Learn a bit about me!Hello, and thanks so much for once again meeting me here at my blog. I noticed that I have befriended some more of you and if you just started along this journey with me, you may not know very much about me. Therefore, I wanted to do something different and create a post dedicated to getting to know me. I like create stories since I am a visual learner so bare with me. Imagine walking into a bar sitting and ordering your favorite drink. In the background you can hear friends talking, people clacking on their laptops, a rattle of alternative music. The bar tender brings you your drink and you cradle it inside your hands. You spark up a conversation with the person next to you. That person is me! I have a pale ale that I am drinking, probably a pretzel with cheese and we realize we have a lot more in common than meets the eye. I planned this shoot to go with this post because I wanted this to be natural, easy, as simple as meeting a friend in a bar and learning about them the 'old' fashioned way. Thank you all who asked me questions! I loved reading all of them. The ones I picked seemed to come up a lot so here are the questions you asked and my answers. 1. Where do you get your fashion inspo from? Every color looks great on you! Love your style! This was such a great question! I get asked this often and it's hard to pick one certain thing. The designer that I truly love and try to emulate color wise is Kate Spade. She is one of the reasons I started this blog because of the daily challenge she did a couple of years ago on social media. I am big on telling stories through my posts and creating a scene that others can relate to. I live by the motto 'live colorfully' and I try to incorporate that into my fashion as well. 2. What is one thing you think beginner bloggers should avoid? Such a great question and something I still am navigating and learning. I think the biggest thing is never downplay your worth. No matter how many followers you have you still put so much work, sweat, and tears into your posts online. That is something to be proud of! If people reach out to collab with you make sure you have a media kit because a lot of companies will want to see your stats and your information about your blog. This is all the stuff I had to learn as I grew my brand. Remember, this is your name, your brand, and for some, your livelihood, make sure to represent yourself well. 3. How much should I publish a blog post? So this is strictly something that I do. What I want everyone to realize is my structure may be completely different than yours. I personally try to publish at least a blog post once a week. If I wasn't working a full-time job I would love to publish 2 times a week and link it back to my Instagram. Now, this is my personal opinion you have to look at your own demographics and see what is best for you. 4. Can I make money from blogging and influencing? Yes, you definitely can! You look at people like Olivia Rink and Rachel Martino, to Color me Courtney and they are all making a living from what they love to do. These are some of the bloggers I inspire to be. Now, I want to stress that although this is a method of making money it shouldn't be your sole focus. If you only focus on making money I personally feel like you lose your creativity and it becomes something other than your creative outlet. Do what you love and money will come soon after. 5. Did we go to High-school together? So this is a funny one because as I think back on this time in my life I have to laugh. I went to MCHS, Marian Catholic high school, and I had to wear these awful dreadful uniforms all the time. This is actually why I was so prone on learning about fashion in college because I couldn't experiment with it in high-school. I feel like I was a late bloomer to the fashion world. I should do a blog post strictly on my time in high school because that's a whole different melodrama in itself. 6. You look like so much fun I cannot wait to hopefully come to Chicago and meet you! Ahhh so sweet, thank you! I hope that if any of you see me out and about you will come up to say hi. I think one of the most humbling experiences is when my husband and I met someone that follows my blog and came up to say hello. I am a normal person who happens to blog. I love meeting new people and I have been so lucky to get to know all of you. So that is all for now. I want to thank everyone who sent in questions even if they were not answered. I think I should do one of these once a year or month... not entirely sure yet. I appreciate you all for taking the time to read this post. You are the bee's knees! Keep shining love bugs! Until next time.
xoxox Rachel
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The light house"I have a deeply hidden and inarticulate desire for something beyond the daily life." - Virginia Woolf Yesterday I had that insatiable feeling. The one you get, small and quaint, that builds up and seems to grow from the pit of your stomach, gnawing at your mind. That feeling of inability or not being good enough. It's the silent killers that can be the most deafening. It started out as a normal day. I had a bit of anxiety from the long weekend knowing that I would come back to a pile of work I had to finish. The thought of that seemed to put me in a funk on Monday night. It got me thinking how one small infinitesimal thoughts can catapult our mind into the unknown. The unknown of how am I going to complete this, or will I accomplish the goals I have set for myself. It becomes this negative domino effect that slowly plants this seed of self-doubt. It only got worse when I had an incident happen at work that made me second guess myself. How many of you have had that happen? You can be on top of the world one moment then one occurrence can knock you down a notch. It's moments like these when you're feeling low and down, that inspired me to write this blog post. If you don't know this about me you will learn that I try to stay on the bright side of life. I try to uplift and build people up. If my post can help just one person feel like they're not alone, or they can relate to it, then I feel as if I have done my duty as an influencer and blogger. A lot of times people see these "perfect" lives that other's portray. In reality, no one is perfect. Everyone has their own hidden demons and struggles. We all go through those cloudy days. Or the days where we seem like we're trying to tread water and the waves keep pushing us down.
