Review - Holga Lens Case for iPhone 5

The guys from Three Mobile got in touch recently to ask me to test out the Holga Filter Lens for the iPhone 5. As I am a bit of an Instagram and Twitter fanatic I figured it would be a bit of fun, I take lots of pictures with my phone, as most of you know, so why not add a little effect to a few of them.

So this is what it looks like, most of you will have seen one or something similar. You can get it on Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com

It fits my phone nice and snuggly, and I was surprised it was so light. It is a little bulky at the top but wasn't too much of an issue in my pocket or handbag. I have actually left it on for the last 3 weeks without any problems

Even without using any of the effects the plain lens gives you a nice little vignette, which I really liked on my pictures. 

So here are the effects you can produce:

2 lens splitter

3 lens splitter

 4 lens splitter

Had some fun with the heart frame in work, it was a little hit and miss on how clear the heart showed up.

 Blue spot lens, good for putting a focus on something

 Yellow Spot Lens, wasn't really as obvious to see, the colour wasn't really bold enough

 Green filter, does what it says

Red filter, again self explanatory
Now all the lenses above are just a bit of fun and not something I would use all the time. But what I was really impressed by was the Macro lens, as a blogger I often want to take close detailed shots of things, especially my nails for a mani of the week post, and the general phone camera just wont allow you to focus that tight to the nails themselves. This macro lens is simple but very effective, I was able to get so much closer to the nail, really show off the colour and quality of the polish, and the polish label itself as we all know how tiny the writing is on those bottles. This is something I have been finding very useful over the last 3 weeks and think a lot of beauty bloggers and crafters who write tutorials would really find it an advantage. Here is one of the detailed shots I took this week.

Now the photo below is the one they use to advertise the lens and you can see how much closer you can get.
So I may not buy this lens just for the fun factor, whilst it is good I don't think I would use it much or often, it would be a bit of a fad for a few months I think, although I think it might be a fun gift for someone who loves taking images on their phone. But I would genuinely buy it as a macro lens, even if I just put it on when ever I needed a detailed shot of my nails or something else, it has been so helpful for some of my blog post!
Have you tried this lens or something similar? What are your opinions?

*I was sent this lens from Three Mobile to review free of charge, all opinions are truthful and my own

Review - TomTom Handsfree Car Kit for Smartphones

I was recently asked by Tesco Compare to join their team of safety and security testers and review the new TomTom Handsfree Car Kit for Smartphones. As I now have a 1 hour commute each way to work, and we are launching the photography company, having a safe way to make and receive calls whilst I'm driving is really helpful and convenient for me. So I was happy to try out the kit, I have tried head sets and internal car systems before and usually find that the calls drop out easily or the quality of sound is low. So here is my review of the TomTom Handsfree Kit: Not only is the TomTom Handsfree car kit a safe way to make and receive calls, but it conveniently charges your handset at the same time. It has a great flexible dual mounting system so it can be mounted to your windscreen using a sucker like a sat-nav, or straight to the top of your dash using the sticky mounting disc. I chose to put mine on the windscreen on the drivers right hand side, so I could easily reach it to accept calls and it wouldn't block any of my view out the windscreen. The mount can swivel to display your mobile in the traditional portrait orientation or in a landscape sat-nav style position, it is great if you use your mobiles maps to find your way around.  Connection to your mobile is via bluetooth, so you don't even need to mount your phone in the holder, just turn on the bluetooth setting and pop the phone in your pocket or handbag and forget it. I leave my bluetooth on all the time now, that way when I jump in the car my phone automatically connects even when it's buried at the bottom of my bag. When you start the engine, TomTom lets your know 'phone connected' (or not connected). To answer or cancel a call there are two easy to press buttons, and should you need to adjust the volume there are two side buttons. The read mounted speaker gives plenty of volume to clearly hear the person on the other end, and an extension cord for the microphone is also included to make sure they can hear you.

 Installation was easy (for Jon!) using the microphone extension cable to place the detachable microphone on my sun visor to aid clarity for the caller when I have music on. The power cable is kept neat and tidy with the included sticky cable clips as you can see below!

