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Getting Organized – Storage Room

by Courtney El-Ghoul

Okay, so in my recent Party Planning post, I mentioned that whenever I am hosting an event or party at my house, it always inspires me to get more organized. Deciding to host a “Galentine’s Day” for all the moms at the girls’ school, was no different. It was just the motivation I needed to get moving on our Storage Room! If you walked in my basement on February 1st, you would surely have thought it was still Christmas time!!! You could say that I got a little carried away with buying extra Christmas decorations this year. You could also say that this is the understatement of the year. I am not even kidding. I know, no one here is shocked. The problem with turning our home into a beautiful winter wonderland was that I ran out of places to put everything once we took it all down. Everything, including the extra tree that I purchased, was ALL OVER the basement. I know, I know. No one needs a tree in every room.

Anyway, to say I was overwhelmed would’ve been putting it very lightly. I knew we were having this party, and that I would be so embarrassed if someone went down in the basement, plus it just needed to be done. Of course, I had to call in my girl, Carly, at The Evergreen Method to help me contain the Christmas bomb that had gone off in my basement.

For starters, I sent her pictures of the disaster zone, and then we talked through my vision. Ideally, I wanted to keep the same shelving system we already had in place but thought maybe we could add some storage bins. Pinterest came in handy while I was getting together ideas for the look I was going for. When discussing the budget, Carly was great at being flexible with balancing the use of things we already had and only buying what we truly needed. 

Guys!!! Look at this…

How chic are these bins?!

We ended up using black storage bins that are all clearly labeled and simple metal shelving. I loved when Carly suggested using the opaque black, to me it is more aesthetically pleasing than some of the clear alternatives. Everything is easy to find now. I can just grab what I need and move on. Christmas Decorations now have their own designated space. which in and of itself is extra as heck… but, oh well. I love it. I even organized all of the girls’ artwork from school and set it aside because Carly gave me a great idea to use Artkive which is so cool! Check it out if you haven’t already! There are so many cool ideas for hanging on to the littles artwork and being able to store those special memories. Before this I had it thrown all over the place. Now, I can keep all of the memories but maybe we won’t have to add an addition to store it all forever, ha

All the artwork is in a tidy pile and ready to be hung or digitized!
  • The Christmas Corner

Initially, we had planned on having a small workout area in that room, as well as using it for storage. Up until now, it has been so chaotic that there was no way we could have even imagined making it a multi-purpose room. Now, I can walk around and visually map out where I could see us putting up a ballet bar, having some lightweights, and a place for a yoga mat. Maybe we will even be able to use the treadmill that has just been sitting there collecting dust and holding garland all this time! The space was so uninviting before, and now it has a purpose! Ahhhh. I am so happy! 

I used to hate going down to the basement because it would give me crazy anxiety. Every time something didn’t have an official home, we would just throw in this room. Eventually, it just became a purgatory for stuff that had no real set place. You guys know I love the Holidays and that I can be a bit extra myself, so you can imagine the mess we had on our hands. Not any more! What else can I say? I LOVE my storage room now!

Next on the list! Girls playroom! Stay tuned for this one!

If you are local and require any organization but don’t quite know where to begin, Carly is your girl! She is the best!

How is your storage zone? Are you like me and keep adding more and more things to put away?

XO

Courtney

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Local Charities in Northern Virginia You Should Know About

by Courtney El-Ghoul

Today I am totally switching gears from all of the party planning chatter to something a bit more serious, and extremely important in our family. Philanthropy and giving back to the community. In my post about >>> going back to work <<< at Glass House for Khalil, I shared that one of the things I would be focusing on is bringing more awareness to the local charities that we believe in and have/will continue to support. Then I thought, I’ve also got this platform, so why don’t I also share a few of our local favorites here? I believe it is so important to talk about being socially conscious and how we can all give back where we can. 

Let’s dive in:)

