Five Proactive Ways You Can Take Care of Your Wellbeing

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We only get one body and mind, so taking care of them is so important for us to be able to enjoy life to the fullest. Sometimes simple changes we make have huge positive impacts and they’re not that difficult to commit to. Here are some ideas.

Go to bed at the same time each evening
‘Sleep hygiene’ is a term used to describe your sleeping habits - it involves going to bed at the same time each evening and avoiding distractions at bed time (the main of course being technology). If your sleeping is all out of whack it will affect every aspect of your waking life, from your energy levels to your appetite to your mood. It can take time to establish a new sleeping routine, but it’s something genuinely worth working on. If you go to bed and fall asleep at roughly the same time each evening, you’ll wake up at around the same time. You’ll go to work or go about your day with enough energy and any mood or mental health issues you’re struggling with will be much more bearable.

Get your five a day
Getting your five a day is so easy when you know how. The main way to go about it is to have some form of fruit or vegetable with each meal- a piece of fruit and a glass of juice with your breakfast and you’re already at two. A salad with your lunch, and two types of vegetables with your dinner and you’re there. Not forgetting how things like baked beans, guac, even tinned soups can all contribute (with these kinds of foods however, be aware of salt and sugar content). Snack on fruit- tinned, dried and fresh are all good. Dip veggies into hummus, it doesn’t have to be boring or difficult.

Find ways to relax
The point of life isn’t to eliminate all stress - it’s impossible, and everyone deals with it from time to time. However, it is important that you learn to cope with your stress, when things get difficult, it's crucial you know how to unwind and bring those stress levels back down. It could be hot baths, enjoying a hobby or chatting to a friend. Find out what works for you, just be careful not to confuse self care with self destruct. Eating an entire tub of ice cream in the name of self care for example isn’t healthy, it’s not to say you shouldn't enjoy treats but don’t replace stress with something that’s going to affect your health in another way.

Visit the doctor
Finally, understanding when you need additional help is so important, don’t just suffer in silence. We all experience low mood from time to time, but if yours is ongoing then your GP can help you to access the right treatment. Cognitive behavioral therapy is the best option for some people, for others it’s medication or you might need a combination of the two. Reach out for help if you need it.

Enhancing Your Business Recruitment Efforts

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There comes a time where all small businesses need to recruit. It’s a large milestone to hire your first full-time employee, especially when expanding from your prior home business efforts. However, if you thought that attending interviews was a scary prospect, consider holding an interview for the first time. For many people, this can be absolutely terrifying to think of, and for good reason.

Enhancing your business recruitment efforts is a very important and often underappreciated element that many firms ignore. Unfortunately, the attitude goes a little something like this: If a position is open for a company of any size, the competition will be so great that the onus is on the applicants to prove themselves to the potential employers, rather than the employers making the process seamless and easy to contend with.

This is obviously a backwards way of thinking, and for the little effort it saves, really not worth the lost ability to thoroughly assess those applying to your firm in an easy, time-effective manner. Let us help you to that end:

Use Competent Recruiters
It’s important to ensure that the most qualified professional is not only the person you hire, but also the person who does the hiring. Training them with a range of excellent recruitment methods or even outsourcing a headhunter known for fantastic results can help you search through a growing pool of talent from many industries. If carefully planned out, this could give you the opportunity you desire for a thoroughly fantastic and worthwhile day.

Give Yourself More Time
Giving yourself more time to develop and routinely apply yourself towards the best results can be important. This means planning out your recruitment needs in advance, by ensuring your staff have to give you notice before they leave or perhaps even managing staff employment on a contractual basis is essential. When you have more time to look through all the applicants thoroughly and structuring a multi-tiered interview process, you have the best chance of finding someone truly special for your firm.

Get Rid Of Your Web Portal
In the early 2000s, web portals were all the rage for businesses hoping to gain applicants. Those interested would have to throw their covering letter or CV aside in order to input all of this information a second time within your own form system, perhaps answering a questionnaire and boring many with a very tepid word limit. While perhaps comfortable for some web application processes in those years, nowadays this can actually dissuade professionals of all kinds from even bothering with your process. A dedicated email address dedicated to receiving personal emails and files can be a worthwhile effort, and may even help you see how said applicant structures their own application rather than simply adhering to an artificial format you have constructed ahead of time. It’s important to see the truth of said applicant, and that begins at the beginning of the process.

With these tips, we hope you can better enhance your business recruitment efforts.

The ABCs Of Operating Your Business In Style

Running a successful business requires a lot of hard work. Thankfully, though, building a winning strategy is as easy as ABC. Focus on just three key elements, and you’ll establish the strongest platform for success in no time.

Here’s everything you need to know about giving your business the best shot at success.

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A is for Appearance
First impressions count for everything in modern business. This is true regardless of your industry or background. Whether trying to gain financial backing, generate new leads, or establish your brand with the press doesn’t matter. A bad first image can ruin your hopes before you’ve even started.

