OtterBox RealTree Camouflage Galaxy S4 Case Review #Otterbox #RealTree #GalaxyS4

There is no way that you’ll see me packing my phone without an Otterbox case. I’d say that having an Otterbox is better than having insurance. The strong durability of the case has definitely saved my phone more times than I can count.

I love my Samsung Galaxy S4, wouldn’t trade it for any other phone on the market, so I need to keep it protected. Especially since I have a 5 year old and a 7 year old who LOVE to play games, watch videos, and create with the phone. The Otterbox not only keeps the phone safe from drops, but it keeps the screen safe from sticky fingers. Yikes.

I am a true country girl at heart and absolutely couldn’t resist the Otterbox Realtree Camo Galaxy S4 Case. I love that they have 4 different styles of camouflage (with different color shells) to choose from.

I got the orange version (picture 3) which is hands down my favorite. Take your Samsung Galaxy S4 on the hunt with you; protected and ready to blend in. Realtree camo provides the best way to blend into the environment while keeping track of weather conditions.

Even if you aren’t planning on taking a hunting trip anytime soon, camouflage is definitely popular these days. I mean, come ON, Duck Dynasty and Fast N Loud are two of my favorite shows!

I am loving how well the case fits the phone, yet doesn’t make it bulky. The case is very protective. I don’t know how many times I stepped out of my truck and forgot my phone was on my lap. DROP goes the phone. Face down on the concrete and of course I freak out, but nothing. No scratch, no crack, no lines, absolutely no damage at all. ’ve dropped it on tile, in gravel, and mud.. still protected.

 

I couldn’t think of a better case to have on my phone. Otterbox provides the quality and style that expensive smartphones need in order to stay protected. The cases aren’t very expensive, and you don’t have to spend a ton of time looking for something you like. (Believe me, there are TONS that I love). You’ll probably have a hard time NOT buying more than one. LOL.

 

The best thing about the Otterbox cases is that they are interchangeable. I now have the option of switching up my shell with the outer case. The plastic inner shell provides the stability for the phone in case of drops. Easily snaps back together and easy to take apart.

I love that they automatically send you a clip to go with your case. Not very many companies send clips, because they want you to spend more money. Otterbox knows that the size of smartphones makes it hard to pocket the phone, so they give you even MORE protection by adding in the clip!

I even went fishing at a couple creeks, wading in the water, and had my phone with me. Although Otterbox isn’t waterproof, as long as you don’t jump in the water you should be fine. The water was up to my thighs, the phone clipped at my side, and no problems here! Didn’t catch anything but still had fun.

You can’t have an amazing company with just ANY customer service. Otterbox not only has amazing quality, uniquely designed cases but they have FABULOUS customer service. They are definitely a company that will stand by their product. If something happens to your case or clip, they will replace the case for you. How awesome? Not that many companies still do that these days. They are a company of their word, which means a lot!

Otterbox on Facebook and Twitter

 

 

-Jessica

DIY Hair Masks Your Hair Desperately Needs

There is absolutely nothing better than getting to sit back, relax, and getting a professional facial. It feels absolutely amazing, but can be VERY expensive. Why spend all that money on getting someone else to give you a facial when you can get the same results at home and it cost you 25% of what you’d be paying for a professional one? F.Y.I you can even do it in your pajamas (2 thumbs up)

You can definitely maintain healthy skin at home; you just have to know what your skin type is. There are four skin types which include normal, dry, oily, and sensitive. You’ll want to stick to the facial masks that are made for your skin type. You definitely don’t want to use a dry skin face mask if you have oily skin. It will add more hydration and oil to your skin, which can lead to blackheads and breakouts.

I put the masks into sections (by skin type) so that it helps.

 

Normal Skin 

(Not too dry, yet not too oily with little to no blemishes or problems)

Image source: perfectskincareforyou.com

*Egg & Yogurt Mask (Cleansing & Rejuvenating)

Use egg whites for oily greasy hair and egg yolk for dry brittle hair. Use whole egg for normal hair.

Ingredients:

• 2 eggs
• 2 tablespoons plain yogurt

Take your 2 eggs and separate the whites from the yolks. Place them in different bowls. Take the bowl with the egg whites in it and mix in your 2 tablespoons of plain yogurt. Apply this mixture to your face and leave it until it dries (maybe 4-5 minutes).

Rinse off (by hand) in warm water. Follow with patting with a washcloth that has been dipped in warm water. Your face should feel moisturized yet cleansed.

Nutrifying Egg Hair Mask

Image Source: myeasyrecipes.net

Ingredients:

• One egg (or two depending on hair length)
• 1 cup of milk (for shoulder length hair use 1/2 cup)
• A squeeze of lemon
• Two tablespoons of olive oil

Crack your egg (or eggs) into a bowl and beat it together with a whisk.

