by | Jul 11, 2017 | Accessories, Fashion, Review |
Hello Beautiful People,
Blessings to you, as always!
As many of you know, I wear contact lenses and glasses. I enjoy wearing contacts to make my eyes pop. When not wearing contacts, I am wearing my glasses to give my eyes a break. I want to make sure that my frames are just as stylish as my outfit and accessories. Usually with style comes an expensive price and that is even with vision insurance,so I am always looking for a good deal when it comes to eyeglasses.
My annual appointment to see the eye doctor was less than a month away when OTTICA asked to partner with our blog. OTTICA specializes in top-quality and affordability eyeglasses for men and women. To sweeten the deal, they offer first-time buyers a fifty percent savings on their first pair.
I really like how OTTICA set its standards for top-notch eyewear at a reasonable price that fits all budgets.
OTTICA says, “We don’t joke around when it comes to lenses: When you’ve crafted millions of lenses, as we have, you might say that it becomes second nature. However, just because it’s second nature doesn’t mean we take it for granted. We treat each and every lens with diligence — knowing that it provides you with the ability to see the world as it was meant to be seen; clear, in all its vivacity and in the highest definition.”
OTTICA sells its own brand of frames and offers many name brands that you are already familiar with — COACH, Versace Tory Burch, Burberry, Ray Ban, and Michael Kors. Men’s and women’s frames are available in many fantastic designs and colors. Prescription sunglasses are also available to enhance your look. Or if you just want to wear the frames with no prescription, that is also an option.
Ordering glasses online maybe unfamiliar for some and and a few experience for others; but it shouldn’t be. The most important key is to make sure you get your annual eye checkup and get the prescription you need for glasses. You have the legal right to ask your ophthalmologist or optometrist to give you a written prescription for your new glasses.
I looked through the site and found a several pairs that I liked, including one from Coach that really intrigued me. I had to try these frames on – virtually, of course – to see how they looked on my face. With its ‘Try On’ feature, you can upload a photo of yourself to see how the frames would look on you. The photo below is of me trying on the Coach frames.
Eyeglass frames from Coach in Confetti
After I selected my frames, proceeded to check out. I uploaded my new prescription from my doctor. If you don’t have a written prescription, you can ask your doctor’s office to provide you with one. You also need to know your pupil distance (PD) for the frames to fit properly your face. I didn’t include my PD on the order, however the average is 63 to 64. If you do not enter a PD with your order, the default number assigned to you is 63. Be sure to ask your doctor for your pupil distance when you have your annual checkup. After I uploaded my prescription, I selected my lenses package, which includes the features that I wanted to be included such as thickness of the lenses, antiglare, and UV protection. The are four options available and you select the option that works best for you.
I went through the last steps of check out and OTTICA offered half price on selected frames. I chose Burgundy June, seen below using the ‘Try On’ feature.
OTTICA kept me updated on the status of the order. I could go to the website and enter my order number to find out when my order was placed, when the glasses were in production, when it went to quality assurance for final inspection and when the glasses were shipped. It took only two week for the glasses arrive in my mailbox from the day they were ordered. Very good turn around time for two top-quality glasses with many extra features added on it.
I could not wait to open the box to see my stylish new glasses. The packaging is well done. The box included two pairs of eyeglasses with accompanying cases, a discount card good for my next purchase, and a cleaning cloth.
OTTICA.COM
In a second post, I will unveil the eyeglasses and show how they look on me.
Stay tuned!
Disclaimer
OTTICA offered Bubblingwitheleganceandgrace.com a discount to make a purchase from its website. However, all opinions and statements are my own honest and without bias.
by | May 16, 2017 | Blogging / Technology, Review |
Hi Beautiful People,
Do you ever feel like you never can get great sound from your mobile phone or from your tablet?
It is like you can hear the music; but either it is not loud enough or the bass is not clear. I have had a blue tooth speaker that would give pretty good sound; but if the bass was rocking the speaker would vibrate so much that it fell off the table. If I was in mid workout mode, I would have to stop to pick it up off the floor.
What can you do to have great sound at a reasonable price?
