the new one, it lost its shape, see the picture below

I tried to pull it back and place it again but the decal hands just lost their shape completely and after waiting for months I felt that it was time do something else with it, so I searched on the good old Google and found some fun ideas that I’m sharing below

  I saved all the pictures because I knew I would be changing things again after sometime and I think these are some pretty sleek makeovers. I chose to do a black and white fridge to go with my black marble counters and also I felt that it was the easiest colour to find in stores. This is what it looked after the makeover

    I did a detailed step-by-step tutorial on it that you can find here. I was super super happy with it, me & my family fell in love with this stunner here and it stayed for quiet sometime but this Eid I felt that maybe it was time to make changes yet again and so this is what my friend looks like now

The marble effect is very IN these days as I’m sure you know and this just felt like the right kind of makeover that my sexy fridge deserved. I’m so glad I did this as it lead me to giving my entire kitchen a makeover.

Let’s get into details of how this was done. It’s actually pretty simple and less time consuming compared to the duct tape fridge  I did earlier.

What you need: Contact paper (any color, design you want) Scissors Paper cutter Great music (optional) A nice well made cup of coffee/tea

A contact paper is a large self-adhesive sheet which is easily available all across UAE. You can find it in Gift Centers, Carrefour, ACE hardware etc.

Just start anywhere you want, I started right at the top as it made more sense to me. Just be careful while sticking it but in case you start getting bubbles simply pull it back up and place it again. That’s the beauty of it.

What you get is a fridge that looks brand new every single time you give it a makeover. In my next post I will be sharing details of my wall in my kitchen that I had simply no intention of doing anything with but as it turns out that now I have a statement wall in my kitchen that I absolutely love. Stay tuned! 😉

Thanks for reading and don’t forget to follow me on Instagram here where I share bits & pieces of my life and what I do on a daily basis.

Until next time, Sonya

Lucky Fridge Got Another Makeover! Hey everyone!! If you know me well by now, you should know that I make changes here & there very frequently and all those of you who follow me on Instagram saw in my stories that I gave my beloved fridge another much needed makeover.

[wingsandstrokes-blog]

Dear All,

How long has it been since I sat down to write a blog post and bring you something from my world. I can’t tell you how thankful I am for the warm response I received at the blog relaunch over the gram and FB. It truly means a lot when you take a few minutes of your time to read one of my posts and let me know how you felt about it. I started blogging with a lot of passion and it has become part of who I am. I took a few months off to change a few things at my end and I’m very very glad that I did.

For starters the new blog name ”The Shamrock Notions’‘ somehow gets me going. I’m totally in love with it and I really do hope that you like it too. I have also changed the theme of the blog as well as the colours.

I have also added a lot of new features and series to the blog itself which I’ll be bringing you in the next week. Chosen 2 of the series will be on IG and the rest on http://www.theshamrocknotions.com

Eid Ul Adha came and went quietly this year, I spent mine with my children with my husband being away, I had to ensure that I make each and every second count for them so we did a lot of stuff together, I also started giving my kitchen a good much-needed makeover on the chand raat and that I think was a brilliant idea as it kept us busy during Eid holidays.

We started with putting henna on my girl’s hands, I’m no expert trust me but it made them super super happy and that’s all that matters.

We went shopping together, had yummiest desserts.. we went out for meals and fire works in between and made it all fun & festive.

I also set up the table in a very special yet simple way to make the meal grand for my beloved kiddos ❤

The schools have reopened so naturally our lives are going to be busier than ever, Thank God for the long summer break, it was soooo relaxing. I will say bye to you for now as its my son’s 2nd birthday today (4th September) but will see you in the next post.

Stay tuned!! Thanks for reading

Tons of love ❤ Sonya

Talking Tuesdays! Dear All, How long has it been since I sat down to write a blog post and bring you something from my world.

