Have you guys submitted your #EVSelfie to Twitter or Facebook and tagged @ElecGen for a chance to win a $250 gift card? What are you waiting for? All you have to do is snap a photo or video of yourself with an Electric Vehicle or some symbol of EV Culture (a charging station or a sign)! Remember, you can use this website to find a local charging station or you can do what I did and take a test drive of one of the many EVs available on the market! Let me tell you, its an eye opening experience that will totally change the way you look at Electric Vehicles!
Last week, I went on my test drive of the Nissan Leaf and had a blast learning about and actually driving the vehicle! Of course, I made a video documenting my experience which I am going to go ahead and link below, but I also wanted to take some time to give you guys some interesting facts that I learned from my test drive!
EVs are AFFORDABLE! They are pretty competitively priced with other similarly sized vehicles and the Nissan Leaf that I tested was filled with cool technology and really felt like a luxury vehicle!
EVs are money and time savers! Driving an EV instead of a gas vehicle will save you nearly $9,000 over the course of 5 years and you never have to waste time at a gas station. Fill up on electricity at home to the tune of $550 dollars of year for the electric (based on driving 15,000/year) and say bye bye to oil changes, tune ups and transmission problems!
EVs are perfect for the modern commuter or two-car family. With a range of 75 miles for a full tank, you have plenty of power to get yourself to and from work as well as a few pit stops for shopping and activities!
I go into much more detail in my video, so if these fun facts are piquing your interest, I suggest checking it out! And don’t forget to take your #EVSelfie! I am telling you, once you open your eyes to the world of Electric Vehicles you begin to notice them everywhere! From charging stations at your local convenience store, to EVs parked in a neighboring driveway, they really are more prevalent than you think!
So, will I see your #EVSelfie before the June 26th deadline? Feel free to tag me @MissTrenchcoat as well in your entry so I can check out your pics and videos as well!
This week a very unique app with a very unique name made its debut on the iOS App Store. Pippit, the brainchild of the blogging superstars behind Oh Joy! and Love Taza, is an app created by bloggers for bloggers. Acting like a chimera between Instagram and Pinterest, Pippit allows bloggers to create a profile that automatically incorporates an RSS feed of their blog into their stream of images with direct links back to their sites. Users are able to follow their favorite bloggers and keep up to date with them, not only through their blog feed, but also through a “pip,” an image or video that users can upload to their stream. Users can then tag the image with “dots” of information in the form of a text tag or a direct link to a product or website. Aside from the user profile, the app provides a home stream of images based on the users you follow, as well as an explore feature that is like a master stream of activity happening through the app. While scrolling through these streams, you are able to give an “opinion” as it is called, on images by marking them with a “like,” “want” or “useful”.
Like I said, this is one unique app that is certainly multifaceted. As a blogger, I can see how the app acts like a one stop shop that could potentially take the place of apps like Pinterest, Instagram and even BlogLovin’, however, I don’t forsee Pippit forcing any of those into extinction. In fact, although I find Pippit to be a rather interesting concept, I am not precisely sure where it fits into the bigger picture along other social media apps. I keep asking myself if it’s trying to be an Instagram/Pinterest/BlogLovin’ replacement or an alternative.
It’s also worth mentioning that Pippit is not a free app, it retails for $2.59, however, in researching the app for this post, it seems as though the cost is a one time subscription fee for a year of service. The app creators say they are charging in order to prevent the need for ads, however, I am left wondering if I will need to either repurchase or resubscribe to the app after the first year is over. Time will tell if Pippit will find a permanent home on the iPhones of the social media obsessed, but for now, for me at least, it’s just one more app I need to manage in my quest to build and interact with my audience.
If you have Pippit, make sure to follow me @ MissTrenchcoat, and go ahead and leave me a comment letting me know what you think of the app! I would love to know your opinion and whether you think the app is worth the extra effort!
