Review: Miggo 2-in-1 Camera Strap & Protective Case

Today I've got a pretty interesting item to review. Miggo is a company that makes camera straps that also double as protective cases. Pretty cool right? So when I got the opportunity to test one out, I was super excited. I love taking my camera with me everywhere, but sometimes I don't want to carry my bulky camera bag around with me, especially if I'm going to work or school. I was actually in the market for a protective DSLR case to put on my camera so I can just throw it in  my backpack or purse- that's why I was so excited to try this product out!

Miggo makes two different kinds of straps: the "Grip & Strap," which is a wristlet-type strap, and the  "Strap & Wrap," which is what I'm testing out today. I chose the DSLR option (obviously), but there is also an option for smaller, point-and-shoot cameras as well. So, after putting it on my camera and using it a bit, here are my thoughts:

Well, I'm not entirely sure where to start with this one. I guess I'll start with the fact that I spent over an hour figuring out how to correctly attach it to my camera. You attach the strap via a small screw that you screw into the tripod mount on the bottom of the camera. You can move the screw around based on how long your camera lens is, to allow the strap to fit perfectly around the camera when you wrap it up. Sounds easy, right? That's what I thought, but I had to watch their instructional video about 10 times before I think I put it on correctly. And I'm not even sure about that- it seemed no matter where I put the screw, the strap never snugly fit my camera when I tried to wrap it up. 

Another thing that bummed me out about this strap was that the length wasn't adjustable. I have an incredibly short torso, so when I wear this as a regular camera strap, the camera is dangling around my crotch area, down by my thighs, and I usually like to have it sitting right under my chest if I have a strap on it. Another big flaw: since the camera is attached only by the screw in the tripod mount on the bottom of the camera, this means the camera lens is facing downward toward the ground when you wear it, as opposed to facing out, away from your body (does that make sense?) The screw feels secure, but I wish the camera was more stable-y attached to the strap. 

Mostly, I think the idea of this product is really clever, but the execution just wasn't there. Personally, I put my normal camera strap back on the day after using this product and I like that way better than this thing.

What do you think? Would you ever try this product? Have you ever tried anything like this? Let me know!

Happy Wednesday! :)

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. However, all opinions are 100% my own.

Spring Lush Haul & Review

Happy Monday everyone! Remember when I talked about my Lush order that I was super excited about? It finally arrived, just in time for spring break! I finally got around to using all of these products, so without further ado- onto the review! (that rhymed, ha!)

The first thing I picked up was the Hoppity Poppity bath bomb- it was the first thing I put in my cart because it was so dang cute! I loved the smell- very spring-y and floral-y. When you pop it in the bath, it's very fizzy- that was my favorite part (aside from the smell). I was a little disappointed at the fact that this bath bomb didn't change the color of the water. When I first dropped it in, I thought it might leave a faint pink color, but that lasted about 30 seconds, and the color was gone. I also didn't really feel any benefits to my skin with this one- I didn't notice any more softness in my skin than usual. However, if you're looking for something simple and refreshing, this is definitely it!

Once I saw the Bubblegrub Bubbleroon, I instantly knew I needed it. Look at his little faaaaace! Plus I'm a sucker for anything vanilla-scented. This one had some mixed reviews online, with some saying they didn't like the color of the bathwater (they said it was dingy) or didn't like the earthy smell, so I was slightly hesitant. But I went for it anyway, and I am SO happy I did! I loved the smell, it was very comforting and relaxing. It left my skin feeling super soft, and Skylar said he could smell it on my skin when I got out of the bath, so it gets double points in my book. And I do have to slightly agree on the color of the bathwater- at first, it looked like a yellowy-green, but after a while it turned into a nice kelly green color. I actually want to buy another one of these little guys!

I was feeling a little adventurous, so I decided to try out a shampoo bar. I decided on the Brazilliant Shampoo Bar, which was made specifically for curly/unruly hair. I was definitely nervous about using it for the first time- I've never used anything other than regular shampoo before this. After using it a few times now though, I am 100% in love. It lathers exactly like normal shampoo- I like to rub it between my hands to start a lather, then gently rub the bar on my scalp to distribute. This one smells awesome, like freshly-picked oranges. Also, the website said these shampoo bars are supposed to last up to 3 times longer than a regular bottle of shampoo, and just after using it a few times, I can totally see that.  

