sponsored review

Win a Phone Case from Caseable!

June 7, 2017 by jessica 16 Comments

A vacation isn’t in the cards right now, so when Caseable reached out to see if I’d like to outfit my phone with a new accessory, I opted for the next best thing: an iPhone case bedecked in a tropical print to give me a bit of a mental escape from the home-buying process!

Caseable has roots in both Brooklyn and Berlin, and offers hand-crafted, custom covers for smartphones, laptops, e-readers, and tablets. You can either customize your case or browse hundreds of designs by various artists. While you can browse designs by category (i.e. animals or architecture), there isn’t a search option to find cases with a particular motif; you’ll need to set aside time to sift through the site. Once you spot your beloved design, you’ll click through to select what type of electronic you’re looking to dress up and you’ll be presented with shopping options. The smart phone hard cases are a great deal at just $24.90, especially when you’re looking at the $40 mark for just about any trendy phone case, with a $6.90 shipping fee within the United States. The case itself is sturdy and slim fitting. There’s a small lip over the edge of the phone to give your screen a much-needed buffer in case of a tumble, and the case is lightly textured for added grip.

I’m thrilled to share that one reader will receive a smartphone hard case in the print of his or her choice! Just head over to Caseable to peruse the designs (Cat Coquillette’s work is so fun!) and complete the giveaway prompts at the bottom of this post to enter. As always, there are extra entries for supporting this blog and our partner brand on social media. The giveaway is open to those with a mailing address in the US, CA, AU, and Europe. Good luck!

Caseable iPhone case | Beaches by Gray Malin | H&M earrings (similar)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Time for Spring

April 13, 2017 by jessica 1 Comment

This week has just been slipping away from me! I’ve barely had enough time to take care of my priority list at work, let alone blog in the evening! So, it’s especially fitting that today’s post is all about the watch brand that I’m currently obsessed with: Welly Merck. Welly Merck was founded by a couple that met on a trip to Italy: Merck, an American man who was born into a steel artisan family, and Welly, a Swiss woman who came from a traditional watch-making family. After a transcontinental romance, Merck eventually moved to Switzerland to be with Welly and the two merged their artisan skills to launch a watch brand commemorating their love story.

The timepiece these two lovebirds created is absolutely stunning! If you saw my Instagram story last week, you know I was already over-the-moon with the company based on the packaging alone. I mean, a turquoise gift box with a magenta ribbon?! Be still my beating heart! Of course, the piece nestled inside that box was even more beautiful. I chose the “Classic Chicago” design with a gold-plated mesh band and a white face. The watch has a nice weight to it that feels luxurious rather than heavy, and the flexible mesh band and clasp allows you to size the watch without going to a jeweler. (I have tiny wrists and I always have to get links taken out of watch bands. I love that this one can be easily adjusted for my pint-sized wrists.) My favorite aspect of the watch is that the substantial mesh band looks like a luxe piece of jewelry that you can stack with your other beloved pieces. It also comes in rose gold and silver, allowing you to pick the piece that will coordinate with your collection. You know I’m all about my gold costume jewels, so I felt I’d get the most mileage out of the gold version. Although, that rose gold watch was awfully tempting! (There are also leather straps available if metal isn’t your thing.)

The watch is an investment for many budgets, coming in at $265. While I received a complimentary sample, I do feel like the quality is in line with that price point. It feels — and looks — more expensive than it is. Plus, after a week of wear, it seems like it’ll be scratch-resistant, keeping it picture-perfect for years to come.

***
A big thanks to Welly Merck for partnering on this post!

Giveaway! Hole in Wall Subscription Box

January 6, 2016 by jessica 3 Comments

I came across the German word “fernweh” today. While there isn’t a perfect English translation, it basically means a burning desire to visit locations you’ve never experienced before. And that’s exactly how I felt when I cracked the seal of the latest subscription box to capture my fancy: Hole in Wall.

Hole in Wall is a bi-monthly subscription box that features unique, local items from the box’s featured city. These items can range from snacks and condiments to candles and soaps, but they all have one thing in common. They’re from local small businesses. In essence, you feel like you went to the farmers’ market and had inside knowledge of the best booths to visit.

The December box featured San Diego, a city I instantly yearned to visit, thanks to the selection of food items and the candle that bears the city’s name. The scents of surf, sand, and jasmine were just the thing to make me feel like I traveled across the country without having to leave my apartment.

For your own brush with fernweh, scroll down to see what was tucked inside my box and then enter to win the upcoming February box that will make you want to book a flight to Seattle! Good luck!

