Episode#7- How to Over Come Fear and Just Do It with Andy Rivera

Wanting to start a blog but scared it’s not going to be what people want to read? Want to start being an Influencer on Instagram but afraid of what family and friends will think? We are kicking all those excuses out the door in today’s episode of BlogIt with Shika Chica where myself and marketing boss babe Andy Rivera talk about how to overcome fear and just do it.

After losing everything during the Puerto Rico hurricane in 2017, she was left with no choice but to leave the country and go to the city of dreams, New York.  She now owns a marketing company coaching business owners and online personals as they take the leap to their dreams and success. It’s time to sip some tea on this one chicas!

 

Copy of Copy of Copy of Copy of Copy of Copy of Copy of The Modern Man's Essential Grooming Kit.png

 

 

About Andy

@missandyrivera 2.jpg

Hola!

My name is Andy and I am a latina who likes to break the rules, ignite her passions, and empower others to do the same. As a Marketing Manager turned Online Business Coach, I teach people how to create opportunity and transform their lives by leveraging the power of Social Media.

Instagram

@missandyrivera 

@bossmediastudios

Website

www.bossmediastudios.com

Episode#5- How to Have a Healthy Relationship with Social Media?

Scrolling and scrolling and scrolling. Barely looking up when walking down the street avoiding all eye contact. A silent moment in a social setting? Check your phone and try and look busy? These are all habits we have developed however we should be aware of it and try to control them when we can. Today we will be talking about how to have a healthy relationship with social media so it doesn’t become taxing on your mental health, relationships and you don’t miss out on the non-instagramable moments. It’s time to get personal today! Get ready!

 

Copy of Copy of Copy of Copy of Copy of The Modern Man's Essential Grooming Kit (1).png

 

“Don’t Need to be In Silence and Cross your Legs to Meditate”- How Travel is a Form of Meditation and Can Help You Find Your Own Meditation

IMG_4411

When people think of meditation they think of sitting in silence with their eyes closed and no sound. Meditation to me is relaxing consciously and subconsciously and being aware of your body and your mind. This can be done by sitting down doing nothing, listening to great music while drawing, spending time with family and friends and talking about how you are or dancing your heart ours.

My ways of meditation are laughing, dancing to Latin music, sitting in silence and being aware of my breathing to reduce my anxiety and have a time unplugged from social media. So ask your self what is your way of meditation?

Now you know your way of meditation, time to ad the action of traveling. One of the many reasons I love traveling beside meeting people from all over the world is the temporary detachment from reality, familiar environment, and people. People feel uncomfortable and most cannot take the change. However, I see it as an opportunity to reflect on yourself, grow, learn and feel uncomfortable.

With so many amazing exciting things such as a huge project launch, changing my career over the past 4 months from a part-time interest into my career, traveling from home 1-2 weeks of the month and working from home, it has been an overwhelming change that I didn’t notice until I decided to leave Canada for a month to be with family In St. Lucia I reflect, work on my projects, enjoy the sun and nature. I have cried, I have had anxiety attacks, I have felt depressed, I have laughed, I have smiled, I have exercised, I have worked, I have eaten amazing home cook meals and I have enjoyed the outdoors including sunsets. After all that, one heals, grow and becomes more grounded in them self.IMG_4311_Facetune_22-12-2018-14-48-42

Every time I travel I learn about the country, culture and myself. It is something that no one in school, work or your family can teach you but the world itself.

Traveling, my experiences and meeting so many people has allowed me to learn my way of meditation and respect the ways of meditation for others.

I wanted to share this with you guys hoping that you are able to find a type of meditation that feels like home for you and use it to keep you sane, inspired, collected, growing and be you. I would love to hear what your ways of meditation are and if there is one that is your favorite lately.

IMG_4400_Facetune_22-12-2018-15-05-42

 

How Are those New Years Resolutions Going?

We all wait for the first day of the year to promise our selves that we wil go to the gym four times a week, reduce the amount of sugar that we will eat/drink, save more money and various other promises. I am one that not only waits for the first year to start a new goal , however I tend to revisit my goals on a month to month basis. Now, that is just me. Not everyone can do that and I obviously can not expect that you will as well. That being said, I am on that gets motivated if I write down my goals and look at it day by day to remind myself what I promised I would achieve.

