I have an e-fession to make! You ready? Cookie dough brings me to my knees. I like to think of myself as very disciplined. I work out, I can say “no” to my kids (no matter how cute they may be), I even have a strict two-drink limit when I go out. But when it comes to cookie dough, I’ve met my match!

At CherylStyle, we’ve been preparing for the holidays this week, not Memorial Day or 4th of July, I mean THE holidays. So we have been developing, tasting and shooting cookie recipes, nonstop. We make tons of tasty things on a daily basis and most of the time I control myself, but not this week. Ugh! I can honestly attest that I have eaten cookie dough for five days straight. You know that feeling when you’ve been really, really naughty??? Wellllll, the guilt from just how naughty I’ve been is almost too much for me to take. I mean seriously, how much cookie dough should a person consume before it’s too much? Let’s just put it this way–it will take me until THE holidays to work off this week’s digressions. But you know what? I’ve decided I’m not going to beat myself up over this because next week is holiday cocktail week, and I just know this cycle is bound to continue. So, live the moment!

The post cookie week at CherylStyle appeared first on CherylStyle.

School’s almost out! So, cue the guilt of a working mom…Yes, there is no homework, no extracurricular activities, no peeling the kids out of bed in the morning–all things to look forward to, but all of that is overshadowed by the fact that I’m working now.

This will be my third summer working full-time and having the kids at home without me. Such a big part of me feels a heavy heart and a longing to be with them sans the 25 phone calls I’m going to get during the middle of the day. And secondly, (let’s just sprinkle on more guilt) I am never quite prepared for the end of the school year. Somehow it always sneaks up on me–all the year-end activities, award ceremonies, summer birthday parties (that are all crammed into the calendar before school gets out) and getting the kids ready for camp. I feel overwhelmed this time of year and the kids sense it.

How do I cope? Well, I am going to take advantage of the long summer days and try and plan fun activities with the kiddos after work or at least I’m telling myself that’s the plan like an impromptu picnic at dusk or bowling night. And if I’m lucky, I might even get them to want to come to my office and help out. But at the end of the day, being a working mother is a huge sacrifice for the kids and me. No sugar coating it. It is what it is. Ugh!

Live the moment,

The post school’s almost out — AHHHHH! appeared first on CherylStyle.

How many times have you found yourself in a situation and swore you would NEVER be there again? Well I’m there right now. I swore up and down that I would never have more than one pet per kid and I definitely thought they would all have fur. Nope: Somehow I am now a mother to three kids, three dogs, two bearded dragons and three turtles actually, tortoises but whatever. While I never would have thought this would be my world, I have surprisingly enjoyed the journey with my kiddos and am happy to say, I love these new little guys to death. Here’s how it all went down…So a few weeks ago, my family took a trip to Las Vegas to attend a Reptile Expo….now, now hold your reaction….crazy, I know.

I am not a huge animal lover. I LOVE my three dogs (all dogs, really and horses) but after that, I haven’t given any other animal genus any special consideration. I despise rodents, eew! And I’ve never even thought about having a bird, reptile or fish as a pet. My son, however, is obsessed with reptiles. So much so that he has collected a souvenir turtle in every city we’ve ever visited and has an amazing collection from over 100 cities around the world. And all he has been talking about for the past two years is getting a live turtle tortoise, really but who cares of his own.

So for Mother’s Day, I know you are so jealous right now he begged me to take him to the expo. Did I mention this was in Vegas? And so we went. The whole family…. And guess what? Not only did we come home with two adult female turtles tortoises, whatever for my son, but we got a reptile for each of my two girls as well—a baby turtle tortoise named Bup and another bearded dragon (my son already had a lizard; I thought he was done).

Enter the dogs…long story short…unbeknownst to us, our golden doodle, Doodles, (poodles are notorious for chewing) decides that these little creatures are the coolest things ever and needs to see what’s inside.

Enter the vet…at 9:30 that night emergency hours run until 10:00. Whew, we made it, we rush Coco (Coco Shell-nel, cute, huh?) and Shelly to the other side of the flippin’ world to the nearest exotic emergency animal vet.