Add your cup of milk and two tablespoons of olive oil, gently mixing it in.

Add the little bit of lemon, continuing to mix with an egg beater.

(Go to your sink and lean your head over it) and add the hair mask mixture to your hair. Make sure that you massage the hair mask deeply yet gently into your scalp all the way the ends of you hair. (Work from roots down)

Let your hair sit for  15-20 minutes to allow your hair to absorb the hair mask. Either cover with a shower cap (or a plastic grocery bag works too).

Rinse it out with lukewarm or cold water. Make sure to get all of it off your scalp.

Shampoo/Condition as usual.

Avocado & Honey Hair Mask

Image Source: hungryforchange.tv

Ingredients:

• Half an Avocado (or whole if you have long hair)
• Tablespoon Honey

Cut the Avocado in half and use a spoon to scoop out the inside and place it in a bowl.

Mash it up

Add the honey and mix it well

Add the mask to your hair.

Let it sit for 20 minutes and cover with a shower cap.

Rinse with lukewarm or cold water.

Shampoo/condition as usual.

 

Oily Skin

(lots of shine, blackheads, prone to acne)

Baking Soda Hair Mask

image source: IndianBeautysource.com

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoon Plain Yogurt
• 1 teaspoon Baking Soda

Mix the baking soda and plain yogurt together in a bowl.

Starting at the roots apply the mask to your hair. Massage it in VERY well, gently scrubbing; especially at the roots.

Let sit for 15-20 minutes with shower cap covering the hair.

Shampoo and condition as usual (DO not put the conditioner on your roots)

 

Lemon Hair Mask

Image source: indianbeautyspot.com

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup Egg white
• 1 tablespoon of lemon juice
• Cotton ball

Crack your egg, separating the egg white from the yolk. (You only need the egg whites).

Mix in the lemon juice

(Hover over the sink) and apply the mixture to your hair (with your cotton ball). Cover with a shower cap and leave it for 25-30 minutes.

Rinse your hair very well in cool water.

Shampoo/condition as usual

 

Apple Cider Mask

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar,
• 2 teaspoon lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon baking soda

Mix all your ingredients together

Wet your hair

Apply to your hair, combing it from the roots down so that it gets on all your hair.

Leave on for 3-4 minutes and rinse it out and apply your conditioner.

 

Dry Hair

Coconut and olive oil mask

Ingredients:

• 1 part Olive Oil
• 2 parts Coconut Oil

Mix your oils in a small bowl.

Apply it to your hair, focusing on your ends the most

wrap your hair in a bun and cover with a shower cap

leave in on for 15-30 minutes

Rinse with lukewarm water

shampoo and condition as usual

 

Banana Hair Mask

Ingredients:

• 1 banana (the riper, the better!)
• 1 tbsp honey

Take your banana and mash it all up. Use a blender or a mixer if you have one. The more smashed, the better.

Add in the honey and mix it up very well

Add the mask to your hair

Leave in on for 15-20 minutes wrapped in a shower cap

Rinse it out with lukewarm water

shampoo and condition as usual

 

I hope this helps you AND your hair out!

Until Next time..

 

-Jess

 

 

 

Book Review: Homemade Nail Polish by Allison Rose Spiekermann; Ulysses Press

Create Unique Colors and Designs For Eye-Catching Nails

Whether you are looking to match your nails with a specific dress or just have fun playing with shades and hues, this unique guide is the key to stunning original nail art design and featuring one-of-a-kind colors. With step-by-step instructions, detailed photos, and recipes for dozens of different polishes—including cremes, shimmers, glitters, and more—Homemade Nail Polish will have you whipping up ahead-of-the-curve colors in no time.

 

My Review

I have always been a fan of color and design, so naturally I love anything DIY. If it’s created, I’ve thought about what it takes to make it. Nail color and designs are no exception. Do you remember my DIY Nail Art book review?

Nail color is a very easy and fun way to express your unique style. There have been MANY different colors that I’ve seen on Pinterest that I wanted to copy so badly. There are just so many beautiful mixes of colors that I am slightly addicted. Beautiful teals, turquoise, and corals. Sigh…

This 96 page book contains all the information you need to learn how to mix your own shades easily and quickly. Teaching you (and me of course) that we don’t have to be limited to the color choices at the nearest drugstore. Now the possibilities are endless.

There are two sections that are very detailed about the equipment and ingredients that are needed to begin your nail polish making journey. The ingredient list and what they are used for is extremely helpful. Glitter, glitter finishes & shapes, thinners, and bases and what to expect when you want to achieve a certain look.