Yesterday was Apple’s Keynote at WWDC. WWDC stands for Worldwide Developers Conference and it is a yearly event held by Apple filled with informational sessions dedicated to programming and developing for Mac and iOS devices! A majority of the goings on at WWDC are not newsworthy events for most of the world, but the keynote is always popular because Apple often uses the keynote as an opportunity to announce major updates to software, and in previous years, new hardware like the iPhone, which was announced at WWDC in 2007! As expected, this year’s keynote did not announce any new hardware, however, the impending OS X upgrade was certainly foreseen and to the surprise of no one, Apple announced the successor to OS X Mavericks, Yosemite! Apple also took the opportunity to announce the newest upgrade to their mobile platform with a sneak peak at iOS 8!
Now, although there were quite a few new items discussed during the keynote, for most of us, there were really only a few major changes that the average user may notice. Here is my top ten list of items I think would excite any Mac User!
The new user interface (UI) of Yosemite is very similar to iOS 7 with the translucent layering and self adjusting color pallet. Apple has even integrated a “dark mode” into Yosemite for those who do not enjoy the bright UI or may do a lot of work at night.
The iOS Messages App will now have some new group text options that include a Do Not Disturb mode and the ability to leave a thread when you’re no longer interested.
Spotlight has new features that integrate it to the web, which include an awesome movie search function and Wikipedia results in search on both Macs and mobile devices.
The Mail app is getting an upgrade called Mail Drop that allows you to email attachments up to 5GB! Mail on iOS is also getting some great gesture upgrades to make working on your mobile device a much more streamlined experience!
Doc Sync in iCloud will now support Windows so you can work seamlessly with non-Mac friends, family and colleagues.
Due to energy management upgrades in the software, you will get an additional 2 hours of battery life while streaming shows from Netflix in full HD in Safari!
A new feature called Continuity gives you the ability to start working on one Apple device and move to another device without loosing information or having to sync projects! This same feature will also allow you to answer and make phone calls from your Mac as long as your iPhone is nearby!
New predictive text upgrades, a voice messaging feature and the integration of third party touch keyboards will make typing on your iOS device a much more personalized experience.
There have been some awesome upgrades to Apple’s built in Photo Editing Software!
Yosemite is a FREE upgrade, so there is really no reason not to take advantage of all these great new features and more upon its release this fall!
This past weekend I had the honor of hosting a bridal shower in honor of my brother and future sister-in-law. I have been to quite a few bridal showers in my day, but I have never hosted one so this was quite an experience but one I was ready to take on head first! I didn’t have quite the amount of time or money that I believe normally goes into an event of this importance, but I still wanted to make the day special and personal for those attending. So, I headed over to the bridal mecca which is Pinterest and found some great inspiration for a few DIY projects I took on for the party!
DIY #1 Initial Letter Blocks
While I was browsing around Michael’s Arts & Crafts one day, I came across an end cap of wood block letter initials and symbols. I was immediately drawn to them because I thought they were the exact sort of sentimental DIY decor that I could use for the party and that the guests of honor could then take home and have as a memory of the event. So, I picked out the letters I needed plus an ampersand, some bottles of acrylic paint that coordinated with the wedding theme, some sponge brushes and of course a pack of sand paper!
This DIY was pretty simply but turned out lovely! All I did was sanded down the letters (they had rough edges) until they were nice and smooth, and then painted the letters. I ended up doing about three coats of paint and let the letters air dry for about an hour in-between coats. I then let them dry out overnight before packing them away for the party. I ended up using them as decor on the cake table and they were a big hit!
DIY #2 Date Night Jar
I found the inspiration for this DIY on Pinterest! Basically, the Date Night Jar is something of an activity for the shower guests and again, another sentimental take home for the couple. You take a decorated mason jar, and fill it with large popsicle sticks that guests at the shower will write date night ideas on. When the couple gets the Jar home and want an idea for date night, they pull a stick out of the jar at random. Obviously, this isn’t something the couple have to use, but I think it’s a super cute idea and it was an activity everyone enjoyed participating in.
