New 3D touch for the Apple iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus! I'm sooo gonna buy the iPhone 6s in rose gold...

Was anyone else looking forward to the #AppleEvent as much as I have been? I have an Apple iPhone 5s that's been trucking along for a while, but the battery has been dying so quickly lately. I literally own five separate mobile power charges (two mophie battery pack cases, a Kujian 5s5c2 Slim Rechargeable Case and a mophie powerstation (4,000mAh) - Black_).

During the Apple Event, they announced a new Apple TV... I already have one, so don't feel a desire to get a new one despite all the fancy updates. But my heart actually did a little leap when they announced that they have a new iPhone!





The iPhone 6s and the iPhone 6s Plus will offer 3D Touch technology (instead of Force Touch), which will allow you to apply multiple levels of pressure. They are also introducing a new co-processor which can help keep track of data for health and fitness. It also includes a new second generation touch ID sensor, which will recognize your fingerprint twice as quickly. Love the idea of what it does for your social media...



Most exciting for me, it offers an even sharper camera! So happy about that! The all-new iSight camera will be 12MP, which is 50% more pixels than before. Tremendous increase in details in your photos, without trading off the image quality. YAY!



I'm a photographer, and I am loving the photo samples taken with these phones. Nice low noise photos!!! MOST EXCITED ABOUT THE 4K VIDEOS!! Higher degree of details with 8 million pixels in every frame. The video demo that they showed was shot on the phone and then edited in the iMovie app.

Also love the 5MP Facetime front-facing camera -- better selfies, LOL! When I shot some of my CruzTube videos on my iPhone (like this one and this one), it had trouble with some of the lighting... so hopefully that problem will go away.

They introduced new technology called "Live Photos." Your photos move now!!!!! WHOA! Love that you can touch the image and it shows some captured videos. These live photos can also have sound. That's AMAZING, people, just amazing. You just take the photo as you always have, and it has a new icon at the top of three concentric circles, and it's on by default. You get a small indicator that it is "live" -- it extends the captured moment. You can also set a live photo on your Apple Watch face.





It will cost you the exact same price and configurations as the previous iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus models! Nice!! iphone 6s starts at $199 and iPhone 6s Plus starts at $299.

Apple retail stores will offer the iPhone Upgrade Program. You can get a new iphone every year, choose your carrier and it starts at just $32 a month.

Do you plan to get one of the newest phones, or the new iPad Pro or the new Apple TV? Let me know in the comments below, and thank you for reading!

Green smoothies: the ultimate health drink!

Want to make a quick, easy meal that's the most healthful, nutritious and delicious drink ever? Try making a green smoothie! 

Check out my CruzTube video that shows you how I make one.

I’ve been making green smoothies for probably about a decade, ever since I read the book Green for Life by Victoria Boutenko. In the book, she talks about how the best way for your body to absorb nutrients from fresh, leafy green vegetables is to blend them into a smoothie. The first time she tried it, she said it smelled awful, really strong like wheatgrass. Although I grow my own wheatgrass and juice it daily, I’m not a huge fan of the smell. As you can see in this video, I just use my special method of drinking it down like medicine, LOL!

But the magic happened when Boutenko added bananas. She said that one simple act transformed the smoothie into something delicious. I always put a banana in my green smoothie, although there are many recipes that don’t call for it.

I used my Magic Bullet blender to make my green smoothies for a really long time, but I’m so glad that they came out with the Nutribullet. It’s just bigger, and I needed that! I recommend using a 20% off coupon (you know you always get them in the mail) and getting yours from Bed Bath & Beyond.

Organic dandelion greens, banana and a mango from Haiti

You could also use a regular blender, but be prepared that it won’t work as well and you will have to blend it longer. Try adding some ice to make the consistency creamier and smoother. Ice also thickens it up without adding any calories. The book The Abs Diet said in a blind study, people who drank smoothies with ice felt fuller longer than those who had the same exact smoothie, but blended without the ice.

If you’re brand-new to green smoothies, try organic baby spinach as your leafy green. It’s a great “starter” since it tastes so smooth! Another tip is to seek out fresh fruits that are in season for extra nutrients and flavor.

