it's beginning to feel a lot like christmas < 3

 Christmas is the most amazing time of year.

Despite the cold weather, i truly enjoy Christmas and everything is has to offer. I couldn't wait to put up all my X-Mas decor, i have so much stuff I love to show off. i also put up a tree at my mother-in-law's place. My new place is really coming together. I can't wait until it is all ready and set. So far I have my trees up, see below =)

As I am putting up my tree, decorating my fireplace mantle, putting lights around the door and window trim, hanging snowflakes in the windows, and covering every table with knick knacks--- I warm up hot chocolate with extra marshmallows while listening to the X-Mas station, 93.9 The Lite, which plays nothing but X-Mas music all day and night long. I start a fire in my fire place, and the sheer warmth and smells flowing throughout my home just brings such bliss.  It really puts me in a loving and giving mood. 

Shortly after I finish with all my decor on the inside, I head outside, and put up Christmas lights anywhere I can. On Christmas, i go as far as putting reindeer tracks in the snow so i can REALLY fool all the kiddies!! I also decorate my stair railings with garters, lights, tinsel, and anything my landlord allows! Then of course the sexy lingerie ;-)

so now, about this blog .. I wanted to write about things i love about this season and am curious to know what my readers' favorites are as well. i don't know any one who doesn't enjoy this season. and if they are, well BAH HUMBAG to you too, cus you're nothing but a GRINCH. ;D

Chrismas Season Must Do's!

downtown chicago is definitely the place to be! sure, it's cold && snowy, but that is part of the appeal.. especially for visitors from parts of the world who do not experience seasons in the way we do here.. there are even people within the US that do not.. Chicago has it's own weather control that's for sure.  with a mix of dark nights .. bright lights.. and the HUGE christmas tree Chicago puts up every year are some of the few things that make downtown such a great place to be.

my #1 favorite thing to do is ice skating.  there are some people who just have to get their fitness/sports fix, and ice skating is the best sport to find it. It is a classic chicago winter activity. The famous Grant Park is its backdrop.. so while your skating thereis nothing but beautiful scenary all around. it's also free to the public but i think you have to pay to rent the skates which shouldnt be more than $10 bucks.

food :: of course chicago is known for its amazing melting pot of different cuisines. but i personally go for the bakeries along michigan and congress because my sweet tooth is huuuuuuuuge and always aching for more. not only that but i am a fabulous baker myself && am always looking for new recipes or ideas to try out myself. the cookies pictured below i baked with my mom - these cookies came out very good but only problem was we did such a good job on them  i didnt want to eat them up!! i just wanted them to sit there and be complimented by everyone who came over .. haha ;D

chicago's broadway scene. when i went to school in chicago, my ballet team always made it a point to bring us to the theater to see the Nutcracker and a handful of other plays. i really think the winter season is not complete without seeing at least one play.  there is an annual Christmas Spectacular, which is my personal favorite because its over 100 performers at least! and just a huge combination of music and dance. my fiance's family and i really enjoy Chicago's broadway scene.

 parades. the magnificent mile lights parade is before thanksgiving and known for its HUGE blimps illuminating over thousands of lights on Michigan avenue.  this is pretty much the most famous parade, but there is also a toys for tots one that i go to every year. check out the picture to the right --- >>

Elmo!--whose the infamous MC of the parade is usually first and leads the illumination of more lights than any one can count on the The Magnificent Mile district on michigan ave.. i forget what street its from but i know it starts at wacker drive and i would assume goes all the way to clark or oak st. there is an insane fireworks show over the river at the end which brings just an amazing event to an even more amazing end.

brookfield and Lincoln park zoo: lincoln park zoo is more common to go to because its in downtown chicago and its also free to get into. it also hosts the "zoo lights" which is really popular to attend throughout the holiday season. they have santa claus there to visit each child, super amazing ice-carving demonstrations, all the while enjoying a musical light show. while brookfield zoo is a more nicer zoo, but cost money to get into, besides on christmas day they are free to enter and is a holiday tradition with my boyfriend and I to attend every year because it holds a very special moment in both of our hearts-- brookfield hosts the holiday magic event that is pretty much  both a laser and light show along with ice carving demonstrations as well and live music and magician performances. i like this one a little better than the Zoo Lights at Lincoln park zoo, but again its what you pay for. brookfield zoo also hosts a "breakfast with santa" pretty much every weekend throughout december i think. i went to it once but it was the weekend before christmas so don't hold me to it, but im pretty sure its every weekend.

