In todays world, our smartphones are the single most important day to day solution we have on hand. With everyone relying on them everyday to connect, they are really one of the few things that people have in common. Think about it. The next person you meet is bound to have a smartphone and I have found that people have taken to noticing and commenting on iPhone cases specifically as a segway for conversation. I am frequently being complimented on my iPhone cases and since I have quite a collection of them, it lead me to thinking that your iPhone case can really speak volumes about who you are even before you meet someone. So, what does your iPhone case say about you? Let’s find out below!
Minimal or no case: Obviously, there are many people out there who do not use a protective case on their iPhone, or use one of those minimal cases like a bumper. If you fall into this category, I can surmise that you are a very confident person! You are clearly not worried that you are going to drop or damage that very expensive device, or else you would have invested in a more substantial case!
Basic plastic “plain jane” case: If you are someone who uses a simple case to secure their iPhone, I would think that you are the type of person who like to just float on by through life. You are not interested in bells and whistles, you just like to put in the minimum effort and hope that its enough. Its not necessarily a bad thing, but in a world full of flavor and variety, you are clearly a vanilla type of person, or else you would have found yourself a slightly more interesting iPhone case.
Quotation or meme case: If you carry around your iPhone in a case that has a clever quote or popular meme printed on the back of it, I would have to say that you are someone who wants to be seen as intelligent. Now, whether or not you are as intelligent as you are trying to come off is besides the point. The point is, you are trying, perhaps a little two hard, to make a statement to the world. I would not be surprised to find out that you are also the type of person who adorns their car with bumper stickers. Just sayin’.
Animal shaped or character case: If your iPhone is covered in a case that was made to look like a cute little teddy bear, a Disney character or anything in between, I would venture to guess that you are pretty immature yourself or at least want to be seen as such. Now, if you are under the age of 18, thats fine, but if you are a twenty or thirty something with cat shaped case, you may want to think about how that case is affecting your career potential!
Ultra protective case: If you are someone who uses one of those ultra protective cases like an Otterbox you fall into one of two categories. First, the athletic on the go type. If you are this type of person and you have an Otterbox case, the world sees you as a no frills, logical type of person. Obviously, you are prepared to protect your investment while you are white water rafting and we solute you. Alternately, you could perhaps be a parent. Obviously, you would need a defender type case if you have a child because kids are not so good at keeping delicate objects whole and again, if this is you, no judgement, you are making the logical choice to secure your phone from your toddler. Now, if you do not fall into one of those two categories, you are either a klutz or a drunk. Nuff said!
Retro style case: There are a variety of retro style cases out on the market ranging from ones that look like cassettes to rangefinder cameras to gameboys. If you use one of these cases you clearly have an appreciation for classic style and a penchant for irony. Perhaps you are the too cool for school type but I doubt you care, your iPhone looks like an analog camera and that makes you the cat’s pajamas!
Intensely sparkly, highly ornamented or otherwise standout case: If you have a case that is a real eye catcher than congratulations! You probably have the most interesting iPhone case that anyone has ever seen! You most certainly get compliments or comments on the daily in regards to your case and perhaps have used your case to get a date! You are obviously an interesting and outgoing person or you have learned to fake it till you make it. Your case gives you oodles of imaginary confidence and makes you the center of attention, which is exactly why you bought it!
With half of the work year behind us and mid year performance reviews to look forward to shortly, now is the perfect time to discuss how to stand out at work. Whether you are hoping for a raise or a promotion in the upcoming year, learning to stand out from your coworkers is an important step to bigger and better things in your professional life. How to Stand Out at Work will be a 5 week series where we discuss different ways to improve your image to set yourself up for success.
Developing a consistently professional demeanor
In each and every one of our professional lives, a varying amount of professional demeanor is expected. Some people may come from more relaxed work settings and others a stricter business world, but developing your own consistent level of professionalism is important. You always want to be a few steps higher than the norm in order to stand out in a business setting. A few ways you can do this is by dressing professionally, refraining from office gossip and remaining positive.