Queue up the therapy… “Hydro-wash twice a day followed by an antibiotic ointment. Oh, and btw, your tortoises whatever are getting way too much protein and need to be on a high fiber diet.” Would you believe me if I told you my turtles tortoises won’t touch the high fiber stuff? They pick through it spitting it out. What is that all about?

One week later… “Mom, I think Bup is sick!”

Enter the vet…”Oh wow. This baby is really sick. We need to get her on an antibiotic right away and if you’ve handled the other tortoises, whatever they are probably going to get sick too.” WTH, of course we have cross-contaminated the other turtles, they’re kids, you idiot, not doctors wearing gloves. And yes, all THREE turtles tortoises are sick now with the same bacteria.

Queue up another therapy…give shot at a 45 degree angle every other day for ten days….Whoa, whoa, whoa there, Nelly! Give shots to an animal no bigger than a half dollar? Are you nuts?

I’m happy to say, through all this drama, I have grown very attached to these gentle, beautiful creatures. And I couldn’t imagine our home without them. Tortoises, not turtles, really do make fabulous pets. And as I look back on these past two weeks, I can honestly say that was the best Mother’s Day ever, because I got to bring so much joy and happiness to my children that day. And isn’t that what being a mother is all about??? So when you’re thinking you COULD NEVER think of doing something, remember my reptile story. You never know, you could actually end up loving it in the end.

Live the moment,

The post my house is not my home, it’s a menagerie appeared first on CherylStyle.

The post DIY father’s day ideas and recipes that will make his heart melt appeared first on CherylStyle.

The post 2013 father’s day shopping list appeared first on CherylStyle.

The post 8 of my fave DIY pool games, activities and outdoor décor ideas appeared first on CherylStyle.

I just got back from my trip home to Missouri where we filmed me and my mom cooking in the kitchen where I grew up.

I was a little nervous at first because I wasn’t certain how the trip would go. I have members of my team from all over the U.S. and while Webb City, Missouri is a slice out of the all-American pie, there really isn’t much to do in this tiny little town. And to top it off, the forecast called for pouring rain the entire time we were to be there.

Since only a couple of people were needed for the shoot, I sent most of them on a team-building exercise—this idea was Cari’s, my CBO, and it was brilliant. They were given a car, $40 and four hours to put together a tablescape for our dinner that evening. They were charged with finding a centerpiece, table runner, napkins, napkin treatment and place cards for the table but could not go over their allocated funds.

Much to my surprise, they not only managed the task beautifully (in the pouring rain, remember), but they did so spending only about $20—half of what I had given them!

The table was gorgeous. An old piece of scrap metal served as the runner, shelf paper as placemats, pieces of a pillowcase were ripped into the napkins, and coffee filters were scrunched into “flowers” as the napkin treatment. And the best part of it all was the centerpiece. They used an old vase from Goodwill and wrapped twine around it for a rustic look where it housed clipped branches of a blooming dogwood tree—Missouri’s state flower. There was such creativity and it was a perfect team-building experience. Way to go team CherylStyle!

So while the production team and I (with my Mom) gathered footage for my “going home” story, the other members of my team were enjoying a beautiful spring, albeit rainy, day in the Midwest. There was no need at all to be nervous. Everyone loved the experience. But the best part of all was once everyone returned back to our house, we all had dinner together. The CherylStyle team and my family (about 32 people) filled the living room. We laughed, told stories and played charades. The day (and night) was a huge success.

I come from a beautiful place with beautiful people who graciously open their hearts and home to strangers. I guess you can say, CherylStyle is MissouriStyle—a place to embrace what truly matters—the experience we have around the table.

Live the moment.

The post My trip home appeared first on CherylStyle.

I was recently featured on SheKnows, alongside Kris Schoels of  Young Married Chic. Together we covered tips and tricks on how to Host an Amazing Easter Celebration. Check out the article and let me know what you think.

Enjoy!

The post cheryl najafi for sheknows–how to host an amazing easter celebration appeared first on CherylStyle.

So this year, instead of a resolution to change, why not pledge to become a little better at something you already do well—a better wife, mother or friend to the people you love?

This year I’m making a commitment to adjust my sensibilities and make the people around me feel more loved not only among my friends and family, but in my professional life as well. It’s time for me to embrace the fact that CherylStyle is now bigger than I am personally, and let my talented staff have command of their individual spaces and roles.   I am going to get a little better at being a leader and role model.  That’s my goal.  No big changes, just a simple fine-tuned adjustment.

