Decorate Your Home With Artwork From Photowall

Hello Lovely People,

Photowall Canvas Print of JT’s Favorite Memories

We are living in a difficult time right now. Life as we know it has come to a sudden halt and we had to adjust our daily habits to keep ourselves and loved ones safe. My hubby and I are working at home until further notice. When stressful situations occur, we have to purposefully find things that bring peace and joy back into our homes. It brings a smile to my heart when I see things in my home that evoke fond memories. Looking at photographs of our wedding or a favorite vacation is a great way to reduce stress. Instead of looking at the photo albums or at your phone’s media gallery, what if you had these photographs mounted to your wall. Photowall can provide you with amazing decor for any room in your house. They are passionate about helping you transform your home to reflect your personality with custom wallpapers and prints.

For a while, my hubby and I wanted to create a canvas print with some of our favorite photos, but we could not find the right company. Bad reviews, poor quality for the price, or not enough options caused us to wait on the new artwork for our home. Photowall recently reached out to us for this collaboration opportunity. They specialize in canvas prints so we thought this would be a great chance to decorate our bedroom with the new decor we longed to have.

In addition to the canvas prints, Photowall also offers wallpaper with the paste, posters and framed prints. They offer top-quality images on their website or you can upload your own to create a custom piece. We created a collage of a wedding photo, a photo from our first date and a few from memorable trips we have taken. The process for uploading your own image and creating the artwork is quite simple. You can preview how the print will look and make changes to it if necessary. Once you submit the order, your new artwork is delivered to your door in one to four business days. Since the company is based in Sweden and we are in the Gateway City, I wasn’t sure if this was possible. But they were true to their word. We ordered the print late Wednesday night in the United States, which would have been early Thursday morning in Sweden. Photowall printed the piece, packaged it and shipped it to us on Thursday afternoon. It was in our hands by Monday afternoon. Very impressive! You can order with confidence that you will receive your new artwork in the time frame that they promise.

Putting together the canvas print.

We ordered a 39inch by 39inch canvas print with a wooden frame. Wondering how they would ship a large print and frame, I was surprised to see that we needed to assemble it ourselves. This obviously makes shipment easier. But no worries, the process for assembling the frame and attaching the canvas to the frame is very easy. We completed the entire process in about fifteen minutes. My hubby and I laid the canvas on the couch and began to assemble the frame with the instructions. Photowall also provides a short video if extra assistance is needed. You can watch the video here:

We placed our newly assembled artwork on our bedroom wall and it looks amazing. The print quality is superb. It is rich, vibrant and not pixelized, considering the size that we selected. The ink absorbs well into the canvas and is true to the colors of the original photograph that we used.

A view of the canvas print from across the room.

On the Photowall website, they say that they provide “Wall Art By Passionate People.” I could not agree more. Rooms reflect how we feel because we are the designers of those rooms. My home is my castle and to have a canvas print that reflects my style and my personality is a wonderful addition. I highly recommend Photowall for any of your art decor needs.

Check out what Photowall has to offer and make a selection for yourself. If you place an order and use the discount code jtwisdom25, you will save 25% off off your order’s total cost.

FTC Disclaimer:
Photowall provided Bubbling With Elegance And Grace with the canvas print and frame at no cost in exchange for this review. We received no monetary completion to write this review. All opinions about the artwork are honest and our own.

Amber Vale Home Holiday Candle Sampler Set (Review and Giveaway)

Hello, Beautiful People,

Listening to holiday jazz and getting ready to decorate for Christmas. However, my hubby and I wait until the day after Thanksgiving to up the tree and decorate the house. Right now I am enjoying candles in my home that have aromas of evergreen and cinnamon. Although sometimes candles can be very strong that they can be overpowering because they are made with synthetic fragrances. I have been looking for clean-burn candles. I had the opportunity to collaborate with LEV3L Digital to review the Tennessee-based Amber Vale Home company.

Amber Vale Candle Tennessee Christmas

Michelle Huff, the founder of Amber Vale Home says on her website.

“When I think of home, immediately it conjures up a feeling — cozy spaces and memories shared with those I love. From the very beginning, I wanted Amber Vale Home to be a portal to get goods that help us design our spaces to create this cozy, heartwarming environment called home.”

Their candles were packed well with bubble wrap and paper shavings so each candle is protected and secure. The candles are made of soy and coconut wax blend that promotes a healthier environment for my family and yours. The candles are expertly made in small batches and are hand-poured. Many of their fragrances are phthalate-free, which means not breathing in bad chemicals from the candle we burn. And many of the fragrances contain essential oils which they say improve air quality naturally. One favorite addition is that each candle has wooden wicks, they crackle and pop and make you feel like you are sitting with a cup of cocoa right by the fireplace.