Lastly, I got a sample of Figs and Leaves soap. I usually am not a huge fan of block soap- I really prefer liquid soaps/shower gels. Also, this isn't a scent I would have normally chose. However, I was surprised at how much I actually liked the scent- it's very earthy and relaxing. It has little fig seeds inside, which are nice for exfoliation, but can actually get a little too scratchy. I laid this next to my sink in the bathroom to use every once in a while, but I probably wouldn't recommend the full size.

Have you guys tried any of Lush's new items for spring? What did you think? Let me know! :)

RocksBox Jewelry Subscription Box Review

Recently I was contacted to review a jewelry subscription box called RocksBox. It's a monthly subscription box that includes three pieces of designer jewelry, picked based on your style preferences, for you to wear on loan for as long as you want. When you're done, you can either send the box and jewelry back in exchange for three new pieces of jewelry, or buy any of the pieces for 20% off the list price. The jewelry pieces are picked based on a style survey you take when signing up. Obviously, I was intrigued.

I wasn't entirely sure about the fact that you don't actually get the jewelry with the subscription price; I am pretty frugal, and couldn't really see myself splurging on designer jewelry very often. But, I figured I would give it a shot for a month or two.

 

Look at how cute this packaging is! I love the personalized note-on the inside, it lists all of the jewelry included in your box with the price if you'd like to purchase it. Plus, there is a little personalized note on the inside that says why they chose those specific pieces for you. I couldn't wait to see what was inside!

The first thing that came in the box were these stud earrings. Although I have my ears stretched, I have a second ear lobe piercing that I wear studs in, but since these dangle a bit, I wasn't too sure about them. But once I put them on, I fell in love with them! I like that they are mostly understated, but the studs add a feminine edge. (I think they look pretty cool paired with my basic black plugs, shown in the last picture!)

Next was this ring. I'm not usually into wearing multiple rings at a time, but this is one ring that just looks like multiple rings...if that makes sense? Anyway, I surprisingly like it. It's kind of clunky, so I don't think I would wear it all the time, but maybe if I was dressing up or going out?

The last thing I got was this necklace. Isn't it gorgeous??? It's definitely my favorite thing out of the box. In the personalized pamphlet, there was a note that said I had apparently said I liked this when taking my initial style survey. I've already worn this a few times!

Overall, I was really surprised to find how much I liked everything in the box! I could see myself wearing any of these on multiple occasions. Unfortunately, I was correct in my assumption that these items would be a little pricey to buy ($30, $50, and $80, respectively). I'm still unsure if I want to take the plunge and buy any. What do you think?

If you are interested in trying out RocksBox, you can use the code brookexoxo1 for your first month free!

Happy Wednesday!

#DLVoxBox Review

Hey Guys! I've been meaning to blog about the Deans List VoxBox for months! (Yeah, months...I got this in September...oops!) Well, this box has some pretty cool stuff in it so I thought better late than never, right?

Now lets take a look at the products!

Playtex Sport Fresh Balance
I was pretty excited to see these because, honestly, they are my favorite brand of tampon! Even though they are for 'sports' or whatever, I use them all the time. They are extremely comfortable! These ones are lightly scented, so if you're not a fan of that than I would just suggest getting the unscented kind. I personally like the lightly scented ones, because I am always paranoid about smelling bad, haha!


Luden's Watermelon Throat Drops
For this box, you could have either been sent some CoverGirl foundation, or these. I was kind of hoping for the makeup so I was a little disappointed when I saw I got these, to be honest. But actually, I just came down with a terrible cough, so these have come in handy! Plus, I really liked the taste of these! I don't know if I can give up my favorite cough drops (Halls Berries & Creme...anyone?) but these are definitely a good option too!

Kiss Fake Eyelashes in Flirty
I didn't previously own any fake eyelashes before, so I was excited to get a pair to try out! This includes free lash glue as well, so they are basically ready to go right out of the package. I really like these because they definitely enhance your lashes, but they're not super noticeable or over-the-top.

Soft Lips Cube in Sweet Mint
This is the cutest little thing! Honestly, I hate mint scented/flavored things so I haven't used this very much. But, I see they have a 'sweet vanilla' scent as well so I definitely want to try that one! Skylar has been using this too and let me tell you, he absolutely loves it, haha! He's basically claimed it as his own, which works out perfectly!

