A time to celebrate!Happy Tuesday guys I wanted to do a blog post about the amazing event that I went to this Saturday! I joined Chicagogrammers a couple months ago and I suggest everyone check them out, especially, if you are in the blogger community. Not only do they throw great events, but they also bring you closer to meeting such talented people in the Chicago community. I was honored to be apart of their 2nd birthday party event! The party took place at 1407 on Michigan, which is a state of the art residential tower. There were so many levels to the building, and I got to experience such amazing vendors, clients, and apartment complexes. The main party took place by the pool, which was awesome, because the air and water show was taking place this weekend! The guests got to relax, with a drink in hand, and either take a dip in the pool, or tan by the side. I loved the floaties that they provided making such a fun and interesting atmosphere altogether. One of my favorite parts of the event was getting to speak and meet with the amazing vendors at this birthday party. One of my favorites was Swirl and Sparkle, which is a all natural makeup brush cleanser. I don't know about you guys, but, I always need a good cleanser to clean my brushes. I find myself always putting that on the back burner, but after speaking with the owner, and seeing the process I was 100% sold! No more dirty brushes for me! If you want to check them out they sell on etsy! Link below! LINK: www.etsy.com/shop/swirlandsparkle Another great vendor was Dress2Dazzle, they had such great outfits that we could try on and explore. Their merchandise was so beautiful, one of my favorites was a bright red jumpsuit with the back out! There is nothing better than a powerful jumpsuit, and I had the luxury of trying it on! The daughter of the owner was representing so nicely and she was eager to sell the product and represent a great face for the company. The owner, Crystal Overton, is so very kind and I love supporting places and owners that are local to Chicago. You can check out there Facebook page below, also they're on Instagram as @Dress2Dazzle. LINK: www.facebook.com/Dress2Dazzle-148473182430990/?fref=mentions&__xts__[0]=68.ARDZTf8_qLhoq_wOWLGXGtZTnr3wnz0MN9I6oOaqwm7_VG-iSZgouYX8HbAC4jQcyz6RCyAF8WOz_TXOphTB-kTiDv2HqYc7O6QxjRVq5LeUtZcfxz2F_Rh0UZrbZ8QvDDsdOmDLSasR&__tn__=K-R Finally, my last favorite vendor was AquaMermaid Chicago because who wouldn't want to be a mermaid? It's always been my dream to completely transform into a mermaid. When I was a kid Ariel was my role-model and she still holds a special place in my heart to this day. Therefore, to become a mermaid was something special and magical to me. My friends and I got to transform in these tails and become magical fairy-tale creatures, who would say no to that? The best part is if you're looking for an interesting bachlorette party, or just wanting to take classes you can! I am linking their website below! LINK: aquamermaid.com/ Of course when you go to an event like this you think, what am I going to wear? I know I had to bring out a swim-suit, bold enough to catch attention. However, I procrastinated until the last minute and freaked out two days before the event. Luckily, Target is having a great sale on bathing suits and I found this glorious pink two-piece that is so sparkly and fun! As always target has me covered! My skirt is from Forever 21 and my cover up is unbelievably from Dollar General! I found it a couple years ago randomly, under 5 dollars, and had to buy it! Overall, I have to thank Chicagogrammers for throwing such a fantastic event! Not only did I get to correspond with amazing people but I got to also have the time of my life. If you want to learn more about Chicagogrammers I am listing their information below! LINK: chicagogrammers.com/ Until next time loves happy Tuesday!
