I am a "Picture Play" affiliate and earn a commission when you order through my links in this post. Have you ever wanted to take better pictures with your iPhone or Android? Did you know that there are a few free or low cost (like less than $5) apps that can make your regular iPhone pictures 10X better? It's possible with some of the tips that Jill Krause (and Happy Loud Life) shares in her new Picture Play ebook. I have a fancy DSLR that I bought a few years ago and kinda learned how to use, but it's so big and bulky that I never take it with me. I'm really happy with the overall quality of photos from my iPhone 8+ but it doesn't always take perfect photos. Sometimes they are too dark, or too light, or there are things in the background that are distracting. This is one of the photos I took a few years ago with my DSLR. It showed up in my memories this week so I thought I'd try to edit it again using the tricks in Picture Play. Look closely behind her head, in the new version I ... [ Read More ]
Peace, Love & Painted Rocks – iPhone Wallpaper
I may have taken my painted rock addiction a little to far? It’s now my iPhone wallpaper! Whenever I look down at my phone I’ll get a little smile thinking of one of my creative hobbies. It would be rude of me to keep this all to myself so I’ve created one for you to download. The download is available for the iPhone 6-8, iPhone 6-8 Plus, and the iPhone X. I’m sorry Android friends, I didn’t create any additional sizes for your phone and I hope one of these sizes will work for you too. Confession: I have a new hobby that is entertaining my evenings. My iPad and Procreate art app. It’s keeping me from actually painting rocks but it’s something new I’m learning to master. My first love will always be painting but this allows me to spread my creative wings and bring even more fun stuff to you. What other hobbies do you enjoy? Are painted rocks the only creative outlet for you or just one of the creative mediums you work in? In addition to painting on rocks I’ve spent the ... [ Read More ]
Zapzapmath App Review & Giveaway
This post is sponsored by Zapzapmath App. Third grade math is hitting us hard here! Over the past few weeks my daughter's class has been working on multiplication and now division. They are still mastering their multiplication facts and she's not as fast as she needs to be. I know that all of this will come with practice and patience; but it's a struggle! I've been downloading app after app to help her master her facts. The team at Zapzapmath app contacted me recently and asked if we'd like to give their math app a test drive! The app is free to download and works on iPhone or Droid; but also on your computer and Chromebook. The premium subscription is $9.95 for a year and will unlock the entire grades worth of activities and games. Bai tried both the standard app and the premium app on my iPhone this afternoon and I can tell that the premium version is more beneficial since it covers a wider range of math skills. The standard version for 3rd grade math allows your child ... [ Read More ]
Working through mom guilt…
It happened, my six year old told me something brutally honest this morning. "Mommy, put your phone down! You're always playing on it. Won't you play with me instead." (silence - let that soak in) ...I immediately set the phone down and finished helping her get ready for school. I made a conscious effort to not pick up my phone for the rest of the morning. I dropped the kids off at school, came home and went to work, but those words stuck with me ALL day! Am I really on my phone THAT much? Clearly, if a six year old thinks I'm on my phone too much then it's got to be true. Here's the thing though, I have made an effort for the past year to be more present in my kids lives. Not that I'm a absent mom (absent minded maybe, but not absent), but it's so easy to focus too much effort on the wrong things. I've made an effort to leave my phone on my desk when the kids are home from school in the afternoon, during dinner, and while they get ready for bed. ... [ Read More ]
Techie Gift Gear Ideas
If you are anything like me, this is the week you scramble trying to find just the right gift for everyone on your list. I do most of my shopping online so this is THE week to get stuff ordered so it will arrive in time. Here are just a few of my favorite techie finds this year that may or may not be found under the tree on Christmas morning. Powerslayer by Velvetwire: Can you ever have too many iPhone chargers laying around? In a house full of techies we're always fighting over the cords and you can never find them all when you need them. With my old iPhone 5, I would constantly need to charge it because the battery was shot. With the Powerslayer you eliminate wasted power because it automatically turns itself off once your device is fully charged. Once my phone reached about 90-95% the Powerslayer would shut off; you could tell when the LED indicator on the front shut off. The Powerslayer comes with a very long braided USB cable and a felt and leather travel case. I loved ... [ Read More ]
The Candy Crush Curse
Look familiar? That ONE lone jelly just sitting their taunting you on Candy Crush! What, you don't play Candy Crush? If you're on Facebook you've probably received those "requests" we all hate to play your stupid game or donate lives so you can get to the next level. I've seen them for months and resisted the temptation to download another time suck game to my iPhone. I have no idea what made me take the leap a few days ago and see what all the addiction was about - but I did - and no you may never see me blog again! Remember that feeling you got when you first jumped on Pinterest and pinned beautiful pictures of crafts you'll never made for HOURS at a time? Yeah, that's how I feel about Candy Crush today. It starts out so innocently as you easily complete the first few levels. You're sitting at your sons karate class clearing level after level until this happens.... ...just like that time you ran out of your favorite ice cream at midnight after the stores are closed - ... [ Read More ]
Welcome to my newest app addiction – Vine!
