The Best iPhone Cases

I'm going to let you in on a little secret about one of my favorite things. I'm going to tell you where you can find the best selection of the best quality iPhone cases. Trust me, I've searched high and low.

Zazzle is the place to find or customize your case. You can bring in images of your own to create your case. Many cases allow you to add your initials. The selection is so amazing, I guarantee you will find what you are looking for and then some. Each case comes in a Barely There form (just a light cover), Tough form (a more heavy-duty form but still light enough), and the one I always buy--Tough Xtreme. Tough Xtreme is for those of you that buy Otterbox cases because you are hard on your phones. Here are just a few in their various tough forms (cute, right?):

Zazzle has a promotion going so that if you enter BLOOMSAVINGS you can save $5 to $35 depending on what you spend.

My Favorite Things: Ewe Stash (a knitting app)

I love app recommendations, especially if they are fun for my kids or helpful for me. One of my favorite apps is a knitting app called Ewe Stash. It is basically a database app where you can store inventory information about your yarn stash, knitting needles, and crochet hooks.

If you are a knitter then you know how easy it is to "stumble" across a knitting shop and want to start a new project but can't recall if you have the right amount of yarn to complete that cute cardigan. Or whether you have the right size of needle at home. I know there have been countless times that I know I have the specific size of needle at home but am unsure about the length, which really matters when you are working with cable needles. I have opted to not purchase a new set of needles thinking I have it on hand only to find out I'm wrong. Bummer.

With Ewe Stash, you simply enter all of your inventory and can easily look it up. Here's a picture of all of my needles:

With Ewe Stash, you don't have to be near your needles (or hooks if you crochet) to know what you have. No more digging through them all to know if you have what you need! Simply open the app and you can search by brand name (Addi, Susan Bates, etc.), type (DPNs, straight, cable, etc.) or size. YOu can also store information about all your yarn stash. My stash isn't that big so I don't store that. Plus, any excuse to purchase more yarn is to not know what you have on hand. That's not as fun when you purchase a needle you already have.

For the record, one of my other favorite things is this Rowan knitting bag. I store my needles in here. When we go on a staycation close to home, I store my latest project in the bag in case I have time to work on it.

So, I've had a lot of questions about knitting. Are you a knitter? Do you find it intimidating? Do you want to learn?

My Favorite Things: Follow Your Favorite Blogs on Your iPhone and iPad Via Feeddler

I use the Feeddler (Feeddler Pro on my iPhone) app to catch up on my favorite blogs on my devices. It's so simple! You download the app (it's currently free) and enter your Google account credentials and your favorite feeds will pop up and sync immediately. If you have several Google accounts that have different feeds on each, you can upload all of them and switch between the different accounts to read your regular feeds.

I love that the app will sync between devices so if I read some blog posts on my iPhone (which I do to pass the time while waiting for the kids to get out of school), then the next time I go to read some blog posts on my iPad, the app will mark as read the ones I read earlier that afternoon.

I often come across new blogs that I want to follow. It is so easy to add those new blogs to my list via Feeddler. I simply click on the "+" sign and add the name of the blog and Feeddler will update my blog feed list to include all future posts from my new blog.

Do you have a favorite app you use on your devices? What do you use?

My Favorite Things: Cell Lens Pouch

Lask week I told you about the OlloClip-a lens for your cell phone. This week I want to share about the Cell Lens Pouch, a cute little purse-like attachment for your cell phone. You can use the pouch to hold your cell phone lens attachment. Or you can use it to hold your Skittles! I sometimes carry pennies in mine into the grocery store so the kids can ride the penny horse. It's a handy little pouch. You simply plug it into your phone headjack.

Brian got me my pouch for Christmas. He ordered it from PhotoJojo for $15. You can purchase it with a lens that fits it for $40. It comes in red, aqua, and black. I love my pouch!

My Favorite Things: OlloClip

My newest obsession is the OlloClip I got for Christmas. Do you know about the OlloClip? If you use your iPhone to take pictures, then you should consider the OlloClip. It's three lenses in one clip on--a wide angle, a macro, and a fisheye. It also works with your favorite phone apps like Instagram so you can still use their cool filters.

My only complaint about this product is that it isn't convenient to take off your iPhone cover at all times. If you keep your phone in one of those secure OtterBox cases, you can forget this product working for you. You have to take off your iPhone case to use it. I have a very flexible case so it isn't hard to take off. I do have one stiff case that I've had to forego if I want to use the OlloClip.

But that aside, I still love this product. It is so easy to figure out and it takes fabulous pictures! Here is one from the wide angle lense:

And then a close up of the portabello mushroom using the macro lens:

Here is a close up of a few of my favorite house plants:

I love this wide angle shot I took of the frost on a bush outside:

I don't use the fisheye lens as frequently. I think it probably works best with scenery and cloud shots. I'm going to have to test it a little more but here is one of the lake behind our house:

The OlloClip retails for $69.99 and is sold on their website, Target, Best Buy, and other retailers. Follow me on Instagram at carolynmae18 so you can see future OlloClip shots!

My Favorite Things Thursdays

It's Thursday and time for My Favorite Things Thursday linky party. Please join the party if you have a favorite recipe, app, craft idea, everyday product, fashion idea, or favorite pin. Anything goes really!