Local Charities We Love to Support

  1. Wholehearted Foundation- I can’t say enough about this organization. It is staggering how many children are born with life-threatening heart conditions. We know a few families personally that have children struggling with heart conditions. Hearing the stories about how much they go through is just heartbreaking. I can’t even begin to imagine what I would do if Ava or Nahla had to go through heart surgery, never mind multiple. When I started to think about the long hospital stays, major bills, and all of the rehabilitation that comes with each of these surgeries, I realized that there is NO way any family could ever prepare for that financial burden. I hope that we can bring more awareness to this wonderful organization that is doing incredible work to support these children and their families. Khalil and I will continue our long-standing support of this foundation. 
  2. Wolf Trap Animal Rescue- The El-Ghoul family is full of major animal lovers. So, it is no surprise that we are passionate supporters of this Northern Virginia based non-profit organization. Khalil and I think teaching the girls about how important animals are is an important part of setting them up to be kind-hearted adults in the future. This is why Nahla, Ava, and I try to make it to as many of the “Meet and Greet” events as we can. They love getting to donate and then getting to snuggle all of the puppies. We have considered fostering but, we have a 12-year-old poodle named Sadie who is diabetic and blind, and we are not sure how she would react. Realistically, if we could adopt all of them, we would. There is nothing like the unconditional love of an animal. Imagining any of these special puppies or kitties not having homes just kills me. Anyway, this organization is amazing, and to date has rescued over 5000 dogs and cats from euthanasia! 
  3.  BRAWS- I know that a ton of the readers here are moms, so I’m sure that like me this one will hit close to home. BRAWS works to provide women living in homeless shelters with clean undergarments and menstrual supplies. I can’t even imagine what it must feel like to be homeless. It is so easy, especially in the world we live in today to take for granted how lucky we are to just have a roof over our heads. This organization brings in supplies to help aid in women’s shelters. Things you may not think about, but are super important. Underwear, pads, and tampons to name a few. I know it may not be fun to talk about, but as women, we all need these things. Khalil and I are excited to be attending a fundraiser in March (MardiBras) to help support. I hope to get so much more involved here so we can raise the awareness around this topic.
Puppy love at wolf trap animal event

Those are just a few that are in our local Northern Virginia area. I could go on, and maybe I will soon because there are so many organizations and groups that need help/support. I encourage you to think about what causes and organizations are in line with your family values and then to dig deep and figure out how you can support them. There is always something you can do to help, ALWAYS. Even if it isn’t monetary. Volunteering and spreading the word through fundraisers and social media can be so incredibly valuable. I guess it’s clear this is something I want to be more involved in. 2020 is a new year and there is always time to do more!

What about you guys? Do you have any charitable organizations that hold a special place in your heart?

My locals, have you heard or been involved with any of these? 

XO

Courtney

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Master Party Planning Checklist

by Courtney El-Ghoul

So, party planning has taken over my life, for all of 2020 so far… not even slightly exaggerating that. So, I figured, I might as well share with you guys some of my best party planning tips. Need to plan a Kids Party, Holiday Party, or a Client Appreciation Event. Don’t fret I’ve got you covered 🙂

Party Planning Checklist

1.) Vision Board- The first thing I do when I am starting to brainstorm about an event or party is to hit up Pinterest. I am not by any means Pinterest obsessed, but when it comes to planning parties it is perfect. You can create a board, and just start gathering ideas. Maybe you see an invitation style you love, the cake you want at your kids’ party, or a drink that will be perfect for your Holiday party. PIN IT. 

2.) Secure Your Venue– If it’s not happening at your home, be sure to find, reserve, and visit, of course, the space you want to throw the event or party at least a month or so in advance. There is nothing like being a week out and realizing the space you picked can’t accommodate your guests, or it just won’t work with what you have planned. I am learning this lesson with the girls’ birthday party this year… We invited 40 kids!! Guess it comes with the territory…  twins in two different classrooms. 

3.) Entertainment– If you are planning a kid party or any special event where kids will be attending… You can’t go wrong with a bouncy house, petting zoo, or in our case a local kids magician! Stay tuned for the girl’s bday post to hear all about our guy. Honestly, it may sound like it’s being extra,  but the reality is that it isn’t that expensive for the return you get! Even a face painter or balloon artist will do the trick. 

2nd Birthday crowns via Etsy:)

4.) Decorations- Depending on your theme, a little decor goes a long way with any party. Etsy and Amazon are your best friends, especially for Party Bundles. I could’ve spent hours on Etsy for the girls’ birthday party. You can really find anything, and it’s so affordable. Need table setting ideas? Fresh flowers will always spice up any table setting. If you love the look of flowers but want to save money, Baby’s breath is super inexpensive and looks so nice on its own in a pretty vase.

Christmas Party

5.) Invites– Again if you want to be super into your theme, Etsy has so many cute paper invites. For me, Paperless Post is my go-to. It looks super professional and the platform is so user-friendly. Canva is also a great option.

