Review: iMustech Car Mount

Photo courtesy of iMustech at Amazon.com

Tired of holding your phone while navigating the GPS? Sick of trying to choose your music while driving and holding your phone on the other hand? Now you can relax by using this car mount by iMustech!

My husband and I have no sense of direction at times, so we are pretty much dependable with our phones' GPS. Most of the time, I will hold the cell phone while trying to show him the GPS. Yes, at times, it is really tiring! I bought us a cheap car mount before that can be attached to the wheel. However, that did not work.

Then, I came upon this Car mount being sold by iMustech on Amazon. After reading the specs and some reviews, I decided to buy it. Since I am an Amazon Prime member, the delivery was fast!

 It came in a decent box and 2 tools that you have to connect and attach to the air vent of the car.

Installing it to the car was relatively easy. It is very well designed with a swivel ball for full360-degreee rotation and a flexible arm for vertical adjustment that make it very easy to find optimal viewing. Since it's medium size and light weight, this phone holder ensures no burden to the car air vent and gives easy to access to the buttons, charging port and headphone port.

Photo courtesy of iMustech on Amazon.com

The reliable adjustability was one of the key features of this air vent phone holder. The anti-slip rubber of this car mount air vent holder can hold length from 4.55 inch to 6.6 inch and width from 1.73-1.97 inch, perfect for my phone and my husbands' as well. It is compatible with most models of Cell Phones, GPS, Smartphones and other handheld devices.

This phone mount was perfect for our needs and made our travel easier. 

Sorry for the dusty car of my hubby.

You can get this #iMustech car mount here: https://www.amazon.com/iMustech-Universal-Adjustable-Compatible-Devices/dp/B01D12MKCY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1489734467&sr=8-1&keywords=car+mount

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Review: CSHope In-ear Stereo Earphones

Sneak-peak: Wired Earbuds In-ear Stereo Earphones with Heavy Bass Stereo, Loud Sound Earplugs, Noise Isolating Headphones with Answer Calling Control (White and Black)

Closer view:

• Gold Plated 3.5mm Jack - Compatible with all 3.5mm audio jack smartphones.

• Light-weight nylon braided 3.6ft cord - soft, heavy-duty and tangle free.

• Multifunctional earphones - with durable silicone earbuds to provide you a comfortable wearing experience. With built-in microphone for hands-free calls or music control for your smartphone, also works with online voice and video chats on a smartphone.

Pros:

• good quality sound
• extra ear buds for a comfortable choice
• nylon braid cord for tangle-free
• volume controls
• built-in mic
• fashionable design

Cons: 

• lack of bass quality

Overall, these earphones are great. They are comfortable to wear and to use. Plus they are affordable too.

You can get yours here: https://www.amazon.com/CSHope-Earphones-Isolating-Headphones-Smartphones/dp/B06XSDP571/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1492426908&sr=8-1&keywords=In-ear+Stereo+Earphones+with+Heavy+Bass+Stereo+Loud+Sound+Earplugs

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2017 Liebster Award: Marionette "No Strings Attached" First Award Nomination

I was thrilled to be nominated for my blog's first award, the Liebster Award, by one of the nicest and very supportive persons I know in the Instagram world - Paula of Her Life is Love. Being a newbie in the blogging world, I constantly find myself lacking inspiration and giving up, but moments like this somehow lifts my spirit. By the way, I've been drawn reading her blog lately as I found it interesting to read about her motherhood journey and how she creates a happy home in a frugal and minimalist perspective, so I suggest checking her blog out.

So, some of you might wonder, what is this Liebster award? Well, after an hour or so of Google-ing, this was what I found:

1. Liebster is a German term. And the top 2 meanings I found for this word are Beloved and Sweetheart. So, in a blogging sense, it means showing some love to your fellow bloggers by helping them be known to others. It's a great way of promoting not only your blog but others too!
2. Liebster Award is given to bloggers with less than 200 followers. It's an award that only exists on the internet for bloggers by bloggers. What a nice concept, isn't it? 
3. When you choose to accept the award nomination, you have to write a blog post about the Liebster Award and abide by the following rules:

• Thank the person who nominated you, and posts a link to their blog on your blog post. Try to include a little promotion for him/her. They will thank you for it, and those who you nominate will also help you out as well.
• Display the award on your blog — by including it in your post and displaying it using a “widget” or a “gadget.” You will need to save the image to your computer and then upload it to your blog post.  There is no one set image for the award.  You can save the pictures I used and use it on your blog or find many others at The Global Aussie.
• For the 2017 Liebster Award, write a 150-300 word post on your favorite blog that is not your own. Explain why you like the blog and provide links.
• Optional: Provide ten random facts about yourself. If you wish to engage with your readers, it's an excellent idea to include random facts about you.
• Nominate 5 – 11 blogs that you feel deserve the award. The blogs must have less than 200 followers. Note that you can always ask the blog owner this since not all blogs display a widget that lets the readers know this information!  Then, create 11 questions for them to answer.
• List these rules in your post (You can copy and paste from here or simply link to this post.)
• Inform the people/blogs that you nominated that they have been nominated for the Liebster Award and provide a link for them to your post or mine if you don’t have all the information so that they can learn about it.