Yet, through those struggles, that treading, which may seem indefinite, we find shelter in a lighthouse, in the small things that give us comfort. Mine happens to be blogging. When I blog I feel like I have this sense of purpose, of helping and speaking how God created me to. It reminded me of the phenomenal post that one of my favorite bloggers, Olivia Rink, wrote about a bit ago. If you haven't read it I suggest you do! It got me thinking about moments like these where you feel that discomfort of growing and maturing in life. Whether it be in a relationship, at work, or self-growth. I tend to shy away from growth, or things that make me 'uncomfortable.' Yet, I have to constantly remind myself that discomfort, that treading faze, is what can lead you to that oasis. It is in that discomfort that you start to learn about yourself and what you truly want. Years ago I wouldn't have been able to grow from my discomfort but wallow in my own self pity. It took a lot for me to get here and by all means, I'm still not perfect. However, through writing this blog, sharing my thoughts, and meditating while praying, I realized it can get better. In moments of self doubt and discomfort I stop and think yes I can. When anyone, family, friends, bosses, doubt you remember that you are enough and you can beat those waves pushing you down. After drifting through those waves, remember there is a lighthouse on the horizon. I know I talked about complementing yourself daily on another post. I challenge you now to focus on one thing that drives you, the thing that gets you up every morning. Did you get that thought in your head? Good, now every time you feel lost, scarred, insignificant, remember that goal. Remember you are important enough to achieve that goal, and don't let anyone tell you otherwise. Remember, God created you in his image so you are perfect in every way. When I found this mural underneath a dark and desolate train stop it got me thinking about life. How even in the darkest times, in the most desolate of places, there can always be some light shining down, reaching out to give you hope. I know it sounds cheesy and cliche, but I truly believe that no matter what situation you are in...you can find that light. I know I got deep on you guys but I hope that it touched someone today. If I got through to someone and made them feel special then that is worth all the blogging in the world. On a much lighter note this amazing PINK romper is by James Ascher, and it's simply my fav! Can we talk about this adorable bow in the back as well! The perfect staple for summer nights and of course date nights too. Thanks again for following along love bugs. I adore you all! Until next time, xoxo Rachel Love you a Brunch Parlay!Happy Memorial day everyone! I hope you all are enjoying the sunshine, sipping drinks, and relaxing today. I was so excited to have the day to catch up on everything. Goodness knows, that pile of laundry in my bedroom will not wash itself. The struggle. We all know that I am an avid brunch person. Meaning, whenever I have the chance to find awesome cool new spots I am always on top of it. Luckily, Chicago has been a bit warmer so I was so excited to try out Parlay at Joy. It had been on my radar for a while because of the delicious looking pictures I saw on Instagram. Therefore, I was so excited to collab with them for my friend Julie's birthday. Guys, not only is this the perfect brunch spot, with bottomless mimosas, and amazing food, but it's also great for birthdays! If you saw my stories yesterday, you would see that they gave us two phenomenal cocktails. One was a giant, I mean huge, mimosa! Can you say, dreams do come true! This big beauty has two bottles of Prosecco, orange juice, and topped with colorful straws perfect for friends to share. Or, if you're feeling daring (like my friend for her birthday) you can attempt to finish it. They also showed us their beautiful orange crush drink, which was dangerous, you guys it tasted so good you could barely tell there's alcohol in it. Meaning, you chug and chug. Not only was it colorful, sweet, and glamorous but it was also perfect for sharing with girlfriends. These were not simply cocktails but total glamtails, between the beautiful colors and phenomenal taste I was all for it! However, Parlay is so much more than just their drinks. We had a chance to try the brunch menu with the buffet that they serve upstairs on the second floor. I have never been so happy in my life. I am sometimes iffy with buffets because the food can get cold, and sometimes it's not as good or warm. This was the opposite. The food was fresh, warm, and so delicious! One of my favorite things was the colorful waffle. It's made fresh and you can customize it to any color you see fit! Totally Instagram worthy and yummy. Also, if you're an s'mores lover, like me, you will be pleased to know they have an entire s' mores bar! Can it get better than that? I think not. We were lucky to have such a great seat right underneath the glowing #ParlayAllDay sign and it reminded me of the saying 'Party all day'. That is what this place was a great party! I have never seen such comradery in a restaurant. People were drinking, dancing together, and just having such a great time. The staff was so friendly which made us feel like home. Oh, did I mention they also have a cute little rooftop with a flower wall? We got to go upstairs and explore a bit and it's such a laid back, cute, rooftop that is perfect during the summer. Overall, Parlay was such a fun brunch spot, and hands down, I can say one of my favorite brunch spots in Chicago. Between the great food, rooftop, and glamtails, I will definitely be back! If you are looking for a great brunch spot with awesome food, atmosphere, and drinks Parlay all day. Even a great birthday spot, this would be perfect then you can head out and enjoy the town.