6.)  Catering – I mentioned this in my Holiday party post, but I think having parties catered is so much easier. Again, so many options.  I mean pretty much anywhere has catering options – from Whole Foods to your Local restaurants… Save yourself the stress! If you are having a fancy party at your home, I love the idea of an in house chef who will whip up some appetizers. I tried to do this for our last Holiday party but I waited too long. So sad. Around the Holidays they will be booked most weekends so you’ve got to plan if you are going that route. With Nahla being GF/DF I can’t just order pizza, so I had to get more creative for their b-day party this year.

OH! And how could I forget, gotta have a good playlist! Music is so important. If it’s an evening party you are hosting make sure the lighting is on point as well!

Galentines Party:)

Okay, I feel like I could go on and on, but I will stop for now. I will follow up with a more specific post about the girls Birthday Party this year! It is going to be such fun, if I do say so myself:) I have been party planning like crazy for their big day!!!

On a side note, for us throwing a party at our house always motivates us to get more things done in regards to home improvement! Whether it’s the organization, furniture placement, or just something you have been putting off doing!

What about you guys, any tips you have for planning the ultimate party??

XO

Courtney

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Introducing the El-Ghoul Twins: Part 2: Meet Ava

by Courtney El-Ghoul

Earlier this week I introduced you to our eldest twin, and now, it’s time for you to meet our feisty little cutie pie, Ava. Aka … Avo, Av, or Avie pooh.  You didn’t think that Nahla was the only one with nicknames… did you?! 

Ahh, Miss Ava, such a special gal. Sometimes I am just looking at her like…  What?! Who are you?! The consensus in our families is that Nahla is a lot like Khalil. Ava, on the other hand, we are still baffled and confused about where she gets her quirks. She is a broken mold kinda gal. There is no one else like her. I am serious, she is truly one of a kind. At three years old she could sit down with you and have a full-blown, real talk, conversation with you. If you ever have the pleasure of meeting her, you will never forget her, that I can be sure of.  Recently we spent an afternoon with some friends of ours, and after they were just like… “She is something else. #Avaforpresident.” haha. I think you get the point… 

Ava’s Likes/Dislikes:

She is the pickiest eater on the planet… thank god she doesn’t have the gluten/dairy allergy. Seriously, I would probably lose my mind. She hates trying new foods. Especially vegetables or really anything with a little color, haha. She also has a major sweet tooth, loves horses, a true mama’s girl at heart. She is so protective of Nahla and is constantly looking out for her. She is not a girly girl, at all. She would much rather be on the soccer field, riding her scooter, or her bike. She is such an athlete, really solid. I picked her up the other day and I looked at her and I was like … “You are ripped girl!” So strong, seriously.

Always cracking up:)
You would never know she secretly is not a fan of ballet haha

She is funny, loud, loyal, and incredibly smart. She thrives on a routine and doesn’t forget anything, ever. Sometimes, out of the blue she will come up to me and say something like – “Mom, do you remember that time when I was a baby and we went to that beach with the dolphins?!” I am like… How does she remember this?!  She was legit a baby when we saw the dolphins in Mexico. But then she goes on to tell me specific things that she remembers from that trip. She is like “Of course I remember mom, I told you like 10 times already!” 

…both of them with the sassiness, already. We are in trouble. 

We butt heads at times, but she keeps me on my toes, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. The way she challenges me is one of the things that I love the most about her. She is so strong. I know that I don’t have to worry about anyone messing with her, or Nahla, for that matter.

Would love to hear your stories about your kiddos quirks?

XO

Courtney

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Introducing the El-Ghoul Twins: Part 1: Nahla

by Courtney El-Ghoul

Okay, so I wouldn’t be “Twin Latte” without our twins. So, this week I want to introduce you to Nahla and Ava – The El-Ghoul girls. Our spirited, fun-loving, and exhausting little ladies who are truly amazing. I thought about introducing them as a pair… But man, are they different. So I think it makes more sense to introduce them individually.  

Since Nahla is the eldest, by one minute, it seems fair that she goes first. Right?? 🙂 

Nahla El-Ghoul

My littlest love, in size, is tiny Nahlie pooh. Nahlie, we love nicknames in our house, in case you were wondering. She is just the sweetest thing. She loves being a care-taker and is just an old soul to her core. She is always looking out for her sister and really anyone she is around. Her teachers tell me she is like the class mom. She has creativity and maturity that is a little outsized for a typical 4-year-old.   Sometimes, when I listen to her, I just can’t believe she is only FOUR?! Her imagination and the stories that she tells are so freaking cute. Lately, her favorite thing to do is to have me tell her a story so that she can act it out while I am telling it. It usually goes a little something like this…  

Nahla:  “Mom, I need you to tell me a story. The one where I am a princess riding my horse in a scary forest because a mean bear is chasing us.”