JBL Flip 3 Speaker
If you are looking for an economically-priced speaker with all the qualities of good sound that feels the room the JBL Flip 3 Bluetooth Splashproof Speaker hits the mark. The Speaker comes in a variety of colors, most of the choices are not available. Verizon Wireless allowed us to demo the the speaker for a month and to give a review on this blog. The speaker retails for $99.99 and is currently on sale for $79.99; and can be purchase on the Verizon website.
Flip 3 Bluetooth Splashproof Speaker
The JBL Flip 3 Bluetooth Splashproof Speaker
Features include:
Pros
Sound
The speaker has clear sound no matter what the weather may be or if you are on land or get caught in the rain at a party.
“It is rubber on the outside of the speaker and has a rechargeable Li-ion battery that gives up to 10 hours of continuous play where you can dance the night away or enhance that barbecue picnic with the family. You can connect up to three smartphones and tablets at once.”
The sound is not muffled, I can hold the JBL Flip 3 in my hand and it never skips a beat in the sound quality. I really enjoy connecting my laptop or cell phone to the speaker to do my run/ dance workout.
Bluetooth Connection
Bluetooth compatibility for your computer, your smart phone or your tablet. With your computer, the speaker will connect through the Bluetooth option on the system preferences. For your smart phone or tablet, you need to download the app; and from there it syncs pretty quickly for the first time. And then after it quite easy to get and connected.
Splashproof
“No need to worry about rain or spills. It can even be cleaned with running tap water – just don’t submerge it.” It has rained in my neck of the woods for a week so the benefit of being waterproof if you get caught in the rain is very handy.
JBL Speaker Connections
You can actually connect JBL speakers together for a more fuller musical experience in a room or outside. I have never seen where speakers could connect with each other to play the same music at once.
You can take calls
The JBL Flip 3 has a speaker phone so you take your calls if you are doing work around the house or want to be hands free.
From the Verizon website:
“The next generation in the JBL Flip series, the Flip 3 adds a splashproof design* (IPX5-rated), a rugged rubber housing and a 3,000mAh rechargeable Li-ion battery that delivers up to 10 hours of continuous high-quality stereo audio playtime**.”
Highly flexible, the Flip 3 also lets you connect to up to three smartphones or tablets at once and then take turns playing audio from the device of your choice. An on-board speakerphone functionality with an echo and noise-canceling microphone lets you take crystal-clear, hands-free calls right from the speaker.
Con
Video not playing all the way through
I noticed that when I try to listen to videos on the iPad, the JBL Flip3 Speakerphone will play the audio. However, the video will often freeze. I don’t know if that’s just the way it is or if there is some glitch because the freezing happened each time I tried to play a video. I was trying to listen Casey Treat’s Renewing the Mind 2.0 video series on his app on the iPad and encountered the video freeze. I tried a second time to watch Kari Jobe’s Forever video and it froze on me but the audio was still going strong.
What’s in the Box
One JBL Flip 3 speaker, a micro USB charging cable, one quick start guide, a safety sheet and a warranty card.
If you are looking for a good reasonably priced speaker; than you may want to consider the JBL Flip 3. At less than $100, you are getting quality sound and a portable speaker that can be taken on the go with you.
FTC Disclaimer:
Verizon Wireless provided Bubbling With Elegance And Grace with the JBL Flip 3 speaker for thirty days to write this honest opinion. At the end of the thirty days, we returned the speaker back to Verizon Wireless. We did not receive any monetary compensation for this review. All opinions are express in the review are own.
by | Apr 24, 2017 | Blogging / Technology, Review |
Hello Beautiful people,
I hope you are having a wonderful day!
I thought that my iPhone was all I needed in a phone until I had the opportunity to try the Moto Z Droid and the Mod accessories; all are exclusively sold by Verizon Wireless. When I first looked at it, I noticed that it was ultra thin and the snap-on modules transforms a regular phone into must-have technology.
The Moto Z Droid Phone:
– Very thin
-The phone has a water repellent coating to protect against against light splashes or getting a little water on it.
-32GB internal memory
-13MP camera, which rivals many point-and-shoot camera on the market
– All-day battery life — You can watch videos and Internet browsers without worrying about draining the battery.
