“One day my prince will come.. one day we’ll meet again!”

I used to sing this song as I pranced around my room imagining I was Snow White. I couldn’t wait for the day when animals spoke to me and prince charming saved me from my little cottage and rode away with me into the sunset.

We would live in a castle with birds chirping outside our window, and I would awaken to an appetizing breakfast spread filled with lots of carbs!

My closet would be filled with sequence gowns that I would wear around the house and my hot prince and I would attend the prestigious balls. We would forever be madly in love and give birth to 6 or 7 beautiful obedient children that ranked high on the IQ scale. Aww… and they never talked back! so adorable! Similar to a fairytale, my life would end happily ever after….

So, let’s take a look at my “real” life now!

I’m 27 years old, independent, works full time and pays for all my bills and expenses. I live in a suburb and drive a little eco-friendly car. I am in a relationship, but not yet married and kids are probably a few years away.

What happened to my fairytale life!

If you had parents like mine, they probably sugar-coated life extra thick! They said things like “you’re going to marry a rich Middle Eastern Sheikh and live in a gold mansion” or “you’re going to be a beautiful bride and wife with the cutest children”. I was also raised to have an unrealistic expectation of what marriage is.

Yes, marriage between two lovers can be magical, but it’s far from a fairytale. I’m sure you know that over 50% of marriages end up in divorce and no stats are available to how many of the married couples are unhappy.

Knowing what the true meaning of marriage is before committing will lead to a stronger, more successful outcome.

Having been in a relationship for a while now, I can definitely say that I’ve tasted big bites of what marriage has to offer.

I never knew that such a wide spectrum  of emotions can arise from committing to a partner. One day I love him to reese’s pieces, and another day I have flashes of choking him!

It can be such a roller coaster in my head some days… I love him, he’s my favorite.. why is he talking to that hot girl! Aww, that was romantic! He’s the one! I want a divorce!

Ladies and gents.. I think I can speak for most of us when I say that these thoughts and emotions are normal. After being with someone for so long, you learn to take the good with the bad and here are a few pointers to keep in mind before putting that ring on your finger.

Relationships are beautiful but they’re hard work! Here are some of my own personal tips that can help keep your love strong.

• • Communication is very important. Men and women are wired totally different and I’ll attest that I’m more sensitive than he is. I’ve learned that my partner is not a mind reader and that I need to show or tell him what I need and vise versa.
  • Keeping your independence. I see many couples that revolve everything around their partners and lose touch of friends and hobbies that they once found exciting. My independence is very important to me. I make my own money, I have plenty of hobbies that I’m passionate about and make time for family and friends.
  • No nagging! It’s easier to be negative than smile and be positive. I try my best to be positive 90% of the time, but he has to excuse me when my hormones kick in during that time of the month.
  • He is not a project. If you think that you’re going to change your partner, then you’re in for a rocky roller coaster ride. Accepting your partner is key to being happy. Not expecting anything will never leave you disappointed
  • Compromise. Love and relationships are about give and take. Even if I don’t understand and enjoy a game of golf, I’ll drive the cart and enjoy the sun!
  • Trust. If you’re constantly on the prow to catch your partner talking to another person, or sneaking peaks at their emails, then you should not be in that relationship. You should be honest and faithful to one another. Plus, it’s not as stressful when you do. Stress leads to elevated cortisol which leads to belly fat!
  • Finances. Many couples forget to discuss this before marriage leading to tension soon after the ceremony. My partner and I both work hard, so we choose to split our expenses together in half especially when dining out.
  • Keep it fresh! Life can get monotonous and oh so boring, so make it a point too keep your relationship fresh. My partner and I love planning outdoor activities like a trip to the shore or mountains. An exotic dinner is always fun too! We love heading to China town and getting authentic Peking duck… mmmmm….
  • Say I love you more. Sometimes we take for granted that our loved ones just assume how we feel about them, but a few words, kisses and hugs can make such a difference.
  • Have fun! I like to think that my partner and I are still kids and this world is our playground. We laugh, joke and indulge in most things life has to offer. I appreciate both his friendship and company.

It’s normal that every relationship will experience its ups and downs, but learning how to truly love someone will make that experience just a little easier.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, I WOULD RATHER BE WITH MY BFF THAN A FAIRYTALE PRINCE.

Before I tie the knot, I would love to hear advice from my strong couples! Any advice and pointers are greatly appreciated.

Hi Everyone!

Thank you so much for supporting Smallworld Beauty and joining me on this fitness journey.

Just to recap, two years and some ago, I weighed in at 160lbs and wore a curvy size 16. Even though I still felt feminine and beautiful, I definitely felt unhealthy.

After seeing a horrific photo of myself, I decided to take control of my body and mind and pursue a healthier, more fit lifestyle.

Keyword: Lifestyle.

I vowed to design a program for myself that was simple, realistic and could be followed and maintained for LIFE. I refused to punish my body and mind by following a quick fix diet fad, that would eventually lead me to failure.