Me: “What is your horse’s name?”

Nahla: “Mom, I’ve told you like 20 times before. Her name is Bellaaaaa!”  (In her most like … Duh, Mom Voice.)

Me: Oh,  sorry I forgot haha. 

Nahla: “It is ok. Just keep going. Where is the bear?  Is he getting closer?! Nooo!!! He is going to eat us!!!”  This is, of course, accompanied by the most dramatic arm movements you have ever seen. 

The whole time I am just dying trying not to laugh. She will even ask me to pause so that I can modify the story to include a break so that her horse and the mean bear can drink some water. I could seriously go on for hours. She is super imaginative, creative, and tender-hearted.

She loves animals, coloring, singing, dancing, and playing the piano. Perhaps, I have a future performer on my hands??? She hates chocolate (who even is she?!?), is not a fan of outdoor sports, hates bedtime, and doesn’t like to be alone. She is the polar opposite of her sister Ava, but you know, it works out.

Nahla’s Favorite Things To Do

As soon as Nahla gets home from school, it is no brainer that the first thing she is doing is changing into a dress with heels. She doesn’t skip a beat. I seriously die of laughter. We will have been home for two minutes, and I hear the clip-clopping coming down the hall. What can I say, I guess she gets that trait from her momma? Who doesn’t love a bit of glam and a hot pair of stilettos?! Her sister Ava is who doesn’t. HAHA. More on her in the next post…

For such a tiny girl who is so positive mentally, the past few years have been an uphill batter for her, physically. (Read more ☞ HERE) Her little digestive system wasn’t working properly, and we had to try everything,  just to figure out why. She was so patient through the trial and (so many) errors. Eventually, we discovered that by eliminating Gluten and Dairy, we could solve all of her tummy troubles. We are so blessed that she has taken on this change like a total champ. I mean this diet change has been a lot of work and super hard and really, she never complains. Just one more thing that makes her so special.

Anyway, she is a super cool little chick, and I can’t wait to see what the future holds for her.

Would love to hear differences in my fellow twin parents kiddos? Do you have one that seems to be more of an old soul?

XO

Courtney

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Love Birds: How Khalil & I Met

by Courtney El-Ghoul

Recently, there have been a ton of new readers coming to the blog and I couldn’t be more excited! HEY FRIENDS! If you are new you should know in advance that I get off topic regularly and I love (parentheses thoughts)  Ok, back on track… So, I have been trying to brainstorm how I could reintroduce my family to our new friends and that would still be fun for those of you who have been with us for a while now…Hmm? 

Then, I thought, with our 10th anniversary coming up… why not start with the story of how Khalil and I met… Everyone loves a love story! Right?! So, that’s what I am gonna do. (The real question is… Should I embarrass Khalil and bring out some old photos?) I mean, I do have to give you guys the complete “picture”… Right?! 

Ok, OK… back to the story…

How My Husband and I Met

For the new folks who don’t know. Khalil and I are college sweethearts. (Insert: awwwwwwwe) We met when we were both undergrads at George Mason University, pretty classic. I will start this story by telling you something about my husband. Khalil is and has been since the day I met him…an entrepreneur. He sees opportunities like no one else and has the energy and intelligence to see how to turn any opportunity into a profitable business. He literally can’t help it.

So moving onto the story. How we met is pretty classic, but the surrounding circumstances are what makes it hilarious. 

Like I hinted at – Khalil’s entrepreneurial drive was already in full effect by the time we were in school. He was a social butterfly who was constantly promoting an event and/or throwing a party of his own. He was 100% “that guy” on campus. Looking back, you could say that he was the popular frat guy and a total ladies man, for sure. I was a small-town girl who loved tanning booths, dark eyeliner, and colored contacts. (go ahead, you can giggle) 

Halloween Party, Pretty sure Khalil was channeling Kanye with the pink polo.

SO, one night my sorority sisters and I were going to a fraternity party… you know where this is going. Wouldn’t you know it, but who else would have been throwing this party and greeting all the ladies as they arrived… You guessed it, Khalil 🙂 There he was with the backwards hat, sleeveless shirt ( he loved showing off his arms), and too cool for school look. I thought to myself – this guy is so full of himself. None the less I found myself talking to him for like 5 minutes, tops. After that, my friends and I were on our way to the next party.  The following week he had one of his fraternity brothers come find me on campus to give me his AIM screen name. ( Yes. Guys, I am that old) Instant messenger was the jam when we were in college. Anyway, I tried to play it cool and I was all… “This guy can’t even talk to me himself???” 

