Tag: Apps

MY FAVOURITE APPS OF 2019

Hey Everyone,

I hope you’re all doing well! Welcome to Blogmas Day 10! Today’s post is all about the apps that I’ve been loving throughout 2019. I’ve included all of the apps that I consider to be staples and must-haves so that you can download and enjoy them too!

Check out my favourite apps of 2017 and 2018!

FILMM

This is an absolute must-have for Instagram stories! Earlier this year, YouTuber/Blogger, Zoe Sugg, collaborated with the founders of A Color Story (Emma Chapman and Elsie Larson) to create “Filmm”. Created for creators, the app includes new video effects and filters to add all kinds of funky things to video clips. You can add light leaks, grain and dust to your videos and photos as well as filters and music! Filmm is free to download but you can also purchase packs containing more filters and effects. There’s also a subscription available to get everything for one price. I personally love using this app as it gives my videos a lovely home-made vibe. The effects aren’t just static filters but they actually move with the videos, making them look so realistic!

LIGHTROOM

I only started using this app properly earlier this year. Now, I cannot imagine my life without it – especially as a blogger and influencer! Lightroom is an editing app that allows you to edit everything from the exposure and contrast of a photo to removing haze or adding grain to it. It literally lets you edit every aspect of an image until you’re happy with how it looks. It really allows you to be a perfectionist with your work – which I love! You can also create your own or download presets, ready to copy and paste so that all of your images have the same edit. I love using presets for my Instagram themes – they have made a huge difference to my photography! There’s absolutely no going back now that I have this app in my life – it’s an everyday staple for me!

APPLE PODCASTS

I absolutely love podcasts. I listen to at least one episode of a podcast every single day. They’re perfect to have on in the background whilst I’m working, cleaning or even on a walk or a run. The Apple Podcasts app is basically a library for IOS users to access over 750,000 shows. There’s a category for everything; Comedy, Sports, True Crime, History and even Fiction! I’m not only constantly entertained and inspired by podcasts, but I can learn from them too. You can keep up to date with your favourite shows or you can download episodes so that you’ve always got some stored for those long and boring journeys. I feel like I’m always recommending podcasts to friends and family – I actually think I listen to them more than I watch TV or movies.

I’ve written two posts about the podcasts that I listen to; My Favourite Podcasts in 2018 and 3 Podcasts to Make You Laugh, so give them a read if you need something new to listen to!

SLEEP CYCLE

I’ve been struggling with sleep since I was a kid. I’ve been having very intense lucid dreams since I was about twelve years old, so I’m used to waking up in the middle of the night feeling confused and questioning what’s real etc. It usually means that in the morning, I’m still extremely tired. I currently have no problem with falling asleep, but during the night, I know my sleeping pattern is very inconsistent and easily disrupted.

I noticed this app and I thought it would help me understand my sleep cycles much more. Sleep Cycle offers a variety of features to help users track and analyse their sleep. It also has an inbuilt alarm that gently wakes you up during a light sleep in the morning. I love this as I never feel like it interrupts my sleep as I’m usually just stirring as it starts to go off. Now, I understand my sleeping pattern so much more thanks to the detailed analysis that the app provides. Also, I love that I don’t have to have anything under my pillow or attached to me. I can just put my phone on my bedside table and I’m good to go!

I know Pinterest has been around for a while! It’s just that I’ve been using it so much this year that it simply felt wrong not to mention it. Pinterest is probably the most inspiring app that I own. There’s everything available from makeup ideas and motivational quotes to storage hacks, DIY tips and tricks. There’s also plenty of beautiful and inspiring images to look at. You can discover so much just by typing a word or phrase into the search bar and hey-presto, you’ll have hours worth of content to scroll through! It’s very therapeutic to use. You can create and organise boards by theme and save what you find, it feels a lot like digital scrapbooking! As someone that likes to be creative, this app has been an amazing source of inspiration, motivation and ideas for me!

I can’t really fit everything that this app has to offer into a small paragraph, but it’s absolutely worth downloading if you don’t already have it!

Follow me on Pinterest!

I’m always looking for new apps to use, so let me know your favourites in the comments! I’ve put links to all of my social media down below and I’d love it if you would come and say hi!

Read about my favourite apps of 2017 and 2018 here!