I came up with the LOVE YOUR LIFE program and it worked! I now weigh in at 125 lbs and wear a healthy Size 6. Honestly, I don’t care about my actual weight because it’s deceiving. I care about the sexy muscles that I have sculpted and the shape that I have built. Let’s not disregard the boost of confidence that I now have.

I love myself more than ever, allowing me to love everyone around me even more. I have the strength and courage to achieve anything I put my mind to. This feeling is priceless…

I started Smallworld Beauty in hopes that my story would inspire one or two individuals to switch to a healthier lifestyle and feel better overall. Instead, the site has inspired thousands around the world!

I love receiving your comments, stories and testimonies on how Smallworld Beauty has inspired you to get in shape, love better and even put that apron on and get cooking for your loved ones.

As you can see from my picture, I am NOT a fitness model nor do I intend to look like one. My goal continues to be achieving optimum health and happiness. I am a simple Jane who enjoys fitness, nutrition (lots of food) and life.

I truly appreciate all the support and will do my best to continue keeping you motivated and inspired.

You deserve to Love Your Life.

Love, Ghada.

Even though I plead guilty to enjoying mindless shows like Flava Flav and Rock of Love, I also earn the title of being a History and Discovery Channel junky. I am always up for retaining new information whether it’s an educational program on the ancient Egyptians or a mind blowing special like “Planet Earth”.

A few weeks ago, my boyfriend and I shared a romantic evening on the couch watching TV. We always spend way too long browsing through the channels until we find something mutually interesting. After a few clicks, we came across a bunch of baboons so we agreed to tune in and watch.

It was so interesting, I had to jump on here and share it with you!

Since the 1970′s Physiologist Robert Sapolsky has been on a mission to research stress and its harmful effects.

Dr. Sapolsky traveled to Kenya every year with his wife and kids to study baboons and how they lived because of their similarities to humans in Western societies.  They also lead a competitive and stressful lifestyle.

As we all know, stress has been shown to be very harmful to ones health. When our bodies are elevated in stress hormones, our immune system is weakened and more prone to diseases, high blood pressure and other harmful effects.

The baboons were not all alike, showing different roles and personalities from dominant to reserved.  The dominant baboons bullied the rest and showed to be very territorial. The inferior ones, showed to be more anxious and rowdy.

Using a tranquilizer dart, Dr. Sapolsky shot some baboons to collect blood samples for further research. He tested the blood for stress level hormones, antibodies, cholesterol and other factors caused by stress.

Here is what he found:

• Rank in society, types of personalities and social interaction all had a significant impact on stress levels.
• The high ranking baboons were stable in society and showed lower levels of stress hormones than inferior baboons.
• Baboons that strike first also showed lower levels of stress hormones than baboons that just waited for the fight.
• Baboons that were aware of the hazardous situations around them were less stressed than ones that were not.

Here was the MOST INTERESTING FINDING:

The inferior male baboons that were more interactive with others, friendly with famales that were not in heat, and showed affection towards infants, counteracted their high levels of stress!

I was impressed by the findings and even more amazed at the intelligent design of the human body?

It just boggles my mind how our machine of a body is so well manufactured to fight and repair itself from damage whether it be from stress or other harmful exposures.

So if you’re stressed out from life and you’re having anxiety attacks, look to your friends and family for affection to help ease your day.

Here’s a big hug and kiss from me!

Love,

Ghada.

Yay! I’m 27 years old today!

 When I was a little girl, I was under the impression that my life would unfold like a fairytale. My prince charming would save me from an evil monster and take me into the sunset on his white stallion. We would reside in a beautiful castle and have many babies. Not so much.

My life is far from a fairytale, but I wouldn’t change a thing about it. My 27 year journey has been amazing, beautiful and enlightening. 

I just wanted to post this blog today thanking everyone that I have met along the way.

Here are some great words that always hit home with me.

People come into your life for a reason, a season, or a lifetime. When you figure out which it is, you will know exactly what to do.

Some people come into our lives and quickly go..

Some people become friends and stay awhile…

leaving beautiful footprints on our hearts…                 

and we are never quite the same because we have made a good friend!!!

When someone is in your life for a REASON, it is usually to meet a need you have expressed outwardly or inwardly. They have come to assist you through a difficulty, to provide you with guidance and support, to aid you physically, emotionally, or spiritually. They may seem like a godsend, and they are. They are there for the reason you need them to be. Then, without any wrong doing on your part or at an inconvenient time, this person will say or do something to bring the relationship to an end. Sometimes they die. Sometimes they walk away. Sometimes they act up or out and force you to take a stand. What we must realize is that our need has been met, our desire fulfilled; their work is done. The prayer you sent up has been answered and it is now time to move on.

When people come into your life for a SEASON, it is because your turn has come to share, grow, or learn. They may bring you an experience of peace or make you laugh. They may teach you something you have never done. They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy. Believe it! It is real! But, only for a season

LIFETIME relationships teach you lifetime lessons; those things you must build upon in order to have a solid emotional foundation. Your job is to accept the lesson, love the person or people involved; and put what you have learned to use in all other relationships, and areas of your life. It is said that love is blind but friendship is clairvoyant.

Thank you for leaving your foot prints. 

Love, Ghada.