Finally a Bluetooth Speaker with Some Features!

Finally a Bluetooth Speaker with Some Features!

Sep 30, 2015

Ever since I upgraded to an iPhone 5 my iHome became pretty pointless if I wanted to use it to stream music. I keep my iHome in my bathroom so I can listen to some tunes while I shower or get ready for work/going out or to enjoy some peace after a super long day on my balcony and I've had to resort to using my super old iPod from 2004. And let me pause for a second to reflect on the fact that I have an 11 year old working iPod.

Okay, now that's that over, let's go back to my situation now. While I can put 20gb worth of music in it sometimes I like to listen to Pandora or Spotify while I'm getting ready so I've been searching for a really good bluetooth speaker and I think I found one that's nearly perfect.

The DBPower Mini Wireless Speaker was a pretty decent buy. Thanks to my Amazon Prime I was able to get it the same day for $36.98, it came fully charged and was easy to set up. I set the time, got my bluetooth ready and was ready to test it out. There isn't any volume control on the speaker so it all has to be controlled by the device busting out the tunes but you can pause, rewind and fast forward on it which is a great feature. Come to think about it, most bluetooth speakers that I've seen don't have a volume control or the ability to do anything but listen to the music so I'm glad this has that.

It's a really sleek design and the size lends to letting you have a loud, crisp sound but it's doesn't have the best range. It seemed to not like my body because the sound got a bit staticky when I was near it but aside from that I totally dig it.

If you wanna try it out here's a 20% discount code that makes this bluetooth speaker an even sweeter deal: 5YVUUAKT

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It's Time to Wear My Favorite Print Again!

It's Time to Wear My Favorite Print Again!

Sep 29, 2015

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #RinseMadeRad #CollectiveBias

I'm still made about plaid!

I love plaid. Love love love! So much so that this is my second seasonal post highlighting my favorite print. Last year I wrote about all the ways to wear and implement tartan plaid and I'm so happy to see that it keeps on coming year after year. I have a array of skirts and some tops that are in my absolute favorite print and no matter what, I wear them constantly regardless of if they're 'in' or not.

Grab these at Target before they're sold out!

But, lucky for you guys plaid is IT this season according to Target and they have just about anything a person could ever want in the print. You can pretty much decorate your entire apartment as well as style your wardrobe in all plaid if that suits your fancy and the best part is that it also extends to your beauty and health routine. LISTERINE® has gotten in the game and designed 4 of their bottles in plaid exclusively at Target  as part of their Mad for Plaid collection this season. Whatever your color is: red, blue, green or yellow, they've got one of their LISTERINE® Antiseptic number one dentist-recommended mouthwashes just for you. Plus the plaid print will give a nice touch to your bathroom decor. Who doesn't like the idea of cleaning their mouth and have healthier gums within a month?

I bought one in each color. I've got plaid in my bathroom for months!

I would rather wear plaid than have it as home decor. There's just something about the print that I adore and I love how my collection of skirts and tops are growing. Its versatility is what I like the most about it because I can wear it to work or on a fun night out without looking out of place and it fits my personal style 100%.

Perfect for work! Free People Vest & Forever 21 Skirt

If you want a night out pair a nice corset with a chain embellished belt and zippered booties

So if you want to get into the plaid mode at Target with LISTERINE® keep in mind that they have their Cartwheel offer for 10% that runs from 9/13-10/31 and if you want to find out a bit more about LISTERINE® brand products don't forget to check out their site: www.listerine.com

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Fall 2015 Blog Goals

Fall 2015 Blog Goals

Sep 28, 2015

Me and my goals! I have a knack for making a ton of them but only achieving a few which is a bit of a bummer but I don't beat myself up over it.

I'm trying to write more and get things streamlined so they're a nice flow to this. I also have some great posts coming up with lovely photos that Jennifer and I shot while I was in NYC. Turns out she is absolutely amazing at photo styling so I'm hoping to have her do more of that for the blog. Seriously, she blew me away.