Perfecting your branding isn’t all about the right color choices and logos. You also need to create a trustworthy vibe, which is why businesses need professional email. Likewise, gaining verified customer reviews can spark far greater responses. Many clients will also link a strong social media following and a strong search engine presence with positive outcomes.

It’s equally important to remember that employees are a representation of your business too. Therefore, investing in a company culture that encourages every member to take pride in their image can only bring positivity. Be sure to lead by example.

B is for Budget
Every entrepreneur wants to think about revenue. However, learning to appreciate the fact that the path to profit is a two-way street will work wonders. Cutting costs without sacrificing the quality of your output is one of the best ways to boost your business. Keeping a tight grasp on money is key.

There are many ways to reduce the outlay associated with running the business. From using coworking spaces to price comparing every big purchase and service, those savings reduce a lot of pressure. If nothing else, it will allow you to be more competitive with your pricing, which is sure to keep clients smiling. Gaining their repeated loyalty is hugely rewarding.

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On a separate note, you may wish to consider hiring an accountant. It might seem like an added expense. In reality, though, the expert will save you a lot of money in the long run by knowing what you are entitled to. Besides, the time you save can be spent driving the company forwards.

C is for Communication
Communication forms the heartbeat of every modern business operation, and you cannot overlook it for a second. Investing in your development via leadership courses may provide life-changing outcomes. After all, the employer-employee bond has never mattered more.

Teamwork makes the dream work, which is why away days and team perks can be very useful indeed. However, pleasant atmospheres aren’t the only key ingredient in the recipe for success. Timings are immensely important too. Losing unnecessary meetings in favor of a group email can save valuable time, allowing the team to progress far sooner.

Good communication will additionally result in fewer mistakes and crossed wires. In turn, this should ensure that your days are far more productive while financial elements see noticeable benefits too. If that doesn’t encourage you to take charge of the situation, nothing will.

5 Creative Ideas For Your Wedding Transport

Getting to and from the ceremony and possibly to a separate destination for the reception is one of the frustrating wedding details that you have to organize. There are a lot of guests that you need to transport and while a lot of people will make their own way, you will have to make arrangements for yourself and your wedding party. Booking some taxis is the simple option, but why not do something a bit more interesting instead. These are some of the best ideas for wedding transportation.

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Horse And Cart
If you want something that combines tradition, romance, and luxury, a horse and cart is a great choice. It’s perfect for people that have always dreamed of a fairytale wedding and it offers a truly magical experience. However, there are a few downsides. First off, it’s going to be expensive so it’s probably best to reserve it for the bride and groom and make other arrangements for the rest of the wedding party. It’s not suitable for a winter wedding either because everybody will be freezing cold.

Luxury Limos
It’s your wedding day, so you should pull out all the stops and travel in style, even if it’s only a short journey to the ceremony and then on to the reception afterwards. You can hire some amazing luxury limos from sites like goluxe.limo that come complete with sound systems, coolers for your drinks and extra comfy seats. If you have a big wedding party, you can all travel along together in comfort and style on your big day and you don’t have to worry about the wedding.

Tandem Bicycle
If you want to think outside the box and save yourself a bit of money at the same time, you could just get yourself a tandem bicycle. It’s not a great choice if it’s a long journey but if you’re only going around the corner and you don’t mind putting the work in, a tandem bike can be a lot of fun. Just make sure that your new spouse isn’t slacking off and they do their fair share of the pedalling.

Vintage Cars
Vintage cars are one of the most popular choices for a wedding car because a lot of people have always wanted to drive one. It’s not the kind of thing that you would just hire out normally, but your wedding is a great opportunity to fulfill your dreams. Check out classicandsportscar.com for a great list of the best classic wedding cars. They can be quite expensive but as long as you factor it into your budget, it’s a great choice for your wedding car.

Helicopter
If you’re having a no expenses spared wedding and you want to make a big exit, there’s no better way to do it than a helicopter. It’s not your typical wedding transport but it’s definitely going to be memorable. However, it will cost you a lot and there will be some logistical issues to deal with because you’ll need somewhere for the helicopter to land at both destinations.

The wedding transport often gets forgotten about but if you plan in advance, it’s a great opportunity to do something fun.

Creating the Perfect Family Home: A Mini Guide

Starting a family is one of life’s most exciting, most rewarding pleasures. Wherever you decide to live and settle down, you’ll be raising children with a partner you love inside a sanctuary that you call home – and making that sanctuary into the perfect environment should form a large part of your ambition for home-making as you head into family life. This mini-guide takes you sweeping through what you should be considering when fixing your home for a family, covering all bases in brief for you to ruminate on before your own renovation and revamp projects.