So this year what are my goals you ask? I have a few. Some personal, some career wise and others that are just ways to improve what I am doing now. So let’s have a look at a few:

  1. Get a stable career that I love– working for years in a family business is fun and teaches you a lot that you can apply to various areas of work and in working with the business, I have recently found myself wanting to find a career that I love to wake up early to work towards every day. That hunger for a career actually starts with this blog. I love social media, being able to connect with people from everywhere and changing my environment time to time. In 2018 I will work towards my ‘entrepreneurial’ dream career.
  2. Stay fit– I started my healthy journey seriously about 6 years ago when I noticed that my eating habits could possibly affect me in the long run. I go to the gym quite frequently ( as you can tell by my Instagram stories) and in doing so have found my love for fitness. In the new year I want to push myself out of my comfort zone and allow my body to explore its capabilities in ways that I probably could never imagine. I would like to try out a cross fit class, hot yoga ( again ), spinning class, pole dancing and bare class. I believe these are classes I always wanted to try but I was a bit intimidated to give it a go. Now time to face my fear!
  3. Work on my mental health- this is something that is a long term goal for me. I have been focusing more on it for the past two years. As someone who does not like talking about my feeling even with my close friends and family I have over time gotten a lot better. I want to ensure that I remind myself to be in the now, that it is ok to say you are not ok and to ask for help when needed.
  4. Grow the #shikachica fam– I started my journey last year in April and it has been a fun and exciting adventure. I meet so many people and made so many connections. with you lovelies. In the new year I want to not only grow the #shikachica fam I also want to connect with you guys more. I want to first start with the conference gathering in Toronto this Spring 2018. I will then be going to Montreal, Vancouver, Calgary and many more cities along Canada. Eventually meeting you lovely chicas in Europe and the USA as well.
  5. Spend more time with loved ones– it’s that time of year where you start to go through your friend group and clear out all the negative energies. I really do believe that the people you around yourself with is 50% of what can impact you to be the best version of yourself. As hard as it is to let go of unhealthy relationships keep telling your self how rewarding it will be if you let go of them sooner rather then later.
  6. Travel to 10 new places– this is a big goal for my in 2018- I have a few travel destinations such as Cape Town, Bali, Amsterdam, Morocco, Germany, Colombia and more that I would love to visit in the new year. I really want to not only learn about new cultures however take my self out of my comfort zone. 
  7. Save more!- We all spend a ridiculous amount of money on buying our lunch and buying things that we really do not need. I want to save more money and be wise with my money in the new year
  8. Find  a great place to live– Weather it is a new city or new apartment, I want to start in some new environment this year in the Summer/Fall. 
  9. Live minimalist– the more I travel the more I learn I probably do not need half the things I own. In relation to a new environment I want to make sure I de-clutter all the things I do not need, donate them and stay simple with what fills my space. Clear environment clear mind right?

S o far things have been going well. I workout 4-5 times a week, I am starting to reach out to people if I need help, checking in with family/ friends more, being more active on my instagram story to connect with you guys more, I’m slowly cutting out the negative people in my life ( man is it ever hard). Things I need to work on? SAVING! I need to save more money. The amount of times that I have been buying food out is embarrassing. I am going to start looking at apps to help me budget my spending on a day to day basis. I also need to start planning my trip that I am hopping to take in February. It is slowly approaching and with saving that will allow me to have more options as far as destinations. Minimalist living is a project on its own. I will start going through my belongings on a monthly basis and donate any things I do not need or use.

There you have it! There are my resolutions for the year. I have been really trying to be focused on giving myself some self love lately especially with the new year. I think I tend to get too busy living the busy crazy life I forget about taking care of myself. This year will be a year to give myself a little bit of gratitude day by day. 

DIY Off the Shoulder White Shirt

The collarbone is the new cleavage for the season. It’s all about showing the collarbone. It really accentuates the neck and gives this chic sexy touch to a formal or even casual outfit. 

I decided to take this regular button down shirt and button only 4 buttons up starting from the bottom of the shift. Then I role the top on the shoulders and voila, you have an off the shoulder top in two seconds. A lot of stores do offer this look already designed for you, but why not get that trend from your closet with a piece that you already have for free. I then added this knitted skirt that I got from my moms closet that she wore ages ago. I love the grey and black pattern. It gives a vintage touch to the whole look while still making it trendy with the basic white off the shoulder top. You can layer a trench coat to keep you warm or if you live in a colder climate add a wool trench coat. I added this suede brown trench coat from H&M which really brings an earthy touch of color to the whole look

 

For finishing touches, I added my go-to simple black closed toe suede shoes from Call it Spring. Again if it is a little colder where you live, you can add black leather ankle booties with a heel. LAstely, I added this black hat from Forever 21. The silver detailing give a trendy metallic touch to the overall look. 

