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chicksandsalsa

Lifestyle, Review

My Top Ten Picks From Oprah’s Favorite Things

Ok, ok, I love Oprah’s picks each year.   This year is no different.  She has managed to pull together a list of items that immediately struck a chord with me for a different people in my life.  So here is what I will be shopping and (shhhh!) for whom. See all of our gift guides here.

 

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10

Littbag Light Up Vanity

So I think I will be scooping this up for my Mom and Mother In Law.  It has long lasting LED lights IN THE BAG which makes seeing what is inside easier – its so genius I wish I had thought of it!

X5 Multi USB Port Car Charger

With all of our devices needing USB ports the two slots in my car just doesn’t cut it! Thank got this genius product has my back and can support up to 5 devices!!! This may be the best stocking stuffer ever!  This would also be an AWESOME gift for a teacher too, see all of our gift guides here!

Jotblock Watercolor Set

Doodling can be so therapeutic.  I have so many creative and artistic people in my family that for $25, this gift is a steal!  Drop this in your cart for the artsy one in your family (ahem Dad).

Faux Fur Mittens

Ok, the blogger in my could not resist these adorable mittens and with my upcoming trip to Chicago, I scooped these up for myself and Sonia and Shelly (of course)!

Techloom Sneakers

Does anyone else NOT UNTIE their laces every time they take off their sneakers.  I have been sliding my sneakers on and off for years, so these cuties by APL are right up my alley.  No laces, no fuss!  With so many color choices- how could you not scoop these up for the new year.

Arts and Craft Supply Library

I have two daughters ages 7 and 8 and currently all they care about are crafts and SLIME (BEST slime kit on the market is linked here – you’re welcome)! So for less than $40 I can give them hours of entertainment with a cute modern twist on a craft box.  Santa will be putting this under the tree FOR SURE!

Clarisonic

I bought a knock off one of these years ago and used it till it literally could not go on.  With skincare at the top of my mind lately a new face brush has been on my list for a while. Although this may be one of the more expensive items on this list, with something that I plan on using often and on my face, I think it may be worth the splurge.

Lasagna Trio

When I saw this I literally added it my cart instantly.  My lasagna can get so sloppy and slippery sometimes its embarrassing!  Chicago Metallic has solved this problem by breaking up the pan into three sections and I LOVE IT!

Apple Air Pods

If you have not made the switch to Apple Airpods yet you are missing out, Sonia and I use these all day, everyday! These have an incredible battery life and charge in the case they come in.  They are $150 at the Apple store and $144 here, so add these to your cart and be hands free for life!

My Leopard Print Dress Doubles Up As a Cardigan  | Necklaces are From This Store on Etsy

Floating Pearl Hoops

Last but not least are these beautiful earrings.  Hoops in general are a go-to chicks look and I looked around for a cheaper version of these earrings and failed! They fall flawlessly and look so elegant that they may actually be worth the price.

Well I hope you found this gift guide helpful.  Its not too early to start stashing stuff and crossing off names.  I love giving gifts all year round but the holidays are extra special!

Cheers,

Your Chick,

Rina

**We use affiliate links and do make a small commission off of purchases that you make. We use that to help grow the blog. So when possible, please shop links directly from our post to support our work. Thank you!!**

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Fashion, Lifestyle

How To Save Your White Sneakers With This One Product

I had been down about the condition of my favorite Gucci sneakers recently and decided to do something about it.  Instead of just replacing them, I decided to try out a quick five minute and five dollar solution to my problem.  I had worn these so much (see them here and here) that they had gotten so dirty and I hated the way that they started to look.  I tried my go-to solution for everything which is baby wipes with no success.  But then I tried the magic eraser by Mr. Clean and was thrilled with my results.

See my before and after pictures here:
Before

 

After


My Blazer is $29 Here (I am wearing Size S) | Fave Gucci Sneakers Here | Go To Adidas Sneakers Here (On Sale) | Hamsa Necklace Linked Here | Go To Evil Eye Necklace Here

Here is the step by step process for restoring your sneakers to ‘like new’ :

  1. Wipe down sneakers first with a baby wipe or wet towel to get off obvious ‘gunk’
  2. Fill a bowl with warm water.
  3. Dip magic eraser into the bowl.
  4. Begin gently rubbing your sneakers. You can repeat this step as many times as necessary.
  5. Wipe off with a clean towel.

Protip: Wash the laces too! My whites were mis-matched until I did this.

The Magic Eraser can also be used gently on handbags as well.  I was able to save my shoes in less than five minutes and I was so excited that I had to share it with you!  The way I look at it is that you will buy it once and always have it for your shoes and your family’s shoes!

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Lifestyle

I Spent 4 Hours and 49 Minutes on My Phone Today!! Should I be worried?

Ok, don’t judge me- but I really wanted to know exactly how much time I was spending on my phone so I measured it using the Moments App (ioS 12 also has a built in feature to help you keep track as well).  I was introduced to the app a while ago and I have been documenting my usage and time for the past few weeks.  I thought I was going to feel bad about the amount of time I spent, but I found something even more interesting and awesome instead!

If you have an iPhone here is how your can check your usage now!

Launch Settings from your Home screen. > Tap on Battery. > Wait a moment for Battery Usage to populate. > Tap on the Show Detailed Usage button to get a breakdown of foreground and background power usage. > Tap on Last 7 Days to get a broader look at power consumption over time.