Obviously, a certain level of professional dress is required at most jobs, but you can stand out by keeping your work wardrobe slightly more business professional than your coworkers. As they say, dress for the job you want, not the job you have. So if your job expects business casual, aim to be dressier at the business formal level. It speaks volumes to others when you are the only woman at a team meeting in a dress or pants suit while others are in khakis and polos. If you already come from a business formal environment, make sure your look is on point with items that will help you stand out. Jewelry, scarves and a stand out work bag or briefcase are great ways to look more polished and put together than your coworkers. Also, don’t forget makeup. Makeup can be a make it or break it to a business look, so make sure your not too heavy on your makeup look and not too light. If you are not sure, ask friends and family if they think your work makeup looks professional or not, or take it a step further and visit a makeup counter at your local department store and ask their opinion or have them develop you a custom day time look for work!
Office gossip is one of those things that so many women and men get caught up with, but it can carry a heavy negative connotation. Even if all your coworkers are in on the gossip, keep yourself out of it, or at least, listen but do not add input when others are discussing it around you. You never want your name associated with any piece of gossip, so make a point to stay out of it. Even if you are known to your coworkers as a goodie two shoes, its better for you if your boss hears that you stay out of the gossip than in the thick of it!
Remaining positive is one of those small efforts that will have a profoundly positive impact on your career. So many workers get into the habit of complaining about their jobs, other coworkers, or their boss and it really shows in their demeanor. If you refuse to partake in the negativity and keep up a positive attitude about your job, supervisors and upper level management are bound to notice. When your boss announces a new project or throws a last minute heap of work on you or your team, take the information in stride, smile and act eager for the new challenge. While everyone else is complaining or groaning you will be happily smiling all the way to a promotion!
It’s that time of the month again! Yep! You guessed it! My Ipsy Glam Bag has arrived. This month I almost forgot I was getting the Glam Bag and it was such a welcomed treat. I have been doing this whole low buy exercise where I have been trying not to buy unnecessary things like makeup and beauty products, so I haven’t been purchasing as much as I had been in the last few months. So, when I saw that I was getting my monthly subscription service, it was thrilling!
This months bag was themed Beach Beauty, and we received a fluorescent pink see through tube shaped bag which I really like! It made it hard to be surprised as I was opening it on camera for my YouTube channel, but it was still terribly exciting!
So, lets run down what goodies I got!
The first item I pulled out of my Ipsy bag was this Pop Beauty Pouty Pop Crayon in Flirty Fuchsia! I was absolutely thrilled to see this first and even though its not a particularly expensive product ($4 value) I love chubby sticks and the fact that I got one in pink made me very happy! You know how much I love my pink lipsticks!
The only thing about this color that is a little deceiving is that they are calling it fuchsia, but its really more of a bubblegum pink, which I do not mind, because I really don’t have any lip products in that shade, so I am glad I got something that is unique for me!
The next item in my bag is a travel sized can of Big Sexy Hair, Weather Proof! Now, I have always wanted to try a Big Sexy Hair product so I was glad they sent me this, and especially glad they sent a Weather Proof formula for the summer. I don’t go through much hair spray on average, so even though this isn’t a full sized item per se, I will still get a good amount of use out of it. I bet you it lasts the summer! Another inexpensive product, but one I was glad to receive ($3-4 value).
This next item was pretty unique! I received the Demeter Roll On Perfume Oil in the scent Salt Air. I really like this product because it is a full sized purse sized sample that retails for $10 on the Demeter site. It also has a very pleasant summery smell that I could not for the life of me figure out until I finally realized that the smell was very similar to the way a Hollister store smells. So, if you like the way Hollister smells, you should like this!
The next item in my bag that was more of a deluxe sample size was this Coola Mineral Sunscreen tinted moisturizer. Although I wish they had sent a larger sized sample, I was very pleased to receive this because I have heard very good things about Coola. At first I wasn’t sure if it was a tinted moisturizer or a tinted sunscreen, but after testing it out I can say its more of a tinted sunscreen, This doesn’t have much coverage to it even for tinted moisturizer standards and it blends into your still without really leaving any noticeable color change. But in a facial sunscreen thats a good thing! Normally, if you use a facial sunscreen you get a ghostly white glow to your skin, but this keeps your face looking normal, which I think is awesome. Only thing I was worried about with this is whether or not it is waterproof. It doesn’t say so on the packaging but I did look up the product facts online and it is indeed water resistant for 40 minutes! Full size is $36, but I would value this sample at $3.