Sinful Colors Nail Polish
Not only did this box include this Sinful Colors nail polish, it also included a card about Sinful Color's '#NoTextRed' campaign, which I think is great! Here's what it is: you paint your thumb nails red to remind you not to text and drive. Cool, huh? However, as a nail polish, Sinful Colors has never been my favorite (I find it a little too thick, so it takes a long time to dry). Also, this color looks like a deep red in the bottle, but when you put it on it looks more like a standard 'firetruck' red.

Frixion Pens
I basically only write with pens (or mechanical pencils, but only when it's absolutely necessary!), so I threw these into my backpack to try them out while taking notes in class. I wasn't entirely impressed with how they wrote- they had a gel pen kind of ink, and it came out pretty streaky. I was pretty dang impressed at the fact that they are erasable, though! It erased surprisingly well, too!

Air Heads Fruit Bites
Last but not least, candy! I'm not a huge fan of fruit-flavored candy (my heart belongs to chocolate), so I had Skylar try some out too to get another opinion. He said he liked them, I thought they were just okay.

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And that was everything! I think my favorite thing in this box were definitely the fake eyelashes, I have already gotten so much use out of them!

I hope you are all having a great week!

I received these products for review from Influenster, but all thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.

DIY: Mini College Care Packages with Bigelow and Target

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #CollectiveBias #TrendTea

Hey guys! Today I'm partnering with Bigelow Tea and Target to share an awesome DIY! Being a college senior, I know how awesome getting care packages can be. I wanted to get a little gift for each of my roommates after moving in, and I decided to make them both a mini college care package! Lord knows us college kids love caffeine, so tea is a great addition to any college care package!

Target was the best place to shop for something like this! Not only do they have a great selection of Bigelow tea (they had tons of different flavors!), but their $1 section is a great place for fun little things to throw into a care package! For my roommates, I chose Bigelow's 'Constant Comment' tea, which includes flavors like orange rinds and sweet spice. It's the perfect mix of delicious, relaxing taste, with a hint of caffeine to keep you going through those study sessions!

What To Include:

The best thing about this DIY is that it's so open ended; you can essentially add anything you want! For my roommates, I grabbed a few useful things, like pens, washi tape, and hand sanitizer, and a few fun things like the mini gel pens, nail polish and the bubbles! And of course, I threw in some tea for those times you need to relax & focus. Plus, these cute little polka-dot metal pails were perfect containers (and they were only $1 each!)

Some other things that could go in a care package like this: snacks, gum, tampons, ibuprofen, cough drops, note cards, shampoo & conditioner, candles, coffee mugs, magazines...the list goes on!

All in all, my roommates loved their packages! Even though they were small, they were so excited about them! They loved the tea so much, they even said they would buy it in the future for themselves!
If you're interested in Bigelow tea, you can find them on Facebook and Twitter! Thanks for reading :)

If you're in college, what would you love to see in a care package? Or if you're not, what would you put in one? I'd love to hear!

Back to School All Day Beauty Makeup Tutorial with Neutrogena and Target!

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. However, all opinions are mine alone. #AllDayLook #CollectiveBias

Hi guys! I'm super excited to be working with Neutrogena and Target today to share with you an awesome makeup tutorial for back-to-school! For all you students out there (or if you're just a busy bee!), I know how important it is to have a go-to makeup look that you apply in the morning, and will last all day. That's what I'll be sharing with you today!

I swung by Target and was able to pick up all of the products I needed for this tutorial (which I scored on sale by the way, via Cartwheel!). I always get sucked into Target's cosmetics & beauty department, and I always seem to find something I need to bring home with me, haha! Also, Target stores will be hosting a Beauty Concierge Event, for specialized and personalized info on beauty and makeup. Event begins August 24th, Limited quantities available. Check with your local Target store for Beauty Concierge day and times.

All Day Beauty Tutorial
This tutorial will show you how to achieve a natural, easy look that will stay in place all day!

Step 1: Prime & Foundation

One of the best ways to make sure your makeup stays all day is to start with a clean slate. Before applying any makeup, make sure your face is clean & moisturized! Once you're ready, apply your liquid foundation with a sponge to your face & neck, being sure to blend throughout into your hairline & jawline.

Step 2: Concealer & Blush

After concealing any trouble spots, make sure to sponge on an extra layer of foundation to set the spot. Next, apply a light, neutral blush to the apples of your cheeks.

Step 3: Eyeshadow

Choose a few of your favorite neutral eyeshadows. Here, I chose some shimmer-y browns. For a natural smokey eye look, put the lightest shade on the inner corner of your eyes, the middle shade on the majority of the lids, and the darkest shade in the crease.

