Hello…it’s me!

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Hello lovelies!  Hooray to over a year of ChiciBiki and thanks so much for joining me on this wonderful journey! I had not done a proper intro or personal Q & A since I started so I thought it was about time to do so – my nosy self loves reading and getting to know people I follow so it’s only fair that I share a little more about myself. (P.S. there is an ‘about me’ section on the blog with some background info, too if you’re not bored the heck with me by the end of this post lol!)

First, a little intro:

I was born in Viet Nam but moved to Germany at age 2. After high school I then moved to Denver, CO in the US. I speak German, English and Vietnamese (listed in order of fluency) and have studied Latin, French and Spanish. I enjoy learning new languages and one day, when I have a little more spare time, I would love to learn Greek next!

I graduated from a German Grammar school majoring in English and Fine Arts and obtained a B.A. from CU Denver in Psychology with minor in Political Science. Until December of 2016, I owned an award winning natural beauty spa which I ran and operated with my mom and two sisters. I thoroughly enjoyed all aspects of owning my own business but after 6 years, it was time for me to move on!

Some of my hobbies include: fashion (duh!) tennis, Krav Maga, food and travelling!

Some bad habits: picking my lips and cuticles (I hate dry skin), morning grump, on the cynical and sarcastic side, prone to hanger.

Here we go: Q & A from Instagram (I consolidated similar questions):

Q: Your favorite places to shop? A: As a busy mom of two, I do a lot of online shopping mainly at Zara, H&M, Nordstrom and Polyvore. I love supporting local businesses and some of my favorite boutiques in Denver are: Midnight Rambler, Stitch Boutique, Inspyre and Shop Goldyn.

Q: Make-up and Skincare routine? A: I currently use the Obagi skincare system that is only available from medical professionals. About 4 months ago my skin started showing signs of irritation:  redness, dry patches and peeling. Colorado is very dry and at high altitude, so skin problems are pretty common. I sought help at a medical spa and they recommended Obagi to even out my skin tone and texture. That’s exactly what it’s done and I am hooked now (this is not an ad btw!). In terms of makeup: I try to use all-natural and cruelty free products so currently it’s Naked eyeshadow, Glo Minerals concealer and powder.

Q: Must-have spring items? A: Off-shoulder tops! So glad the OTS look is still hot ’cause I dig it! I’m also obsessed with spring neutrals, especially powder/blush pink.

Q: Favorite comfort type foods? A: Hands down Vietnamese! I love spicy/savory food and viet food is what I crave the most (my momma’s food is the best of course ;))

Q: How long have I been blogging and why did I start? A: I started roughly a year ago and it was slow going at first balancing the new hobby with kids and work. IG and blogging were a creative outlet and escape from work and family life which was consuming me entirely at that point. I needed to re-claim my identity and blogging gave me something that was selfishly all about me. It was and continues to be liberating, inspiring and a form of self-care!

Q: Biggest achievement since I started blogging? A: It’s not quite an achievement but it was an honor to get interviewed and photographed for Marie Claire USA for a blogger tour. I did not end up being featured but was still so stoked for the invite as I did not have much of a following then.

Q: Favorite way to relax? A: Beach side with a vino in hand. If a beach isn’t available then Netflix on the couch with vino in hand.

Q: Where in the world would I go if I had to leave tomorrow? A: If I had to abruptly leave for emergency reasons, I would go back to Germany. If I had to leave for leisurely pursuits, then a beach place such as Bali or Greece.

Q: Favorite hair styling tools? A: I suck at hair, big time! I own curling irons but only use them for special occasions and even then it’s an uneven mess. I stick to big curlers I put in blow dried hair (3 down the middle shaft) and the rest I roughly roll up over a thick hair roller. I let them sit while I get ready and then take it all out and hairspray!

Q: What’s the biggest risk I have taken in my life? How did it change my life? A: Opening a beauty spa in 2011 has been my biggest risk. I had just turned 30 and needed a change. I was working as a test engineer for a localization and translation company and had reached a ‘now or never’ moment. I acted on my gut feeling and opened an eco-conscious salon with my sisters. I don’t regret it for a moment! I learned valuable aspects of entrepreneurship, the struggles and successes of small business ownership. It has made me more resourceful, tough, persistent, diplomatic but also more understanding, intuitive and trusting.

Q: Passion other than fashion and why? A: I love exercise but not in a gym. I have to engage my mind so prefer to do a sport instead where I learn techniques and strategy play. I used to play basketball and badminton in a league as a teenager. Now I play tennis in the summer and do Krav Maga 2-3 times a week.

Q: Biggest sources of fashion inspiration? A: I have a love for timeless fashion that is effortless. It’s such a cliche, but Coco Chanel is an obvious one with her oversized, menswear inspired style, boucle tweed and monochrome color palette. I put Marlene Dietrich in the same league, as well as Brigitte Bardot and Jane Birkin. Then there is another side of me that loves edgy, casual chic a la Kate Moss. The best day-to-day inspo, however, is from street style, well, on the street or Instagram, I’m being serious, there is so much cool content I feel like a kid in the candy store!

Thanks for submitting all of the questions, I enjoyed pondering them!

XX – BK