My Photography Secret: How I Achieve Great Lighting in Dark Situations

The Chromo Inc Dimmable Ultra High Power Panel D-SLR Light is a continuous light panel with 160 LED lights that help brighten your photos, allowing for a dramatic improvement in every single low-light situation you encounter. I shoot with a Nikon and I love my camera; it gets the shot every time when it's nice and sunny or even overcast out but as we all know, low light situations aren't the easiest to capture beautiful photos in.

When I was offered the opportunity to review the Chromo LED Camera Light I was overjoyed, I've heard from other bloggers and photographers about artificial lights that help enhance your photos... and this light definitely delivers! You can adjust the intensity as well as use the filters that come with the light, making the light adaptable and useful in all kinds of situations.

To show you the strength of this awesome light, I shot my delicious coffee cake cupcakes recipe with the light at different settings, ranging from the light on all the way (far left) to no light at all (far right):

As you can see, the light definitely helps to achieve beautiful photos, I think with a little editing the shot in the middle (mid-range on the adjustment wheel) is the most appealing. What do you think? How would you use a photography light like this if you had one? I'd love to know.




I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com.
Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Getting Fit in 2014 - The Next Big Step in My Weight Loss Journey! #PlanetFitness

I participated in an Influencer Activation on behalf of Influence Central for Planet Fitness. I received a membership to Planet Fitness to facilitate my review as well as a promotional item to thank me for my participation, regardless all opinions expressed below are my own and I only recommend things I feel will benefit my readers.

Since I just wrapped up the yoga challenge, I'm certain that most of you know I love practicing yoga... but I've never really been a "work out" loving girl. I was always the chunky girl that could barely run the mile in school, I've never done a pull up in my life, and well I've kind of hated getting sweaty since I was little... but recently, I've kind of fallen in love with burning calories.

Sweet Greens Smoothie Recipe

I just have to share this super sweet green smoothie recipe with everyone!
This yummy concoction is easy to make and if you just aren't feeling a salad today, this is the perfect way to get your greens in! You'll fall in love with the the sweet fruity flavors masking the healthy spinach, kale, and carrots!



Ingredients:
1 cup cherries, frozen

3/4 cup carrots, chopped

2 hefty handfuls of kale

2 hefty handfuls of baby spinach
(I used a baby spinach blend that included baby kale and bok choy - delicious!)
1 cup strawberries
1 banana

1/2 cup almond milk

I suggest you go ahead and blend the cherries, carrots, kale, and almond milk first - allowing them to really liquefy. Then add in the spinach blend, strawberries, and banana and continue to blend.

Sip & Enjoy! 

This smoothie is SO delicious and you are sneaking in SO many servings of fruit and veggies, 

I promise you'll fall in love with this sweet green smoothie recipe.

Spirit Lockets: Cute and Customizable Lockets for Everyone!

Spirit Lockets are super cute and customizable necklaces and bracelets suited for everyone's taste. They provided me with a locket for myself and a yoga challenge participant in exchange for an honest review. I'm actually an affiliate for the company and their links can be found on my site... Regardless, I only recommend products that I think will benefit my readers.

Spirit Lockets are just the coolest. I absolutely love everything about the bracelet they sent me. The locket face is covered in rhinestones and is absolutely beautiful with a huge window to hold all of my charms. I decided to get a Yin&Yang charm to remind me to always be at peace and the airplane charm because I have a pretty strong case of wanderlust plus two gems just to make it shine and with it's newest addition the brand new "Yoga" Om charm (not pictured above, but seen in the necklace below) this bracelet is soooo me and I love wearing it. Placing charms that mean something to me is the most fun part of having a locket like this... I hope to add and exchange charms soon too. Maybe a painters palette will be my next charm?

I was lucky enough to be able to provide one awesome participant in my yoga challenge with a locket from Spirit Lockets and a chain actually purchased outside of Spirit Lockets, sadly the chain they sent me was short enough to make the necklace a choker... *awkward*. Now I've resolved the short chain issue with a third party vendor and the winner will receive a chain that will fall approximately to her bust or below; a much more desirable length! My fault for not observing lengths when chosing the winner's prize. Anyways, the winner's locket is wonderful and turned out perfectly; that is all that really matters to me. The locket features a white detail on the edges and a beautiful, large open window. I chose charms for the winner based on our mutual interest in yoga and I hope she loves her necklace. She will receive a necklace with the same Om and Ying-Yang charm I mentioned above, as well as an adorable teal bird charm, a rose charm, some rhinestones, and a strength dangle as a reminder of how strong she is.

Spirit Lockets are the most adorable necklaces and make the perfect gifts - you may even want to include one of these in your favorite fashionista's stocking this year!

You can {shop the look here}.

I've notified the winner of the yoga challenge that she won this gorgeous necklace and a painting and I'm waiting for her to confirm before officially announcing!

Thanks to everyone who participated!

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Mini Cookie Cakes: The Best Cookies Ever - Made With Only SIX Ingredients!

I recently was given the opportunity to review a Grazia mini-cupcake silicone baking pan and I'm obsessed with all of the cute creations I can make with it. Although I'm on NutriSystem and haven't had any added sweets lately, I made hubby a batch of my famous cookies in mini-cupcake form and they turned out wonderfully so I just have to share this mini cookie cake recipe. Plus, with only SIX ingredients these are SUPER simple to make!



Do you have a dinner party or special event coming up over the holidays? These little perfectly portioned cookies will be a hit! You can eat these little cookies plain or top with icing, ice cream, or even additional chocolate chips or peanut butter to make these feel more like "cookie cake"; the possibilities are endless!

6 Ingredient Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Mini Cookie Cakes Recipe

1 cup creamy peanut butter
1 cup light brown sugar, packed 

1 large egg
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup (approximately) chocolate chips

You'll start by combining brown sugar, peanut butter, egg, and vanilla. Mix on medium-high speed with a mixer or stir for an extended period of time, be sure the mixture is well combined and not gritty or granular. Now add baking soda and chocolate chips, continue to stir.

Roll into ball shapes and place cookie dough in refrigerator for an hour or more (overnight would work even).

When ready to bake pre-heat your oven to 350 degrees (F) and place cookie dough balls into the  cups of the pan and gently push them down a bit so they will spread easily into the shape of the cup. Bake for around 8-10 minutes, possibly longer depending on how crispy you want your mini cookie cakes.

Allow cookie cakes to cool and easily pop them out of the silicone pan and enjoy!

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com.
Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.