I really feel 2013 is going to be a pivotal year for me and my team.  So hold onto your hats, guys.  This year is going to rock!  Thanks for coming along on the ride.

Live the moment,

Found the great quote above, here.

The post new year, new you appeared first on CherylStyle.

So here’s my dilemma: chocolate bars are everywhere and come in many varieties, but I cannot open one without eating the whole darn thing.  So I went in search of a sweet and salty box of chocolate bites.  However, I cannot find a box of sugar free, salted chocolate covered almonds anywhere!  I’ve scoured the web and I cannot find it.  Really?  I’m the first person in the world that wants this combination?!!

What’s a girl to do?  WELLLL, I got creative.  See’s Chocolates has a box of sugar free chocolate covered almonds.  And what I do is spritz the chocolates with water from a spray bottle to moisten the tops.  Then I sprinkle the chocolates with my yummy rock salt.  Voila!  In about 20 minutes they are dry, I have a perfect box of sugar free salted chocolate covered almonds!  But the yum doesn’t stop there…if you are a sweet-and-salty-aholic like I am, try adding rock salt to the top of fresh, baked chocolate chip cookies or brownies….delish!

Live the moment,

Disclaimer:  There’s just one caveat for eating sugar free products…Don’t eat more than three pieces at any given time if you don’t want your tummy to rebel against the sugar substitute!  You’ll thank me later!  Ha!

The post sweet-and-salty-aholic? appeared first on CherylStyle.

Hello from under the covers today.

This horizontal position has given me an opportunity to think about my behavior when I’m ill. I don’t know about you, but all I want is junk food when I don’t feel well—not the typical comfort foods like chicken noodle soup or mashed potatoes or even a buttered bagel or toast, but things like cookie dough, cupcakes and pizza. I am typically a health food nut—juicing green veggies morning and night to provide nutrition to everyone in my family and sticking to meals like arugula, grilled fish and Brussels sprouts.

But not today, I am asking my mom to bake me a coconut cream pie and have indulged the kids by picking up burgers at the local diner. During this time, I literally crave junk food much like I crave my coffee in the morning or my bed after a long stint away from home. Ugh! It must be the bug taking over my senses and telling the little devil inside of me to engage. Or perhaps it is my passive aggressive way of indulging myself in life’s guilty pleasures? Who knows what the reason is. All I know is right now I want my pie!

Here’s to health—come back soon!

Live the moment,

The post under the weather appeared first on CherylStyle.

Now don’t get me wrong, I have my absolute must-haves. Like my cosmetics, I don’t trust this skin to any old product; or my underwear, I have to have three pairs more than days I will be away just in case; or my shoes, they MUST be comfy and stylish and must go with everything—think grey or eggplant for this season. But, when it comes to the clothes, I am totally flexible depending on the climate.

suitcase packing tips

cool weather

You really only need one neutral sweater for the daytime and just add a scarf to keep the neck warm at night. Make certain you pack shirts or dresses that can layer easily. And don’t be afraid to mix and match colors and textures. Gone are the days when everything needs to match.

Invest in a pair of quick drying exercise pants that can be easily washed and hung up to dry. I love the Lululemon Groove Pant or Studio Pant. With a blazer or corduroy jacket, you can barely tell these are exercise pants. I pack two. I wear one while the other dries.

Remember in cooler weather, you can wear your clothes (especially the layers) over and over again. With under garment changes, the basics don’t really get that dirty. So don’t over-pack. Reuse. Reuse.

warm weather

Now warm weather is a different story. Although the clothing doesn’t seem as bulky where it takes up a lot of room like, say a sweater, I find that I need more pieces of clothing in warmer weather. Especially in more humid climates, I like to make certain I always have a fresh set of clothes for each day. Nothing is more disgusting than having to wear clothes you’ve perspired in a second day in a row.