I love this time of year! My favorite place to visit this time of year is Starbucks! It's everyone's favorite, right??

My newest obsession is the Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate and the Caramel Apple Cider. Oh my! There is no better way to spend an afternoon than curled up with a good book while sipping your Starbucks. I love it!

What's your favorite Starbucks item?

My Favorite Things Thursdays

It's Thursday and time for My Favorite Things Thursdays! Do you have a favorite receipe, app, link, craft, product, fashion trend or perfume to share? Link up, anything goes.

I wanted to share one of my favorite tv shows and it seems appropriate because the new season starts back up on Sunday AND it is October.

I LOVE The Walking Dead (on AMC). I would never ever have thought I'd be so into a zombie show but the storyline is really, really good. At the end of every episode, Bri and I are always intrigued. We have watched all three seasons. If you have the opportunity to Netflix the past episodes, do it!

What I love about the show is not only the creepy factor but the character development is amazing. It is always a bummer when a favorite character becomes a zombie or dies.

After each episode there is another show called The Talking Dead with a host who goes over that week's episode with super fans and Hollywood celebrities who are also huge Walking Dead fans.

Check out an episode! It's a fun show!

My Favorite Things Thursdays

It's Thursday and time for My Favorite Things. Do you have a favorite receipe, app, link, craft, product, fashion trend or perfume to share? Link up, anything goes.

I am so excited to share this recipe with you. It isn't my recipe but it's my new go-to recipe for a soup to make on a blustery day. Yum! My family is IN LOVE with this Lasagna Soup recipe. You start with making a "lasagna-type" soup base.

On the side you then make a cheese topping with mozzarella, cottage cheese (the recipe calls for ricotta but I prefer cottage cheese), and parmesan cheese.

Then you add the cheesy topping to the soup and stir and eat. My kids are crazy about this one. I was even able to put it in their thermoses for school the next day.

My Favorite Things Thursdays

It's My Favorite Things Thursday! Come join the party and share your favorite product, recipe, app, beauty product, link, etc. Anything goes really.

I have something life-changing to share. Or should I say sleep-changing....

I have terrible allergies and when it is allergy season, I am a restless sleeper. I also live in a very dry climate so more often than not, I wake up with a dry mouth. Then a friend gave me one of these to try.

I laughed out loud because I couldn't imagine how they'd do anything for me since I don't snore. But I was desperate to have a full night rest. Oh. My. Gosh. I cannot tell you what a difference these made in my quality of sleep. I seriously cannot say enough wonderful things about this product.

I can breathe! And not just breathe but really breathe like full-on through the nose all night long. I don't wake up with a dry mouth. I gave one to my husband (who does snore on occasion) and he's now addicted (an no more snoring!). We have to look hilarious at night with our nostrils expanded across our face.

I can't express what LIFE-CHANGING sleep I'm having. Seriously wonderful, deep, satisfying sleep people! Just an FYI, I have tried the off-brands and they are terrible. They're uncomfortable and don't stick or stick too much and pull my skin off.

If I were to go on Survivor, I'd bring my Breathe Rights as my luxury item. I really can't be without them anymore. When we travel and I forgot them, I set out at 10pm to search out the closest Walgreens.

Please, try these. Even if you have decent sleep you should try them. I now wake up feeling rested. I am less tired. I am less moody. I love these things! They are really my favorite thing!

My Favorite Things Thursdays

It's Thursday, which means it is practically Friday, right? Time for My Favorite Things.

I posted recently about our trip to Santa Fe. My favorite store in Santa Fe is the Nambe store. Do you know about Nambe? It is gorgeous stuff. They make "museum quality" dishware, barware, serverware, flatware, Christmas ornaments and more.

I have a collection of Nambe that I've received as gifts from my mother in-law through the years. I have a few bowls, a platter, a chip and dip tray, several vases, and some salt and pepper shakers. Oh they're beauties!

I purchased a heart-shaped Nambe bowl for myself to put my jewelry in. I love it! Here it is with a few Rosie Rosys from my shop.

I have a lot of jewelry so this bowl won't hold it all but it does hold my go-to earrings and rings. What do you store your jewelry in or on?

My Favorite Things Thursdays

I'm so glad that it is Thursday! That means that tomorrow is Friday! But because it is Thursday, that means that it's time for My Favorite Things Thursdays.

This week my new favorite thing is this adorable dog hat I found at a craft fair on vacation. I know that dogs that are dressed up can seem quite silly or obnoxious but having a teeny dog just automatically makes you WANT to dress them up. I can't help it. She's too cute and LIKES it.

So, this hat was created by K-9 Kool Hats. The reason that the site is called Kool Hats is because the company is based in Arizona where I'm told that dogs really do need hats. They create hats that have a lining that you can wet to keep dogs cool. Pippa's cowgirl hat isn't a kool hat. They're now making cute hats!

If you have a friend or family member (or you yourself!) have a dog who might tolerate a hat, check the link out. They come in all sizes. I forgot to mention that the dogs don't mind wearing the hats. They are designed to form around their ears and sit high enough that the dogs don't see them on their head. They velcro around the chin and you just have to make it tight enough so the dog doesn't feel the hat shuffling around. They are made really well.

Cute or cruel? :)