If you have been nominated before at any time, please share the love! Liebster award is more than a chain email/letter! Its main idea is to help promote each others’ blogs.

Before I get started answering Paula's questions, here is my favorite blog as of the moment: Everyday Tia. Like me, Tia is also a beginner. However, she easily found her way on how to monetize her blog at an early stage and the best part about her blog? She's sharing everything about it so other bloggers can benefit too! I learned a lot from her post Monetizing Your Blog: For Beginners By A Beginner. She encouraged beginner bloggers to stop thinking that they can only start monetizing their blog when they reach thousand of page views because in fact there are affiliate marketing companies who are willing to work even with beginner bloggers! She even listed all those companies with each associated links to help bloggers start out! I am trying to intake everything I learned (and continuously learning) from her right now so I can start monetizing my blog too. I think it has long been overdue. Tia was an amazing blogger who loves sharing her success with others, and she's pretty good in interacting with her readers. I encourage you to check out her blog, I know for sure you'll learn a lot from her too.

Questions from Her Life is Love

So, here are the 11 questions Paula has asked me to answer:

1. What is something you vividly remember being afraid of as a child, but no longer fear now? I think I used to be afraid of the dark (I can't sleep when the lights are off) but now, I can't sleep when the lights are on. 
2. What is one thing you use every day but could live without? My laptop? I use it every day, but I think I can live without it. (Because I know I will always have my phone, haha)
3. If you had to plant a garden full of lettuce, basil, or random flowers, which one would you choose and why? I don't have a thing about gardening at all, but if I have to choose between the 3, I'd rather choose the lettuce! Why? I can make a salad out of it, and that's one of the few vegetables that my husband eats! Hahaha.
4. If someone was going to visit your hometown, where would you recommend visiting and why? So, I am from a small town in the Philipines called Sto. Tomas, Batangas and if I am going to recommend a place to visit there, it would probably be.....Malvar Shrine! A historical landmark of General Miguel Malvar, the last general who surrendered during the Philippine-American War. Why? It's the only interesting place I can recommend to someone there, plus it's just a few minutes walk from my parent's house (where I used to live). And did I mention that it's free to visit? 
5. You must have a roommate with the personality of Dory (forgetful, but positive) or Marlin (logical, rational, negative) from Finding Nemo/Dory.  Who would you rather live with? I would rather live with Marlin! Because, it will contrast my personality being more likely Dory, forgetful but positive. Balance in life is important! Complementing each other brings the best out of you.
6. Would you rather chase bears or bees (under the assumption that no harm will come to you, the bears, or the bees during the chase)? I love bears, so I would rather chase them and give them a big bear hug afterward.
7. Sunny or rainy? Sunny sunshine! Rainy days makes me sad (for some reason).
8. Can breakfast be skipped?  Yes or no. Yes (I'm guilty of doing it).
9. What is one thing on your bucket list you haven’t done yet? To tell you the truth, I don't even have a bucket list yet! Maybe, I'll start with making one.
10. Is there a 2D world you would want to live in?  If so, what is it and why?  (2D world can be comic strip, animation, paintings, etc.) I wanted to live here:

Taken from God's Promises a Paradise in jw.org

Yes, I wanted to live in Paradise earth! And for me, this is not only a 2D drawing. It is something I look forward to in the future that for sure will become a reality! 

11. What is the one song you can’t resist dancing to? I'm one crazy person; I dance to any upbeat song or music whenever I hear one, even when there are people (I don't know) around.

10 Random Facts About Marionette

1. I am a sleepy head. I enjoy sleeping more than anything else (yes, more than eating).

2. I am a freebie junkie. I love samples, cheap things and anything free.

3. I am a good researcher (I can sometimes be a detective).

4. I know 3 languages. My mother tongue is Tagalog, my second language is English, and I am currently learning Spanish (I am now slightly conversational).

5.  I know how to sing, and I used to play guitar. I sold it when I was about to leave the Philippines for the US.

6. I met my husband on Facebook. We're friends for 4 years before being an official couple. Now, we are 2 years in marriage.