xoxox Rachel
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Women that brunch together stay together"Women are our most miraculous muse, an enchanted intangibility that encourages all art."_ CeeLo Green Women are art, we are creative, we are diverse, and we withstand the test of time. I was honored to be invited to a fabulous event called Gals That Brunch. I had the opportunity to meet such powerful and diverse women from all around the city of Chicago, some, even from different states. Not only is it a great way to meet women, especially if you're new to Chicago, but it's a great way to find other liked minded, awesome people that you'd want to befriend down the line. I'm not going to lie, I was quite nervous, because for the first time I was attending an event solo. Normally, I have a comfort zone, and going someplace alone, without a friend, is quite scary to me. I arrived and not only were the facilitators, Jen and Elizabeth, super friendly but they also made sure I was comfortable. I had a great mind set coming into this event, strictly because drinks, socializing, and meeting interesting people, what could be bad about that? However, that tinge of insecurity always plays in the back of your mind, thinking: what if no one talks to me and I'm by myself? Not only did I find such amazing women to talk to but I found that everyone at this event were super friendly and eager to speak with everyone there. I met women from marketing, to fitness, to engineers, and we all talked about our experiences in our careers and how us, as women, need to empower each other more. I also learned more about this event, it's not strictly central, but it's an international event that brings women in the community together to socialize, meet new friends, and of course BRUNCH! The event took place at ACE Bounce and it was the perfect little set up for an event. We had unlimited mimosas, bloody marys, and little brunch items that definitely satisfied the taste buds. There was even a moment where we got to play ping pong together to get rid of any jitters, allowing everyone to socialize and laugh together (I realized I am awful at ping pong, sorry to my team mates). Overall, it was such a wonderful experience and I recommend everyone going to this event! The next event, in Chicago, will be August 11th, at Old Grounds Social, starting at 11! Tickets sell fast so I suggest you take a look and get yours. Now, for my out of state followers I am linking the website below so you can find the next event in your state! GALS THAT BRUNCH:www.galsthatbrunch.com/brunch-with-us/ Passion for PinkWhenever you go to an event you want to make sure your outfit describes your personality. I had a harder time picking what to wear. I literally changed outfits several times. However, finally I decided on a bright pink and white dress, from the lovely Victoria Beckham line. Not only is this dress super sophisticated, it reminds me of something people would have worn for the royal wedding, but it's fun as well. I felt like a total Barbie walking in my light weight dress, pink pumps, and square designed Kate Spade purse. This dress is perfect for other events as well, you can take this for weddings, banquets, or even a sophisticated night out with the girls at a rooftop bar! Here is the link to the dress I found someone selling it on PoshMark. poshmark.com/listing/Victoria-Beckham-pink-dress-5a7340e63afbbddac8f7418e Thanks so much for reading guys! I hope you all have a fantastic Monday, remember, you are beautiful don't forget to smile! Until next time.
xoxox Rachel McReady for International FoodGuys, normally I stick to the realm of fashion but I have tell talk about my awesome experience at the McDonald's, trying their global menu. First, I have always been a McDonald's fan. I remember being a kid, running through the play place, and being excited to see what toy i'd obtain in my happy meal. We were a McDonald's family but as I've gotten older I realized that I probably can't have it every other week but possibly once a month. I spent a week in Ireland last year and I was pretty impressed with the Irish McDonald's menu. They had burgers named after different states in the USA. For example, they had a California burger, that consisted of bacon, avocado, and loads of cheese, It was heavenly. I thought I'd never get to fully experience McDonald's around the world until now! Recently, in Chicago, they opened up a McDonald's that serves some food off of their global menu. The location is 110 N Carpenter, and is nicely convenient with parking, even though it's technically in the city. Their menu is pretty amazing, I mean can anyone say no to loaded cheese and bacon fries? That is from the Australian menu. They also have a mighty Angus burger from Canada. I really enjoyed the modern designs that was utilized there. We could order from a kiosk and the food would be brought to our table, it was new, and it actually worked and flowed quite nicely. I ended up ordering a Bleu Cheese burger from France. Now, if you like bleu cheese this burger is for you. They had an amazing sauce, which was quite tangy, and grilled onions with bacon on the burger as well. It was brilliantly made and didn't leave you feeling to overly stuffed afterwards. Something else that was different was Wasabi Fries from Japan. They're like normal McDonald's fries accept they give you a packet of wasabi to sprinkle over the fries and shake up in a bag. It was an interesting flavor added to a classic. The Casual LookOf course if you plan on stuffing your face with a bunch of McDonald's you want to make sure you're wearing something comfortable. It's been quite rainy and humid recently, therefore I went with the very causal and comfortable approach. The off the shoulder black floral shirt is from Express. My jeans, which I love, it gives such a flattering figure, is also from Express. I have recently become obsessed with their pants because they make smaller people pop a bit more in their tight fitting material. Normally, I am not a person to wear jeans. In fact, I probably only own three pairs of jeans but you can find me sporting a casual jean and off the shoulder shirt every once in a while. The best thing about this off the shoulder shirt is you can dress it up and make it so cute for summer. Adding this shirt, with a nice jean skirt, can be perfect for a night out and also perfect for a chill day of shopping, eating, or socializing with the girlfriends! The best part about this shirt is that it is on sale, right now, for under $30! It is true to size and fits perfectly, I am wearing an extra small. LINK TO SHIRT:www.express.com/clothing/women/petite-floral-textured-off-the-shoulder-cropped-top/pro/06664858/color/BLACK%20FLORAL If you are feeling adventurous, but, want to keep it within a nice smaller budget I suggest you check out the new global menu at McDonalds. I think it's a nice change and it's always fun to see what other countries are eating around the world at the golden arches!
