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chicago

Beauty

I Finally Got My Eyebrows Microbladed and Here Are My Thoughts

When one of my favorite beauty bloggers Irene Sarah got microblading I felt like that was my sign to just go for it.  Microblading has been on my radar for almost 2 years, and I have been coloring in my brows since 1999 – seriously! After watching hours of YouTube videos, I looked up some reviews and came across Havy Tran of Chicago Microblading located in Schaumburg, IL.  Truthfully, my goal was simple, just make my daily make up routine a little easier by having my eyebrows ready to go every day.

Havy has the best and most patient personality especially for someone like me that came in with images of Irene, Huda, and of course Priyanka.  She knew the look I was going for, bigger, thicker, fuller brows – period.  We talked through some options and looked at dozens of photos and agreed on a combination strategy that would involve drawing in hair lines as well as shading.  We carefully mapped out the lines on my face and then got to work.

**Please note: I got a chemical peel 4 days before microblading so some of the scabbing on my face is from the peel.  I wanted the pictures to be as unaltered as possible so I am using the originals so that you can see the true result.**

Before And After

Microblading involves injecting pigment into the top seven layers of skin and therefore does not go deep enough to cause bleeding or even scarring (unless you have sensitive skin).  It should last about 18 months and save you hours of time and product!

The first ten minutes on a scale from one to ten were a seven on my pain scale.  After that Havy numbed me up and finished up in about 25 minutes.  The immediate results are dramatic, but after about a week the excess ink and slight scabbing went away to show the real result.  In my case the result was a very natural and closely mimicked my daily drawing in of brows.

My brows 10 days after microblading, no more filling in!

All in all the procedure costs $650 and includes a touch up 3-4 weeks after your initial visit.  I would not recommend ‘shading’ only the drawing in of hairs.  As you can see in my photos, the shading has a tattoo like effect that seems unnatural.  Another thing I noticed, is that I got is that the ink Havy used may have been one shade darker than something that is natural looking on me.

Despite the feedback, I love being make up ready when I wake up, it’s just one of those things that drove me crazy.  I will do a follow up in about six months on how the ink is holding up, but for now:

I hope you found this review helpful or interesting.  Would you get your eyebrows microbladed?

Your Chick,

Rina

Chick Picks for Perfect Eyebrows:

 

Fashion, Lifestyle, Travel

Cross Off Something From Your List And Do Something New Today

On a hot summer day in Chicago, five friends set out for a picture perfect lunch on Lake Michigan.  Honestly, it felt like that kind of day…storybook or movie perfect.  Sonia and I have been long time Chicago girls, but we have met many people who come and go that never made their way onto the iconic Odyssey on Navy Pier.  It is not uncommon to take things down the street for granted and think that you will eventually do them.  In the spirit of having a #MomsOffDuty moment, we checked out a beautiful lunch cruise aboard the Odyssey on Lake Michigan and boy did we luck out!

The Odyssey has been sailing on Lake Michigan for more than 20 years from Navy Pier which means that the party does NOT stop when you get off the boat. See a full list of things to do at Navy Pier here!

We enjoyed all the ship had to offer including, three chic climate-controlled decks with LED lighting and a lit dance floor, a premium bar menu, vegetarian friendly menu items, and a relaxing rooftop lounge with modern deck furniture.  The staff was attentive and courteous (S/O to our server Nick for finding us no matter where we were on the boat).

The Looks:

 Rina’s Floral Wrap Skirt is On Sale for $43 here | Sonia’s Floral Dress is $25 (She is wearing a Medium and it is TTS)! and linked here | Rina’s Tie Front Tank is here (size down) | Rina’s Favorite Summer Shoes are True To Size (TTS) and linked here

Sonia’s Black Fox Crossbody is $46 and linked here | Rina’s White Rina Bag comes in all colors and is $42 and is linked here

All in all, we were so grateful to take in the skyline on a day like this and enjoyed the time that we got to spend with some of our closest friends (being #MomsOffDuty of course).  We ended our cruise experience on the dance floor where we really let loose!

