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#SCCon18 : Secrets To Running a Successful Blog and Building A Blog Community

Growing up with many female influences in my personal life has generally made me gravitate towards smart, creative, and interesting women as a whole.  Joining the Style Collective was one of those no brainer decisions I made after watching founder, Annie Spano, week after week hustle as hard to achieve her dream as I was to achieve mine.  I knew that being around her energy would rub off on me.  She not only recruited me, but many  like me.  These women were like minded motivated females all trying to change their story.

When the Style Collective announced that it would be having its first conference I dare say I was the first to register.  I was thrilled at the prospect of being around other women, mothers, and bloggers that were all trying to navigate a new industry that allows women to authentically share themselves with the world.

Last month we all met up in the beautiful Cannon Room in the heart of Raleigh. NC!  A beautiful space that inspired and enthused us. The agenda was filled with women that I wanted to hear and learn from and best of all, they were willing to share!  Among many highlights from the conference, here are my top three.

The Venue

The Cannon Room was named after the first female Mayor of Raleigh, Isabell Cannon.  With that as a backdrop it was just the perfect vibe and space, intimate yet spacious and generously lit with its large windows.  It made for an inviting space that made us want to network in.   Lucky for us, this room has already been booked for next years conference!

The Influencer Panel

With our blog, we try to be open and honest about our journey as women and as mothers.  At the conference, we were lucky enough to hear from mother to be Holly of @MakeTodayAHollyDay, Courtney of @CourtEInk, and Keke of @StyleYourSelfie and they were wonderful! Each shared their story, journey, and ideas generously with all of us.  I recall chatting with Holly and discussing giveaway ideas!  I really appreciated that!

The Agenda

Generally we had a lot of information that we needed to cover during sessions, so by Sunday afternoon we were tired.   The agenda, however, anticipated that we would need creative breaks.  We had the chance to play in a live photo booth and network in a beautiful corner space.  The agenda also included a cocktail hour on Saturday night and a trolley ride surprise on Sunday!  Everything had been thought out and considered.  The team at Style Collective did an amazing job putting it all together (Thank You!).

I, along with my fellow chicks, am truly grateful for the camaraderie and the learning and I am looking forward to next year. Here is a peek at all the fun!

Your Chick,

Rina Puri

Shop all the cutest looks from the weekend!

Fashion

Get the Dirt on Dusters: How to Wear Them And Why They Rock!

The last thing I want to think about when traveling is the stress of packing, and I like to pack light.  As a mother of two, the time I spend choosing pieces to fit in my carry on can be exhausting.  This year I wanted to invest in pieces that are versatile, yet chic.  Who would have thought a simple duster would end up being that versatile piece I was looking for?!  This ended up being the perfect accessory for my recent trip to Raleigh.  I was able to pack my most versatile clothing, A LBD (little black dress), a swimsuit, and a skirt (shorts do not do any justice on me) to pair up with my duster.

With my duster, I was able to cover up my swimwear by the pool and warm up by layering my duster in the evening when we went out to dinner.  It also jazzed up my jeans and tank outfit!

My other favorite accessory to travel with is my Gucci belt; it definitely goes hand in hand with my duster.  Whether it’s a quick luncheon with girlfriends or a MNO (mommies night out) I pair up my skinny’s with a cute tank and throw on my belt and a duster over the ensemble to give it that “extra touch.”

Date Night

My look for a sexy date night is pairing a solid tank dress with a print duster and Gucci belt to tie it all in.  It’s amazing what adding a little something extra to a LBD can do.

I’m 5’4, 120 lbs and curvy in the right places.  A duster not only completes my look, but covers me up in all the right places.

Your Chick,

Avani

Fashion

Birds Of A Feather Flock Together or In This Case Dance Together

In the famous words of P Diddy & Co. “Shake Ya Tail feather!” The ladies of Chicks And Salsa certainty did just that this past weekend.  We not only shook it, but also rocked the scene in downtown Raleigh during the Style Collective conference!  I can’t tell you how many times we were stopped about our feathered look while exploring Raleigh’s culinary scene.

The Look

A little about our look…when I first saw this feathered shirt, I was SOLD!  I wanted to make a statement while exploring on my off time from the conference…I did this by adding a few simple touches to tie my look together.

I dressed my top with a pop of color thanks to my high-waisted rust mini skirt.  Though the skirt is currently unavailable, I linked a few other options that would work just as well.  Rina simply added a sexy sheer bodysuit to her skirt and a Gucci belt bag to the ensemble.  The results on both looks were feminine yet bold!

Shop The Feathers:

Why Feathers?

For years feather pieces have always had a touch of retro glamour and sophistication to them. I’ve found that feathers are a cross between fab costume & sexy fashion forward style….the way they just dance and move with a hint of wind is just SEXY. It’s like wearing a trend with its own personality…Like us Chicks!

Right now my feather top is a steal for just $30 and Rina’s feather skirt is an affordable $24 (she is wearing a size large). If wearing feathers doesn’t fit your fancy, then just throw on a pair of earrings or heels (or both…also listed in our link) and that will complete your look!

So choose your flock and tail feathers and fly!

(Left to Right: Rina, Coutrney of Fab, Fierce, and Fabulous, Me (Avani), Stephanie of TheBorrowedBabes, and Sonia)

With ?

Your chick,

Avani

Collaborations, Fashion

Ziva: Chicago’s New Favorite Indian Bridal Boutique

The world of shopping has completely changed! People are shopping online and looking for a more personal experience when it comes to custom clothing. As South Asian women we spend a great deal of money on Indian clothing.   Most pieces are handmade with some of the finest quality fabrics and with gorgeous embroidery!  With wedding season upon us, I can’t wait to share with you a fun boutique we discovered in right here in Chicago!

Ziva Boutique

Boutique Owners Vrati Doshi and her Mother, Nita Bagia
Boutique Owners Vrati Doshi (Right) and her Mother, Nita Bagia (Left)
Ziva Bridal OwnersThe Owners

Ziva boutique is situated on the north side of Chicago in West Town/ Ukrainian village at 1604 W. Augusta Street.  It’s owned by Nita Bagia and Vrati Doshi, a knowledgeable and sweet mother daughter duo!  Without the distraction of Devon Street (India Town in Chicago), it was nice to walk into a minimalist store front with absolutely gorgeous clothing lining the walls!  Nita and Vrati greeted me with a smile and immediately made me feel welcome. After perusing the store I sat down with the Nita and Vrati who took the time to get to know me and my wants.  They were hardly there to sell me anything (which is was a nice change from other aggressive Indian stores I’ve been to in the past), but more to figure out what I was looking for and how to make me feel gorgeous in my own style!

After selecting a few ready-made pieces I tried on some outfits in their gorgeous dressing room.  They gave me some fun ideas on how to mix and match.  What I loved was that I wasn’t bound to buying an outfit just the way I saw it!  They informed me that they offer custom options which was nice to know. They said if I had a designer style in mind, they had multiple contacts throughout India who could help create my masterpiece. Of course, the timeline would be anywhere from 3 to 4 months for anything custom…so that would be important to keep in mind for planning!

Nita, Vrati’s mother, has lots of experience in fashion having previously owned a boutique and also having run a business out of her home.  Nita was then able to loop in her daughter, Vrati to create a stress-free way to shop for any occasion!  They specialize in Indian bridal clothing, but also have outfits that you can dress up or dress down!  The chicks of ChicksAndSalsa love mom-preneurs and supporting other women working hard in their businesses!

The Clothing

In the attached photos I played around with some of their ready-made pieces. These outfits can be mixed and matched!  I paired one of their bottoms with a fun crop top I had in my closet! Also, their boutique offers fun accessories, take a peek at this gorgeous necklace!

I can tell you firsthand, you won’t be disappointed with your experience at Ziva!  They are offering 25% off to anyone that mentions Chicks And Salsa on their next visit.

Love, Your Chick,

Sonia