College Days;)
The original backwards cap with the white Tee:)

Fast forward… I gave in. I know I know, but the arms were nice… ha. We started chatting a bit on Instant Messenger. THEN, the next time I saw him I could tell… He didn’t remember my name!? He tried to smooth it over by calling me “pretty eyes.” I wanted to roll my “pretty eyes” but… I fell for it, ha. I finally (it didn’t take long)  gave in and agreed to start going out on a few dates with him… Dates? Kind of? It was college and we were broke so a “date” was like hanging in my dorm room or meeting him at whatever party he was promoting… 

I had so much fun going through these old photos

Once we started getting to know each other, I realized I had been all wrong. As soon as I started to get to know him it was like… sure, he had fun, and was good at throwing/promoting parties. But, he wasn’t doing it to be cool or get girls; he also had to pay the bills. He was paying for school, clothes, food, and everything … on his own. Even when we were in school, doing that on a minimum wage job that cut into class time, it wasn’t an option. (we aren’t THAT old, school was expensive!) Anyway… I learned all of this and was totally hooked. It was so unexpected because we were sooo different! I mean, here I was this little girl from the smallest town on the planet suddenly head over heels for this Palestinian guy who couldn’t have had a more contrasting upbringing. He always tells me it was love at first sight for him, which I will always raise an eyebrow at, but I will never get tired of hearing. I guess the old saying really does mean something in our case… opposites attract!

OH – I have to include this part! 

SO, you know the thing you do once you are in a serious relationship…  where you talk about “when you REALLY knew you were in love with each other?” Well, when asked,  we both will agree on this part of our story. And, it is hilarious.

Instantly we say that we truly fell in love on a SPRING BREAK trip to the Caribbean. Another one of Khalil’s college business endeavors(there were many). It was one of these group trips that if you organize everything, your trip is free. He was broke, so what better incentive. He ended up putting together this WILD Jamaican adventure for like, 25 of us. I kid you not, once again that ambitious mind of his making moves and getting things done. Not only did he pull it off, but I am not kidding when I say that some of our friends STILL regularly talk about that trip, to this day. We had the time of our lives. It was romantic, exhilarating, and (looking back) probably super dangerous. Haha. I can’t even believe my mom let me go. (I hope she isn’t reading this!) I for sure remember jumping off of cliffs, partying a little too much, and taking some risky cab rides. Not to mention I was wearing zero sunscreen and straight-up baking in the sun. You wonder where my skincare obsession came from… probably recovering from that trip. Even the place we stayed at was a little sketchy, but hey, here we are 15 years later going strong.

And there you have it, the love story of the El-Ghoul’s. 

What about you guys?? Would love to hear your love stories!!

XO

Courtney

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The Decision to go Back to Work Part 1: My First Day

by Courtney El-Ghoul

Okay, guys, I told you I would be back with an update on my decision to potentially going back to work, part-time, with Khalil’s company.  

Wellllll… Drum roll!!!!

The suspense… haha 

Guess who the newest member of the Glass House Real Estate team is!? What do you know, but, it’s ME! I had my first day this past week, and I LOVED IT.  Gosh, I feel like I have so much to fill you in on.

Interested in a first-day recap?! Ok, Here it goes… 

I  dropped the girls at school, got a quick barre class in, and headed to the office. I just had to be there in time to be able to sit in on a team meeting, that Khalil wanted me to observe. I actually really enjoyed this! I mean obviously when they were talking about specific clients, listing agreements, home inspections, etc.. I am not aware of the situations, but it was nice just to be in an adult setting, brainstorming with peers, team discussions. I realized I really did miss this feeling. Mental note, being in yoga pants was not ideal. Dress up on day two, haha.

Now at this point, you might be wondering… Courtney, what the heck are you actually doing!? And, that my friends, is a great question. HAHA. It’s a real estate company, and my professional background is in New Home Sales, which is pretty real-estate-ey… So,  at the beginning of our discussions, I thought that I would be doing a lot with the real estate side of things. But, as it turns out, it will be the total opposite! Crazy! It seems like I won’t have much of a real estate role at all. 