**First pic is from one day, second pic is from seven day summary**

 

Screenshots from Moments App:
My Results

It turns out I get plenty of sleep – averaging 7-8 hours a night – awesome right!?! It also turns out that I spend almost 5 hours a day on my phone…I thought I would have negative feelings about this, but it turns out I don’t.  Let me explain.  I work at home and with my time divided between Digital Chicks Media and our blog, it makes sense to me that I would be spending the equivalent of a day’s work on my phone, aka my computer on the go. With social media and engagement at the core of what I do, I guess it is not surprising, but there is a silver lining to all this information.

Black and White Sweater Dress for $35 (available in every color) another one I love is linked here | Loafers are Chanel, shop similar here | My go to red lipstick is linked here 

The Silver Lining

I am living day-to-day moments for most of my day – that is time that I am spending with my family, at the gym, cooking, driving, etc.  That is a nice find that somehow I can’t ignore.  I actually felt good about that, is that weird?  My kids get home from school around 3:30PM and go to bed around 8PM. The main thing I try hard to work on is the amount of time I spend on my phone while they are home. I want to make sure that those 8 hours of living are happening sans my phone while my family is together.

Something my husband and I try to do walk away from our devices to resist the temptation to not be present in the moment while the kids are home.  While work can sometimes creep in trying to move to another room to finish out an email or call is a helpful way to recenter and be present in the time you are away from your phone.

The Takeaway

In life we have to strike a balance between the things that we do and find a place in our day to day lives for all of it.  Smartphones are a necessary evil that really are not that bad, they have enhanced our lives by so much.  So, next time you resent the amount of time you may be spending on your phone, find out how much time you are actually spending and let that knowledge either empower you or help you create changes you wish to see to make being in the moment more meaningful.

Your Chick,

Sonia

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Lifestyle, Travel

4 Trendy Spots to Enjoy The Atlanta Weather NOW!

As many of you know, Sonia and I (Rina) grew up in the Chicago area. After getting married, I moved to a small town outside of Atlanta with my husband and now we’ve been married for 13 years (time flies…!).  After the initial shock of being away from friends and family wore off, I have grown to love so many things about the South — particularly the city of Atlanta.

At the top of that list is the weather. Being able to spend time with my family outdoors most of the year is unbeatable. To make use of the endless southern warmth, Atlanta has several new developments that merge a love of eating, of drinking, and of shopping entirely outside!  I want to share my top four ways to chill in Atlanta. These spots are versatile: good for family activities, date nights, and a night out with the girls.

Krog Street

Another new concept in metropolitan areas are these European style “supermercados.”  It is an emptied out warehouse with filled restaurants and vendors. These vendors line the interior of the warehouse in an interactive way that includes fun samples of different types of foods. On a recent trip with my sister and a friend, we all craved for different things: Shelly wanted ramen, I wanted Pho, and Hannah wanted chips and salsa. Lucky enough, Krog Street delivered on all of it!  I want to make a special mention of Superica, an elevated tex mex experience that uses locally sourced ingredients. They are also very mindful of their food presentation, making the experience delicious and beautiful.

My midi dress is on clearance for $44 | Shop similar summer dresses here and here | If you have not scooped up a good pair of white sneakers yet, my Adidas rose gold kicks are on sale | My top selling bag by Zac Posen is also on sale here

The Atlanta Beltline

Around the corner of Krog Street is the Atlanta Beltline.  Similar to the 606 in Chicago, the Atlanta Beltline is much larger and more robust having been built on 22 miles of unused railroad tracks.  All kinds of people enjoy the beltline for long walks and bike rides. A cool accent of the beltline is the support of local artists as the walkway is lined with casual and creative artwork.

Ponce City Market

This “market” opened in 2014 in the old Sears, Roebuck & Company building. It is linked directly to the Atlanta BeltLine.  This is a large flexible space to eat, drink, and shop. See the list of places to eat, shop, and hang out here.  My personal favorite is the adult-only roof top ($10 cover) and carnival complete with putt-putt golf, carnival games, and a beer garden with fire pits — and some of the best mixologists in town.  This place is a little piece of heaven and perfect for literally whatever mood you are in.  Find a corner, make it yours, and enjoy yourself.

Video is from Vimeo: ASD|SKY – Ponce City Market Roof | Skyline Park + Nine MIle Station

Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) Fashion Museum

The location of this school is what really makes this a sight to see. With an unparalleled view of Atlanta from its main patio, SCAD is a unique blend of culture, art, and education. It is the home of one of the premier design schools and several influential designers have emerged from the institutions. Although the Atlanta location is the main campus building, they are very friendly about visitors and with its unique view of the city, it is definitely worth a visit.  The fashion museum inside the main campus features designers and art that change almost quarterly.  The view alone is worth the visit and completely free, but the museum has an admission of $10 — an educational experience into the world of art and design.

If you only have a little bit of time in Atlanta and have already done some of the more obvious tourist activities (like visit the Coca Cola museum, CNN, Georgia Aquarium, Stone Mountain, and Centennial Park), consider a local experience that is hip and relaxing.

Of course, no trip is complete without trendy luggage to go along with it! If you have not yet checked out Andiamo luggage, click here.  We have gotten so many compliments on their carry ons its not even funny, see our post here. 

Hope that this was helpful. Which of these placed have you visited?

Your Chick,

Rina

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