How do they smell?


The candle scent is not overpowering but a light delicate aroma. This is great for people who do not like a strong scent that fills the room.

The candle holiday set includes an assortment of holiday fair include Tennessee Christmas that smells like a fresh cut evergreen for a Christmas wreath, With Extra Whip reminds me of hot chocolate with extra toppings of peppermint and whip cream, and Gathering with holiday scents of orange and clove. This set of 4 oz. candles would be a great gift for a loved one or friend at an affordable price of $20. Now, how about entering the Giveaway to have a chance to win an Amber Vale Holiday 3 piece candle sampler.

Giveaway Details
~ Please leave a comment below and let me know what’s your favorite holiday song?
~ Please share on Facebook
~ Giveaway will close at 11:59 pm on Saturday, November 23, 2019
~ One person who leaves a comment will be selected at random to receive a candle set.
~ FTC Disclosure: We received our own 3 piece candle set in order to write this review and to host this giveaway.

Thank you LEV3L3 Digital and Amber Vale for giving me the opportunity to give my honest opinion and host this giveaway.

 

Christmas Jars (Movie Review and Giveaway)

Hello, Lovelies,

I hope you are having an awesome day. On our way to church, this morning, my hubby and I noticed that the leaves are starting to change colors. It is time for me to bring out the fall decorations and look through the cookbooks for scrumptious soups and chilis recipes. The cooler days make me want to spend time on the couch, curled up under a warm blanket and watching a good movie. My hubby and I had the opportunity to preview a movie that will only be in theaters for one day, Monday, November 4th. The movie is CHRISTMAS JARS and here is the trailer.


Based on the New York Times Bestselling novel by Jason F. Wright, CHRISTMAS JARS tells the story of an aspiring newspaper journalist, Hope Jenson. Following a series of heart-breaking events, a mysterious person leaves a Christmas Jar filled with money on Hope’s doorstep. She soon finds out that she is not the only person to have received a jar. She wants to write an article about it for the newspaper. In the process of trying to find out who did this thoughtful deed, she has to decide whether she should compromise her values for professional gain.

Map of where all the Christmas Jars had been delivered.

Do we need to know the identity of who has given these Christmas Jars to the people in need? Teach one, reach one is a theme that resonates and it’s a wonderful time to bring to life in the movie. Giving is contagious, but at what cost? Does the anonymous person(s) who left the Christmas Jars all over the Columbus, Ohio area want to be found out? In Hope’s quest to find out who this person is, she creates a map of the people in the Columbus area who received the jar. Will she find out who the mysterious person is?

This heartfelt movie is family-oriented and shows how we should show kindness and generosity in our lives. And to find out if Hope compromises her values or not you have to go see the movie on Monday, November 4th. To purchase tickets to reserve your seats please go HERE!

Christmas Jars

We don’t have to show acts of kindness, however, it leaves such a good feeling inside when we do something for another person.
What are the ways you show acts of kindness?

Christmas Jar Giveaway
And in collaboration with LEV3L Digital, we are giving one blessed reader a DVD copy Christmas Jars.

How to Enter
Please leave a comment below. Let us know how you can show an act of kindness during the upcoming holiday season.
*Please share this review and giveaway on Facebook to give more people a chance to learn about the movie and an opportunity for them to win a DVD of the movie.

This giveaway will close at 11:59 PM on November 2, 2019. The winner will be announced on Sunday, November 3, 2019.

Thank you LEV3L Digital for giving BubblingwitheEleganceandGrace.com the opportunity to offer a free DVD for a giveaway. For hosting the giveaway, we will also receive our own copy of the movie on DVD.

Techy Girl: DJI Osmo Mobile 2 (Product Review)

Hello, Elegant Lovelies!

I pray that your week has been an awesome one for you. We received an arctic blast that sent our temperatures below zero, -28 degrees wind chill to be exact. Time to bring out the faux fur coat. Nothing keeps you warm like faux fur, and it is only faux fur for me.

In addition to being a girly girl, I am also a techy girl. Whether it is the latest smartphone or new computer program, I enjoy using a variety of gadgets and the like and figuring them out. One of the latest gadgets that I had an opportunity to try was the DJI Osmo Mobile 2. Over the Christmas season, thanks to my partnership with Verizon Wireless, I was able to use this neat gizmo device.