Khalil is amazing, and is a total rockstar entrepreneur and killing it in the real estate game. He doesn’t really need any help in that area. We realized pretty quickly that what Khalil needs the most help with is building up the office culture and maintaining client relationships. Things like team building events, incentives, and client relationship management.  I am pretty excited about it! I think it will be great because it’s something that I feel confident that I can just jump in and take charge of to make some big improvements. I spent most of my first day, brainstorming a client appreciation event he would like us to host in March. It seems like this will be my first big project to lead. These types of events are so important for maintaining long term relationships with clients and meeting new ones. On top of that… I will work on keeping the office morale up with team events, community outreach, post settlement follow up with clients. Khalil is also supporting a bunch of local charities that he really believes in. I would love to find some ways to help bring awareness to these organizations. As you can see, not everything is set in stone, but I am excited about the journey!

Now, I know. that it is very exciting to explore what my new job will actually be about… But, you also know that one of the first thoughts that ran through my mind after the day one yoga pants situation..was “What am I going to wear!?” HA.  Khalil said that for the first couple of weeks while I am getting back into the groove of things, I can be casual. I had already started looking through my old work wardrobe to see what I could still pull off that would be professional. To my surprise, I found some pretty good staples that are still pretty cute.  I can not wait to get a few new pieces and share the mixing and matching journey with old and new stuff. (post to come on that) I know for sure my new Inamorata oversized blazers are totally going to be on repeat in my office wardrobe. 

After my first day, it was SO FUNNY. My mom and friends were all calling me like crazy!  “How was it?! Do you love it?! What was it like?! Did you and Khalil argue!?” But, the thing is… this is so new, and out of the normal routine for both of us, that I couldn’t really answer most of their questions. I can confirm that we didn’t argue at all, which was great, ha. But, honestly, we haven’t even decided exactly what my title will be… So, I can’t give a full report, YET. But I will 100% keep you guys posted. 

Side Note: When Khalil asked the girls how they felt about me going back to work, Ava was all “Dad, it’s fine if it is only two days. You can’t have her more than that. We need her here!” Haha It was SO CUTE. 

Don’t fret, Twinlatte.com will still be in full force, but, I will be working with Khalil part-time as well.

Who says we can’t do it all!

I’ve got this… Twins, blog, part-time job, yes… Please…

Any suggestions on what my title should be?

XO

Courtney

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Valentines Day With The Kiddos

by Courtney El-Ghoul

This week it seems that the only things I can think about are Valentine’s Day and Nahla and Ava’s Birthday Party… Aghhhh ( post on this is in the works)…

I am sure by now that it is pretty obvious… that, I love the Holidays. If you are new… “Hello, I’m Courtney, and I LOVE the Holidays!” HaHa. So, back on track… Since Valentine’s Day is first… That’s where I am “trying” to focus my efforts. When it comes to celebrating this day of LOVE, we inevitably have to go all out. I have already been all over Target, Home Goods, and Amazon…  gathering decorations for my house, and little gifts for the girls, of course 😉 

I already shared (what I think) is a pretty great gift-guide for the adult women in your lives. But, I thought it would also be fun to share with you guys how I incorporate the little girls in our house, into this special day. 

Around the time they turned one I started explaining to them what Valentine’s day is about. This is also around the time  I started getting a little “extra” with decorating the house. On Valentine’s morning when they would wake up I would have a pretty over-the-top display of all things hearts and candy for them to enjoy. It was sort of like someone threw up pink and red all over our home. Haha. For me, it’s so fun, and they loved it. This went one for the next few years. 

Last year I decided they were old enough to have a little party. If we are being real, it is such a pain to get a sitter on this day.  Again like New Year’s, even if you can get a babysitter and actually go out you are dealing with overpriced pre-fixed menus, crowded restaurants, and it just feels a little corny. ( I know, the irony here… after I just divulged my extravagant decorating ways, ha)  So, I thought – Hey, why don’t we host a Valentines’ Day party? We can invite a couple of close friends, and their kids. Everybody wins! 

It worked out perfectly! I got a mommy helper to hang with the kiddos in the basement. (Finding one for-hire adult, for four families, is a lot easier than finding one for each.) The basement was decked out in Valentines’ Day decor.  It was all set up with their heart plates, napkins, balloons, etc.. You get the idea, pink/red explosion, and it was sooo cute! Upstairs, for the adults, I had a nice dinner set up. We all got fancy. Like we would have if we had gone out to dinner just the two of us. It was actually a full sit down dinner. The kids were having so much fun, they never even came upstairs until it was time for bed. They talked about it for weeks! Kids love the littlest gestures. Just having their friends over, and feeling like it was their very own v-day party meant the world to them. Now, it is one of their favorite holidays. 

I just think this is great. You don’t have to leave your house, and the whole family can enjoy the celebration! I don’t know If I will be able to pull it off this year, as it’s so close to our anniversary trip, and I have a “Galentine’s” Day party that I am hosting for all the mom’s at the girls’ school (stay tuned for that post as well) but I will of course still do something special for the girls.

