All Posts By Charlene Gonzalez

Dealing With Holiday Stress and Depression During Covid-19 Pandemic

The holidays are the most joyful time of the year but this season will be very different for us all. In normal times many people looked forward to parties, family gatherings and gift exchanges while celebrating traditions. Due to COVID -19 all that has changed.

Las navidades son la época más alegre del año, pero esta temporada será muy diferente para todos nosotros. En tiempos normales, muchas personas esperaban con ansias las fiestas, las reuniones familiares y los intercambios de regalos mientras celebraban las tradiciones. Debido a COVID -19 todo eso ha cambiado.

In the reality we face today many people have lost loved ones while others are dealing with financial stress as many have lost their jobs. This 2020 pandemic has brought depression and anxiety to an alarming rise. Now in addition we face the holiday stress.

En la realidad a la que nos enfrentamos hoy en día, muchas personas han perdido seres queridos mientras que otros están lidiando con estrés financiero, ya que muchos han perdido sus trabajos. Esta pandemia de 2020 ha provocado un aumento alarmante de la depresión y la ansiedad. Ahora tambien nos enfrentamos al estrés navideño.

Change is difficult for many; I know it is for me. Especially when they are changes you didn’t expect and have no control over. If, I’m honest it took me a while to accept are new reality especially when it affected many areas of my life until I decided to focus on what I could control I began to change my perspective.

El cambio es difícil para muchos; Sé que lo es para mí. Especialmente cuando son cambios que no esperabas y sobre los que no tienes control. Si, soy honesta, me tomó un tiempo aceptar esta nueva realidad, especialmente cuando afectó muchas áreas de mi vida hasta que decidí enfocarme en lo que podía controlar y comencé a cambiar mi perspectiva.

Though we are still fighting against this pandemic it doesn’t mean your holidays are destined to be an epic disappointment. Here’s a few ways to deal with the stress and depression you may be facing so you can still enjoy this holiday season:

Aunque todavía estamos luchando contra esta pandemia, no significa que las navidades estan destinadas a ser una decepción épica. Aquí hay algunas formas de lidiar con el estrés y la depresión que puedes estar enfrentando para que aún puedas disfrutar de esta temporada navideña:

Embrace the new traditions. /Abraza las nuevas tradiciones.

We tend to get attached to traditions and a certain way of life; that’s way change becomes so difficult. Let’s be real, holidays have always been full of stress from chaotic shopping trying to find the best gifts too endless to do list. Let us not forget to mention family dinners where you’re bombarded with questions like, “Where’s the boyfriend?” When are you having kids? When are you getting married? or comments like “Still no boyfriend” “Oh wow you’ve put on some weight”. Let’s embrace the fact that we won’t be dealing with tons of stressful factors. Besides this is the time to celebrate the true meaning of Christmas. Christmas isn’t Santa or gifts, this season we celebrate the birth of Jesus who came to bring love, peace, hope and salvation into this world.

Tendemos a apegarnos a las tradiciones y cierta forma de vida; así es como el cambio se vuelve tan difícil. Seamos realistas, las navidades siempre han estado llenas de estrés por las compras caóticas tratando de encontrar los mejores regalos y la lista interminable de tareas navideñas para realizar. No olvidemos mencionar las cenas familiares en las que te bombardean con preguntas como “¿Dónde está el novio?” ¿Cuándo vas a tener hijos? ¿Cuando te vas a casar? o comentarios como “Aún sin novio” “Oh, vaya, has engordado”. Aceptemos el hecho de que no estaremos lidiando con toneladas de factores estresantes. Además, este es el momento de celebrar el verdadero significado de la Navidad. La Navidad no es Santa ni regalos, esta temporada celebramos el nacimiento de Jesús que vino a traer amor, paz, esperanza y salvación a este mundo.

Be grateful and count your blessings. Sé agradecida/o y  cuenta tus bendiciones.

If there’s one major fact we can take from 2020 is the importance of being grateful. Though it may seem harder than ever to be appreciative, trust me there is so much to be thankful for. Every morning you wake up is a blessing. It’s important to appreciate everything rom having health to the simplicity of enjoying a cup of coffee in the morning. Being grateful changes your perspective. Shed negative thoughts from your mind and embrace positivity and appreciation.

Si hay un hecho importante que podemos tomar de 2020 es la importancia de estar agradecidos. Aunque pueda parecer más difícil que nunca estar agradecido, créame, hay mucho por lo que estar agradecido. Cada mañana que te despiertas es una bendición. Es importante apreciar todo, desde la salud hasta la sencillez de disfrutar de una taza de café por la mañana. Estar agradecido cambia tu perspectiva. Elimina los pensamientos negativos de tu mente y acepta la positividad y la gratitud.

