There's nothing more refreshing than a bubbly drink, but sipping that beverage can bust your budget — even if you're drinking plain mineral water. I admit to having a pretty severe sparkling water obsession. It's sans calories, fat, or additives, and is satisfying with a splash of fresh juice, which made checking out the SodaStream pretty enticing. With the help of a carbonating cartridge that costs $15 per refill, the SodaStream promises up to 60 liters of bubbly beverages. So, did it deliver?

Read on for the review.

• Which movies made a splash at the Cannes Film Festival? — Entertainment
• What to wear to your Memorial Day BBQ — Fashion
• Kate Middleton has a sunny afternoon with her in-laws — Celebrity
• Outdoor decorating inspired by Instagram — Home
• Get online dating at your fingertips — Sex & Culture
• Is there smartphone etiquette at weddings? — Tech
• Why we love Connie Britton's hair on Nashville — Beauty
• Spice up your weeknight with garlic kale and poached eggs — Food
• A list of foods to avoid before the beach — Fitness
• Video: Make your own clutch from scratch — Fashion
• Try these patriotic crafts for Memorial Day — Moms
• Tips to writing a perfect cover letter — Smart Living
• See artsy pics of animals at the Hagenbeck Zoo — Pets

A month after the hacking of news agency Associated Press's Twitter account, which caused serious repercussions in the stock market, Twitter has finally enabled two-step verification for users. The added security boost syncs with a cell phone number to send a verification code via SMS each time you log in to your Twitter account.

To get two-factor verification on your account, first go to Settings, found in the gear icon in the top right-hand corner > select "Require a verification code when I sign in." > click the link to add your phone number. You'll then receive a text message from Twitter that the device is ready to receive verification codes.

Once you've signed up for the extra Twitter protection, the next time you log in to your account, you'll see the following screen to check the phone associated with the account for a verification code. Enter the code, and get tweeting!

Although your résumé is definitely important, the cover letter can also be a make-or-break factor. Before you even get an interview, your application will have to impress the recruiter or hiring manager, so perfecting your cover letter is key to earning a face-to-face meet. Here are some tips for the perfect cover letter that will catch any recruiter's eye:

• Tweak your tone for every company. Don't send generic cover letters that can be used for any job application. You want to make sure that the tone of your letter fits the type of firm you're applying to. Is the company looking for someone with sass or someone more serious? Figure that out on your own, and tailor your letter to what suits the company.
• Make a case. You won't be able to get to this on your résumé, so be sure to make the case for why you're the right person for the job on your cover letter and why you want to work for them. A good way to sell yourself is to connect your experiences with the job description. List your skills and experiences that match the type of candidate they are looking to hire.
• Be different. Don't repeat everything on your résumé in your cover letter. The letter is your chance to shine and show a bit of your personality. Repeating what's already been said just takes up valuable space.

Read on for more.

When it's time for a holiday weekend, everyone's looking forward to the extra day off — as well as the sales and discounts. Memorial Day is no different. We know it's a little early, but don't you know the early bird catches the worm? Or, in this case, bags the biggest discounts. Here are a couple of great sales going on:

• Amazon: Up to 60 percent off on footwear and accessories.
• Bath & Body Works: Four for $15 or six for $20 on antibacterial hand soap. Ends June 2.
• Dell: Use code 0H9Q3PQ6L3744C to get an extra $50 off a Dell Inspiron 15z Ultrabook.
• Disney: 30 percent off swimwear.
• Ecko: 50 percent off sitewide with code 50VANDALS.
• Eddie Bauer: Use code HARBOR for free shipping on purchases over $99.
• Best Buy: 10 to 30 percent off major appliances.
• Home Depot: Memorial Day savings on a variety of items.
• Macy's: 20 to 50 percent off and free shipping on purchases over $99.
• Perry Ellis: 40 percent off all online purchases with the code PEMEMORIAL.
• West Elm: 20 percent off rugs, 20 percent off select bedroom furniture, and over 250 new markdowns.
• REI: Save up to 30 percent on clothing and outdoor and sports gear.
• JC Penney: Lots of online sales across many categories.

Keep watching this space, because we'll be updating this as more Memorial Day discounts are announced.

Helle of Edinburgh, Scotland, is bringing out the soft side of tech, with fabric-covered phone cases and covers that feature lovely hand-painted prints. Helle's StarCreature Studio is our new favorite Etsy shop discovery, offering one-of-kind linen, tweed, and silk protection for iPhone, Nexus 4, and Galaxy S3.

The sculpture-trained artist worked in the IT industry before returning to art. Handcrafted device covers are the perfect intersection between art and tech, no? Each lightweight snap-on case is made to order, and ships from the United Kingdom within seven business days.

Our favorites from StarCreature Studio are the Linen Coral Stripes ($20) and Ivory Linen Herringbone ($20) cases, but there are plenty more textile and device options on Etsy.

Check out more highlights from Helle's shop after the break.

There's nothing more frustrating than an mailbox full of junk mail, so make dealing with junk mail one of your Spring resolutions. To start with, here are a couple of sites you should visit:

• Catalog Choice: With over a million users and counting, this is a free and easy way of cutting down your catalog junk.
• Direct Marketer's Association: You can request one of the over 3,600 companies under the DMA's umbrella to stop sending mail to you. This includes credit offers, catalogs, mail offers, and magazine offers.
• OptOutPrescreen.com: A bunch of credit reporting companies started this website to soothe the frustrations of consumers. This is a good site for opting out of those endless credit card offers.

If you're done checking out the above sites and the flow of junk mail from certain retailers still hasn't stopped, you can also try manually contact the culprits. If you have the time, you can phone the companies to opt out of their mailing lists. Or if you prefer, you can dig around on their websites to see if you can be removed from their list online.

Remember to note on an Excel sheet or Google doc details of the companies you have contacted and the dates you spoke with them so you'll know when to follow up.

If you've moved to a new place, you might find yourself inundated with the previous tenant's mail. First, you should communicate to the mail carrier that you're receiving a previous tenant's letters, says Sue Brennan, a spokesperson for the US Postal Service. You can do this by telling the carrier in person, leaving a note in the mailbox, or writing the word "moved" on the ex-tenant's mail.

Source: Etsy User TerraViam