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Kids are Messy
Let’s start with the basics: kids aren’t very clean creatures. They’re clumsy and mucky, and they don’t have the awareness to know the difference between a Ming vase and a plastic bottle. Many of your interior design tendencies should bear this fundamental fact in mind: you’re going to be cleaning up after kids a lot. Think dry-wipe surfaces, sturdy furniture, and walls you can easily repaint if crayoned.

Storage Space
With more mouths to feed and more people to clothe, you’re going to need some more storage in your home to accommodate the new faces you’ll be bringing into the world. Cabinet Doors ‘N’ More are your go-to online retailers for such items, helping you to achieve more storage space without sacrificing on the aesthetic that you’re after in your dream family home.

Family Areas
As you become a family, it’s incredibly important to have common, communal spaces that are designed and set up to accommodate all of the members of your family, and guests, when they come over. The living room and kitchen are the two rooms that you should focus on in this regard; they’re where you’ll have fun, laugh, and relax together as a loving group. Make them cozy and warm, and welcoming in the day or in the night.

Bathrooms
Another key area to consider when making your ideal family home are the bathrooms. These places are almost wondrous to a child – full of bubbles and echoes and water – and it’s a fun room to be in with young children. Making a family bathroom is as fun as it is creative. Think about purchasing some water-based toys to make bath time that bit more exciting, and don’t forget to add some plants and little trinkets to give the bathroom a fun family atmosphere, too.

Technology
There’s a good deal of debate happening in family circles as to what level of technology you should expose your children to, and at what age. While there are arguments against buying your kids a smartphone or tablet when they’re young and impressionable, you should consider some of the technological developments in the area of the ‘smart home’ as something that can seriously help you save time as a parent. Home helpers, like Amazon’s Alexa, are the perfect addition to a home. They allow you to order products and manage your day far easier than if you were doing so on a computer or phone.

Starting a family, and creating a family home, are some of the most exciting experiences open to humanity. This article helps you organize your thoughts when it comes to creating a fabulous home for you and your family to enjoy.

IT Cosmetics & Drybar: Lash Blowout Mascara Review

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. I get commission for purchases or clicks made through links in this post.

Not Sponsored: I've been waiting all Summer long for the makeup world to give me some type of eye-opener (no pun intended LOL), thrill or something. There just hasn't been much that has sparked my interest. Well, I'm a little excited today, because something finally has me SMILING! IT Cosmetics and Drybar have collaborated. They have put together THE CUTEST collaboration. I know you're saying, Kim...CUTE DON'T CUT IT! Well, this cute does! Let's talk about THE CUTE FIRST! This is a mascara, shaped like one of Drybar's Blow-Out Round Ceramic Hair Brushes (Half Pint - Nordstrom, Bloomingdales, Sephora; Full Pint - Nordstrom, QVC, Sephora; Double Pint - Nordstrom, QVC, Bloomingdales, Sephora)! It's called IT Cosmetics Drybar Lash Blowout Volumizing Mascara (ULTA, QVC, Sephora, Macys) I fell in love with the design. You unscrew the handle. THAT IS THE MASCARA WAND! The top portion, which is shaped like a brush is where THE MASCARA IS HOUSED! Super cute idea and packaging. SO DOES THE MASCARA WORK??? YES! YES, IT DOES! This mascara has a biotin infused formula. The wand has microspheres to catch all of your lashes (separate, lift, volume). It truly impressed me, because my lashes are flat! This mascara made them longer and fuller. If you want to compare it to IT Cosmetics Superhero Mascara. IT Cosmetics is saying Superhero is more lengthening and Lash Blowout is more volumizing. I'll post the chart and video below. My lashes felt soft & natural. I worked out in the yard, in extreme humidity and I didn't have any black underneath my eyes. It doesn't say its waterproof but its humidity proof HaHaHa I really love it. It's a winner :) I know you will too ;)

Sweet-Bittersweet-NotSweet

supersweet(run & buy it) sweet(really good,buy it) bittersweet(ok, issues)not sweet(not good,don't buy this stuff) 
  IT Cosmetics Drybar Lash Blowout Mascara is Supersweet

Without Mascara

With IT Cosmetics Drybar Lash Blowout Mascara

Ah-mazing Huh? This mascara blew my mind & blew out my lashes. Here's a NORMAL face shot below (natural sunlight). If you're lashes need a little help, get this mascara. It helped mine. See my other IT Cosmetics reviews here.

Lifestyle On The Line: Common Issues Which Can Change Your Life

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Changing the way you live once you’ve gotten used to a certain lifestyle can be incredibly difficult. Habits will form, and you may even develop subtle dependencies along the way, creating barriers which feel impossible to overcome. Of course, though, you don’t always have a choice when it comes to the way your lifestyle changes. To help you to avoid this situation, this post will be exploring some of the common issues that can cause it, giving you the chance to work towards keeping your lifestyle alive. This is something which a lot of people struggle to overcome when they’re handling it by themselves.