The final item in my bag came in very cute packaging! It is a BH Cosmetics California Collection eyeshadow trio. Now, I have seen BH Cosmetics before at Target and I know its not a very expensive brand, so this set couldn’t cost more than about $5, but when I do see their products at Target I am always curious about them.
The trio was a little unexpected to me because the colors were a bit bright, but its the summer I guess so it goes with the theme! The purple grape colored shadow is very pretty, but I am not sure if its something I would use. I may get some use out of the middle color because although it seems like a dark tan or nude color, its actually a nice bronze. The final color is a very bright gold, which again isn’t necessarily something I would wear, but I can give it a shot. I usually prefer taupes to golds or bronzes, but since I have been going for a neutral eye for the summer, I may be able to create a simple sun kissed eye with these shades. And if they don’t work out for me, I know a friend who would look great in these shades!
Overall, I was very happy with this months Glam Bag, despite the fact that it had the least value of any bag I have received before. I am not sure if this value range is something that I should expect from now on, or if perhaps this month the products were just not as valuable as previous months. I know I have seen other glam bags from prior months that had a different mix of products in it that were of lesser value than what I received so I think its just luck of the draw! Either way I am happy with this bag because I am sure I am going to use up most of these products! If you would like to see my unboxing video for this month’s Ipsy My Glam Bag, click here to be directed to the video on my YouTube channel!
If you have noticed that your Mac isn’t running as quickly as it once did, don’t panic! It is completely normal for your computer to begin to slow down within a few years of purchase, mostly due to normal day to day build up. There are many things that can cause system lag and likewise, many ways to remedy the situation. Although there are software applications you can buy to help you speed up your Mac, I suggest trying some free options before jumping to software support and spending money. So, I have compiled a list of 10 things you can do to speed up your Mac. I suggest trying all of these for the best results, and since these are all free options, you have nothing to loose!
1. Keep your computer clean. It may not seem like an important step in speeding up your computer, but a tidy computer is a faster computer! This is especially crucial if you are using a mac laptop because dirt and dust can make their way into your computer through your keyboard and build up over time, dampening critical air circulation. Make it a regular habit to clean your computer from time to time with dedicated screen and case cleaners. Also, using products like condensed air to force out excess dust from under your keyboard may help to release any particles that may be building up under there. Also, make it a rule not to eat by your computer. I know so many of us are used to eating and working, but its just not good for your machine to be so close to crumbs, especially food crumbs! So, make sure to keep your laptop clean, and try to prevent crumbs from sneaking in through your keys to keep your machine running at top speed!
2. Keep your computer elevated. Again, if you are using a laptop this is another critical factor in the performance of your machine. Airflow is such a determining factor in the performance of your laptop and can be a major reason your laptop isn’t as snappy as it once was. Now, this doesn’t mean you necessarily need to run out and buy one of those stands for your laptop and an external keyboard, but it means you should always use your laptop on a clean hard surface, minimizing the time it spends sitting on fabric like sofa’s, beds or carpeting. Fabric can be a problem because it usually contains a good amount of dust particles and the fan on your laptop will end up sucking that in like a vacuum and inhibiting the flow of air in your laptop. You can help to increase air flow to your laptop, not only by sitting it on a hard surface, but also by propping up the back of the machine with objects like erasers or books. The goal is to give air the space to move around your computer which will keep your device cool and free of dirt and dust.
3. Keep a clean desktop. You may not know it, but the number of icons you have sitting on your computers desktop actually contributes to the speed of your computer. I try to only have my “Macintosh HD” startup disk on my desktop so that I have as few items as possible for my machine to render upon startup. So, go through any items you have on your desktop, file them away properly and see the speed of your machine increase.
