What app do I use to edit my Instagram photos?

Whether you want to admit it or not, we all from time to time have used a photo editing app. Maybe not for complete Photoshop overhauls like the Celebs use, but a little adjustment to lighting can really make all the difference between a so-so photo and one that stands out from the rest. 

I'd like to think of myself as a pretty okay photographer. Self Photos are by far my specialty! I believe I have perfected them over the years and now I am ready to divulge my secrets. 

Knowing your face is a critical step in a good selfie. What side is your best side? Do you look better with your hair up or down? Hat or no hat? Another step that can't be overlooked is background and lighting. 

We have all seen the fail selfie pictures that make us all say "Dang, did you not check your surrounding before snapping that picture?" It happens far too often! 

Now, I know you have heard that you should stand near a window that has good lighting, which is an excellent tip. However, if the light is too direct, it may leave you looking washed out and haggard. LOL! 

I normally always use my back door window that leads to my back patio. The light is an East to West lighting. The perfect time of day to take the pictures is early morning or mid-afternoon. The later the afternoon, the light tends to be too harsh.  So I suggest searching your home for the perfect window lighting. 

Next, is the background. Okay great, you found the perfect lighting but a weird lamp is showings or you can see something in the background that will draw your viewers eyes away from the subject and what you want them to notice. It truly can be a daunting task! Don't loose hope, it does exist. You just have to find it. 

For the examples I'll be using, I stood in my kitchen near our big sliding back window. The lighting, as you will notice is not the best but I'll show you how to fix that! 

A little disclaimer first** Just because these techniques work for me and my photos does not mean it will work for you. I do believe if the stock photo is good but the lighting is off or you have a big pimple that needs to be erased, this app can do the trick and more! It is by far my favorite and I have tried them all. 

So, what is the app already? 

Photo Wonder is my number one all time favorite photo editing app of all time. If you are now disappointed, thinking "oh man!, I have tried that before." Don't leave just yet. Maybe I can show you a trick or tip that you haven't tried before. 

I love it the most because it for one is free. You don't have to upgrade to use any of the special edits. I'm sure there are upgrades you can make with the app but over the many years of me using it, I have never needed to upgrade anything. 

Second, it is super easy to use. Editing my photos takes me, maybe five minutes. I don't spend countless hours removing every blemish or fixing every imperfection. 

 For my examples, I'll be using these three photos. LOL! No laughing! I know they aren't the best. The lighting is not that great but they will work for my demonstration. I wanted to show my hair for an Instagram post. 

When you first open up the app and have chosen the photo you'd like to edit. There are a number of options available. Edit, Beautify, Decorate, Effect and Frame. 

The Edit features things like the mosaic, tone, crop, rotate, reflection, sharpen and vignette options. 

The Beautify has a one click beauty fix, slim, fair skin, anti-acne, makeup, enlarge eye, intel-beauty, smile, shape leg, bright eye, dark rim, breast enlarger (upgrade), teeth whitening and red eye removal.

The Decorate is really fun with stickers, a brush and stamp tool and the text bubble tool. 

The Effects tool is my favorite. It has all your filters. The Profile which has eleven filters. LOMO has twenty-two, Vide eleven and Art with thirteen.  

The Frame tab has different frames you can add to your photo if you want it to look even more professional. 

For the picture below. I wasn't happy with the lighting, that and I am super obsessed with the Vivid and Lomo options. Almost every picture gets it. 

So to start, I opened the picture. Went to the Effects tab. Clicked on LOMO filter and scrolled to the filter called Vivid. I adjust the amount down to about half. Any more and the picture can look weird. 

Then, I go back to the Effects tab and this time I choose LOMO filter, and the filter called LOMO. It adds a nice darkened background which makes the Vivid filter appears brighter. 

LOMO-Vivid

LOMO-Lomo 

After 

Another fun effect is the stickers. They can be really fun to play with. As you can see I got a tad bit carried away but I wanted to show you some options. 

Makeup is fun to dress up your photos as well. They have a number of different options available. Including eye contacts, foundation, hair dye, lip gloss, eyelashes, and blush. 