christmas tree at the museum o science and industry! ;D

every museum is great in its own way. my favorites are the museum of science and industry and the field museum because they are most informational along with them both having things that relate more to my interests but the Shedd Aquarium and the Adler planetarium are also very cool to walk through, as they have great visual displys.  i also really enjoy the chicago children's museum..they really go all out for the children!!  i remeber going iinside a firehouse, walking through the sahara desert, and a whole bunch of other control centers. it really shows you a lot, all pertaining to fun and education of course.




now alongside the children's museum is the Navy Pier's LEGOLAND!! Lol.. it's seriously  like entering the world’s biggest box of Legos.  there is a HUGE medieval Lego castle-- includes dragons!! There is also pretty much every major landmark throughout Chicago is remade in legos like the water tower, Sears' tower, etc. && last but not least, you have the opportunity to build your own lego creation! of course i always took full advantage =) i wish i still had my pictures. i put them in one of my scrapbooks that one of my friend's accidentally throughout when she lived with me =(

Now to end this super long, what felt like endless, blog i just wanted to say chicago is a very great city. it has a lot to offer, and is magnificently beautiful from an architextural aspect especially. i know there are many, MANY areas that are very bad and crime ridden but for every bad neighborhood there is a good neighborhod, and as with any city--there is always going to be a Skidd Row. Just how this human race is unfortunately. so if you've never been to these places, please try to get to them this winter. they are very inexpensive, if not free, and really there is not excuse not to make it to them if you really want to. 

Chicago is also known for it's insane weather. upon attending any of these events, please make sure you dress apropriately!! i myself just bought these super cute zebra glittens because every morning when i leave for work at 6am, my car is frozen inside so my boyfriend started to run out 20mins before i leave so it can warm up but what doesn't seem to get warm quick enough is my steering wheel!! so i put on my xmas list i want a warm and fuzzy steering wheel cover, but until i get that i will just drive sporting my uber cute glittens :

i know, i am obsessed with zebra print! =) i like the glittens because i can always free my fingers if i need to do something like put on make up or tie something or text quickly, etc. Anyway, try to stay warm this holiday season, but also try to really make your life feel like a winter wonderland.

thanks for reading =]

to be or not to be .. a vegetarian?

After careful consideration, i have decided that i will enter the crazy cat lady phase a little early. why? because at times, I absolutely really cannot stand to be around people.

For starters, they can be selfish, FAKE, JEALOUS, and completely UNTRUSTWORTHY not to mention conceited, and egotistical. In most cases, females are all of those at the same time! how are humans capable of all of this? are our sophisticated brains holding us back from really living life? or do we need this sophistication to propel mankind into some kind of super era? because if you ask me... i'd say animals have the riqht idea. When you think about it, everything I need to know about life I can learn from watching my cat. -- eat when you’re hungry... sleep when you’re sleepy... and most importantly, when you see someone you love hurting...wait until they are done trashing the apartment before making an attempt to cuddle. -- lol


how many times have you heard the same old same old...
"I hate men, but I have a dog that i would marry if i legally could."

"i hate men, but i have five cats that mean the world to me."

"I hate men."

"i hate men."

"i hate men."

i truly believe a lot of this stems from bad experiences in childhood; therefore, many girls find comfort in the innocence of animals to sort of que them from those bad experiences. I think this is mostly because cats & dogs are incapable of judging people. And the most insecure girls get to really appreciate that factor the most. Why? Because when in the company of a pet, there is no need to suck your stomach in to make your boobs look bigger. animals don’t care if you have a little lisp or if you have an odd looking belly button. having that “break” from the pressures of society is revitalizing and relaxing, which is why i feel alot of women in the stripping/adult film industry become actively involved in PETA and vegetarianism. they simply get to the point where I am and that is the realization that there are no good and real people out there. It is truly a sad world. sure, the book “Skinny Bitch” completely horrified me, the documentary “Food, Inc.” made me physically sick, but it didn't stop me from eating meat. I don't think I can ever truly become a vegetarian.. 

