On My iPhone {September 2014}

On my iPhone is a new monthly feature on Strange & Charmed where I give you a peak into what I have been loving on my iPhone for the month! Covering topics like apps, games, podcasts, music, websites, books and more, I hope this series helps you all discover new and exciting content out there that can be enjoyed from your iPhone! To stay up to date with this series, make sure to follow the On My iPhone tag!

September came and September went, or really it just flew by pretty much unnoticed. From the weather we have been having in PA, you would think that September was just an extension of August and not the transitional month that heralds us into the fall. I did do some typical “September” things this month. I went apple picking with Mike, enjoyed my first official #PSL, and made some other pumpkin spiced treats! I spent some time outside under the trees, reading on blankets and learning more about photography on my DSLR. But September was a pretty productive month for me. I finally buckled down and opened up my Shop! I also spent a decent amount of time searching for inspiration for future projects and collaborations that will hopefully be coming down the pike soon! As I am apt to do, I spent a good amount of time searching for new digital content to share with you as well, so here is what I have been loving On My iPhone for the month of September!

Currently Playing, Lumosity: I have seen ads for Lumosity for years and years now, but I never actually bothered downloading their free app until (surprise, surprise!) it was offered as part of Starbuck’s Pick of the Week program via my Starbuck’s App! I will say though, that even though I am constantly online and in the know, I have been feeling a little mentally sluggish for some time now, and I decided to give the app a go in an attempt to see if I could sharpen my mind a bit! I was actually quite shocked with how I scored on my first attempt at the game, but I am getting better. I feel like this must be a struggle with most people, because ever since I graduated, I have felt my brain slowly softening, and I’m glad I finally decided to give this game a try because I’m hoping it will help improve my memory in the long run!

Currently Reading, Chesapeake by James Michener: Okay, by reading I mean listening to the book on tape via my iPhone! Chesapeake isn’t a new book for me. In fact, I first listened to the book on tape years ago after it was recommended to me by a friend who knew I grew up sailing with my family on the Chesapeake. Lately, I have been thinking about that time of my life a lot and have really been missing it. For some reason, when I was younger, I firmly believed I would have a sail boat of my own one day, and now I find myself contemplating it seriously for the first time in a while. But back to the book- for anyone out there who loves historical fiction, and maybe grew up in the mid atlantic or enjoys American History and/or boating, you need to read this book! Michener is a complete genius at historical fiction and I am absolutely enamored with this lengthy tale that spends decades of history surrounding the Chesapeake Bay and Maryland’s Eastern Shore.

Currently Watching, Frankenstein MD: I feel like a broken record when it comes to these digital short series’ based on classic novels, but I found another one, and I bet you can’t guess which book this one is about? It looks like this time around Pemberly Digital (of Emma and The Lizzie Bennett Diaries) has teamed up with PBS to produce this new series which follows the video diary of medical student, Victoria Frankenstein, as she guides her viewers through the mysteries of the human body! This series is awesome because so far there is a lot of extra content outside of the show that really add dimension to the story. So if you’re a Shelly fan, you may want to check it out!

Currently Surfing, Mermaid Gossip: I have been following Bristol based alternative fashion blogger and Photo Booth maven Emily Fisher for some time now. We were acquainted through mutual friends/bloggers via the Blogcademy and I was instantly taken with her colorful hair and personality! She recently launched her new style blog, Mermaid Gossip, which chronicles her colorful lifestyle and awesome nails!! She also wins a special place in my heart for also being a YouTuber, and you know how much I love bloggers who make the transition over to video! If you love colorful clothing, unique accessories, rainbows and unicorns, I would go check her out!

Currently Listening, Spotify: As you may have seen, I recently began using Spotify to create My Productivity Playlists! I have been loving this service and I can’t believe it took me so long to start using it. Scratch that, I am not surprised it took me this long, I am always the last to the party because I refuse to believe the hype. But trust me, the hype is real and justified. I am so used to working within the confines of Pandora that I didn’t even realize how freeing it would be to be able to dictate my own playlists. So, if you love music, want to discover new tunes or just need some motivation to get you through your workday, go check out Spotify!

Oh and that one final thing of course- the iPhone case I have been using this month! Well, to be completely honest, I have been switching it up between a few different cases in September. Something about wanting it to be fall but it still feeling like it was summer had me all over the place with my case choices, but I did pick up this new case this month from Garance Dore for Rifle Paper Company and have been loving how super protective it is!

So, now it’s your turn! What have you been loving on your iPhone or iPad this month? Any great new apps that have caught your attention? Let me know in the comments or better yet, leave me a comment over on Facebook!