However, your dressy clothes that you would wear to dinner typically don’t get smelly and sweaty, so I pack one or two nice dresses for any given time period.

rainy weather

I love, love a rainy day (or night, cue song) but not so much when I’m traveling and out and about. I’ve learned that traveling with a lightweight slicker I can roll up and toss in my bag works better than having to pack a jacket and a raincoat. If I must pack something a little dressier, I reach for my trench coat. It repels water and looks super chic.

Just remember when you travel you rarely know anyone, so no one is going to see you in the same outfit twice. As long as your travel partner doesn’t care that you sport a similar look every day, I say keep the packing light. Your back will thank you for it later!

Ciao!

The post the science of suitcase packing appeared first on CherylStyle.

So many thoughts started racing through my head:  Why is this person settling?  Why is she bored?  Why can’t she change her environment?  Why would she put that on her license plate?

There are so many things in this world that deserve our time and energies—after all, isn’t that what we’re here for?  Seriously, get a life!  Fight for a belief!  Take on someone else’s problem for heaven’s sake and help fix it!  Get a new job!  Sky dive!  Do freakin’ something!  Actually, I think she just needs a job at CherylStyle, where we are too busy to say “ho hum!”

Life is so short as it is.  Waaaay too short for ho hum!  Even if you are a “bah humbug,” it is better than “ho hum.”  At least Mr. Bah is cynical.  Ms. Ho is nothing.   Ho, give me a break!

How are you spending your day today?

Live the moment,

The post ho hum, really? appeared first on CherylStyle.

We plan to harness George’s enthusiasm for fashion, his skilled eye and sensible taste with his style picks. Also, I LOVE, LOVE that George will delight us with fashion-on-a-budget advice and keep us in the know on all current trends. Yet, the best thing about all of this…he is super fun and super cute.  You are going to LOVE, LOVE HIM! Put your thinking caps on, girls! What style questions do you have for Georgie??? Comment below. He’s dying to know!

Live the moment,

The post style tips from NY image consultant George Brescia appeared first on CherylStyle.

I’m almost certain most of your children are little gems in the car, but mine, not so much on this trip.  In fact, by the end of the two-hour jaunt to Napa Valley from Berkeley (in Friday afternoon traffic, no less), I seriously appreciated having arrived at the renowned wine mecca.  My glass of Jack Quinn Cabernet was just the ticket for the two hours of posturing my kids performed for my husband and I in the back seat during our drive.

Here’s how it went…to start things off, although each of the three back seats appear to have very similar attributes, there seems to be hierarchy to the passenger seating chart.  My son declares, “No, I’m not sitting there.  I’ll get car sick.”  To which my daughter replies, “That’s ridiculous, it doesn’t matter which side of the car you’re on.  You just want this seat because you can charge your phone.  Mom!  He just wants to charge his phone and I’m not going to move.  I was here first!”  Hmmm, I thought.  “Isn’t the charger in the middle of the both of you?  How is this an issue?”  “Mom, he always gets to pick the seat even if I’m here first.  I was here first and it’s my turn.”  My husband then chimes in, “GET IN THE CAR!” And although those four firmly, but softly spoken words produced the two sparing partners to jump right in the car, the debate continued.   And after about ten minutes of what I consider a senseless argument that had so little for me to even piece together a retort, I decide to crank up the tunes and sing an ear-piercing a Broadway-worthy rendition of one of my favorite songs, Happy Endings—I really should have been a singer.  At any rate, that seemed to distract from the bickering for a bit.  Whew!   Score!  I’m a brilliant mother…

Nope, not so brilliant…”Mom, play ‘Somebody That I Used to Know.’” And you guessed it….”No, yuck!  Don’t play that again.  I’m sick of that.  Why do you always get to pick the songs?  Mom, here, here’s my ipod.  Use my songs. “  Oy vey.  Really?  We are now arguing over songs?  And may I note, my kids “share” the itunes account.  So their ipods look exactly alike.  Exactly.

What is it with siblings and the arguing?  Is this nature’s way of turning our precious little bundles of joy into world savvy adults able to defend themselves with situations like buying a car or negotiating a lease?  Probably so, but boy how I wish they could just take a class at school on the skills of arguing much like learning the courses in Philosophy and Chemistry and spare the parents the “lab” work during our two hour road trips!!

Live the moment,

The post hey, mom! she ALWAYS gets to sit in that seat! appeared first on CherylStyle.