Breathe in and outGuys, happy Tuesday. One, I wanted to apologize because normally I post on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, but this week has been a crazy week so I've decided to switch it up a bit. Speaking of crazy, I don't know about you guys but when I get overwhelmed and stressed I feel like I'm boxed in. I hate the feeling of having 101 things on my mind. There's numerous things I do to make me feel better, 1. Pray, 2. talk to friends and 3. I enjoy using my aromatherapy inhaler LUU! LUU is super compact and can be taken with you anywhere. Not only is it the vitamin of your choosing, there's many to choose from, but it can also be the color that tickles your fancy. I decided to go with a red color with vitamin B. I am always team natural, therefore, LUU was perfect for me. LUU is designed to mentally relax your mind and provide that dose of vitamin that you may not even realize you need. I am constantly busy and on the go, therefore, this small perfect shape is exactly what I need to keep in my purse and aid me through the busy city life that I have. One of the questions that I know maybe on everyone's mind is : "Is there tobacco?" The answer to that question is NO, it's tobacco free and all natural, no GMO or nicotine as well. It can also last about a month if you're taking small gentle puffs. If you want to learn more I am linking the amazon page below! www.amazon.com/Best-Vitamin-Aromatherapy-Inhaler-Portable/dp/B079VF91WM The Floral RomperWhenever I feel down it's nice to get out and see girlfriends! I got to spend the weekend with some of my favorite people, celebrating a beautiful bride to be. After a long weekend I wanted to wear something comfortable and cute. I am IN LOVE with this floral romper from Show Me Your Mumu. This romper is so breezy and fits perfectly on the body draping off to almost look like a loose dress. In the summer I love wearing floral, bright colors, because they're so much fun. My favorite part about the romper is it falls very low exposing the middle of your back. I've become obsessed with backless and low back outfits lately and I've seen them come into fashion the last couple years. Sadly, I couldn't find this exact romper, I got it awhile ago, but I linked something similar in case you guys are interested! ROMPER LINK: www.showmeyourmumu.com/shop/rompers/reese-romper-palmtini I wanted to take the time and tell you all thank you! This blog has bloomed into something more than just a hobby! It's a way of communicating to so many different people and I cannot express how much I appreciate each and every one of you! Remember, if you are feeling down it's okay to talk to people you care about. You are never alone! Bust out your favorite romper, or something that makes you feel pretty, it just may brighten your mood!
