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Thursday, September 25, 2014

New Music Wednesday - Jon Bellion

I love stumbling upon a new artist - like finding a coveted purse hidden in sale rack.

This week's new music is Jon Bellion, an artist from Long Island, classified as a singer-sonwriter and rapper. He wrote the chorus to that song Monster...you know the one with Rihanna and Eminem??

He recently released a fully downloadable album, entitled "the Definition." Take a listen...and if you like it as much as I do, it's a free download at: jonbellion.com





Wednesday, September 24, 2014

It's Here...the 1 Year Anniversary...and 100 Posts

Wow - what a year can bring.

Last September, I decided to take the step and start a blog. It started out because of a general obsession with shoes, and a curiosity to find the best (fill in the black) item out there. It was also a way to write more, express creativity and in some ways justify my weekly package visits from my UPS guy.

Over the year, I have learned a lot about coding, photography, styling and getting more comfortable with writing. I have written about spring/summer/fall shopping, how to find the best deal on shoes, how to use a calculator to determine shoe buys, and even waded into the world of music and wine.

One year and 100 posts later, it is has evolved, and really become more of a unbiased voice navigating the world of fashion, decor, food and wine, and general things that inspire me. And, in 3 short weeks, Cha Cha Living will get a brand new look, with an updated logo and website.

So, thank you for all of the support over the last year. I appreciate the "likes" and "shares" and your comments!

Stay tuned for changes in the next 3 weeks - you are going to love what you see!





Sunday, September 21, 2014

Your Most Comfortable Pair of Sandals....FOUND

I am a sucker whenever I hear someone make a "best" claim about a piece of clothing, pair of shoes or beauty item.

When the statement is found in a magazine article, I tend to be more suspicious, particularly when that article is followed by an ad from the same company.

But, when that claim comes from one of your best friends, you stand at attention. 

Recently, one of my best friends told me she had found the perfect black sandal. For a shoe lover like myself, I was intrigued. Go on, I told her, tell me about these shoes. She had purchased them from Nordstrom's, and had bought them for a upcoming high school reunion. And, after wearing them all night - filled with dancing, walking and standing, she still maintained her love for these black sandals.

Naturally, I had to try them out. I went online, and bought these black Via Spiga Tafari sandals. The sandal was on sale, fit below the 4" heel high pain threshold, and was Italian made.



Once the shoe arrived, I was impressed by the leather ladder straps leading up the foot, and the slingback sandal detailed with a slender set-back heel. They were a perfect sandal to take on my upcoming work trip to Stockholm. I would test this "best sandal" claim that a trusted source told me.


 Day 1: heels made it through several miles of walking and brick tiled booby traps

 Day 2: Conference carpeting gives my soles a bit of a break

 Day 3: All day cement walking....a little tired at the end of the day, but still happy feet

Day 4: A mix of sitting and standing, but the shoes keep my black suit from boredom 

Day 5: All day events led to 12 hours on my feet. Although tired at the end of the day, these shoes lasted without major pain.



In the end, I was very impressed with these sandals. The sandals had enough opening on the toes to keep from major blisters and toe smash, while the back of the sandal had elastic to keep movement in the ankle. 

After a week of traveling and walking, these were comfortable, yet stylish. And not that I doubted my friend....but my weeklong test proved that these were, the most comfortable and stylish sandals around.





Saturday, September 6, 2014

New Line I Love - Marta Larsson Jewelry

Every once in a while, you stumble across a clothing or jewelry line that takes your breath away. Something unique - almost like art - that literally stops you in your tracks.

I experienced this last week while stumbling across a new jewelry line called Marta Larsson. I was specifically looking for Swedish designers, and ran across this line while perusing some stores in Stockholm. Originally from Lappland, Stockholm, this designer now hand crafts each piece in London where she plays and records records with her band Streetly Electrix.

My favorite thing about each of these pieces is that she maintains the raw beauty of the stone in a wearable piece of jewelry. And, from experience (I may have picked up a couple of pieces!!) these are very well made with amazing stones and 14k gold and silver.

Here are a few of my favorite pics from her recent collection.

And, you don't have to fly all the way to Stockholm to buy her jewelry - they are all available online at Martalarsson.com 













All images are from www.martalarsson.com
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