Mamma is rocking her Lucky Top and Helmut Lang skirt, sunnies from Kate Spade, and Coach accessories. Munchkin is rocking his adorable Easter top by Gap and pants by NUNUNU (last featured here).
Mamma’s been busy with a) traveling, b) a new styling gig (wait until you see my client’s fun, flirty, and fabulous downtown lookbook!), and c) a new and exciting business venture coming your way (I can’t wait to share it with you very, very soon!!!).
So much to do, so little time. In fact, it often feels like my brain’s running a thousand miles a minute, and I’m literally bouncing off the walls.
Thank goodness I’ve got Rockshic Baby to keep me nice and grounded… and remind me to every now and again, stop and enjoy the beautiful, intimate, and fleeting moments in life, like a nice mid-afternoon gelato run.
These photos were taken during our little family stroll to nearby Promenade at Bonita Bay, and really captured some of my favorite moments from this weekend. The weather was absolutely perfect and the scenery gorgeous. Best of all – nothing about the experience felt hurried or frenetic.
In fact, our entire family is a big fan of the Promenade, as it’s both convenient, pretty and peaceful. We come here frequently to just meander about, soak in the sun and waterfalls, grab some homemade pasta and meats at the local gourmet market, and in today’s case – enjoy a nice gelato cone or two.
Munchkin was in excellent form too! Something about the palm trees, blue skies, and fountains… they all seem to have a calming influence on our little guy. Then again, I suppose that’s not entirely surprising. After all, I would be pretty tranquil myself if this was my everyday backyard view.
Once again, it has been a busy week, and yours truly is off again to Naples for the long weekend, like my girl Cutie Patroller says, I am like "in and out burger these days."
I did have some great fun while I was in town, however -- starting with my spa time with the girls at Great Jones Spa. Despite living nearby, I've actually never been to the spa, and now I'm kicking myself on all that time lost!
The dets:
- The spa is very clean and minimalist, and it is ALL ABOUT the water lounge!!! When you go downstairs, there are lounge chairs, cascading waterfall, and beautifully lit pools (both of the hot and cold varieties) that are perfect for decompression and relaxation.
Zen....
- You can bring your own bubbles and snacks for the occasion (yet another reason why it's optimal to attend with a group of friends).
- Remember to bring a bathing suit!!!! I can't stress this enough, and almost missed out myself until a colleague of mine reminded me earlier in the day. In fact, I recommend bringing two, so that you can change into a fresh and clean one after your massage and enjoy the water lounge some more.
- Get there, check in, and stay a while. In fact, even if you're not using their services, you can still enjoy the water lounge, read a magazine in their relaxation area, or just spend a lazy afternoon chillaxing with your partner (which I fully intend to do in the near future). The cost is $50 per person to enjoy the water lounge (and sauna!) for up to three hours. Of course, the lounge and all of it's facilities are free if you book more than $100 in services.
- Lastly, and related to the above, the spa has one of the more impressive saunas that I've seen... Seriously, their river rock is enormous! (Not to mention beautiful appointed).
All in all -- I highly recommend the experience, especially with a group of friends! You'll walk away sufficiently distressed and rejuvenated, and you'll be happy that you ditched your office desk for that much needed escape!!
As the weekend draws to a close, I am ultra grateful for all of the great memories built here over on the Gulfshore, especially since we’ll be closing up shop here pretty soon and wrapping up our “Winter Refuge” in Naples, Florida.
This morning began at the lovely Caribbean Garden in Naples Botanical Garden, where yoga in the gardens is held every Sunday ($10 for members, $20 for all).
I’ve been here before for Garden Yoga (is there anything better than outdoors yoga? I don’t think so!), but have not returned since early last year. I settled my yoga mat on a bed of flowers, and the rest was history.
As I did my inversions, staring at a ceiling of Queen’s wreath, with soft breezes and gentle petals falling on my face – it really dawned on me just how unique this moment was. More and more, I’ve come to realize that Naples (not to mention the rest of Southwest Florida) is one of the best kept secrets for the colorful traveler (or perhaps I’ve just been slow on the uptick). Either way, it’s safe to say that not only did my mind and body get some much-needed Namaste, but my eyes also feasted on some of the prettiest (and most breathtaking) landscape I’ve ever seen!