Now onto the images. They are great aren't there? LOL They belong to PETA. PETA has been under fire for a number of years for using provocative images to advertise their cause. Mostly of celebrities posing nude such as the images above and below depict. I think this is pure genius. It gets people talking and nothing spreads information faster than a bunch of people that think they should feel offended. lol Let's face it, there will always be that one person who does. Below are some ads on google image search that I think are interesting and if this bothers you, I don’t give a fuck.

Now let's see another side..

men are better than animals because they don’t need to be fed, they clean up after ourselves, and they don’t try to mate with every female who waves her furry little end our way.

Oh wait, that only counts for 25% of the male population.

 maybe if pets talked, women would hate them.. What if your rat terrier mix sees you scarfing pizza at midnight and says, “uhm yeah, becky. do you really need to be eating that, sweetie?”

Or, your cat sees you sneaking in at 4 A.M. after a night out and angrily demands to know, “Where have you BEEN?! You were out with HIM again, weren’t you? Slut!”

Nobody likes a controlling, possessive feline, but again, their small brains preclude this annoying behavior. most importantly, remember that your trusted pooch or feline CANNOT change a flat tire, care for you when you are sick, or wine and dine you on your birthday. i don't even want to get into sexual needs...

to get a little deeper, what if just... what if the animals were put on this earth for us to consume. hmm.. ever thought about that ? then by not eating them you are keeping them from fufilling their destiny. I must admit that there is nothing like having a large porterhouse steak brought to your table all sizzling and stuff and cutting into it and it cuts like butter. Slightly pink inside & the meat just melts in your mouth! (I’m talking about steak here you gutter-minded people ;) ]

what are your thoughts ? are you vegetarian ? when did you become one, why did you, and do you hate others who aren't? i personally love meat way too much to give it up...wow that sounded pretty slutty, didn't it? yeeesh! im on a roll tonight ;]

Sex Toy Party

 hello  my lovely readers!!

Have you ever been to a sex toy party? Yes, you read that right. How many of you just blushed and made sure no one else was looking at your screen? ;) I know, I know.... Often times, when people hear this, they think one word… orgy!! As much as I would love to say I participated in an all-female-sex-a-thon, I did not. We sat around in a circle and watched the hostess demonstrate all of the products. There were pheromone enhanced bath bubbles, vanilla flavored lube, edible body shimmer, and just about every kind of vibrator known to (wo)man. Ever heard of the “Silky Stud”? How about the “Aquasaki”? Not only did I get my hands on all these things, but I also got a crash course in erotic massage and some wild sex positions. Oh, and I can’t forget to mention I won a prize for drawing the best looking penis with my eyes closed. Now there is something I can put on a resume someday. ;)

Basically sex toy parties are just silly fun for girls who are a little more on the adventurous side, which happens to be the only side I have. When the hostess brought The Rabbit out, I couldn’t help but grin. Next came The Mini Tongue, another stress reliever of mine... haha just keeeding. "Who needs a guy when you can just fire up the Hitachi Magic Wand?" said the party hostess. Of course nothing compares to real sex… real GOOD sex. The party hostess asked me if I had a vibrator or ever used one, unfortunately no i have not. I said "why have one, and waste money on one when i have my boyfriend right by my side ready to go?"

And her answer was amazing.

"Because there are about a million things that can go wrong when having sex with someone, I think it is important to have a “sure thing” sitting around just in case. "

Brilliant answer, right? It definitely got a few girls to bite the bait and buy one, but i did not. I only ended up spending about $75.00 at the sex toy party and not a single thing I bought required batteries or penetration... LOL. Instead, I opted for products I thought were very unique. 

Nipple Nibblers by Surprise Parties

Smoothie Massage Cream by Surprise Parties

Pure Instinct Pheromone Cologne by Surprise Parties

Both lotions taste like candy and make my skin extremely soft. I tested out the pheromone cologne when i went to the bar the other day with my girl friend.. and I didn’t notice too much of a difference considering there are men all over us when we go out as it is.. lol I put spots of it on my chest, wrists, and neck and although it made me smell lovely, it didn’t seem to have an effect on any man. That’s OK though. I still love the scent and I am going to use it all the time.

