gdgt Chicago

If the sound of checking out the latest and greatest technology gadgets and services sounds like music to your ears, then you must check out gdgt Chicago. I had the opportunity to interview gdgt co-founder, Peter Rojas about the event and his thoughts about the industry. This is one event you don’t want to miss! [...]

November 2011 Chicago Activities

Baby, it’s cold outside so that can only mean one thing—the holidays are almost here! Although the weather outside is oftentimes frightful, here is a list of events happening in November that I think you will find to be quite delightful: 14th, 15th, 21st, 22nd, 28th & 29th—Shedd Aquarium* 17th & 25th—Notebaert Nature Museum* 17th—Adler After [...]

Ice Skating at Millenium Park Ice Skating at Millenium Park

EDEN BodyWorks: Treasure Our Tresses

There’s no such thing as information overload in my vocabulary. I’m a sponge when it comes to learning something new. I learned so much this weekend! I took my first sewing class (more on that later) and attended my first natural hair event. As I mentioned in a prior post, I’m on a journey to [...]

NaturalChica and LaTosha Johnson NaturalChica and LaTosha Johnson

Discover the Benefits of Eyebrow Threading

If you’re under the impression that plucking or waxing is the only way to achieve perfectly shaped eyebrows then you are in for a treat. Another method that you can use to get rid of unwanted facial hair is threading. Threading is a technique that consists of taking a piece of thread and twisting it [...]

Eyebrow Threading Eyebrow Threading

How do you stay healthy?

Today is the Bank of America Chicago Marathon. It’s the one day in the year that I feel inspired to get in better shape as I cheer the 45K on their 26.2 mile journey around the beautiful city of Chicago. It’s always been a secret dream on mine to run in this marathon, but then [...]

Chicago Marathon Chicago Marathon

gdgt Chicago

May 11th, 2012 starchilife

If the sound of checking out the latest and greatest technology gadgets and services sounds like music to your ears, then you must check out gdgt Chicago. I had the opportunity to interview gdgt co-founder, Peter Rojas about the event and his thoughts about the industry. This is one event you don’t want to miss!

What can attendees expect when attending gdgt?
gdgt live is one of the few opportunities that regular consumers have to get hands-on with the latest gadgets and services and interact directly with the companies that are making this stuff. It’s a lot of fun, and there is always lots of amazing stuff to see.

What do you consider to be the must-have devices on the market?

One of the tablet side I’d say the new iPad. For phones I’d say the new HTC One X has really raised the bar for phone design — the more I use it the more I like it.

The Apple vs. Android debate continues to take place. What is your advice to consumers in helping them determine whether they should purchase an Apple of Android device?

It comes down to what services you use most. If you use Gmail, Android is a better choice, if you have a large collection of movies and music in iTunes, iPhone might be a better pick.

What do you anticipate will be the next big hit with consumers?

It’s always hard to say for sure, but I think the next-generation of game consoles due out next year are going to be hugely successful. We’ve already seen how well the Xbox 360 and PS3 have done, and it’s been almost seven years since the Xbox 360 debuted and six years since the PS3 arrived, so I think the market is ready for the next wave.

What is your favorite app?

My current favorites are JustReader, Boid, and HBO GO.

Northshore Attractions

April 16th, 2012 starchilife

Cincopa WordPress plugin
 It’s been awhile since I have written a post, but that’s because I have been doing my best to master being unplugged. I’ve been having a blast, but I want to make sure that I make time to share my adventures with you as well. I recently had the opportunity to explore some areas in the Northshore that may be of interest to you.

Baha’i Temple and Gardens: On my way back from Wilmette I saw this impressive structure and knew I had to take a closer look. It is just as beautiful on the inside as it is on the outside. You can’t help but feel calm taking in the gorgeous gardens surrounding the temple (they hold weddings here too).

Skokie Bike Path: If you have a desire to walk or ride your bike in peace then you must check out this trail. This trail is the perfect compromise for someone who wants to get away from the city, but is not big on the outdoors so you can’t get lost.

My favorite section of the park is Skokie Northshore Sculpture Park because it allows you the opportunity to take in innovative sculptures while becoming “one with nature”. My battery ran out so I wasn’t able to take as many pictures so you will have to take my word for it or come and see for yourself…

Grosse Point Lighthouse District in Evanston: I finally made the time and energy to explore the area right outside of Downtown Evanston. I’m so glad I did because it enabled me to stumble across this lovely gem. There is a park, an awesome beach and of course a very cool lighthouse. It was closed when I went, but I can’t wait to go back to reward myself with what is sure to be an amazing view.