Once again, thanks so much Parlay for having us out! We will definitely be returning throughout the summer. As always thanks for following along with me love bugs. Have a happy Memorial Day! Until next time, xoxox Rachel 2 Year Married AnniversaryEvery relationship has its own story with different chapters of life. I cannot believe that my husband and I have officially been married for over 2 years now! They say time flies when you’re in love. Throughout those two years, we have been through the ups, the downs, and the roll around. So many changes happened in our lives, between me changing career paths, to finding a condo to move into, to simply learning how to live together. However, through all those times I wouldn’t change a thing. Not many of you would know this but my husband and I met in high-school. It was my junior year and his senior year. We started off as close friends and he likes to joke that he knew I was the one from the moment he met me, for me it took a minute. I don't think I realized that love is so much more than the butterflies and the adoration. It's about that feeling of home, of knowing that your person always has your back through thick and thin. Photos of us through the yearsMy husband has been with me through the roughest times in my life, through prayer, love, and patience we have successfully been dating for 10 years. I am not going to say it's been all butterflies and rainbows. There have been lots of storms that have come our way. However, it's through those storms that we became stronger in our love, communication, and relationship. Our Christianity is something that we both bonded with from the get-go. It's not normal that you meet an 18-year-old boy that will go to church with you and your family on your first date. That was my husband. I remember it clearly as if it were yesterday. He showed up to the church, greeted my mom with a firm hand-shake, and wore a charcoal grey suit that he bought from Goodwill. After that, my mom was smitten and even told me "That's going to be your husband." Of course years later her words came to fruition when my husband and I walked down the aisle. Life is already kind of stressful but when you find your person to share it with, wow, does it seem magical. Blogging is something I am so passionate about and I am so blessed to have a husband who supports me through it all. From discussing topics to advise, to squatting on a cold day to take my picture, it's through his love and dedication that I can do my blog. I wanted to do something different for our anniversary by incorporating my husband in this blog post. He was a bit hesitant to answer these questions at first but through some heavy persuasion, he agreed. Below, you will find my husband's answers to the following questions. Thanks so much for following along with our 'strange' fairytale. As always I love you guys thanks so much for reading. To my husband, happy anniversary gooh, I love you to the moon and back! Patrick's Questions:WHEN DID YOU FIRST MEET Rachel AND WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST IMPRESSION?