Losing Your Job

A lot of people live in fear of the idea of losing their job, even when they have a position which is very secure. There are loads of ways which you can find yourself in this situation, though, and most people are capable of doing it to themselves. Making big mistakes, losing your temper, or even being blamed for something that wasn’t your fault can all result in your losing your job. While this isn’t always fair, it also isn’t something which happens every day, and some will manage to go their whole lives without losing their job. It will be hard to maintain your lifestyle in this situation as you will no longer be able to afford it.

Having Kids

Most people would agree that having children has more benefits than downsides, though it’s impossible to deny that they will change your life. You won’t have as much time as you used to, making it hard to see friends and engage in the activities which you enjoy. Along with this, they will also impact your money, making it hard to afford your lifestyle, and forcing you to spend any extra money on the kids themselves. Having children is a true blessing, but you’ll need to be prepared to start rearranging your life to suit them.

Getting Injured

There are few things worse than finding yourself with a significant injury. When something like this stops you from being able to work, the pressure which you feel will be huge, but it isn’t easy to make yourself heal quicker. Options like slip and fall accident attorneys can help you to offset the income you lose and the money you have to spend on treatment, but this won’t give you an able body, limiting the help it can provide. If you can’t work thanks to an injury, it’s likely that you’ll have to miss out on other things which you enjoy, and this can be horrible when you have an injury which is long-term.

Broken Relationships

Whether it’s a friend, your partner, or a family member, having a breakdown in one of your relationships can be one of the worst ways to change your lifestyle. This is most prominent if you split up with your other half, with the way you used to live being largely based around the person you’re with. Of course, though, it’s never good to have something like this happen, no matter who it is you’re falling out with. It should be easy enough to avoid falling out of touch with most people, though you may have to work hard to ensure that your romantic life doesn’t leave you having to change your lifestyle.

Getting A New Job

This next area is another one which isn’t always a negative thing. Getting a new job should always be positive, with the work which has to be done to achieve a goal like this being huge, and the stress you feel as the interview looms being quite intense. This doesn’t mean that it won’t change the way you live, though. Your commute, time in the office, and the people you work with will all have a chance to impact your lifestyle, whether this is good or bad. At the very least, you will have new challenges to overcome, and this is something worth keeping in mind on your first day.

Moving House

Moving to a new home can be both exciting and daunting, with the work which goes into this change being almost as impactful as the benefits it can provide. The way that this will change your life will mostly depend on the way your new place is different to the old one. For example, if you usually eat a lot of take out food, but move somewhere which doesn’t have many restaurants, you may have to start cooking more. While this may sound like a very small change, there will be a lot of little changes like this, and they will add up to something which feels much larger.

Surprise Bills

No matter how much time you put into managing your money, it can feel just about impossible to avoid surprise bills from time to time. You would have to be extremely good at planning your finances to never find yourself in a position with a bill you didn’t expect, and this is something which a lot of people struggle to overcome. Of course, though, when you suddenly have a lot less money in the bank, it will be hard to live life in the same way you used to, and this is something which you have to grit your teeth to get through. Having a small amount of savings can help a lot with this, though building something like this will necessitate lifestyle changes of its own.

With all of this in mind, you should be feeling ready to take on the challenge of avoiding things which will change your lifestyle. A lot of people struggle with this sort of work, finding it hard to know what they should be doing when their lifestyle has to change. Thankfully, it shouldn’t take too long to adapt to your new way of living. If you’re struggling, though, it could be worth looking for more advice around the web, as there are loads of resources which can help you out with this part of your life.

Cricket: Messy Bun Get Things Done Hair Tin

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. I get commission for purchases or clicks made through links in this post.

Not Sponsored: The first time I saw Cricket's Messy Bun Get Things Done hair tin, I thought it was so cute. I loved the art work on the hair tin. I really have a thing for packaging. I didn't even know what was inside! LOL Well lucky for me, I also love hair ties & bobby pins, because that is what's inside this hair tin. You get 25 black hair ties and 30 black bobby pins. It's a great way to keep these type of items in one place. I'm always misplacing & losing mine. I purchased this tin from ULTA. There are two other designs on their website: Eat, Sleep, Messy Bun Repeat and Top Knot and Double Shot Kind of Day. Thinking ahead, these would make great Christmas stocking stuffers and office gifts ;)

Sweet-Bittersweet-NotSweet

supersweet(run & buy it) sweet(really good,buy it) bittersweet(ok, issues)not sweet(not good,don't buy this stuff) 
  Cricket Messy Bun Get Things Done Hair Tin is Supersweet

ELLE BRAND: Bluetooth Earbuds, Slim Power Pack and Gold Glitter Lightning Cable

PR Sample: I have read countless issues of  ELLE MAGAZINE over the years! The magazine has been around since 1945 (The international roll-out of ELLE began in the United States in 1985)! But it wasn't until a PR Agency contacted me, that I found out about the ELLE BRAND. The ELLE BRAND consists of beauty tools, audio and mobile accessories and so much more. I asked them if they could send me a couple of their cell phone accessories and they did. They were very generous and sent me their All About The Ears Bluetooth Earbuds, Power Me Up Slim Power Pack and Hook Me Up Lightning Cable. I've had a chance to try everything and I'd like to share my thoughts on each with you below.

