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
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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 Buns, Fun, and in the SunBeing a maid of honor is probably one of the most rewarding things in your life. You get to help plan a special time for someone you are close with. Bachelorette parties are no joking matter, it's the bride's last hooray and something you shouldn't take lightly. I am my best friend's maid of honor and I couldn't put into words how excited I was when she asked. I have known this girl since college but she's like my sister. We instantly bonded and I know that God put us in each other's path for a reason. We uplift one another, we pray for one another, and we've had some of the best times of our lives together. She was also my maid of honor and threw me a pretty big bash. Therefore, I had a lot of high shoes (or heels) to fill when she invited me to be hers. I am not going to lie I was a bit nervous when she mentioned Scottsdale only because I didn't know much about it. When you think of Bachelorette places these places probably come to mind: Texas, Vegas, New Orleans, or Mexico. Now that I have been to Scottsdale I recommend everyone attending at least one especially for bachelorette parties. This cute, sunny, and glorious town is just the right amount of fun and glam that you need without breaking the bank. This post is dedicated to all the stressed brides, maid of honors, and bride tribe babes that need a decision on where to go. I am listing all the fun stuff when did in Scottsdale and why it should be your next bach destination! Grill & ChillOne of the greatest things about Scottsdale is that it stays nice and sunny all year around. Chicago was pretty much in the '30s, and we got to escape to a beautiful oasis that was in the '70s all week. One the first full day that we arrived our lovely friend Sydney, found a great Airbnb for all us, 14 girls, to stay at. I recommend airbnb's they are awesome and you ladies can decorate however you want and basically have your own house. We decided to keep the morning pretty tame, with grilling, eating, and laying by the pool while catching up. That is what I loved about Scottsdale you get such a sense of ease there. You can create your own pace which is something I loved. We got bride tribe hats, some black bride squad bathing suits, and got to take some cute pictures by our pool. If you want to have some good picture time with the bride I highly suggest these fun memorabilia. I still have my pictures and memories to this day from mine and the best part is that you can reuse these items for other friend's bachelorette parties! Clubbin' to Some TunesNow, if you are looking for more of a club scene to do in Scottsdale I got you covered with that as well. The best part is that all the clubs (least the good ones) are within walking distance from each other in Old town. Here are some of the places I recommend going to. The first, my favorite, is Pretty Please. What a fun and exciting club. I collabed with the GM, Justin, and he made sure to make our time there extremely special. Not only was the club nice, great seating, and music, but everyone was so keen to help and be friendly. I don't know about the clubs where you are from, but, here in Chicago that rarely happens. Therefore, it was so refreshing to have such kind people take care of us. I would give this place 10 stars out of 5 because of how nice this club was. It's perfect for that bachelorette experience and I HIGHLY recommend checking this out if you go to Scottsdale or if you live there. The Maya is another great club. Unfortunately, we didn't get to go there but I have heard great things about it. We love doing pool parties in the afternoon but most of the pools were closed when we visited Scottsdale. I learned a lot of them don't open up till the end of March into April. However, if you do decide to go after then I recommend checking out their pool parties. Who wouldn't like dancing to music, by the pool, with a drink in hand? Am I right? On Saturday we ended up going to 3 Wisemen which definitely has more of a dive bar feel. It was pretty crowded with no dancing towards the beginning when we arrived due to a boxing match that was occurring. Once that crowd cleared out people started to dance and the vibe changed a bit. Not as fancy as the other two but it's an option if you like more of the calmer, bar, type of atmosphere. Riot House is also a fun club that we went to towards the end of the night. It was nice to be able to simply walk from place to place as opposed to ordering a Lyft everywhere if we wanted to try different places. Bride Tribe OutingsThe club may not be your tribe's thing and I get it totally not for everyone. If you want some equally as fun but a bit more tame these two fun outings will be for you! The first is the Arizona Party Bike. Such a fun idea and great girl bonding time. We got to be on this peddle bike, which I have never done before, drink, play music, and go to a bunch of bars within the area. Did I mention there's discounts you get with these bars you visit? Super fun and a great way to just have a great time. You can even DJ with an aux cord and belt our your own music. It's nice because you can buy your own drinks and bring them with you and people get to see you on these peddle bikes, laughing and having fun, while they're cheering and honking in glee. It's such a cool and exciting experience. Now, if you don't want to do the whole drinking thing at all I recommend some of the great wildlife that Scottsdale has to offer. During our last day there we walked around and looked in some shops. We also had the chance to go to the Desert Botanical garden. You get to see such breath-taking views, glorious wildlife, and bask in the beauty nature has to offer. My favorite part was going inside of a butterfly exhibit where they flew free and you got to see them so alive and happy. This makes a great place for pictures as well because the scenery is so amazing. I know that planning bachelorette parties can be a bit stressful and overwhelming but the most important thing is to make sure the BRIDE is happy. If you are in her tribe, or her maid of honor, chances are she trusts and knows you. You also know her to customize that trip to be about her and what will make her happy because these memories will be with her for the rest of her life. It is important to have fun, don't stress, and enjoy your fun bachelorette weekend because ultimately that is what they are all about. I hope these fun ideas will help you especially if you choose Scottsdale as your go-to- place!