Hole In Wall is transparent about the cost of the items inside. You’ll find product descriptions and prices enclosed. Here’s what was included in the San Diego box:

Oats + Honey Facial Soap Bar, $7 (brand packaging wasn’t included on this one)
Nibble 72% Cocoa Dark Chocolate, $6
True Gentleman Korean Beef BBQ Jerky, $7
Arrogant Bastard Oaked Chipotle Sauce, $6
MJ’s Market P.C. Bar, $4
Hopkins AG Lime and Sea Salt Almonds, $3.75
Bella Vie Scented Soy Candle in San Diego, $7
Maw ‘N Paw Caramel Kettlekorn, $3

Total value: $43.75
Price: one box = $35; three boxes = $32.50 each; six boxes = $30 each

Even with $7 shipping per box, you’re getting your money’s worth — along with the smug knowledge that you scored some of the city’s best under-the-radar finds.

Enter to win the February box featuring Seattle!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This giveaway is open to U.S. residents. Good luck!

Review: Irresistible Me Curling Wand

August 13, 2015 by jessica 4 Comments

This post could really be subtitled “The Stupid Faces I Make When Curling My Hair.” Obviously, I didn’t include them in an effort of self-preservation, but Dave caught them all on camera. I look bored in some, sleepy in others, and downright angry in most! And there’s no reason for it, since this 8-in-1 complete curler by Irresistable Me is pretty amazing.

I curl my hair almost daily, so I was pretty jazzed when the company offered to send over the Holy Grail of curling irons. The kit includes a heating handle, eight wands, and a heat-resistant glove to keep your fingers from burning (safety first!), and it all comes neatly rolled up in a nylon carrying case. (I felt like a serious beauty addict with this thing in tow.) I used it for the first time when we visited Louisville and have continued to style my hair with it since.

PROS

So. Many. Choices. Anyone with hairdo A.D.D. is going to love playing with the different size barrels.
Fast and even heating elements. Seriously, it took less than 30 seconds to heat up. You’ll also notice there’s a LED screen on the handle. This shows you the exact temperature of the wand. Through a bit of trial-and-error, I discovered I need to bump up the heat to keep the curls in my hair longer. I’m never able to hold curls for long with fine, straight hair, but my locks were still wavy at the end of the night.
No frizzy hair. Honestly, I don’t understand how “the tourmaline technology with negative ions” keeps hair shiny and smooth, but it does. (Magic, probably.) The ends of my hair usually look dried out and frizzy when using a traditional curling iron with the clamp. I didn’t have that problem with this wand.
One-year warranty.

CONS

It’s an investment at $200. This works out to $25 per wand. If you have a particular barrel size and shape you never stray from, this might not be the best way to spend your money. It seems better suited for ladies who like to switch up their hairstyles on the regular.
The kit is bulky to travel with. Pick one or two barrels and toss those in your luggage instead.
No clamp makes burning your fingers a very real possibility. This is where that heat-resistant glove comes in. Use it.

Dress: Dee Elle ($29!) | Bracelets: Hermes, c/o Julie Vos (similar on sale) | Rings: Lulu Frost, c/o Vrai & Oro | Curling Wand: c/o Irresistible Me

Casetify // Review + Discount

March 23, 2015 by jessica 8 Comments

Truth be told, I’m kind of a sucker for customized things. And Instagram. And I have zero willpower when a brand combines the two. So, it’s probably not a surprise that I jumped at the opportunity to create a custom iPhone case courtesy of Casetify. Casetify offers a variety of pre-designed phone cases and the opportunity to create your own by linking social media accounts or uploading images.

The process of creating your own case is really quite simple, albeit time consuming if you spend as much time as I did scrolling down memory lane and recounting past vacations on Instagram. I went with the clear classic snap case ($39.95) and then chose between dropping my photos into one of the layout options or into a pre-made template. Personally, I thought many of the template designs were a little juvenile, so I opted for a single-panel layout to feature one photo. I knew I wanted something summery and chose a photo from our 2013 trip to Charleston. The photo itself isn’t anything special, but I love that it reminds me of the condo we stayed at and its resident cat.

The case took two weeks to arrive and it’s pretty much what I expected. However, the color isn’t as vibrant as it was on-screen, which may be due to the fact that the case is frosted and textured. It’s nice and thin, though, and I like that the sides are clear to show off my gold phone.

If you’re tempted to create your own, take $10 off your order with code SMZQHF.

Tunic: J.Crew (also love this one)
Earrings: Tory Burch
iPhone Case: c/o Casetify