TRIPLE F – Fashion, Fitness, and of course Food

A podcast about my adventures in Fashion, Fitness, and Food.

Welcome to the Triple F Podcast, where we’re focused on Fashion, Fitness and of course Food. This podcast is all about bringing these three parts of your life together to help you get the most out of your passions. We’re here to help you look your best, feel great and also indulge in some and some maybe not so hidden temptations. We are by no means experts in any of these fields but we do hope to bring people to the show who know what they are talking about and can help you with some of these aspects of your life. You only live life once, so why not live a life worth living?

Dana Todd
www.balodana.com
Twitter; @danatodd, Instagram: @datgrrl Medium: @danatodd

The Backstory

At Balodana, we believe the solution to modern-day clothing woes is custom built and made-to-measure clothing. We are disrupting fast fashion tactics and ethos.
Skilled dressmakers are commonly found in countries all over the world where people have not forgotten the value of high quality custom garments.

There is a value placed on clothing that fits, and an expectation of investing in a relationship with a tailor or dressmaker.

We aim to amplify that feeling and make it convenient for online shoppers who want support, style, choices and fit.

staciethesmith@gmail.com

@Cactusandcocktailschicago

Ebb and Flow Create is a company that specializes in interior design, event management, and DIY instructional classes.  We specialize in turning beloved treasures into works of art, whether it is vintage pottery, a priceless piece of furniture, or some driftwood found on a favorite vacation.  We use natural, repurposed and reclaimed materials to make a meaningful one of a kind piece you can showcase in your home, office or gift to a loved one.  We believe in living design and using nature to create art.   We offer many different types of classes for all ages.  Contact us today to learn about different areas we specialize in:  upholstery, furniture repair/refinishing, floral design, plant care, and jewelry making.  We can provide custom parties for birthdays, bridal showers, baby showers, school events, sororities, and more.   If you are a collector, and not sure what to do with your collection- we can help!

Taylor Gaines

SocialGaines

https://socialgaines.com/

Risk Taker. Innovator. Conversation Starter.

She believes that to be a successful marketer today, it’s important to understand what’s possible, what’s feasible, and then what makes sense to the bottom line.

About her company:

#SocialGaines is social-first marketing agency helping companies maximize time, money and resources by helping them connect the dots across technology, sociology, and business. 

Social Gaines is a modern marketing agency aiming to re-define how companies think about digital marketing. Operating as a collective of interdisciplinary professionals, Social Gaines helps clients peel back the complex layers of digital to develop and deploy the tactical strategies that drive results. 

dennis@askchefdennis.com
http://www.askchefdennis.com

Dennis Littley is the founder and CEO of Ask Chef Dennis Productions
where he runs one of the most successful food blogs in the world.
With over one million followers on social media and almost 10 million
page views annually, he has built a loyal following that use his recipes and cooking tips in their home kitchens to feed their family and friends easy-to-make restaurant-style dishes at a fraction of the cost of eating out.

Chef Dennis also works with travel companies and cruise lines showcasing their travel opportunities as he shares his travel adventures and the deliciousness he’s enjoying as he travels the world.

The Chicago Pattern Maker – Xochil Herrera Scheer

https://xochil.com/

Xochil Herrera Scheer provides professional pattern making and fashion design services to businesses and individuals in the Chicago area, and remotely to clients throughout the US.

Xochil made Chicago her home in 2003, moving from her hometown of Madison, Wisconsin. She has a BFA in Fashion Design from The Illinois Institute of Art – Chicago, and graduate degree in entrepreneurship from DeVry University. Xochil is a detail oriented, results driven task master, and enjoys the analytic side of fashion, making products come to life through strategic sourcing and technical details.

Xochil has worked with numerous brands and designers to bring their concepts from sketch to reality. She has a strong skill set in technical design, pattern making, material sourcing and production management. She has a keen understanding of the production process through working with various factories, and being closely involved with clients throughout their development. Her background in tailoring and alterations has helped shape her skills in garment fit and construction techniques.

Specializing in pattern making for both woven and knit materials, she enjoys working in the contemporary “ready-to-wear” market (and loves a good blazer). She also has extensive experience in athletic activewear performance apparel for men and women, including swimwear and undergarments. Xochil enjoys learning about innovations in materials and applying them to new designs. She also loves working with complex items and non-apparel products like accessories and bags.