Until next time loves! xoxox Rachel Guys, I cannot believe I am officially 26. even as I'm writing this post it feels so very weird to think about it. I think it's normal, or semi-normal, to reflect on yourself when you were small thinking, wow, did I imagine myself being this person? I recall being a precocious child, asking so many questions, about how my life would be when I get older. Now, by any means, I am NOT perfect, but I think the 6 year old me would be happy to see how far she's come. I am proud of a lot of things that I accomplished while I was 25. One, I was married, to my child-hood sweetheart, and my best friend. That's something to celebrate! I had always dreamed of pursuing a blog and I finally worked up enough courage to let this one spring forth. I think my 25 year old self was afraid of truly letting her desires, her passions, drive her. Yet, at 26 I am going to let go and Let GOD. Sometimes, holding on to fears of not succeeding can deter you from the path you're meant to be on. 25 has NOT be peaches and cream, it was a long tough road, but I think it's made me stronger in who I AM and who I want to be. There is so much that I am thankful for, I have a great family, wonderful friends who are like sisters, and a roof over my head. For 26 I want to dive more into the positives and not focus so much on the negative! Who is with me? Birthday SuitNow we all know that the one thing you constantly think about during your birthday week is what in the world am I going to wear? I went to several stores trying to rack my brain on what I wanted. Not only had I searched numerous times through Pinterest, I have a problem, but I even googled, exciting birthday clothes, and none of them seemed to idealize the look that I was going for. To be honest, I don't even think I fully knew what look I even wanted to go for. I was trying to kill time because I was meeting my husband for dinner at Rotary Sushi, in lakeview, which I suggest you all go to! It's simply amazing, especially if you're a sushi lover like I am. While walking past a couple stores I decided to go into AKIRA. Now, I am a huge fan of Akira's stuff but sometimes I feel lost as I idly wander through the sparkling crop tops, leather leggings, and knee high boots. However, soon as I walked in I was greeted by the most delightful stylist. Alex Colter is a DIVA, with a capital D! Not only did he pull the cutest, and trendiest, clothing for me, but he made me feel so comfortable. You always get nervous when you have someone pulling clothes for you because some people put extreme pressure on you to buy something. Not Alex, he felt like shopping with your best-friend, which is what made me feel so comfortable. After an hour of posing in the mirror, laughing, and zipping up hard items to zip, we finally decided on something that was ME. I ended up getting this adorable white crop top that has beads adorned in the fabric. I paired it with these colorful pink pants that are high-wasted making me look a tad bit taller, which is always the goal for me. I felt like this outfit was made for me and I couldn't help but thank Alex because he truly took the time to make me feel special. If you're looking for a special outfit, or just looking for a great experience, I recommend seeing Alex, at the Diversey Akira. It's located at 668 W. Diversey PKWY, or you can give them a call and schedule an appointment, at 415-948-9225, tell them I sent you! Belle Of The Ball: The EventIt should be noted that I have some of the best friends ever! One of them, Natalie, planed a birthday party for me making me feel so very special. I didn't realize that all my friends, even my childhood ones, would jump from behind a wall and surprise me! After gabbing, drinking, (my friend's should be bar tenders, their drinks are amazing) we headed to the Chicago Rose Day in River North. I love wine, and I am a huge fan of walking around, socializing, and drinking some light rose. The event was awesome, I got to drink and be immersed in some wonderful River North culture. The tickets included a wristband and different drink tickets that you could use throughout the day! I even got a cute little wine glass with Chicago Rose Day inscribed on it. Afterwards my friends and I went back to their condo and got to sit next to the pool, grill, and talk about life. I mean c'mon nothing beats that! It made me feel so special that everyone took time, which is valuable, to come and celebrate me. There is something so humbling in that. I've realized, the older that I get, that keeping close friends gets harder and harder, but it's the ones that stick around, that means the world to you. The FinaleAll in all, I had a wonderful birthday weekend and it's only just beginning. I am meeting my husband somewhere tonight to celebrate with him on my actual birthday. Then with co-workers on Thursday, and family on Saturday. I feel like it will be a busy week but it feel so nice to feel appreciated and loved.