Assembling this DIY was super simple and I was easily able to find all the items I needed from my local craft store. For this DIY you will need a mason jar, popsicle sticks (I suggest the wider sticks that are easier to write on), embellishments (ribbon, twine, labels, etc), and then markers for the guests to write on the sticks during the party! I used a label to name the jar, wrapped yarn around the neck of the jar and added a custom little poem I made up to piece of craft paper that I then threaded through the yarn. Again, super simple, very inexpensive, but highly personalized and a fun activity for the guests!
DIY #3 Marriage Advice Box
Again, I found the inspiration for this DIY on Pinterest. The idea behind this activity is to put out a pretty box where guests can leave notes filled with their marriage advice for the couple. This is pretty self-explanatory, but once the couple return home after their wedding, they now have a treasure trove of advice from their friends and family waiting for them in a lovely box!
This was probably the simplest of the three projects, because I really didn’t need to do very much except arrange the elements. In the original pin online, a large trunk style box was used, but I knew that would be too large for my needs, so I picked up one of those lovely book shaped boxes from Michael’s in their home decor section. Once I picked out the box that fit with the wedding and shower theme, I picked up a few packs of blank notecards from the dollar bins at the craft store to go inside. I found lovely monogram cards that were perfect and seemingly personalized! I then took a small journaling card and embellishment sticker from my own craft supply collection and fashioned a little sign inside the box so that people knew what it was! On the day of the shower, I displayed the book box open on an inexpensive frame stand also purchased at the craft store. I passed around the notecards and guests deposited their words of advice in the box throughout the event. Super simple, and yet super sweet!
Do you have any other simple and inexpensive DIY ideas for a bridal shower that you could share this wedding season? Let us know in the comments below!
When I was younger, I had high hopes for what life would be like when I was an adult. I was pretty sure that by the time I graduated college, the human race would have colonies on far away planets (or at least the moon), we would all wear clothing that slightly resembled a space suit and we would drive electric-powered flying cars. You can blame Disney World, television, and books for my overactive imagination, but I am beginning to realize that the reason none of those things exist is because, we, as the population of Earth, haven’t prioritized those sorts of endeavors. The technology exists or it could exist if we actually started demanding it from our leaders and businesses. Technology currently has the power to solve many of our day-to-day problems, but most of us don’t realize it’s out there. Heck, I really thought that by now we would all be driving around Electric Vehicles to save our wallets and the planet from the dependence on gas!The truth is though, there are plenty of people who are living this dream right now and we all could be if we just educated ourselves to the presence and growing popularity of Electric Vehicles aka EV’s!
That is why I have partnered with the Edison Electric Institute (or EEI for short) to help raise awareness for the EV Movement. Whether or not you realize it now, EV’s are everywhere! And I’m not just talking about the glamorous Tesla Motors Model S that has been making headlines lately, but a variety of other manufacturers now make EVs as well! There is the Honda Fit EV, Nissan Leaf, Toyota Rav4 EV, Mitsubishi e-MiEV, Electric Ford Focus, Fiat 500e, Smart fortwo Electric Drive, BMW i3, and the Chevrolet Spark EV to name a few of the most popular. That’s a lot of Electric Vehicles available on the market, so why don’t more of us drive them? Price can’t be the issue because most of these vehicles are actually competitively priced with other similar sized gas-powered vehicles, not to mention the amount of money you would save on gas over the life of the vehicle is nothing to roll your eyes at. Okay, what about charging stations, the electric equivalent to gas stations? Surely, those must be few and far between or you would need to pay an arm and a leg to install some special charger for your vehicle? Nope. Charging stations are actually more prevalent than you might know. I have no less than four within a 5 mile radius of my home. Use the PlugShare website to see how many are near you. Speaking of home, you don’t need to install any high-tech, high dollar charging unit in your garage to fill up your electric tank overnight, because most EVs can charge off a standard household outlet! Seriously, that’s even more convenient than having a gas station down your block, when was the last time you were able to gas up in your own driveway? Hmm, so we’ve covered that EV’s aren’t prohibitively expensive, and that charging them is more convenient that you may have original guessed, so what else is stopping you from switching out your gas guzzler for an EV? What about maintenance costs? An Electric Vehicle sounds pretty high-tech, maintenance is probably going to cost an arm and a leg, right? Wrong! Think about it, without a gas engine, an EV doesn’t need things like oil changes or tune ups, they don’t need fluids drained or gas filters replaced. They just don’t have most of those parts that routinely break! What they do have, however, are tires just like other cars that need to be replaced similarly to gas-powered cars and they have brake pads that actually ware down at half the rate of a gas vehicle.