4. Clean up your hard drive. Make sure to keep an eye on your hard drive space by right clicking your “Macintosh HD” icon and selecting “Get Info.” From this menu you can see how much space you have available on your machine. If you are running low on space (less than a quarter of your original drive space remaining) I suggest you go through your computer and remove excess files. You can move anything you don’t need to the trash (make sure to empty the trash when your done!) or you can move files off your computer and onto an external hard drive. If you are not sure what is taking up space on your mac you can always download the free application Disk Inventory X. This simple to use software can help you identify what applications and files are taking up the most space on your computer and you may be surprised that your precious hard drive space is being eaten up in the most unusual ways! If applications are your culprit, you will need download the free application, AppCleaner that helps you safely remove unused or unneeded applications and there associated files.
5. Reset Safari. If you are having an issue with the speed of Safari especially, you may need to Reset Safari to clean out its cache. From the Safari Menu, select “Reset Safari” and a box should appear with checked boxes asking which items to reset. I suggest resetting everything, but check the list and make sure there isn’t anything you don’t want reset because the reset will basically wipe all stored information (but not your bookmarks). Things like your downloads file, the autofill forms for websites, and stored passwords for sites will all be wiped. You may be a little nervous to do this, so before you take this action, I suggest visiting any important websites to figure out what your usernames and passwords are for each (because after the reset they won’t autofill again until after you have revisited and reentered your information). If you have a computer that is a few years old, you would be surprised to see how many websites Safari has been storing information for, even ones you haven’t visited in years! This action can take a few minutes, depending on the amount of information you have stored, so don’t worry if you see the beach ball pop up, or if Safari has a little lag once it reboots! That will go away momentarily.
6. Make sure your software is up to date. Apple is frequently sending our Mac’s software updates for everything from iTunes, to Safari to Mail! If you don’t have your Mac set to automatically check for updates, you may need to go in and manually check every once in a while to make sure your computer is running on the most up to date software! From your Apple menu, select “Check for Software Updates” and let your computer scan for any new updates. You will need to be connected to the internet to do this, so make sure you are connected via Wifi or cable.
7. Close out of applications. This may seem like a simple solution, but you would be surprised at the amount of people who do not realize that they have not properly closed out of applications. With a Mac, you can “X” out of an application, but the application may still be running in the background. To check this, take a look at your dock and see if any applications have a little glowing light under neath them. If they do, that means they are still running. To close any applications you don’t need running at the time, right click the icon and select “Quit”. If the application doesn’t quit within a minute or so, you may need to try again and select “Force Quit” as sometimes applications time out while they are running and stop responding to normal commands. Don’t worry if you have to use “Force Quit,” it will not damage your computer or the application.
8. Unplug any peripheral devices you aren’t using. This is a common problem with desktop Mac’s that are stationary. Often times, because we don’t move our computer around, it tends to have lot of extras plugged into it, even when those extras are not in use. Things like printers, external hard drives, card readers and usb thumb drives can all slow down your Mac’s performance. So, unless you are using the peripheral device, unplug it so it doesn’t weigh down the performance of your computer.
9. Restart your Mac. Sometimes temporary lags in performance can be stopped with a simple restart. It is recommended that you first close out of all your applications before attempting the restart. Once you have quit out of everything, you can proceed to “Restart” from the “Apple” menu. If you get an option in the dialog box to “Open Windows upon restart” make sure that box is unchecked so that you get a clean reboot.
10. Shut down your computer. Although Macs do not need to be Restarted or Shut down in between uses, if it has been a while since you last shut down your computer, you may want to give your Mac a rest with a Shut Down. From the “Apple” menu, select the “Shut Down” option and once your computer has shut down completely, give it some time to rest before starting it back up. I recommend running the shut down sequence in the evening before you go to bed, and then giving your computer a quick cleaning while its off. Make sure to leave it on a hard, dry surface, and keep it unplugged if it is a laptop.
If you have trouble or are unable to complete any of these tips, I suggest reaching out to Apple directly for assistance. If you do complete these tips and still see a good deal of system slowdowns and lag, reach out to Apple via the AppleCare hotline or your local Apple retailer to get further information on diagnostics that can check to see if you are having a major system issue that is causing the lag. Lag can sometimes be a warning sign of disk failure, so always keep your files backed up just to be on the safe side!