With 3 months left in 2015 here is what I plan on accomplishing:

1. Increase Revenue- I want to increase my blog revenue by at least 25% each month until 2016.

2. Write More- This is always a goal because I want to keep consistency.

3. Create a Media Kit-I wanted to do this over the summer but slacked on it. This time I won't. I want to enter 2016 with a super amazing start

4. Get My Dream Template- I have an idea of exactly what I want but I haven't found anything remotely close to it that works with blogger, so I may have leave them for an awesome re-launch in 2016.

There you have it! I have 3 months to work on these goals and I think I'm off to a pretty good start on at least two of them. I didn't realize how much work it is to turn a blog into a business these days (or ever actually). I feel like I do more work on this than I do at my 9-5 job because I always have a deadline looming but it's something I love so I'm willing to give it my all until I can start blogging from Paris. Oui oui!

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It's All About the Scents!

It's All About the Scents!

Sep 27, 2015

Lavender and roses. Strawberries and pumpkin. These are a few of my (new) favorite things. Ever since experiencing the intensity of pheromones I started associating scents with happy things again. The smell of freshly cut grass never fails to take me back to the time I lived in Florida as a kid and curry always reminds me of an amazing restaurant I went to in Brighton, UK so the scent association thing isn't too far fetched for me.

I spent the summer obsessing over lavender and smelling like roses and now that a new season has begun I've added a couple of new ones. I've also been reading up on the benefits of certain scents and was surprised to know that lavender and roses are really great for mood elevation and are really soothing. I'm at a place where I've got some really great momentum so surrounding myself with feel good scents is what I want to do. 

And who doesn't want a body scrub that smells like strawberries? While I hardly eat the fruit, or any fruit for that matter, it's fun to sometimes switch out my coffee scrub with this. Or to have my face smell like pumpkins because isn't that what this season is all about?

This week, I'm going go over my favorite scented products and what it is that has me drawn to them. Trust me, you're gonna wanna pay close attention!

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Rethink Your Health Insurance with Open Enrollment Season

Rethink Your Health Insurance with Open Enrollment Season

Sep 23, 2015

This post is sponsored by Aflac. I was compensated for writing it, but all opinions are 100-percent mine.

Fall is in the air. And on the ground!

Fall signifies lots of things: the end of super short shorts, pumpkin spice latte’s and the chance to wear adorable outfits. It also means that open enrollment for health insurance can be taken advantage of and adjust their plans to meet their current health care needs.

I’ll admit that I when I first started the process many years ago I just closed my eyes, dropped a finger and that was the plan I stuck with. I never really got sick, as a woman my basic needs were always covered and I just didn’t understand--or was just too young to think I needed to care. Plus at the time I was in my early 20‘s, single and still living at home wheres the majority of my coworkers were 35+, had families and illnesses.The age and lifestyle gap made it really difficult for anyone to guide me through the process and everyone was hesitant to pick a plan for me (even though I begged a few) because they didn’t understand my needs. 

Now that I’m a bit older and want to be responsible in all aspects of my life I’ve started paying attention to things like health care and ask as many questions as possible so that I know I’m choosing the right one. In 2014, Aflac conducted a survey and found that many workers did very little research in terms of their insurance options and ended up with inadequate health care. I totally would have fallen into that category and am so glad that I avoided anything major throughout the years that I blindly picked a plan.

Enjoying the sights of Maine

The last 3 months or so have been filled with traveling but not every trip has been relaxing. One trip was in a tropical location, the other was jut heading back home to relax but two of them were filled with adventure: hiking, whale watching and spending  alto of time n slippery rocks so that in itself could have been a recipe for disaster. 

I’ve been unlucky enough to fall victim to the signs of aging-or at least, that’s how I sell things to myself. I’ve been in the ER 5 times in the last eight months alone and if I didn’t have adequate health insurance the bills for those, and subsequent medications, would have been through the roof. Even with my insurance though, I still had to pay almost $3,000 out of pocket which wasn’t easy. I had just moved, I had 4 trips planned (nothing gets in the way of my trips) and I didn’t have that much of a cushion for everyday expenses, let alone medical emergencies. 

There are a few types of supplemental insurance that Aflac offers but the ones that speak more to me are Accident and Disability. I’m not accident prone but accidents do happen and it would be a shame for me to have lose out on income completely for something that happened while I was either having tons of fun on an adventure or just walking down the street at the wrong time. The Disability Insurance is great because workers’ comp only covers injuries that happen on-the-job and with so little paid time off of work, I can’t afford to have an injury happen out of the office that will leave me unable to work for a week or possibly more. 