At high-school by her locker, she wore a lot of make up. I liked how she had the winged eyeliner. I saw her everyday when I was running late for school and she was doing attendance. I wanted to talk to her then but I was too scarred. I finally had enough courage to add her on Facebook, which was one of the best decisions I have ever made. WHICH ONE OF YOU MORE AGGRESSIVELY PURSUED THE OTHER? I pursued her but she rejected me every-time. (I still tease her about this) I eventually won her over with my great charm. She just couldn't say no to my good looks. WHAT ARE THE BEST AND WORST PARTS OF YOUR WIFE’S JOB AS A BLOGGER? She always takes pictures of everything which can make it hard to be in the moment. The positive, I have memories and pictures from events, vacations, and outings we do together. She also takes me on fun food and drinking events I like that a lot. I also am proud of how hard she works in perfecting her craft. It takes a lot of dedication to do what she does. WHAT IS SOMETHING WE MIGHT NOT KNOW ABOUT YOUR WIFE? She thinks reality TV is real. WHAT DOES YOUR WIFE DO THAT DRIVES YOU CRAZY? Binge watches reality TV WHAT WOULD YOU SAY YOU DO THAT DRIVES HER CRAZY? There's this one time I came home drunk and flushed a candle down the toilet...not one of my best moments. DO YOU HAVE A MAN CAVE? Yes, a small one in the corner. WHAT IS THE ONE THING YOU LOVE ABOUT YOUR WIFE? I love how she always thinks about my family. I also love how she shows her affection to me while I am stressed from work or other projects I'm working on. I'm big on personal time and she always dedicates some time to me. WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE OTHERS ABOUT MARRIAGE? Happy wife happy life. Wife is always right...even when she's wrong. Authentic Mexican Street Food ExperienceHey guys and happy Wednesday! I had such an amazing weekend resting and finally catching up on the sleep that I desperately needed. There's nothing better than a great food find, especially when it deals with tacos. It was Cinco De Mayo last weekend, and what better way to celebrate than experiencing a TACOrific authentic Mexican restaurant! I was so excited to get invited to experience The Invicto, which is located in Naperville, conveniently right off the highway. I think Mexican food is pretty high on my list of favorites so my expectations are always high. When my husband and I walked inside we were greeted not only by the colorful decor but, with the delicious smells of chorizo, tacos, and quesadillas, it's like I died and went to heaven. The staff was extremely friendly and it simply reiterated the idea of going out and having a family atmosphere or eating with family away from home. I love when restaurants portray that ora.
I didn't even know where to start so the staff had us try all the tacos on the menu. They were so beautifully decorated and made. The tacos included: Carne Asada, Pollo Asado, Arabes, Chorizo Verde, Elotes, and Aguacate Fritos. I don't even think I could pick a favorite, everything was so fresh and delicious. Also, all their tortillas are freshly made you simply cannot find that too often. I am a huge buritto person so I had to try the Cali burrito, which had fries!!! Yes fries, inside, along with steak, guacamole, queso, onions, tomatoes, cheese, and sour cream. I mean can you think of anything better than that? I am no food expert, by any means, but I think even Gordon Ramsey would be proud of this brilliant food masterpiece. Aside from the amazing food, atmosphere, and staff, I learned about their mission as well. We all know that I love giving back it's something I am so passionate about. Invicto goes by the one feeds two motto. What does that mean? Basically, when you buy a meal from there, a child in the developing world receives a school meal as well. That is such a beautiful thing because not many restaurants do that. Any person that would like to join this cause can do so by visiting their amazing restaurant. It was actually nice during the weekend, finally, right? So my husband and I finished our delicious lunch with some nice cold paletas. It seriously was a perfect Cinco De Mayo weekend. Thank you all for taking the time to read my blog. I try to keep you guys updated with all the cool food, location, and clothing finds so I love how you follow along with me through this journey. Remember to smile! Until next time, xoxo Rachel Hair With Nicole Marie SalonAs you all know I was getting ready to walk in Chicago Fashion Week. There was a lot of preparations that I had to make, one being my hair. My hair has always been something important to me. When I was a young girl I remember being so sad that it wasn't as long, colorful, or flowy as the glorious characters in a movie. It has always been stubborn, staying shoulder length despite all the remedies, vitamins, and care. However, my love for long hair never diminished. In fact, it increased the older I became. Not only do I love long hair but I love being blond, which is practically like a recipe for disaster. Let's just say I love to have my cake and eat it too. However, through great patience and care, it can be done! When Nicole Marie Salon reached out to me I was super excited because I had seen their incredible