– TheTurboPower charger gives you a quick boost of power in a short amount of time.
– The has a Ultra efficient Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 820 processor with a 5.5 inch Quad HD AMOLED display
-Faster data transfer with the latest USB-C connectivity so your regular USB will not connect to this phone.
I demoed the Moto Z Droid black/Lunar, the phone also comes in Grey and White/Fine Gold. It was fun to see how the interchangeable modules transformed the phone into various different uses. I actually miss using the versatility of this phone. Here is an overview of the different modules that are work with the Moto Z Droid.
The Interchangeable Mods really transforms this phone to elite status. Please note that the modules and the carrying case are not a part of the phone’s standard package. Each piece must be purchased separately.
1. Kate Spade new york Design Wireless Charging Battery Pack Moto Mod
Kate Spade new york Design Wireless Charging Battery Pack Moto Mod
By simply snapping on the Wireless Charger to the phone can provide an almost full charge in only 15 minutes. Another option with this charger is maintaining the phone’s charge at either 100% or 80%. It is a versatile charger that can provide a couple options that best suit your needs.
The Kate Spade new york Wireless charging Battery Pack Moto Mod supports approximately 22 hours. Wireless means you can charge without having to attach a cord. Hands raised! I can still make calls on the phone and search through my applications while the phone is charging. The charger needs to be charged just like your phone needs to be charged, so don’t forget to pull it up on a regular basis.
2. JBL SoundBoost Moto Mod
This is my favorite Mod out of the whole bundle that I tried. Not only was the sound great, but I really like the kickstand in the back of the JBL SoundBoost Mod. I enjoyed listening to the YouVersion Bible App and my audiobooks at night, I would set the Moto Mod on my dresser and it would play all night. The phone can be an alarm as well. I could set it up in my work office and have classical or other music with no words playing softly in the background.
The kickstand is in the back see in the image below.
JBL SoundBoost Mod
3. Moto Snap on Case
If you want to use the phone case you can snap that on as well. This case looks like a grey engineered wood.
Moto Z Droid Snap on Mod Case
4. Hasselblad True Zoom Camera Mod
Like all smart phones on the market, the Moto Z Droid includes a camera. However, if you want to take it to another level the Hasselblad True Zoom Camera Mod. It has a 10x optical zoom, physical shutter and Xenon flash. This Mod simply snaps on the back and I was ready to start taking pictures. The phone literally morphed into a camera.
In the picture is the Hasselblad True Zoom Camera Mod and the Moto Z Droid. They simply snap together and it’s a camera/phone.
Hasselblad True Zoom Camera Mod
Here are some pictures taken with the phone.
Projector Mod
5. Motorola Insta-Share Projector
The Motorola Insta-Share Projector great mod piece if you do presentations and you do not necessarily take a heavy load of equipment with you. I could see Teachers, Professors, students using this mod because it’s so portable.
I projected the image of my Youtube channel on a wall. You can adjust the focus to the level you want and its very simple. The projector mod snaps onto the phone and the screen comes on and ready to go. There’s a slider for focus and the back flip out stand. I highly recommend this projector mod.
Here’s a more close up look at the crispness.
And you know there has be a case to put the mods in. The case is a separate cost, the mods fit snug as a rug and makes the pieces portable.
The Moto Z Droid phones and mods gives many options to enjoy and the ways you can use the phone with the mods are endless. The mods and the case do not come with the phone so if you do not want all of the pieces there are options to choose which mods you want. The prices vary depending on the mod you want.
FTC Disclaimer:
Verizon Wireless provided us with these items to demo and write a review. Bubbling with Elegance and Grace did not receive any monetary compensation for this review. All opinions are our own.
by | Mar 6, 2017 | From the Heart, Review |
Without Rival by Lisa Bevere
Hello Beautiful People,
Do you keep your emotions locked up on the inside? Do you feel like a failure every time you make a mistake?