 Now you have can that purple hair you have always wanted to try! 

All three photos I used the same edits. They are my go to and make every picture of mine look professional. 

 Crazy purple contacts to go with the purple hair! 

Finished product! This is what I posted on Instagram. Not perfect but better than they were when I first took them. 

Editing photos were time-consuming before I found Photo Wonder. Now, I'm in and out quicker than you can say "Muskrat!"

Hope this helps! Reach out if you have any questions or need help! Thanks and God Bless! 

The Ultimate Valentine's Day Gift Guide Bonanza!

Valentine's Day is almost here! Instead of scrambling around like you always do last minute, I thought I'd give you a hand and offer some suggestions you may want to use. Not everyone is into getting flowers on Valentine's Day! Plus, the men in your life need a good gift as well and I know flowers won't cut it for him. 

I've tried thinking of everyone that you may give a gift to on Valentine's Day. Your partner, friend, boss, family member, and even stuff for the kiddies! 

I personally don't care for getting big expensive gifts or going all out. It is just another day, no big deal.  Although I know some of you are screaming at me right now saying:
"What do you mean, no big deal?"
 "If I don't have a gift they'll disown me!" 

LOL, I'm sure they won't completely disown you! Maybe temporarily..but it won't last. Yes, for some people AKA women it can be a "prove your love for me day" but I just view it as another way for people to push products on you. Okay, having got that off my chest, let's get this gift guide going! 

Below is a list of my go-to gift vendors, they have never let me down and I've always been really happy with their products. 

The Flower Lover

Valentine's Day Flowers are wonderful to receive. Nothing is better than your favorite fresh florals. Their amazing colors and capturing smell!  Aah, what is better than that? If, your partner prefers flowers there are an endless number of shops to choose from. 

When buying locally be sure to head out at least the day before. You want to make sure that you have plenty of options. I hate buying flowers when all that is left looks like the neighborhood dog ran them over while chasing your cat. 

If buying online check their reviews and feedback. I know that may sound petty but I have heard so many horror stories. Just last year my Dad bought flowers for his Mother's birthday. Which were promised to be delivered on time and were not. After a few long phone calls, the issue was finally resolved. 

So I would strongly recommend using a company you have had good success with in the past or check those reviews people!! 

The Makeup Lover 

**WARNING** Proceed with CAUTION!! 

Buying makeup may sound like a grand ole idea. However, keep this in mind. There are two types of girls in the world. The ones who can't live without makeup and the ones who wear it because they have to. Don't get me wrong, I love me some makeup. However, do I wear it every day? NO! I don't. Maybe I'm too lazy? But really I just don't care. I'm fine with my face and if you are not, my apologies! LOL! For real, though... that is not the case for ALL women. I know a few of them on social media and they eat, sleep and breath it. 

Don't make the mistake of buying those women a generic brand or some knock off. They want the real Kylie Lip Kit or that new Naked Palette. Other brands just won't cut it. 

For the rest of us, shiny and pretty will suffice. Normally, I'd buy my makeup from Younique but that can really add up! So I have a few trusty shops that I cherish. The prices are amazing, and I love the products. I'm sure you can find something they'll love! 

The Jewelry Lover

Valentine's Day is a day of love and what says I love you more than Diamonds? I can think of a few things...like maybe a new Ferrari?!

 Now, that says I love you!! LOL! No, I'm joking. Who could afford that?  But if you insist, please leave a detailed comment below! HAHAHA! 

Jewelry can be a very romantic and personal affair. It takes months to find the perfect engagement ring, or that perfect something for the perfect someone! Most women I know adore getting jewelry. Often times it makes them feel validated and loved. A thoughtful way to say "I appreciate you, and all that you do." 

The Fitness Lover

Being a fitness lover myself and knowing the hard work and dedication it takes to keep pushing yourself day in and day out, can be hard at times. When I was working out really hard it was crusal that I had the support of my family. On the days that you feel like giving up, they can help keep you motivated and working towards your goals. 

Not all fitness enthusiasts are going to say how much they'd love a new ab cruncher for Valentine's Day. This gift choice is not for everyone, especially a loved one. However, maybe you have a close friend or family member that could use some motivating? 