work online. You know when you go on Pinterest and pin all those amazing curly, mermaid-like types of hairstyles? They had pictures just like that and I was hooked! My roots have a mind of their own and they grow pretty fast. Apparently, the rest of my hair didn't get the memo. The ambiance of the entire salon is so elegant and chic. I love the massive chandelier and the color palette that creates this glamorous aesthetic.The staff is so very friendly and greeted me immediately as I walked in which gave me such a comfortable ora. A fact about me, my new growth has a stubborn mind of it's own and they had the pleasure of dealing with that hot mess express. The new growth, which is dark brown, literally 'springed' forth. My blond had also gone towards copper. Nicole, is the cutest little momma to be with such a passion for what she does. She took great care treating my hair and coloring back to the blond that I love and am used to. She took the time to educate me on coloring and what is good and bad for your hair. She explained each process effectively and made me feel so comfortable. Also, I'm a huge fan of great conversation and there was never a dull moment. I learned about her life and how she is a proud Chicagoan, which so am I, we bonded over family, friends, and how she grew into owning her own business (Super Woman over here). Does anyone else feel like getting your hair done is great therapy? Or is it just me? Gabbing about your day while getting your hair fresh and new, nothing beats that type of pampering. After getting my color all settled she hooked me up with the fantastic hand tied extensions. Now, if you're like me, and have never tried these type of extensions you will be in for a glorious surprise. Not only are the lightweight, you barely feel them, but they look super natural. Now, the best thing is that they come in different styles, textures, and colors. So, my hair is super curly and they have a texture to match if I want to rock the curly Shakira look. I personally wanted them for volume and length because my natural hair is thin and short. They are fantastic even comfortable while sleeping! The best thing is that it doesn't change anything drastically but gives you that added amount of sparkle that you deserve!
If you are looking for a talented, creative stylist in the Chicago area I highly recommend this salon. I am obsessed with my hair and hand tied extensions. I finally feel like I have the hair I have always dreamed about. Happy Monday loves I hope you have a great week! Until next time. xoxo Rachel My Three Steps of Loving YOUrselfWe live in a world where perfection is constantly thrown in your face. It's hard watching television or going online because you see these perfectly shaped, chiseled humans, glaring back at you creating this unreal expectation that you too have to look like them. This idea of perfection can be hard especially for young women who grow up feeling inadequate about themselves. Where does that leave us? It's no secret that I love this blogging platform because I can not only talk about my fashion but uplift other women in the process. I was thinking long and hard about writing this post or doing my normal fashion post but I decided why not make a difference when you have the chance to? Therefore, this post is dedicated to my three steps of loving yourself in a world that seems to always tell you that you're not good enough. Step 1 Accepting Who You AreThis first step may actually be the best and the hardest. It makes you really step back and ask yourself who exactly you are. This step can be discovered early in life or you can continue to ask yourself that as you venture through the twists and turns of adulthood. Heck, let's be real, I'm 26 and I still have to ask myself "Who are you?" I think that question is not easily answered but it's always good to take a step back and think about what you are trying to portray in your life. What is your passion something that makes you excited to wake up every morning? Once you find that I believe it sets you on the true path of who you are. For me, I am passionate about being an advocate for women who don't seem to have a voice. I have always been that person that tries to give a listening ear and help others with their problems or concerns. In the past, I used to think of it as a weakness because people seemed to take advantage of my kindness. I began to change myself, creating this hard exterior, not letting people in, because I was afraid that they'd see me and my weakness. However, as time progressed I found that it wasn't something that I should hide but embrace and down the line, the right people would never take advantage but encourage me to be my authentic self. Now, that is not something that happens over night. It takes time. However, finding your passions what makes you YOU is the first step in discovering what makes you wonderful. Step 2 Eliminate the Negative TalkThis can be another hard step especially because negative talk can be confused for being realistic. Of course, I am not telling you to think ignorantly I want you to be smart. What I am telling you is to not always listen to that small insignificant voice in your head that tells you that you're not good