We recently went on vacation to Hawaii, and I wanted to make sure we were able to capture all those special moments on the go, at the beach, and even in the ocean. I did a lot of research and decided to purchase a GoPro Hero 5 Black. Here’s my full review/experience:
This post may contain affiliate links; all opinions are my own. See Disclosures here
There is something special about an instant photo camera. I have the Polaroid 600 and was so disappointed when the film was discontinued. I recently used the last pack of film I had and sadly, it must have expired because each picture had blotchy areas that wouldn’t develop. 
I started researching the Polaroid 600 film which led me to Amazon and to a whole new generation of instant photo cameras. I then discovered the Fujifilm Instax 210 which takes “wide” photos. The reviews were good and the colors looked so vibrant compared to the Polaroid 600.
The Fujifilm INSTAX 210 Instant wide Photo Camera is pretty large but really very similar to the Polaroid 600. It comes with 4 AA batteries, a shoulder strap, and a pop on lens to help focus for close up images (it even has a mini mirror so you can see if your selfie is centered).
The side has the Power button and controls to set the focus (3m to infinity or .9m – 3m). There are also controls to Lighten and Darken the exposure. And of course, the flash button — The flash seems to always go with every photo, even when I turn it off.
The side battery compartment holds 4 AA batteries that are included with the camera .The closure feels a little cheaply made. I haven’t lost any batteries yet, but I could see the case becoming loose if the camera was dropped or mishandled even a little.
The back of the camera is pretty basic. There is a pull down flap that houses the wide film.
Once your film is in the camera, you’re ready to point & shoot. The camera is super easy to use and the pictures come out so vibrant and clear with a slight retro feel. 
I really like having a “one of a kind” image that you can take with you. A lot of times, I’ll take pictures with my phone or regular camera and I end up having 20 of the same picture. I get to pick my favorites from the photo shoot and that’s nice too, but I’m not going to waste tons of film on the same picture with the Instax 210. It makes each picture seem more special even if it is just of an everyday thing.
This post may contain affiliate links; all opinions are my own. See Disclosures here
It seems like the phone is the one accessory we never leave the house without. It’s a camera, a calendar, fitness tracker, social media outlet, and of course helps us keep in touch with our friends and family. We use our phones everyday for tons of things, so I thought I’d share some of what’s on my iPhone with you.
Diptic – Make a quick and easy collage with this app. With lots of free templates to choose from and customization options, this is my go-to for any Instagram collage. You can even adjust the borders’ thickness, shape, texture, and color.
ColorSplash – This app makes it easy to add a splash of color to a black & white photo or vice versa. You start with a color photo and then you can hand-draw the black & white filter, leaving something specific in color so that object really stands out.
LINE camera – The auto-enhance option on LINE is really good, especially for selfies. It corrects the lighting, smoothes imperfections, and can make your eyes look bigger. They have a lot of fun “stickers” to choose from too that make this app super fun.
PixlrExpress+ – I use pixlr to edit photos on my blog, so when I saw that there was an app for iPhone, I knew I wanted to try it. I use this for most of my phone-editing. Lots of filters and fonts for text overlays and powerful basic editing features. Plus, I really love how I can resize the image to keep its full size and clarity. I hate when a great picture end up looking pixilated because the app compressed it — not with PixlrExpress+!
Bokehful – The best app for adding bokeh! Not just a filter or overlay, Bokehful lets you kind of control the placement (puts a bokeh near where you tap; not exactly on the spot). You can also choose the color/color palette and shapes of the bokeh.
A Beautiful Mess – I got this app for free from Sephora and it’s pretty cool. You can add text, doodles, and borders and choose from a few filters. It’s pretty basic. There are some upgrades that I haven’t tried, but the free content seem sufficient for a quick edit.
Twitter – I like the official app for Twitter on the iPhone. It’s clean and simple; gets the job done.
Instagram – It’s fun to go through different Instagram feeds and see everyone’s pictures. I never really use the filters in Insta; instead, I’ll upload after using some of the apps I mentioned ^.
WordPress – I mostly just check comments from the WordPress app. It’s a little tricky for me to try to blog from the app, but I have before. It’s good in a pinch!
MyFitnessPal – This app is great for monitoring your food intake and calorie goals. There is a huge library of foods you can select and you can chat with your friends so everyone stays motivated. I have it linked with my Fitbit, so MFP automatically keeps track of my activity too!
Nike+ Running – I’ve been slacking on my running goals lately….big time. But I still love the Nike+ Running app for tracking my runs. The Nike Coach update is great and helps you reach your goals without having to think too much into it.
Nike Training – I just recently downloaded this app, but it seems cool so far. Great for a Cross-Training day or its own program — I like how there are lots of sessions you can choose from. It’s like a guided workout with videos so you can see what each move is supposed to look like.
Fitbit – The Fitbit app helps me track the number of steps I have for the day, my sleep cycle, and my ranking among my friends. It’s great to not have to log into a computer to sync up my stats.
Let me know what some of your favorite apps are; I’d love to try out some new ones!
This post may contain affiliate links; all opinions are my own. See Disclosures here
I’m a little late to the party — I think this album came out sometime late last year — but I’m here now!
I first listened to the album on YouTube and then forgot about it, until recently. I’ve been listening to it a lot lately; the songs are catchy and fun.
After I saw the first season, I hated this show! How dare they kill off a main character!! Not much has changed….but I like the show a little bit better. I’m rooting for the Khaleesi to reclaim her throne!
I first heard of this deodorant from neo-reality.com. It prevents sweat and odors and it’s natural, what more could you ask for? This deodorant is vegan and certified organic so you don’t have to worry about chemicals and carcinogens seeping into your skin. Very happy with this purchase.
My mom and I recently went out for a birthday pedicure! I used Clambake by Essie because it’s so fun and it’s the perfect balance between red and orange.
Pedicures are a great way to relax and pamper yourself. Especially during summer, when you’ll likely be wearing flip flops, nothing can make you feel a little happier than looking at freshly pedicured toes.
I got these two, Pomegranate and Jasmine, for my birthday and they are both awesome! These lip butters are so smooth and make my lips feel soft and hydrated. Some of the colors are bright, but the results are mostly sheer with a hint of color. Perfect for every day and definitely one of my all time favorite lip products.
All the best players all on one stage for two weeks of fun. Tennis is such a cool sport because it’s just you against your opponent — no teams, no blaming others. They’re doing some intense stuff as athletes, from sprinting to strategy. What a great game!
I love the Pizza Kitchen. Their spinach artichoke dip is delicious and their BBQ Chicken Pizza is awesome.
These lenses are so cool! Thanks to my family for the perfect birthday gift! You can find these lenses at photojojo.com — all four for $50.
My favorite lenses are the Macro and the Wide. Both lenses actually come as one and you unscrew them to separate. It took me a day to figure out how to get to the Macro lens :/ but it’s awesome. Check out my instagram: MuffinChanel for some awesome pictures!
I really like this lightweight, dewy sunscreen. With Argon oil, it seems to clear up any discoloration and balance my skin. No parabens and cruelty free; it’s a silky sunscreen that absorbs well into my skin. It leaves me feeling fresh-faced, and not greasy.
This liner is so awesome — the curve of the casing give you the control you need to get the most precise line ever. The flexible felt tip makes it easy to create a fine line or build up the drama with a thick wing.
See last month’s favorites HERE