ELLE BRAND | Bluetooth Earbuds

I love listening to music. With Bluetooth technology, you no longer have to stay attached to a device. That's what's so great about these earbuds. To turn on, you simply press and hold the power button for 3-4 seconds. You'll see flashing blue lights. Turn Bluetooth on your phone. Connect to the device and listen to your music! It's really simple and the quality of the sound is really good. You can skip to the next song, go back, of course raise and lower the volume. There's even a built-in microphone. It also has a rechargeable battery (micro USB plug/USB plug included). These earbuds come in black glitter, glitter gold and rose gold. The cord attached to the ear buds is a beautiful glitter design. Pretty!

ELLE BRAND | Slim Power Pack 

Everybody wants CHARGING POWER! This Slim Power Bank has an 1800 mAh. What does that mean? I had the same question. So I did a Google Search ... "The mAh capacity rating refers to the storage capacity available for a particular battery. A battery with a capacity rating of 1800 mAh could deliver a current of 1800mAh for one hour. Higher mAh ratings for the same battery type will generally mean longer run times." My iPhone XS Max has a capacity of 3,174 mAh. So this power pack charged my phone a little over half-way. So how much it will charge, depends on the type of cell phone (battery capacity) you have. Charging it is super easy! You're given a Micro USB plug USB plug. Simply insert into the port on your computer or USB charging adapter and let it charge. You'll see a red flashing dot while it's charging. When its fully charged, it will shut off. The design of this power pack is pretty. I love the ombre effect and its super sleek design. This comes in Black and Rose Gold Glitter. If you purchase the Slim Power Pack also purchase...

 ELLE BRAND | Gold Glitter Lightning Cable

...the lightning cable :)  You're going to love the glitter design. It will definitely make you say ooh & aah! I know I did. It's 3 feet in length. Very durable. You can charge your device at your office, in your car, on the go or at home.

I'm very impressed with these ELLE BRAND tech accessories. 

They're pretty to look at. They're fully functional. They're offered at a great price. 

Thanks So Much For Sending Them To Me :)

Four Things To Keep In Mind When You're Hiring

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The one thing that every business relies upon to be successful is the people who work there. Without the right talent on board it's impossible to develop and grow your business in the right way. But finding those who will drive the company to greatness is an extremely hard process, especially when you're a small start up with a lot of vision but usually a limited budget, yet you need to grow your team.

Finding The Right Fit
When you run your own company and you have a million different things to tick off your to-do list each day, it can be hard to find the time to dedicate to proper recruitment. Sifting through huge amounts of applicants and trying to whittle it down to a few who might have the right fit with the company culture and the skills that the role requires can be a time-consuming process. Yes, the option is there to hire a recruitment consultant, but it's never a good idea to outsource the entire process - that way you are much more likely to get a candidate who is right on paper but may not quite fit. You also need to find useful services such as Checkr background check to stop you making any expensive mistakes. So how do you get this crucial process right and ensure the right talent to enable your company to soar to greater heights?

Focus On The Problem
Often, we get hung up on job titles - the one we should give our vacancy, the ones that candidates have on their CV. Yet this is entirely the wrong approach. If you think about, a job title such as 'Marketing Manager' can actually mean a huge amount of things - from hands-on activity at trade shows to acting as a product owner in scrum or working with digital analytics - so the scope to get it wrong is huge. And this is the same with any title you could be hiring for. Instead, it's a far better approach to focus on the problem that needs solving within your business. Map out the requirements that your new employee is going to need to help you solve this issue. Be explicit about pain points and your vision as to how this problem should be tackled. Ask potential recruits about this during the interview, or even set them a practical task tackling an aspect of the matter. This will give you a better understanding of how this person would contribute and what they may be able to accomplish - even when they may not have the exact background you would have expected.

Ask Behavioural Questions
Past experience is always going to be important, but make sure that a good proportion of your interview or pre-screening questions are based around assessing behavioural factors as well. You can use the STAR interview technique to draw out skills and even some psychometric interview evaluations to assess their characteristics. Speak about what aspects of your business they find interesting and where they see themselves adding value and ask for practical examples of similar behaviour in the past.

Pumpkin Spice And Everything Nice

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. I get commission for purchases or clicks made through links in this post.