If you are racking your brain for what to do, and you have the time this is such a fun way for your whole family to enjoy.

What about you guys, thoughts on celebrating Valentines Day? Do you include the kids?

XO

Courtney

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BeautyFashionLifestyle

My top Valentines Day Gifts for the Women in your life

by Courtney El-Ghoul

Hey hey! Can you guys believe we are already two weeks into January!?! I am in awe of how quickly time passes us by, like, for real… it’s so crazy. Remember when you were a kid, and it felt like each day was an eternity!?! Ahhh… the good ole’ days.

Anyway, I am getting off-topic before I have even shared the topic. Ha. Today, what I wanted to discuss… is Valentine’s Day!!! You may already know I am a sucker for gifts … it is one of my top two love languages! (Missed that post? Check it ☞ HERE☜) So, of course, I am all about Heart Day! I swear, I could list like a bazillion gift ideas that would help you with your shopping… But, ya know… I have twins to care for. So I will go ahead and ONLY share with you my top picks!

Here goes….

For the Beauty Lovers:

❤︎ Mini beauty fridge– Guys, I know I have already talked about this holy grail of mine… (☞HERE☜) but I swear… it is a little slice of heaven for your face. I keep all of my masks, jade roller, and vitamin C inside. I LOVE THIS – and the beauty lover in your life will too! 

❤︎ Kylie Cosmetics– LIP KITS. Okay, it’s no secret that I am obsessed with all her stuff, I am such an OG Kylie fan – it’s madness. For real though, I have been buying these lip kits since the original day-one-launch. They are so good. She always has the cutest collections for Holidays. So, keep checking the website and Insta for her V-day bundles this year… They are always the best value and colors. 

❤︎ Personalized Perfume- This Louis Vuitton perfume is my jam. Not only is it the most dreamy scent ever, but you can get the bottle engraved! Which just makes it that much more special and perfect for gifting. 

❤︎ SLIP – Pillowcase– This one might sound a little funny but I am telling you it has been a game-changer for my hair and skin. It is like sleeping on butter. Creases on your face… never again?!? It’s worth the price and makes such a good gift!

For the girl who loves to be cozy:

❤︎ SKIMS Cotton Collection- If you follow me on the ‘gram you know that I live in these sets! So, of course, if you know a girl that is into being as comfortable as possible… this would be a great gift. The tanks and boxer shorts are the perfect loungewear that you can feel sexy and cozy in. LOVE! She also has a cozy collection which takes cozy to the next level… I haven’t gotten mine yet, but I imagine you can’t go wrong with a little extra snuggle in loungewear. 

For the Fashionistas: 

❤︎ Uncommon James- Kristin Cavallari’s jewelry line has the cutest stuff. I love that everything is such great quality, super trendy, and super affordable. I wear this ear cuff on repeat. I also love this necklace and this ring.

❤︎ Lele Sadoghi– If you have a little more wiggle room in your budget, her headbands are super cool! It is such a statement piece. They are superb quality and can take any outfit to the next level. Especially if you are on a non-hair wash day, which let’s be real, is me on the daily! Haha it can take a not so good hair day… to… “Dannng who is that??” You get the point. They are great. Totally worth it. 

❤︎ David Yurman– I know, I know, I know… His stuff is pricey. So maybe not a good fit if it’s like… your first Valentine’s Day and you only met three months ago. It’s more a gift for a significant anniversary or maybe something like the first Valentine’s day after you had a baby… Khalil got me these earrings last year that I LOVE and the rings are also gorgeous!!! It’s the kind of jewelry a mother passes down to her children. <3 

Techy Ladies and Busy Moms: 

❤︎ AirPods – Honestly, this gift would be great for anyone. They are so convenient. As a busy mom who is always multitasking, they are so MONEY!!! I seriously don’t know how I survived before I had them. No more trying to hold the phone with one hand and push a shopping cart with the other… or wearing headphones and getting them ripped out when you walk to close to the corner of anything! 

 For the HGTV Sweetheart:

❤︎ Voluspa candles – Who doesn’t love when their house smells delicious!? I am a total candle person and have been hooked on the baltic amber from Voluspa FOREVER. A while back I was thinking about how fast I had been going through these, thinking, there had to be a better way. Wouldn’t you know it, that there is a  5 wick option! I figured it would be a solid investment… I mean at 250 burning hours it just made sense, right!?! Not to mention it is so pretty to look at… Well, cut to over a year later and I can confirm that I was NOT disappointed. I have fully converted to the 5-wick forever, and I am not going back.