As I was settling into bed last night I do what I do every night; I opened up Instagram. Then I saw it - a few of my followers starting sharing their Vine profiles. What's Vine? What's #vineapp? What's all this chatter I see on Instagram. Of course I do what every good social media junkie does - go to iTune and search for Vine. I actually had 3 different "Vine" apps come up so I had to figure out which one they were talking about. Vine - Make a scene, by Vine Labs. It appears that this app was just released by Twitter actually and combines all of the things I love about Twitter and Instagram with a twist; 6 second videos! Once you create an account (I linked mine to my Twitter account to keep my profiles consistent) you can start following your friends and have them follow you back. It looks very similar to Instagram (but green) with a place to "like" a post and leave comments on posts. The thing that makes Vine different is that it's not photos but videos. Short, six ... [ Read More ]
Last Minute Gift Ideas for Toddlers and Kids
Are you looking for one more gift for your toddler or small child? Looking for a cute stocking stuffer? Here are a few items that my kids (or I) would love to unwrap on Christmas morning. iPieces Air Hockey - I found this several months ago while attending the BlogHer conference. You download an app on your iPhone or iPad to use with these game pieces. It instantly turns your iPad into an air hockey rink! Kids and adults will love this game. I just wish it had a small carrying bag so I wouldn't lose the pieces. Handstand Kids Cookbook Kits - If you have a young child who likes to help out in the kitchen this would be a fun gift to add for them. In addition to the cookbook the kit also includes some kid sized kitchen tools. Both my son and daughter would love one of these. Jellystone Designs Owl Pendant - Do you have an owl fan in your family? Kids and adults will enjoy this adorable pendant. Moms can use it for teething babies. Older kids will enjoy showing off ... [ Read More ]
Run, Calley, Run! #GoGreenGetFit Update
Guess what? I did it!! I put my running shoes on and started training for my 5K tonight!! I'm a busy mom. I work full-time (plus a few hours). I have 2 active kids. I have a house to keep up (hahahaha). We like to travel (a lot). My biggest challenge in this Go Green Get Fit challenge is making time to work out. I've done really well at making time to go to kickboxing at least 2 times a week but that's not where my goal stopped. I want to work out MORE! I want to enjoy running like my friends and I want to accomplish my goals. I want to show my kids that even mommy can be fit and take care of herself. At BlogHer '12 I got up at 6am to run their 5K (cough - joke - cough) through Central Park. I didn't train AT ALL for this and didn't even have a running partner. I forgot my inhaler (asthma) and didn't have any water. I was at the back of the pack and had visions of CSI or Law and Order flash in my head (yes, this really happened) and fear got the best of me. As I ... [ Read More ]
Positive Parenting? I have a LOT to learn!
Reward charts, stickers, reward points, is there an app for that? I'm going to make a huge confession, I have no idea how to be a consistent positive parent! You would think after 9+ years of parenting I might have learned a thing or two, right? The truth is that I have learned lots of little tricks to use but I'm so inconsistent. I don't do schedules, I hate charts, and I'm a hot mess when it comes to discipline. I have been known to take away a privilege or toy only to forget the next day that it was taken away (or why I took it away). I've read all the advice columns and I've even talked to a clinical physiologist for some of our parenting challenges. Summer has been just as unorganized as ever. My son hasn't had a bedtime, no daily routine, and don't get me started on screen time. Thankfully he was in camp for several weeks and that provided him with some structure. When he wasn't in camp he was at home with me and I tried to balance parenting and my full-time job. The ... [ Read More ]