Books, Books, Books...+a super awesome app recommendation

A couple of month's ago I decided I wanted to finally catch up on a series of books I had been reading for a few years. I knew the next book would be coming out and I still had 10 books to catch up on. The problem with reading books in series is you wind up with a lot of clutter from buying the books, plus that gets expensive....especially when there are 20 books in a series! Usually I use my local library but many times the books weren't coming available and that was frustrating. Plus, I'd have to remember to take the books back and living in rainy, often cold places some days I simply did not want to go out. So, I decided to start searching through my library's website and see what I could turn up in way of finding books to check out through my iPad. I just knew with all the technology available today there had to be something out there....

This was when I found Overdrive Media Console. 

This app is freaking amazing. It is free to download and thousands of libraries in the US use it, a thousand some odd in Canada, plus quite a few other countries. Find out here if your library is included! On the left hand side you can click country and choose your country to then find your library.

I really can't say enough good things about this app. I love that I can browse through my libraries e-book library and audio book library and either borrow items, put them on a wish list, or put them on "hold". If I have to hold a book it saves it under "holds" and tells me what place I am in line and it updates as time goes on. When it is your turn to read a book they send you an email, you log into the app and borrow it. I then download it to my library instead of reading it in the browser so if i am somewhere without internet I won't have any problems reading. I imagine all libraries are different but I can borrow a book for 21 days....once the 21 days is up if there is no waiting list I can renew the book otherwise it forces me to "return" it, meaning they just cut off your access and send the file on to the next person. I love this system because it motivates you to read the books and when I'm waiting for a book I know I will get it in a fairly timely manner. The other bonus is I have cut down on so much clutter and saved a lot of money from not constantly buying books!

Now, as I said earlier this app allowed me to painlessly finish reading one of my all time favorite series....

The Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich!

my stephanie-plum shelf:

How Ms. Evanovich manages to keep these books entertaining is beyond me. I found the series when my Grandmother lent me one after we had moved back to our hometown and I was looking for something new. I began devouring the books. I took a break after book 10 because I was working and moving and doing all kinds of other things. I then picked them back up about two years ago and slowly read through them so I could savor them. Around book 16-18 I did start to get a little miffed with Stephanie because it seemed like the same stupid mistakes were being repeated, but Evanovich managed to over come that in Notorious Nineteen and give the series some new life. These are always a quick read, within a week if I am busy but could easily knock one out a day if I neglected my responsibilities as I have been known to do from time to time on a lazy Saturday. These books are always good for a laugh too. I really do not like reading depressing novels so to get a book in my hands that will make me shed happy tears is something I will flock to.

Now that you know my favorite genre, what is yours? Leave me a comment so we can discuss!

My Top Photo Apps for iPhone/iPad...best part: FREE!

For a very long time I've been in search of the perfect apps for editing photos. I love to take pictures and love to try and turn them in to works of art whenever possible. For this you must have awesome apps...below are my favourites! I rarely go a week without using each of these apps.

1. PicLab HD

This is one of my faves because of all the filters...they are truly amazing! I love the sketch, toon, and emboss filters are my favorite! There are also some really cool light fx, like bokeh, that can enhance some pictures as well. The last thing I love about this app are the frames. The only bummer is the frames don't translate well onto Instagram so I rarely use them. Hopefully they can fix this in the future!

2. Photo Timer +

When I was running my Beachbody business this app was essential. I would need to take photos during my workout and this was the best free one I found. It allows you to take multiple photos (up to 10) and allows you to take them anywhere from 3 seconds apart to 3 minutes apart! Seriously, I think the best photo timer app out there. 

I often will take a series of pictures then make a collage with one of the two following apps....

3. InstaFrame

Lots of different frames: they have different shaped frames for single photos, even some different shapes for multiple photos, and of course lots for creating collages. Once you create your collage you can add filters and text. I use this one constantly. All collages I have shared from here to Instagram transfer over perfectly with no issues.

4. InstaFrame+

This is a super fun app because you can make photo and/or video collages! When putting together a video collage it will allow you to play the videos together or at different times and speed them up or slow them down! Super cool, I think. They also have several cute frames available, background colors, and of course you can add text. This one translates really well with all features to Instagram.

Here are some pictures I have edited with the apps: