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Fashion, Lifestyle

The Juggle is Real

We have all heard about work-life balance, particularly now, but what can you do when work and home are happening all under the same roof!?!

  • Power Suit
    Shop These Crop Pants Here | Shop My GO TO Blazer Here

As a work-from-home mom with a full-time career in digital marketing and two kids who have been virtually learning since March 2019, I have definitely had to learn a few tough lessons.  Thankfully, these have taught me to work smarter, not necessarily harder.  Read on to see how I am doing my best to pull it all off.

Cut Yourself Some Slack

I pride myself on productivity.  During the pandemic, my sense of accomplishment took a hit, and now, I am ok with doing just enough.  That means letting the laundry sit an extra day (or two), taking some shortcuts in the kitchen, and generally just chilling out.  

Harness the Power of Technology

I have been fighting the need to do this for years, but THIS YEAR, I have finally integrated all of my work and family calendars on Google and also picked up a few tricks to help with the clutter on my desk.  I recently purchased one of these cases for my iPad which has made doing work on the go much easier.  I also purchased an Apple Pencil to eliminate all the notebooks, notepads, sticky notes that clutter my desk.  Pro Tip: Good Notes is an app that has helped me clear my desk by allowing me to write and store them digitally.    

  • Shop My Happy Planner Pouch Here | Shop the Apple Pencil Here | Shop the Apple IWatch Here

When my personal space is a mess, my mind is a mess.  So I have been doing little things to keep your physical and mental space tidy.

The WEE Hours

For the last few months when I wake up before everyone else, I make a cup of coffee and enjoy the peace and quiet.  The 30-40 minutes I have with my thoughts in the morning really set the tone for the rest of my day.  I use this time to JUST SIT, I look outside, check the news, maybe social media and within 30 minutes I already feel caught up and ready for whatever is in store for the day ahead. 

Chick Picks:

I am sure all of this seems easier said than done, but after doing these things for several months, they have become a habit.  A habit, I intend to keep long after things get back to normal.

Your Chick,

Rina

Fashion, Lifestyle

How To Save Your White Sneakers With This One Product

I had been down about the condition of my favorite Gucci sneakers recently and decided to do something about it.  Instead of just replacing them, I decided to try out a quick five minute and five dollar solution to my problem.  I had worn these so much (see them here and here) that they had gotten so dirty and I hated the way that they started to look.  I tried my go-to solution for everything which is baby wipes with no success.  But then I tried the magic eraser by Mr. Clean and was thrilled with my results.

See my before and after pictures here:

Before

 

After


My Blazer is $29 Here (I am wearing Size S) | Fave Gucci Sneakers Here | Go To Adidas Sneakers Here (On Sale) | Hamsa Necklace Linked Here | Go To Evil Eye Necklace Here

Here is the step by step process for restoring your sneakers to ‘like new’ :

  1. Wipe down sneakers first with a baby wipe or wet towel to get off obvious ‘gunk’
  2. Fill a bowl with warm water.
  3. Dip magic eraser into the bowl.
  4. Begin gently rubbing your sneakers. You can repeat this step as many times as necessary.
  5. Wipe off with a clean towel.

Protip: Wash the laces too! My whites were mis-matched until I did this.

The Magic Eraser can also be used gently on handbags as well.  I was able to save my shoes in less than five minutes and I was so excited that I had to share it with you!  The way I look at it is that you will buy it once and always have it for your shoes and your family’s shoes!

Chick Picks:

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

5 Ways to Resurface from Hibernation : Is it Officially Spring Yet?

I look forward to “spring cleaning” every year!  It’s my chance to be “out with the old and in with the new!”  A fun place for me to start is always my closet.  Every year I’m reminded of how I’ve been in rotation of the same clothes throughout the winter… especially since us Chicago folks have the ability to hide behind our parka jackets.  With nice weather creeping up on us (hopefully ??) I wanted to think about how to re-surface out of my hibernation and back into the balance of life, fitness and just being ME and I have come up with 5 ways to do it!

Put away your leggings!

I have finally come to terms with the fact that summer is around the corner.  My recent harsh reminder to put my leggings away was when I tried to squeeze into my jeans from last summer – not gonna lie, my fly kept falling down!  Come on chicks, I can’t be the only one who has leggings as their go to piece in the fall and winter.  Leggings can be a dangerous “go to” item because it’s easy to expand and not notice.  Also, it doesn’t help that the temptation to grab for Spanx leggings is real since they help squeeze in the extra pounds! With March finally here, it’s time to kick back into gear and work towards getting back into shape…bye bye leggings….hello jeans, dresses, and skirts!

ASOS Pink Asymmetrical Top

ASOS Pink Asymmetrical Top

(For the Pink Top – Size Down- I exchanged my Medium for a Small)

Consider a Change of Hair Style or Color

The winters in Chicago can be brutal! The wind chill in the city will make you feel like you never want to leave the house. I don’t know about you, but going for a cut and color has fallen by the wayside over the last couple of months. My split ends need to be gone…pronto! I am so looking forward to a fresh change.  Perhaps cutting off a few inches and going a little lighter in my highlights would be fun. Change it up and be bold!  It’s amazing how the way we look can influence the way we feel about ourselves.

Spring Is In The Air

My biolage was done by Anna George Salon at the Illinois Center – Ivana is amazing!

Add a Pop of Color to Your Spring Wardrobe

My husband always tells me that he’s tired of seeing me in grays, whites and blacks. When I look at my wardrobe I definitely fall into a sea of similar colors, cuts and styles. There is something about spring….the flowers, the sun, and getting out of the house that gives me an extra pep in my step.  When Spring shopping, I am usually looking for something with a pop of color that makes me feel like I want to smile and spread the positivity. I recently bought this really fun white blazer that is making me feel springy! A couple bright pieces is all you need. Don’t try to buy a new wardrobe — otherwise you’ll end up with several items that you don’t even wear.

Grab a Buddy and Join a Fitness Program

Over the years I have yo-yoed in my dieting and exercise routine. To be honest, I used to avoid having a workout buddy when going to the gym for fear of letting them down when falling off the bandwagon. What I’ve learned is that the accountability helps when committing to a fitness program. I recently joined ClassPass which had helped me work out with an array of different people who enjoy different styles of exercise. I’m not only getting in shape, but I am also able to socialize and hopefully work towards fitting into those jeans from last summer!

Women's Locker Room Inspo

Start Planning Your Next Chick Trip with Your Tribe

I can’t believe it’s already been 8 months since my last chick trip with my chicks! If you haven’t seen it, check out our vlog to Miami on YouTube.  When I take the time to focus on myself with the people I love most, coming back to home-life feels so much more refreshing. With the weather warming up, I’m really looking forward to coming together with my chicks and seeing where we are headed next (hint hint: DC and Charleston are on the horizon)!

Any ideas?

Your Chick,
Sonia

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