Did she really wake up like this? Maybe..maybe she woke up splashed on some magic and then boom perfect selfie! Look most times it takes girls (at least I know for me anyway) there are 10 or more of those selfies that just don't make the cut. I'm not a huge makeup girl, so if you see me with makeup on (and in March you will) know that there was an occasion. I just never go crazy in Sephora or any other store like most girls. But I do like to take photos if my hair is cute, to capture the moment or sometimes I just feel like it. But we all know the review process that goes into posting it. PerfectCorp has an app to make sure that you have a glamorous selfie every time. The YouCam Makeup app allows you to try on tons of different makeup combinations from some of you favorite cosmetic lines or add a little something extra to a selfie. With it's real time virtual makeover cam, you can see how that new shade of MAC lipstick looks on you. It has facial detection software that actually works really well. Those rosy cheeks that you get from your favorite snapchat filter you can add and tweak right from inside this app. Not to mention that if you like that look you created they have links to the products right in the app! There's also a hair color and style function in this app too, doesn't look as realistic as the makeup feature but, I think that's a little harder to simulate in an app. The YouCam app is available for iOS and Android, and it's free. I tried it out on myself, you can really give yourself a digital beat right on your phone. Again I'm not a big makeup girl, but if I were this might be an app I'd use often, I mean the few times I have worn makeup it would be nice to see if I liked it before I actually put it on or purchased it, maybe that shade of red doesn't work on you, or if you really don't want to bother with the testers in store. Thoughts? ~ChicDivaGeek

(Photo: Bellabeat) You know how you put the conch shell up to your ear and you hear the ocean? Well that's what you get when you launch the Shell app except you can hear your baby's heartbeat. Shell was created by Bellabeat, the makers of the Leaf. The Shell app uses your phone's microphone to listen to your baby's heartbeat, there's no doppler technology. You can even record the heartbeat and share it with your loved ones. It is recommended you place the phone on airplane mode as a precaution when using it, but Bellabeat assures that it's safe. They also have an add-on, The Shell which amplifies the listening of your phone's microphone, and makes a better overall experience. The app is free, but it only available for iOS, and it's free! It's compatible with iPhone models 5S, 6, 6 Plus, 6s, 6s Plus, SE, 7 and 7 Plus. Bellabeat Recording (photo: Bellabeat) Right now the Shell add-on is sold out, but you can sign up on Bellabeat's website to get on the waiting list. ~ChicDivaGeek

Samsung Galaxy Note 7 (Photo: Samsung) Remember a few months back when the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 was the hottest phone out..no literally, it was exploding. Well after months of speculations and lots of recalls, and them getting banned from flights entirely. Samsung has finally released what was causing the battery explosions with the Galaxy Note 7. Samsung had three independent study groups (UL, Exponent, and TUV Rheinland AG) come in and investigate the incidents to get to the bottom of the cause. They have now since also added a Battery Advisory Group that will help maintain standards on battery safety and innovation. What was discovered is that within the housing ( of the battery, there was damage to the separator that is meant to keep the positive and the negative electrodes from connecting. When that occurs the battery short circuits. Battery Infographic (Photo: Samsung) They have also instituted an 8-point battery check process to ensure that going forward they are providing safer batteries. Samsung will also be improving safety standards for materials that comprise the battery design as well as adding brackets around the battery for protection. And what is technology if you can’t monitor it? They will be also making improvements to the algorithms that govern battery current, charging duration and battery charging temperature. 8-point battery insprection (Photo: Samsung) This is reassuring as for a while the only thing many people knew is it was defective and that you couldn't take it on the plane with you. If for some strange reason you're still holding onto one, know that the recall was expanded to include ALL Note 7 devices so you can exchange your Note 7 for a new replacement, or get a refund. ~ChicDivaGeek

