Since today is New Year’s Eve, I thought it would be a perfect time for me to reflect on the success and growth of this blog in the last year! This morning I woke up to an email from WordPress that linked me to a Stat’s page for the site that gave me all sorts of fun details about my top posts, my commenters, visitors and site views!
Now, although these posts were my most viewed, I, of course, have my own list of favorite posts! These are the posts that were some of the most fun for me to brainstorm and put together. Some took a lot of time behind the scenes in terms of photographing, organizing materials, and/or Photoshop skills, but in the end these are posts I am very proud I was able to bring to fruition!
The final items I wanted to include in this post were the articles I wrote outside of this blog! You may not have even been aware that I have been writing elsewhere this year, so I thought this would be a good time to review and link those posts, as they are all extensions of Strange & Charmed in one way or another!
The first site where I was able to publish a few articles this year was Levo League! You may have seen me mention them a time or two before, but Levo is a great website that I discovered last year, and this year I was given the opportunity to join their arsenal of amazing contributors with these two articles!
The second place you can find me on the web, outside of Strange & Charmed, is GeeksterLabs! GeeksterLabs is a website I have been following for years that focuses on all types of consumer technology. This summer I joined the team as a feature contributor, writing about fun and quirky ways to make the most of technology! Since I have written a steady stream of articles for them, I have included the direct link to my author page here, so you can check out all the articles I have written!
Overall, I would say that 2013 has been an amazing year for this blog! I have seen growth month after month and I hope that trend continues into 2014! So, let me know what you’re favorite posts were from Strange & Charmed in 2013 and the types of articles you hope to see more of in 2014! Happy New Year Everyone!
Hello everyone! I apologize for the lack of posts yesterday! I had to leave the house super early to help a friend before I was able to edit this video for YouTube and then once I got home… optical migraine! So I finally got this baby uploaded late last night, so viola, here is my What I got for Christmas Haul Video!
I don’t want to spoil the video too much, but I decided that I was going to talk about some of my FAVORITE gifts instead of each and every thing! Not every gift is a “big gift”, I was so pleased with many of the little gifts and stocking stuffers I got because it was clear the gifter had put thought into it (and for me, those are the best gifts!)
For the most part, there is one “big gift” that I ended up saving up for and many members of my family ended up giving me very generous gifts of money in order to help me pay for it! That one sneaks it at the end to be sure to watch the video the whole way through!
So, I hope you enjoy this video and make sure to let me know what your favorite gifts were this year! Remember, they don’t have to be big gifts or expensive ones, even the smallest stocking stuffer can be a thoughtful treat!
I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas! I know I said that today I would be back to the blog with a Christmas Haul, however, I have some slightly bad news… I’m sick! I wasn’t feeling too good earlier this week, and then I sort of summoned all my energy on Christmas Eve because I was having company and had lots of things to do, but after I got home late last night on Christmas Day, I just fell right to sleep and have basically been in bed ever since. I’m glad I really don’t have much to do, but I just don’t have the energy to put up the haul, but I will be doing it eventually once I feel better! So, I hope you all understand and also take some time to rest and relax yourself between the holidays so that you are in top shape for New Years Eve!
Today I wanted to take just a moment of your time to share with you a useful little tech tip to make sure you are prepared for your winter vacations, holiday travel and basically the rest of the winter days ahead of us! Did you know that during the winter, batteries drain at a faster rate than they do in warmer weather? Yep, they do! So, it’s very important to make sure that you are keeping backup battery sources with you while you are out and about and away from chargers and electrical outlets to make sure your most important gadgets stay safe! This is obviously important all year round, but even more so in winter months when accidents and emergencies are more common! So, I recently stumbled upon this adorable little backup battery charger for the iPhone 5/5s/5c at Anthropologie! It’s a very convenient little size and can pop right into your lightening cable port while you are still using your phone! Don’t let battery drainage ruin your holiday and winter season! Be prepared so you can have a fun and safe winter!
Now, everyone, back to your figgy pudding and I will see you again with a Christmas haul on Thursday!
Merry Christmas Week Everyone! I am so excited for Christmas this year and I hope you are too! Now, I know I have had my Christmas shopping all wrapped up for a few weeks now, but I know that last minute gifts and stocking stuffers are always popping up. So, I decided to share with you today a video I posted for Vlogmas on my YouTube Channel that covers 25 Gifts Under $25! Many of these gift ideas are simple to get ahold of, so I thought this may help you finish crossing gifts off your list! Enjoy!
If you are someone who knows me personally or has been following me and my blog for a while, you know I am a gadget person. Not only do I like to own a lot of gadgets, but I am also just interested in them in general. Tech is a language I speak, so its no surprise that friends, family members, co-workers and even acquaintances often come to me with questions before they make a major tech or gadget purchase. Recently, the question I have been asked the most is “Alexis, you have both, which is better, the iPad (Air) or the iPad Mini?” Now, this happens to be a very loaded question because of the way its phrased and completely subjective, but really all I am being asked is “Alexis, which iPad should I get?” Now that’s a question I can help you answer!