[wingsandstrokes-blog]

7 Questions With Natasha Humera Ejaz

7 Questions With Natasha Humera Ejaz

If you are from Islamabad then Natasha Humera Ejaz is a name that you can definitely relate to in many ways. She is a singer/songwriter from the capital with a voice so melodic, soothing and hauntingly beautiful, it takes you into a different world altogether. She stepped into the world of song writing at an early age of 15. She rocked the Radio stations as a Radio Jockey for both city FM 89 and…

[wingsandstrokes-blog]

Hello and AOA everyone!!! Welcoming the month of Ramadan with excitement and fervour. I don’t know about you guys but somehow I have started looking forward to it more over the last few years and I feel all geared up for it this year too. Ali isn’t here this year so its just me fasting so that means I only have to prepare sehr and iftar for one person only and that is me. So obviously it doesn’t take much, I can just whip something up in no time and have it all by myself 😀 But the thing is that the kiddos are growing up and I want them to feel the spirit of the month as well so starting with the very first day of the month I sat the kids down, gave them paper, crayons and scissors and we all made some paper lanterns to hang around the living room. Then we blew up some balloons and added them to the lantern décor using ribbons and voila!

The kids got super excited and even helped me set the table and get everything ready for the first iftar.

We said prayers together and read a bit about Allah and Quran from their favorite book ”My First Quran Story Book” and ”Who is Allah?” We bought these books at the ‘Children’s Reading Festival’ last month.  What a wonderful start to the this beautiful month 🙂

My kids love to read, they take a book to bed each night and read a bit before they close their eyes and go into their magical world of dreams. I make it a point to buy them books the way my Dad bought me books and took me to the bookstore with him so I could choose and look forward to reading. That went on till the day I got married..then I used to borrow his books for reading which he happily lent me knowing I’d take care of them ☺️ books are your companion for life! The wisdom and knowledge you get from a book is immeasurable and even though it’s the world of technology, I still believe in the old fashioned way of picking up a book and reading it instead of searching for an online version of it. As Dr.Seuss rightly said you can find magic wherever you look..Sit back & relax, all you need is a book 📚📖 . . . #books #bookstagram #bookworm #booknerd #booklove #booklovers #letsread #sharjahchildrensreadingfestival #expocentersharjah #wingsandstrokes #theblog #writers #bookclub #bookgram #bookaholic #lifestyleblogger #uae #dxb #shj #dubaibloggers #mombloggers #sharjahbloggers

A post shared by S O N Y A A L E E (@sonyalee1) on Apr 24, 2018 at 1:07pm PDT

Next day our iftar was at a cousin’s place and enjoyed every bit of the mouth watering food! Yum! But more than that it was the spirit of getting together, praying together and then making plans for the month. Children need to feel it too 🙂

Will be bringing you some fun iftar recipes as well as some easy and simple table décor ideas. If you are not following me on Instagram yet click here so we can connect right away! ❤ you can see more bits, pieces & snaps from my daily life there!

The Ramadan/Ramazan argument has pretty much been put to rest this year, yay! Frankly it never really made any difference to me. Live and let live! While we are talking about that let me bring something forward here that for once in your life please stop thinking what others are doing and try focusing on better things. Don’t go crazy when you find someone else eating infront of you or maybe just buying food and then don’t go like OMG I am so hungry – don’t you dare even talk to me about and god forbid I smell/see anything that’s remotely food related, I will definitely go bonkers. We live in a world where there are muslims and non-muslims, where people don’t fast at times because of their medical issues, I say whatever their reason, we don’t answer to God for their actions and practices, let’s focus on our own. 🙂 I think we are adults and know how to deal with hunger pangs and can wait till maghrib to break our fast. Also stop wondering if your friend or relative prayed taraweeh or not, trust me its not a competition so let’s not turn into one. Peace!

Ramadan Kareem Mubarak everyone! I just wanted to wish you all right around the first suhoor ✨ for starters I want to say Alhamdulillah for everything, can’t thank Allah enough. Just the thought of Ramadan has kept me in such a happy mood all day, the blessings of this month, prayers, iftars and being able to truly connect are some of the best things this month has to offer. I hope we all can find time to truly reflect on a lot of things and embrace the good. Hope this month brings good news and makes ease for all of us. I have promised myself to stay away from Pakoras this year 😂 but let’s see how far that goes 😉 will be torturing you all with iftars and decor and everything in between (also different angles of this photo in the stories coming up lol) Let’s make the most of it together. Tons of love ♥️ . . . #ramadan_kareem #ramadandecor #ramadan2018 #blessings😇 #wingsandstrokes #theblog #dubaibloggers #sharjahbloggers #lifestyleblogger #fairylights #lanterns #candles #homedecor #ramadankareem

A post shared by S O N Y A A L E E (@sonyalee1) on May 16, 2018 at 5:06pm PDT

Also please be nice to women or men who prepare iftar for you, the salt can be less at times, it can be too spicy, the lemonade can be sour…they tried to put decent food on the table for the family to break their fast together and share the blessings of the month.. be kind…Kindness doesn’t take much but goes a long way! Like I always say, be the reason behind someone’s smile! Cheers!

