An iPhone Attached at the Hip

The bag phone was out and brick phones were in, and then we went from Blackberry to iPhone. It seems like we have never been more connected and, dare I say, dependent on our phone than we are today, they are figuratively "attached to our hip". With Blacksmith-Labs, your iPhone can now be literally attached to your hip, in full-grain cowhide leather.

Leather goods are becoming more and more in demand as we see many synthetic materials flooding the market place. I always love coming across a new brand and hearing the story of how it came to life. Blacksmith-Labs was born on Kickstarter in October 2013. The founders really set out to make a case that was differentiated from others, mainly on quality of materials and construction.

The company has since grown and now features 3 different product lines- Barrett, Bruno, and Horween. I got my hands on the Bruno, and let me just say that it feels much nicer to have soft, supple leather in my hand versus hard plastic!

The Bruno is one of the company's signature items- featuring a minimalistic look and design that allows for the slimmest profile while hugging your iPhone. It also features hand-stitched leather and the brands signature metal alloy clip, something unique to Blacksmith-Labs.

Discovering new cases for the iPhone is always fun, and I enjoy being able to mix up the "look" of my phone by changing out cases. The Bruno was something different than I ever had. Note that the iPhone will only slip into the case without any sort of small plastic, protective covering on the phone. While I do not carry my phone on my hip, I do find that the clip is useful for inside a that may not have a lot of pockets, etc and the clip is also functional for traveling.

Stylish Headphones from V-MODA

Music has become an integral part of the everyday routine for many, especially those of us in the city running around the streets and subways. It is a source of distraction from the chaos around us. With that being said, I was always one to just use the small, white earbuds that we are all familiar with because it was just easy. However, the quality is definitely lacking. 

Since listening to music is a large part of my daily routine, I thought it was time to find a great pair of headphones. My hesitation with "classic" style headphones was their chunkiness and appearance. However, I was introduced to V-MODA and their Crossfade 100 headphones. These headphones not only pack some serious punch, by they are also incredibly stylish, with the company getting its design inspiration from Milan.

If you want quality audio as well as quality construction in a luxurious product, the V-MODA would be a great pair of headphones. I was impressed by the craftsmanship in the manufacturing and some of the key features of the Crossfade 100's such as noise isolation (perfect for traveling on buses, planes, etc.), its audio share cable, and not to mention its 5-star rating and not to mention receiving the DJ Tech Award "Best Headphone of the Year." DJs such as Avicii, Nero, and Empire of the Sun actively use these headphones.

The Crossfade 100's in matte black metal are very sleek and modern. They paired well with my iPhone on the go and are highly functional with SpeakEasy Mic Cable, and are also useful in the home or office with the addition of BoomPro Mic.

Disclaimer: Product received in exchange for review. All opinions expressed are solely my own.

Off The Grid

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That thing is has literally been attached to my body- that thing being my Blackberry. At least that is how I feel, and i'm sure others think the same! I am constantly checking it for emails, texts, BBMs. 3 days ago I made the decision to turn off my phone and not log into Facebook.

This decision seemed completely absurd to everyone around me, but for me it was quite easy. I did not want to be bothered and constantly obsess over whether I had any new messages. Sitting around hoping that someone texts and they never do is probably the worst thing ever.

We all know that that "quick login into Facebook" turns into an hour long depth into people's profiles that you would prefer not to be looking at- hence why I also decided to stay off of Facebook for a few days. I always seem to find pictures of people that I don't want to see, or find out information about people I would be fine without knowing. 

I was going to have my phone turned off for as long as I saw necessary- anyone that would care enough to reach my had my e-mail address so it was fine. My mother, however, saw this differently! In the end, her constant questioning and "what if I need to reach you's" ended up being more annoying than having my phone turned on! haha

It was a great feeling actually to have it turned off and not be going on Facebook. I recommend everyone try it, if only for a day.