If you have never owned an iPad before, the choice between the iPad Air and the iPad Mini is difficult! In fact, I couldn’t choose myself, so I have both! So, as someone who owns both devices and uses both of them in very specific ways, let me point out some factors that I think are important to understand in order to help you decide which model to buy.
Internal specs
I want to cover the topic of internal specs of the devices for one sole purpose, and that is to explain that if you are planning on purchasing the latest iPad model (either air or mini), this point is moot! Now, if you are trying to decide between models of iPad’s, your options are currently iPad 2 vs iPad Air and iPad Mini non-retina vs iPad Mini Retina. Out of those choices, my opinion is clear, if you are worried about money, just buy the cheaper model. The non-retina screens aren’t going to be noticeable to you as an average consumer, so if you can’t afford the recent model or just don’t want to pay the price for them, go non-retina and proceed with your life!
Size isn’t just a number
When it comes to the two iPad sizes, you may think an inch or two wouldn’t make that much of a difference, but it does! In fact, to me, my iPad and iPad mini are like completely different devices. The truth is, you can do everything you do on an iPad Air on an iPad Mini, but a certain size screen may feel more natural with some activities. For example, if you are someone who wants to use your iPad as an ereader, the iPad mini is the perfect fit for reading. Yes, you can read on the iPad Air very successfully, but the smaller screen is better suited for the task and more closely mimics the size of a book. Conversely, you can take handwritten notes and sketch on your iPad mini, but the iPad Air or other full-sized iPad feels much more natural and less cramped because it’s about the size of a sheet of paper! When it comes to activities like surfing the web or gaming, however, I will have to say, both iPads do an excellent job!
Storage space & connectivity
When it comes to choosing an iPad, not only do you have two sizes to choose from, but you also have to choose the amount of storage space you want in your device and whether or not you need to connect via cellular data networks. When it comes to storage, I suggest buying a model with the most amount of space you can afford, especially if you intend to have your iPad for numerous years. There is nothing worse than buying an iPad and then in a year, realizing you have filled it up and must either delete files and apps or upgrade to a model with more storage space. Now, as for connectivity, usually a Wifi only model will suffice for most users unless you know you do not have access to Wifi in the places you plan to use your iPad.
If I had to choose one
Now, in the interest of being completely honest, I think its only fair that I explain to you which iPad I would choose if I could only have one! That would be the iPad Air or any full-sized iPad. Why? Because I am more than just a casual iPad user and the full-sized iPad, in my opinion, is the place I feel most comfortable doing everything! I don’t always feel like I want to do everything on my iPad Mini, mostly because the screen is smaller and harder to use in certain circumstances.
How I think you should choose
Below I have listed out a bunch of different points that reflect the use of the iPad Air and iPad Mini. If you are choosing between the two devices, I suggest reading these lists and tracking how many of the points apply to you, your lifestyle and your needs. Tally up which device checks the most points and hopefully that will help you better understand which version of the iPad is right for you!
iPad Air
I plan to use my iPad for everything I possibly can or want to replace my desktop or laptop computer with the use of an iPad.
I will most likely use my iPad at home or carry it in a case when I am outside the home.
I am used to writing in large notebooks or have large handwriting.
I want to use my iPad for work or school, taking it to meetings, saving materials to reference or working remotely without my desktop or laptop computer.
I want to use my iPad to draw, sketch, design or write.
I want to use my iPad to access apps that will help me create content, like iPhoto, iMovie, or Garageband .
iPad Mini
I will use my iPad mostly for reading or in place of an ereader.
I need an iPad that is very portable and can fit into a small bag or can easily be carried or stored.
I want to be able to hold my iPad in one hand and use the other to navigate.
I want to use my iPad to entertain my small child.
I plan to use my iPad for browsing the web, email and playing games most of the time.
I use my iPhone or other smartphone for apps and internet more than I do a desktop or laptop computer.
So, what did you come up with?
Did you find this post helpful to you in deciding which iPad to purchase? Do you own an iPad and have any other points you think are important that I may have missed? Let me know in the comments so we can help everyone make the best choice to suit their needs!
I happen to be a major fan of the J. Crew Pixie Pant. If you have never heard about them or worn them before, let me explain that they are like the ultimate leggings! They are slim fitting like a legging, but made from a thicker material that is similar to a pair of black pants, which means you can wear these guys places where you wouldn’t normally wear plain leggings because of the casual factor. They also have a stretch waist band and an overall stretch to the pants that make it easy to get a nice fit in them despite your shape and also make them incredibly comfortable. I live in my Pixie Pants for work because they are so easy to wear and easy to style that it makes dressing for work a breeze!