Now that’s a nice way to kick-start Monday.
Queen's wreath vine (Petrea volubilis) and jade vine (Strongylodon macrobotrys) exploding with colors, lucky I got here at the right time!
Oh, just savoring my pretty little Rocksbox delivery here in beautiful Gulfcoast Florida, enjoying the lovely breeze and sunshine. Like lucky Nukebaby, I am one lucky girl!!! Get yours (1 Month Free Trial) with special code rockshicxoxo
Photo taken from the recent press launch of Rocksbox on the Bowery, see more details here.
Happy Friday from Gulfcoast Florida! Once again, this mamma escaped the snow last night and flew in just in the nick of time.
Boy do I have a treat for you! I’ve partnered up for a fun collaboration with the jewelry subscription service Rocksbox – basically a “Rent the Runway” or “Birchbox” concept, but for stylish jewelry! Check out some fun designs that I’m currently coveting. As a package, they feature 30+ amazing designers including House of Harlow, Kendra Scott, Gorjana, and Loren Hope.
So how does it work exactly?
Well – for $19 each month, you’ll receive hand-picked jewelry in the mail (tailored to your profile and taste, see below) and you can wear it, rock it, love it. Shipping (and return) is free. Always.
Oh, and you can do unlimited trials and returns within each month (so if you’re not feeling the piece, you can send it back for a restock!). This is great for you busy birdies who don’t have time to run out there and shop for new jewelry, but want to diversify & expand your existing collection. It's actually quite a cool concept when you think about it. For example, I always like to wear something brand new and shiny. Though in reality – once I have it, I really only wear that piece once or twice, so why not rotate my jewelry collection and branch out for a little experimentation? (Something tells me that I'm not the only chica out there who thinks this way...)
Plus, if you DO want to commit and keep your newly acquired bling, you can purchase it for a 20% discount off the retail through your Rocksbox subscription.
BEST part? Get ready… you can get a free one month subscription to Rocksbox if you use the special code: rockshicxoxo. That’s right!!! Go for it – starting today, for the first 30 days, the code will give all of you lovely gals out there a FREE 1 month trial (yes, you can thank me later). Send it on to a friend too if you wish!
Enjoy and do send me photos!!
Xoxo,
Rockshic
p.s. I know I'm a total stylist nerd, but I enjoyed taking the Rocksbox survey so much that I thought I'd share it with you. It's actually quite comprehensive in terms of understanding a person's taste and comfort in jewelry, and something I plan to use with my clients as part of my wardrobe styling services!
It’s that time again when we talk about formal wear and dress-up garb! These days there are so many options on-line, the world that leads to a fairy-tale ending is literally just a click away, so absolutely no reason for you to not look your very best!
So how best, then, to navigate the on-line shopping experience from boutiques like Peaches Boutique?
First of all – know your silhouette!! Once upon a time, formal wear was synonymous with floor-length gowns; to wear anything other than a traditional long-skirted gown was considered simply revolutionary. These days tradition may be respected, but not considered the standard. Colors can be brighter, and you can sparkle. Formal wear is now available in micro-mini, mini, knee-length, and cocktail length.
Simply put, there are so many varieties of formal wear to choose from, it’s probably wise for you to determine what fits you the best.
Look and evaluate carefully. Seek out what type of neckline looks good and what does not. Someone, for whom a V-neck flatters, might find a halter-style less so. Try on dresses with long sleeves, ¾ sleeves, sleeveless and strapless. Other, less common-in-formal gown sleeves include (and brace yourselves for this!):
Angel
Batwing
Bell
Bishop
Butterfly
Cap Sleeve
Cold Shoulder
Dolman
Gigot (aka leg o’mutton – unless you’re into period garb or costumes, it’s very unlikely you’ll come across this sleeve)
Fitted-Point
Hanging
Juliet
Kimono
Lantern
Pagoda
Paned
Poet
Puffed or puff
Raglan
Set-In
Two-piece
Virago
Wizard’s
Quarter length
Three-Quarter length
Next, try on different types of silhouettes – a column dress or princess seams; an A-line dress; a fit-and-flare/skater dress; an Empire waist; high seam, below the bust line; diagonal, an asymmetrical waistline that runs across the body diagonally, with the highest point below the natural waistline; drop waist; raised – any waistline that hits 1” or more above the natural waistline; natural, which falls at the natural waistline; the flattering V-shaped, also called Basque or Antebellum waistline; U-shaped, softer, less pronounced Basque line; Inverted V-shaped, which starts high in the center and drops at the sides, from under the bust line to at the hips, and, inverted U-shape (which is what it sounds like).