You've heard the expression "Where the rubber meets the road right"? More or less it means moment of truth or the important point for something. Well I couldn't tell you much about the 2016 Mazda CX-9 until the rubber literally met the road! I prepared for the new year (pretty sure I tested the gas mileage lol) and got to test out the Mazda CX-9 Signature! I love a good SUV so I was happy when this was delivered. The color is Sonic Silver Metallic, but for most of us, we'd just say silver. When I first opened the doors, my first thought was oohhh this is fancy. It had a deep red (Auburn) leather interior (my current vehicle doesn't have leather but that's a personal preference). So with it being winter I immediately looked for the seat warmer button and of course there it was! So all was well in my world. It also has a power moonroof, and even though I couldn't use it the way I wanted to I always found myself sliding the cover back to let the sunshine in..what can I say, I like natural light. Power Moonroof inside the CX-9 If you know me, then you know we are about to get into the technology packed into this SUV. It of course has push button start, which I love, it even automatically locks after you and the key get out of the car, which is a feature my son didn't like because well I get out pretty fast so we had to synchronize better. Moving along, it has bluetooth connectivity so that you can connect your phone for music or to talk. I love the fact that it gives you the option, to enable it for the phone, music, or both. It also features the lane departure warning, as well as back up sensors, rear cross traffic sensors, back up camera and not to mention blind spot monitoring and brake assist. It even flashes in your window to brake if it feels you aren't braking fast enough. It even has a power parking brake (so it's not a traditional one that you'd use your foot on, or lift with your hand, it's literally the touch of a button). How's that for convenience? And I've got one better, it has a power trunk, so while I'm trying to juggle 50 things, just holding the button opened the trunk for me! View from the drivers seat The Mazda CX-9 also has a third row, which cuts down on trunk space and don't plan on putting any kids over 4'11" back there, but more seats are still a good thing to have if you're going to be taking a trip or just having more than a couple of kids over. Did I mention how great the gas mileage was?? It was amazing, for the speed that you get out of the SkyActiv turbo engine, the gas mileage is amazing, I only filled up one time the entire week, and I drive ALOT! It gets 23/MPG on the highway. Third row inside Mazda CX-9 Overall I enjoyed the test drive, it makes me look at Mazda a little differently. I am a Nissan gal, this is known, but Mazda has really stepped up their lineup, and the continuity that is spread across the models is good too. The Mazda CX-9 Signature retails for $44,015. Oh and my favorite part about driving Mazda when I get the chance, there's always a Mazda 4 Good card in there, you just specify the organization you want them to donate to! I of course chose Safe Shores DC. *Disclosure: The car was lent to me in exchange for my review, opinions are my own* ~ChicDivaGeek

Goodr logo (photo: Goodr Food Rescue) Do you ever wonder what happens to restaurant food that isn't served to customers at the end of the day? I know for a fact that places that bake things fresh daily, like Panera and other pastry shops don't end up using it all and some places end up throwing it away as they can't serve it the next day to the customer. But did you know that in America 1 out of 7 people are hungry? Now don't think that this applies just to the homeless, 12.7 percent of U.S households in 2015 were food insecure. (*according to USDA). That means that people are working and still struggling to make sure there's food on the table, and that shouldn't be. Jasmine Crowe of Black Celebrity Giving, is putting technology to use to help combat hunger with her new app, Goodr. I love when I am able to blend my love of technology and my love of giving together! I was so excited when I started seeing posts of what Jasmine was starting. I've had the pleasure of volunteering with her for Sunday Soul when she brought it here to the DMV and I'm always on the lookout on ways to help. Goodr app's purpose is to get take the their surplus food off of restaurants (donors) hands to shelters, soup kitchens, nonprofits, and individuals who are food insecure. By doing so they are eliminating waste and addressing a need in the community. Not only that, by it being a mobile service that needs drivers they are able to provide jobs as well, thus making broader economic impact. Goodr App Screen (Photo: Goodrapp.com)The restaurants (donors) will be able to post their surplus food, track the driver and see the impact their donations made. I had an opportunity to dig a little deeper into why Jasmine started the app. Jasmine Crowe, Goodr App Founder & Black Celebrity Giving Founder ChicDivaGeek: I know that you are well known for your charitable activities already with Black Celebrity Giving, so what inspired you to develop the Goodr app? Jasmine Crowe: It was actually through my work with charitable endeavors from BCG that Goodr Food Rescue was birthed. One of our initiatives is called Sunday Soul and we've been hosting homeless feedings for this for over three years. I thought about all the food that restaurants waste and how many people I feed that otherwise go hungry and decided this was a viable option that I had to try. CDG: Will you be expanding it to other cities/states? JC: Absolutely I want to focus on Atlanta for one year first to iron out all of the kinks before expanding to other cities and states. I think I will go to North Carolina or the DMV area next. CDG:Will it be available for all mobile devices? JC: Yes the App will be available on iPhone and Android CDG: What is the criteria if any for a restaurant/business to sign up to be apart of it?JC: They must have at least 10 servings of any items for pick-up. Depending on the volume of business that establishment does there is a one year registration fee which covers our costs for drivers and provides the business with a donation report they can use for tax write-offs. CDG: *Bonus question* What other ways do you think technology can help drive charitable activities and giving? Do you think we are using it to it's full potential? JC: I don't want to stop with food, eventually I'd like to create a system similar to OfferUp which is completely for item donations for charities. I think technology and social impact have many more ways to merge together and create change, so I would have to say we're not using our full potential just yet. This app is what technology is all about really. Technology by definition is the practical application of knowledge, we see a need in the community and we address it. That's what Jasmine has done with Goodr app, I can't wait to see this grow and the impact it will have on the community! I'm hoping the DMV (DC, Maryland, and Virginia) is the next area it comes to Jasmine! ~ChicDivaGeek

