At this point in the summer,

you probably have plans to get away – and if you don’t – then you want to! We haven’t had that many great summer days in NY and this gloomy 75 degree weather in July is just not cutting it for me!

Dreaming of Paris
Fortunately enough it’s my favorite time of year – the Paris Couture Shows.
If you have been following my blog you know that I drool over these runway shows. It’s when fashions’ best and brightest show their most elite of collections. From intricate details taking hundreds of hours to the most eccentric pieces of art that are best suited for a museum floor; Paris Haute Couture is the shiznit.

If for some reason you are not fortunate enough to BE in Paris right now (ahem, that’s me!) I have been following vicariously through those fortunate few fashion insiders this week on their snapchat, of which I am now completely obsessed. (follow me @ EmilyBrickel on snapchat) and of course devouring the runways shows via Style.com.

Here I did some quick freehand fashion sketches of a few of my favorite pieces from Chanel and Alexandre Vauthier. Trust me I wanted to draw all night.

However, if you are not dreaming of Paris Couture like I am, maybe somewhere a bit more beachy is your style?

Beachy Keen
Swim week is up ahead, starting next week in Miami and ending in LA.
We are SOOOOO thrilled to announce that we (Chic Sketch) will be there live for LA Swim. I will be sketching all day so be sure to follow us @ ChicSketch on snapchat on July 23^rd and my EmilyBrickel account for our week in LA starting the 19^th as your behind the scenes view into our trip!

We have some exciting things on the horizon to make sure to also follow our instagram @ChicSketch and @EmilyBrickel.

Staycation Adventure 
Lastly, if you are not going anywhere anytime soon, I highly recommend you follow my new Summer Love Adventure. What this is, is a highly personal, extremely fun way to create your own adventure wherever you are. I admit I was feeling a bit down due to this less than ideal weather. Some days its 85 degrees and I’m swamped in the office, other days its 72 degrees on a Saturday and all I want to do is feel the summer heat. What gives?

I have made a personal commitment (and I am twisting my husband’s arm to comply with this fun plan) to create my own fate this summer.
It’s almost the middle of JULY people…. I hate to break it to you but that means we have about a month and a half left of summer before the craziness of September begins. Here’s my plan:

1. Daily walks outside – (especially when it’s warm out). For me, I am committing to taking a walk outside before the sun goes down if it’s a nice day out. I don’t care how busy my day is, I’m committing to taking a lunch break or just an anytime break to enjoy the sunshine.

2. Meditate – I want to get back to meditating, it really helps me relax, connect and de-stress. Summer should be relaxing and since I don’t have a relaxing few months ahead (we are prepping for big things!) I will bring the relaxation to me!

3. Baths – Baths are the ultimate luxury for me. If I have the opportunity to take a nice long bath, I literally emerge with a new perspective on life. Adding lavender bath salts, lotions and potions (or bubbles) is the ultimate way to take good care of yourself and to look and feel beautiful inside and out.  Your skin will glow and you will be so much happier – which makes you look more beautiful too! Baths give me the time to focus on the sound of the water filling up, or the silence that I rarely get (especially since we are all so digitally connected 24/7) and that disconnection is another form of meditation for me.  I can get in tune with my intuition so well this way and arrive at solutions to questions I have been pondering, even come up with brand new ideas for just about anything!

4. Working out – I am a makeup and heels type of girl, don’t get me wrong. I wouldn’t be caught dead at a gym without a shower and makeup first (don’t remind me of how counter-intuitive that is please). It takes me too long to get ready for the gym, go there, work out, come home, and get ready again for the day. Total time suck for me. If that was the case I would rarely work out! ALAS, I reintroduce you to the workout DVD. No shower, no makeup required to work out in your living room with no one judging you – maybe besides my husband making fun of me!  This allows me to work out between 3-7 days a week depending on my circumstances like travel and how I’m feeling.  Here are a few of the DVD’s I have been sweating to for the last few years in order: Brazilian Butt Lift (this works and I used to train with Leandro in Equinox when I had my fancy corporate membership ages ago), Turbo Jam (fun but kinda old school), and 21 Day Fix (this has gotten me in the best shape ever. I have been doing its since last summer and have repeated the 21 day program multiple times for the last year, but some weeks not every day.) As all workouts create a plateau effect if you do it long enough, so its imperative to switch it up. I just ordered Tone It Up Beach Babe 2 (1 seemed not as fun and I plan on getting 3 once I get sick of 2).  I will let you know how that goes! Life is short – have a fun workout, a workout you get up and get excited to do!

5. Create your own add ons! Make this as fun and adventurous as possible. Decide on at least one other thing you can do to make an adventure out of your every day life this summer. Take a bike trip, have picnic, get crafty with some summer DIY projects or lay on the grass and watch the clouds go by. Do something totally fun and inspiring that lets you to enjoy the summer, no matter what your 9-5 – or 9-9 looks like!  Every one is allowed to take a 30 minute break at the least, no excuses you! Work will still be there when you get back. Summer time is limited!

Try one of these or anything that floats your boat. Just remember do something that you look forward to.

On that note, I think I blabbed enough.
I’ve got a ton of work to do, so until next week!

Hope that inspires you!
xoxo
Emily

Follow me on Instagram & Snapchat @EmilyBrickel @ChicSketch