Take time deciding what looks best. Savor and enjoy the experience. You can even “virtual shop” with an honest girlfriend, or do “Face-Time” or “Skype” for an immediate opinion.
Of course, if your natural instinct is to take you fabulous self to the local shops that you’re already familiar with for that brick-and-mortar experience, we totally understand! There is something to be said about feeling the fabric, texture, and vibe. Just try and take as many notes as possible (or just put it on your phone!). You don’t want your excursion to be wasted effort, do you? Jot down as much as you can remember regarding the neckline, bodice, waist, sleeve and length.
Oh, and while you’re at it, go ahead and take a few photos of yourself in the fitting room. While you’re likely to remember what did not look good, it can be overwhelming trying to remember which type best suited and which type “just” suited. So snap snap away, bring a Selfie-stick along if you have to!
Just remember – fit is absolutely key! So make sure you select the right size for you. Sizes may vary depending on designer and manufacture, and when a dress is fitted (as many formal gowns are) the right size is critical. Try on as many designers as you can and remember what size you wore in which line.
Last but not least, smile bright, shine on, rock out, and enjoy!!! Oh and before I sign off... and how funny is this video? Nothing better than a good old Harlem shake in feathers and sequins!
It’s hard to believe that exactly one year has gone by, and that this is Rockshic Baby’s second St. Patrick’s day! (See photos of his first). We donned our little dude in emerald for the day, emanating vibes of prosperity, calm, and healing… and of course, the luck of the Irish!!!
Just this evening, I was remarking to my girlfriend how last year this very moment, our munchkin could barely sit up by himself. During his photo sessions with Sarah Merians, our primary fear was that he would literally topple over and plant his face on the floor. Ultimately, I think that our Nuke baby managed to hold it together quite well (more or less), though if you look closely at these photos, you’ll see a protective hand grasping our dear munchkin by the side in almost every frame (helicopter parents much?).
At the end of the day, even though our little monkey is as active as ever – running, falling, sliding, climbing, circling, opening and shutting doors, riding (and that’s all before breakfast!), he still needs a gentle hand placed by mommy and daddy to keep him on the straight and narrow.
… Something tells me that will never change!
Happy St. Patrick’s day everyone!!! Makes me think that we should visit Ireland again since our last trip. They say that emerald is the green gem of Spring, symbolizing a time for rejuvenation and abundant love, and I wish you and yours all of the above!
The best hot sauce ever at the Viceroy Riviera Maya, I was positively obsessed #rockshiceats
As Spring finally emerges (huzzah!) in NYC, it’s time for Manhattanites to pick up their Condé Nast, surf Jetsetter (or Luxury Link for those of you so-inclined) and plan that perfect Spring escape. All of this makes me long for another getaway with my ladies, much like I did last Fall with my favorite mommy-in-crime.
We ditched our bubs and hubs and jetted far away to the Riviera Maya (not my first escapade there I must admit), and spent a long weekend relaxing in a jungle paradise overlooking the beach. The Viceroy Rivieia Maya has it all. Private lounge pool? Check. A lush, beautiful tropical setting? Setting. Individual, rustic-chic villas? Check. Best of all – a beautiful beach, set beside an equally outstanding pool (choices choices).
We had freshly caught seafood every day (yours truly is a fan of grouper tacos with spicy sauce, muy picante!), followed by lots of lounging in the sun, a day-trip/ shopping excursion to nearby Playa del Carmen and Tulum, an evening BBQ on the beach, and moonlight dances beneath stars. In a nutshell, it was a nice, relaxing, and lovely getaway. To the exaltation of both mommies, we woke up in a sea of calm and tranquility, away from screaming babies and weary husbands. Bliss.
