5 Reasons Why NOW is the Right Time For You To Buy An Instant Pot

September 19, 2018

I love to cook, and even more so after I had kids. I wanted to be the super mom that made fresh home cooked meals for her kids. Let’s be real though cooking is – messy and time consuming. The easy way out sometimes is to pull something out of the freezer. BUT buying an instant pot was life changing.

I bought the instant pot last summer only because it was on sale. I had no clue how to use it and frankly speaking it sat in the box for 4 months because its intimidating! I would look at it and say to myself, “that thing looks way too confusing, and I don’t have time to figure it out.”I was so wrong. It is the most convenient and efficient cooker I have EVER used.

Time

It has saved me so much time (like tons). Once the meal is in there and you have set the time – you can walk away. The meal then cooks and switches to keeping the food warm or turns off depending on what you have chosen. The instant pot cooks 70% faster than a slow cooker. If you’re Indian and are comparing it to our mom’s Indian pressure cookers: IT IS 100% safer (those things are crazy).

6 Quart Instant Pot (My Recommendation) | Instant Pot Cookbook | Accessories for Steaming

Nutrients

The instant pot cooks with high heat which comes in handy in thoroughly cooking your food. The temperature is between 239 degrees F to 244 degrees F, it kills toxins that slow cookers may miss. In addition, vegetables and other foods will maintain their nutrients by being cooked at higher temps.

Scent Free Cooking

I like to make Indian food, and Indian food aroma can spread throughout the house. My dear husband would walk into the home and be bombarded with the smell of onions and masala. I’ve switched a lot of my Indian meals to instant pot meals. Not only has it saved me time, but my house doesn’t smell like a restaurant anymore!

Neat and Clean

Using the instant pot reduces the amount time you will spend cleaning your kitchen. There is only one pot to clean in the Instant pot. No stove messes at all. The is a WIN WIN in my book. I dread kitchen clean ups.

Healthier Meals

Whatever your work schedule consists of I promise the instant pot is going to make your life easier. It’s so easy for everyone to use. With a little bit of planning, you can have your instant pot meal all ready for you the moment you walk in the door. So you can have “fast food” that is far more healthier. The Instant Pot Pressure Cooker Cookbook was a great buy for me to get started. I’ve been able to keep things ready and my husband will come home and just dump it in the instant pot and start the IP.

I initially had bought a 3qt instant pot but real quickly realized that the 6qt was way more handy dandy plus had more functions.. I did a lot of research and bought this one. It is the most efficient for me: Indian food, baby food, snacks, homemade yogurt, and even ghee!

Pro Tip #1: For larger beans like Rajma (Kidney Beans) or Chole (Garbanzo Beans) you will need to up the cook time to 90 minutes instead of the pre-set 30 minutes. Smaller beans will cook just fine with the default setting.

Pro Tip #2: For those of you with young children like me, the Instant Pot Duo has a sterilize feature that can be used for baby bottles and breast pumps – such a convenient feature!

Pro Tip #3: Want to make Daal Makhani or Biriyani in your Instant Pot?? Follow us on Pinterest for Indian Instant Pot recipes!

Invest in one- you won’t regret it!

Your Chick,

Neema

Chicks Picks:

Lifestyle

The Importance of Digital Media Marketing- Meet Digital Chicks Media

August 22, 2018

From blogging, I have learned, that social media can be a very powerful tool. This tool creatively allows you to share your brand, thoughts, and ideas on platforms that is driven by like minded people. “Finding Your Tribe” often trends on the minds and hearts of people on the World Wide Web. The importance of that tribe cannot be understated.

For any service or product driven company, finding an audience through social media can increase your visibility which can translate into customers and sales. Social media marketing is about finding your 1,000 true fans and targeting them with proper messaging and a carefully crafted brand.

As part of our evolution as blogger s, we have started Digital Chicks Media, a social media management company. Digital Chicks Media can help your business by handling all the creativity and time required to juggle content creation, engagement, and activity on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest.

What Forbes is Saying:

“Social media isn’t something you can “turn on” and expect to start seeing an increase in revenue or conversions. It takes time and effort to build a successful social media presence; you need to have a thorough understanding of your target market, you need to carefully craft your messaging and time your posts adeptly, and on top of that, you need to be active consistently, engaging with your audience, sometimes for months or years, before you see a return on the investment.” ~Forbes

It’s true that juggling a business and all of the social media requirements to meet today’s needs can be overwhelming. Let the chicks of Digital Chicks Media run your social media so that you can run your business.

