So often we hear about going off the grid for a bit to re-discover what life is really all about. With the hustle and bustle of my daily life between juggling google classrooms and social media with Digital Chicks, going off the grid has not been on my mind. But a few weeks ago, that changed.
Even though I have lived in Georgia for eight years now, I had yet to visit Tybee Island – a short three hours away from my home. Boy, have I been missing out! We went recently on a family vacation/reunion and stayed at the home of author Mary Kay Andrews.
I should have known that the author of The High Tide Club, Sunset Beach, and The Weekenders would know what being present and living in the moment is all about! Every inch of the massive 7 bedroom house is meticulously decorated with reminders of what is important. The house reflected the elements of the earth: air, water, fire, and wind. Each can be felt at every moment when you are in the house or at the beach – which is a short one minute walk away.
With so much to do and see, it was easy to go hours without a worry, so I left my phone on the charger and stepped out for some fresh air. I was fortunate to have gone with A LOT of family. We sat for hours talking, playing, laughing, and reminiscing.
Tybee Island has clean, un-crowded, soft sandy beaches that I am ALREADY missing. The lighthouse and pier are hard to miss and easy to visit. As someone who has been to Savannah several time, I was surprised to learn that Tybee was so close by. Next time you are in Savannah, drive out another twenty minutes to Tybee, you won’t regret it!
Not too long ago, I visited another quaint place called Put In Bay, see that post here.
**For $15 off your fist box use code CHICKSANDSALSA15 or ANNUAL20 for $20 off your annual subscription**
I have shared before that I live in a pretty small town…that being said I have found a few fun work arounds to getting my hands on fun and trendy products. The first one of course is Amazon, thank GOD for Amazon. Another fun way to get some unexpected and exciting products is with subscriptions boxes. We have featured boxes before like here and here. Today we are super excited to pick apart the Box of Style curated by Rachel Zoe. Where are my BRAVO fans at?? Rachel Zoe’s iconic style of simple clothes with statement jewelry was always a favorite. Her attitude as well as style made The Rachel Zoe Project the hit that it was.
I have always been an accessories girl as you can see here and here. A box of products picked by Rachel herself sounds like perfection and once you see what all came in this box, you will see why it is a great deal and a whole lot of fun to get OR give as a gift. Let’s break down the value and then take a peek inside.
This product retails for $80 at Sephora. This serum is a highly concentrated, natural, oil-free serum that combats dark spots, evens skin tone, and boosts radiance—and has been proven to be 62 times more effective than vitamin C. But don’t take my word for it, take it from the 2000+ four star reviews they have on the site.
Jules Kae Vegan Leather Tote
This box came in this beautiful faux leather bag in my current favorite color BLUSH! With Digital Chicks keeping me busy and a laptop and camera always in my bag, this one came just in time to help me get around in style.
Ettika Tassel Necklace – See Her Whole Collection Here
This is one of the BEST necklaces I have gotten of late. Layered necklaces are all the rage and when you rock multiples you risk getting tangled up! This beauty attaches to one claps keeping the layers clean and perfect all day long. I have already gotten so many compliments on this one, so if you are on the market check it out. This one was made specifically for the Box of Style, but she has a similar style for sale for less than $50 here.
I’ve been having a Tarte moment lately as you can see here. This liquid liner is not just cute, but it is also great! I tried out the tip on my hand and the lines were still on there the next morning! That is the kind of stay power I want out of my eyeliner. Once you get your liner on, check out my video on getting your falsies on perfect every time (its magic!)
Eddie Borgo Soho Watch in Rose Gold
If you are like me I rarely buy a statement watch, but if I get my hands on one I am more than happy to rock it! This watch goes with my current blush aesthetic and gives my #OOTD that extra touch. I love it!
I hope you enjoyed this review. This subscription is a little treat to myself this year and gives me a little something extra to look forward to every couple of months.
As always, thanks for stopping by Chicks And Salsa!
I come from a family of physicians, so when it comes to products that I use – especially on my face – I have to understand some of the science behind it. My husband doesn’t show any empathy when I don’t think something is working AND when I don’t know anything about it. That being said, I am a lifelong Eucerin user when it comes to moisturizer on my face , but lately I have been trying out face serums. Naturally, I wanted to know what the heck they even are so I looked it up!
*Please note, the hydration body cream is NOT to be used on the face. Please use an alternate face moisturizer to layer over the face serum.*
According to WebMD, moisturizers have ingredients like petroleum and mineral oil to give it more density and in many cases creaminess. With face serums, they have stripped out all the fluffing ingredients. In doing that, serums are left with high impact, active ingredients like antioxidants, peptides (proteins such as collagen), and in the case of this active hydrating serum, hyaluronic acid (aka the fountain of youth).
What is Hyaluronic Acid?
Aside from being skin care’s biggest star of the moment, it is something that we naturally make in our bodies (babies have a ton of it which is why they have the best skin). As we age we make less, which is why we use products infused with this molecule to help improve firmness and elasticity on our face. The science is clear, check out this study which observed women who used hyaluronic acid for 8 weeks.
