The Chicks Get Down with BFunk in Chicago

June 30, 2019

Let me start this post by saying that I love social media. I am so grateful for everything that I have learned from YouTube or been inspired by on Instagram. Normalizing our day to day existence has been the single most unifying theme of my life after social media. I love that there is always someone out there that has thought about what you have thought about or felt the way you have felt.

Along those lines, following the journey of Shivani Bhagwan and Chaya Kumar as they creatively rose through the ranks of YouTube stardom has been one of those journeys. Watching generation after generation go back their roots in a way that is trendy is something I give them a lot of credit for. Not only have they taught us so much, but they have brought back a sense of pride in our Indian heritage.

“ Bollywood is a feeling.” ~Chaya Kumar

Naturally, when I found out that they were hosting a workshop in Chicago, I signed up Sonia and I immediately. We are Punjabi and love Indian music, so a Bhangra class by the pros was right up our alley.

We had amazing time among a group of more than one hundred dancers. They taught us step by step the dance to their famous Makhana routine. Although we had not performed in ages, we had a great time getting into the groove with a bunch of like minded people.

Check out a little video recap of our experience and be sure to follow them on YouTube, they have over 1 million subscribers, don’t be left out!

What YouTubers do you love and why? We would love to hear from you! Comment below!

Your Chick,

Rina

Lifestyle, Motherhood

Dear Mom, You Kept Us Close To Your Heart When You Did This

May 2, 2018

There is not a day that goes by without the thought that everything I do and feel for my children, my Mom most likely felt for me at some point. It is such an overwhelming realization when you squeeze your child and smother them with kisses to know that the intensity of that moment was once felt towards me by my own mother.

Small Gestures and The Circle of Life

As I look back, and appreciate, all the “little things“ my mom did for my siblings and I, the one “thing” that stands out was when she would reach back and grab my hand while driving. It was the smallest gesture that literally meant the world to me! I am tearing up as I am writing this because I’ve carried this tradition on with my own children. It wasn’t always fun and games with my Mom. Just like most mothers, there were good days and there were bad bad days, but every time my mom would reach back for my hand, it was our reminder that she, and I, were going to be okay. I can feel that same energy when I reach back for my own children’s hands.

Let’s be honest chicks, the reality is that one day our kids will grow up, go to school, get married and then settle into lives of their own. With each stepping stone in life, a Mom begins to miss their child a just little more. I recall how hard the first day of school was for me, I can only imagine what an emotional mess I will be when they move out.

Keep The Kids Close To Your Heart

For Mother’s Day I wanted to find a way to be with my kids all the time and I came across a personalized collection by Landon Lacey jewelry. I love the idea of keeping my kids close to my heart when they are away at school by wearing this adorable necklace. The necklaces from Landon Lacey look good when layered or make a statement all by themselves.

The designers at Landon Lacey jewelry also use their pieces to inspire adventure by weaving travels of their own into each piece. These Chicago based ladies hand make all their jewelry and are super affordable (the set I am wearing is on sale for less than $20 right now and it is 14k gold)! They even use colors and stones from around the world to inspire their customers. Their minimalist designs make the perfect addition to any event day or night. I am personally obsessing over my kids first initials on this necklace.

To all the Mothers out there – you are amazing, you can do anything, and you will find a way to do it right. Don’t second guess yourself, trust your instincts, and always believe that the glass is half full. I’m hopeful that the little “things” that I have carried on from my Mom will be just as meaningful to my kids.

Happy Mother’s Day to you all! Keep your kids close to your heart this Mother’s Day with these adorable personalized pieces!

Your chick,

Sonia

**Thank you Landon Lacey for this beautiful and heartfelt collaboration.**

Fashion, Lifestyle, Travel, trending, women

Dressing for the Fall is a Hobby!

September 20, 2017

Fall means brisk mornings and chilly evenings. Colder weather also means layering which means it’s time for just a few of my favorite things: cardigans, jackets, and sweatshirts! Having grown up in the Midwest, pairing boots with hats and scarves has always been a hobby of sorts.

Layering is not only a cute fashion statement but one with high functionality. We make sure to layer up our kids when they go outside — but when it comes to ourselves, we fall into patterns and bad habits of reaching for that old over sized cardigan from years ago! Lucky for all of us the trends this fall have our back, having both comfort, fashion, and practicality in mind.

I took me 5 years, but I FINALLY found an army green jacket that I can jive with. At Rebecca Minkoff right now, there is a lot to love. My newest purchases for this year includes a camouflage Rebecca Minkoff jacket that is just right. It is warm and gorgeous and the silver studded detail that makes just enough of a statement. If I leave the house in basics like all black (aka the Chicks Uniform), this Minkoff jacket makes it seem like I am having fun with it.

The LOVE sweatshirt, also by Rebecca Minkoff, is trendy and comfy. Somewhere along the line I missed the ‘retro’ look trend, but this year I scooped this up. This sweatshirt is a must for getting that cute #streetstyle look, I paired this look with my three-year-old-and-still-rocking Stuart Weitzman OTK boots.

Lastly, since denim is ALWAYS trendy, this long denim jacket by Akira is just edgy enough that a mom can still rock it without feeling overly conscious. If you are in Chicago, you are lucky enough to just be able to walk into this amazing local boutique, but for the rest of us, we can go online, shop this jacket here.

You don’t have to stop there either. Belts over outerwear and scarves make layering so much more dynamic and functional, I will attempt a post with a few of those looks next month. Resist the urge to grab for those old sweaters, and see if you can “UMPH” up your closet. Try starting with some of these outerwear pieces that you can wear over and over again.

Cheers to being cozy!

Rina

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