Tech Me Out: TechCular.com

Have you ever found yourself knee deep in wireless access points, registries and widgets (whatever they are)? If all that sounds like gobbledygook to you you’re not alone. Sometimes when we think of tech we picture nerds. Yep, pocket protectors and all. That’s not a diss to nerds by the way. I am one of you gentle folk. Anywho, I digress. The fact of the matter is I actually love technology and if you’re reading this on your mobile, retweeting the details to your friends and sharing this on facebook, odds are, you love tech too.

But I’m the first to admit I don’t always understand what certain things mean. I have done simple registry repairs in the past with the help of some incredibly knowledgeable forum users and whenever my Blackberry playbook decided to do its own thing and stay firmly switched off there was a bevy of cyber heroes waiting in the wings with answers to my questions. I also love the fact that consumer information has never been so accessible. Remember when you would buy a camera, a phone or even a laptop without doing much research? Eek! Now all that stuff is on the net for you.

I recently stumbled upon tech website TechCular.com

It describes itself as “a tech blog that covers Apple, Android, Microsoft, Google, Gadgets, and internet news” with its main aim to “have a database of sharp, accurate, informative, and useful contents.” Well that’s a claim and a half, right? I decided to have a mooch around the site to see if it could find a place in my very exclusive collection of helpful and handy tech websites.

My first impressions are good. The navigation bar at the top of the website provides an easy way for users to look around the page. The best way to get a large subscriber base is to make sure anyone can access it. And it means I don’t have to trawl through the millions of iPhone posts I might have encountered on other sites. 

There certainly seems to be an emphasis on providing breaking news to the discerning tech fan. Lots of posts talk about upcoming releases and product updates and high resolution pictures and easy to read text ensure all readers can access the information.

But is it, as the advert says, “informative and useful?” Well yes and no. It depends what you want to you use the site for. My favourite section is labelled “Internet.” It’s got more tips and tricks that odd socks in grandpa’s sock drawer. I now know that there are Facebook games that I shouldn’t be missing out on and the must have add-ons for internet browsers. For someone who spends a significant amount of time on the internet that’s the kind of stuff I wanna know.

So what isn’t useful? Well, I doubt the Telecom section will get your motor running. There may be better platforms to compare phone tariffs and deals but who knows this may be expanding and will include more for European users.

All in all I would use this site again for a variety of purposes. So if you find yourself caught out in a proverbial tech storm this website might just be the answer. Turning it off, then on again can’t always work.

P.S. Some of you might be thinking, why has she chosen to write about this?? I’m sure many of you blog or use your computer to upload make-up looks, OOTD and video tutorials. We need tech too!

Till next time,

Deja

Glossybox and Pinspire Competition

Source

For those of you who don't know, Glossybox is a luxury beauty subscription service in which you receive different beauty samples every month with an option to buy the full-sized product at a discounted price. And at £10 a month it's not a bad deal either. 

They've teamed up with Pinspire.co.uk to offer a new competition with some great beauty prizes. Pinspire is an image sharing website that allows you to "pin" images from all around the web onto "collections" not unlike mood boards. They can be used to help you get creative whilst completing projects like planning your wedding, redecorating your home or planning a party. 

Glossybox want Facebook fans to sign up to Pinspire and create a collection that sums up your "Glossy Style." And get this chicklets, you can win a Clarisonic deep cleanser or a NARS gift set! All the details are here.

My entry is here and I would be ever so grateful if you'd have a look! Let me know what you think, please "Like" if you like it and let me know if you enter.

Until next time beauties,

Deja xx

Throwing Away the Falsies?

I’m jumping on the Benefit bandwagon and I finally bought their new mascara, “They’re Real.” I’d never normally spend £18.50 pounds on a mascara but there I was in the shop being sweet-talked by a shop assistant with words like “new stock,” “sold out” and “exclusive” being batted around. Suddenly my hand was in my purse, cash was handed over and it was all over in minutes. And to my shame, after she applied the mascara I thought it was good but not great. No better than my favourite False Lash Effect mascara to be exact. That was until I applied it myself at home (or in the car to be more precise). 

Before Mascara.

After application to one eye I looked up and the magic had begun!

After both eyes were done I was sold. This is the longest my lashes have looked with mascara 

and I think I might swear off the sticky messes that are false eyelashes. It didn’t smudge 

when I rubbed my eye during the day and my lashes didn’t feel crunchy. Now I’d love it if it 

didn’t take a million coats to achieve this look, so be careful when putting it on because too 

much can make you lashes looked weighed down. I’d even like a bit more separation.

All in all, I’m loving this mascara and I hope to have an even better experience when I apply it in a stationary setting!

Until next time beauties,

Deja xx

Fashion for Free?

Source

So it’s been verified that someone in the UK has won £40 million pounds in the Euro Millions Lottery. And I can now reveal...that it wasn’t me. But who hasn’t imagined what it’d be like to be rolling in the dough? My friend and I have already made a pact that if one of us wins we’ll become “ladies who lunch.” But what if suddenly you had access to free money overnight? The stats are that that is quite unlikely. But is it?