Here’s one of the charging stations 1.5 miles from my home! Pretty neat, huh?
Alright, I know what you’re thinking, I have drunk the Kool-Aid and I am seeing the EV world through rose-colored glasses. You’re right, it’s not all roses with owning an EV. The truth is, like with every different type of car out there, EVs aren’t going to be the right fit for everyone, but they are definitely a great option for certain people. So, who could benefit from owning an EV? First and foremost, commuters. If you use your car most of the time to drive back and forth to your job and then maybe a little around town to do errands, than an EV may be the vehicle for you! EV’s are low powered vehicles so they aren’t the right car for people who drive heavily throughout the day or for people who travel a lot via car, because they need to be charged more frequently than a gas powered car needs to be filled up. Now, even if you’re a commuter who does occasionally need to drive long distances, an EV could still be the right second car for you if you belong to a two car household! Many couples and families own more than one vehicle, and if one of those vehicles were to be an EV, all the bases are covered and money is definitely being saved in the long run!
Okay, so this was a lot of talk but when it comes down to buying a new car, some good information and a positive review aren’t all it takes to make such a big decision! That’s why I am going to be taking a test drive of an EV and sharing my experience with you guys here on my blog and on my YouTube Channel! That’s right, I am going to get behind the wheel of one of these and let you know if I could see myself in an EV one day! Now, I challenge all of you to open your mind and your eyes to the world of EVs around you!
Here’s my #EVSelfie! Now, show me yours!
The Electric Generation is hosting a contest through their Facebook Page called the #EVSelfie Contest! What is an #EVSelfie? Glad you asked! An #EVSelfie is just like a normal #Selfie but it incorporates either an EV or some element of the EV world in the image! Take a picture or video of yourself with an actual Electric Vehicle, a Charging Station or other icon of the EV Movement, post the photo to Twitter or Facebook with the #EVSelfie hashtag and tag @Elecgen for a chance to win one of four $250 gift cards! Also make sure to “Like” The Electric Generation on Facebook and follow them on Twitter! Head on over to their Facebook page for more examples of the #EVSelfie and complete rules and details! Make sure to keep your eyes open to the EV world, you never know where you may see an EV, a charging station or even an EV related sign or bumper sticker, so take as many photos as you can before the contest ends on June 26th, 2014! You get up to 20 entries!
Good Luck Everyone and I can’t wait to see your #EVSelfie on Twitter & Facebook!
Hey Everyone! I hope you all had a wonderful and safe Memorial Day Weekend! Since this was a nice relaxing three day weekend for those of us who live in the US, I thought I would kick off the unofficial start of summer with a fun TAG! I don’t do these sorts of TAG questionnaires frequently enough, but I thought this would be a fun little treat!
1. Favorite bronzer for summer?
My favorite bronzer is the Bourjois Bronzing Primer! It is a cream bronzer that you can use as a primer or mix in with your regular foundation to give your skin an extra glow. It is very very similar to the Soleil Tan De Chanel but a fraction of the cost. Only problem is for US citizens there are only a few places online were we can purchase it, but I will link it below in case you want to give it a try.
2. You’re relaxing in a hammock, on a tropical island. What are you sipping on? (Favorite summer drink)
A Margarita! On Ice! To be honest though, I am not a big drinker, so as a non-alcholoic alternative I would probably be drinking a bottle of ice water with some lemon!
