14 Apps for All

ROW 1:

Amikasa – Design your dream interior by recreating and styling your rooms using furniture and decor from real brands. Then use augmented reality to see how furniture really looks in your room before you buy.

Baby Loggy – A simple and intuitive way to track your baby’s care that helps you track breast feedings, bottle feedings, milk pumping, diaper changes, sleeping times, bath times, growth measurements, medications, milestones, notes, and more.

ROW 2:

Calm – Bring more clarity, joy, and peace to your daily life by experiencing less anxiety and better sleep with guided meditations, breathing programs, and Sleep Stories. Recommended by top psychologists and mental health experts to help you de-stress.

iHandy Level – Use for picture alignment, angle measurements, angles of slope, verticality of a wall or furniture, roof pitch, and much more.

KonMari – Start tidying up your home using the official app for the KonMari Method and create an ideal life that sparks joy.

ROW 3:

magicplan – Lets you create professional floor plans simply by taking pictures to generate complete job estimates, view your space in 3D, plan DIY projects, or furnish your home.

Orai – Be empowered to speak with confidence when on stage, in front of a room, or in everyday life.

OurHome –  A simple way to organize your family. Kids will be motivated to do chores and take responsibility while parents can reward them for their effort. There’s a shared grocery list and a family calendar to keep everyone coordinated.

ROW 4:

PRÊTE – The first members only concierge service to access the best blowouts in your city (currently in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Nashville, and Chicago). As a member you’ll get access to the most exclusive salons and stylists to book blowout appointments.

Recycle Coach – Never lose track of collection, set reminders for collections, search the ‘What Goes Where?’ database for detailed disposal instructions specific to your area, and keep track of upcoming events and drop-off dates.

Sephora – Learn how to apply the latest techniques like a pro or customize your look with Sephora’s new color match and virtually try-on recommended products from all the brands you love. Get your daily beauty fix with insider access and exclusive offers.

ROW 5:

SmartyPlants – Add a plant by entering its name and taking its photo, the app will detect if the plant is part of our growing botanical database and suggest a few care reminders for that species. You can also create your own reminders in just a few taps. Once you’ve added your plants, SmartyPlants will notify you when each one needs to be watered, fertilized, pruned, repotted, rotated, weeded, misted, mulched, flushed, propagated, etc.

Sway – An ‘interactive meditation’ experience, Sway uses your phone to track movement and provides feedback to help you gain focus and improve your attention. With six unique levels, you will learn new techniques to be mindful in everyday life situations and subtly practise mindfulness anytime and anywhere.

Think Dirty – The easiest way to learn about the potentially toxic ingredients in your cosmetics and personal care products. It’s an independent source that allows you to compare products as you shop, just scan the product barcode and Think Dirty will give you easy-to-understand info on the product, track dirty ingredients, and shop for cleaner options

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5 Favorite Food Blogs of the Moment

Coffee & Crayons is a newer find for me, one full of Jessica’s self-taught journey in food photography. Along with some delicious recipes she also shares bits and pieces of her life as a mother – the good days and the bad.

Recent Favorites: Sun-dried Tomato Pesto Chicken Salad Sandwich, 10 Minute Toasted Sesame Chopped Noodle Salad, Strawberry Shortcake Cheesecake Summer Ice Pops

 

Cotter Crunch is helmed by Lindsay Cotter, a gluten-free nutrition specialist who focuses on fueling active people with real food. Because so many of her recipes are grain-free, many are adaptable to my type 2 diabetes lifestyles as well. Lindsay is clearly passionate about what she does and that enthusiasm and dedications is 100% contagious.

Recent Favorites: Creamy Sweet Corn Cauliflower Grits, Creamy Fig Yogurt Breakfast Parfait Cups, Honey Mustard Baked Fish and Veggies (One Pan Meal)

 

My Baking Addiction appeals to my gigantic sweet tooth – the one I’m not supposed to have – and baker Jamie clearly relates to my love of sugar. With autumn fast approaching my baking game is about to go up a notch, and I can’t wait to dig into these recipe archives.

Recent Favorites: Cinnamon Roll Blondies, Lemon Berry Mascarpone Tart, Cherry Fritter Cake

 

Running to the Kitchen offers everything from butter-laden to paleo recipes and everything in between. I love this kind of site because it’s realistic for most of us – a moderate amount of healthy fuel with occasional indulgences. Gina clearly agrees and has a backstory worth reading over as well.

Recent Favorites: Yogurt Tahini Mediterranean Carrot Salad, Pistachio Crusted Flank Steak with Peach Puree, Toasted Muffin Summer Fruit Panzanella

 

Shutterbean‘s Tracy Benjamin dabbles in a lot of areas – everyday life, organizing tips, the occasional decorating post, photography, and food. I love that she admits that she’s constantly thinking about food, which is probably the #1 reason you should be a food blogger!

Recent Favorites: Hippy Banana Bread, Jasmine Tea Infused Vodka, Herbed Goat Cheese

2

Amy Hamley Ceramics

 

I first shared the work of my friend Amy Hamley – then Redraven Studios – with you two years ago, in our Pittsburgh Makers series. Since then she’s moved across the country with her husband and pup, rebranded as Amy Hamley Ceramics, and just last week released her newest collection. This girl’s been busy!