Not Sponsored: This weekend, I wrapped up both my Halloween and Thanksgiving home decor shopping. You can read my 2019 Halloween Indoor Decor blog post. I'm happy to say, all that's left to do is get food :) How do I feel about pumpkin spice? You can read my 2013 blog post. In beauty, I love pumpkin spice lip scrub and lipstick. I'm now incorporating just a little bit of the pumpkin spice theme in my holiday home decor. The board below is a mix of Halloween and Thanksgiving. I wouldn't dare put ALL of these things together in my house. It would be too much! Let's start with Thanksgiving! 1. I saw this pumpkin spice and everything nice door mat. It made me smile every time I looked at it. I'm not putting it outside. I thought it would be a nice element of fun in my kitchen for Thanksgiving. I love the delicious slices of pumpkin pie, pumpkin pie latte's, pumpkins & leaves. 2. I have a bench & bench pad in my living room. I thought these two pillows (here and here) would look cute together. 3. I love caramel anything! This candle has pumpkin, caramel, peach, orange, creamy milk, vanilla, cinnamon, almond and nutmeg in it. I can't wait to smell it! 4. Also for Thanksgiving, I thought this luscious pumpkin trifle (vanilla cake, cinnamon, sweet cream and pumpkin) and 5. caramel apple cake candle (rich caramel, vanilla frosting and apple cake) would delight my senses. Now let's move on to Halloween! 6. I haphazardly found this death by chocolate candle. When a reviewer said it smelled like brownies, it immediately went into my cart. LOL I purchased two ;) 7. This trick or treat candle has been around for years! I've never tried it. So I got it and 8. this cute candle lamp shade to top it off. They're really cute together. 9. This smiling jack-o-lantern and black cat are actual candle holders. I don't know if I'll use them this year, but because I purchased other things they were discounted (and they're NEW). I didn't want to experience buyers remorse, so I purchased them. 11. I wanted something that glows (luminary), so I purchased this warmer. It uses 12. candle melts. It creates a nice ambiance and has a spooky spider web design. It also has a timer. So that's it you guys! I'm good to go for the holidays.

In The Kitchen: Instant Pot, Cake Stand and Paper Towel Stand

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. I get commission for purchases or clicks made through links in this post.

Not Sponsored: 1. Last Christmas, my friend from Little Luxury List gifted me The Essential Instant Pot Cookbook. She's so intuitive, because on Twitter I kept saying I want to get an Instant Pot. I was ready to purchase one (like from Target), but when I went to the Instant Pot website there were so many more options. I said, you know what!?! I better read and see which is best for me. Well, the holidays ENDED, it got WARM (Nah HOT) and I didn't feel like dealing with an Instant Pot. So fast forward, it's almost holday/hopefully cold season again. I went on Instant Pot's website, read up on the latest & greatest and PURCHASED the Instant Pot Ultra 8 quart from their 10-in-1 Series (also here, here and here). I was set on the 6 quart, but when I evaluated my regular soup/chili pots they were all 7 quarts. So I thought 8 quarts would give me enough room to grow. This one is digital. It does cakes. It has a cooking progress indicator. It has 16 smart programs. I ordered the cake pan, loaf pan, steamer. I ordered the non-stick inner pot, extra rings and lid. So I can't wait to get it and start using it. I'll keep you posted. 2. I have a large clear cake stand in my kitchen. It's great for big cakes, but lately I've been purchasing smaller cakes. So, I wanted a smaller cake stand. I found this cutie. It has a milk glass bottom, pedestal footing and glass dome. I love the ruffle edges. It's very girly. My kitchen has been remodeled. I finally got the backsplash done. Now, I'm just adding some minor details. I saw this paper towel stand and it checked off all my boxes. The color fits with my dark cabinets. It's durable. It's classy. I can't wait to put this on my countertop. I was going to introduce "In The Kitchen" as a goal for next year, but I said nah, why wait. HaHaHa I'll be adding my tidbits here and there. I want to cook and bake more. That's all for now :)

Pre-Fall Dresses

Not Sponsored: I added several dresses to my wardrobe. I try to do so each season. I love the ease of dresses. You can just slip them on and go. They're no fuss. 1. I fell in love with this dress from Garnet Hill. I usually try to avoid stripes, but this textured design was appealing to the eye. I ordered it in the navy/portobello stripe. It arrived yesterday. I tried it on and it fits perfectly. I love it so much, I'm going to order it in the ebony/almond stripe option as well. 2. There was a sale on Eileen Fisher. I really liked this v-neck three-quarter sleeve dress. It comes in various colors, but I wanted it in black. It fits really well and I'll be able to wear it through the various seasons. It's a year-round dress. 3. Labor Day is coming up ... September 2nd to be exact. I needed something red, white & blue. I came across this dress at Talbots. I love the tshirt design & feel, and the buttons going down the sleeves are a nice added touch. I really love it.