Hidden Figures Poster (20th Century Fox) Happy New Year!!!! It's officially 2017! You all know I love a good movie? (well if you didn't there it is lol) . But at the end of last year (Yes I know it was only a week ago but it sounds better that way) I had the pleasure of attending a screening of the movie Hidden Figures at Regal Gallery Place theater in Washington, DC. Where to begin with this awesome movie??? If you're on the fence about seeing...don't be! Of course it personified everything I strive to be in the IT field, brilliant women of color working in the STEM field. It's based on the true story of Mary Jackson (played by Janelle Monáe), Katherine Johnson (played by Taraji P. Henson), and Dorothy Vaughn (Played by Octavia Spencer) who helped put Astronaut John Glenn into orbit. I had such an appreciation for Katherine Johnson in this movie and the gift she had with mathematics. But I was of course drawn to Mary Jackson and her drive to be a female engineer! I won't give away too many spoilers, because I really want you to go attend this movie for yourself, grab a few of your girlfriends, little sisters, cousins, and go see this movie! Hidden Figures is playing select theaters now, and opens nationwide on January 6th, 2017! ~ChicDivaGeek

Need Apple Support? Well now you can find it in the palm of your hand...so to speak. Apple has made their Support app available in the US. Initially it was only available in the Netherlands when it was released in November. So now you have more a of direct and instantaneous access to support. Meaning you don't have to end up like this.... You don't want to be that customer. But from inside the app you can search a knowledge base for answers to your questions, start a chat or a call with certified Apple support. You can also schedule a callback for later if you don't time right at the moment but need the problem fixed. Need to bring it in to an Apple store? You can schedule that from right inside the app too. One of the features I like is that there is a clear history of support that you can access for your devices. This definitely applies to your iPad, Macbook, iMac as well. If you're an avid Apple consumer or you're just a iPhone user, you should have this app on your phone. Apple will be adding more countries going forward. Apple Support app screen (Photo: App Store) Apple Support app screen (Photo: App Store) ~ChicDivaGeek

(Photo: Amazon) Are you fan of self-checkout? Me too! And if you're like me I also loathe when people get in the self checkout line and don't know how to use it *sigh*. It's not enough that Amazon has a your wallet in a chokehold online..it's now opening brick and mortar stores so you can shop and...go! Amazon Go aims to change the way you shop by eliminating the checkout process..walk in...pick up the items you want and walk out. Simple right? How does this work if there is no checkout? Well you download the Amazon Go app, use it to enter the store, it detects the items you pick up and it charges your account when you leave. Oh and if you change your mind while you're in the store and don't want that bag of Brownie Brittle, no worries, it will detect that you put it back and remove it from your cart automatically. Pretty cool right? Now this isn't Walmart so don't think you'll be able to do all your shopping there, they'll have things like ready made meals by chefs, pastries from local bakeries, and artisan cheeses. So it's like a boutique style grocery store or a tiny Wegman's. Now for the bad news the store is in Seattle, WA. It is also currently only open to Amazon employees, but Amazon plans to have it open to the public in early 2017. So if you are in Seattle sometime next year you can stop by. ~ChicDivaGeek