This book has more than 30 recipes that help with getting used to mixing colors and even adding special effect pigments. There are very detailed pictures along with the instructions so that it IS very easy to follow along.

The pictures look absolutely amazing. Step-by-step follow along pictures are what I like to see in a DIY book, so that I know I am doing the process exactly right. This book definitely gets 2 thumbs up for how clear and detailed the pictures are!

There is even a section in the back to help with applying the polish right so there aren’t any smears or smudges. She takes it a step beyond and even shows how to tackle the techniques I had been dying to try. Most of them weren’t as hard as they look.

I am loving that the nail polish can be made with eye shadow. This makes the options endless. She even shows how to perfectly measure the different types of eye shadows, so that you get the desired color.

I love all the cool nail tricks and techniques in the back of the book. II t covers using scrapbooking punches to make nail decals, using gel pens for nail polish, making tape stencils, and how to get the galaxy look.

I’d always wondered how to perfect the gradient/ombre style. I even bought a dotting tool (before I got this book) and still couldn’t tackle the dotted style. I was pretty sure it was going to be a piece of cake, and the dotting tool failed me lol. I didn’t realize that I could’ve just used bobby pins instead. Oh well, the dotting tool is a nice addition to my nail box anyway.

Before you go running off trying to find the ingredients and the equipment, look in the back at the resources. The best places (with the best prices) are listed, so that you spend less time comparing prices and more time to enjoy MAKING the polish. She even adds an amazing list of nail art inspiration blogs that are a definite must read. I am loving looking at all the nail designs, so make sure you bookmark them!

About the Author

Allison Rose Spiekermann is the founder and creative director of Nail Pattern Boldness, an independent nail polish company based in Burlington, VT, which specializes in unique and innovative products to help both amateur and professional nail polish enthusiasts get more out of every manicure. She lives in Burlington, VT

Get the Book: Homemade Nail Polish 

Stay updated on the recent releases and giveaways from Ulysses Press by following them on Twitter and Facebook!

 

XoXo Jess

Summer Sandals That’ll Blow Your Mind

After that long, long, long (did I say long?)… never-ending (well it seemed that way) winter— I know your feet were begging (and pleading and possibly crying) for a break from all those winter boots. Am I right? Those poor feet, SO I’ve made up a list of some MUSt have shoes you’ll definitely want to be sporting all summer long. Let those babies have some wriggle room!

Whether you’ll be walking on the beach, sightseeing, or dancing—there’s a pair waiting for you! (and most are under $100). Go on and splurge a little! You aren’t breaking the bank here! If you are interested in a certain pair, the pictures are clickable!

*Edgy

If you love wearing sundresses, but don’t want to seem too girly you can always dress it down with a edgy pair of sandals! There have been plenty that have caught my eye, but these were at the top. These sandals would also look good with a pair of distressed capris or shorts and a retro tee!

Between the studs, chains, and braids on these sandals—I’d rock any of these with pride. I love the simple yet rebellious statement that these shoes make! Let your shoes do the talking!

Country Music Superstar Miranda Lambert just launched her very own Miranda Lambert shoe line, as if I WOULDN’T love it right? All pairs of her summer shoes say edgy with feisty and sexy wrapped into one!

 

*Color

Add a little flair to that one tone dress. You don’t have to go all one tone. I mean, it’s SUMMER.. spice it up! Adding color and flair with an amazing pair of shoes? YES! You’ll definitely be seeing brightly colored sandals all over the walkways where ever you are, this is the IN right now!

 

These would even look good with a pair of skinny jeans! Choose a darker color such as blue or black and pair it with colored sandals & shirt. I love all the above and the gladiator style shoes are definitely something I like.

 

*Animal Print

Animal Print is something I don’t think will ever go out of style. I love seeing animal print mixed randomly in outfits. And randomly I mean JUST one print per outfit. Mixing more than one print is just too much.

Mixing an animal print shoe (or bag) with a little black dress for an outdoor summer event is definitely a YES! Or add some spice to those skinny jeans!

The python print has always been a favorite of mine, although any print looks good.

 

*Chunky Wedge

 

I am soooo loving the chunky wedge style. It pairs basically with anything in your summer wardrobe. Whether you’d like to rock a skirt, shorts, skinny jeans, capris, and even jeans a wedge spices it up.

These shoes are super sexy and you can NEVER go wrong with a wedge! Right? Right! I am loving even more that there are bright colors as well as animal prints now in wedge as well! Rock it sister!

What is your favorite summer go-to sandal?

Which style above do you like best?

 

XoXo

-Jess♥