How to Find the Right Scent

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Perfume is an important thing. It makes us smell nice, it helps us to attract other people and make an excellent first impression, and it improves our confidence. We all feel better when we know we smell nice. Most of us like different scents for different occasions. The perfume that you wear for work or days out with friends might be delicate and easy. For nights out or romantic meals, you might opt for something muskier, that makes you feel sensual and sexy. Many people, once they find the scents that suit them, stick with them. They wear the same perfume for years and years, and wouldn’t dream of risking anything else. But, how did they find these scents in the first place? Here are some tips to help you find the perfume that suits you.

Do Your Research
Think about the smells that you already know you like or dislike. If you know that you love the smell of fresh flowers, that’s a great place to start. Equally, if you hate vanilla, you’ll want to avoid it in perfumes. Write a list of smells that you like, and look for fragrances that include them.

Test Them Out
First things first, you need to try them out. You’ll never find the right natural perfume without first trying them. You need to make sure that you like it, after all. Most perfumers offer card, or other tools, to allow you to smell the perfume outside of the bottle, without covering yourself in ever scent going. This is a significant first step, but remember, just because you like how something smells on a bit of paper, doesn’t mean that you’ll like it on yourself, or that it will suit you. So, once you’ve found one that you think that you like, try a little on your wrist to be sure.

Take Your Time
Once wearing a potential scent, don’t just sniff it and make your mind up. Give it a day, notice how the small changes when it mixes with your natural aromas. Walk around wearing it, how well does the scent last? You might find that some harsh smells give you a headache or make you feel sick if you wear them all day, and you won’t know until you try. In theory, you should barely be able to notice a scent that really suits you at all. You might just notice it when you move into a small room, or when you are in a breeze, quick bursts, not constant and overwhelming scent.

Ask for Feedback
If you don’t trust your nose, or you aren’t quite sure, ask a friend, or someone that works in the store to give you some honest feedback. If they don’t like it, or don’t think it suits you, ask why, and try to avoid these notes in your next choice.

Ask Around
If you’ve got a friend who you think smells fantastic, ask them what they are wearing. It might not smell the same as you, but if you are struggling to find your scent, it can give you a great head start.

Buying Vintage Clothes

Many fans of fashion love nothing more than searching for pieces of clothing treasures from a bygone era. It is the process of the hunt that is exciting, the potential gems that could be lurking behind every corner. Rather than wearing clothes that conform to the latest fad, fans of vintage clothing wear unique pieces of clothing that will be hard to find elsewhere. However, starting off, it can be a very overwhelming process. There are many different questions you need to ask yourself. Don’t worry though, by the time you finish reading this article, you will be equipped with the necessary skills needed when buying vintage clothing.

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The Process of Buying Vintage Clothes
Starting off, there are a few distinctions you should learn. What is the difference between vintage clothes and used clothing? Vintage clothes are unique and special. They have stood the test of time while remaining relevant to modern fashion in terms of style, quality and cultural significance. You need to be mindful of fake designer clothes claiming to be old designer vintage pieces.

Throughout the years, sizes have changed so you must be aware of how they relate to modern sizes, that you are familiar with. The pieces of clothing that are more recent, will tend to closely resemble modern clothing in terms of sizes.  Remember that you can always get something tailored if it doesn’t fit quiet right on you. Therefore if you see a piece of clothing that has magnificent fabric or an amazing design, don’t fret, as this can be all handled, especially if only minor alterations are required. Unfortunately, this won’t work if the clothing is too short or the waist is too long.

The Easy Option When Purchasing Vintage Clothes
When you are trying to purchase vintage clothes online it is important that you keep an open mind. This will enable you to be a flexible browser and as a result, have more options of clothing appear. That’s might be a difficult thing to even consider for some people, as perhaps they are in love with a certain area, such as the 60s or 70s. However, you never know what might pop up as you unearth and go through every piece of vintage items that you can find, on the website.

You will most likely be left with the feeling “I just have to have it” and become obsessed with a brand new style of clothing from a completely different decade. You might even decide to mix and match, adding your own sense of personality to each of the outfits you put together.

You may also find some accessories to add to your vintage collection, to create a killer look. After all, this is what shopping vintage is all about. When you go online to do your shopping, you will never have to worry about being restricted again. Do not make it more difficult than it needs to be, the easy option for purchasing vintage clothes is waiting for you.

Joyful Things

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Not Sponsored: Have you heard of ban.do? I found them on Instagram several years ago and just loved their vibe. All their stuff is FUN, HAPPY and POSITIVE. Their products always puts a SMILE on my face. I purchased a vanilla ice cream cone from them a couple of years ago and placed it in my makeup room. I love looking at it. I haven't visited their website in awhile and when I did I saw so many things I wanted. I ordered the Joyful book, pajamas, Leisure Queen sweatshirt, glitter bomb tumbler set and cake walk tshirt. I wanted to share these gems.