FINALLY!!! Netflix announced today that they will now offer their customers the option to download movies and series to watch offline! So while you're packing your luggage for your next trip you can add download Netflix series to binge watch to your list. This will be offered at no extra cost to the customer. Considering they recently adjusted rates I think this will soften the those that were a little up in arms about the change. Now for some people who have the luxury to get wifi in the sky (via a great airline that offers it or simply paying for it) this may not be a big deal, but believe me it is! Not only that, this is great if you've got little ones that like to watch cartoons or certain movies on the go and you don't have cellular service on your tablet and want to give them something to do. Can you say roadtrip? Netflix download screen (Photo: Netflix) You will need to make sure your Netflix app is updated to the latest version so you have the ability to download. So what are you waiting for *goes to App Store to check for update* ~ChicDivaGeek

It's the season of fuzzy sweaters, knee boots, as well as the invasion of all things pumpkin spice *yuck lol*. This season also brings with it, the gathering of family and along with that family dinners! So in case you can get your great Aunt Edna to share the recipe for her famous pie I compiled a couple of apps that can help you out in the kitchen, not just around the holidays but anytime you're stepping into the kitchen, I mean you're going to have your phone with you anyway, so might as well let it be your digital sous chef! Big Oven This first and foremost is a site that allows you to find recipes, and they've been around for over a decade. But they are mobile as well, not newly mobile but you get the point. With Big Oven you can search through thousands of recipes, plan out your grocery lists, and even has a feature that'll help you to figure out what to do with the leftovers! Thinking this will come in handy when you need to find ways to revitalize that turkey. I've been adding to my recipe book slowly and I don't mind trying new ones, I just have to remember to get all the ingredients because some of that stuff just isn't in my house. Oh and did I mention it has a menu planner feature? Big Oven, is available on iPhone, iPad, Android, Kindle Fire, and Windows Phone. Big Oven App on iPhone Screens (Photos: BigOven) Food Network in the Kitchen I can't watch Food Network all day because, well I like to eat and they haven't invented a television that let's me grab the food off the screen. But if you're a fan of the Food Network and most people are, and want to try some of their recipes then the Food Network in the Kitchen app should definitely be on your phone. It has tons of the recipes that they cook on the shows! You can browse by your favorite show to look for that recipe that you didn't watch closely enough when it was on. You can also follow along with how-to videos. You can download this app for iOS and for Android. Food Network in the Kitchen on iOS Screens (Photos: App Store) All Recipes Dinner Spinner This one is an oldie but a goodie, probably one of the first ones I downloaded on my iPad and I was starting to look for ideas. The All Recipes Dinner Spinner. This one has a social aspect to it in addition to quite a few features. You can find recipes, try them out and then share what worked for you and what didn't. Also as the name implies "Dinner Spinner" you can select what you've got to cook in house, input it into the app and it helps you decide what to whip up for dinner. It also allows for you to add the ingredients for an entire recipe to your grocery list. It's available to download on iOS, Android, Kindle, and Windows Phone. All Recipes Dinner Spinner Screens (Photos: App Store) Happy meal planning! ~ChicDivaGeek