3. Favorite summer lip product?
On the high end, definitely the YSL Volupte Sheer Candy in Cool Guava! It has an awesome scent and its such a light, moisturizing wash of color! On the drugstore end, I am loving the Rimmel London Color Rush Balms. They are like a dupe for the Revlon Balm Stains but they are like half the price and have a delicious candy scent!
4. Pool or Beach?
Pool! I grew up at the beach so it has lost its luster. Plus, I just can’t stand how sand tends to get EVERYWHERE!
5. Summer = crazy hair! What’s your must-have styling product?
Frizz-Ease 3-Day Straight Styling Spray! I have naturally super curly hair that is also very thick and coarse so I always straighten my hair. I have never found a holy grail product that prevents my hair from getting frizzy, but I think the Frizz-Ease Spray is the best I have found so far!
6. Sun bathing or fake tan?
Hmmm… neither? I don’t like to fake bake or use self tanners, but I also don’t like laying out in the sun for fear of burning. I do like a tanned look, but I use bronzer for that for the most part. See question 1 for my favorite bronzer!
7. Favorite summer nail polish?
All the nail polishes! Well, I guess if I had to pick a nail polish I liked the most, I think I would say Sally Hansen’s Complete Salon Manicure line.
8. Any summer traditions?
During the summer I usually make a few trips down to my father’s house because he lives by the beach in a seaside town! My husband and I usually also like to take a trip to the casino’s in Atlantic City as well and usually hit a few awesome seafood joints!
9. Favorite summer scent?
During the summer I usually prefer to wear body mists instead of perfumes because I find the scent is lighter. I love fun fruity scents and my favorite is Love Spell from Victoria’s Secret. Let’s be honest, VS does the best body mists!
10. Favorite BBQ food?
Grilled Italian Sausage! Yum, yum, yum!
11. What’s your favorite summer-proof product?
Waterproof mascara is one of my must have summer products. My current fav is Covergirl LashBlast Clump Crusher Mascara, Waterproof formula in Very Black!
12. Any summer vacation plans this year? No plans? Tell us about your dream summer trip!
This summer I will most likely be making a trip or two to my dad’s house, spend some serious time swimming at my community pool and relaxing with the air conditioning on!
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So, that’s is folks! I would love it if you guys took part in this I Love Summer Tag as well! Feel free to answer these questions on your own blogs or on your social media feeds and let me know if you do so I can check it out!
I recently received the Influenster Spring Fling Voxbox, which I immediately unboxed on my YouTube Channel. Don’t worry! I will be linking the video below for you to watch, but I thought I would take a moment to talk to you about what makes a beauty or lifestyle product a summer necessity. I know I recently wrote about my Pre-Summer Essentials, but those products were more tangible summer time accessories. What I am talking about today are those little must have items that help get you through what are usually the long, heat filled days of summer. In my VoxBox I received some surprising products. A set of glue on fake nails, a mascara, a box of tampons and a firming body lotion. Initially, I wasn’t sure how most of these products related to spring and summer, but after thinking about it, I think they really do represent some overlooked summer necessities.
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Let’s start with the Kiss Everlasting French Glue on Nails. I don’t think there is any time during the year that I am more obsessed with making sure my nails look well manicured and perfectly painted than in the summer. During the warmer months, I tend to hit the nail salon on a more regular basis getting my mani pedis so that my nails are worthy to be shown off. So, it makes sense that the VoxBox would include an inexpensive and long lasting alternative to a nail salon visit!
On to the mascara, more specifically the Rimmel ScandalEYEs Retro Glam Mascara! Now, while mascara is always an important part of my makeup routine, in the summer, I would have to admit I get a little more infatuated with it. Why you might ask? Well, because in the summer I tend to wear less makeup overall, specifically less eye makeup. So mascara is one of my non-negotiable beauty items because it’s the one eye makeup item that makes me feel like my face is complete, even if I skip the eye liner or shadow. In the summer a bit of concealer, a light BB Cream and some mascara are really all you need to get a flawless face, at least, that’s my opinion!