To Natalie, the beautiful Bride, I love you so much! I hope you enjoyed your weekend getaway because you deserve the best. I feel honored to be sharing these precious moments with you. Love you booboo. Thanks again for reading everyone happy HUMP Day! Until next time, xoxoxo Rachel Overall Dresst is no secret that I am under 5'7. Standing tall and proud at 5'3 there's a lot of things that I sometimes feel uncomfortable wearing especially before I started blogging. There's this stigma that if you're under a certain height you can't rock fashion probably designed for those 5'8 and up girls. I look up to bloggers like Olivia Rink who has completely shattered that stereotype, saying it's okay for us short girls to look cute in anything as well. That is what ultimately inspired me to write this blog post on the fabulous overalls because I've heard so many ladies, 5'7 and under, saying that it doesn't fit them right. I am going to be listing some of my favorite overalls and where you can buy them! Overalls are so stinking cute and have been around for quite some time. I think my fourth-grade first-day picture has me in two ponytails and some overalls on. I think the beauty of fashion is that it's timeless and a lot of trends end up repeating themselves. I have seen so many overalls on different blogs and websites and I'm not going to lie, super excited for it! I love overall dresses like the one I wore for my best friend's bachelorette. I got this cutie from Forever 21 and I'm not going to lie was so scared to try it on. Not only am I short but I have wider hips, more so than normal people, my mom likes to call them my child-bearing hips. My hips are so wide that sometimes it makes items of clothing fit pretty snug only around my hip area. What I love about this overall dress is that there are buttons you can use to keep it fastened or loosened (especially after you down a couple of chicken nuggets). It also isn't too loose at the top which I have found a lot of overall dresses are. Denim is always so fun to wear so I was so excited to find this denim overall dress that I simply adored. I am wearing a size small and it's honestly true to size. I know Forever 21 can sometimes be weird with their sizing but I found this one to be quite accurate. Here are some of my favorite overall dresses linked below. The first being the one I bought from Forever 21. The OG OverallsSome people are so afraid to wear overalls because they think there's this stigma of it being too country or off-putting. Of course, I never want to force people out of their comfort zone but I love them and there they're so cute. Personally, I love a pair of colorful overalls pairing them with a cropped top and some cute white gym shoes. This is perfect for our spring weather because it is cute and girly but can keep you warm in that 50 and 60-degree weather. I love them because you can put your hair up in a messy bun or ponytail and add a cute colorful scarf to the mix getting you ready for the day! Below are some of my favorite colorful overalls and the links to where to buy them. Remember, no matter how you choose to wear your overalls be yourself. Do what makes you happy and comfortable and add your own bit of sparkle to it. Don't let silly things like your height, or body shape, deter you from being authentically yourself. I hope my top overall picks helped you get in the springtime mood! Goodness knows we're all ready for it to come. Happy Friday lovelies until next time!
xoxoxo Rachel Who Runs The World? Girls!Think like a queen. A queen is not afraid to fail. Failure is another steppingstone to greatness. - Oprah Winfrey When I was a little girl I remember looking at magazines and seeing these beautiful, tall, astonishing women thinking "wow, I wish I could be like them." As a young girl, I was bombarded with these women who seemed undeniably unreal, masked by perfect skin, hair, and bodies. I mean even the Disney princesses I watched would wake up with perfect hair and makeup, let us be real, no one wakes up in the morning with ringlets and curls. More like nappy hair and drool alongside their cheek.