Oh, and did I mention swimming in the clear blue waters during the day? Our in-villa private plunge pool was also quite nice (the staff will keep it at any temperature you wish, so you’re always warm and toasty! Not that the weather was chilly by any means).
Come to think of it, now I really, really want to return! Plus, who could turn down a nice hammock?
P.S. For the sportier, more adventurous types out there, there's always ziplining in the juggle!
Happy Sunday! So this mamma’s been working on a rather exciting project (details forthcoming), but let’s just say it was inspired by a recent foodie list that yours truly had put together for Tabelog.
So what I realized, as I was going about in the process, is that:
a) I’ve eaten out way more than I thought
b) I’m particularly drawn to food that is both beautiful and delicious
c) Most of the foodie spots I covet happen to be downtown
I know what you’re thinking… duh, duh and duh! Incidentally, this also led to my arguing with hubs today how I could never leave our neighborhood because... well for all of the obvious reasons I just stated above.
These photos were taken quite some time ago (pre our New Zealand trip I believe, eep!), during a ladies night dinner eating session at All’onda, a lovely Venetian-cuisine restaurant in Union Square. The chef hails from Ai Fiori, so it doesn’t surprise me in the least that class and presentation would be his jam (though the space was certainly not Ai Fiori-like, and if you asked me, needed a bit more work… perhaps that’s changed since the last time I visited, who knows).
However, what it lacked in spatial presentation, it certainly made up for in terms for both food and service. I just remember being absolutely wowed and also feeling incredibly sated by the end o the night – both are excellent feelings, by the way.
I leave you with one last image, which is the thought that, just recently (March 9th to be exact), the restaurant actually hosted a “Biggie themed” tasting menu, in honor of the 10 year death of the Notorious B.I.G. (no joke), which comprised of spiced tomato soup, butter poached escargot, and curried oxtail patties. I’d like you to just savor that for a minute.
Last night, I attended an outing with colleagues in midtown (K-town) to be specific, right by Herald Squared, which consisted of lots and lots of Korean BBQ, followed by a surfeit of Karaoke. The result? I'm shocked to say -- I had a blast!!! Seriously, I’m starting to think that Korean BBQ plus Karaoke is the best corporate outing formula (see my previous feature on selecting the ideal corporate venue).
To quote hubby, work functions can always be bizarre, and generally very very stilted. My general strategy is to hold back and drink water (or first Pepsi or something equally dreadful).
However, in this case, I had the winning formula!! Delicious Korean spare ribs, couples with pitchers of Sapporo, couples with the Backstreet Boys (or One Direction, towards the end of the night, but I digress).
Korean BBQ, much like Chinese hotpot, is best enjoyed family style, in the company of many, with lots of laughter, sizzles, and munching involved. Karaoke, when done with the right crowd, is also a good laugh -- the more dramatic the song, the better!!! Although I never realized how good "Give it away now" is on Karaoke -- definitely have to save that for another time!!
The details:
1. Korean BBQ: We went to Shilla (37 West 32nd street), second time I’ve been there for a work event. The food is both delicious and cheap, and the venue is big enough to accommodate large teams.
2. Karaoke: We kicked-off at Chorus Karaoke (great facilities, dual screens, limited song list though – but opens early!). This was followed up by Gagopa Karaoke (dodgy entrance and the worst elevator possible, but BYOB!!! Plus a fantastic playlist). You can also pay in half-hour installments, say yes to that.
Plus, you've guessed it... there was some Gangnam Style to be had at the end of the night.
This evening, I was filling out something for work (mamma’s playing catch-up, what else), when I encountered this concept of the 80/20. I’ve heard of this before, but never dived into the subject very deeply, so I took to on-line research and learned a thing or two:
1) Essentially, 80/20 comes from the Pareto ratio/principle, where 80% of your results are driven by 20% of your inputs (simply put – you may have 20% of staff who’s doing all of the heavy-lifting, and thereby contributing to 80% of your total output).
2) Most people live their life in an 80/20 manner. For instance, they may spend 80% of their time with approximately 20% of the people within their social network, or 80% of their income on just 20% of total expenses (i.e. rent and food). So on and so forth.
