I’m a Cheeky girl that goes where there’s glitter. I can’t help it. Wave something sparkly and I’m all yours. About a year ago, I popped into Space 519 to “look around” when I walked out with a huge, misshapen, glittered-gold nugget on a sturdy silver chain. It was an impulse buy that I’ve never regretted. To this day, ladies stop me to touch my nugget when I proudly announce…”Sorry ladies, there isn’t another one like it!” Not long after my purchase, I met the designer, Samantha Goldberg, when I recognized one of her own pieces hanging from her neck, which sparked a conversation. Little did I know it was the actual designer until she modestly admitted, “I’m the druzy girl.” I’m quite certain I hugged her… and the rest is history.

Goldberg launched her line, One of One Jewelry, in 2006. After attending the Philadelphia Buyer’s Market in 2004 with her mom, Goldberg discovered druzy quartz and impulsively spent her savings on the glittered rocks. Oh girlfriend, I get it. Right then, she realized she needed to create special pieces with these raw, gorgeous formations. I would have done the same thing with sparkles staring at me in the face. She got serious and became an apprentice to one of the few master silversmiths in Chicago. For years, she swept his studio, never touching a torch to start her trade. He wanted her to prove she really had it in her. Patiently, Goldberg waited for her moment… which finally came after three years.

Her line now combines Old World silversmith techniques with unusual rock formations to create a beautiful, modern statement piece of jewelry. Goldberg is the first to say, “It’s an arduous method to create each one-of-a-kind piece,” not to mention it’s quite the scientific process. Suffice to say, Goldberg has perfected sparkly misshapen jewelry: now known as her signature. And this is no sales pitch – if you see one you like…BUY IT!…because once it’s gone, no two are alike. Her latest collection consists of some springtime stunners that are the perfect accessory for a night out on the town; or they look just as Cheeky paired with a simple white tee.

If your core were totally hard, you would move around like a box on legs – think extreme body builder on the Jersey Shore. A strong core is one that can tense to stabilize you in exercises like “Teaser” or “Front Support” and can also help you bend your spine forward, backward and side to side. Working only with tension will limit your range of motion and your progress.

2. Breath work = core work: breathe your way to a toned tummy!

All core muscles play a role in the breathing process. Purposeful use of your breath during your workouts will help recruit the core, as long as you remember that your core is not located in your shoulders or neck. Breathe to feel your ribcage expand as you inhale and exaggerate the exhalation by pulling the ribs towards the mid line of the body. As for the belly, let your muscles stretch – not relax – on your inhale and feel them contract to slim your waist on the exhale. The natural girdle of the body will support your spine and tighten your middle.

3. A poor diet can keep you from seeing the fruits of your labor – pun intended.  Clean it up to pull it in!

A great rule-of-thumb is to drink one half of your body weight in ounces of water each day. This will keep you hydrated as well as help the elimination process. Stick with foods that produce less gas in your digestive system to avoid a bloated look. Looking for a diet change? Try Dr. Weil’s Anti-Inflammatory Diet and watch your abs resurface!

4. Stillness is as important as movement. Hold a plank for 30 seconds please!

Remember that your core muscles are stabilizers as well as mobilizers.  Exercises like “The Plank” that call on endurance will help to recruit the core musculature along with some of the larger more show-y muscles (obliques, rectus abdominus). Add some deep breathing into the mix and you’ve got a winning combo.

5. You will not get core strength when you side bend repeatedly while holding a 25 pound weight. 

This is why there are no “one-armed-grocery-bag-lifting” workouts… although we are sure “Pilates for Grocery Shopping” is on the way. Core exercises should be smooth, full movements of the spine and should feel challenging, but not painful.

If the core still feels elusive to you or you need extra info about waist whittling, try working one-on-one with a Pilates teacher. Even a few sessions will help you learn to find and conquer the core!