Step 4: Eyeliner & Mascara

Next, apply eyeliner along your top lash line, starting thin towards the inner corner, and thickening out the line towards the outer corner. For more definition, you could also apply a small amount of the eyeliner onto the outer corners of the bottom lash line. Finish off with 2-3 coats of mascara.

Step 5: Lips

Apply your lip color; here I used the Moisture Smooth Color Stick in Fresh Papaya.

Step 6: Finish

Finish off with some shine-control finishing powder, and you're ready to go!

Thanks for reading! What's your go-to all-day beauty look?

Tutorial & Review: Kisspat Hair Chalk

Today I'll finally be talking about hair chalk! I received this set of 24 colors from Kisspat, and I am seriously in love. I had never used hair chalk before this, but it's super easy, and a great way to add temporary, fun colors to your hair!

For anyone who doesn't know, hair chalk is a temporary hair color that comes in a stick form that kind of looks like an oil pastel. Since it's temporary, it will wash out with shampoo, so it's great for mixing up your look and trying different colors out! This type of hair color is definitely best suited for small sections of hair, such as streaks or the ends of your hair.

Like I said, I had never tried hair chalk before, but its super easy to get the hang of. And I'm glad these were the first ones I tried, because they are pretty dang awesome! The color didn't fade at all until I actually washed it out. I first tried this out on my 21st birthday, and the color lasted all night, and was still just as bright after sleeping in it!

Watch my video tutorial below to find out how to use them!

Tutorial

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Review: AKVIS Oil Paint Software

 

Hey guys! Today I've got a fun little photo editing software to review for you that turns your photos into oil paintings! AKVIS OilPaint is a program and photoshop plug-in that creates unique oil paintings out of your personal photos. Pretty cool, huh?

The stand-alone editing program is pretty cool, because it allows you to adjust lots of different things like brush stroke size and direction. The program was a little difficult to navigate/master at first, but it got a little easier after fiddling with it for a while. I have a feeling that I would have liked the photoshop plug-in even more, since I am constantly using photoshop!

Personally, I think that photos that look best when converted to the oil paint are ones with lots of bokeh (background blur) and a well-defined subject. The photo of Skylar and I above included a little too much detail, and I wasn't as happy with how it turned out as opposed to the top picture.

The standard home edition of this starts at approximately $40, so it's definitely on the pricier end. AKVIS also has loads of similar photo editing software that turn your photos into sketches, HDR photos, and more. While I don't have much of a need for these products (photoshop gets the job done for me!) if you are someone who is very invested in creating art renditions of photographs, this program may be for you! I feel like prints of these photos would make great gifts as well!

Make sure to check out AKVIS on Facebook and Twitter!

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Video + Review: Influenster #SurfsUp VoxBox!

Today I'll be sharing with you what was in my very first VoxBox from Influenster! You can check out my Unboxing video for my first impressions of all the products, and read on to find out about them a little more in depth!

The Products

Sinful Colors Nail Polish

I've always been a big fan of Sinful Colors polish, due to their inexpensive prices and insanely awesome color selection. I'm pretty excited I got this orange color (called 'Anchors Aweigh'), because I don't have any colors in my collection like it!

First Aid Shot Therapy

This is a shot that you can take for pain relief, how cool is that? I haven't tried it (because I can't really take shots...blegh) but it says that you can take it for headaches, hangovers, and that sort of thing. It's definitely an interesting alternative to taking pills!

Jamba At Home Smoothies
I haven't had the chance to run to the store to try these yet, but I am super excited to! I'm always craving smoothies, but don't really have any way to make them at home. I can't wait to try my free one!

Hawaiian Tropic Silk Hydration After Sun Lotion

Guys, this stuff smells so good! I haven't had the chance to use it yet (I haven't really been out in the sun for a long period of time yet this summer...how sad is that?), but I'd really like to. I really like the fact that it has Aloe gel!

Not Your Mother's Beach Babe Texturizing Shampoo & Conditioner
I haven't tried these yet either, mostly because I already have curly hair, so I prefer shampoo & conditioner that is for curly hair, as opposed to wavy hair. Because I feel like my hair will be wavy either way, haha! It did smell really good, and I feel like it might do the trick on thinner/straighter hair.

For the products I didn't have a chance to try yet, make sure to follow me on twitter (@youreinbrooklyn) and instagram (@youreinbrookelynn) to find out how I liked them!


I received these products for review from Influenster, but all thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.