Review: Bellabuy App

Any app where I can shop from my phone is both good and bad. Good because I can literally shop anywhere and bad because I can literally shop anywhere. I've been pretty good about shopping lately and not throwing my money at every cute thing that comes my way, but it's hard with apps like BellaBuy. 

It's a shopping app based in China (which equals cheap prices, but no doubt long shipping times) with all kinds of items available from scarves to make up brushes to phone cases to office accessories. 

The good: The prices for cute printed scarves ($12) and dark floral dresses ($26) can't be beat, it's easy to click around through the various categories (clothing, home, accessories, etc.), easy to make a profile, and it seems easy to pay for items, though I myself haven't purchased anything. They accept returns within 30 days of delivery. I also like there's there's an easily accessible search bar on the bottom right. 

The bad: The app crashed several times while I was browsing, which is annoying to say the least. I was clicking from one category to the next and it would switch like it should, and then just stop and be stuck on the "Social" category. 

So, BellaBuy definitely needs an update to get rid of glitches, but it also has interesting stuff at great prices (I've been wanting Cards Against Humanity for ages and it's only $10 on the app). It's not the most amazing app, but it's perfect for when you're looking for inexpensive gifts for yourself and people you know. 

**I was asked to review this app. All opinions are my own.**

What's your favorite shopping app? 

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Four Podcasts To Listen To

We all know about Serial, but there are so many other fantastic podcasts out there in every genre you can imagine (crime, self-help, lifestyle, and more) that I feel like I haven't even scratched the surface of what's out there. Lately, I've been tired of listening to the radio and hearing the same three songs over and over, so I started listening to podcasts and it's made the short journey to work so much better. 

Mystery Show

On Mystery Show Starlee Kine solves eccentric and unique mini mysteries, such as if a video rent really existed or who previously owned a belt buckle or how tall Jake Gyllenhaal really is. Starlee solves these mysteries with one rule: The mystery can't be solved by going on the internet. She has to talk to people and use her "unorthodox methods."  This podcast is just too fun for words. 

Welcome to Night Vale

A small dessert town called Night Vale is not your ordinary town. Strange things happen there, strange people and things call it home, the interns always die, and no two days are ever the same. Welcome to Night Vale is community updates told by radio host Cecil. If you like the unusual (and if you liked the show Eureka) and the strangely supernatural, then this is the podcast for you. 

Breakfast for Dinner

Two cool people (Nicole and Dago) talk about culture, TV, fashion, politics, breakfast, sports and more on Breakfast for Dinner. These two crazy kids in Austin, TX are hilarious and just so fun to listen to and you automatically feel like you're friends with them. And it makes me happy that I got to meet Nicole back in January. 

Criminal

Criminal is a podcast about crime, but in every facet of it from people who've done wrong to people who've been wronged to people who help solve crimes, and much more. If you miss Serial, then give this podcast a listen. It's dark, creepy, but absolutely fascinating. 

Podcasts I want to start listening to: Happier with Gretchen Rubin, Invisibilia, Boss Girl Creative, Call Your Girlfriend, WTF, The Allusionist, and The Truth. (Thanks to Megan for some of these recommendations!)

What are your favorite podcasts?

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Review: Sleuth App

**I received this app to review for free. All opinions are my own.**

Nod your head if you love finding games to get addicted to! These games are the perfect way to pass those random bits of time (waiting in line at the post office, early for an appointment, annoyingly long commercials during my favorite TV shows, or when I'm just bored). I was contacted about reviewing a new app called Sleuth. 

Do you remember the game hangman, where someone thinks of a word or phrase and writes lines for each letter and every time to you a letter wrong another part of the man is drawn? Well, Sleuth is a bit like that. You have to guess the word, whether it's a movie, a city, a person, a song, a book, or more by looking at the clues (four pictures) before the time ends.  

I have to say this game is pretty addicting. I always liked playing hangman as a kid, so with the added pressure of running out of time and losing points if you get a word wrong, your heart starts to beat a little bit faster. I tested the beta version, which only had 20 games, so I was sad when I reached the end, but the real one has 1000s of puzzles. 

A few other fun things about it: after a certain time the letters slowly start to fill in, which is helpful when you need a reminder; you can purchase Hunches for more help, and the faster you get the word the more points you get.

There are a few features that weren't part of the Sleuth beta version that I'm sure have been added to the real version, but I figured I would list them anyway: I wish there was a "pause" button in case you're disrupted. Maybe it could blur the screen so that you can't still guess while it's paused. Also, a "quit" or "go back" button would be great so that I can come back to the game later. And it would be fun to see how my friends are doing (but really to see if I'm earning more points than them). 