After some testing I found the handsfree kit really easy to use, and so convenient. I leave my phone in my rucksack on my drive to and from work, and use the TomTom in landscape orientation to hold my iPod which I connect to my car stereo, this leaves the buttons easily accessible, and keeps my iPod nice and close for changing tracks. Plus if you have an iPhone you can use the kit and your voice command to control your phone for making calls, brilliant!

So this is what it looks like set up in my car on a daily basis! I would totally advise people to get one of these if they drive a lot or are really busy phone wise! Has anyone else tried one of these? Or another car phone kit?

Review - Baker Days Cake

Isn't it amazing when you receive cake in the mail?!?! Yep I did say that, last week I got this in the mail, and at first wasn't sure what the heck it was, I hadn't ordered anything and it wasn't my birthday - but lets go with it...

 when I opened it up I found this!

 CAKE!!!! And a Daisy cake no less! I was sent this by Baker Days. It's like interflora but for cakes instead of flowers. You can choose a cake, or have one custom designed for you, and send it to anyone in the UK. Plus if you order by 2pm you can have next day delivery. It arrives in this great little tin, with a little pack of balloons and party whistles, it's a party in a box!

 Now I must say I was a little sceptical at how good a cake could be considering it had been sent through the mail, but I was amazing at how moist and tasty it was. It is clear that the cake really was freshly made as it was really soft and probably far more moist than most of the ones in the supermarket. It was a chocolate cake with a chocolate cream filling and this beautifully designed icing covering.

If you fancy sending someone special one of these cakes you can order them online here, prices start from £14.99 delivered. You can find them on Facebook and Twitter too.

Review - Arty Harty Personalised Print

When I started reviewing more home wear items I was contacted by Jo who runs a design company online called Arty Harty. She asked if I would like a personalised print for our home to review, and after checking out her site and see how beautiful her work was I quickly accepted her generous offer. As I didn't have any big occasions coming up I wasn't sure what to have put on the print, but Jo asked if I had anything to commemorate my wedding and I realised other than photos we didn't. So Jo offered to do a personalised print to commemorate my wedding to Jon.

Jo was great to chat to about the print, she asked me lots of questions about what I would like the print to look like and details to include. As we had a black and white wedding I said I would like it in shades of grey, then I gave her all our wedding details and she produced a beautiful print, especially for us!

Here it is! It is hung above our TV in our bedroom and we both love it.

The print is really high quality and came framed in this nice black frame, so it was all ready to hang. I didn't tell Jon it was coming so it was a nice surprise for him when it was delivered, it is something we will both cherish for a long time.

Here are a few other examples of her work.

She also recently started producing these great 3D pieces for the home.

So what do you think of personalised art for your home? What would you have on yours?

I think the personalised prints would make a great gift for a newly married couple or a new baby! And starting at just £18 it is really affordable and well priced.

If you want to keep up to date with Arty Hearty you can check them out on Facebook or Twitter

Review - How I Wonder Personalised Stationary

Most of you know that I am a complete Snail Mail lover! So I often send postcards and penpal letters to my lovely ladies around the world, that means I am always on the look out for new stationary or pretty papers on which I can write. So when 'How I Wonder' dropped me an email last week and asked if I would like some of my own personalised stationary I jumped at the chance. I chose their Forest Friends design as it has little bunnies on it! And here it is, all personalise with my address!

They also sent me the 2 little notebooks as well, which I love and will come in useful as I always carry notebooks for list making and random thoughts!

I love how pretty this stationary is, and I cannot wait to send it out on it's travels into the world.

Here are the other great items they have in their store, it's not just the stationary! Their designs are put on lamp shades, cushions and now a range of bowls and plates! Take a look.

I am seriously in love with these last 2 bowls! I would love a few of them myself!

What do you think? Have you heard of How I Wonder before?

Anyone else into snail mail? If you fancy swapping letters drop me a message, always on the lookout for more pen pals.

And if you want to know more about them you can find them on twitter!