enough. If you are fighting for that promotion, or that relationship, or simply fighting to be yourself, it's okay to vulnerable, and it's okay to hype yourself up. It's not a bad thing to look at yourself in the mirror and think "Damn, I look great today!" What I started doing, especially when I was starting to doubt myself, is every other day write three things I loved about myself. It can start off small like personality traits, or the way your hair looks on certain days. Build yourself up instead of constantly tearing yourself down. Sometimes, you have to be your own cheerleader before you can be someone else's. Once you start that internal dialogue of loving and complementing yourself then your thoughts will sway towards the positive opposed to that negativity you might be used to. I challenge you after reading this post to take that pen or cell phone and write that small list of what makes you special. You owe that to yourself. YOU are amazing! Sometimes, we need that little reminder to comprehend just how special we are. Step 3 Vulnerability is OKAYAnother false misconception is that being vulnerable makes someone weak. In fact, I believe it's the opposite being passionate and vulnerable to me, means you're one of the strongest people in the world. It's easy to hide behind this mask or shell of oneself but being raw and open can be one of the hardest, strongest, things to do. It took me a while to dig deep into myself and realize that you don't always have to be strong. I grew up surrounded by loved ones, people always surrounding me, and loving me. I thought it would be that way all my life so when times came that I was alone it became very hard for me. It took me a while to realize that I hated being alone, by myself, with my thoughts running rapidly. I had to step back, discover this about myself, and realize that my imperfection, understanding it, and challenging it, was what would help me overcome it. Now, I am not perfect, I still struggle with being alone, but it's something that I realized is apart of me. Through hard work and dedication I know one day I will get to that place where I can 100% be okay with being fully alone. It's these small things that we tend to not think about on a daily basis because we are so overwhelmed with the daily activities that drive our lives. We are constantly in motion that sometimes we don't take the time to stop, breathe, and think about all the attributes, fears and all, that makes us who we are. Those vulnerable aspects are built within our DNA, same with our strengths, it's what makes us authentic and it's what makes us unique. Remember, that this process won't be successful over night. Like a bud, you have to water, care, and grow before you can become that elaborate flower. There are times where you will question who you are and what you stand for but never waiver in the fact that you are special. I don't think that people appreciate one another enough. We aren't told my friends, family, or even co-workers how much we appreciate one another. So if you don't hear any affirmation today know this, you ARE special, you ARE enough, and you are perfectly YOU.
Thanks so much for reading this blog post I appreciate you all! Until next time. xoxox Rachel La Roccia Gets Every Pizza My HeartIt is no surprise that I am obsessed with pizza. Honestly, if I could get that to die for summer bod while eating pizza every day I would. Unfortunately, that is not life but on the brighter side, we all should indulge in our sweet and savory tooths now and again. With that being said I am so excited to write about my fantastic experience eating at La Roccia Pizza, such a gem located in the beautiful Lincoln Park. Not only was there a cute and cozy ambiance, but the food was also spectacular. I kept getting these amazing Lady in the Tramp vibes, you know, the one where they're eating spaghetti together and accidentally smooch, such great vibes from this place. When you enter it's pretty cool because it's kind of like a hidden little spot and if you're not paying close attention you may miss it. Once you go down a couple of steps into what looks like an alley or basement, you can find this hidden masterpiece called La Roccia Pizza. It gives such a cool speakeasy vibe which I totally loved. Lit by candlelight with the fresh smell of wine, pasta, and mozzarella cheese, could you think of a better combination? My friends and I had such a blast trying some of the delicious items on the menu. Our fantastic waiter picked out a red wine for us that was extremely smooth with a hint of fruity. I love salads and their salad was fresh, flavorful, and delicious at just the right size. Remember when I brought up the spaghetti scene from Lady and the tramp? Yep, you know we had to get spaghetti because of that and of course, try and recreate that monumental image. Although we sort of failed the spaghetti was phenomenal. Of course, we had to try their delicious pizza and did I mention it had a nice slab of mozzarella cheese right dab in the middle? I mean can you say heaven? Speaking of cheese, as an appetizer we had the fresh mozzarella burrata which was served with fresh basil, toasted crostini, and a balsamic reduction forming this perfect little morsel of a dish.