Now, the one thing about the Pixie Pants that I am not in love with is the price tag! They retail for $98 a pair and although I can see the value in them, it is hard to justify purchasing multiple pairs which is pretty much a necessity since these guys are dry clean only! So, since its holiday time and loads of retailers are having amazing sales, I decided to run over to my local J. Crew Factory Outlet to see if I could get a few pairs of Pixie Pants on sale. After looking around for a while, I came across a pair of pants that was a near duplicate for the Pixie, except they had a side zipper instead of the back zipper. I spoke to an employee about whether these were Pixie Pants and she explained that they are the Factory duplicate of the Pixie Pant. Many times, Factory Outlets do not like to sell the exact products as their retail counterparts, so similar items are made with slight differences just to be sold exclusively in the outlet and the pants I had found were actually called the Gigi Pant, a dupe for the Pixie! Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to find any Gigi Pants in stock at my outlet in my size, but the employee that assisted me explained that their online store was having a 50% off sale with an additional 10% + free shipping deal right now and that deal was better than the in-store deal! So, I promptly pulled out my iPhone and ordered myself 2 pairs of these Gigi pants online and they were about $35 dollars each!!!
So, if you are interested in the Pixie Pant, but are afraid of the price tag, perhaps you should give the Gigi Pant a go! If you shop soon, you can even take advantage of the awesome sale going on at the J. Crew Factory Online Store as well! Oh! One more little tip for you on the pants! For some reason, J. Crew Pixie & Gigi Pants run large, so make sure to order one size smaller than you normally wear! I almost didn’t believe it when I was told to get a smaller size, because that’s never how my luck runs with clothes, but it was true and I wear one size smaller than normal in my Pixie Pants!
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Do you wear the J. Crew Pixie Pant? Do you love them or do you think they are overpriced? Do you know of any other more affordable alternatives? Let’s discuss it in the comments!
If you have been following my YouTube Channel and watching my daily Vlogmas Videos, you will already know that this week I was in Rhode Island for a work conference through Wednesday. I just got home last night at 1 am, which was technically this morning, and was so exhausted that I basically just woke up! I didn’t intend to get home at 1 am, but I was unfortunately stuck in some major traffic exiting New York that threw off my travel time home by 4 hours! Crazy!
I didn’t have a post planned for today and since I woke up late as well I just thought I would take today off for some rest & relaxation! If you have ever traveled for work, you know it can be very tiring and very frustrating when travel plans go amiss, so I am sure you can understand how I am feeling! So, today I am just going to take it east, try to get a little administrative work done at home and try to catch up on my sleep since I got far too few of it over the last few days!
Hope you all had a wonderful week and are as excited for the weekend as I am!
About a week or so ago, eBay had an auction for some limited edition CFDA USB Charging Bracelets that were designed in conjunction with major designers like Rachel Zoe and MILLY. When I found out about the auction, I decided that I would get in on the fun and ordered the MILLY bracelet! These things are quite cool because they are wearable tech accessories that can be used to charge multiple devices. The bracelet itself is a USB to mini USB, but the pack came with two additional heads that conform to the Apple 30 Pin dock connectors and the new Lightening cable. See guys, tech can be fun and fashionable too!
What do you think of these wearable charging chords? Do you like the idea of wearable technology and blending fashion with our ever increasing dependency on gadgets? Let us know in the comments!
As of late, it really seems that I have been pretty obsessed with Kate Spade, so I decided that I would dedicate a post to this obsession while it lasts! First off, I just want to say that Kate Spade has been on my radar probably since I was in high school, but I honestly wasn’t too interested in any of their items until very recently. The first Kate Spade New York item I ever owned was actually the teal jewel bar necklace that my husband bought me for Christmas last year! I had been perusing Kate Spade’ website as I usually did and then suddenly I actually liked something… a lot! After that, it was mostly accessories like iPhone cases, some more cute jewelry and some small purse accessories. When I received the Beau Bag, it was my first Kate Spade New York Bag!
Now, I own my fair share of designer handbags, so when I say the Beau was my first Kate Spade bag, it was only because it was the first bag of theirs that I loved! I am not the kind of person that buys a bag to own one from a designer, and I only buy a designer bag if I LOVE IT! There is no room for like when you’re dropping a few hundred dollars on a bag, and I would hope all you smart ladies out there follow the same rules when your shopping, because as nice as it is to have nice things, you don’t want to go broke trying to accessorize and I find that when you wait for that one special bag, you love it so much more because you waited and didn’t settle… sort of like with Mr. Right!
So, if I own so few items from the designer, why do I love Kate Spade so much?
In all honesty, I think that the brand is absolutely lovely and represents a kind of sassy independent woman that I think myself to be! Although I only own some jewelry and accessories, when I use those items they never fail to make me smile from their quirky girliness! I especially love the Kate Spade iPhone cases for my iPhone 5 because of the lovely prints they use that are whimsical as well as practical! I don’t think you have to own every piece in a designers collection to truly appreciate their style, in fact, I think its much more special when you only own a few key pieces that you feel were designed just for you and your unique style, and that’s how I feel about my Kate Spade pieces!
