Beauty, friends, girl talk, Health, Life, Lifestyle, Motherhood, Wellness, women

Botox and the Indian Community

October 18, 2017

Botox, everyone has thought about it, many of us are doing it, so why aren’t we talking about it?

Growing up as first generation Indian Americans, my sister and I had the impossible task of representing our Indian side, our American side, and our hybrid side with grace and full understanding. This meant being respectful yet assertive and exploring our interests while not wandering too far outside of our parents understanding. It also meant looking and acting within certain cultural norms without compromising our opportunities here as Americans.

Aging is one of those unusual paradoxes where being Indian and American does not agree. It appears that Americans embrace doing things make you feel good — from facials to chemical peels to plastic surgery to Botox. There is discussion and a sharing of experiences that is a part of the American culture. I can’t speak to other communities and cultures but the Indian community from both the immigrant and first generation perspectives does not embrace artificial enhancement. Indo-American women will undergo a variety of procedures and services behind closed doors and lie about their genetics and diets to no end. An acceptance of anti-aging tools that we have available to us as Indians in America has been a difficult pill to swallow for many.

I am 36 years old, I have been getting Botox for 3 years. When I looked in the mirror after having two kids and moving homes twice, my body directly experienced the stress. My body had undergone both of those life-changing events and left me with deep wrinkles which made me feel older than I was. My friends, co-workers, and sisters were supportive when I first considered Botox (see our article here about facing judgement). We talked about it, read about it, researched it until I eventually went for it. Some family members, on the other hand, discouraged me from doing it and hesitantly added that if I did get it, I should keep it to myself. After seeing my results and my satisfaction, two short years later, they too went ahead and tried it out. But they have since kept their “genetic” advantages to themselves.

Without getting too carried away, I am grateful that I can take little steps to look the way I feel. I am not in denial of aging or of my life circumstances; this is a personal choice and one that has left me satisfied. By not sharing ideas and privatizing our desires, we cannot lift each other up in a way that can be positive in the right context.

I hope to get the discussion started. We are fortunate that one of our Savvy Chicks’, Avani, has a husband who is a plastic surgeon — if you have any questions please leave them in comments below and we will be happy to get you an expert’s perspective.

Cheers,

Rina

If Botox is not your thing yet, here are a few Chicks Picks from Beauty Chick, Neema (check out her take on sunscreen).

Collaborations, Fashion, girl talk, Life, Lifestyle, Motherhood, women

“Just Like Mommy” Fashion by Jems&A

October 11, 2017

I’ve always believed that confidence comes from within. You can’t fake it.

When my family comes together at the end of the day, we sit over dinner and discuss the things we are most proud of from the day. It might sound self-indulgent, but we hope that in recognizing our strengths and accomplishments we can be encouraged to continue to improve. Although it’s easy to focus on the “weight we need to lose” or the “wrinkles that are creeping in,” teaching self-acceptance can be a great confidence booster. It’s amazing, as a mother of two, to watch how much we influence the level of confidence our children have. But there is something I have learned about confidence: it is multidimensional. While self-worth comes from within, our outward selves can impact how we feel about our inward selves. Even though confidence isn’t always driven by what you see on the outside, it can definitely influence it.

I have observed my almost 7-year-old daughter watch me get ready for the day. Some days I feel like wearing yoga pants and no make up. Other days, I feel like wearing heels and a dress that make me feel good. When in both looks, I make it a point to be body positive and self-accepting as I know she’s listening to my thoughts and watching my actions. I’m certain I’m not alone when I admit there have been times that my daughter has emulated me in a way that I am not proud of. I use those moments as a stiff reminder that she’s watching and I need to be sure to send the right message about self-esteem and confidence.

My daughter loves to dress up. One of the looks she loves best is when our clothing matches. It could be as simple as matching colors, style, or even patterns. She can tell when I am “feelin’ myself” and she has a way of emulating that momentum. I don’t claim to have a perfect body or a beautiful face but one thing that I love the most is when I feel confident in my own skin — and I want to teach my daughter to feel the same.

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I recently stumbled across a really fun website called Jems&A. It’s a female-owned business whose mission is to design and style children’s clothing to help kids express their creative side in what they choose to wear. The Chicks love to support women’s businesses that also promote positivity! Their clothes were appropriate for my daughter and consistent with my own personal style which made it easy to do some “mommy & me” matching. They have clothes for not only daily wear but also for a fun night on the town.

Making memories with my children is what I cherish most in this short life. Taking the time to focus on my relationship with my children is one of my main priorities. It was fun to play dress-up with my daughter and incorporate laughter into our fun looks! If you like what see here in the post, consider checking out Jems&A. If you use the code ChicksAndSalsa20, you can get 20% off an order of $50 or more.

Feel good, look good, and share that same confidence with your mini! To read about how to discuss compassion with your mini, check out our post here.