DJI Osmo Mobile 2

Attach and sync your smartphone to the DJI Osmo Mobile and you are able to take better photographs and capture videos. The DJI has several features that can enhance your videos and your photographs. With ActiveTrack, the built-in sensors help you keep your target on track. The built-in zoom feature on the handle allows for smooth and seamless zooms without having to go your smartphone. The panoramic feature allows you to take multiple photographs at one time and then combines them together into one larger photograph.

Think of the selifes you can take or the YouTube videos you can capture. Or when you are on vacation and you want to take a video of the places you visit.

This is one of my YouTube videos that I recorded using the Google Pixel 3XL and the DJI Osmo Mobile 2.

In the past, I would have had my hubby capturing the video while I spoke. This time around I was able to do it myself.

It was fun learning how to use the DJI. But it took a little practice getting the smartphone into the holder and keeping it stable in order to capture the video. After working with it for a bit, I figured it out and I was all set to go. My hubby, on the other hand, didn’t like how when he would hold it straight the camera would move and that was a little frustrating. I had to show him how to balance the handle straight so the camera wouldn’t move. I don’t think this is a reason not to purchase the DJI Osmo Mobile 2, however, again it may take some practice.

In addition, the app has several new features that I spent some time exploring what they were and learning how to integrate them into the videos that I wanted to capture.

Whether it is just for fun or a part of a social media business that you operate, the device will provide you with better quality results than you can imagine. All it takes is a little time to practice using the device and learning the features of the app. Once you have mastered that, you will be all set and ready to go.

FTC Disclosure:
Verizon Wireless provided me with the DJI Osmo Mobile 2 for a period of six weeks to use the product and to write this review. I did not receive any monetary compensation to write this review and all opinions are strictly my own. At the end of the six weeks, the product was returned back to Verizon Wireless.

Start The New Year With A New SmartPhone – The Google Pixel 3XL

Hello, Elegant People,

 In the world of smartphone technology, companies released new models of their phone almost every year. In the early days, consumers would rush out to get the latest and greatest technology. However, In the last couple of years, I have noticed that many people are not buying every new smartphone that comes out. But instead, they are waiting up to three years or more before making that new purchase. I believe that there are a couple of keys reasons. 1) The price of the latest smartphones increased significantly. It is easy to pay up to, or over a $1,000 for the one phone. People now see their smartphone as an investment item and are not willing to keep paying that about of money every couple of years. 2) With the new model that is released, people realize that the upgrades were not significant enough to make a change.

If you are like me, you have been waiting for those significant upgrades, or if your current smartphone is wearing out and in need of being replaced. In my own smartphone world, my wife and I have our phones for almost four years. We are still using the 6, if you know what I mean. So when Verizon Wireless asked if we would be interested in trying the Google 3XL, we were excited to see what the latest upgrades had to offer. Needless to say, after our demo period, I was sold on what Google had brought to the table for the following reasons.

Google Pixel 3XL

The XL Factor
Since trying the XL, the larger model, I am convinced that larger is better and there is no need to go back to a smaller phone. The screen size makes it easy to find what you are looking with more apps on the screen at one time. A larger view screen makes taking photos much easier because you have a better idea of what you are capturing. The phone measures 3.02 inches x 6.22 inches. Although it is larger in size, it is not weighty and is comfortable in the hand or in the back pocket.

The Camera Factor
Let’s be honest. If you are like me, of all the things that I use the smartphone for, making a telephone call is probably low on the list. One of the most common tasks is using the camera. People are not carrying their point-and-shoot or DSLR cameras with them everywhere they go. But a smartphone is at the ready, whether it is in a handbag or in the back pocket. The smartphone has become the go-to camera to capture the important moments in our life, whether it be a selfie while on vacation or a video of your little’s soccer match.
In the four years since I bought my own smartphone, the camera features have drastically improved, as seen in the photo collage below. The photo on the left was captured by the Google 3XL and the one on the left is my four-year-old smartphone. The difference is remarkable. The colors in the Pixel 3XL are crisper and there is not the glare or fuzziness found in older smartphones.