You're probably wondering why I am starting this blog post this way and it's simple. I grew up having these unreal expectations of how women are. As I grew my mind was watered by the media and I slowly started to believe that someone like me, 5'5, with imperfections, could never be one of those girls in the magazines. It shot down my confidence and the modeling and the acting world didn't make it easier. I would go on auditions and would constantly hear "well you're pretty but just not the look we're searching for." Or "You're just not tall enough." As if a woman could simply be defined by a look. What is the look? Is one person always the same? I started to believe that it would never happen to me and my confidence truly took a huge hit. I even started to second guess being apart of this industry. When you see me as this 'blogger' you see all the good. The smiles, the decked out hair, the fully done makeup. You don't see the endless nights of scrolling thinking "I will never look like these beautiful other bloggers". You don't hear the thoughts going in, the endless questioning if people can see all those small imperfections that you see. You see the mask, the mirror of someone who smiles no matter what. It took time to grow and absolutely love myself. That takes time and dedication along with lots and lots of watering. Just like a seed you need to sprinkle nourishment and love into yourself so you can grow into that rose that you're supposed to be. We are women, we are strong, beautiful, and so diverse and that is what makes us so beautiful. I am proud to say that certain companies are erasing that cliche of someone holding the perfect 'look' one that has been forced down our throats since childhood. On Akira's spread, you can see women of all shapes, colors, and backgrounds and I was truly honored to be representing a brand that portrays that image. The feeling is surreal when you go on one of your favorite stores and actually see your picture staring back at you. Two things went through my mind. One, pure bliss because it proved that all my hard work is slowly starting to pay off. I thank God that opportunities are coming my way because nothing great ever comes easy. The second was something different and special. I felt this weird connection and pride. Out of all these beautiful amazing women in Chicago I was chosen to represent women on our international week. We as women as so dynamic that being able to be on a spread, dedicated to women, is truly a humbling and honorable experience. I want to represent the girls who don't think they're pretty enough, or tall enough, or good enough to follow their dreams. I want them to know that you ARE and you CAN. When you look in the mirror don't let those cliches cloud your reflection, only allowing you to see your imperfections. Look in the mirror and know that you are a QUEEN. All the imperfections in your life don't make you less but build you up to be the person that you are meant to be. You are strong, you are mighty, and you are WOMAN! I am pleased to show you some of these fantastic pictures taken of me and some amazing women. Thanks so much again for taking the time to read this blog post. Until next time xoxox Rachel Ice Ice BabyHey loves and happy Monday. I am so excited to share this fantastic girls weekend that my friends and I got to experience this past weekend. One, it's always nice to spend some time with the girls. Two, there's nothing like getting away for a bit and exploring. Normally, I am always prone to putting on my adventurer hat and navigating through some unknown terrain. That can always be fun and exciting but there's nothing better than staying close to home and visiting some places that are literally in your back yard. Wisconsin has some great things to offer and Lake Geneva itself was the cutest little town I have ever seen. Not only were the people extremely friendly, smiling to my friends and me, super polite, but they treated us oddly like a distant member of the family everywhere we went. I was so excited to get to attend the Ice Castles on Saturday. For some reason, Elsa, breaking out into 'Let it Go' rang through my head the entire time. This place was fantastic literally a winter wonderland to behold. My friends and I, of course, got to see first hand this winter phenomenon. Normally, when you drive rather far you worry about parking but luckily there was easy meter parking not too far from where we needed to go. Chicago can struggle to find parking then having to pay for the meters but we were pleasantly surprised that it was during the off season so we didn't have to pay for parking (was seriously doing a happy dance in my head). The outside of the Ice castle is amazing but the inside is even more intricate and interesting. I felt like such a little explorer in my safety had and gear for my shoes. Word of advice ladies you can be cute and NOT wear heeled boots. My friends all got the memo but apparently, I didn't. Although I didn't fall (yeah me) I still recommend bringing some snow or rain boots so you can be comfortable. This place is literally an Instagram heaven because there are so many cool places that you can take pictures at. My friends and I couldn't stay still because we were running about trying to take so many interesting photos of this winter wonderland. It was such a fun girls activity but it could be for families and significant others as well. In fact, after doing some googling I saw that a couple even got engaged there. Get ready for pictures ladies you never know when the BIG moment can happen. Overall, I really enjoyed this maze of crystal and ice such a beautiful gem that Lake Geneva has to offer. I recommend you all checking it out besides, it's not every day you get to frolic around a real-life ice castle. Harboring Great Feelings for Harbor Shores on Lake GenevaAfter getting some yummy late lunch at Popeyes, no not the chicken chain your thinking, something way different. My friends and I were lucky to have the opportunity to stay at the Harbor Shores on Lake Geneva. One, this place is literally so close to the Ice Castles maybe only a couple minutes away. Two, it is the cutest and friendliest hotel I have ever been in. The receptionist that checked us in was so friendly and I was surprised to find such a sweet welcome letter in our room, along with a bottle of wine, when we entered our room. I was obsessed with the elegant spacious room that we got to stay in. We booked the double bed which was so comfortable. It was like sleeping on clouds. Our room also had a beautiful little deck where we could overlook some of the lake. I appreciated the small things in life that make you feel like you're in a home away from home. Our room had a nice little fridge and what felt like a small kitchen area, my Chicago condo isn't the biggest, but it gets the work done and that's the feelings that I felt while staying here. If you are looking for a nice little getaway I highly recommend heading down to Lake Geneva and visiting this Ice Castles. It was such a beautiful and fun experience. Now, make it like a staycation and be sure to check out the wonderful Harbor Shores you won't be disappointed. Thanks so much again for reading guys! I hope you all are enjoying the start of your week! Until next time.