Fall OOTD- Pumpkins, Cozy Sweaters and Plaid Scarfs

So I decided to take advantage or the fall weather, beautiful leaves and go to a pumpkin patch. Yes a pumpkin patch. What says fall more then that. I wanted o wear an outfit that was comfy and what says comfy more then this wool sweater I bought ages ago from Zara. Even though I bought it so long ago, it is one of my favorite sweaters in my closet. Year after year I go back to it and year after year it stay trendy and an amazing laying piece as well. 

I then added these simple dark wash skinny jeans from Zara. These are another on of my favourite beacuse they are one of the most comfortable jeans I own and they make my but look good if I do not say so myself.

For the shoes, I wanted to complement the oatmeal color sweater, so I added these high knee suede boots from Call if Spring. You all know I love this store. They always have amazing style for boots and you truly can not go wrong. 

Now to add some color, I added my Zara orange plaid oversize scarf. I honestly do not like orange 99.99% of the time but for some reason I love this scarf. Since Orange is not usually a popular color when it comes down to plaid over-sized scarf I thought why not. It will be different. 

Lastly for the bag , I added a leather vintage bag with a gold detailed buckle on the strap. Kept it simple.

OOTD- Just A Casual Band T- Shirt

As much as I love looking amazing every day, some days I honestly get lazy to make a whole outfit but I still want to look like I am put together. What better way to do that but to wear a Beatles band t-shirt like this one from Forever 21. 

To keep the overall look edgy I added light washed seamed stairs hemmed skinny jeans. This is a huge trend this summer and spring. Adding these jeans is a settled way to still be trendy. Also, these jeans were such a great deal at H&M for $20 (Crazy right?! Can’t go wrong with that). Number one tip with any trend that may not stay long in fashion, buy a cheaper version so you don’t end of spending a ridiculous amount on a trend that will only last one season. 

I then layer this band t-shirt with my yellow motor jacket ( do you believe me that it is my favorite item at the moment yet haha). The jacket brings a pop of color to the overall outfit.

Now the final touches I added are these amazing Porch Aviator sunglasses from Point of View which I am so obsessed with. These 80’s cop inspired glasses literally give me life to this whole outfit making me feel like I should be an undercover agent in the 80’s/ 90’s. I then added these amazing laced up black heels from Call it Spring. The heals polish the whole look still giving a bad ass vibe to the ootd. May I also add how they are more comfortable than most considering that they are chunky heels.  

There you have it! A casual easy outfit that doesn’t looks casual for Sunday errands, going over to see friends or even in the house. Let fashion be a way to express who you are and sometimes that can be done casually as well. 

Yellow Motor Jacket Meets Poka-dot Blouse

Processed with VSCO with a5 preset

Can I just say that this book is for the books? I will be officially be adding a few of these photos to my polaroid collage. This superstar jacket is amazing for the spring and summer season for a great statement piece and layering item.

I got this suede Mink jacket from a vendor at one of my local flea markets, 613 Flea, in Ottawa and I will defiantly say this will not be the last that I go vintage hunting for statement pieces. The suede material makes this jacket to Lux and the color brings such a bright fun addition to any outfit.

I then pulled out my polka dot white and navy blue collared top that I bought from Marshalls a couple months ago. The best trick is to add pattern and color to any outfit when in doubt. In this case, I added the vibrant jacket to compliment this classic polka-dot blouse.

Lastly, I added my white denim cut off mini skirt to match the top and keep this look crisp and clean.

For shoes, I got these amazing kitten heel black suede shoes from Call it Spring. You can never go wrong with a simple classic black shoe. They are a staple that never gets out of style in your closet.

To finish this look, I added these amazing Tom Ford aviator glasses from Point of View Opticians. I love the look of the glasses as they are so clean and crisp though they bring a sense of 70’s to the whole look which I absolutely love.

Processed with VSCO with a5 preset

Baby Blue @mypinkmartini Dress and Tom Ford Aviators

IMG_2245

Over the shoulder dresses and tops are everywhere making it a given that I and maybe every chicas will be wearing them all spring and summer long.

I was sent this dress by Pink Martini. Pink Martini is a Canadian clothing brand from Toronto that sells contemporary style clothing. I was told to choose an item from their website to try it out. I decided to choose this amazing waterfall off the shoulder dress.The dress hugs to your body at the bottom and has a flirty flowy feel with the top ruffles and the off the shoulder.

I then decided to pair the dress with these white and gold sandals that I bought from Aldos. I have had these sandals for a year now and they go with everything which I love. For the glasses, I teamed up with a local eyewear company called Point of View Opticians where they had so many great designers such as Jimmy Choo, Tom Ford and much more. I choose these classic Tom Ford Ombre effect Aviators. Tom Ford is probably one of my favorite designers for eyewear. He executes the shape of the eyewear so well allowing them to fit all different face types. These glasses literally slid on like a glove.

IMG_2248