The iPhone: Is it really all that?

These days, smartphones and tablets are becoming more common than the regular cell phone and a desktop or laptop computer. The internet is replacing the traditional newspaper and consumers want things faster. Some can't live without their smartphone, while others don't see what all the hype is about.

One of the most popular smartphones on the market right now is Apple's iPhone. I own the iPhone 4 and am here to offer my opinion. So, is the iPhone really all that?

Yes.

However, I'm sure those of you reading this article right now are expecting more than a one-word explanation of why this phone is so great. There are several things that I love about my iPhone, which I have had for a couple months now and am well-acquainted with.

- Number 1: The iPhone is VERY user-friendly. I was able to use it without any trouble from the moment I picked it up, even though it was my first smartphone.
- Number 2: Front and back cameras. The iPhone 4, 4S, and 5 all have a front and back cameras. This makes it easy to take pictures of yourself. Also, it allows you to FaceTime, which is video chat that is similar to Skype, but is only compatible with other iPhones.
- Number 3: Camera-quality is great. The camera quality of the iPhone 4 is great. It produces sharp photos with rich colors.
- Number 4: Built-in photo editing. The iPhone allows users to do basic photo edits, such as auto-correct, red eye removal, and cropping right on your phone.
-  Number 5: iTunes and music on one device. Before I had a smartphone, I had a cell phone and an iPod Nano, and I had to hook my iPod up to my computer each time I wanted to download a new song. Now, I don't have to carry both a phone and an iPod because iPhone users are able to transfer their music from their iPod to their phone. Also, if I want to download a new song on the go, I can because iTunes is a built in app as well.
- Number 6: Apps! Have you ever heard someone say, "There's an app for everything?" Well, it's true. Whether you want to get all your information organized in one place (Evernote) or run from monkeys to pacify yourself while on a long flight (Temple Run), there's an app for it. Of course, most (if not all) social media sites (like Facebook and Twitter) have apps that make sharing photos, tweeting, and keeping in touch on the go a breeze.
- Number 7: Fast internet access. The internet speed of this phone is very fast, especially on Wifi ( although service may differ depending on your phone carrier).
- Number 8: iCloud. Cloud storage is another thing that's big right now, and Apple's iCloud allows me to sync my contacts, notes, and more to my online account. In case I ever lose my phone, iCloud also gives me the ability to access the "Find My iPhone" app from my computer.

There are many more great features to this phone, but I don't want to keep you reading forever. I would also like to mention the iPhone 4S, which my mom has. It has a few more features than the iPhone 4, such as a panoramic camera that allows the user to take several pictures and piece them together into one image. The iPhone 4S also has Siri, a helpful electronic assistant.

 I know that the iPhone 5 is out now, but if I am going to give an honest review, I would need to have used it before, which I haven't. If you would like to compare the iPhone 4, 4S, and 5, I recommend this chart on Apple's website, which my parents used to compare iPhone models.

Cool Digital Counting Money Jar

Happy New Year everyone!

Every New Year, people make New Year's Resolutions, some of which we keep, but let's be honest, most of us have trouble keeping up with them. Popular resolutions are to lose weight, eat healthier  be more organized, and of course, to save money. One of the Christmas presents I received this year was Digital Counting Money Jar. Each time you put a coin in, the jar recognizes it's value and adds it to the total amount of money in the jar, which is displayed on the lid. I think that this is a better way to collect money than the normal piggy bank because being able to see the amount of money you have increase helps encourage the person to keep saving. I think that this is a great way for kids (and adults) to save their coins.

OREO Balls

Before Christmas, my mom and I went over a family friend's house to bake treats. We bought a few recipes, and they provided a few as well. One of the recipes that my friends introduced me to, Oreo Balls (also known as Oreo Truffles), became my absolute favorite dessert out of everything we made. They are creamy, have all the flavor of an Oreo, and melt in your mouth. Here's the recipe we used, courtesy of Kraft Foods (www.kraftrecipes.com)

Easy Oreo Truffles

What you need:

All the yummy goodies we baked! (Oreo balls  in front)

36  OREO Cookies, finely crushed, divided
1pkg.  (8 oz.) PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, softened
16oz.  BAKER'S Semi-Sweet Chocolate, melted

Make it

RESERVE 1/4 cup cookie crumbs. Mix cream cheese and remaining cookie crumbs until blended.

SHAPE into 48 (1-inch) balls. Dip in melted chocolate; place on waxed paper-covered rimmed baking sheet. Sprinkle with reserved cookie crumbs.

REFRIGERATE 1 hour or until firm.

Kraft kitchens tips

HOW TO MELT CHOCOLATE
 Place unwrapped chocolate in microwaveable bowl. Microwave on HIGH 2-1/2 min. or until chocolate is completely melted, stirring every 30 sec.
HOW TO EASILY DIP TRUFFLES
To easily coat truffles with the melted chocolate, add truffles, in batches, to bowl of melted chocolate. Use 2 forks to roll truffles in chocolate until evenly coated. Remove truffles with forks, letting excess chocolate drip back into bowl. Place truffles on prepared baking sheet; let stand until firm.
HOW TO STORE
Store in tightly covered container in refrigerator.

To learn more about this recipe and get other Kraft recipes, please visit: http://www.kraftrecipes.com/recipes/easy-oreo-truffles-95085.aspx
Enjoy!

Pic Monkey!