Princess. Sweetheart. Darlin’

A little birdie told me that golfer dads will be more than pleased if you tee it up with these swinging choices:

Jack Nicklaus Wines: Jack Nicklaus and golf are synonymous, but what you might not know is that the guy has long been interested in wine. Together with the Terlato family, this golfing legend developed an amazingly delicious Cabernet Sauvignon and Reserve Cabernet from Napa Valley. Both are great choices. 

Luke Donald Collection: Give your #1 fan wine from the world’s #1 golfer. The Luke Donald Chardonnay comes from Carneros and is classically Burgundian in style. The fruit is grown on a sloped vineyard facing San Pablo Bay.

Ernie Els Wines: Starting in South Africa in the Stellenbosch region in 1999, Ernie Els wines first produced Ernie Els Signature – a classic Bordeaux blend. The brand now includes a number of wines, but I’d suggest the Big Easy 2010 which is said to be “richer, fuller and more bombastic” than previous vintages.

Not only was the staff incredibly knowledgeable and laid back, I felt a strong sense of community and a distinct ambiance throughout the place. As groups of loyal patrons made their way through the double doors in anticipation of their first Friday evening cocktail, I patiently waited for my first viewing of Bye Bye Liver, a Chicago drinking play where hilarity ensues. Among the roaring crowd sat a 10-man bachelor party rolling in the $5 buckets o’ beer special, a group outing celebrating a 21^st birthday in true “ready to party” fashion, as well as two brave souls on their first date.

The show kicked off with a sarcastic blonde-haired man in character as a Chicago bartender who began explaining how the evening would carry on – mocking humor, drinking games and, ultimately, a night to remember. Wait a minute… I should stop before giving away all the dirty details. To sum it up, Bye Bye Liver is a fast-paced comical scramble that illustrates the follies we have all endured at least once in our lives. The witty eight-person cast and relatable (not to mention, hysterical) story lines will not let you down (I promise!).

For your next ladies’ night out or weekend happy hour, buy your tickets now for a Cheeky experience you won’t regret!

While I don’t advocate violence and while I’m hoping that protesters can get their messages across peacefully, in the event that some unruly characters spoil the whole thing, I think we should protest the protest. Not with signs but with BOOMBOXES a la Lloyd Dobler (Say Anything reference, duh) and quiet everything down again with songs that say everything we can’t.

“We’re Not Gonna Take It” – Twisted Sister. This one is to say, HEY unruly protesters, we like our city just regularly-kind-of-dirty, not broken down and battered!

“War” – Edwin Starr. Because we can all agree that war is good for absolutely nothing (and maybe the Cubs WILL win this year!).

“What’s Going On” – Marvin Gaye. It’s like he sang, “We don’t need to escalate…”

“Idioteque” – Radiohead. I really have no idea what Thom Yorke is saying in this song, but it’s got a nice beat, which may make people forget about violently protesting and dance instead. (Can you imagine? “Chicago’s 2012 NATO Summit: The Protest That Turned a City Into a Rave”)

“Kumbayah.” Sometimes, in moments of desperation, you need to get back to the basics.

(In all seriousness, folks… Please be CHEEKY: careful, respectful and peaceful. History is taking place this weekend; what will it say about us?)

Determined to gain admission to Yale though she had missed the application deadline, 18-year-old Marie Colvin drove to New Haven and told admissions faculty, “You have to let me in.” Impressed, they did.

It was an early display of the Cheeky tenacity that would define both Colvin’s character and her career. After graduation, she was hired by UPI, which dispatched her to Washington. But she wanted to be an international reporter, and so she finagled a position at UPI’s Paris bureau, before moving on to The Sunday Times of London.

She cut a colorful figure – ruthlessly funny, constantly smoking, topping every outfit with a strand of pearls. As the newspaper’s Middle East correspondent, Covlin filed from Lebanon, Kosovo, Chechnya and Iran. Barely slowed by the loss of an eye from a shrapnel wound sustained in Sri Lanka, she was soon reporting from Baghdad and sporting an eye-patch. As her mother recalled: “This is who she was, absolutely who she was and what she believed in: cover the story, not just have pictures of it, but bring it to life in the deepest way you could.”