Using the 80/20 rule, I can safely deduce the following:
1) The majority of my happiness (80%, if not more) is derived from my family – my husband and my son. It’s sad, but I suppose at this very moment, we probably only see each other about 20% of the time… though I’d venture to say that I devote the majority of my time and resources on that 20% piece because it is everything to me.
2) My passion – blogging and styling, is also something which occupies largely 80% of my personal and professional satisfaction, though also – unfortunately, at the moment, I am only able to devote approximately 20% of my professional scope to this.
3) In this new age of social media, we spend 20% of our time (maybe) doing something... and then 80% of our time advertising it via various channels. Though come to think of it, this is no less true in other dimensions of life, where people spend the majority of their time talking about the things that they did or have accomplished.
So, knowing this 80/20, what then, is the logical next step?
Do you try and shift things in life so that they are more evenly distributed? For instance, should I reorganize my time and career so that I can spend more time with family, and more time dedicated to doing things that I love?
I suppose the initial response would be a simple and resounding “yes." No brainer.
However – if one were to scratch the surface a bit deeper, would that still hold true?
Would I still love blogging as much, if I had to do it all day long, 24-7, and my very livelihood depended on it? Would I cherish the moments with my son as much, if I were to spend every waking minute with him, with nary a second devoted to myself, my hobbies, and my pursuits? What comes then, after he is old enough to establish his own independence and I end up with all this free time to myself, not knowing how to fill that void?
Perhaps life was always meant to be just a little bit imbalanced, and this is why, according to Vilfredo Pareto (the Italian mathematician behind the 80/20 rule), 80% of his peas were generated by 20% of the pea plants in his garden. Maybe he was never going to reap his harvest, if the other, seemingly deadbeat pea plants were to cease to grow?
Who knows, and ultimately, it's possible that the entire point of the 80/20 principle is that we’ll never truly know what REALLY drives results, but at least it gives us some guidance and a framework with which to think through our problems. I know I learned a bit just by reading some recent blog posts on this very subject. My personal favorite was this piece by Mintlife, which I thought presented the principle in a rather clear and straightforward framework.
Some of my favorite takeaways:
1) Applying the 80/20 rule at work helps you know what to let slide when you don’t have time to do it all. (This is something that I personally need to work on, as I can become rather obsessive-compulsive about minutiae because I think that I’m such a perfectionist, but as a result lose the big picture and burrow way too deep into the rabbit hole)
2) While you’ll never leave work for the day with everything “done,” if you are completing your core tasks with excellence, you’re 80% of the way there, and that’s more than most. (Whoo! Hubs always comment that I’m very goal orientated, so perhaps if I just write down 80% of what I need to achieve in any given day, use that as target and perform, then I’d be aces).
3) Only by producing output for other people to enjoy or make practical use of can you expect to convert a passion into a sustainable income. (Amen for all of my blogger colleagues out there!).
4) Finally, apply the principle to your own day: is there a time of day you’re most effective? The one hour where you’re wide awake, most energized and undistracted? That’s the time to tackle your toughest, most valuable challenges. If you align the best 20% of your day with the top 20% of your list of work, you’ll get more done in that sprint than most accomplish in a 10-hour day. (Thinking through this, I believe, should help everybody better tackle their time and resource allocation. For instance, I’m not a morning person, but I do know that I can get more things done in the morning if I just get my lazy butt up. On the other hand, I am at my most productive in the evening, but often times that is the time where all of my social engagements take place, and when I can get some quality time with hubs, so I cannot always rely on those moments to get my core-work done. Ay the quandary!!! However, knowing all of this is at least food for thought – which is always a plus, in my book).
If you’re interested, you can also read this blog post by Yaro Starak, the self-proclaimed “80/20 Optimizer.” While I think that some of his arguments are a bit too simplistic and extreme, I didn’t mind many of the points he was trying to make (at least they got me thinking).
Based in Manhattan's Lower East Side, Rock Shic is an excerpt taken from my personal lookbook of real people around the world. It is a combination of aesthetics, fashion, lifestyle, and travel. I also offer personalized Lookbook Consulting and Styling upon request. Please contact me at rockshic (at) gmail (dot) com. Services include: Wardrobe Analysis, Closet Organization, and Personal Shopping.