Sleuth Website | iTunes App Store (coming this week!) | Google Play | Twitter | Facebook

What's your current game addiction?

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Review: EpiSlim Hair Remover

**I received this product from Lipton Publicity for free to review. All opinions are my own.**

I was really excited to receive this product: Emjoi's EpiSlim+. Although I don't mind shaving my legs, I've always hated shaving my underarms. TMI, but does anyone else get itchy pits a few days after shaving? Anyway, who wouldn't want to try something that claims it can get rid of hair fast and keep it away for longer than two days, and have minimal discomfort?

Let's start with what I like about this product: it's small and easy to handle, the sky blue is pretty, it has a clear cover that's easy to take off and put on, and it's simple to use (turn it on and then press against your skin to remove hair).

And now what I didn't like: unfortunately, the EpiSlim+ is a bit painful to use. Granted, tweezing your eyebrows or waxing your bikini line is also uncomfortable, but the EpiSlim has 3-disc rotating tweezers that you press against your skin to pull the hair out, so it's like super fast tweezers. What I found is that pressing lightly hurts more than when you hold it firmly against the skin. It does remove the hair fairly easily, though afterward it's red and a little sore.

If you don't mind some mild pain, Emjoi's EpiSlim+ is $35 and perfect for travel. I personally don't think I would use it for my whole leg or underarms, but I would use it for between my eyebrows or upper lip; something that is quick and doesn't have much hair. 

Do you use epilators?

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Review: Elegy for a Dead World

**I was given this game for free to review. All opinions are my own.**

To be honest, I don't play video games all that often, but I was excited when I was offered to test out Elegy for a Dead World. Who could say no to trying out a computer game? 

Elegy for a Dead World, created by Dejobaan Games, is a game about for writers. In the game, you're an astronaut who is exploring dead, unknown worlds and as you go along you write about what you see. On Dejobaan's website, it says: "Three portals have opened to uncharted worlds. Earth has sent a team of explorers to investigate them, but after an accident, you are the sole survivor. Your mission remains the same: survey these worlds and write the only accounts of them that outsiders will ever know." You're like an outer space anthropologist by writing an account of these distant worlds. 

Let me count the things I like about this game: 

1. It's beautiful. Seriously, look at these screen shots of the game. 
2. The music is calming and wistful.
3. You can choose between using prompts or doing it completely on your own.
4. There are three world's (Shelley's World, Keat's World, and Byron's World) and each world has various melancholy prompts. 
5. After you complete your story, you can share it and read other people's stories. 

The only downside? I wish you could explore the world more because it's just so gorgeous.

If you're a writer with writer's block and you want to mix things up, Elegy for a Dead World would be a great way to do it. It's a stunning game and you can pretty much write about anything. You can just write about what you see or create a whole history for why these worlds are dead. It's entirely up to you. Even when you're given a prompt, you can delete some or all of the words from the prompt to make it your own. 

Sometimes it's nice to shake things up and not have to write my novel, but still get some form of writing done.

Buy on Steam | Website | Facebook | Twitter

(First image from Dejobaan)

Would you play a game for writers?

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My Blogging Essentials

Now that I've been blogging for three years, I thought I would share my blogging essentials. 

When I first started out, my essentials were my computer, a point and shoot camera, and a tripod. Three years later I still use the same essentials, but now they're updated versions. There are a bunch of items that I use every day for blogging, but my main four essentials are: my computer, my Canon Rebel T3i with the Canon 50mm f/1.8 II, a tripod, and a camera remote. 

You absolutely don't need these to be a blogger. A computer and your thoughts might be all you need or want, but I've found that having a good camera (even if it's just a really good point and shoot) helps because people love looking at pretty pictures. A tripod and a remote are also not essential, but they most definitely help if you're a style blogger or a food blogger (you don't want those sticky fingers touching your camera), or any type of blogger because they have prevent shaky pictures. 

All of my blogging essentials are: 

• HP Pavilion computer {newer version}
• Canon Rebel T3i camera
• Canon 50mm f/1.8 II lens 
• Canon 18-55mm kit lens
• Tripod {this one looks really good}
• Camera remote
• iPad Mini
• Adobe Photoshop Elements 
• Sticky notes & pen

What are your blogging essentials?

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My Work Essentials

Now that I've been at Westchester Magazine for six months (though it somehow feels like I've been working there for both two years and only two weeks), I know what my everyday work essentials are AKA what I need to do my job. As a social media coordinator I obviously need to be connected to the internet pretty much 24/7, but I also need to be organized because I post for both the marketing department (the events) and editorial department (the online and in-print magazine), so here's what I use every day.