Now, the Playtex Sport tampons make much more immediate sense to me in relation to summer essentials. In summer since I tend to wear shorter pants and dresses, I end up using tampons more frequently than I do a maxi pad because its more discreet. Since the days are longer in summer and we all tend to be outdoors more, you don’t need to be an athlete to appreciate a sportier design for your unmentionable needs.
Last but not least the Nivea Firming Lotion makes perfect sense as a summer beauty essential. After all, we spend the cold winter months sweating our butts off (literally) at the gym, so a product that can help keep your skin in great condition while it hydrates is a must have for your daily summertime routine. More skin showing means more places you want looking toned and firm after all!
I know these items aren’t all a girl needs in her summer beauty and self-care regimen so let me know your necessities in the comments below. Think outside the box and let me know what sorts of items are more important to you during the summer than at any other point in the year! Oh and before I forget, here is the video unboxing plus some uncensored TMI thoughts and feedback for you guys! Enjoy!
The picture above is from my Instagram feed, and was taken a few weeks ago. It is currently my most liked Instagram photo to date. Why? Personally, I think I have taken better pictures, but my opinion isn’t necessarily the one that matters when it comes to the popularity of my photos. So, what does matter when it comes to getting likes? I am by no means and expert on the subject, but I have been using Instagram for a few years now and I think I am beginning to crack the code to a successful IG shot. Here are my tips to getting more likes on your Instagram photos if you are looking to pick up some new followers or just increase your photo sharing skills! Make sure to follow me on Instagram as well by clicking here!
Take pictures that people are searching for
An image like the one above is something I know a lot of people like to look for. It’s essentially a deskscape, showing a workspace and some pretty office supplies. These aren’t just any office supplies, however. These items have been chosen for their popularity and for the application of their hashtags. I will talk more about the importance of hashtags in a moment, but back to the items in the image. They are all pretty items made by popular brands. A Macbook Air, a Kate Spade planner, a Bath and Body Works candle. All these items are things people like and people like to look at them. Now, I’m not saying you should just take pictures of deskscapes and office supplies, but I am saying you should think about the subjects you want to capture in terms of their overall popularity on the internet. People like certain things, it’s no secret. Pictures of pets do well, a beautiful plate of food, composed landscapes and the list goes on. When you take the photos that people are searching for and like to see, your photos will get more likes.
Use relevant hashtags
When I think about crafting my Instagram photos, I think about the hashtags I am going to be able to use to describe it. Hashtags are very important. If you are not already a popular Instagrammer, hashtags are the only way anyone new is going to come across your account and your pictures. So, it is very important that you use as many relevant hashtags as possible to give your image the largest audience possible. For this image specifically, I used 21 hashtags. Some are popular IG tags that everyone uses (#igers #igdaily #instagood etc) and some are specific brand oriented tags that I know are popular. The first hashtag that I used, #filofax, has over 130,000 posts when you search it. That’s a lot of posts, which means there are a lot of people who are using and searching for that tag. Now, I know people say that you shouldn’t use too many hashtags, and I know that sometimes it seems spammy, but the way I look at it is that I am giving more people an opportunity to find and enjoy my picture. Some people think that using too many hashtags can backfire, but ask yourself, when was the last time you saw a picture on Instagram that you liked but then decided not to like it because the user had tagged too many items? Chances are you’re going to get more positive attention than negative attention when you use hashtags. Now, I am not saying to use hashtags that don’t apply, that is spamming the system, but as long as your tags apply, I say use liberally!
Actively like other photos
When I post a new photo to Instagram, I like to go through the hashtags I used, one by one, and like other recent photos taken by others who have used the tag. When I do this, I find that the users whose photos I have liked, come back to my account and like my photo(s) as well. Sometimes I even get new followers this way, and sometimes I find new accounts that I want to follow, too! You can’t expect to just post images to Instagram and focus on your own account without searching around and interacting with other users. Although Instagram isn’t exactly the same level of socialization as Twitter or Facebook, liking photos and leaving comments for others draws people to you in a direct way. The more you do this and interact with others, the more likes you will get and inevitably, the more followers you will acquire.