7. My favorite anime is Detective Conan (Case Closed). I sometimes spent a whole day watching it. (I am currently on episode 400 something, and there's about a thousand more to go.)

8.  My dream vacation place is Palawan, Philippines.

9. I love Monterey, California. Beside of it being a beautiful place, it's where I first met my then boyfriend and now husband in person.

10. I love cooking, and I am looking forward to finally learn how to bake.

I hope you enjoyed learning some things about me! Please feel free to ask me anything that you are interested to know about me, leave it in the comment below. I am looking forward to finding out more about you!

So here's the list of my fantastic nominees:

1. Tia of Everyday Tia
2. Marga of The Modern Belle
3. Cassie of Cassies Freebies
4. Chrissy of Blooming Beauty Bites
5. The Cheap Subscriber
6. Jessica of Simply Jezral
7. Cassie of Stay at Home Cassie
8. Maria of Reviews on free voxbox's from influenster
9. Vivi of Freebie Critic
10. Jacinta from Jump Start your Biz

To my nominees, here are my questions:

1. What is your greatest childhood memory?

2. If you were given a chance to be someone else, who would you rather be?

3. If blogging can be a full-time job, would you consider it?

4. Would you rather have a baby girl or a baby boy?

5. Sing or dance?

6. If you can travel the world now, where would you go first?

7. If you can change your nationality, what would it be?

8. What food do you hate most?

9. What is your favorite post in your own blog? Why? (Provide us a link so we can check it too)

10. Reading a book or watching T.V.?

11. In my 10 random facts above, which one did you find interesting? And why?

Comment on this post with your award acceptance post link and I’ll visit and comment!

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Poppy VoxBox: My first VoxBox from Influenster

After about three months of being a member, I finally got a VoxBox from Influenster! A small box full of fabulous goodies was sent to me for free for testing purposes. I would like to share what's inside my VoxBox and give you a short review of how I thought about each product after I tried them.

Okay, wait! Before I go discussing each product in my VoxBox, I would like to take some time to give others some idea of what is Influenster, how does it work and what is a VoxBox.

First, Influenster is a product discovery platform that sends out sample boxes to their members so they can try new products for free in exchange for honest reviews and feedbacks. This sample box is called a VoxBox. A Voxbox is a package filled with complimentary products from brands. It can sometimes be an assortment of products from different brands or a box dedicated to one brand. To be able to be given one of these Voxboxes, you have to sign up to the platform. If you want to get started, you can use this link to sign up: Influenster Sign up. Once you are a member, you have to complete your profile and finish all the surveys/snaps available, so Influenster can match you to any future Voxboxes. Also, do not forget to connect all your social media accounts to increase your Impact score. The more followers or friends you may have in each, the higher your impact score would be, and the higher the chances you'll be selected for a VoxBox. Influenster also takes considerations of members that are active on their platform. So review every product you already used, asked as many questions as you can about a product you're interested in trying and help other Influensters by answering some questions they may have about a certain product that you have knowledge about. Tedious it may seem, but it's worth it!

Anyway, moving on to the main topic of this blog post (my first ever VoxBox), I received the so-called Poppy VoxBox. Although it may seem like a tiny box, it is full of fantastic products inside!

Here are the products inside my VoxBox:

1. Nyakio Kenyan Coffee Facial Polish - 4/5

2. 7th Heaven Strengthen Nail And Cuticle Nail Masques - 5/5

3. Eva-NYC Freshen Up Dry Shampoo - 5/5

4. Nivea In-Shower Body Lotion - 5/5

5. Rimmel Scandaleyes Micro Eyeliner - 4/5

6. Rimmel Oh my Gloss! Oil Tint - 3/5

7. Tide Pods Plus Downy - 4/5

So here's my review of each item:

Nyakio (Neh-Kay-Oh) Kenyan Coffee Facial Polish - 4/5

What it does:

"Renew, refresh and revitalize all skin types with this lush, creamy facial scrub. This naturally derived formula combines Kenyan coffee, rich in antioxidants and caffeine, with jojoba and moisturizing shea butter. Gently exfoliate to instantly reveal radiant, youthful-looking skin". ~ from Ulta.com.

It's a whole new level of exfoliating your face with this product. I used this product every morning as part of my morning facial routine. I love how the little beads/scrubs felt on my skin while using it, making me feel it's literally removing the dead skin on my face. It makes my skin smooth and feeling fresh without irritating my sensitive skin, true to its claims that it's suitable for all skin types. I was expecting it would smell like coffee (which I would love), but it did not. It has a pleasant scent that's not overpowering at all. This product cost around $32 for a 4.0 oz tube which is kinda pricey for me. I love this product but being a budget buyer, I am not sure if I am willing to spend for this. But it's definitely a product that is worth a try. 