I understand a lot of this stuff is just a total gimmick and there is some asshole out there making alot of money on the fact that women will buy anything to enhance certain aspects of their life. This is also OK.

Why? Because everything about life is a gimmick.

People tell you they are genuine and trustworthy but they just end up being a faded spot of perfume on your skin with a promise to do so much more than smell good. In saying this, I will take the chance with the sex appeal enhancement simply because I have nothing to lose. 

I will also take the chance in saying I am not the only girl out there that will admit she loves sex.

Pleasure should never be shameful ;-)

[[ s.p.r.i.n.g f.a.s.h.i.o.n ]]

:: Spring ::

it's nature's way of saying "dress to impress showing less" ;-)  unfortunately in Chicago IL, we always get lulled into thinking spring is upon us all for us to get bombarded with two feet of snow a day later. Regardless though...  it was nice while it lasted, hopefully its a taste of whats to come. I’m dead set on leaving my winter wardrobe in storage, sexy as it may be, I cant wait to slip into my sexier spring and summer outfits!!

speaking of spring and summer outfits-- the spring trends this year i am going crazy for. emereld is the color of the year -- & i am a big teal fan so meh, close enough. i wanted to share all of the trends i am loving (off the shoulders, halters, pastels, etc) && the trends i am hating (loose shorts, peplums, etc) along with trends that have never went out of style in my book (maxis, short shorts, mini dresses, etc!!)


accessories ::

clear clutches

stripes clutch

favorite dresses ;;

    

More Plain, Lounging Dresses:

sporty ;;

::  Sweatsuit jumpers -- my two favorite LOVE PINK ones  ::

trends i am so not digging ;;

Dorsel Flats Shoes

 

Mom Jeans:

any one else loving or hating any of the above items? let me know if i missed any thing !!

Walk Better In Heels ! xx

Hello my lovely readers!

So it doesn't take a genius to know that any girl loves a pair of heels. it's like something every girl should own a pair of, and is definitely something every girl should have at least worn at one time or another in their lives. therefore this blog is about a few tips of mine i have for girls to tackle the only bad thing about heels ---- learning how to walk in them!!

so if you’re a ballet flats and flip-flops kind of girl, or even rocking Chuck Taylors every day-- you will come across one time that you will need to wear heels. Perhaps your BFF just called and needs you to stand up in her wedding, and that requires, *gasp*, HEELS! lol well, calm down chicadee. There is nothing to be afraid of.... for if you read on, you will find out how you can successfully walk down the aisle or down the street without hurting yourself, & even better --- to look good while you do it!!! =]

GOOD POSTURE.



As with any project you need to start with a good foundation. One of the keys to walking in high heels is good, strong, solid posture. Make sure your body is relaxed and your arms are loose and at your sides since they will help you balance as you walk. You should be standing up straight, your head high and your feet facing forward.



Get Good well fitting Shoes

It doesn't matter if those shoes look good on you, if they don’t fit right you are going to look more like Bambi on ice rather than Beyonce at the Grammy’s. Start off slow with a moderately sized heel (1-2 inches) and then as you grow accustomed to them, up the size. Try to break your shoes in BEFORE you have to wear them. So they are better fitted to YOUR feet & you don’t wind up with blisters at the end of your night! Remember that you can always make your shoes smaller, but you can’t EVER make your feet smaller.

Make sure they have all the fixings

Your shoes a bit loose? Purchase padding for the inside heel and pad of your shoe, that will help them fit better. Soles a bit slippery? You can buy sole grippers at your local shoe store that will add the perfect amount of traction right where you need it. You should also consider buying gel insoles for a little extra boost to your heels comfort level

                                           

Slow and Steady wins the race

Relax your body. Take one step forward, leading with your hips, first toe then heel, distributing your weight as evenly as possible. I do it this way, but others would tell you heel to toe. Try to keep your stride small, making sure you are picking up your feet, not just shuffling them forward. Make sure that your feet are facing forward, legs are close together, and your knees aren’t bending any further than they normally would. As you grow accustomed to wearing heels, your body will naturally up your stride or speed.