❤︎ Venus E/T Fleur flowers– This just screams… “Valentine’s Day!”.. doesn’t it!? I love these arrangements so much. If the lady you are buying for is the type that likes to keep fresh flowers in the house, then one of these boxes would be a killer gift. I know the price is hard to swallow, but if she buys fresh flowers regularly, it will save money in the long run. I kid you not, I have a smaller one that I have had for over a year and it still smells SO good! They last FOREVER and look incredibly chic in the house!

There you have it! I could go on, but those are my faves! I hope this helps save you some time racking your brain for that perfect, loving, gift:)

I would love to hear about your favorite gift ideas as well?? Any good go-tos?!

XO

Courtney

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LifestyleTwins

Managing Twin Rivalry and Balancing Extracurriculars

by Courtney El-Ghoul

Oh, #twinproblems… Haha, I swear. Each day with these girls is such a blessing, but man, they always keep me on my toes. I talked with you guys in a previous post about the “twin jealousy” and how bad it was getting. We have since taken steps to improve our parenting styles to adapt to this issue, and some days are great, but we still have a long road ahead. This brings me to the latest obstacle on this roller coaster that is twin parenting! They are so different when it comes to their athletics/pastimes. How on earth are we supposed to manage potentially conflicting schedules and commitments? Up until recently, it has been okay to have them in the same activities. Okay, in the sense that it has been super easy for me and neither was really upset about missing out on anything. But, if I am being honest they’ve each been in activities that they might not really be LOVING because the other one loves it.

 Lately, though, it is so obvious how different they are. They have been dancing since they were two, and currently they are both in hip hop and ballet class! Ava has for sure shown less interest this year, but I was really hoping maybe she was just having a bad day, or that it was in my head. Well, I am for sure so WRONG! 

Little girl in ballet class wearing a tutu and a bow
She is over it, haha


Little girl playing with red ball at the park.

For example. Normally, if one of the girls is sick I wouldn’t have anyone to watch the other, so we just skip the extracurriculars all together.  But recently when Ava got sick, it just so happened that Khalil was around to stay home with her…. so I took Nahla to dance alone. That’s when I realized we needed to figure out how we were going to manage their increasingly different interests. Not only to make whoever is less interested happy (Ava in this case)… but also to let the more interested twin thrive (Nahla, for this example). Oh my gosh. Seeing Nahla on her own, was like a totally different experience. She is so into it, and really good! When the two of them are in class  together, Ava is so disinterested and probably asks to go to the bathroom, for a tissue, or water what feels like 50 billion times in the span of an hour!!! Then, of course, Nahla does the same thing right after. So, in the end, Nahla is missing out on something she could really enjoy, Ava is stuck doing something that just doesn’t vibe with her, and the teacher gets beyond annoyed (I can tell). It’s heartbreaking. 

Little girl in pink dress with large purple bow in her hair.
Twin sisters playing at park with a water bottle.

 On the flip side… Ava is straight up like… on her way to being a pro soccer player. Watching them is kind of hilarious because Ava is out here just crushing it… and you look off to the side and Nahla is literally picking flowers, off in her own world. Luckily, in this case, Nahla doesn’t seem to dim Ava’s shine here… and she likes to pick flowers so… no harm? haha, However… The piano is a different story. Nahla is starting to show some real interest in Piano and could be pretty good at it. Ava, on the other hand, is not so into it. But, she is so jealous when I sit down to practice with Nahla. So, Nahla doesn’t end up practicing as much as she should and when she does – Ava’s jealousy is really palpable in the house. 

Point being, we have made a TON of progress on the jealousy front… but this is a new struggle that we can’t deny any longer. Just because they are the same age and twins I can’t expect them to like the same things. I gotta figure out how to make it work. Maybe it means a mommy helper… who can drive!!! Or, maybe only doing one activity per child so I can make the schedule work?

Fashionable twin toddlers playing outside with big bows in their hair and bomber jackets on.
Little girl wearing Elsa dress standing next to gold Christmas tree.
always in her princess dress and shoes:)

 Wouldn’t life be so much easier if they just liked the same stuff!?!? … I kid, I kid…  I am actually super happy and proud that they are so different. It really is pretty cool that two humans who have literally been together their whole life are really so unalike! Even as their mom, I am amazed every day how unique each of their personalities is.

What about the other twin parents out there? Has this been an issue, How do you deal with it?

XO 

Courtney

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