The best part is that all of the attractions are free, so I am confident that you will feel they are worth the drive or ‘L’ ride.

Why aren’t there more Good Deeds?

February 27th, 2012 starchilife

tyler-perry I have never been compelled to see a Tyler Perry movie, but the trailer for Good Deedsintrigued me. The movie is about Wesley Deeds (Tyler Perry), the owner of a successful software company whose life revolves around pleasing other people at the expense of losing himself in the process. That is until he meets Lindsey (Thandie Newton), a single mom who dropped out of nursing school when her husband died and has to work as a janitor in order to make ends meet. Although these two individuals come from different worlds they are able to help each other find happiness.

With the exception of two scenes (you don’t have to be a genius to figure out which ones), their journey is definitely one worth watching. As a movie enthusiast, I enjoy going to the movies because it allows me the opportunity to lose myself. I enjoy watching how the characters develop and attempting to figure out the twists and turns of the plot while longing to be pleasantly surprised by the ending. A part of me always holds out hope that there might be an African American character that I can identify with, but sadly I oftentimes end up leaving with my dreams unfulfilled. Why?

Because many of the mainstream or independent movies do not portray African Americans in a manner that the majority of us can relate to or in an unfavorable light that isn’t worth celebrating. African American actors continue to be delegated to roles playing drug dealers, victims, angry at the world, as the help or the dutiful sidekick always there to provide comedic relief instead of words of wisdom. I understand that some movies call for these roles, but you will NEVER be able to convince me that they all have to be played by African Americans. I’m so sick of seeing African Americans playing these roles because in a way I feel that this inadvertently perpetuates the stereotype that these are the only roles that we can “shine” in and this couldn’t be further from the truth.

We are living in an age where we don’t have to idly stand by and wait for Hollywood to recognize us. There are a variety of ways African Americans can showcase their skills, by taking advantage of the technology that is available to us by using sites such as Kickstarter to fund your projects and then showcase your work on your website or create your own channel on YouTube, Roku, etc. Individuals such as those on Badimitv, ABG and countless others have already embraced alternative methods in displaying their work and I applaud their efforts. These individuals have accepted the challenge to showcase African Americans in a way that some may not have been exposed to before. I know their hard work will eventually pay off and enable more people the opportunity to see African Americans portrayed in other ways that others will relate to and even learn lessons that that they may see fit to apply to their own life.

As I write this post on Oscar night, aka a show that highlights movies the majority of us have not and probably will never see (regardless of what race you are), I know there are more Good Deeds left in this world and I salute any individual(s) who accept the challenge to sow more of them.

 

 

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Samsung Galaxy Nexus

Review: Samsung Galaxy Nexus

January 30th, 2012 starchilife

As my unhealthy relationship with Sprint and Blackberry comes closer to finally being dissolved (my contract ends in June) due to poor customer service and performance, I’m faced with the overwhelming decision with trying to decide what device I should get as my next phone. Up until this point I had my heart set on the Droid Bionic. However, recently I had the opportunity to test the Samsung Galaxy Nexus using Verizon 4G LTE Network.

 

The Galaxy Nexus is lightweight and thin with a large 4.65 inch touchscreen HD display. It operates using Google’s Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich software. The Galaxy Nexus has more than 300,000 apps and as you have probably come to expect fully loaded with Google related services. I really like the dedicated Google app button which houses all the various services Google has to offer.

 

Multitasking is easier to accomplish due to them incorporating a recent apps button. This may seem insignificant to some people, but if you have as many screens open as I do, it’s nice being able to simultaneously see everything. Plus, the 4G LTE network enables you to get everything done fast. I had this phone for about a week and it only dropped to 3G for short periods of time, but I did not see a drop in performance.

 

Google has enhanced the voice command and turn by turn navigation which is welcomed news to direction challenged individuals like me. I also enjoy the ability to of being able to turn my phone into a mobile hotspot; a feature that is increasingly becoming a standard in most Android phones.

 

The front and rear facing camera and video is sharper than the Droid Bionic and doesn’t have any lag time. Pictures and videos are incredibly clear. It is also nice to be able to edit your photos and various effects to them. You are able to accomplish a lot with this phone, so I am sure you are probably concerned about the battery life. I know there are reports about the battery life not being good, but I did not experience this problem. I was able to 7 to 8 ½ hours out of my battery. Obviously, the more I used it the quicker my battery got drained.