7th Heaven Strengthen Nail And Cuticle Nail Masques - 5/5

What it does:

"Treat damaged nails and cuticles with the product's nourishing Argan, Macadamia oil, and anti-oxidant rich Pomegranate finger masques. Revitalize and condition in 15 minutes!"

It was my first time to use a nail mask, and it was fantastic! It had a fresh scent and made my fingernails and cuticles so soft and silky without the tingling sensation. However, I had to ask my husband for help in putting the other masks in my other hand. But overall, it's worth trying! No other way to pamper your nails. 

Eva-NYC Freshen Up Dry Shampoo - 5/5

What it does:

"Perfect for busy girls, the Eva NYC Freshen Up Dry Shampoo keeps hair fresh one day longer without even washing! The expert formula instantly revives dull and lifeless hair by removing excess oil and odor leaving it clean, stylish and smooth". ~ from Ulta.com.

I never used any dry shampoo before, and I was curious how it works. When I had the chance of trying this product out, I fell in love with the smell! The smell brings me back to my college days (for some reasons). It makes my hair shiny and soft, and the smell last long! I would definitely have this now as one of my must haves! The price in CVS & Ulta for this product is $11.99 for a 5.3 oz bottle. Not bad at all.

Nivea In-Shower Body Lotion - 5/5

What it does:

"In-Shower Nourishing Body Lotion helps revolutionize the daily skincare routine and transforms body care with a different take on moisturizing. It moisturizes instantly with no sticky feel and

leaves skin feeling soft, smooth, and moisturized for 24hr+". ~ from Niveausa.com

I usually have dry skin, but I hate the idea of applying lotion after a shower because I don't like the sticky feel of it on my skin. However, this product was just what I needed! I don't have to deal with putting lotion after a bath since I can do it while I shower using this product! And the best part about it? It moisturizes your skin without the sticky feel! The product design was simple and nice. It has a delightfully fresh scent which I love, and it leaves my skin hydrated and moisturized all day long. My skin feels so smooth and smells so good after a bath. I will, for sure, buy more of this! It is $4.99 for a 13.5 Fl.oz. in Amazon.com.

Rimmel Scandaleyes Micro Eyeliner - 4/5

What it does:

"Rimmel Scandaleyes Precision Micro Eyeliner has an ultra-thin felt tip for a flawless, super-precise line. It's long-lasting, ultra-black color stays put for up to 24 hours and delivers flawless definition with a single stroke". ~ from Walmart.com

I am a newbie learning to create the perfect cat and winged eyeliner look. I can say that I had a hard time at first on using this product because the tip was really thin. I have to re-apply to make it visible. However, I think this product is good and can be a good eye buddy (if I could just learn the secret of applying micro eyeliners). It cost $5.47 in Walmart.com.

Rimmel Oh my Gloss! Oil Tint - 3/5

What it does:

"Rimmel London's NEW Oh My Gloss! Oil Tint is packed with a harmonious blend of four precious oils, for unprecedented nourishing care and comfort with an ultra-glossy finish. It's ultra-light, non-greasy, non-sticky and non-drying". ~ from Rimmellondon.com

It was such an oily lip tint! And when I say oily, it's more of a good thing since it has essential oils that help keep the lips soft and moisturized. I love the cute packaging and the flat and soft applicator that made it easy for me to apply it. I was worried about the color I received, "Orange Mode" because I am more of a red or pink lip-color-girl. I never tried orange colors in fear that it will look weird on me. But it turns out that this color was not actually a heavy orange shade.  I am not thrilled with the smell though since I do not like the strong fruity smell on makeups or skin cares. Although this lip tint is oily, it's not sticky at all. One issue I've encountered is that it bleeds, it can be all over, outside your lips. It doesn't stay long and has a need of re-applying it every once in a while. However, it still leaves your lips hydrated, smooth and moisturized even after it's all gone. Available for $4.26 at Walmart.com.

Tide Pods Plus Downy - 4/5

What it does:

"Cleans and conditions in 1 step, protecting clothes from damage in the wash. It has 4-in-1 technology: Detergent + Stain Remover + Brightener + Downy Fabric Protect. Tide PODS Laundry pacs dissolve in hot and cold water. Designed for standard and HE Washing Machines (front- and top-loaders)". ~ from Target.com.

It's so easy to use, smells amazing and efficiently cleaned my clothes. I did not use any additional detergent or dryer sheets like I usually do, so it will definitely save me some bucks! The cleaning power of Tide and the fragrance of  Downy is clearly a perfect combination. The 32ct pack is sold for $11.99 at Target. 