London would be riddled with accidents if not for these signs!

Nowadays, with companies cutting back on their expenses health insurance is usually the first thing to be affected so we need to make sure we’re prepared for anything that comes our way and Aflac is a great place to start especially now that it’s open enrollment season.

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

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Brunching It Up!

Brunching It Up!

Sep 21, 2015

Brunch is the most exciting meal of the day. On Saturdays and Sunday's at least. There are very
few things that I enjoy more than waking up late on a weekend day and having pancakes, fruits,
eggs and of course a champagne drink.

While I adore my wine and don't shy away from drinking it when the mood strikes I really like
the refreshing taste of champagne mixed with orange juice or something else just as fruity.
I invited some of my girlfriends over for brunch to catch up and spend some time together
before we got really busy with kids going to school, working getting kicked into high gear and
the cool breeze makes us never want to leave our apartments. Mind you, I'm currently in NYC
getting ready to say goodbye to my friends and family while I hide out in LA until next summer
so this brunch was highly in order.

My menu from this brunch was as delicious as the drinks that we had. I made frittatas (whole
and egg whites), bagels with lox and mini quiches. It was fun putting it all together and making
different frittatas for my friends who are a little picky with what they like to eat. While they
were all loaded with veggies some had bacon, and sausages and various types of cheeses. It was my first time making those and I was so happy that they were a hit!

To tie it all together I served up some bellinis and mimosas using Andre Champagne. They have 
an array of flavors to choose from but I decided to go with their Andre Brut Extra Dry because I 
find that this pairs better with orange juice or peach nectar. I really made my brunch a bit more
epic with Andre by serving up something that was crisp, refreshing and delicious when
mixed or on its own.

I love having friends over for get togethers and I especially like it when I can make it a farewell
brunch as I head back to my second home in LA. So tell me, how will you mix your Andre
Champagne and what type of gatherings will you make #EpicWithAndre?

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Organic Produce Delivered? Yes Please

Organic Produce Delivered? Yes Please

Sep 16, 2015

Let's be honest, when the summer ends most of us breathe a sign of relief because we can eat more of the things we love. We can have three scoops of ice cream instead of two or order a large latte because we have the chance to cover up a little with cozy sweaters and cute jackets. That's at least the case for most of the people that I know. I'm living in the land of endless summer so while the nights are really chilly I get temperatures in the 80's most of the time. I don't hate that though because it means I get to focus on what I'm eating right after a summer of gluttony and it gives me an excuse to hit the reset button on my eating habits.

I was never big on vegetables until I started juicing. I juiced because I wanted to make sure my body received all of the nutrients that it needed in one shot since I planned on kicking my diet into high gear. I did a three day cleanse with my cousin and ever since then I became hooked. I loved the idea of getting everything all at once and not having to worry about it throughout the day. After a couple of months doing this I realized that if I was juicing to put healthy things in my body then I had to start buying organic. I felt that anything but organic produce was counteractive to what I was trying to achieve in terms of getting my body healthy inside and out so I started purchasing them from my local supermarket even though I felt it was sub par. I knew I could go to other markets but this was the closest one to me and fit better with my sometimes crazy schedule. Lucky for me I was given the opportunity to try out a food delivery service called Farm Fresh To You and write my thoughts on it.

The first thing that popped into my head when I went to Farm Fresh To You's website was how cool it was to get locally grown organic produce delivered. Once I set up an account with them I was able to choose what type of box I was looking for: mixed fruit and veggies, no cooking, fruit only or veggies only. I chose the mixed box because I wanted to get a variety and while I'm not huge on fruits they work well in adding flavor or releasing nutrients in veggies.

After a few days I was able to enter my box and see what was chosen for me. It was an even mix of fruits and veggies but I wanted it to fall more on the veggie side so I had to wait until two days before my delivery date for modification. Once it was time I was able to customize my box and that was that. Two days later the packages arrived at my doorstep and I was excited to dig right in.