Ramadan Chit Chat Hello and AOA everyone!!! Welcoming the month of Ramadan with excitement and fervour. I don't know about you guys but somehow I have started looking forward to it more over the last few years and I feel all geared up for it this year too.

[wingsandstrokes-blog]

In Dubai’s life, there’s pretty much abundance of everything. There’s no shop, or store or a website that can’t give you what you need. And in this busy world, where businesses strive to get your attention so you will shop from them, I came across A Better Florist, the best flower delivery that you can find. This is a flower shop definitely incomparable to others, because it immediately stands off by its philosophy. Their goal is to provide you with the most stunning florals, as well as hampers and fruit basket solutions for your loved ones, so you can gift them on the most important occasions, but also even without any reason at all. After all, there shouldn’t be a reason to give someone the gift of feeling good, loved and appreciated and this is what this team strives to achieve with their exquisite designs giving a personal touch to each and every bouquet and arrangement.

With a bit of research, you’ll come to find that A Better Florist is the best Singapore flower delivery business, which is where they actually originate from. From there on, they expanded to offer a flower delivery service in Hong Kong like no other as well as a  Klang valley flower delivery , and moving onto  flowers delivery in Malaysia in several places, along with an Abu Dhabi flower delivery  which is quiet reputable. It’s safe to say they are everywhere, and this alone is intriguing enough to why this florist is so loved and supported wherever they go.

First off, they have a flowers variety to offer which speaks volumes of their expertise, from cute and chic bouquets in mason jars, to bouquets styled with elegant burlap wrapping,  grand opening flowers and even funeral flowers. Their mission to give you everything you could ever need in terms of flowers is definitely accomplished. They also offer hampers and fruit baskets, that can be completely tailored to suit your personal taste or the occasion that you’re buying it for. You can find a baby hamper, a chocolate hamper, a beauty hamper, wine hamper as well as a get well soon hamper, and that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

  The best flower delivery UAE also offers an incredibly fast same day flower delivery, that’s not only convenient but also totally free. That way you don’t have to spend your hard earned money on paying the delivery guys, which is fantastic for everyone who loves to budget. This is, in fact, a significant reason why they have become the best florist in Kuala Lumpur, and the best florist in Hong Kong.

Taking into consideration the affordability, the creativity of the team, the fast delivery and everything else in between, there’s a reason to consider them as the best flower delivery in UAE, and not just the best florist in HK or Singapore.

If you’re looking for a reliable and fast business, that still knows how to truly care for their customers, putting their requirements first, giving personal attention and giving you the most beautiful roses Dubai has ever seen, then this flower shop is definitely worth your time.

You must follow their page on Instagram to see for yourself how very beautiful, intricately detailed and spectacular their bouquets and flower arrangements are. Click here to follow A Better Florist

Flowers are just the perfect way to make someone’s day extra special! So what are you waiting for? Say it with a flower!

  Most Stunning Florals From A Better Florist In Dubai’s life, there’s pretty much abundance of everything. There’s no shop, or store or a website that can’t give you what you need.

[wingsandstrokes-blog]

Coffee Break - Tour Of A Stunning Penthouse in Dubai

Coffee Break – Tour Of A Stunning Penthouse in Dubai

Hi my angels!!! I know I haven’t brought you something to read in this section for quiet some time now but today is the day. I was having my cup of coffee when I came across this article and boy did it make me feel old all of a sudden. If you want to know what I’m talking about, click on the link below and enjoy the slideshow while you drink your tea/coffee/green tea (whatever you prefer)

https:/…

[wingsandstrokes-blog]

When I say perfect jeans, I mean jeans that suits and flatters your body. Not every kind of jeans will be your thing but you must find that one pair as that would be your staple and go-to for most days.