N xxxx

TWITTER | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | PINTEREST

Tags 2019, App Store, Apps, blogger, BLOGMAS, Christmas, December, Favourites, Photography, Photos, Pinterest, Podcasts, Review

2018 BLOGMAS LIFE

4 OF MY FAVOURITE APPS OF 2018

Post author By Nina Louise
Post date December 3, 2018
No Comments on 4 OF MY FAVOURITE APPS OF 2018

Hey Everyone,

I hope you’re all doing well! Welcome to Blogmas Day 3! Today’s post is all about the apps that I’ve been loving throughout 2018. I actually wrote one last year, and since then I’ve been trying out lots of different things and I have a few more favourites to share with you! All of the apps that I’ve included are ones that I consider to be complete game changes and I can’t imagine doing what I do without them.

UNFOLD

Instagram stories started out to be fairly unpopular, as most people were just sticking with Snapchat. However, now, everyone is using them! As someone that works with social media every day, I’m always looking at ways to reach out to people that view my content. Typically, I like to use engaging language and high quality photography. Although I was doing this on my Instagram stories, I was getting bored of the same old features and ending up with the same sort of “homemade” look to all of my photography. That’s when I discovered Unfold! The app offers simple but elegant templates to curate your Instagram Story exactly the way that you want to. You can use it for photos, videos and even boomerangs! My stories now look so much more professional and well laid-out – I’ve even noticed a spike in engagement on my profile! The app is free to use however there is an option to buy some of their premium collections to give yourself some more templates to get busy with!

PREVIEW

This is probably my most used app of 2018 – I use it every single day without fail. Since becoming a blogger, I have recognised the importance of using Instagram to share my content. Not only this, but how important it is to keep it looking professional and organised. I started to use themes this year and with that came the stress of planning what photo to upload next. What would happen if I uploaded a photo and it didn’t look right or fit in? That’s where Preview comes in. This wonderful app allows you to plan your dream feed before anything goes live. You can shift the photos around to get them in the perfect position and schedule them to go up whenever suits you. You can also add hashtags to any of your images as well as being able to upload straight to Instagram without any fuss. I can’t even begin to tell you how much this has helped me, plus I now have a feed that I’m proud of. This is the kind of app that once you start using, you can’t understand how you used to function without it.

BUFFER

I’d heard so much about this app and so I finally caved in to the curiosity to download it. I’m glad I did as I use it all the time and find it so helpful! I’m a student in my final year with a busy timetable, I also post twice a week on my blog. This means that I hardly have time for dinner most days, let alone promoting the things that I write. Buffer allows you to pre-write all of your tweets and schedule them to go up whilst you’re going about your day as usual. It means I don’t have to find the time to sit and compose tweets as it’s already doing it for me! It’s made me a lot less stressed, as it’s taken one less thing of my plate. You can also sync it to other social media accounts too – it doesn’t have to be twitter.

SPROCKET

My boyfriend Kindly bought me the hp Sprocket for Christmas a couple of years ago and I’m so glad he did as I love it! The Sprocket is a wireless pocket-sized printer that doesn’t require ink or any lengthy printing sessions – just an app! The app lets you choose exactly what you want to print from any of your devices, all in a couple of taps. It also has lots of editing features that allow you to add overlays, stickers and filters for any last minute touch-ups. You can even connect it to your Instagram account to print directly from your feed! Obviously you need the Sprocket to use the app, so I’m aware lots of you won’t find this useful, but if you’re considering getting one, or even asking for it for Christmas, you can see that it’s a really handy little system to have for on-the-go use! I love that I can print instantly wherever I am, it’s definitely encouraged me to be more spontaneous and to create a memory out of every day.

I hope you enjoyed today’s post! I usually stick to lifestyle and beauty on my blog, but occasionally it’s nice to talk about something else! I’m always interested to know what apps everyone is using and whether I’m missing out on any! Be sure to let me know in the comments what your favourites are!

Have a read of last year’s post: My favourite apps of 2017

N xxxx

Tags 2018, Apps, BLOGMAS, Christmas, December, Favourites, Inspiration, Iphone, Photography, Photos, Review

2017 BLOGMAS LIFE LIFESTYLE REVIEWS

FAVOURITE APPS OF 2017

BLOGMAS DAY 9

So, I have always loved reading blog posts and watching youtube videos where people talk about the apps they love to use. I thought I would share something similar with you, as I seem to have accumulated quite the collection of apps on my phone!

VSCO

I’ve used this app since I got an iPhone years ago, it’s definitely my favourite. I use it to edit my photos before uploading them to Instagram, as the VSCO allows you to upload straight from the app which is super handy. I also use it before I put pictures into my blog posts. You can upload images straight from your camera roll and edit them using different filters and by adjusting the brightness and exposure etc. VSCO also lets you create a profile within the app, which allows you to upload photos for others in the community to see. You can also see what others have managed to create using the amazing filters that VSCO provides. You can download some of the presets for free and you can also buy packs of them which I have done and found to be really worth the money! These filters get permanently added to your collection. It’s such a great app for editing your own work and looking at what others have been able to do with the app. I would definitely recommend this to anyone that enjoys editing photography or being creative in their spare time.

