Chic Darling

A less curated life.

TRAVEL ·

5 Tips to Help You Get Through the Airport Faster

Navigating an airport can definitely be a stressful experience. After all, airports are really large, and it can be difficult to figure out where you need to go to be absolutely sure that you’ll make it to your flight on time.

Whether you travel by air often or rarely, check out the five tips below, which are designed to help you get through the airport more quickly so you can have a less stressful experience the next time you travel.

5 Tips to Help You Get Through the Airport Faster

Follow these strategies to breeze through the security checkpoint and eliminate painful lineups.

 

1.     Avoid Checking Any Bags

Make it a point to travel as lightly as possible so that you don’t have to waste any time checking your bags prior to getting onto your flight.

By not checking your bags, you can save time when you arrive at your destination because you can simply be off on your way, rather than having to wait for your luggage to be taken off the plane.

After all, you don’t want to have to spend extra money checking your bags when most hotels such as ihg.com, will provide you with soap, shampoo, conditioner, and lotion, so you don’t have to pack these items.

2.     Check In on the Internet

If your airline allows you to do so, you should simply check in online roughly 24 hours prior to your flight.

This will save you plenty of time, and you can put your boarding passes onto your smartphone or print them out instead.

Most airlines have their own apps that you can download for check-in, and, bonus: they’ll update you on flight status and reminders straight to your phone.

 

3.     Stay OrganiZed for Security Checks

When going through the security line at the airport, if you can be organized, you can save a lot of time.

This means placing items like your mobile phone, wallet, and wristwatch into your carry-on bag.

Empty out your pockets prior to going through the security checkpoint, and place those items into your carry-on bag.

Of course, you should read your airline’s policies on what items are allowed into your carry-on so you don’t end up wasting any time putting problematic items into your bag. Be aware of restrictions on traveling with vitamins and supplements, and make sure prescriptions and liquids are packed properly in your carry-on.

4.     Have All of Your Necessary Documents Ready

Rather than having to fumble for important documents when you’re at the airport, have them ready as soon as you get to the front of the line.

Have your boarding pass, your passport and ID, and your credit card all stored within a really easy-to-access part of your bag or purse, or pack a travel wallet to organize your documents.

This tiny detail will make a big difference and save you time, while also ensuring you don’t leave any of these documents at home by accident.

5.     Know Your Gate

Finally, make sure that you take a quick look at the airline’s departure times and gates. In this way, you’ll know the exact time and the right gate that your flight will be leaving from. You can be prepared if a delay occurs, and you’ll be able to get to your gate on time without being on the wrong end of the airport.

If you follow the above tips, you’re guaranteed to make every airport experience a smoother and quicker one.

BEAUTY ·

Five Minute Face

Let’s face it, doing your makeup every day is a chore. And spending hours trying to get ready in the morning is waste of time when you could be spending that time sleeping a bit longer. While my daily routine consists of pretty much moisturizer and blush, knowing how to do a 5-minute face is essential when you’re needing to look your best in a short amount of time.

five minute face, 5 minute face

 

As I’ve mentioned before, making sure that your skin is hydrated, exfoliated, and CLEANED properly is the least you can do. Not only will it allow you to look great without makeup, but it creates a great foundation to lay makeup. The more even your skin tone is, the quicker you can do your face. I use my Clarisonic Mia 2 every day.

clarisonic mia 2, beauty routine, skin routine, how to get perfect skin

The next most important thing is knowing what type of skin you have. Is it sensitive? Is it oily? Dry? Combination? Do you have allergies? There are tons of factors that go into picking the right products that go on your face.  For example, I know that I have sensitive skin, so I only use hypo-allergenic products on my face. My go-to is Clinique. 

After figuring out your skin type, and finding the right brand, it comes down to finding the right shade. Keep in mind that you will use multiple shades of the same product throughout the year, especially if you tan easily. I have my Clinique BB cream in 3 shades and mix them together most of the year as no one shade is perfect for a long period of time.

While you’re looking at shades, pay attention to the type of coverage that you’ll need too. I can get away with BB cream, but others might need a heavier foundation.

Now that we’ve taken of the base, it’s time to dress it up a bit. I have a go-to lipstick (a light pink), a blush that I use all the time, and a bit of mascara. If you have blue eyes you might want to learn to quickly make them pop by applying a bit of brown shadow on your upper lids. Pay really close attention so your shades aren’t too harsh or clashing with each other. I tend to stick to very neutral tones with a pop of color if I’m going out somewhere special. This is the perfect five-minute face.