At various times in my life I have attempted journaling. Journaling is said to be a great relaxation technique that helps to release stress by giving you an outlet to express your emotions. Its also a great way to keep a certain clarity of mind if you are someone who often feels like you have too much information and too many thoughts just clogging up your brain! As often as I attempt to put my mind to journaling, I always find that I eventually just loose interest in it. Either I don’t think I have enough to write about or I feel so overwhelmed with options that I just can’t focus on a topic. Its like I need writing prompts to successfully and consistently journal.
That’s where the Carpe Diem Journal comes in! Not only is this journal inspiring to look at, it provides short writing prompts and dedicated space in which to write. It isn’t a daily journal per se, although you could certainly treat it as such, but its more like an occasional exercise in self exploration. Many of the prompts, like the cover of the journal suggests, pertain to outlining major and minor life goals. Seize the day is certainly the theme, as each page takes you on a short, unexpected adventure with your own thoughts. I have flipped through some of the pages, without spoiling all the fun for myself, and am excited to start filling it with my own ambitions and aspirations.
So, if you are like me and like the idea of journaling, but find it too cumbersome a challenge to take on daily, perhaps this little journal is a good place to start storing your short term and long term ideas and plans. Check out the Carpe Diem Journal and let me know in the comments below if you journal or have ever wanted to start journaling!
5 Quirky Uses is a new periodic feature for Strange & Charmed. For each post, I will select an everyday item and suggest five alternate uses or ways to upcycle the item in a fun or unusual way. Keep up with these posts with the Quirky Uses category!
I love breath mints and especially the cute tins they are frequently stored in. But what do you do with those tins once your mint supply runs out? It seems such a pity to just toss the empty tin, so put yours to good use with these 5 Quirky Uses!
Wrap up your earbuds and store them inside the tin.
Use your tin as a travel pill box.
Store quarters for parking meters in the tin and leave it in your car.
Use the tin to make a mini first aid or on the go sewing kit.
Keep hair ties and bobby pins in the tin for quick, organized access.
As someone who has an unnatural obsession with iOS devices, I have gone through my fair share of productivity apps, searching for the perfect combo that will allow me to maximize my iPad as an on the go writing solution. Since I now do a majority of my writing from an iPad, I have found that there are a few key apps that keep me productive and focused while I am working, which I can do practically anywhere thanks to the portability of my iPad. I do use a ClamCase Pro keyboard style case to turn my iPad into an ultrabook, which I have written about here. But these are the apps that help me get not only my writing done, but also plan, organize and research my writing topics.
1. Plaintext
When it comes to a perfect writing app for iOS devices, nothing hits the mark like PlainText. It’s simple interface combined with a few key features, such as document organization and word count, make it a word processing gem. As someone who has used countless word processors, I can safely say that PlainText is one of those apps that just gets out of the way and allows the user to write. A full screen mode helps keep you focused on your words without distraction. Since this is one of the view writing apps that is available in a free version, you can give it a whirl without risk, but once you try it, I suggest upgrading to the paid version for a few bucks to remove the ads for a more more immersive and clean writing experience.
2. Paper by 53
A major part of writing for me is processing my ideas and sketching out thoughts. Paper is one of the best sketching apps for creating idea lists and artwork to help you explore your creative side. You can organize your ideas into virtual Moleskine like journals where, like a real journal, you can get creative with handwritten notes, lists and drawings. Again, its free to try but it has a plethora of paid upgrades that you can pick and choose from to customize your own experience. I use it to make lists and outline rough ideas for articles and posts, but it can be used an nearly an infinite variety of ways.
3. DropBox
DropBox is one of those apps that is so useful you hardly remember your using it! It can help you sync DropBox enabled apps like PlainText, so that all your work is available to you on all your devices, or it can be used to transfer and backup your work. Use it to store PDFs and images for reference that can easily be moved from your computer to your iOS device without using valuable space on your portable devices. DropBox is a free app with a limited amount of space on a free subscription, but if you need more you can always upgrade and pay for additional space.