A lot of the photos that I have posted on my blog (excluding the ones that go along with recipes I found on the internet that have sources underneath) were edited with PicMonkey, an online photo editor. Using PicMonkey is extremely easy, and it's free! You don't even need to create an account. All you do is upload a photo, edit it, and save the finished product to your computer. However, registration is required if you sign up for PicMonkey Royale, which cost $4.99 per month and gives users even more options. I use the free version, and here are some of its features:

Features of PicMonkey (Free Version)
-  Basic editing options (cropping, rotating, sharpen, resize, etc.)
- Cool effects, such as...

- Touch Up Effects (Blemish Fix, Blush Boost, Teeth Whiten, Weight Loss, Lip Tint, and Red-eye Remover, etc.; Even more effects for Royale users like: Spray Tan, and Wrinkle Remover)

- The ability to add text, with several fonts (text was added to the images above)

- Fun Overlays (Comic Bubbles, Butterflies, and more)

- Photo Frames

- Textures

- Themes (Winterland, several Halloween themes)

- You can also create collages! The four pictures of Chelsea above were put together using the collage option. 

Next time you want to edit a photo, try PicMonkey! I highly recommend it!

Here's the link:

www.picmonkey.com

Ninja Frozen Treat & Drink Maker

In the post, "Fruit Smoothies", I mentioned that my entire family loves smoothies! We just git a new blender, Ninja Frozen Treat and Drink Maker, which was made especially for making milkshakes, smoothies, and other frozen treats. It works great! The blades are strong and chop quickly. Here's the recipe I tried when we first tested it out, which was just as great as the blender:

Photo: Carmalized Banana Shake Recipe

Source: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/melissa-darabian/caramelized-banana-shake-recipe/index.html

Recipe courtesy Melissa d'Arabian

Show: Ten Dollar DinnersEpisode: Swine and Dine

Ingredients

• Nonstick cooking spray
• 3 small or 2 large ripe bananas, halved lengthwise
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1 cup ice
• 1 cup vanilla ice cream
• 1 cup milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon, for garnishing

Directions

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

Spray a baking sheet with cooking spray. Place the bananas on the sheet and sprinkle with the sugar. Bake the bananas until the sugar is caramelized, about 15 minutes. Let the bananas cool slightly.

Mix the ice, ice cream, milk, vanilla and bananas in a blender until smooth but still thick. Pour the shake into 4 chilled glasses and sprinkle with the cinnamon.

Source: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/melissa-darabian/caramelized-banana-shake-recipe/index.html
Click the link above to learn more about the recipe. Click this link (http://www.ninjakitchen.com/index.shtml) to learn more about Ninja Kitchen Systems

Homemade Whipped Cream

Whenever we need whipped cream, my parents usually buy it from the store. However, I wanted to try and make the homemade kind today, just for fun (plus we had run out of whipped cream). I found a recipe online and tried it. It was actually really good! My sister and brother told me it tasted like ice cream :)
Here's the recipe:

• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 tablespoon confectioners' sugar

Directions

1. In a large bowl, whip cream until stiff peaks are just about to form. Beat in vanilla and sugar until peaks form. Make sure not to over-beat, cream will then become lumpy and butter-like.

Nutritional Information 

Amount Per Serving  Calories: 54 | Total Fat: 5.5g | Cholesterol: 20mg

I found this recipe at: http://allrecipes.com/recipe/whipped-cream/

ENJOY!

Another Room Organization Idea: Craft Storage

                I was looking at the information on the traffic to my blog and was very suprised when I found out what my most popular blog post was. It wasn't about books, or products  I like, or even recipes! Those are the things that I blog about the most so I was shocked. The most popular blog post was "My Room" a post I wrote back in February. This post wasn't just the most viewed, it had won by a landslide. This convinced me that the public is really interested in room organization right now. So... here is another room organization idea!
       
I love making crafts, so one of the first things I did when I started organizing my room was organize my craft supplies. Here's what I did:

Supplies You'll Need:

• A craft bin. I recommend getting one with wheels, like the one in the picture below. That way, you can easily move it around. 

I found this image at:  http://www.walmart.com/ip/Sterilite-3-Drawer-Medium-Cart-Arctic-White-Set-of-2/3385116

• Labels. You can buy a pack of labels that you have to write on yourself, or you can use a label maker if you have one. 

• A permanent marker. (If you're going to write on the labels yourself instead of printing them.)
• 1-inch binders. (Optional.) I used 2 one-inch binders to store my drawings and stories in.
• Crayon boxes. I used crayon boxes to separate my crayons, colored pencils, and markers. (Like the ones to the left; I found this image at:  http://www.walmart.com/ip/Sterilite-Pencil-Box/17355912
• Page protectors. (Optional.) I used page protectors to protect my drawings before putting them into the binder.

 

1. First, you need to decide what you're going to put in each drawer. I brought a craft bin with three drawers, but you can buy one that's any size you like. I decided to put construction paper, graph paper, sketch paper, and any other type of paper that I had in drawer 1. I put my drawings and stories in drawer 2. Drawer 3 is the biggest drawer, so I filled it with colored pencils, crayons, and  markers. 
2. Before putting my drawings and stories into drawer 2, I separated them into two different binders. I put the drawings into page protectors before putting them into the binder. That way, I wouldn't have to punch holes into them. 
3. I separated my markers, crayons, and colored pencils into three different crayon boxes and labeled each box before putting them into drawer 3. That way, they all have a specific box to go in when you're done using them.
4. Label the drawers! I labeled drawer 1 "Construction Paper &  More", drawer 2 "Drawings & Stories", and drawer 3 "Crayons, Colored Pencils, & Markers". Stick the labels on and you're done!