Make the most of it. Has tu mejor esfuerso.

We can’t deny the holidays will be very different this year but there all still many ways to celebrate and make the most of it. It’s important to find creative ways to adapt or start new traditions. The current reality we face is no reason not to enjoy this holiday season. LOVE is the reason for this season, lets embrace it.

No podemos negar que las navidades serán muy diferentes este año, pero todavía hay muchas formas de celebrar y aprovecharlas al máximo. Es importante encontrar formas creativas de adaptarse o iniciar nuevas tradiciones. La realidad actual a la que nos enfrentamos no es motivo para no disfrutar de estas navidades. El AMOR es la razón de esta temporada, abracemos esa verdad.

Be You, Be Lovely
Charlene Gonzalez

PHOTOS BY: NOMAR RODRIGUEZ

Thankful / Agradecida

It is officially Thanksgiving and despite all the difficulties 2020 has brought I am beyond grateful. This year has been an introspective year which has completely changed my mindset.

Es oficialmente Acción de Gracias y, a pesar de todas las dificultades que ha traído 2020, estoy más que agradecida. Este año ha sido un año introspectivo que ha cambiado por completo mi forma de pensar.

Unfortunately we often focus on the things that we do not have instead of all the incredible things that we do have. That perspective can lead you through so much negativity, insecurities, depression, and unwanted thoughts. Honestly, I was guilty of that.

Con demasiada frecuencia, nos centramos en las cosas que no tenemos en lugar de todas las cosas increíbles que tenemos. Esa perspectiva puede llevarnos a través de tanta negatividad, inseguridades, depresión y pensamientos no deseados. Honestamente, fui culpable de eso.

Thanksgiving should not be the only time of year that we give thanks, we should be thankful every day.

El Día de Acción de Gracias no debería ser la única época del año en la que damos gracias, deberíamos estar agradecidos todos los días.

I am thankful for so much. I’m so grateful family and friends. This year I was blessed with an adorable, extremely hyper new pup; Lovely Hope. Though she is difficult my fur baby has filled my life with so much love and excitement.

Estoy agradecida por tanto. Estoy muy agradecida por mi familia y amigos. Este año fui bendecida con una adorable perrita que tiene mucha energía; Lovely Hope. Aunque es difícil, mi bebé peluda ha llenado mi vida de tanto amor y entusiasmo.

My life has not been easy. I have struggled a lot but I know there is a great purpose with everything I’ve been through and continue to experience. Despite it all, I’m thankful for my struggles because they have truly changed me.  They’ve made me a better person and it has all helped grow into the woman I am today. Every difficulty, loss and failure have shaped me into who I am maintaining my selflessness and humility. Difficulties make you appreciate the blessings even more. Things are not always easy; my life is not perfect, and I definitely have moments where I still struggle. I feel stronger than I ever have before and for that, I am thankful. It’s extremely important to keep your faith in God and maintain a positive outlook in life.

Mi vida no ha sido fácil. He luchado mucho, pero sé que hay un gran propósito con todo lo que he pasado y sigo experimentando. A pesar de todo, estoy agradecido por mis luchas porque realmente me han cambiado. Me han convertido en una mejor persona y todo me ha ayudado a convertirme en la mujer que soy hoy. Cada dificultad, pérdida y fracaso me ha convertido en quien soy, manteniendo mi humildad. Las dificultades te hacen apreciar aún más las bendiciones. Las cosas no siempre son fáciles; mi vida no es perfecta, y definitivamente tengo momentos en los que todavía lucho. Me siento más fuerte que nunca y por eso, estoy agradecida. Es extremadamente importante mantener tu fe en Dios y mantener una actitud positiva en la vida.

It makes me so happy and grateful that I am able to do what I love. Through my platform of Lovely Chica’s I found my life’s purpose.  This platform has allowed me to connect with all of you and share who I genuinely am; my life, struggles, success and vulnerability. Doing this has allowed me to inspire and empower many. Because of my blog and social media I feel I know many of you personally. You’ve all become family. I love connecting with so many people around the world. Thank you for allowing me to share who I am with you. Through the difficult times when I feel like giving up you are all the reason I feel motivated and inspired to continue what I am doing. I’m beyond grateful for your love, incredible belief  in me and constant support.