xoxo Rachel A Place of Dreams and FairytalesHey guys and happy Wednesday! For those of you who know me personally, you know that I am a HUGE Disney nerd. I was that kid that would sit in front of the television and watch and recite "The Little Mermaid" backward and forwards. I loved the Disney princesses and their stories, dreams, and fantasies of far off lands and dashing princes shaped who I am today. That piece of myself, the innate ideal of fairytales and being a hopeless romantic is something so real to me. Therefore, whenever I get to be apart of the Disney magic I take it. I was so excited to get the opportunity to visit not only Disneyland in Hong Kong but stay at the wonderful Hong Kong Disneyland Resort. One of the first things we did when we got to Disneyland was I had to buy this flashy pink ears. I mean c'mon guys, it was pink, glittery, and super flashy it was a no brainer. After I got my ears my husband and I decided to walk around the park and take a look at all the beautiful architecture. I suggest getting a map of the park just so you can know where you want to start heading. I have never been to Disneyland in California so I cannot compare the two. However, the park seemed a lot bigger than it actually was ( fun fact I think we walked around the entire park twice). One of the first things you're greeted with is the beautiful Disney Castle which brought back the five-year-old little girl in me. Fun story, my first trip (that I remember) was to Disney World. I was literally obsessed with Aladdin I thought we were going to get married. When I went to Disney with my family I almost fainted when I saw Mr. tall dark and handsome himself in the flesh. My mom said I literally got red-faced, stuttered, and kept saying I would faint. There's a picture of us together him kissing my hand and I looking straight up terrified somewhere in a family album. Unfortunately, I didn't run into him again but being back in this magical place of wonder brought back those lovely memories of being a carefree child. Sometimes, you need a bit of magic in the world and Disneyland was that for me. The first ride we got to go on was the Iron Man ride. It was super cool CGI and 3D glasses. One of those rides where it immerses you in the video even though you're simply moving around in a circle the entire time. Of course, it was quite crowded that day but being able to see the ride, despite waiting for an hour, was still worth the wait. We were lucky to get a little flash pass because we stayed at the resort. So we could use one ticket on a ride and basically walk inside without waiting in lines. We used it on the one with like a two-hour wait time it honestly came in handy. After walking for quite some time my husband knew he HAD to get his favorite thing in the entire world, a turkey leg. I cannot tell you how excited this man was to eat that turkey leg. We went to Universal Studios a couple years ago, he tried one, and simply couldn't stop talking about it. He even tried to copy the recipe several times at home insisting nothing tastes like the trademark one that Disney has. Once we both had finished our turkey legs (yes I needed my own was feeling like a gorge day) we watched one of the awesome parade displays. They had a lot of Disney characters marching in the parade but sadly no Disney princesses. There was one princess I was super excited and hoped to see. That is my favorite of course Ariel. We waited in line but sadly she went on break before I could meet her (who knew mermaids needed breaks right ha-ha). I had even worn my awesome 'save the mermaids' shirt with my denim mini skirt. Alas, I didn't get to meet Ariel and there weren't too many Disney princesses that I could see. I was excited towards the end to meet Moana! She never broke character and was refreshing to interact with. I think my husband forgot which princess she was and for some reason couldn't understand why she kept asking us if we loved the sea so much. Disneyland Hong Kong ResortAfter a long day of pursing around the park, we were so excited to get back to our resort. The rooms inside were so adorable and cute. They had Disney memorabilia and pictures everyone. I have never stayed in such a comfortable and clean room before in my life. The staff was social and kind to all of our needs. I really did feel like a princess when I stayed with them. That night we ate at the Walt Restaurant. It was elegantly decorated and the menu had awesome information about Walt Disney. The food, staff, and overall experience were awesome. I am a huge seafood fan, so I opted for the lobster tail. It was to die for, large enough, juicy, and an abundance of flavor! I have never slept and ate so well in a hotel before in my life. If you decide to venture to Hong Kong and go to Disneyland I HIGHLY recommend staying here! Overall, this was probably one of my favorite things that I did in Hong Kong. Just being able to get those old feelings from childhood made me happy. I feel like there's never enough time for magic in the world, but when you add a bit of faith, trust, and a sprinkle of pixie dust, the world seems a bit more whimsical. Thanks so much for taking the time to read this post! I hope it helped you if you ever decide to travel here. Until next time loves.