Life is short so you must appreciate the years that you do have on this earth. I am surely blessed, and I thank God everyday. Even though 25's path was a bit bumpy, and a lot of changes, I know that it's leading me down the right yellow brick road. Thank you all for reading every blog post, you all mean more to me than you know! Until next time, xoxo Rachel Guys, keep calm it is finally summer! We can get lost in the endless sunshine and breezy warm nights. I don't know about you, but, I love being outdoors, soaking up the rays in the summer time. I barely stay inside because I crave that vitamin C all day. However, being outside means getting a little bit sweaty and uncomfortable. I don't know about you, but my hair doesn't have a love affair with the heat. It dries up and frizzes making me look more so like a sheep, than a Barbie Doll. However, do not fret! If you have frizzy hair days, but still want to look cute and chic, I suggest pairing your everyday outfit with a fun little Bandanna. Not only are they stylish and comfortable, but they're great for pulling your hair out of your face, and letting your hair get a break from styling tools. This Bandanna and Barbie shirt is from forever 21! The shorts I swiped from target, they are high rise and super flattering on all body types! The shoes are Keds Kate Spade brand, and of course I had to rep my Disney socks that I got from Target. I am a HUGE Disney nerd. The best part is that altogether this outfit was under 60! I just love cute finds, especially when you can get them on a discount. LINK Bandana: www.forever21.com/us/shop/catalog/product/f21/acc/1000287051 LINK: shirt: www.forever21.com/us/shop/catalog/product/f21/top_blouses/2000258092 Now, if you're like me, and love to be outside, wearing your trendy style, but want to stay within a budget, it may seem difficult. There's so many interesting things to do in the city! However, I am going to list some fun activities coming up that are NOT going to break the bank! Lincoln Park ZooI have always loved the zoo! Not only is it fun, going out with friends, and viewing animals, but it's also a free zoo! Meaning you don't have to pay any money to get in! I recently went and had such a fun time walking around, looking at the monkeys, they're my favorite, and catching up with old friends. Now, if you are feeling a bit more daring, and want to do something more than animal watch, the zoo also has a great event calendar, these events can range from 10-50 bucks depending on when you buy tickets. I personally love doing the wine and beer fests at the zoo. Below is a list of the events that will be happening at the zoo this summer! LINK:www.lpzoo.org/events Randolph Street MarketI love markets! They are great ways to meet people, look at different local boutiques, and find some awesome pieces to add to your collection. One of my favorite markets to attend is Randolph Street Market. This week will be their annual 15th year celebration! I love how they conveniently make it two days, so if you miss something you can always go back! The theme of this year is red, white, and blue so come showing your patriotic pride as you discover different antiques, drinks, and music! The best part about this street market is that general admission starts at $10.00! There's also different packages for family and friends! I will be there on Sunday, so maybe we can drink some wine and meet up there! I am linking the website so you can see all the awesome activities that will be occurring there! LINK:www.randolphstreetmarket.com/ Navy PierNavy Pier is seriously underrated. There are so many awesome things that you can do there over the summer! Not only is the architecture interesting to behold, but they also have live music, and movies that play during the summer! I am a huge fan of rides, and the Ferris wheel is definitely not a disappointment. I love watching fireworks, there's something so magical about them, and Navy Pier is doing free fireworks tonight from 9:30-9:40! Take a stroll by the pier and bask in the beautiful atmospheric setting that Chicago has to offer and the best part is that it's absolutely free! LINK:navypier.org/events/list/ I hope that you enjoyed my three different options on what to do, in the city, on a budget! I know sometimes being a penny saver can be annoying but there's so many interesting things this city has to offer. You just got to take the time to find it! List some of your favorite, cheap outings to do. If you're not from Chicago, that's fine too! I'd love to hear what other cities has to offer! Also, list your favorite accessory that you like to pair on your bad hair days, I'd love to see different ideas!
Until next time! xoxox Rachel "Happy girls are the prettiest." -Audrey Hepburn Have you ever been seriously down in the dumps. I think we can all agree that there's been times where we just feel our lowest. Maybe your favorite team lost, or you were looking forward to news that just never happened. Either way, as humans, we experience so many different emotions back to back. Sometimes, it's hard to keep it altogether. However, over the years I've focused on the small things in life that tend to brighten my mood. I know this is out of the norm of what I post but I decided to do something different for today! I want to talk about the five things that can liven my mood. Who knows, maybe this can be the change that brings a smile to your face as well!