Beware the road ahead

Even experienced heel walkers can have some major difficulties on various surfaces, so try to be aware of the surface you are walking on, and adjust your steps accordingly. Super slippery surface? Tiled flooring or boardwalks? Your heel could get stuck inbetween the boards so make sure that your stepping on the flat solid parts of the board. Cobblestones? Use extra caution as the stones are usually not big enough to put your entire foot on at once, and tend to be irregularly shaped.

There you have it ladies!!!!

my few tips to help you walk better in heels. this is mainly for girls who are just starting out. i am sure every girl will have differing thoughts, tips, opinions, etc and i would like it if you'd post those in a comment below (you dont need an account here to leave a comment btw) but these are just from my own experience as i have been wearing heels every day since i was a freshmen in high school.



xox rica

a few of my favorite things xx

                      

i know i know.  who doesn't it make happy? lol so i wanted to make a post on a few of my favorite things. ya know.... things i cant live without, things i am in love with, and things i would highly recommend for all to use. which all of the items im going to list fall into each of those lol

so here's a list of  few of my favorite things via posting pictures of all the things i love and cannot live without =) most of the pictures i took myself, but there are a few i got off of google.com searches.
enjoy ;]

***keep in mind i will be adding to this list and/or making a part two, so stay tuned ;] ***

notebook paper.i am constantly writing down my any list you can think of! i often carry this folder which serves as my little daily organizer. This one has my "to do list, grocery list/things to buy list, my short term goals list, my long term goals list, my research list/job duties list" && of course the more colorful, the better. colors are a great way to keep organized!

*** i will be making a DIY blog on "Daily Organizer Binders";; something i came up with to not only be organized, but to stay organized. I'll include how i make the binders, where i buy my colored notebook paper (& what to do when i can't find any in stores), certain binders, and all other supplies needed, and what tabs i use that work best for me, along with different lists/tabs ive thought of that i'll list for you to choose based on which fits your life. I'll also include the importance of having one, and keeping up with it, and the importance of using colors, and much, much more!!  Stay tuned for the blog this month!!!"

 make up brushes.

These are the two biggest vases i'd recommend using, I also have two small square ones, & 1 small circular one not pictured.

 i got the vases at the Target ($3-6.99ea) and the pink sand i got at Hobby Lobby ($2.99).

each of my vases have different colored sand.

For the brushes i have w/a brush on each end, I just lie down in my make up box/chest.

candles.

i am obsessed with my apartment smelling good, and these candles do the trick perfectly. they stay lit long, expel an exuberant smell that makes me want to eat it all up!! haha ;) I get mine for usually $5.99ea at Bed Bath & Beyond, or Bath & Body Works

Ionic Blow Dryer

so light weight, my long ass hair takes 15 minutes to blow dry. as you can assume my arms gets sooo tired after a while. Not this with bad girl. Not only is the heat warm (not super hot burning your ends) but it has an amazing attachment that helps keep the blow dryer at least 4-6 inches away from the head.

brazilian keratin therapy.

okay ladies, if there is ANY hair product i would recommend, it'd be this. Brazilian Keratin Therapy makes your hair feel so amazing. I had really damaged hair, and I don't think I have a single split end any more. I get it thru my salon which has argon & morrocan oil in it as well, but most beauty stores have the ones pictured which I got from Sally's.

`

matching bra & panty sets.

when i leave the house, my bra & panties have to match. its an OCD thing, i swear. problem is i wear the same bra more than just once, so i have 10 of the same colored pair to match each diff color/design bra i have amounting to thousands of panties in my dressers lol

Charm Bracelets.
 

i am obsessed with making and wearing . i made this one for my baby sister for her 6th birthday.

jewelry is so easy to make once you get the hang of it-- i make about 30 % of my jewelry!

Garnier Fructis Volume Mousse

this stuff is a miracle worker. it adds volume like you wouldn't believe. Tracy DiMarco recommended it in one of her beaty vlogs, and we alll know Tracy's volume is one to admire. So of course I want whaaaatevs that girl has! ;=]
 i teased the heck out of my hair. it looked so fab < 3
not only that but it smells sooo delicious!
&& pretty cheap too! only $7.95  per bottle!