When I took everything out I was amazed at how fresh and gorgeous everything looked. The carrots still had their greens, the chard was huge and the mint smelled delicious. I couldn't wait to get started on my juice. I received 12 types of items but decided to make a juice using carrots, cucumbers, kale, chard, mint and lemon.

When I made the first part of my juice I had to stop and admire how beautiful the color was. It was made with the kale, chard, mint and lemon and if it wasn't for the beta-carotene I would have stopped there. Once I mixed that in with the carrots and cucumbers I was ready for my afternoon snack and it was delicious.

I really like that they get their produce from local farmers because it means I can get them quick and when they're fresh. They don't bag any of the items so if you're used to bagging your veggies like I am it might be a bit weird putting them in your fridge but I plan to make at least one juice a day so they won't be in there long.

If you want to give Farm Fresh To You a try you can receive a $10 credit for using my referral code (DIAN3551) and will be on your way to fresh, organic produce at your doorstep in no time!

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Don't Fret--Mini Season Isn't Over Yet

Don't Fret--Mini Season Isn't Over Yet

Sep 14, 2015

September 23rd marks the end of summer but thankfully, I live in sunny SoCal so I pretty much get to enjoy the sun 10 months out of the year. But living in New York City never stopped me from wearing my beloved minis. I haven't work pants since 2010. Yes, seriously! I still own a bunch but aside from yoga pants to lounge or workout I'm always seen in dresses or skirts.

I suffered for fashion during my time in NYC. During the cold winter months I could always be seen zooming in or out of a train station in a mid-thigh pea coat, tights and boots. Sometimes I'd even double up on tights because I lost the ability to be comfortable in a pair or pants or jeans.

Here are some minis that would look great solo and with tights when it get chillier out.Their great materials and different cuts would make any of these a great addition to your wardrobe.

1.  Textured Cotton Skirt-$46.00

2. Flared Jacquard Mini Skirt- $99.99

3. Alko Ruffle Mini Skirt- $238.00

4. Mini Skirt with Flounce- $69.90

5. Wrap-front Skirt- $34.99


Every year I make the 'I'm going to wear pants this year' announcement and it never happens. With the cute minis in this post and the countless others that I'm drooling over...I'll see if I can spare a day in 2016.

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Making a Small Gathering Epic with Champagne

Making a Small Gathering Epic with Champagne

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Andre Champagne for IZEA. All opinions are 100% mine.

                   

I have a lot to celebrate these days. My blog is taking off and spending some time with my family before the summer ends being just two of them. I recently decided to have a mini celebration showing my love of hors d'oeuvres and some mixed drinks to make it an epic gathering.

                     

After making some of my favorite appetizer: mini quiches, spanakopita, and pot stickers. After making sure that the food was all taken care of I had to work on the drinks. I can always have beer or wine when I’m out with friends but when I’m having a get together at home I always opt for champagne. It always works great with appetizers because it’s light, sparkly, and mixes really well. 

                         

For this get together I decided to pair my drinks with Andre Champagne. They have a wide variety to choose from: Blush, Pink Mosquito, Extra Dry, and Strawberry Mosquito but I chose to use their Andre Brut flavor for that nights event. Instead of having it plain I decided to mix it with a little bit of cranberry juice to give it an extra kick. I really liked that it stayed bubbly and refreshing and the crisp taste remained. I was able to make it epic by giving the champagne a little bit of flavor and an extra bite. Not to say the champagne isn’t tasty on its own.

                     

It’s definitely a champagne that will work with any kind of gathering. It’s affordable, tasty and unlike the others on the market I really like how I can reseal it incase I want to save some for later, which is rare actually.

So what do you think? How will you get #EpicWithAndre at your next celebration?

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Five Stylish Booties for (F)all!

Five Stylish Booties for (F)all!

Sep 11, 2015

September is an interesting month in New York City. The crazy weather makes picking out an outfit a little taxing. Wearing flip flops or sandals is usually out of the question but it's too hot for knee length boots.

This is where booties come in. We love how versatile they can be. You can pair them with tights of any thickness, cute tweed shorts and of course minis!We also love how booties can be very rock-n-roll, professional or casual. With so many to choose from we combed through some of our favorite sites for footwear and found a few styles we think everyone needs in their shoe collection.