With Lisa Bevere’s new book, Without Rival, she speaks to these issues that have trapped women for a long time. In her book, Bevere serves as an advocate for women. Through her encouraging words, she inspires women to be all that they can be by stretching them to do more and be more. Bevere herself reads the ChristianAudio version of the book. I enjoy an audiobook the most when the author reads the book because it provides a deeper and more personal connection to the author.
One quote from Lisa resonates with me — “The fact that if you failed doesn’t make you a failure.”
Matthew 25:13:30
“Not about our pace but about how we win the race.”
I agree that, as women, we have to remember we are not too old, too young, too experienced or too inexperienced. We have to watch what we say about ourselves because it is so easy to get caught in to that what everyone else says trap.
There are so many nuggets and even study questions after each chapter. I had to pause and repeat and pause again to get the questions all written down. I advise you to get a notebook so you can write down the questions and notes of what speaks to you.
It was also good to hear her speak about examples of how she is working on herself and talked about her personal struggles.
For example, whatever you do, don’t compare yourself with other people. It’s so easy to wish what someone else has or does for a living. You have heard this before, but the grass is not always greener on the other side. There may be some potholes in that yard.
“Comparison = refuge for the cowardly.”
“Comparison is the thief of joy.” Theodore Roosevelt
Lisa gives scriptural back up in this book, so it is not just your regular self-help handbook.
Another nugget from Lisa:
“Fame is not what makes someone a king.”
This book is full and deep with spiritual revelation. I recommend this book because it is just you and God working through these processes of really, looking at yourself. Each chapter is a Bible Study. This book makes you think and take a look at what really matters.
“Without God, we are nothing; but as we seek him, we find him.”
FTC Disclaimer:
ChristianAudio provided us with this audiobook as a free downloaded in exchange for writing this review. We received no monetary compensation for this review and all opinions and comments are our own.
by | Mar 5, 2017 | Review |
Hello Happy People!
Have you ever noticed that there are two types of smart phone users — iPhone users and everyone else. Since the beginning of smart phones, I have been a strong voice for the everyone else crowd. I was not a believer in the iPhone and all the hoopla surrounding it. That was until I had the opportunity to try the iPhone 7. Thanks to Verizon Wireless, we had the opportunity to demo the latest iPhone for thirty days and write this review. Here are four reasons why the next phone that I purchase for myself will be the iPhone.
The iPhone 7
- Improvements for the phone
Apple consistently updates and upgrades its products to always give the latest and greatest technology. We demoed the iPhone 7, the latest in a long list of iPhones that have been on the market. With that commitment to improving its products, I give Apple high marks. One of the noticeable upgrades for the iPhone 7 over previous version is the inclusion of 3D Touch, which allows the user to touch the screen at different intensities for different results. For example, I could touch the screen to open an app, and if I touch lightly, I would open list of menu options for that app — a shortcut into the app’s most used features, for quicker access. As you can see in the photo below, I touch the icon for the Systems features and I was given a list of options to go to. This upgrade from previous versions of the iPhone makes my experience quicker and more productive. I have not seen this on any other smart phone on the market. The advance upgrades make Apple the leader in the industry.
Using the 3D Touch feature on the iPhone 7
- Syncs with iCloud
Since Apple makes a variety of products, you can use iCloud to make sure all of your these products work together and talk to each other. We already have a MacBook Pro computer and an iPad at home that use iCloud. When I would take a photo with the iPhone, it would instantly show in my iCloud photo library, which was then immediately available to be viewed on the computer and our iPad. All of the these technologies work together seamlessly with iCloud. Being able to go to iCloud.com makes me more organized and lets us be able to know where are photos are in one place.
- Photo and video quality
We all want to capture those special moments of life with a photo or video, but your camera is nowhere near you. Chances are that your phone is in your pocket or in your purse. My experiences with smart phone cameras has been less than positive. The photo looks grainy if it is enlarged even a small amount, or the photo just doesn’t come out well in the first place. But with the iPhone, Apple uses a higher camera components and the outcome is sharper and clearer picture that can be enlarged with less distortion.