For me, I think I'd rather have some new fitness gear than a fancy ring or soon to be dead flowers. I enjoy getting healthy and staying fit. So it wouldn't make me upset, to say the least. But don't make the mistake in thinking all women are like that. I would hate to cause a major catastrophe! 

**Word to the wise, all these are just suggestions. Not all will be great for Valentine's Day or good choices for someone you love. They are however, excellent company's that I have tried and still use frequently.**

The Food Lover

"To their heart you want? To the stomach, you must start."

Yoda on Food. 

Everyone has heard the saying, maybe not done by Yoda? But you get the idea! Food is always a great way to say I love you. My mom will religiously make dinner for my family and me. At least two or three times a month she has been doing this. What she doesn't know is what a blessing it has been to me! How thoughtful for her to take time out of her busy schedule and think of me. I absolutely adore her, she has a heart of gold. 

So for me, love is shown with food! LOL! It's not like we don't eat it daily to survive, right? We need food. Maybe, not all the cupcakes and dough nuts but the food is an essential part of our daily routine. 

One way to show someone how much you care for them is to prepare a meal, a nice picnic at the park or spot they love. Set the scene, make it romantic and personal. If it's chocolates? Get them chocolates! If it's a three-course meal with expensive crab and lobster? Get it done, whatever it may be! 

I really enjoy the candy baskets with all my favorite goodies like Now and Laters, Sour Patch Kids, and of course licorice. 

Another great idea if they are the DIY types is a chocolate and candy making kits. They are easy to use, fun and the candy/chocolate is really tasty! 

Gifts For Men

Buying gifts for men, for me, is one of the hardest things in the world to accomplish. Everyone wants to get their partner something really cool. Something they'll love and something that says I know you and what you like. 

For guys nowadays, that could be guns, fishing, camping, racing, sports, grilling, golf, biking, hiking, fitness..really the list could go on and on. What does he do for a living? What are his hobbies? His favorite sports team? And if I get him a set of golf balls does that seem insensitive? I mean you golf like every weekend?? 

However, your dude rolls are for you to know and you to find out. Ask his friends for advice if you get stuck. 

I hate just getting a shirt or sweaters. Like here ya go, hope it fits and you like the colors?!! Or here are some new fishing lures...ya that would go over real great for some people?!! 

As you can see the possibilities are endless. 

Monthly Rifle Giveaway enter here! 

Gifts For Mom 

Being a new mom is the best job in the world. There is nothing like bring a new life into this world. It's magical! 

As a mom, myself of two beautiful young ladies, Megan who is almost 15 and Kaitlyn will turn 10 in June. They are my entire world. Growing up I never saw myself having kids. In fact, it was a joke around the house. I'd constantly pretend I had a child named Johnny and would jokingly make up different scenarios. In which I'd handle it the completely wrong way. Everyone would laugh and oh, haha it was so funny. Until it really happened. My 21st birthday I found out I was pregnant. 

Once I found out, it changed my life. I could no longer be this f**ked up kid. I had to grow up. On that day I made a commitment to that baby. No matter the cost, alone or together...I'm having that baby. I made a packed with God. Trusting He would see me through the hard times. Fifteen years later, I can say He most certainly did. And I did too! 

Almost at driving age now, my gosh she'll be driving next year!! Scary, buckle up folks!! LOL! She has her heart set on the US Marines. Proud is not the word. I am so blessed. God gave me the two most perfect, wonderful children. 

However, I remember the hard times too. Up every two hours, with a c-section, you are joking right?? But somehow we make it through. Big dark circles and all. With not much time to unwind or pamper yourself, you start feeling drained quickly. 

Give her some "me" time. Take over for the night or even just a shift. Let her take a hot candlelit bath. If you really want to spoil her, then I suggest sleep. I was so tried. My mom could always tell when I needed help or a break. She'd see my glazed over eyes and take over for a couple shifts. My family was so very supportive and loving. 

Grab the baby a new pacifier from Nuk. Which is the only brand my daughter would use. Figures, at that time only Target had them and they were always sold out. So when my mom's pug, Jewels was constantly eating them, we purchased them a lot. And give her some special time for herself. 

