Autumn is my favorite season for so many reasons including fashion, pumpkin spice, chilly weather, and the beautiful changing colors of the leaves. It was something I truly missed having lived in Puerto Rico the past 16 years where summer weather thrived all year long. One of my favorite parts of this season is the celebration of gratitude, though it is something that should be done every day. No matter the difficult circumstances we face in life we have a lot to be thankful for. Just waking up every morning is a blessing that should never be taken for granted.
As I continue to embark on my new life back in New York I’m incorporating new traditions. This being my first fall season in NY in a while I created a special fall bucket list. Something I’ve been wanting to do for a very long time is apple picking and visiting a pumpkin patch.
So, I recently visited Apple Ridge Orchards in Warwick, New York; it has the most magical, picture -perfect scenic views. Exploring this orchard was such a dreamy experience by simply walking through the rows of pumpkins, picking apples and taking in all the sights, sounds and tastes.
I truly had a memorable day with friends. Yes, I’m a 36-year-old who enjoys apple picking and pumpkin patches. This will be a new tradition I’ll celebrate every year.
What special traditions do you celebrate during this fall season?
It’s a known fact that for over 25 years I’ve been a huge faithful Backstreet Boys fan. I’ve literally been a fan since the age of 11 and my 36-year-old self still loves them. Their music has always inspired me and helped me through many difficult moments in my life. In my perspective they will always be the best boy band to exist. Meeting them has always been on my bucket list.
2 weeks ago, my sister Ashley said she had a surprise for me and wow was it a big one; finally meeting the Backstreet Boys! After two failed attempts one I canceled due to a heartbreak (I didn’t want to stain my BSB experience with any bad memory) and the other being covid cancelations. They say 3rd times the charm and that’s definitely true.
So, my sister and I traveled to Memphis, Tennessee to meet BSB and see them live in concert at the FedEx Forum for their DNA Tour. The entire experience was so surreal, I didn’t even want to get hyped up or share the news to anyone until I was officially there. After my last failed attempts, I wanted to protect this experience. I’ve learned to keep things private until they happen. One of my dreams was going to become a reality and I truly wanted to protect that moment.
This entire experience was even more special because I shared it with my best friend and sister Ashley who’s also a huge BSB fan. Seriously, she outdid herself with this special gift. Both of us have had a VERY difficult year dealing with family issues. We really needed this special getaway and bonding moment. Plus the Backstreet Boys have a specialty to heal all pain.
Finding the right outfit to wear had me very stressed. I had to look my very best to meet my favorite boys. That dilemma was solved thanks to Hekka who sponsored my black stylish jumpsuit. Hekka is an online marketplace founded in Singapore which offers a wide range a products. The fashion pieces are very trendy, stylish and affordable. To shop visit www.hekka.com Use the code “chica10” for $10 off your order over $10.
The first experience on the list was the “Meet & Greet”. Let me tell ya’ll no matter how old my boys are they pull in huge crowds. I already new the concert was sold out but I didn’t think many were going to assist the meet & greet. The concert tickets were expensive and to meet them was another separate price of $500 per person. So, I figured not many were going to be there but I was so wrong. My sister and I were in a long line super nervous and in pain wearing high heals waiting to meet them but “Antes muerta que sencilla” and I had to look my sexy-best to meet my boys.
I thought I was going to be nervous meeting them but when the moment arrived I was actually very confident. I guess all the years of being an influencer and interviewing celebreties really paid off. The first thing I mentioned to them was “After so many years I finally meet you all”. Howie, AJ, Nick, Kevin and Brian were just as I expected them to be, sweet and kind hearted. They literally take the time to make you feel special and know they are grateful.
Thank God I had recently gotten a pedicure because Kevin complemented my shoes, than the boys were looking at my feet. “I said thank you but they are painful”. Than he said, “Beauty over pain” and I agreed. All the boys are special but it’s no secret my fav has always been Nick….we made a lot of eye contact. The teen girl inside of me was screaming in joy. Sad part is that I’m 36 and single but they are all already married.
This was definitely one of the best experiences of my life and I’m so happy I got to enjoy it with my sister because I couldn’t have shared this memorable moment with anyone else. I’m so grateful for my sister, she’s the best gift God has given me. Now I have to surprise her with something big but its hard to top this experience.