If you are interested in how we can help you get more active socially, please get in touch with us! Email Rina Puri at [email protected]

Your Chick,

Rina Puri

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Fashion, Lifestyle

See How High Waisted Looks Are Giving Me Life

August 1, 2018

I recently watched an interview with Priyanka Chopra (side note: I’m a HUGE fan). She was talking about what she was wearing to an upcoming red carpet event. She spoke on how when you wear something that you are comfortable in you will exude confidence. Duh! It’s seems so simple, but I know I’ve been guilty of wearing something that might not fit just right and I’m pulling and tugging and it affects the way I carry myself.

Confidence comes in so many forms. In fashion, it’s truly in how you carry yourself and it starts with wearing something that fits your body type. Fashion is so fun, there is no one size fits all approach. There are a few things I look out for when shopping for what’s right for me. Let me start with my body type. I’m 5’8”, 140lbs and an on again off again gym goer. I don’t have a super models body and have what I would consider to be a curvy build. As with many women, there are certain parts of my body I am more comfortable with than others. I don’t love my legs from the knee up so I try to go for midi-length dresses, maxis, capris, jeans or midi skirts. The high waisted trend suits my frame because it gives me the tuck I need while accentuating my waist.

As women we can often fall prey to what we are “supposed” to look or dress like. If we let go of the expectations and just dressed and acted in the way that was authentic to ourselves we would not only carry ourselves with confidence, but would also inspire others to do the same.

Here are some of my favorite high waisted looks! Many of these pieces can still be scooped up at the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale (which ends August 6th). Check out what is in our bag here.

Cheers! Your Chick,

Sonia

Chick Picks:

Fashion, Lifestyle

You Can Always Be Better – Summer Reads and Needs

July 16, 2018

How is it even possible that summer just started and now my trip to Chicago is already almost over! Time really does fly when you are having fun! As some of you may know, I am part of a fabulous book club (shout out to the Guilty Wives Club) and as I do every summer I take on a summer reading list with a combination of best sellers, recommendations and this year I have included some self exploration too! As a woman I constantly second guess myself as an individual, as a wife, and of course as a mother. I am always wondering if there is a better way to do what I am doing or how I can make sure that I am giving my kids the tools to be amazing individuals and citizens.

This year’s list had a little bit of everything but I wanted to share the life books that I really enjoyed that gave me just enough pep in my step each day to see things differently and offered some new ideas and perspective into my day to day life.

The List

You Are a Badass

Don’t feel bad about pepping yourself up sometimes- isn’t that what power posing is all about?? This book offers hilariously inspiring stories, sage advice, easy exercises, and the occasional swear word to help you stop being self deprecating and change the way you see yourself and your future.

You Do You

With social media shifting our focus to other people all the time, You Do You reminds you to spend just as time and energy on yourself as you do on other people. If everyone is busy doing ‘their’ thing, shouldn’t you be busy doing yours?? This easy read may be the reminder by your bedside that you need to just do you!

It’s Not About How Good You Are, It’s About How Good You Want To Be

If you are like me and asked yourself if there is more out there for you in this world or this life then author Paul Arden has some words of wisdom for you! He takes on issues as diverse as problem solving, communicating, playing your cards right, making mistakes and creativity- all things I try to tackle each and every day!

The Little Book Of Life Hacks

Yumi Sakugawa shares a wide range of useful and unexpected tips for looking and feeling better, streamlining and improving your home life. Everything from creating fun and artsy DIY projects that can brighten your living space. Everything from removing dark circles from under your eyes, making cold brew iced coffee at home, throwing the perfect party on a budget, working out at home without a gym membership and (my favorite!) taking the perfect afternoon power nap…and more! You can peek in and out of this book at will and get a whole lot out of it!

Parenting Recommendations

My next two recommendations are heavy on the parenting side of things.

I have two daughters, both are amazing yet incredibly different, one is self motivated, one is not, one is independent, the other is not. I have read both GRIT and The Power of Habit and these books have taught me so much about behaviors that successful people have and where and how they were taught them. It allows parents the freedom to exercise a little tough love to teach your child a lesson – I find tough love to be so hard sometimes. I always make excuses for my kids for example, I think that they don’t understand, or that they are too young, but these books have given me the gumption to challenge them. To my surprise, I have watched the kids step it up. If you need a scientific perspective with a track record on parenting then check these books out, you won’t regret it!

Well I hoped you enjoyed my book recommendations, what did you read this summer?

Your Chick,

Rina