 

FASHION ·

Two Apps to Help Keep Your Shoe Collection Organized

Ever gone shoe shopping and found a pair you thought was great, but found yourself second-guessing the purchase because you weren’t sure as to whether or not you already had a similar pair of shoes in your closet? Growing shoe collections can be hard to keep track of, and when you’re working with a budget, similar purchases need to be avoided. Luckily, there’s now a great way to keep your collection organized with the help of your mobile phone.

Woman wearing black leather pants and red high heel shoes in old town

The mobile app market has been on the rise for years now, and our phones are quickly on the way to becoming our preferred medium for accessing information. Annual reports released by Gaming Realms, the company that manages online bingo catalog Free Bingo Hunter, have shown that there are now 60% more people playing using mobile devices than desktop computers, proving that mobile is becoming the medium of choice. According to Statista, there are 1.5 million available apps on the Apple iTunes App store alone, with more apps being released every day.

It should come as no surprise then, that people have begun to develop apps for just about everything, including keeping track of our shoe collections. Here are two apps that you can use to keep your collection organized:

Shoe Collectors
While it offers a great list of features, the Shoe Collectors app is actually a bit expensive at $5.99. It allows users to: create a list of shoes that can be synchronized with the cloud for easy access to information, create a wishlist of items they’d want to own eventually, and sort shoes based on style, color, brand, and more. You can even “Add your person details to a shoe: Loaned To, Purchase Price, Storage Location, etc.”

Shoe Collection
On the other hand, Shoe Collection looks a bit more minimalistic, and the app’s UI could certainly be improved. However, the app is free, and it also has the same features: the ability to add photos of your shoe collection using your phone, the option to add your data to a cloud server for easy updates, as well as statistics on your collection, such as Shoes by Style, Color, Designer, or Store Purchased. The app even allows you to scan your shoes based on their barcode.

 

 

LIFESTYLE ·

5 Ways Coffee Can Change Your Life for the Better

At its simplest, a cup of coffee is a drink you choose when you are low on sleep and there are fifty things on your ‘to do’ list. Coffee keeps us awake and focuses on the brain when time is short. Cheap ground coffee is nothing more than a hot beverage. Half the time it tastes fairly unappealing, but if it does the job, who cares?

There is a world of difference between artisan coffee and supermarket blends. Once you taste a coffee from a great cup of coffee, you will be hooked. Not sure what your blend is? Try different blends and see what you like. 

It may seem crazy, but a great cup of coffee really can change your life – and here’s how.

Savor the Ritual

 

Great coffee is a ritual to be savored. Instead of scooping out a spoonful of stale coffee and obliterating any residual flavor with boiling water and sugar, coffee aficionados carefully weigh their beans, grind them, and brew a fresh cup to order. All this takes time, but taking ten minutes out of your hectic day to make artisan coffee is time well spent. Making coffee is relaxing. You can forget about the stress of your day and lose yourself in the process of grinding beans and making coffee. 

Be Sociable

Coffee is a social drink. For centuries, or at least since coffee found favor amongst the masses, drinking coffee has been an opportunity to sit down with friends and put the world to rights. Too many of us have forgotten the pleasure of chatting with friends. Use a love of artisan coffee as a chance to reconnect with the world and invite friends over.

Gone are the days of ugly coffee machines, the Keurig® K200 brewing system is the perfect addition to any kitchen! 

With its compact design and classy colours, the perfect brewing system slips easily into small spaces and adds a splash of colour to the room! Not sure what colour to pick? Fear not- the quiz on the website makes it easy to find the right colour to match your personality, and your dream destinations. 

Brainstorm Over Coffee

 

Do you have a great idea? Are you looking to change your life for the better? Use coffee as an excuse to get together with people who can advise or help you. Caffeine is a powerful stimulant. A cup of strong coffee focuses the brain like no other drink. Organize a coffee meeting and start a debate. Great coffee gets the conversation started and is a great excuse to contact an acquaintance and ask them to catch up.

Sharpen the Mind

Coffee kicks the brain into gear in the morning, which is why so many people can’t function without a morning cup of coffee. If you have a tough day ahead, coffee should be your beverage of choice. Use the Keurig™ ceramic travel mug, (which was available for a limited time), to take your favourite beverage with you wherever you go—and keep it warm!

You will have more energy and your brain will be sharper if you drink a cup of good quality coffee before you leave the house. It could even get you promoted!

Coffee and Sex

Great sex might not change your life, but it sure makes things a lot more fun. Coffee increases sexual stamina and enhances your enjoyment of the encounter. The next time you have a hot date, take them to an artisan coffee shop first. It could be the best decision you ever made.