September 11, 2001 is a day that I will never forget. I was a teenager in North Rockland High School (NY) when this attack occurred. Though it’s been 21 years everyone who lived in NY during that time, like me, remembers the horror lived like if it happened yesterday. I will always do my due diligence to remember and honor all those lives lost on that day. Even the past 16 years I lived in Puerto Rico I made it my duty to commemorate those lost.
Throughout history hate, racism, religion, cultural differences, politics have been the cause of many wars, attacks and hate crimes. When 9/11 occurred, the world was shaken but it brought a sense of unity.
Last year I had the opportunity to visit the World Trade Center Memorial site this year I want to highlight the Rockland County September 11 Memorial site in Haverstraw Bay Park. This beautiful park borders the Hudson River and has an amazing memorial honoring the lives lost due to the attacks. Many families in Rockland County lost loved ones on that day.
2022 has been the year of CHANGE for me; from moving to New York to dealing with impacting personal challenges. Many have noticed I haven’t been very active on social media as I use too and there are a few reasons. First of all, I’ve been living through a difficult family situation which has taken a toll on me emotionally. My focus was on accepting, healing, and protecting my mental health. I’m a real person and can’t be fake or pretend on social media. Talking about the situation isn’t easy but soon I will share because I know many can relate and will find inspiration through my experience. Even though I’ve toned down the social media influencer part of me even putting brand projects on hold I’m still very focused on my career and have been working on a project I hope to share very soon. I’m a perfectionist, so I am taking my time.
Other than that, I have truly been living in the now…enjoying life, my family, and friends. A mistake our generation has made is posting EVERYTHING on social media. Not everything should be posted you truly have to take the time to enjoy things privately. If you’re struggling with where your life is at, or maybe things aren’t going as you had expected I PROMISE you are not alone on this! With social media and everyone’s highlight reel and posts being blasted everywhere, I know it’s easy to get lost in that these girls you follow have these perfect lives. But, everyone goes through hard times, and no one has it all together….remember that.
Moving to New York has been the best decision I’ve made. I have been growing in all the areas of my life. Exploring new things and having fun have been my priorities. There’s so much to see and do in New York. I honestly don’t know when it happened or how it happened but all the sudden, I became very obsessed with K-Dramas. K-Dramas have so many beautiful storylines and of course very handsome actors (Song-Jong-Ki, Song Kang, Nam Joo-Hyuk, Lee Soo-Hyuk). My standards in what I want in a man have gone up even higher thanks to k-dramas. Watching all these series and movies I’ve become addicted to Asian everything; the food, music and culture. Side note, before I began my blog I had always been a fan of Asian beauty and fashion. It’s actually one of the many reasons I begin blogging. When I’m in NYC I love visiting K-Town where I can enjoy all types of food, drinks and tons of K-Beauty Stores.
When you visit K-town in NYC you have to stop by Food Gallery 32 to try the Kimchi Cheese Fries from Pelicana Chicken. Food Gallery 32 also has a cool section dedicated to the Squid Game series and if your a fan of K-Pop you’ll find nice murals dedicated to your fav idols like BlackPink and BTS. I’m personally a huge fan of Astro, Got7 and Jay Park, they don’t have murals but you can enjoy their music videos there.
Trying out bubba drinks and cold teas are a must in K-Town. My top two favs are the strawberry lemonade from Kung Fu Tea and Jasmine Green Tea with fresh fruits from Machi Machi. The Jongro Rice Hotdogs are also a must-try you won’t regret.
So, that’s all the update I have for you. I hope you enjoyed this post and are doing great. I send you all my love. Remember that no matter where you are in life don’t compare yourself to others. Don’t feel discouraged and keep working hard to accomplish your goals.
New York; the city full of aspirations, hopes, dreams, freedom, and opportunity. It’s my first summer in New York City after many years living in Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico’s weather provides summer weather all year long while in NY you get to experience the 4 seasons. Summer in New York is very short lived, so you better believe I’m going to live my best hot girl summer.
Though NYC is a concrete jungle its very colorful and full of life in this season. The streets are busier than ever, and you see the bustle of people enjoying the warm weather to the maximum.
This summer is all about feeling and looking my best in addition to enjoying new experiences. Though the heat wave has been unreal, and it gets worse in NYC I’m determined to live my best New Yorker life.