Everywhere you look there's bound to be someone with a phone or a tablet in their hand, from the parents with their smartphone all the way down to the toddler that has a tablet with the silicone protective case on it. We live in a time where that's the norm, I've seen kids as young as 6 with smartphones (Not sure why as they aren't going anywhere alone..but I digress). At the beginning of this school year, my son's school had a Google Chromebook on the supply list, no paper, no pencil just the Chromebook. So technology has always been apart of education, I took keyboarding in high school and we also had computer education in the school. But now it's really apart of the everyday all day while they learn. But here are some tips to help keep an eye on what they do. Microsoft Family Microsoft Family Screen By now you should have updated your Windows machine to Windows 10 (it was free for a year people) or at the very least Windows 8. If you have one of these, you can use a feature called Microsoft Family to monitor what your kids are doing online (this includes activity and blocking of certain sites) and even manage screen time. This also works on the Xbox and Windows Phones. Now you do have to have a Microsoft account and so does your child but that's really all. So you can see the sites they've visited and after certain hours, you can have it so they can't use it. My son has definitely become a bit of a screen zombie so this helps. But it also let's me see what he's doing online. I really just want him to be a kid for as long as he can and make sure he's not overexposed. But what if my child has a Google Chromebook? Gmail user's this one is for you! If your little scholar (like mine) has a Chromebook for school then there's a way to add them as a supervised user. It's exactly what it sounds like, you can supervise what they do. The trick with this is during the initial setup of the Chromebook, you have to login with your gmail account to designate your account as the owner and your child as the supervised user. I had to reset my sons's Chromebook after I discovered this. This feature doesn't control screen time or anything but allows me to see what sites he visits, and if I deem necessary I can block certain sites. You can manage this from a dashboard so you don't have to be logged into the Chromebook to make changes. How to Enable Supervised Users Part 1 · Sign in to your Chromebook. · Click the status area where your account photo appears. · Click Settings. · In the "People" section, click Manage other users. Check the box next to "Enable supervised users." Part 2 · Click the status area where your account photo appears, then click Sign out. · On the sign-in screen, click More More and then Add supervised user. · Click Create supervised user. · Select the account that will manage the supervised user. · Enter the account password and click Next. · Choose a name, password, and photo. · Optional: If you already created a supervised user and want to use those settings, click Import an existing supervised user. · Click Next. · You'll see a message confirming that the user was created. Click Got it. The most common device for children...the iPad Now my son rarely gets to play with my iPad even though he's older, but alot of times people give the smaller ones their iPad or iPhone to keep them occupied with the games. I don't know if you've seen a toddler with a tablet or phone but most toddlers know how to work one better than some adults. But they don't necessarily understand what they are doing. Alot of apps, and I do mean alot often are free but have in-app purchases, and I've seen where it'll pop up and say purchase "x,y,z" to level up in a game. Now as an adult I know that I don't want to spend real world money in an app. Kids don't understand that, and especially little ones. Today a news report came up *again* about a parent ending up with a huge bill because of in-app purchases they didn't know their kids were making. So here is how you prevent that, because it's not that hard. There are restrictions/safegaurds you can place on your iTunes account. First enable your password for all in-app purchases. This can be done under Settings-->General-->iTunes & App Store-->Password settings. So anytime your child is using the iPad (and it's more than likely linked to your iTunes account as they can't have their own with no credit card). You can go a step further and disable purchases all together by going to Settings-->General-->Restrictions. Here you can fully enable restrictions, down to what apps they can use and disable in-app purchases all together. This also includes what content is allowed. Make sure to check what is enabled and disabled if you go this route. Just trying to not hear this news report again about is the parent responsible for the bill...you kind of are, you are responsible what your child has access to you can't put that on Apple when the tools are there to prevent it. The Internet really is the world's biggest party and doesn't check ID when kids go to sites, so I hope this was helpful. ~ChicDivaGeek

Mondays are the beginning of a new week and when your alarm goes off that's the start of a new day. Often times we all need a little push or that extra reminder to keep going or finish strong. So rather than wait until your favorite Instagram account posts a inspirational saying, you can sign up for Shine. What is Shine? "Shine is a daily text experience to help you be your best self at work and life. Every morning, we'll send you actionable tips and content around confidence, daily happiness, mental health, or productivity." ~ Shine.com So simply put it's a text program that you can sign up for completely free (of course text messaging rates apply...*pretend you read that in the commercial voice-over sounding voice lol* ). You can also have them sent through Facebook Messenger. The sign up process is easy, just go to their site, and put in your name, phone number and email. Then they will text you a few messages asking how you heard about them, confirm your zipcode for scheduling purposes and confirm if you want messages daily or weekly. The messages are sent about 8:15 am every morning, so that sounds like peak commute time to me, and right before you get into your work day. Think of it like a digital cup of coffee to get you going. So if you can use a little daily or weekly pick me up, sign up!