4. MindGenius for iPad
A great add on app that I find infinitely useful is MindGenius, which is basically a full featured mind mapping application for in depth concept development. Its not something that every writer will find necessary, but many will appreciate its simplicity and free price tag. If you are not someone who usually uses mind mapping software, I suggest giving this app a try and see if its something you would find useful for developing your ideas especially for longer pieces of writing.
5. NoteSuite
Every writer needs an app to help them organize their ideas and research. NoteSuite is a simple, low cost app with a variety of uses. Type or handwrite notes, create to do lists to organize article topics, clip webpages for research and reference, and annotate pdf’s and images all from one app. It works with a variety of document and image formats and syncs with DropBox, Google Drive and your Mac, so you can easily backup or move files between devices.
The other week I attended my second Apple Store opening! I am not exactly sure why I love attending these so much, but my husband and I like to collect the free Apple Store shirts they hand out at the door. So, whenever a store opens up in our area, we have a little tradition going to attend the opening, usually video taping the experience (I know, we are that couple)! What’s interesting though, is that each time we attend an opening, we notice that there are always a specific set of people who are in line with us. In case you have never experienced an Apple opening for yourself, I thought I should share my (comical) thoughts on the five types of people in line.
The bragger: Like the name suggests, the bragger is constantly talking about the apple products they own or have owned while they are waiting in line. I’m not sure if this sort of event brings out a sense of nostalgia in these people or what, but you can always spot them with a small group of people surrounding them as they lament how its a pitty indeed that they already own one of everything in the store, because they would really love to make a purchase if only there was something they actually needed during this visit. Clearly, like most in line they are just here for the experience and the free t-shirt, but they don’t want to admit that, so they focus their efforts on trying to figure out something they could buy!
The late comer: The last comers are an interesting group because you’re never quite sure if they just heard about the event and decided to show up, or if they planned to show up late. These folks have arrived 10 minutes before the store’s opening and are bewildered at why they aren’t at the front of the line. Clearly, they have no concept of how an Apple Store opening works, or really understand that people show up hours in advance to line up! Heck, they didn’t even know the mall opened that early! I secretly believe, however, that these types of people are actually the cleverest, because they do minimal waiting and still end up with a shirt. Seriously, who needs to waste 3 hours of their Saturday morning standing in line at a mall that isn’t even open just to get a shirt and be one of the first in the store?
The android user: These types of people always confuse me the most, not because I question why they are there, but because its always amazing how many of them there are in line. You are never exactly sure why they are there, and sometimes I think they can’t even answer that, but I am pretty convinced that they think it’s a game, denying a spot in line to a true apple fanboy or fangirl! You will usually hear them talking loudly about how androids phones are much better than iPhones and how PCs are far superior computers for gaming than Macs will ever be. Oh, and they will probably just sell the t-shirt on eBay! Such a waste!
The dedicated fanboy: These types are easiest to spot because they are carrying multiple apple products to the opening, including their iPad mini in a dedicated man purse and trying desperately to use more than one iOS device at a time. They are usually documenting their experience to a varying degree through pictures, videos or tweets, and wearing an Apple shirt from a previous event or some screen printed T with an obscure geek reference. You really can’t hate on these guys though because you know they have been planning this social outing for a while and really respect them for their dedication, although the android users are secretly mocking them!
The apple noob: This group includes mostly teenagers and some elderly folks who maybe own an iPhone or iPod? They really have no clue about apple technology but OMG couldn’t miss this! They are either with their parents, who couldn’t tell you the difference between a iPad and an iMac, or with a group of friends that may or may not include an android user. They are also very loud and taking an obsessive amount of pictures with Apple employees to share via social media. They will most likely spend a few hours in the store trying to download illegal music or switching the default homepage of each computer to a soft core porn site or the desktop background to their current favorite meme. Sigh!
Hello Everyone and Happy 4th of July to those of you in the U.S! Since today is a holiday for me, I didn’t have a post planned, so I wanted to share a video I uploaded on my YouTube channel today! It’s my monthly favorites for June 2013, aka my Fave Five! Hope you enjoy this video and the holiday!
