A visit to the hairdresser for me is right behind a visit to the dentist. I have no patience for anything really except exploring new places and spending time in nature. The more I can do for myself and in my home, the better off I am! Getting a blowout in the comfort of my house is the best way I can save money and time each and every week. Thankfully there are really good at home options now.
For years (at least 8!) I have used the previous version of what is now the Conair Infiniti Pro. It has a rotating brush that dries at the same time. The idea was genius, but I had so much hair that it took a long to time to get through with it.
Hot Tools recently launched the release of their 24K Gold One Step Blowout Styler and this is truly the bom diggity! It has a very strong blower, a 24k gold technology barrel to
help with de-frizzing, and gets the job done…fast!
Scoop up this blowout styler for yourself or a loved one this holiday season!
I have shared before that I live in a small town. Living far from places I like to visit has turned me into quite the driver. Give me a destination and I am there!
I have really grown to cherish my time on the road, I love being alone with my thoughts and of course my music! When I travel, I always make sure to rent a car to get around. Some of my most memorable drives have been around Hawaii and most recently on my trip to the Grand Canyon.
Surprisingly the drive from Phoenix to the Grand Canyon is less than 4 hours and the route goes straight through one of my ALL TIME FAVORITE cities of Sedona. I had good company (my kids) and good music to go along with the scenic views.
Check out our ride and some of the landscape in the video below.
Grand Canyon
At the Grand Canyon we signed up for a jeep tour with Grand Canyon Jeep Tours and Safaris. Although we enjoyed the tour, I recommend skipping the pricey jeep tours and heading straight for the Visitors Center where you can easily build an itinerary according to your time available and personal preferences. There are hikes and view points to accommodate all ages and interests. They also have a cute and FREE Junior Rangers program for the kids to keep them engaged! Two things to keep in mind when visiting the Grand Canyon: it’s COLD, you are between 7000 and 9000 feet high, bring layers, it was 41 degrees the day we went in October. Secondly be sure to catch the sunrises and sunsets, they are breathtaking. Whether you watch the canyon light up in the morning or turn down for the night, the overwhelming beauty that is the canyon is really captured at these hours.
Sedona
On our way back we stopped for a while in Sedona. This incredibly beautiful and unique city has had my heart since I first visited ten years ago. Something about its isolation, desert landscape, and tall red rocks just captivates me. Unlike in the Grand Canyon, in Sedona I HIGHLY recommend a jeep tour. Getting up and around these rock structures is not easy, but with the Pink Jeep tours its fun and scenic! We had lunch at the tasty Oaxaca Restaurant that has the most beautiful view in the city. Be sure to swing by the Fine Arts and Crafts Square where there are interesting boutiques and art galleries, live music, cafes, and more!
This drive was truly one for the books and with the beautiful Arizona sun on our side. We enjoyed every minute we spent on the road. Now, I am off to plan my next #RoadTrip.
The days of brick and mortar shopping are a thing of the past. As Amazon has personally taken over my shopping habits, I’ve found Trunk Club for Women to be my next favorite way to shop. I’ve always loved to play dress up, but never enjoyed the process of digging through racks to find what I want.
You visit Trunk Club’s website and fill out a profile. Once completed, the website will match you with a stylist who will select curated items from @Nordstrom that fit your needs.
I’ve been using my personal stylist @laurenhookham for a few years now and she hits the nail on the head every time! You can bypass working with someone who hasn’t been vetted and reach her directly by clicking on this link: www.trunkclub.com/mystylist/lhookham
I met Lauren after filling out my profile in their beautiful downtown location. @Trunkclubwomen has multiple locations throughout the Chicago area that make for a perfect setting to find the perfect outfit (I’ve even taken girlfriends there over some champagne for shopping parties)!
In our first meeting she came prepared with a few selected outfits she thought matched my initial profile. To be honest, I didn’t love all of her selections the first time around. Just like anything else, it takes time to develop a relationship and understanding about what the other person is looking for.
Over time, we have developed an understanding of what my style, size and needs are! Now when she sends a Trunk, I like majority of the selections she’s made. Since @TrunkClubwomen is in partnership with Nordstrom, you know what you’re getting is going to be good quality. I can’t always say for my Amazon purchases. What I love most about it is once you find someone who gets you, you can get trunks seasonally to keep you stylish without any of the effort of following trends and digging through racks of clothing.
If you are a Nordstrom card holder the $25 styling fee gets waived AND you get points for your purchases…what’s best is it shows up at your front door so need need to put in any extra effort! Could this seriously get any better?! Click here to join now: http://www.trunkclub.com/invite/293MAC
This year has been an explosion of content on Chicks and Salsa and we are grateful for all the partnerships we have had with brands that we are familiar with and others that are new to us. In bringing some brand awareness to you all, we have tried several different shampoos and here I have ranked them from best to worst. Hopefully this will help you make an informed decision about what is right for your hair next time you go shopping.
Hair Care is Self Care
I have ranked these shampoos according a few criteria.
1- Lather – When a shampoo lathers up, it allows for a full scrub of the hair follicles and leaves the hair itself feeling really clean.
2- Texture – The thickness, stickiness, and consistency of the shampoo are all the components that I have factored into texture.
3- Overall Impression – Size, packaging, and scent all fall into this category.
This is hands down the winner across all categories. It feels great, smells amazing, and lathers up like a full bubble bath on your head. This all natural shampoo is available exclusively on their website. Luckily we have a steep discount code for you so that you can experience Argan Coco for yourself.
As the only one in this category to come with a pump, I give it major kudos on packaging. Am I the only one obsessed with pumps on my shampoos and conditioners? For those of you who blow dry often this one really preps your hair for styling. It leaves the hair feeling light and bouncy. I have NO IDEA how they do it, but this one comes in second for me!
This organic honey blend delivers on texture and scent. Let’s face it, Garnier knows that they are doing. It also lathers well, but not as good as Argan Coco. This one comes in a close second/third.
DO NOT BUY THESE
Wow Skin Science
This company has a really good concept by incorporating apple cider vinegar into their product, unfortunately you can smell it when you use it…gross! It also lacks a lather that cleans your hair the way you would expect from a shampoo and conditioner combination.
Briogeo
Briogeo This brand has so many good products as part of their product catalog, check out my video here on their root volumizer (amazing!) BUT their smoothie shampoo and conditioner leaves much to be desired. The ingredients include fruits like bananas and coconuts which of course means that they smell and feel amazing. The shampoo and conditioner don’t leave you feeling like you have really discovered something special. I can’t really think of any good reason to buy this product.
Hopefully you have heard of or tried some of these and agree with my assessment. I have long hair and I am kind-of particular about what I think works well with my hair.
Thanks for checking out this post.
**This post is in no way sponsored, all opinions are our own.