In a letter to a friend, Colvin wrote: “Somewhere along the line, I accepted a difference in myself from what seems to be the way for most others […] the thing to do may be to keep to heart the belief that there is, or will be, something for which to care passionately. Maybe we only get moments of that, or glimpses, but I choose it over the settling.”

Sharing the risks of those she was writing about, Colvin spoke openly of the need to distinguish between “What is bravery, and what is bravado?” Though she was a print journalist, Colvin made frequent appearances on the BBC and CNN, because she was an exceptional reporter, but also because she was often the last reporter left on the scene. The only British journalist remaining in Homs this past February, Colvin wrote: “The scale of human tragedy in the city is immense. The inhabitants are living in terror.” Hours after filing her report, she was killed.

“She was not fearless,” wrote a colleague in The Sunday Times. “She was often fearful and apprehensive about what she was doing, which makes the fact she did it even more impressive.”

The Abbey Resort, nestled on the shores of Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, is just 80 miles from downtown Chicago, but feels like an airplane ride away. From the 90 acres of manicured grounds to the first class accommodations featuring pillow-topped mattresses and charming lakeside views, The Abbey is the perfect setting for a summer retreat, whether it’s a family getaway, a couples’ weekend, a bachelorette party or even a corporate event. And did I mention the spa?

The Avani (which means “earth” in Sanskrit) is The Abbey’s 35,000 square foot spa sanctuary featuring amazing service, skilled therapists and effective treatments. I experienced the unique “Bacial,” a treatment enhanced by Skin Authority products, a line favored by A-list celebrities. The Bacial targets the face, back and feet to boost relaxation and reduce stress. It’s safe to say the Bacial is 75 minutes of pure heaven (especially if you have an aesthetician with over a decade of experience). The treatment starts with Skin Authority’s warming glow body oil on the back, which is massaged into the skin to create a deep heat that relieves muscle tension. The treatment follows with an exfoliating scrub and a rhassoul clay mask used to detox and cleanse the skin. While the back mask penetrates, the aesthetician performs a foot and ankle massage, and finishes with the resurfacing facial, leaving skin glowing and soft.

I should mention that Skin Authority products are free of parabens, dyes and fragrances – and the company doesn’t test on animals, which is key when I’m thinking about trying a quality product. Instead of animals, every product is tested on Skin Authority’s Founder and CEO, Celeste Hilling, so if it’s on the shelf or in the treatment room, you know it’s a quality product that will have significant results. If you want to try one product, I’d check out the Olive, Fig, Shea Butter Body Cream, which is – in the simplest terms – extremely addicting. It’s one of the few moisturizers I’ve tried that’s both hydrating and nourishing without leaving behind a greasy residue. 

In addition to these top-notch products and services, The Avani boasts some impressive amenities. I tried out the Inhalation Room, a eucalyptus-diffused space, which invigorates the senses and opens up breathing passages. I also relaxed poolside in the adult-only area where I enjoyed fresh juices and a deliciously healthy lunch (tuna on a bed of asparagus with jasmine rice – yum). If you’re looking for something more private, The Avani also offers a VIP Sanctuary Suite featuring a private whirlpool, a plasma TV and a private outdoor patio. Bachelorette party, anyone?

I’m already planning my next trip back to The Abbey Resort and Avani Spa this summer. With events like Burnin’ Down the Docks, a celebration of blues, brews and barbecue, and bonfires featuring complimentary s’mores four nights a week from 8-10p.m., the Abbey Resort and Avani Spa is a perfect combination of recreation and relaxation. I can’t wait to sit poolside again, soak up the sun and take a bike ride along Lake Geneva’s lakeside paths. Care to join me?

