My Offline Life, Summer 2015

It’s been a minute since we’ve talked about things that stem from beyond fashion, hasn’t it?

Not that that’s a bad thing, but way back in the day, I used to do monthly Instagram recaps — and I really loved them. Scary how quickly time passes, no?

Most notably, it’s hard to believe I’ve been in Chicago for a bit over a month now. Or rather, it’s one of those instances where it feels like yesterday and also a million years ago all at the same time. At any rate, here’s what’s been keeping me busy lately (as seen through the lens of my Instagram).

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MOVING. Slowly but surely, I’ve started to order my furniture. (I am horrible with decisiveness when it comes to decor.) I’ve been working with a decorating service called Havenly on my living room/home office space, so it’s taken a bit longer than I’d have liked. But, hey — at the moment I have a bed and a desk, so from a sleep and a work standpoint, I’m set. That’s all you need, right?

I’ll have more details and photos to share in the next few weeks, but I think I’m most excited about this blush-colored chair — and, okay, the moroccan leather pouf I found on sale.

WORK. When I first made the decision to leave New York, I was worried that my location would slow the pace of blog-related work, collaborations and partnerships. It’s actually felt like the opposite, though, which leads me to believe that it doesn’t matter where you are, as long as you’re consistent and focused on quality. When your momentum starts to peak, just roll with it!

LOLLA. Work hard, play hard. And in all honestly, I think I’m still recovering from Lollapalooza — from my movement hangover, that is. We literally didn’t stop dancing, jumping and wandering for three days straight! (Were you following on Snapchat?) If I had to choose, my favorite day was Sunday. There was a mid-day rain delay, and beyond the lightning that danced across Chicago’s skyline — it ended up pushing Galantis’ set (my favorite!) to just before nightfall, so I was able to make it down to Grant Park after teaching at Soul just in time to see the second half. (Fastest shower of my entire life!)

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SUMMERTIME CHI… And the livin’s easy. Yep! It’s true they say that summer in Chicago is unlike no other. From boat cruises to beers and late nights in Lincoln Park, I’ve spent a lot of time offline in the last month — and it truly makes a difference in one’s happiness levels. And, well, waistline — but we’ll get to that in a moment. Living your life will only inspire your work, right?

SHEDD BLU. One notable night as of late has been the Shedd Aquarium’s annual BLU event — partially because it gave me a reason to buy this gorgeous two-tone dress (which also comes in another pretty color combo). The skyline view alone was worth the traffic stand-stills getting to-and-from.

A few of the items I’ve been wearing in the images above: Under Armor running shoes, Vineyard Vines striped dress, Topshop beige blazer, Topshop silky tank (that I have in four colors), J.Crew mint-colored blazer (on sale), Joe’s Jeans white shorts, black Ray-Ban aviators

*Shop ’em:

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SOULCYCLE. From Taylor Swift theme rides to early morning rooster rides, teaching SoulCycle has brought so much humbling joy into my life — especially given my initial challenges of getting into the training program. That, and, well, more pairs of printed spandex than I ever thought I’d own. (Like, so freakin’ many, you guys.)

Being able to create the same classroom experience that’s had such an impact on me over the last three years has been insanely rewarding — and fun. But shit, it’s a lot of work. Every single day (yes, even Saturday and Sunday) I spend a few hours both in the studio and out — researching music, creating playlists, talking with riders and the like. I’ve been loving every second, though — and if you’ve never tried (or are nervous to try) SoulCycle, know that it’s an exercise that’s open to any and all fitness levels. After all, it’s just like riding a bike. (Here’s my class schedule, this weekend we’re doing a Madonna theme ride!)

What’s been new-and-noteworthy on your end this summer? Feel free to tell me in the comments below.

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Feel free to follow my daily happenings on Instagram (or Snapchat by searching ‘coralsncognacs’).