  Whether its a flared, cropped, skinny, or bootcut, every woman needs a pair of jeans that makes her butt look good. Instant mood-booster isn’t it! A good jeans will determine how a certain top would look and would make you feel. Its a game changer!

So have you found yours yet? Come on now, what are you waiting for? Time to go shopping! 😉

Let’s connect on Instagram: sonyalee1 Official Instagram: Wings & Strokes Facebook: Wings & Strokes

Fashion Staples 3/30 Your Perfect Jeans When I say perfect jeans, I mean jeans that suits and flatters your body. Not every kind of jeans will be your thing but you must find that one pair as that would be your staple and go-to for most days.

[wingsandstrokes-blog]

And So It Happened...

And So It Happened…

This post is part of the section ”Conversation With Silence”.  This is an anonymous submission.  And so it happened, I married this man that I had known only for four months. He proposed and I said yes, thinking he would be the man of my dreams. He made me dream of a life that I would never know. I don’t know why he changed overnight or maybe he was just that kind of crazy man in real too. He…

[wingsandstrokes-blog]

Hellllllloooooo!!!!!!!! How are you all!!! Super, super excited to share the corridor wall makeover with you today. This is long over due but I was dealing with a few things at my end. Anyway let’s dive right in. This wall was an eye sore for a very very long time because it was too plain and off white. I kept thinking of ways I could make it a bit appealing but I didn’t find anything that would work with the rest of the house as well. This I absolutely LOVE! I hope you guys like it too. It’s amazing what a little paint can do 🙂

This wall touches all three rooms of the apartment and looked rather bare and boring. See what I mean, this is what it looked like before all the work.

Now what you basically need is listed below

Paint colour of your choice Paint brushes Measuring tape or a large scale to measure the length of each column Masking Tape Newspaper Pencil Great music  –  Optional Cup of tea or coffee  –  Optional

So the first step is to take a pencil and anything that you can use to measure and decide on what size each column should be. This is no hard and fast rule, it’s entirely up to you. I chose a toy box and decided it would give me just the right size. Next step is to draw straight columns on the wall using your pencil and measuring object (or tape if you are measuring in inches). I’m a slight case of OCD and never go wrong with measurements, I believe precision is the key. One inch wrong here and there and I would’ve ended up doing the whole wall all over again.

Here is the trick you draw one column on the wall and then place the masking tape on it and then draw the next straight line to make another column. This way your lines would be of the exact same size and you would not go wrong with the placement of masking tape. Once you finish that bit, move onto rows. Draw straight rows using a pencil and then place the masking tape inside the box diagonally. This is the whole trick to it, the rest is just paint. .

  Basically I just used two shades of paint here and created the rest of them myself by adding white to go lighter with each row. I love how it turned out. I sent a picture to my cousin and my husband and they both said the same thing ”Wow I love these fifty shades of grey” Lol but here’s the thing, they are not all grey, the darker shade is olive green and the lighter is just a light olive green, the rest I mixed and created myself.

You will absolutely love removing the masking tapes when you are done. It is soooo satisfying and the crisp results that you get are just pure pleasure. It’s the best job in the world 🙂 ❤

    So here’s the final look! I hope you love it as much as I do! I love walking in the corridor now doing the victory dance in my head and sometimes in real too haha!

  Paints: Jotun paints Brushes : Any store Masking tape: Any general or hardware store White Table: IKEA Basket: Home Center Vase: Pan Emirates Plant pot: Carrefour plant section Candle: Home Center Wooden sign: Pan Emirates Lamp: Ansar Gallery Candle stand: Marina Home Magazine rack: Ansar Gallery Grey seats cum storage boxes: Ansar Gallery Flowers: ChenOne

Thank you for reading and staying for a bit! Means so much! Scroll down for details of the paints.

Love ❤

Sonya

Corridor Wall Makeover Hellllllloooooo!!!!!!!! How are you all!!! Super, super excited to share the corridor wall makeover with you today.

[wingsandstrokes-blog]

March Favourites!