Xochil is currently serving as Secretary on the Board of Directors for the Apparel Industry Board of Illinois (AIBI), and is proud to be a member of the SEAMS Association, where she contributes to the newsletter column Millennial Corner. She loves being involved in the local and domestic fashion community through promoting experiences, events and professional development. She is also passionate about Made in USA and ethical products, sourcing and manufacturing.

Xochil’s work has been featured in: SPLASH, BRAVA Magazine, Chicago Sun Times, MODA Fashion Gazette, New City Chicago. Xochil was also included in a segment on the ABC 7 Chicago show, 190 North. She was honored to be named a Rising Star by SPESA in 2021.

Britney Wittes
britneywittes@gmail.com
www.whynotpetites.com/

Britney Wittes is the founder of Why Not Petites! She wanted to create something that would have people question why the industry includes everyone but petites. They can look just as tall but work harder to find those angles, yet are constantly overlooked. This is meant to also be a group of women who empower, keep each other motivated, and give each of us a platform to have the opportunity to be seen.
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She began modeling when she was 10 years old. She got into the industry by accident but truly found my passion at a young age. She’s had the privilege to work for Kohl’s, P&G, Walgreens, McDonald’s, Home Depot and many other amazing brands. Over the years she has only been able to explore lifestyle and fitness modeling. She’s excited to break into beauty, editorial, and hopefully runway as well.
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She has been blessed to have so many amazing and talented models and people who share the same passion for educating others about the missing adversity of petite models.

Tesha Jie is a social media consultant, meditation creator. She holds 4 masters degrees and is very knowledgable about social media, or how to deal with your emotional up-and-downs on and off social media, speech gestures, cultural related communications, etc. She is a very creative thinker, I published a novel in 2006 and now a book on meditation, also writing a novel called « Eye Ring ».

All her other social links are on my website www.dreamstalents.com , if you want to subscribe or order meditation downloads 👉www.theme-meditation.com.

email: teshajie@gmail.com

Malakwear – Angel Penn

malakfootwearclubapparel@gmail.com

Angel Penn is the owner of Malak Wear which means, “Angel Messenger of Good News” where she releases her creative mind by sketching / designing top quality apparel and shoes made in London, derived here in Chicago. Her apparel is released by Collections, which have a minimum amount of inventory so that each customer can feel proud of being 1 of few that is rocking a collectible item from Malak Wear.  she thrives to target a very diverse crowd of people whether it’s an individual at the local bar all the way to celebrities. She spends a great amount of time networking in the states and internationally to make Malak Wear a household name. Malak Wear can be found at your local pop up shops, Fashion Events, and online at malakwear.com.

Our goal is to give the power of collaboration and creative independence to fashion and creative artists of all the cultures and communities through FASHION INTELLIGENCE and create a compassionate world, where everyone & anyone can earn. We are targeting to build the most productive & creative digital platform for the artists by showcasing their fashion intelligence across the globe using DIGITAL TELEPATHY. Contact us to know more at support@trendsapio.com

Coco + Peach Jewelry

https://www.cocopeachjewelry.com/

IG: @coco_and_peach_jewelry

Jessica is the designer/founder of coco + peach jewelry, your one stop online jewelry boutique for chic women + men + cool girls everywhere. Her mission is pretty simple: design affordable luxuries that won’t break the bank and are timeless.

She launched her boutique in 2019 but has been designing jewelry for over the past decade. You could say jewelry is in her genes since almost everyone in her family and huge extended family (no joke, she have a million cousins) have been in the jewelry business since the 1980s. As immigrants from Ecuador and Colombia, her family believed that to have your own business was the ultimate achievement and she grew up with the mentality that she always needed to be her own boss. 

Although she grew up in her parents’ jewelry store, running their errands at the famed Jeweler’s Row and spending a lifetime surrounded by people dedicated to the art of jewelry making, she didn’t pursue jewelry as her career. After graduating with her doctorate in psychology and opening her own private practice, she started dipping her toes in the family business and began designing pieces for herself. Whenever she wore my jewelry, strangers would stop me and ask about them.

Having a passion for design and seeing a need for affordable and well made jewelry, she launched coco + peach jewelry in May 2019, named after my daughters’ nicknames. She added a line for younger girls, Girl, and c+p men in 2020.

In addition to being affordable and stylish, coco + peach is also chic + philanthropic. She is a proud partner with the Greater Chicago Food Depository and donate $1 of every sale to this organization.

Since designing her first earring (she still wears the prototype of the Carolina), she been dedicated to creating pieces that she would wear from the office to a night out. If she won’t wear it, you won’t see it in the boutique. Creating modern treasures under $100 is her number one goal and she hopes you love your c+p jewelry as much as she does. 