Hot girl summer is all about making the most of this season while practicing self-love, self-confidence, focusing on wellness, having healthy boundaries and relationships, and of course making trendy and bold fashion choices.
My hot girl summer style is about wearing bold and colorful prints which is a risk because I’m more of a neutral color gal. This tropical printed and colorful blouse by Park Candy was the perfect summer top. It let me show off my Caribbean Latina vibes in New York City. I paired it with my favorite ripped jeans and bright green pointy toe kitten heels which are super comfy to walk around in the city streets.
10 years today I published this blog. Wow, I can’t believe it’s been a full decade of Lovely Chicas. As I write this post so many overwhelming memories fill my mind, and I can’t help but cry. When I created Lovely Chicas I knew nothing about blogging but I made it my mission to learn because I wanted to create something special that not only would inspire but leave a legacy. Many already know this story but if not, I’ll repeat it. Before Publishing Lovely Chicas it took me 2 years of internal conflict with myself. When you let the fear of failure or what others may think of you overcome what you want to accomplish you become your own worst enemy. I’m thankful I didn’t let that negativity control me because creating Lovely Chicas will always be the best decision I’ve ever made.
Within these ten years I’ve lived through so much; heartbreaks, endless uncertainties, family drama, economic hardships, cancer scares, betrayals, many tears, ups and down and many moments I wanted to give up. With a lot of pride, peace, joy, and happiness in my heart I can honestly say I’m grateful for all those negative moments because they made me into the empowering, independent, fearless, self-made and strong woman I am today. Most importantly the good has always been greater than the bad.
This may sound cliché, but I’m amazed with all I’ve accomplished through Lovely Chicas because the opportunities have been endless.
Seriously, who would have ever thought that this timid, shy, introverted girl would create a platform speaking her mind about things many fear sharing. Not to mention that I’ve been nominated for various awards, a panelist and speaker at major events, an ambassador for incredible initiatives, I’ve worked with hundreds of brands, I’ve been featured on billboards, magazines, and many media outlets. I’ve also had the opportunity to do what I love which is to inspire and help others in need by visiting shelters, children’s hospitals and giving teen conferences at schools.
Within my trajectory I’m constantly asked how to create a blog or be an influencer because many have that desire but are scared to go for it. If you’re reading this and can relate…. stop wasting time and go for it. I wasted 2 years in fear and doubt before publishing Lovely Chicas when this platform has been the best part of my life. Stop putting excuses and don’t give into your fears. Don’t even wait for the “perfect moment” because the “perfect moment” doesn’t exist. The moment is NOW. This can be the decision that will change your life forever and bring the best. If you fail, its ok, just try again and don’t give up. Believe me, you all have it much easier now than when I did when I began. My journey started when blogging was just beginning and I’m part of the content creators who has fought to gain the respect and benefits many can enjoy today. Trust me, if this is your dream start your legacy and ignore the negativity. Be consistent, creative, dedicated, persistent, willing to learn and ready to sacrifice a lot. Most importantly be authentic; be you! This digital world is yours to conquer.
For those who have supported the legacy of Lovely Chicas, thank you. I don’t even know where to begin expressing my gratitude because without your support nothing I’ve accomplished would have been possible. I truly Love you all! There is still so much more I want to accomplish and I’m greatly looking forward towards more years to come with Lovely Chicas and a greater journey. This legacy means everything to me, I will continue to work hard in my mission to empower and inspire. I want to be a voice for those who don’t have one and that I may be be light, hope and love in this world that’s need so much of it. My desire is for everyone to be a part of this mission, especially the ladies because we are all Lovely Chicas.
My loves, be ready because in celebration of Lovely Chicas 10th Blogiversary there will be lots of surprises all month long.
Lovely Chicas, is an online editorial destination for everything that’s lovely. This blog is a creative source that covers fashion trends, beauty, makeup, lifestyle, decor inspo, gastronomy, entertainment, fitness, health, self-love, motivation, empowerment, self-improvement, life tips and so much more. Lovely Chicas is a lifestyle haven designed to inspire and empower.
Message from Charlene Gonzalez
I am the creator behind Lovelychicas.com, a glimpse into my life. This blog is a creative outlet where you’ll find tons of inspiration. Thanks for visiting!
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