Me hace tan feliz y agradecida que puedo hacer lo que amo. A través de mi plataforma de Lovely Chica’s encontré el propósito de mi vida. Esta plataforma me ha permitido conectarme con todos ustedes y compartir quién soy realmente; mi vida, luchas, éxitos e vulnerabilidades. Hacer esto me ha permitido inspirar y empoderar a muchos. Debido a mi blog y mis redes sociales, siento que conozco a muchos de ustedes personalmente. Todos se han convertido en familia. Me encanta conectarme con tanta gente en el mundo. Gracias por permitirme compartir quién soy con ustedes. A través de los momentos difíciles en los que siento rendirme, ustedes son el único motivo por el que me siento motivada e inspirada para continuar con lo que estoy haciendo. Estoy más que agradecida por su amor, su fe en mí y su apoyo constante.

I wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving. Let this day serve as a reminder to count all our blessings. Let us be thankful and appreciate all that we have.

Les deseo a todos un Feliz Día de Acción de Gracias. Que este día sirva como recordatorio para contar todas nuestras bendiciones. Seamos agradecidos y apreciemos todo lo que tenemos.

“Let gratitude be the pillow upon which you kneel to say your nightly prayer. And let faith be the bridge you build to overcome evil and welcome good.”

Be You, Be Lovely
Charlene Gonzalez

Photos by: Nomar Rodríguez

Life Update and Fall Fashion

I can’t believe we are in mid September already. 2020 has been a hell of a year but it’s moving along pretty quickly.  Thank God September has been a pretty busy month for me. I have a few new business ventures (more details soon), I’ve been overdosing on pumpkin spice latte and I adopted a puppy! Another important update is that I’ve been keeping myself super extra healthy with vegetable, fruit and omega capsules. They truly have helped me a lot, if anyone’s interested check out the Juice Plus capsules here->

https://charlenegonzalezlopez.juiceplus.com/us/en  

If you follow me on social media you already know that I was on a search for a puppy for a while. This year has been a whirlwind and the pandemic has affected us all. At times I felt very lonely, though I have many amazing friends and family. It’s not easy having my sister far away and my parents are also moving away so I was feeling very lonely and a bit depressed. I was praying a lot asking God to someway help me fill the void and not let my feelings overcome me, than suddenly my baby pup randomly appeared in my life. She’s a chihuahua mix I named Lovely. Lovely has been keeping me busy and up all night but I’m very in love with her.

Now enough about me let’s talk about fall fashion. Over the years, bodycon dresses have become an indispensable part of every woman’s wardrobe.

Bodycon dresses are closet staples for many of us because you do not need to have a perfect figure to pull them off. No matter your body profile or age, these dresses are capable of molding your curves fitting you like a glove.

This midi bodycon dress in a pretty nude color is perfect to take well into the fall season. You can wear it with any type of shoe and purse.

You can also wear it for a night out, during a shopping spree with friends, or on a hot first date.  Bodycons are a one-size-fits-all solution for your fashionista needs. No matter how you style it or where you wear it to be sure to always wear a mask, remember we’re still in a pandemic.

Be You, Be Lovely

Charlene González

Photos by: Nomar Rodríguez 

Pandemic Fall Fashion: Heels and Leather Skirts

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It’s officially mid-august and I don’t know about you, but I’m so excited for Autumn! It’s the beginning of my favorite seasons which make the way for Thanksgiving, my birthday, Christmas and New Year. If there’s a sure fact it’s that we are all looking forward to saying goodbye to 2020.

Es oficialmente mediados de agosto y no sé ustedes, ¡pero estoy muy emocionado por el otoño! Es el comienzo de mis temporadas favoritas que dan paso al Día de Acción de Gracias, mi cumpleaños, Navidad y Año Nuevo. Si hay un hecho seguro, es que todos estamos deseando despedirnos de 2020.

During this season, my attention is immediately drawn to fashion that’s cozy, chic, leathery and elegant.

Durante esta temporada, mi atención se centra inmediatamente en la moda que es acogedora, chic y elegante.

First of all, wow, it feels so great to dress up and wear heels again! I almost forgot how to walk in heels! This crazy pandemic literally was almost the death of the high heels and dressing up for me.  After going barefoot during zoom meetings and doing regular chores in casual clothes and sneakers or flip flops slipping a heeled shoe back on was like … trying to move back to my parents’ house after spending so much time getting used to independent life without any restrictions.