DESIGN HOME

So this app is technically a game and it is truly the most addictive thing on earth. There’s something so therapeutic about it. The aim is to design the interior of the rooms given to you in challenges, and the higher you score the more rewards you win as a result. You can buy new items for your game that actually exist in the real world, so if something takes your fancy, you can also buy it in real life. There are new releases of furniture in the in-game shop every single day. There’s also the option to view other peoples designs and vote for your favourites to earn some of the in-game currency. It’s a great game for anyone that loves interior design and it never gets old due to its frequent updates and makeovers. The company that created the game, Crowdstar Inc, also have a game that’s extremely similar but focuses on fashion, called Covet Fashion, which I also play!

21 BUTTONS

21 buttons is such a unique app, it feels like one of those things you would have described as your dream app a few years ago, but it seemed impossible at the time, but it’s here and it’s brilliant. 21 buttons allows you to view a never-ending feed, full of fashion trends tailored specifically to your taste. You can view other people’s outfits and save them in ‘wishlist’ style folders. You can even share your own outfits, tagging each individual item and wait for it…you can earn money doing so! You earn a small commission every time someone purchases an item that you’ve provided a link for. Great idea, right? You can withdraw the money from your balance every time it reaches £10, which can add up quicker than you think if you upload frequently. I would love it if you could follow me on 21 Buttons: ninalouise

DAY ONE

The best way to describe Day One is that it’s like a diary. Day by day you can write about what you get up to and add photos. It’s a great way to store loads of memories for a rainy day when you feel like reminiscing. I’ve been using this since summer and it’s so nice to have all my memories in one place. I’m looking forward to spending part of New Year’s Day going back over what I have been up to this year! I would recommend this to anyone that never gets round to using a diary (me) as you’re likely to have your phone on you anyway and it’s quick and easy to do.

TASTY

So I’m sure lots of you are familiar with the super speedy and quirky recipe videos that have been circulating Facebook, however, if you aren’t, this app shall reveal all! Tasty is basically a recipe bank (1700+ recipes) all on your phone, with all of the handy little videos available at one tap of your thumb. The videos demonstrate how to make a delicious meal ingredient by ingredient, which just makes life that little bit easier. You can filter what recipes you’re looking for with options like “weeknight” or “under 30 minutes”! There are literally HUNDREDS of recipes to choose from so you’re bound to find something that suits you and to top it all off, it’s FREE!

FREEPRINTS

My boyfriend and I started scrapbooking when we got together and we like to print photos out and make pages representing special days or date nights we’ve had so we can look back on a year’s worth of us! I originally used to go to Boots, plug my phone in and print a load of photos out and I would pay the price they were charging as I didn’t know where else I could get photos printed for any cheaper. I ended up paying £20 for 40 photos! I then found FreePrints and it changed my life. Every month, the app gives you 45 free photos to print out and you only pay for the delivery. If you want or need to print more than 45 photos, you will then be charged based on how many extra prints you pick. You can edit and adjust the photos before they arrive (crop etc) and then you’re done! Just like that and no it’s not too good to be true!

POLYVORE

Polyvore is such a great app. It’s still fairly new to me so I’m still figuring bits and bobs out BUT so far so good! You can keep on top of the latest trends in the fashion world, search for specific items that you’re interested in and create sets for other users to find and like. You can share your sets on social media too so others can see your creations! It’s great for getting outfit inspiration too, I really love seeing what other people have come up with. It’s also free!

INFLUENSTER

Influenster is an app that allows you to review products, read what other people have to say and also, receive some fantastic products from brands. When you create an account, you can connect Influenster to your various social media platforms. The app then calculates how many people you can reach and then brands may or may not see you aa suitable influencer to publicly review their products. It may sound easy but you really have to work hard when reviewing products and making sure you build up a following in order to get noticed. However, the app is great just for finding reviews and checking out the latest products in the beauty community. There’s even a whole community of people reviewing food! There’s something for everyone and of course, it’s free! I would recommend this to bloggers as it’s a great way to review bits and pieces within a huge community.

I would love to know what apps you guys use and love, I’m always looking for something new to try!

N xxxx

Follow me on Twitter and Instagram: NinaLouisex

Find me on 21 Buttons: Ninalouise

Tags 2017, Apps, BLOGMAS, Christmas, December, Iphone, Lifestyle, Photography, Review