In moderation, coffee is good for you, but be careful not to overdo your coffee habit, as it can become rather addictive.

Food ·

Healthy Finger Food For Entertaining

When I host get-togethers, I struggle with what to serve. If it’s just with my friends, it’s usually nachos or chips, nothing fancy or healthy at all. However, hosting a wide variety of people can lend itself to some tricky menu planning.

I personally love ethnic food, but I know lots of people don’t. Some people are vegetarian or vegan (like this yummy, guacamole salad). Some don’t like greasy, fatty snack food.

I recently attended a mingle that had some really fun, healthy finger foods and everyone was able to find something that they liked. I attended another party that had some fun, healthy snacks mixed in with the unhealthy options that are at every party.Best Party snack idea

 

Here’s what I’ve come up with for some healthy, fun alternatives when entertaining:

Caprese Salad Skewers

I love these because they are so fresh and delicious, and on a skewer, they are super easy to eat.

Slide a cherry tomato, fresh basil, and fresh mozzarella on a skewer. Put a little balsamic vinegar on the serving plate so the vinegar absorbs into the mozzarella before guests pick up their skewers.

Sushi Cups

A party I attended had a piece of assorted sushi (tightly assembled) in a cupcake cup with a tiny bit of soy sauce on them. It was a great idea. Sushi can be the perfect finger food if the sushi is assembled tightly, and the cupcake cup replaces the need for a napkin on which to hold the sushi.

Pizza

Cutting a thin crust, artisan pizza into small squares can be the perfect party snack and finger food. Try a pizza with caramelized onions, mushrooms, and goat cheese if you want something different. If you want an option with meat, add pancetta.

To avoid the mess of regular pizza, cut the slices into no larger than 2″ by 2″ squares.

Apples and Cheese

Apples with cheese are the perfect combination of light but still substantial. They pair well together and are healthy. You can assemble these a variety of ways, but you can even just smear the cheese on top of an apple slice and put a toothpick in it to hold it together.

What is your favorite healthy party alternative?

TRAVEL ·

A Survival Guide to Airports

Airports can easily become the most stressful part of your holiday if you do not plan your trip accordingly. If you find flying stressful, there are a number of ways you can reduce the chance of unforeseen circumstances during the boarding process, enabling you to pass through the airport with little to no problems.

A Survival Guide to Airports

Check-in Before You Fly

With airlines making it easier to check-in and prepare for your flight, you should use this to your advantage to help you spend less time lining up on arrival. Most airlines allow you to check-in online at least 24 hours before your flight, and you will only need to provide minimal details such as your flight number and personal details. This will then enable you to print your boarding card at home or use your mobile ticket, which will allow you to bypass the sometimes chaotic check-in process and go straight to security. Additionally, if you have hand or hold luggage to check-in, this means that you do not have to wait in too lengthy lines to check in. If you are unable to check in online in time or print your boarding pass, most hotels will do this for you and there are precautions set up at airports for these occurrences.

Arrive at the Airport Early

Some problems are unavoidable, and you should arrive at the airport so that you can factor any stops you may need to make at security or on check-in. There is no harm in arriving early, and this will enable you to be first in the line without the risk that you could potentially miss your flights if there is a problem. Additionally, arriving early will allow you to get the most up-to-date information about your flight and ensure that you know about any delays or gate changes in advance. Airports also have an extensive range of restaurants and shops in duty-free, meaning that you can spend the time enjoying yourself, and start your holiday before you are even on the plane.

Follow the Liquid Rules

Getting stopped at security can be a lengthy process, though thankfully there are precautions you can take to lessen your chance of being stopped. These include following the rules on liquids, as these can be easy to forget if you are carrying drinks or toiletries with you. Liquids should be in 100 mm containers and are limited to one quart-sized bag. Most airports have stations positioned before security where you can bin your liquids and water bottles and ensure that you do not get stopped as you go through security.

Consider Booking a Private Charter

If you find airports dampen your holiday spirits, you should consider booking a private charter, such as Stratos Jets Charters, which travel to many destinations including Boston, Massachusetts and elsewhere around North America. Booking a private jet will allow you to bypass the crowds of commercial airline terminals through a separate terminal for private jets. Additionally, booking a private charter will allow you to be taken straight through security, ensuring that you can avoid sometimes stressful security checks. This allows you to be taken straight to your destination more efficiently, with less chance of delays than on a commercial airline.

Surviving airports takes strategy and pre-planning. Go in with a gameplan or avoid all the hassle with a private jet, and you will vastly improve your travel experience.

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