 

As impressed as I was by the aforementioned, I was completely blown away by the Galaxy Nexus’ Face Unlock technology which enables users to unlock their phone by recognizing their face. Being the geek that I am, I looked forward to the times my screen needed to be unlocked just so I could test out this cool feature. This feature is pretty accurate. I tested it with other people to see if the phone would unlock for them and it did not. Whenever I was confronted with the issue of the phone not being able to “read” my face, I used my back up pin number (you could also set up a pattern instead of a pin number).

 

Features and enhancements such as these is why I am looking forward to being a part of the Android family. It is exciting to see how the Android phones continue to evolve. Galaxy Nexus is innovative and raises the bar for what users should come to expect from their phones.

12 Great Google Chrome Extensions

January 16th, 2012 starchilife
Image representing Google Chrome as depicted i...

Image via CrunchBase

I recently got into a discussion with an avid Firefox user seeking other web browser alternatives. Listening to their complaints reminded me of why I stopped using Firefox. I made the switch to Google Chrome a long time ago because it’s faster, more secure and I love the extensions that are available to make your surfing experience much more enjoyable. The following is a list of extensions that I’m confident will be of interest to you:

  1. Bit.ly: This extension enables you to easily shorten urls you wish to share.
  2. Buffer for Chrome: I am a huge Buffer fan (you can find out why here). You can quickly share content you come across with your Twitter and Facebook networks.
  3. TwitterWatch: You are able to receive real time updates for terms that are of interest to you (very similar to Google alerts).
  4. Evernote: Can’t express how lost I would be without Evernote (hence, why it is one of my favorite websites). Installing this extension will allow you to store all of the content you collect on the web in one place.
  5. Awesome Screenshot: Capture & Annotate: You no longer need to bother with the hassle of creating a print screen and cropping your picture to perfection. This extension does all the work for you.
  6. Aviary: This is not your typical photo editor. Edit your photos without ever leaving the page.
  7. Prezi: This is a web based presentation tool that can help you get your message across by helping you to create a memorable presentation by effortlessly incorporating various mediums such as video, images, etc.
  8. Vyew: If you need a way to quickly collaborate with your colleagues, consider using this extension to store your content that can be edited or accessed at any time.
  9. Alexa Traffic Ranking: Acquire Alexa ranking data on the sites you visit.
  10. Tasktimer: Do you ever ask yourself, “Where does the time?” You can get the answer to your question with this extension.
  11. WiseStamp:  Great way to easily create a dynamic email signature.
  12. Hipmunk: If you are a bargain hunter like me, you are probably used to searching various websites until you find the cheapest price. This can be extremely painful when you are trying to plan a trip, so save yourself some time and quickly search for your flight and hotel via this extension.

What web browser do you use? If you use Google Chrome, what is your favorite extension?

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What is your vision?

January 9th, 2012 starchilife

Source: pier1.com via LaTosha on Pinterest

We’re into the second week of a new year and I’m sure you are doing your best to stay on track to achieving your goal(s). Last year, I learned a lot of lessons that I am on the quest to master. In addition to these lessons, I decided to do something different this year by creating a vision board of my goals on Pinterest. This is one of my favorite websites and I feel like this will motivate me even more to achieve them because like “seeing” your goals in one place can serve as a great motivator. What do you hope to achieve this year and how do you plan to keep yourself motivated?