1.  Tommy Hilfiger Women's Oxford Shooties- $89.00

2. TOMS Suede High Wedge Booties-$98.00

3. Women's Punch Lug Heel Lace-Up Boot-$49.99

4. Guess Collina Bootie-$79.95

5. Women's Batone Wedge Bootie- $59.99

I can't wait to get my hands on a few of these booties. I keep trying to figure out with pair is my favorite but that's impossible to do. I predict I'll have all of them on my shoe rack by the end of October! 

Which pair is your favorite and how will you wear em during these faux chilly days to come?

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Falling in Love with H&M's Autumn 2015 Collection

Falling in Love with H&M's Autumn 2015 Collection

Sep 9, 2015

We love H&M. It's such an affordable store that's got great style and long lasting clothes (if you know how to take care of them). Jenniffer and I have very different body types but somehow even with a 2-3 size difference she's always been able to rummage through my things when I was living in NYC or whenever I'm in town and not look like she's swimming in my clothes. As a shopaholic I'm constantly adding a ton of new pieces to my seasonal wardrobe and always begin with H&M.

After perusing their site a few days ago here are my top pics for updating anyones fall wardrobe without breaking the bank!

1. Fitted Jacket in Navy Blue- $38.00

2. Textured Skirt in Rust Red- $39.99

3. Sleeveless Dress in Dark Blue- $34.99

4. Jersey Blazer in Light Pink- $34.99

5. Fitted Dress in Dark Gray- $34.99

6. Stretch Trousers in Black- $38.00

7. Pleated Skirt in Red- $24.99

As a borrow-holic, I know that Jenniffer can't wait for me to head over to NYC with a few of these items so she can try to permanently borrow them. But what do you guys think? Are you ready to add some awesome and affordable pieces to your wardrobe in preparation for these upcoming chillier months? Let me know!

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Update Your Kitchen with Retro Glass Canisters

Update Your Kitchen with Retro Glass Canisters

Sep 7, 2015

I love home decor items, especially anything for my kitchen. I have a really open space on the first floor of my apartment and tons of counter space so I like to fill it up with cute and useful items that I use when I cook.

I recently got a set of colorful Retro Glass Canisters with screw-top lids by Uno Casa to try out and they're an awesome change from the simple clear and silver ones that i had previously. I used those to store my pasta so I just did a quick switcheroo and now my kitchen has some color! At 5 inches high, they're a great size for the pastas that I use the most-penne and macaroni, and I like that they aren't plastic. The Glassware makes the colors of these pop.

Such an improvement!

These vintage storage jars are sold as a 3-pack in orange, blue and green and will compliment most kitchens because of their solid color. There isn't much to be said about them since it's a straightforward product. It's made with good material, it looks great and it does what it says it does which is store items in your kitchen or anywhere else actually if you want to use it for crafting.

The cutouts let you see what's in them!

If it's something you're interesting in getting to add a little retro fun for your kitchen you can grab them here for $22.99.

And if you'd like to know more about Uno Casa you can check out their Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest page and let them know what you think about their canisters and other products

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Re-Starting My Fall Routine

Re-Starting My Fall Routine

Thank you Crest 3D White for sponsoring this post. The new Crest 3D White Brilliance Toothpaste System can be found at local retailers and online.

Fall 2015 Routine

We still have a few official weeks of summer and that means I can get ready to pull out some of my favorite fall items. Even though I spend most of my time in LA I do like to head over to NYC for a week or so during the fall months to wear my tweed shorts, cute booties and nice light jackets. 

I always like to use the beginning of the fall as a way to refresh myself from the fun of the summer. From gaining a few extra pounds from tons of summer BBQ’s, keeping my face out in the sun a lot longer (and yes, I always use sunblock) and overdoing it with the serums to protect my hair from the super hot sun.

I like to switch my skincare routine and use more retinol because I won’t be out in the sun too long so I won’t have to worry too much about how much sunblock I use during the day and I try to have at least 2-3 days a week of just juicing to try to detox my body of all the goodness I was giving it during the summer months.

