[i was provided with one canvas print for review purposes; squeals of excitement and opinions are 100% mine.]
we capture so many great memories with our phones and digital cameras from our vacations and graduations, to selfies and, of course, our food. Canvas Factory allows you to transform those photos into beautiful pieces of artwork. they can print on stretched canvas, aluminum, acrylic glass. they can print collages, full wall displays, or even split canvases. best of all, their website lets you easily upload photos from your computer or even directly from facebook, instagram, or flicker. the hardest part is choosing a photo!
from phone to canvas.
this photo was taken at a recent family get together at ala moana beach park. i chose a 16" x 20" canvas print in landscape. i uploaded the file from my computer, positioned it on the canvas, and that was it. my print arrived approximately two days later.
wrapped canvas.
provided with a backing and hangers.
this is my third print from Canvas Factory, here are a couple of them behind my desk.
GIVEAWAY!
Want to have a unique piece of artwork that no one else will have? Canvas Factory is generously giving away a free canvas print to one lucky reader.
Can't wait? Head over to Canvas Factory and start creating your canvas art now! Otherwise, enter below.
having single eyelids, my sisters and i grew up admiring and wishing for double eyelids. makeup application seemed easier, and our eyes just might look a little bigger...right? some friends we knew got surgery to create their folds, but it never seemed natural, and sometimes it was uneven! none of us wanted the risky surgery, and i remember my sister trying everything, first using eyelid tape before moving on to [eyelash] glue.
Contours Rx is the creator of non-surgical beauty enhancements, like Lids by Design, which are great alternatives to risky surgery. Lids by Design is medical grade, hypo-allergenic eye lift strips used to correct sagging, drooping, puffy, or asymmetrical lids. with six different sizes, you can correct with a slight 3mm lift to a dramatic 8mm lift.
to use, simply apply strips to clean dry lids using the tweezers provided. hold in place with fingers for at least 30 seconds, and that's it!
(4mm strips used in the left photo, natural lids on the right.)
my single eyelids (or monolids) have a very slight crease but no distinct fold. depending on how tired or puffy my lids are in the morning, sometimes there's no crease at all, or it might only be on one side. Lids by Design allows me to define my crease and create a fold. you can see the subtle yet distinct double lids in the photos above. it definitely takes some practice, but you can use one set to practice with, then use brand new strips for your final look.
if you need to apply makeup, use this primer pencil to create a base over the strips and prepare them for makeup. i only tried this pencil once, but it seemed to "hilight" and expose the strips. i will definitely need more practice with the primer.
my overall thoughts is that this is an excellent alternative to surgery. you will get instant results that make you look and feel good about yourself.
have you tried Lids by Design? would you consider surgery?
all opinions and squeals of excitement are 100% mine.]
POPSUGAR Must Have subscription boxes never disappoint. you're surprised each month with a box of full-sized, premium products for only $39.95. sometimes you even get a special extra product in your Must Have box.
this june box is probably my favorite so far. the box was perfectly curated for summer fun from the beach cover-up to the get-together-with-friends game to the festive nail polish.
[i was provided with one canvas print for review purposes; excitement and opinions are 100% mine.]
nowadays, we capture so many great memories with our phones and digital cameras, and yet those photos end up sitting in our phones or on our computers. Canvas Factory allows you to transform those photos into beautiful pieces of artwork. they can print on stretched canvas, aluminum, acrylic glass. they can print collages, full wall displays, or even split canvases. best of all, their website lets you easily upload photos from your computer or even directly from facebook, instagram, or flicker. the hardest part was choosing a photo!
this photo was of a sunset from paradise cove luau on the west side of oahu. i chose a 16" x 20" canvas print in landscape. i uploaded the file from my computer, positioned it on the canvas, and that was it. my print arrived in the mail shortly after that.
the canvas prints are lightweight making it easy
to hang on any wall.
wrapped canvas.
here it is behind my desk...the first of many that will go up on this freshly painted photo wall.
GIVEAWAY!
Want to have a unique piece of artwork that no one else will have? Canvas Factory is generously giving away a free canvas print to one lucky reader.
Can't wait? Canvas Factory is having a huge 70% off sale; start creating your canvas art now! Otherwise, enter below.
if you're like me and don't have a good chunk of time to sit and do your nails...then wait for them to dry, you'll love these nail polish strips from OMGNailStrips.com.
nail polish strips [are different from nail wraps and stickers in that they] are actually made with nail polish but without the drying time. they are thin and stretchy making them easy to mold to your nails. no heat is needed.
the strips feel like nail polish on your nails (slightly tacky like almost-dry polish, but it IS dry...weirdly cool!), and it is recommended that you apply a topcoat.
i loved that i was able to get things done while doing my nails. i applied a couple nails, threw some laundry in the dryer, applied a few more nails, stopped to make lunch, finished off my nails...
pros: only $7.99/set of 14, fast and easy to apply, no heat needed. if you have short nails, you can cut the strips in half and get two nails out of each sticker - doubling its value.
cons: other than wishing they had more designs, i don't have any cons specific to OMG Nail Polish Strips. like any other nail stickers, they needed to be trimmed to fit my tiny nails, and that's what took the most time. if you have short nails and have to trim the stickers, consider the design you choose. you may want to choose smaller and/or repetitive patterns vs a single design that may end up being cut off.
current special, pick any 5 sets for $25 + free shipping with code: 5pack
[i was provided with one canvas print for review purposes; excitement, gushing, and opinions are 100% mine.]
blogger or not, this is the age of technology and photo documentation. am i right? we take pictures of everything...our cute kids, the funny things our pets do, what we're wearing, what someone else is wearing, what we're eating, what we bought, what we want to buy, places we visit, sunsets and clouds, the ocean...
our social media feeds are invaluable; they contain memories, captured moments in time.
even after digital cameras hit the market, i still printed out my photos and compiled photo albums. i mean, why keep all these great memories in a file on your computer or phone never to be seen again?