xoxox Rachel I'm CHINA tell you why to go to Hong KongI cannot express the excitement of being able to go to Hong Kong. It has been one of the most exciting places that I have ever visited. Now, I am not going to lie, I like to keep it real. When first allowed this opportunity I didn't know how I felt about it. Don't get me wrong, I love traveling, but I am so used to seeing places like Paris, Rome, or tropical oases like the Maldives. I was ignorant of the fact that Hong Kong, in its own right, is just as beautiful and magical. After doing a bit of research and talking to my lovely friend Caroline,(who has another great guide on her blog) I was super excited to visit this beautiful place and possibly shed some light on how fantastic it is! I am so excited to be able to show you just a small bit of Hong Kong and tell you all about my experience with this city where the night shines. Victoria's PeakMy husband and I are huge thrill seekers. Whenever we travel we like to see the place for everything they have to offer. After doing some research I knew that I wanted to check out Victoria's peak, which has some breath-taking views overlooking Hong Kong. Now, I am going to be real with you getting there took quite a bit of time, only because we didn't know that there were other ways to get up to Victoria's Peak. We waited for about 2 hours in line simply to buy tickets. However, we went during Chinese Lunar New Year one of the busiest times. Afterward, we found out that you could simply hike up the trail (all my athletic followers where you at!) or take bus 15c from Central Pier 8. We ended up taking the Peak Tram and honestly, it was worth the wait. Once we arrived at the Peak Tower, which was like my heaven, offering shops and restaurants, I forgot about all the lines that we had to wait in. You could basically see all of Hong Kong through the glass windows because you're super high up, about 396 meters above sea level. I cannot even begin to tell you about the view outside. There's something so humbling when you get to experience sights like these. It makes you appreciate life and the beauty that God created. It makes you take those small moments to breathe, appreciate the beauty, and realize how truly lucky you are. Like I mentioned above there are different restaurants that you can eat in. We decided to go with Bubba Gump Shrimp. Now, before you roll your eyes with our mundane choice I have to say this: one, I love seafood, and two, this restaurant had some of the best views we could enjoy while eating. I know it's a chain restaurant that I could eat here but it was so amazing to eat some of my favorite seafood and bask in the beautiful view that Victoria's Peak had to offer. If you ever decide to visit Hong Kong I HIGHLY recommend going here and seeing such amazing sights. The Flower Market & Lunar Paradeit is no secret that I am obsessed with color and one of the things I loved about Hong Kong was its colorful atmosphere. I was so excited to visit the Flower Market because, one, I am a sucker for flowers, and two I had googled how beautiful and colorful the markets can be. We took the train to get to the market and it was like a rainbow coming to life. Everywhere I turned I could see colors of fuschia, yellow, and coral. This beautiful market is literally an oasis of color featuring exotic scents and unique cultural foods that you wouldn't want to miss while visiting. Basically, there are a bunch of shops and wholesalers that come out and sell their beautiful flowers, you can also get a house-plant to bring you luck. Families come to these markets and meticulously select these flowers or greenery to bring good fortune as the new year cycle begins. Something you guys may not know about me is that my husband and I are huge when it comes to learning about new cultures. He even studied anthropology in college. It was such a beautiful thing to see families do this tradition together and it brought me back to the times when I was young, implementing my own traditions with my family. There is something so tender and beautiful about that. Of course, I wanted to partake in this lovely tradition, plus, I will never say no to good luck and fortune. Therefore, my husband got me some beautiful lilac and pink flowers that kept a smile on my face all day. We also got to try some local street food which was quite interesting. He insisted I try some fish balls. Now, the name can be quite daunting, and don't get me wrong I am a baby when it comes to trying new foods. However, I wanted to put my big girl pants on and give it a try. It wasn't bad, just different. They're made with fish paste and either boiled in a soupy broth or fried. I always say try something new, so if you like curry flavor or unique experiences I say give this a try. That night we got to experience the Lunar New Year Parade and it was absolutely phenomenal. So