Google Pixel 3XL (Left) / a 4-year-old smartphone (right)

The Google Pixel 3XL features a 12.2MP camera and includes not found on older smartphones. These new features make taking those photos easier and the end result is in a photo that is as good as a higher-end camera. The selfie mode includes zoom and wide-angle features and there is a night-effect option for photos and videos. We used the Pixel 3XL to capture our YouTube video on how decorated for Christmas. We turned off the lights in the rooms so that there could be a greater focus on the lights. The Pixel 3XL was able to auto-adjust the level of lighting without any issues. You can see that video here:

The Google Pixel 3XL is packed with so many features that you will need to spend some time exploring the phone to find them. One feature that I found by accident was the Google Lens. The Lens will scan a photograph that you have taken and is able to determine what is in it. Then it will search the Google search engine for similar items. For example, we had taken a photo of our inflatable snowman (Christmas item) and then scanned with Lens. The results included animated snowmen, other inflatable snowmen, and even Frosty. You can click on those results for more information.

In the new year, if you believe that it is time to replace that old, worn out smartphone, and you may want to consider Google Pixel 3XL. The Pixel 3XL features many upgrades over the older smartphones and incorporates many new additions that will leave you with a positive experience. I recommend it with 3XL thumbs up.

FTC Disclosure:
Verizon Wireless provided the Bubbling With Elegance and Grace Team with the Google Pixel 3XL to demo for a six-week time period. After that time, the smartphone was returned back to Verizon and this review was written. The team did not receive any monetary compensation to write this review and all opinions are our own.

 

Little Women (Movie Review)

Hello Lovelies,

This weekend’s weather has been cool and lovely. Makes you want to put on your cardigan, gab a fresh cup of tea, and sit down to read a good book or watch a movie.

Fans of Louisa May Alcott’s timeless classic, Little Women, and the work’s subsequent films will be drawn to theaters on September 28th as Pinnacle Peak releases its first-ever motion picture, a modern cinematic retelling of the classic story. LITTLE WOMEN is a celebration of the female voice and the bond of sisterhood—adapted by Clare Niederpruem and Kristi Shimek, directed by Niederpruem, and featuring cinematography by Anka Malatynska. Maclain Nelson produced the film with Main Dog Productions (Kristi Shimek, Steve Shimek and David Wulf), in association with Marybeth Sprows, Chris Donahue and Paulist Productions.

The trailer of the film will give you a good look at how modern and current the classic film was processed.

On the 150th anniversary of the beloved classic (published in 1868), a modern retelling of LITTLE WOMEN dares a new generation to dream with their mothers, sisters and friends. From girls playing in the attic to women living with purpose, the March sisters – Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy – are committed to always supporting each other. Yet growing up sometimes means growing apart.

Sisters Meg (Melanie Stone), Beth (Allie Jennings), Jo (Sarah Davenport) and Amy (Elise Jones) in the movie Little Women.

Bubbling with Elegance and Grace had the opportunity to screen Little Women the film before it’s set to be released nationwide September 28th.

It had been years since I read the classic novel, so I didn’t know what to expect regarding an 2018 adaption.  I originally remember seeing the March sisters father being a Pastor; but in the clip of the film below he was Doctor in the military overseas.

Also, in the novel the March family is quite poor; but in the 2018 movie they are doing very well financially.  It was really interesting how the script writers used poetic license with key parts of the film.

The movie stars Lea Thompson (BACK TO THE FUTURE) as Marmee  and Little Women brings the same sisters to a new generation to celebrate dreams, family and unconditional love. Little Women also stars Sarah Davenport as “Jo”, Melanie Stone as “Meg”, Taylor Murphy as “Amy”, Allie Jennings as “Beth”, Ian Bohen (Teen Wolf) as “Freddy”, Lucas Grabeel(High School Musical, “Family Guy”) as “Laurie”, and Bart Johnson (High School Musical) as“Papa March”.

Rating: PG-13 (for some thematic elements and teen drinking)
Directed By: Clare Niederpruem
Written By: Clare Niederpruem, Kristi Shimek
Runtime: Pinnacle Peak
The movie’s official website: www.littlewomenthemovie.com

I don’t have any siblings and it didn’t matter because the importance of love and trust was wrapped in a bow around a gift of the novel Louisa May Alcott wrote for the world of women and men to feel that if you have dreams they can come true. The March family life was not rosy; but when it came down to the nitty gritty, family was always first.  Marmee and their father really gave the March sisters vision to open creativity in whatever direction their minds would take them.

Marmee engages the imagination of her girls in the movie Little Women.

If you are a purist and looking for the film to be exactly like the novel, this may not be your cup of tea. This new adaptation follows the original book’s plot in certain areas, but changes it up in other parts. If you are true fan of the book, you will notice these differences immediately. However, if you have never read the book or if you have an open mind, you will enjoy the movie. You will understand how the film can encourage new people and a new generation to read the original book, someone who may not of even been given into the idea to want to read the book.

Little Women premieres in theaters nationwide on September 28th.