 

 

I chatted with Amy a few weeks ago, and after catching up picked her brain about the transition between her well-known Canyon Series to this more casually sophisticated style.

“While the Canyon Series meant a great deal to me personally, and building a product line around my travels was magical, it just never completely fit. I spent two years thinking about letting this line go and how to move forward with my work, it wasn’t an easy decision at first but once I committed to it everything just felt right. I studied both painting and ceramics in college, and for a long time it was important to me to honor both processes. But one day I realized that making the pieces wasn’t fulfilling me anymore and it began to feel like work. I wanted to focus on the part of ceramics that I love, experimenting with the materials and developing glazes.”

 

 

 

“The starting point wasn’t an item, so much as the palette. I really wanted to focus on minimal, soothing tones with this collection. My favorite pieces are the black deco dinnerware.”

 

 

 

“The inspiration behind the new work isn’t that far from the Canyon Series, it’s still traveling, nature, and being witness to my surroundings. With this line however, I wanted to be true to what I love and actually use in my home. I knew that this collection was special because it’s the first time that I’ve ever kept the first editions for myself, until recently I had very little of my own work at home.”

 

 

 

The new collection is stunning, with so much thought and effort put into each piece. I’ve always loved Amy‘s work, but this collection really speaks to my love of all things clean-lined. The gold deco touches make every piece so incredibly special – the perfect mix of casual and elegant. I’d be thrilled to use the settings for a dinner party or simply a Monday night meal on the couch, which is a sign of a truly fantastic piece.

 

 

A unique facet of the new site and rebrand is the One of a Kind page, dedicated to one off pieces, experimentation, and growth. Amy hopes to add an item or two per week that will be promoted Tuesdays on Instagram – stay tuned!

Carolyn Kelly, art direction
Janelle Bendycki, photography
Gorgeous and Green, florals

2

Elyse Graham / Black Magic Collection Resin Vessels

 

Elyse Graham‘s Black Magic Collection is full of the most beautiful resin pieces that I’m dying to fill with droopy blooms. The point of the collection is to explore what lies underneath the surface, that which cannot be seen but is always present. Each vessel is one-of-a-kind and probably far too expensive to use as a vase, but wow.

 

 

 

 

 

via Design Milk

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Kebne Minimalist Outdoor Gym

 

Kebne is not just an outdoor space, but rather an activity center for exercise and physical activities such as strength training or stretching. Designed to be used by everyone, regardless of height, age, gender, or level of training, the vision is that Kebne will create intuitive and social gatherings in the town square, the schoolyard, or the park. Use the structures any way you want – for stretching, weight training, acrobatics, yoga, or simply a place to play together. There are no moving parts, but the system does contain a chart with graphics that provides guidance on how to use Kebne to perform common bodybuilding exercises.

 

 

 

 

via Design Milk

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Marmoreal Black Board

 

Marmoreal is a highly visual terrazzo created by designer Max Lamb. After first designing Marmoreal White he’s moved on to Marmoreal Black, a super chic followup that’s still outside our price range but stunning nonetheless. Lamb is on the forefront of the terrazzo trend and bringing it right into your kitchen with this board that’s been honed and polished and is ready for use as a cheese board or serving platter.

 

 

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July Favorites

1/ Queen Helene Mint Julep Masque
I’ve been using this super affordable, very refreshing face masque a few times a month since seeing Jessica recommend it on her site. Just slather it on, wait 15-20 minutes for it to dry, then wipe off with a warm washcloth. It smells so good and has been key in drying up pesky pimples.

2/ Lady Bell Bell Peppers
This is the first year I’m growing peppers since moving back to PA (they were disastrous in Oklahoma), and the four plants I have in pots are doing great! Each one has about four peppers that should be ready to pick in a few more weeks.

3/ SOO AE My Collagen Hydrogel Lip Patch
Plumping lip glosses have never been my thing, but this slippery little lip mask intrigued me with it’s promises. While I only noticed minimal plumping, what I loved was how it left my lips feeling super smooth.

4/ Duster Kimono
This kimono accidentally “fell” into my cart last weekend at Target. I don’t have a ton of color in my wardrobe and that blue just called out to me to dress up jeans and a tee or a sundress.

5/ Chenille Plant
This chenille plant on my back porch is the best thing I planted this year! I love its personality and unusual fuchsia flowers that resemble a cat’s tail.

6/ Simple Micellar Makeup Remover Wipes
These wipes are my first foray into using micellar water, which is touted as a makeup removing magnet. They’re really gentle and seem to do their job well – exactly what I look for in all of skincare products.

7/ Feya Candles
All of their candles smell amazing (I’m burning the lemongrass sage right now) and their mission is based on giving back. It’s a win-win that I’m happy to take advantage of!

8/ Sseko Rue Ankle Strap Sandals
These sandals are responsibly made, super comfortable, AND give back. I also love that the accent on the toe strap can be switched out with any number of different designs – it’s like owning several pairs of shoes in one. Great if you’re into a capsule wardrobe.

9/ Dove Purely Pampering Coconut Milk with Jasmine Petals Body Wash
My Grandma gave me a bottle of this last month and I’m am in love with the scent as well as the way it makes my skin feel. My home has hard water which can dry my skin out, and this body wash is so moisturizing that even if I forgot to put on lotion after a shower I hardly notice.

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