I absolutely love iced coffees, teas and the occasional red wine when it’s not too hot out but my teeth aren’t such a big fan of those. Because of that I constantly find myself using whitening toothpastes in order to keep my teeth as white as they do after a dental visit to no avail. I've done professional whitening before but they bothered my teeth so much that I will never do that again. 

Thankfully I was able to try CREST’s 3D White Brilliance Toothpaste System for a few days and so far I’m happy with the results. To start, I really like how fresh my mouth feels right after using it. It’s a to step process where I brush with one that deep cleans my teeth and then brush over it with a whitening finish. My teeth do seem like they’re getting a whiter by brushing with this and cutting back on my staining beverages. 

Now that I’m getting ready to start posting vlogs I have to make sure everything is on point. From my makeup, hair and especially my smile so I’m going to keep using this whitening system as part of my daily routine because I’ve got to keep my smile on point on and off line.

I love the feeling I get after using these!

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

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Paying For College Shouldn't Be So Scary

Paying For College Shouldn't Be So Scary

Sep 5, 2015

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Allianz Tuition Insurance. All opinions are 100% mine.

Being a new college student is a wild ride. For those of us that decide to go away for school, that can be even wilder. We’re thrown into a quasi adulthood where we have to be mindful of how we manage our time all the while remaining carefree. Add to that the emotions of being homesick, trying to find the right major and stressing out about grades and it can be a recipe for disaster. Especially when someone may just not be ready for the pressures of college life but doesn’t wan to jump into the workforce just yet. Or who knows that trying that isn’t a good idea.

When I went away to school for my freshman year I had no idea what I was in for. I had never been without a single member of my family for 18 years and it was scarier than I thought it would be. I was also brought up with education at the forefront of everything so it was only natural that I would go to college but I wasn’t emotionally ready for it. In high school I didn’t have tons of friends, I wasn’t able to hang out late, if at all, and I was pretty much sheltered from all the ‘bad things’. Imagine what my first weekend in college was like! It was like lord of the flies and parties became my #1 priority. Thankfully my first semester grades gave me a wakeup call and I cleaned up my act after that.

But there are a lot of people that don’t and end up dropping out after one semester, or even a year of college, because they weren’t ready for it. And if they’re like a lot the people that I went to school with, including myself, the only way school was paid for was by taking out loans. Imagine going to college for one, two or even three semesters and finding out that it just isn’t for you right now. You’re stuck not only having to support yourself in the ‘real world’ but you also have to pay back loans for tuition and room and board that wasn’t beneficial.

I’ve never heard of this before, but there’s actually something called Allianz Tuition Insurance where you can be reimbursed for non-refundable tuition expenses-- with a few caveats of course. Allianz has three different plans with coverages that range from having to leave or take a semester off of school due to an illness to complete withdrawal for any unforeseen reason. It’s pretty cool considering the fact that we’re used to paying insurance premiums for those what-if moments in life that would be detrimental to our finances if they happened. 

I think it's worth checking out for parents sending their kids to college, or someone paying for it themselves. It's nice to have piece of mind and have one less thing to worry about if things don't go according to plan as someone starts a new and exciting chapter of their lives.

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A Sleek iPhone Case That Isn't Bulky

A Sleek iPhone Case That Isn't Bulky

Sep 3, 2015

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of LuxBox Case for SponsoredTweets. All opinions are 100% mine.

I’ve always loved my iPhones because of their sleek design. When I got my first one in 2009 I came straight out of a Sidekick which was super resilient never suffered a fall thanks to the wrist strap that it came with. Not to mention they were inexpensive because they never quite made it super big which meant if it did happen to fall and suffer a cracked screen it was affordable to replace. My iPhone on the other hand was a different story.. I remember paying full price for my first one and hating that I couldn’t admire it as it was because I immediately had to get a big ugly case for it just in case it slipped off my hands. I’m still doing that today. I either keep my iPhone bare and live in fear of dropping it or I have my monster case that adda ton of weight and bulkiness to it.

Thankfully theWTFactory SHOP created LuxBox with cases that help fuse protection and style. They’ve designed cases that help protect the face of your phone by having the sides extend just a little bit and are also really sleek and polished. 