- Battery life
One of the greatest features that the iPhone is its long-lasting battery. I could unplug the phone from the charger as I am leaving for work. And by the end of the work day, the battery would be at 87% charged or 92% charged, even with using the phone throughout the day for text messages, phone calls or checking Facebook. Not having to keep the phone attached to a charger while at work or in the vehicle is such a great thing. It truly makes a wireless phone a reality. My current phone and other ones in the past drain the battery so fast, and that is even if I am not using the phone that much.Apple provides an overall superior product that other companies are trying to catch up to. I owned several brands for my personal use and have reviewed several for this blog, but Apple is the industry leader. If you have never tried an iPhone and you are needing to upgrade your current phone, I would recommend switching to the iPhone. You will be amazed at the difference and you will not be disappointed.
FTC Disclaimer:
Verizon Wireless provided Bubbling and Elegance and Grace with the iPhone 7 for thirty days to write this review. At the end of the thirty days, we returned the phone back to Verizon. We did not receive any monetary compensation for this review. All opinions are our own.
by | Feb 26, 2017 | Review |
Hello Wonderful people!
It is my prayer that you had a wonderful and prosperous week. The temperatures hovered around 70 degrees most of week. We actually have our daffodils blooming in the backyard, and it is only February. I have to remind myself that it is technically still winter and the weather can quickly change and we could still see snow before Spring actually arrives.
Even during the Winter months, it is important that you keep your fitness goals on your mind. One of the easiest ways to make sure that you don’t loose sight of the goals is with a personal fitness tracking device. These devices have surged in popularity in the last couple of years, as more options have come on the market at various price points. Thanks to our partnership with Verizon Wireless, we demoed one of Samsung’s fitness tracker — the Gear Fit2. We have reviewed other devices in the past, but this was our first time trying a Samsung device. After using the Gear Fit2 for thirty days, I am convinced that it’s one of the best devices on the market and it competes with the other more well-known companies. Here are four reasons why I would recommend this device.
The Samsung Gear Fit2 contours to the shape of the wrist for a comfortable fit.
#1 ) The Samsung GearFit2 fits better and is more comfortable than the other devices that I have used in the past. As you can see in the photo above, the device has a curved face, allowing it to contour the shape of your wrist. It does not sit on top of the wrist, it curves around the wrist. Since you will be wearing this device almost all the time, you do not want it to feel like uncomfortable.
Samsung Gear Fit2
#2) The device comes in two sizes, with detachable bands that can be changed out with different colors, designs and fabrics. You can pick any color in the spectrum and have it in leather, stainless steel or plastic. If you want the band to coordinate with your outfit, you are sure to find the right one. Another benefit of interchangeable bands is that the technology of the device is kept in the face itself, so if a band were to get torn or ripped, you do not have purchase an entirely new device.
#3) The Super AMOLED screen, measuring at 1.5 inches, is the largest that I have seen on any fitness tracker. Using the same technology as smart phones, you can navigate the multi-colored screen with the touch of a finger. The screen moves up and down to reveal more detailed information. You can be also navigate to the left or right for new categories of information. The additional screens track your total number of steps for the day, your heartbeat, calorie and water intake.
#4) With the large and navigable screen, you can see detailed fitness logs for the current day and previous days.Not only can you see the number of steps for today, but also the number of steps for the previous two weeks. This is the first fitness tracker that I have used where I was not dependent on my smart phone to provide those details.
#5) The device also syncs with your smart phone to provide notifications of incoming phone calls, text messages, Facebook and other apps. Many times I do not have my phone close at hand, so it great to do know that I have call coming in and need to get my phone.
With any fitness tracker, you will need to regularly charge its battery. I found that the Samsung Gear Fit2 needed a charge every three days, which is more often than most devices. Despite having to keep the charger close at hand, I would recommend it to anyone who wants purchase their first tracking device, or for someone who wants to upgrade their current device with one that has more features. The device retails for $179.99; but is currently priced at $99.99 on Verizon’s website.
FTC Disclaimer:
Verizon Wireless provided Bubbling With Elegance And Grace with the Samsung Gear Fit 2 personal tracker for thirty days. At the end of 30 days, the tracker was returned to Verizon. We did not receive any monetary compensation to write this review. All opinions expressed on this review are our own.
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