Photography is a form of communication that transcends the spoken language. Daveed has connected with people who do not speak english through the photograph. A picture is worth a thousand words, and can resonate in thousands of languages with a focus on the magic he finds in daily life. We are changing the world by using art to unite people. His expertise focuses on family gatherings, events, and portraits.

AS FEATURED IN

Colombia Fest Chicago

Fres Oquendo Boxing Academy

1619: The Journey of a People

Mostra X: Brazilian Film Festival

Remake Learning Days Chi with Chicago Learning Exchange

Brazil Chicago Midwest TV

El Heraldo-‘Héroes ocultos’ hace reconocimiento a barranquillero residente en Chicago

The News School-How Chicago’s Colombian Fest Brings This Nation’s Rich Cultural Heritage and Spirit to the Windy City

The Culture Trip-Visit Chicago’s Willis Tower And Skydeck

The Culture Trip-The City of Chicago’s Secret Garden

Connect Care Hero

South Side Drive Magazine: Guide to the Good Life Chicago

Partners of the Americas-Illinois, United States Sáo Paolo, Brazil

Bronzevill Life

Breaking into the Modeling Industry

Key takeaways from Fashion Mastermind #9 with:

• Deondre Hall: @deondrehall__
• Jasmyn Franklin: @allthatjassy
• Emeka Anyadiegwu: @emekagoz
• Kaitlyn Anne: @kaitlynannemodeling
• Agnes Bat-Ochir: @agnes_t09
• Susan Liu @susanwyliu
• Estefania Galvan @estefaniagalvan3
• J.P. Lamp: @triplef_podcast

nasreen@humansofhighfashion.com

www.humansofhighfashion.com

Nasreen Hussain is the visionary and creative director behind Humans of High Fashion. She is a freelance stylist with a Masters Degree in Organizational Behavior and Business as well as a Fashion Styling certification at the School of Style. She is heavily influenced by her travels and primarily uses fashion as a form of expression to connect with different cultures and diversities. Her passion resides in building a connection through the past, present, and future fashion perspectives. Hyper-focused on using her brand for self-expression by establishing a unique visual identity, she brings thought-provoking ideas, styles, and fresh perspectives to the fashion styling industry.

Desired Fashion – Diana Maldonadoa

Desired Fashion is a Latina owned online boutique here in Chicago. Established in 2020. Our boutique is for women that desire trendy fashion at a desired price. Desired Fashion’s goal is to empower women through fashion. 

iG: @desiredfashion_

website: www.desired-fashion.com

business email shopdesiredfashion@gmail.com

Dipika Raikwar

https://www.kalakariindia.com/

She is a legal professional with 13+ experience as an in-house counsel, contributing and leading the corporate legal teams of Insurance and consumer goods corporations. In addition, he is an entrepreneur at heart that founded a social impact handloom fashion brand and an online food delivery business.

Kalakari India is a social entrepreneurial venture founded in 2015 by a bunch of IIM graduates of 2007- 2008. Kalakari, or ‘KI’ as we love to call it, helps the unorganized sector – weavers and small-scale textile manufacturers, who are primarily dealing in the handloom, handicraft, and textile space to globally position their products. KI empowers the weavers to focus on their craft and sell the same online under the larger brand of Kalakari India.

People want to sit outside at restaurants. And thanks to the pandemic, tons of places have been able to set up tables on sidewalks and streets, so there are more places to eat outdoors than ever. But if you want to sit outside in some relative peace and quiet – without having pedestrians, dogs, couriers, and the ever-present fleet of Amazon Prime trucks going by – you still have options. After all, you just spent a year in relative solitude, and maybe the idea of hanging out on crowded patios chatting with people you haven’t seen since 2019 feels a little like social whiplash. Here’s a list of relatively secluded or out-of-the-way patios for you to eat and drink outside in Chicago.