Urban Outfitters Antoinette Damask Drape Shade – $44

Overstock Oxford Beige Linen Arm Chair – $176.99

Urban Outfitters Gramercy Sofa in Charcoal – $659

Andover Cabinet – Weathered Red Finish – $699

Pradesh Day bed – Whitewash – $1,199

Aiden Coffee Table – $289.99

IKEA PS Cabinet in Red - $99

West Elm Large Rectangle Hanging Capiz Pendant in White – $299

CB2 Yied Coffee Table – $449

For more decor selections, click here.

Although the Chicago Marathon isn’t until Sunday, October 7, Fitness Formula Clubs (FFC) will begin an amazing training program come June 4 to help get you ready! For the second year in a row, FFC is partnering with Bright Pink to help support the fight against breast cancer. “We are very excited about working with FFC again and look to continue our great success together,” says Lindsay Avner, Bright Pink’s Executive Director. “We will have a lot of first time marathon runners and we know they will be very well-prepared for their first Chicago Marathon come October after training with FFC,” she tells us. Sign up for the training program and the subsequent marathon through Bright Pink; proceeds benefit the charity and their amazing mission to enlighten and empower women to be proactive in their breast and ovarian health. The $1,500 fundraising minimum includes FFC’s super thorough marathon training program which combines strength training, yoga, Pilates, nutrition coaching, injury screening and weekly runs! FFC running coach Joy Miles wants you to know that “an overview of the program is simply, if you can run a mile, we can get you fully ready to run 26.2 miles.” Choose one of three FFC clubs to be your home-base: FFC Union Station, FFC Gold Coast or FFC East Lakeview.

Along for the ride is fitness expert, author and NBC 5’s fitness correspondent Andrea Metcalf who has decided to take part in the training program to complete her very first marathon. “Although fitness is my life, I am not a runner,” Andrea says. “But running a marathon – which means something more than just me – was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up. I support Bright Pink’s cause and hope to show others that you don’t have to run every day to join this training program and achieve your goals,” she tells us. Andrea has a long list of credits to her name. She’s been on the Today Show 17 times, she’s been featured on Oprah.com, she has a series of very popular fitness DVDs, she authored Naked Fitness and recently climbed Mount Kilimanjaro. Her love for fitness and motivating others will surely help you take on the challenge of running your very first marathon!

For details on FFC’s training program, contact Joy Miles at jmiles@ffc.com. For Bright Pink inquiries, reach out to wendy@bebrightpink.org or visit teambrightpink.org.

(Photo credits: The Experimental Agency)

A little black dress is every woman’s closet staple. Whether that be for a date, a work presentation or lunch with girlfriends, it is always a quick fix to simple style. This 10 Crosby Derek Lam A-Line Dress is an excellent addition in terms of a day-to-night piece. Paired with simple pointed toe pumps and your hair in a chignon, you are office ready; worn with an armful of bangles, a smoky eye and lace-up wedges, you are dressed to impress for a night out.

Nicole Richie’s House of Harlow is a wealth of trendy, yet luxurious accessories (read as: I’ll take one of everything). This 5 Station Necklace in Black Leather elevates your white blouse and pencil skirt outfit, while still remaining subtle; but when worn with a black silk racer back tank and printed harem pants, this statement necklace will make you the center of attention.

When it comes to carrying your everyday essentials, comfort and ease make quite the difference. Tory Burch’s Amanda Crossbody Bag allows for simple use, without sacrificing aesthetics. Darling and sleek for office attire, but its chain link gives your after hours ensemble a rock ’n’ roll edge.

A red lip has many connotations: sophisticated, confident, sensual – clearly all characteristics we would like to embody. MAC’s Russian Red Lipstick is the essential ruby pout. Pretty and polished for the office, sexy and fun for salsa dancing with your girls.

Trouser pants are the perfect fashion vehicle for day-to-night wear. These True Royal Coloblock Pants balance black and white minimalism with a sleek silhouette: ideal for the office, and trendy enough for, oh say, an art gallery opening.