Have a sense of composition
I have discussed the topic of taking great photographs before, so I won’t go into too much detail here and now, but having a sense of what makes a good composition is important when taking photos that people will like. Instagram gives you the option to use the camera grid when taking pictures directly in the app, and if you don’t think you are good with composition on your own, this is a great tool to use! Remember, composition is more than just about placement of your subject(s) in photos, it’s also about how your subject or subjects interact with each other and within the frame as a whole. Take some time to study the photos of others that you may find interesting and ask yourself what about the photo has drawn you in. Color, size and distance of objects in an image all play a role in the composition so you will want to think about all those things to understand what makes a great photo! Also, feel free to use other apps to edit your IG photos before you post them. I know there are purist out there who don’t believe in using edited photos on IG, but if you are trying to get more likes on your photos, you are going to need to produce the best content you can and sometimes that means using other apps to help you create a stunning image!
I have worn glasses since I was 13. When I was a bit younger, about 8 or 9, I tried to fake poor vision just so my parents would buy me glasses, but of course it didn’t work. I’m not exactly sure why, but I always associated glasses with being smart or having an education, so I really wanted to wear them, as though they were some sort of fashion accessory that denoted IQ. After I was finally prescribed glasses a few years later for legitimate near sightedness, I went all out searching for the pair that would be mine. After my dad forked over $150+ dollars for my first pair, I began to realize that glasses were slightly more precious than I had first expected and that I wasn’t going to get a variety to use as a new fashion accessory after all. To this day, I still own and use that first pair of glasses. I am apparently one of those rare people who’s prescription doesn’t change much over the years, which is actually quite convenient for me. More impressive than that, though, I am one of those rare people who hasn’t broken or lost their glasses in over a decade. Of that fact, I am immensely proud! So, to change things up a bit for me, before I left for college my father bought me a second pair of glasses. These were frameless and even more expensive ($200+) and I was even more careful with them (yep, still have them too) because I knew they would also have to last me quite some time!
And it was quite some time before I purchased a new pair, nearly six years! But this time around, I wasn’t going to be forking over a few hundred bucks. In 2011, I was introduced to the brand Warby Parker. I was flabbergasted to find out that I could buy nice designer glasses online for under $100 for a complete pair of glasses with the lenses. So I signed myself up, tested a few pairs with their home try on option and placed my order! It’s been a few years since this last experience, and I recently found myself hankering for a new style of glasses yet again, when I came across a YouTube video reviewing some different online options including Warby Parker and another online eyeglass shop called Eye Buy Direct. It piqued my interest, so I went to their website and found a few frames I thought would look good on me and without even giving it too much thought, I went ahead and placed an order for two new pairs, both costing me about $100 total!
I have always gotten a lot of questions asking me about my glasses, but I think people are even more curious when they find out I bought them online. Traditionally, buying glasses has been an in-person experience where you would try on frames in a store but the online landscape has really challenged that system. So, I thought I would go ahead and give you all my tips for buying glasses online, providing insights from my experience and some tips and tricks that may help you if you are looking to buy online and save yourself some money!
Know what you’re looking for
Whenever you’re buying an item online, I would suggest knowing what you’re looking for. The problem with browsing online is that you really don’t get much of a sense of a product or item just from looking at pictures. I think this is particularly when looking for glasses online because if you’re not sure what you’re looking for in terms of color, size, shape, you may end up falling for a pair of glasses that just aren’t practical for you and your needs, no matter how cool they look online. Remember, many online eyeglass shops offer very limited terms on returns. This is how they help keep costs down for the end-user, but you need to be very deliberate about what you’re ordering because eyeglasses are a custom item. Think about the style of frame you are looking for, the color, size and lens shape to help make your search easier and more specific.