Source

I have just discovered website www.fantasyshopper.com. It does what it says on the tin, so fashion-addicted shoppers can peruse all their favourite high street shops, buy items with fantasy money and build their dream wardrobe! You can collect a payday every hour and get badges and rewards for interacting with the site. It’s marketed itself as a completely social way to shop.

Some of you might be totally frustrated by a website like this. I mean I hate shopping when I’m broke and how much satisfaction can you get from collecting clothes that you don’t actually own? I hear you on that but I do like creating outfits. Other websites like ASOS Fashion Finder and Polyvore are examples of how popular this is. Fantasyshopper.com also gives you the opportunity to win real shopping vouchers in special events which is why I was initially attracted. 

Here is an outfit I created for an event called "It's a Date." My date night outfit is available for the entire community to comment on and like. 

So if you like shopping, having the whole of the high street at your fingertips and connecting with other passionate clothes enthusiasts then perhaps this site is for you. Sign up here to get shopping and whilst you're there please feel free to like my current outfit here! I hope you follow me and I’ll follow you back!

Until next time beauties,

Deja xx

St. Christopher's Inns Travel Writing Competition

My posts may seem like buses (none for ages, then three in a row), but I have good reason. I'm literally bursting with things to write about. Including this amazing competition with St. Christopher's Inns. They provide hostel accommodation across Europe and I've used their services many times when I studied abroad in college. Over a month ago I spotted an invitation on their website for travel stories. If your story is chosen you get published in their E-Zine and win 2 nights at any St. Christopher's Inns hostel. 


Cool beans, I thought. I submitted mine...and won! 

I am the first winner of the year and am so excited to have been chosen. If you've whizzed around the world, have a story or two you want to tell and enjoy writing give it a go! You can find details of the competition and how to enter on St. Christopher's Inns' website and at the end of page where you find my article, here. And hey you might even want to read what I've written whilst you're there. Look for more travel-related posts in the very near future.


Until next time beauties (and beaus),


Deja xx

I won £100. I never felt so poor...

So absolutely ages ago I won £100 shopping voucher. “Gee willikers!” I hear you shout! Like you, I believed I was entering into a splendid shopping union until I clicked onto my intended’s website: www.matchesfashion.com. Go on, look around, have a leisurely stroll down the virtual aisles (well after you’ve read this of course). 

See what the problem is? No it’s not the beautiful jewellery, or expertly cut pieces: it’s the price tags. With designers like Balenciaga, Burberry and Stella McCartney gracing the website’s pages that’s no surprise. Their designs usually demand hefty price tags.

To be fair to Matches it’s not a real life, I've run out of chocolate chip cookies, problem. But good gracious, great balls of fire, £100?!!

There’s a sale on which would have been perfect except I’m not allowed to use it on sale pieces. So after careful consideration here are a few things under £100 I wouldn’t mind owning from Matches.

The Diane by Diane Von Furstenberg printed umbrella, the Weekend by MaxMara Timore Embossed Tote, the Anya Hindmarch Girlie Stuff bag, the Mulberry Heart Friendship Bracelet, the Lily and Lionel leopard print scarf, Diane by Diane Von Furstenberg Kendra sunglasses, MIH Jeans t-shirt and the Mulberry bow-front sandals all caught my eye. 

And if money were no option...

The Stella McCartney Palm Tree brooch. Gorgeous, elegant and a snip at £315.

What do you think? Have you browsed the site and found something gorgeous and pretty for £100 or less? Maybe you saw a must have piece over £100. I'd love to hear about it!

Until next time beauties,

Deja xx

New Year, New Me?

Wow, when I returned to my blog I thought it would have been a couple of months or so, but not 4! Eek!! Anyone would have thought I’d gone missing. Well any excuse to use that pic of Lionel Richie, eh? I literally just look at it and laugh on a regular basis.

Well it’s that time of year when people try to change things about themselves for the better and here I am. Again. I won’t bore you with what I’ve been doing in that time but I will say it involved job hunting, which threatened to completely suck out my essence. But I digress. 

So a new year and hopefully a better me.

Note: I never want to be a new me. That sounds like a science fiction piece where I unzip my skin and step out, glistening and new. And I think most would agree that just sounds yucky. I like who I am, but I know I can be better.

So in came the second week of January and I was ready to start the process of thinking about how I could reach a state of self-actualization. “The second week?!” I hear you shout. Yep, I always think I’ll fair better at sticking to the things I’ve thought about if I start a week after the festivities have ended.

Things I want to achieve this year:

Get a new job

Move into my own flat/apartment

Read more books

Eat my five-a-day

Exercise in some capacity every day

Travel

I used to be study-skills tutor for my university and students would always say to me, “I’ve got so much on my list!” I peeked down at their crumpled and tear-stained college-ruled sheet to see about 50 things. “I reckon you’re right about that” I’d agree. I’m notorious for writing lists, but they’re never long and this one is no exception. In fact I would have preferred it to be a nice and easy five but that’s just because I’m slightly anal. There’s a lot to accomplish there and hopefully I can do it.

So what are you hoping to accomplish this year? Whatever it may be I hope 2012 is your best year yet.