• Bistro Campagne
• Cebu
• Chief O’Neill’s
• Fiya
• Trivoli Tavern
• Hopleaf
• The Duck Inn
• Enoteca Roma
• Truth Italian
• Giant
• Lost Larson
• The Delta
• Perilla
• Daisies
• La Storia
• M. Henry
• Sip & Savor
• Bites
• Kubo

Two strangers who met at Uni and quickly became best friends. One sunny morning, an idea to create trendy, affordable, and instantly ready specs popped into Dan’s mind and he told Lina about it. Knowing that Pop Specs could help people and change the way people buy prescription eyewear, Lina agreed to work on the venture. Dan’s expertise in optics and Lina’s ability to get the job done helped them to make Pop Specs a reality; a dream comes true. From then on, Pop Specs was born and its journey began.

pop-specs.com/
hello@pop-specs.com
www.instagram.com/pop.specs/?hl=en

Sarah has loved eating and making ice cream for as long as she can remember. She remembers going into a local ice cream shop at 12 with her first resume to ask if she could shadow for the day to learn how they make ice cream. Later on, her first job in her hometown of Vail, Colorado was scooping ice cream after school. Since then, she studied Hospitality Administration at Cornell University and then moved to Chicago, IL. After graduating she worked for Stephanie Izard at Girl & the Goat, Little Goat Diner, and Duck Duck Goat, which is where the nickname “Ice Cream Girl” was born. She then took a year off to travel the world in search of crazy and unique ice flavors to make. Her favorite flavor of ice cream is chocolate.

https://icecreamgirlco.wordpress.com/

@IceCreamGirlCo

Email: IceCreamGirlCo@gmail.com

Jocelyn is the founder of Swap & Strut – a women’s online clothing rental company based in Chicago with a mission to help women look and feel beautiful, confident, and empowered to live out their dreams. All clothes are designed in-house and handmade locally in Chicago by Women. With Swap & Strut, everything is a la carte, so you only pay if and when you decide to rent clothes. There’s no commitment, and never a need to cancel an annoying subscription — just beautiful clothes at your fingertips whenever you want them! 

Best way for listeners to get in contact with you for future reference:

swapandstrut.com

Instagram: @swapandstrut

Svetlana Eregina
@eregina_svetlana

YouTube
ereginaforwork@gmail.com

Makeup Artist originally from Russia is now a makeup artist here in Chicago working Chicago Fashion Week and her other events here in town.

Monday Munchies Episode 050: On these episodes you will be sitting shotgun on my adventures of exploring restaurants in the past few weeks. Albeit, I am not a certified food critic but I do love to eat and some would say that I do have a certain set of skills… I’m not sure what those are nor am I a “yelper” like the majority of residents in South Park, Colorado. But I do love trying new restaurants and food. So enjoy:

Artango 

BLVD

Chez Moi

Recess

Business Website: https://stockmfgco.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/stockmfgco

Facebook: https://facebook.com/stockmfgco

Instagram: http://instagram.com/stockmfgco

Jim Snediker is co-founder and CEO of Stock Mfg Co – a top workwear creator for premium hospitality brands. What started as a men’s fashion brand gradually migrated to designing and manufacturing custom workwear staff would feel proud to be seen in.

What makes a memorable meal, the perfect staff, what keeps people coming back? It’s never just a single element. It’s every thoughtful detail working in harmony to leave a lasting impression. Stock manufacturing partners with establishments of all sizes to create custom uniforms from front to back of house. With roots in fashion and design and nearly a decade of manufacturing, they have built a reputation as the outfitter of choice for exciting names in the hospitality industry – among which Alinea, the only restaurant in Chicago currently awarded three stars from the Michelin Guide. From a 300 room hotel to a 3 seat cafe, no project is too big or too small.

Stock is pioneering a whole new level of industry curation. From uniforms to aprons right down to face masks, they balance form with function and match their clients’ aesthetics, producing custom uniform and merchandise solutions across a spectrum of industries including lodging, liquor, beer, food & beverage, retail and cannabis. Like these, Stock approaches their work as a craft, with an obsessive focus on quality, functionality and customer experience.

Know around town as Sam, Cemal, Cem or just by his call name: Chi Mixologist, Cemal Yalcin has been a bartender / entertainer bringing joy, happiness and plenty of fun stories to restaurant and bar patrons for a few years here now in Chicago. Currently, his is a co-owner and Lead Mixologist at Kubo on Belmont. He is known for his signature martinis and unique personality.

@Chi_Mixologist

Monday Munchies Episode 049: On these episodes you will be sitting shotgun on my adventures of exploring restaurants in the past few weeks. Albeit, I am not a certified food critic but I do love to eat and some would say that I do have a certain set of skills… I’m not sure what those are nor am I a “yelper” like the majority of residents in South Park, Colorado. But I do love trying new restaurants and food. So enjoy:

La Vaca

Turquoise

Chef Rob talks to us about his journey as a chef during COVID and how he’s rebranding himself to rejuvenate his career during these trying times

chefrobhafer@gmail.com

Chef Oni – Q Sushi

http://www.qsushichicago.com/

kyuchicago@gmail.com

https://www.fashionbarchicago.com/

Tony Long, CEO and Founder of Fashionbar LLC,

After achieving a list of comprehensive corporate achievements, Tony shifted his focus on his true dedication onto Fashion business where he’s been able to launch FashionBar Chicago.  This vision to combine this corporate experience coupled with his flair for fashion has strengthened his presence within the Chicago fashion industry. FashionBar Chicago continues to grow as a central source for business.