I hope that these five little tips helped someone! Sometimes, it's nice to know you're not alone and that we can all get through our hard times together! Now, to my little outfit. I decided to wear something to brighten my mood. Since it's been decently sunny, I wanted to celebrate with this bright blue floral kimono. Drum roll, I got this a couple years ago, for only 3 DOLLARS! It was at the dollar store. Can you believe it? The fabric is so comfortable and breezy perfect for summer! I also love my black scalloped romper that fits me to a T! It's great for people on the shorter side because it extenuates our waist making us look a bit taller. It's from New look petite I am linking their website below! Happy Friyay loves! Remember to smile, you're so lovely when you do! Until next time. xoxo Rachel New look's website: http://us.asos.com/new-look-petite/new-look-petite-scallop-romper/prd/5455897 You guys, exactly a year ago today I married my best friend! Marriage is a big step, no matter what age, gender, or person you are. It's a commitment that two people create for a lifetime and that can be quite scary for some. Marriage is hard work, it's no longer about YOU but about creating this partnership with someone and becoming a combined puzzle piece. My husband and I are no strangers to each other, we met in high-school, and have been dating ever sense! Bizarre, I know, I constantly have people ask "well did you guys take a break?" or "Did you mess around and see other people?" "There's no way you guys lasted that long!" The answer to these questions are simple, we communicated with each other, we respected each other, and we believed in each other. You're not looking for perfection in your partner. Perfection is all about the ego. With soulmate love, you know that true love is what happens when disappointment sets in - and you're willing to deal maturely with these disappointments. Karen Salmansohn This quote speaks to me because it shows that love, true love, isn't always rainbows and butterflies. Real love is raw, with teeth, that bites with a everlasting mark. It's about the ups and downs, and how you handle each other throughout those ups and downs. Not many people can say that their prom date ended up being there husband, but luckily, I am one of the few. I have people ask me advice wondering how my husband and I do it! Lots of positive affirmations. It's important to tell your significant other great things and focus on that! Therefore, Pat and I did this awesome 5 things we love about each other on the blog! It was like pulling teeth to get him to answer questions but here are his below: FROM PAT:
FROM RACHEL:
Overall, love, dating, marriage, is hard work. It's not going to always be easy but if you treat love like a plant, nurture it, water it, and keep it safe then it will last a lifetime. Happy anniversary hubby I love you like Edward loved Bella. (He hates Twilight) ha-ha, but we're all allowed a little fun now and again.
Until next time. xoxox Rachel “Behind every successful women is a tribe of other successful." My mother has always been my number one fan. I remember her coming to every single dance practice, cheer games, and theatrical productions that I had. I had been raised around a bunch of successful, proud, and wonderful women who taught me that nothing is ever out of reach. That is why I want to dedicate this post to my awesome, amazing, mother. Let me tell you a little about my madre. She is one of the strongest people that I have ever met. Not only is she brave, but she always puts others before herself. Just a couple years ago she started her own group giving back to people that are less fortunate. Throughout the course of a year she's donated warm food, blankets, and coats to people who are living on the streets. My mom taught me to always be the light in someone's darkness. I have lived by that motto because I know she's been the light in mine several times. I told her I was writing about her, and featuring her here on my blog, and she didn't want to be recognized. She said: "I do what I do because someone has to," and that really hit me hard. What if people gave back, or helped others, strictly with the kindness of their heart. We see so many people doing things for publicity or the benefit. It's nice to see that there are some old-fashioned good people still in the world. I took my mom out for her favorite food, Mexican! I wanted something light and bright colored, because, we all know I love my spring colors. I settled on this awesome wrap dress that I got from a store called Crossroads. It's there own brand and if you haven't heard of it, I suggest you check it out! The dress was only 20 dollars, which is a steal because these wrap dresses can go up to 40-50.00! I encourage all of you to thank all the strong women in your life. Sometimes, they don't get enough credit, it is them who are the silent superheroes. So give a hug, a high-five, or a thank you to all the women that instilled values in you. This post is dedicated to them. Until next time! xoxox "Real superheroes don't wear capes they teach". -unknown Teaching the next generation is no easy task. I remember thinking, before I became a teacher, that my life would be so easy. I thought I would be lounging all day, playing dress up and make-believe, goodness was I wrong. Not only is it one of the most difficult jobs but it MATTERS! Teachers have the responsibility of someone's future in their hands. If that isn't a bit scary I don't know what is. Whether we like to admit it or not, teaching is hard, and stressful, so I came up with a few key notes that helps me get through my school year!
Happy teacher appreciation week I hope that you feel appreciated. Remember, that you are important, you are needed, and you ARE making a difference. xoxo |