Your chick,
Sonia

Fashion, girl talk, Lifestyle, women

More Fall Fashion – Oh My!

October 10, 2017

I love dressing for fall but it can be frustrating. It’s an exciting time of the year when I’ve had enough of the scorching sun and humidity and I’m ready for a much-needed cool and crisp breeze! It’s a torment though, I always find that its way too long of a moment when deciding between grabbing a cardigan or not, and then ultimately end up carrying it and not wearing it half the time. Same goes for leather jackets, and they are bulky to carry! I can’t count the times I’ve worn open toed sandals when it was too warm out and ended up feeling embarrassed on my walks home when the temperature suddenly dropped. I have to say, I am a city girl so a lot of my stress and wardrobe is dictated by the weather and how strenuous my commute will be that day. I remember I would wear layers during the cold winters of New York all to pass out from the heat inside the packed and heated subway cars during rush hour! What a disaster that was.

Trendy Chick Soaking In the Fall Sunshine, shoes from @BisouNYC

After some failed attempts, I’ve figured it all out! For days when you’re not certain about the finicky weather, wear pieces, which work in both scenarios. For instance, instead of wearing boots because that’s a real commitment, wear booties and swap the jeans for a pair of quality tights and pair it with a tweed or wool skirt and flannel shirt. Another option is to pair fall fashion such as plaid with summer styles. So for warmer days, instead of a plaid shirt and jeans, wear a plaid shift dress and pair it with a pair of low tops for a relaxed and comfortable look.

Fall is about tasteful experiments. Try to bring character to each piece you wear, give it a different definition each time. It’s easy to stand out in the wrong outfit but hopefully these tips were helpful to avoid the embarrassments and discomfort of fall fashion disasters.

If you need some outwear recs, check out our post on Fall Layering.

XO, Your Trendy Chick,

Puja

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girl talk, Health, Life, Lifestyle, Parenting, Wellness, women

Top Ten Ways To Find Your Zen

October 4, 2017

With the school year underway and relaxed summer routines becoming not-so-distant memories, many of us have to try harder to carve out time for ourselves and search deeper to block out the buzzings around us. The grind of drop-offs, work, pick-ups, activities, specials, dinner, homework…wash, rinse, repeat…gets to even the most pain-tolerant of us.

Meditation is the discovery that the point of life is always arrived at in the immediate moment. – Alan Watts

Below is a list of the top ten ways to find your zen.

Create a playlist- find the songs that put you in your element. I listen to a variety of music so mine contains anything from classical to hip hop. I use my headphones and tend to multi-task at home. I also play it in the car after the kids have been dropped off. Have you checked out Chick Radio yet? Subscribe to our channel, we update our list often.

Take a walk – I find my zen walking through the aisles of Target or Home Goods…alone. I may not purchase anything but I enjoy the solitude and without being beholden to a shopping list and a tight time frame. The same can be achieved walking outside, snow-shoeing (for the more adventurous), and biking.

Devour a book- Nothing takes you away and warms the soul like a good book; one that makes you lose track of time and makes you look forward to the next chunk of free time in your calendar. This month, my book club is reading a thriller set aboard a luxury cruise line called The Woman In Cabin 10, nothing like a thriller to create an alternate reality in your mind.

Drink to it- Not alcohol, I’m talking about a nice relaxing cup of hot tea or hot chocolate. Perhaps milk with tumeric or cinnamon. I have a spice blend I’ve created that I add to either black tea or warmed milk and it puts me in my zen state. Try the chicks favorite, Frontier Organic Fair-Trade Chai!

Get organized!- Spend five minutes every night organizing your thoughts for the next day, crossing things off your list for the day and double checking your calendar. Nothing takes you out of your flow than a disorganized rush in the morning.

Create a mantra- Create an affirmation that motivates and inspires you and repeat it when you wake up, right before bed and any other time you need it! Check out our Affirmations Board on Pinterest for ways to stay calm and stay positive.

Learn to say “yes” – Say yes to dinner with your friends, or to your child when he asks to play hide-and-seek Those events allow you to be present and break up the routine. Also, connecting with others simply feels good.

No guilt – You know the phrase “Life’s too short…” The cliche is actually rather profound. There’s no room for guilt. And with that, I’ll leave you with another one of my favorite quotes “Isn’t it nice to think that tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes in it yet?”

Disconnect! – Make it a habit to set a time every day to disconnect from all electronics. Start with five minutes and don’t be surprised if you find yourself increasing that time 🙂 You’ll cherish it. See our post about what you are missing when you are on your phone.

Laugh!!- What better way to feel relaxed than by feeling happy? Try something silly, learn a new dance, tell a joke. Get in touch with your unabashed-ness of your youth when you laughed more than you worried! If you have not already read The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*$k, do yourself a favor, and pick it up!

Cheers,

Serene

Your Brainy Chick