I have received several face serums lately, but in looking at the ingredients they are NOT all the same and so understanding what is in these products is important. I was first introduced to Rodan and Fields a few years ago and have been a loyal Lash Boost user for years. I also have had a great experience with their Bright Eye Complex product in the past (see my before and after photos here). When I have had a good experience with a brand, I am more likely to consider other products in the collection. That being said, I recently had the opportunity to test out and use their new Active Hydration line of products and wanted to share with you why they are different, and in this case better!
The Science
By nature, human skin is ‘hydrophobic’ which means that our skin actually repels water which is why we don’t swell up when we go swimming. With the Active Hydration Face Serum, they have paired up the hyaluronic acid with glycerin to help penetrate the skin and allow for the hyaluronic acid molecule to bind to it and sit on top of the skin providing a seal for hydration. The science, down to the molecular level, is honestly downright amazing!
The Takeaway
I have used both the Active Hydration face serum and body cream religiously for two weeks and have loved my results so far. I still have some uneven skin coloration so I may be headed for their Reverse collection next.
I hope that this review was helpful in understanding things that separate products from others. If you have any questions, feel free to leave them below. Want 10% off…email Neela Metgud at [email protected].
Your Chick,
Rina
This post has been sponsored by an independent consultant for Rodan + Fields, but the opinions are all our own.
Ah Alaska, the last frontier as they say and our nation’s largest state (almost three times bigger than Texas)! At some point or another curiosity to travel to this truly unique state occurs to almost everyone. Maybe it’s the diversity in terrain, the majestic mountains, the glaciers, or the unique wildlife that draws people in. Similarly for my family in June of 2008 we visited Alaska by road and drove through the state covering nearly 4000 miles in ten days. The experience was incredible, walking through Denali National Park and catching up on cultural sites along the way was truly a once in a lifetime experience.
So, this year when Sonia offered for me to join her and a few friends on an Alaska cruise, I wanted to share the sights and sounds of Alaska with my husband and kids and quickly signed up to join them. We boarded the Disney Wonder and left from Vancouver last month on a mission to see whales, eagles, glaciers, and mountains. Alaska is so big, and after looking at several cruise routes, it is NOT uncommon for cruise liners to not wander too far north due to weather and other considerations. Nonetheless, I was optimistic about what we would experience.
Our View Everyday
The Sun, The Ocean, The Magical Mountains
Our Cruise Crew
Alaska By Sea
The cruise line route, shown below, just barely touches Alaska – somehow I felt as though I had short changed the largest state of our union by touring its Southern most islands. The passages were beautiful and we did see a few orcas along the oceans surface along with a glacier. We went into Edicott Arm (which was not our intended stop which was Tracy Arm) but the hours of passage between the majestic mountains really made this cruise the experience what it was. Unlike Caribbean cruises, there is so much to take in and see in Alaska on the days at sea.
Alaska By Sea
Alaska By Road
Below is the route we drove starting in Edmonton, Canada and making our way all the way to Anchorage (see our stops on the map below indicated in yellow). The sights and sounds along the way were incredible. Caribou and black bears roamed the streets freely along the Alaskan Highway. We even stopped at Liard Hot Springs and took a dip in the natural hot spring! We then spent an entire day roaming through Denali National Park, which is home to Mt. Mickley – North Americas highest peak at 20,320 feet (15th highest in the world).
Alaska By Road- Edmonton to Anchorage
Images from our road trip in 2008:
Denali National Park 2008
Road Side Adventures
Climbing a Glacier
Getting Onto The Alaskan Highway
There was so much to be seen and experienced by land that after that trip I truly felt as though I had experience Alaska for what it was: the final frontier.
The Takeaway
That being said the convenience of being on a cruise liner and of course having all the amenities of a Disney cruise at our finger tips did not hurt. However, I did feel as though the cruise route somehow did not do Alaska justice. On our five day cruise we had only one port stop in Ketchikan which is a quaint Alaskan town built entirely around cruise tourism. It was nice to get off the boat and we were fortunate to have participated in an awesome port excursion that shared native culture with us. The tour guide was an incredible spirit who was able to spot bald eagles from miles away; we saw several up-close too which was really cool!
Check out our Alaska Recap Video Here:
Also our Bald Eagle Encounter Was Incredible too!
Depending on what you are looking for and who you are travelling with, Alaska by water and Alaska by land offer two very different types of vacations. On one hand you have the convenience of prepared meals, an entertainment itinerary and let’s face it an on board “Kids Club.” By car you have the spontaneity of adventure on every turn without the guarantee of a three to five start hotel at each stop. As my kids get older, I crave a more ‘boots on the ground’ type of experience but with friends, there is nothing quite like the relaxing experience of a cruise.
Tip #1: Having gone to Alaska in both June AND July before, I can confidently say that the weather is amazing during this time of the year. On both trips I had packed winter coats and on both I did not need them. Just plan on layering up and you will be just fine! Here are our favorite pieces to layer up with:
Tip #2: For traveling with fragile items and/or medical supplies (my daughter has Type 1 Diabetes) we count on our Andiamo Luggage to get everything there safely, check them out here.
I hope you found this helpful, thanks for checking out my post.
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