With everyone trying to keep their style minimalistic and not carry too many bulky items on them the LuxBox cases are a good way to get this done. They come in four different finishes to choose from so no matter what your fall style is going to be, you’ll be pretty much set! Plus, they have a 365 day replacement warranty so if you have any issues with your case you're totally covered.

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Enjoying The Boroughs-Brooklyn Edition

Enjoying The Boroughs-Brooklyn Edition

Sep 2, 2015

I love New York City. It's been my home for as long as I can remember and I'm always in awe of the beautiful parts that I get to discover. Manhattan is beyond amazing but recently I've been spending a lot of time in DUMBO and soaking up the views of lower Manhattan from across the East River.

I recently went on a little adventure into Brooklyn in order to enjoy the final days of summer and had a lovely time soaking up the sights and sounds of New York City. I truly am blessed to call this place home.

Aside from walking around the Brooklyn Bridge Park we had some amazing pizza which is so confident in it's taste that the place is simply called Best Pizza in Williamsburg.

I wasn't surprised that it was delicious because NYC does that the best pizza ever but I wasn't prepared to end up thinking about it for days after. We liked that we were able to find parking right in front and didn't have to wait to be seated in the biggest bench area by the window. Our pie came out fast and was devoured quickly. I had to warn everyone before it came out that I needed to get a perfect shot. The crust at Best Pizza was thin, the sauce wasn't too sweet and the amount of cheese was perfection. I highly recommend making a trip to this spot.

After our pizza we wanted the streets of Brooklyn and soaked up the view of our native island. I'm in awe at the fact that many many years ago, when we would take the train out to Coney Island, that this beautiful park was never in our sights and the only way we saw the NYC skyline from the east was when we were riding back home.

While we were at the Brooklyn Bridge Park we absolutely had to get ice cream at the Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory. I'm not a massive fan of sweets but when I bought my little cousin their vanilla chocolate chunk ice cream I had to taste it and was glad I did. Their ice cream was so fresh and natural that  I could see why it's been around as long as it has!

Getting a chance to hang out in some of New York City's parks before the chill comes into the air was a great thing to do and I can't wait to squeeze in some more before in the near future.

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Don't Neglect Your Vehicle as You Get Fall Ready

Don't Neglect Your Vehicle as You Get Fall Ready

Sep 1, 2015

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Cooper Tire for IZEA. All opinions are 100% mine.

My husband and I love to travel. We go away as much as we can and like to alternate between a beach getaway and a localish road trip.

Our latest trip has taken us up to Maine in order to visit Acadia Park and enjoy a part of the country we rarely venture to. We decided to make the 10 hour drive rather than flying because it was more affordable and we like going for long drives and witnessing how quickly the scenery changes. But taking a trip like this puts tons of miles on our car as well as tons of extra wear on our tires. We’re going to need to replace them soon thanks to this and all the other road trips that we’ve taken over the past year so we’ve been on the lookout for tires that are both long lasting and a great deal. 

This is where Cooper Tires comes in. They’re running a promotion this fall as part of their Cooper Tire Fall Rebate Event and are offering great deals and a chance to receive a prepaid Visa card worth up to $70 when you purchase four tires. That’s pretty cool since I’m always looking at ways to save money buying quality products. 

Cooper Tires has two types of tires that they’re really proud of. Their Discoverer SRX for SUV’s and CUV’s as well as their Discoverer STT Pro and the CS5 Touring. All of these tires offer great benefits to any vehicle and come with a 45-Day Road Test guarantee. All their tires also come with their 65,000-mile treadwear protection warranty. That’s a lot of driving!

All of their features tires offer different yet great benefits. The CS5 Touring features Cooper’s innovative Wear Square  which features six points of reference around the inside and outside of the thread and changes shape when the tire is low as a warning sign that they need to change their tires soon. And if you’re interested in going off-roading, their Discoverer STT line is perfect for that!

Here in the Northeast we have to be ready for slippery leaves, snow and icy roads once the fall come around so it’s important that we have tires that can handle all of those things. Especially ones that have gotten more wear than normal. The improved traction of new tires add to a safer and better driving experience that is always nice to have.

Their Fall Rebate Event is running between August 28th and October 31st so make sure you check it out at a dealer near you using their Dealer Locator!

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