1. Leisure Queen Sweatshirt (here and here) 2. Glitter Bomb Tumbler (Saks Fifth Avenue, Macys, Ban.do) 

3. Joyful Book 4. Party Dots Sleepwear (Short Sleeve Shirt, Shorts, Sleepshirt, Tshirt, Long Sleeve Shirt, Long Pants) 

5. Cake Walk Tee 6. Cocoa Book 7. Keeping House 8. Glitter Bomb Tumbler Set

My Sephora Summer Bonus Event 2019 VIB Purchases

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Not Sponsored: The Sephora VIB 15% Summer Bonus Event started last night. It ends 8/27. I put together a small list of products I wanted from the sale. 1. Viktor & Rolf's Flower Bomb Perfume is nothing new, but I didn't have it in my perfume collection and really, really, really wanted the free notebook that was offered. LOL Of course they make you purchase the large size, but its a really good perfume. 2. I've been curious about the Fresh Sugar Strawberry Exfoliating Face Wash. They offer it in two sizes, so I purchased the smaller one. I'm now preferring chemical exfoliation over physical exfoliation, but this offers both. 3. Ole Henriksen has a new apple-cinnamon Lucky Pucker Lip Scrub! I love apples and cinnamon. It just screams Fall, so I can't wait to try it. 4. I love Vitamin C! I've been trying a lot of vitamin c skincare this year. Well, Farmacy has a new Very Cherry Bright 15% Clean Vitamin C Serum with Acerola Cherry in it. I thought that was an interesting twist! Can't wait to try. 5. I've been wanting a Google Nest Hub for my makeup room since it came out last year. I mainly want it to access YouTube videos, play music etc. I think it will be a great addition. 6. Fresh Beauty has collaborated with YouTube personality Ingrid Nilsen. The result is a beautiful blackberry tinted lip balm in pretty packaging. It's the perfect color for the upcoming Fall months. 7. I've been interested in the brand Ilia. I've heard good things about their Multi-Use Pigment. I thought the two colors, Waking Up & Stutter would be pretty. Not pictured, but another purchase was CocoFloss in Pure Strawberry. I couldn't wait to finish up my current dental floss to try this. The flavor sounds delicious. I want to try the NEW Fenty Pro Filt'r Hydrating Longwear Foundation. Its for normal, dry and combination skin. I want to be properly matched for color, so I will have to go to the store and get that done. Well, that's all for me guys! I looked back and I haven't purchased anything from Sephora since May of this year! In that order was some Natasha Denona makeup that I still have to review. LOL I'll get to it this week. To see what I purchased recently from ULTA, click here. I can't wait to get everything, so I can share my thoughts with you.

7 Fantastic Ideas For Entertaining Wedding Guests

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The plan for your wedding has commenced, you've picked the style of dress you want and of course the venue, and now it's time to suss the details to make your day extra special. Your wedding guests will attend to witness your wedding, awe at your beauty and admire your venue. But it's also an excellent idea to keep guests entertained, especially during intervals where guests need to wait for your arrival, your dinner and the wedding party etc.

Photo Booth
Hire a photo booth for your wedding day! It's a great way to bring your guests together and to get them in the spirit for a momentous occasion. Consider using the photo booth during your wedding party. At this point, your guests will have had a few drinks, and so they shall be more inclined to use the photo booth props and create hilarious pictures.

Fire-Breathers
For the adventurous amongst you, why not consider hiring a fire-breather/dancer to perform on your wedding day. Perhaps book a performer following evening drinks to break up the night time. From your nieces and nephews to your grandparents, a fire performer is sure to fascinate your guests.

Magician
Who doesn't love a magician? To intrigue and entertain guests young and old, you could choose a magician to put on a show at your wedding or ask them to mingle with the guests and show them some crazy magic tricks.

Fireworks Display
Just because your wedding doesn't fall on New Year's Eve doesn't mean that you can't have a fireworks display! You just need to check with the owner of the venue if a show is allowed and if it is, hire a reputable professional to create a fireworks display for you. This is the perfect way to entertain your guests and make your day a memorable one.

First Dance Performance
One of the best ways to impress your family and friends is to practice a dance routine with your bride or husband to be to perform on your big day (you could even ask the groomsmen and bridesmaids to be apart of it). But try and keep the dance under wrap so that you can surprise your guests on your big day! This is one of the best ways to get your guests up and dancing too.

Wedding Babysitter
Give some of your guests a few hours to mingle, and dance without worrying about their children. This will give your family and friends some time to enjoy themselves. To do this, you could hire a child's creche within the venue to keep the children occupied and entertained.

Fairground Rides
Depending on your budget and venue, you could choose to hire a few rides. Rides enable people of all ages, even your parents, to live their best life and feel alive within a safe environment and are fun for all the family. If you think fairground entertainment could be the ticket for your wedding, be mindful of the weather!

By using one or more of the ideas above, you can tailor your day to add excitement and awe to show your guest list a great time and leave a lasting impression.