As if we didn't stuff ourselves enough, it was a gorging night, of course, we decided to have some dessert. My personal favorite is the salted caramel ice cream which had that beautiful mix of sweet and salty. We ended the fantastic dinner with some limoncello shots and let me tell you those bad boys are dangerous! Not only are they delicious and sweet but they go down so easily which is bad because you could have one, or two, or let's face it three. All in all, if you are looking for a great experience filled with delicious food, great ambiance, and high-end staff you should definitely check out this Lincoln Park gem you will not regret it. I want to take the time to personally thank all the staff at La Roccia, and Chef Mora, for making our time there so special we will definitely be back in the future! 10 stars for sure and let's face it who can say no to good pizza? Thanks guys for reading until next time! xoxoxo Rachel Smile Bright Like a DiamondMy teeth have always been my least favorite thing about me. As a child, I would hate to smile because I didn’t have the pearly whites that the movie stars had. Every one of my favorite actresses would have these perfectly white veneers, teeth as straight as a line, with no speck or tarnish. I, on the other hand, had a tragically less straight and bright mouth. I have always tried whitening toothpaste, treatments, but nothing seemed to give me that look that I wanted. Being a blogger and actress one of the first things that people notice about me is my smile. Therefore, I am constantly looking for different methods to make sure that my teeth are up to par. I was so excited to start working with Smile Brilliant! I heard some great reviews about them online so starting my journey with them was highly anticipated. I feel like you always have some skepticism when you see reviews online. However, nothing is like trying it out for yourself! Create Your Custom TraysDo you remember going to the dentist, kicking and screaming, if you were like me the dentist was my least favorite place to go. In fact, my mom would have to bribe me with goodies to even get me out of the house to go. No more dreadful visits to a dentist you can get your trays conveniently delivered to your house. You do your impressions yourself and send them directly to the lab. They’re super easy to do and it took me less than 15 minutes to complete. The best part is that Smile Brilliant prepares for your envelope so there is nothing out of your pocket. After you submit your trays it will take up to 3-5 business days for you to receive your trays. The rest is simple and easy all you need to do is add the whitening gel and desensitizing gel to your trial! I will be giving you guys a day by day look into how my teeth transformed! Day 1The first day I was so excited to put my trays in and utilize them. You may be thinking how exactly does the process look? So, I am going to let you know the steps that I took while using my Smile Brilliant kit. First, I made sure that I had a set amount of time to whiten my teeth. This is important because you don’t want to rush or skip anything especially if you want to see the results. Make this all about YOU, it’s that dedicated YOU time that you need every day. I promise you it’s worth it. First, I brushed my teeth only with water and patted them dry to make sure they were cleaned. I added 1/3-1/4 of the whitening gel to my trays. Afterward, set that alarm for 45 minutes while I let my trays do their magic. Personally, I tried to catch up on folding laundry and doing some much-needed reading that I have been slacking on. After the 45 minutes were complete I brushed my teeth with toothpaste and put in the next step, which is using the desensitized gel. I let the trays stay in my mouth for about 15 minutes afterward. Once I took the trays out I felt so accomplished because I knew that I was taking the step to getting the smile I’ve always wanted. I know some people have a bit of sensitivity after their first use. However, I was completely fine. In fact, my teeth felt completely clean and fresh. However, if you are experiencing some sensitivity I recommend using coconut oil or Vaseline on your gums, it works wonders! Day 2 & 3For these days I repeated the steps that I did for day 1. I started to see a difference in my teeth. I normally have these weird yellow patches that come from drinking too much coffee or wine. it’s the smallest things that can stain your teeth, stuff we don’t even realize that we consume and drink on the daily. Those patches that made me super uncomfortable began to fade. I was starting to see more white in my teeth, opposed to the yellowish color that I normally have. This made me super excited because I got to see some progress even though it was small. Day 4 &5You can always see the small results because you notice the small details within your body. However, when my friend noticed my whiter smile it made me feel over the moon. She commented on how white my teeth looked wanting to know my ‘secret’. Had I changed toothpaste? No, it was Smile Brilliant and it made me feel even better that people closed to me started to notice, meaning, it was working a lot faster than I anticipated. There’s nothing like a small compliment to really boost the self-esteem. That day, I swear, I smiled as much as I possibly could. It’s a great feeling, something I hope everyone gets to witness. Day 6 & 7On this day my level of comfort has increased with the trays and with the whitening gel. Therefore, I decided to leave my trays in my mouth for about 2 hours opposed to one. This seemed to really help, I no longer see the yellow spots or the patches of white but my