March is such a happy month. It brings the first signs of spring, beauty everywhere, the promise of summer and also spring/summer wardrobe. It is a season worth waiting for. Runways look absolutely gorgeous with all the latest that designers bring for the season. It’s always so much fun. Now I’m not going to throw the whole spring wardrobe in your face but I just wanted to introduce you to my…

[wingsandstrokes-blog]

Fashion Staples - 2/30 Essentials

Fashion Staples – 2/30 Essentials

The Perfect Blazer Even if you don’t work at an office, every woman should own a black blazer that fits her perfectly. This is a wardrobe staple as it can be worn with jeans, little dresses, trousers, and skirts. How do I know my blazer size? Chest – Measure chest just under arms and across shoulder blades, holding tape level (don’t hold your breath). Be sure to cross over the shoulder blades and…

[wingsandstrokes-blog]

How To Keep Your White Sneakers Clean

How To Keep Your White Sneakers Clean

A good white sneaker is a fashion staple. All the fashion people LOVE white sneakers, however, it sure is a struggle to keep them spotlessly clean. One trip to  the coffee shop would mean mud stains, possible coffee stains etc. So I’m bringing you some tips to rock these white beauties! For starters always store them indoors If you see scratches on your sneakers, use white nail polish to cover…

[wingsandstrokes-blog]

Fashion Staples - 1/30 Essentials

Fashion Staples – 1/30 Essentials

Fashion is what you find in stores, style is what you do with it. I’m sure you must’ve heard these famous words. But there are some wardrobe staples that you must MUST have in your closet so you never have a ”I-have-nothing-to-wear” moment again. Let’s begin! First up is the simple yet super stylish white sneaker that you MUST have in your wardrobe essentials. These we’ve been seeing everywhere…

[wingsandstrokes-blog]

Hey all you lovely people! I feel so great these days. It’s true when they say that the weather can have a such a positive effect on you. It is absolutely beautiful in UAE these days, specially the evenings. The beaches are perfect these days so I do enjoy a stroll by the beach every now and then. A nice cup of well made tea and muffins or pakoras 😛 just gives you what you need at times.

It is the wedding season of course and there are some stunning outfits that I have come across. Many of my friends got engaged and married. Come to think of it, the wedding dresses and makeup has changed and improved so much over the years, I could totally get married again lol (to the same guy of course).

My kids are obsessed with bath bombs these days and weekend is when they take their sweet time enjoying the bath bombs 🙂 I wonder if your kids have the same obsession?

Also I’m going to be posting the whole corridor wall makeover on the blog which I’ve been waiting to post for a while now. I lost my phone’s data and had to look for ways to recover it. I can’t wait to show you what it looks like 🙂 ❤

It’s been one heck of a Sunday, I woke up to fire alarms all across the 30 floors of my building. Smoke, people running, panic everywhere.. Fire broke out in one of the apartments this morning and we all had to evacuate immediately. It was difficult dragging kids out of their beds and rush them downstairs through the emergency exit. Keeping calm and getting control over your senses is a test in itself..I can’t even imagine what that family must’ve gone through upon seeing flames and smoke in their house..times like these makes you stop and think what life is all about…it really is too short…

Stay safe, stay happy wherever you are.

Love ❤

Sonya

  Weekend Chit Chat Hey all you lovely people! I feel so great these days. It's true when they say that the weather can have a such a positive effect on you.

[wingsandstrokes-blog]

DIY Frames For The Kitchen

DIY Frames For The Kitchen

Hello my lovely people!!!! How are you all. Life gets so sooo sooooo busy at times that you hardly get to finish anything at all. Speaking of which I’m bringing you those much awaited frames that I posted about on the Instagram stories and have been receiving messages asking about what I did with them. Well here is your answer. Once I finished the fridge makeover, I felt like the walls looked…

[wingsandstrokes-blog]

7 Questions With Alishba Baz

7 Questions With Alishba Baz

Alishba Baz is not just a great makeup artist but what makes her a delightful joy is her ability to add humour and creativity to her looks that are nothing like those ordinary beauty tutorials you find on social media. She has appeared on several social media channels for her talent. Her Instagram feed is full of different and creative looks. From Ainak Wala jinn to Simpsons, from Cheshire Cat…