Photo taken by ganesha.isis

11 Lessons to Master in 2012

December 29th, 2011 starchilife

Unbelievable. This is the word that best represents my experience in 2011. I spent some time this weekend reading through my gratitude journal and reminiscing over all the incredible things that have happened to me this year. I won’t bore you with the details; but, all I can say is God has truly blessed me! It has been a year with more ups than downs because I truly took time to learn and embrace the following eleven lessons. Yes, there are some obvious ones; but, those can often time prove to be the most difficult:
1. Things happen for a reason. I have been in some situations that I wanted to work out so badly and I was extremely disappointed when they did not. However, after some time had passed, I realized that these were the best things I never had.
2. The things you fear could be a blessing in disguise. I’m big on making plans. I’m so bad that I even have back up plans for my contingency plans! Some of the things I feared did happen. Guess what? I didn’t drown. My world didn’t come crashing down. In fact, having my fears manifest themselves demonstrated that I am a lot tougher than what I thought. I am able to handle whatever life throws at me.
3. Control your reaction (I am still struggling with this one…). Let’s face it; life is full of people that are clearly a couple fries short of a Happy Meal. Life is too short. I refuse to allow anyone or anything to steal my joy.
4. Stay positive! Regardless of the situation, do not allow your circumstances to dictate your response. Yes, I realize there will be times when this will be easier said than done, but focus on the fact that it can be done. You have to see yourself as a success before it can manifest.
5. Create your own opportunities. If you don’t invest in yourself you can’t expect others to do so. There are many times in my life where this was my only option. It’s not going to be easy, but it’s a price worth paying.
6. Get rid of the baggage. One of my favorite quotes is, “You can’t take everyone with you on your journey to success.” In other words, you must wisely choose those who you wish to accompany you on your journey. One of the best ways to determine who to take on your journey is to spend some time alone. Being by yourself can provide you with the clarity you need to get rid of people who have proven to be distractions. No one said this is going to be easy, but if you continue to allow people who are a waste of space in your life you’re not going to have room for those who are supposed to be there.
7. Be flexible. Again, I love to plan; but, life can sometimes get in the way. Some of the best things that have happened to me were complete surprises.
8. Know when to say ‘no’. People (mainly, the incomplete Happy Meals) will try to coerce you into doing things that you have no desire to do. It’s up to you to acknowledge your limitations. Are there times when this is a good thing? Of course! However, if it is causing you unnecessary stress or serious discomfort, then don’t bother. Don’t let people coerce or guilt you into doing something that often times they would not do.
9. Be consistent. Anything worth having in life is going to require a commitment.
10. Talk is cheap! Nothing annoys me more than encountering people (think about our incomplete Happy Meals) who go out of their way to say that they aren’t trying to do XYZ, but their demeanor proves otherwise. I am an actions speak louder than words kind of girl. The best way to persuade me is to demonstrate that you practice what you preach. If you are everything to everyone than you risk being no one. Even if I don’t agree with you, I want to know where you stand because I don’t have room for hypocrites on my journey to success.
11. Unplug. We live in a 24/7 society. As a millennial, especially one who works in marketing, I find myself constantly online. If I’m not researching information for work, then I’m often online reading blogs or blogging myself, or chatting with friends. You can only keep up with this schedule for so long before you completely burn out. Therefore, I have been making more of a conscientious effort to truly live in the moment which has proven to be a much more enjoyable alternative to tweeting or updating my status. :)
Every single lesson that I have discussed has played an integral part in my why 2011 was a good year for me. I plan on continuing my pursuit to master these lessons so 2012 will be even more extraordinary. What lessons have you learned this year? What do you intend to do differently in 2012?

LiveOn: The Ultimate Scrapbook

December 5th, 2011 starchilife

If you’re searching for the ultimate home for your photos and videos, then be sure to check out LiveOn. By the way, towards the end of the video I said, ” I hope you take time to check out LiveOn and let me know what you think.” Didn’t want to leave you hanging! :)

Holiday Comforts – The StarChiLife Way

November 29th, 2011 starchilife

Tempur-Pedic

This post is sponsored by Tempur-Pedic, the brand millions of owners trust to deliver their best night’s sleep every night. Enjoy our Buy 2, get 1 free pillow offer now and give the gift of custom comfort to someone you love.

 

The most wonderful time of the year is finally here. The holidays have arrived! I’m sure your to do list has increased and you are probably wishing there were more hours in the day to accomplish everything. So when I see myself getting stressed, I make sure to take time out to appreciate these holiday comforts:

Hot chocolate: When I want to drink something warm, tea has always been my go to drink. However, during the holidays I like to treat myself to a nice cup of hot chocolate with marshmallows. It’s sweet, warms me up and an added perk is being able to see how long it takes for the marshmallows to dissolve. I am so easy to amuse!

Anything fleece: I have fleece pajamas, blankets and bed sheets. I always bust these out during the season because this fabric is magical. I love lounging around in fleece because it’s super soft and instantly makes you feel cozy.

Movies: The perfect way to reward myself while escaping from my busy schedule.

Holiday treats: The holidays are a sweet tooth lover’s time to shine. There are certain desserts that my favorite chef, aka my mom, only makes during the holidays. Sweet potato pie, banana pudding, peach cobbler and white chocolate chip cherry cookies are my favorite. I know this is the only time of the year that all of my favorite desserts will simultaneously make an appearance. Hopefully, this will explain why you will find me over at the dessert table at the beginning of dinner…

These taste even better than they look!

These taste even better than they look!