many bright colors and such an amazing performance. Warning, if you don't like crowds this may not be the place for you. We were basically person to person, think of the Macys Parade but even bigger and tighter. However, it's such a beautiful experience I would recommend going. Choi Hung EstatesOkay, we all know that I am a sucker for the gram. One of my favorite things about traveling is capturing that moment within a photo because I know I will remember it forever. My husband loves to joke that he never had photos before me (which is true). Therefore, when I was doing some research about beautiful places in Hong Kong I found out about these rainbow colored apartments that I was dying to visit. So an interesting fact is that Choi Hung means 'rainbow' in Cantonese. I didn't know that until of course afterward, but it all makes sense because these beautiful buildings all look like rainbows. It's like a hit to your senses as soon as you walk out of the subway station and see all the beautiful iridescent architecture. Now, this place is a bit hard to find, especially if you're not local. Also, my husband and I looked like silly tourists because we were literally on our phones trying to utilize our GPS the entire time. Sometimes, our phones wouldn't even work so we'd aimlessly wander until we happened to stumble across our location. Luckily, I will help you out if you do decide to visit this lovely place. You take the subway to Choi Hung, take the c4 exit and turn left when you pass the underground tunnel. Make sure to look our for staircase number 4 and take the stairs up to the top of the car park. You know you're heading in the right direction when you see the basketball courts. This place is so beautiful and is a perfect spot for Instagram pictures. In fact, I saw not only tourists walking around but even people that lived there posing and taking pictures. We even spoke to someone that lived there and talked about how beautiful her home is. MacauAnother fun fact is that my husband does business in China due to his job. He even has friends that he worked with that ended up moving there. We wanted to make sure that we meet up with them and were thrilled when they asked us to meet them in Macau. We took an awesome ferry, across the ocean, to what I like to call the 'Vegas' of China. I say this because it is notoriously known for its casino scene. So, if you like to gamble this is the place for you. While going here we got to meet up with some old friends and meet their son, who was in his mom's stomach, the last time I saw them. It was so amazing to see this little cutie already 8 months old. They suggested an awesome Michelin star restaurant called A Lorcha, which had a lot of delicious Portuguese cuisine. The line was outside the door, which is normally a good sign, we were lucky to even get a table thanks to our friends who made a reservation. Afterward stuffing our face with food we all decided we needed a nice little walk. My husband is a history buff so he wanted to view the Ruins of St. Paul. This is stands adjacent to the Mount Fortress and the Macau Museum, it's like going back in time in history which was super interesting. We got to climb the fortress and see the beautiful views of Macau, I think my husband had the most fun here because he loves history and he got to witness it first hand. Plus, he got to see a cool old canon and it brought back his love of watching old medieval war movies. We only spent one day in Macau but it was such a cool experience to witness another place in China. If you have some extra time and want to get out of Hong Kong for a bit, this place isn't too far, plus it can be done within one day. Man Mo TempleThere are so many beautiful temples in Hong Kong but we only got to visit Man Mo Temple. This beautiful picturesque place pays tribute to the God of Literature and the God of war. It was built all the way in 1847 and it is the largest Man Mo Temple in Hong Kong which is pretty neat. I loved it's colorful red and yellow decor that seemed to bring out this calm within me. We noticed a lot of people paying tribute by lighting incense and saying their own silent prayers. It was a peaceful moment to reflect and really take in this tranquil temple. There is so much that I can continue to say about Hong Kong. It was such a magical place and I feel so blessed to be able to travel so far around the world. It's a stunning place for rich culture, amazing foods, and an abundance of color. If you ever get the chance, you should visit because it is unlike any other place I have been! We also went to Disneyland in Hong Kong but I will tell you about my experience in another post. Thank you guys so much again for reading I hope that this was helpful if you are choosing to travel abroad. Have a great day!
Until next time, xoxo 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 |