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App of the Week: drive safe.ly

September 30th, 2013

If you are one of the many people who cannot help but look at your smartphone while driving if you hear a text message come across, here’s the perfect app for you. DriveSafe.ly is a mobile application that reads text (SMS) messages and emails aloud in real time and automatically responds without drivers touching the mobile phone. It currently is available only on Android devices, although I have signed up to be notified when available for the iPhone. It sounds so great though that I wanted you to know about it if you have an Android device. I personally just put my phone on silent when driving so I’m not tempted. Did you know that you are more impaired while driving and texting than you are when you are intoxicated? Scary.

So you simply turn this app on while you are in your vehicle and the app will speak your email and text messages aloud. The pro version allows you to respond to the messages.

If you know anyone that texts while they drive (like my sister) you need to send this app to them!

 

Consumer Cafe: To Die For Banana Cake With Vanilla Bean Frosting

September 27th, 2013

Oh I’m so hungry looking at this picture. I love bananas, and since it’s a fruit this is practically healthy. Kind of. Oh, a girl can dream.

To Die For Banana Cake with Vanilla Bean Frosting (from tastykitchen.com)

  • FOR THE CAKE:
  • ⅔ cups Sugar
  • ½ cups Sour Cream
  • 1 whole Egg
  • 2 Tablespoons Butter, Softened
  • 2 whole Overripe Bananas, Mashed
  • 1 teaspoon Pure Vanilla Extract
  • 1 cup Flour
  • ¼ teaspoons Salt
  • ½ teaspoons Baking Soda
  • FOR THE FROSTING:
  • 2 Tablespoons Butter, Softened
  • 1-¼ cup Confectioners Sugar
  • ¼ cups Heavy Cream
  • ½ teaspoons Vanilla Bean Paste Or Extract

To make the cake:
Preheat the oven to 375F (see note below). Cream together sugar, sour cream, egg, and butter. Add mashed bananas and vanilla extract. Add flour, salt, and baking soda; mix well. Pour into a greased 8×8-inch square pan. Bake at 375F for 20-25 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool completely before frosting.

To make frosting:
Cream butter and confectioner’s sugar together until smooth. Slowly add the heavy cream; stir until smooth. Stir in the vanilla bean paste until fully incorporated. Spread on cooled cake.

Note: Bake at 350F if using a glass pan. Recipe doubles well (9×13 pan).

Glam Alert: DIY – Kiss French Manicure Press On Nails

September 26th, 2013

This is the last of our DIY series. Have you enjoyed it?

Years ago I was a slave to having my nails done every two weeks at the salon. For over ten years my nail tech and I became best friends. Then I had to have shoulder surgery, and knew that I would not be able to keep up with the nails, so I had her remove them, always thinking that once I recovered from my surgery I would go back to having my nails done every two weeks. I have really horrible looking hands, and they look so much better with long nails. Once they were removed though, my nails were in terrible shape, and I really loved the freedom I found in no longer having artificial nails. I could type faster, text easier, and dip my finger in the bottom of a jar of beauty product and get out the last drop! I never looked back. I just decided I would have ugly hands, but freedom.

My friend Debbie told me about the Kiss French Manicure Press On Nails. Her daughter Meredith has two small boys and told her mom about them. If they can withstand the treatment of all the work, and washing, and taking care of two small boys, plus a full time job, they must hold up pretty well.

This is Debbie with the nails applied. I would show you the picture of my nails, but her hand is much prettier! Nonetheless, I purchased the Kiss French Manicure Press On Nails in “real short”, per Debbie’s instructions, at my local superstore for $6. They were super easy to apply. The entire process took about 10 minutes. You must first figure out the size of the nail bed for each nail, match that up and then glue on using the tab at the end to hold the nail in place. Once you have the nail placed, you simply snap off the tab, and do a little minor filing around the area where the tab was to smooth it out, and you’re done. The end result looked great. I will give you a little tip if you aren’t used to applying your own press on nails, start with your left hand on your right hand if you are right handed. I did just the opposite and it was a little more difficult to use my right hand to work on my left hand once the nails were already on my right hand. Still, they turned out looking great, and held up great too. I wore them for a week and a half with absolutely no issue at all. They probably would have lasted longer, if I had any skills in reapplying the glue to make the tips stay down, but I just made a mess of it, so I took them off. And. They. Were. Hard. To. Remove. I finally had to get a bowl of Goo Gone and soak them for the nails to release.

I found another version of these nails at drugstore.com that already has the glue applied to each nail, and next time I place an order with drugstore.com, I will try these.

Will I wear these all the time? No. But will I put these on again if I have a special occasion, absolutely. These looked just as good as if I had gone to the salon and had them done. Except it didn’t cost $45. And I still have enough nails left in my first set to do at least one more manicure, so that makes it at least $3 a manicure instead of $45.  Cha-ching!

If you have any DIY products you make please share with me in the comments section!

Website of the Week: andruby.com

September 25th, 2013

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I found a really great online store, and you won’t believe the prices! andruby.com has clothing, jewelry, and home decor at unbelievable prices. The only downfall is that you have to register to make a purchase. I detest sites that make you do this, so I usually avoid blogging about them, but I have to make an exception for this store because I really do feel like they have some great deals.

 

Cute wrap around watches for $6.

Vinyl pantry sign for $5

Baby swaddle wrap for $5

The inventory is limited, and there’s a good possibility that depending on when you read this post, these items may not still be in their inventory, but I’m sure other great items replace them.

This is a great site to stock up on gifts!