Maybe she sews? And some down time would be making a new blanket? Whatever the method, all new moms need time to regroup, relax, and replenish. 

Gifts For The Home

My home is my sanctuary. The place I can truly relax. I love, love, love to decorate it. Right now we are in the process of getting the floors done, and started repainting the walls from a green, garden wall color to a nice gray. Find decor that goes with my new color scheme is a challenge, so I love it when I find a cool store, with items I can actually afford. 

If they just moved into a new home or remodeled? Gifts for the home are great gifts. Fun pillows or a nice comfy throw blanket are not normally things we splurge on for ourselves. However, they are always very warmly received. 

Gifts For You Both

Finding time for your spouse is so important. Why not do something out of the box? Something they wouldn't normally expect from you. Surprise them with some loving married time. Just the two of you. 

Gifts For Pets

Pets make the world go round. I just can't imagine my life without them. They deserve some love on Valentine's Day too!  

They do hog our beds, eat our bites, and fill the house with love. How could we forget them? 

Whatever you choose, I know you'll find something they will love. Good Luck! 

Thanks for reading! Take Care! 

Jenny 

How Can You Earn Extra Money From Home?

*This post may contain affiliate links. 

Good Question right? How can you earn extra money, while being a stay at home parent? 

Nowadays work from home jobs are more common than you think. With all the direct marketing companies to choose from and the endless job at home opportunities. It can all be pretty overwhelming. Not to mention your Facebook and other social media friends all hitting you up to join their team or try out this great product they have to offer. All which promise the world but in the end, at least from experience never seem to pan out to what you thought it would be. 

Maybe it's more work than you expected. Or maybe the cost just got to high. Nevertheless, you find yourself searching for another opportunity to stay at home with your family and still make money to help pay for bills. 

I've tried them all. West At Home, Arise, and VIP Desk. You name it and I've probably worked there. Some of which I've had great success, others not so much. My point being made is this, DON'T GIVE UP! You'll find the right one, it is out there. Shoot, if not? Create one! Entrepreneurs are all the rage nowadays. Everyone seems to have their own business or product they are pushing. All of them had an idea, a company to make their own, or a product to sell. All had to work really hard for their success but you can too! 

So after trying numerous work from home job opportunities and a slight dabbles in owning my own company. I've come to this conclusion for myself.  I need to find a way to make money from home, while still being able to have a flexible schedule. Being a homeschool mom that is super important to me. I have only a certain amount of time during the day and night that I can commit to working. All my time otherwise is divided up amongst the family and household chores. 

When picking a work from home job now I like to make sure they are flexible with their time, as I am. I can't commit to a typical 9-5 job when trying to homeschool at the same time. Searching the internet I found tons of work from home jobs that you might like as well. Some have worked out great and some have not. I will share with you what sites I use, about how much you can expect to make and where you can go to apply or sign up. 

1. Clickworker

I've been active on Clickworker for a while now. It's a site where you can earn some money on the side by writing, translating and doing research. This is not a big money maker but over time it really can add up. Very flexible jobs that you can do fairly quick and receive your money right away. They do have a minimum payout before they allow you to cash out.  Check it out. Registration is free. 

2. Amazon Mechanical Turk

I really like to use this site. Another site a lot like Clickworker in that you perform little jobs or "HITS" as they call them for a few cents. They can all be done rather quick and once accepted your payment is sent to your account. If you can crank out these like a machine, it's a great way to earn extra money from home. Jobs vary by task such as Transcribing or doing basic typing. Believe me, over time, it does add up and can really help. I like to use it as "forget about money!" Money that I can make and it just sits there for when I need it. Works out very nice! Sign up using your Amazon account here! 

3. ClickBank

Clickbank I use every now and then to add fun elements to my blog posts. If you are into using affiliate links, this is a good site to use. They have so many different companies to apply for. Once again this is not a get rich quick scheme. All of the above jobs I mentioned do take time for the money to add up. Then again, if you know how to use affiliate links correctly it can be a nice way to earn extra money and without really doing a thing. You just place it and forget it! 