 

 

 

My sister’s decorations: I can’t remember when this started, but we were never big on having stockings. Then one year my sister decided to make them—out of paper. She drew each family member’s picture on the stocking and would fill them up with little things like candy or whatever else would fit without tearing the paper. Yes, there have been times when they needed to be replaced, surprisingly not as often as you would think. Seeing these stockings always makes me laugh, but not as much as the tree that my sister puts up every year. The picture below says it all…

 

Tavi's Christmas Tree   

Don't blink or you might miss the tree...

 

 

Tavi's Christmas Tree

My sister's tree in action. Yep, that's the tree in the middle-LOL

Taking time to relish in these holiday comforts always makes me smile. They remind me that I’m way too blessed to be stressed and to sit back, relax and enjoy spending time with my loved ones. What comforts make the holiday season special to you?

Comfort is the perfect gift for everyone on your holiday gift list, so be sure to take advantage of Tempur-Pedic’s Buy 2, get 1 free pillow offer! I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective

Ice Skating at Millenium Park

November 2011 Chicago Activities

November 14th, 2011 starchilife

Baby, it’s cold outside so that can only mean one thing—the holidays are almost here! Although the weather outside is oftentimes frightful, here is a list of events happening in November that I think you will find to be quite delightful:

14th, 15th, 21st, 22nd, 28th & 29th—Shedd Aquarium*

17th & 25th—Notebaert Nature Museum*

17th—Adler After Dark

17th–Christmas around the world

18th—Free ice skating at Millennium Park

19th—Magnificent Mile Parade

19th-20th—Randolph Street’s Holiday Market

20th & 27th—DuSable Museum of African American Art*

20th, 28th -29th—Field Museum*

23rd—Daley Plaza Tree lighting ceremony

24th—Thanksgiving Day Parade

24th—Christkindlmarket

 

25th–Lincoln Park Zoo  lights

26th-27th—Bucktown Baazar

*These are museum free days

 

 

ENJOY! :)
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NaturalChica and LaTosha Johnson

EDEN BodyWorks: Treasure Our Tresses

November 7th, 2011 starchilife

There’s no such thing as information overload in my vocabulary. I’m a sponge when it comes to learning something new. I learned so much this weekend! I took my first sewing class (more on that later) and attended my first natural hair event. As I mentioned in a prior post, I’m on a journey to discover the products that work best with my hair so I can start wearing it curly.

So needless to say I was thrilled when I heard that EDEN BodyWorks was hosting an event called “Treasure Our Tresses” featuring Maeling Tapp aka NaturalChica and Briana McCarthy aka The ManeSource. If you have natural hair or are interested in transitioning, you will without a doubt benefit from these ladies blogs. Both of their blogs are fun and truly are a wealth of information. They share their advice on various products and techniques that will help you on your journey. Their blogs will provide you the shortcut that you need to help you figure out a routine that works best for you.

I was very happy to have a chance to meet and talk with these talented ladies as well as meet other natural hair attendees. It’s so nice and comforting to be in a room with other women such as Renae Bluitt who blogs at In her shoes and Jasmin Mitchell (she’s a very talented jewelry artist (http://www.jazjewelz.etsy.com) that are willing to share their experiences with newbies like me. This was a fabulous event filled with great people and all of the attendees were treated to gift bag filled with EDEN BodyWorks. Definitely the icing on an already amazing cake!

Eyebrow Threading

Discover the Benefits of Eyebrow Threading

October 18th, 2011 starchilife

If you’re under the impression that plucking or waxing is the only way to achieve perfectly shaped eyebrows then you are in for a treat. Another method that you can use to get rid of unwanted facial hair is threading. Threading is a technique that consists of taking a piece of thread and twisting it around the hair(s) you wish to remove. I have always been amazed at how threadist are able to make a piece of thread act like a pair of scissors, accept using the thread enables them to pull the hair from the root.

I have been getting my eyebrows threaded for years and in my opinion, threading is less painful than plucking or waxing. It can take anywhere between 2 to 5 minutes. Of course, this is contingent to how thick your eyebrows are (mine are ridiculously thick) and the experience of your threadist. I choose to get my eyebrows threaded for the following reasons:

  • If you’re a baby like me, threading is a welcomed alternative to waxing and plucking because it doesn’t hurt nearly as much.
  • You are pulling the hair from the root so it takes longer for the hair to grow back.
  • Reduces/eliminates ingrown hair issues that often plague those who pluck.
  • Great for sensitive skin because they don’t use any chemicals. All you need is thread!

I’m so grateful that I was able to discover this increasingly popular service years ago. Threading is definitely the key to those who quest to have the perfect eyebrows.

 

How do you feel about threading?

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