Printcopia transforms your photos into beautiful pieces of art. with options like basic photo prints, acrylic prints, framed prints, panoramic prints, and canvas prints like this one, the possibilities are endless.
first off, i love Printcopia's website. it's clean, fun, and inviting. did i mention inspirational? you can upload photos from your photo albums or, my favorite, directly from your instagram or facebook feed. because let's be honest, some of our best captures are on instagram!
ordering is simple. the hardest part was choosing a photo!
i chose a 12" x 12" canvas for my instagram print.
i love how my canvas print turned out. the colors are so vibrant and the print came out nice and crisp. i just wanna eat that sushi, haha. i chose this photo, because it reminds me of our summers. on this particular day, i picked up sushi for dinner and met the kids at the beach after work.
right now, you can get 25% off canvas prints and wall decals PLUS free shipping. not gonna lie, shipping can get up there, so definitely take advantage of the free shipping.
*oops, we were having too much fun enjoying summer last week that these never made it to the blog...so i'm continuing last week's a week of summer esssentials this week.
now that we've covered protection from the sun and are out having a great time, it's important to stay hydrated. the sun, salt water, and chlorine eventually take a toll on our bodies, drying out our skin and hair. i'm always on the lookout for good products, so feel free to share some of your favorites. here is what i'm currently using to combat dry skin and hair this summer:
my hair stylist scolded me for not using a leave-in conditioner, so i went on a mission to find one. i had a sample of this suave professionals natural infusion with awapuhi ginger strengthening leave-in cream and loved it enough to purchase it. you can apply it to wet or dry hair, and i love the convenient pump. for best results, i apply it to towel dried hair at night and wake up with super silky hair. did i mention it smells amazing?
my hands take a beating with all the hand washing i do, so i always follow up with hand cream. this mary kay peach hand cream really does make your skin feel satiny smooth. it's light, not greasy, and did i mention that it smells delicious?
lubriderm daily moisture moisturizer with sunscreen is my go-to everyday body lotion; i've been using it for years. with our warm weather year round, i'm extremely picky about my body lotion because i hate feeling sticky or greasy throughout the day. lubriderm is absorbed easily, doesn't feel heavy or greasy, and the SPF 15 is perfect for protecting my skin during the drive to and from work.
i wasn't sure what to expect from a hydration spray lotion. i was hoping for the convenience of a mist/spray-and-go [without having to use my hands to rub it in], but st. ives hydration lotion is a heavier spray that needs to be rubbed in. it's on the greasy side, which is good for my skin, but not for my hands since i have to wash them after each application...and then we're back to dry hands and my peach hand cream. but, i've found a way around it by applying it as soon as i get up in the morning, rubbing my arms together (crossing them over) to spread the lotion, and same with my legs. that way i don't have to get my hands greasy, and it has time to soak in before i get dressed. it does give your skin a pretty shine, and did i mention it smells amazing? has anyone tried other brands of spray lotions?
my face is already extremely dry and eczema prone; add to that the effects of summer sun, and now i'm desperate for a good hydrating mask. so i picked up glam glow thirstymud hydrating treatment after hearing some good reviews. it can be used as a 20 minute mask or left on overnight. at $70 a jar, i couldn't see washing this product down the drain after 20 minutes, so i use it as an overnight treatment. my glam glow conveniently arrived right after i spent a weekend in the sun...my sunburned forehead and nose were just beginning to show signs of peeling. after two overnight treatments, the peeling didn't progress...in fact, i forgot that i had even started to peel. i am enjoying this mask so far, but i'm sure there are less expensive alternatives. if you have a fave, let me know. oh, and did i mention how good this smells?
products can only do so much...make sure to also keep yourself hydrated by drinking lots of water. but if you need some extra help like me, do try some of these great-smelling products. the lingering scents will have you day dreaming of summer fun. scroll down to enter the ulta beauty giveaway where you can win a $250 gift card to stock up on all your summer necessities.
[i received one pair of glasses for the purposes of this review. opinions are 100% mine.]
spring was a little late to the party this year, but now that it's here...celebrate with color! color your spring with a new pair of eyeglasses or a cute pair of sunglasses. Firmoo has lots of fun frames and colorful lens tints (purple, green, blue) to choose from. can you tell which color i like?
i have several pairs of glasses from Firmoo, and all are excellent quality. these are no exception. i selected a unisex wayfarer style frame + a dark blue lens tint and loved the result. the frames have cute mirrored details on the sides with the Firmoo name. and, as always, the glasses come with a hard case (seriously, how cute is this "worldly" case?), a soft case, and a set of tools. my glasses arrived in two weeks.
in a previous review, i mentioned that i had trouble figuring out the intensity of the lens tints based on their percentages, and when i received my glasses, they were lighter than i'd hoped. now you make your selection with an easy light, medium, or dark. i'm sure it wasn't just me, but thanks for listening, Firmoo!
* GIVEAWAY *
ready for a new pair of glasses? Firmoo is giving away FIVE $30 vouchers to help you color your spring! the first five readers who comment 'I want a new pair of Firmoo glasses!'will get the code. don't forget to leave an email address so we can contact you.