Sharing products that you love is fun anyways, right? Who doesn't love talking about companies that do it right or have a product that changed your life for the better? I definitely want to hear about those, wouldn't you? 

ClickBank does not offer referral rewards for affiliates sadly but they do for vendors. You can learn more about this company and sign up here.

4. S'more App

 S'mores is an app that pays you to unlock your phone. Basically, you let the app add ads to your lock screen. When you open your phone, you earn money. The payout isn't tremendous but adds up, right? So you earn $.10 cents a day or $3 doll hairs a month. Well, hold your horses now...I know, I know? That is an enormous amount! Okay, not really! But seriously, get paid to unlock your phone every day? That is pretty awesome! I don't care if it's a penny. I get money to unlock my phone every day! LOL! Get paid via Amazon gift cards. 

5. AvantLink

AvantLink is another affiliate company in which you find brands or products you have used before, and write a review. If a person clicks on your link or buys a product from them, you earn a small commission. Not bad right? The problem with affiliate links is your trustability. Make sure to never just add random links to your posts. Your readers must trust that you are giving them valuable information, not trying to make a quick buck off of them. 

6. Blogmutt

This one for me is really exciting. Not a major money maker either but for me, it solidified me as a professional writer. Which is not something I ever considered myself to be? Oh, sure! I have this blog and yes, I write in it but a professional writer? Crazy cool! So, now I can add that to the ole resume. 

Blogmutt is fun because for me I can get stuck in ruts. I find it incredibly hard to come up with cool and exciting posts. Being able to write for other bloggers anonymously has been a great way for me to not only find new things to talk about but I have learned so much through researching for the papers you have to write for them. 

You earn money depending on the amount of words required for you to type. So for example for a post with 250+  words, the payout would be $8, $19 for 600+ words, and $72 for 1200+ words. They pay you by PayPal. So make sure when you are signing up that use your PayPal account email. You must qualify to be able to write for them but the test wasn't too terrible. Whoop, Whoop! I made it in, haven't had a post excepted yet. The clients can be rather picky but I know I'll get one soon. 

7. ShareASale

This is another affiliate linking company is which you get money for sharing links to your readers from various companies and products you love. I mainly love it because it introduced me to the Candy Club! Not only do they have all the old fashioned candy you can't find anymore but their prices are really unbeatable. Plus, the candy container is really cute. If you have never heard of them? Swing on over and check them out! I'm sure you'll find something sweet to eat, Valentine's Day is just around the corner, you know?! 

8. Alaska Bunch Company
If you like to make extra money taking surveys? Then this app is for you. 
Visit http://dashboard.alaskabunch.com/download/X589BX from your mobile phone to download the app and start earning money now! 

Those are just a few that I use and I know I have left a few out. As I find more, the list will be updated. I hope I have given you some options for finding great work at home opportunities that fit your experience and job levels. If you use something else please let me know in the comments, I am always looking for new work from home job opportunities. 

New Year to Put A New Face Forward!

I haven't talked too much about our Customer Kudos lately. One because I have been extremely busy with the kids and newly home schooling. Second the recent Kudos just weren't that exciting to me. 

However, this month is different! Mainly because I have personally tried and used all the products offered and really can't see my life without them now! 

For our January Kudos Younique is offering our Moonstruck Addiction Palette, in your choice of colors, five to choose from. The Moonstruck Stiff Upper Lip Stain, in your choice of colors, with three new colors added! Last but not least is the Liquid Foundation. Once again you choose the color and it all comes in a cute carrying bag, which you get for FREE!  

SUCKER PUNCHED

Three New Lip Stain colors added! That last all day! 

SHAMELESS

SERENDIPITOUS

TEN other colors to choose from! 

Moonstruck Addiction Palette #4

FOUR other amazing palette colors choices to choose from! 

Touch Liquid Foundation

With our Liquid Foundation, it is super easy to find your perfect shade. We have 13 color choices to choose from. One of the benefits of our foundation is its superior coverage. Goes on liquid but dries a perfect flaw covering finish! 

If you need a free foundation brush, head on over here and grab one for free!