teeth are starting to shift to all one color, and that’s luminous white. It’s so interesting to look at old photos of myself in elementary school and see how far Smile Brilliant has brought my teeth. I was the little girl who always hid behind her hair, never wanting to show her smile. Now, I feel so much more comfortable with my teeth. Teeth are so important not just because they are constantly looked at but because of health reasons as well. When I take care of my teeth, and my body, it’s me loving myself and to me, that’s the best self-care one can ever do. Moving Forward & Seeing ResultsAs I continue to use my Smile Brilliant kit I know that I will continue to see great results. If you are thinking about whitening your teeth but don’t like going into dentists, or simply don’t know how to start, I recommend Smile Brilliant. Not only is it convenient with swift results but it can allow you to bring out the best version of your smile. I cannot wait to continue to post and show you guys these amazing results! I am hosting a giveaway you can apply with this link! Also you can get 15% off store-wide with code: Rachelmoretti15! Until next time xoxo Rachel <!-- SMILE BRILLIANT ARTICLE WIDGET START -->
<a id="smilebrilliant_widget_article" ishidden="1" title="Tooth Whitening Gel">Tooth Whitening Gel</a> <script src="//www.smilebrilliant.com/widget-article/rachelmoretti" type="text/javascript"></script> <!-- SMILE BRILLIANT ARTICLE WIDGET END --> Ferry Sure You Should Try Jetride!Hey everyone I hope you all had a great weekend! I am so excited because I had the opportunity to go to the Chicago Boat Show at the McCormick place. I’ve always found the water fascinating. Plus, I got to see some beautiful luxury boats and jet skies. My family has always been avid water junkies traveling to places that can allow us to snorkel, jet sky, or cruise through the azure oceans that this world has to offer. Also, let’s be real, wearing some cute nautical attire is always a bit of fun. While at the boat show I had the extreme pleasure of meeting Travis and his awesome team! I got to learn a bit about JetRide and what makes them unique. I am by no means a pro when it comes to boats. I’ve never even rented a boat before but Travis was kind enough to show me the process of renting through them. It’s super easy and the best part is that there isn’t a waiting time, no maintenance, and no storage! Guys, let’s be real, people living in Chicago barely have garages or enough space for cars. Convenience is key and the thought of the wind through your hair, the spray of the lake on your skin, and the sun shining down while you lay out on a boat is total goals. I love to bring a bit of the tropics to Chicago and I can’t think of a better way to do so then drinking margaritas while tanning on a boat. Travis explained that it’s easy to sign up and there’s only a few simple steps to get you out on the open water. The first step is to simply signup, easy enough right? The second is to reserve the times that YOU want to ride, how convenient is that? Step three is getting you out on the water which is personally my favorite step. Lastly, all you have to do is drop the boat or ski back off when finished and you’re done! Super easy and I think the perfect way to get out on the water during those beautiful summer months. Now, I know what you’re probably thinking ‘I’m not a captain how can I learn to drive a boat?’ Don’t worry they can train you on how to utilize the boat and skis so you never feel uncomfortable going out. You will have the opportunity to have a one-on-one orientation with a certified specialist. During this training you will learn how to operate the watercraft, general navigation, and docking safely. When I was little I always wanted to captain my own ship, who is with me? Here is your chance! Plus, all the JetRiders are covered up to $1,000,000 per occurrence. Now, if you know more about boats and are wondering what kinds of PWC’s and boats are in the fleet they have Yamaha PWC, Yamaha Jet boats, and outboard boats. Now, I know not all my followers are in Chicago, you lovelies range all over the world. JetRide is located in a coupe different places. They include: Chicago, Jupiter, West Palm Beach, Boynton Beach, Stuart, and coming soon to Ft. Lauderdale! I know that whenever I am driving down lake shore drive over the summer I love seeing the white sails glimmering across the sky and the crystal blue waters leading into the horizon. This summer I can be up close and personal while being on a beautiful boat with JetRide. Last but NAUT Least: The FashionI was inspired to wear very nautical themed attire while I was at the boat show. Some of these items can also be worn on a boat. The essentials, of course, are to bring your bathing suit for when you go for a swim, but you can still look cute in your clothing before as well. I decided to wear a navy blue J. Crew skirt with anchors on it, I mean c’mon, how cute and perfect for the occasion. I paired it with a wrap silk mustard colored shirt that I got from Sanems. I would go with the navy blues and whites because whenever I think of being on the ocean I think of these colors. However, you can also go a bit tropical and incorporate the pinks, greens, and yellows. Lilly Pulitzer and the beautiful Eva Gutowski has great options to choose from, especially if you want to stay classy and sassy while you’re sailing. Thank you all so much for taking the time to read my blog! I love to keep you guys updated on all the latest trends, fashion updates, and cool places to go around Chicago. I cannot wait to hopefully see some of you out on the boats over the summer.
Until next time, xoxoxo |