Anitra Srisuk – Food and Wine Lover + Food Influence

Food and Wine with Anitra: Munkbung Style

Wine Fun and Fin

Lady Aga Fit

Instagram: @lady_aga_fit

YouTube:

Fitness, wellness, mindfulness with fashion 🌱🧘‍♀️🏋️‍♀️🤸🏻‍♀️👙👗👠CPT/RYT/CNC Open source of perspectives

Complimentary Class: https://clients.mindbodyonline.com/classic/mainclass?fl=true&tabID=7

Monday Munchies Episode discussing the whispers and rumors of which restaurants are set to open in 2021 in Chicago!

Monday Munchies Episode 046: On these episodes you will be sitting shotgun on my adventures of exploring restaurants in the past few weeks. Albeit, I am not a certified food critic but I do love to eat and some would say that I do have a certain set of skills… I’m not sure what those are nor am I a “yelper” like the majority of residents in South Park, Colorado. But I do love trying new restaurants and food. So enjoy:

Sushi Suite 202

Qiao Lin hotpot

Avli River North

Alegrias

Chicago is getting back on track by moving to Phase 4 for COVID-19 shelter in place and restaurants reopening. Tune in to hear what that means and how close we are to getting back to normal.

Ally, creator of Haute and Hungry. Founded in January of 2018, Haute and Hungry has become a platform to share, write, and create the things she is most passionate about with my readers. From fashion, fitness, sports, pop culture, to food (arguably the most important), Haute and Hungry continues to push out timely content to keep you up to date on jersey changes to the best taco places in Chicago. Based in Chicago, IL, she continues to venture out and expand her interests. Welcome to pretty much what the inside of her head looks like, a perfectly put together mess.

Stay Haute!

http://thehauteandhungry.com/
https://www.allysonmanzella.com/
@allymanzella

In this episode of Monday Munchies, we chat with @strangefoodchicago host, Keng, about the consequences of using food delivery apps for consumers and restaurants. It’s not exactly supporting the businesses the way you image it would be supporting them.

What kind of foodie am I? I am the kind of foodie who convinces her friends that the very first thing we should do upon arriving in Milan is walk an hour to a very specific pasta shop to get some lunch before the shop closes.

I have always been a foodie at heart, but have really explored my passion for food since moving to Madison five years ago. I believe there is no such thing as a bad form of a (cooked) potato and will never say no to a piece of blueberry pie. The reason I started Madison Foodie Finds is because I wanted to share the places and food that I love so much with others and thought a social media blog would be a great way to do it.

The best way to contact me is via my Instagram account! People can feel free to DM me at @MadisonFoodieFinds

Ivy Kwan is a technical service engineer, but also a big time foodie. What started as a food diary for herself is now a public food adventure that you can join! She shares her foodscapades through Instagram as @igetcheesey. The name came to be when she realized that her M.O. was to be punny in every single post, in other words cheesy. Through sharing pictures of food, she hopes to be able to recommend places to go, to find new foodie friends, and to bring laughter. 

If you have any questions on where you should go next or need inspiration, go to her Instagram @igetcheesey.

Plain Spoke Cocktails – Tom Dufek

http://plainspokecocktails.com/

After two years of concept development and recipe testing, Tom Dufek launched Plain Spoke Cocktails in 2018. Combining quality spirits with simple, real ingredients like 100% citrus juices, their craft cocktails are canned without added preservatives or anything artificial. Plain Spoke offers high-quality, ready to drink cocktails outside of the bar, never sacrificing flavor for convenience.

Why cans, you ask? Several reasons — they protect the product better, keep it fresher, they’re safer, more stackable, better for the environment, chill better and you can take them to more places. Whether the party is at a lake, backyard or in your favorite chair, Plain Spoke is there for you!

Sasha Nicole

https://fiercemoderndesign.wixsite.com/sashanicole

Your one stop shop of all your design needs. From architectural design to fashion design. I am here to help bring your vision to fruition, and step out in style.

She is stepping up to make masks for people who need to protect themselves from COVID-19 / Corona virus!

IG: @fierce_modern_designs