En primer lugar, ¡guau, se siente tan bien vestirse y usar tacones de nuevo! ¡Casi olvide cómo andar con tacones! Esta loca pandemia fue literalmente casi la muerte de los tacones altos y la vestimenta elegante para mí. Después de andar descalza durante las reuniones de zoom y hacer diligencias con ropa informal y tenis o sandalias, volver a ponerme un zapato de tacón fue como … intentar volver a la casa de mis padres después de pasar tanto tiempo acostumbrándome a la vida independiente sin restricciones.

Talking about fashion a leather skirt has always been a staple in my autumn wardrobe, they are so easy to style. I own three, 2 in black and one in brown. I cannot tell you how many outfits I’ve created from casual to elegant.

Hablando de moda, una falda de cuero siempre ha sido un elemento básico en mi guardarropa de otoño, son muy fáciles de combinar. Tengo tres, 2 en negro y una en marrón. No puedo decirte cuántos conjuntos he creado, desde casuales hasta elegantes.

The leather skirt is a fierce staple for fall. Just like I mentioned above, you can dress it up or dress it down… the list goes on and on.

La falda de cuero es un elemento básico feroz para el otoño. Tal como lo mencioné anteriormente, puedes combinarlo casual o elegente … la lista sigue y sigue.

TIP: If you’re petite like I am, opt for something more full-coverage and a bit oversized to keep things all in proportion.

SUGERENCIA: Si eres pequeña como yo, opta por un top con más de cobertura completa y un poco más grande para mantener las cosas en proporción.

I styled my black leather skirt with a chic blouse and black heels. The look is simple to pull off yet sophisticated and edgy. With a leather skirt the styling possibilities are endless!

Combine mi falda de cuero negro con una blusa elegante y tacones negros. El look es simple de lograr, pero sofisticado y vanguardista. ¡Con una falda de cuero, las posibilidades de combinaciones son infinitas!

All the pieces worn in this look came straight out of my closet except the purse which was a recent purchase. Currently I’ve been minimizing my shopping with fast fashion and reusing pieces in my wardrobe. I own a lot of clothes and during quarantine I cleaned out my closets separating clothes to donate or sell. A friend and I also traded a few outfit pieces. I made myself a promise to make the most of the clothes I own. I have a huge compromise in doing my part to stop global warming and to take care of our planet.

Todas las piezas usadas en este look salieron directamente de mi armario, excepto el bolso, que fue una compra reciente. Actualmente he estado minimizando mis compras con moda rápida y reutilizando piezas en mi guardarropa. Tengo mucha ropa y durante la cuarentena limpié mis armarios separando la ropa para donar o vender. Una amiga y yo también intercambiamos algunas prendas. Me hice la promesa de aprovechar al máximo la ropa que tengo. Tengo un gran compromise en hacer mi parte para detener el calentamiento global y cuidar nuestro planeta.

Fast fashion is one of the biggest problems the world faces. Honestly, I love shopping but we all must be smart with our purchases. It’s also very important to make the most of the clothes you already own. If there’s something you have no use for donate or sell it. There’s also nothing wrong with buying clothes from thrift shops on the contrary. You can always find great pieces and your helping our planet. It’s up to all of us to do our best in protecting the home we live on, earth.

La moda rápida es uno de los mayores problemas que enfrenta el mundo. Honestamente, me encanta ir de compras, pero todos debemos ser inteligentes con nuestras compras. También es muy importante aprovechar al máximo la ropa que ya tienes. Si hay algo que no utilizas puedes donarlo o venderlo. Tampoco hay nada de malo en comprar ropa en tiendas de segunda mano, al contrario. Siempre puedes encontrar  piezas chulas, ademas ayudas a nuestro planeta. Depende de todos nosotros hacer nuestro mejor esfuerzo para proteger la casa en la que vivimos, la tierra.

Be You, Be Lovely
Charlene Gonzalez

Photos by:

Blog Series Part 2: Choosing A Blog Name and Domain

I’m assuming that if you’re here you are officially ready to begin your journey in creating a blog or website. Everyday thousands of websites and blogs are launched. With so much active content online one of the biggest struggle’s bloggers encounter is standing out and driving traffic to their site.

If there’s something I want, you remember is that in order to be a successful blogger you must have passion for the topic you’re going to cover. Before you begin your process choose a topic you know you’re going to be 200% passionate about. Writing about topics you love will automatically shine through with passion keeping your readers present and bringing in more audience.

So, before going live with your website or blog you must choose your main focus and topics. Choose a topic your passionate about than niche down your content focus as much as possible. There are many niches to choose from fashion, travel, food, lifestyle, finance, health, entertainment, tech, beauty, sports and more. You can choose one or cover a variety just as I do.

