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Beauty, Fashion, Lifestyle

BudhaGirl Diwali Stack

Pinch me! This month, I have the unique opportunity to collaborate with a brand I love on something very personal – Diwali! I continue to exist on my platforms by bringing light and love in times like this. BudhaGirl, as a company, and I have values surrounding daily rituals and gratitude that align perfectly as we celebrate the Festival of Light.

In honor of this partnership and occasion, I have created the Diwali Stack made from my favorite All Weather Bangles in three different colors to help you have mindful glamour all year round! Shop the stack and give love and light this Diwali season.

About Me:

Q: What is one of my favorite daily rituals?

A: I start my mornings with gratitude. I have the Gratitude App, which prompts me daily with something to be grateful for. I love starting my day on a happy note.

Q; What does Mindful Glamour mean to me?

A: It means doing it for yourself. Being glamorous because it makes you feel good.

Q: How do I practice self-care?

A: I take time each day to be phone-free. Lately, I have been using that time to organize small spaces in my home, one drawer or cabinet at a time. How much ‘stuff’ I have accumulated over the years is amazing. Clearing old things out makes me feel lighter and happier.

Q: What is a quote that inspires me?

A: Live and let live. Acknowledging that everyone has their own journey and reasons makes living judgment-free so easy. It’s saying, “You do you.” But nicely.

Q: What is my favorite hobby/activity?

A: Talking to my sister on the phone is truly what grounds me. She is my sounding board and biggest supporter. It’s a daily activity that brings me joy.

Q: Best Travel Spot?

A: Anywhere I can be overcome with nature’s beauty is best for me. I love places like Sedona and Vancouver, but I look forward to a trip to Iceland in 2024.

Q: What is my celebrity style icon?

A: I love everyday women the most. But if I had to choose a celebrity, it would be Jessica Alba; she seems down to earth, driven, and fun!

Q: What would it be if I had to describe my style in one word?

A: Random! One day, I am wearing leather, and the next, I have a peplum floral top on. I love trying everything!

As always, thanks for being part of my tribe.

Your chick,

Rina

Fashion, Lifestyle

It’s my 6-year Blogversary! 

Chicks and Salsa may be the longest ‘job’ I have held. 296 blog posts and 1240 Instagram posts later, here we are! Starting my own small business in 2016 has led to many meaningful opportunities. I have fostered relationships crafted 100% by hard work, consistency, and you all – my readers, followers, friends, and family. Thank you to many of you who were there when I started and are still here.  I see you, and I appreciate you.

I have written about why I started and shared some of my early partnerships in previous posts.  Today I wanted to share why all the hard work was worth it.  There are big partnerships I have been lusting after that have (finally!) recently come to fruition, but the WHY I am still doing it is not about partnerships.

Starting Chicks and Salsa was always about learning.  Learning to write, learning to network, learning to create, learning to be vulnerable, and learning to commit.  It was about so much more than the clothes, the makeup, and the events.  It was about finding my tribe in person and online; it was about learning by DOING.

I made my first website, created my first LLC, learned photography essentials, and took numerous courses online to learn the in’s and out’s of ‘having a blog.’ Since starting, things have changed, and Instagram‘s influence on our e-commerce culture has skyrocketed. We also have TikTok as a new place to learn new things and find inspiration.  Every few months, there are new things to keep up with and learn.  I love the variety that creating Chicks and Salsa offers; it is flexible and ever-evolving.  

In 2018, I launched MVP Media, a social media management company that has allowed me to convert what I do for Chicks and Salsa for small brands and businesses.  To date, I have worked for dozens of companies to help elevate their social media presence.

Learn more about MVP Media here.

With no end in sight, I plan to keep creating fun, entertaining, inspirational, or educational content.  

This post is about gratitude.  I am genuinely grateful to have found a small corner of the internet to call my own, thanks to you.  As always, thanks for your time and your love.

Stay tuned; there is more to come!
Your Chick,
Rina

Fashion

SAVE BIG // Nordstrom Anniversary Sale

Tomorrow, July 28th, the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale is open to EVERYone. As always, you can save a lot of money each year by shopping for high-quality fashion brands for less during the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale.

This year is no different; with Fall around the corner, now is a great time to buy fun pieces to layer up or style once the temps cool down a little bit.

I have always share looks that I shop and wear year over year.  From my favorite cutouts to date night dresses, this year, the sales look great!  As always, scoop these pieces up quickly as they tend to sell out quickly!

Here are some affordable pieces that you will be glad you shopped for less, trust me!

SHACKET SALE
NSALE DRESSES
Favorite Cutouts

Thanks for checking out my post.

Your Chick,

Rina

Fashion, Lifestyle

The Freedom to be Happy

A happy consequence of these past few years has been the time to step away from all of life’s distractions and really focus on ME.  I spent many hours reflecting on personal and professional goals.  About 5 years ago, I stepped away from my full-time job as a Development Specialist for a non-profit agency to pursue the blog.  Giving Chicks And Salsa all my attention really allowed me the freedom to challenge myself in a way I had never done before.  I had to be specific about my goals and direction.  Without discipline, I knew I would end up disappointed.  So on this journey, there were some pivotal lessons that I have learned that I wanted to share. 

GIVE YOURSELF THE FREEDOM TO BE HAPPY

Don’t Fear Tomorrow

I used to fear the future chronically.  I took a risk, and the destination was unknown.  Learning lesson #2 is what made me look forward to tomorrow rather than fear it.

Ride The Wave

From my first post to my first collaboration to the start of Digital Chicks Media, any time an opportunity was presented, I said yes and turned wherever the tide took me.  This ended up being a rewarding and winning strategy.  

Own Your Story

I had heard about owning your story when I attended the Style Collective conference early on. In paving my own path, I got to know my story better than ever.  I had become my own boss and made every little and big decision along the way. Being intimately involved with my destiny made me own that story in a way I never had before.

Shop this One Shoulder Top Here | My TShirt Dress is Linked Here | My Straw Bag is from Amazon and is Linked Here

It may sound cheesy, but manifestation works, and it took a global pandemic to make me step back to see what I wanted from my life clearly.  This post would not be complete without a shout-out to my favorite and life-changing book, The Celestine Prophecy. This book is more than a novel; it is a blueprint on how to pay attention to the signals in the universe.  The book so accurately describes nature’s way of putting us on a path that once you see the signs, there is so much that the universe reveals to you. 

If you made this far into my post, I hope you found some of this in some way motivational or inspiring.  Thank you for being part of my tribe.

Your Chick,

Rina

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