Computer -- I can't do my job without this fine piece of equipment. I have a PC at home, but I've been enjoying using a Mac at work, and I have to say I definitely like it.

iPad -- This is my personal iPad, but I use it everyday at work. I also use it at work events for live-tweeting and using Instagram.

Sticky Notes -- I've discovered that sticky notes help me keep things straight. I use sticky notes to right down my to-do lists that ways it's right there near my keyboard.

Notepad -- For long-term to-do lists I keep these on a notepad. It's also where I keep random information that I need to keep on hand.

Pocket Calendar -- There are lots of events and I have to go to all of them, so it helps to write them all down on this small calendar that way I know when I'm busy or not.

Mug -- I drink a lot of water at work. What is it about staring at a screen that makes me so dehydrated? I try to drink as much water as possible during the day because I forget when I get home.

Zipper Pouch -- Obviously for corralling my lip balms, lipsticks, and pens.

Extra: My Camera -- I may have bought my camera for personal use (and for this here blog of course), but I use it for work events as well.

P.S. -- What's in my work bag!

What are your work essentials?

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Inspiration: Pictures Saved On My iPad

A few months ago, I showed you some pictures I saved on my iPad. Well, I thought I would show you a few more! I'm always saving pictures that I find on Instagram, on people's blogs, or from iPad-only magazines. But I have to get better at remembering where each picture comes from, or make note of it somehow. I only know where three of the pictures are from, so if you know I would love to be able to tag them. Thanks!

P.S. -- I'm part of Kate of Clear the Way's new 

Feminist Friday series, How Do You Deal?

In the first installment, several bloggers are talking about being leered at. 

{unknown, unknown, unknown, unknown, unknown, The Kit, Signeroo, Wit and Bloom, and unknown}

Happy Monday!

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Inspiration: Pictures Saved On My iPad

Do you ever see a picture on Instagram or while reading an iPad-only magazine and double-click to save it? I do it all the time. If I was on my computer, I could easily transfer it to Pinterest, but when I'm on my iPad it gets saved to my photos folder. I thought I would collect some of them here for you to see in case they inspire you just the same!

Do you collect pictures on your iPad (or phone) too?

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(via The Kit magazine, @escapebyreading, @marianthiv, The Kit, 

Shop Ruche email, @keikolynn, The Kit, The Kit & @jennifhseih)

What's In My Everyday Bag

Almost a year ago, I did a What's In My School Bag post, but wanted to update it since I'm no longer in school. I still carry some of the same things, but for everyday I carry around a much smaller bag with the necessities and a bunch of lipsticks.

Lately, I've been using a bright blue crossbody bag to brighten up the dreary winter days, and I really love this bag because it has two front compartments and even fits my large-ish camera (if I take out the notebook). I wish it was still available because I would 100% get it in another color.

What's inside:

• Target bag {similar, similar}
• Coach wallet (gift) 
• Coin purse from the Museum of Natural History {got this on my birthday three years ago}
• Notebook (gift from Avra)
• Bath and Body Works hand sanitizer {smells amazing}
• Urban Decay Revolution lipstick in Rush 
• Maybelline Color Whisper lipstick in Who Wore It Red-er
• Almay Liquid Lip Balm in Pink Pout
• Noya lip balm (via Ipsy Glam Bag) 
• Chewable orange-flavored aspirin {I need to get better at swallowing pills}
• Studio Kelly fabric key fob 
• Container Store pink carabiner light
• Honeybee Alley orange keychain (via giveaway)
• H&M red heart keyring
• Samsung phone & iPod Touch & free Sephora case
• Not shown: a pen, a wad of napkins, some receipts and coupons

Soon I'll show you guys what's in my work bag!

What's in your everyday bag?

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Birthday Wishlist

My birthday is this Saturday! Yay! I'll be turning 24! I guess that means I'm almost due for a quarter-life crisis. Good thing I'm about to finish graduate school in December and need to find a full-time job. I have my crisis lined up and ready! 

{Click here for item info}

My birthday wishlist:

♥ Topshop Embroidered Dress -- Love the color & the sweet embroidery

♥ Canon EOS Rebel T3i Camera  -- Camera of my dreams!

♥ Write That Shit Down Notepad -- Because I need to write down everything or it's forgotten

♥ Crystal Statement Necklace -- So pretty!

♥ H&M Denim Jacket -- I want a denim jacket so bad

♥ Bonlook Sunglasses -- I love Bonlook's sunglasses

♥ Topshop Aztec Print Satchel -- How cool is that print?!

♥ Open Heart Stud Earrings -- Subtle and delicate

♥ Bite Creme Lipstick -- Love this super creamy lipstick!

Happy Monday!

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