What is something in your town that you have been meaning to check out?

Cheers,

Rina

Chick Picks:

Thank you Entertainment Cruises for having us!

Fashion, Lifestyle

Any other younger siblings out there? Here is our story!

Any other younger siblings out there? I know I am! I am one of four children in my family. I’m number two in the order. I am almost 2 years younger than my older sister (Rina), 9 years older than my younger sister (Shelly), and 12 years older than my brother (Jay). Naturally given the age difference with my younger siblings, I have always had a different kind of relationship with my older sister.


Sonia’s Ring Purse is lined here | Rina’s Zac Posen Bag is linked here |

Sonia’s Strappy Sage Block Heels are linked here | Rina Favorite Summer Block Heel is here

Our Matching Tops are $12.99 and lined here (size down) | Wear With  A Bralette like the one here

Growing up, we fought like cats and dogs. Both being girls, there was a lot of competition. Sadly, being the younger one, I usually lost each fistfight and each debate. After all, isn’t it the job of an older sibling to be bossy and convince the parents that they should get the new clothes so that the younger sibling can wear the old ones?

But like all things, getting older comes with getting wiser.  It didn’t take us long to realize that we actually were more similar that we were different. Well into our college careers, we would often talk of starting a business together. Our original business idea was to start a daycare called “Sisters,” but life took us in different directions.  My older sister got married and moved to Georgia and I got married and stayed put in Chicago. Trying to start a daycare business from two different places seemed nearly impossible, especially after having kids of our own.

It wasn’t until about two years ago that my sister started Chicks And Salsa that we realized we had an opportunity to bring our strengths together and create a platform to and empower women. Chicks And,Salsa has been our reminder of how well we work together, what our differences are, and what unites us together despite our distance from each other.

Would you ever work with your sibling?

Love Your Chick,

Sonia

Chicks Picks:
Fashion

Walk With Confidence When You Mix And Match Colors and Fabrics

Lately, Sonia and I have been playing around with our wardrobes.  We’ve been trying to introduce colors and fabrics that we traditionally don’t grab for.  More than ever when we head out for a “mom off duty” moment we like to wear something that makes us feel like we take our time seriously.  Little touches like a statement clutch or earrings can make it look like you spent that extra five minutes thinking it through.  It’s not always about how much you spend on those extra touches, but how you wear them that can give you that extra “put together” look.

A few weeks ago we shared our love of wrap dresses and how practical they are.  There is something about the warmer weather that keeps us wearing dresses all summer long, so naturally we love sharing our latest finds!

When we saw this lace off the shoulder maxi dress, we knew it was different from anything we’ve have worn in the past.  The color and fabric were two “out of the box” picks for us.  After trying it on, the fit was so incredible we knew we had to have it.  Reaching for something non-traditional to your taste can really help you redefine the way you dress!  Remember it’s how you wear the outfit that exudes the confidence so make sure you are 100% comfortable in it!  I felt like a million dollars in this fun piece…can’t you tell looking at these pics?

Shop My Dress Here | Another Version Half The Price Here | My Go To Block Heels are Here | Another Favorite All Over Our Instagram Feed are Here

Off the shoulder looks are everywhere to help you beat the heat, check out some our favorites here.

Quick tip: don’t skip out on the accessories! Statement clutches are a little way to add a pop of color! Having several fun colors on hand helps when you are finishing a quick fun afternoon or evening look (remember they don’t have to break the bank). My double ring is one of those that pieces that I have gotten dozens of compliments on; they have it several different color combinations too!

Hopefully this reminder to mix things up and try something new that inspires you to head out for the next sale at your favorite store (in our case, Akira).  Also, don’t forget to mess around with current pieces in your closet that have been collecting dust.  I think you would be surprised what you can put together!

Your Chick,

Rina

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