After your sure about the topic and niche your going to cover your next challenge is to pick a blog name. It’s important to put some time and effort into this because the name you choose will be your domain and brand.

Coming up with ideas for a blog name can be a bit stressful. Choosing my blogs name was a struggle for me. At first my idea was to name my blog after myself, but I didn’t want it to be fully centered on me and besides the domain with my name wasn’t available because it was already in use by someone else. It took me months to come up with a name. I wanted something unique and meaningful that not only represented me but that many other women could relate too. Since I was gringa I did have the idea of mixing languages and adding a Spanglish touch.

To help you choose the perfect blog name here are a few steps and guides that helped me:

  • Brainstorm: Make a checklist of various keywords to consider.
  • Grab a dictionary or thesaurus to find interesting words.
  • Take inspiration from books
  • Consider other languages
  • Use a blog name generator like wordoid.com
  • Play around with words and phrases
  • Make sure your choices are easy to spell and memorize.
  • Use your name (This is the least stressful option and using your name can give you more flexibility, if you ever decide to rebrand and switch your niche.)

Take time choosing your name and weigh your options. Get feedback before deciding and most importantly when you have a few clear ideas verify their availability online. Since your blog name will be used for your domain and branding it is important to check that no other brand name exist under your choice. To verify if your domain name is available checkout Hostgator. If it is available, you can not only purchase the domain but hosting as well. HostGator provides Lovely Chicas hosting with tons of great perks.

HostGator Web Hosting
In our next post in this series I will be covering the variety of platforms available to create your website or blog.

Be You, Be Lovely

Charlene Gonzalez

Denim Shorts You’ll Live In All Summer

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I love a good pair of denim shorts but when it comes to finding the perfect fit I’m extremely picky.

Me encanta un buen par de mahones cortos, pero cuando se trata de encontrar el ajuste perfecto, soy extremadamente exigente.

The older I’ve gotten, the more I’ve learned to love my body and actually dress for it.

Entre más edad tengo, más he aprendido a amar mi cuerpo y a vestirme para él.

After much trial and error, I’ve found that shorts with a high waste tend to be the most flattering for my body (and leg-lengthening because you know I’m a petite lady).

Después de mucha práctica y error, descubrí que los pantalones cortos con cintura alta tienden a ser los más favorecedores para mi cuerpo (y alargan mis piernas porque saben que soy una mujer pequeña).

These Guess high waisted “Kady Paperbag Denim Shorts” are the dream! These may be my favorite shorts purchase of the summer. I actually wear them with confidence without having to worry about my butt cheeks peeking out;) The best part is that they fit so nicely around the leg and hip area AND still have room to breath on the waist.

¡Estos pantalones cortos  “Kady Paperbag-cintura alta de Guess” son el sueño! Pueden ser mi compra favorita de pantalones cortos del verano. De hecho, los uso con confianza sin tener que preocuparme de que mis nalgas se asomen;) La mejor parte es que se ajustan muy bien alrededor del área de las piernas y la cadera y todavía tienen espacio para respirar en la cintura.

Shop Guess Factory Today.

Another detail I’m a fan of is the paperbag waist. Give me anything with a paperbag waist and I guarantee I’ll love it. Trust me when I tell you anything with a paperbag waist will make your waist look extra tiny.

Otro detalle del que soy fan es la cintura paperbag (bolsa de papel).  Dame cualquier cosa con cintura de bolsa de papel y te garantizo que me encantará. Créame cuando le digo que cualquier cosa con una cintura de bolsa de papel hará que su cintura se vea más delgada.

It’s easy to style these shorts because they go with anything. You can dress them down casually like I did with a black bodysuit and vans sneakers or you can style them up with heels and a chic oversized blazer. I personally can’t get enough of these Guess shorts which I’m sure will soon to be sold out.

Es fácil vestir estos pantalones cortos porque combinan con cualquier cosa. Puedes vestirlos casualmente como yo lo hice con un body negro y tenis vans o puedes estilizarlos con tacones y un elegante blazer. Personalmente, no puedo tener suficientes de estos pantalones cortos Guess, y estoy segura de que pronto se agotarán.

I’ll definitely be wearing them a lot this summer. If you want your own pair visit https://www.guessfactory.com

Definitivamente los usaré mucho este verano. Si quieres tu propia pareja visita ttps://www.guessfactory.com

Be You, Be Lovely,
Charlene Gonzalez