Try before you buy
Like I mentioned above, Warby Parker, as well as some other online eyewear shops, give you the opportunity to try on their glasses before you purchase them for free. In these situations, you choose the frames you are interested in, provide a credit card for security purposes, and then the company ships the glasses to you to try on. These home try on scenarios usually have a limited time period for you to try the items before sending them back so make sure you are aware of your time limit before requesting a home try on. I highly suggest using the home try on feature when available as it’s very helpful to be able to test out the glasses before you make a purchase, however, not all eyewear sites give you this option. Some sites instead offer a virtual try on where you can upload an image of yourself and see an image of the glasses superimposed on your picture. Although this isn’t the most foolproof way of testing glasses, it can help you see yourself in the glasses. I suggest if you are going to use this feature that you take a picture of yourself head on in strong natural lighting so that you get the most realistic portrayal of yourself possible. Finally, if you do not have a home try on option and you are not sure about the virtual try on option, I suggest visiting a local eyewear retailer to test out glasses similar to ones you may be eyeing online. Most online eyewear retailers provide a front and side view of their glasses with the dimensions. If you print this out and bring it into an eyeglass shop, they should be able to help you find something similar to try on in their store so that you can get an idea of what the glasses will look like on you. Also, if you happen to see something in store that you like, I recommend taking down the model number and brand information of the glasses. When you get home you can research the dimensions of the glasses and you may be able to find the same glasses or a similar off brand style through an online retailer!
Understand your options
In my experience, shopping online for glasses is inexpensive and easy, but you need to understand what you’re getting from some of these online deals. For example, Eye Buy Direct offers glasses as low as $6 for a complete pair, but that includes the frame and single vision lenses with very little bells and whistles. You pay extra for bifocals, progressives and other types of lenses, as well as UV, scratch resistant and water-resistant coatings. Even Warby Parker has upgrades for lenses and certain extras you may get looped into paying if you have a very strong prescription for glasses. These are the sorts of things you need to understand before you make a purchase. Online retailers may wheel you in with an unbelievably low deal, but in reality, most people who wear glasses may require certain extras that will raise the price of the purchase. I’m not saying that online retailers are sketchy and you shouldn’t trust them, I am just saying that you show know this before you go in so you understand the pricing structure and what you are willing to pay.
Have your correct vision Rx information on hand
One of the major parts of ordering prescription glasses online is knowing your current vision prescription! Warby Parker is a great site because you can give them the information for your eye doctor and they will call them up and make sure they get your most current information so you don’t feel pressured or make a mistake filling out your online order form, but not all sites do that. I suggest looking at the sites you may want to buy from and see the prescription information they need so that you are familiar with the information before calling your eye doctor. For most sites you will need your prescription as well as your pupillary distance (aka PD). If you are going to the optometrist before placing your order, print out the order page from the site you are interested in using (or sites) and show them so that they give you all the information you need!
Experiment
Glasses are a necessary tool that many of us need to get through life but they also are a great way to show your personal style, and with the low prices that many online eyewear retailers advertise, taking a risk and going a little outside your comfort zone may be a fun experiment. Don’t be afraid to try a new trend or deviate from your usual frame shape. If worse comes to worse if you don’t like the style they can become a backup pair.
Where oh where has the time gone? Next week is Memorial Day and soon enough summer will be upon us. Are you ready? I know I’m not nearly as prepared for summer as I would have hoped. I have quite a bit of shopping to do to catch up, so in the meantime, I thought I would share with you my pre-summer essentials checklist. Here are some of the items that I consider must have’s for the upcoming season. Check out the carousel below for some of my favorite picks!
An awesome beach bag
A big floppy hat
A statement beach towel
Sephora Sun Safety Kit
Caudalie Grapeseed Water
An awesome pair of sunglasses (Prescription sunglasses if you need them)
A cute water bottle
A tablet computer
A signature scent
A backup phone battery charger
A durable video camera (to capture all the fun)
Have a wonderful week and I hope you enjoy Memorial Day Weekend and the summer ahead!
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