Tag: travelblogger

Episode#8- How to Start Being Minimalistic and Travel?

Posted on by shikachica in Blog It with Shika Chica, BlogIt, Home, Travel

This has been a topic that I have been very interested in the past two months, minimalism. Minimalism is when you are able to declutter the materialistic things in your life that you barely use or don’t use at all and only own the necessities of what you need. When you look at something, you should ask your self, what value does it bring to my life?

Since traveling almost full time since August 2018, I have looked into this lifestyle and I am slowly becoming a part-time minimalist. This means that I do get rid of 60% of what I own but the 40% of the things I need and the very few things that mean something to me that I choose to have it bring value to my life.

This topic was requested by Becca, one of our listeners who wants to learn about minimalism and if it is possible to be minimalist and more specifically how to be one and travel. I am excited to share with you all about my experience and I hope it inspires you to question the value of things a little more.

 

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How Are those New Years Resolutions Going?

Posted on by shikachica in Home

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. 

Fall OOTD- Pumpkins, Cozy Sweaters and Plaid Scarfs

Posted on by Shika President in Fashion, Home

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

Posted on by Shika President in Home

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. 

Back to the Basics- LBD

Posted on by Shika President in Home

Sometimes it’s good just to go back to the basics. An LBD never goes wrong for any occasion. You can wear an LBD for work, a wedding, dinner with the family, out with the girls. Really it just comes down to the style of the dress and the accessories you decide to pair it with

I got this slip lace detailed dress from Marshalls. I love how simple the dress is but the lace detailing gives it a classy, delicate and sexy touch to the overall dress. I then decided to add my black closed toe shoes that I bought from Call it Spring. There is something about an all black look that really keeps the look sleek and classic so when you are looking at your photos ten years from now you can still say  “I can wear that dress again”.

Now the accessories are where the dress really comes to life. The dress is like the crust, sauce, and cheese of the pizza and the accessories are the toppings. For this look, I added the Tom Ford cheetah sunglasses from Point of View Boutique. The pop of color and pattern really brings the whole look together. These glasses are definitely crowd stopper. If you really want to go all out or might be going out at night time when it cooler, add a duster jacket or motor jacket to keep the look classy yet add some color to this all black ensemble. I added my yellow suede motor jacket from Mink (why not? I feel so bad ass with this jacket). There’s something about a motor jacket that makes me feel like I should be on a motorcycle in style.

Yellow Motor Jacket Meets Poka-dot Blouse

Posted on by Shika President in Home

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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.

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Baby Blue @mypinkmartini Dress and Tom Ford Aviators

Posted on by Shika President in Fashion, Home

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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.

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Featuring @carlascakes- What’s in My Bag?

Posted on by shikachica in Fashion, Home

Every girl has a huge bag that has countless items that we probably never use, just throw into our purse just in case or just want to smell like three different type of perfumes. I have teamed up with Carla’s Cakes, a local Ottawa bakery that does everything you need to satisfy that sweet tooth. From cupcakes to cakes to cookies to pies, with a creative spin and amazing attention to detail, there is a cake for everyone. 

I decided to choose five items that I always have in my bag. These are my die hard items that I have regardless of the occasion:

1. Lotion

One of my pet peeves is having dry hands. No one liked having dry hands especially when you live in a country like Canada where the climate continuously changes and you love to travel to various destinations with various climates. I decided to choose Body Shops Grapefruit Body Butter. It’s a bright smell and it is lasting both in moisture and scent. 

2. Liquid Lip Stick

I am sure everyone went through the stages of loving the Smackers lip glosses as a child (#90’s kid’s problems), though they can get sticky. Hence, I decided to choose a mate alternative that is still more hydrating than most, NYX Lingerie Liquid lipstick in the color Teddy. This is a great nude for all skin tones especially dark to olive skin tones. This literally makes me look amazing even when I got to the gym and I want to look maybe a bit more extra, I slide this bad boy on and I’m ready to go hard on cardio.

3. Perfume

From going t the bus and maybe encountering an unpleasant scent to touching up a bit in the bathroom during a dinner gathering with friends, I always have a small travel size perfume in my bag. I am one of those people that love having a scent. I think someone’s perfume is like a clue to someone’s character. Plus who doesn’t like smelling amazing? Here is one of my go-to staple faves, Candy Prada edition. 

4. Saje Pharmacy Kit

Being a part-time team member at Saje, this is my die hard item I always have. I grew up using aromatherapy from my grandma and have seen it first hand how it has cured many people in my life including myself. The pharmacy kit has stress release to help my feel relaxed, immune so I am germ-free just in case I feel a cold coming along, pain release to rub myself down after going to the gym, peppermint halo for headaches and to keep me cool and eaters digest for tummy aches. I use this package daily as I have made it a staple to my lifestyle routine. 

5. Face powder

The weather is getting warmer which means makeup can get a bit sticky. I like to throw my face powder in my bag to touch up and to avoid a greasy face. I am currently using the NYX Mate Powder. 

So those are my staple items in my bag. I have a few extras if I want to be a bit extra (pun intended lol):

  • Deodorant 
  • Hair brush 
  • Face powder 

Check out @carlascakes!

OOTD- Cut-Out White Floral Dress

Posted on by Shika President in Fashion, Home

Floral is a given when it comes to spring and summer fashion. When in doubt you can honestly just wear a floral dress and you are ready for the catwalk.

This look I decided to choose this white cut out dress from Forever 21. I love the blue and pink flowers. This looks amazing aginst the white canvas. I also like the length as it is not too short and still gives a sexy feel with the backless feature and the cut outs. 

I then decided to add my silver loafers from Just Fab. It brought an edgy feel to it ( you know how I like my edgy and girly/chic vibes). An alternative would be to add it with neutral gladiator sandals or Pink fushia heels that will match perfectly with the pink detailing on the dress. Of course with no surprise, I added the Call it Spring rose gold sunglasses. 

You can easily wear this look for a picnic or while having a couple drinks on the patio with your friends. 

OOTD- Delicate Lace and Peach Pleated “Skirt”

Posted on by Shika President in Fashion, Home

This outfit is all about being fun, flirty and girly. I love lace because it gives a sense of elegance and grace to any outfit while bright vibrant colors give a sense of fun, flirtiness, and joy to the overall outfit. 

I decided to start with the famous scallop lace 3/4 top from Marshalls. Can I just say the detailing on this top is phenomenal! It is so intricate and well designed. The top gives a garden tea party vibe to it which is perfect for day to day errands to a gathering with the girls on a Saturday morning over brunch a mimosas. I then brought this fun BCBG peach chiffon skirt that I bought a couple years ago. The pleating is definitely a style this spring and going into the summer. This is one of those it looks like a skirt but theiy are shorts type of shorts.  Lastly, I added my Call it Spring Sunglasses (surprise?) and my gold and white sandals from Aldos that I bought a million years ago. 

There you have it! You are ready to go to a garden party with the queen, really. What would you guys wear to a garden party?