Skintimate Shaving Gel.

 Thisis perfect for those you who want perfffectly smoooooth skin--- use this!! I give & get massages often, and my therapists always tell me how silky smooth my skin feels. and i just know it's from using this amazing product.

 Mike's Hard Lemonade

since i turned 21 this year, ive been trying to find my signature drink. i've settled with wine coolors are alway nice since they hide that god awful taste of alcohol, but still give you that amaaaazing buzz =p

 dunkin donuts/ mcdonalds mccafe shakes

i get one of these on my way to work eery morning. they wake me up, and just ooses eith strawberry flavor. extra whippppp please =]

hair teasing brush.

this brush works sooo fantastically! it's a Spornette Little Wonder -- you can buy it online at any beauty site for under $10. it works so perfectly with teasing and back combing.

straight sexy hair smoothing balm/heat protectant.

this smells like strawberries, is a pink & black bottle which i LOVE ;) and it works so fabulously. i straighten my hair alot-- even to curl it which i do often as well. this acts as a barrier between my hair and the heat, therefore keeping my strands healthy and vibrasnt as opposed to burnt.

leg warmers.

there was a time when i wore leg warmers every day throughout the fall and winter. i am obsessed with them.

 i have a pair in every color, i really love wearing them with sweater dresses in the fall or winter.

 you can wear them over your knee high boots, or with closed/open toed pumps.

fruit smoothies.

i love fruit smoothies in general but Naked fruit smoothies are sooo yummy.
 this is soo very healthy for your body.

 i believe they are around $4 a bottle but so worth it.

they're super healthy, super yummy, and are sold in any grocery store near the produce section. They have various different flavors as well.

old perfume bottles.

am i the only one who collects all my pretty perfume bottles, even after they are empty? i like setting them up as a display cus they look soo pretty :) i set all of mine on a cake stand holder I got from bed bath & beyond, it's a round glass peice that really looks so elegant.

Flawless Fake Bake Tan.

                       

 if you want the perfect tan but don't want to get skin cancer from tanning beds, and not enough time or patience to sit in the sun --- use this product!! it's my secret to my glowing tan. not only does it smell good, but it smoothes on soo evenly, I cannot get over how great and easy it is too apply it.

 it comes with a professional mitt too. it is kind of on the pricey side at $25.00 per bottle at Ulta, but probably online you can get it for half that--- but defff worth it!

 Magazines.

this is a current pictures of my latest, but I seriously am a magazine addict. i have to buy any latest, and have about four subscriptions to popular magazines including cosmopolitan & people, and even more catelog sibscriptions.

i am very artsy crafty, and am always looking thru mags for things to cut out to put on a poster or in my scrapbook. =)

O.P.I. Nail Polish

this nail polish is obviously known for being non chip, and having the best colors!
They have any color you can think of, and i have about 30 of them! my nail polish collection has expanded tremendouly within the past few months.

victoria's secret beauty products.

the body spray, body butter & body lotion sets are so amazing. not only are they very affordable (which very rarely do you see that word in the same sentence  w/Victoria's secret lol) but they are good quality as well. the fragrance lingers on your body for hours, the body butter moisturizes your skin so intensely, & i can't begin to count how many compliments i get on how great i smell. my favorite is Endless Love(blue liquid bottle) Strawberries In Champagne (purplepink pictured) & Love Spell (purple body butter bottle).

hand sanitizer.

because i am SUCH a clean freak and germophobe, i have hand sanitizer in my purse/pocket at all times. not only that but im constantly washing my hands.

 this also results in extremely dry skin, so that leads to me carrying lotion around at all times too!

fav store sales.

not only sales at stores, but my favorite stores!! nothing makes me smile bigger than when i get the biggest bang for my buck.

 this is especially satisfying when it happens at Victoria's secret since they are normally pretty pricey!

fun slides.

oh em gee. i know this isn't necessarily a thing, but def one of my must do at any festival/carnival/ theme park. fun slides have always been my absolute favorites enter to win. well that one & the big Egyptian boat hehe =P

at stated in the beginning, stay tuned for a part two !!!