That's about it! I hope I can receive more VoxBoxes from Influenster and share my insights with you all again! 

Did you receive this Poppy VoxBox too? If yes, what was your favorite product? If not, what product are you excited to try?

Disclaimer: These products were sent to me complimentary by Influenster for testing purposes. All opinions are my own.

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My First Approved CrowdTap Sample Application: Revlon ColorStay Bundle & Super Length Mascara

Crowdtap is one of my favorite platforms in getting free stuff. I've got a long list of sites where I get my free products or samples, but I can tell you that Crowtap would be in number 1. I have only been a member for about a month, but I already earned $20 Amazon gift cards and was approved for two fantastic sample applications.  Today, I would love to share with you the first free full-sized sample products I've received.

I was fortunate enough to be chosen to try some amazing products from Revlon. I received a total of 5 beauty products complimentary from Crowdtap in exchange for my honest review and opinion.

The products were Colorstay Brow Crayon, ColorStay Brow Pencil, ColorStay 2-In-1 Eyeliner, ColorStay Creme Eye Shadow and the Super Length Mascara.

Revlon ColorStay Brow Crayon in Soft Black

I can say that this was my least favorite among all the Revlon products I received. Due to the huge-crayon-like shape of it and the big tip of the liner (plus the fact that I am still learning this whole new perfect-eyebrow -thing world.), I had a hard time applying it on my eyebrows. It did define and shape my brow but not in one sweep as it claims because the product seems to be a little greasy for me, I had it smudge all over especially when applying it to the edges. One thing to watch out for this product was when you touch it, it smudges easily. It is, however, blendable and because of its unique wax to powder formula, it can stay long in your brows (just remember not to touch it).  I also loved the fact that it is waterproof. You can get it in 4 shades - Blonde, Soft Brown, Dark Brown and Soft Black. 

Revlon ColorStay Brow Pencil in Soft Black

I love this product better than the Brow Crayon.As I've mentioned, I am a beginner in the 'brow-thing-world,' and this Revlon pencil was just what I needed. It was easy to use and didn't give me a hard time applying it. The angled tip did help me out for precise application, and the brush, on the other hand, was a great help in blending the color to my brow. I love the creamy texture of the brow pencil and the fact that it's waterproof and has a 24-hour lasting formula. It's available in 5 shades - Blonde, Soft Brown, Auburn, Dark Brown and Soft Black.

Revlon ColorStay 2-in-1 Angled Kajal in Onyx

This is one of my favorite from the Revlon Colorstay Bundle. I don't always wear eyeliner, but when I do, it's during special occasions, so I spent time perfecting how to apply it. And this ColorStay Eye Liner from Revlon made that easy for me. It was so easy to use because of it's angled tip and with the help of the smudge brush, I was able to achieve a perfect smokey eye. It does not smudge in my eyes and last long as well. It glides smoothly, and you can easily control how thick or thin you want your liner to be. It's also good to know that it is ophthalmologist tested and safe for use on waterline. It's available in 4 sturdy shades - Onyx, Fig, Evergreen, and Graphite.

Revlon Colorstay Creme Shadow in #720 (Chocolate)

I don't usually use eyeshadow especially the powder ones because my eyes are sensitive and can get easily irritated. However, this creme eyeshadow did not give me that irritation. I love how the color looks in my eyes - simple but classy with a matte finish. The packaging design was neat and cute, and I love how it has a built in tiny brush in the bottom. It's pretty pigmented, easy to use, so smooth, waterproof and long lasting. It's available in 4 unique finishes - metallic, matte, pearl and satin. It's also available in 12 stunning shades.

Revlon Super Length Mascara in Blackest Black

I rarely use mascara, so I was thrilled to try this product upon knowing that it has a luscious lengthening formula. Using the long bristles, it glides smoothly in my lashes, and the tapered tip was helpful in coating my smaller lashes. The only thing I do not like about this product is that it won't keep my lashes curled. But overall, I like this product. It's very light and easy to apply, leaving you with a natural look without leaving black spots under your eyes. It has 4 shades - Blackest Black, Black, Blackened Brown, Blackest Black Waterproof.

Using these products altogether, I was able to pull out a fierce and bold look. Keep in mind that I am just starting my makeup journey and a total beginner created this look with the help of Revlon ColorStay Bundle and Super Lenght Mascara.

Have you tried any of these Revlon ColorStay products and Super Length Mascara? What are your favorites?

You can also check out my second Approved Crowdtap Sample Application also from Revlon here.

Disclaimer: These Revlon products were sent to me complimentary by Crowdtap for testing purposes. All opinions are my own.

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