There are a million green smoothie recipes out there, but here is my basic formula:

1.  A handful of fresh greens, approximately 1 cup

2.  One banana, fresh or frozen

3.  A handful of berries or fruit like mango, about ½ to 1 cup – frozen bags of fruit are quick because they’re pre-chopped

4.  1 cup of water

5.  Optional—protein powder or Greek yogurt (I add a pinch of stevia if I use yogurt), or even some nuts/seeds if you want the protein and fat while remaining vegan

I typically put all the ingredients into my Nutribullet tall cup at night, and then just blend it in the morning. Then I pour it into a Tervis cup and head to work.

My vessel of choice: it prevents spills and "sweating" plus it keeps the smoothie chilled

It’s nice to use a Tervis with a pattern on it that kind of masks the fact that you’re drinking a green smoothie. Although they are becoming more mainstream now, green smoothies are still not as widely recognized as I wish they were—and I STILL receive comments that make me feel like someone’s judging my healthful drink (don’t hate on my green smoothies, y’all).  ;)

Have you ever tried making a green smoothie? If so, what’s your recipe? Let me know in the comments below!

Dupe or Dud? Maybelline The Blushed Nudes vs. Urban Decay Naked 3 - swatches/comparison/review/demo

Just how much does Maybelline's new eyeshadow palette, The Blushed Nudes, compare to Urban Decay's Naked 3 palette? Watch my comparison review to find out!

Click HERE to watch the CruzTube video!

I did my right eye with Naked 3 and my left eye with The Blushed Nudes, so you be the judge of how well they compare. I show swatches of both palettes near the end.

The Blushed Nudes:

Pros--
*Super-affordable!!!
*Pretty range of colors
*Pinks and rose-toned shadows are stylish right now

Cons--
*Way more powdery, so there was more fallout than the Naked 3 palette
*You have to use more pressure when digging in to these shadows and applying them to achieve a similar look as Naked 3

Naked 3:

Pros--
*Legendary for the texture and consistency of the shadows-- creamy and highly blendable
*Excellent color payoff
*Will last a long time (I suspect, based on my experience with my Naked 2 palette-- still haven't hit pan although I use it regularly)

Cons--
*High-end price tag may not be worth it for some people
*Many of the shades are remarkably similar, like, why even bother having two of these shadows? I would have preferred a wider range of colors

Wrap-up:
My preference is for Naked 3 for the quality, but The Blushed Nudes for the price. My wallet just can't justify the higher price tag, even for the better Naked 3 shadows. I personally think my eyes looked nearly identical at the end, so what's the point of paying more?! Save the extra $44, people!!! Just go with The Blushed Nudes, LOL. :)

Pretty NEW Maybelline The Blushed Nudes eyeshadow palette

Check out my latest CruzTube video by CLICKING HERE! It showcases the latest eyeshadow palette from Maybelline.

New Eyeshadow Palette Review/Demo/First Impressions/Tutorial

Pros:

--Unbeatable price! 

--Small, slim, lightweight size is good for traveling

--Shades in this palette seem to be universally flattering
--Rose-toned shadows are very trendy and on-point for Spring!

Cons:

--Low color payoff (I had to apply over and over to get some of the shades to even show up)

--A bit chalky texture

--Some of the shades had a lot of fallout

Final assessment: Worth the low cost if you are looking for a trendy palette that's pretty fool-proof. This is a great beginner palette because the shadows are so easily blended and non-intimidating.

CruzTube video: Review & swatches of Maybelline's "The Nudes" eyeshadow palette

Hey there, beauty junkies! I review and swatch Maybelline's The Nudes palette in this new CruzTube video. The website dares you to go nude, with this reason:

Why You'll Love It

Our first 12 shade collection curated to create infinite looks with bold beiges, sultry sands, brazen bronzes, and over the top taupes.

I purchased my palette for only $9.98 (not including tax) at Walmart, and I think that's a STEAL! Watch the video for my full review.

PROS:
I heart this palette for the price and compact size! The shades are buttery smooth, buildable and blendable. :) There's also brilliance in the way the back of the packaging lists ways you can combine the shadows, so it's great for beginners who are looking for easy eye combos and simple methods (the back also shows where to place the shadows on your eye).

CONS:
It lacks a good champage-colored inner-eye highlighter color, in my opinion. The two lightest shimmery shades don't show up enough on their own in my inner eye corner. That's a minor flaw, one that I'm willing to give it a freebie pass on, since this palette gives you so much bang for your buck, it can't be beat!